My Blog

Caleb bids goodbye to pull-ups!

He woke up one day decisive that he will use the bathroom like a big boy. At 28 months ( 2 yrs and 4months) he is completely potty trained. He would even get up in the middle of the night just to use the bathroom. He’ll go “ Mama, daddie, I need to peepee in the toilet!” It is such a relief since we are expecting another baby. He did in such impeccable time – 2 weeks before my expected due date.

Newest addition

Unlike our two older kids who came almost a week before my due date, our third baby is surprisingly late. A scheduled labor induction was necessary – whether I like it or not. But letting nature takes its course is often best for me… I did all I can to induce “natural” labor and viola! She arrived the day before. Good grief! Kaley Paige Kermon.  We are so blessed to meet you,finally!

Sweetest Ate

Big sister Juliana absolutely loves having the baby at the house. She is taking on the responsibilities of a “little mama” Caleb doesn’t seem too attached just yet but we’ll work on it.

Birthday Girl

Juliana is still very active and athletic. She is excited about her upcoming birthday. Turning 4 on the 10^th of February, we will bring cupcakes and snack at her preschool to celebrate. A small party will be held the weekend after at her grandparents’ house in Wilmington. She wanted an elephant cake this time. Part of our gift is to send her to a gymnastics class once the school is out.

Playing G.I  

James is set to deploy overseas sometime in April. He will be away for at least six months so I am planning to fly home to Pinas with the kids. (Not carved in stone but as a general plan)

 Three’s a crowd

With the newest addition in the family, James and I decided we needed a bigger ride. My Chrysler Pacifica sits six people but not much room for extra stuff. We both like big cars or trucks but with the upward trend of gas prices, it is wise to look for a fuel efficient transpo.

Getting back in shape

One of my year’s goals!

Change of station order is inevitable if you belong in a military family.

Every three years you get relocated to another state or out of the country where there are US Bases.

   Thus, as of this writing, we are one day closer to our displacement and we expectantly opted to be stationed in Japan. Early this year the billet became available and one particular warrant officer, who was at James’ class last December 2006, offered him the deployment.  Due to a very short notice, James and I deemed it is unfeasible to go overseas given only a thirty-day-period to make arrangements. Such time won’t assent us to determine what to do with our house. Hence, we begged off contemplating that the possibility of residing in Japan, our interests in exploring the country and experiencing its flourishing culture are immaterial at that point in time. Once his advancement to a higher rank transpired, we are promptly directed to move up to North Carolina…

James has reminded me cautiously of the prerequisites on renting out our property. One of which is vacating it – the sooner the better. In spite of that I procrastinated. Sending me off with the kids earlier than we want to be is disheartening yet indispensable. In an attempt to evade the fact that we are moving out of our house, I put off quite a deal of time. That is undeniably a hideous display of immaturity and stubbornness on my part. I am overtly culpable of it.

Today the whole thing finally made sense to me when the realtor agents came to see our house.  The further they disclose the stipulations on listing our property out in the market, the more I grasp its complexity. There is a lot to be accomplished in such little time as far as paperwork is concerned. Furthermore, it comprises maintenance, monthly fees, bank account and most importantly, filing tax at the end of the year (I would get into details about these later on a separate entry). 

After all is said and done, James and I set definite dates for the movers to pack and pick up all our stuff. (This is, by the way, financed by the military) All I must do is prepare me and the kids on our departure from Florida in approximately ten days. Along with them I will have to venture into another 13-hour-long-drive to get to North Carolina. I am glad that Mom Gail is coming down to make this trip easier for us. We can take turns in driving.

Although it is somewhat tough to leave wonderful people whom we regard as a second family, I can express in all honesty that I am ready to set off. I should be; and there’s no more dilly dallies.

