Ok finally i had my much awaited checkup with the OB-Gyne (it was postponed like 3 times already due to stormy weather). She told me that i'm already 8 weeks pregnant according to my sonogram ^__^...

I was told of course that i should eat healthy now, but my question is about COFFEE... answer? I can put a pinch of coffee granules in my milk... T_T

Last night when i started teaching.. my eyes were ok (or i just thought so). Since my bangs have grown too long and always falling to my eyes... there were times that i was rubbing my right eye. Then, my last student for the night, Frank, suddeny told me that my right eye is a bit reddish. I just ignored it and said that it might have gotten sort of irritated due to my bangs.

After class, i was busy reading BSJ's diary english translations while getting uncomfortable with my right eye because it feels like there were grains in the underside of my lid. So after reading the diary entries i decided to sleep already coz its past 2am.

The next morning... boom! My right eye has become swollen and bloodshot red! Ok, first step, clean my eyes... next warm compress... next... next... wtf! there's no more next step coz i don't know if i am allowed to use eye drops or ointments in my current condition...

I know most conjunctivitis subsides by itself in a few days, but i'm worried about passing the infection to Gab because he hasn't experienced eye infections before. So hubby and I decided to call up his mom and ask if Gab can stay in their house for sometime until my pinkeye vanishes.

I haven't been in this house alone ever since we moved in here. I don't know how am I gonna spend my afternoon and night time tomorrow until hubby comes home.. T_T

It's been 2 weeks already i guess since i made my last post... am i gonna go down into hibernation again? CULPRIT: Playful Kiss Kdrama!!! ♥ hahahaha

Anyway, last September 18, 2010 we had our TKA Villa meet for Mei-unni's birthday. I slept! damn! when i woke up it's past 11pm already so i hurriedly when to our chatango.. luckily there were still some ladies chatting but no Mei could be seen (guess went out on a date! yatta!). I really had fun chatting with them 'till almost 3am hehehe. It's really been a long time since many members come to the Villa to chat and of course wait for the subbed TKA videos to come out. I guess it's beem 2 years already. Now, we mostly drop by to say hi-hello and extend our undying love and support to ARJOE and to catch up with other ladies life/love stories.

But... i guess i got into a trap that i made my own self! sucks! haha! seriously.... will there be an ISWAK 3 or even an ISWAK movie???

*i don't wanna search for infos... hahaha i'm damn nervous!*

My husband came home from Singapore job hunt last Tuesday. I can't deny the fact that i missed him and am happy that his back. But I can't deny the fact also that he needs to get a job already... coz it's Christmas season already! ^___^

Gab is happy too that Daddy's back because he has he's Gameboy buddy again..

Gab has been good in his lessons and teachers the whole week so Mommy is very happy. Tomorrow we will attend Mass and it will be the second time (hopefully) for Gab to attend a whole Mass. I plan to drop by the Sunday market also in the village and have lunch at Jollibee (if Gab will be a good boy at Church).

It all started on August 13...

Teacher Divine: Gab, look i have a train. He's name is Percy.

Gab: *tries to grab it*

Teacher Divine: No grabbing Gab. *Plays with train*

Gab: *watching*

Teacher Divine: Look, the train is moving. It's making a sound.. CHOO-CHOO..

Gab: *looks at the teacher's face*

Teacher Divine: Train sounds... CHOO-CHOO..

Gab: CHOO-CHOO-CHOO..

Teacher Divine: That's very good train sound, Gab. *gives the train to Gab.*

I saw and heard everything that happened that day. I was so surprised to hear Gab imitate the sounds produce by another person. It made my heart so warm and my eyes teary. I was so proud of him.

after his ABA session that day, we constantly asked Gab to imitate different sounds to make him more familiar with sound imitation and responding. We started with train sound, then dog, then cat, then pig. the whole evening he was able to memorize the sounds of those animals.

A week after he started imitating and responding to requests for simple talks, he had his evaluation with Teacher Rena already and his therapy program was changed already. Teacher Rena commented to Gab "naku naiiyak naman ako sayo bebe, ang bilis ng progress mo!". Hearing those words, my hopes are really soaring high.

