From 3 down to 1!!

I really was saddened this morning with what I saw when I looked at my blog and found out that my Page Rank went down from 3 to 1. I didn't even know what to say nor had I the strength to move the mouse and click on something else just to divert my attention from it. I don't know how it happened that it has gotten so low. I've only been away for almost 2 weeks and it went drastically down! I don't understand because there were times before when I couldn't update my blog for like months and yet, my PR remained at 3. It saddens me because I devoted time to get that PR3 only for it to change overnight. That's not cool at all!

I'm actually let down right now and I just don't know what to do to bring it back up to 3 again. With 3 kids now and barely having time to myself, I doubt it will happen anytime soon. But I'm determined to at least have time to post something on here even if I have to type with a baby in one arm. That, to me, is totally fine. I know it's going to be a little tough within the first few weeks to juggle my time for the kids and doing household chores but I know I can make things work! I'll just have to learn how to manage my time wisely so I could spare some minutes to sit here and blog.

I really do hope I can still reach PR3 and that it won't take me forever to achieve that. I just want my blog's rank back! I've worked hard to get to where it was before so it really makes me sad that now, I have to start all over again! :(

We Should Have Thought About It...

When I was still pregnant with our third child, because of a lot of pain I was in that I acquired from my two previous pregnancies, moving around and doing chores were a lot harder for me. Aside from the fact that I've been pregnant back to back, my belly, this time, was way bigger than when I was pregnant with the boys. Even getting up in the morning or trying to stand up from a sitting position took me time to be able to get on my feet.

I remember one afternoon, I decided to cook pasta for our dinner and as I was trying to grab a pot to boil the pasta in, I suddenly felt a stabbing pain along my lower back area. I had to bend a little lower so I could take it out of the cabinet where we keep them. We actually had to put them on the lowest shelves because we don't have a lot of cabinets and they're not big enough to fit all the kitchenware we have. I recall the pain being so intense that I almost literally screamed and I got so worried thinking I might have hurt the baby inside me. Thinking about my situation at the time made me wish we have hanging enclume pot racks where we can just hang pots and pans and actually have them organized that way. I probably would've never almost hurt myself and the baby, if only we had one. That's why by the next time we move in to a new home, I'll make sure there's enough space for me where I could put the pot racks regardless of me not being pregnant anymore. I honestly think it's so much better that way because aside from saving cabinet spaces, it's easier to grab the pots and pans when we want to use them and easier to put back after using them.

So, I've made up my mind. We definitely are going to buy and use pot racks in our kitchen next time. I bet it'll be so much fun and easier to work around the kitchen when things are well-organized and you know where to find which kitchenware you want to use when you need them.

My Favorite Talk Show is The Martha Stewart Show

My all time favorite talk show is The Martha Stewart Show. I love to watch this on www.cabletelevision.net. It is my favorite because I really enjoy the demonstrations Martha Stewart does. She shows how to cook and bake. The tips she gives always help me out when in my own kitchen. It seems so helpful to get to actually watch her make the recipes while talking about them. It is all done in a very fun way because she will have guests on and make them help her. Not all of the guests are chefs, many are actors and actresses, so watching them try to keep up with Martha is really funny some times. It isn't just a cooking show. She does a lot of craft items too, especially at the holidays. You can get so many ideas for things to make at Christmas time and Easter.She is so good at coming up with gift ideas that you can easily make yourself. Gardening is a big topic in the spring. Martha will have gardeners on that help you pick what's best for your home or yard and tell exactly how to care for the plants. Some guests she has are in fashion or beauty. Vidal Sassoon was on and very interesting. This is definitely my favorite show.

Saturday 9: Make You Feel My Love

My first post again after being away for weeks. So glad to finally be back on Saturday 9!


1. What has someone done unusual to make you feel their love?
- My husband flew me to Malaysia for 3 days during one of their liberty days while on deployment. He wanted to see me and spend time with me and he went out of his way just to get me there to be with him.

2. Do you own a smart phone? If yes, is it everything you wanted? If no, how seriously have you considered a purchase of the new smart phone?
- Yes, I do and it's everything I wanted and more.

3. Have you ever camped out to purchase something?
- No, I haven't. And I don't think I'd ever do that unless it's really, really important and a must-have.

4. What is your worst habit?
- Being late...

5. What is your best habit?
- I smile a lot.. (would that count? hehe)

6. In your opinion, what is life's greatest mystery?
- Love.. I think we can never really tell how it comes as easy as it goes when things aren't meant to be..

