Luca’s stocking. I think it’s slowly killing me.

I blame it on my Grandma. Years and years ago, she made everyone’s Christmas stockings, including yours truly’s. So of course, I make it my own personal undertaking to do the same for my kids and husband. I started when Claire was born and made hers and Matt’s all in a few months. Of course, I didn’t do it correctly and use the beads. This time, I thought, what the hay, I can do it! I’ll do it just the way it’s supposed to be done.

And OH.MY.GOD. I honestly think I’m slowly dying.

AND IT’S NOT EVEN FLIPPING DONE YET!!!

If you need me, I’ll be sitting at the dining room table stabbing myself with a needle unintentionally. Or is it?

Ok, Chris Brown fans! It’s December 8th……..the release of Brown’s third album, “Graffiti”!

I have to say first off that I really wasn’t too thrilled with the first single release,”Transform Ya”. It reminded me of Beyoncé’s “Upgrade You” in lyrical spirit. However, I can understand the executive decision behind it due to Lil Wayne’s feature on the cut. At the same time, I have to be honest. It was hard to see Chris in that “heart-throb” image when so much had transpired with the domestic abuse charges. I was hoping to hear some “confession like” cuts to help the bleeding in his public image. But just when I thought that wouldn’t be, here comes the song, “Crawl”. It’s a great crossover confessional that isn’t just a good song, it’s a smart move. With the following words:

“Everybody sees it’s you
I’m the one that lost the view
Everyone says we’re through
I hope you haven’t said it too”

According to MTV News, Brown said “Crawl” wasn’t a reflection of his own relationship but relationships in general. However, in the court of public opinion many people with think otherwise. Whether that is true or not – we will never know. But nothing helps your image better than a confessional song playing over and over again to insinuate subtle intentions.

Other noteworthy cuts on “Graffiti”:

“What I Do” – if you like flashy cars, money and Plies, this is the ringtone for you. A definite “dirty R&B” cut.

“So Cold” – another confessional love song that pleads in the chorus:

“If you ever see her
If you ever meet her
If you ever get a chance to sit down, talk to her
Then tell her it’s so cold
It’s so cold, it’s so cold
Here without her
And tell her I miss her
Tell her I need her
Tell her I want her
I really want her to come back home, back to keep me warm
Tell her I’m sorry, I’m really sorry
Can you forgive me?
Please forgive me
And come back home, keep me safe and warm”

“Wait” – this song has Polo the Don’s signature all over it featuring Trey Songz and The Game

“Famous Girl” – another cryptic song that simply puts the “Graffiti” on the wall. Check out these words:

“Drake would say that
You’re the best he ever had
Rumors come and go”

Then later the song states:

“Keri would’ve said my love knocks her down
Keisha would’ve told me I was sent from heaven
Sorry Bee I don’t wear no halo
You were first to play the game though
Sorry I bust the windows out your car

I might have cheated in the beginning
I was wrong for writing Disturbia
But I meant it in Forever
We were supposed to be together
And I can’t let you go”

Other honorable mentions:

“I’ll Go” – this song starts with the ragtime feel of a piano and later changes to a rock feel. It puts you in the mindset of Lenny Kravitz’s “Let Love Rule”. This will probably not be a single release but the more I hear this song, the more I like it.

“Movie” – While I like the other “come-hither” song on this album – “Take My Time” featuring Tank -  I’m more favorable to the song “Movie” because it contains the chord progression of the song, “Can You Stand the Rain” by New Edition.

“Brown Skinned Girl” – This song is laced with Sean Paul’s reggae flair. If you listen closely, you can also pick up a small musical line from the song “You’re the Inspiration” by Chicago. Is that another cryptic message? Who knows.

Overall, “Graffiti is a combination of crossover ballads, reggae, rock, techno club, dirty “R&B”, introspective pop with a twist of seduction for his female fans. But the question still stands, “Will this be the resurrection of Chris Brown after the unfortunate domestic abuse issues?” Well,  I’m  throwing in my chips and saying yes. I think he has a pretty good album with some diversity. Take a listen for yourself and check out the video from his second release “Crawl”.

