Emergency Rooms, Preschools, My New Hair Color and Other Stories

Hi guys! It's 3:30 am here and I cannot sleep. It has been an hour since my mother and I came back from the hospital. Yes, I was in the hospital again! I feel exhausted, but I can't fall asleep so I decided to blog. After all, I have so much to tell you as I wasn't able to blog as often as I used to in the past months.

Emergency Rooms

Earlier, at 12 midnight, I woke up to very terrible stomach pains, diarrhea, and nausea. The works. It's also very similar to the symptoms I experienced during our vacation (which I have yet to write about).

A photo posted by Marie Angeli Laxa (@maanlaxa) on Mar 25, 2015 at 2:16am PDT

"My view earlier at 2 in the morning while lying down on a bed in a run-down hospital in Vigan."

I already learned my lesson (I delayed going to the hospital last time), so this time, after the first "bathroom session," we immediately headed off to the emergency room right away. I was prescribed medicines, but because I was not able to "go" inside the hospital, we decided to go through lab tests tomorrow, err, later today.

A photo posted by Marie Angeli Laxa (@maanlaxa) on Apr 12, 2015 at 11:50am PDT

For someone like me who rarely gets a fever, being in emergency rooms twice within the span of three weeks is an alien feeling. However, I've always had a weak stomach - when I was 10, pabalik-balik kami sa ospital for almost a month because of acute gastroenteritis. LBM is not a stranger to me so I've learned to self-medicate, but for this case tonight and the diarrhea-nausea that happened to me in Vigan three weeks ago, I was in a lot of pain - akin to labor pains actually! - thus the need to go to the emergency room. I'll be having lab tests later, and I hope it's nothing serious!

Preschools

What I Learned from BrainFit Studio's Seminar

Last Wednesday, I attended BrainFit Studio's introductory seminar. I was excited to attend this because I have heard a lot of good things about this enrichment center. After doing some errands in the morning, including a trip to the NBI, we went to the venue, which was in Park Inn at SM Lanang. Here's what we wore:

Anyway, even after doing a couple of errands, I still arrived there early - at least earlier than most. With me were my mother and this little boy: 

My mom wanted to go, too, and I thought it was because she wanted to enroll my sister in BrainFit. Di pala. She wanted to recommend it pala to our neighbor (village president, too) and family friend whose son got diagnosed with ADHD.

While waiting, Yuri made a friend in another little child, Sophia. At first, they were not minding each other, but when the seminar began to start, they were suddenly inseparable. Or at least my son wouldn't part with her. He wouldn't even sit beside me! I wasn't able to take a photo of them because I didn't have the energy to run after them haha.

Sophia's mom told me that she found out about the seminar through my blog, but unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to get her name. (Feel free to comment if you're reading!)

Here are the things that I learned from the seminar:

What I Learned from a Homeschooling Seminar

Last Saturday, I attended a seminar on homeschooling. It was perfect because my real estate brokerage classes were cancelled that day and, even though it was alumni homecoming in UP, I didn't plan on attending it. Long story. Anyway, let's talk about the seminar.

I actually got invited to it Friday afternoon, short notice, but since I'm really into homeschooling, I immediately said yes and was determined to work around my schedule. Fortunately, my mom didn't have an appointment for Saturday afternoon so I was able to leave Yuri with them.

Must. lose. weight.

Unsolicited OOTD: 

Topshop white shirt, Bershka turquoise shorts, Gibi sandals, and kimono blazer from eBay (I think this begins my love affair with kimono blazers)

The seminar, by the way, was organized by the Lighthouse Homeschool Network. Upon arriving, I was surprised to see a full room. I know homeschooling was popular in Manila and other places (like the US), but not in big city-small town Davao. That was surprising but pleasantly surprising.

Another pleasant surprise was the fact that kids - kids - ran the program. The emcees and the speakers were all homeschooled kids. I was impressed! One of the kids was even named Yuri; I wasn't able to take a picture of him, though! The homeschooling parents only stepped in to answer the questions during the open forum.