Just last week, i was training Gab to say "OPEN" first before i open something that he likes (like food). His tolerance now is very high, making all the efforts to imitate "OPEN" while watching my mouth positions.

Now, he can say functional words (though not yet polished) like "OPEN, EAT, DRINK, GIVE". Sometimes i have to provide verbal cues for him to talk, sometimes he says it already by himself ^_____^

It's been 5 days already since we moved out of my parents house again. We packed and moved ur stuffs last Sunday and planned to stay in the new apartment already, but ended up sleeping at my parents house because Gab doesn't want to stay in the apartment yet (maybe because everything's a mess).

Monday was sooooo tiresome because me and my husband alone had to arrange all the stuffs we brought to the new apartment. Since it's a 2-floor crib, running up and down the stairs many times to move things was quite a challenge, especially since i grew up in a house that doesn't have any stairs at all! Thank God that before it got dark we have finished arranging all of our stuffs.

When my mom's maids came to the apartment with Gab, I have already anticipated that he would scream and would not want to come inside the house. So, I really prepared the TV and DVD player with Barney's dvd to attract Gab's attention and showed him that all his toys are inside so that he would feel at home. It worked!!! ^____^

I felt relieved to see that Gab easily got used to the new apartment. Before, i was worried that his sleep will be less because he will feel uneasy with the new environment and throw tantrums during his homebased ABA classes. I was amazed at how fast he adapts now to changes unlike before. Even his ABA teacher said that she was not expecting Gab to be behave and compliant in the next few weeks because he might have difficulty adjusting to the house. But we have both underestimated at how much progress Gab has now.

Living on our own again is not scary for me already since we have done that already last year. But the one thing that makes me scared now is that in a few days my husband will be leaving us to work in Singapore.

So, it will literally be like "living on my own (me and Gab)". This is now something that I have to get used to. How i wish i have Gab's ability to easily adapt to changes.... ='(

As promised, my husband replaced the watch that i lost several weeks back. We waited for the Great Northern Sale at SM City North Edsa, hoping to get a watch at 50-70% off.... LOL i wish! But anyway, i already told my husband that he can only spend 4,000 pesos for my watch (almost same price of the watch i lost). I really needed to wear a watch most of the time because Gab keeps a daily schedule.

Sale Day Friday...

We went to SM last Friday to let Gab experience the busy and crowded atmosphere in a mall that is on sale. Gab hasn't played in a paid play-area inside malls for more than a year already because of some unknown reason he doesn't want to enter those areas suddenly. That day, we were surprised because Gab was the one who insisted to enter one of the play areas inside SM Cybezone. It think he played for about 3 hours there!

So while Gab and his yaya were enjoying at the play area, Mark and I hurried to SM Dept. Store to check what were on sale and grab the toiletries and luggag

e necessities that Mark will need for his trip.

Sale Day Saturday...

After Gab's speech therapy lesson, we went to my in-laws house to spend the weekend. Also, part of the plan is to go to Day 2 of the sale with only me and Mark because he needs to buy some dress clothes that he will bring to Singapore and check on the watches that are on sale.

The waiting line for the fitting rooms were like opening day at the cinema, so Mark decided not to fit the pants that he will be buying.

After buying pants, we bought some other stuffs that Mark needs then headed to the watches area inside the department store. To my dismay, most of the watches that i had my eyes on were only on sale at 15% off the tag! Mark insisted that i checked on the others also that were not on sale anyway he has money to spare. But i wanted to stick on my 4,000pesos deal. At the end, we didn't buy any. We just went to Sky

Garden and ate dinner at Ineng's and grab a frappuccino at Starbucks for my sis-in-law.

Sale Day Sunday...

It's the last day of the Great Northern Sale. My husband had to go back to SM because the dress pants that we bought doesn't fit him well... too tight lol! He asked me if i wanna go with him to give my plan-to-buy-a-watch a last chance. I refused to go and just told him to get something nice for me.

