Cake Art Collections 6

Happy Holidays Everyone.  This season is one of the busiest days in a bakeshop.  A time where our family takes our chances to earn extra even if it means to spend more time working rather than having a vacation. We can have our vacation later.  

My Christmas Decors for 2015

As promised, I am now posting the Christmas decorations I have created to embellish our house, business, and church. As much as possible, I tried not to buy items to make these decorations to save money, so I focused on recycling and reusing materials to complete my Christmas decor. 

Notable November

Rushing to create this post has made this month truly remarkable. Since I haven't been able to make regular posts, I prefer to compile a summary of my highlights for the month to ensure I don't miss them.

I started this month by working on Christmas crafts for our decorations, which occupied my free time.  I'll make a separate post about the Christmas decors.

Running the Race

This morning was a break from our daily routine. We woke up so early because we needed to be at the Patikarun venue by 5 a.m. I encouraged Pakner4lyf to join this fun run because I know he may have a chance of winning. If he wins, we can have extra money for EJ's first birthday. For us, this is "Run for EJ's birthday bash."  

This fun run was organized by the Cooperative Union of Batangas.  Of course, our cooperative invited us to participate.  Pakner4lyf used to compete in this kind of event at a young age. In recent years, he began running as a form of exercise, but a heavy workload prevented him from continuing. For this event, he only had one week to condition his body again.  I am glad he didn't refuse to participate and was positive about joining the fun run. 

Cake Art Collections 5

Here are another batch of cakes designs. I want to upload to keep my photo collections updated. I know have been too much busy offline that I do fail to spend time in this blog. I do wish I could have more time to be able to blog (regularly). The cakes I design makes my sanity in its rightful place and its fruit is adding a little income for the family.   

Raising Catterpilar to Butterfly

This quest began one day when I discovered a caterpillar last year on my newly grown calamansi plant. I decided to take care of the caterpillar and transfer it to a temporary container since the plant was too small to provide enough leaves for it to survive.

Should financial difficulties limit the ministry work?

Every activity costs money; there is no such thing as free. If you get something free, then someone paid the price so you can enjoy it freely.  

When funds are limited, what should I do? It makes me sad how our financial status restricts our ability to perform ministry work. We have had similar experiences several times, but I didn't give in to the situation. Instead of abandoning our activities, we find creative ways to pursue church projects even on a tight budget. Previously, I was not accustomed to facing financial difficulties while living with my parents.

Throw Back Thursday - From Employee to Employer

I was an employee for several years before starting my own business. This chapter of my life is one I like to reminisce about -  my days working at Pioneer Clinical Laboratory. I took the Medical Technology Board just a few months after graduating and was blessed to pass the Licensure Examination on my first attempt. A few days after receiving the results, I was uncertain whether I should look for a job, and the other question was where I would go to work, but definitely not abroad. You might wonder what prevents me from working outside the country. I was a PAMET-Safeguard Scholar, and one of the agreements was that I needed to serve my country for at least two years. This is also why I felt compelled to seek a position as a Registered Medical Technologist- a sign of my gratitude and sincere appreciation for the privileges I had, and now it's my time to give back to the organization and to my country.

Reflecting back, I remember that I didn't have a hard time job hunting.  As soon as the results were released, many employers called me to submit my resume and work for them.  To make a long story short, I chose Pioneer Laboratory because some of my classmates were already working there.  Others say I could have found a better job applying in hospitals, where opportunities are greater, but I believe it was God's purpose for me to be there.   

I hit a motorcycle and this is how I feel

I felt weird tonight after accidentally hitting a motorcycle in the parking lot. I felt weird because instead of worrying, I became comfortable and more relaxed after the incident.

This whole day and even the past weeks have been very stressful. Maybe one of the reasons I can't concentrate on driving is that I have to let my husband leave the car with me this morning, since I need to go to the supermarket and shop for groceries. Leaving the car adds extra work since I have to look after it and take care of it.

I successfully took care of the car while returning from the supermarket. My dilemma on the way back is where I will park the car. I didn't find a good spot to park at the market. I was called twice to move the car because I was blocking other cars when they needed to exit.

Living Every Day

I am grateful now that I am learning how to live every day without worrying about the future.  Going through difficult times has made me stronger, and these experiences have led me to see how the God I serve and know is capable of doing miracles.  Still, my everyday life gets so busy; I face greater challenges ahead. However, the difference now is that I am starting to handle every task lightly as I learn to effectively communicate with God and trust Him. 

EJ and I went to his doctor last month, and he's doing great.  I know that in the next visit, his complete blood count will be normal.  Thank you, Lord, for the miracle of healing.

