1st Day of School Happenings!

Hey, it's June! It's back to school for my two girls! Erika's classes started last June 13, a Wednesday! We both woke up early that day, she was pretty excited and I could sense a bit hesitant to go to school, especially since she's going a new school and she's now in Grade school! Well, I guess her Daddy and Mommy's presence made her a bit confident since usually parents are allowed to accompany their children to school during the first day of school! We arrived just in time and being newcomers, we didn't know where to go at first! Fortunately, there were lots of teachers inside the campus giving directions and information on where students need to go! And my sister, Ena was there with us (her kids are old students in the same school) to lead us as well. At last, we found the area assigned for Grade 1 students, and boy, was it jampacked with students and parents, each busy looking for their assigned Class Sections and finding the right line to fall into! Finally we found the line for "Polite Section"! We were already way at the back of the line, and my daughter and I were both perspiring already because it was really very humid and although we were in a covered area, I guess besides the hot weather we have nowadays, the magnitude of people in the area added to the extremely uncomfortable heat! Then, it was time for them to go to their respective classrooms bringing in tow their ("neat-looking", of course!) brand new bags (trolleys/backpacks) and lunch boxes loaded with all the school books , notebooks and other materials they were expected to bring! We were right behind her till she got inside her classroom, which is, by the way, at the second floor! I wonder if my daughter would be able to pull her "quite heavy" trolley bag everyday all the way up to her room! As soon as all the students got settled in their own seats, their new class adviser introduced herself to her new students and began checking attendance to see whether everyone on the list was already in class! It was then after that, it was announced that the class would be dismissed by 11 am just for that day, being the first day and then, parents were asked to leave their kids and just come back at dismissal time! Erika seemed quiet in her seat, I guess, a bit conscious being a new student in a new school! But then, she seemed all grown up too... nodding her head (as if telling us: "Okay you may go!"), when I signalled her that Mommy and Daddy will be leaving her for now! Well, now that my daughter is in Grade school, its a bit different from the past years first day of schools while she was in pre-school! No more crying blues, no more "I wanna stay with Mommy!" or "I wanna go home!" cries! Then again... i think, my daughter is really ready for school and I'm sure pretty soon, she'll be confident to learn new things and happy to meet new friends in this oh so very new environment!

June 18, a Monday, marks the first day of school for my little Bianca! She's now in Junior Advanced Casa! Her class is not until 10:30am so I woke her up around 8am (though she actually woke up around 830 na!) and her school is just beside our house so ther would be no travelling time or traffic to worry! After eating her breakfast, she took her bath and dressed up for school! Before 10 am, I think she was all dressed up and ready for school - I guess pretty excited too to meet her old friends and classmates and to meet her new teacher as well! We were a bit early for school and first thing we did was to check which section she belongs! This year, she's now in Lychee section (wonder whoever thought of giving "lychee" for a class section?!). In a couple of minutes they were asked to line up according to their class sections and then they were off inside their respective classrooms! It was posted that their class for the first three days of school will only be till 12nn! (Lucky for me, our house is just beside the school!) I left Bianca in school and came back for her at 12 noon. My little girl, Bianca, though only 4 years young, I can say, is just as ready for school as her Ate Erika! Happy to meet old and new friends and I know, confident enough to learn & discover new things! Now that school is back, I guess' us parents would be looking forward to helping with homeworks and projects, doing reviewers and helping them study for quizzes and exams again for the next months or so!

Missing Papa!

Yesterday we celebrated Father's Day! Once a year, every third Sunday of the month of June we pay tribute to our Fathers, we express to them our deepest appreciation for providing us with all our needs, for protecting us from danger and harm, for teaching us different things in life, for being our "all-time hero" especially when we were still small! Everytime this time of the year comes, it makes me miss my Papa even more...in a weeks time, it would be exactly eight years ago that he has left us to join our Mighty Creator up above! But even though he's no longer here with us, that doesn't mean he has stopped being my Papa! I know, deep in my heart that he continues to watch over us! I admit it was really hard at first to accept that you are gone especially since for all of my life, you have always been there for me! That's the one thing I am most proud of, you have always been there for all seven of us and of course for Mama, too! That's why I miss you terribly! Sometimes I can't help but imagine how it would have been have you not left us, and I surely hope you got the chance to see your apos from me... your sixth child! I know you'll love them for sure and I know, just like Mama, sometimes you'll get annoyed as well, especially when the kids are making too much noise and scattering things/toys around the house or when they are having their once in a while tantrums!

