dengue times 2

I have been posting happy moments here in my blog, but before the flurry of excitement for my lil boy's bday, we had a minor setback.  my daughters, yes plural because they got inflicted by the dengue virus a couple of months ago.

'Twas the rainy season, oh well everyday seems like a rainy season already.  That was before the habagat and all.

They might have gotten it in school or god knows where.  First A, my eldest came home from school complaining she was dead tired and all achy, I placed my hand on her forehead to feel if she was warm, I even retorted, "hmmmn mas mainit pa ako sa iyo eh".  She came down to have something to eat, I think she had some instant soup. She went back to our room and then I touched her again and she was getting warmer to the touch. So standard procedure, I asked her to drink paracetamol, okay even if this is not a paid blog, it was Tempra. I told her to not go to school anymore the next day.

Whaddya know, she was crying, not because of the pain but because I asked her not to go to school.
If that was me I would have done my happy dance.  She begged and pleaded that I let her go to school because it was career orientation day which she was oh so looking forward to.

Anyways, so I made her a deal, that if her fever goes down 38˚ C I would let her go, provided she would go to the clinic should she feel anything wrong. I was getting worried though because she did not have any cough or colds, so that got me worried already.

She came back from school that day, acting as if nothing is wrong with her, but she was burning up.
She did not protest anymore when I asked her to skip school as she became so weak already.
The next day we went to their pediatrician, but alas to our luck she was not there, but there was a reliever doctor.  Funny side note: I heard one lola looking for a reviewer from the nurse/receptionist.
the nurse was very confused then he realized the lola was looking for a reliever.

Anyways, we were asked to have the dengue test, gone were the days when they do tourniquets, she had the NS1 test which can test if you have dengue.  IF your fever is more than 24 hours, and you suspect that you have dengue, don't go for the cbc blood test alone, ask for an ns1 test.

I have a nagging feeling it was dengue because there were no other symptoms that indicates it was flu.
She was a bit red, which I guess would be an indication if it is dengue. I am no expert but that was how she looked like.  It only took an hour for the results to be released and true enough she was positive for dengue. Her platelet was a little low so we were asked to admit her to the hospital already.

I called back home and asked if my other kids needed something else as we are near the grocery.  B, my second daughter said she needed vitamin C. I thought it was for a project but said she was not feeling well too.  I was getting agitated already as I knew that she too had dengue.  I asked the good doctor if I can have B tested already, but she said I have to wait for 24 hours before I get her tested, otherwise it will just be a waste of time and blood as it will not yet detect the virus.

We went back home, A was not really feeling that sick as she finished doing her homework and IP group projects she insisted on submitting.  I wrapped up all my work load and passed all the things needed to be done to my boss/brother.

We were waiting for my husband to arrive, when he got home we could not leave right away because A was not yet done doing their group projects, which really irked me. It was already 10 at night before we were able to leave the house.  B's fever already reached 40˚ C, so we told her to come with us to the ER already.

I just told the doctor that she had the fever fcor 24 hours already so they will administer the ns1 test.
Call it mother's instinct, this was one test I look forward to seeing them fail, unfortunately she also tsetse positive.

They got admitted in Medical City, due to the number of patients we got 2 separate rooms for them in 2 separate floors.  Boy was that hard to manage. 2 kids admitted in 2 different floors, Haist.

Anyway, we stayed there for 8 days, please note on the 4rd and 5th day of fever, they will feel well and strong and they will have low grade to no fever at all, that is when the virus attacks your system.

What the doctors were watching out for was the platelet count but they were more concern on the hematocrit level. a high hematocrit is a danger sign of an increased risk of dengue shock syndrome. taken from wikipedia. 

The only meds that were being administered to them were hydrite and paracetamol and IV.  Boy was it hard for them to drink that stuff. A has an aversion to any hydrite, she was vomitting not because of the dengue but from drinking that thing.  That is why up to this day they do not drink buko juice because it is somewhat similar to the taste of hydrite.

The hubby, was determined to buy tawa-tawa as he have looked hit up in the internet, but it did not push through because I told him, how will you make them drink that eh yung tawa tawa nga di na carry.  My sister in law on the other hand prepared tea from camote tops, B tried it, it was not bad but
she only drank a few sips.

