Zef Iñigo and his 1st round of vaccines...

My poor but lucky angel had his 1st round of vaccines yesterday.  It really brought out the mom in me.  When the long and quite thick needle was inserted, I had to look away from his thigh and concentrate on comforting him by talking to his face...assuring him that "Mommy was there" and that "It's going to be alright".  Of course, my trust in the capable hands of his Neonatologist was the most important assurance I can give my son.

My son does cry loudly.  In fact, before his hunger clock activates, he would let out an ear-splitting scream and will start to wail with matching big open mouth, quivering chin and curled tongue.  At times, he would even curl his mouth downward like the letter "C" and let his chin quiver before he starts to do his thing.  If you were a passerby, you would even think someone is being harmed, spanked and massacred in our house!  So his nanny and I along with his grandma, would make sure to feed him when he starts to whimper and fuss - prevention is still better than the cure. :)  Most of the time we talk to Zef Iñigo and slightly admonishes him while explaining that he does not need to be that loud since it will give him more gas pains and yeah, make everybody think red.  He does sound like he is injured.

So yesterday it was quite a scene in the Pedia's clinic.  I wanted to laugh at his transformation from the fussing, loud crying-like-in-pain baby to the sudden calm-before-the-storm baby if it wasn't a painful experience and if my mom wouldn't spank me infront of everyone. :D  When the needle pricked him, he was stunned...then let out an unbelievable wail - like sirens and he turned ashen.  Poor Zef Iñigo.  It would make him well but it was a traumatic experience for someone who can cry at his will without or less pain or uncomfortability.  All throughout the afternoon, as we walked around the mall and bought a couple of things, he was still ashen and quiet.  Even when he was hungry or wet, he would not let out his signature wail.  Poor baby!  Oh well, that is life for an infant.

I saw his blood-stained band-aid when we went home last night.  He kept on crying (not that loud) when we unintentionally put pressure on that part of his thigh.  After some more feeding and cooing on top of assurances that we love him and that he will be fine and a couple of "bad doctor", he finally went to sleep.  Thank God!

At least it would be another 2 months before i get to see him "get stunned" again. :)  Oh and he can see me by then... see me get stunned with the bill too... :D

My Treasure is the Lord's Blessing...

 ZEF IÑIGO

This is my treasure... He turned 1 month last July 12.  

Thank you Lord for this wonderful blessing.  

Please help me in making him in your image and likeness.  

With your blessing, I know that he will be a healthy lil' angel 

despite the medical indications that we both have experienced. 

Please continue to shower Your grace to Him and to our family, 

may he also have a good heart to bind all of us together 

instead of us growing apart due to greed, jealousy, resentment 

and other worldly-invoked emotions that actually do more harm than good. 

We ask this in Your Name through the intercession of Mama Mary 

and all the Angels & Saints, now and forever.

Life's Angels by a Thankful Mom

I've visited you again... How are you, my dear friend? :)  If you ask me why am still up at this hour, it isn't about work... it is about being a mom. Yes, I am a full pledged mommy to a handsome (of course, no mom would say that they have an ugly baby) 1-month old baby boy.  I am very exhausted but happy! :)

I was supposed to give birth by mid-July but some medical circumstances made me deliver a pre-term baby by mid-June. (I'd really like to think that it was medical and not brought about by other aspects such as physical, mental and emotional torture...hahaha!)  Zef Iñigo, my adorable angel, gave an ear-splitting howl during Independence Day, June 12, 2012 right after Heat (YEHEY!) won over OKC and when Pacman lost to Bradley.  

Despite the interestingly painful experience of giving birth, as previous moms narrated, I was very grateful to God that I have endured it and is now at home with a wonderful albeit tiring lil' bundle of joy. :)  Mind you I was a high-risk pregnant woman and the things I experienced where all worthwhile when I heard him cry in the DR.

I have been dreaming about this for so long, wishing and praying real hard for it to happen without any thought of the consequences whatsoever...and now that my blessing is here, I am actually scared! Scared that I might not be able to take care of him properly! 1st-timer jitters, being a worry-wart and even crying when I experience frustration and tiredness are all very scary.  These are new emotions that I am encountering everyday and thank God through HIS blessing and guidance, he sends "human angels" to guide and assist me.  One human angel makes my shopping for me, another angel washes baby's clothes with mine (babies DO have a LOT of laundry...), another angel buys his milk and diapers, another would even drop a day's activity to watch over my baby so I could go and have my sutures removed, yet another helps me feed and burp him, another sings lullabies and reads poems in an animated voice, another taught me how to cut his nails and burp him, a couple even shared their outgrown baby's clothes so I can minimize my expenses at least until it's really time to buy, another makes sure that our room is clean, another angel gives financial assistance, another helps me carry him when am exhausted, even another stays up late so I can sleep while my baby is getting cranky, etc.  Oh so many life's angels and I thank each and every one of them from the bottom of my heart.  

It is a really emotional time and fighting post-partum like depression symptoms is not easy.  I make sure that I stay positive and God-centered in my responsibilities so that I will not be swayed by anything unholy.  It is not easy and I pray constantly so I could make it each and every day.  "Thank you Lord for giving me the chance to experience your goodness not only during tiring times but always!  I would not know how I can survive without You. I am very happy and feel very blessed. Please make me worthy to continue receiving Your grace so I could mold my child to your image and likeness and be Your good servant and follower to carry out Your holy will today and always..Amen."

Yes, I am happy to be blessed and I am a very thankful mom!  Thank you life's angels, let me be one when and where I am needed. :)

Pregnancy Pet Peeves

As my tweet goes, am nearing my 27th week and pregnancy pet peeves are amazingly abundant.  Needless to say, am way past the "Pagllilihi" stage so this is not something out of the "arte" of a pregnant lady.  Maybe these pet peeves were already in my system and did not really took notice of them since I was selfishly thinking that it wouldn't hurt me...directly or so I thought.

Peeve number 1 - Men spitting on pavements!

YUCK! Really, how unsanitary.  Do they ever think if somebody - a child, or a pregnant woman would step or slip on that?!

Peeve number 2 - Men blowing their nose in public...without a tissue or a hankie and flicking it to kingdom come!

Eeew, flying viruses that another person might get...not to mention environment pollution of some sort.

Peeve number 3 - People sneezing and coughing without any cover...especially in an enclosed space (bus, elevator, conference room, MRT, etc.)!

Your "excuse me's" are accepted, but your virus is NOT!

Peeve number 4 -Making rude actions and remarks to pregnant/disabled people riding the elevator...even if it is just one floor up or down.

Come on! If you are in a hurry due to an overbreak or for whatever reason, why don't you try taking the stairs instead? especially if you are healthy and have no disability whatsoever.  Obviously, these people CAN'T...and you just WON'T!

Peeve number 5 - Throwing your trash, even the smallest piece, out the window, underneath any PUV (Public Utility Vehicles) seat or even while walking towards your destination.

Hey there!  That is why trash cans are strategically placed everywhere...even inside jeepneys/buses/taxi's.  If you can't find one, keep your wrappers, tissues, bottles in your bag or pocket to be thrown later...when a trash bin is visible, in plain sight!

I am on my 5th month and I have 5 peeves already, maybe one for each month.  I am quite guilty of number 5 before but even before I got pregnant I was acutely aware of the embarrassment that my cousin, Leah and my co-worker, Ana, would bestow on me.  They would actually stop in mid-sentence and pick up the trash I "accidentally" let flew from my hands... :)  

Just thoughts to share.