It was a success, thanks to our faithful God and his wonderful timing and guidance.

*** WARNING TO THOSE HAVING THEIR MEAL... VERY DETAILED PICTURE AHEAD***

I wrote about my mom going through a minor surgery so remove a dark substance that was covering her gall bladder and thus, not allowing doctors to see whether she has stones or not.  As I've said, my mom has been complaining about stomach ache from time to time and there are times that the pain is really intense.  We've been asking her to have this looked at but once the pain goes away she'd tell us it was just nothing.  Good thing that the last time she experienced the pain again, we were able to persuade her to go to the doctor and get throughly checked.  Monday last week, she went to the doctor and right there and then, they did an ECG for her. The following day, she got the result and was told about the substance covering her gall bladder and that they couldn't see if she has stones or not.  She was asked to meet the surgeon on Thursday and the doctor confirmed she'd need to undergo laparoscopy soon.  Monday she was admitted at the hospital and today, the D-day.

I really thank technology as my family were able to update me with every progress of the whole procedure.  I was really on the edge the whole time inspite of knowing that this is just a minor surgery.  I had knots on my tummy the whole time holding my phone all the time waiting for my sister or papa to send me a message how everything went.

It was a success.  And was just right on time before my mom gets any more complication.  It turned out that my mom's gall bladder has been really bad for at least 5 years already.  It was already rotting to be precise.  It's size has quadrupled and changed from the normal green to a swollen rotting red.

This is a picture of a healthy/normal gall bladder.

source: google image

and this is my mom's. I have no word.

the gall stones or what just remained of 'em

Not only that the gall bladder was swollen and rotting already but it was overloaded with gall stones.  Too many of them that the surgeon had to stop taking them one by one and just use a sucking tool.  He was so relieved that no gall stones went out the gall bladder as otherwise, they'd need to search and remove any of the stones that gone haywire.  This will make things more complicated for my mom and for the doctors.  There was something that blocked the passage on the gall bladder and held all the gall stones inside.  I do feel like this is His work.  Whatever that thing that blocked the gall's passage, thank you!

While my sister was explaining to me everything, I couldn't bear it. I vomitted. I couldn't stomach what I just saw and what has just happened and what could have happened hadn't my mom listened to us and get checked.  The tension, the nervousness and then the image just gotten into me and I got sick in the stomach.


So everything went fine although we got a bit of a bad news.  The doctor said that mama's liver is in a bad shape and needs to be cured asap otherwise, it may lead to cirrhosis.  Doctor said that mama has a fatty liver and thus would need medication to correct this.  Cirrhosis is a big word and kind of alarming.  So I am really praying for a positive turn over.  Extend your prayers for me mama, will you?  Thank you!!!

p.s.
I purposely set the pictures in the smallest size possible so they won't come out too strong for those who have sensitive stomach like me.  Yeah, I am no good on these things... that's why I ended up as IT and away from medical field.

Barking on the wrong tree

4 canine teeth cutting through all at the same time. The 2 upper canine teeth have finally cut through a bit after about a month and the other 2 lower canine teeth are still trying to cut through.  The gums have started to look transparent but I don't know how much more it'll take to cut through completely.  She's been with her fists in her mouth all the time but apparently this teething by a number is not the culprit why she's with fever since Thursday till Sunday morning.

Sunday night, red rashes started appearing on her forehead, down to the back of the ear, on to the face then down to her neck and chest and stomach area.  It also extends through her back and the diaper area.  Some are also a bit visible in the arms.  

Could this be bungang-araw (prickly heat)? Or perhaps measles?  Or chicken pox? No way, it doesn't look like chicken pox at all.  I was starting to think of the worst.

So Monday, we didn't let the day pass without consulting the doctor.  As soon as we were done with work, we went to the doctor.  The verdict? Exantema Subito.  Say, waaat? In English it is called roseola or sixth disease. Say,  waaat? This was the first time I've heard these names and I was like where the heck did my child get this.  I asked her pedia and we were told that there's really no known source of this disease and though it is highly contagious, it's almost benign apart from the fever that the child can get at the onset of the disease.

When I tried to search more about it, I was surprised to find out that this was something I am very familiar with after all.  Tigdas hangin!! That is how it is called in my language and it is a common disease  in the Philippines and is usually not of concern.  I can't remember having afflicted with one when I was young though.  I've never had this, not even bulutong (chicken pox) nor tigdas (measles) nor beke (mumps).