To be honest, I think I already know a lot about homeschooling since I have read about it and studied it sooner last year. Of course, being with actual homeschooling moms taught me more things. Here are the things I learned from the seminar:

1. A homeschooling kid can finish high school in one year.

BrainFit Studio is Coming to Davao!

I have good news for everyone living in Davao City. Only I think you, guys, already know because I wrote it in the title! Still, it doesn't undermine the fact that BrainFit Studio will finally be coming to Davao!

What is BrainFit Studio?

This is the official description of the enrichment center:

"BrainFit Studio is the leading provider of neuroscience-based brain fitness programs in Asia. It originated in Singapore and is already over 10 years in the region with over 5000+ data-based results from programs conducted across Asia.

Our Brain Fitness programs seek to enhance the child's learning capacity by addressing opportunity areas across (i) attention/focus (ii) auditory processing (iii) visual processing (iv) sensory-motor (v) socio-emotions.  The key targets are children aged 3 to 18."

I think our preparation for our homeschooling journey this year (this June, to be exact) is kind of an open book here in my blog. I'm still constantly searching for materials and supplementary services that can help us. So imagine how pleased I am when the bringer of Manang's Chicken to Davao contacted me to introduce his cousin to me. His cousin, in turn, told me that she is going to open a new enrichment center in the city. Little did I know that she was referring to BrainFit Studio!

I have heard a lot of great things about BrainFit and wanted to try it; the problem was the lack of a center here. Now, it's no longer a problem and I really want to hear more about it!

BrainFit Studio wouldn't be opening until March 16, but on Wednesday, February 25, they are going to hold a free seminar for everyone interested in the program. It will be held at Park Inn (behind SM Lanang) at 9-11 am. Kids are welcome, and freebies will also be given.

So, shall I see you or shall I see you?

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I Wish I was Homeschooled

I am a self-confessed know-it-all, (I know many find it annoying; see, I "know" it again!) but the truth is that almost all that I know I learned on my own.

After graduating from college, I have been asked a number of times if or when I'll take up a Master's degree. My mother, after learning that my cousin is taking up Master's in UPOU, has always tried to convince me. It's partly because my scholarship also applies to a Masteral. Sayang nga, but I really don't want to do it.

Though the charm of a new title is there, I just was never really interested.

That's not to say I think less of those who continue schooling. On the contrary, I admire them! For there really are people who benefit the most from formal instruction. But I'm not like them.

School Blues 2: Still School Shopping

My 2-year old completed all 4 puzzles on his own a week ago! Yay!

Yes, I'm not over toddler school yet.

Before I go on, let me just say I'm really sad that I didn't get to see Team Kramer yesterday at Abreeza Mall. Yun na sana yun eh! Makikita ko na sana si #scarletdoll! But basing on the photos on Instagram, it's a good thing Yuri and I didn't go. Grabe ang crowd!

Okay, so much for the intermission. So I'm still thinking about toddler school. Why? Two reasons. First, it's fun. Second, if I'm not thinking about toddler school, I'm thinking about Titanic. Hindi na naman ako makagetover simply because I decided to watch it in its entirety again last Saturday. Even though I've seen it a thousand times already (exagg), it's still such an emotional torment for me! I just felt inspired to watch it again after answering this and now I'm suffering. But I have no regrets. *cue tears*

Anywaaaay, I'm rambling. Ang dami ko nang intermissions so let's get straight to the point. After writing about our "School Blues" 2 weeks ago, I received mixed responses. Most told me 3 years old is too early. But an old classmate of mine (Hi, Alyza, if you're reading!) said her daughter is only 1 year old but she's already thinking about school. So hindi ako nag-iisa haha! I think SAHMs and WAHMs understand my sentiments.

School Blues

I admit, atat akong magschool si Yuri.

To be completely honest, my reason is not really to boost Yuri's development. That's because, bragging aside, I'm confident in his development. In several blog posts, I gave into mommy pride and talked about his superb language skills. Chos, superb talaga? Actually, hindi naman siguro. Talagang talkative lang ang bata and can communicate flawlessly (talking and listening) for a 2-year old boy.

