Mikko is Growing Up!

These past few days I can't help but notice my 2nd daughter, Mikko. She's just given me much joy lately... here's why...

Started noticing her actions when she had a stiff neck and she wasn't able to attend her saturday class in school. her classmate wrote a note for her saying, she has to choose between classmate "a" and classmate "b" because the one who wrote isn't friends with one of them. that bothered Mikko because it will be uncomfortable for her when she goes back to school knowing that her friends are not in good terms. she kept saying "what am I gonna do??" Monday came and when I picked her up that afternoon, she told me how she handled it. She was able to fix things by being mediator to "reconcile". She didn't take sides instead made everyone friends again. Definitely not a childish thing.

Of being "OC"... I might have to think she's becoming one. she noticed her books plastic covers starting to get torn up. she started asking me to change the cover of her school diary. oh sure, i gladly did... then after a day, she asked me again to change "some" of her books plastic covers, and i asked her to take them out of her bag so i can do it after my chores. i was overwhelmed when she took all her books out!!! i was tired, sleepy, lazy (haha)... but i felt that it was so important for her to have them changed, so i asked her to help me cut up some adhesive tape so at least il just stick it. she gladly helped out. and she was happy to have "new" books again. aside from this, she also prepares her bag way ahead. during weekends, she checks and fixes her things sunday mornings. OC???

Mikko, the helpful... just after dinner a while ago, as I was feeding my dogs outside, she yelled, "mom, should I keep the leftover food in the ref?", I said yes. this is the second time she did this on her own initiative. when i came back to clean up the table, she had already cleared everything up, water container refilled, chairs in its proper place, plates and all in the sink. all i had to do was wash them! I really appreciate her helpfulness.

Aside from all mentioned, she's been a responsible sister to our youngest, Robinn. She could give her a bath, she could keep her busy while I'm busy, she constantly watches her in school and after school.

Mikko is only 8 years old. Isn't she so amazing? During her terrible twos, I thought it will never change!

The school called me this morning and...

it just terrified me. it was robinn's teacher saying they have to bring robinn to binan doctor's hospital because her classmate accidentally hit her eye. i just felt so in a rush to get to my baby that i didn't bother asking what hit her eye, who did it and all... all i asked was if she was crying. it was so scary. all i could think of was, how bad could it be for her to be brought to a hospital??? ric and i followed at the hospital and couldn't find them right away. then finally we traced them on the 2nd floor where the eye center is. the doctor was late. robinn isn't crying and she was accompanied by her teacher. there is a red spot in her left eye, and swollen. i asked her who did it, and told me that it was her classmate who has ADHD. he was spinning his towel too hard and hit robinn's eye. yes she cried because it hurts. DOCTOR'S FINDINGS: the cornea was scratched, but her vision is still clear. she needs to apply antibiotic and soothing gel. i just thank god it wasn't anything like a pencil that hit her eye.

SM LITTLE STAR ROBINN

My dad was the one who convinced her to join. She wouldn't have pushed thru with it if my dad wouldn't come along for the screening.

So today she underwent the first screening at SM Sta Rosa. She was the 48th participant. We were there at 12:15pm and they resumed the screening at 1pm. They started with #18. Each child has 5 minutes to do her thing, interview, and talent. We really had no idea what's going to happen, we thought it was just going to be a submission of requirements and a little interview. So Robinn wasn't really prepared for the talent part (costume wise). But she delivered anyway, I came from the ballet class so I still had all the music cd's in my bag, so i asked her what she wants to show for her talent and she decided she's going to dance to the Cinderella tune BIPPITTI BOPPITTI BOO.

I was amazed that as soon as she was asked to sit with the other participants, she started talking to her seatmate, very patiently waiting for her turn, dances and sings to any tune of whoever was performing. Back in school when she has performances, she would always cling to me until its her turn, and even shy to perform. But today!!! wow, she showed confidence, a lot of excitement...

here's the secret... its how my dad convinced her to do it. My dad promised her to keep the aircon running for her in my dad's room if she joins. she said YES right away... it's that simple.

My Dad

They used to say, I'm daddy's girl.

I remember a time when we were gonna go shopping (this was when i was a kid) and my dad had to stay home. That was probably the first time in my life he wasn't driving for us. So I asked my mom why he won't come, my mom's answer was, 'ah, hayaan mo sya dyan'...(never mind about him) I sensed something and I was hurt that my mom would treat my dad like that. My mom was probably kidding when she said that, but it sounded so unfair, i started crying... and the famous dialogue (that up to now they tease me about it) was... "bakit, tatay ko naman sya ah, waaaaah"....(why, he's my dad, waaah)

Just last year, my dad was diagnosed of lung cancer. No doctor ever confirmed what stage it was, but the result of the bone scan was kinda suspicious, there were marks as if it has metastasized. The CT Scan read "suspicious blah blah", but when the oncologist looked at it, she confirmed that it was indeed cancer.

