Monday, December 26, 2011

Megabloks

I bought a Megabloks with cart and 50 pieces blocks as a gift to my son Carl for Christmas.  He loves to organize and stack things so i thought of giving him a toy that he will truly enjoy. He and his siblings share the toy and it builds their cooperation and imagination in creating something out of the blocks. Plus, it also builds their being organize because after they play, they would put the blocks back to the cart.



Monday, December 5, 2011

Sephora Palette

Here's an advance Christmas gift from my husband all the way from Dubai. I was really excited when he told me he bought something for me this Christmas because i know that he knows what i really love and here it is!


The palette's warm hues, from bronze to pale pink colors

It also have some dark colors

The left and right eyeshadow palettes

Under the eyeshadow palette is a lip palette 
with a range of different colors
It also have 3 color blushes 


The left side of the palette also have lip palettes 
with hues from pink to dark red and maroon.
Under the lip palette is a compartment 
filled with cream color eyeshadows and eyeliners

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Chocolates!


Whoa! This was what's inside the box sent by my hubby all the way from Dubai. Yumyum!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Box of surprises


A box from Dubai sent by my husband just arrived today. The kids are so excited to see what's inside..could it be a toy? clothes? hmm.. :)

Friday, December 2, 2011

Penguins!

Last November 30, I took the kids to Manila Ocean Park as a treat for my son Daniel's 3rd birthday. This time, we chose the Trails to Antartica exhibit. This was the first time the kids would see a live penguin. They were so happy because  they had the chance to see what penguins really looked like aside from what they have watched on happy feet movie and penguins of madagascar TV show in nickelodeon. The attraction is so cold that we have to wear 2 jackets. We've experienced winter for the first time! 


Saturday, October 29, 2011

Fun at Manila Ocean Park

Last October 24,  I took the kids to Manila Ocean Park together with my mom and my in-laws for a post celebration of Carl's 4th birthday. I planned the visit a month before his birthday and have chosen the oceanarium attraction so the kids will see live sea animals. On our way to the place, we have driven to a fast food chain so we can order meals we would eat at the parking area. When we were there at the attraction, the kids were so happy to see live fishes swimming in the aquarium. The first we saw was a giant arwana about 10 feet long and 5 feet wide. The kids were ecstatic! then we went to another set of aquariums filled with different kinds of fishes like angel fish, milk fish, sea horses, sharks and many more. They were so happy and mesmerized by the beauty and wonder of the sea creatures. It is important that we take our kids to educational places like this so they will have a knowledge what are the other sea creatures look like aside from what they usually see on TV. They should know that the sea is a home to millions of sea creatures like corals, planktons, sea urchins, jelly fishes, and other species of fishes and that they could help in taking care of the sea by not throwing garbage to the sea. Also, it is also important that we educate them about the possible effects of water pollution to sea creatures.




My Carl waving to a diver. :)




My Daniel and Stephen awed by the wonders of sea creatures.





A view of Manila Bay 

Friday, June 17, 2011

Eyeglasses for kids

A week after my eldest son Carl's eye operation, we're now preparing his eyes for the eye glasses. He now wears goggles after a week of wearing an eye patch on his left eye. His eye suture is healing and then maybe 2 weeks or a month after the operation, he will be given a prescription glasses for his strabismus and improve his sight. I've search the net for some eyeglass ideas for kids, something that will last long and wont be broken. I have found some things to consider when buying an eyeglass frame for children in allaboutvision.com.

1. Lens Thickness

The eyeglass prescription is always the primary consideration in choosing glasses. Before you start looking for the frames, consult with the optician about lens considerations.

If the prescription calls for strong lenses that are likely to be thick, it is important to keep the frames as small as possible to reduce the final lens thickness. Also, smaller lenses tend to have fewer higher-order aberrations near the edge of the lens than large lenses of the same material and prescription, so there is less risk of blurred or distorted peripheral vision.