7. Are you one of those people who is constantly busy with projects, social outings, etc. or do you just like to lay low and stay home?
- Lay low and stay home. But that doesn't mean I'm a boring-type of person. I have a life as well. Just probably not as busy as the other's..

8. Whether you're busy all the time or like to just chill, have you always been that way?
- No, I haven't..

9. Is there something you'd like to change about how you spend your time? If so, what is it? If not, why not?
- Yes!! I would like to master "Time Management" so I don't have to feel like I don't have all the time to do things that need to get done especially now that I have 3 kids and still has more things to do around the house. I would love to have a "Me Time" as well...

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How I Wish We Live in Tampa

Just this weekend, we finally got approved to buy a new vehicle for the family. It took us a few weeks, I'd say, till we heard from the insurance company informing us that we got approved for a car loan. We're so happy that now, we don't have to worry about getting us a family car. We'll just have to start looking for the right vehicle that is affordable and still in great condition.

Now, how I wish we live in Florida where they have a used car dealer in Tampa. We're looking on purchasing a pre-owned vehicle so it'll be good when you've got a whole lot of USED CARS to choose from. We would like to get a car that has all the space we need for the 5 of us. Getting around now with 3 kids definitely needs more room for their stuff to put in. Right now, we're looking at the Jeep. It has the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee at a price that is totally within our budget. Another good thing about them is that they have a 30 second credit approval so you'd know right then and there if you qualify to purchase the vehicle or not. You don't have to wait any longer just for that. And if things go well, our next plan is to check out on used trucks and hopefully get one as well because it's really important and a big help when transporting bigger stuff. I remember my husband had to ask help from his friend who owns a truck to come and pick up the crib that we bought from the store because it couldn't fit in his car. We didn't want the store to have it delivered to our house because we would have to pay another extra.

I think it's normal now to have more than just one vehicle in a household that has more family members compared to those that have only 3 to 4 members. Anyway, here in the US, cars are necessity and as long as we can still afford the payments, we won't mind having another car.

Why I've Been Away for Too Long...

It's been weeks that I haven't really updated my blog. Well, to those who visit my blog regularly and had been reading my posts, you already probably have an idea on why I've been away for a long time and I am more than happy to tell you all the reasons behind my "absence".

Two weeks ago, the newest, beautiful addition to our family, our daughter, Kairi was born! (I'll share about the labor & delivery story in another post here soon..) We're really happy that finally, she's with us now and is doing great! She's such a precious little baby and already is a Daddy's girl ;)

These past weeks had been really busy for all of us and for sure, will get even more busier once Mom leaves back to the Philippines and we're left to take care of the kids on our own. Taking care of two small, very active little boys is no joke. Even with having my mother with us now to help out, things can still go crazy sometimes around the house especially when they decide to just be bunch of hardheaded and stubborn ones always wanting to do things on their own and trying to "outsmart" us. Thank heavens, though, John was given 10 days of paternity leave. He was able to help with the kids as well since I am not allowed, yet to even lift anything that weighs more than 10lbs Basically, all I've been doing is taking care of Kairi. I also do some chores but not the strenuous ones. Hopefully, I start feeling a lot better within the next couple of days before my mom leaves. I sure am going to adjust big time here once I'm left on my own to take care of the kids. I need to start managing my time properly so I'd still have at least an hour or two of spare time to myself.

Anyway, aside from that, things are doing pretty good. Just sleep-deprived right now but I love it! :) Nothing can ever beat the joy of being a Mother no matter how things can wear you out at times. Looking at my children now and remembering all the discomforts I went through, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I will share even just a short post about Kairi's birth once I get enough free time...

A Possible Change of Plan

Now that I'm already able to start driving lessons, the talk of us getting a car for me has become more frequent and I'd say, more serious than the previous conversations we've had so far with regards to this matter. We might change plan, though because of some unavoidable reasons but my husband said, he'll make sure I'd still get what's best and what will suit me.

