YOU MAY BE IN LOVE IF....

One of the most common human experiences that two or more (depending on how ambitious you are) people can share is love. But, it's not always easy to tell if you are in like, lust or full blown, forever loving. With that in mind, I've created this list of signs that you may be crazy in love!

1. If you've ever stared deeply into the eyes of your significant other for more than 10 seconds without cracking up hysterically … you may be in love.

2. If every person in your life tells you that she/he's no good and you're mailman, pharmacist and local news station agrees, yet you think they are "just jealous" … you may be in love.

3. Guys: if you've taken the pictures of the other women in you're life off the walls, like the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition posters, Playmate of the month calendar, Monster Truck Rally 2005 … you may be in love.

4. Ladies: men can produce excessive amounts of eye watering, nose burning noxious odor from almost any food or drink, and then aren't above sharing it with others, especially at night. Knowing all this, and you STILL want to sleep in the same bed with him … you may be in love.

5. If your significant other asks you how they look in their new retro polyester lime green outfit and you say they look hot … you may be in love…. or you have a really strong self preservation instinct.


6. Guys: if you've ever given up washing and waxing that new car you just bought to watch "Sleepless in Seattle" with you're girlfriend/wife for the 20th time … you may be in love.

7. If you always remember every anniversary and birthday of your partner, and you're not female … you may be in love.

8. If you think the underwear and socks you get for your birthday and Christmas every year is a pleasant surprise … you may be in love.

9. If you thought the Sears Tool Set and rolling cabinet you got for your birthday was great idea, and you're not male ... you may be in love.

10. If you are taken to Burger King for a romantic dinner, and that doesn't bother you … you may be in love.

11. If you notice your local florist starts arriving at work in a limo since you became a customer ... you may be in love

12. If hearing "Honey, wheres my clean underwear?" brings tears of joy to your eyes ... you may be in love

But the easiest way to tell if you are in love is this: If there is no one on this planet that you would rather spend everyday of your life with than the one you are with … then you ARE in love!

Eon's Thanksgiving Celebration

July 30, 2010, Eon and Adi were having a fever and we took them to the Doctor. On our way home, it was the yaya who was holding Eon in the car and I didn't know that his fever was already so high. When we got home, the yaya put Eon on the bed and I laid beside him so I can take a nap. Just when I was about to lie down, Eon starting shaking and he was already having a seizure. It's been a month since Eon had his last seizure, and I blamed myself for not checking his temperature right away and give him his medicine. The seizure lasted for about 20 or more seconds and he cried right after. I immediately gave him a dose of Paracetamol and his maintenance meds, Phenobarbital and Valproic Acid. His maintenance meds wasn't due for at least an hour, but I decided to give it to him earlier than usual so he doesn't have another seizure attack. At that moment, I prayed and asked God to make that his last Seizure attack. I also said in my prayer that I would throw a Thanksgiving Celebration after 1 year of Eon being seizure free. God fulfilled that promise, and I also fulfilled my end of the deal.

A year has passed since Eon had his last seizure attack, and We hosted a Thanksgiving celebration last July 31, 2011. I didn't invite that much people. I only invited our closest friends who were there during our darkest moments. The people who prayed and fasted for Eon's healing and recovery, after all, it was our means of saying "Thank You" to those who witnessed what the whole family went through and prayed with us throughout the ordeal. I personally invited LB Tabo Small Group # 2,the Four Corners, who sang a Thanksgiving song, and Pastor & Mrs. Sagabay. It was Pastor Sagabay who annointed Eon when he was at the hospital, and it was just fitting that he was the one to conduct the Thanksgiving message. It was a very intimate moment, joined by our closest friends to celebrate the gift of life and normalcy that God gave to my baby Eon.

6 TIPS FOR STRESSED OUT MOMS

Are you stressed out? Could you use a break? If I gave you a nickel for every time you heard the word Moooommmmmyyyy - would you be rich? Well, we have all been there! With babies, toddlers and older children to care for along with cooking meals, paying bills, cleaning and playing taxi, finding time for yourself may seem impossible and when you do find a few quiet minutes, many of us are at a loss for what to do.

Taking time out to recharge your batteries is just what you need. So, what's stopping you? Leave your chores behind, just for a little while, and give yourself permission to take a much needed time-out.