My dad smokes, drinks... two of his brothers died of lung cancer/pneumonia just a few years ago. So we were really scared of what might happen. One of the doctors was saying its Stage 4, because of what they saw in the bone scan.

Treatment was chemotherapy. The oncologist explained the different types of medications used in chemotherapy, and there was one that doesn't cause hair shedding, not much throwing up, but that's expensive, double of the regular medication being used. My mom decided to use the more expensive one coz she values my dad so much she can't bear seeing him bald, skinny, and depressed.

True enough, after each treatment, my dad still acts so normal, he cleans his fish tanks, waters the plants, no ill side effects at all, except a few times that his white blood cells would really go down that he had to be injected for regeneration of WBC. He probably had the injection once, and the rest he ate lots of camote tops and it really helped.

He was on chemo for less than a year. When the whole cycle was finished, they checked everything again, bones, lungs, and other organs, guess what? None was found. No cancer cells, no lumps, just a small scar where the cancer was found. It totally healed. And the latest bone scan was clear too, that those marks that they saw were minor injuries from the past when he had to carry heavy stuff, and he had a fracture on the shoulder bone before .

During the process, we just prayed and trusted the Lord for healing. Relatives were supportive, too. It also helps a lot if you have a positive outlook. My dad did not mind his illness, i know he was praying, too. And he just did whatever has to be done, and still do his routine at the house.

He is totally healed. Now, he became closer to everyone. He used to be so quiet, just walks by us and not a single Hi! We understood coz when he went abroad for work before, we were kids, when he decided to stay for good, we were grown ups, and so there was a bit of a gap, uneasiness probably. But we all know he loves us. And that all changed when we all learned he's cancer free.

I told my mom before that there was a purpose for the illness, but i'm not sure what it was... now we all know

Happy Mothers' Day!!!

Enjoy your day!

Does Radar have a Human Brain?

If you are a pet owner and you constantly talk to your pet, you somehow, observe your pet slowly understanding the human language. simple commands - sit, come, go inside your house or get out are easy to teach maybe when you are in constant communication with the pet.

but this is all about radar and what he had shown me lately.one morning, he kept bugging me, when he's like that i know he's hungry. So I told him cassually to get his food bowl while i go downstairs to get his food. i heard him running and dragging his foodbowl so while i was getting his food downstairs i was already laughing. when i got up, there he was at the stairs, waiting for me, with his food bowl beside him. amazing isn't it?

but that's not all. last night he fell asleep with a clip on his forehead. when he woke up this morning it already came off, so i asked him where it was. haha, as if he's gonna answer. so we ate breakfast downstairs, and totally forgot about it. when we finished eating we went back upstairs to make our beds. radar ran under my bed and went up to me, dropped his clip at my feet!

wow! could he really comprehend what i was saying?

I GOT A MEDAL!!!

i just had to share what my youngest daughter did for me earlier. she noticed her dad's trophies on top of our t.v. those were awarded to him for being communications coach for a quarter and for a year. robinn, my youngest, asked me where my trophies are... i told her that i don't have any. why, she asked... i'm not goodat anything, was my answer.

she hugged me and i think she felt bad about it. she doesn't believe her mom isn't good at anything...

hugged her back and said it's okay.

i went downstairs to make my coffee.

she followed after a few minutes...

handed me one of her medals that she earned from her nursery class last march during her recognition rites, she was awarded gold medalist for academics and another for winning in the singing contest.

what is this for? , i asked her...

that's for you mom.

yeah, but why are you giving me a medal?

because you are good...

good in what???

you are good in taking care of me...


WHAT CAN I SAY??? robinn, only four years old, with such a selfless heart. she didn't mind losing one of her medals for someone whom she thought was more deserving of it.

nomatter how hard it is sometimes to be with your kids due to other matters like work and chores, i would still choose to drop everything else just to give my kids all my time.

look at the reward i just got!!!