And yes people, that is Cassie in the video with him.

5. COW BAG - It was seen on every shoulder of every woman in America this year. It was released by hundreds of different manufacturers all over the U.S. Why was this bag so popular? Why would women subject themselves to such horrible style? There is nothing fashionable about rocking your lunch as an accessory.

4. QUICK FIX (BLK, WHITE, RED) - We call this the quick fix because it was an easy way for non-fashionistas to become “true” fashionistas in a matter of minutes. It was the “Fashion for Dummies” signature look. We LOVE to mix and match often to the point we despise *matching* at times. Being a true fashionista means knowing fashion. Throwing floral with floral and stripes with polka dots but doing it in a stylish and appropriate manner. Adding a red plastic bead necklace with red pumps does not grant you a Fashionista VIP Pass.

3. SIDE HEAD SHAVE - Cassie did it, it was DOPE! The world and fellow Celebs followed her lead…NOT SO DOPE!

2. BACKPACKS - I blame Kanye for this one. I guess it was kinda cute when he started this school boy trend, but at the end of the day you are in your mid 30’s and you graduated high school like over a decade ago. Try a really nice briefcase or messenger instead.

1. THE MOHAWK - Where do we begin? The sad thing is that this trend is still going strong! It was extremely popular among our male participants. You can find a mohawk on boys as young as 10 months in some cities. It is extremely disturbing when this is witnessed in the closing month of December 2009, considering the fact this trend was started late 2008. If your still rocking one of these, I highly suggest a conf call with your barber as soon as possible. You only have 3 to 4 more weeks to get a clue!

(Our Mom wrote a lovely essay about Jake as well at her site here.)
Our 11-year-old free spirited, charismatic, crazy, amitriptyline consuming dog, Jake, will be put to sleep at 2:30 today.

Jake was first known as the Hollabaugh beer dog because pre-neutered, he would hang out at the distributor.  Once caught by the dog catcher, he ended up at our local humane society where my Mom adopted him.

After being neutered he would still have some ‘private moments’ with our couch cushions.

He’s afraid of thunderstorms, barks at the same mail man who has been delivering our mail for years, dislikes the garbage man, and isn’t too fond of being held back.

He loves carrots, apple cores, peanut butter, ice cubes, popcorn…bags of Hershey kisses…foil included. He loves romping in the backyard, handshakes, pets behind the ear and rolling on his back.

Jake is big, in the way a lot, and all around a pain in the neck. He would run past you when you’d open the front door and Carly and I would have to chase him down with the van with the side door open.

He is wiry, neurotic, and a piece of work.

I’m going to miss him.

John Grogan, writer of Marley and Me put it perfectly. I’ll let him take it from here:

“Then I dropped my forehead against his and sat there for a long time, as if I could telegraph a message through our two skulls, from my brain to his. I wanted to make him understand some things.

“You know all that stuff we’ve always said about you?” I whispered. “What a total pain you are? Don’t believe it. Don’t believe it for a minute, Marley.” He needed to know that, and something more, too. There was something I had never told him, that no one ever had. I wanted him to hear it before he went.

“Marley,” I said. “You are a great dog.””
— John Grogan (Marley & Me: Love and Life with the World’s Worst Dog)

It figures. Luca sleeps 7 hours straight and I can’t fall back asleep. So. Not. Fair.

That is all.

      This past Friday night, ABC News 20/20  aired reporter Robin Roberts’ interview with singer Chris Brown. If you took a bathroom break after the coverage of the Amanda Knox  case and the airing of news anchor Elizabeth Vargas’ interview with Amanda Knox’ father and sister on their reactions toward the guilty verdict and the twenty-six year prison sentence that was given to the 22-year-old American college student in a courtroom in Italy that evening for the murder of her British roommate Meredith Kercher, you may have missed Chris Brown’s interview. It was all of five to ten minutes long before ending with a premier of Chris Brown’s new music video for his next single entitled “Crawl” featuring none other than Diddy’s protegé Cassie as the leading lady.

