First Steps…On His Own

It was friday afternoon, 31 August 2012, while we are getting ready to go home to Sto, Cristo, when Benedict made his first few steps. Three (3) little steps filled with determination to reach the yellow monoblock chair without any support from me, who at that time was hoping and praying that he would successfully reach the chair and not stumble and fall on the floor. And he made it! I was so happy to be able to see him walk on his own. It was followed by a few steps that Daddy witnessed the next monday evening, 3 September, while he was playing with Benedict. Our son take a few steps from the side table he was holding on to the side of our bed. I could still remember how surprised and glad daddy was. I could sense on his voice that he really was so surprised and happy.

But that excitement vanished for a while when the idea of walking on his own, unsupported would mean that he would be needing us less. Parang kinurot ang puso ko nang maisip ko na as the days past by, as he grow older, he would be needing us lesser and lesser and someday he will say “Daddy, Mommy, malaki na ako, kaya ko na po gawin ito na mag-isa. I can decide for my self already.”

I think, if not all, most of us told it to our parents and guardians to ask for our freedom.

Hindi nakakainip magpalaki ng anak, ang totoo, nabibilisan ako sa paglaki ni Benedict. A part of me is saying na sana mabilis siyang lumaki. But the biggest part of me and my heart is hoping that he will be as innocent as he is now. Carefree, problem-free.

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Fun day

I’ve been busying my self in preparing the stuffs i need for Benedict’s 1st birthday and the 2 long weekends is a good opportunity for me to send invitations, prepare giveaways and find the stuffs i need.

We’ve decided to stop by SM Fairview on our way back to Ortigas to check Toy Kingdom for some Mickey Mouse paper plates and cups and National bookstore for the cardboard alphabet. Luckily, we found 2 letters we still need at National bookstore but we fail to find the mickey mouse plates and cups.

While roaming around, we passed by the Toms World’s kiddie rides and we’ve decided to have Benedict try some of the rides so we’ve bought some tokens.

The Rider

The Car Racer

The Junior Police

The Sailor

Ninja Turtle Ride with Daddy

We also rented a Turtle Shopping Cart to roam around.

Turtle Cart

I think Benedict really enjoyed the stopover. I’m sure he will be riding those again everytime we visit the mall, right daddy?

The Dive I Never Wanted

There are a lot of things that I have to do when we arrived here in our condo last night from our long vacation in Sto. Cristo and one of those is putting pillowcases on our pillows. While i was checking the pillowcases that  my sister washed last week, i left Benedict in the middle of our bed. I was not too afraid to do it because Benedict has mastered getting off the bed on his own and he was busy playing with his toy that time. But when i turn my back to check him, i was shocked to see him falling off the bed together with the bolster he was playing with. He fell forehead first facing the floor. I was really worried. It was a good thing that his chest landed on the bolster that’s why his head didn’t hit the floor that badly, but still, namula pa rin yung noo nya and he cried for a minute. He was not seriously hurt but as a mother, i was hurt seeing my baby crying and the fact that it was due to my negligence really made me feel bad and careless.

Busy Days

I’ve been very busy this past few days preparing for Benedict’s 1st Birthday Party which will happen in less than a month now.

Yesterday, I finished designing the invitations and printed some of the inserts and the patterns. Since the party’s theme is Mickey Mouse, I’ve decided to make a DIY invitation. i’ve been researching, conceptualizing and designing it for more than a month now and finally, i am able to finish the design.

Today I contacted again the caterer to schedule a food tasting on Sunday. It’s good that she is available on my chosen day. I was supposed to go to Divisoria tomorrow to buy some stuffs for the birthday preparation but since no driver is available to drive for me, i’ve decided to postpone it on Monday because it’s a holiday and Daddy can go with me. It’s also better if we go to Divisoria after i finalize everything with the caterer because there are still some things i need to discuss with her that would affect my visit to Divisoria.

I’ve been sleeping so late for a couple of days now because of the photobooks that i have to design and finish before September 7 because i need to send it to Photosnaps before the vouchers i bought online expires. There are 3 vouchers but i already used 1 for Benedict’s christening photos and i already have the finish product with me so that means i still need to finish 2 Photobooks. One is our Hong Kong Tour last November 2010 and the other is Benedicts photos from birth until he’s 11 month. I hope i could finish both in time.

Since the month of September is a wet season, i called Ms. Grace of Los Arcos again to check if the venue we reserved already have some tent or any kind of roof that could protect us if in case the rain pours on the celebration date. It’s good that we have a backup plan, rain of shine.

There are still a lot of things to do for my son’s party, I hope I could finish everything in time.

We’re Sick

I got sick after taking a bedtime bath last July 8. Until today, August 4, i still have asthma, cough and colds. I got fever for two days now. Almost 1 month sickness, the longest time I’ve known. Being sick for almost 1 month now is not so much of a concern to me because i could still manage to go to work, though i visited my pulmonologist, Dr. Hector Silos of Medical City Ortigas twice. What made me sad is that daddy and benoc also got sick a few days after me. cough and colds. Daddy visited a doctor once while benoc 4 times last july. It breaks my heart seeing my son as sick as he is. His lips are bleeding caused by dryness, his head is aching with fever, he can’t drink milk because of the clogged nose, and the on and off fever for a couple of days.

Thermometer

Benedict is having an on-and-off fever for almost a week now. And during those times that his body temperature seems hotter than normal, i need to be sure whether he needs a dose of Dolan Fr Forte, Paracetamol (Calpol), or Opigesic suppository by the help of a thermometer.