I have traveled through the city of New Orleans three times now. The first couple of trips were mainly to take care of a personal business. On the outset least to say, I didn’t perceive anything that seemed appealing contrary to what is mostly heard of it. Our travel period is longer than the time we actually set foot on Louisiana State. Everything from my mere observation has yielded nothing more than mediocrity. Perhaps, that notion shall be changed…

THE EXPEDITION

Despite the fact that it’s a three-hour-backbreaking-ride with two kids, I got anxious when James and his parents, who were down for a short visit, agreed to drive to New Orleans- once more. Thinking that this instance we will evidently go back to explore and feed our wanderlust souls while we are close at it.

Our day tour started after a quick breakfast stop at McDonalds. As we take off – or, more accurately, as my father-in-law’s vehicle rolls forward slowly, one is in the luxury of ease. My kids were spoiled with junk food, DVD movies and attention. Mom Gail and I took pleasure in slumbering in the very backseat when we can while James and his dad engaged in their usual smart-alecky conversation about family, military and politics. The long drive that typically saps my strength was rather manageable. We reached our destination just in time for lunch – the Cajun/Creole style.

AT THE FRENCH QUARTER

Amidst the various places to be, we settled in a restaurant with a jazz band serenading the guests, it’s fun and casual featuring New Orleans authentic classic cuisine. Either Cajun or Creole, both are superb! All foods have a depth of flavor, may or may not be spicy and fiery hot. It’s absolutely something new to try and worth the dare. James who has a weakness for spicy food had a blast. Our kids were more thrilled of the music and cheerful crowd. I myself was raring to go see more.

EVERYBODY LOVES A PARADE

We embarked on our tourism shortly after our meal. My parents-in-law were thoughtful enough to take our kids to a horse and buggy ride that toured around the historic French Quarter while James and I made our way down to the lively sections of New Orleans. So far, there was a virtual academy of live music in the streets where you could bop in the middle of everywhere. And instead of people wondering, they would dance with you. That is the glory of this infamous city. Although not more than two years ago hurricane Katrina ravished the city, the 18th and 19th century buildings were beautifully restored with modern day amenities combined with classic French atmosphere. Many of the hotel rooms have balconies overlooking the exciting streets of the Quarter.

There are all kinds of arts, souvenirs, street jesters and performers, too. Local visual artists showcasing their knack in painting surround the entire heart of the French Quarter district. The infamous city for me is indeed a festive one, always celebrating life at its fullest and feeling its jubilation. However, one hasn’t completely experience New Orleans without coming across the hottest spot in the city. The home of the most celebrated Mardi Gras event.

THE BOURBON STREET

Before we finally unite with mom, dad and our kids, James and I made our last stop at this well-known street. With its bawdy reputation of all-night partying and drinking, it didn’t’t seem as horrendous during the day as it is at night. Bourbon Street somehow reminded me of what Mabini used to be 20 years ago– a community of gay bars, strip clubs, and floor shows in general. If nudity offends you, you’ll be better off away from these burlesque clubs. Most likely you’ll enjoy the whole other side of Bourbon. There are restaurants and clubs that offer sophistication and fine French food- where you can celebrate with jazz music and the best martinis. With so many ways to experience New Orleans, vacationing there is unforgettable. It is tremendous that I would go back there eager for more.

Lately it’s been really tough to devote time and energy to blogging. Between myself and my kids’ daily activities, I have very slim chance (to none) to even check and return emails. Internet surfing used to be part of my routine until we purchased quite a big property which is laborious to maintain; until I landed on a wonderful job that at this point in time I had to renounce(sighs) and until we had a new addition to the family who hypes up my life- even more. I tried not just once but numerous attempts to detail any sudden surge of thoughts. And whenever I get the option to do so, my kids would either drag me out of the computer room or demand to sit on my lap to see what I am doing. Rain and Caleb, being the top priority always win the encounter -amazingly. 

James on the other hand, as thoughtful and supportive a husband he is solved the conflict today. I no longer have to sneak out of my kids’ sight to make it to the computer room. Neither do I need to justify to them consistently that using the pc and logging on to the internet is the fastest access to pay our bills.  Nor do I have to elucidate to them each time I upload pictures to update my families and friends miles away.  And the best part of it, when the kids are gone to bed I don’t have to stay up just to do all of these.

