Caroleen’s Treasures

The agony was over. After months of worrying what is really wrong with the little man, we brought him to the hospital for his VCUG last Wednesday. Actually it should be last Monday but I don’t think I can manage it because I was too nervous to do it. I already have read all about the procedure even when Dr. Lobo talked to us about doing VCUG as soon as the circumcision is healed. I even mouthed it before the doc had mentioned the word and I am very confident that time that things will be very very easy. Not until we saw the other doc that performed the circumcision. If I may say so…he is one big discouragement to parents (I don’t want to stress it out anymore so as not to create issues here) He opposes Dr. Lobo’s opinions and decisions and when I decided I have enough and it’s time to give up one of them….I dropped him and went to find another urologist.

I was really thankful that I found Dr. Latayan’s blog….we were lead to his clinic and Eman had this test done without much issues. He is writing very helpful articles about his specialty and we encouraged him to monetize it.
The procedure was quick. We actually spent more time in the waiting room and the I am not so sure if the young group there are students or licensed radiologists but they’ve been so nice and entertaining to Eman. When Dr. Latayan arrived, he greeted Eman and we went inside the x-ray room. He was so kind to teach us how to save for the procedure and that is to buy the stuffs needed (dye, gloves etc.) outside the hospital and so that is what we did. We laid Eman on top of the x-ray table with clothes still on while Dr. Latayan prepared the dye and everything. They took one shot before we stripped Eman’s clothes and he started to insert the cathether and filled his bladder with dye. We were asked to wear a colorful vest and skirt that are very heavy! I don’t know what they are made but I guess it has some metals on the small pockets as protection from radiation. I just regret that we didn’t have a camera at hand because we looked so cute in those costume! Picture out Donald and Dr. Latayan wearing a skirt! It’s not really a funny attire but I was just amazed at it. Add to it is the group of young people in the room who ran in line like ducklings going inside the cubicle each time the doc would shout, “shoot!”. They aren’t wearing those awesome costumes so they are running for their lives.

Eman didn’t care while Dr. Latayan was inserting the cathe. He only cried when he peed and he was soaking wet. We have to wait until all the series of x-rays are taken before we can clean him up and dress him so he was not so happy with lying there in his pee. So the idea of it being painful is not all true and I have proven that. So after all the pictures are taken and films are out, Dr. Latayan’s verdict was Eman has no reflux and it was all clear for valves lying along the ureters. Thanks God Eman won’t be needing any surgery. I know this is a long shot again…but please check on rackmount. Have a wonderful day!

We had the lamest excuse of not going to church today and that is getting up late. Ella was the most disappointed and I just realized we should bring her to church every Sunday morning because she detests the evening worship. When I told her we will go to the mall first and proceed to Matina for the evening worship, she protested violently telling me she woke up early because she wanted to go to church in the morning because evenings don’t have Children’s class. I know, I know….the bad parents award goes to us. Anyhoo, even if justifying it won’t make any sense at all….I would just like to write down here that Donald and I are both working online until late last night (he even left the laptop on while it was running some seo tools software thinking it will get done before we leave for church in the morning) not to mention it was hot like hell that made me stay up longer, then the aching head and back that I got from the scares brought to me by the little fella with his rolling over and snake crawls. Many times did we catch him near the edge of the bed even if we just put him a while ago in the side of the wall. So back on the disappointed Ella…..since it will take us an hour to get there, we faithfully sworn that we will not miss morning service anymore (so help us God).

I just didn’t realize that our 15 month stay in Trento had made a great impact to her. She’d knew it was Sunday because Donald plays acapella Christian songs while we are still in bed. She will wake up hearing the songs and she even memorized even the part of the base and alto. Then she is used to me teaching them at Children’s class. We live in the parsonage right next to the chapel so she was never absent from the class (except when we had trips to the city) and that is what she is missing. I honestly thought it’s fine with her to be absent once in a while. Now I know it would be a major disaster. Read more… »

Waaaah! It’s so hot in here!!!!! It’s almost midnight and all windows are open but I feel very very hot. The kids are asleep peacefully but Eman is surely sweating profusely on the head. We are actually on much higher ground and we should have cold wind blowing now but the weather forecast could have been wrong when they say we will have rain today. You see we only have one fan here. We used to have two but we don’t want to mess with the walls here because we are just renting so we decided to gave it away when we moved.

I hope it will rain. I am not really a person who complain about being hot…..I am pretty contented with just a little fan that blows humid air but lately I can’t help it anymore. For the sake of the kids Donald was talking about getting an AC for the room so they could sleep comfortably especially during daytime because we don’t know what to do anymore. If we keep the windows open, bugs and other insects will be coming in and Eman will get more of these bites and rashes. If we keep it closed……he will float from his own sweat! But anyway, the AC could come last. We need to settle other loans first before thinking about that so for now I am crossing my fingers weather will be nicer tomorrow, the next day, the day following the next….and so on.

We had an appointment with Dr. Lobo last September 7 and she recommended to start giving Eman solid food. He’s just 5 months old and 9 days old at that time but she said he is not gaining weight (he was 8.9 kilos).

He instantly liked the idea and was trying to get a taste of solid. I tried taking the box away and explained to him that we still have to open it and mix the powder with water. I think we need to work out our communication because I guess I didn’t make it clear to him and moments later we had a wailing baby at home.

After getting so frustrated that he can’t get a bite of what the doctor refers as “solid food”…..he decided to give in and finally got a taste of what solid food really is. So bland.

Yesterday was special because Eman turned 6 months old and it was “Family Day” for Ella. I am becoming lazy in taking pictures of the kids which is bad since Eman is showing more antics than ever and I missed to capture most of that. So to mark this day, I propped him on the bed and started clicking away.