And I'm happy that despite his walking delays, his motor skills are now great. Most importantly, he's now friendly (unlike before) and interacts with others really well.

So, no, my reason is not Yuri, although I'm certain schooling will do great things for him. To be really honest, it's for me. Perhaps so that I'll meet more people (more moms, actually) and hopefully be less lonely.

I want to homeschool Yuri, and I believe I can, yet the longing to regularly go out and meet new people outweighs it.

But I couldn't say it out loud for fear of being judged as selfish.

Benefits of the Montessori Approach

Follow me on Instagram: @maanlaxa

As usual, I find myself planning for Yuri's schooling again, which would hopefully begin by next year. While I really want to do homeschooling, I'm veering toward looking for a Montessori preschool. The reasons I might share with you next time when I'm surer. Actually, when I get to talk it over with Job na.

For now, what I'll share with you is a list of the benefits of giving a child early education using the Montessori-approach:

Turning 24: A New Haircut, A New Bike, and Other Stories

Photo: http://omgeemag.com/

Ever since my 20th birthday, which was after my college graduation, which was spent drinking from night until morning with many of my fraternity brods and sorority sisses, I've learned to celebrate my birthday in a more subtle and God-glorifying manner.

To clarify, during that birthday of mine, I wasn't a Christian yet. That was the very last time I drank, though I still smoked a couple of weeks after that. A couple of weeks because after that, I finally encountered Jesus.

I don't want to post a photo of myself during that night because I'm sure you wouldn't recognize me. Also, it would taint my goody-two-shoes image. Hahaha!

Okay I'm so far from the point of this post so let's go back. Anyway, while I always consider my birthday special, I guess it's special on its own ordinary way. Here ate some of the "special ordinary" stories when I turned 24.

A New Haircut - After 2 Years

The last time I had a haircut was May 2012, a few months after Yuri was born. More than 2 years ago! I went from having mermaid hair to short, short, short (!) hair:

A couple of months after giving birth

It wasn't surprising since I always go through that route. Long then suddenly short. That hair was too short, though. I think the person who cut my hair was kinda deaf or something. But it's okay. I learned to love it. Job loved it, too!

2 years after, I finally made the time to have my hair cut. I couldn't afford to keep my hair long because it's too thick and the hair strands always get tangled. Here it is!

What do you think? I'm loving my hair now! The funny thing is that I can't comb it at all because my hair horrifyingly "flies away"! (I hope you understand what the slang means!)

Yaya Woes: Disrespectful, Ungrateful

I'm supposed to blog about my birthday today but couldn't because I'm in such a high negative emotional state.

Anyone with a yaya or a maid will understand the "woes" that come with their service. I have a fair share of these woes, but I don't usually air them out here on my blog because I want to keep it positive and God-glorifying.

Also, I'm generally a forgiving perso. I don't like to hold grudges. Offense now, forget later. That's what I do to avoid stress and to try to please God. But this time, it's different. The things and values that I so uphold are compromised.

Photo: http://meetville.com/

Before I rant and before you judge me as a really strict and inflexible employer, let me give you some background.

First, Yuri's yaya is not a "full-time" yaya. I'm the one who feeds Yuri all three meals. I'm the one who bathes him. I'm the one who makes him go potty and wash him after. Sometimes it's also me who washes his soiled undies. I'm also the one who gets him to take a nap in the afternoon and cleans him up at night.

His yaya only takes care of him from around 8:30am - 11:45am and 3pm - 5:30pm. You read it right. She's completely free from lunchtime to 3pm. And when Yuri has to go potty during her "shift," I take over.

Second, even if her absences are frequent, there never was a "bawas" in her sweldo. Heck, I don't even subtract from her salary what I lose in mine due to the absences.

I hope you see that she has a lighter workload than most yayas. I treat her sooo well. I couldn't understand why she doesn't reciprocate.

We Were Merely Freshmen

Someone in my Facebook feed shared a photo of our first batch encounter way back (n) years ago. I won't specify dates, but if you can look at the photos, you'll see how most girls wore boot-leg jeans. That should give you an idea.