Here are just a few of my favorite Stress-Busters:

Put yourself in time out: Allow some alone time for yourself. Use this time to focus on you. Find a place in your home that you can go to and find privacy. You can ask your partner or a friend to take the family out for a few hours while you enjoy your alone time. Do nothing, sleep, read, watch a movie, and just enjoy your solitude.

Talk to a friend: When you are feeling stressed, lean on a good friend. Sit down and enjoy a good conversation, a cup of coffee or a girls day out pampering yourself. Moms find great comfort, support and love in the company of close friends.

Play: As adults, we sometimes forget the beneficial value of play. Play stimulates our imagination, encourages our creativity, boosts our energy, and best of all, it is fun. Try a game of tennis, a game of cards online or perhaps invite some friends over for an evening of adult board games.

Meditate: Meditation has been proven to reduce your blood pressure, and helps to dramatically reduce your stress level. Meditation and/or prayer will help you to keep in touch with your spiritual side. Meditation is a very effective method of relaxation. To meditate, quiet your mind and allow yourself to focus on one thing, such as your breath. Find a relaxed comfortable position where Try visualizing good health and peace as you inhale. While you are breathing out breathe out all of your stress. Set aside approximately 20 minutes for this exercise. Upon completion, you will see just how much more relaxed your mind and body is.

Take a nap: Find a quiet, comfortable spot and take a nap. Even a short power nap can leave you feeling refreshed, renewed, and more focused. Studies have shown that people who spent 30 minutes each day napping had one third less heart disease than those who didn't nap.

Eat: Not just anything but certain things. Studies show that certain foods can help reduce stress. Carbohydrates, will actually soothe you. Good sources of carbohydrates include rice, pasta, potatoes, breads, air-popped popcorn and low-calorie cookies. Experts suggest that the carbohydrates present in just one baked potato or a cup of spaghetti or white rice, is enough to relieve the anxiety of a stressful day.


Source: Readbud

Child Beating

Another article from readbud that I like..

A majority of parents beat their children. Many school teachers punish children to correct them. They do it to teach them properly and make them good citizens of this world. How many of these parents and teachers themselves are good citizens of this world? How many of them themselves know what is right and what is wrong? How many have the knowledge of happy existence and how many have the right to beat a child?

No one. Absolutely, no one has any right to beat a child. They beat the child, because the child does not retaliate. The child is helpless. The child is at their mercy. The parents and teachers take advantage of this and sadistically take out their own frustrations on the children. What if they try doing this to someone of their age and strength? They will get it back. That is why they don't do that. They look for helpless children, find faults and beat. This is inhuman.

In any civilized society such practices should be punishable. A child is like a flower. The child needs love, care and proper guidance. No beating and no harsh words. A child does not come into the world to learn things, solve sums and become a scientist overnight. A child comes to this world to make this world a better place with its innocence and curiosity.

Why not beat everyone on the earth, who needs correction? And who does not need correction? Ask any boss, and according to them, all the assistants need some correction. Ask any married person and they will tell you thousand deficiencies of their partner. Ask a leader and they will tell you how all the opposition leaders are bankrupt in their thinking. And find out about the Presidents and Prime Ministers from the opposition leaders and you will get an earful.

The whole world needs correction. Next time, before a child is beaten, let us line up all the citizens of this world and correct all of them. Who will do that? No one is left out. Better stop touching a child. That should be the message to all the parents and teachers. Let this practice stop forever in all the countries.

My Prayer for tonight...

I have been a member of readbud.com where you get to read and rate articles for a certain amount of money, more often than not, I just rate articles without actually reading them, I only read articles that has an eye catching title, articles of spirituality, parenthood and entertainment. I really like this prayer that was posted under Spirituality, and I want to share this to those who read my blog.. Unfortunately, I could not give credit to the author because it doesn't show who the author is...


God. Thank you for the day today. God, I tried to do everything to the best of my abilities. I may have done few things right and others wrong. Please forgive me, my mistakes and please reward me for my successes if you so desire.