That plan has something to do with car model. My first choice is no longer in the picture. But the good thing is, there's a Kia Dealer in Chicago that we can also check out. While browsing their website, a specific Kia model captured my interest and I can't wait for us to actually look at it and see what is it like and if I actually end up wanting this model of a different one. While browsing the new car inventory section, I found this 2011 Kia Forte EX model in bright silver color. I can go with that color because my husband's car is also silver. If anything, I can always go with either white or red. Aside from the most important features this car offers, I like it because of it being spacious, its cool entertainment features, and the fact that it doesn't consume too much gas. I also like the part where you can just schedule an appointment with them online if the car needs services such as oil change, tire rotation, adjust brakes. That, to me, is less of a hassle and doesn't take time to get it done. It's important for me because I've got 3 kids now and I don't have all the time in the world to deal with matters like that for too long.

I'm just happy that there's always an option. Though the first plan didn't work for us, I'm glad we were able to come up with a new solution right away. Now I know why it's always important to have a back up plan. It definitely helps and saves time just in case something won't come out right with Plan A.

Waiting On Our Baby Girl...

We're finally at the very end of my pregnancy! I'm on my 39th week now and regardless, I won't reach my 40th week because if the baby won't come out yet, I've already been scheduled to get induced next week. So it's like she's already been given her final notice. [hehe] I just can't wait to finally get to hold her, first and foremost and of course, get done with being pregnant. I think I've already had my fair share of discomforts. It's about time to give my body the break it definitely deserves. Mind you, 3 consecutive years of being pregnant is no joke. We're just so grateful to God that in that 3 years, we've been blessed with kids that we've been praying for and we actually got the 2 boys and a girl that we've always hoped we'll have. God indeed is so great! And we'll forever be thankful for His beautiful gifts - our children.

Mine and the baby's stuff are ready now. So anytime she decides she wants to come out, all I have to do is, grab both our bags and head to the hospital. I can't be more thankful that she reached 39 weeks. It gave us enough time to get stuff ready and above all, prepare ourselves for her arrival. It's not going to be easy having 2 little boys already, we are aware of that for sure, but we know things will be just fine. God will never put us in this situation if He thought we won't be able to handle it and get through it. And to be honest, I really am not scared at all! I am even more excited to go to the hospital and give birth. I just pray that things will go smoothly and that everything will be all right.

So right now, we're just basically waiting for her to come out. I think we've given her enough time to do her last minute packing so I'm hoping she won't stay till she actually gets evicted. [hehe] We can't wait to see our new angel!!

AC To The Rescue!

Summertime is almost here once again. And guess what it means? Muggy weather. I know I have been wishing for the cold season to be over, but I never wished for a hot one, either. I wanted a warm, cool and breezy weather where we can finally enjoy the outdoors. But the place where we live in probably has one of the weirdest, most unpredictable weather we've ever encountered. When it's cold, I mean it's freezing cold. But when it's hot, it literally can get to up to a hundred degree Fahrenheit and even higher than that. It's just pretty ridiculous that in a whole year, because of how high or low the temperature out here could get, it feels like we only get to experience two seasons instead of four: winter and summer. It still is hot almost throughout the whole autumn season, and pretty much cold till springtime is almost over. So now that it already started getting warm, it's AC time once again!

But we have one problem right now. We only have one small AC unit that we can use for the entire house and honestly speaking, it's not even big enough to cool off the entire living room and kitchen area. Sadly, the owner of the house removed the centralized AC unit when the basement got flooded and never put it back. So now, we suffer during summer especially the kids and we're not going to tolerate it this time, not when we're about to bring home a new born baby. The kids will mostly likely not be able to take the hot weather. They get so irritable and cranky and those are the least things I want to deal with right now especially once the new baby comes. So, we have no other choice but to buy more AC units to place in the rooms that the small one's cool air won't be able to reach. But us being on a tight budget right now, boca raton ac sales would definitely be a big help. They sell AC units at affordable prices and they provide service that will help lower your monthly electric bill, which is what we exactly need. And because we have pets in the house and my main concern is our health, indoor air quality is one that I'm after for. As far as its maintenance is concerned, if something goes wrong, we can always call boca raton air conditioner cleaners to have it fixed and we'd be good to go. With the type of residential services and repairs they offer, you're guaranteed to have that peace of mind you deserve knowing they've got it all taken care of.

So bring it on, Summertime! You may be too hot at times and make our lives miserable like you do most of the time, but we'll be ready for you. We've got the best AC unit to the rescue!

