Relieved, Somewhat

We've received news about Tatay's illness and he was diagnosed with the Big "C" and it has been staged already. I know it sounds daunting but my siblings and I are relieved somewhat because we know what we are fighting and how we can fight this. Today, Tatay is going to undergo a colostomy so that he will be relieved of the fecal impaction and after one week will be having chemo and radiation therapy to lessen the bulk of the mass. We are relieved that his doctors are not radical in the sense that they have opted to do conservative management first before surgery. We are aware that chemo and radiation therapy is still a long process (5 to 6 weeks in Tatay's case) and it will entail a lot of time, money and energy but knowing about his diagnosis makes us all optimistic that we will get through this.

I am just happy that my siblings and I are close and support each other no matter what. It may sound weird but we are not jealous of each other. In fact, we are happy if someone achieves something and will do anything to support each other. Yes, we were reared to be close to each other and never to be jealous of one another. I hope to instill that in my girls and teach them that siblings are not enemies but your allies. *winks*

For those who have been praying, thank you and we hope that you will continue to do so for Tatay's successful surgery today and his eventual recovery. As I always say, there is strength in numbers after all.

Mr. Practical Turns Mushy

I know it's been a week since Valentine's Day but I still can't get over J giving me flowers and not just flowers but a BIG boquet of flowers.

Yeah I know, they're just flowers but if you know my husband, he's not the flowers and chocolates sort of guy so it takes quite a lot of getting used to. He is quite generous with his gifts, by the way, but you can't call them romantic. Some of his "practical gifts" were:

1. The house that we live in. I know, it was not bought for me (we haven't even met in 1997) but since this is our home, I consider it is his gift to me. Ever the practical one, we don't worry about rent and mortgage. It's fully paid and truly our own!

2.  The necklace with his class seal as pendant. This has significance to us military wives as this symbolizes us becoming part of his class.  The mini-ring has more significance, I know, but since this was not passed on by my mother-in-law to me, it does not count and since he does not wear his bull ring, why should I? :)

3. The foot spa machine which he uses. Hehe. I don't particularly like giving myself foot spas. I'd rather someone give me a foot spa for total relaxation. He has more use of this as he gives himself a foot spa after he runs a marathon. 42km could do that to you!

4. The electric oven. Again, he uses it more. I cook the food but I think he benefits more from this as he enjoys my cooking with it. Hehe!

Source I did not want to post a picture of our actual oven. It might scare you off. Ha! Just think that we've put it to good use.

5. The kitchen and bathroom renovation.


There are more gifts he has given me but it was never the romantic types. You know, the just gave them because I like to give them but don't have any real purpose type of gifts. He always gives me gifts that have a specific purpose in mind. I can just count the times he has has given me flowers: 1) A boquet of white roses in 2002 because he lost a bet, 2) in 2008 for my 32nd birthday he gave me a boquet of red roses and 3) last year for Valentine's day. See, you can just count them on one hand! Haha! Maybe it's also my fault because I never did like flowers because they just wilt and then die so maybe he took that to heart and never did give me flowers. Ha! *smacks self on forehead and suddenly feeling like an idiot*

Nevertheless, the unexpectedness of the gesture made it more special.  The flowers may have died already but the gesture did not get lost on me so dear Mr. Practical, J, thank you for making me kilig in this old age. May you continue this Valentine's tradition. *winks!

Positive Thoughts

My father is going to undergo a colonoscopy today because the doctor felt a lump during his physical examination. We are all hoping that this is just a reaction to his chronic diarrhea and so, I am just thinking positive thoughts right now with the help of this:

 

I know that this is not my story to share but I'm thinking that by sharing more positive thoughts will be made and I know that there is strength in numbers.

Keeping The Love Alive, Military Style

We are a military family and sometimes the distance makes it more difficult than most. I know that there are OFW families out there who have the same fate as us but I think that the added danger makes it more difficult for us military families and so, how do you keep the love alive?

