KNOW SOMEONE WITH IMPERFORATED ANUS?

SHE WRITES:

It's been almost 4 months since my last post so allow me to give you an update... I already gave birth to a very pretty baby girl and we call her "Meimei" which mean little sister in Chinese. Everything is well except that she has imperforated anus. As wikipedia puts it:

"An imperforate anus or anal atresia is a birth defect in which the rectum is malformed. Its cause is unknown."

Right now Meimei has colostomy - considered as the first operation. The second operation that will take place sometime in October will be for the "making" of the rectum and the third operation will be the closure of the colostomy after about another 4-6 months. For the duration of about 1 year and 6 months, we (EJ, Meimei and I) will stay here in the Philippines while my husband stays in China (but he'll be coming here from time to time).

I never knew that such a birth defect existed until this happened to me... how about you?

Do you know someone - a relative or a friend - whose daughter or son had / has imperforated anus. Do share their story...

A. Yes, and here's their story...

B. No, it's the first time I heard about it

C. Others (pls. specify)

YOU WRITE:

A. Yes, and here's their story...

B. No, it's the first time I heard about it

C. Others (pls. specify)

ARE YOU AN INITIATOR?

SHE WRITES:

Hi friends in the blogging world... I miss blogging and reading what you have to share... I'm sorry I haven't been visible for a while and that's because I'm starting up a project and the fact that I'm on my 6th month in my pregnancy, I have to make sure everything should be running this month so that next month, I can dedicate my time preparing for my coming baby. I'm very much excited because as an influencer (my personality type), initiating things or starting up is really one thing I love doing. I am in the Philippines right now with my son while my husband went back to China last February 2. Initiating this project allows me to not focus too much on being lonely - which is all the more why I'm keeping myself really busy. My son is doing well, I enrolled him in one of the preschools here and I'm really glad he likes his new school.

Anyway, as for my blog topic, I'd like to know if you too love initiating, pioneering or starting up things. My husband is a bit passive in starting up but he's the type that really sticks to it until the end. I'm the aggressive one when it comes to starting up something, but I have to admit finishing or sticking 'til the end is such a struggle for me. Well, that makes us good pair right? ;o)

How about you? Are you an initiator?
A. Yes, I love initiating
B. No, I simply want to follow or support those who started something
C. Others (pls. specify)

YOU WRITE:

A. Yes, I love initiating

B. No, I simply want to follow or support those who started something

C. Others (pls. specify)

GO ON OR STOP?

SHE WRITES:

Last month I underwent a blood test that enabled me to find out if my soon to be born baby has the right number of chromosomes needed for a normal child. On our way home, I asked my husband why I had to go through that test. What if our child has more or less chromosomes needed, is there medical intervention to correct the case? He said NO, it's just for us to consider if we will continue or stop the pregnancy because here in China, abortion is legal. That made me think... I don't believe in abortion and I always believed that a fetus is already human and has the right to live. However, this event shook what I have always believed and made me wonder... What if indeed the child will turn out to have down syndrome or other abnormalities? We have a friend that has a child with down syndrome and heart problem - a hole in her heart I think. Because of that, they've been in and out of the heart center for several times. It's painful hearing him say that in those times he sees his child struggle for survival, he almost prayed for God to let her child rest and take her. Luckily he said, she always survived but everyday, they're on their toes because one more attack and everything might be over.

I believe that life in itself is a miracle... But as a mother, seeing my own flesh and blood suffer so much is the last thing I want to happen. When my son was sick and he had difficulty breathing, I had to stay awake all night just to make sure he is positioned properly. I cannot imagine my friend's feeling seeing his daughter in such a critical condition.

My result came out and it says that my child has the right chromosomes... As a believer, I can rely on God's healing mercies to heal my soon to be born child. My faith will rule so I will go on with my pregnancy BUT the human side of me, the mother more specifically, will always wonder if I should go on or stop the pregnancy, if I knew my child had those conditions. Considering also here in China, they have 1 child policy - if they have more than 1 child, they have to pay several thousands of Yuan to the government as penalty. To them, having a normal child is everything.

How about you? Go on or stop with your or your wife's pregnancy in this case?

YOU WRITE:

A. Go on...
B. Stop...
C. Others (pls. specify)

GO BACK OR STAY?