1970 - YEAR OF THE DOG

I am born in the year of the dog. Since i was 7 years old, i've always had a dog... i don't know if the year i was born has anything to do with my love for dogs. Heare's an almost complete list of names of the dogs i had, and still have...

my first ever dog is named PATTY. she's a mixed breed of "i don't know", i was too young to care about breeds. my memory of her: she loves to play with me after school. i used to have her pull me while im on skates or skateboard. she also bit my thumb till it bled, and i just washed it off and put calamansi juice... one day she just disappeared. my parents told me that they had to bring her to my dad's "talyer" coz she has gone crazy, they chained her up coz she was drooling and would bite. i didn't really understand what happened, up to now. they never told me the whole story.

next was LUCKY. yeah, lucky??? my brother ran over him while he was backing up the car. didn't see that happen either. they didn't tell me at the time, coz they know i'l be so heartbroken.

my aunt brought me a newborn pup, all white and full of fleas. she thought i would be able to take good care of her, the mom of the pup died that's why my aunt thought of giving me one of its litter. i called her MINNIE, since she's so tiny. never lasted a day with me...

the same aunt brought me another mestizo dog, yup, an adult dog. her sister (who's also my aunt) owned him, but couldn't take care of him anymore. he was so skinny. his name is BILLIE. i got him when i was in 4th or 5th grade... while having him i adopted another puppy and named her JEAN. BILLIE JEAN EH??? nope i wasn't a michael jackson fan, but i loved watching the all male dancing group called THE TIGERS, who, always used mj songs to dance to. jean got sick and died at her young age. billie lasted with me until my college days, but i was in a dormitory that i couldn't be with him as much as i used to. i think he looked all over for me one time that he got lost. when i cam home that day, i was crying so much. you see, the first few dogs i took care of, nobody told me the real deal, coz they were protecting my feelings. this time they thought i was matured enough to know what really happened.

then a few years passed and my brother bought a japanese spitz, and called him MAXIE. another playful dog, he sleeps beside me, or when its too hot, just stays in my room, not necessarily on my bed. i had a black cat who thinks maxie is his dad or something. that cat sleeps on maxie's neck. maxie doesn't mind.

then a friend gave me a mixed breed, like her color, gray. called her MICA. se's a lot taller than MAXIE, but nonetheless, they had puppies of their own. 6 puppies... all white. but probably the breeds weren't compatible, none survived. after a few years, of old age, they both said goodbye. MAXIE and MICA lived until i had my 1st baby.

then came BROWNIE. my 1st daughter would always watch these pups next door nursing... so we decided to ask for one. brownie was our second baby actually, she would also drink milk from a feeding bottle. she grew up really smart and loyal. she now takes all my kids to the school service, making sure they are safe, she goes with us whenever we go to the nearby store and would watch for possible danger... we were able to train her well and does understand basic instructions.

brownie produced a lot of puppies already and went to new homes. now we don't allow her to go out alone to avoid getting pregnant again.

then i bought MISTY. a croos breed of japanese spitz and (the breeder said) a pomeranian. she's taller than brownie now. so im not really convinced that she is that... already spent a lot for her medications due to skin problems. up to now, there are some redness in some parts of her skin...

my latest baby is RADAR, a purebred shih tzu... here is the story why i got him. i will never have a real human baby boy anymore, due to 3 consecutive c-sections. i have 3 girls and ive always dreamed of having a boy. my vet told me that someone is selling male shih tzus, asked her about it and had known that the breeder is my friend. talked to my friend right away and after a few weeks, got him. now we are thinking of bringing him abroad with us. he is our own child, my daughters call him baby brother.

SUMMER BALLET WORKSHOP

COLEGIO SAN AGUSTIN

VENUE: COLEGIO SAN AGUSTIN 3RD FLOOR AUDIGYM STUDIO A
SUMMER CLASS START APRIL 7 - MAY 29, 2008
SCHEDULE: MONDAYS AND THURSDAYS

ALPHA ANGELICUM ACADEMY BALLET

VENUE: LAGUNA TAEKWONDO CENTER
(BEFORE ENTRANCE OF GOLDEN MEADOWS SUBDIVISION)
SAN ANTONIO, BINAN, LAGUNA
SUMMER CLASS START APRIL 2 - MAY 31, 2008
SCHEDULE: WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS

CONTACT NOS. 049.511.7803 ; 0917.533.4041

HOW COULD YOU!!!

TO MY ONLINE BUD, KAYE, thanks for sharing this and i hope this reaches a lot of multiply sites/blogger sites. Our pets loves us unconditionally, so we should give the same kind of love. READ TILL THE END, FRIENDS.

Jan 21, '08 2:24 PM for everyone

When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend.

Whenever I was "bad", you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" -- but then you'd relent and roll me over for a belly rub.

My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect.

We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs" you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love.

She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" -- still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy.

Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love."

As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch -- because your touch was now so infrequent -- and I would've defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway.

There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf.

Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family.

I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers."

You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar, as he screamed "No, Daddy Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life.

You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked, "How could you?" They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago.

At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you that you had changed your mind -- that this was all a bad dream...or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me.

When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room.

She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days.

