All about Primary Complex

More and more Pinoy babies are diagnosed to have Primary Complex. My son Ren is not an exception, he was diagnosed to have it when he was just 1 year old and 2 months. I would like to share what I learned about this curable disease so that more moms and dads out there will know what to do.


What is a Primary Complex?

Primary Complex is also known as Tuberculosis and kids that live in Southeast Asia are most prone to have it. This bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) can be spread by an adult to young children through coughing, sneezing, talking, and even breathing.

What are the symptoms of Primary Complex?

1. The most common sign is prolonged cough
2. weight loss or loss of appetite
3. enlarged lymph nodes in the neck area
4. some may have fever during the afternoon

How does Primary Complex be diagnosed?

Ren was ask to undergo a chest x-ray. If the kid is negative with the chest x-ray the Pedia will advise you to have a skin test just to be sure.

How does Primary Complex be treated?

Ren's pedia prescribed 3 medicines: Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide an Isoniazid (from UNILAB) the prescibed dosages depends on your kid's weight. Ren took those medicines for 6 months then was advised to have a skin test again after 6 months to check if the virus is already gone. His cousin took it for 9 months to be virus free.

The pedia told us that all adults in the house should undergo a chest x-ray to check if there were any of us who have the virus since the child will not be cured if the positive adult will not also do something to get rid of the virus. It's a good thing there was nobody in the house who had the virus back then.

Our Family Photos from Tracey Heppner Photography

Last Mother's Day, I joined a contest hosted by Mommy Journey, and luckily, I've won! I really like the prize which is a photo session with a Canadian photographer named Tracey Heppner since I saw some of her photos of Mommy Chris' family.

Unfortunately, since Tracey has a very busy schedule and that the weather is usually rainy, the scheduled photo session was moved and moved and finally came Sept 11th when both of us are finally available.

The photo session was set to be at the Ayala Triangle in Makati, but before we arrived at the venue, the rain started again and we began to feel sad because we thought the session will be cancelled again but it's a good thing it stopped when we arrived.

Before Tracey and I met, I told my husband to help me talk to her since I am not used to talking with foreigners. But silly Noel, he is too shy to speak and that is why the conversation was mostly with Tracey and Me (my nose started to bleed a few times! hehehe). But Tracey is sooooo nice that I didn't even noticed if I was speaking English correctly or not!

I told Tracey that Ren is super active and that sometimes before I even clicked our camera, he is already gone. Well, it's a good thing Tracey knows how to handle kids and she really did a GREAT job in asking Ren to pose for her expensive and beautiful camera.

Here are some of our pictures taken by Tracey Heppner (which you can also see at her blog - click HERE)

I decided that we should wear red clothes since besides it being one of my favorite color (aside from green), it looks very good for a Christmas postcard right?

If you want your family picture taken by Tracey Heppner too, then contact her in any of this platforms:
email: tracey@traceylheppner.com
blog: www.blog.traceylheppner.com
twitter: www.twitter.com/traceyheppner
facebook: www.facebook.com/traceylheppnerphotography

Parentin TV 2nd Year Anniversary: 1st Bloggers Event!

I met Ms. Christine Bersola last Jan 2010 at an event sponsored by Johnson & Johnson's and Nuffnang (click story HERE). At that time, she is still pregnant and about to give birth to her 2nd baby (1 day after the event). Tintin Bersola is very kind, warm and you can easily get comfortable with her which makes me like her even more.

Last September 10, 2011 she invited selected mommy bloggers to attend the 2nd year anniversary of her ParenTIN.TV at the Richmonde hotel. As much as I wanted to attend the said event, my husband and son were both really sick at that time and I know Tin Tin will agree with me that family comes first before anything else. Yet, it's good to know that the mommy bloggers who were there shared their experiences and through reading their posts, I  learned what happened at the said event.

photo via: pehpot

I learned that Families all over the Philippines can now watch Parentin.tv episodes on the Knowledge Channel, Skycable Ch. 42.  The schedule of airing is  as follows:

Sundays at 8 p.m

Mondays, 7:20 p.m.

Wednesdays, 8:40 p.m.

Saturdays, 9 a.m., 2 p.m.and 9 p.m. 

After the conception and giving birth episodes, this year, they will move to developmental milestones, toddler tips and more celebrity interviews! YEEEPEY!!!

I learned that avid readers of their website articles can expect more content coming from teenagers, which is really great! Readers will surely wish to know, see and hear the feelings of teenagers. So calling all Teen bloggers out there, you can send in your articles to hello@parentin.tv.

This is the most exciting part, I learned that they will help some mompreneurs to earn a little extra for the holidays! Oh Christmas is really just around the corner.  They recently launched another online promo that gives enterprising moms out there an opportunity to win a free booth at The Grand International Importers and Exporters Christmas Bazaar at the World Trade Center-Hall A from November 11-20, 2011, by just turning in a successful referral.  The value of the booth is P60,000 and two winning moms or dads can share it to sell wares this Christmas. For inquiries, email t.bersola-babao@parentin.tv.

