Mariel's 1st Birthday

As usual, mali ang spelling ng name ng baby ko! Keiichi was named Kelichi by Goldilocks on her first birthday din...I never expected that we will experience it again with Lira Mariel. Her name is too common and easy to read and spell. Nevertheless, the cake was beautiful and delicious.


These are some of her guests. Carrying her is Ate Melissa. Actually, most of them are Ate Keiichi's friends.

Spaghetti was cooked and prepared by Kuya Alex and Ate Vicky (Sayang wala silang kuha!) The lumpiang ubod was made and sold by Daddy's suki Kuya Joel. Ate Amor Magracia, mommy's classmate in Nursing Aide, cooked lumpiang shanghai especially for Mariel. Ate Vic also prepared a special birthday macaroni soup for the celebrant - Macaroni, ground beef, carrots and horse radish leaves (in other words, malunggay!).


This is her girft, she thought it was food hehe

She is now learning to walk and eats a lot of solid. In no time, she will be competing with Ate Keiichi.

Mariel Turned 1 Today!

Clap! Clap! Clap!

It's Mariel's special day today. for pics, pls see http://flickr.com/chrysz

We are still busy so i'll give details tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your prayers and unverbalized care.

From Hyperthyroidism to Hypothyroidism

I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism last November and this month, it was found out that my thyroid is underactive. My endocrinologists, Dr. Ma. Cecilla Gonzales advised me to take 20 mg of Methimazole Tapdin and after a few months, perhaps my thyroid activity went back to normal but because I was only advised to have the TSH and FT4 testing every three months, we were not able to monitor the changes over time. My medicine intake is now cut down to 5mg.

When I had hyperthyroidism, I get tired easily, lost a lot of weight and often experienced shortness of breath. The thermoregulation of my body was also abnormal, I felt so cold even when it is hot and I don't sweat at all. Recently, I still felt cold most of the time but I am gaining so much weight even when I eat less and I am lossing more or less 100 strands a day. I also had my menstruation twice this August and the blood flow was excessive.

We often neglect changes in our body, never bothering that it could be caused by disorders or diseases. I thought, my hair loss is only due to my last pregnancy or perhaps due to aging (I can't accept it!). It was my endocrinologist who told me that hair loss is due to hypothyroidism. Excessive sweating is also one symptom though, I feel the opposite.

So for any abnormal changes in your body, better seek medical help immediately.

10 Days To Go!!!

Mariel is turning one ten days from now. There will be a small celebration as Thanksgiving (dinner). She can now stand up and crawl really fast. Here are some of her latest pics.

More pics are posted in flicker

In Memoriam

This was Auntie or Lola Caridad in 2004 Birthday celebration of Keiichi. She can still walk at that time but with a cane. Two month ago, she was diagnosed with cancer but due to old age, they did not pursue her operation. She passed away on July 31 at the age of 93.

She is Daddy's grand aunt. Tatay Rogelio's father, Lolo Justiniano was her brother.

Lolo Isyo or Lolo Simplicio is my father's father. Our last meeting was on June 5, the day before he was brought home from Region 1 Medical Hospital in San Fernando, La Union. He suffered from heat stroke and was under coma for a few weeks. He was still able to recover but succumbed to death on August 6. He will be laid to rest on August 18.

I spent my summers in Sudipen when I was still in elementary. I maybe talkative, hyperactive and sometimes pasaway but I don't remember being spanked by Lolo. That is what I am proud of and that is what I am keeping in mind as a proof that I am much better than my other cousins and that my mom and my grandparents brought me up nicer than what other people claim. (Pasensiya na, pero that's the truth and Lolo recognized that because he had seen the good things in my mom and her parents that her other children tried to ignore.) Every afternoon, Lolo would go to Coop store to fetch Lola Amparo or Lola Sayong. That's how sweet they are...I know that because Lolo would always ask me to accompany him when I was there.

The Countdown Begins!!!

Sorry for those who are waiting for the updates...we've been very busy these past weeks. Keiichi had her first monthly test on 3rd week of July followed by her Nutrition Month parade the next week and then, I had my first exam in my Nursing Aide class on August 1. So far, Keiichi passed most of her exam except Science but at least hindi zero hehehe!

I got 5 mistakes in Nursing Skills and only in my anatomy exam and I am really frustrated but then, brown out kasi the night before the test hehe (Kanya-kanyang palusot lang po yan!)

Mariel can now sit down and crawl forward. She loves books . She can stand up - aided, of course... She's turning one in a few days now and we haven't plan for her party yet for some reasons...

Truth is, we are mourning for the loss for our grandparents, daddy's Auntie Caridad and my Lolo Simplicio, Papa's dad. Lolo Isyo's interment will be on August 18 in Sudipen, La Union.

Got a class to catch, I'll try to update later :-)