A friend's infant daughter passed away last Friday. We had just heard about the baby being hospitalized one day and then she was gone within 2 days. The entire thing seems to have gone by in a flash but I'm sure it must have seemed excruciatingly long for the parents.
The whole thing is just tragic.
I want to say that I'm feeling sad about the whole thing but, really, 'sad' is such an underestimation of how I feel. I am depressed.
This also made me feel so paranoid about my own child. Yesterday morning, Swe-cha spiked a fever and I immediately brought him to the pediatrician to be checked out despite their SOP being to observe for 24 hours first. As it turns out, there wasn't anything to see yet - no other symptoms other than the fever - so we were sent home with instructions to observe him and bring him back if he gets worse or gets other symptoms. I normally would've felt a little bad about the wasted co-pay, but hey, I'm not complaining anymore. It was worth our peace-of-mind since Swe-cha's fever spiked up even more in the afternoon.
Anyway, am just praying for the the baby's spirit and for the comfort and well-being of my friend's family. If you happen to read this, please send a little prayer their way too. Thanks!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Rinse Cup Method
Our building's hot water heater broke down this evening.
Unfortunately, even though it is already spring, our days are still cold and chilly. The water that comes out of the faucet is ice-cold. We decided to take baths the old-fashioned way.
We partially filled some pails with water and started boiling water in the kettle. When the water was boiling, we poured it into one pail and that was when we realized that the faucet-water was so cold that we needed more hot water to get it warm enough to take a bath. The ratio we needed was around 60-50, 60 being the boiling water.
We brought out the big pots and started heating water... by 10p, we were able to give Swe-cha a bath. He was tired by then and fell asleep almost immediately after he got out of the bath. We took turns taking a bath, tabo-style or rather, rinse-cup style, since we're in the US ;)
The bldg superintendent assured me that he'd get this up and running by 8 tomorrow morning. I sorta doubt that but I just hope that we have hot water when we get home in the evening.
Unfortunately, even though it is already spring, our days are still cold and chilly. The water that comes out of the faucet is ice-cold. We decided to take baths the old-fashioned way.
We partially filled some pails with water and started boiling water in the kettle. When the water was boiling, we poured it into one pail and that was when we realized that the faucet-water was so cold that we needed more hot water to get it warm enough to take a bath. The ratio we needed was around 60-50, 60 being the boiling water.
We brought out the big pots and started heating water... by 10p, we were able to give Swe-cha a bath. He was tired by then and fell asleep almost immediately after he got out of the bath. We took turns taking a bath, tabo-style or rather, rinse-cup style, since we're in the US ;)
The bldg superintendent assured me that he'd get this up and running by 8 tomorrow morning. I sorta doubt that but I just hope that we have hot water when we get home in the evening.
Monday, April 1, 2013
The best laid plans...
... of mice and men
often go awry.
So after hemming and hawing for weeks, we decided to send our N-400s last March 13 in a single mail envelope (we placed each application in a separate manila folder inside the USPS Express Mail envelope). Our goal was to try and get biometrics & interview schedules for the same day.
Finally received our fingerprint notices today and we did get our wish. Hubby and I are scheduled to go on the same day.
Unfortunately, our schedule is set for 8am. Now, THAT, I did not plan for. I never read this (and by this, I mean childcare) in any of the forums I read before deciding to try for identical schedules.
The good news is that Swe-cha's school is on Spring Recess that week so he'll be attending daycare and daycare opens 7am. He need not be absent from school that day. The not-so-good-news is that in order to make it to the biometrics center by 8a, we'd have to drop Swe-cha off at daycare by 7a - we'd have to be up & prepping him up by 6a.
Poor baby.
So there you go. For those of you thinking that it's such a great idea to have the same interview & fingerprinting schedule ? It only is if you don't have to worry about school or child care.
--------
N-400 timeline
Mailed via USPS Expressmail - 3/12/2013
Priority Date - 3/15/2013
NOA received - 3/19/2013
Biometrics notice received - 4/1/2013
Biometrics scheduled for 4/16/2013
often go awry.