They’re all out of the window now. Now that I got this early gift for my upcoming 30^th birthday – a very gorgeous laptop equipped with all the features I fancy.

I’m at a loss of words right about now but I still wanna write (nonetheless). I wanna talk about the longgg flight that has been but there are no concise terms to justify it. Besides, it’s going to be one of those longgg rambling tale I am notorious of.  I’d simply not vouch for such experience to young moms or should I say anyone who’s planning to travel by air with an infant in tow - by her/himself. Hey, don’t even think about it . (You’ll end up banging your head against the wall or worse, wring your neck like a wet cloth before you know it).

Flying with an infant was bittersweet and irksome,too.

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I must have looked like a walking zombie after the trip that seemed like an eternity. I am glad it’s done and I’m over it. Now I’ve finally arrived to my destination…Yeah, I made it. 

————–

Thirty hours flew by since I jetted off yet I am still up. My dense mind is wandering around like a lost soul. It feels like it’s got its own wings to take it anywhere it pleases. Patiently I’ll wait until my mind and my body crash into exhaustion. I sense it’s coming.

————-

I’m getting there… Jet lag isn’t in my vocabulary. Time zone isn’t a problem - not a big deal. My body clock never messes up.

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After this exasperation dwindles, I’ll talk about my share of gladness and excitement of being Home - sweet home.  (winks!)

FOUR hours before we went trick or treating on Halloween day, I felt sick once again. I lay me down to sleep but I tossed and turned on the bed and couldn’t find a comfortable position to lie rested. It felt like my body was deadly beaten up and my head was about to explode into tiny pieces. I then took another dose of NyQuil which by the way works like magic to me…like I was in some sort of a magic spell, next thing I know I was deeply asleep.

———–

At 6pm, our friends and their kids came - all dressed up for the occasion: Tony, Cage and cutie Lexie as Darth Vader, pretty MAra as a witch, Chase - a Nascar racer, and Hunter in all black with a weird nasty mask on.

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Baby Rain was so cute in her little fairy outfit with wings that glow-n-d-dark. It was her first Halloween.

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I once said I will only join them go to a couple of houses just to take pictures ( since I really didn’t feel well then ) but I ended up enjoying as much as the kids did. Rain was having a blast.

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WE called it a night after the "daddies" had a few drinks. I finished packing my baggages for my trip the ff. day…

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I missed my flight to Georgia. We got to the airport only FOURty (40) mins away from my departure time. They won’t take me in cause they said I was too late to board the plane… I drove James to work instead…

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Shopping is therapeutic. Rain and I went to NAvy Exchange ( shopping mall) and spent the day away malling and window shopping in an effort to dogde the thought of what a messed up morning it was for the both of us.

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Some things are better left unspoken. We didn’t talk about the "missed flight." Neither one of us blamed each other. All we know was the airline screwed up my trip. I hate them with a passion.

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" So, did you get something crazy today?" I know you guys went to the mall." My hubby asked with a huge silly grin across his face. I said, "Yes, of course!"

Then I pulled a tiny shoe box and showed him a new pair of Coach slip-ons. He shrugged his shoulders and laughed his way out of the room then exclaimed " I knew it!" " I do know you, I know you so well!" Haha.

——-

I should have been in the Philippines by now if I didn’t miss my flight. I wasn’t mad at all. Travelling on Nov. 1st wasn’t a really good idea for me. Twice I asked James if we can change the departure - way before it. He refused just cause we will have to pay addt’l fee…plus the processs is such a pain in the butt.

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I am not superstitious but at the back of my mind, that flight may probably be my departure date on the face of the earth - in the physical realm. Haha, James thought that’s a nut case. Maybe the Gods in the heaven agreed with me.  The day itself, although we had plenty of time to board the plane, it simply didn’t happen.