To those who don't know my Papa, let me tell you something about him! He's such a responsible and caring father! Though he may not be that outspoken in letting us know how much he loves and care for us, you'll feel it right through you by the things he does for you, by all the sacrifices and hard work he endured just so he can provide us with the best things in life! He's also our "handyman" at home, he likes fixing things around the house (kahit minsan hindi nya kaya ayusin, or ayaw pang aminin na hindi nya magawa!), he takes good care of our cars (making sure he checks the engine regularly and maintains it in its tiptop condition, imagine... tinutuyo n'ya pa pag-naulanan, pangit daw kasi ang salamin ng kotse pag natuyuan ng ulan!), waits for us 'till we are all home for the night, and a whole lot more!

That's why we continue to celebrate Father's day.... in honor of my dearest Papa, of course and as well as my brothers (who are all dad's too - though the three of them are all in the U. S. now) and my brother's-in-law and of course the father of my children... my dearest husband! We went to Loyola to visit Papa after hearing Mass and then had our usual Sunday lunch at home which was of course, extra special since it was after all a special day!

Papa, I know wherever you are now, you're happy and at peace! I just want to say "thank you" for being my papa, for bringing us up the way you (& Mama) did for we will never have turn up to way we are now had it been not for you, your guidance and your unconditional love for each and everyone of us! I do miss you a lot, however, your love and memory will always be here in my heart.... and I will forever be grateful for having you as my Papa!

My Angel named "Catherine Andrea" (The Pain of Losing a Child)

The 31st of May marks another memorable day in my life! This year, little Catherine Andrea would have turned 3 years old! Looking back, it was, for me one of the most unforgettable event in my life! It was the day my third baby came to this world and left after an extremely short existence of barely two hours, leaving without even having the chance to get to know her daddy & mommy and her sisters as well. Born four months earlier that she should, she was rather very much pre-mature to be able to survive! It was indeed a very difficult situation for me then, having been diagnosed with an incompetent cervix (I was supposed to have "bed rest" for the rest of my pregnancy then) which eventually led to a leak in my "bag-of-water" and to that unfortunate decision to deliver the baby at 5 months. I remember, my husband & I , was even asked to sign a waiver by my doctor stating that we agreed and understood that there is no chance of saving our baby due to severe pre-maturity and under development. Until now, I can still remember how heavy my heart was while I was in the delivery room, all by myself, as they wait for my tummy to contract... I was crying endlessly, not really because of the physical pain I am experiencing that time, more so because of the fact that I am losing my baby and that there seemed to be no other option for me and that there's nothing I can do but to accept my fate! I remember saying "sorry" over and over to my baby and praying to the Lord to help me accept and understand everything I am going through that very moment and for Him to take and receive my baby as she goes back to Him! I was praying for strength to be able to accept His Holy Will! With the unending love and support of family and friends, slowly but surely, I've healed from the pain! The pain of losing a child and learning to surrender to the Will of God! With continued faith in Him and as time passes by, I've learned to accept that, maybe, it was really His plan to take Catherine from us! Maybe, that was her purpose - to be our "little angel" ... forever and ever in the Heavens up above!

To our dearest angel... I know you're happy where you are and I know you're watching us everyday! We miss you and we know, you know how much we do love you!

A Special Day!

Woke up early yesterday, 'guess I'm pretty excited to start the day, of course, today is the 10th of May. Headed straight to the bathroom and took a refreshing shower - ahhh what a nice feeling! Then woke up my husband, told him to go hurry up 'coz we were supposed to catch up the 7am mass in Antipolo. We didn't bother to wake up the kids 'coz bringing them with us would mean another hour or so to dress them up and prepare before we could leave the house. We got to Antipolo, as expected, late for the 7am mass. So we have to wait for the next mass instead. It has been a tradition, that everytime my birthday comes, besides the fact that it falls on the month of May, (so as the Feast of the Mother of Good Voyage), we hear mass in Antipolo. I remember when I was younger, the whole family would be going to Antipolo and my sisters and I anticipated this time, especially I of course. Upon hearing mass, we used to enjoy having a breakfast of steaming hot sotanghon soup (with boiled egg) or lugaw at the nearby carinderias outside the Church and of course, going with our Mama, to buy "kasuy" nuts, mangga, suman and kalamay which are sold left and right by those sometimes, excuse the word - "almost pesky" vendors. Good thing now, they are not allowed to enter the Church premises and were given proper stalls to market their products. After mass, my husband and I, before going back home, passed by Mcdo to buy breakfast and pancakes for our girls. We were actually, in bit of a hurry, to get back too because I have to be at the office before lunch, in time for the lunch treat an officemate (its her birthday too!) and I were supposed to throw for our department. We had a feast of a lunch at the "paluto" located at the Ortigas Home Depot. Though some came a bit late for lunch, I'm sure everyone was full and I just hope everyone enjoyed it! When we got back to the office, I was quite in a "no-work" mood, perhaps because I was feeling sleepy, after that hearty lunch!