As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood.

She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?"

Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself --a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her. It was directed at you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of you. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.

How this story came to be - a man in Grand Rapids, Michigan incredibly took out a US$7,000 full page ad in the paper to present the HOW COULD YOU? By Jim Willis, 2001

A Note from the Author:

If "How Could You?" brought tears to your eyes as you read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it. It's because it is the composite story of the millions, of "formerly owned" pets, who die each year in American and Canadian AND AUSTRALIAN animal shelters. Anyone is welcome to distribute the essay for a commercial purpose, as long as it is properly attributed with the copyright notice.

Please use it to help educate, on your websites, in newsletters, on animal shelter and vet office bulletin boards. Tell the public that the decision to add a pet to the family is an important one for life, that animals deserve our love and sensible care, that finding another appropriate home for your animal, is your responsibility and any local humane society or animal welfare league can offer you good advice, and that all life is precious. Please do your part to stop the killing, and encourage all spay and neuter campaigns, in order to prevent unwanted animals. -Jim Willis

Please pass this on to everyone, not to hurt them or make them sad, but it could possibly save, even one unwanted pet. Remember, they love UNCONDITIONALLY, if you give them LOVE.

YOU CAN HELP

THESE FACTS...

Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death!

Make a personal reflection about this......

Very interesting, read until the end.....
It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7):


'Be not deceived; God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap.


Here are some men and women
who mocked God :


John Lennon (Singer):

Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said:

'Christianity will end, it will disappear.
I do not have to argue about
that. I am certain.

Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, Today we are more famous than Him' (1966).

Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times..


Tancredo Neves (President of Brazil ):
During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency.

Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.



Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet):


During A show in Canecio (Rio de Janeiro ),

while smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said: 'God, that's for you.'

He died at the age of 32 of AIDS in a horrible manner.


The man who built the Titanic

After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be.

With an ironic tone he said:
'Not even God can sink it'

The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic


Marilyn Monroe (Actress)

She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show.
He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her.
After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said:
'I don't need your Jesus'.

A week later, she was found dead in her apartment .

Bon Scott (Singer)
The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang:
'Don't stop me, I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell'.

On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked by his own vomit.

Campinas (IN 2005)
In Campinas, Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend.....
The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter holding her hand, who was already seated in the car:

'My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You..'
She responded: 'Only If He (God) Travels In The Trunk, Cause Inside Here.....It' s Already Full '

Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died,
the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact.

The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken

Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer) said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written.

In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle .

Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name that was given so much authority as the name of Jesus.

Many have died, but only Jesus died and rose again, and he is still alive .

'Jesus'

P.S: If it was a joke, you would have sent it to everyone. So are you going to have courage to send this?.

I have done my part, Jesus said

'If you are embarrassed about me,

I will also be embarrassed about you before my father.'



'Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, and my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen.'

GOD BLESS YOU !

China's Shocking Cat and Dog Fur Trade

Link

01.24.08 My Robinn

A Cat in the Field

This painting really made me proud of my youngest daughter, Robinn. It was a busy morning for me, so my second daughter, Mikko and Robinn asked me to give them their painting materials. Yes we have them handy beacause I had previously seen Mikko's talent for drawing. Gave them both 2 sheets of paper good enough for acrylic. So I left the two in their room and they started getting busy.

Then, it was time for them to get ready for school. I went to their room and this beautiful artwork lay on the floor, and my Robinn so proud of her work, quotes, "I made it for you, Mom..."

Many times I see a lot of scattered paper lying around our house with the kids' drawings, ending up in the trash... this time it's a treasure meant to be kept. I will continue to nurture this talent.

01.23.08 Going to School

Ahhhh... my first blog.



Been wanting to do this but other things keep popping up... as the title of my blog says --- can't ya see I'm busy? --- I always seem to be busy, it burns me out sometimes. I have three children that keeps me movin', 2 dogs and a husband that balances it all... the children does the active part, while the dogs and the husband does the "let's just sit down for a while" part.



so today was a busy day (as always)... never had a problem with my eldest about going to school (except her similarity to a sloth), my second, has separation anxiety, my youngest, is CUTE! Even in her naughtiest, she's still cute.



So today I decided to go along to school to make sure my second daughter feels secured, (oh everyday she cries when we have to part, nomatter if it's her going, or her being left behind) but forgetting that my youngest has the tendency to cling to me whenever I go to school with them. And it happened. I just find it so funny that when I just send them off through a school bus, she's totally excited to go. But when I'm the one taking them, something happens.



It is now a mind boggler , one is at peace when I go along, and one starts crying. Doing it the other way around and these two girls change roles, too.



So.... to go or not to go.... what would you do?