I may still be frightened of different things to come, but instead of focusing on those fears, I now pray for the courage to move forward because I know that nothing will harm me.  I am happy to have accomplished so much that I hope this post and the attached photos will help me remember the highlights of the event.

As usual, my life is busy with teaching and taking care of the kids. Having four children is not easy. Pakner4lyf and I aim to increase our standard of living to support their needs - the needs of the whole family. A part of our everyday life involves working to improve our business. Because of that, I still accept cake orders. - sayang ang kita.

We have also been busy with our church's special event on July 28.  The greatest challenge was leading the congregation in worship. Although I had been away from the team for a year, I appreciate their encouragement and patience. Overall, it was a successful event, and that is due to God's grace.

As I mentioned a while ago, we aim to increase our financial resources, so we decided to start a new business venture.  We couldn't do it on our own due to limited funds (we actually don't have the funds). I'm thankful to have a cooperative that trusted us enough to provide the capital and another business partner contributing to meet the funding needs.  I have a very supportive father who manages the building construction, which made the workload easier.  Another great thing is that the franchiser is not different from us, as they are a family friend.  I can see that this new business is promising given how it has been operating since we opened it on July 4.

Yes, the massage business is very different from our existing bakeshop business, but we will do everything to keep it growing.  It's not easy to be a business owner (entrepreneur), but we don't regret choosing this path.  Pakner4lyf and I will do whatever it takes to be successful entrepreneurs, first for the glory of God and to support the growing needs of the family.  

Ending for a new beginning

It is the first day of June, which means that half of the year is almost over.  We can't say we're at the beginning until something has ended.  This morning, I decided to have a baking activity with the kids to kick off the month. Of course, they all loved the activity, especially working with fondant.  May, the previous month, was very busy for all of us here.

Celebration Cakes

Cakes make occasions a lot more special.  That's why more people want to have decorative cakes when throwing a party.  Below are the cakes I previously designed and was able to capture with my cellphone camera.

Failure To Thrive and Anemia

One of the things every mom wants for her child is to ensure his healthy growth. The hardest part of motherhood for me is when my children are sick, especially when they are still so young.  Infants can't express if something is painful or wrong.  We moms just sense when something isn't right with them. 

It is sweet to have a baby in the house.  They bring such joy and vibrant feelings into the home.  But I tell you, they grow very quickly, and at times we wish they could stay babies a little longer for us to cuddle.  In our case, hearing from the doctor that our baby isn't growing well made me very worried.  Every day, I would pray to God for miracles to touch my baby's body so he can thrive and grow as quickly as possible.  What an irony!  This journey hasn't been easy to accept. We've consulted many specialists about his health to improve his condition. 

After months of workups and a series of laboratory examinations, there are no significant findings apart from his anemia.  He has a low red blood cell and hemoglobin count.  Healthy red blood cells carry oxygen and nutrients for the nourishment of our body cells - the smallest units of our body. When red blood cells are impaired, it can lead to retarded cell growth, affecting all our bodily functions.  A number of reasons can cause anemia. We had to consult a pediatric hematologist for EJ's case.  We are fortunate to have a good doctor close to our home.  

Normal appearanc of RBCs under a microscope

The doctor needs to look at his peripheral blood smear.  I had an idea of what it should look like under a microscope.  A normal red blood cell looks like a donut with a central pallor.  See the above photo. Any difference would mean abnormal results.  EJ's peripheral blood smear shows slightly microcytic rbcs (slightly small in size),  hypochromia (rbcs with lesser color because of low hemoglobin content), fragmented rbcs (broken cells), target cells (the central area has colored pigment) and crenated rbcs (this case can also be due to technical factors). This type of peripheral blood smear is typically seen in Iron Deficiency Anemia and Thalassemia. Our doctor told me not to worry or think further about our baby's condition. We will first consider Iron Deficiency Anemia and see how he will respond to iron treatment.  He was given a high dose of iron supplement, and Vitamin C. Vitamin C will aid the body's absorption of iron.  According to our doctor, the patient should respond to iron therapy after two months, but there are also cases based on her experience that it takes four months to see more improved results.

Target Cells - Note of the colored central area

At times, I don't know if I should be thankful that I am a Medical Technologist. A pro is that I can better understand my child's condition. The cons are that I sometimes go too far and end up worrying about my son's health. One thing I need to keep in mind is to be still and place my hope in God because I know He's in control of everything. Though there are times I don't understand why we have to go through this kind of experience. It hurts me deeply, and I often ask God why. In the Hematologist Clinic, I see many children undergoing chemotherapy; their hair is gone due to the treatments, and my heart breaks to see them and feel their pain. From the parents' perspective, I know it is not easy to help their children fight to continue living. It is a real battle every day to survive. Going through this experience helps me understand how hard it is for parents when their children face difficult times, such as terrible diseases. If I could only take on that pain and disease, I would do it for my child.

