The most scary thing that can happen when you are a parent is when your child gets sick and you feel very powerless about it. Marchesa and I feel the same way when it comes to Emma’s sickness. Even if it’s just a little cold, or a fever, I wish I was an empath and be able to take away her sickness for myself (you have  to be Level 65 Fire Empath).

Kidding aside, last Sunday Emma had an episode, we still don’t know what triggered it but we had to rush her to the Emergency Room because she can’t breathe anymore. That morning Marchesa noticed that she was breathing weirdly through her stomach. You can actually hear a some wheezing as she inhales and exhales through her mouth. We decided to call her primary physician to get some advice but since it’s a Sunday and there was no way for me to contact him. I ended up leaving a message in their machine.

Two hours later we decided to drive up to Princeton so we can easily take her to her Doctor. On our way up just as we were going into 295, Emma started dry heaving. We turned back and rushed into the the ER of Kennedy Hospital in Washington Township. They had to go through a series of tests to see what was going on. They had to give her a steroid that would open her breathing passageways so she could breathe again normally.

After 1 dose of that steroid and 20 minutes in the nebulizer, Emma was her old self again. A fireball. Just in time for her Wowo and Wowa to come and visit. The doctor sent us on our way armed with a nebulizer just in case Emma goes through that again.

She was fine yesterday, making her animals talk to each other. Playing in her "Baby House" (I placed a blanket over her crib), playing with her train set, talking up a storm, climbing up the sofa and jumping to the floor, talk some more, well you get the picture. she’s A-OK now. Thanks for all your calls and prayers.

On a different note, that same day marked my 9th year here in the US. I came here January 27th, 1999 at Philly International to work. 9 years later, I was just as uncertain and scared with what was going to happen. It’s weird, and it happened on the same day.

I must admit that compared to 9 years ago, I was as scared but no longer uncertain and I can give you two reasons, Marchesa and Emma.

Praise God, Em’s ok. 

This morning, after having a cold for 2 days, em woke up looking lethargic, breathing irregularly, as if her stomach was pumping up and down quickly and shortly.  she looked like she was out of breath, esp. when she spoke, like a person with asthma. we admitted her to the emergency room, where a doctor diagnosed her, saying that her symptoms looked like a respiratory viral infection, which is common in children at this time of year, esp. to kids who also have mild eczema.  they took x-rays, gave her something to expand the passageways in her lungs to admit more airflow, AND administered a nebulizer.  after following the protocol, (and motrin), she felt much better and breathed better, not perfectly but more normal.  we’ll be following up w/ her pediatrician this week just to see how she’s doing.  we also got homework: to use the take home nebulizer and some medicine to open up airflow.

the doctor also mentioned that this could be emma’s first asthmatic episode- MAYBE…since perze’s family has a history of asthma…but it’s not the final diagnosis, just a probability that we can conclude once she’s had numerous similar episodes.

but we’re just very relieved that it wasn’t too serious, and the staff who handled us and emma was really friendly and informative.  we were all also surprised that she was so sociable w/ everyone, despite her condition.  also, my parents came to make her smile during a very tough time.  the good news is that on her medical report, it says that she "may return to school in 1-2 days."

we just want to thank everyone who prayed for her- our families, our friends, the choir, and the church family.  we are really appreciative for your care. 

for other parents, some information:
her symptoms: muscle aches (tummy), fever, common cold, sore throat, cough, poor appetite, watery eyes, wheezing, irregular breathing.

for more info, one of my close friends (em’s ninang) gave me info regarding her condition, since she works in the infants hosp. wing (thanks chelle!!):

•  http://www.rsvinfo.com/

• https://www.synagis.com/rsv-protection.aspx

don’t let the title trick you, there’s absolutely NO PORN or NUDITY in this book; read the description below.  i love the idea of this book. once i read what it was about, i laughed out loud and showed perze, who smirkingly shot me a look of friendly contempt.  although i don’t think i’d really buy the book, it’s one of those things you could give to friends for some friendly inside jokes and future conversations. 

I Love It When You Talk Clean To Me
PORN FOR WOMEN
There he was as he vacuumed the carpet…and she hadn’t even asked him to.
Women everywhere will laugh out loud and completely relate to this sexy and smart Porn For Women book. Compiled by the clever ladies at Cambridge Women’s Pornography Cooperative, this book is not only hilarious, but it challenges traditional ideas of pornography and what is sexy.
With photos of strapping young men doing housework strewn across the pages and accompanied by quotes such as "Have another piece of cake. I don’t like you looking so thin" or "Want to snuggle?" this book is a fun gift for women everywhere - and will give the menfolk a little insight into what women really want.
This book contains no nudity.

