Track Ball Mouse

Due to my Trigger Finger illness, I bought a Track Ball Mouse in replacement of the regular mouse.

We roam around the Computer stores at the  Cyberzone of SM Fairview Mall to look for it.  Only one store is selling it, and I have only two options to choose from, the A4tech and Logitech Brands.  I have chosen the Logitech Trackman Marble, it is quite expensive, but I think it will be a good buy though.  It costs Php 1,850 ($ 44++). 

Track ball mouse as recommended by most of my friends gives superior comfort for either hand you will be using with it.  Because my right hand fingers are limited in mobility at the moment, I am learning how to use it with my left hand. 

I am not comfortable using the touch pad of my laptop that’s why I still prefer using a mouse by just connecting it to the usb slot.

Well, I’ve been using it for a week now and I find it much comfortable to use.  

A New Blog Theme, A House Warming Gift

For sure, you already have noticed that this blogsite is wearing her new theme/layout in the past two days. It took me also two days to write on a thank you article for I was so glued in just exploring and staring at my new theme (lol). I really love the way how it was dressed up!

Merci! Mhel “BlankPixel” Ignacio J. 

Mhel is the reason why I joined the blogging community.  She encouraged me to put my random thoughts into writing through intercommunicating and sharing on-line journal.  At first, I was hesitant because I fear that maybe nobody will read on my posts, except Mhel and me, ahaha. Another thing is, I know nothing about blogging, so I started to make some readings and start to learn the ins and outs.  It was May, 2009 when I started to create a blog but I was able to post only one article, due to lack of knowledge and busy schedules. November, 2010, I resume my blogging, and surprised Mhel that my blog was born and I am ready to join the blogosphere J.

She was very happy and excited just like me.  Immediately, she taught me the basics, the do’s and don’ts and even introduced me to some of her blogging friends, added me to several blogger groups, where I was able to gain more cyber friends who also shares blogging tips with me.  Every now and then, Mhel communicates with me and patiently answers my questions.

She gave me a domain name on my birthday last January, and promised me this blog theme. Lucky me to have found one great true friend J.  This blog is now 5 months old, and I was able to create two more blogs – Delectable Ideas and Joy’s Flair J


You may now also grab my badge at the side bar, be working on exchanging badges in the next days.

I may not be as good as the other writers but I will give my best to write good articles to make your visit worthy J.

Once again, my heartfelt appreciation to you  Mhel. Thank you so much my friend!

Trigger Finger (Flexor Tendinitis)

I’ve been suffering from FlexorTendinitis.  In layman’s word it is called Trigger Finger.  It started two years ago on my right hand thumb and it is recurring again lately.  This time it’s not only my thumb but my right hand’s fore and middle fingers as well.  My fingers bend and lock especially at night and are very painful to straighten in the morning.

Trigger finger is a type of tendinitis, develops in the tendons which bend the fingers. There are no muscles in the fingers themselves. Muscles in the forearm are connected to the finger bones by smooth, flexible strings, called tendons. The muscles pull on the tendons, which then bend the finger joints The flexor tendons are smooth, flexible, thick strings - they look a bit like clothesline rope. They work like a bicycle brake cable to bend your fingers, sliding in and out of the finger as it straightens and bends.

Cause: Tendon swelling (tendinitis) results from a person's own tendency to collect fluid around their tendons and joints. This may be aggravated by repetitive or strenuous activities.  When the tendons which bend the fingers (the flexor tendons) become irritated, they can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness. Tendon swelling interferes with the normal movement of the tendons and can cause the finger to and click, catch ("triggering") or lock in position.

A Time for Reflection

Holy Week or the Lenten Season as we call it, is the best time to quantify, to think deeply, to meditate, to reflect, to recollect and to do some mental concentration in our lives.

During my younger years, we were taught to observe silence during the Lenten Season. We were required to attend more children catechism lessons in the Parish Church, read and sing the “Pasyon” (Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ)  in the  “Pabasa” of our neighbor. “Pabasa” is an old Holy Week practice here in the Philippines that has remained well preserved particularly in the provinces where it is held continuously day and night sometimes for as long as three straight days. In recent years, the melodies of pop songs are sometimes used to make the chanting of the Biblical passages sound more interesting and lively. As kids we enjoy reading it, for we have to sing the biblical lines in the book.  Gathered together are close relatives and friends, day and night until it ends on the third day.

