cable internet

When andrea got pregnant, we knew and agreed that she would stop working after giving birth. This posed a major concern for us because it takes our combined salary to pay off all our bills and expenses. The search for a solution led us various work-from-home jobs. Andrea saw a lot of opportunities to earn money right at the comfort of our home (without leaving). It looked promising! The catch - a high-speed internet connection was required.

This prompted us to look for the cheapest high-speed internet provider available at that time. We compared the leading providers: PLDT myDSL, Globe wireless Broadband, Zippidee by SkyCable, and SmartBro Wireless Provider.

At that time, PLDT required an existing phoneline before allowing subscription. Since the house did not have a line yet, purchasing one with DSL connection would be similar to paying for 2 phones. It just seemed too impractical. Globe broadband, on the other hand, because of the need for hotspots, did not appeal as a practical choice as well. Zippidee, which was actually one of our top choices unfortunately would not allow us a subscription because our area is still not within reach of SkyCable company, thus, narrowing our choices down to SmartBro.

Now, almost a year after subscribing to SmartBro, PLDT is offering a new promo - a phoneline and internet connection for less than P800 per month. Globelines is also showcasing the same combo for a slightly higher fee of 900. With all the cheaper subscriptions today and our not so satisfying experience with SmartBro, I think back and ask, did we make the right choice?

sick again

Not yet recovered from my absence yesterday, here I am again not going to work today. All the previous nights of very little sleep has taken its toll on my health. I'm now sick.

Like the usual mornings we've had since Mateo came, I was already up by 4 am. Mateo had apparently worn his mom out the whole night. With only one eye remaining open, andrea begged me furiously to watch over the baby because she needed to rest badly. So I did.

Now, if only Mateo would lie down quietly and play with himself, I would have no problem taking care of him and getting some rest at the same time. But he would not. At least not recently. He used to be that way when he was still a few weeks old but he's in this stage right now where he sleeps very lightly, wakes up during odd times of the night, and cries when he's not being carried and swayed constantly when he's awake. I'm not entirely sure if this is a developmental stage or an effect of his lab test last weekend.

You see, for the past few nights after his VCUG procedure, he's been more irritable than usual. As a result, he's been testing andrea's patience to the limit (and mine too). We've also stayed up a lot longer than before. Maybe this is why andrea and I are feeling a little out of the weather lately. Huhuhu! My head hurts and I've resorted to drinking pain relievers again just to get some relief from the throbbing. I'm sick again! Huhuhu!

milk mobile

It's light and it's blue. It has 8 wheels and a cup holder. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the new milk mobile...

Yes, it is the latest accessory that andrea and I bought for Mateo. Well, actually not for Mateo really but for us. We figured that the best way to solve our problem of getting stuck in the house all the time is not to invite friends to share the outside world with us but to bring Mateo out into the outside world. Not to mention, it gives our arms a much needed rest from all the weight lifting that we do with him. Yes! Finally, we're mobile again.


The stroller that we got for Mateo was not what andrea had in mind before. What she wanted originally was the reversible type that comes with a tray; and if possible, a carseat as well. I, on the other hand, couldn't get over the bulkiness of the whole concept stroller that she had.

What I wanted for Mateo was something smaller, lighter and slimmer - an umbroller. And after months of going through all sorts of stroller in different malls, this is exactly what we got for Mateo. Last Sunday, in Shopwise Antipolo, we bought him one so we could finish our grocery with functional arms. And so far, with our limited experience with it I couldn't say anything bad about it. Go milk mobile.

homebody

Today, I was supposed to go to school early because I needed to assist my class for their presentation. But instead of getting up early, I woke up late. The reason - Mateo decided to get up a lot earlier than us. He was already awake at 4 am and was determined to keep us up with him. I wanted to keep my eyes shut and just let andrea take care of things but she wasn't feeling well. So I ended up staying at home and not going to work at all.