He came back after 3 hours with this...

... At the end of the The Great Northern Sale... me, Gab, and Mark were happy ^___^

P.S.: I super loving this watch ♥♥♥

Yesterday, i got a notice from the post office to pick up a package that was sent to me... i instantly thought "oh, i've been waiting for this from Sally!".

Sally has been one of my first 10 students since i started working as a online English teacher. We really got along very well because we share the same likes and our communication was pretty good because her English is excellent. She's not studying with me anymore because she had to stop online studies to concentrate on her upcoming university entrance exam (i pray she passes the exam without any problems).

The last time that we chatted on skype was the day that i was starting to teach again at home. I remembered her line "oh finally, i was waiting for you!". Maybe she was checking the past days if i was online to ask for my address. We had a great chat like old friends catching up with each others happenings.

Anyway, i have uploaded some pics of what's inside the package.... have a look..

TO MY DEAR SALLY: thanks sooooo much for the gifts... i'll send something soon also ^_~ i really miss you.... xoxo

Today my student Shelly draw of very cute portrait of me and Gab... she said she can do it in a few minutes... and yeah she really did it!!!

Take a look ^_____^

Isn't she very talented?!!! I'm uber proud of my student.... i'm pretty sure she will become a very good artist someday ^____^

Hi everyone! gosh i've been busy the past weeks... getting a new DSL and starting to teach again some of my students who were waiting for my comeback.

Gab is getting better and better in dealing with school environment. I guess he's used to it already. Today, i was the only one who went to school with Gab to check if he's gonna be fine with only me watching over him. It came out good. I don't really go inside the classroom many times anymore s as to slowly teach Gab to be independent with his own things and activities like getting his pencil case or crayons inside the bag, or dealing with his teacher.

It rained today, so i was a bit nervous about the internet connection. It was ok throughout my classes, just a few Skype errors (well, Skype is always like that!) and i accidentally kicked the internet wirings.

I got one more student back, Cindy. I missed teaching her, honestly. She's really fun to teach. plus the fact that we have some likes that are similar.

Gab, interrupted my class with Cindy because his getting sleepy already... i think he wants me to put him to sleep so he threw tantrums a little bit. But after that he went to sleep with my mom's help... i feel bad about it though coz i know he wants me to do it..

*sigh*sigh*sigh*

Today, Gab did wake up early and in a good mood. I already knew that he would do well at school. By the way, he was moved to afternoon class that will start at 1pm and end at 3pm.

We went to school together with Daddy.. something new for Gab because last week we went to school with Yaya.

Gab went down the tricyle.. then started screaming and crying!!! What happened??!! I actually didn't have any idea why he cried. So there we go again... outside the school gate... under the heat of the sun. Daddy was carrying Gab when he suggested that i buy Coke from the canteen to give to Gab as reward... if he will go inside school... it worked!!! Good thing we were at school 10 minutes early for those kinds of problems haha.

Now, our problem is how to get Gab go inside the classroom... class will start soon! I decided to hand my cellphone to Gab and told him that he can play game if he goes inside the room. He immediately accepted the phone, but... he didn't follow me inside the room!!! (playing tricks huh!). Ok, so i only have i one more weapon... v-tech's apple alphabet!!! (electronic talking alphabet board). Good thing that before we left for school, i already put the "apple" inside a separate bag and have Daddy bring the bag with him in case of "emergency power struggle" haha. Upon my cue, Daddy reached for the "on" button of the apple in the bag. It made a familiar greeting to Gab.... and.. ta-da!.. everything's under control now. Gab went inside the room upon my command.

Gab sat down quietly on his chair and just continued playing game. I just let him play for a while and looked around what the other kids were already doing. The activity was tracing curve lines. When most of the students have finished doing the activity and were falling in line to have their works checked, i decided to get the phone and ask Gab to finish the activity already. I thought he would get angry and scream, but he quietly finished the tracing activity with my help.

