MRI: first and hopefully my last

Just had my MRI test today. It wasn't scary than I had expected. Had I not been experiencing excruciating pain on my left shoulder/blade and neck, I would have skipped this part. I am nearly done with the steroids but still on Naproxen, a muscle relaxant.

I initially thought I will be carried into a suffocating time capsule, however, the machine looked totally different when I arrived. There's the bed and a fixture overhead beyond the bed. No doughnut hole or any of that sort. The set-up of the room was cozy enough that I'd fall asleep especially with the warm lights on and full blast air-con.

After dressing up and all, the tech let me lie on the bed, positioned my neck on a metal brace, tucked a cushion under my legs, covered me with a thermal blanket, then finally secured the metal brace in front of my face and inserted ear pads so I won't move a single bit. He again asked if I was claustrophobic. I am not.

So in a few minutes, he turned the unit on and the fixture above slid down towards me and stopped halfway. My face was around 6 inches away from the ceiling. Now I have figured why they call it an Open Air MRI coz all my sides are free and the light is still apparent. It seemed as if I was an auto mechanic just checking out the underside of a car. I wasn't worried at all for I know somebody's watching over me.

1, 2, 3, ..and the hammering sounds begun with an interval of 5 minutes. First, a tom-tom drum and drill in unison. Then silence. Followed by a sewing machine and big-ben clock combined. Then, silence. Then comes a slow pounding beat. Then, silence. A few knocks follow. Then silence. These go on and on without a shuffle. It was so annoying that I couldn't fall asleep.

25 minutes had passed and it was over. Thank heavens! That was it? No sweat! ;)

In 2 days, the results will be out. Hopefully, it's nothing serious. Well, I guess, I really am growing old and these symptoms are the aftershocks of how I've spent my life in my younger days, that is, carefree and sometimes careless.

Now, I couldn't afford to abuse my back anymore. It's my bread and butter. *wink*

Happy Parents

I couldn't explain how delighted we were when Kimi pooped in the toilet for the first time tonight!! :)

Months before, it seemed impossible coz he couldn't keep still on the bowl. The longest time he will sit is roughly 2-3 mins. So, what we did was we have instilled on his mind that he can have any toy he wants if only he will poop in the toilet. And whenever he grabs a toy on the display shelf in the dept. store and we know that he likes it a lot, we will constantly remind him that he can have it once he has pooped in the toilet. This has been our long playing song but it has finally paid off...yipee!! Indeed, it only takes patience...and tons of it.

What we've learned from the entire course is that you can never force a child to do something out of his will nor strictly impose it. Everything happens naturally.

Of course, each parent has his/her own style of raising his/her child. I'm neither in a capacity to claim that our style is right. Well, what's proven effective is to reward your child when he does something right. A hug, a kiss, a pat on the head, a rub on the back, a thumbs-up, a high-five or a piece of candy/chocolate that he enjoys shall suffice. It doesn't have to be great or expensive.

However, there are times when you must also satiate a child's yearning. You will try not to deprive your child but not to a point of over-pampering him. There is always a limit.

...enough of the blabbing. We're just overwhelmed. It's such a simple happening, but we can never trade it in for anything else. Fulfillment to the max! Hopefully, this won't be the last... The list goes on and he still has a lot to go..

Nevertheless, he can now officially go to school come September.. *yey*

Christmas is Christmas!

Another year in another place...

If last year's celebration was warm yet with cool breeze, this year's extremely cold and freezing. This is the first time, snow had fallen before Christmas. Usually, they say, it begins to shower come January. I guess it was a welcome greeting for the 3 of us; a one-time blizzard!

A White Christmas indeed!

There's nothing great about it 'though like the way we see it in the movies. White, cold, fluffy ice which becomes gray when the ice starts to melt along the side of the roads. *eyesore* Maybe it would have been different if we lived in Antartica *wink* I would have appreciated it differently. *kidding* Ironic, but I never wanted snow in the first place! :-)

Anyways, it's our first time to celebrate as one family: Kimi, Hubi and I. We didn't have any fancy preparations during the eve. We just had clam chowder soup, toasted potato bread, tostitos with salsa con queso, a few bottles of beer and Kimi had a serving of vanilla ice cream for dessert. A simple yet intimate feast. Btw, Kimi initiated the grace before meals. :-)

A few more days and it will be another year! Time flies... *sigh*

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Accdg to Kimi: this is Daddy, Mommy and Kimi snowman with Sa-ta

66 days after...

