Sick baby

I took Lia to the hospital last Friday. She wasn't taking in too much food (or milk), her fever won't go down, and her cough bothered her at night (which led to us not getting any sleep either).

I actually wanted to have her confined earlier during the week because I was dead worried about her condition. The pedia was utterly conservative. Observe, she said. Whenever I sent her SMS informing her of my baby's condition, she'd always respond with "observe". Finally, on Friday, after having a sleepless night, Lia's pedia consented to have her confined.

As instructed, I first took her to Makati Med ER. The triage was expecting us, as the doctor had already called and briefed them. After the usual checking, they inserted an IV for her dextrose. Lia cried her lungs out! I dared not look at the resident inserting the IV as I feared that I might take pity on my baby and tell them to stop. I offered what I can - soothed her with momma's kisses.

Daddy held her as we wheeled them to the room. She started to cry again when she saw the resident who inserted the IV. After much crying, she fell asleep on the hospital bed, with me by her side.

Nursephobia?

Oh, that's inevitable, I think. Lia's lips would curl downwards, pout, and start to cry when the nurses came in. Even when they just came in to check her dextrose! Even if they were a feet away. She'd cry, and stop only when they've gone.

On the second day, she mustered enough courage not to cry, but to get mad at the nurses. She'd grunt and move away when they'd come near her. Hahaha!

Before she was discharged, she was chummy with the nurses. Smiling at them, waving her hand to say "hi". Funny girl!

Will to get well

A day after Lia was admitted, she was almost up the whole day. Reading her books, talking to Mrs. Turtle and baby Turtle (heehee, toys from Ninang Tiff), and blowing imaginary bubbles on her bubble-wand.

The doc however advised that she still stay in the hospital, because her fever was still fluctuating.

My little girl didn't look like she was sick: she sang, smiled, babbled the whole day.

Discharged

The next day was a bright one for Lia: she was going to be discharged! While the nurse took off her IV, she watched in fascination. And when her left hand was finally free, she counted her fingers. Made sure they were still there! Hahaha! And then she smiled, and laughed.

And during the ride home, a bright smile was pasted on my baby's face.

Mommy Badge

My friend Marc said I deserve a Mommy badge already for Lia's first hospitalization. ;p

Accomplishment No. 41

Nah, just kidding. I DON'T have a number for each of Lia's accomplishments! Duh!

Anyway...Lia's been sick since Sunday, and she's not eating much (or drinking her milk) for the past three days. =(

But this morning, after many attempts of cajoling her to eat and drink her milk, I decided to put her milk on her new drinking cup. This cup had a straw. Maybe, just maybe, this new experience would prompt her to drink. Then, I showed Lia how to sip.

When I handed the cup to her, she sipped, too! I can't believe how easy it was for her to do that. (Or maybe I'm just overreacting, hmmm?)

So, here's a proud mom. Plus, she consumed her milk (finally) - which made me even happier. =)

The end of the zoo trip

Our trip ended briefly, as it was already getting dark. Lia was still hyper on our way home, though. Hehehe.

Mr. Croc

croc
Originally uploaded by micaela.

And there's the croc, trying to keep still.

Helpful birds

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Originally uploaded by micaela.

A couple of them even tried to push Lia's stroller. Heheheh!

Friendly birds

parrots
Originally uploaded by micaela.

And then the parrots perched on us, friendly ones, they are...

Erica the ostrich

erica the ostrich
Originally uploaded by micaela.

First we met Erica the ostrich, who kept on scratching her sides.

Trip to the Zoo

One boring Saturday afternoon, we took Lia to the zoo. It was a good day to go to the zoo because the sun hid behind the clouds and the afternoon breeze was cool.

Lia was excited as I dressed her in her 'gator shirt, corduroy shorts, and rubber shoes. She was going on an expedition! Hahaha!

Lia's birthday blog

Finally! Hehehe. I had to wait until we were all settled again, and the leftovers consumed and the balloons deflated. ;p

The day before the party, I could tell that Lia was just as excited as we were. Especially after I burned (on CD) birthday songs for the party and let her listen to the CD -- she clapped and danced and jumped! Couldn't contain her excitement.

On the day of the party...

8AM Lia's bath

830 Mom's prepping up - manicure and pedicure

10 Lia takes a nap; Mom finishes, runs to party venue to check on caterer and organizer

11 Mom runs to salon; Lia awake

1230Mom finishes with hair; runs home. Lia sleeping again

130 Mom dresses up; Dad takes bath

2 Lia dresses up

230 Mom, Lia, Lola Molly, and Yaya leave for the party

330 Dad arrives

When we got to the party venue, Lia immediately pointed to the crayon balloon sculpture that stood by the entrance. "Ta-ta!" she exclaims. And then she sees the Elmo pillar by the gift table. "Aaaah!" was all that she can utter, in amazement. Elmo was here, and it was more than enough for her!

But when Lia saw the other Elmos - on the tables, stage, and cake - she was speechless. Only her eyes, which were wide in disbelief, told us that she was very happy. Balloon queen Petite did a really great job with those balloons! And the interior decor was very pretty. It was exactly what I wanted. Actually, it was more than I expected (I had worries earlier that the balloons were not enough to decorate the place. Apparently not.).