Silver lining was that the dengue strain they got was not the worst kind, as there are several strains, you know. Thank God they did not vommit, had no tummy ache, which means the virus did not attack their internal organs.

after 5 days in the hospital they developed a rash.

in case you are wondering, that is not one of my daughter's back.  but the rash looks like that.
The nurse said, most of the time when the rashes appear it means they are on the road to recovery.

So nowadays we are sporting the GIGA citronella scent.  Prevention is always better, so we are here to combat all those bad mosquitoes.

These are my babies battling the fight together.

where did the time go

Feeling nostalgic. My A just celebrated her 15th bday. Imagine I already have a 15 year old daughter, I am only 35 by the way, turning 36 in a month's time.  Gone were the days when she fancied playing dress up with gowns, tiaras and taking an interest to all disney princesses.

Well she still enjoys getting dressed up, in forever21, mango and zara.  But she is more into jackets and cardigans.  What do you know for her birthday clothes, she got a leather jacket again.  But lucky for me, it fits me as well hihihihi and it is in brown which is my favorite color. This is her 2nd leather jacket, for which it still astounds me when she would really utilize all this jackets and cardigans.

15 years ago, I never thought I could be a parent to A.  When I found out I was pregnant, it scared the shit out of me, being only 20 then and finding out that I am positive with A, my world tumbled.  I did not know what to do, I was even sick at that time and we didn't know who to turn to. We didn't even know of any OB back then.  We just went to Capitol Medical Hospital looked at the directory and we just went to Dra. Belen.  Remember the commercials back then, I think it was Safeguard or something, where they had Dra. Belen as one of the characters.  See how we can still find wit and humor to inject in our very critical decision making even back then.

I had to deal with telling my parents, my brothers and my friends also my hubby's family as well.  There was too much drama back then, not with my parents mind you but with my brother.  He was the one who went amok with the news. As in literally, he stormed out of the house and almost punched a friend. That deserves a different post.  Just so you know, he loves my kids to death and my hubby and my brother are friends now.

My A was part of our wedding ceremony, enjoying the food and music inside my womb. I have not graduated yet at that time, and I had to stop for a year to carry her. My corporate career was put on hold because of her, any regrets? None.  Still scared? Yes.  A was our first guinea pig as parents. I wasn't sure if I can handle it.  My mom went to NY when I was 12 and my teen years I was raised by 3 boys and our Manang who is not married and does not have any kids.
So who wouldn't be scared, right.

I don't have my mother beside me to tell me what to do. I imported my Lola, God bless her soul, as she was the one who taught me the basics, like burping the baby, giving A a bath, feeding her.  I was the one who is personally doing her laundry, bottle cleaning, boiling water. The works, I was a hands on Mom back then.

And did I make a good job? I would like to think so, because I get praises from my sister-in-law and mother-in-law.  I hope that says a lot.  I may have stumbled several times though, she may not be the typical Filipino teeners who says po and opo, but I have instilled in her to be respectful not just with words but how to treat people in general.  You may be saying po and opo but are not respectful when talking to the manang and manongs in school, to our angels in our home who helps us.

We may have our screaming fits from time to time, when she thinks she knows it all, but nevertheless she is a good daughter.  She do well in school, she is caring to her brother and sister when she does not have tons of school works to do. 

She never seizes to make us proud.  She does everything to the best that she can and she does not accept anything mediocre. I love how we can talk about anything, it's like having a daughter and a sister at the same time.  She may not know it, but at her tender age, she has become my wall, to whom I can lean on when I am sad and burdened.  She is very insightful.

Ate A, you are a very talented individual, do not be afraid to spread your wings, do not be afraid to fall, as your dad and mom will always catch you,  maybe you would suffer a scratch sometimes, I can not guarantee that you will not get hurt, but one thing is for sure, I will be there to help you heal.

 Thank your for being our guinea pig Ate A and happy birthday, 3 more years you will be an adult.

looking for a hongkong deal vacation.

looking for a hongkong deal vacation.

We went  to SMEX yesterday,  hoping to find a travel deal to go back to Hongkong with the kids,
to celebrate A and C's birthdays, unfortunately we misread the email announcements and we missed the Philippines part of the travel expo.

Would love to bring my kids to this place, Charlie Brown Café in Hongkong, well aside from Disney, would love for them to experience this pancake house.  My children are pancake lovers and would like to share with them one of my childhood icons.

Missed out on the Cathay Pacific travel promo.  I am not so keen on getting on board a Cebu Pacific flight with my kids but will still check for availability of promos.