He Would Have Been 54

It was my father's birthday yesterday Philippine time. He would have been 54. Since it is still April 14 here in the United States, it is still his birthday today and I wanna say ( if ever his spirit is reading this)  HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA! I MISSED YOU DEARLY! I hope you are happy where you are and in peace with the Lord now but hey let me tell you this, not a single day that passes by I am not thinking about you. I regret for not telling you I LOVE YOU when you were still with us!

This is my father's first birthday without him and I guess his coming birthdays will only get bitter as we celebrate it for he is no longer with us and we can never see him anymore unless of course death will come for us! God forbid, hope not now or soon because I still have kids to care for and raise.

[caption id="attachment_451" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="mama and papa during my vacation in PI last 2009"][/caption]

My Parents

I scanned some old photos of our wedding 7 years back and I saw there is one shot of my parents. Who would have thought that my father would die 7 years after he handed his daughter to a foreign man. Yet I still consider myself lucky because my father was still around and was able to walk with me in the aisle during my wedding.

My marriage to my husband was the beginning of my close relationship to my father blossomed. If it wasn't because of it, I don't know if me and him will share that bond a father and daughter should share. I don't think I was close to either of my parents when I was growing up because they were both busy with bringing home some money so the family had something to eat while the mother have always been busy with other kids and her chores.

My Parents

I scanned some old photos of our wedding 7 years back and I saw there is one shot of my parents. Who would have thought that my father would die 7 years after he handed his daughter to a foreign man. Yet I still consider myself lucky because my father was still around and was able to walk with me in the aisle during my wedding.

My marriage to my husband was the beginning of my close relationship to my father blossomed. If it wasn't because of it, I don't know if me and him will share that bond a father and daughter should share. I don't think I was close to either of my parents when I was growing up because they were both busy with bringing home some money so the family had something to eat while the mother have always been busy with other kids and her chores.

Hospital Staycation

ILEUS is the reason why Jadyn got hospitalized.

Ileus - is a disruption of the normal propulsive ability of the gastrointestinal tract.

Ileus is commonly defined simply as bowel obstruction.[1][2] However, authoritative sources define it as decreased motor activity of the GI tract due to non-mechanical causes.[3][4] In such sense, this does not include motility disorders that result from structural abnormalities, and, therefore, some mechanical obstructions are misnomers, such as gallstone ileus and meconium ileus, and are not true examples of ileus.

We stayed in the hospital for 2 nights and 2 days hoping to find a relief or cure of her suffering but the cheap and poor service of Virgin of the Rule hospital didn't do anything to our concern so I decided to check out against doctor's advice. Today, I am going to see a pediatrician hoping that he can find a drug or do a miracle to my baby's belly so the suffering will end. 

Anyways, during those days and nights of our hospital staycation, my family stayed with me especially my mother, father and siblings and few cousins. There were three concerned friends too who showed their support to my baby namely Cindy, Ivy Ompad and Leizl Z. whose presence are greatly appreciated. I thank them for they are not only my friends but they showed true concern during tough times. I am lucky I still got few selected friends I can count on.

...... a shot of Jadyn's Godmothers- Cindy and Ivy..thanks ladies for showing your support to my baby...

......... her lolo must love her that much because he was there standing by and always ready to assist me with Jadyn. Big kudos also to my mother for her motherly care for my Jadyn..too bad I wasn't able to take a picture of her in the room...

.........and my face who wasn't happy seeing her baby being poked by needles several times over......

.......these two photos show how my father loves his first ever grandchild, Jadyn. He followed her in the lobby carrying her I.V......

......the little roommate who became her friend and the kid's father with my father also.....

Hospital Staycation

ILEUS is the reason why Jadyn got hospitalized.

Ileus - is a disruption of the normal propulsive ability of the gastrointestinal tract.

Ileus is commonly defined simply as bowel obstruction.[1][2] However, authoritative sources define it as decreased motor activity of the GI tract due to non-mechanical causes.[3][4] In such sense, this does not include motility disorders that result from structural abnormalities, and, therefore, some mechanical obstructions are misnomers, such as gallstone ileus and meconium ileus, and are not true examples of ileus.

We stayed in the hospital for 2 nights and 2 days hoping to find a relief or cure of her suffering but the cheap and poor service of Virgin of the Rule hospital didn't do anything to our concern so I decided to check out against doctor's advice. Today, I am going to see a pediatrician hoping that he can find a drug or do a miracle to my baby's belly so the suffering will end. 