SHE WRITES:

I've been gone for several days and haven't really been in the loop for sometime already. That's because my son's cough has been on and off for almost a month, but this week, it was at its peak. I've tried what I know to help him cope with the coldness and dryness of winter, but I think I've fallen short. They say it's normal here for his age to get sick at this time of the year but I don't like it. It makes me worry because he has just recovered from a mild primary complex, which he developed last winter too. His lung is very fragile at this time and frequent attacks of cough and cold might do so much harm.

With this, I am faced with a dilemma... If we go back to the Philippines now, EJ and his papa will have a long time of separation. Several times we've asked him if it's OK that papa will stay in China while we stay in our hometown, his answer had been a consistent, NO IT'S NOT OK. The other day his dad was able to convince him to say "yes" to the separation because they can still talk on the computer and if he needs someone to carry him, his uncle will be there. However if we stay longer here, his health will be compromise .

I haven't posted much or visited your blogs because I am torn...It pains me hearing him catch his breath as he sleeps at night. My sleep has also been compromised and I'm pregnant, I have to make sure I'm well rested for my baby inside. On the other hand, It breaks my heart to think of separation, especially that of EJ and his dad. I'm not sure what this "separation" will do to EJ's emotions... His dad can come home 3-4 next year and probably during summer, we can stay here in China for a couple of months.

I would appreciate your thoughts here...Should we go back to our hometown (separated from each other yet EJ will recover faster) or stay in China (together as a family but EJ's health might suffer)?

A. Go back to our hometown
B. Stay in China
C. OTHERS (pls. specify)

YOU WRITE:

A. Go back to our hometown
B. Stay in China
C. OTHERS (pls. specify)

WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND YOUR GIFT?

SHE WRITES:

We're still in the spirit of the gift giving season so this post is about memorable gifts...either gift that you have received or you have given to someone. It could be the most expensive or the cheapest - doesn't matter, as long as when you think of gifts, you remember that particular thing.

For my case, I remember a white dress that "Santa" gave me when I was a child. That was the last Christmas I believed in Santa because my mom made a comment that revealed Santa's identity :o) I can still remember what she said... "How did you manage to get the perfect fit?" then I saw my papa's face turned RED as he silenced my mom but saw me looking at them! hihi... He then just gave me a hug and said "Don't tell your brothers, ok?" I agreed so the following Christmas, I went shopping with him and helped in wrapping the gifts.

How about you? What's the story behind your memorable Christmas gift?
A. The story is...
B. No memorable gift
C. Others (pls. specify)

YOU WRITE:
A. The story is...
B. No memorable gift
C. Others (pls. specify)

HOW WILL YOU CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS?

SHE WRITES:

As you know, we are here in China and this is not a Christian nation... But that won't stop us from celebrating the season. Tonight we will have a gathering of all the Filipinos here in our place - probably just about 20 people - and we will have exchange gifts and singing since there's a regular Filipino band in that place. Tomorrow we will have our Christmas Party here at home - 7 of us - that is with our friends whom we consider extended family. We have kris kringle and some games that I have planned out. We will just have simple food and celebration but I'm sure it'll turn out wonderful because the bottom line is, we meet, talk and just be together. Although we miss Christmas in the Philippines, we have managed to have a "home away from home" here in China.

Of course, with all the merrymaking, we will always begin with a prayer - thanking God for his goodness and remembering the birth of our Lord Jesus as the reason for this season.

And oh, I won't be blogging much because I will be very busy cooking for friends and family :o) so let me greet you all a BLESSED CHRISTMAS...

How about you? How will you celebrate Christmas?
A. At home
B. With friends
C. Others (pls. specify)

YOU WRITE:

A. At home
B. With friends
C. Others (pls. specify)

EVER BELIEVED IN SANTA?

SHE WRITES:

Waking up every December 25th was one of the most exciting days of my life when I was 9 years old and younger. I would run to my gifts and open them with big ahhhs and ooohs in disbelief that Santa passed by and gave me (and my siblings) those gifts! When I found out that Mr. Santa was mom and dad, I didn't get disappointed but rather grateful that even if we didn't have much money, there wasn't a Christmas morn where we woke up with no gifts. When my siblings and I were all grown up, I asked my dad why they kept doing that "Santa" thingy even if we were hard up financially. He told me something that made it all the more special... Papa said seeing the JOY in our faces, with those wide eyes as we opened the gifts made their efforts all worth it. So even if he and my mom had to sacrifice paying off the loans they made, he said it was still worth it because nothing compares seeing us happy... Writing this blog make me miss them terribly... sigh...