Observing Proper Waste Disposal

Ever since we were living in an apartment back in California, we've always recycled our wastes. My husband always made sure we separate trash that can be recycled from the ones that cannot be. It was requisite in the place we lived in to do recycling, but even if it wasn't, we still would have done it anyway. It was a good thing that at the apartment complex, the city provided large recycling containers for everybody to dump their trash into, so we didn't have to provide one for ourselves. All we had to do was make sure we separate trash before dumping them. We both don't like the idea of mixing trash altogether because we both are aware of the harmful things those non-biodegradable wastes can do to the environment and the things that the biodegradable ones can still be used for.

Now that we're living in a house and in a place where they strictly observe recycling as well, we'll have to buy indoor and outdoor recycling bins to throw our trash in because when we moved here, the house we're renting didn't come with recycling bins at all. We're looking at buying two containers that we could put outside and probably two more inside the house. In that case, we don't have to constantly go outside to throw away trash if we have ones inside the house that we can just empty once they get full. It's more convenient that way.

Once we get the plastic containers for recycling that we need, it'll be so much easier on both of us to take the trash to the driveway every Wednesday where they get collected without having to worry about bags of trash getting ripped or boxes being blown away because we don't have proper containers to put them in. It will definitely save us time and less work to deal with.

Something to Surprise My Family

We took the boys to JCP Portraits to have their photos taken when my Mother-in-law was here. It was her who actually wanted to have photos of them that she can take with her back to Oklahoma to give to the rest of the family there. John bought the disc that contains all of the photos taken of the boys for us to keep so in case we need to have copies of them later, we can just print them out.

It's actually a good thing that we decided to just buy the disc because we want to make copies of the boys' photos and send them to my family in the Philippines. The only issue we have at this moment is, having the photos printed out in great quality because we don't have the right paper to use and definitely no colored ink left in our printer. So, we're looking right now at Superfineprinting for a high quality of color copies of the photos that we will be sending. The price is affordable, anyway so why not send them photos of high quality copies, right?

It's also a good thing that they offer envelope printing so we can have two things taken care of at the same time. In that case, we don't have to worry about labeling the envelope ourselves and make it look somewhat crappy. I would like to send the photos in an envelope that looks nice and presentable so even if it takes a little while for it to get to its destination, at least it'll still look decent when they receive it.

I'm so excited because I know they will be surprised to get something in the mail and have no idea about what's inside. And I'm pretty sure they will all love it!

On the Verge of Switching Internet Service

Lately, we've been having some issues with our internet connection. Sometimes, it gets to the point where we get really annoyed because it will just disconnect us from the main server. We're not happy considering we are not getting the kind of service that we're paying for. It's basically a waste of money now. That's why we definitely need to switch internet service and actually get what we pay for.

What we need is a much better dsl that's fast and affordable. We use internet a lot, especially me, and we really don't appreciate it when in the middle of doing something, the internet connection just cuts us off. Not only is it annoying, it also takes away time because we have to sit there and restart the router and wait for it till it's back up and running again. I mean, that's not what we should be getting when we pay kind of a little too much of money hoping we'd get the best of their service. With what's been going on right now with our internet connection, no doubt, a dial-up internet would even be faster. I just am hoping it won't get worse because if it does, we'll have no other choice but to cancel their service and switch over to a different one which offers the same package and can actually be even cheaper. We just want to make sure we don't get ripped-off.

It's about time to do something about this issue. We've been dealing with this for months now and we've just been putting it off. But lately has been worse to where the green light on the router turns red, which means internet connection is completely down. There is no way we're going to keep paying for something we don't get the service what we deserve.

False Alarm!!

This little girl had us all believe and hope that today was the day we've all been waiting for.

At around 4:30 this afternoon, after I went to the bathroom for the second time in less than 20 minutes, I suddenly felt a gush of fluid coming out of me so I hurriedly went back to the bathroom to check what it was. And sure enough, the moment I pulled my pants down, my liner was soaked and a clear fluid started running down my right leg and at that very moment, I really thought it was my bag of water that just broke. I told my mom about it and she asked me if there's anything else I feel as far as contractions starting to get worse or back pain maybe. I said no, but I still felt I was leaking water so I went ahead and called John at work and asked him to come home immediately. I was worried that I might go into labor and he was still almost 40 minutes away from home. With my first pregnancy, my bag of water broke at 5:30AM and we didn't go to the hospital till 9:30 in the morning, so it still took us that long before my labor actually progressed. With my second one, my bag of water didn't break on its own. The doctor had to break it because I was already fully dilated and it was still intact. But it only took 10 minutes after they broke it and I was already pushing, so I was worried today that if my water already did break, the labor might progress faster considering that this is already my third pregnancy. Things can happen fast, we'll never know.