I got off from work a bit earlier, my husband came and picked me up early! I actually promised my eldest daughter that I'd be home early that day! We had another celebration at home, this time with my family! My mother prepared a sumptuous dinner for us and again, I think, everyone did enjoy the meal! Whew, it was a really a tummy-filling day! I never imagine I could eat so much in a day! Anyway, I'm eating for two, right ha ha! I guess my baby is really overjoyed with all the food he/she had that day! Before turning in for the night, I was once again given a treat by my two daughters who gave me a "birthday song"! It was for me, one of the most precious gifts I got yesterday! And finally, time to turn in for the night and before doing so, I just have to go and say "thank you" to my Mom, of course, for cooking for my birthday and most especially to Him, for blessing me with another year (and hopefully with more years!). To everyone who greeted, emailed, texted and remembered me yesterday, a big thanks to all of you and for making it such a special and wonderful day that it was!

"My Birthday Wishlist"

Uh oh... its almost the 10th of May once again! A very special day indeed for me 'coz I'll be celebrating my birth anniversary! I've decided to come up with a "Birthday Wishlist" for myself - after all its my day and that's what birthdays are for - right?!

Here it goes... oh how I wish for ... (this is arranged in no paticular order - i just input whatever comes to my mind first!)

- an ipod (this is one luxury I really would love to have) music lover ako eh... can't work without music in the background!

- a new cellphone - (doesn't have to be super hi-tech, at least medyo update model naman! ;)

- a digital videocamcorder - (want this to so I can record important events and special school programs of my kids.... and of course the coming baby!)

- new clothes that would fit my growing belly - (can't wear my maternity clothes yet... they seem too big for now!)

- a nice pair of havaianas, comfortable walking shoes (brown & black) - (basta comfy shoes and slippers durable enough to carry me around - wherever I may go... he, he! )

- new mattress for our bed and new sets of pillows (these is more of a need, than a want actually!)

- my very own eternity ring! ('guess I'd have to wait for this.... hopefully not for eternity! :(

- a day in the spa - for a full body massage (too release the stress building up on my shoulders); then in the parlor - for a hair, foot and hand spa! (ooohh.... love that pampering!)

- a shopping spree where I could get/buy whatever I want without the guilty feeling of spending too much on myself! (when you become a mom - your priorities really do change!)

- a laser treatment (to remove unwanted facial, armpits & leg hairs - i-specify pa ba! :D

- watch a concert of my favorite artist (local or foreign doesn't matter - as long as all my fave songs will be sang)

- a vacation to Boracay with my hubby and kids! (would really love to bring my daughters to the beach!)

- a trip out of the country (any country will do! matatakan lang passport ko ... he, he, yeaaah poor me!)

- a bouncing, healthy, normal and full-term - BABY BOY! (prayin' really hard for this! - i surely hope HE hears my prayers!) and of course, a safe delivery!

- matching lacoste shirts, rubber shoes and bag! (brand-conscious he, he!)

- beautiful flowers delivered specially for me! ('guess every woman loves receiving these especially from a loved-one!)

- a personal computer or laptop of my own!

- perfumes - (acca kappa or clinique happy for women)

- cds (orig ha - not pirated &/or burned copies) of my favorite artists (anita baker, james taylor, roberta flack, michael buble, rod stewart, vonda shepard, mymp, regine velasquez, duranduran, spandau and other 80's artists)

- lifetime membership to the gym! (really miss working out! maybe after this baby!)

and the list goes on and on! Oh well, I guess there's nothing wrong with wishing for these things... as long I know that whether I get my wishes or not, what's important is that I do appreciate whatever I have and I'm very much thankful for being able to celebrate another year ... but then again, there's always more birthdays (hopefully, lots more years) to make all the wishes I could ever think of! After all, it is my day!