     Chris Brown’s  ABC News 20/20 interview with reporter Robin Roberts was just like all the other discussions/interviews he has done on various media outlets on the subject of the infamous domestic dispute that occurred between him and his then girlfriend singer Rihanna back in February of this year. He said nothing really different from what he has said all along- “I’m sorry.” Only a few things he said in this interview stood out more than the things that he has said in the other interviews he has done within the last couple months. His response to what Rihanna told reporter Diane Sawyer in her 20/20 interview back in November about not having seen any of his apology Web videos or heard any of his apology songs, slightly indicated that Rihanna may have not told the absolute truth to the listening audience of her interview. Chris Brown said in the interview with Robin Roberts that he played the song entitled “Changed Man” for Rihanna the on exact day that he recorded it, which was a month after the incident; and according to him, Rihanna cried when she heard the song. One thing that he did verify as correct was Rihanna’s response to the first Web video he released for public view after the incident as being a video that appeared as if he was reading from a teleprompter. In the interview he said that his public relations person told him what he could and could not say within the video, which prompted him to solely go by written material before him; that did not allow him to say the true things that he was actually feeling and that is why it came off as fake and insincere looking to an on looker of the video. Chris Brown also said something in the interview that sounded like he may be getting over Rihanna slowly, but surely. When Robin Roberts asked him if he was still in love with Rihanna he replied, “I have love for her.” Interesting response because having love for someone and being in love with someone is two different things; he was saying that he still has love for her as a friend, but he is no longer in love with her as on a romantic side as he was when they were involved in a relationship with each other.

      But overall, Chris Brown still did not bring anymore real clarity on the domestic incident as Rihanna did during her interview with Diane Sawyer-all lies or truths? Nobody knows but the two of them. His interview with Robin Roberts should be the closing of the door of hearing about the domestic dispute that occurred between both him and Rihanna. He has said all that he has wanted to say and she has done so as well, and it is time that those of the public just let the two of them move on with their lives and careers. Hope that the two just use the domestic incident that they were involved in as a learning tool. Mistakes are a part of life and you only can learn from each one; mistakes only become problems when you keep making the same ones over and over.   

      If you watched ABC News 20/20 this past Friday night but took a bathroom break after the Amanda Knox story and missed the Chris Brown interview, here is a YouTube video for you to watch the interview in its entirety. The video will not take long to watch. Believe me.

Went to See Carrot Top last night and it was absolutely amazing. I wasn’t sure what to expect but when I left there my jaw hurt from laughing the entire show. Yeah he might be funny looking and look like he is on steroids, but he is a brilliant comic. His timing and delivery was on point. His use of of props and gags is out of this world. No one was safe when it came to cracking jokes and using props – Criss Angel, Tiger Woods, Terrel Owens and even the Luxor Hotel were the brunt of some of his funnier jokes. I was even more impressed with how much he made fun of himself. GREAT SHOW and I highly recommend going to see it if you get the chance.

-CP

You know how when something happens to you, during it all, it’s the worst thing ever…but then when you’re better, you forget all about it?

I never want to forget how I felt.

When I was actively suffering from PPD I felt like the walls were closing in on me. I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror and I couldn’t look my husband in the eyes. Mostly, I hated myself and I hated who I was. I didn’t want to do anything; I didn’t want to smile, I didn’t want to play with my kids, I didn’t want to go outside on a beautiful sunny day.

I had no ambition to shower, it was such a chore. I couldn’t talk about it without starting to tear up. I was never happy… I just wanted to be happy.

My body ached. It was a  constant reminder of how I haven’t had my body to myself in over two years. Between being pregnant with Claire, nursing her until the day I found out I was pregnant with Luca, then nursing him…I just wanted my body back. I longed for my body back.

Work was the only place I felt whole, useful and put together. I would think about the kids and how much I love them and missed them, but as soon as I’d get home, I was ready to leave again.

I felt as though I had let Matt down. That I wasn’t as strong as I could be. That I was lazy.

As much as I know it didn’t affect him, I am still afraid that Luca won’t love me as he should because of it. That he feels some sort of disconnect from me because of the lack of attention and smiles I denied him. Now, he only sees me as his source of food and comfort. I only hope he still loves me when the food runs dry.