After finishing the tracing activity, Gab just sat down quietly and observed what other kids were doing. RECESS TIME! I thought Gab would go out because some kids went out the room to go to their parents. He had his snacks inside the room.

Ok, second half of the class.. coloring time. Teacher Alice introduced blue to the kids. While she was talking, Gab imitated her but he was talking jargons. I was amazed at how some of his jargons sounded like the teacher's words. Teacher handed out the paper that the kids will color with blue, Gab looked at it then compared the drawing on the paper with the cloud drawn by the teacher on the board. Gab did the coloring activity by himself, i just had to cue him to finish coloring the big cloud.

CLASS TIME FINISHED!!! GAB GOT 2 STARS FOR TRACING AND COLORING!!!

TIME SPENT INSIDE THE CLASSROOM: 1 hour and 40 minutes ^______^

P.S. Here are some pics taken in the morning while we were doing his homework for today ^^

A Skype chat...

When I opened my computer, I was already log-on in Skype. Roma sent me a link to a video about a highschool student who has autism but graduated salutatorian in his batch. His salutatory speech was very inspiring. It easily melted my heart and enkindled my hopes for Gab's bright future. Then Roma and I chatted about the book she told me a few months back about a family's journey with autism. Thank you.

A Facebook message...

Louise, an elementary and highschool friend, sent me a message through Facebook. She told me that she visited my blog and learned about Gab's condition. She said she admired my courage and that she's now one of Gab's Angels. Simple messages like that lifts up my spirit and continue our advocacy. Thank you.

A phone call...

My day is almost over when my husband called me up using an unknown number. He told me that his phone was robbed on his way to work. I actually don't even know what to say but for sure i suddenly felt disappointment. It's not his first time to lose something.. but anyway i can't blame him for what happened except for not trusting his instincts. The other problem was... it's my mom's phone that my older brother gave her. Maybe i'll just tell my mom tomorrow morning. *sigh*

Today's Gab's second day at nursery school... i wasn't expecting much especially when he woke up already in a bad mood. I decided that we will attend the 10am-12pm class no matter what, but first i had to think on how to change his mood. Last night i was chatting with Dianne and she mentioned using clay for therapy for the hand and fingers. Good that i have a set of n0n-toxic clay, Gab happily played with it, rolling and squeezing the clay. It helped him to relax.

Again at school.. we stood outside the classroom for some minutes.. but we were able to get inside earlier than yesterday. Gab sat down quietly in his chair... playing snowboarding on my cellphone.. occasionally looking at other kids making noise or looking at the teacher who's almost shouting because it's like a fish market just outside the room because of the parents constantly shouting commands at their kids.

While Gab was busy playing games, i checked on what writing activity other kids were doing... slanted lines. So i started making dotted slant lines for Gab to trace. I guided his left hand to make slanted lines while his other hand still holding the cellphone. After finishing 6 lines.... cellphone game again. Then he noticed the boy sitting in front of him, eating snacks already even though its not yet recess time. So Gab asked for his snacks also.

The teacher approached us and greeted Gab "good morning Gab! Are you going to study today?". Gab just stared at her for a moment and took the paper with a big banana drawing to be colored later and looked at it... then back to cellphone playing. After finishing his snacks, he was still asking for some more so i went outside the room to buy some chips in the school's cafeteria. When i went back to the classroom, Gab was already outside the room carried by his nanny.

TIME SPENT INSIDE THE CLASSROOM: 15 minutes!!! hooray!!! Good job Gab ^____^

P.S.: In the afternoon, he had his regular 2hrs session with his ABA teacher, then after that he helped me make pancakes =)

Today's Gab's first day in nursery school. I got up at 6am to prepare his breakfast, school bag, and uniform. I was in mix emotions pondering about what will Gab do at school. I felt excited and scared all at the same time hallucinating that Gab will behave and adjust easily or will scream out loud and throw tantrums at the site of a crowd of kids.

