Bagyo.

Binabagyo buhay ko. Literally. Aside from the fact that life has been pretty stressful, busy, toxic... (insert negative adjective here), it took a turn for the worse when just yesterday, the little boy was admitted to the hospital. 

UPDATE: Latest test result confirms dengue. Sigh.

I am not one to complain about trials and every bad lemon life throws at me, but yesterday, I found myself asking the Lord why? This, after finishing the Book of Job, and learning that God allows storms in our lives for us to realize that they are not really to punish us, but to see how strong we stand during the storm.

But yes, Lord, why? I say this exactly one week before tuition payments are due at A's school - right when I had come up with a plan to get enough funds to meet the deadline, this happens. Plus, Lord, diba I have that bento catering order on Friday (thank goodness it got moved from today)? How will I get that done when my son's in the hospital, and I have no choice but to make all those boxes on my own with no help? 

Sigh.

Life and lemons.

How hard is it exactly to find joy in suffering? Today, as dozens of people posted about the storm and how they don't have power in their areas, my little boy and I lie comfortably in an airconditioned room, complete with free wifi and hot food. When my daughter A texted from my mom's house about how the tree from across the street fell on my brother's SUV, I realized God kept my vehicle safe. I park out in the open (a perfect target for flying and falling debris), but last night, my car was kept safe inside the parking tower across the main hospital. 

A week ago, while driving home, I realized how important it is to build one's life on solid rock. When I was a kid, I learned a Kids Praise! Song from Psalty that had this phrase...

"...you have to build your house upon The Rock,

Make a good foundation on a solid spot.

And the storms may come and go...

But the peace of God you will know."

So yeah, I am in the middle of this storm right now, but I sure am glad my life is standing on solid ground.

Back and Back to the ER!

It's time to start writing again. I couldn't find time to write the past two or so weeks, or has it been a month? I tried to fit in a post or two in between a very, very, VERY hectic schedule at work this past month, but only managed to get a couple or so in. The good news is: I'm back! And I hope I get to post regularly until the year ends and of course, after that.

The kids and I attempted to have a relaxing long weekend (after the week that passed, and the stress someone's visit caused), but we spent almost the whole afternoon of Sunday at the Emergency Room. A woke up with a fever Saturday and broke out in rashes after lunch. I tried to pass it off as something non-crucial, but then she woke up burning Sunday morning.

While waiting for the Doctor...

In ISOLATION, because they wanted to make sure it wasn't something contagious.

She hates needles!

Bad rash, but not itchy. We were sent home with a prescription for Paracetamol.

It turns out I was right. She got the same rash and virus RL had earlier this year (she had it back then only milder). Apparently, this has been going around lately and she was actually not the only kid at the ER with this. It isn't Dengue or the new Chikungunya disease, but I had her tested for Dengue just the same. The rash is not contagious once it breaks out. We were sent home with orders to rest and a prescription for Paracetamol, in case her fever persists.

We paid about P3,200 for the ER consultation, CBC and Dengue NS-1 test. My friend, whose son also had the rashes Sunday, took her son to another hospital and paid about P1,600 for just the CBC and consultation. And although the added expense will mess up my budget, it doesn't hurt to pay extra for peace of mind.

I hope and pray that the rest of the year will be illness-free!   

Have your kids been sick lately? How much are ER fees at your hospital of choice? I am thinking of getting extensions to our health card (currently covers me only). What's a good option?