Raising a family these days is hard. The economy is not as good – the standard of living is always increasing yet the basic pay for employees remain the same. The environment is not as clean as before making it prone for young children to be sickly. And the social environment is scary – everyday we are bombarded of news of murders, robberies and rape cases. It doesn’t surprise me when couples decide to have only one to two kids. Most wives have their tubes tied after the delivery of the last child. But nowadays, couples decide to have the husband undergo vasectomy, just in case they would want to have another kid in the future when their circumstances get better. Vasectomies are reversible.

Approximately 600,000 vasectomies are performed in the United States each year. 1 – 6% of the men will eventually want to restore their fertility by means of a vasectomy reversal. The most common reason for restoring fertility is to father a child after remarriage following divorce. Sometimes a death of a child or simply a change of mind prompts a man to have a vasectomy reversal.

There are number of factors involved while getting prepared for vasectomy reversal surgery. These factors can be financial stability achieved, getting married again or as simple as a change of perspective towards it. There are different people who opt for it under different circumstances. Studies show that only 5% men opt for vasectomy reversal surgery at some point in life.

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My father has been slowly but surely losing weight since last year. He started doing some walking and portion control on what he eats and as of today, he has lost at least 35 lbs without drastic diets or pills. He doesn’t need the best fat burner for men as he said. He just needs commitment and a lifestyle change – which he is slowly but surely committing to. Way to Go Dad!

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The husband and I have been discussing what our goals for next year would be – we aren’t getting any younger and the kids are growing up right before our eyes and five years into our marriage, we are looking at concrete proofs our hard work. We want security and would like to make sure our kids’ needs are taken cared of.

Next year we are focused on really saving so we can buy even a second hand car. Our dear old “hummer” would no longer be convenient for us as we will travel a lot and the kids have asthma whenever we go to the city.

We already have plans on what to buy. It’s not something I really want – because who wouldn’t want an SUV or a more expensive car? But as long as it will make travel comfortable for us and will not be hard (read: expensive) to maintain, it will do for now.

The 2010 Acura MDX is a dream though. The Car and Driver has described the acura mdx as "a tall wagon [that] is an all-weather hauler on the sporty side" and it will certainly please my maternal instincts having the interiors very comfortable and the husband’s manly desire to ride a sporty “handsome” vehicle.  Its big V-6 is impressively strong and for such a huge car it is easy to drive (light). The acura also has good safety record and reputation for durability. READ: It doesn’t break down easily = less expensive.

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(Just when I was writing this entry, Martha comes up to me and says “Wow, si Tita Abbie ko!” She immediately looked crestfallen when she said, “Ay naku, si Tuya hug si Tita Abbie ko!” I told her she hugged Tita Abbie more on the first picture.)

Case 1:
Matthew on weekends when my siblings would go to Amadeo.

“Mommy, andun ba si Tita Abbie? Sa tingin mo dun matutulog si Tita Agnes? (he referred to Agnes when he was a toddler as Tita Witch, FYI.)

Meaning: Sana pwede ako matulog dun kasi andun si Tita Abbie kahit andun si Tita Agnes

Case 2:
We had major drama on Abbie’s birthday because Matthew talked back at me. As punishment I decided we wouldnt go anymore to Manila for Abbie’s treat. It was the longest three hours of his life, crying and pleading and crying some more – to make me change my mind.

Case 3:
Whenever I’d scold Martha these days, she cries and yells for help, in the following order:
”Daddy, Daddy, I want my Daddy!”

If Im so angry Id shot back: “Wala dito Daddy mo!”

You think she would cry some more? No, the next person in line is…
”Huhuhu, Ta Bie, Ta Bie, I want my Tita Abbie!”

I rest my case.

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This maltese pup has captured my daughter’s heart instantly. She would ask for Santino as soon as she wakes up each morning. I thought it was only a phase – but it has been more than a month and Martha still can’t stop talking and asking about him. She even went as far as asking a Mommy, or Daddy, or Tuya, even Lolo and Lola and Tita Abbie Santino – meaning she wants her own pup. (She is like that, every thing, living or otherwise, has a Mommy, Daddy, Tuya, Lolo, Lola and Tita Abbie versions. She sees a parrot, she says, “Small yan eh baby parrot yan. Where’s the Mommy parrot Mom? When I tell her, wala, she would say, “Ay wala, where is the Daddy parrot, Tuya parrot and when you tell her wala, she would then proceed, “Wala mommy, daddy, tuya nya…..Lolo parrot nya? The one that takes the cake is “Where’s the Tita Abbie parrot Mommy?”)

