Caroleen’s Treasures

Another week has gone by…tomorrow will be Sunday again and Ella was so excited. She dug on her mini drawer to look for tomorrow’s outfit and when she was done she wiped her shoes and announced she will going to wear those and nothing else. Kids these days really knows what they want.

It was such a lazy Saturday. I felt so tired and sleepy the whole day. After a short nap, I cleaned the bathrooms while Donald prepared the chapel for the worship. Then I asked Donald to photocopy a picture from the story book. I will be teaching a lesson about Jonah. When Donald tried to copy on our 3 in 1 printer, it won’t copy! Since it’s getting dark, I started tracing the picture since the photocopying shops are closed. It took me so long to finish 12 pictures! I made Donald trace some for me and Ella helped too. We traced Jonah and the whale….but Ella’s drawing is more like a tadpole than a whale

Since we arrived here in the province Ella have seen things she never did see in the city. Like the bugs that keeps coming at night when the light was off; we have to attempt catching it a few times before dropping it on the chamber pot and the lizards that checks in our ceiling to wait for dinner. There was one night when a dragonfly was caught by two lizards…Ella was shouting and jumping in frenzy telling me to save the poor dragonfly. So I grabbed a hand towel and threw it up to the ceiling…the dragonfly fell and I scooped it to check. She has torn wing so I put it on the window so she could fly if she can (Ella told me it was a girl!).

Still disappointed to what she have seen, Ella was asking me that same night why the lizard don’t fell from the ceiling. I said it was how God made them…..hoping she won’t ask for a scientific explanation which I have yet to find in the internet in case she’d ask again.

Tonight, as Donald was off to dreamland, Ella was still trying to get my attention by asking questions out of nowhere….telling me stories about what she did at the neighbor’s house…this and that…I tried to look interested and keep switching my eyes from her and my pc. I told her to go to sleep since it’s almost 10pm, and she said: “Mommy, please lay beside me just for 2 days only…..” She might want to say 2 minutes? LOL So I crawled to bed and as I was stroking her hair, she screamed and jumped in fear. A lizard feel from the ceiling right to where she was! I tried to calm her down and she said : “Oh Mommy, the lizard has no more glue on his feet and hands….that’s why he fell…..” Now that answered her own question… LOL

I am having back and neck pains from yesterdays weeding in the back yard. After checking mails at 7am, I hide under the covers again feeling so cold and dead tired. Ella played in my pc the new game she discovered…I don’t know what it is called. All she says she have to drown the bad boys….that’s it. I just laid down almost all day getting up from time to time to check on opps but no luck

In the pm, Tatang and Inang dropped by in their way home to give Ella’s package from the States. A book for her birthday. I opened it already, a Dora book but will keep it until Ella’s birthday. After an hour, Tatang and Inang came back bringing quail eggs and chicken. I was thinking about these this afternoon and I was surprised how God knew I am dying to eat quail eggs and chicken So Donald fried the chicken and boiled the eggs. After dinner I worked in my pc while Donald and Ella had a review lesson on Phonics and spelling. Ella was very cooperative at first but made some excuses after a few minutes. Teddy was going to pee…or Teddy is hungry…so the class was dismissed ealry by the not-so-patient teacher and decided to make champorado instead. We crave for it for sooo long too and I have finally found a pure cocoa powder this afternoon. So our tummy will be really full and smiling

I stayed up the whole night and when I felt my eyes are shutting all by themselves I crawled to bed at 5:30am. Ella stayed.in.the.house.the.whole.day!!! That was a really great news! She kept her word Her colds is getting better and she just played in the house, napped in the afternoon and read her books before dinner. Maybe she was just so afraid of throwing up that’s why she didn’t insist on playing outside. She has been so afraid of throwing up since she was a baby. To her, it was like going to die! LOL So I have a great idea on how to keep her in.