Now, at the end of the day I feel kinda guilty - not for being with my family but for leaving my students on their own. Does this mean I've lost my sense of responsibility to the school? Does this mean I've lost my effectivity as a teacher? Is this a sign for me to relinquish my position and look for something else? But if that's the case, what type of work would give me enough financial benefits and yet allow me to spend time with my family?

Anyway, I haven't decided on anything final yet. I'm still hopeful that I could come up with a solution that would be beneficial for everyone - for me, for the students, and for my family.

when the going gets tough...

Due to Mateo's unexpected illness and hospitalization, our expenses just shot up several notches higher. This coupled with the fact that I am always late for work trying to balance baby duties, house chores, and work compounds our problem. With my deductions from lates equalling that of an absence or 2, my paycheck is considerably reduced. Huhu!

Moreover, our groceries are not what they used to be. What used to be a P1,500 grocery trip for 2 weeks has now climbed up to almost P2,500 with the inclusion of Mateo's milk and diapers. (A kilo of milk lasts him only 2 weeks even when alternated with breastfeeding. He's a real milk monster.) And yesterday, our groceries even reached a record high P3,800. Huhuhu! This happened because we finally bought him a stroller. We couldn't carry him anymore because our arms are giving out from his weight. We couldn't finish our grocery-shopping with him in our arms so there... we bought one. (just when we thought our expenses couldn't get any worse)

Well you know what they say. When the going gets tough... buy a stroller!!!

relieved

Yesterday, my son became familiar with the painful world of medicine...

Just before 7 am, he was subjected to a medical procedure that urologists call VCUG (Voiding Cystourethrography). The name sounds scary and the whole procedure is even scarier. It entails administering a dye (for contrast) using a catheter. (Talk about torture!) An X-ray machine then determines the path of the dye through the bladder. This test is supposed to check if the urine inside the body flows the way it's supposed to. If there are abnormalities in the kidney, ureters, or bladder, the urine would flow abnormally. Fortunately for Mateo, the results of his VCUG cleared out any possibility of structural abnormalities. The diagnosis - his UTI was caused by his immature bladder (which was apparently still normal for his age).

Thank goodness my son won't be undergoing any surgery. Yehey! We were so relieved. The doctor expects his bladder to work better as he ages, but to prevent a second infection though, he recommends circumcision ASAP. He also prescribed an antibiotic for a whole year to make sure Mateo's UTI does not recur. Huhu!!!

After his VCUG, we went to Mateo's pedia right away. We weren't actually planning on giving him a shot but when his pedia saw that he was ready, he was given his second vaccination (Hepa B). Afterwards, upon reading the results of his VCUG, his pedia even suggested that he undergoes circumcision that same afternoon. My poor kid! He just got a shot in the leg right after getting catheterized and now he faces circumcision. Wawa naman! Worried of what might happen, andrea and I just decided to give Mateo some time to recuperate from the whole ordeal first. We decided to postpone the circumcision.

Anyway, andrea and I are thankful that the worst is over. At least Mateo will not be facing a major surgery anytime soon. With regards to the circumcision however, every man has to go through it. The only thing I regret is not being able to talk to him about it father-to-son.

my baby is ill

Last Sunday night we visited Mateo's pediatrician. But instead of getting Mateo's vaccination, what we got was something more terrying - news that our baby might be facing a major surgical operation.

You see, last Wednesday, Mateo suffered from a fever of unknown cause. Without the slightest warning, our baby's temperature just suddenly went up around the latter part of the afternoon. His pedia suggested a sponge bath and an anti-pyretic. It did the trick. But at midnight the same day, the fever returned with a vengeance. Both andrea and I just panicked when we saw the thermometer reach 39.

My wife started to sob... Fearing that emotions might get the better of reasoning, I told Andrea sternly not to cry. "This is not the time to cry", I said, almost shouting. The truth was, I was afraid that her tears might just push me over the edge and make me give in to tears as well. We just couldn't afford that. Mateo definitely needed cool heads that time. There was no time to spare. We rushed him to the nearest hospital.

