Thursday Mishaps

The First Mishap

I woke up at 8 in the morning with Zeki squirming and wiggling beside me. Though I still wanted to go back to sleep, with little wormy all up, I knew I won’t be getting any.

So I got up, did my morning routine and while I was putting my contact lens on, I heard a ‘bang’!

I saw our electric fan on the floor! Zeki must’ve knocked it over while she was chewing on the electric cord! (We sleep on the floor so whenever Zeki is unattended, she would chew on anything, from plastic bags to slippers!)  And obviously, her latest victim is our poor electric fan!

Thank God and it didn’t fall on her. Her guardian angel must’ve been an early riser too!

I picked Zeki up, placed her on the bed and lifted the fan. Unfortunately, it didn’t survive the impact. One side of the propeller was broken! I felt sorry for my little monsters because we had nothing to use. I thought of rushing to SM Southmall and buy another fan but it is 8 o’clock in the morning so it’s still close. I also thought of texting my biyenan so they could help us replace the fan, if not at least the propeller. However, I didn’t want to bother them. (Ay! Wala din pala akong celpon!)

Ding!

I thought of a brilliant idea; I grabbed our electrical tape, wrapped it around the damaged propeller and voila! It’s fixed! I fixed it! Excitedly, I attached it to the fan, tighten the cap and placed the cover. Zephyr plugged it to the wall socket then I turned the dial to 1.

The fan is turning… turning… turning… Then I heard a clinking sound! There’s something wrong!

I disassembled it and checked the propeller. The broken side of the propeller was falling off! I tried to add more tape. Still, it’s ineffective. I guess my idea was not so brilliant at all.

I gave up.

I grabbed the folding fan from the drawer and opened the windows and the door.

It would really be a hot day for the 3 of us!

Toxs got home from work at around 4 o’clock in the afternoon. He was surprised that it was hot in the room. He saw me fanning the little monsters while they’re sleeping. Thought I had work later in the evening, I stayed up so they won’t get all sweaty! I explained to him what happen.

Yes. Zeki was the culprit. And she was all smiles when she saw her Tatay.

After he washed up, he went out to buy a new propeller. When he got home, he placed it on the fan and luckily, it fits - the store got the right size!

We rejoiced. Zephyr rejoiced! (Parang nanalo lang sa lotto!) “No hot no more”, he said.

***

Second Mishap

I was still consoling myself from what happened with our beloved electric fan when Toxs’ nieces and nephew showed up on our house.

Just my luck.

They didn’t have their classroom advisers so they ‘claimed’ that they were sent home. What happened with public school these days, letting grade school children out of the school premises without someone to pick them up? When I was in school whenever we didn’t have an adviser, we would be transferred to another class. We were not even allowed to go out.

They were telling me to text my biyenan to fetch them up. Their dismissal time is 3 o’clock in the afternoon and it was only 12 noon then. I don’t use my mobile phone anymore, the screen is all cracked and the battery is no longer stable so obviously it won’t have any load balance. So, I told myself, maybe I’ll just wait until 3 o’clock.

15 minutes after…

The house was in total chaos! Toy were scattered everywhere! Zeki woke up and started crying because of the noise her cousins were making. Zephyr, all pumped up, was running around the house screaming!

What happened to my peace and quiet?!

I knew I had to do something! I reprimanded them to clean up the mess and they have to be done already when I get back. I grabbed my phone from the drawer, recharged it and I took Zeki with me to buy some load. Good thing, the reloading center was just 3 giant steps away from our house. (Pepsi…Seven up?!)

When I got back home, the toys were still scattered on the floor. That’s the time that I lost it! I asked them again to put the toys back where they got them, this time, with a commanding tone on my voice. (Hindi sila makuha sa santong dasalan, edi santong paspasan na!)

I checked my phone and still I didn’t receive the P20 load only to realize I gave the wrong number! (Operada?!) I knew I won’t take another minute for them to be in the house! So, I asked our trusted neighbors, Nico and Gabbie if I could use their mobile phone. I sent a text message to my biyenan to tell them that their apos were in the house and they have to fetch them. Now. And fast!

I told them that Tatay Romy, my biyenon (Tox’s Tatay) is on his way!

