Archive for » July, 2009 «


The first ultrasound I ever had was when I was 6 weeks pregnant with my Little Dynamo. Luckily, my OB-Gyne in Makati (Philippines) was also a licensed Sonologist. I learned later on from my doctor-friend that not all Obstetrician/Gynecologist (OB-Gyne) can perform ultrasound. One has to have a license to be an Ob-Gyne Sonologist.

The above came to mind as I had my OB check-up again yesterday. I will be on my 21st week tomorrow. We’re halfway there! In 19 weeks… or even less, we will have another wailing infant in our house:-). A welcome wail, if I may add. Just like my previous monthly check-ups, I had my ultrasound with the OB-Gyne explaining the growth of my baby’s body parts. Living here in Seoul for the past three and half years, I have taken this granted. To me, this is a normal procedure for OB check-ups.

I suddenly remember family and friends asking me if I had my ultrasound done already to determine my baby’s gender. I always answer, I always have an ultrasound and they would reply “Wow!”

Back in the Philippines, one’s OB-Gyne is not automatically licensed to perform ultrasound… unless the OB-Gyne is also a licensed Sonologist.  The OB-Gyne needs to refer the pregnant woman to a licensed Sonologist for the ultrasound. For some women, one ultrasound is enough for the whole duration of the pregnancy. For higher risks pregnancy, the OB-Gyne would require more.

In Iloilo, where I gave birth, there are only two Sonologists. Three years ago, I had to wait for a long time for my turn since the Ob-Gyne Sonologist had several clients lined up before me. I hated waiting. Probably because I got used to how things are done here in Seoul. When I go home to give birth, I dread the thought of going to another hospital and wait for my turn. I’ve had enough ultrasounds, anyway:-).

Aside from ultrasound, it is normal procedure in the Philippines for various tests during pregnancy to be referred to other doctors.  For blood tests for gestational diabetes, I was referred to another clinic under another specialist. Here in Seoul, the OB-Gyne clinic where I go to will perform the blood test on me for gestational diabetes on my next monthly check-up. The convenience of the OB-Gyne clinic here  in Seoul is such a relief!

If I have my way, I would like to have all the tests done here before I go home to the Philippines. There maybe some things here in Seoul that I don’t like, but some convenience it offers would sometimes make up for them:-).



If there’s one thing I have learned from the health forums I visited recently, it is this: balance your trust on your doctor with your mother’s instinct.

A baby or a toddler who has recurring fever may be diagnosed with pharyngitis or throat infection. Doctors always say not to worry as pharyngitis is common to babies and children. Even my doctor-friend repeatedly assured me that throat infections are common to children. In some cases, doctors would meticuously check the ears for ear infection. Throat and ear infections are visible to the eyes (doctor-trained eyes).

When the fever does not stop despite the medications, a mother should be on her guard already. You could actually suggest to your child’s pediatrician. Don’t just sit down there and trustingly listen even if you know very well that something’s amiss. I think every parent should be equipped with the confidence that you know your child more than anyone else.

In some cases, throat infections are just outward symptoms of something that needs more medical attention. Most often, upon seeing symptoms of throat infection a doctor would easily prescribe medication to cure the visible problem. It is not uncommon that throat infections can actually sidetrack a parent or a doctor’s attention from urinary tract infection (UTI). Uncured, the child will have a recurring fever.

Some pediatricians make it their standard operating procedure to have the child undergo an ultrasonogram after UTI is detected. Other pediatricians do not. My opinion on this is: your child’s health is foremost and shall be monitored well. An ultrasonogram is non-invasive and does not have any side effect to the child. Have it done! The primary purpose of the ultrasonogram when UTI is detected is to check on the kidneys.

UTI significantly affects the kidneys especially when left untreated. It could just start with a fever diagnosed with throat infection. The throat infection is cured but the underlying UTI is not. Another bout of fever attacks to be diagnosed with the same throat infection. Medication will again serve the throat infection but not the UTI. When UTI is diagnosed after several medications for throat infection, there is a great possibility for kidney scars. Kidney scars can be detected through ultrasonogram. That shows how important an ultrasonogram is, even during the mildest symptoms of a UTI.


I couldn’t imagine what life is in Afghanistan. Particularly as a woman, what could be in there for you?

I haven’t read many literature on Afghanistan but I have read and heard mostly negative news because of the Taliban’s activities. In my mind, Afghanistan is Osama bin Laden’s hide-out. It is a place where terrorists are trained and terrorist activities are plotted. It is a place where you breathe fear.

While reading “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini I came to learn that Afghanistan is not just a place where women were obliged by their men to wear burqa because according to Rasheed (the antagonist in the book) “where i come from, a woman’s face is her husband’s business only“, but it is also a place where women have university degrees, wear high heels and sunglasses, smell of perfumes and have painted long nails. After reading Hosseini’s book, Afghanistan, to me, had been humanized displaying the real, intimate feelings represented by the women in the story.

