Nanay Lydia Finally Healed and Rested Forever

Nanay Lydia, as we all call her regardless of our affinity, passed away on December 10. We were all shocked and saddened. We never expected that it would happen too soon. Nanay was ready, she knew it was coming but we are not. As what daddy said, our lives will no longer be whole again but we all need to move on - for the sake of our children.

When I decided to try my luck in Singapore in February, Nanay Lydia insisted on taking care of Mariel in Pangasinan even when she was recovering from stroke. When she learned that Mariel is deaf, she cried but bravely told me that Mariel is still lucky because she could be the next Jamilla (PBB?) and that everybody loves her.

LAst October, she was diagnosed with heart enlargement, peptic ulcer and gallstones. She was already being monitored for her type 2 diabetes, hypertension and possible complications when she had stroke. Nanay was static when she learned that Mama Lita and Jade are coming home in March 2009 but she kept on saying that "baka hindi na tayo magkita kung March pa kayo uuwi". So Mama decided to come home earlier. Nanay was so excited and said "Sasama ako sa pagsundo." Mom and Jade arrived in Manila on October 16, Nanay Lydia was even here to fetch them in NAIA.

Nanay was in and out of the hospital since October. On the second week of November, her cardiologist decided to let her go home with the IV. Our uncles and aunties just asked nurses in our village to inject pain reliever when she experienced gallstone attack.

I just know how painful it was to be inserted IV over and over again. Plus the pain inside the abdomen radiating to the lover right portion of shoulder. Perhaps the pain caused nanay cardiogenic shock. The doctors said it was her heart that caused her life.

It was easier for us to let go of Nanay because we don't wanna see her go through those painful symptoms and medical processes. We were in denial at first, we tried to argue and blame ourselves but we also tried to gather strength from each other. We cried and cried...we hugged and cried on each others shoulders.

It was devastating...it was painful. As mama had said, "Nanay is no longer here, the one who holds the bond among us." Nanay is such a wonderful grandmom to me. She was the one who took care of me and Ranny. She may no longer be with us physically but what she taught us will forever be in us.

We love you Nanay. Thank you for everything. I am not what I am now if not because of you. You did not only teach me how to live but also how to touch other people's lives the way you did to other people. I love you so much.

Mariel's First Four Teeth

Oh well, lots have happened but nothing can compare with this milestone... She got her first four front teeth...move over hippos... :-)

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.