43 interruption

Hey there.

Not exactly the photo you'd like to see at the start of a long weekend or anytime for that matter, but I wanted to share this with you in hopes of anyone who's experienced this can shed some light or at least know they're not alone. For the past month, we have been in and out of our pediatrician's office, seen multiple dermatologists, went to both urgent care and the emergency room and finally a pediatrician dermatologist. It started out with a small rash behind the thighs, but gradually spread throughout the entire body from her scalp to her feet. The doctors were baffled. Multiple diagnosis from Gianotti-Crosti syndrome to Pleva to Scabies to the most recent, a Gianotti like Coxsakie A6 virus and the countless prescribed medicines from steroid creams to antibiotics to anti-inflammatories.

It has been a nightmare.

The picture above was taken at the start of this virus and has gotten much worse. I'll spare you the pictures. The last doctor (the pediatrician dermatologist) feels confident with his diagnosis and has seen this in many of his patients in the past year. The good news: it's self limiting and will resolve on its own. The bad news: it can last as long as 8 weeks. We're halfway through. I believe ( I pray) we have gone though the worst of it this past week. 

The question I'm sure you're wondering is, is it contagious? Yes. Apparently in the the first week or so it is contagious through interaction with other small children and can also be airborne from a sneeze. It's most contagious in small children. Adults and older children aren't susceptible due to our immune system and apparently once you get it, it is highly unlikely you'll get it again. Lala is well past the contagious stage, but her appearance can be alarming to those who don't know.

Speaking of public reaction, people can be cruel. I understand they're scared because they don't know, but to stare with disgust, especially when Lala is greeting you is just downright uncalled for. Some parents cringed and some (bless their hearts) smiled and carried a conversation with her. It was so hard to hold back the tears.
So kindly excuse the interruption. I'm stepping away for a brief moment to just hang out, play, nurture, love and help Lala get back to her usual rambunctious self.
See you soon!
***

10 Portrait Plates: My Girls

I'm stepping away from the sewing machine for a sec to show you a little something I made for my girls.

It all started here, with Lala. I gave her a ceramic plate to paint, a plate for special treats and  for her to use on her birthdays to come. So when she was done painting I thought it would be nice to add her hand print, name and age. It looked cute! After all she did paint it herself and her tiny little hand is forever captured on the plate, but like most of my projects, it just needs one more little thing...

Just like the portrait mugs I made as gifts last Christmas (post HERE), I thought it would be fun to add her face.

It's finished and it pleases me.

It pleased me so that I did one for the older girls. After seeing all three together and how precious they are to me, I'm having second thoughts of letting them use it. That's what everyday dinner plates are for, or better yet... Dixie paper plates, right?!

***

P.S., I got another portrait mug to show you... my first custom order! Yup, I'm thinkin' of taking orders, but we'll talk more later...

5 bits

Little snippets of my morning...

-Playing with rice

-I wonder how it would feel like to be buried in rice

-Nerd

-Lazy dog

***

17 getting back into the groove of things, but first...

The holidays was a mix bag... happiness and sorrow... restlessness and peace...

Although I'm sad the magic is over, I'm also glad to put it behind and look forward to what 2013 will bring. Before we move forward, I wanna share with you my mug project.

Remember? Let's start with a refresher...

Mug #1.

This one started it all...

Post HERE.

Mugs #2 & 3.

My nephew and niece.

Post HERE.

So after MANY late nights and asking myself what ever possessed me to do this, I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel...

19 mugs in total (Mr.'s mug was in the dish rack).

As I sit here looking at the pics I can't believe I did it. *chuckle* Now I do see the light, but I'm not out of the tunnel... yet.

I still have three more mugs to complete, plus mug #2 (my beloved nephew) accidentally dropped his in excitement. So actually that makes 4 more. *eyes rolling back*

Despite the cursing and loosing my eyesight, I actually enjoyed creating each one. Each mug was an opportunity for me to reflect and be thankful for having them in my life. 

So bare with me as I slowly get back into the groove of things. As if the busyness of the holidays wasn't enough, I threw out my back in the process while baking 14 red velvet cakes... yes... 14. Nothing is ever done in small quantities in this family. 
Sheesh!

0 Black Friday Donuts

No Black Friday shopping for us.

Nope.

Just sleeping in and baking these lovely little gems.

Petite pumpkin spice donuts...

mmm...

When Carla posted a list of 8 yummy recipes for breakfast, I had to try these beauties. I've never baked donuts before and let me tell ya...

these are the moistest, deliciously flavorful treats I have ever tried.

 Seriously ridiculous.

***

2 In Between Here & There

In between sewing projects I'm slowly getting my belated birthday and Christmas gifts done. Hmmm... at least I'm ahead on thing! I said I would only do the men in the family.

Until some of ladies saw my first mug.

Drat.

I'm finding painting women in the 1800s to be a bit challenging. Hair, face, hat...

