Would really love to have all of you there!

I’m so grateful this thing just looks viral and didn’t develop into anything worse. I’m actually getting a lot better. Which means… no antibiotics needed! Yay!

So…what did I do to contain this virus? Here are my 5 not-so-secret secrets!

1. Water. Lots and lots and lots and I mean LOTS of water! I lost track of the number of liters of water I’ve drunk in the past 4 days. I must be averaging at least 3 liters a day since. I’ve never been more grateful for my super handy Kor water bottle!

my hydration buddy! love this a lot! get yours at thepurpletag.com or Conlins Elements :)

2. Vitamin C + Zinc. These 2 make for a dream team for fighting illness! I get my big doses from calamansi juice (with honey to soothe the throat), Fern-C (ascorbic acid) and Airborne. Airborne is an immune support supplement that is packed with vitamins A, C, E, zinc and herbs! I wish Airborne is readily available here. So far, only S&R carries it. It’s such a pity because it’s a really great product. It’s not foolproof, ie. you’re still gonna get sick at times, but I guarantee you’re not gonna be as susceptible to illness as before… and when you do get sick, you’re bound to get well fast! :)

3. Hot shower with Ilog Maria Eucalyptus Bath Gel. The steam of the shower plus eucalyptus did wonders for my bad headache from my bad cold! I didn’t want to leave the bathroom anymore! :)

4. Mask. Viral infections like this are highly contagious. It’s important to wear a mask so it won’t spread like wildfire. I bought my packs of masks the 1st day I felt funny.

5. Last but not least… PRAYERS. The most powerful of them all. You’ll never go wrong with the Great Healer! :)

…

Stay safe and healthy, everyone! :)

Then I got married, gave birth and became accountable to two other human beings. This had me studying more about health as I slowly realized how truly, hugely, indescribably IMPORTANT it is. My “research” led me to the side effects of chemicals in Western meds. It. Was. Scary.  I didn’t want any of that, so I explored natural and organic remedies, and those that are not as invasive as antibiotics. Recently, I’ve started asking how people do it in the province, too. My househelp is a mom to 8  smart and healthy kids. I’ve been listening to her wisdom lately. I think it’s important to have an open mind about these things. I admit it’s so easy to judge other methods as “backward” or “not scientific”, but hey, they work somehow, right?

To be clear, I’m not rebelling against Western medicine. I remain adherent to it. It’s just that now, I like complementing it with other forms of therapy. Like, apart from vitamins, I also give Jaden honey/bee propolis to boost his immune system. When he had fever, I treated him with Tempra, but I also let my househelp administer “hilot” for infants (she’s not a real manghihilot; she just knows a few strokes from observing). May I just say, I think the hilot was quite effective — Jaden looked like he felt better after his massage. I also refuse to give him medicated diaper creams. I scour the net for all-natural remedies for his rashes. For this, I highly recommend By Nature Baby Salve and Indigo Jar of Hope. And a good diaper like Mamy Poko or cloth diapers!

In the same way, Jaden’s food is quite varied too. I tried to give him all-organic, all-natural meals before (thank God for Healthy Options and Saladmaster cookware!). But after a few months, I had to accept that his system will have to take in regular food… unless we all changed to an organic diet. So now, my boy eats whatever is on the table. As much as possible, I buy organic veggies for him. All his snacks (save his Marie biscuits) are organic too. But everything else is regular food. Again, it’s a mix and I hope it’s a healthy balance somehow…

jaden at 9 months here: eating organic biscuit

What’s your take on health and health remedies?