He seemed not so in the mood for photo shoot.

then he started praying or was he counting his little fingers?

Read more… »

I think I am the laziest blogger on the face of the planet but then I am finding some reasons which are valid of course to justify my laziness. I am trying to figure out if I am just overwhelmed with too many stuffs that needs to get done and add to top it all, Eman’s health issues.Yesterday was a Sunday and we all went downtown to attend the service at Uyanguren. But hey, there’s more that you didn’t know! Last Sunday we went back to Trento and packed our stuffs. I did most of the packing since wives cannot rely on the husbands to do it. Yes they can be asked to help and they can do it thrice our speed BUT I would like to spare myself from pulling my hair while unpacking here in our rented place. I am not very OC but I want it organized so it will not be difficult for me. I don’t want to be digging the frying pan in the bag of laundry so I decided I will do it alone. Donald was the one in charge in finding a truck, bathing Eman, buying meals and making the bed so it is just fair. The neighbors are kind enough to help out too.

Ella was not very sad the day we moved mainly because her bestfriend Charlie and his parents went with us here in Davao. The truck we hired was of the neighbor. The couple asked them to accompany them here in the city so the truck was packed with stuffs and people. We left Trento at 2am that day. Donald and I didn’t slept since it was 10pm when they were done arranging our things in the truck and it was midnight when the last neighbor left. We left bags after bags of clothes, the crazy wall fan, beds, toys and other stuffs to the neighbors. Remember the crazy neighbors that I blogged about before? They are the ones who helped me with all the packing and of course they got most of the stuffs. Ella and Eman did slept for a couple of hours.

So here we are now living in the city. Got to update this blog more often because I don’t want to loose my PR and ops. Also, please check this post sometime later. I will be editing this to insert some happenings that I have not written now since I am in a hurry to meet the deadline and to do the first batch of laundry. See yah!

So we got to see Dr. Lobo this morning and she wanted to do a urine test on Wednesday. If the result is good, we will do the VCUG (Voiding Cysto-Urethrogram) soon after but the Dr. Sorongon, the surgeon/urologist who circumcised Eman is not very happy about it. He said it’s the test that he really hated to perform. He said some babies would even throw up right there on the x-ray room because of too much crying. Even mothers cry too that is why they strictly order moms not to enter the room while they perform the test. I researched about it several weeks ago and I learned that it is not painful to babies. Since they don’t know what to expect, they do become upset. As much as we don’t want to let Eman undergo this test, we also agree with Dr. Lobo not to take any chances. I read about a couple who elected NOT to do the VCUG for their daughter but later regretted because their daughter had a reflux that could have been detected earlier if they did the test. The reflux caused her to need a kidney transplant yet no kidney could be found. Even Dr. Sorongon detest doing the test, he still wrote a letter to Dr. Lobo that he is willing to schedule Eman for VCUG after the urine test comes out okay.

On the other note, Eman has been excessively sweating on his head so when the VCUG comes out okay, we will then be recommended to see an endocrinologist to rule out problems with the thyroid glands. I just hope it is just a side effect of his antibiotic. Also, Eman was weighed and he is 8.9kgs at 5 months and 10 days. Dr. Lobo gave a go signal to start him with solid food once a day since his weight is slowly progressing. It could also help him urinate normally since he needs to drink a LOT when eating. He was also prescribed Ferlin because Dr. Lobo find him pale. I thought he is just getting fairer. Oh lalala….seems the end is not yet near. Still a lot of doctor’s visits…..I am just glad we are still able to earn while at home. I still have to find the best HMO that could suit our needs and budget. We better get a health insurance for the whole family. I would also like to do a research about the benefits of paying mortgage life insurance.

I do not know if there’s still someone that reads my blog and with the long period of time that I was offline, I forgot when was the last time I made a post. I think it was the time when we came back from my hometown after my uncle’s funeral. I even hadn’t blogged about my visit with my cardiologist and the funeral because Eman got sick and was admitted in the hospital three times. I am still very tired and wanting to get some rest before blogging but this cannot wait. We need moolah so rest and sleep should come last. I saw myself in the mirror in Eman’s hospital room and I did lost some weight. Who wouldn’t when you are in the hospital without enough sleep? I do not need any weight loss supplements for now but I hope I won’t get back to my old size. I love being a little bit huge because it’s a sign of prosperity. LOL

I will be writing about Eman in a different post. For now he is recovering and we pray he won’t need any surgery.

Last week, I was able to watch an episode in the local tv about skateboarding. I remember Donald’s picture with his skateboard when he was not yet 10. Skateboarding was a hit then and many Filipinos had easily learned the techniques. There even made skateboard ramps out of scrap wood and boards and everyone was having a great time. I don’t know if I can let Eman get into that craze. As you know, I am such a paranoid mom.

My back is sore….AGAIN….but I do not want to rant on here tonight. How I wish I could experience full body massage again. When we were still in Davao, we used to treat ourselves to a massage parlor. I loved shiatsu than Swedish massage because the latter has more pressure and I just love the feeling. I don’t know why my back is sore again. Was it because of carrying Eman or too much farming? I hope I can sweet talk Donald to give me back massage tonight, if not then I will just wish I could put my back infront of me so I can massage myself.:lol: Now I better grab some more opps so I could save for a Human Touch Massage Chairs that I saw online. It amazingly do the kneading, rolling, compression and percussion techniques like that of the professionals. I think it’s the greatest invention that one with back problem could ever imagine. No more bargaining and bribing Donald to massage me. All I do is pull that chair out and sit on it….then voila! It starts to give me the massage I so wanted and needed. So what I am waiting for? Blog and blog until I drop.