Maybe I should paint mustaches on the women too?

*tee-hee*

I'm finding it a bit challenging to stay on one project. Do you get like that?

Hop-hop-hop... sewing... hop-hop-hop... painting

hop-hop-hop...

***

12 Pumpkin Hunt 2012

Another year in search for the perfect pumpkins to fill our ghoulish home. Halloween has got to be our favorite family holiday. The mystique is just hauntingly magical.

Every year about this time, we pile into our van and head out to our favorite haunt, Bates Nut Farm.

Sophie and Lily Moon... doe and bear.

Lala looked on with such disappointment and embarrassment... "I hope my friends don't see this", she thought.

"Aaaargh! I can't work with these people! I'm outta here!!!" She screamed.

With pumpkins in tote, it was our que to head on out and eat. Eat what you say?

APPLE PIE!!! My-oh-my!!!

 Brrr! Nice and chilly... a lovely change from the heat back home. Lala got good use of her new coat and hat. She was very much out of character that day... walking around, waving and shouting "HI!" at every stranger that crossed paths. Strange. Not that I'm complaining.

*sigh*

Pumpkins? CHECK.

Bellies full? CHECK.

Time to head back home!

Ahhh... hot homemade chicken soup to end another great pumpkin hunt. 

Get the recipe HERE. Your belly will thank you.

Until next year...

***

3 Guimaras, Philippines pt.2

So we're on the RORO (ride-on, ride-off) boat and on our way to my parents' farm in Guimaras. It's about a 30 minute boat ride to the island.

Here are some of the things we saw on our excursion.
***Gilligan's Island theme song playing in the back...***

Once we docked in Guimaras, it's a 2 hour drive to get to our destination. Now... keep in mind there are 10 of us and 1 truck.
Yes...
10 people.
1 truck.
The girls LOVED it. They sat in the back along with MR., my nephew and niece, while the rest of us sat INSIDE. Crazy kids. I know-I know... not the safest or smartest thing, but...
ha-HA! Welcome to the Philippines!

Motorcycles and "Tri-cycads" (upper right corner pic) are the preferred method of transportation on the island. You can easily pack a family of four on one motorcycle. I wish I had a picture to show you. It's quite a sight.

Pigs on a joyride! Awww... poor guys... little do they know.

On our way, we stopped for some bananas and veggies.

Ahhh... home at last!
The architecture is a bit different here. Anything goes. No, your eyes aren't playing tricks... the columns underneath the deck are turquoise. My parents' are cool like that.
The upper right corner pic, you can see part of the their rice field (just across from their house). It's not planting season, so instead they plant corn and other various vegetables for themselves, friends and family.

On the other side of the property, there is an old mango tree. And I mean OLD. At first first I thought it was about 200 years old, but it's actually around 130. It's massive. There is so much history with this tree. The locals believe it to be enchanted. Inhabited by the "little people", something like dwarves, only not as nice. It was struck by lightening long time back and was split in half. It thrived... 
ah-mazing.

Picking mangoes.

At one point in time the tree produced upwards of 30 bushels of mangoes in one season, providing a good source of income along with their rice production.

Here's another view of the tree. Look, all the mangoes are wrapped in newspaper. Every single one.

This is our form of pesticides. It's crazy to see the entire tree with covered mangoes, but it works! You're probably wondering, "Who the heck covered all of them?!"
An older lady who's kinda like a distant relative is the one. Yup... she's in her late sixties and does it all herself. Maybe if I was chased by hungry wolves, I'll climb a tree.
Okie-dokie my friends... I'm off to do more photo editing.
Be back soon!

4 back from the Philippines pt.1

Kamusta ka?

(How are you?)

Ahhh... back home... it feels good.

We got home late Wednesday night and we're still jet lagged. Slowly gettin' back to the groove of things. I've got a gazillion pics to sort through and share, so rather than bombarding you with oodles of pictures at once, I'm going to break it up in parts.

So here's the first set... enjoy!

LAX to Manila International Airport

This is the oldest Catholic church in my dad's hometown, Miagao (me-yag-ow).
Photo courtesy of my awesomely talented nephew, "Kiwi".

My aunt's vacation home in Lanotan (lah-noo-tahn).

After our visit to the oldest Catholic church in my dad's hometown, we went to my aunt's vacation home. The beach is literally steps from her home.

With clear warm water and black sand, the girls cooled off with a brief dip... and I mean BRIEF. Sophie saw a jellyfish float by her and swim time was quickly over.
What a bummer!


After a few days of rest in the city of IloIlo (ee-loo-ee-loo), it was time to hop on the "RORO" (Ride-on, Ride-off) ferry and head to my parents' farm in Guimaras.


We packed up the truck, rode on the ferry and it was about a 30 minute boat ride across the channel.




Okay, so I'll stop here for now.
Next stop... Guimaras (Gi-mah-rahs)!!!