Are They Brave Enough?

I breastfed Isabelle for 1 1/2 years, Ilysse for 3 1/2 years, and am still breastfeeding Mio at 2. Wanted to wean him but with the controversial TIME magazine article on breastfeeding entitled, "Are You Mom Enough?", which elicited more negative reactions, I have decided not to. It all boils down to respect. I don't react when I see mothers giving their newborn babies infant formula. Why should mothers be criticized for extended breastfeeding when they are just doing what they believe in?

Happy Proud Mother's Day!

Isabelle is turning 10 this December, Ilysse is celebrating her 7th birthday this August, and Romeo just turned 2. While the world over is exhorting a mother's undying devotion and love to their children, I would like to celebrate this day by expressing my sincerest gratitude to my children who at their young ages have shown me what unconditional love is. Just today, I could not forget the change in Romeo's expression when he saw me rasing my voice and reprimanding his sisters. He blurted out in his tiny voice, "Mama", and slowly walked to me with his arms all stretched out and ready to give me a hug. I felt so ashamed at my sudden burst of anger but at the same time, I felt so much love from this little boy of mine. My children have learned to put up with all my quirks, my moods, and my shortcomings as a mother. They have filled my days with love and pure fun. And for these and so much more, I am mighty proud to be called their "Mommy".

An Unforgettable Time in Guimaras

We had a very lovely trip to Guimaras. Guimaras is a province near Iloilo. Since we visited my cousins in Iloilo, they took us to the beach where we went swimming and we ate very yummy food like fish and rice. After that, we went island hopping to the nearby islands such as the Turtle Island where we saw a snapping turtle. Then we went to a souvenir shop of the Trappist Monks. We took a pumpboat to go back to Iloilo. I had a very fun time in Guimaras. I hope we go there again. -Isabelle

Those Dreaded Nights

I was surprised when Ilysse called me at 3 in the afternoon today. She told me she was having a tummy ache and hasn't eaten anything for lunch. When I left in the morning, she complained of a tummy ache but told her that she might just be hungry because she hasn't had breakfast yet. I knew that she must have felt really sick because that was the first time she called me in the office. I wanted to hurry home but was also itching to do some grocery because the kids have virtually cleaned out our pantry that was just 2 weeks ago filled to the brim. When I learned after a few minutes that Ilysse had fallen asleep, I rushed to the supermarket while whispering a prayer that my Ilysse would be ok.

When I came home, Ilysse still hadn't eaten a decent meal and had vomited when she woke up. I gave her Chamomilia and Carbo Betulae for the tummy ache and the vomiting. At around 8 pm, she developed a slight fever which just kept on rising, and peaked at 12 midnight at 39.3 C. I have been giving her Apis Belladona every hour. Considering that I just need to give her 5 drops of it, I use a dropper and she doesn't even stir. I dread nights like this. Every parent does. Could it be dengue? Intestinal Flu? Or even Appendicitis?

After giving her the Apis every hour since 8 pm, her fever has gone down to 37.7 C at 2 am. I'm ready to get some rest. I just earnestly hope that tomorrow won't bring me one of those dreaded nights again.

Oblivious to Brand

There is one thing that I want my children to learn in this age of unrestrained consumerism and that is detachment from all things material and superficial. I know the difficulty that lies ahead in teaching this value. Children are bombarded with all kinds of stimuli that promote the belief that anything expensive and anything that comes with a brand is good, or even better.

I can honestly say that I have aqcuired some sort of immunity from anything branded, and anything expensive. My mom has showed me the way by her simple and thrifty ways, and I sincerely hope that I can pass it on to my children as well.

I trust that my girls can easily part with a Prada (the only costly brand in my closet that was given by a client) in the same way that I did with mine.

How Words Can Change Your Life-Isabelle's First Post

Did you know that words can change your life?Studies show that positive or negative words can change your life.Saying positive words can make your life a happy one.When you are mad,try to calm down.You might say things that you don't mean.Bye, and have a happy and healthy life to all of you!- Isabelle, 9 years old

The Cough Syrup Scare and Bacteria-Infested Leaves

(Taken from the Solmux Ad)

On 21 February 2012, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that a 7-year old dies after taking cough syrup. It was reported that Niel John Picoc was given a three-fourths teaspoon of a generic cough syrup when he suffered a seizure and fell to the ground. When the child started getting up, he fell again and banged his head in the pavement. It was at this point that blood started coming out of his mouth and nose. They tried to revive Neil who was rushed to the nearest hopsital but he eventually died.

It was a tragedy that could have been avoided. Whatever may be the proximate cause of Neil's death, whether it was because of the cough syrup or from the head injury, it is clear that the injury sustained by the child was the direct and immediate consequence of his taking the cough syrup.

The use of over-the-counter cough and cold syrups for children ages 5 and below has been decried by the Commissioner of Health for Baltimore together with 15 pediatricians which became the basis for a Citizen's Petition before the United States Food and Drug Authority (US FDA). The City of Baltimore issued a statement on 26 October 2006 that there is no evidence to support the effectiveness of these non-prescription medicines and that the side effects of these drugs could even cause harm. The statement reported that the side effects can be dangerous and that the dangers include accidental ingestions, more specifically, elevation of blood pressure and heart rate, risk of stroke, effects on the heart, and in some cases, death.

On the other side of the fence, big pharmas have been flooding Philippine airwaves with ads discrediting the use of lagundi leaves to cure coughs and colds by saying that anti-cough lagundi products contain (daang libong bacteria) thousands of bacteria. The talent further quipped that if you won't take anything with bacteria, why should your baby (kung ikaw di iinom ng bacteria, si baby pa kaya?).

There are very inaccurate and deceiving statements made in this particular advertisement. It failed to define what kind of bacteria they are talking about. Probiotics, including yogurt and yakult, are filled with billions of good bacteria. Are they referring to these good bacteria? They also failed to give concrete examples of the ill effects of these so-called bacteria to people's health. This pharma thinks that they can dupe intelligent and thinking people with the scare tactic that lagundi products contain bacteria. They should be the first to know that people are exposed daily to all sorts of bacteria, even the most virulent ones, just by opening the door in the office or holding the rails of the escalator. What is most loathsome is their indirect claim that their cough medicine is good for babies. This claim is belied by the statement issued by the US FDA in its website updated last 23 February 2011. The FDA recommended that these drugs not be used to treat infants and children under 2 years of age because of serious and potentially life-threatening side effects. The FDA further disclosed that it has not completed its review of information about the safety of cough and cold medicines in children 2 through 11 years of age. This is not only an alarming disclosure, but an admission-against-interest by the US FDA. This only means that you should not give your children any kind of over-the-counter cough or cold medicines.

I have always relied on fresh oregano leaves and lagundi capsules, cayenne tincture (my kids squirm when i give them this, my baby even covers his mouth, because even a drop stings but even just a drop works extremely well), honey and apple cide vinegar, and homeopathic medicine for my kid's cough and colds and they absolutely work without any dreaded side effects.

So, if given the choice between chemicals and bacteria, which one would you choose?