I lost touch with Matt, the most important adult in my life. He would constantly ask what he could do to make me better. He would go out of his way to keep the kids away from me so I could have ‘me’ time. But then I’d feel guilty that I had to have ‘me’ time and that the kids had to keep away from me. I was a monster.

Now I feel myself, happy and able to speak about it without getting upset. I can smile. I look at myself in the mirror and feel like a good, confident Mom. I love my kids. I love myself. I love life.

I never want to feel that way again.

You haven’t seen her in a while so…

I should have another update for you guys tomorrow!

Chelsea.

Please support my friend… Click Link Below and Vote for Deryk Anthony as your favorite DJ for the 2009 Rok Patio Nights season?

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This is a real 911 Call. This guy thought it was ok to request a police escort for his 350 mile trek to see Lil Wayne in Miami. When the operator say no – he asked for a helicopter.. all because he didn’t want to get pulled over for speeding…IDIOT

Dear hunter(s) dangerously close to my house:

While yes, I am sure that your hunting helps with possible over population of deer in Allegheny county and keeps your family well fed through the winter, oh and you can’t forget the bragging rights…when I can clearly hear gun shots over my kids screaming, that means you are TOO CLOSE.

Forget the fact that I live in a housing development that is on a hill over the turnpike and the only real woods around here surround the trailer park and brick factory, but are you serious? I know there are deer in the woods because, yet again, last evening another one ran out in front of my jeep. (So not cool, by the way.) However, I have never seen anything but doe and the fact that she was running past the scrap yard says she’s getting smart as that is private non-huntable property.

Now you’re making me make up words.

I am not anti-hunting. Let’s get that straight. My father in law and brother in law are avid hunters. I believe my brother in law has a very large gun cabinet in his basement that costs more than my car. (OK, not that much, but it’s big, shiny and has a huge lock on it.) It brings them happiness, and one of these days they’ll get a buck. I just don’t want to be there when they skin it and such.

And yes, I was in the Army, therefore I was supposed to kill people, or something to that extent. But I didn’t. If I had to, I would have, but I didn’t. However, the Army never told me I had to kill deer 500 feet from someone’s house, now did they? Nope, didn’t think so.

*BANG* (in real time, no less)

See, now, I haven’t even posted this yet, and still the shots are getting louder. So not cool.

So hunters, if you could please, find a nice piece of land that isn’t inhabited by humans so that we can ensure a Dick Cheney incident doesn’t happen.

Someone wake me up when hunting season is over, ok?

Oh, and orange was so last season.

Kthxbye!

Central Florida Future – Article Online  

Three new programs launch at media center

By Cassie Turner

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Published: Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Updated: Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Emre Kelly

UCF’s Center for Emerging Media in Downtown Orlando celebrated the addition of three new programs, increasing student options and solidifying key concepts: partnership, collaboration and replication.

About 12,500 square feet of remodeled space is now dedicated to UCF’s MFA in Studio Art & the Computer; Flying Horse Editions, UCF’s non-profit fine arts press; and Citylab-Orlando, a University of Florida graduate-level architecture program.

These programs join several other high-profile programs at the center: The Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, UCF’s graduate video-gaming school; Vicon Entertainment’s House of Moves, one of the largest motion-capture studios on the East Coast; and the soundstage and editing suites of Studio 500.

“The Center for Emerging Media’s mission is to expand programs, access and opportunities for upper-level undergraduate and graduate emerging media students in Orlando, while furthering the city’s vision for a creative village that will connect professionals with students to help them land high-paying jobs upon graduation," said Chad Binette of UCF News & Information.

Rogier van Etten, a software engineer at 360Ed and 2007 graduate of FIEA, said they are instrumental in securing employer interviews for students. 360Ed focuses on games with high educational content. 

"The best thing you get from FIEA is teamwork: how to be an effective collaborator; how to be an effective communicator; how to be a valuable member of a team," said van Etten. "The skills you can get other places — it’s the team aspect that really stands out."