Keeping the love alive, military style, let me count the ways:

1. Know what you're getting into.



Source

My family was never into anything military and therefore, I did not have any idea of what I was getting into. I took this line to heart which was said by our military ninong: "Are you ready?" I was fascinated by the pomp and pageantry and at the same time was lost in a sea of cadet lingo, military acronyms, and traditions. This could make a newbie military wife bewildered and at a loss especially when you do not have "military wife friends" and the husband is deployed immediately after your wedding. This can make you feel isolated and can cause a rift in the relationship. What to do? I read a lot about the military, the Philippine Military specifically, just to get a bird's eye view of what it was really about. It also helped that my husband gave me his booklet of cadet lingo and the traditions and practices that I was going to be a part of since the day I said, "I do." 


2. Accept the job.

After knowing about the military, I accepted the fact that there will be times that I would be alone and be the mother, father, handyman, etc and be ready to surrender those positions when the husband comes back home. Yes, through our years of married life, I have learned to fix the flush in the toilet, change lightbulbs, change fuses, fix plumbing (leaky faucets and such), do a little hammering which I have never imagined my girly-girly self would do.

I also accepted the fact that me and my girls would never be number. Yes, this is a little martyr, but they do not call their guns "wife" for nothing. I have made peace with this because I know that after the service, family is next.

* Image from the Philippine Army website

3. Make reunions happy ones.

Whenever my husband would come home (whether from deployment or from the office), the girls and I would make sure that the house is presentable (a haven, if you must), a hot meal is ready to be served, and show that we miss and appreciate the man of the house. I understand that it is hard to keep something from the ones we are closest to. There are aspects of his job that he can never tell me for security purposes and therefore, making the home a haven for him is a must. Have you ever tried keeping a secret which you wanted to tell you best friend, significant other, mother, sister, the ones closest to you, multiply that by 10 and you get the picture of the stress he is in. Home = haven is therefore a priority.

 

 

4. Keep lines of communication open.

 With the advent of cellular phones, the internet, messenger and Skype, it is never a problem to communicate with our man.  This is the one thing that keeps them from "losing their minds" and telling them that they need not worry for the ones they leave behind and concentrate on the task at hand therefore, not endangering their safety and others as well.  Messenger saved our sanities when he was deployed abroad for six whole months leaving me with the eldest and a three-month old baby to care for. I remember when he was deployed somewhere south and to get a text message or call through, he would have to climb a tree in order to get a signal along with his troops. How hilarious could that picture be right? Imagine a group of grown men, soldiers to boot, all up in the tree with their hands up in the air just to get a signal. Hehe.

*Image from here
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5. Make yourself busy.

Yes the days of separation are long (three months at the minimum) but you shouldn't count the days when he will be back. Make yourself busy and soon enough the days will pass by and it will be time for the two-week R and R. In making yourself busy, you get to know and enrich yourself.

 

*Image from here

These are just some of the things that I have learned after being married to a military man and hopefully, you can learn from them also. I know that you have other lessons so please do share.  After all, sharing is caring!

Happy Heart's Day everyone!

 

 



Beauty Defined

Happy weekend everyone! A little reminder from a gracious woman...

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.
Audrey Hepburn

Call Me Laundry

The sight of drying laundry always puts me in a good mood probably because it's one of the household chores that I detest, dislike to put it mildly.  When it's laundry day (Mondays and Fridays usually), I always try to wake up early so that I'll be done by the time the little ones are awake.  This was a tip an elderly neighbor gave me: Do laundry while kids are asleep hence, the early morning hum of the washing machine.  This gives me a sense of accomplishment and sets the tone for the day.  I know I'll be ready for another day filled with spills, mess, screams and everything in between.  Well, I'm off to face the day and I leave you with Carly Mae Jepsen with her song, "Call Me Maybe". Just like me, may you have LSS (last song syndrome) today!

Have a good day peeps!

P.S. I've included the lyrics to the song. Feel free to substitute the word" maybe" with "laundry."  Sing with me now...