God, I want to forget today and get up fresh tomorrow. I also want to forget all of my past. God, I want to love tomorrow as if it is my birthday. I want to treat tomorrow as my new birth and forget all of my past. This will help me live life in a new way every day without any burden of the past. God, please help me doing this. God, There are many incidents of my past which were very bad when they occurred. But today, I don't even remember them. I want to do this to all my incidents of today. I don't want them to fade away from my memory slowly. But I want to bury them now. God, please help me doing that.

God, Please give me new ideas tomorrow. Please give me a new outlook. Let me treat all the obstacles as challenges. Let me enjoy fighting with them rather than getting frustrated by them. God, please give me a new way of looking at the things. Let all the situations be a test situation for me. Rather than getting annoyed and irritated, let me look at them as my adversaries that have to be outwitted by me. Let me do this in a playful way.

God, let me do this everyday. God, let me pray to you in the same way everyday. God thank you very much...

My Miracle Baby Part III: EON'S JOURNEY: After the hospital

Eon was discharged along with his maintenance medicine as follows:

Depakene - 1 ml, 3x a day
Dilantin - 1 ml, 2x a day
Phenobarbital, 30 mg tab, once a day

I was beginning to fear what damages these medicines might do my baby's liver, or kidney, he's just 4 months old and he's already taking too much medicine, but I wouldn't dare not administering any of them because of the risks that the seizures would come back.

A few days after we were discharged, we decided to bring Eon to Davao for him to be checked by Dr. Agbisit, the Child Neurologist. We wanted her opinion about Dr. Decolongon's suspicion that Eon might have Microcephaly. We would also take him to another Child Neurologist, Dr. Acosta, for a 3rd opinion. My brother in law volunteered to drive us to Davao and we were thankful because we didn't have to take the bus.

Dr. Agbisit was not available so we went straight to Dr. Acosta. We showed her Eon's CT Scan results and she wasn't convinced that Eon has Microcephaly, but she has another suspicion. She said that due to the shape of Eon's head, it was more likely that he has a condition called "Craniosynostosis", it's a condition where there is early or premature fusion of the fontanelles which causes the head to be deformed and the brain would not have room enough to grow, which in turn would be the cause of Microcephaly.

Dr. Acosta ordered another Cranial CT-Scan, but this time it has to be with contrast, which means that a contrast agent - a dye, is going to be administered intravenously to Eon to highlight his brain including the bone structure to see if there is indeed a premature fusion of the fontanelles. This type of CT-Scan costs double than the one without the contrast. Dr. Acosta also started to taper his intake of Dilantin, reducing the dosage on a weekly basis, and in a month, Eon wouldn't have to take the drug anymore.

That same day, we went home to Gensan figuring out our next move. We decided to go back in a month for his CT-Scan because we still have to find the funds for that. I started to research on Craniosynostosis on the internet and found that a lot of Cranio-babies have been treated in the US by using a non-invasive procedure, or even with surgery. I was already trying to prepare myself just in case the Doctor is right and I was doing research on how it can be treated here in the Philippines. And how much money it would cost. I even started to make a list of the people and institutions that I would turn to for financial assistance, just in case, my list included Manny Pacqiao, relatives in the US, government agencies and non-profit organization. But I never stopped praying, and not in a single moment that I doubted God's divine intervention. With my whole heart, I believed that whatever the result of the CT-Scan would be, God would intervene.. Even if it turns out positive, I know that God will make a way for Eon to be treated and that he will turn out fine and grow like every other kid in the neighborhood.

The CT-Scan with contrast would cost Php 9500.00, plus the Anesthesiologist's fee. Eon has to be sedated so the contrast can be administered, thus the need for an Anesthesiologist. We were estimating the total cost to be at around 15,000, that is if there is no complication and we don't get confined or admitted at the hospital. For some, 15,000 is just a small amount, but for us who have been in and out of the hospital for the last three months, it was already so hard to find. My online job wasn't doing so good and my husband's sales is not doing so good either because of the summer season.