Today, she's doing really well. Rashes were almost gone and she's back to her normal self.  Although she's got a big bukol (bump) on her forehead.  Argh, don't ask why and how.  Sometimes she's too fast I can hardly keep up with her even though  I have my eyes on her like a hawk.

I'd often feel really, really bad ::as if the world is on my shoulder:: and feel like the worst mom on earth every time she gets small accidents like this.  And the tears I'd shed?  Drama anthology.  But then I started to accept that these will be inevitable.  And there are things that are just out of my hand no matter what I do to protect her from these things.  Of course it doesn't make me *not* feel bad everytime she gets hurt and it doesn't mean I'll be more lax on protecting her but accepting the fact that there are things that are just out of my control would help me tone down a bit about *always* blaming myself with any misfortune that happens.  I think this is some sort of *sickness* of moms... they always blame themselves for things.  Don't we just have such a high expectations of ourselves, especially when it comes to mothering our children?

Ok back to the  topic at hand. I always let myself get sidetracked.  I don't have a cure.

So I guess I was barking on the wrong tree and it wasn't really the teething that caused the fever.  And about that amber teething necklace... I'll hold off on that since it's not something very affodable especially in this side of the world ::add the fact that I still sometimes convert euros to php so things would even look very expensive to me, then add another fact that the idea I have of the value of products in the Philippines is still way back 2005... so just imagine - I'm sick like that::

See the bump on her forehead? This was taken on the same day of the accident.  This is her usual messy look while having dinner.  Her face looks so kawawa (pitiful).

Night Terrors On Toddlers

I'm still kind of perplexed while writing this.  My Little Spanish Pinay started having fever last Thursday and it continued on and off until yesterday, Sunday.  I believe it was mainly because of her 4 canine teeth cutthing through as she wasn't having colds nor having any kind of infection - as I believe. In any case we were already planning to go to the pediatrician if after 4 days, her fever would continue.  The last time LSP had fever, we immediately went to haver her checked but the doctor told us to go back after 2 more days that the fever still goes on and off and reaching 39ºC.   According to the doctor, if the cause of the fever is infection or specific virus or bacteria, it doesn't normally manifest before 4 days.  So we'd have to wait.  And just like the last time, LSP was completely fever free on the 4th day so we attribute the fever to her teething.  On both occassions, LSP was having 4 teeth cutting through all at the same time.  She's normally a good teether - but when there are 4 teeth cutthing through all at the same time, it'd really take a toll on her.

Apart from having fever, she's irritable almost the whole day.  She's very sensitive and would require much much attention.  This time though, on 2 consecutive nights already, LSP would have a fierce episode of waking up hysterically.  There's no way to calm her down.  She'd wake up all of a sudden crying and screaming as if someone is trying to attack her.  She seems to be oblivious of our presence.  Touching her and taking her in my arms to calm her down would just make things worst.  She'd try to free herself from me, twisting and arching her back furiously.  She would also point on a specific area of the room as if she wants something from there but then when I try to put her near the area she's pointing to, she'd scream even more.

This would go on for about 10-15minutes.  And all the time, I am mixed with worry and fear and confusion and desperation on why is this happening and what to do and what is wrong with our little one.  When everything starts to calm down, she'd ask to be nursed and almost immediately, she'd fall asleep while I am left bewildred as to what has just happened. 

As usual, as soon as I am able to, with a glass of wine on one hand to calm myself down, I started googling about the situation... and I was brought to this sleep problem called night terrors.  Little Spanish Pinay might still be young to have this but the signs are all pointing to night terrors.  Plus, there had been changes in her sleep routine due to her fever and us spending the weekend over my inlaws' house.  She's been pretty agitated these days because of the fever and the teething and have been napping irregularly.  During her no-fever moments, she would also be out and about runing and playing around the house... and with fever on and off, her body and mind was just worn out.  All these can attribute to night terrors - according to a number of websites I've visited.

While there's really nothing much to worry about this as it will normally pass, it is highly distressing for hubby and I.  I wish I knew about this night terror thing before so I could have avoided making things worse by trying to carry our little one and trying to control her frantic movement in an attempt to calm her down. 

Now that she's completely fever free, I hope she won't have another episode of this night terrror.  Most of all, I do hope her fever won't come back for good!

If the night terror episode happens again, we'll be seeking her pedia's opinion about this.  In the meantime, I'll be watching her keenly.

Photo source