At the hospital, the doctor on duty examined him and requested for a complete blood count (CBC) and a urinalysis. Dengue was the first thing he wanted to eliminate as a possibility. Fortunately, it turned out that Mateo's platelet count was normal so dengue could not be the culprit. The real cause of the fever was still unknown. When the doctor noticed the lymphocytes were above normal parameters, he suspected an infection of some sort. Finally, it was the urinalysis that confirmed his guess. Mateo has urinary tract infection (UTI).

When his pedia found out about the UTI, she automatically referred us to a pedia-urologist in UST. (The moment she said she was recommending another doctor, my heart sank. I knew this was more serious that I thought.) In carefully chosen words, she explained to us the possible scenarios that Mateo could be experiencing and the possible treatments for each case. Frankly, no matter how mildly she puts it, each option she presents is like an axe that cuts me. Worse... she mentioned surgery and my heart just sank even deeper. Grabe, my 1-month-old son undergoing surgery. It was simply too hard and too depressing to take in.

This Saturday, we'll go UST to know what's wrong with Mateo once and for all. I just hope and pray that my baby is alright. For those reading this...please pray for my son too!!!

million peso dreams

Here are the first 10 things that andrea and I dream of buying if ever we win the National Lottery:

• A house big enough to accomodate us and our 4 kids (3 of which are still to be made).
• A 250 square meter lot in the hills, closer to nature but not too far from the suburbs.
  
• A new sedan... preferably a Honda city, a civic or even a Jazz (not for the looks but for the resale value).
• Our own business ... something that will allow us to stay home and look after the kids.
• A new laptop (with Intel Extreme inside, VISTA capable, and loads of graphics)
• A new cabinet-type refrigerator - no frost, with ice maker and water dispenser.
  
• A new cell phone preferably a PDA phone.
• Our own siberian husky or german sheperd.
• A bad-ass entertainment system (plasma TV, DVD player, speakers, etc. )
• A billiard table complete with racks, sticks, and balls.

dream house

When Andrea and I got married, we were already set on starting independently. But like what most Filipino couples do nowadays, we found a place to rent instead of getting a house of our own. It just seems like the more practical choice right now. You see we realized that if we make the house a pre-requisite for getting married then we'd end up tying the knot when we're already 40 years of age.

Why? Because our dream house is not the most affordable one. The ideal house that andrea and I often dream about would have the following:

• Founded on at least 200 square meters of solid lot. (the bigger the better ofcourse)
  
• At least 3 bedrooms (1 for andrea and me, 1 for the boys, 1 for the girls)
• At least 2 toilet and bathrooms.
• An excellent kitchen with a central table, gas range, and hood
• A spacious living room big enough to accomodate at least 15 people for gatherings
• A small library, or study room
• A game room with a billiard table, darts, punching bag and a possible bar
• A parking space with roof cover big enough for 2 cars
• A basement or attic for storage area
• A small landscaped garden with enough space for picnics or small parties
  
• A backyard space to accomodate a basketball court (half court only)
• Close enough to the hospitals, schools, malls, cinemas and other commercial areas but far enough from the pollution that they bring.

Bad news - our dream house will cost a fortune...
Good news is that we have it on a timeline.

crunch time

As the school year draws to an end, I am faced with the reality that threatens the security of my family. My stint as a coordinator and advisory teacher comes to a halt as the school year ceases this April along with the extra money I get from them (which in truth is something we badly need right now).

Since Andrea won't be working till the baby is old enough to be left to the care of a katulong, I would have to be the sole provider for the time being. As it is, I'm barely getting enough for the house, the groceries, and for the gas. What little extra we have goes to Mateo and his things - diapers, milk, vitamins, and hospital visits. I don't even have money for possible emergencies like car breakdowns, towing, or (God forbid) hospitalization.