"We want to replicate what happens in the industry. Collaboration between students, departments and the community is the idea behind the entire building," said FIEA’s communications and admissions director, Todd Deery.

Professors encouraged Brittany Metz, a second-year MFA studio art & the computer graduate student, to get out of her box and focus on different mediums. Metz said she joined the program because the focus is concentrated on your own artwork, and the digital media aspect allowed flexibility and broad-range artistic expression.

"I’m drawn to whimsical, childlike, nostalgic things,” Metz said, “things I can create a story out of or that recall the past. 

Adding to the community learning and work experience environment, Flying Horse Editions brings in visiting artists who provide students with critiques and real-world experience lectures, said director Theo Lotz.

Beginning fall 2010, a creative partnership with Valencia Community College and the University of Florida will allow students to obtain a bachelor of design in architecture degree.

Michael Kuenstle, associate professor at the UF school of architecture, said the symbiotic relationship benefits students, faculty and community.

"Architecture is an urban endeavor. Students will gain a professional degree, immersed in the subject they are studying, while still living in Orlando, and we are able to teach in an urban environment, using the city as a library and teaching tool," Kuenstle said.

According to the UCF Web site, through a 2+2+2 program, students earn an associate’s degree through Valencia, a bachelor’s degree at UCF and a master’s at UF. The program aims at preparing students for careers in professional architecture, construction management and industrial design.

In the meantime, UCF undergraduate students and graduate students will be able to take elective courses at Citylab-Orlando and collaborate with top design, construction and planning faculty members from UF, said Binette.

Currently, Citylab-Orlando is working on a local urban redesign project to address different uses for future public space beneath Interstate 4 in Downtown Orlando.

If you or anyone you know is planning a trip to Las Vegas for NYE please contact me. I have tickets for sale for 2 of the hottest events in Town

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I recently updated my “About Cassie” page because since Luca is growing so quickly, the photos seemed outdated. Funny, since he’s only 6 months old.

Anywho, yesterday Matt took off another extra day from his holiday vacation and his goal was to decorate for Christmas. Now me, being … well, me, decided that while that was an excellent idea, we should also paint Luca’s room since Matt casually mentioned once a few weeks back that his room wasn’t ‘manly’ enough. Read: I hate to decorate for the holidays. Why? I don’t know, I just never have. Matt loves it and wants so desperately to fit in with the rest of the neighbors despite my bah humbug approach. So after a few spats and a debate on net lighting for bushes (which I think are tacky), we purchased a prelit garland for the front door and a wreath and called it a day.

While Matt was decorating the tree, I was painting Luca’s room a lovely cobalt-ish blue, to match his eyes, of course. And wouldn’t you know it, I didn’t get an ounce of sleep last night because I feared the paint fumes would kill Luca. *sigh*

While we were at Lowes picking out the perfect color for Luca’s room, Matt also mentioned he would love to paint our bedroom, too. I find this comment hilarious. Why you ask? Because our room is a deep, dark shade of blue with cathedral ceilings. This is the room that we painted on two coats the day before we moved in, left, and arrived in the morning with a truck full of furniture and bedroom walls that needed ANOTHER COAT OF PAINT. So not only will these walls have to be primed, but it is most likely that they will also need another 5 GALLONS OF PAINT.

I’m instilling a painting party for that. My plan of action is, “Hey Carly, wanna come over for some spiffy dinner while you’re on winter break from grad school? Oh and invite everyone you know, too? Why? Oh no reason special, just make sure to wear crappy clothing, OK?” Then lock all the doors after they step foot in the house. I’m so smart.

Next thing to figure out…what the hell do we paint the walls? See, these are trying times here at my house. Such life changing decisions. I’m so stressed out.

Lastly, I hate hunting season. Because I live on a back road surrounded by woods, what do you think I have jumping out in front of my Jeep? DEER. Lots and lots of DEER. Not to mention, while I was writing this very blog, I counted not one, not two, but three gun shots. WTF? I do not approve. So how bad do I feel when Claire asks me if we can play outside, and I say no because I’m petrified that she will get shot? Super bad. But not bad enough to cave. I just remember the story of my Mom driving on I-80 and a bullet hit her windshield. Thank God it didn’t go through otherwise I’d be a damn orphan. And Carly would be in charge. *shiver*

The last 7 days were one of the hardest times Kaye and I have endured as a family. However, it was also during those 7 days that our faith and hope are in their strongest degree, especially in the kind of ordeal we experienced, that is finally coming to an end (Praise God!).

