We will get there

Jorel is now 4 and its been a year since they have confirmed his special needs and with his speech lagging behind -- I never thought to see the day he can utter what could be close to words. However there is a greater power and if you only believe --- miracles do happen and exist in everday life. Thank you lord for granting our wish to have him utter words before he was four,..From nil to all of sudden 5 to 6 words -- i wish for that to bet ties five for his 5th bday. this year of accomplishments is a crucial time as we prepare him for school,.. The long road ahead maybe uncertain but my heart hopes and pleads he does reach full potential.

For those who know him -- he is a sweet and lovable young boy,.. He may suddenly smack anyone without reason but its frustration and lack of verbal language that irks him to do so.. I as a mother profusely beg for peoples understanding -- soon -- soon he would need to do that -- the power of words will eliminate his inability to express his needs.

I am thankful to friends and family who love him, notice him, say hello to him and silently pray for him as he goes through his journey. I am deeply humbled that you take the time to get to know him and that you have genuine concern for him.. SALAMAT....

to my sister Jovy who always prays and loves my son -- you are my no.1 staunch supporter and you have really always uplifted me when I get down and want to give up.. Thanks,... thank you for loving my sweet boy,... here are some pics of Jorellie boy.... I hope you like it as much as I do!

Long overdue

I took close up shots of my sisters' daughter's (Jacinta) Hello kitty party.

it is my hope to kick start the biz I have been so wanting to start,..

I hope this pictures will serve as a catalyst to really get up my little tushy and work,.. and stop procastinating.....

I am back !!!!!

I have finally gotten up to reviving my blog -- been at the FB updating all the time and so I thought to repost my notes there to here...

Will come back again later to write updates and post pics too...
Be brave... let go....Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 7:19pm

This has been something DIFFICULT for me....FACING UP TO IT and learning about my Jorel's special needs,... However one is resilient during adversities -- haharapin mo yan eh --- kasi you need too........ So you just learn to live with it and do what you can to help him...

fast forward to present day.....

At first in those indoor playgrounds we would forever be on his tail to make sure he wasn't in any harm or maybe in little tussles with other boys. We have let go and let him have his space... and of late --- he has never pushed anyone (this was just phase for a few months).If anything those huge LOLLIPOPs playland.... He seems the happiest sliding and playing -- like any normal kid would in this kind of recreation.

Now, I have gone against my fears once again and let him learn swimming,.... The 2 older KUYAs have been going for months now and the joy to see them floating and doing laps (with floaters still) is just priceless... One day I saw 4 to 5 month old babies swimming in the pool with their moms. They were still in the floating stages but toddlers younger than JOREL were already doing dog paddles and floating on their backs, or swimming freestyle even...

A little ligh bulb in my head lit up and I realized -- what am I afraid off... Jorel has been swimming (without lessons) with his brothers since he was 4 months old-- this was weeklywas, when we were living in Manila then -- why should it be any different to those babies with no communication skills at this time?There was no reason that Jorel couldnt learn to swim when he can understand instruction now and respond....

My son has been to 2 lessons so far and the same joy and smiles I see each time we go swimming -- yeah that was so evident,.... The second lesson he could even hold the side of the pool and pull himself up to sit on the edge... And when the teacher said 'raise your hand' -- the stance teaching them how to dive (in preparation to it anyway) he raised his hands, all smiles and jumped !

His teacher even let him go and he knew to keep his head over the water. He was kicking and using his hands with such gusto. Ang saya saya nya....... I was amazed when the teacher attended to other kids with him -- he just sat on the edge,... occasionally standing up (so si Mommy JO nervous to the max) but he was fine... He was having a blast,...

I was beaming with happiness --- he could have been learning same time as his KUYAs. To top it off his LOLO George and LOLA Lettie were there to witness his first lessons.... I could see how proud they are of our boys esp our newbie swimmer Jorel.

Moral of the story is ----- if child is not scared -- then why should be the Adult be scared too...
so Mommy Jo -- face up -- it was you that held him back when all along he just wanted to learn...
so from now on ---- BE BRAVE AND LET GO !!

Training my boys.. Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at 5:29pm
If motherhood was made into an instructional manual of sorts, a lot of moms would queue to buy it,.. I would be camping out to just get my hands on it,...

Course my brood are 3 different personalities -- 3 diff types of needs and I had to learn fast how to adapt to each one of them.

Yesterday Jorel and I braved our first dental checkup --- I say that collectively because I was more afraid how he would fight me in helping him open his mouth. Lets say he did it well and they said ALL OK no cavities.. Special kids dont really like opening their mouths, much less a masked individual ask them to do so. I am glad I really try to brush his teeth,... and that luckily he doesnt like sweet drinks or chocolates,.....

Then we had therapy -- it was a wonderful day -- he was really responding well... I left there so proud of my boy,.... God really listens -- he is intently listening to my prayers for sweet boy.