Found: Uncommon Goods
Price: $12.00

some of my personal favorites:

want to celebrate your relationship, while symbolizing it as a medicine pill and calming espresso containers?  i thought this was pretty cool to get as a couple…you store it and take it out as a pill (together), then separate it as you share that warm caffeine beverage.  it’s adorable, and probably looks great in your cabinets (considering you buy at least five…

Found: UncommonGoods.com
Price:  $35

isn’t she cute?

today, her flower girl dress (2/3T) arrived for one of the weddings she’s in this summer.  once she tried it on, she didn’t want to take it off.  she twirled in it, waltzed in it, and even wanted to sleep in it.  so since she loved it so much, we had our own little photo session.  so like a doting mother, i took tons of pictures and put up my favorites on our twelvesixteen gallery. 

she absolutely loves the dress.  she looks adorable; now the problem is getting her to walk down that aisle w/ a huge smile on her face.

the best thing about this dress, aside from the fact that this style would be the same I myself would wear if i could choose a bridesmaid’s dress (or shorter), is that it’s completely affordable.  looking at dresses online for retail, or in a boutique, i would have to shell about $99-$140.  luckily, i look for sales online, which i usually find (hence my reputation for being a personal shopper).  so i found this dress for under $40- for a soft satin feel dress!  it looks very formal. plus! (another one?) plus! the belt comes off, so you can always replace it w/ a colored sash ribbon to match the bride’s theme. 

i’m truly in love w/ this dress for my daughter. and kudos to the bride for approving the dress too!

what do you think ?

I remember when I was a kid, maybe around 7 years old when I used to have evening walks with my grandpa. He would talk about a wide range of topics. He was a Minister for the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) in the Lanao del Norte area before he retired, which probably explains his gift of gab. One thing that I can fondly remember during our conversations was that he has intricate knowledge of the constellations.

He’d always know where the North star was. So in case he gets lost, he just looks up and immediately knows where he is based on the position of the constellations. I remember that he never respects the roads. He’d go through a thicket with his trusty machete if it’s on his way as long as he can go to that one direction that will lead him home.

Growing up, I used to look up and look at Orion’s Belt (the three-star-cluster that’s next to each other in the image) and from there know where our house was. Last night as I was walking home from the bus stop I invariably looked up in the frosty but very clear night sky and saw Orion right above our apartment building. It was symbolic for me because from where I was standing (Facing West South West) my parents house used to be behind me, but from that vantage point I see the apartment ahead of me.

In essence I was going away from my home to my home.

pre-baby & pre-perze, i’d frequently get calls from friends who need to talk or need advice.   even in college, 3am conversations weren’t rare, esp. if someone was going through something personal.  i quickly gained the reputation of the one who people went to if you needed someone to listen.  i never really felt bothered if someone needed a place to stay, or if i was awakened very late at night. 

after college, having worked w/ the youth ministry for many many years now, it’s still the same thing.  they know that our line is readily available if they need to call or if they need help.  a few have taken that opportunity and called me very late into the night, sometimes being fortunate to reach me, and some- unfortunate to catch us in a very sleepy night that we didn’t hear the phone ring.  sometimes, they are very serious matters, and a few times, just to ask for directions…hahah…but nevertheless, we always make it a point that our lines are open for them.  working w/ the youth, i know how serious some talks can be.

one thing i am thankful for is marrying someone who has the same heart as i do when it comes to helping people.  even now, being 1:31am, he’s acting as tech support for one of our friends who is trying to retrieve data from their laptop that’s failed to start.  i’m also glad that he supports that part of my ministry- the part that sometimes demands "after sundays." 

in church, we’re become the "go to" couple…more him than me when it comes to tech stuff, program stuff, web stuff, etc…even other churches are referred to him when they have a question.  but that’s not really what i admire (although yes, it is one of the things i am hugely thankful for, having my own tech support for a wide spectrum of things), it’s because he will always try to help people to his capability.  he’s been this way pre-baby, pre-marchesa, too…

so it’s a partnership we have- keeping our light on for people…
before i married perze, i’ve been like that, and now, i’m glad i found someone who does it too…