I took some breather early this week from the heightened activities that Mama Sez and I have been experiencing since the start of the new year.  The rest was not just by choice but was also necessary as I was down with a throat virus like everyone else in the family, except for Rica, due to the colder and wetter than normal weather in the Philippines.

We did launch a new website that plays to our passion and strength as entomologists. Moreover, Mama Sez has teamed up with me in providing lectures and consultancy work in pest management as we decided to focus on this area this year. Therefore, for me to be more effective, I forgo my teaching commitment in a university also starting 2011.

What also kept us quite frantic was a stomach flu episode that hit the kids early January.  Having it all behind us now was a huge relief and we learned a lot from it such that Mama Sez shared the experience and the information she gathered about viral gastroenteritis at hubpages.com.

Therefore, we had to make adjustments to our commitments to our writing and posting in our sites and blogs including here at Parenting Journey. We can just realistically do so much. But hey, you won't find me complaining. Nagkukuwento lang :)

Checking my Hubpages account reminded me of my backlogs in writing. I should be publishing my Christmas hubs by now…

A video project is waiting for soundtracks to be added…

It’s been almost two weeks since I last posted a blog…

But while in front of the computer, attempting to finish an article and several tabs were open, my arms opened up for Nadine who wanted to sit on my lap. She immediately fell asleep nestled on my chest. I can feel her heartbeat next to mine. I can smell her sweet baby scent. I should lay her down to bed but no, not yet…let me savor the moment some more. I stared at her angelic face and it just feels great. I am not accomplishing any tangible thing and yet it feels sooo right!!! Nadine feels so secure in her Mom’s arms but I guess it’s both ways because I find comfort in her warmth. If I was able to defer my professional career for my Nadine girl then everything else can wait for this wondrous moment. For a moment, I rested all my thoughts and worries and focused on this lovely being I am currently holding. That moment is gone when my school kids excitedly arrived to tell me that they did well in their exam.

I had to put down Nadine to attend to the needs of her newly arrived Ate and Kuya from school then the other Kuya shouted. The noise awakened Nadine. Now I have to attend to the simultaneous demands of four little kiddos…mainly attention, attention, attention and attention. This is the moment of truth!!!

Anyway, my kiddos won’t mind if I have many unfinished and unpublished works

I just don’t know with Papa Sez :P will he?

I was trying to get some quiet time to write. How can I have it when my toddler wanted me to massage his back very often just to get my attention and my 7-year old son was bugging her older sister to tell each other scary stories for fun? My daughter with lack of scary ideas kept on complaining about the demand of his brother. Was that my baby crying on the background? Oh my, I’m about to lose my composure! These little guys are driving me crazy!

“Calm down Mama Sez…look on the bright side of life. Your toddler is a smart kid and knows how to get what he wants. He knows that you love him and appreciates the massage you are giving him such that he keeps coming back for more. Be cheerful to your repeat customer, lol.”

“Your other son just wants to have some fun. Unfortunately, the topic is not inviting for his sister who happens to be a pretty mature person who doesn’t want to engage in that futile exercise. Lastly, your baby longs for your embrace and only your smell can pacify her. Have you taken a bath?”

Breathe in…breathe out. Think before you act and look on the bright side.

Instead of freaking out, I suggested that the three older kids play something interactive like ‘Hide and Seek’. Luckily, they liked the idea and off they went away. My older son forgot about his scary stories, my toddler forgot about me (for awhile) and my older daughter again earned her leadership merit. My helper, on the other hand, managed to redirect my baby’s attention to toy blocks. Finally, I now have my few minutes to write…c’mon, I hope it's an hour.

Good things just came out of the situation …this blog being one of those!

Ok I had to stop now... my computer time is up because my toddler is now insisting on having his hair cut. I also do that kind of service for him

Update: Read about their haircut session here.