EJ has completed his one-month iron therapy.  His recent blood test results are still below normal levels but show improvement compared to the previous test. We are still hoping his condition will improve with only iron therapy.  He has demonstrated good weight gain and is achieving his developmental milestones on time.  Since then, he has continued to be a very happy baby, bringing our home so much fun and laughter. Every day, we need God's grace to continue, and during this time, God has taught me to give Him thanks not only for the good things that happen in our lives but also in moments when I don't understand His ways because He is God.  I guess I wouldn't be this close to Him if my life were easy and went just the way I wanted it to be.

Photo credits:

Normal RBCs

Target Cells

A Letter To My Dear Friends

I have been working on our Bible stories for use in our DVBS. This time, God gave me the theme of friendship. While studying the scriptures, I couldn't help but cry as I read the passages. This is not my first time reading the stories, but this time the message conveyed was so intense that I was moved to tears. Many Bible men and women showed such love and loyalty to their friends, no matter what. These remarkable examples of friendship are lessons we should all learn and emulate.

As I study the passages, I came to a point of realization where I found myself I wasn't that good friend who I thought I was. In my mind and in my heart I know I wanted myself to be the best friend one could ever have. Now, I have seen that I needed more effort to be a real good friend to all my friends. 

Camping : Family's First

First of all, I am truly sorry for leaving this blog silent for so many days.  I have been very busy with numerous matters.  Yet, I am here again and excited to share my stories.

Building Blocks Party

JC, my eldest son, just celebrated his 7th birthday.  Since last year, he has been asking us for a birthday party. We had a huge celebration last February for SJ's 3rd birthday, where we also decided to have EJ's Dedication Day.  After seeing that party, he was even more determined to throw a big celebration for his own birthday. Personally, I'm not sure if we could still organize one for him.  But in the end, I still said yes.  You may wonder how wealthy we are, but I assure you, I've tried my very best to plan these celebrations on a budget.  All I need to do is be creative and put in the personal effort for all of these parties to happen.  We managed to host parties even on a tight budget because I bake and design my own cakes, I don't need to hire tables, chairs, or catering services, and I have my mom and some church friends who help with cooking and cleanup. I personally create all party decorations and giveaways. I also want to mention some generous friends who contributed to the party essentials.

San Juan, Batangas, Laiya Beach and Much More...

Having a husband from San Juan Batangas has given me the privilege of exploring this beautiful town. This is one of the places we will surely return to, not only because our relatives are there but also because this location is growing and expanding as one of the new tourist spots near Manila, just two hours of land travel away. It is such a privilege to live near San Juan that we can visit from time to time.

Acuatico and Acuaverde - Laiya, San Juan Batangas

Acuatico's Swimming Pool

Acuaverde's Guest's Welcome Lounge

Blue Coral Beach Resort - Laiya, San Juan, Batangas

Kota Keluarga Parasol

Klub Keluarga and Parasol

Cafeno, San Juan, Batangas

This is a Coffee Shop located in San Juan's Poblacion Area.  Just accross a gasoline station who happens to have the same owners.  

Old San Juan Hotel and Restaurant - San Juan, Batangas

I was fascinated to be in Old San Juan and see its tremendous improvement.  This place was only a restaurant before and was also known for its spa services.  Now it's getting bigger, as they have just opened their hotel, which launched in December 2014.

Why I don't consider myself poor

This afternoon, I had the chance to be at Laiya Beach again.  I really loved walking along the shore, feeling the breeze, watching the waves, and appreciating the blue waters.  I also can't resist playing in the sand, which I now enjoy with my kids.  I have a habit of picking up shells; I just can't help it whenever I see one. If there are no shells, I go home with at least a few pieces of colorful stones.  One thing that made me happiest today was having a very quiet time alone.  This was a very short moment, just a few minutes of walking along the shore by myself.  I appreciate every bit of nature.

Heartful Celebration

This is what happened to us today: a double celebration for SJ's 3rd birthday and EJ's Dedication Day since he is 3 months old.  Since last week, I have been busy planning for the party and keeping myself occupied with crafting for the preparations.  It was so tiring, but I am happy making all these things to bring joy to everyone.  It could have been easier to throw a party at a restaurant, but it would be too expensive for us to afford.  That is why we organized this party on a budget, but the outcome is beautiful and has made the whole family happy.