2. Fashion Forward

Whether they are full- or part-time eyeglass wearers, most kids get at least a little teasing about their specs, especially the first time they wear them. So it's very important that they avoid frames that make them look "uncool." You also should steer your child away from frames that clearly are objectionable, too expensive or inappropriate.

Just keep in mind that the real object is to get your child to wear the glasses. Extra enticement may be found in ultra cool features like photochromic lenses with tints that darken outdoors, which may help inspire any child to want to wear glasses.


3. Plastic or Metal?

Children's frames are made of either plastic or metal (also called "wire"). Double bridges are found on boys' frames, while frames with single bridges are either unisex or strictly for girls. Many manufacturers copy adult styles for children's frames. Kids may be attracted to these styles because they look more grown-up. It's not unusual for kids to ask for glasses that look just like Mom's or Dad's.
In the past, plastic frames were a better choice for children because they were considered more durable, less likely to be bent or broken, lighter in weight and less expensive.

But now manufacturers are making metal frames that incorporate these features as well. Metal composition varies, so ask the optician which one is best for your child, based on experience with different alloys. Ask for hypoallergenic materials if your child has shown sensitivity to certain substances. For example, some people are allergic to frame alloys that contain nickel.


4. Proper Bridge Fit

One of the toughest parts about choosing suitable frames for young children is that their noses are not fully developed, so they don't have a bridge to prevent plastic frames from sliding down. Metal frames, however, usually are made with adjustable nose pads, so they fit everyone's bridge.

Most manufacturers recognize this difficulty with plastic frames and make their bridges to fit small noses.

Each frame must be evaluated individually to make sure it fits the bridge. If any gaps exist between the bridge of the frame and the bridge of the nose, the weight of the lenses will cause the glasses to slide, no matter how well the frame seems to fit before the lenses are made.

It is important that the glasses stay in place, because kids tend to look right over the tops of the lenses instead of pushing slipping glasses back up where they belong. Your optician usually is the best judge of whether a frame fits properly.


5. The Right Temple Style

Temples that wrap all the way around the back of the ear help keep glasses from sliding down or dropping off a child's face completely.

These wraparound temples, called "cable temples," generally are available on metal frames and are especially helpful to keep glasses in place on toddlers.

Another option is a strap that goes around the head.

Eyeglasses with cable temples and/or straps are not a good choice for part-time wearers, however, because they are a bit more awkward to put on and take off. For glasses that go on and off frequently, it is better to have regular, or "skull," temples that go straight back and then curve gently around the back of the ear.


6. Spring Hinges

A nice feature to look for is temples with spring hinges. These special hinges allow the temples to flex outward, away from the frames, without causing any damage. Although they sometimes cost a bit more, spring hinges can be a worthwhile investment for children's eyewear.

Kids are not always careful when they put on and take off glasses, and spring hinges can help prevent the need for frequent adjustments and costly repairs. They also come in handy if the child falls asleep with the glasses on or just has a rough day at play. Spring hinges are strongly recommended for toddlers, who sometimes get carried away playing with their new glasses.
7. Lens Material

Once you and your child agree on frames that you both like, the next consideration is the lenses.

Children's lenses should be made of polycarbonate or a material called Trivex, because these lightweight materials are significantly more impact-resistant than other lens materials.

In addition to being the safest materials, they also are lighter in weight than regular plastic lenses, a nice advantage for strong prescriptions.

Polycarbonate and Trivex have built-in protection against potentially damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays, and the lenses are scratch-resistant coated by the manufacturer or fabrication lab.

The price for polycarbonate lenses generally is comparable to the cost for regular plastic lenses with UV and scratch-resistant coatings. And with polycarbonate, kids get that extra margin of safety to protect their eyes. Keep in mind that Trivex lenses may cost a little more than polycarbonate.

The least desirable material for your child's lenses is glass. Although it must be treated for impact resistance, glass still shatters when it breaks, and broken glass — even safety glass — is a hazard to the eye. Glass lenses also are significantly heavier, which makes them less comfortable to wear.
Because of safety and liability issues, most optical stores in the United States do not sell children's eyewear with glass lenses.