The instruction of his Pediatrician, Dr. Joseph Regalado of Cardinal Santos Medical Center, is to (1) give him 1.5 ml Dolan every 6 hrs for temperature between 38 – 38.5. (2) give him 1.0 ml Paracetamol (Calpol) every 6 hours for temperature between 38.6 – 39 and (3) use Opigesic 125mg suppository every 6 hours for temperature above 39 degrees.

While constantly checking and monitoring his temperature, i found out that different thermometers give different result. When we were at Cardinal Santos ER last Friday night, the attending physician advised us that they will release us if Benedict’s temperature will be lower after the sponge bath they administered. After 30 minutes, I measured his temperature using our digital thermometer that i brought along with us and his temperature was 38.9 but when the doctor used the Ear thermometer, they got 39.4. I was surprised kasi ang laki ng difference ng result. According to the doctor, the temperature that the ear thermometer got is more accurate than the digital thermometer i have. (By the way, that digital thermometer was provided by JDMH where i gave birth. It was part of the kit).

Ear Thermometer

Basal Digital Thermometer

Last Monday night, my sister, Ling-ling couldn’t find the digital thermometer so she used the old thermometer that i have. That is the glass type with mercury inside.

Mercury Thermometer

When I used the mercury thermometer, it says that Benedict’s temperature was 37.7. But i was not satisfied with the result because i can feel that Benedict is really hotter than that so i find the digital thermometer and it gave me a 38.3 measurement.

I was going crazy with all the figures i am getting using different type of thermometer.

Yesterday we were at Dr. Regalado’s clinic again for a followup checkup since Benedict’s fever is recurring, he advised us to always follow the higher temperature that we got. He even gave a short lecture regarding human temperature and that body temperature could change in a matter of seconds.

Finally, he advised us that if we should buy and invest in a thermometer, get a TEMPORAL ARTERY Thermometer. Same with the one that he is using in his clinic but his is a hospital grade that costs around US$350. A cheaper one is available in the market for home use.

Temporal Artery Thermometer (TAT)

Below is the information i got from the Exergen’s website regarding the TAT:

The TemporalScanner Thermometer is a totally non-invasive system with advanced infrared technology providing maximum ease of use with quick, consistently accurate measurements. Advanced, patented technology measures temperatures with a gentle stroke across the forehead.

The TemporalScanner Thermometer has been clinically tested for accuracy compared to rectal thermometers and temperature sensors inserted in the heart during course of patient treatment and accepted for use in major hospitals, making it the ideal thermometer for use with newborns, infants, children or adults.

The TemporalScanner has patented software, providing arterial heat balance. This unique process determines temperature by accurately measuring the balance between the tissues warming from arterial blood and tissues cooling (warming) caused by heat loss (gain) to the environment.

Why take temperature measurements at the skin surface over the temporal artery?

The best place to measure temperature is the center of the heart, but this can be done only under a doctor’s supervision. Doctors know that measurement of the blood temperature in a major artery accurately reflects true body temperature. The TemporalScanner Thermometer is designed to measure the temperature of the skin surface over the temporal artery, a major artery of the head.

The temporal artery is connected to the heart via the carotid artery, directly leading from the aorta, the main trunk of the arterial system. It offers constant blood flow. It is the only such artery positioned close enough to the skin surface to provide access needed to take an accurate measurement. It is easy to use because it is ideally located at the front portion of the forehead. The TemporalScanner is easier and gentler to use than other types of measurement devices such as oral, rectal, underarm and in-ear thermometers because it is truly non-invasive.

How does the TemporalScanner Thermometer work?

As you gently stroke the thermometer across the forehead crossing over the temporal artery, the sensor in its probe performs two processes:

First it scans like a video camera, capturing naturally emitted infrared heat from the arterial blood supply at about 1000 “frames” per second, locking in the highest temperature it senses and;

Second, at the same time, a patented system measures the ambient temperature of the site where the temperature is being taken. The patented “arterial heat balance” (AHB) software then synthesizes the two separate readings to accurately determine and display body temperature.

So, now i already know four (4) types of thermometer used to measure human’s body temperature. As to the accuracy issue, I think i’ll just have to follow what the doctor advised me. Always use the highest value as reference.

Start of the New Beginning!

I’ve been wanting to make a journal to chronicle my life in writing and have something to read when i get old.  I want to write about anything and everything that interests me: day by day life experiences, food and cooking, photography, travel and tours, parenting, womanhood, relationships, housekeeping, Christianity, etc.

Our Family

This journal will also be my way of preserving our family’s memories. I want to document everything that i think worth keeping and remembering specially my son, Benedict’s milestones as he gets older. One day i want to read to him part of this journal that says something about his development, his failures and achievements (yeah including failures so he would realize that victories are sweeter when you also know how it feels to fail), happy days, vacations and out of towns, and anything under the sun.

9th month photo

I am also hoping that keeping this journal or blogging would develop my vocabulary. I admit i have a very limited vocabulary and through this blog, i am hopeful that i’ll be learning new words/terms that i could add up to the list of words stored in my brain.  Nevertheless, i know that there will be times that i’ll be writing in tagalog or taglish too. It would be a great help if someone will correct my grammar and choice of words.  My english might be bad but i tell you, if i write in straight tagalog, it’s going to be a mess.

So, wish me luck!