——

But imagine six more days of anticipation and waiting (that is by the way killing me) but well, I will wake up one day finally stepping on the Philippine soil once again.

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I may not know exactly why things happen the way they are. Sometimes it is beyond human understanding…but I believe there are reasons.

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The next day, Rain got sick. She woke up with a runny nose and fever. I am glad we were not on the plane. It would have been harder for her to be flying sick for 22 hours. That maybe is the reason, a good one at that.

——

Though our trip was postponed, we will fly out of here eventually. I think that already changed our stroke of bad luck.

What a beautiful day!!! I am such in a good mood waking up. Outside when I peeked through the window, the sun is shining brightly and a cool breeze suddenly kissed my warm face. Inside I feel so brand new, no longer weak, cranky and ill.

It’s going to be one of those days that will be entirely spent outdoor. Nah huh! like I can! I don’t wanna go back to bed curled up in a ball whining about headache and sick pain again. Two whole days,wow, that is just bad enough for me.

Anyway I do need to go out run an errand. My hubby gave me a task I need to take care of before I fly out of here. Well actually it’s not an errand it’s really something I need to do - get POA for him so he can sign on my behalf the deed of sale for the house we are purchasing. Why? I simply won’t be here for the closing date.

Ok, I better get going now while Rain is still awake. Just wanted to drop a few lines to let everybody know that I feel a lot better today than the past couple of days.

So here comes trouble!!!! ;-p)

Hasta la vista everyone!

It is now 10:30AM CT and I have just gotten out of bed. Rain smacked me on the face with her empty bottle meaning, it’s time for me to get up (whether I like it or not) to make her "dede." No, it didn’t hurt. (What big of a damage can an eight-month-old baby make?) It was just hard enough for me to know that there is a little person beside me who is so wide awake and probably starving. She has been playing on the bed since her daddie left for work @ 7am. She’s being a good girl letting me sleep longer…until she got tired and hungry. I don’t know if she understood what her daddie said: "Sweetie, be good. MAmmie is still a little sick, ok." ( sweet!)

Yesterday my hubby came home a little earlier than usual. He saw me on the bed rolled like a ball with PJs and a pair of socks on. He knew then that something was wrong. SO he hurriedly changed into his everyday clothes and ran to CVS (drugstore) with RAin…

Around 4pm I was back in bed getting a doze. I didn’t wake up until it’s time for me to take another dose of medicine. Six hours after 4pm. Now you do the math. Anyway, I am totally clueless of what had happened the rest of the night. I probably snored it away…

I’ve not much to share today, like I said it is only half past ten in the morning. It is going to be another long boring day like yesterday. I feel like trap in a time warp where the world stopped spinning. I can’t do anything not until I get better… Although I wanted to go out get groceries, I don’t think I should. Nor can I continue packing luggages.  The only thing left for me to do which I have not completed these past few weeks is to get REST.

You guessed it right, now is the perfect time to do it.

SUch a crazy month it was. It’s finally put a toll on me. I woke up this morning with a clogged nose, a sore itchy throat and neck pain that goes all the way down to my upper back (and it’s killing me). I might call the food shopping day off today and just stay @ home with Rain…Though the weather is perfect to be out and about… huhuhu… I just realized I cannot get any sicker than this…So might as well rest some.

`silly weather`

The past couple of days the temperature dropped to 60 degrees F. From a normal heat index of 90 to 100 it went down 30 degrees drastically. Hence, I’m a little sickly between the change in weather and being stretched and stressed out this past month.

~ House hunting ~

Late September (when I last posted a blog) James got a short vacation which we spent taking care of a business - an investment. We decided we’re not gonna wait much longer to purchase a house. Rain is growing fast and she needs room to play around. Though the whole ordeal’s stressful to the both of us, it is worthwhile. Everyday during the last 2 weeks of that month we drove around town looking for houses and talking to brokers. Until we got tired doing it by ourselves, we  hired our own realtor… to make the long story short - After viewing a total of 27 houses ( I had my 2 most  fave but we agreed they’re a little over our price range. sheesh!)  we took our pick. It is a nice size 3 bedroom-2 bath- house with front and back porch. ANd two of the main things we are very concerned about - kitchen and backyard - they’re both huge! So I guess we will be happy in this house. Closing date: Nov. 15!