*phew*

I'm so surprised why I can never get to update my blog. Faster internet speed equals a much convenient manner to post anything and everything. I may have a few minutes to spare but I'm kinda lazy to scribble anything since I got here. *sigh* I don't know why...

I can even survive several days without signing in to my Facebook/ Multiply/ Blogger/ Yahoo/ Gmail accounts nor mere bloghopping. I couldn't believe it myself. This happened overnight...it's a miracle! *wink*

The weather is contributory I guess or I really don't have anything significant to share. Ok, ok, the bottomline is I've been really lazy and forgetful lately. Perhaps, I will be visible every once in a while and definitely I won't be quitting....just the farming side maybe.

Kimi, Hubi and I are still undergoing an overhaul. Indeed, a drastic shift from a conservative/ stern/ idealistic/ spick & span haven to a liberal/ cluttered/ lenient/ anything-goes environment. We'll get used to everything here eventually. Life is a matter of adapting to change.

For what it's worth,I just have one thing to boast about....

...I was able to upgrade my Ilocano speaking skills from NI (needs improvement) to FAIR. *yey*

OK, any contenders? *wink*

No! No! No!

I'm ready...I'm set...

..however, I don't think I can go yet??

Looks like there's no more turning back. This is it!! It will be tougher than before considering geography. In the meanwhile, I have to leave my comfort zone. *sigh*

It will be me, myself and Eileen again.

Thank you, Lord..

*patience*strength*patience*strength*..

3...2...1...

"How time flies so fast!" The -ber months are here! My birth month is coming soon and that means another dry flake on my skin *wink*

I don't know why the days pass by quickly during the last quarter of the year. Maybe because every person's productivity is at its peak that we never notice elapsed time and we don't care whether we have a stack of pending jobs. Everybody's looking forward to big bucks and bonuses, that's why! Plus, successive holidays that tend to lessen work hours! *two thumbs up* The not so good news is, I'm spared this year 'coz I'm "on leave".

I guess it's not only me who's counting down. We all got something to look forward to.

Adrenalin Rush

Joining the fun @ Subic International Raceway (with hubby, Kimi and Gerard)

for pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=101123&id=567955977&l=c8b1f71be7

Free yet Busy

I have all the time in my hands now that I'm idle. And yet, I couldn't find time to update my blog as often as I could. I guess, farming is taking much of it aside from being a temporary full time mom. Call me an addict, but that's my only escape if the weather calls for a house arrest. I know I'm not alone. *grin*

This is not a good sign. My braincells have suddenly stopped from functioning. A well deserved break, I may say!

*sigh* A billion seconds more and they'd be slaves again.

Colloid

My hometown appears to have rejuvenated. Thick fog (and not smog) can again be seen encapsulating the entire city especially the CBD. So thick that you can't even recognize a car approaching even with the headlights on. Alas! this is the feel of the real Baguio we've all grown up with. Excuse the "expats" who may not have even the slightest idea how it was up here long before their intrusion.

Nevermind if it's a result of drastic climate change or a tropical storm filled week. The fact that thick fog is back is already heaven to me. Aaaah, I'm indeed home!

But for how long shall it linger? The weather bureau's forecasted that the tropical storm will have left the country by today and that the sun should be out by Sunday. *yey*

Great news! But as I am writing (5:51pm, Saturday), it's still pouring *sigh*

Hoping...hoping...

...the soil needs to take a break from water intoxication too! :)

insert *Rain, rain, go away!*

Rain dear

Scattered rainshowers but luckily no thunderstorms. That's how it is up here in Baguio City and perhaps elsewhere as it's the season of rainfall. Well, delayed rainfall that is. It's cool...real cool up here but I dislike it when the drizzle doesn't stop. We're all stuck at home! It shouldn't be this abrupt! :) And besides, there's no where else to go even if you go out. Chances are you'll get yourself drenched in one way or another.

It seems I'm experiencing the withdrawal symptoms. A sudden stop from being on the go. *sigh*

Anyways, this shall pass. It's good to be home...simple living...my time is mine...sleep is a luxury...and I can stay home all day while perched on the sofa, sipping coffee while surfing the internet. :)

I may sound isolated but I'm still connected! *yey*

photo courtesy of flickr.com