And oh, the UP Mindanao atrium's walls weren't painted yet. And there was still a giant "ashtray" in the middle of it. And smoking wasn't yet bawal. And the roads were not paved. There, so many hints na.

The photo shared was one of a course different from mine, so I kind of stalked the original owner to look for the complete album. I didn't know the poster but I'm sure she was years ahead of me.

Anyway, I finally found the album and was pleasantly surprised to see many photos. Back when digital wasn't very common, this was a feat! I was even more surprised to see a photo of my bloc - which included me!

 Credits to the photo owner, Tata Sua Peronilla.

We were few but not that few. This photo had more upperclassmen than freshmen, and many of my classmates were probably on the opposite side.

Can you spot me?

Long Day Friday

On Thursday night, I prayed to have these things in my heart: patience, wisdom, understanding and compassion. To be honest, I pray for these every night (more often during workouts), but I didn't know I will be fully tested come Friday.

1. Yaya Woes

It started  during the morning, when it wasn't 9:30am yet and I have already "spoken" to Honey three times. I do not really scold her (I leave that to the elders), but I do make "sermon." The first one was when she took forever in the bathroom taking a shower. She's really vanidosa, and I've come to accept it. The problem was that we were alone in the house, and I tried to teach Yuri to pee in the bathroom. Inevitably, he peed on me. We couldn't change because all our clothes are upstairs and we were dripping wet. I called to Honey and told her na bilisan ang pagligo.

So after around 40 minutes, she finally came out of the bathroom. I thought we could change na. Hala, she took another 20 minutes upstairs. What is she doing? Fixing her hair? Doing her makeup? Haller, andito lang kami sa bahay. I was really exasperated because Yuri and I stunk with pee already, and she, the yaya, is applying creams whatsoever pa on her face. Lord, help.

The second time that morning that I sermoned was when she ate all freshly cooked chorizo, while the rest of us ate the leftover pancit from last night's dinner. I left some pancit for her, but yes, she chose to ate the freshly cooked food which was supposed to be our lunch. The third time she got another sermon from me because she and the neighbor's yaya spent maybe around 20 minutes chismisan. I looked out the window and saw that she just carried Yuri over her arm and her entire attention was directed toward the other yaya. I didn't want to scold her right then and there para hindi mapahiya. Hay Lord!

2. Neighbor Woes

Some of you might have already known na kontra ko talaga ang maingay. I understand if it's noisy in school, inside the classroom, in the mall, or where else, because noise is perfectly acceptable in these places. However, I really get irritated when people bawl out at the karaoke in the middle of a guarded subdivision. I even wrote about this before. The problem with before is that the people singing (or just plainly making noise) lived outside the subdivision, so I couldn't do anything about it.

Yesterday, though, the noisy people lived just on our street. In fact, they live just after a vacant lot beside our house. Naman, tanghaling tapat, they're singing their hearts out to music like Pusong Bato. And it's Yuri's siesta time, so the Tiger Mom in me was really irritated. Actually, I felt insulted because these people have no regard for other people. Worse, they don't even live here. They are just visitors of the woman married to this foreigner.

I called the guards first. I told them of my complaint, and would you believe the guard who answered me only said, "Ma'am, wala pong nagvi-videoke." Can you believe that? May CCTV ba kayo sa bawat bahay? My gosh! I didn't have a choice but to take the matter into my own hands. I went to the neighbors' house and told them that we get disturbed by their singing, and it would have been okay, but my son is already sleeping. Keep in mind that I spoke to them in a very reverent manner. Just when I was about to return home, somebody made parinig. I didn't really understand what she said, so I'll leave you to your imaginations with that.

Of course, I called the guards again and told them they should not have dismissed my complaint so easily when my complaint was true after all. Hay Lord. However, they did quiet down after I went to their house, so all's well that ends well.

After that, I was so stressed that I resorted to eating this fruit bar:

My only consuelo was that one bar has only around 80 calories. Say what?

