Why Do I Have To Go Through Too Much Pain

February 26, 2015 by

Children never ever run out of questions.  While some are easy to answer, there are those that leave us at a loss for words.

Why does this always happen to me?  Why do I have to go through too much pain?

Just what do you say to a child who asks this question when you yourself feel that a child should never even be asking that question in the first place?  No child should have to go through pain. Period.

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The calm before the storm. Waiting in the ER.

Unfortunately, my daughter had to go through so much physical pain at a very young age.  Several days ago, she was rushed to the emergency room when pain in her abdomen persisted and increased in severity.  All symptoms pointed to appendicitis and surgery was scheduled immediately.

As with all surgeries, this entailed a series of skin tests, blood extractions, and IV insertion.  I know adults who dread these so what more would you expect from a six-year-old.  The first blood extraction took ages with little Jade screaming her lungs out and refusing to extend her arm and to open her tightly closed fists.  After a lengthy talk, the next ones were successfully done much faster and with no screaming.  Still, she was in pain with each prick from the needle.  It was agonizing to see her go through those. 🙁

While in the OR, her surgeon was surprised to see hemorrhage in her abdominal cavity.  The pain she felt was most likely due to that hemorrhage and not to appendicitis which was just at its onset.  Apparently, it was caused by omental torsion so she underwent both an omentectomy and an appendectomy.  Her surgery went well and we were amazed by her quick recovery.  I braced myself for plenty of crying and whining post-surgery but was so surprised to see her with a huge smile on her face while in the recovery room.  A day after surgery, she was already sitting straight and could walk a few steps.  Two days after, she was already standing straight and walking unaided!

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A pretty smile post-surgery! “I was asleep, Mama. Then I woke up and they’ve fixed me already!”

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A day after surgery. Still all smiles!

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Third day. No more IV! Yey! Here with Ate Becca who patiently encouraged her to be brave and to walk properly. <3

Still, when it was just the two of us in the hospital room, she would ask me why she had to go through all the pain.  Why it happened to her? Why she was always sick? (This wasn’t her first surgery. She had bilateral inguinal hernia repair when she was just three months old).

Why does this always happen to me? Why did God let me have this kind of pain? Why did I have to go through all of these?

What did I say to my daughter? This was the only thing I could say to her, “I don’t know why we are allowed to experience pain, but I know that God is always with us when we’re going through it.”

Psalm 119:50

My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

I don’t know why there is suffering in the world.  I don’t know why children go through pain.  What I do know is that my dear Jade showed so much more courage than I have ever shown in my almost 40 years of life.  That my dear Jade has shown so much more faith in Jesus than I have ever shown.  I do know that prayers are powerful and that miracles do happen.  I do know that Jesus is always with our little Jade.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Filed Under: Mom's Corner, Mommy Talk

Which Foods Are Troubling for Your Teeth?

February 16, 2015 by

Try as you might to stick to a healthy diet, your teeth just aren’t as strong as you’d like them to be. What gives? Teeth professionals, like Kool Smiles, know that there’s more to it than getting your daily dose of fruits and veggies. Certain foods – even the healthy ones – may be doing more harm than good when it comes to your teeth. This is why it is a good idea to make sure that you visit a jacksonville dentist as they can help put your mind at ease. As this way you can have your teeth checked regularly and you should be able to keep them healthy. If you are interested in a recommendation for a dentist then you should check out someone like Thomas E. Cooke, D.D.S.

Juicing 101 for Healthy Teeth

If you’re making an effort to eat healthier, you may have pulled your juicer from the back of the cupboard, vowing to make fruit and veggie juice at least a couple of times a week. While fruits and vegetables are undoubtedly healthy for you, many of them are packed with sugar and acid, which can wreak havoc on your teeth. You don’t need to avoid juicing entirely; just follow these tips to make sure you’re keeping your smile happy, too.

  • Always use a straw when sipping! This will limit how much the acids and sugar come in contact with your teeth, which will keep them healthy.
  • Get most of the juice from vegetables, especially the green ones. They won’t make your blood sugar spike the same way that fruits and sweeter veggies do. Leafy greens are the best options, like kale, spinach, and collards, because they contain a lot of phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium, all nutrients that are good for your teeth.
  • Use fruit sparingly when juicing. Thrown in just a handful of berries or half of a pear or apple. Opt for ripe fruits, which are less acidic than unripe ones.
  • Use a bit of wheatgrass in your juices or smoothies. Wheatgrass is considered a super food because of its many health benefits – it’s energizing, packs in a bunch of vitamins, and is a great source of amino acids and minerals.
  • You may not think that oil has a place in juice, but adding a bit of coconut oil will provide antibacterial properties, which is excellent for teeth. All you need is one teaspoon! You won’t even notice it’s there, other than the delicious hint of coconut.
  • When you think of cranberry juice, you may be thinking of the sugary sweet kind. Regular cranberries and unsweetened cranberry juice is delicious too, without being so detrimental to your smile. Plus, cranberries have compounds that prevent bacteria from sticking to your teeth, which can ward off cavities.

