Andy Moment- 23 July 2010

Andy has been suffering from cough, probably because of the weather at home. Rainy season has began so the changing weather has taken it's toll on her. 

It's not even just a cough, it's kind of productive cough.

Concersation with her lola:

Mama: Kailangan mo idura ang plema.

Andy: *cough* *cough* Mahirap ma!

Mama: Andyan na oh! Nasa lalamunan na.

Andy: Kailangan ba talaga ilabas ma?!

Mama: Stumped!

Hotel, este- Hospital Visit

When you are abroad one of the things that you always hope will not happen to you is get sick.  Seriously. Maybe even when you are in the Philippines for that matter.  But sometimes there are instances that you cannot help but see one. Or maybe a flu bug hits you, or some random weird thing/ illness happens.  Just like when I had to visit a dermatologist early this year.

Today, I went to visit one of my aunts who was rushed to the hospital for some post surgery bleeding, for the second time!  When she first posted her facebook status last week that she was being prepared for surgery, I got a bit confused and worried but when I read that it was a simple sinus operation, I thought, what the heck. It's nothing serious.  But yesterday, I read another status that she was rushed back to the American Hospital in Dubai because of bleeding, I got a bit worried.  Later that day she sent another message that she's fine and will be discharged.  Okay, I thought since I was really tired from all the cleaning that we had to do because of the pest control we had to hired to get rid of all those bugs and insects at home.

Today, my other aunt who's in Davao (this aunt's sis) sent me a message telling me that Tita Gina was back to the hospital.  I even replied that that was yesterday and that she's home and resting.  She said no, that there was another bleeding incident.  I didn't waste any time now, took a bath and changed to get to American hospital where she was confined.  True enough, she was there, just out from the emergency surgery--- which was to cauterize the nerve which caused the bleeding.  

Upon entering the hospital I was really amazed at this one.  I thought that when I visited Medcare a few months back it was pretty good, this one, it's awesome!  Seriously.  I thought I had entered a five star hotel.  The lobby, goodness, it's huge!  Even the lift resembled to the lifts I had ridden back in Manila's Penninsula or Intercontinental. 

When I got into the room! It is not very very big as the biggest rooms in Brokenshire hospital in Davao, but see, it's really cozy and probably has state of the art things inside... 

I stayed for a few hours to catch up with her, I also waited for Tita Len (her cousin and my papa's cousin too!) so we can go home together...  Everything is fine now.  I really hope that all will be well with her.

Oh,did I mention that the hospital has ala-carte menu for your food? Pretty awesome right? :)

English Breakfast et al.

Last night we went out to get groceries and some other stuff for my/ our consumption at home.  The group went to Carrefour.  We actually went out almost 9pm because of the Movie we were watching.

Yesterday was probably one of the longest movie marathon I had here.  Four movies. Remember Me (by this Edward of Twilight fame guy), The Tooth Fairy, Karate Kid and Clash of the Titans. I began watching movies around 10 or 11AM.

Anyway back to our trip to the grocery, as usual, we had to endure a lot of people (read: Indians) in the supermarket.  This probably is the worst infested Carrefour around here.  There just simply too many of them.

As usual, the supermarket had/ as it's promos and what have yous to entice customers to buy from them.  I checked out the LCD TV I wanted to get my brother as a wedding gift.  Very nice. I am excited when I am gonna really buy it.  Alas, I called the shipping company which may bring the TV back home.  Lol, it will cost me a lot. Hahaha!  So, I better think twice how I will be bringing the TV home.  Most probably I'll carry it with me when I go home and then ours at home will be brought next time na lang. To save the more or less 10,000 pesos shipping cost.  I can do a lot more shopping with that money!

I am supposed to add an image to this post but I left the image with Drew- I am at work (and blogging on the side).  The english breakfast took the back seat already.  But it was good. I should do that more often.  Oh, and seriously try to reduce more weight.

Hospital Visit - 1st time here?

I was never afraid to see a doctor or a dentist.  In fact I enjoy it.  Maybe because I have seen too many people in my family died because they did not want to have everything checked.  Okay, dying may be too much.  How about seeing other people realize that an illness could have been treated and something saved had they seen a doctor.

The past weeks has been really a pain for me. Or lemme say, itchy!  Yep.  Some part of my body (it's for you to guess!) suddenly got itchy. It wasn't supposed to be.  And then a few days later it started to flake. Hmmm... I got worried of course.  Aside from the bad itch, really bad itch, the skin dryness is getting worse.  And the more that it gets dry the more that it became apparent that it was getting worse.

