To the hospital again

This time it’s Buboy that was hospitalized, but his is for a far more serious reason.

Buboy called me from work Monday night, July 20, asking for a pill to help him with his headache. I thought he was just having one of his migraine attacks. When we met to go home later he complained of fever. He was burning hot when I touched him. It was a hard effort for him to drive home and the two-hour traffic made it even worst. I was really worried but we thought it was just flu. Buboy slept immediately when we reached the house while I stayed up late until past 2:00am watching over him, wiping him with a wet towel to bring down the fever. We stayed at home the following day, Buboy regularly taking Biogesic to calm the high fever down and Alaxan to ease the body pain. Early morning of Wednesday, chills came and that’s when I decided to bring him to the hospital.

It is really hard when the only person who knows how to drive is sick. We had to ask one of the neighbors to bring us to the nearest hospital. After some blood and urine tests the ER doctor decided to admit Buboy. The doctor who followed-up on us that afternoon said Buboy has a viral infection and they still have to verify if it is typhoid fever or dengue. We learned it was dengue late that night. Buboy became like a pin cushion with the multiple blood extraction to monitor his platelets. The doctor said he has to eat so his body can fight but Buboy has no appetite. He was released from the hospital on the third day of his confinement. His platelets are stable, his fever is gone, and his appetite is back… and I am just so thankful.

The experience wasn’t good for both Buboy and me. I was so worried but I dare not show him that because I don’t want him to worry about me too. I texted my family and close friends to ask them to pray for Buboy especially during the time when the doctors are still not sure what is wrong with him. I am very thankful because everyone texted back and I know they all prayed for Buboy. Then there was the issue of where he was placed in the hospital. We used the HMO given by the Company he works for. His coverage is only for a ward room which would be okay if it was in a hospital where ward rooms are still nice. I kept thinking that if we were in Pasig when this happened, it would have been easier to bring him to Medical City where ward rooms are so much more pleasant. Good thing Mama visits and bring fresh supplies everyday.

But nevertheless, Buboy is well again and we are home again, that is what’s important. I pray he won’t be so sick again… that neither of us be sick again.

-chebong

Reunions

Last week, April 19 was the grand reunion homecoming of our high school in celebration of its centennial anniversary. Terry and I went together with my sisters Weng and Juvie. It was fun to see old faces again. It was just sad because the event wasn't well advertised that not many alumni were informed. In fact there were only six attendees from Weng's batch and eight from Juvie's. It was good that my batch mates pretty much did everything they could to invite everyone as about forty of us went. The whole event brought back memories of experiences that shaped my adolescence. I'll probably be posting the class picture we took as soon as i had it scanned later.

Then last Saturday, April 25 was an outing/reunion of sort of Buboy's family. It was my mother-in-law's birthday and we went swimming in a private pool at Calamba, Laguna. Buboy's family is small and it's nice to see them together all at once as this happens very seldom. It's because his sister lives in Laguna and his brother lives in Bulacan unlike my immediate family who practically live together. I told Buboy that we should really do this reunion-like gathering with his family at least once a year.

Anyway, Buboy discovered that he can sing more than twenty songs in one sitting during our family outing. He literally sang for almost two hours and received at least eight 100 scores. He said he now has a favorite - Though the Years of Kenny Rogers. Well, I don't mind. I love that song!

Pictures to follow.

-chebong

Life goes on

Juvie's wedding got rained. Well, not like it's something new.. my wedding got rained too. Okay, mine was a little drizzle compared to what poured down last Sept. 8. But the good thing about Juvie's was that the emcees pushed through with the program despite the heavy rain. It was fun. And i was pleased that many complimented my dress.. but i'm pretty pissed because the deejay kept changing CDs. Can't seem to get through his head that the CDs we gave him contains the "sound" especially prepared (by me) for the wedding. ahrg! Buboy was very supportive. Again, he tire himself by being a volunteer errand man coming and going to the house to fetch something for the party at the clubhouse. The newly wed was happy and they looked great and their parents cried and the guests stayed to finished the party. What more can they asked for?

Neo came to attend the wedding though he only got to see the church ceremony. He stayed home during the reception party because of the heavy rain. We bought him a stroller and so Tatay always brings him along (when it's not raining) for his early morning walk. Neo is a good boy.. always smiling.. seldom cries. I hope he can stay that way always.

Saturday before the wedding Buboy and i were invited by Terry to spend the night at Taal Vista Lodge in Tagaytay courtesy of her office. Who can refuse? We lounge around the hotel and relaxed a bit before we were dragged to a road trip. Taal Vista is indeed a nice hotel. I plan to ask Buboy to book us in again sometime this year.