8. Sports Eyewear

Polycarbonate is such a safe lens material that you may be tempted to let your child play sports in his regular glasses.

Here's the drawback: Although polycarbonate is the lens material used for sports eyewear, regular eyeglass frames do not provide enough protection from large objects such as balls and flying elbows. So if your kid is involved in sports, a proper sports goggle with polycarbonate lenses will provide the best protection against eye injury.

To provide optimum protection, sports goggles must be fitted properly — so consult with an eye care professional before making a purchase. Although it sounds counter-intuitive, a sports goggle should have a larger vertical eye opening, rather than a smaller one. If an impact should occur and the goggles are pushed toward the face, a large eye opening keeps the impact points far above and below the eyes. With a small opening, however, the goggle hits right at the edge of the eye socket, which can damage the globe of the eye.


9. Warranties

Many optical retailers offer a warranty plan that will replace eyewear at no charge or for a small fee in case of damage to the frames or lenses. Consider opting for the warranty, especially if your child is a toddler or a first-time wearer.

Be aware, however, that not all warranty plans are the same. Check lens replacement costs with and without the warranty plan. Generally, if the warranty costs you less or about the same amount as the fee to replace one single lens, it is worth the price.

Make sure the lens warranty includes a replacement provision if the lenses become badly scratched from normal wear. In addition to causing glare and blurred vision, surface scratches can compromise the impact resistance of the lenses, putting your child's eyes at risk.


10. Backup Pair

Because children can be tough on their eyewear, it's always a good idea to purchase a second, or backup, pair of eyeglasses for them. This especially is true if your child has a strong prescription and cannot function without his or her glasses.

Ask your optician if special discounts apply for second pairs — they often do if the backup pair is purchased at the same time as the primary pair. In some cases, sports goggles can be used as a spare pair of glasses. Or, if your child's prescription has not changed significantly, keep his or her previous eyeglasses in a safe place for use as a spare.

If your child wears glasses full time (including outdoors), photochromic lenses or prescription sunglasses also should be considered to decrease glare, increase visual comfort and provide 100 percent protection from the sun's harmful UV rays.

To reduce costs, ask your optician if the lenses in your child's previous glasses can be tinted to transform them into sunglasses. If the prescription is essentially the same as your child's current glasses, this is a viable option to purchasing a new pair of prescription sunglasses.

Read more: http://www.allaboutvision.com/buysmart/kidseyewear.htm#ixzz1PWGWxRZi
For babies and toddlers,
this new Fisher-Price frame called Lollipop has
nose pads and cable temples that wrap snugly
around ears to hold eyeglasses in place. 

 
Mira-flex's Non metal components  reduce the risk of facial and eye trauma.
Great for Babies, toddlers, and sport activities.


Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Congenital Cataract

Last June 10, 2011, my eldest son was submitted to cataract surgery due to his congenital cataract that affected his left eye. For 3 years of his life, his left eye was blinded by the cataract and left him with only one eye to see. I could tell that he was having a hard time watching TV or looking at things because he was tilting his head to see clearly or rubbing his left eye in hopes of seeing clearly. Until that day, when we’ve finally brought him to the hospital for his scheduled operation after a series of checkups, after treating his primary Koch’s infection, and after earning the money that was needed to pursue the operation. We’re so glad that finally, he can see each and everyday with two clear eyes. I would like to share what is a congenital cataract, its causes and its treatment.

What is a cataract?
  • ·         It is a marked opacity of the lens.
  • ·         May be present at birth, or become apparent in early childhood

What are its causes?
  • ·         Steroid use
  • ·         Radiation exposure
  • ·         Galactosemia (inability to metabolize the lactose in milk)
  • ·         Rubella Virus (if the mother contracted the infection on the first trimester of her pregnancy)

Signs and Symptoms
  • ·         The pupil opening appears to be white (leukocoria)
  • ·         Older children may report blurred vision
  • ·         In infants, this could be detected by lack of response to a smile or inability to grasp or reach a nearby object.