I hope next time that Parentintv will have a bloggers event I will be able to attend it.  Anyway, Congratulations to TinTin and Parentintv for this milestone and hoping for more anniversaries to come :)

My son shares his thoughts about Disney!

A while ago, mom asked me why is it that even though there are different available toys in the market, I love and prefer to have CARS, specifically Lightning Mcqueen and Mater among others?

Mom asked me why is it that I love to watch Beauty and the Beast even though the main character is a girl?.

Mom asked me what is the reason I like to see Mickey Mouse and Friends at the Araneta Coliseum?

I know you promised me that you will bring me to Disney Land when I reached my 7 years of existence but you always say that Life is Short and that we should enjoy it while it lasts and I know I will enjoy Mickey Mouse and Friends musical show. Also, I want to see my next favorite Pixar characters, Woody and Buzz Lightyear in action.

photo via: http://www.disneylive-asia.com/mickeymusicfestival/

I grew up singing the "hotdog" song from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, I am fascinated with any Disney characters.  Even though I saw Disney Movies several times like Beauty and the Beast I can still feel the thrill and excitement each time I watch it.  I want to watch them and I hope I can!!!

I promised to behave and will give you good grades although I am still not sure when will I fully speak my mind and talk to you directly. 

By the way I have read the PR Release from Vivre Fort Entertainment and this makes me more excited about the upcoming show. Yes! I know how to read.....

Here is a copy if you want to read it for yourself.

Mickey Mouse and his band of friends, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy will be performing in a music mash-up of mega proportions as Disney Live! comes to Manila and Cebu City for the first time with its newest stage show Mickey’s Music Festival. Concert goers will hear greatest hits from the blockbuster movies, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story remixed to rock, pop, reggae, hip-hop, jazz and country, among other jams. Produced by Feld Entertainment, Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival brings the biggest concert experience to hit live family entertainment. This show is presented in the Philippines by Vivre Fort Entertainment Inc., Guess Kids and Fox International Channels.

“One song can touch millions of people around the world and Disney has been at the beat of this concept for years by making music a main ingredient of storytelling,” said Producer and CEO of Feld Entertainment Kenneth Feld. “In Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival we are celebrating with the Disney characters to a soundtrack of the latest sounds and chart-topping hits. We want our guests to walk away with lasting memories and singing these unforgettable melodies long after they leave the show.”

Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival, featuring an all star line-up of more than 25 Disney characters, begins with audiences watching a state-of-the-art video projection of the frenzy backstage which spills onto the stage as Mickey welcomes guests to his concert tour. Soon thereafter, they will be transported to a new world of hip hop beats, dizzying acrobatics, flying carpets and magical transformations with Aladdin, Jasmine and Genie. Underwater is where the crowd will meet up with Ariel, Sebastian and their nautical pals to groove to the reggae rhythm. And, family and friends will stomp to the beat as Woody, Buzz and Jessie teach them how to boogie rodeo-style. Anyone can be a member of the band as giant-sized balloons fall from the ceiling in one scene and then in the next, Disney characters are dancing in the aisles.

“We’ve created an environment where audience members will be able to connect with the Disney stars,” said Alana Feld, Producer and Executive Vice President of Feld Entertainment. “Within each concert moment are elements of personal interaction and they will be harmonizing, dancing, laughing and having an outrageously good time with the characters right there in their city.”

Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival was built with a global audience in mind and a goal of being as universal as its featured music. The father-daughter production team, Kenneth Feld and Alana Feld, has hand selected award-winning creative talents whose credits span from working with Madonna to winning a Latin Grammy® Award to designing hundreds of costumes for Disney theme park shows:

• Director/Choreographer Fred Tallaksen is the award-winning choreographer of Madonna’s “Sorry” video and the finale of her Confessions World Tour. In 2008, he earned a Latin Grammy® in the Best Video category for Juanes’s “Me Enamora.” Tallaksen was also skating choreographer for “Austin Powers III-Goldmember”

• Writer Jeremy Desmon’s credits include The Girl in the Frame, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie & Other Storybooks and Curious George Live! He received the 2007 Kleban Award for excellence in Musical Theatre Bookwriting, and is also a recipient of the Dramatists Guild's Jonathan Larson Fellowship

• Scenic Designer Rick Papineau is the vice president of Scenic Elements at Feld Entertainment and is credited for leading the creation of life-like versions of the characters from Disney/Pixar’s Cars that move on ice for Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy

• Costume Designer Cynthia Nordstrom designed costumes for more than 15 original dance shows in Downtown Disney from 1996 until 1999 and is credited for designing costumes for Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy

• Lighting Designer Sam Doty is eager to work on his second Disney Live! show after Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show put him in the spotlight

• Music Director Stan Beard has arranged and written the musical score for numerous domestic and international Disney On Ice productions; has worked in the recording studio with such luminaries as Barbra Streisand and Frank Sinatra

Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival is set to be staged this year at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel from September 23-25 and at the Smart Araneta Coliseum from October 5-9. For Manila shows, tickets are exclusively available at Ticketnet (911-5555) located in SM Department stores and at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. For Cebu shows, tickets can be purchased at SM Tickets (032-231-3876) located in SM Cinemas, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel (032-232-6888) and at Ayala Center Cebu. For more details, visit www.disneylive.com.ph or call Vivre Fort Entertainment at (02) 470 6956.

Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival is also brought to you by Smart Araneta Coliseum, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, Citibank, ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN Regional Group, Araneta Center, Gateway Cineplex 10, Alimall Cineplex 4, SM Cinemas, SM City Cebu, Discovery Suites, Renowed Sound and Various Production, MYX, Manila Bulletin, Businessworld, Sunstar, Cebu Daily News, Crossover 105.1, Power FM Cebu, Love Radio 97.9, Y101 Cebu, Alcordo Advertising, Greenworld LED Solutions and Manila Concert Scene. This event is for the benefit of Senyas Kamay Pilipinas.

ABOUT FELD ENTERTAINMENT

Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment’s productions have appeared in more than 70 countries on six continents and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®, Feld Motor Sports, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.

DISNEY THEATRICAL GROUP (DTG) operates under the direction of Thomas Schumacher and is among the world’s most successful commercial theatre enterprises. Through Disney Theatrical Productions, Disney On Ice and Disney Live! , DTG brings live entertainment events to a global annual audience of more than 19 million people in more than 50 countries. Under the Disney Theatrical Productions banner, the group produces and licenses Broadway musicals around the world, including: Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida, TARZAN® and Mary Poppins, a co-production by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh and The Little Mermaid. Disney Theatrical Group also delivers live shows globally through its license to Feld Entertainment, producer of Disney On Ice and Disney Live! For the past 30 years, Disney On Ice and Disney Live! have brought beloved Disney stories and characters annually to over 12 million guests in nearly 70 countries worldwide through productions such as Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo, Princess Wishes and Mickey & Minnie’s Amazing Journey as well as Disney Live! Mickey’s Magic Show and Three Classic Fairy Tales. In addition, DTG licenses musical titles for local, school and community theatre productions through Music Theatre International.

How to be a good and effective mom?

I am a stay at home mom and being one doesn't make me a good mom at all but I am trying my best to be one. But, what is really the qualification of a good mother? Does doing everything (as in everything) for your family and not taking care of yourself will make you a good mom?

For me, there are 3 aspects that I consider to be a good and effective mother

1. Have a quality time with the entire family

My son has just turned 4 so he is still dependent to us. But if ever he will be already old and have a social life outside the house I am still thinking of continuing to have a quality time together with him. As a mom, we are the ones who are responsible to hook up or gather every family member once in a while. This will make the family close together and catch up on what's happening in each and everyone's life.

2. Have a great time with your husband

My husband and I promised each other when we are still Boyfriend/Girlfriend that even though we got married and have kids or are already senior citizens we will still find time to go out and enjoy each others company (just the two of us). That is why every time we have extra's for leisure we see to it that hubby and I will either watch our favorite movies or dine out outside. On the other hand, if we are on a tight budget, cuddling in bed is enough to have a time together.

3. Have a "me" time

You don't have to always go to a salon or spa to enjoy your "me" time. Sometimes, a "me" time can be as simple as staying in your bed, reading your favorite book, enjoying every sip of your coffee or watching your fave movies or TV series at home, it doesn't need to be splurging all your hard earned moolah. You shouldn't have to be guilty after doing this because every person needs to take a break. We need to be refreshed, be healthy and happy so that we can be more productive and give more love to our family.  A "me" time can also be spent with your old friends or new found friends, don't forget the individuality that you have before you got married and had kids so being out with friends once in a while is not bad.

me together with my offline friends

me together with some online friends (photo via: Thermos Philippines FB page)

How about you, what do you do to be a good and effective mother?

Family bonding moments at Enchanted Kingdom which is now “an Earth-friendly park”!

Last Sunday, Noel, Ren and Me, together with my brothers, sisters in law and their children went to Enchanted Kingdom.  It was planned 2 weeks ago, but since it's rainy and Ren was sick, it was postponed until yesterday when the weather was sunny once again.

We went there at exactly 2PM, our tickest were discounted vouchers from Ensogo wherein we payed only P300/head for a P500 worth of All day passes. It's been almost 15 years ago when I last visited Enchanted Kingdom, it was just opened at that time. Noel was never been there so he was very excited to see what Enchanted Kingdom looks like.

Enchanted Kingdom didn't change much from what it looked like 15 years ago, I commend the management for taking good care of all the attractions and the place itself. It still looks brand new!!!

What I noticed was they don't use Styrofoam for the foods and plastic bags for souvenir items anymore. Enchanted Kingdom is now an Eco-friendly park!

Enchanted Kingdom now is into trash segregation, establishment of a plant nursery, edible landscaping, constructing a rainwater collection system, the use of environment-friendly paint, and shifting to LED and CFL lighting wherever feasible.

We will see more GREEN in Enchanted Kingdom now..... and crocodile???

I noticed that the streets are clean and aristocrats are everywhere :)

As a green living advocate myself, I hope that more people will see the importance of taking good care of our environment.  It is not only for our own good but especially for the next generations to come.

Kudos to Mr. Mario O. Mamon, Chairman and President of Enchanted Kingdom for doing this advocacy.