Well, some problem between Buboy and i popped up right after the big day of Juvie and Benny. We're okay now. But it gave us quite a scare. I realized a lot of things during that time.. and how much i love my husband is one of them. Now, we're moving on.. one day at a time.. but i know i have to do something. There are times between now and that day that i feel relaxed again and thought that perhaps everything is okay now and that nothing like that is going to happen to us again and i don't have to worry anymore.. but i know it's wrong so i force myself to stay focused and do what i must do. It's a bit hard really but hopefully what i'll do will save not only us but Buboy and myself as well.

Oh, and i know i haven't written anything about the "Ultraelectromagneticnight" but i guess a lot of things have been said about it already anyway.. what else is there to say? Well, maybe that we had fun though we felt bitin.

That's it.. life goes on.. and i dare myself to be an active participant of life from now on..

-chebong

Family outing '08

First weekend of April, my family and I went to Ilocos. It was a return for Buboy and me since it was one of the places we visited during our two-week tour of northern Philippines early this year. Pagudpud was one of the highlights of our trip then and since it is summer, we decided to go back and bring my family along. Pagudpud is also a great venue for the pre-nuptial pictorial of Juvie and Benny so we brought Gene, the photographer, to the trip too. Of course the Higop Gang won’t be complete without Mox so she left her precious little bubbles (her dog) to the care of someone else during our 3-day trip.

Buboy was the only driver of the trip and I’m his ever efficient co-pilot. I swear I have improved my map reading skills since our January escapade (of which I’ll write about too… soon). Pagudpud is roughly an eleven hour drive from Manila, that’s exclusive of stop-over for some stretching. We left Pasig around 10pm on Thursday and arrived at Laoag in time for breakfast and some last minute grocery purchase the following day. Pagudpud greeted us with its midday sun. The place is wonderful! It’s definitely a breather because you can see more beach than people unlike Galera and Boracay on summer. The rest of what remains of the day was spent for the pre-nup pictorial at the beach and the windmills.

Saturday was beach day! Even though Buboy was dead-tired the previous day, we actually woke up early to enjoy the beach with the rest of the gang. Even Nanay and Tatay had fun waddling on the sand and sea.

Sunday is again a hectic day for everyone as we prepared early to leave Pagudpud and visit other parts of Ilocos. My parents are big Marcos fans so we just had to bring them to Batac to see the Marcos Museum.

We also went to see the majestic Paoay Church.

And of course Vigan. Nanay and Tatay actually celebrated the mass at the Vigan Cathedral… in Ilocano. I don’t think they understood anything. Then we strolled down the historic cobbled street of Calle Crisologo and did some shopping.

It was after dinner already when we started out for Manila. We arrived in Pasig almost 6:00am. Naturally, we were all tired and sleepy by then, especially Buboy and me who had to stay awake during the long drive back.


It was a fun trip. I was especially happy to see that my parents were able to endure the long drive and actually had fun. For me, the hero of the trip is Buboy. He made the trip enjoyable. He was awake more than 24 hours of our first day and more than 24 hours again of our last day. He never complained and he never frowned. He kept his cool and had fun with the rest of us. Now that defines a vacation hero in my dictionary! Thanks so much love. Iloveyousomuch!

-chebong

Engagement: a happy occasion

Aside from the films, I haven’t witnessed a wedding proposal before. And it has been four years since Buboy and I got engaged ourselves. Thus I didn’t realize since last night just how beautiful it can be even for the spectators.

My sister Juvie got a marriage proposal from her long time boyfriend Benny during one of the regular meetings of the church group they are both actively involved in. We are not a member of this group. However Benny asked us to be there so we went. My sister was obviously surprised to see us there. But we did well by actually participating in the discussion.

Benny was one of the key speakers for the night and he talked about love finishing it off by going to my sister who was seated among the others and kneeling, presented her with a ring and asked the question “will you be my wife?” Now this happened inside the village chapel making the event serene despite the many cheers and laughter from the group. Juvie was clearly surprised and dumbfounded she turned beet red and was not able to immediately answer. But of course she did say yes after several moments of speechlessness. Well, it has been proven long ago that speechlessness can occur during intense moments such as this so it was not taken negatively by both Benny and the group.

After the meeting and the main event, which apparently was the proposal, the group decided to celebrate a little by dropping by Mc Donald’s Fort for a late dinner and afterwards coffee at UCC next-door. Buboy and I had fun along with everyone else despite the fact that we’re not part of the group and some of them we've only just met. However, I noticed how Juvie was still quite silent for most of the night. But it was evident that it was a happy silence. I bet she’s reenacting in her mind the proposal over and over. Well, she was clearly glowing.

The couple with the witnesses at UCC cafe'

To the newly engaged couple, Juvie and Benny, Buboy and I wish you strength as you share the gift of love and happiness that God has given you. We love you!

- Chebong