]]> http://misisteapot.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/on-health-remedies/feed/ 0 misisteapot DSC03599 http://misisteapot.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/snippets-on-health/ http://misisteapot.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/snippets-on-health/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 05:12:32 +0000 stella http://misisteapot.wordpress.com/?p=1084 ]]> Jaden had a bout of viral infection last weekend. He had high-grade fever throughout Friday dawn to Sunday. His temperature would hover around the high 38′s and 39′s, and won’t go away despite round-the-clock paracetamol. It was horrible to see him so weak. I didn’t sleep those nights, mostly because I was monitoring him. But partly because… well, how can you sleep with an aching heart?! I really wished I was the one sick instead of my baby. When helplessness stares you in the face like this, you can’t help but think of the other things that will inevitably harm or hurt your child. Try as I might, I cannot always shield my son from pain. But I can prepare him for it. Julz and I can pack him with loads of love, affection, faith, validation, and a good sense of humor, so that when heartbreak comes his way, his world won’t shatter and he will go on, trusting the Lord always.

He is well today. Thank God! Bouncing back like he didn’t get sick at all. Just look at his photos! I hope he’ll gain a lot of weight (he lost a few pounds when he was sick) and grow taller this month! :)

When he’s done with his milk, that was my cue to carry him, stand up, sing a lullaby and sway him to sleep. So I did. (Yes, I am guilty of “babying” my son with this kind of technique.)

He’d normally fall asleep like this, but tonight he flailed his arms and legs as if wanting to free himself from my arms. I thought he probably wants to play some more, so I sat on our bed and laid him there.

He settled himself comfortably in his space, flung one leg on his booster pillow, and after a few minutes, fell asleep.

No need for lullabyes. No need for “dancing”. Just like a big boy.

*sigh*

Not too fast, my love, not too fast…

Post-script:
As if hearing my thoughts, Jaden later opened his eyes sleepily, crawled to me, and slept on my chest for a couple of minutes before I slid him down to bed. :) hayyy thank you Lord for making me jaden’s mommy!

2. Mommy ni Jaden.

3. Atenista :)

When I became a mother, a new reservoir of love and empathy for others opened up inside me. I’d always want to reach out to other moms with special needs, or those in difficult circumstances. It’s like I finally realized how emotionally challenging it is to be a mother, that any pain or burden heavier than the usual must feel a million times more heart-wrenching.

Which is why I have nothing but utmost admiration for you. You, who have endured the agony of being told your precious one is “different” from the rest. You, who have had to cope with your angel’s special needs, no matter the cost. You, who worry about how other people will treat your child and worry even more if she’ll ever enjoy her world like a regular kid.

I wish I could change the universe so that it can be more sensitive to you and most especially, your child. I can only do so much. But as my son Jaden has taught me, baby steps get the job done :)

So today, I promise you that when I see your child in the mall, I will not take a furtive second glance nor a meaningful stare. If my son is with me, I will ask you if I can let him play with your child. I will teach him that while other children may be different, they are nonetheless kids who enjoy toys and the company of playmates — very much just like him. Hopefully, he will learn to see beyond the differences and discover that special children are beautiful and fun, too.

If, somehow, your child can’t play with mine, that’s okay. I want you to know that on our way home, I’ll try my best to explain to my son why some kids can’t play or talk or walk like the rest. I’ll ask him to pray for your kid so that her time to play come soon, too.

I pray that science will have solid breakthroughs for your child. I join you in hoping that in our lifetime, we will see special children adapting to their environment, playing with other kids, and yes, even succeeding in a craft.

Finally, here’s a toast for you. Kudos, Mama/Mommy/Nana! You are a hero :)

…

Mommy Teya

]]> http://misisteapot.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/a-letter-to-special-moms/feed/ 0 misisteapot Autism Awareness http://misisteapot.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/johnson%e2%80%99s-my-kid%e2%80%99s-growing-up-so-fast-contest/ http://misisteapot.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/johnson%e2%80%99s-my-kid%e2%80%99s-growing-up-so-fast-contest/#comments Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:55:32 +0000 stella http://misisteapot.wordpress.com/?p=1063 ]]>

My kid's growing up so fast he's got bookmarks on my browser!

Jaden is changing before my eyes but his skin is still like a baby’s. We still need the gentle care of JOHNSON’s Baby Milk Bath, with Vitamins A&E and 100% more milk proteins to nourish developing skin.