Donald had a bible study with a family nearby. Same like yesterday, he studied the bible with a family too. Ella was making me crazy the whole afternoon about going to church. She keeps on telling me she want to go to church…..and I kept telling her that we will gather on Sundays to worship. She refused to listen, she just wanted to go to church right there and rthen and hear her Daddy deliver a message and sing her favorite church hymns “Send the Light” and “Beautiful”. And oh she was so sweet to tell me “I want to go to church because our class is very nice…you are our teacher…and the story is very good!!! Can Pooh be our story on Sunday?”

Oh and she has some reasons too why she wanted to go church…” Because I want to be with Daddy in the church…and because the church is just beside our house…and we won’t be late anymore like in Davao…and I will not be tired and fell asleep in the taxi….”

Well I agree! We won’t be late anymore!

I was still enjoying my internet up to this moment! No more long walks to the market to check mails on the internet cafe. It was just a relief from the stiff neck and the foul smell of the cafe. Some ar smoking inside and the others are just so selfish turning high the volume while they play….I suppose it should be airconditioned and that each has to have a headset. My neck hurts too. On the first cafe I went I was looking up for the monitor while the other cafe, I was stooping down. Then there’s this keypad that is soooo hard to press…as if it wasn’t been used for decades. The worst thing is it has no letter F! But anyway, I am still grateful that there’s internet cafe here in town.

Today, we woke up early. I checked mails first then went around the little rooms to organize stuffs while Donald went outside uprooting weeds again and Ella played with her new friends. I don’t know why I only accomplished to sort two crates of odd toys of Ella. These were from our old little house so she’s very much happy to see those again after two months of staying with my sister Crislyn’s parents-in-law. I put the toys that cold be played with other kids while the toys which were given to Ella as a gift or that of value has to be saved. So I let the kids play with the other toys. I am not being selfish, but last Saturday Ella cried because her bike’s seat was broken. The boy much taller and bigger than her kept on riding it, the next thing I heard was it broke. So I was just being careful of Ella’s toys since we can’t afford to buy for now.

So the kids went playing on the shed beside the house where we gather on Sunday School. Donald was on the side near them while I was in the front yard planting ornamental plants we have brought from Davao. As expected, a little boy broke a toy and Ella was just calmly saying to Donald that her toy was broken. When I went near to see if I can do something about it, she ran to the house crying. She was saying “My toy is dead! My toy is dead!!!” Instead of symphatizing with her, I broke into laughter. Her toy was really dead….Poor girl. I told her that it was just a toy and that’s why Mommy kept her special toys inside the house.

Oh by the way, the best thing living in the province is your neighbor knocks at your door with a bowl of “binignit” (it’s like a porridge with sticky rice, banana, sweet potatoes, sago - looks like tapioca, coconut milk and sugar). This is the place I like!

Yesterday, Ella played with two boys (I guess they are around eight or nine). When I woke up this morning, they are already on the adjacent lot waiting for Ella. I went outside to bring out the laundry that hasn’t dried and saw the two boys and two girls! So now it was multiplied and it scared. I told her this is not our house and she shouldn’t call the kids over to play. But Ella didn’t call them, they just appeared from nowhere. Maybe from the house at the back. The girls were also the same age as the boys I guess. What else could you expect for a girl who hasn’t played with REAL kids? She dashed outside upon hearing the commotion and was excited to see the girls. They played almost all day having just a few minute break for lunch. When Donald went to the mall to check my sister’s account (cause she couldn’t get off her online job) I sent Ella along to have two rides of merry-go-round and see some real kids. (And to send the girls home too) I felt guilty because when I try to explain my point, we ended up having this short battle of wits:

Me: Pauwiin mo na sila baka hinahanap na sila ng Tatay nila. Dito ka na sa loob maglaro (Send them home now, their father might be looking for them. Come play inside.)               

Ella: Mommy, gusto ko ng kalaro. (Mommy, I want somebody to play with.)                       

Me: Laruin mo si Carrot. (You play with Carrot)                                                                   

Ella: Gusto ko ‘yong nagsasalita….’Yong totoo. hindi naman nagsasalita si Carrot. Bakit kasi hindi pa ninyo ako bigyan ng kapatid…(I like one who talks…Carrot doesn’t talk. Why don’t you give me a baby sister…..)

