School Field Trip letter

It's just funny to get a letter to parents for the first time. It's a funny feeling because I'm already part of a school-parent relationship which I thought was a very grown up matter. I still don't feel much of a grown up. But at the same time it made me realize that my baby is already starting to be independent from me and creating his little adventure all on his own. I'm sure my little shoolboy would be thrilled to join his first school field trip.

Dear Parents,

This coming Monday, October 5, we will be taking the N-3 and N-2 on a trip to Dubai Aauarium and Underwater Zoo at Dubai Mall. The N-3 and N-2 will be taking a tour of the aquarium and underwater zoo as well as attending the Ocean School Education Program.

Should you permit your child to join the field trip, please duly complete and sign the permission slip below and return to us on or before Sunday, October 4. Children without permission slips will not be alllowed to join the field trip.

Thank you for your cooperation.

With best regards,

DLSM Management

Ola Argentina!

Dwynn flew all the way to Buenos Aires, Argentina to join the SND's (Society for News Design) 31st Annual Workshop & Exhibition. Here are some of the interesting scenes from the streets and stages of Buenos Aires squeezed in for a week of a new found world. Of course the little wife gets a big surprise from that world too!

show me da simud!

His new found pout. So showy of his kissable simuuud!

(The story: he wanted to say "Papa" but then he still can't get it through, still stuck on P!)

the fearing and overcoming Flu A

Right in the middle of celebrating the younger brother's big day, Zaiid came home from school sick. It was alarming because the fever came so sudden and the teachers reported that he vomitted twice. There was no way of detecting that he might be feeling a little low on that day because he was bright as the sunshine right before we send him off to school.

He wasn't coughing or showing any signs of a running or a stuffy nose. He had his afternoon nap for 3 hours. But the fever never went lower than 37.7 even after he had taken Calpol. So we hurriedly took him to his doctor.

I was expecting they would get a blood test but instead they had a viral check through his little nose. They advised us to go home and come back after an hour for the result.

Back at Akii's party, Zaiid was feeling all groovy and showed no signs of distress whatsoever. He was dancing, entertaining our friends, happily opening HIS presents, enjoying his little brother's day. We were thankful for our friends who celebrated with us. I thought nothing could break this moment. But I was cut short when I received a phone call by our doctor who sounded worried. I was worried. I couldn't get the details. He said "Zaiid is positive. Please send the husband. Right now."

At about 45 minutes, my husband brought the news that our son has the Influenza A virus. My knees felt wobbly. I couldn't find myself to believe that we will make it through. Swine flu is getting on the front page these days and we are a bit alarmed. But please not my Zaiid! Our doctor advised us to go to another hospital to get a confirmation if he's got the swine flu or a different kind of Flu. All we could do is pray.

At 10:30 pm we arrived at Al Wasl Hospital and was immediately ordered to wait inside a room with just me and Zaiid. We were being isolated from the rest of the crowd while Dwynn filled up forms and bought masks. Soon, a local mother and boy, maybe a year younger than Zaiid, came to join us. We were both having the same problem making our boys wear their masks. After some minutes of waiting and praying, the doctor said there was no need for the confirmation because the medication stays the same with H1N1 or with the other Influenza A types. And so we went home with the Tamiflu capsules.

But then we were facing with a bigger problem. We needed to isolate Zaiid from his little brother. The only one solution we had at hand is to let Zaiid stay at a hotel. So the following day, we left Akii and Auntie Nana at home.

For 5 days we survived. For my 3.2yo boy, staying at the hotel was a little getaway vacation. Even if he stayed indoors, he was always up and jumping. We made sure we are armed with his cars, trains, favorite books, his new drumset, and the powerful "Apple". On the third day his fever had gone completely. Every morning, I leave him with his Papa at the hotel to go back home to check on Akii and to cook for our meals and sterilize the milk bottles. I missed Akii so much and I know that he missed me too. Even if it's hard for us to be apart, we feel very blessed to have such an ordered chaos.

Now Zaiid has fully recovered and the baby manghud has been spared by the virus. Thank God! Thank God for Auntie Nana who gave her all especially in taking care of Akii alone. Thank God for friends and family who prayed with us. And thank God for the timing - the day before my husband flies to Argentina, all's well and back to normal.