Therapeutic management
  • ·         Surgical removal of the affected lens, followed by the insertion of internal intraocular lens
  • ·         Surgery should be done as early as 3 months of age. If not done before 6 months of age, amblyopia may result.
  • ·         After the surgery, introducing of fluids and food should be done cautiously to avoid or prevent vomiting as this may increase intraocular pressure (the pressure in the eye) and may injure the suture line in the eyes.

 source: Maternal and Child Health Nursing, 5th ed.2007 (Adele Pilliteri PhD, RN, PNP)

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Signs that your child loves you

Being a mom is a very rewarding job. It may be difficult but it’s worth the hardship especially when your child gives back the love that you’re always showing him. In my four years of being a mom I can say that I’ve already experienced being loved by my kids. Here are the signs.

Your infant stares at your face
Your baby loves to stare in your face memorizing each and every detail. He’s beginning to realize that you’re important and special though he doesn’t actually understand everything around him.

He misses you when you’re away
Your baby looks around to find you. He cries when you leave and smiles when you return.

Your baby smiles, hugs, and kisses you unexpectedly
Especially when he sees that you’re sad and lonely, your child will come to you and try to brighten your day when you feel so low. It’s his way of consoling you and telling you that he’s there to help-even by just being there.

He runs to you when he’s hurt
You will be the source of his comfort and his strength when he’s down. Just give him some encouragement, hug him, and console him. Tell him that it’s ok to fail and try again.

Your toddler wants to make you happy
 He’ll do everything just to see you smile and happy. He’ll try to help you with the house chores, give you a portion of the cookie he’s eating (which my kids actually do) or dance and sing you a song (which my kids also do).

He enjoys playing with you
Though he has developed friendships among his peers, still the single most important person he enjoys playing with is you. You can see this if he never gets tired playing with you and becomes upset when you’ve decided to end the game. Playing with your kid also develops a strong bond and a lasting friendship.

You become his confidante
He shares you his secrets, his ideas, and his embarrassing experiences, or he just want to talk to you about everything around him.

He gives you a gift
A drawing of the family, a star grade from school, a flower, a shell, or anything that he sees beautiful will be his way of showing you that you’re appreciated, special, and loved.



Monday, June 6, 2011

Bedtime Routines for Kids

Once, I had a hard time putting my boys to sleep. Though they had a very long and tiring day, still they were full of energy, very hyper, and wide awake. They were fighting off sleep and refuse to go to sleep.  At times, they only fall asleep when I’m around checking on them and staying there until they were finally asleep after two hours. And that’s the time I can do the house chores and everything I needed to do. I’ve been searching for a lot of ways to put my kids to sleep without sacrificing a lot of time and setting aside the things that I needed to do until I've read this list from babycenter.ph. Some list here is really proven based on my experience.

The bedtime ritual
It is best to put up a routine or ritual for your child before going to sleep.  If your child learns to follow a certain routine before going to sleep, it will not be hard for him to go to sleep because he is relaxed and comfy, and he will know that its time to sleep once the ritual have started. You must stick to the routine so that if you’re in unfamiliar places, it will be easy for him to go to sleep.
You can decide which kind of ritual that you want to follow every night.  You can include a warm bath, reading a bedtime story, giving a glass of milk, or a little cuddle, whichever will be fine just as long as the activity will calm him and not get him up.
If you start the ritual in the bathroom or in the living room,  It should end in your child’s room or in your room if your child sleeps there.  Its essential to train your child to sleep in the room and assure him that you’ll be back later to check on him so he may not feel afraid or upset.


Release some energy
A play can help release some built-up energy in your child’s body before going down to bed. Every night, my sons and I use to play “the chase play” or “habulan” in filipino for 30 minutes and I can say that this really make them tired and happy, and then I give soak them to warm bath after. A bath or anything that calms the child should follow the raucous play in order to prepare him to bed.


