Self-care Soothes The Soul

And for me today, self-care is taking a day off from work! :)

Sometimes, no matter how passionate and zealous we are about something, be it our motherhood or business or career, we just simply need to take a breather. We are humans --- not robots --- and our energy no matter how high, is finite. Admit it. There are days when you just feel like you want to stop doing and just be, di ba? I've been feeling that these past few days. I thought I needed some space from my daily routine and several times, I caught myself wishing to sleep just a little longer in the morning. Good thing, my calendar said there's no meeting or anything super duper kaduper urgent today in the office, so I filed for a VL. Yehey! This is self-care! :) I listened to myself before I even get to the point of no return --- burnout.

So how did I spend my midweek day-off?  Wala lang naman. And that's actually the point! =P

Making Brushing Fun for Our Little Ones

Caring for our child's teeth and gums is very important to ensure that they won't have tooth decay and their breath will stay as fresh as a baby's.  But no matter what stories we try to tell them about cavities, it's not always easy to get them to brush, especially with a toddler like my Lia.  It was easier when she was much younger, but now that she's two and is easily distracted, brushing her pearly whites is somewhat a chore.  

Buy hey, I am not one to just give up when she doesn't want to brush her teeth!  So how do I get her to do it? We make it FUUUUN! :)

• We sing songs.  Lia loves singing and dancing, and I tell you, there was never any brushing session with her that didn't involve a song! Most times, we even watch brushing videos while singing, and her two favorites are below.

Riella Beats Roseola

Rolly and I are soooo happy, our little Lia is now back in the pink of health! No more on and off fever, just some leftover rashes here and there. The past week had been very worrisome and exhausting for us, all because of this nasty culprit – Roseola Infantum. 

The name may not sound horrid, but it is. As Kidshealth.org describes it, Roseola (also known as sixth disease, exanthem subitum, and roseola infantum) is a viral illness that most commonly affects young kids between 6 months and 2 years old. It is usually marked by several days of high fever, followed by a distinctive rash just as the fever breaks.

Lia had been feverish for about 6 days, her temperature fluctuating with a few hours’ interval. My heart was in my mouth when I saw red rashes appear on the fourth day, the dreadful thought that it could be dengue crossed my mind. Thank God that after her second CBC was done, it was confirmed that it really wasn’t dengue but Roseola. Haaay, I breathed the deepest sigh of relief in my life!

The rashes already look bad here, but it's even worse in person. :(

The red bumps may seem very itchy but they're not. Buti na lang!

Special thanks to Lia’s very dependable pedia, Dr. Nik Lombos of Asian Hospital. There was no day during this 6-day ordeal that we didn’t exchange messages so that she could keep track of Lia’s condition. We loooove her! :) And of course to the Big Guy up there whom we kept on praying to every hour and every minute. Thank You Lord for touching our Lia with Your healing hand. Thank Youuuu! :)

And to you “Rosy,” you can never touch our baby again! You can try all you want but she’s now immune to you, hmp! I wish one day there could already be a vaccine to keep you from doing any harm to babies.  You're a bad, bad virus!

***********

Cheers,

This is more than just a heartache.

I feel really low. :( Our little one has been down with fever since Wednesday afternoon, it's the fourth day now that her temperature has been fluctuating.  I skipped work on Thursday to bring her to the pedia. CBC was done and thank God, there was nothing alarming in the results.  She was given antibiotics, another medicine for her colds, and fever medications.

Waiting at the pedia's clinic.

This is only the second time that Lia has gotten sick, and I think this one's worse than when she had pneumonia last month.  After she started taking her medicines last time, the fever and other symptoms already gradually subsided.  This time it's different.  She'd be okay for an hour, then her temperature will soar the next.  It has been a roller coaster of emotions for me and my husband, it's exhausting. :(  Now I understand what my mom would say whenever I would get sick, na sana sila na lang ang maysakit.  That is exactly what I feel now.  That if this fever really has to run its course, that it be transferred to me instead.  I hate seeing my Lia uncomfortable.  I just hate it.

My baby is asleep as I write this, and I pray that she won't endure another 39 degrees in the hours to come. She's still so small, so fragile.  Please, Lord. :(  Make my daughter well. :(

First Fever :(

The first week of August was a heartbreaking one for our family. :( It was the very first time that our little Lia had a fever, and it wasn't just any fever.  It was pneumonia.

Our baby has always been happy and healthy, and we're actually grateful that this only happened now that she's already 16 months old, other babies get sick even younger.  After some vaccinations, her pedia would even tell us that she might get a fever afterwards, but she never did.  It's only now, and it must be one heck of a virus because it was able to put our strong Lia down.  Hmp!

Those little fingers!
Blood had to extracted so we could get it tested. :(

Left: At her pedia's clinic while waiting for the blood test results.
Right: Our unusually unhappy and feverish baby at home. :(

Thank God the blood test showed no alarming results, so Lia didn't have to be admitted in the hospital.  We went home with lots of medicines prescribed by the doctor.  We're grateful that the high fever lasted for only about 3 days, and in no time, my baby was back in the pink again!  Yaay! Here she is dancing to the tune of Worth It, her favorite dance as of late.  Hehe. =D

Cheers,