3. Teeny-Bopper Woes

A Brief Visit to UP Mindanao

It's already 10:30 (draft written earlier) and I've just started working! Gah! Electricity has been out daw since 3:00 AM kanina; we found out it affected the whole of Mindanao. Then, it went back at around 6:30. I thought everything's going to be okay na. Suddenly, at 8am, wala na namang electricity. Waaah.

Worse, none of the gadgets were fully charged. Both my phone and my laptop were only halfway charged, while the tablet was not charged at all. I really had no means to work, and I hope my boss understands.

Anyway, I was out yesterday afternoon to return to my Alma Mater, UP Mindanao, to get my diploma after ++ years. The reason is that UP is soooo far away! It's 2 hours away from where I live. I can't go to the nearby mall nga anytime I want, UP pa kaya?

The last time I've been there was during Teena and George's graduation back in 2011. So much has changed! I couldn't believe this was the same UP I entered back in 2006.

I don't have a photo of UP circa 2006, but it's really different from what I saw yesterday. For starters, the CHSS (College of Humanities and Social Sciences) building wasn't painted yet. The floor wasn't tiled and had only gray cement. Plus, there was a huge (and not working) fountain smack in the middle of the admin building. We also had several "abortion" roads which were a real challenge to ride on because they were unpaved. There was also no proper mode of transportation save for the habal-habal. 

However, the UP I saw yesterday resembled a private school. Of course, I haven't seen the other UP Campuses, but for me, what I saw already resembles a private school. The road leading to the Oblation Park not only was beautifully paved but also had flower beds. Bongga!

My good friend and former churchmate, Yankee, also accompanied me. I had been craving for some face-to-face human interaction for some time now, and while I do have this at home, I craved for interaction with someone my own age. Yankee's a bit younger than me, but she's way more spiritually mature. Yesterday, God spoke through her (and I hope God spoke through me, too), and I just feel so blessed. It was really nice catching up with her. It was also a very blessed meeting because we are both blessed by each other's stories, which, unexpectedly, were very similar pala. And we didn't know about it!

It was a good opportunity to use my Samsung WB150F camera for the first time. Hihi.

My company for the day. Thank you, Yanx!

And yours truly. (Seeing my photos makes me want to visit a salon ASAP!)

Two-fie? :P

Obligatory Oblation shots below. Thanks, Kuya (or Sir) Jonmarx for taking our photos!

Three Options for Yuri's Preschool (Super Advanced Schooling Plans)

Disclaimer: I first drafted this post when Yuri was around 15 months old so it was, indeed, "super advanced." Now that he's 20 months, the adjective needs to be reduced to just "advanced."

I know it's quite early to think about it, but right now, I'm already figuring out what kind of education Yuri should have. Everytime I bring it up, Job kinda brushes me off because, hello, Yuri is only 20 months old. He humors me, though, and engages in my "plans," though he insists Yuri shouldn't go to school until he's 4. Pero, hello, a lot of toddlers even younger than Yuri have been enrolled na in playschools!

Not that I plan to enroll Yuri in a playschool. Not that I don't want to.

Anyway, you can't blame me. I was born a planner and will continue to be. A very advanced planner at that. And I'm only talking about preschool. Or at least for now. So what are the options? Here they are:

The first option I had was to homeschool. I love the idea, and I know I'm capable of being a good teacher to Yuri. *lowers the bangko that I just lifted* But I know it's going to be great. Aside from reading books, we'll go painting, listening to (classical) music (if I manage), visit museums and the Science center. Job seems to go along with it (or maybe para di na humaba ang usapan?) and volunteered to be the sports instructor. Of course. However, the problem is that we're both working full-time. How will I ever manage to work and teach at the same time?

My next option would be Montessori. Why Montessori? I've done my research and believe it's one of the best systems (after parent-child learning, in my opinion) to stimulate toddlers' early education. Also, I would be able to have some me-time. Read: gym. In fact, I'm already eyeing a Montessori preschool near the area. The only downside of this would be the cost. Aside from the tuition and other obvious fees, we have to consider transportation (we don't have a car yet) and "extra fees" AKA Yuri's wardrobe.