Immerse him to warm bath
This will give your child a clean and comfy feeling before going to bed. Sure he’ll have a good night’s sleep feeling dry, clean and cool especially during the summer, where the weather will give us a hot and sticky feeling.


Read a bedtime story
Your child can benefit from reading or hearing a bedtime story because it will not only increase your child’s vocabulary and improve language skills, it can also build a lasting bond between you and your child. You can let him choose what story you can read for him to manage the bedtime routine.  For my hearing impaired child’s case, I let him look at the pictures on the book and sign to him the story, and then after a while, he’s fast asleep.


Sing a lullabye
This one is performed by my husband for I am no expert in singing. (or its just that he’s got the gut to sing ^^). For years, this routine is tried and tested and I could say that my kids really love their dad to sing a lullabye. It makes them feel comfortable and calm them totally. Before I know it, they are already asleep.


Play soothing music
I’ve tried this once and it really helped put my kids to sleep. Soft music could help soothe them and it will be easy for them to shift from wakefulness to sleep. some of the music that helped me put my kids to sleep is a classic guitar instrumental, classic piano instrumental, and my favorite-the rockabye baby! Renditions of rock artists.


Leave a light on
My kids really hate sleeping when the lights are off. Their imagination are so strong that they could create some creatures and afraid that it may come and get them. A nightlight could help them feel calm and secured, and help them fall asleep.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

the first teacher

i want to learn a lot of things. i've researched and practiced on the things that interests me. when i was in grade school, i've learned how to play a guitar on my own. i used to borrow my cousin's guitar every weekend and spent the whole saturdays and sundays practicing. i've also learned how to draw. i used to have a sketchpad and drew the things that fascinates me, especially some anime characters. i love to read books and im proud to say that i've read a lot of novels and textbooks. when i was in highschool, i've learned how to dance and was a part of a cheering team. i've also learned the taekwondo and went to some interschool competition but i've retired early though. when i was in college, i've learned how to write an essay with minimal errors. i've learned a lot of things. now that i am a mom, i have learned that learning doesnt have to be only from school. we can learn about life through our experiences. i've learned that a mom should be the one to protect her child at any cost. she should be the one to fight for her children's rights. she should be the one to cultivate and develop her children's talents. she should be her children's first teacher. i am so glad that i have never let any barriers stop me from learning. i'm happy that i've learned so many things and continue to learn things that i have no knowledge of. and now, im imparting that knowledge to my children. im teaching them how to play the guitar. im teaching them to draw. im teaching them to love one another for they are brothers, and they can only count on each other when problems arise. im teaching them some things a normal kid should learn. im not a perfect mom and may not be the best mom in the world but im trying to teach them what they should learn and give them the very best love that i could give. the joy of being a mother is being able to see the good things that your child has learned from you. being able to see that your children have grown to be a better person and use the things that you have taught them. for the mother is the only person that can guide a child to be the person that they can be in the future.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

My Two Moms

i couldnt help but cry everytime i hear news of abortions, fetus being dumped in trash cans, babies left by their mothers in an orphanage or worse, in an airplane's comfort room. how can these women throw away such a wonderful gift from god? 

i cant help but think about my own life. yes. i am one of those babies. im just so lucky that before i was born, there is already someone who's willing to give a mom's love to me though im really not her own. and she's my "kinagisnang ina".

when i found out about the truth, that was sometime in 2007 when i already have my first son, i was really devastated. 

all i felt was that i am cheated. i was so empty. i was very helpless. and i began to hate everything. i asked god why did my mom threw me away? doesnt she loved me? why did she have to do that?  up to this moment, i never knew why.

when i sometimes ponder on things, i couldnt help but think if she felt what i felt when i found out that im pregnant. was she happy? or sad? does she talk to me when i was in her tummy? does she smile when she felt me kick inside her? did she somehow loved me? still i dont know. for years, i was filled with love by my foster mom. i never felt that i am adopted. she treated me like her own. she gave me everything. she made sure that i get all what i need. 