Foods That Go CRUNCH!

You love a good crunch snack, but which ones are bad for your teeth and which ones are healthy??

Many snack foods – the same ones that are bad for your waistline – are bad for your teeth. Chips, crackers, and pretzels are bad for your teeth for two reasons: first, they get stuck to your teeth, and second, the carbohydrates break down to sugar, which can ruin the enamel.

Crunchy fruits (pears, apples) gets rid of bacteria and plaque. Plus, these fruits are packed with good-for-you fiber. Raw veggies are great for your teeth (and body) too, and they increase saliva which acts as a defense against gum disease and cavities.

If you’re doing all the right things but your teeth still aren’t looking as you would like them do, you could even contact someone like San Diego cosmetic dentist to help you achieve the smile you’d like.

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: , ,

THE 3-MINUTE MIRACLE FOR GREAT HAIR

February 12, 2015 by

The secret’s out and everyone’s talking about it! Do you want in on it? Read on….

Dull and rough hair, split ends, pesky frizz, dry and damaged hair – you’d be lucky to have to deal with just one of those problems. I’m one of those not-so-lucky ones who are laden with almost a handful of them. These hair problems do not only… but also make daily grooming a chore. Have you ever managed to put your makeup and to get your hair done in less than 15 minutes? Seems impossible, right?! Not totally impossible though with healthy skin and healthy hair. With this being said, there are people out there who can do this, so of course, it is not impossible. When we look at celebrities like Kim K or Rihanna who have healthy, glossy hair, it could be down to the professional hair products that they use that gives their hair the shine we’ve all been looking for. So there is hope for us all.

The Secret Weapon to Beautiful Hair

Say goodbye to hair damage without having to go through expensive salon treatments. The secret weapon against damage and the key to beautiful hair is within your reach. Pantene 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner works wonders inside and out to make your hair stronger and shinier in just three minutes. If you happen to have blonde hair, using special blonde shampoo is normally recommended as it can help you retain your natural light colour. People often ask which shampoo should you use for blonde hair? I suggest that people try out multiple different products and see which ones have the best result on their hair. No one’s hair is the exact same and all products react differently to an individual’s hair!

Cationic polymer is positively charged to neutralize damaged portions of hair, and forms a shield to protect hair from future damage.

Pantene’s new formula has an improved conditioning agent or cationic polymer that forms a protective layer around hair strands. With less friction between hair strands, you get hair that’s tangle-free. Saves you precious minutes of detangling before heading off for work!

Terminal Amino-Silicones help protect the hair’s inner structure or cortex to prevent future damage and moisture loss from styling.

If you already like Pantene’s regular conditioners, you’ll love this one even more. It has 80% more key conditioning ingredients including the highest ever level of advanced Terminal Amino-Silicones (TAS). That’s how your hair is transformed from brittle and damaged to soft and beautiful with just a few uses of Pantene 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner. TAS flattens and smoothens the outer layer on the hair surface consequently protecting the moisture balance of hair. Now you can style your hair without worrying much about damaging it. Since my hair had perfect moisture, I could effortlessly curl my hair using my automatic curler. Better yet! Choosing the best hair curler for your hair type could actually ease half your struggle when it comes to hairstyling. That along with soft beautiful hair, you won’t need to spend hours styling your tresses.

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My Own Pantene Miracle Experience

I’ve always loved Pantene conditioners so I may sound a bit biased here (ok, maybe a lot biased!). The Pantene 3 Minute Miracle is great to have when you need to give your hair a boost but can only spare a few extra minutes in the shower. Compared to the Pantene daily intensive conditioners I use, this one is a lot thicker in consistency. Left for exactly 3 minutes, it coats my hair enough to make combing fuss-free and to give it that soft feel. I love to leave it on for a few minutes longer though. I can actually do away with combing and blow drying my hair after using this conditioner. I’m a work-at-home-mom so I’m able to just towel dry my hair and leave it to air dry – yes, without combing it (perks of being a WAHM including working in our PJs). Once dry, I just run my fingers through my hair and it’s all set. 🙂

This is great to have around when you don’t have time to go to the salon and need a quick-fix. You have to use it often though to achieve the best results. To maintain my hair, I also use Pantene Daily Intensive Conditioner every day.

