Cutty

Our passports were delivered just before lunch today. By 5PM, we've already booked our flights. My mind is working overtime. I'm already making a shopping list. My mind's thinking of what to bring and what food to feed my kids in an unfamiliar territory. I've checked out the weather forecast as well as the car-rental service. I'll be purchasing a set of car seats and will have them shipped in time for our arrival. I've gotten hold of cousins I haven't seen in years. A get-together is being conceptualized at this time. My mind is thinking: P.F. Chang's, outlet stores, Bath and Body Works, Crate and Barrel.... How I wish we can afford a trip to the East Coast. Hay, excited much? Di naman. Di nga ko makatulog eh. But, seriously, I feel guilty for leaving Bettina a day after her party. Speaking of Bettina's birthday party, I need to put this aside so I can focus on that. I still haven't finalized my caterer, giveaways supplier, decors and...

Just a few weeks ago, the Visa Processing Section of the US Embassy has moved to the newly-constructed building. It is the one right beside the bay. If you are familiar with Ermita Center, it's across that. Though we were aware of this relocation, we failed take note of it. We parked near Museo Pambata thinking that I was just a short walk from there. Boy, we were wrong. By the time we reached the waiting area, the kids were already tired of the longer walk. If you arrive early for your appointment, you will be asked to wait in the open area near the bay. You will only be let in an hour before your appointment. If you're appointment is past 9am, I suggest bringing an umbrella. There aren't enough shaded areas in that side of the embassy. Pleasant changes await inside the new building. Granite counters line the interview windows. There are more seats in the waiting areas. Snack kiosks are in case you are hungry, thirsty or just bored. The restrooms also come wi...

For Bettina's birthday, I asked the photographer I hired to come for a pre-event shoot. We'll be using the photos for her invites, tarps and giveaways. Here are some shots from that early Saturday morning. Ang hirap lang pangitiin. I hope my artist/cousin-in-law will be able to get something from these.

I was gathering the documents I'll be needing for the Visa Application when I noticed that all the certificates (birth and marriage) I have on file are more than a year old already. The documents should be less than 6 months old. So, on a Tuesday, when my car had only 2 hours left on the road, I trooped to the Main Office of NSO. If I remember correctly, filing for the request was just a breeze. It was the releasing of the document that took a lot of time. It seems that I remembered correctly. It took me less than 10 mins to fill up and pay for the 4 requests. It took me longer to locate a parking space near the office. I had to go around East Ave twice. I was asked to come back at 3:30, 2 hours after I filed the request. Unfortunately, I couldn't wait because my car should no longer be on the streets by 3PM. I came back early Thursday morning. This time, I left my car at the Techno Hub and asked Vic to drop me off on his way to work. With my receipts in hand, I was d...

I am not one to spread fear. I constantly pray for guidance, protection and security. I also pray for wisdom and the ability to make my children understand what is to come. If you are a Catholic, you would have heard of Sr. Lucia. It seems that the Third Secret from Our Lady of Fatima has been published. It's going around in Facebook . I first thought that it was just false prophecy. But, even the Vatican has issued an official statement regarding this. You may read it here . We all need to focus on what is important. With faith and prayers, God and the Blessed Virgin will guide our way.

Our summer officially started yesterday. School ended last Friday with Johann's Moving Up Day. He received the Most Responsible Award from his teachers. He just refused to go up to Teacher to accept the award. He was always shy to go in front of a crowd. Since he knew that school is over, Johann has been very excited to wake up every morning. He's almost always awake by 7am. He already has an agenda for the day: what to watch on TV, what to play with or where to go. For ten months, we've been having problems waking him up for school. Kainis! ----------------- Parents also look forward to this time of the year. We no longer have to wake up as early. We don't have to think of baons and homework. Most importantly, early morning battles about waking up is non-existent.

When Bettina underwent the Newborn Screening, we found out that she has this condition called G6PD (Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase deficiency). At first, it was difficult to get used to that idea because none of my elder kids had this. I couldn't fathom the idea that we can not feed her peanuts, legumes, anything with soy, anything with menthol, et. al. She can't even inhale anything menthol. So, bye-bye Ben-gay and Vicks. Pano na siya mag-toothbrush? It was also difficult for me because I can't ingest any of those forbidden items since I was breast-feeding her. We stopped worrying for a while. Her diet was strictly milk then. Now that we have introduced solids to her diet, I am trying to know more about this condition called G6PD. I knew that it was a condition that could lead to Anemia. What I didn't know was that excess bilubirin (the yellowish pigment that causes jaundice) can cause mental retardation and even death. ----------------- Here are they symptoms...

The Lenten Season officially starts today. With so many things going on, I'd have to remember that it's also a day of fasting and abstinence. ------------------ I find it so troubling that people these days no longer trust the Church. They'd rather skip the priests and the sacraments and go directly to God. To many, this human aspect of the Church has been causing the indifference of many Catholics. These people believe in God but they do not believe in the structure that God Himself created. Masyado na ba tayong naging bilib sa sarili? Remember, THAT started the downfall of man. Let us remember that we also need this human aspect. When we have a big dilemma, we run to them. When we need a response from God, we seek theirs. When we need to hear that we're forgiven, don't we believe them? This human characteristic is there to provide guidance, to make a relationship with God more attainable and less mysterious. They may err on the implementation and may ha...

Will you ride in this taxi?

The much-awaited sale of the year is here! Vic and I will be there early. I hope the rack we've been eying for the past two years will go on sale.

The school year is about to end. For Johann, school will close this week. I can't believe that it has been a year already. Sabi nga ni Vic, parang ang bilis lang nun tuition na binayaran ko . Since, I don't want my kids watching TV all day, I am thinking of activities for them this summer. Here are some programs I am interested in. Check them out too. Paref Rosefield's Summer Programs. Johann's school offers 12 sessions of Creative Play for 2 to 3 year old kids. I just might enroll Javi in that one. Johann would be enrolled in the Reading program. Anyway, each course is 12 sessions (2.5 hours per session). Pwede na ba for 5000 per course? I have no idea if that's expensive or not for 30hours? I wanted to get them into more physical activities but my choices are quite inaccessible. Ballet Philippines. I found this at the backstage of Meralco Theater while we were on break. I was quite excited about the Toddler's Ballet class. Sayang...

For five days now, I've been on the look-out for an open slot for our US Visa Appointment. I called the US Embassy Call Center several times a day just to secure a schedule for our interview. I also made several attempts to get a slot through the online scheduling site. Needless to say, I was unsuccessful. I was already getting nervous because I've heard of someone who waited for two weeks already and still hasn't gotten an appointment. With less than two months to get everything done, I was already thinking of the worst possible scenario. If we don't get anything suitable by the 2nd week of April, we may have to delay the trip. The travel agent I spoke to advised me to just be diligent in calling and checking out the website. Then, at 3AM this morning, I decided to check out the website for slot availability. Lo and behold, I was able to secure a slot for me and my boys on the 22nd! If all goes well, we plan to be in Vegas in time for the reunion and Pacquiao...

Just when I thought money is going to be tight in the next few months, God gives us more than enough to get by. Thank you Lord for being so generous. That's why I really do not worry because I know you've got me covered.