We are going back to school next week, hooray!

Celebrating Akii

It's easy for me to spot the theme for his birthday because he loves Tigger and Pooh. He lights up everytime he sees them on TV. Even if it's not going to be a children's party, we want to make sure there are balloons, a cake, and some backdrop to complete a happy birthday set.

Before the Kuya went off to school, all 3 pudding boys eagerly opens Akii's present. We bought him the Cotoons little pianinko. We'll he's actually seen this already since we bought that together. I just wanted to make sure he chooses the new toy for his birthday.

At 10, we're off to see Papa Jesus to say our thank you's.

We're getting ready for the party!

Kuya just can't resist the cake!

This is Tito Erik's gift for Kuya. An electric drumset. SO cool. And babymanghud's got an electric piano. I still had to keep the little one's gift since he wouldn't get the idea yet. 'Lamat Rik! :)

Tita Pamuy's gifts for the birthday boy: A pooh bathrobe + a musical steering wheel which made Zaiid go crazy over it. But Akii has no problem with that at all. Yet. Tita pamuy also gave kuya a racing track where a car loops nonestop. Thanks pamuy! :D

I can't believe the "once a second-tummy-dweller", the Baby Manghud, is owning a number of his age now. My little one year old. *Sigh. I am so proud of what you are becoming Akiipotpot, you complete the pudding equation and you make our family the greatest it can be. We lovelovelove you Akii!

akii's first.

Checklist for Akii's 1st Birthday:

[✓] Birthday decor
[ ] cake!
[✓] food!
[✓] Gifts!

2 more days to go before the littlest pudding turns 1 year old :) It's going to be a simple, small gathering of close friends.

a haircut and a new bag.

A haircut and a new bag. Feels good to go to school. What's inside: two milk bottles, juice, chicken nuggets for breakfast, chicken adobo for lunch, rice, spoon and fork, plate, extra brief, shorts, t-shirt.

special thanks to: Auntie Nana and Tita Eva for taking Zaiid to the barbershop.

the serious o-o face

Ma, I need to go poop.

new friend

My 3.2yo has found a new friend in Tita Eva, a really close friend of her Auntie Nana who takes them to swimming be it after school or on a friday night. He always comes home beaming, smelling sweat and pool adventure.

stuff

I need to buy/do stuff for my boys:

[ ] definitely get zaiid a haircut.
[ ] akii's birthday celebration poppers, balloons, backdrop!
[ ] zaiid's white rubber shoes for his P.E. day
[ ] bigger school bag
[ ] bigger breakfast and lunchboxes

Hope we can get all these done before the week ends.

boys and trains

He has been asking for a toy train these days, so I managed to buy him his first set. He was so happy that he forgot about Lightning Mcqueen. For an hour. I can relate why boys love toy cars because I have my own collection back when I was still a kid and even when I started working professionally. But I will never get why boys love trains.

He runs to them after school and shows us the "wow" signature awe look like it's the first time he's seen them. I can't even remember where he found the love for trains - he has not seen Thomas & Friends so he has no idea who these trains are.

I wonder if he would start collecting trains or build more railroads now than adding more cars to his collection.

butterfly lollipop

How soon can you potty-train your child?

I'm not sure but this little guy knows how this thing works. This used to be Zaiid's but was never used as his potty chair because he would not fit in it. But look at the baby manghud - sitting like a pro and actually has been successful in pooping since.

The recycling of a kimono

Zaiid needs a painting apron for school but we left his apron in Cebu where I made a little burda design. So we recycled his little kimono (worn when he was still 5months old) and turn it into an apron. Great handwork by Auntie Nana, thank you!

The original litol kimono:

The new adorable apron:

The little artist:

big yellow bus

I am relieved to know that my boy is not going to get on an ordinary van by himself to school. Starting this school year, the government has implemented all private schools in the Middle East to obtain the yellow bus with a trained school bus driver holding the exclusive school bus driving license.

The Public Transport Agency at Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) completed a training course for 50 school bus drivers issuing them with exclusive school bus driving licenses, for the first time ever in the Middle East.

The ride to the big yellow bus starts on the 15th.