So after hemming and hawing for weeks, we decided to send our N-400s last March 13 in a single mail envelope (we placed each application in a separate manila folder inside the USPS Express Mail envelope). Our goal was to try and get biometrics & interview schedules for the same day.
Finally received our fingerprint notices today and we did get our wish. Hubby and I are scheduled to go on the same day.
Unfortunately, our schedule is set for 8am. Now, THAT, I did not plan for. I never read this (and by this, I mean childcare) in any of the forums I read before deciding to try for identical schedules.
The good news is that Swe-cha's school is on Spring Recess that week so he'll be attending daycare and daycare opens 7am. He need not be absent from school that day. The not-so-good-news is that in order to make it to the biometrics center by 8a, we'd have to drop Swe-cha off at daycare by 7a - we'd have to be up & prepping him up by 6a.
Poor baby.
So there you go. For those of you thinking that it's such a great idea to have the same interview & fingerprinting schedule ? It only is if you don't have to worry about school or child care.
--------
N-400 timeline
Mailed via USPS Expressmail - 3/12/2013
Priority Date - 3/15/2013
NOA received - 3/19/2013
Biometrics notice received - 4/1/2013
Biometrics scheduled for 4/16/2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
N-400
After a month-long process of filling up the official forms, followed by an endless cycle of editing & printing out final drafts, we decided that we've done all that we can and finally mailed in our N-400 forms. There was really no sense in putting it off any longer.
This post is to remember filing dates / timeline for future reference:
Mailed via ExpressMail - 3/12/2013
------
Aside from wanting to make sure that we get the forms right, one of the factors that made me feel better about holding off on mailing the forms in was the hefty fee. I wasn't really sure if we have the 2 x $680 to spare this month as I am expecting a bigger-than-usual credit card bill this month. Last night, we were able to find the funds when I realized that we have not submitted our dependent care FSA reimbursement this year yet - I quickly did that last night.
I should also take the time to finalize and file our taxes for 2012, the refund will surely give us some breathing room.
-------
and for my gratitude post of the day, I'm thankful:
- that we were able to complete our N-400 requirements & send them in
- that we were able to come up w/ the fees
- that we finally have nice weather, no rain & temperatures in the high 40s-50s (oo, nice yan).
- that when I dropped by our fave Japanese restaurant for our regular rice soup supply (lugaw) for Swe-cha, they told me that they are almost out and don't have enough for our usual order... so they just gave me everything they had for free and it came to around 3/4 of a large container.
- that I was able to get a FREE Starbucks fix today using a free Tall Macchiatto coupon
This post is to remember filing dates / timeline for future reference:
Mailed via ExpressMail - 3/12/2013
------
Aside from wanting to make sure that we get the forms right, one of the factors that made me feel better about holding off on mailing the forms in was the hefty fee. I wasn't really sure if we have the 2 x $680 to spare this month as I am expecting a bigger-than-usual credit card bill this month. Last night, we were able to find the funds when I realized that we have not submitted our dependent care FSA reimbursement this year yet - I quickly did that last night.
I should also take the time to finalize and file our taxes for 2012, the refund will surely give us some breathing room.
-------
and for my gratitude post of the day, I'm thankful:
- that we were able to complete our N-400 requirements & send them in
- that we were able to come up w/ the fees
- that we finally have nice weather, no rain & temperatures in the high 40s-50s (oo, nice yan).
- that when I dropped by our fave Japanese restaurant for our regular rice soup supply (lugaw) for Swe-cha, they told me that they are almost out and don't have enough for our usual order... so they just gave me everything they had for free and it came to around 3/4 of a large container.
- that I was able to get a FREE Starbucks fix today using a free Tall Macchiatto coupon
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Gratitude Journal
I've been wanting to start a gratitude journal for a long time but never really got around to starting one.
Tonight, I found some time for myself and decided that I can spend a few minutes writing down things I'm thankful for...