! so we moved out !

  So much has happened in late September and the first few weeks of October - that the turn of events is simply unbelievable.  Once again we moved out of the Arbor Club and for 2 days we packed all our belongings. Rain had to be watched by my friends to make everything easier.  It was, indeed.

Funny thing is our lease does not end until December but because James argued with the manager we ended up vacating the club instead of moving to a larger unit. We didn’t expect it but we got just what we wanted… Only in the hard way.

The difficult part : packing, making calls and changing address. We made it though- in just 2 days! Talk about TEAMWORK. 

~ and we’ll fly out !!!

Rain will be on her first international flight come Nov… My dearest dad will have a major surgery soon and we wanna be there for him besides the fact that I miss my family and friends in Pinas. I cannot wait and the anticipation is killing me. Everyday is a day closer to our departure date. I am so excited for Rain to see her grandparents and cousins from my side of the family… SO… Manila I’m coming home!!!!

`now physically and mentally drained `

Right now I have a lot of things planned and thinking too much makes my head pound. I already took a pain reliever and it has not kicked in yet. My body still feels sluggish and I look kinda goofy. I think I am going to have fever and flu but I refuse to get ill any more than this. I’ve things waiting to be done so I’ll probably check out of here and get going.

Later!

It’s been quite a while since I last made an entry here. I’ve been running around like a madman this last week, it’s been ridiculous…
But things have been good. Weather is no longer as humid as the past month. It started to cool down some that I can now take Rain for a walk in the late afternoon.I am still enjoying Pilates and trying my best to stay in shape, though I’ll be honest I neglect it sometimes. Malling is still part of my routine, whether I come home with a bag of goodies or not.
Juliana is getting so big and doesn’t wanna be strapped in the stroller, walker or her cradle swing. My, I am going to have my hands full when she gets older…

Andre and James

Lately watching the US open on tv has made James and I stayed up so late. The other night we went to bed for almost 1am just waiting to see who’s gonna win between Andre Agassi and James Blake. Game was freakin’ good that it almost gave me a heart attack. Twice my hubby had to go out to the patio to smoke and twice I had to keep him company outside cause I got so nervous when Agassi was losing. Yeah it was killing us.haha. The match lasted for nearly 3 hours, 5 sets with 2 tiebreaks. When the game was over James and I hugged each other. We were so relieved. Hahah. Agassi made it - much to everybody’s surprise. We really thought he would be defeated. Yeah, we are big fans of tennis esp. Agassi.

That game was one of the best I’ve ever watched. It will be until we go to NY and see tennis live.

OB and Baby

Wednesday, Rain’s babysitter didn’t make it on time so I drove to my doctor with the baby. Good grief! Rain behaved so well over there. She managed to keep herself busy chewing all sorts of toys I brought for her to be entertained - for nearly 2 hours! What a baby! @ 7 months she still doesn’t have a single tooth. But she chews celfone, keys, credit cards and slippers. eewwlll. Yucky!!!

Anyway, the nurses there kept her company while Dr. Null examined me. Everything seems fine but I have to wait for my blood test result before she can give me iron pills for my anemia. After my check-up I went to the Commissary (Navy Shopping Mall) and got her a new toy. Good girl kasi kaya may small reward. Then I drove back home - t’was a 45 minute drive to our house. And Rain was out cold. Napagod cguro kaka-chew. whew!

Mamie’s project

I have finally agreed to let Rain have her own room.
She’s really growing fast; we cannot share closet and bathroom anymore.
She has a lot of clothes and toys that she has already outgrown.
So next month before her 8th month bday, she will move to her new room…