Kissing the Hand: "Mano"

"The Filipino tradition of pagmamano involves kissing an elder's hand or raising the hand to touch your forehead. Children do this especially during holidays when visiting grandparents to ask for gifts." (from http://tagaloglang.com)

For our family, this is how we greet our elders. Rafa, our first born, has been doing it for quite some time now. Just recently, Lucas learned it! We hope to capture it on video soon. He is doing it quite consistently and we are so thrilled.

Pull through Journey - January 2010

My husband writes very well. Whenever we have prayer requests, it is always he who composes our letters. I usually edits a few typos here and there but that's about it.

I'm linking to his blog to post our Lucas' third and fourth ORs last January. We also claim that these will be his last.

Pre-Pull Through
http://www.biboylaboy.com/2010/01/my-pre-pull-trhough-fb-posts.html

Pull Through
http://www.biboylaboy.com/2010/01/pull-through.html

Post Operation Update
http://www.biboylaboy.com/2010/01/lucas-post-operation-update.html

Urgent Prayer Request
http://www.biboylaboy.com/2010/01/urgent-prayer-requests-for-lucas.html

Lucas Update After Re-OR
http://www.biboylaboy.com/2010/01/lucas-update-after-re-or.html

And finally, Lucas is out of the hospital
http://www.biboylaboy.com/2010/02/lucas-is-out-of-hospital.html

It is always nice to look back and thank God for seeing us through.

Crocs

When Crocs first came out, I was totally against it. I don't know who in their right minds would pay for those things!

Fast forward, my friend went to the Crocs Mega Sale. I found myself asking her to buy identical pairs for my two boys. Here is a picture of the purchase.
Thanks Jo! Rafa almost never takes them off! Hope it made your trip worth it.

18 months of Lucas

On his 18th month, Lucas had an appointment with his pedia. Every meeting with the doctor is a moment of truth. Last check up was February 15. He weighed 8.3 kilograms.

Drumroll please...

After a month, he now weighs 9.4 kilograms. This is by far our greatest weight gain for that short period of time. I would like to commend our Mamita and Ate Ayang who tirelessly took care of him. Fed him constantly and diligently kept his journal. We won't be able to do this without you.

Our next goal is to be diaper rash-free. Thank you for praying with us.

Happy Walk 2010

Nanay with the boys at Sky Dome

With fellow mom of a baby with Down Syndrome

Officers of DSAPI

Children dancing to Nobody, Nobody but You

Family Picture, of course!

He did it!

One of our "He did it" moments. Lucas has been consistently sitting on his own. Tatay and Nanay are so proud!

Oh Christmas Tree

Since I got married, we did not bother putting up a christmas tree. I have been married for 4 years now and my eldest is 2. My husband and I decided, it is time to have a tree. Hence, we got one.

It is now standing in the living room with no trimmings or lights. Hopefully we can decorate it and make our home look like christmas as December draws near.

Offline

I have been unreachable through my mobile number since my sim reached its end of life yesterday.

I am still happy though because I found out that it is my sim that's the problem and not my phone. Also I now know where my sim is available and that I can get my sim working hopefully within the day. I have to commend SMART for answering my calls and for helping me out ;)

One customer care officer gave me the number of the wireless centers to call while the other found the wireless center with the available sim!

Hopefully no one beats me to my sim.

Ondoy: The Morales Account

Our Sept 26 Schedule:

9-10 am Cambridge

1030-12 nn Lucas' Therapy
12-130 pm Lunch and Travel to PCMC
2pm 2D Echo

or so we thought ...

9 am Cambridge

10 am Bring Lola to church
1030 am Drive - thru at Jollibee - Rotonda

This is the receipt of our drive-thru meal before getting stranded. I was not able to keep the day's newspaper. It must have been soaked in flood water inside the car.

After bringing Tatay to Cambridge and Lola to church, Rafa and I did not not get the chance to pick up Lucas for his therapy. At around 10-11 am, we were asked to park in front of South Star Drug in C. Raymundo cor. F. Legaspi. According to the people in the area, we will just get stuck if we try to cross even further.

Around 1pm, the flooring of the driver side is wet. It was time for us to leave the car. Got out through the passenger side, carrying a hooded-Rafa, my bag, and 2 of Tatay's shirts.

Stayed in the store until past 7pm when our ride arrived. No pictures were taken since I was not sure when help will arrive and I only have 1 bar on my cellphone.

Homeschool

What is the best school for my children? I have a two-year old and a one-year old sons. Peple around me are starting to ask when are they going to school? If it were up to me, they will probably start school at around 4 years old; same time I went to school. If I were to base it on the trend nowadays, my eldest should be enrolled this school year.

I believe, and this is backed up by some experts, that studying should start in the home. The usual reason parents send their children to school early is that no one can teach them in their house. For those who are privileged enough to stay at home with their kids, homeschool them.

I found this "school" where they teach you on how to homeschool your kids. Of course they have a product to sell but I am quite convinced. My husband and I still have a year or so to decide where to send our kids. With God's guidance, we pray that we can give them the best.

Here is the site http://catholicfilipinoacademy.com/cfa/10principles.php