I was glad to see Armel there already, relaxed and ready to host. A stark contrast to my tense aura, Armel exuded the "part-y" mode I should have had. Thanks, Mudra!

Guests started arriving at 3:30. And the invitation said 2:56, hmmmm. Hehehe.

The highlight of the party was the bubble show. Again, it exceeded my expectations! The bubble shows that I've seen are blah compared to this one. No, really - not because it was LIA's party. The show was 45 minutes long (I thought it was as short as 20 minutes - like other shows I've seen). There was dancing included, which I think amused the little ones too. And of course, the actual bubbles! Lia, who's such a bubble freak was all happy. And the kids enjoyed being inside the big bubble. =)

There was also the glitter tattoo booth, which the adults enjoyed. ;p The booth was never vacant. Haha!

My niece Marianna was the life of the party. The moment the party started, she was already sneaking prizes from the prize table! (Hmmm and she thought I didn't see, hahaha.) She danced, she limbo-rocked, she socialized with everyone (i.e., attempted to take Vida's name tag because she didn't have one YET). And what a big surprise for her, when, at the end of the party, she won the big jar of jellyace (the one she's been eyeing on the whole time) in the raffle draw! Hahaha!

The party ended at 6. I was exhausted, and had a bad headache, but didn't care. I was happy, Lia was very happy, and the kids had fun. =) And, everyone said it was a great party (thanks, you're real friends, hehehe).

'Til the next one! (That's Lia's seventh, hehehe.)

Bubbly!

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Originally uploaded by micaela.

And we're inside the bubble!!!

Stage

stage
Originally uploaded by micaela.

Nice and pretty...and clean -- yet

Birthday Cake

bday_cake
Originally uploaded by micaela.

So cute and adorable! And yummy mini-cakes, too.

Interior

decor1
Originally uploaded by micaela.

...and this is how the place looked like before the kids came...hehhehe

Welcome to the party!

balloon_crayon
Originally uploaded by micaela.

...crayon balloon sculpture to welcome everybody!

Three days away

Lia's birthday party, of course!

So what has this momma been up to?

• chatting thru YM with organizer Petite and talking through phone with Armel every day. Following up, confirming, reminding, affirming. Bugging them to the max!


• bugging the caterer on the motif


• thinking if prizes are ready and complete and if the kids are going to like them


• thinking if so and so are coming


• worried that I'm going to forget something during the big day


• briefing Lia on her party


• teaching Lia to say how old she is, but after saying "one", the little girl goes on to count off


• reassessing my party plans, thinking if it's good enough


• want to say almost ready, but am not quite


• requested for mother-in-law to offer eggs to Sta. Clara so it won't rain during the party


• just checked CNN's weather channel and it says there that there'll be rain and thunder during the party


• now thinking of contingency plans if the eggs didn't work

Ready to party? Ha!

Excited Momma

Lia's turning one soon - June 26, to be exact. And I, the stage mudra, am orchestrating an Elmo party for the little one.

Why Elmo? He's her fave! She dances and claps and laughs when Elmo's on TV. Over Dora the Explorer, Blue's Clues, and other Sesame Street characters, Elmo is really her favorite. Well, actually there's one TV show that she really really loves. It's called Hi-5, and it's a group of Australians who sing and dance. Since it's impossible to find materials of them, we opted for Elmo.

And, since I can't wait to share what we have in store for Lia's guests on her birthday party, am sharing it now, here! Hehehe!

• Bubble Show - small bubbles, big bubbles, snake bubbles and dynamite bubbles! All bubbles! Of course, kids are welcome to get into these bubbles! How? Oh, that's the surprise!



• Glitter Tattoo booth - pretty designs, glittery and glistening!



• Cotton candy booth - surely, everyone will get sugar-high with this classic sweet.



• Games, games and prizes of course!

She's having her party the day before her birthday, though. Had a hard time bargaining for a Sunday rental of the venue.

Last night the balloon-maker faxed me Lia's custom-print balloons...a picture of her and an illustration of Elmo. Hehehe.

I'm excited already! Next: mother-and-daughter shopping. For Lia's birthday outfit. Hehehe!

Stage pillars

twist_n_shout
Originally uploaded by micaela.

And, creative climbing pillars for the stage! With Elmo mylar heads on top, of course.

Centerpiece sample

CPs
Originally uploaded by micaela.

Thanks to party organizer and balloon queen Petite, we're having these cutesies as centerpieces for the tables. Just imagine it's Elmo, not Pooh and Piglet. =)

Lia's having a party!

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Originally uploaded by micaela.

Check out her invite! ;p That's a labor of love from me and Tita Maiete (well, I did the photo mosaic and the copy and Maiete did all the photoshop stuff, hehe).

Little fairy princess with flowers in her hair

Little fairy princess with flowers in her hair
Originally uploaded by micaela.

Such a sweet one, my baby! ;p And now that she's learned to "smile!" when there's a camera around, what delight!