I was told that the Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corporation (PAGCOR)also gives medical financial assistance, just like the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). I didn't go to PCSO right away because it's just been a month since they gave us financial assistance for Eon's hospital stay and I knew for a fact that they don't give out financial assistance to the same person unless it's been more than 6 months. I couldn't get any information as to what the PAGCOR requirements are for medical financial assistance, I was asking around, I went to the local Barangay and I went to the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). There, I was told to go to PCSO because they might know what the PAGCOR requirements are. I decided to go to PCSO and brought my friend, Blondee Resuena-Canizares with me to PCSO office since she knows one of the Social Workers in PCSO, her name is Karen. We told her that we wanted to seek assistance from PAGCOR and asked if they have the requirements, Karen said they don't have it and that you have to go directly to PAGCOR's main office in Manila if you are going to ask for medical financial assistance. However, Karen said that the might be able to help us get another financial assistance from PCSO. I don't know how she did it, but she gave us a set of requirements and when I submitted all the requirements a week later, I was given a Letter of Guarantee from PCSO addressed Davao Doctor's Hospital stating that they will cover 10,000 for Eon-s CT-Scan. I was in tears, I was amazed at the goodness of these people. I have never bought a lottery ticket in my entire life, I even used to think that people are just wasting money by gambling or putting stakes in the lottery, and yet, the institution that organizes these lotteries is the one who has helped us financially tremendously. I made a pact to myself to buy at least one lottery ticket per week just so I can somehow give back and it might also help the others like us who are desperately needing money for medical purposes.

A few days later, we went back to Davao. We had to take the bus because we don't have our own car and My sister was giving birth to his second child so my brother in-law is not able to drive us all the way to Davao. It was only me, my husband and Eon, we left at around 4.30 am so we would arrive in Davao before 8 am. Upon arriving in Davao, we had to go straight to the PCSO office there so the Director in Davao can endorse our Letter of Guarantee from PCSO Gensan. We arrived at Davao Doctor's Hospital at around 10 am and they scheduled the CT-Scan at 3 pm. We were told to look for a Pedia-Anesthesiologist. Luckily there was one in the medical building in the hospital compound. However, when we got to his office, it was closed and there was a note sticking to the door with a cellphone number. I called the number, and it was the Doctor's secretary, she told us that the Doctor is scheduled to go to Manila in the afternoon and might not be available to assist us. We told her that we had to travel all the way from Gensan just for this and she gave me the Doctor's number. I called the Doctor, his name is Doctor Palabyab, and he was kind enough to accommodate us. He said that he had a 7 pm flight to Manila and he can still take Eon in as a patient. We were so glad and thankful that despite our unscheduled appointment, he was still very willing to make time for Eon.

I wasn't allowed in the CT-Scan laboratory. Unlike his first CT Scan in Gensan where I was allowed inside and I was able to take pictures of Eon. I was told it won't take very long, but it has been half an hour since they took Eon inside the lab and I was getting anxious and worried. I wanted to pound on the door and ask them what's taking too long. I knew from experience that the CT-Scan itself only takes less than 10 minutes, I was worried that something might have gone wrong with Eon's sedation.

45 minutes later, the Doctor called me in and said they were done. He informed that they had to double the dosage of Propofol for Eon to be sedated because he just wouldn't sleep. As a matter of fact, he did not sleep at all, even with the high dosage (later I found out that it was the same drug that Michael Jackson used when he overdosed). I was scared, because although Eon was awake, he seemed disoriented and groggy, just a few minutes after I carried Eon in my arms, he went right to sleep. We were asked to stay at the hospital and the Doctor instructed the Resident on Duty to keep a close eye on Eon and not allow us to be discharged until he wakes up and his heart rate stabilizes. I don't know what else they were keeping an eye on but I held Eon the whole time and never took my eyes off him. I was so afraid he would stop breathing. I kept on praying for Eon to wake up soon so I would know that he is fine and so we can go home.

An hour later, Eon finally opened his eyes and we were so happy. We called the doctor and she checked his vital signs, she asked us to stay for another half an hour just to be sure that Eon is ok. At around 8 pm, we were finally allowed to go home.

We can't go back to Gensan that same night because we had to go back for the results the following day. We stayed at an old Family Friend, a dentist, Dr. Leila Tasin and her family, who have been good friends of my parents.

The following day, we went to the hospital at around 9 am and we were told that the results would be out in an hour. We went to have our breakfast first then went back to the hospital after an hour. When we asked for the results, the technician said he already submitted it, but they couldn't find it. We had to wait for another 30 minutes for them to find it and in the end, they decided to make a reprint of the film because they couldn't find it anymore. The mystery of Eon's CT-Scan results.