A few minutes later…

Thanks heavens! Off they go…

It’s not that I didn’t like them. Of course, they’re family. It’s just that I didn’t like noises in the house or things not in order. I don’t even let my own son, scatter all his toys, and so why let them, right? Call it OCD or what?!

***

Third Mishap

After Toxs bought a new propeller for the fan, and Nanay Anita, my biyenan, came over to the house to look after Zeki, the three of us, Toxs, Zephyr and I went out to get some groceries at SM Southmall.

While I was waiting in line at the ATM, Zephyr was playing hide and seek with his Tatay. They we’re having fun when…

Blag!

…Zephyr as always, bumped his forehead on the store window. I don’t know if there’s something wrong with his eyesight or he just didn’t see it. He got a small reddish lump on his forehead.

I just let out a big sigh. I asked Toxs that we need to go home right away so we could apply ice on poor boy’s lump.

***

Fourth Mishap

Before going home, we stopped by Brownies Unlimited to buy some brownies for my biyenan for taking care of Zeki while we’re away. (Suhol lang!) And while I was waiting for my order, I heard a loud…

BLAG! (As if a meteorite fell of the ceiling!)

And when I turned around… I saw Zephyr on the floor, only an inch away from the table that fell off.

My heart almost burst out of my chest with the sight of it! I’d never know what to do if that table hit my poor boy’s body. He’s only 2 years old. So I know, like the electric fan, he wouldn’t survive the impact.

(Thank you Lord you gave my little monsters bibo angels!)

With that we really need to go home… Ora mismo!

Realization:

1.       Mobile phone is really essential during emergency or not so urgent circumstances. Especially, if you don’t have any relatives within the neighbourhood. (Depende if kapitbahay mo si Spiderman!)

2.       Make friends with your neighbours. In case you need something, they can save the day!

3.       If you have a crawler in the house, make sure you keep all the non-toy objects that she could chew on.

4.       For an accident prone toddler, put him on a leash (Hind yung pang-dogs ah!) or don’t let him stray unattended.

5.       Be thankful for a good parents-in-law. Appreciate them. Give suhol! (You have instant babysitter!)

6.       Believe in angels! Even if you think you don’t have one, your kids do!

A Conversation with My Little Man

This afternoon, while I was watching Kourtney and Khloe Take New York, I decided to ask questions to Zephyr, just to check his level of understanding and to my amazement here’s what he had to say:

Me: Zephyr, I will ask you something, okay?

Zephyr: Hmmm… Okay!

Me: What song you do you like?

Zephyr: Hmmm… Twinkle, Twinkle Star! (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)

Me: Eh, what food do you like? Me, I like pizza!

Zephyr: Rice! Like Rice!

Me: What else?

Zephyr: Rice lang! (He really likes rice with lots of ‘sabaw’.)

Me: What do you like watching on TV?

Zephyr: Hi-5! Timmy! Jake and Pirates! (Jake and the Neverland Pirates)

Me: Eh, what’s your favourite toy?

Zephyr: Like play blocks!

Me: Zephyr, where’s Tatay?

Zephyr: Go to work!

Me: How about Nanay? Do you like it when Nanay goes to work?

Zephyr: No! Like Nanay stay house lang!

Me: Why naman?

Zephyr: Stay house lang! Play with me! (Then he gave me a big hug!)

I was surprised! I know Zephyr is a very intelligent kid but I didn’t know that I can have this kind of conversation with him. I thought he’s not paying attention to whatever I say. I realized that I just have to talk to him more often, with no distractions – TV, toys and snacks. It threw me off all the more when he said that he didn’t like me going to work. I never thought he would say that. To think, he’s only 2 years old and he cares! My little boy is growing so fast, hopefully I can catch up!  ☺☺☺

The Motherhood Experience V1.0



Zephyr @ 1 month, his first day out! :)



Being a mother is no child’s play. It is a responsibility that not everyone is willing to take. Can you imagine bringing a baby in this world who has no one to depend on but you? It just occurred to me while I was writing this post that it is pretty awesome to have a baby – a chance to play God. You get to have someone you can name and call your own. A blank canvass and you are the paintbrush. The rise and fall of that one person lies in your hand; how you bring him up can make or break him. Though it sounds like fun, it’s kinda risky.