Experience the Pantene Miracle

Don’t just take my word for it. Experience the Pantene Miracle for yourself! All it takes is 3 minutes to have touchable, soft and beautiful hair. You’ll believe in miracles on your first try. I’m absolutely certain you’d agree that this is one beauty product you absolutely must-have. Stock up while it’s at 50% off on www.zalora.com.ph the entire month of February.

It does take a miracle to get healthy, beautiful hair but, fortunately, that miracle is within reach with the Pantene 3-Minute Miracle Conditioner!

Filed Under: for DAD & MOM, Press Release, Products We Love

Your Child Can Play Safely With Play Mats

February 5, 2015 by

If you are looking to create a safe environment for your children to play in then getting mats is a great idea. These are clean, safe and easy to carry and can be bought in a number of colours, shapes and configurations. These mats are ideal for the nursery, home or activities area.

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Images by nipitphand and nuchylee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

You can help facilitate your baby’s development and really stimulate their senses with a portable mat for play. Babies learn through playing and through exploring the world around them, so having the right equipment which will keep your baby safe and happy is the best way to do this.

These mats can be bought to fit together like a jigsaw and are easy to assemble. They are anti-flip as well.  They are also highly resistant to dirt and staining and can be easily wiped clean. They are waterproof so you do not need to worry about spills, and this means they can be easily washed down with water and a sponge or mop. The top surface is tough, so it can survive wear and tear such as being walked over with shoes.

These mats absorb impact thanks to being made with durable EVA high density foam, meaning they will break falls and prevent joints coming under stress: perfect for children playing and experimenting, as well as for other uses such as for sports halls or gyms. Many nurseries use this kind of flooring for all the aforementioned advantages, as well as being able to get it in a range of colours and how long lasting it is. Even better, thanks to the interlocking jigsaw shape, you can expand your floor as needed, or equally pack it away when you need the space.

There are many other applications for play mats such as using them for wrestling classes, in gyms, fitness suites and for yoga. With so many uses, they are perfect for the home where they may be used for children playing as well as parents practising yoga and Pilates, or equally in schools where the range of activities they can cover are plenty.

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Images from http://www.cannonsuk.com/

With so many possibilities, these mats make a great investment since you will always get plenty of use out of them. For babies, the benefits are huge as they give the opportunity to explore safely so that they can expand their horizons. Equally, these improve reflexes and help your children get to grips with movement but without the risk of knocks and bumps.

These jigsaw mats can also be stood upright and fitted together to create borders, so that you can create safe makeshift playpens. This is ideal for keeping your children safe and entertained for hours, as well as in nurseries and playgroups to create different areas for play. The flexibility of these mats is their most appealing feature as you can always use them to purpose, so you are in control. These also come in different tile sizes so that you can get as big or small shapes as you want, as well as different quantities, so you can match your order to the space you wish to fill.

Filed Under: for the KIDS, Handy Tips, House Matters, Products We Love Tagged With:

Jollibee’s Jolly Jolly Joy Joy Thanksgiving Party

January 26, 2015 by

(Press Release)

Jollibee treats fans to a Jolly Jolly Joy Joy Thanksgiving Party

Jollibee lovers of all ages were treated to a grand musical holiday as the leading fast-food chain celebrated the harmony of the holiday season in the Jolly Jolly Joy Joy Christmas Special with Sarah Geronimo. The Pop Star Royalty and long-time Chickenjoy ambassador led the festivities, which were held at the Trinoma Activity Center, and shared Christmas joy through her heartwarming rendition of well-loved holiday carols and the new Jollibee theme song, “Jolly Jolly Joy Joy.”

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Throngs of fans trooped to the Trinoma Activity Center for the Jolly Jolly Joy Joy

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Event hosts Justin and Riki Flores kept the crowd entertained during the musical event.

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The musical celebration also featured performances by today’s most incredible talents such as The Voice of the Philippines finalist Morissette Amon.

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“Jollibee has always been a part of many Filipino families’ Christmas tradition, and we are very honored and thankful for that,” said Jollibee Marketing Manager Kent Mariano. “This is why we have made it our goal to make every day, not just Christmas, a celebration na laging pasarap nang pasarap nang pasarap, just like our Chickenjoy.”

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One of the most loved and respected vocal ensembles in the Philippines, The Company also  performed a series of their hits, much to the enjoyment of the crowd.

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Singing heartthrob and former Yumbassador Sam Concepcion also kept the crowd on their feet with his energetic performance.

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The highlight of the Jolly Jolly Joy Joy Christmas Special was Popstar Royalty and Jollibee brand ambassador Sarah Geronimo, who serenaded the crowd with songs from her newest album.

Filed Under: Press Release Tagged With: ,
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