So back to the pup, the kids have asked it for Christmas from Santa. She even named her puppy, “Berrito” (Burrito) – ask her once a week and she would say the same thing. Im not ready to have another baby yet, so Im still over the fence on this one. I cant imagine giving this dog a bath and even blow drying his hair (Ang buhok ko nga tamad ako iblowdry eh). I think this will be a test on how much I love the kids if I allow a dog in our house .

But then again, you ask her, “Marts, what do you want – a puppy or a bibbity bobbedy boo?” she would answer alternately. So she is also over the fence. I hope.

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Martha. Has been obsessed with a maltese dog names Santino, wants a pup for Xmas, a bibbity bobity boo, a crown, anything Barbie (she keeps saying, I like a Barbie ballpen, a Barbie towel, yada yada), has a school bag with books, loves to read and draw lately. Wants to go to school because she wants to have “signment” like Kuya.

Matthew. Busy with choir practice. Is renting out with my parents all the time (he sleeps there every chance he can get especially when there was no school late week). Became extra diligent in his studies. Can finish a Jollibee or Chicken McDo, 1 piece with rice, spaghetti, cheeseburger meal with large fries in one sitting. GROWING booooiiii.

Mommy. Work is good. Health is good. Deathly afraid of being hospitalized again so is strict with her medicines. Been walking a lot. Want to curl her hair. Decluttering the house. Throwing out more junk.

Daddy. Works two jobs. Lives in Manila. Always reading lately, which is a good thing. Cabal retiree (Thank YOU! Lord!!!), Mafia Wars addict (Better than Cabal). Forgetful Joe pa din.

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June is officially the start of school and the start of the rainy season where we live. That also means the start of colds, flu and cough and the signal to begin taking out the jackets and invest on umbrellas again.

My kids have different kinds of sinus and respiratory problems – asthma being one of them, so we try to make sure we avoid things that could trigger them. With my kids, pollution, too much heat and dirt are sure ways to set off their allergies. That is the primary reason we relocated.

Because we live in the mountains, I have grown accustomed to bringing jackets and caps for the kids even if it is a hundred degrees outside when we go out. Because for sure, by evening, it gets colder. Now that rainy season has started, rain showers are a natural occurrence as well. I think the kids have four to five jackets each while I only have two hooded jackets. I need to invest on a sturdy but fashionable coat especially since Christmas season is fast approaching. I remember our first Christmas last year here we were in jackets every time. I will be waiting for the end of season sale in the US and will definitely have my friend Glo buy me maybe one or two.

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So we finally have a new DVD player. It is the cheap kind, one you get from CD-R King (where we get almost anything cheap gadgets). It’s only 990pesos as far as I can remember. When I went to Manila last Saturday, the husband gave in and bought one, because how can he entertain the kids with one TV and one computer only? Not when he needs to play Cabal all the time too! When I came home the kids were watching a movie on the TV. (It is so like the husband to scrimp on anything but entertainment. I have told him again and again we need a new rice cooker and new dryer, does he buy? NO. But he immediately bought tv stand when ours broke and got the DVD player once he realized he cannot take care of the kids without it – while I, working from home full time yaya that I am – survived without it the whole day in a month with the kids. That is 30 days people, I need an award for that!).

My kids are TV addicts – maybe because I don’t let them out of the house too often. I know I should encourage playing with toys because it reinforces imaginative play (and imagination is a good thing!) but when you are working and someone jumps on your back, makes kalabit your arm (who is holding the mouse when you do Photoshop) – that is such a BAD thing.

So for now, movies will do.

And might I just add, the the DVD player plays MPEG, AVIs and MOV files. If you are Torrent user like us, that means we do not need to convert movie files for TV viewing – it even supports USB hard drives. Kewlness. If this lasts for 3 months, it’s worth the money already

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