I threw a wish in the well,Don't ask me, I'll never tellI looked to you as it fell,And now you're in my way
I'd trade my soul for a wish,Pennies and dimes for a kissI wasn't looking for this,But now you're in my way
Your stare was holdin',Ripped jeans, skin was showin'Hot night, wind was blowin'Where you think you're going, baby?
Hey, I just met you,And this is crazy,But here's my number,So call me,laundry?
It's hard to look right,At you baby,But here's my number,So call me, laundry?
Hey, I just met you,And this is crazy,But here's my number,So call me, laundry?
And all the other boys,Try to chase me,But here's my number,So call me, laundry?
You took your time with the call,I took no time with the fallYou gave me nothing at all,But still, you're in my way
I beg, and borrow and stealHave foresight and it's realI didn't know I would feel it,But it's in my way
Your stare was holdin',Ripped jeans, skin was showin'Hot night, wind was blowin'Where you think you're going, baby?
Hey, I just met you,And this is crazy,But here's my number,So call me, laundry?
It's hard to look right,At you baby,But here's my number,So call me, laundry?
Hey, I just met you,And this is crazy,But here's my number,So call me, laundry?
And all the other boys,Try to chase me,But here's my number,So call me, laundry?
Before you came into my lifeI missed you so badI missed you so badI missed you so, so bad
Before you came into my lifeI missed you so badAnd you should know thatI missed you so, so bad
It's hard to look right,At you baby,But here's my number,So call me, laundry?
Hey, I just met you,And this is crazy,But here's my number,So call me, laundry?
And all the other boys,Try to chase me,But here's my number,So call me,laundry?
Before you came into my lifeI missed you so badI missed you so badI missed you so, so bad
Before you came into my lifeI missed you so badAnd you should know that
So call me, laundry?

The Homies

Now that you know a little something about our home, let me introduce you to the homies:

J, husband, father, military man, jack of all trades.

C, wife, mother, erstwhile doctor, stay-at-home mom, multi-tasker.






The Tres Marias:

H, daughter, eldest sister, grade schooler, "mermaid".
G, daughter, middle sister, homeschooler, "joker".
F, daughter, youngest sister, infant, "the baby".

No Place Like Home

In 2000, my husband's siblings moved into this house. J, being assigned in Mindanao, was not able to go home every three months; so, he was not able to decorate the house as he wanted. Then in 2003, we were married and we made this house our home.  Being newlyweds, we were not able to do much for the house. I was lucky though because all I had to do was live in it because it was already fully furnished.  All the house needed was a woman's touch so to speak.

Source

Three years later, he took an advance training course and had to stay in Tarlac for three months.  Since I was a stay-at-home mom to a toddler, we decided to join him there.  During this time, I was able to undergo training as a medical transcriptionist.  After our trainings ended, we were given quarters at GHQ (Camp Aguinaldo).  We stayed there for 11 months and had to leave because we were "evicted".  This was because the place was to be converted to a commissary.  We then transferred to our condo unit and made it our home for the next two years.  And then in 2009, we decided to come back to Angono.  As you can see, we have been "NPAs" (no permanent addressees) for three years and we have concluded that there is no place like home.

Our Raw House

Hi there! This is not a DIY blog but who knows, it may turn out to be one.

This is a blog about our row house that we're trying to make into a home both literally and figuratively. So, I'll start to describe what a row house is and how row became raw in our case. A row house is defined as one of a series of houses, often of similar or identical design, situated side by side and joined by common walls. This is like an apartment. I think you get the picture. Anyway, our row house became raw because when it is turned over, it really is raw. I mean, the exterior is already done but it is literally up to you how you divide the space. This house was bought my husband right after he graduated from college in 1997 and as a new college grad, all he can afford at that time was a small house (aka low-cost housing project). Hehe. But still, it is ours and gradually, we are going to turn this house into a home. I hope you often visit us to view our progress.