Never Trust a Green Light

accident happens....

Scary thoughts..

When I found out that my older sister got pregnant again, I was so mad. For economic reasons, yes, I was not only mad, very mad. It will be her 4th child, and have a hard time raising her 3 kids. Her unfortunate life started when her husband got an accident last 1996, his spinal cord was badly damaged causing a Hemiplegia, a condition where there is paralysis of one half of a patient's body. That time her youngest son is only a baby and the 2 kids still in the elementary years. The responsibility of raising the family was put on my sister's shoulder, plus taking care of her hemiplegic husband. Being single and working at that time, I was able to help them financially. I can't imagine how will she raise the 3 kids with her meager salary, not enough for a decent life. I help them to the best that I can, hospital emergency expenses, graduation expenses, school expenses, sometimes daily food expenses. Oh yeah, I'm willing to help them and I wish they will help themselves too. And getting pregnant is the last thing that I think they will not ever ever do......

Last October, my sister delivered her 4th child. It was stressful on my part, first I was told that her case is not normal, she had a very low heart beat, in her late 30's and have urine infection. The hospital staffs said that the baby might have hydrocephalus, a condition in which theres an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain that causes the head to become enlarge. I saw some babies with this condition and my heart bleeds upon seeing an infant with a large head in the television. When they saw my baby nephew, he's perfectly fine, and very cute. Thank God, I was happy to know that he's normal. When I saw him on the webcam for the first time, he's so small but very handsome baby boy.

Now, he is six months old, growing and his head is growing too :(. They noticed that his head is not normal, I don't know what to say, I have this feeling that there's something wrong with the baby because my sister had an infection in her urine plus she had no prenatal checkup because that time she was pregnant, her husband was in in the hospital for another surgery in the head(it was last year). She spent time in the hospital to take care of her husband and she did not know she's pregnant. The poor fetus was neglected, and I have this scary thoughts, that maybe the enlargement of the head is hydrocephalus. I was like crazy researching the signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus. I can't sleep, I'm scared, I have plans for the baby, I love him, what if he is positive? Tomorrow will be the schedule for his ultrasound on the head, and I'm praying that he will be negative, hoping its just a normal head enlargement, nothing serious.

A Family Tragedy

I am terribly saddened by this horrific tragedy in Iowa City last night of Easter or early Monday morning. A former bank vice-president who was in trouble for stealing money from a bank where he works killed his wife, four children with a baseball bat and then drove his vehicle into a concrete pillar along Interstate 80, killing himself.

The whole story makes me sick to my stomach so I won’t go into any more details about the murder / suicide. Click here for the whole story: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,340920,00.html

The question that comes to mind now is what in the world did Steven Sueppel do with the over half million dollars he embezzled? Is there anyway there could be some 3rd party involvement that will never be divulged to the public. I can't believe the guy spent that much on drugs for personal use?

Hardwork Pays....

It's the time of year again (in the Philippines) that we will celebrate the most important day of school life....Graduation. I have nephew and niece that gonna graduate high school this March 26, 2008. I'm so happy for their parents, at last after all those hardwork they had made just to have financial means to support their children, they will now enjoy the fruit of their sacrifices by seeing them on the stage.

In our conversation this morning, I can feel how excited they were, I always tell them the value of education that on these days, if you don't have education, the only thing you'll be shown is the door. Don’t let your dreams stay only dreams. Take steps to make them a reality. You can start by having a good education. And don't let any obstacles hinder you, like lack of financial capability. That's the no. 1 reason of the rising number of out of school youth today, no money to support their education. But don't let that reason beats you, if the money is the problem, then find way to make one. I was one of them, unfortunately, I was not lucky enough like some of my batchmates who has capable parents to support their college education. If only those kids know how lucky they are, that there is someone who will be able to finance their education unlike us and the majority.

I still remember after my high school graduation, there were only 4 options that you can choose if u cannot go to college: those days, going to Japan is very popular, you will be trained to dance or sing or play in a band. Second, just get married young, have kids, and stay poor. Third, start working, salesperson if you have personality(this is a must in the dept. store), or any high school graduate jobs like washing dishes, or factory jobs. And fourth, just stay at home being PAL (palamunin), like a parasite.

Geesh, I chose none of the above. I bravely follow what my heart wants...to go enroll in a college, without any assurance that I have enough money for my expenses. Thanks to those fastfoods companies that gives opportunity to students earn money while studying. Jollibee is part of my college life, some competitors accused them of exploiting young students working, still, the fact remains that they help many poor students to survive and finish their college course. It is a good training ground for students to learn the value of hardwork, teamwork, good communications, and time management. I owe one to SM Supermarket too(working as cashier), by giving us, the students the opportunity to work with them. And many other companies who offered part time job to poor students who rely only to their earnings to support their education. Surely, hardwork pays....

Baby Pressures

"Why haven't you had a baby?" "You should have a baby". "you'll make a great mother" or "have a baby already?"

These are some annoying questions of family/friends. I know my family really wants to see their future apo's(grandkid), niece or nephew from me. Just had a chat with my mother and nephew this morning, and as usual that same questions I got. As if its a must that I should have one, oh, don't get me wrong, it's wonderful to have a baby, of course.

But, its having a baby a must in one's life? They always says, you should have a child so that there will be someone who can take care of you when you gets old. I know, I know, they are just concerned about me.

But, should you have kids to have someone take care of you when your old? I want a baby anyway, but not for that reason. I want one to take care of, love and enjoy. I don't mean to sound harsh, but to some people that's what their selfish reasons, or for tax purposes, family manipulation tools etc. etc.Sure, its a perk to have someone help you out when you get older, but if that's the only reason for bringing a child into the world, you may check your motives. Besides, there are plenty of organizations/places that are dedicated to helping out older people who can't get along by themselves.