But when I tried to sit and relax, to my surprise, it stopped! I went to check on my liner that I just changed a few minutes ago thinking it might be soaked again, but it actually was dry. So I kind of knew right then and there that it was nothing but a false alarm!

Somehow, I felt a little sad because I thought today was the day and the 9 months of waiting was finally coming to an end. But on the other hand, I'm thankful that she actually made it to 38 weeks (and even longer if she decides to not come out just yet) and I can still be seen by my OB tomorrow for my 38th week check-up. Only then we'll find out what's really going on and if I did leak some amniotic fluid or not. I hope it was only urine that came out of me because if I leaked, it's not good for the baby :( I'm praying for things to turn out fine and if she decides to come out tomorrow or the day after, I know I am ready because I'm sure God will be with us just like when the first two boys were born.

Our stuff are ready to go, so it's all up to her now...

Excited for My Driving Lesson

I have been here in the US for more than two (2) years now but never have I tried learning how to drive, yet - not once. Not because I didn't want to, but because of some unavoidable reasons. First of, I was almost 6 months pregnant when I got here and just 3 months after giving birth, I got pregnant again so there really has been no chance at all for me to get behind the wheels and start my driving lessons. So now, I am really excited that finally, here soon, my husband will start teaching me how to drive.

My husband owns a race car-type of vehicle and we both love it so I might not use that to practice driving. I'm afraid I might wreck it and cause irremediable damage to it. I'd rather use a pre-owned car that I won't be too worried about in case I do end up smashing it against something hard. So we might check out the http://www.ednapletonhonda.com and see what we can get for a reasonable price. I've always wanted to own a Honda Accord car and I'm thinking of getting this 2010 Honda Accord 2.4 LX Sedan for my first car. I like the design, its being spacious just the way I want it, and it's just the perfect size for me to start out with. I will be confident enough to start driving if the vehicle is easy to maneuver for beginners like me. And though I know it takes a lot of responsibilities, too when it comes to owning a car, I am sure I will be just fine. I know my husband will be there to further educate me when it comes to car stuff and taking care of the vehicle such as: oil change, tires, engine tune-up, and tire rotation, so there's nothing much I need to really worry about except for meeting my goal of becoming a great and responsible driver that I want my husband to be proud of. It's never going to be easy, but I know it's all going to be worth it. Needless to say, I am so excited to get this new adventure started!

Only the Best for My Big Day

One of my greatest dreams is, to have church wedding here in the States and in the Philippines, in the church where I grew up. I've always wanted to walk down the aisle in the most beautiful dress I could possibly wear in my entire being. If given the chance, I would love to design my own wedding gown and help organize the whole event.

But of course, what's a wedding without a reception, right? For the reception, I am not planning on having a very huge one. Though I want it to look beautiful, I still want to maintain simplicity and it has to be within the budget. The design doesn't have to be so elegant as long as it matches what I have in mind and will still create a "Wow impression" on the guests. I love flowers so I am going to make sure there will be a lot of it. I don't think it will be hard of a thing to do especially if wedding flowers Toledo are the flowers going to be used to decorate the whole reception area and arranged, of course, by the wedding florists in Toledo. I am pretty sure that Toledo wedding florists will do a great job and they will make my dream wedding a reality.

Ready To Welcome Her

Baby K's stuff are pretty much ready now for her arrival. Her diaper bag is ready, we got NB-size diapers and some new baby bottles to start with. And on Memorial Day, John passed by a house where the couple was doing a yard sale and was able to purchase a bassinet that's barely used for a cheaper price. He asked me first if it was all right with me if we buy a used bassinet than a brand new one. I told him it was perfectly fine with me since the baby won't be using it for too long, anyway. It has a 15-pound weight limit or should only be used until the baby turns 3 months old, whichever comes first. I really don't mind using second hand stuff as long as they're still in good shape and condition. It's important for us to save money in any way we can without compromising the kids' needs. Why buy brand new when you can get the exact same thing that you need at a cheaper price?

Just few more days and she'll be here! I'm almost at my 38th week so anytime now, I can give birth. Of course, I still hope I'd reach at least 38 weeks and I will be good.

I can't believe we're almost there! This wait is finally coming to an end. I'm praying that everything will turn out fine and that I won't have a hard time giving birth to her.