Anyways, during those days and nights of our hospital staycation, my family stayed with me especially my mother, father and siblings and few cousins. There were three concerned friends too who showed their support to my baby namely Cindy, Ivy Ompad and Leizl Z. whose presence are greatly appreciated. I thank them for they are not only my friends but they showed true concern during tough times. I am lucky I still got few selected friends I can count on.

...... a shot of Jadyn's Godmothers- Cindy and Ivy..thanks ladies for showing your support to my baby...

......... her lolo must love her that much because he was there standing by and always ready to assist me with Jadyn. Big kudos also to my mother for her motherly care for my Jadyn..too bad I wasn't able to take a picture of her in the room...

.........and my face who wasn't happy seeing her baby being poked by needles several times over......

.......these two photos show how my father loves his first ever grandchild, Jadyn. He followed her in the lobby carrying her I.V......

......the little roommate who became her friend and the kid's father with my father also.....

Scenery

Here are another batch of photos of the beautiful scenery going South Cebu to my grandma's place. I so missed these places because we used to pass by here a lot when I was younger especially the rice field area. I was amazed to have a glimpse of these beautiful places once again. I would have never thought I could visit these places again. So calming and very nice in my eyes. I missed the simple yet happy life I had when I lived with my grandmother.

...second photo is the Mantayupan falls located just very close to where my grandma's house is...

...the third one is the winding road to South... up here from a far is my father's multicab that we used going to Barili, Cebu

Scenery

Here are another batch of photos of the beautiful scenery going South Cebu to my grandma's place. I so missed these places because we used to pass by here a lot when I was younger especially the rice field area. I was amazed to have a glimpse of these beautiful places once again. I would have never thought I could visit these places again. So calming and very nice in my eyes. I missed the simple yet happy life I had when I lived with my grandmother.

...second photo is the Mantayupan falls located just very close to where my grandma's house is...

...the third one is the winding road to South... up here from a far is my father's multicab that we used going to Barili, Cebu

Sunset

I personally took these photos during sunset in Buagsong, Cordova the other day. The place is so quiet, so relaxing and I love its tranquility. I can live here forever if my whole family is with me including my husband. I just love the beautiful sunset view, the seawater, the native huts, the place and everything about this place. I wish I stayed longer in that place but I was afraid it got dark too soon and we might not be able to get to the city proper on time. Next time again, I hope I can go back that place before I fly to Texas.

Sunset

I personally took these photos during sunset in Buagsong, Cordova the other day. The place is so quiet, so relaxing and I love its tranquility. I can live here forever if my whole family is with me including my husband. I just love the beautiful sunset view, the seawater, the native huts, the place and everything about this place. I wish I stayed longer in that place but I was afraid it got dark too soon and we might not be able to get to the city proper on time. Next time again, I hope I can go back that place before I fly to Texas.

The Same Scene

This photo above is of my little siblings and my baby sleeping together in one bed the very night we arrived here. This scene was the same scene I have seen during our last visit. How sweet of my little siblings to welcome Jadyn into their home. They treat my baby as their sister and take note, all of their attentions are always with my baby when they are not in school. I loveeeeeeee just the way Baden and my brother and sister play and get along well with each other.

The Same Scene

This photo above is of my little siblings and my baby sleeping together in one bed the very night we arrived here. This scene was the same scene I have seen during our last visit. How sweet of my little siblings to welcome Jadyn into their home. They treat my baby as their sister and take note, all of their attentions are always with my baby when they are not in school. I loveeeeeeee just the way Baden and my brother and sister play and get along well with each other.

My Goodluck Pants

Thank God I am now done with governmental papers works for I acquired my US Citizenship yesterday (sorry I can't stop talking about it yet, I still have a hangover of my citizenship that's why). I was one of the luckiest candidates to take the oath at the USCIS office.

God was with me the whole time and I knew that He is going to let me pass it. In the picture, I am wearing my pair of black pants which I consider my GOODLUCK PANTS. They are the same pair I wore during my first visa interview at the US Embassy in Manila 4 years back.

It was me and Carolina bought the pants when I stayed with her for my interview. I am glad we bought the pants for they bring good karma to me.

My Goodluck Pants

Thank God I am now done with governmental papers works for I acquired my US Citizenship yesterday (sorry I can't stop talking about it yet, I still have a hangover of my citizenship that's why). I was one of the luckiest candidates to take the oath at the USCIS office.

God was with me the whole time and I knew that He is going to let me pass it. In the picture, I am wearing my pair of black pants which I consider my GOODLUCK PANTS. They are the same pair I wore during my first visa interview at the US Embassy in Manila 4 years back.

It was me and Carolina bought the pants when I stayed with her for my interview. I am glad we bought the pants for they bring good karma to me.