That ends our debate. I lost. A.G.A.I.N.

Here’s a photo of Ella nd Carrot (Excuse the picture quality…I only used my cellphone here)

Anyway, there are things that I should be celebrating today. One is, my blog is approved by Link Worth. Yipee!!!  and I am working on my essay to submit for Academia Research. Hopefully, if my essay get approved I can earn $$$ for writing essays! And most of all, it’s my Daddy’s 54th birtdhay!  Well, he’s not with us in Davao. We rarely spent time togther since he’s in our small farm in Pagadian but we will see him on Mamang’s 2nd death anniversary in May. Daddy just loves living in the farm which makes him closer to nature. He loves fishing very much and I usually go with him when I was a kid. He taught me from hunting for worms in the backyard which I will put in my hook as a bait, to finding the good spot in the river to throw my string. We will leave the house early in the morning and have to walk a few miles to reach the river. My sister Crislyn never went with us since she just loves staying at home and my younger sister was just a baby then. My fish pole, which Daddy carefully made, has three hooks which catches three fishes in just one sitting. After a day of fishing, we will walk home when the sun sets with our catch of carps, tilapia and electric ells. Oh I missed grilled fish fresh from the river.

Daddy was then in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and he raised us in military way. We were not allowed to talk infront of the food nor we are not allowed to talk about other people’s lives. To him gossip is what average people does. “Mano” and the use of “po” and “opo” are a few things we couldn’t forget. Daddy is hardworking and very disciplined person. I didn’t hear him say unpleasant things to other people even how mean they are. But inspite of how good he is, Daddy is not a good businessman. He has tried different businesses and all failed. To him, when people couldn’t remit the day’s earnings he still gives them stocks for the next day. He always say “How can the pay their debt when they have nothing to sell today?” And this goes on and on until they couldn’t pay anymore the debt they owed him. When we ask him why he won’t go after them and demand for their payments, he would just answer “They will pay if they want.” Worst thing is, some of them even denied that they owe him money and he will just shrug and say “Bahala na ang Diyos sa kanila.” This we call Daddy’s CHARITY work.

I was meaning to write the other day about Pinoy Idol Audition at Cebu aired last Saturday but got preoccupied with other things. First and foremost, FULL BLOODED KAPAMILYA PO AKO But if one is watching GMA I also do….I am not paid naman to watch ABS-CBN but I just loved ABS-CBN so much. Kapamilya since birth. So much of that justification!

What struck me on the show is the blind girl who came from Bacolod. Although she didn’t get the yellow ticket to Manila, for me she is one great singer. She sings and looks like my best-friend Stephanie who also is blind. Here’s our latest photo. 

 Steph and I met 14 years ago. We were classmates in high-school. She still have her gift of sight and we spent so many hours having fun together. Chatting, eating, strolling…….We have totally different personalities but we clicked! She is a good listener while I am good talker. She can sing while I can’t I can draw and paint while she can’t She into boys while I don’t But we also have one thing in common. We both dance

After graduation in highschool, we parted ways. We occassionaly see each other during sem breaks and holidays. Each time we catch up for lost times. I was very happy when she was there on my wedding day (with my two other closest friends). She was one of my bride’s maids wearing her lavander gown and her sweet smile….

When I was seven months pregnant with Ella, we went to Cagayan de Oro and I got to see her there. Too bad that we just had a short talk but it’s worth it. At least I got to show her the wedding pictures. A year after, she and her boyfriend Jan planned to get marry but two months before their wedding they met a car accident which left her totally blind. 

Inspite of her condition, she tries her best to take care of her 3-year-old daughter (Oh, didn’t I tell you that they got married still?), cleans their room and do the laundry. When we are still living in Kabacan, she will send me a text message (Yes! She can send me messages through text) and I will be coming over for an afternoon walk, for a trip to the grocery store, to go find “ukay-ukay” ( which is our fave past time ) or just some girl talk.

Oh by the way, we had a fair weather today. I did the laundry and sat infront of my pc the whole day. Donald sent Ella to get something at the store and she came back with marshmallows too. In the afternoon, she played with her doll house for an hour, when she is done she puts it back on the crate and went to play outside.