There’s Mariam, the “harami” (illegitimate child) of a wealthy businessman and a servant. She lived in a “kolba” with her mother, just outside the town where her father and his wives together with their children live. She never saw the town until her fifteenth birthday, a tragic day which marked the beginnning of her tragic life. She was disillusioned by her father who didn’t keep his promise to let her watch “Pinocchio” in the cinema he owns. When she came back to her house, she found her mother hanging on a tree. She committed suicide because she feared Mariam was not going back to her. After living with her father for a few days, her marriage was arranged to Rasheed, twenty years older than her. Living with her husband, she was abused as a woman and as a wife.

There’s Laila, the beautiful little girl in the village where Rasheed and Mariam live. She is free-spirited, encouraged by her father and Tariq, her friend-turned lover, not to be shy about her intelligence. When war broke out in Afghanistan, families where scrambling to get out of the country. Tariq and his family moved to Pakistan. Laila lost her parents as a bomb landed on their home on the day they were supposed to leave for Pakistan. Alone and injured, she was taken in by Rasheed in his house. Rasheed plotted to make her his new wife. As plotted by Rasheed, Laila believed a man who told her that Tariq has already died. To save herself,  she readily agreed to become Rasheed’s second wife as she was already pregnant with Tariq’s child. In a Taliban-ruled country, she would be lucky not be raped and alive within twenty-four hours of being alone in the streets.

Mariam and Laila shared the same abuses and over the years they became each other’s protector. When Rasheed came to know of Tariq’s visit to their house, it was evident that Laila’s life was in danger. Mariam had to kill Rasheed with the only weapon she had, a shovel. She asked Laila to leave with her children and Tariq and she will be the only one to face the Taliban’s death penalty on her.

The novel speaks of the lives of these two abused women in a war-torn and Taliban-dominated country. However, Mariam is my true heroine. She willingly surendered her life to give a new beginning to the much younger Laila.

Rasheed is the Taliban in this novel. Mariam and Laila are the Afghans who are helplessly under the Taliban’s control. Women are, after all, the most susceptible to abuses. The two women represent two different strengths: Mariam’s submissive demeanor and silent suffering has an inner strength which allowed her to sacrifice her life for another’s new beginning. Laila’s more outgoing personality had allowed her to win minor battles for the little comforts for herself, Mariam and her children against Rasheed.

I still don’t know much about Afghanistan but I am now looking at the country with a more humane understanding that it also has people living there wishing, wanting and fighting to be freed from the wars their country had been subjected into.

Afghans have their national heroes as Mariam was a hero to Laila. Afghans have their own intellectuals and freedom-fighters like Laila (and Tariq) who opted to return to Afghanistan to build a new life, give renewed hope and spread education as a means to liberate. How long will it take them? How many generations? How many millions of lives sacrificed?

Khaled Hosseini is here to make us see Afghanistan and Afghans beyond the constant wars and news-grabbing headlines of terrorists and their activities. He is successful. If only for that, the Afghan people will be more understood.


My Little Dynamo loves to watch Super Why.

The school bus drops him off at 3pm in the house, then he would eat his snack and watch Super Why at 3:30pm before having his nap. He would sing to the Super Why song. Sometimes, he would say he is Super Why with the power to read.

As much as possible, we also try to maintain his 15-minute study time with me. There were days we miss, but most days we remind each other. He would always be inspired by Super Why so that he “will have the power to read“.

One afternoon, when he woke up:

Me: Study time.

Little Dynamo: No.

Me: Why not? You will be Super Why. You will have the power to read.

Little Dynamo: I don’t like to be Super Why.

Me: Why not?

Little Dynamo: I JUST want to be a boy.

 

End of discussion! No mommy would insist otherwise:-) 

The usage of the word JUST surprised me!

As a parent, your children’s joy can be the sole source of your happiness. That’s why it is imperative to be always on the look out for new and fun activities for kids and toddlers. Toys at home may no longer be enough to stimulate kids and encourage their desire to move around and explore the world around them. It is good to provide them venues where their natural curiosity will be maximized. Lots of kids and people will develop their social skills as well. The website ParentsConnect.com is one good source of this.

The website not only provides information on fun activities. I was especially drawn to their tag line “We’re not perfect. We’re parents…” That’s interesting and so true. We could only try to be good but we could not really be perfect parents. In my case, I have a new source of parenting ideas from this website.  This parenting site has articles on pregnancy, childbirth, parenting tips and parenting advices.

Plus, if you have your own website you may try to join ParentsConnect.com widget contest. By installing the widget in your site, you will have the chance to win $1000 if you garner the most viewed on your widget. That would be a rare bonus and opportunity just by spreading the word.

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I didn’t know that July is Malaysia’s S-A-L-E season. So, everywhere we went we see this:

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Why the inverted spelling? I didn’t avail of the SALE season, that’s why! My fault, really. Prices are down up to 70%. So, I kept on looking for more bargains. Tsk. Tsk. I got hold of a beautiful Nine West bag at 30% off which hubby approved but  I kept on thinking there might be more bargains out there. I ended up buying none. Hubby and I were thinking, Malaysia’s Duty Free was still there. The beautiful bag I fell in love with at the Duty Free was a Gianfranco Ferre bag at 70% off. At 70% off, it was still too much. LOL.