Historical Houses

I feel very very fortunate to be able to visit my FIL's hometown. Oh boy! I liked it there damn it! As if I don't wanna return to hot Texas. Not only the place is welcoming but the weather itself is one of the big reasons why I wanna live there...forever... plus the beach and beautiful sceneries!

I couldn't contain myself of looking at the place, wandering around to see the nice houses and clean surroundings. Before we left Benicia, my husband took us to a neighborhood so we could have a glimpse of significant houses where his father and aunt used to live when they were little.

First off, we stopped by at the big house, owned by Lewis Decatur Sanborn- a doctor in the family.. it's the one in the bottom of this entry, the yellow one with me standing in front of it. Of course the house is modified by several owners after they sold it to other people and perhaps upgraded the bathroom vanities and other fixtures with a new one, more modern.

Second stop was at a house where Morgan Sanborn- my father in-law and his sister Virginia lived...and that is the white house below. Yeah it is very old yet it still looked nicer as houses in the US are built to last for years.

I can't describe how happy I am to be there. It felt like I have reconnected my FIL's past life by visiting the houses he once loved and familiar with.

Historical Houses

I feel very very fortunate to be able to visit my FIL's hometown. Oh boy! I liked it there damn it! As if I don't wanna return to hot Texas. Not only the place is welcoming but the weather itself is one of the big reasons why I wanna live there...forever... plus the beach and beautiful sceneries!

I couldn't contain myself of looking at the place, wandering around to see the nice houses and clean surroundings. Before we left Benicia, my husband took us to a neighborhood so we could have a glimpse of significant houses where his father and aunt used to live when they were little.

First off, we stopped by at the big house, owned by Lewis Decatur Sanborn- a doctor in the family.. it's the one in the bottom of this entry, the yellow one with me standing in front of it. Of course the house is modified by several owners after they sold it to other people and perhaps upgraded the bathroom vanities and other fixtures with a new one, more modern.

Second stop was at a house where Morgan Sanborn- my father in-law and his sister Virginia lived...and that is the white house below. Yeah it is very old yet it still looked nicer as houses in the US are built to last for years.

I can't describe how happy I am to be there. It felt like I have reconnected my FIL's past life by visiting the houses he once loved and familiar with.

Royal Caribbean Chef

I feel proud of my younger brother for joining to be one of the responsible people walking on Earth for he made it to the Royal Caribbean as a chef in one of their ships, the Oasis of the Seas. Who would have guessed that this guy right here would make such a big change in his life while he was always a pain in my parent's ass especially to my father. Well, if you have a dream and you want to achieve it, you do all your might just to fulfill your dream. As my favorite quote says "The poorest of all men is not a man without a cent but a man without a dream" which serves as my inspiration when I was still catching for my dream 6 years ago.

Royal Caribbean Chef

I feel proud of my younger brother for joining to be one of the responsible people walking on Earth for he made it to the Royal Caribbean as a chef in one of their ships, the Oasis of the Seas. Who would have guessed that this guy right here would make such a big change in his life while he was always a pain in my parent's ass especially to my father. Well, if you have a dream and you want to achieve it, you do all your might just to fulfill your dream. As my favorite quote says "The poorest of all men is not a man without a cent but a man without a dream" which serves as my inspiration when I was still catching for my dream 6 years ago.

So Precious

This is a picture of my father inlaw and my baby girl when she was only 2 months old taken at our rental house in El Campo. I just find this shot so precious since our dear Pops is no longer here on Earth. I hope my Jadyn will remember her American grandpa that she was once loved by him when he was still alive. So sad though that we can no longer see him, he was such a very nice person to everybody and surely he will be missed by many including me who only have spent 4 years with him.

So Precious

This is a picture of my father inlaw and my baby girl when she was only 2 months old taken at our rental house in El Campo. I just find this shot so precious since our dear Pops is no longer here on Earth. I hope my Jadyn will remember her American grandpa that she was once loved by him when he was still alive. So sad though that we can no longer see him, he was such a very nice person to everybody and surely he will be missed by many including me who only have spent 4 years with him.

Downtown Benicia

The moment I set foot in downtown Benicia, I knew I am gonna fall inlove with the place. With all the historic architectures, colorful flowers, nice small antiques and boutique stores, I can't help but admire what I saw. Not to mention the chilly weather in mid summer. Everything was just so perfect as I refer to it as paradise.

According to the man we talked, Benicia was called the 4th city in California best for dogs. If you sit down in any of the bars in the downtown, you will notice right away people are walking along with their dogs. I will tell you, those folks in Benicia almost all of them have dogs that adds to the comfy feeling when hanging around downtown. It felt so good to be there, just perfect for the whole family and a pretty place to live too.