It’s getting hotter everyday and I almost can’t stand the summer heat :-( We wanted to go Samal or Talicud Island and spend even a day or two there. I love the white beaches and crystal clear water, grilled fish, chips and coke…..

We just love the fun and excitement. But whenever the thought of beaches sinks in, I couldn’t stop from smiling to myself. It was summer 2005, we went to Samal Island with my sister Crislyn and her husband Ace. I told Donald to buy fresh fish at the wet market just a walking distance from the terminal where we will take a bus. Off he went while the rest of us hopped in the bus. I found a seat on the front just across the driver and my sister on the next. I looked around to see just a few passengers were there. So I was thinking that the bus will leave in 10 minutes or so to wait for the seats to be filled. There’s more time for Donald to get fish and back in the terminal. As I was trying to get settled, the driver started the engine. I asked the driver if we were leaving, he said yes. I told the driver that I will fetch Donald at the market and he agreed. What I did was leave Ella to my sister to get Donald. I walked as fast as I could getting a bit nervous. I don’t want them waiting for us. And I don’t know where to find him. The wet market is quite busy that morning. Thinking all those things, I started running. I am just halfway to the market when I looked around to see the bus just a few yards from me!!!! You must have seen me running to get Donald while I was followed by a bus Whew! I always laugh in embarassment when I remember this. The next time we went swimming, I had everything prepared the night before. Oh I just hope we could have a dip on the beach soon again…soon….

As I promised you, I will write about our dear little princess’ life, her mischiefs and the things she did with pure innocence of a child that made us laugh, cry, worry and hope that she will not grow too fast. I want it to write about it now that I have still it in my memory. So when she is old, she have stories to tell  her grandchildren about how she was as a child.

We got the first scare from her when she was barely 3 days old. We rushed her to the pedia because she wouldn’t cry. The first time that we heard her cry was when she was born, after that we didn’t hear any from her. When we arrived to the clinic, I was asked what’s wrong with the baby and I complained about her do quite. That I think it is not normal for a baby. She let me lay Ella on the bed and checked Babinski reflex, everything  were okay. Then, she struck Ella’s sole with her fingers and that sent her wailing like hell! For that, we paid $15 for her to make Ella cry   At least we went home relieved of the thought that our child might be deaf/mute. The Pedia told me I am just so lucky that my baby isn’t a cry-baby.

After one day after that visit to the Pedia, I rushed to tell Donald that Ella has stopped breathing for a moment and that I noticed it a few times. We came rushing at the center for my midwife to check on her. This time, it is my ignorance That usually occur in babies and is perfectly alright. We went home smiling in relief and a bit embarrassed.

She grew to be a healthy baby, always smiling, she associates with people so well and rarely cries. But I have heard from mothers that babies who are well behaved will grow naughty,  stubborn or strong willed. Ella had the latter trait and she got it from me. Although she has that trait, she is sweet in most ways, thoughtful, smart and seem mature at her age. She just loves to E.A.T. all the time.

 It was almost 4 years ago, when she was a year and a half, my sisters and mother went to the mall with her. At the department store, they saw a mother with her baby on a stroller. The mother gave the baby french fries (which is Ella’s favorite food). She ran to the baby, held its hand and took a bite on the fries. The mother laughed at what she saw and gave Ella one. My mother apologized and they had a short conversation. Good that the mother was friendly. Then the mother put the fries on the side of the stroller and started pushing her way down the alley. But Ella hadn’t been contented for that one stick and so she came running to the baby again and this time grabbed the fries to where the mother has put it. They held Ella tight and bought her fries so she would not harass other people. I just don’t know how will I react if I was there….

When she was a year and 8 months old, we (Donald, Ella and I) went into a clinic at the mall for me to get checked. We are seated on the lounge with our eyes on tv. There were also two old ladies on my left waiting for the doctor. Suddenly, we heard them giggling. I just ignored them thinking that they might have some private conversation that causes them to giggle. I kept my eyes on the screen trying to ignore them. Then the giggles turned into laughter, this time I turned to their side and saw Ella her eyes innocently on the screen while her hand was on their popcorn. Oh, how I must have fainted!

