Zia in hospital

My baby Zia got sick last week. First was fever but her activity was still OK, this was Wednesday. Thursday brought about lethargy and fever, but her appetite was still OK. I did not go to PGH to work, decided to stay at home to help Judith in observing her.

Early morning of Friday, she woke up crying and threw up her previously ingested milk with stain of blood! Two more episodes of similar vomiting prompted Judith to decide that she be admitted in a hospital.

I, Judith, Zia and Cris went to PGH, I fixed the necessary papers and she was eventually admitted. The director of PGH had a scheduled cataract surgery that morning so I wasn't with Zia when her intravenous line was inserted. It was a necessary evil, I knew she will be in pain but we need to re-hydrate her, she was not eating and did not want to drink her milk anymore, probably afraid to throw up again. When the cataract surgery, I proceeded to her room, the IV line already inserted. Judith narrated that Zia's cry was so loud that perhaps even the adjacent rooms heard her cries. I was able to talk to the resident physician who inserted her line, and it took her 2 tries to successfully insert the line, meaning 2 painful injections to my baby Zia's hands. What even made me so sorry is the fact that she cannot handle her toy Boots on one of her hands. But still, no amount of persuasion can remove that toy from her other hand. Her pediatrician, Dr. Ces Alinea called it

The whole day of Friday, we were just with her, playing her favorite DVD in my iBook, talking with her, forcing her to eat. It was very frustrating to see your child get sick. Every time a visitor enters the room, she would hide and cry, expecting to be pierced again. But even during those times when she was weak, if we ask her something she still tried to answer us, even trying to play with us as if she is not sick.

After an overnight stay, her antibiotic finally kicked in and did its job. By Saturday morning, she was visited by Daddy. She was a little bit better. I had surgery that Saturday morning and held clinic during the afternoon. When I visited her early Saturday evening, she was already walking, and so happy because her IV line was removed! Judith had an incident with a nurse but that's another story.

By Saturday 11PM we are home and Zia was on her way to recovery.

Pasko 2007

Masaya ang Pasko ng Pamilyang Perez ngayong 2007.

Una, dahil ito ang unang Pasko ni Enzo.
Pangalawa, nandito sa Pilipinas si Tatay at Nanay.
Pangatlo, nakasama namin sina Mommy at Daddy.
Pang-apat, kasama namin lahat ng aming mga kapatid, pamangkin, pinsan at iba pang mahal sa buhay.

Si Zia, naging paborito ang Ray Conniff na Christmas Tunes, laging pinapatugtog niya at sinasabayan pa sa pagkanta, pa-utal nga lang. Madami rin sila ni Enzong natanggap na mga regalo. Ako rin, medyo maraming natanggap na regalo lalo na galing sa opisina sa PGH.

Nakapag misa de gallo kami sa aming simbahan kasama si Zia (tulog na si Enzo) sa unang pagkakataon dahil sa nakaraang tatlong taon, sa PGH kami nakakapagsimba. Yun nga lang, saksakan ng gulo si Zia sa misa, umaabot sa harap ng simbahan kakalakad.

Kumpleto rin ang mga apo nina Tatay at Nanay noong Noche Buena sa Las Pinas. Masaya ang mga bata lalo na sa palitan ng mga regalo. Sayang at wala sina Jay at JP.

Kasama naman namin sa bahay nung Dec 25 sina Mommy, Joy, Mek, Candy, Ogie, Tita Nilds at mga bata. Siyempre, masaya na naman ang buong bahay dahil kina Gian, Sean, at Kyla.

Noong Dec 26, pumunta naman kami sa SM Mall of Asia, sa Gumbo Restaurant para makasama namin si Daddy. Katulad nung nakaraang dalawang araw, masaya ulit ang lahat.

Heto ang mga pruweba...

Christmas with Barkada

When me and Judith were in Med School, we were fortunate to have a group of friends who gave us support and lots of laughter specially during those difficult times.

The guys were collectively called BTJCLOCK - Bernie, Tek, Junji, Chong, Lito, Odj, Cesar and Kim. The girls - Judith, Jef, Sonia, Lanie, Jen, Chinky and Tina.

Junji and Chinky are in Canada with their two boys, EJ and Paolo. Jef, Jen and Tina are in the States. Bernie is based in Pangasinan with his wife Windy and their daughter Lyanna. Lito with wife Joy and kids Bebang ang Bentong are in Bataan. Kim is presently finishing his studies in South Africa and will be back in February.

The rest of us are here in Metro Manila, from time to time we meet during parties specially for our own respective kids. We make it a point to meet every Christmas - chatting, reminiscing and exchanging gifts.

The picture below was taken last December 23, when the barkada met in Italliani's restaurant in Bonifacio High Street in The Fort. From left: Tek, me, Judith, Jude, Lanie, Sonia, Laura, Chong and Odj. The kids in front: Joaquin, Andrea and Gabriela.

Walking Enzo

My baby boy is growing fast.

Here are two proofs, in the first video he is seen walking with a walker (which he usually doesn't like to use). He struts around the house using this walker until his patience wears off.



This other video shows Enzo walking with support without the walker inside our home.

Hope you enjoy them as much as we do...

Tita Josie and Tito Francis

When my Tito Toto died, 2 of my Nanay's brothers and a sister came home from the States, they are Tito Mading, Tito Francis and Tita Josie respectively. I have not seen them for at least 10 years.

Tito Mading and Tito Francis stayed in Makati for the duration of their visit while Tita Josie stayed in our home in Las Pinas. My other tita who lives in Dasmarinas, Cavite, Tita Inday, stayed with Tita Josie in our home so as to accompany Tita Josie while she is here in the country. They stayed for almost 3 weeks here in the country.





Both the pictures above were taken while we brought Tita Josie in Tagaytay Vista Hotel Viewdeck. Me, Judith, Nanay, Tatay, Tita Inday and Tita Josie afterwards went to lunch in one of the restaurants there.

The pictures below were taken at home, a few hours before they left for America. Seen here are Tita Josie, Tita Inday, Tito Francis and Enzo.

PCS Distinguished Alumnus

I spent my kindergarten days, elementary days, and high school days in Paco Catholic School (PCS). Last November 10, 2007, after graduating from PCS in 1988, the school alumni board selected me as one of their distinguished alumni for 2007.

The ceremony was held in the PCS Jaime Cardinal Sin Auditorium where the school director Monsignor Domingo Cirilos led the ceremonies.

I was so honored being with the other awardees, one is an Undersecretary of the Department of Tourism from Batch 1964, the next one was a prominent businessman who owns a Jollibee franchise from Batch 1963, the next one was a multi-awarded nurse now based in Hawaii from Batch 1975, and the other one is a distinguished prosecutor judge from Batch 1978. I was the youngest, an ophthalmologist from Batch 1988.

Judith accompanied me during the ceremony, and the event became more fun because some of my batchmates went there to personally greet me - Melody, Egay, Doming and Luzvi.

4th Year Anniversary

Judith and I celebrated our 4th year as a wedded couple last November 18. It was a Sunday, so all of us - the kids, the yayas and Nanay & Tatay - went to Alabang Town Center for a lunch date. We treated Nanay and Tatay to a lunch, while the kids went to a play center with the yayas. Zia and Enzo had a grand time playing while Jen and Cris tried to catch up with the 2 kids. All of us had a great time, especially the kids as shown here...