It was late November, in 2010 and Toxs and I were in the second year of our relationship when we received the good news. We didn’t expect it to come too soon since we were still in the process of managing our finances and saving for our future together. I cried my heart out while he was so ecstatic about it. It’s not like I didn’t want to have a baby; it’s just that I was scared of what my family had to say. They didn’t even know I was in any relationship. Breaking the baby news would really throw them off.

Good for us, we were already certain about our relationship that we wanted to spend our lives together. So, when he started working, he set aside a part of his income to our savings.  And when I joined the professional bandwagon, I also gave my fair share. We were not afraid of the responsibility because we both had our jobs, so to say, financially, we were stable. Both of us know how to take care of a baby since he used to look after his nieces and nephew and I took care of my siblings when my mother died, I even brought up my baby brother. I was a graduate of BS Nursing so I am also armed of neonatal care skills.

It was a nice pregnancy. My skin got smoother, my hair got shinier, my nose didn’t grow big as what they said when you’re expecting a baby boy. But of course, I still didn’t escape getting chloasma, linea nigra and striae gravidarum – they’re all classic signs of pregnancy. But that’s fine, it’s my baby monster’s first ever artwork. I was still working until the 6^th month, however when we found out that my placenta was lying a little low, (Thank God, it was not placenta previa!) I had to stop working and need to be on bed rest and to avoid any strenuous activity. Making love was also off limits! I also had to move from Makati to Las Piñas so Toxs and I could be together; he wanted to make sure I’m well taken care of since my family still didn’t know I was expecting.

It was May 6, 2010, my sister gave birth to his son, Artdane, the same day we moved in our studio type apartment. We were both overjoyed for having our little home, though not our own, it is where we were going to build our own family – with love, harmony and lots of memories to cherish. Since I was no longer working, I’ve always left at home alone; Toxs had to go to work on a night shift. So to save myself from boredom, I did chores, played games on my PSP, listened to music, dozed off, surfed the web – and that went on for months until I gave birth. It was bittersweet. I’m happy because I’m with Toxs and we’re having our baby monster but I can’t denied the fact that I lived 23 years with my family and being separated from them, pinched my heart – I missed them.

It was June 2010, only 1 month left for the arrival of our first born. I was checking my Facebook page when I got a YM message from Tita Carol, I got butterflies in my stomach, my heart was racing, I knew she would ask where I am and why did I ran away from home. I didn’t know what I was gonna say. Since, it was online, I finally got the courage to spill the beans, I didn’t know how or why, but before I said it, she already knew. Maybe, she really didn’t know about it; she just had a feeling, motherly instincts perhaps? After my mother passed away in 2003, she was the one who looked after us, pretty much became our guardian. The conversation went on, I told her everything, and she asked for my address, I gave it to her. She said she will visit me. After a week, she did.  My family already knew about it, they were surprised; a bit disappointed but not angry. Ate Nora, one of my mother’s sisters, was really frustrated; she didn’t even think that I could do it. It took her some time to see me and to accept it. A week after, in June 20, she visited me and it became regular. She bought me food, clothes for the babies, things that we need at home. I’m really thankful to her. She even helped us to pay my maternity bill.

Finally, the long wait is over! We welcomed ZEPHYRUS XICU on the 18^th day of July 2010 at exactly 8:25 in the evening. After rigmarole of being almost overdue, all the prayers and natural process of inducing labor, (Thanks to Toxs for his semen, for the prostaglandin!) paid off! Though it was a 2-hour labor, and intense valsalva manuever, it’s all worth it!

Zephyr, now 2, has become an adorable, smart and witty boy! Granting, his stubbornness, which is a part of being a toddler, he’s learning to listen and follow simple rules. He knows his ABCs, 123s, shapes and colors. He’s fond of singing, butt dancing and role playing. And oh! He’s learning how to write.

Before I forget to mention, Zephyr is now a big brother, his sister, ZEKI is now 7 months old. This post is getting way too long; I will tell you more about it on the next part. Watch out!

I’m a mother, a woman, and I love every minute of it.