Then again when she was three, we went to Jollibee (this time in the province, without Donald in the scene) as I have promised to Ella. I found a vacant table and get her settled in the chair. I have put the order at the counter, paid and went back to the table to wait. While waiting, a couple came in and got the table next to us. They had their baby with them (maybe a year and a half), put him on a high chair with a cookie and they both went to the counter. Ella, being so fond of babies, went near him saying “wow….ang cute cute mo naman…” (wow….you’re so cute…) and started playing with the baby. The baby seem to like her too. She was tickles the baby and he giggles. They were at that scene when I reached for cellphone to check for messages, it was just a few seconds, when I looked at them….Ella was taking good bite at the cookie that the baby was holding!!!! I called her attention and told her to stop it and reminded her that it isn’t good. Far from the table, the couple have seen all that has transpired…Ella and their baby playing and Ella getting a bite from the cookie. They smiled from the lane and when they came back, I apologized and almost faint (again). The father reached from the bag and gave Ella a pack of cookies that she graciously accepted with a shy thank you

The worst and most embarrassing thing she did was to gate crash during a birthday party. She was already four and we (Donald, Ella, my sisters and brother in law) were at SM having our bonding moment. When we felt we needed something to eat, we all agreed to go to McDonald’s. The place was packed with customers and there’s seem to be a party going on at the rear portion of the store. (They don’t have a separate party area). Upon hearing the voice on the microphone (which surely of the host) giving the mechanics of the game, I felt nervous. That confirmed my guess. I was thinking Ella might go in there and that was the mother’s instinct in me. She had her own birthday party at McDonald’s too. She surely enjoyed it and would want to experince another one. While we were just trying to find a seat, she ran to the party area just as I was about to brief her not to go there. I quickly followed here and tried to coax her to go back to our table. I explained that we didn’t know the people there, she didn’t knew who’s brthday it was and that she was not invited. I held her hand firm but the host told me to let her join the games. I didn’t know if she knew that Ella was not from the guest list after all.  So, I went back to our table feeling amused and embarrassed all the same. Donald and the rest didn’t know what to say. They feel the same as I did (we were all laughing in disbelief) and we almost can’t hold our head high. After we had consumed our orders, we heard the kids sang the birthday song and boy, Ella’s voice was on top of ‘em all. After some short talk; the party ended,  she went to our table and said “Mommy, kilala ko na ‘yong boy. Siya si Stephen…” (Mommy, I know the boy now. His name is Stephen…) Now she knew who’s birthday it was! She was happy to tell us she had a new found friend I can’t wait to tell her privately (so as not to embarrass her) that gate crashing is not a good way to make friends. Needless to say, she enjoyed the party and went home with a lootbag and  five balloons!!!! I ended up giving the boy a Puss in Boots mini storybook with a cd (which I am lucky to have in my bag) and apologized to the mother for the crime my daughter committed.  The mother consoled me and even praised Ella for making the party alive. She said it was good that she did gate crash since the kids there were just sitting and staring. If not for this little gate crasher, the party will be all too boring. She made the party alive

Inspite of her silliness, she is so much like an angel to us. I love her being so sweet, thoughtful, smart and mature at her age. At school, she was always the one who kept peace and order When someone cries, she will wrap the crying child with her arms. After comforting her, she will go to the one who made the kid cry and say in bossy manner ”Bakit mo siya pinaiyak? Alam mo bang hindi maganda ‘yon? Hindi ka ba tinuruan ng Mama mo?” (Why did you make her cry? Did you know that it isn’t good. Didn’t your mother tell you that?). She also makes sure she have more food everyday than she can consume. She have this ready so she can share with her classmates. You know those kids, they want what’s their classmates had for merienda. She was also very helpful. When she hears somebody complain of a missing pencil or an eraser, she will stand from her chair and will look for it. She will only go back to her work when all are settled. Her teacher calls her “Mother Hen” and she surely is.