Then came the MALL --- I didn't bring a stroller so I placed him in the mall trolley,.... and at first near the handle where you put babies but I realized he was just too cramped there..I stuff the trolley with Shopping (lagot!) and I made him sit in there and he was just super ok. We waited for us to get KFC and although he preferred my Chinese food -- he sat next to me in the food court area. He even got close to the young ladies while they ate their lunch but he never ran nor tried to go down. He was behaved.

Before I would absolutely die if he was to try to abscond or when he would refuse stopping in the stroller. Now my boy has grown and listens and follows. Again he has surprised me and allowed me to again realize -- I should believe in him more and trust his capabilities. Our life may not be PERFECT but I see GOD's perfection and miracles in HIM. Sometimes I often get depressed but little by little he uplifts me through my son.

I have started walking with him hand in hand for at least 30 minutes for him to get used to it. He would hold my hand automatically and listens to me when i need him closer.... Of course I would like to increase this as time goes by and so I would never be afraid to be walking my 3 boys around (esp when I am alone with the boys).

Lately we have been doing behavioral therapy. and we are working harder to really help him adjust to normalcy,... GOD is good -- he will see us through..... I just know it !

Lasting friendships....

I am so lucky to catch a night where all my girlfriends were present. These are the people I miss dearly in Manila. A night with them is just time well spent of great conversation and infectious laughter.

God is good -- he gave me a great set of friends who will always be there for you. They are ones who will uplift you when you are down and will rejoice with you in your success. They are first to compliment you when you look good and be the one to give you sound advise when you need it.

This is what friendship should be right. Its to love a person -- good points, flaws and all. And to understand you even in your bad days.


This is why it saddens me to hear of friendships that have not lasted. To hear of people deprived of great relationships (they dont know what they are missing)... How I wish I can share with them secret of our lasting friendship.

BOLDly, I am proud to say we just love each other. We dont feel envy in ones' triumphs (whether its career, family or even hobby), in fact we feel the same intensity too, as if it was US that won.

The support system is strong and we really help each other out, as best as we could.
I think that works -- with that combination -- I think even when we are in our GOLDEN years --- we will still laugh, cry, rejoice in the same way....

It maybe love for family and scrapbooking that has brought together but beyond that --- we have grown together as a band of women who enjoys life. WE have learned to not preoccupy ourselves with negativity and invite good karma by being happy and content... So the smiles you see here are all real.. for there is love amongst friends in this group...

Thank you girls for your time with me in MANILA -- I miss you all already,...
sayang IRIS was absent on this dinner...

Hello kitty madness

Here is what i made for my baby niece Jacinta on her first bday,...

I hope this is a new beggining for me -- its something that I can do a biz with,... good luck to me and my creative hands,.....

Shameless plug -- Adhesives

Since my trip to Manila is fast approaching, I am bringing in great adhesives/glue from Australia.










12mm double sided tape at P 180 each.
Buy 5 pcs, each tape will be P170 each.










6mm double sided tape at P 90.00 each.
Buy 5pcs, each tape wil be 80 pesos each

Helmar glue 125 ml

Helmar Acid Free glue has been specifically designed for memory albums, book binding, mounting photographs, preserving old or precious books, documents, scrap books, most craft projects, etc. Featuring excellent adhesion to dense papers, high flexibility, long term life of the bond. Sets clear, dries quickly and will not yellow with age. Non-wrinkling ! ACID-FREE ! Neutral pH level.

P180 each for 125ml bottle

buy 5 and each bottle will only be P 170 each

Kindly advise via email: patnjo2k@yahoo.com for your orders, so I can purchase them off hand the local store.

I am able to get 12x12 albums at P 800 each, however you need to let me know how many you need to so I can get them. They are heavy so I need to only bring for those who order.

Listen,...

I am always a good listener but its amazing how my little 3 year old boy teaches me to listen intently,...

My son has been at it with his alphabet train puzzle. And one day the letter A had gone missing (he felt lost starting the puzzle without it). We looked for it everywhere -- and it was nowhere to be found. He would still anyway complete it no fail when he remembered it and gestures for me to bring it down and open the box.

I had it in my head --- thinking where it could be..... when I remembered a paper bag he was fussing over, whinging about because he couldn't yank it out of the corner (where mom place it for storage). I dismissed his pleas thinking he just wanted to make mess (take things out and just spread it around the living room). He protested and cried a little when he saw me bring it to the next room, and under my breath, I said that its his brothers not his.

Lo and behold when I did remember about that incident and Patrick and I looked in the bag -- the elusive letter A was there. I called him to the bedroom and he flashed this great big smile when he saw it! I knew he was so excited to finally find it too!

It was a lesson that Mommy Jo learned today. For Jorel, communication isn't with words at this stage -- its is sounds, gestures and actions. SO today I am humbled by this little being, to listen intently, listen with my heart and to try and read what he is communicating to me.

Jorel, I know you are trying --- so I am so sorry Mom failed to listen.....