Peace in the Midst of Trouble Part 3

Going back to my first lab

I never thought I would return to the Philippine Children's Medical Center after almost eleven years.  This is where my first hands-on laboratory work began.  Along with some classmates in Medical Technology, we spent our year of internship here, gaining numerous experiences and memories.  I witnessed how this hospital cared for many sick children, most of whom suffered from severe and rare diseases, coming from distant provinces seeking treatment, as this facility could accommodate their special needs.

At the Pathologist Office after our last night (24-hour duty) in 2004

We are looking for a specialist pediatrician due to his weight conditions; this reminded me of this hospital. I am also aware of last year's news that the government is planning to shut down the facility, so I wondered if we can still go there. Thank God one of my classmates works in the laboratory and said that it is still operating. Her referral allowed us to find a pediatric specialist to consult about our baby's health. All pediatric specialty clinics are here, which is why it is very necessary for this hospital to continue and for the government to continually fund the facility. Many poor and sick children need the services of the hospital, and this time, we require the services offered here.

I don't know if I should be happy stepping my foot here in the hospital again.  Yes, I am happy to see our previous staff in the laboratory and to meet my classmate face to face after a year or more; I'm not really sure when our last meeting was.  But the very reason I am coming back is due to my baby's health concerns, which doesn't make me too excited on the other hand.

Eve my college classmate and works at PCMC Pathology Division

One of the positive aspects I see beyond my newborn's health condition is that he has reconnected me with my previous life .  I have a very different life now as a pastor's wife, a full-time mom, and a bakeshop owner.  I had somehow forgotten my other side: a medical professional.  It was because of EJ that I found a reason to reach out to my laboratory co-workers and contact my college friends, which I hadn't been doing.  He encouraged me to visit hospitals and laboratories, including the private lab where I used to work.  

We were at PCMC yesterday.  As we entered the hospital premises, I was happy to see the captions on the stage that had been set up. It was the MOA signing that officially awarded the land to PCMC. The event had just happened before we arrived.  We are assured now that the hospital will remain.  

While waiting for our doctor's appointment, we met another patient looking for the same doctor, and that's how we started our conversation.  Their story inspired me so much that my eyes became teary - I was just controlling myself not to cry.  As she told her story, I recognized the same feelings she described when first learning that her child was sick.  It's an unexplainable pain that parents endure when they see their child's health decline.  For others, it seems easy to tell us during this trying time that everything's going to be fine, without knowing how hard it is for us.  I can tell you that we feel bad whenever we hear unsolicited advice because we've already tried the best we know how.  Like her, we are consulting different pediatric specialists (not just one doctor), undergoing lab tests, traveling here and there, battling with our own weaknesses to stay strong and continue, all while facing the significant costs of trying to ensure our children are healthy.   I admire how this mom and her baby fight and conquer their own struggles while maintaining their hope.  They are also on a two-year journey, coming from Bohol.  Yes, we also come from a province and traveled far, but not as far as they did. Their situation is genuinely tougher compared to ours, yet they have managed to accept and face the challenges; so what reason do I have not to continue hoping? We've only just started our journey.  

Regarding EJ's health, he is doing well and gaining 100 grams a week now, and we hope that this trend will continue and increase.  This is a sign that he is starting to improve.  We are currently treating his anemia with the hope that his body will respond to the treatment.  We will return to PCMC after two months, praying for a miracle that he will be healed.

Peace in the Midst of Trouble Part 2

If you have read my previous  post, you know how our family is struggling for our newborn's health. I previously worked in a laboratory and had my internship at Philippine Children's Medical Center.  I have seen many sick patients and couldn't forget how much I pitied the sick children I encountered in that hospital.  I now better understand how parents feel when something is wrong with their child. I couldn't bear seeing EJ getting needle pricks that hurt him so badly, but we must do it for his diagnosis.

Peace In the Midst of Trouble

EJ, our newborn, just visited his cardiologist for a cardiac evaluation.  After a month from his birth, we found out that his weight gain is slow compared to other infants his age. The doctors call it "failure to thrive. " We are searching for the reason for his poor weight gain. Our pediatrician considered having him undergo the cardiac evaluation procedure because heart disease can cause a child to use more calories than a normal child does. While waiting in the hospital, I brought a book with me so I wouldn't be bored.  I found a verse in the book I was reading that continually reminded me to stay calm.

Crafty Pens

Here's a perfect pen make over.  Get yarn and wrap 'em all up.

How to make Pompoms

Making this is very easy that even little kids can make lots of these.  Pompoms can be used in a viriety of crafting projects depending in your our creativity and imagination.  

Below are step by step tutorial with photographs.