All these things weigh a heavy burden on my mind. And with school year coming to a close, things are becoming more and more complicated. I don't want to leave school because its been a part of me for almost four years already. Everyone there, from the owners to the manongs and ates and even the animals, I've already come to love. The students, I've already come to regard as my own (at least some of them). And although financially, I couldn't say I'm completely comfortable, I'm satisfied with everything else...

But still in the end, if it comes to a choice between my family and my satisfaction, I'd have to go with my family.

father's tears

When I left home to start a new family with Andrea, I said goodbye to my parents face to face. That was when I saw tears form, for the first time, in the corner of my dad's eyes . It was a very sentimental moment but I never really understood those tears...until now.

2 nights ago, I shed the same tears...

When Andrea and I picked up Mateo and realized that he was slightly warmer than usual, we panicked and immediately groped for the thermometer. The moment the reading passed 38 degrees Celsius I just froze. It seemed like an eternity waiting for the darn thing to stop changing. And it finally did at 38.6. Panic, fear, and helplessness jumbled into one chaotic emotion. We started texting all of Mateo's lolos and lolas, his pediatrician, and some doctor friends for help and some answers. An immediate text reply from his doctor instructed us to give him an antipyretic, Tempra drops, every 4 hours till the fever subsides.

After 2 dread-filled hours, Mateo's temperature went down to normal. He started becoming all grouchy and hungry again. The little rascal went back to bugging us, crying loudly and guzzling incredible amounts of milk. And yet after being all tired and worn down from worrying, all I could do was sob...a father's tears...the tears of gratitude...

daddy blues

Its only been a month since our baby Mateo has first seen light, but it already feels like a whole lifetime has passed since that faithful day. Andrea and I have changed so much that nothing now really seems distinctly familiar. From the morning kisses all the way to the goodnight hugs, the routine we learned to live by for more than a year was redone almost overnight.

A baby will change so much in your life - your daily activities, schedules,the food you eat, everything! In fact, Andrea and I have never gone on a date again ever since Mateo came. (Not that we used to go out often) Because no one else would be left in the house to take care of our little one, we eventually decided to remove such luxuries in our lives for now, or at least until our baby has built enough resistance to fight against bacterial and viral agents outside.

I know it sounds a lot like a bunch of complains but that is what's been happening. When I pictured myself as a dad, I saw the same me with the same exact things, same routines, same freedom and boundaries, except that I have a child. I didn't exactly picture these changes as part of being a daddy. I guess most would-be-daddies never saw this coming. Sigh! I can't wait till Mateo is strong enough to go out with us!

lessons for new parents

Here are 10 lessons that Andrea and I learned when we became new parents:

1.) A 6-hour sleep is a luxury, easily more precious and far rarer than any gem.
2.) Night is indistinguishable from morning especially when you're baby-sitting. With the exception of the darkness and the absence of a lot of noise, they're basically the same.
3.) Mixing milk formula every 2 hours with eyes half-closed is a vital skill every parent needs to learn. This allows you to extend sleep for a few minutes.
4.) Not getting soiled when cleaning the baby after pooping or peeing is a dream. No matter how careful you are, you will get soiled.
5.) (for baby boys) The birdie is always armed and dangerous. Never assume it's not loaded or that you're already out of range.
6.) There is no such thing as a perfectly patient parent. No matter how long you stretch your patience, the baby will reach your limit.
7.) When you're parents or your spouse's parents ask to take care of the child for a little while, allow them. These are crucial opportunities to get the much sought after long hours of sleep.
8.) Babies cry for a reason... hunger, feeling of wetness, gas, irritation, or sometimes just to tick you off
9.) No matter how crappy you feel after a long hard day of work, the baby can take all that crappiness away with a little smile... and give you a whole new kind of crappiness in the evening.
10.) No matter how sucky it sounds being a parent, the baby is all worth it.