i sometimes wonder if my real mom thinks of me. if she wanted to hug me, kiss me, say things a mom should tell her child. but still i dont know. after all, she already threw me before i was born. i have a lot of things to ask her. i have alot of things to tell her. but i know still wont find out how. 

i've realized that to be called a mother, its not important if a child comes from a woman's womb. what's important is that a woman is willing to love and cherish a child though that child didnt came from her. that she's willing to call a child her own and give that child the right to a mother's love. i adore my mom so much because she loved me like no other. she made me feel that i belong to her. she made me feel that im not different. she treated me as her own.

to all moms, grand moms, moms-to-be, moms like my mom, frustrated mom, all kinds of moms, and to your moms, Happy mother's day to all of us. :)

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Actions Speak Louder Than words.

When i found out that my eldest son, carl is congenitally hearing impaired, i was devastated. i felt like i was betrayed. i felt like i was being abandoned. i felt empty. lost. robbed. grief.
it was all beyond my expectations. i wanted to break things. i wanted to scream. i wanted to shout. but all i could do was cry. My son was born a healthy baby. i remember when i was in the delivery room, i was sedated then because i delivered him through ceasarian section, i was awakened by his boisterous cry. when i opened my eyes and got a sight of him, i saw him crying vigorously, a sign of a strong and healthy baby. his skin color was pinkish and soft. his apgar score is 9 out of 10, also a sign of health. months later, I didn't notice some abnormalities. he laughs, he cries, he sleep soundly, and of course, he plays with everyone in front of him. until his 6th month, where he was supposed to know his name and responded whenever someone calls his name. he never looked around or even get startled when there is a loud noise. i began to suspect that he was hearing impaired. i remembered then that i acquired german measles or also known as rubella a month before i found out that i was pregnant. being a nursing student, i was aware of the possible effects of the rubella virus to the unborn baby. on his first birthday, he learned how to walk alone. actually, he have all the developmental milestones on the right age but still he does not learn to speak or utter the word "mama" or "mommy", the usual first words of babies. i began to worry so i have him checked by an ENT specialist which referred us to an ABR test. there we found out that carl is bilaterally profound hearing impaired. i began to cry. i cried because that's not what i expected. i cried because all my dreams for him was all shattered. i didnt know how to guide him, or to teach him things which a normal kid should learn. i cried because i pitied him. how can he survive to this cruel and mean society? where people ridicule each disabled person? im hurt thinking that people might laugh at him or make fun of him or which any way that will hurt him. as years pass by, i developed the mother's instinct. seriously, i would kill anyone who will hurt my son in any way. my son grew up a very energetic, happy, strong, and intelligent kid. now, he's turning 4 years old this october and i am proud to say that i am very happy with his developments. he learned how to play and interact with normal kids his age. he learned to potty train. he learned to eat all by him self. he learned to change clothes, actually he learned how to choose what color and style of clothes he would want to wear. most especially, he learned how to show love to the people around him. to his brothers, to his dad, to me his mom, to his nanay and tatay and mommy lola and daddy lolo, and to everyone. he never failed to wave hello and smile though he could only gave gestures not words. but as the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. maybe i under estimated my son in some way but of course, i just want to protect him. i would give everything just to make sure he's safe and healthy. now, we are getting ready for his big leap from toddler-hood. he's goin to school!!! yey!! i am very much excited as i am very much nervous. but i know he can make it. he can now distinguish colors and shapes so i know he'll gonna make it. i am looking forward to further our communication with him through ASL or american sign language which is taught at the philippine school for the deaf. my son, though he cannot utter just a single word, with the help of the supportive people around him not just us his parents, and of course,with the help of our Loving God, could now survive and live normally and successfully in this cruel and mean world. I BELIEVE.

"In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see." --isaiah 29:18