So now, I pass this on to our son EJ... as I mentioned in my previous post, 2007 was our first Christmas together as a family and it was also the first time he was able to wake up to that Christmas morn with gifts waiting for him. Yes indeed, if you can see his picture on that post, you'll know what I mean when I say there's THAT look :o) Although we call it differently, we tell him papa will turn into a Santa Papa on Christmas day. EJ knows the fat guy with white beard but the glory won't really go to him on Christmas day because our son knows the gifts will come from his papa... Plus of course, we tell him about the birth of Jesus - the reason for this season.

How about you? As a child, ever believed in Santa?

A. Yes, I did
B. No, I didn't
C. Others (pls. specify)

YOU WRITE:

A. Yes, I did
B. No, I didn't
C. Others (pls. specify)

HOW DO YOU HANDLE Mr. or Ms. MOODY?

SHE WRITES:

Let me start by saying I am definitely not a moody person but I know someone who is and people around her are having a (bit of) hard time because she's so unpredictable. I don't know if it's really true that there are days she "wakes up at the right / wrong side of the bed" because for me, the right / wrong side is up to you :o) Well of course we don't have the same personality type, but it's kinda hard to be on your toes when you're with that person - as what others tell me. Ooops, if you're someone who's been told moody, it would be good to explain what's going on when you're "irregular" :o) And if you've been around one, let's say married to Mr. or Mrs. Moody, then how have you managed to relate with him / her with less conflict? As for me, I bring my own sunshine wherever I go and if Ms. Moody isn't comfortable with that, she can go on with her rainy days and it doesn't bother me or I'm doing my best not to get affected to a point that I'll get sour because of her mood swings :o) So far I've seen that if the sun goes up, the rain seldom stays... But there are times they exist together - weird but manageable :o) It might make others around them a little crazy though, so good luck!

How about you? How do you handle Mr. or Ms. Moody?

A. Ignore
B. Fight fire with fire
C. Others (pls. specify)

YOU WRITE:

A. Ignore
B. Fight fire with fire
C. Others (pls. specify)

HOW OFTEN DO YOU WALK IN THE PARK?

SHE WRITES:

I like walking in the park, but I seldom have the chance to do it here in China. There are a lot of parks here but I have no one to walk with because my husband works whole day and it's very cold at night, especially now it's winter. BUT when I was in Bacolod (my hometown) my in-laws and I did it about 3-4x each week. It started in 2005 when I was 5 months pregnant with EJ - we walked almost every night - yep, after dinner. The "tradition" went on until EJ came out - that was the same park where we trained him how to walk and run :o) I loved doing it with mama Mary and papa William (my in-laws) and I miss it very much. It's actually one of the things I'm looking forward to next year because I'll stay with them a couple of months before I give birth until probably July next year. We will definitely have those walking in the park thing because EJ likes feeding the fish in the pond and I like bonding with mama and papa while walking :o) After the walk, we end up buying donuts or eating desserts somewhere, hihi...

Oh, just an add-on... In case it was raining, we went to the malls and we walked there :o) Then we end up buying something...whatever that something was! So my mother in law used to say, it's always better to walk in the park... hihi.

How about you? How often do you walk in the park?

A. Daily
B. Not very often
C. Others (pls. specify)

YOU WRITE:

A. Daily
B. Not very often
C. Others (pls. specify)

R U A WORKAHOLIC?

SHE WRITES:

I know that I used to be workaholic when I was single. Used to work overtime everyday, worked until 12 midnight if there were shipments that were urgent and even 24 hours straight when something went wrong with a very important customer's goods. However, I kinda reduced that stressful life when I got married. But when I started handmade beaded jewelry business while at work, my husband and I would stay up 'til 3am doing them and wake up at 6:30am to go to work... Did that on weekdays and just take a full day sleep on weekends. When I had my son, I decided not to work in a manufacturing environment because it demanded so much time. However, when I started teaching, I did the same thing - stayed up late to study or make my lessons. When I got hooked with Photoshop (editing pictures), I'd stay until 4am doing it. Now that I'm blogging, I think about what topics to post that I sometimes wake up middle of the night thinking about it... I don't know if you call that workaholic or addict... :o) One thing I'm sure - whatever I put my mind and heart into, I will work at it to the point of exhaustion. Does that make me a workaholic or something else??? Oh, but there are times I'm just too lazy to do anything at all...

How about you? Are you a workaholic?

A. Yes I am
B. No I'm not
C. Others (pls. specify)

YOU WRITE:

A. Yes I am
B. No I'm not
C. Others (pls. specify)