I used to be a sucker for bags, especially when I was still unmarried. When I left the Philippines, I had to give away most of them. I just retained those which have sentimental values. These days, I don’t look at bags anymore. Unless, hubby can afford them:-).

Speaking of the SALE season in Malaysia, July is also a tourist season there. It’s amazing to see so many tourists around. Every morning, this is the scene outside the breakfast buffet area:

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We wake up earlier than most tourists (or they wake up really late) so we never had to queue up for breakfast. Otherwise, Little Dynamo would be impatiently running around.

I got us Swiss Graden Hotel located just around the Bintang Area, which is a tourist spot known for its night life. Malaysia must be doing very well in terms of security as many tourists flock to the country.  Hubby and I ended up discussing the security back home (Philippines). We have so much to offer in terms of tourist destinations but we don’t see this much tourists. 

Really, it was quite a surprise for me to see so many tourists walking around almost everywhere we went. There were couples, there were families as well. We got familiar with two or three other Caucasian families who were also going to the pool everyday. Their kids were swimming while they were relaxing and reading by the pool side.

According to the taxi driver who was a regular in the hotel, July and August were mostly tourist months for people from the Middle East. This year, though the H1N1 scared them so the number was significantly reduced. To our eyes, there were still many of them.

It must be interesting to live in such a tourist-friendly place.


I haven’t eaten siomai for quite sometime. Actually, any kind of dimsum would have been heavenly!

This siomai craving (not just mine, but also my hubby’s) started during our trip to Beijing last year. We were so excited to eat siomai, or any kind of dimsum for that matter. Surprise of surprises! Nada! We haven’t eaten a single dimsum. Did we look at the wrong restaurants? LOL. But hubby is a restaurant-goer, he would have known!

We didn’t even have a chance to eat any dimsum back in the Philippines during our month-long vacation last Christmas holidays. We used to go to Golden Fortune Restaurant in Binondo just to have their very tasty shabu-shabu and fresh seafoods and vegetables. And of course, dimsum! A take-out siomai was never missed. You see, we usually go there dinnertime and dimsums are discounted after 9pm.

As Malaysia calls itself Truly Asia because of the convergence of cultures (Moslem, Indian and Chinese), hubby and I looked forward to eating dimsum during our KL vacation. We were not disappointed:-).

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Siomai, we gladly had! I almost forgot to take a shot for posterity:-).

I didn’t take note of the name of the restaurant but we ate along Bintang Walk. It’s a long stretch of restaurants and shopping malls and massage parlors. It’s a very active stretch especially during the night. When we were there last week, it was active every night! Oh well, July is Malaysia’s Sale season!



Almost all Filipina pregnant women crave for green mangoes during their first trimester.

I haven’t seen any green mangoes here in Seoul, not even in the Philippine Store in Itaewon. I see ripe mangoes, sure! but no green mangoes in sight.

While we were in Kuala Lumpur, we passed by the grocery section of KLCC Suria and hubby immediately remarked: “Guess what they have here that we don’t have in Seoul?” He brought me to the fruits section and there were piles of green mangoes! Bliss!

I bought three and a pack of rock salt! Don’t you just love eating green mangoes with rock salt? I do!

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There are so many lists of the tallest buildings in the world. They have all kinds of categories. Check out google to understand what I mean.

Anyway, the tallest building I saw is the Petronas Twin Towers on a recent vacation in Kuala Lumpur. It has 88 storeys and stands at 452 meters above street level. It was hard to capture the full length of the tower in all its majesty but I got to take a shot of the building in all its splendor by capturing its shadow on the huge pond in front of the Suria KLCC shopping mall.

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The Suria KLCC Shopping Mall is just beside the twin towers and its own attraction is the afternoon fountain show in its huge pond. Little Dynamo has always been fascinated by fountains so we sat on the edge of the pond for quite a while to satisfy his want.

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Aside from the fountain show, the spacious grounds also has a shallow swimming pool for childen with cascading waterfalls as a backdrop.  Beside the swimming pool is a children’s playground. You bet, our Little Dynamo had a blast!

We spent one whole afternoon until early evening in the Petronas and Suria KLCC grounds. Good thing, we waited until the lights on the towers were turned on. I got this beautiful shot of the twin towers:

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I came across this movie teaser just now.

I love how Bea Alonzo delivers her lines in this teaser. I am looking forward to watching the movie. Betch, are you reading? Hehehe.

I think the girl has honed her acting skills. She was good to start with, just a little bit over-acting in her earlier movies at times. This time, the teaser shows that she has her emotions under control (which is, to me, more effective acting - as if I know about acting? LOL. But I did have amateur theater performances back in UP in college. Would you believe I got a lead role in my first theater experience? And that was my director’s greatest regret ever. Huh!).

Anyway, she is one beautiful girl with a talent to back her up. And, of course, she is a Star Magic baby. That alone would ensure her longetivity in show business.


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