When Gab knew that he will be going out, he excitedly wore his new uniform and new pair of black shoes with the help of his nanny. We had no problems going to school, he even went down from the tricycle alone and walk towards the gate of the school.. then suddenly... he stopped right in front of the open gate of the school and turned back at started walking away! haha maybe he realized that "uh-oh i'm not familiar with this place!". So his nanny hurriedly carried him and ran going inside the school and Gab screamed... then... we stood outside the school gate for 1 hour!!!

I was observing Gab while we were standing outside the gate, noting how many minutes we are still going to stand there before i'll finally force him to go inside. But it was out of my plan since i don't want to cause any trauma to him of that place and i could see that he is scanning the inside of the school through the grills of gate, looking at anxious parents waiting for the start of the class for nursery and kids running around. I could sense that he is getting interested.

Finally, after an hour of stay outside the school gate, Gab cued that he's ready to go inside by reaching the gate grills. I smiled and told his nanny "it's ok to go inside now". We went inside the gate, Gab's still observing all people inside and peeking through the open door of the nursery classroom. I was getting annoyed at other mothers because they were crowding the classroom door so it's kinda hard for me to squeeze in while holding Gab so that i could show him what's happening inside the room.

Thanks to Mickey Mouse's number poster that caught Gab's attention because it gave me an idea that maybe he can actually go inside the classroom on his first day. And yes it did happen!!! Gab and i went inside the classroom and he went down, walked around the room looking at the ABCs and numbers posters. I asked the teacher where is Gab's table, she pointed at the corner leftmost table in front of the room. I guided Gab towards his table.. then.. he sat down.. look at the table.. saw nothing at the table.. nothing to do.. he stood and left the room.

It only spent more or less 20secs inside the room! But i was already happy to see him improve a lot in adjusting to places and crowd and noise. After that, Gab spent the remaining hour walking outside the room and running up and down the stairs.

Last Wednesday, Gab's ABA teacher, T. Divine, advised me that it would be beneficial for Gab if he will enter nursery school or even a playgroup to get exposed to other regular kids of his age. Gab ever since has problems with socialization, or in kid's terms "playing along" with other kids. Often times, he seems not interested to play with other kids. Our neighborhood, made the situation worse because at home he's the only child and around the neighborhood there are no kids within his age range. His older cousin seldom visits our house, but Gab likes playing with her for the reason that he can make his cousin follow what he wants to do. So, it doesn't really help him learn new things.

At first, I thought of enrolling him in a SPED school, but after thinking about it many times, i decided not to continue with my first plan. My goal is mainly socialization and not academics as of now. For me, I think if he will enter a regular nursery class, he will be around regular kids who likes talking a lot and playing a lot. Maybe he could pick up or imitate some words and actions and behaviors exhibited by regular kids.

My expectations: Soon Gab will play, talk, sing, and do activities together with other kids. He won't be stressed anymore if he's in a crowded place. And, he will be more independent just like other kids.

My fears: He will ask me to carry him the whole time inside school during the first weeks (hahaha!). He will cry when irritated or bored during his first month at school T_T. And, he will get other kid's things and get into fight (LOL!).

GAB'S ANGELS: Please include Gab in your prayers for fruitful school days ^___^.

We went to QC Memorial Circle today 'coz i thought Gab needed some time out and play freely after 2 exhausting hours of therapy...

Today, Gab is mastering "high five" and "come here" together with his ABA teacher. He has already mastered "sit down", "give", "give me", "close _____", and "open _____".

To all Gab's Angels: thanks for your continuous support and prayers. ^__^

Today's a GOOD-BAD day for me...