- That we're in a good place in our lives now - we're both employed and Swe-cha goes to a good school
- That Achi is safe despite having an accident with a truck yesterday morning.
- That Swe-cha is responding to us when we talk to him now so I'm able to teach him stuff.
- That Swe-cha is starting to eat rice (slathered in sauce) now.
- That I was able to do my errands this morning - dropped off some gifts at a friend's house, mailed a gift for my inaanak, pickup a package from the post office, get groceries from 2 different stores - all because my appointment at the dentist was unexpectedly quick and even though I got there late for my 10a appointment, I got there and signed in half-a-minute ahead of a big group of patients.
- That this same time last year, I cannot imagine myself having the time to watch tv. Now, I'm listening to TV while I'm blogging.
Tonight, I found some time for myself and decided that I can spend a few minutes writing down things I'm thankful for...
- That we're in a good place in our lives now - we're both employed and Swe-cha goes to a good school
- That Achi is safe despite having an accident with a truck yesterday morning.
- That Swe-cha is responding to us when we talk to him now so I'm able to teach him stuff.
- That Swe-cha is starting to eat rice (slathered in sauce) now.
- That I was able to do my errands this morning - dropped off some gifts at a friend's house, mailed a gift for my inaanak, pickup a package from the post office, get groceries from 2 different stores - all because my appointment at the dentist was unexpectedly quick and even though I got there late for my 10a appointment, I got there and signed in half-a-minute ahead of a big group of patients.
- That this same time last year, I cannot imagine myself having the time to watch tv. Now, I'm listening to TV while I'm blogging.
Jologs mode - Amaya
Accidentally found a site that streams Pinoy tv and I've been enjoying myself watching Amaya.
I found the delivery of some of the actors/actresses very stiff at times. I'm not a great Filipino speaker but their delivery would sometimes sound very forced and I noticed them pausing at weird spots in a sentence such as, "nagpakita siya ng gilas na nagpapakitang karapat dapat siya maging kasali.... [3 seconds] ... sa ating kasamahan." As if the last few words were forgotten and then suddenly remembered... Heehee.
Nitpicking aside, enjoy ako. I'm so jologs.
I found the delivery of some of the actors/actresses very stiff at times. I'm not a great Filipino speaker but their delivery would sometimes sound very forced and I noticed them pausing at weird spots in a sentence such as, "nagpakita siya ng gilas na nagpapakitang karapat dapat siya maging kasali.... [3 seconds] ... sa ating kasamahan." As if the last few words were forgotten and then suddenly remembered... Heehee.
Nitpicking aside, enjoy ako. I'm so jologs.
Avocado Shake
Saw some avocados in our local market and had a craving. I only wanted to eat 1 ( I like to eat fresh, ripe avocados as-is ) but decided to buy a few more to make avocado shake for hubby.
While choosing, I discovered that avocados are kinda expensive, $0.99 for 1 small piece! Not knowing how much is needed to make a glass of avocado shake and thinking that this is expensive, I only bought 3 pcs and a small can of evaporated milk (probably around 4 oz).
Tonight, I ate half an avocado and used 1.5 for make a shake. Had to add more water than usual but I've kinda gotten the hang of it. Masarap. Hubby liked it and Swe-cha seemed to like it too. I think I might buy some vanilla ice cream tomorrow and use it with the milk. This way, the shake will be cold. Swe-cha might drink more too if I make it less thick than tonight's.
While choosing, I discovered that avocados are kinda expensive, $0.99 for 1 small piece! Not knowing how much is needed to make a glass of avocado shake and thinking that this is expensive, I only bought 3 pcs and a small can of evaporated milk (probably around 4 oz).
Tonight, I ate half an avocado and used 1.5 for make a shake. Had to add more water than usual but I've kinda gotten the hang of it. Masarap. Hubby liked it and Swe-cha seemed to like it too. I think I might buy some vanilla ice cream tomorrow and use it with the milk. This way, the shake will be cold. Swe-cha might drink more too if I make it less thick than tonight's.
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