We took it to Dr. Acosta so she can interpret the results. I had mixed emotions, what if it were positive? Am I really that prepared? Finally, Doctor Acosta called us in and read the results. It was NEGATIVE! I wanted to cry right then and there but I couldn't, I had to keep my composure.. I couldn't explain the happiness I felt, and It was then that I decided to stop looking for the reason why Eon was having seizures. I just accepted the fact that he had a Seizure Disorder and we don't know why. The most important thing is that he does not have Microcephaly and / or Craniosynostosis. My baby is ok.. He is fine.. The doctor said that with the proper medication and maintenance, the seizures will just go away and he will outgrow it.

This happened a year ago, April of 2010. Eon did have a few seizures after that, He had one seizure on May, another one in June, and one on July 30th 2010. But that was the last time.. It has been 9 months that Eon has been seizure free. Although he's still taking his maintenance medicines, I know that in God's time, he will be free of that as well, as a matter of fact, his maintenance of Phenobarbital has been tapered from 30 mg a day to 15 mg a day, to 7.5 mg day, and he's only been taking it every other day for two weeks now and tomorrow will be his last dose, which would then just leave Depakene (Valproic Acid) his maintenance drug.

Prayers are powerful. Never underestimate the power of prayer and the power of God. My friends would tell me that I have been so strong during this ordeal, but I could never have done it without God. It was He who gave me the strength, it was He who saved Eon.. Thank you Jesus, to God be the Glory!

Picture story of Eon's Journey..

Eon at Birth December 7, 2009. For us, he is the most beautiful baby boy ever... Our gift from God..

Eon's first hospital stay, Dec. 12-22, 2009. Hated to see him being pricked..

Eon during his Electroencephalogram test (EEG), Dec. 29, 2009. Thank God the results came out normal, however, we were still baffled as to why he was having seizures and we were back at square one.

Eon during his CT Scan, March 22, 2010. The results also came out normal, thank God..

Eon's 3rd and last hospital stay, March 20-April 7, 2010.

April 14, 2010. A week after being discharged from the hospital, Eon is now a smiling, happy baby boy..

Glory be to God!!

My Miracle Baby part II... Blessings pouring in..

April 7, 2010, Eon's 4-month birthday, marks the end of our 18 day hospital stay. It's been the most trying time of our life, and we are just so happy that at long last, we are going home. However, it wasn't that easy to get out of the hospital. We have to pay the bill. Our hospital bill came at a total of 54,000++, minus Philhealth Insurance, the total was 36,260.03 and that's what we have to pay the hospital in order to get out. We have been paying for the medicines in cash since the early days of our hospital stay and we were totally depleted. God never failed to provide us with our needs during our hospital stay. I wasn't working and my husband's meager income is barely able to make ends meet, but God showed his miracle through the people around us, Our family, our friends and the brethren in our church who always prays for us. My parents sold a parcel of land they've owned for 15 years just to help us pay for our hospital bill. A good of friend of mine, Heije Lascuña, who is a nurse in the USA bought the land and made a huge downpayment and we used that to pay our bill. Also another good friend since my childhood days, Blondee Resuena-Canizares, helped me process my paper work for financial assistance at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and they shouldered 10,000 of our hospital bill which was a really big help. A brother of my husband, who is working as a traffic controller also gave 3,000.

I will forever bear my gratefulness to all the people who helped us financially, morally and spiritually. I thank all the brethren, our Group 2 small group organization in L.B Tabo SDA church who never tire of praying for us every meeting and during church services. To my parents who have been so supportive and for taking care of my Eldest daughter, Adi during our hospital stay. My sisters with their husbands and families, our friends... To you we will forever be grateful..

My sister's family during one of their visits...

I wished I could have taken photos of all the friends and relatives who came to visit but it never crossed my mind at the time.. Nevertheless, you will always be in my heart and I will forever remember that at one point in my life, you made that difference...

My Miracle Baby.. continued

A year ago today, April 4, we were sitting at 310 of Mindanao Medical Center, waiting for Doctor's orders to be discharged. Eon has not had any seizures for the past 5 days and we were so happy with his improvement. He is beginning to smile again and I can remember being amazed at how fast he grew even if we were in the hospital. He did not lose weight, as a matter of fact, he even gained some..






Making sure Eon does not have fever...