Pabasa Book

Air Ionizer

The whole family is suffering from Allergic Rhinitis, the reason why we have this air ionizer at home. Air ionizers can remove microbes such as mold spores, viruses and germs from the air.  It acts as air fresheners, neutralizing odors from pets, cigarettes and even cooking smells to create a cleaner home environment.

It creates ions which remove microscopic particles from the air.  The air is cleaned, helping us to breathe better.  In our case we only have one air ionizer placed in our bedroom. This small machine is really of great help to us.  It was recommended by our Allergologist years ago. Through proper care it lasted for years too.  It is still in good running condition until now.

Air ionizers clean the air by sending molecular particles into the room. Those particles, also known as ions, attach to oxygen in the air to create a negative charge. Once it becomes a negative ion, the molecule attaches itself to pollen, dander, dust and odor to create a cluster. The ionizer then pulls the cluster into an air filter, which can be cleaned or replaced as needed.

However, their usefulness can be hampered if the filter in your air purifier requires changing. If you happen to have one, just clean your ionic purifier and change the filter regularly to keep it performing at its best. J

Suggestions On HowTo Keep Everything In Place

The family starts to grow after a year or two of marriage.  The home begins to be much livelier and happier with kids around, but at the same time house chores becomes much difficult to manage.  We need to be systematic in keeping everything in place to keep things organized.

Make a cleaning schedule and stick to it.  I posted a copy of cleaning schedule in the dirty kitchen.  A list of chores done on a daily basis, weekly and monthly, plus reminders on saving tips.  I emphasized to my househelp to keep on reading it until she memorizes it, so I won’t be always reminding her.

Create purpose-driven home zones.  For instance, the bedroom is just a bedroom. No work table, no computer, except for a tv and and a dvd player.

Edit your closet.  I am sick and tired of seeing disarrayed clothes and other stuffs in my children’s closet. So, in order for them to keep it tidy, I make room for their favorite clothes and new purchases.  I put away old clothes to be given to donations.  In this case they will see and find things easier.  I edit their closets twice a year.

Toy Control.  I tell you, in my experience It’s very tiring to clean up and tidy up toys every now and then, and sometimes it will give you a mad head seeing them lying anywhere and everywhere in the house.  What I did?  I bought stackable bins. These bins organized my son’s toys in categories, toy guns, toy cars, action figures, books, lego and many more.  They can easily tidy it up after they played with them.

Reduce, reuse and recycle.  We can always reuse and repurpose things.  Buying big packs of laundry detergents, fabric conditioner, shampoo etc. and just transfer them into smaller containers reduces garbage in our homes.  I reuse the empty cooking oil container by just buying refill packs. Empty sacks of rice can be used for garbage segregation instead of the plastic bags.  I bring my eco bag with me when I do the marketing or grocery.

Having an Emergency or First Aid Kit, a Tool Box, a cabinet for your toiletries and laundry materials in the house is very handy.  It will give you less time consumption in finding things when you need it.  I implement the rule:  return things in proper places/ where you get it after using it.

It is advisable if you can improvise or buy a study table with compartments for your kids. A study table can make them concentrate more in studying their lessons and making their home works. Also, they can keep their school supplies, dictionaries, books and other school stuffs in compartments to avoid clutter.

After doing the grocery and wet market shopping, I arrange fishes, pre-cut beef/pork meat and chicken in reusable freezer bags with labels, I neatly stack them up to the freezer according to the sequence  of my prepared menu for the week, so I will not be putting them all out of the freezer in order for me to find what I need J.  

Yahmir Got Circumcised!

8:30 am, April 6, 2011 was Yahmir’s medical appointment for circumcision at Bernardino General Hospital, Zabarte Quezon City.  Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin at the tip of the penis. As a tradition here in the Philippines, when boys reach the stage of puberty, aging 9-12 years old, they are bound to undergo this practice.

Circumcision is a hygienic necessity and as much as possible should be done by a doctor to avoid infection. 

Our friend doctor, Dr. Jayson Tejada did the procedure on Yahmir.  He performed a Dorsal Slit Method. It is a single incision along the upper length of the foreskin from the tip to the corona, exposing the glans without removing any tissue.

As usual, I am more nervous than the patient himself (lol).  I keep on telling Yahmir to relax, the pain will only be at the beginning of the procedure which is injecting the local anaesthesia, and then afterwards, it will be numb to feel any pain.