Recalling back, it was Thursday (November 26) of last week since my mag-ina, Kaye and Kara, left my parents-in-law home for Asian Hospital. Kara was already experiencing a 40-something fever at that time, and we still don’t know what triggered such onset. It was very hard to see Kara being bothered with her condition, which made it more difficult for her to sleep. Though when I got home, I reassured Kara that her fever will pass. But after preparing Kaye’s clothes at the apartment and went back to the other house, they decided to bring Kara to Asian, just to be sure our baby girl will be properly taken cared of.

As Kaye recounts, the attending ER physician (who she saw as pogi daw! hehehe!) initially wouldn’t want to admit them since it was just the first day of fever. Diagnoses were made on Kara afterward. But Kaye doesn’t want to take chances so she insisted that they be admitted so Kara is a lot safer since she’ll be checked round the clock, by the nurses and docs on duty.

As Kaye tends to Kara, I was left home to stay with the two kulets, Jemy and Cassie. Good thing, their attention is not much yet on what’s going around them. I then realized that it was the first time their Mama was not around. I just thought, maybe it’s just ok because I know I’m there with them.

The following day was the day of unexpected answers to Kara’s condition. And behold, the pedia doctor assigned to her suspected already that it might be a case of dengue. Still farfetched with the idea since Kara’s platelets were high, they will still have to work up Kara’s blood parameters from time to time. But come Sunday, the thing we feared came. Kara’s platelets went down tremendously breaking the 100 limit. It was then that we really have to be ready for anything. So the whole day, we search for possible donors (type O+) and even went to various blood banks like Red Cross in Manila for additional platelets for possible transfusion. Luckily, a lot did respond to our distress. But in the end, I was the only one who passed for the donation since around 5 of the other donors were denied due to some screening reasons. (My cousin, though he passed, can’t donate that day because he had alcohol the previous night. He donated Monday PM) At the end of the day, there were 4 bags of ready platelets, 2 yet to be screened, and 2 more to be processed (one is my blood).

In the first few days of the ordeal, Kaye and I couldn’t do anything. According to the pedia, we should let the condition (dengue) take its course. It’s the only way that we can determine that Kara will eventually become okay. But for us, especially for Kaye, that was really hard to fathom at that point. She needed to stay strong for Kara, assuring her that the things everyone is doing will lead to her faster recovery. I couldn’t help but notice that, though she doesn’t say anything or confer to me much, hirap na s’ya to bear the idea. The anguish, the fear of what might happen… all those sum up her silence. Ako nga, I feel guilty pa of not being their with her sa hospital because I need to stay with the kids at home. And it was really hard that Kaye and Kara weren’t at home. JUst thinking of them battling an illness by themselves, while me watching over the kids at home and not being there… it’s like the family was miles apart from each other. But that’s just it. Kailangan lang. Sometimes the strength one needs will just have to come from the thought that me and kids are there with them or Kara and Kaye are there with us back home.

Eventually, when I got to stay at the hospital that Sunday, it was again the only time that Kaye felt I was there with her. When she came out of the room, I was sitted outside on a vacant movable bed. She went to me, embraced me and started to pour her feelings about the experience. I hugged her so tight that I too felt her fear and concern to the whole thing. She needed my strength the most and I’m glad I was there for her and give her that push when on her own, the dengue concept was too much for her to battle by mind alone. I even decided to stay that night just to make her renew herself with much rest so she has regained strength to face yet another tough day with Kara’s dengue.