GOOD: I'm happy because Gab finally had a haircut in a different barbershop because the barbershop he usually has his hair done is too far from our house now since we moved back to my parents' house. Since its not sunny today, we decided to walk around the village to scout for a perfect barbershop. Gab's barbershop specifications: open ( really open as in no glass panels or glass doors!), has a television (so that he can forget about the haircut haha), along a busy road (so that he won't hear the razor sound), and NO WAITING TIME ( in short, not popular barberhsop lol). At first, Gab tried to resist but when the barber started razoring his hair, maybe he thought he can't escape anymore s he stopped crying and just insisted to be carried by his nanny during the whole time. Gab doesn't like the barber's cape, at the end of the hair-razor-cut session, he and his nanny were filled with hair HAHA. End-result? Gab now has a clean-cut hair ^_____^

BAD: I carried Gab when we were walking going home after his haircut because we have to walk on a busy road. I didn't notice that my watch accidentally fell off from my wrist. Maybe the lock was caught off on Gab's clothes that's why it was unlocked. I realized that i wasn't wearing my watch while i was preparing to take a bath. F.Y.I.: It's an ESPRIT silver watch filled with pink swarovski crystals inside the frame. Its my husband's gift to me when we were still in university =(

I guess along with good days and bad days, there are times that we also have good-bad days.. just like we have sunny days and rainy days, we also have sunny-rainy days..

Sometimes i feel sick of adapting to your wrong deeds and attitudes. Is it going to be always like this???

ok so now i turned the design i made in www.zazzle.com into a real pin button ^____^

take a look..

As of now i have i have only 10 pieces... i'll have another batch made for my friends ^_^

To my friends who want to be Gab's Angels... drop a comment ^_~

It all started just last week... Saturday morning, Gab's nanny happily told that Friday night Gab sat down at the toliet bowl when he was about to poop when she brought him to the bathroom and asked him to sit down. I was very happy with the news but a bit skeptical because it might be false alarm. So, to prove it, i had to wait until he feels like pooping again :)

Sunday, all day i observed him like a weirdo (haha!) for signs that he was about to poop. Night time came and he is still not pooping! But, when we went upstairs for bed time, he hid under the full-sized mirror and stood there for about 3 minutes. I kept a close watch on him. To my surprise, he started hurrying downstairs and went directly to the bathroom! I helped him climb up the toilet seat and held his hands 'coz he might fall in the bowl... he pooped!!! I was sooooo happy to him actually do it by himself!

Monday morning, my mom went to my house to praise Gab and told me that we will go buy a potty-trainer seat so that Gab won't fall in the bowl. So, we went to the mall and i found a Cars potty-seat. Even thought it's 3 times more expensive that other potty-seats, i chose it because i know Gab will like it a lot *wink wink*. When Gab saw the Cars potty-seat on the toliet bowl, he looked at it for a while and let him sit there for a try. He loved it! Even when i need to take it out 'coz i need to use the toilet bowl, he still puts it back in position :)

Then last night, he's nanny told me that Gab did the same thing again when he felt liked pooping already...

I smiled...

And told myself...

My little angel is slowly but surely starting to flap his wings to fly...

I NOW OFFICIALLY SAY THAT GAB IS POTTY-POOPING-TRAINED ^___^

Last Sunday, i tried to bake a banana bread using my oven toaster! hahahhah well, i was able to successfully make a loaf banana bread inside my toaster.. but its short on the sweet thing... the taste! haha i ran out of sugar at home so my banana bread tasted a bit of banana and bland LOL! but anyways it was a good try.

Moving on to pancakes... i grew up making pancakes together with my mom so i know it will be very easy ^___^ Gab just loved it!

So here are the ingredients i used for making the pancake and bread:

**GFCF Pancakes**

1 cup rice flour

1 cup rice milk in vanilla flavor (add more if you like your batter thinner)

1 tsp GF baking powder

1 organic egg

1 tsp sugar/honey/maple syrup/xylitol (add more if you like sweeter)

--> mix all ingredients together until smooth. Grease your teflon pan with a little veggie oil then pour in your batter. cook both sides.

**GFCF Banana Bread**

2 cups rice flour

4 cups rice milk in vanilla flavor

2 tsps GF baking powder

2 ripe mashed bananas

2 organic eggs

pinch of salt

1/2 cup sugar/honey/maple syrup/xylitol (add more to adjust taste)

--> mix everything together using a mixer or blender. Pour into a loaf pan or baking pan lined with baking paper/wax paper. cook in the toaster until toothpick comes out clean.