I had to see doctor. soon.  But, alas, I remember that I have a personal doctor who I gladly text/ call or email straight from the Philippines.  So I did email her. And told her what I have in my own medicine box, she replied, okay try to use that and let's see.

A few days applying the cream, it actually got better.  But after a few days it became itchy once more.  Oh no!  I think that I really need to go see a doctor. Soon.

So today, armed with my insurance card, thank God our company got us covered here, I went to Med Care Hospital.  Had an appointment arranged to see a female dermatologist at 4:15PM.  It was near the site office so I had no reason no to be there on time.  In fact I only had to walk, even if it was quite hot @ 4 in the afternoon.

Off I went, she saw me around 4:30 and checked what was wrong.  She gave me the prescription and told me to see her after 10 days.

Did I say that I had to pay 50AED for the doctor and some 85AED for that crazy cetaphil cream and QV soap.  It wasn't covered by the insurance.  Oh well... for the itch to get away, I will gladly pay it!  Hope this works.

She's going to be fine

She got out of the hospital today. Finally.  After almost 4 days of confinement.

As usual, I was excited to hear from them when I they get home.  See, when I arrive at the office, it's 12nn at home. 

I had tons of things to do actually that I didn't notice that it was almost 3pm back home when they started ym-ing me.  The usual, I asked them how they were, they said fine... etc, etc.

And then they went blank.  Must be the sucky connection at home.

So I waited until after I finished lunch, which means it's already early evening in Davao.  They asked me to call home.  I wondered why.  I was already online and we can exchange messages.  My sister insisted. Basta!, she said.

Called.  Andy answered. She's barely 3, she talks but sometimes there's a communication gap between 29 and 2.8. :o)

Mama got the phone. Explained how much the bill was, how much discount she got from the pediatrician.  And how your bill costs more when confined on a holiday. crap!

And then the bomb!  

When they got home, Andy was really excited.  She must miss home so much.  That's how she is/was even before.  The moment she got in the house, she went to the rooms, walking back and forth and back and forth and back and forth... You know, a 50sq. m house is huge when you're 3 yrs old.

And then she fainted! I was like, what?!

But she's okay now.  She must be really tired and very excited to come home.

I'm just glad that my baby's gonna be fine.

Hospital Once more

For the 3rd time this year, Andee finds herself admitted in the hospital. I was really devastated when I received the text message at about 4AM (Arabian Time).  They had rushed my daughter to the Brokenshire Hospital because she was running higher fever and has been throwing up almost all that she has taken in. That includes milk.

I hate it when she's sick and I am not there to take care of her.  The price of working abroad! :(  I know her doctor and the hospital and my Mama is taking good care of her.  But still, you can't take away the worry that creeps into me when this things happen.

I am praying and claiming that God will heal her from this!

Sick Again

Before I left she got sick of Amoebiasis. A few weeks later she got hit by pneumonia. And now, she's (again) down with cough and phlegm.  Wouldn't it stop?  Her frail figure hasn't even recovered yet and now she's sick.  Good thing Mama and Love are at home the next 4 days because of the long holy week vacation at home.

I am praying that everything will work out well with Andy.

Gain Vs Sustagen

Ever since Andy got confined last February, I was too worried about her weight.  She's a petite toddler, I have come to accept that but being overly underweight really is a cause of worry for any parent.

When she was discharged Mama and I discussed about changing her formula.  From Nido, which I think has not really caused dramatic increase in Andy's weight, we decided to try Gain Advance.  I think it's a good decision since when she began drinking it, she has been taking in more milk than when she was taking Nido.  Of course it made me happy.  It's just that it's a lot more expensive than Nido.  Maybe 2x the price?

Anyway, I asked if she could be transferred to Sustagen, which I think also has a good nutrient content vis-a-vis it's price.  It's like a mid-point of Gain and Nido.  I think Andy liked it too, after the initial drink which she noticed that it wasn't Gain anymore, she happily moved to Sustagen.

Earlier today though, after a chat with Love, my sister, she said that they're getting Andy back to Gain, why, I asked. Andy's not sitting well with Sustagen.  Too soft poop, and she said that her tummy ached whenever she goes. oh.  I thought, if that is the case, then move back to Gain.  

I just hope she eats more now and not rely on the milk too much.

note: this is not a paid advertisement.  my kid does drink those milk brands.