Monday arrived. I was still groggy for lack of sleep because I watched Kara most of the time. Then, the pedia hematologist came to the room early and told us about the possibility of Kara’s platelets still declining. What scared us more is that it will eventually reach 20 or close to it. Though they say most dengue cases reach that point, we weren’t ready for such count especially because it’s our Kara who’s on the line. Katakot isipin! But despite that possibility, Kara still remained bubbly and talkative as ever. Nanlalait pa nga at times, which we see as a good sign. Staying positive is the only thing that’s left for us to do. I went home by lunch time and felt uneasy leaving them behind. But Kaye insisted for me to do so since I’ll be going to work the next day, and Jemy and Cassie needed a parent to be with them. So when I got to the apartment, I played with the kids a bit, worked on my rakets a bit. But I really felt lost, siguro because I was aware Kaye and Kara are not around. And moreso, Kara is still fighting her illness. I thought sana ako na lang para siguro tapos na lang, tutal I’m a lot stronger (I think) and kakayanin ko yung sakit, much more yung pagextract lagi nung dugo from her arm. Ang sakit kaya nun everytime!

Tuesday. I thought of passing by the hospital before going to work. Then the worst news… the pedia hematologist found that the latest count places Kara’s platelets down to 23. So she was already to be transfused with fresh platelets later that day. Learning that, I decided not to go to office. I wanted to stay with Kara and with Kaye through the ending stages of dengue, to support them morally and spiritually. At around past 1030am, transfusion was already underway. Her vein was fast gulping down thru IV the platelets that can replenish those that where damaged. After an hour and a half, we waited for another 6 hours before Kara is extracted again of blood for another round of testing. Then we wait again. All throughout the day, I prayed harder, every hour until such time arrived when the results came in.

It was around past 7 or 8pm when the results came back. And it was worth the wait! Kara’s platelets went up by 13, from 23 to 36. Wow! Really a good sign! Apart from that, rashes became more obvious on her legs, and arms. The prayers really paid off! Kara, finally, is on her road to recovery already! However, another test will be done by 6am next day so as to see if indeed the platelets jive well with hers. Kaye and I were so glad of this turnaround. And hopefully, Kara will be back in shape in no time.

Tuesday… the make or break day. I prepared early so I could pass by Asian asap and stay longer. However, it was quite hard to leave that morning since Jemy was having asthma episodes again and Cassie had slight fever. Wawa naman precious babies ko. Good thing our meds at home are complete so treatment was ready para maagapan. Also the yayas are quite aware of what to do already that’s why, though I would still want to stay with them, I left for Asian. Bad trip though, my jeep service was slow so wala rin nangyari sa kakamadali ko. But actually, I was just in time. A few minutes after I arrived sa room, the pedia hematologist came. And she told us the nicest sound to our ears: Kara’s platelets again went up to 44. Indeed, it was great wake-up call, hearing that Kara will soon be out of the woods.

In all these days, Kaye and I battled fear, anguish, longing and even distance. Though most of the time we were apart, we made it through everything together in spirit, and in prayer. But in most parts, I’m happy that Kaye remained steadfast especially for Kara’s sake. And I’m proud of her, as a mother who stayed with our baby girl, a companion who assured that things will still be okay, and a partner who kept the family strong despite the difficulties the illness of dengue has brought.

I know the fight is far from over, but in time, Kara’s health will be back to normal. So what’s next after this? Well… the anticipation of coming home, where Jemy, Cassie and I are just waiting for Mama and Ate to arrive so they could get all the hugs and kisses they finally deserve after being away for a short while.

See at home soon okay? We LOVE you!!!

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It’s officially up!!! Make Room for Kids.

When I was 18 and living in Oakland, a friend of mine had a rare form of leukemia and was fighting it all alone at Children’s.  I remember she could use a computer they’d wheel to her room if she’d want…but this… What Ginny is trying to accomplish is so much more. This will make a sickness seem almost obsolete to a young kid. It will help to bond kids together through play, not illness. It will pass the time and worry.

No kid should have to go through adult-like stuff. Let’s try to keep the kid in them through it all, can we?

This day has been good I got up and watched the movie He’s Just Not That Into You and then just did forever for a while and now I’m on the computer and I’m about to get off so I can eat so peace out! ~beautifulballerina15 aka Cassie