Yahmir is very cooperative and calm, he just said “ouch, ouch” when the doctor is injecting the anaesthesia.  Then, when he felt no more pain, he began chatting with Dr. Jayson while the procedure is on-going. Dr. Tejada is Yahmir’s favorite doctor and trusts him fully. He knows he’s in good hands J.  My husband and I are there to give Yahmir moral support. I almost laugh out loud, when I heard him say “finally! Binata na ako” (finally, I am a young man) after the procedure was finished.

Dr. Tejada and Yahmir before the procedure

medical utensils/equipment used in circumcision

Prescribed Pain Reliever and Antibiotics, plus the wound dressing  kit

As a reward for his braveness, his Dad bought him Champ Hamburger, Peach Mango Pies and large French fries from Jollibee while I was buying his prescribed antibiotics, mefenamic acid, and wound dressings in a nearby Mercury Drug Store.  He ate his food at home then took his first doze of medicines.  Anaesthesia wore out already so he is feeling the wound pain,  I tuck him to bed to rest, after an hour he is already awake and started playing his games on the computer, ahaha.

It has been eleven years ago since my eldest son JM was circumcised, I hardly remember how I cleaned up the wound.  Anyway, I have boiled guava leaves (my mom’s recommendation) to clean the wound, then dabbing it with povidone-iodine afterwards for fast healing of the stitched wound.

 

We spent Php 950 (more or less $22) for the circumcision package. The procedure took only 20 minutes. He has to get back to the hospital next week for a follow up check-up.

Bathroom Battles – Potty Training

In my experience, the best time to teach kids to be independent in a potty seat is during their pre-school years.  Here are my strategies to share for your kid’s toilet training.

• Set a schedule.  Bring your child to the potty after every meal, before bedtime or prior to any outing. He/she learns the habit of using the comfort room, before the urge becomes uncontrollable. It is recommended also to train them with their potty seats inside your comfort room.
• Never scold them if the attempt is not successful. Choose your words, simply say “let’s use the potty”.  If he succeeds, I praise him by saying “Oh, You went by yourself! Good for you!
• Of course, there will come a time that he already pooped before reaching the potty, be patient, this will help him realize how uncomfortable it is to be soiled.
• Give him space to defecate, as much as possible do not stand in front of him while he is doing so.  He needs to experience the thrill of success that comes down from doing it on his own.  Tell him to just call you when he is done, but stay near because accidents might happen if he is all alone.
• We have to stay calm in these matters, don’t get angry if your child resists and don’t freak out when your child has an accident.  By staying cool, you avoid power struggles and unnecessary anxiety.

Lastly, it is important for your child to understand he’s not using the potty for you, he’s doing it for himself 

Cleaning 101: What Really Causes Clutter?

It is a fact that our habits leads clutter in our homes.  Let me cite you examples of these habits that we need to break in order for us to have a de-cluttered home.

Any of these sound familiar?

HABIT Being afraid to let go of items. We always thought of “I might need this someday” or “My kids might want this Someday” until it will came the time that we forgot all about it.

How to Deal:  In many cases, you can repurchase the item, if it’s truly needed.

HABIT Not stepping up to tasks.  Family members walk right by something left out on the counter or in one corner of the house, but unless someone takes the initiative to make sure it gets cleared, it’s unlikely to happen.

How to Deal:  Assign clear responsibilities, communicate with your kids and other members of the family and give consequences when they’re not accomplished.

HABIT Procrastination.  Delaying decisions about where to put things, or waiting to put them in proper places – this is the cause of all clutter!

How  to Deal:  Resist the urge of putting things somewhere there for the meantime.  Put it where it belonged to be kept or placed.

HABIT Buying too much Stuff.  This is the habit that I want to break.  I am an impulsive buyer.  Whenever we go shopping I buy things which I like/want but not sure of where to place it or when to use it.  Just like last month, when I went to Ace Hardware I found a spacious and tall dishwarmer, I bought it thinking of replacing my old dish warmer.  The end result, it does not fit the space where my old dish warmer stands.  It is now at the dirty kitchen L.

How to Deal:  Lesson learned, before buying things make sure to ask yourself carefully if it there is really a need to buy it, and measure the space first where you intend to put it.

We have to prepare ourselves to let go of some things not needed in our home. The most important thing is making the decision to de-clutter.  We only need to organize and classify things still needed and no longer needed.  Then we will know what to throw away J