Day 94: Seasons

This is part of my 100 days 'til Home series.
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Dear C,

The weather today was strange. The rain poured, the sun shone, and then it rained again. All within an hour. The next couple of hours, there was hail. So, this is spring? 

Spring is becoming more beautiful each day, despite the weather. Flowers and trees come back to life.

Linkeroever, Antwerp. (Thanks for the shot, Ha)

I came here in summertime, everything was vibrant. (I realize I do not have a lot of photos back then.)

In one of the Antwerp cafes. This spot looks inviting. 

Summer berries at the market.

Then I watched trees and leaves transform into deep colours of reds and browns, and everything in between.

Taken from the train, along the Belgian countryside.

At a park in Vilvoorde, Belgium.

A stunning view in Brugge, Belgium.

The Antwerp cathedral, one autumn night. 

In the old quarters of Luxembourg. 

Then, the trees surrendered their leaves to winter.

Trees lining the open space beside Stockholm's town hall.

  

Of course, you remember the winter trees during your visit. 

Now, I am seeing how the bare branches turn into bouquets of flowers. 

Sakura in bloom, while the other trees wait for their turn. Linkeroever, Antwerp.

White flowers and green leaves on what used to be bare branches.  

A small patch of tulips! (Thanks for the photo, Mawar!)

I have only known summer and rain all my life. I cannot wait to see spring in full bloom! I hope one day, you will get to experience all the four seasons too. Each transition reminds me that life is fleeting, but God is in control.  

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart..."                                                                                                                          - Ecclesiastes 3:11 

I am sharing one of my favourite songs, "Every Season" (I know you love to sing along with lyrics you can read!). I loved it since I was still a teenager, and it has taken on a whole new meaning for me now. It reminds me that the Lord knows every detail and season of our lives. May He give you a keen awareness of his loving presence as you grow.

Love,

Mama

Day 96: On travel and Paris

This is part of my 100 days 'til Home series.
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Dear C,

I was missing in action yesterday because Tita Kathy and I had a quick tour in Paris.

When Papa and I visited this city last autumn, we came across a young Filipina on the metro. She started a conversation when she heard us speak Tagalog. She was touring Europe alone - a graduation gift from her parents who lovingly set aside funds for her. Her mother arranged her itinerary.

Inside the metro, where we met the young lady travelling alone.

Papa and I immediately thought of you and your future. We hope we can nurture your curiosity so you would want to see the world, and help you have the opportunity to do so.

The elegant iron curves of the Eiffel.

Love locks all over the bridges of the river Seine.

An interesting experience. (We didn't try it.)

One of the imposing facades of the Louvre palace. Not the main entrance, though.

At the Notre Dame Cathedral's portal. Can you see the man carrying his head? 

The Sainte-Chapelle is simply stunning.

Papa and I endured a long queue  to get in but it was well worth it. 

Jardin du Luxembourg. Among the many beautiful sights, this caught my attention.

At the Arc deTriomphe. 

Over the past months, I learned a few tricks on how to travel efficiently and inexpensively. While considered as a luxury by many, it really depends on your level of comfort (as I have learned from Dr Remo), and the goals you set for each adventure.  

Going back to our trip yesterday, it had to be well-planned. We only had a day to spare and we brought a little boy along (yes, you will meet him soon when he is born!).

Enjoying the view all to ourselves.

An obligatory photo with I.M. Pei's pyramid. 

At the Musée de l'Orangerie with Claude Monet's Water Lilies. You can  take a virtual tour here. 

When I get home, I will show you more photos and tell you more stories about this beautiful city. Instead of buying little trinkets, I got coffee table books that I can bring home to you.

Love,

Mama

Day 98: Yearbook Pictorial

Day 98

Dear C,

Yesterday was a sunny day, perfect for our class pictorials for the yearbook. Being in the garden with happy people made me appreciate this community I now belong to, and the friendships that have been fostered during the past months. When we all leave Belgium by the end of the school year (for some, in two weeks), we will never be gathered this way again.

I asked Papa to get you a world map so you will know where my friends live, some of them you have already met over Skype. And our hope is that when you grow up, you will be able to see the world through the eyes of others too while remaining true to your identity as a Filipino.

Here are some photos before my phone ran out of battery.

Love,

Mama

Mama proudly wore a skirt from ANTHILL, a social enterprise that promotes Philippine weaving  traditions. (Thanks for the photo, Chandani.) 

Tita Kathy and I are representing the Philippines. She is my classmate in one course, before the little baby comes out! 

With friends from Indonesia, India, Cuba and Uganda. You have already met Sandip, my floor mate and the one who taught me how to make chapati. Isabel is the first person I met from Cuba :) Amy, my Indonesian friend works for the Ministry of Health.

These beautiful doctors were Mama's travel buddies in Spain .
You've met Patricia already, from Kenya and Kidist from Ethiopa.  

Chandani is the first classmate I met in person. She is from Nepal and she has already been to Boracay! Bindu is from India, a dentist who shifted into public health, and she is like a sister. Kirsten is Belgian midwife who bravely worked for Medicin Sans Frontiers in sensitive areas like Afghanistan.    

Day 99: Beautiful and Strange Sights

DAY 99

Dear C,

Counting the days will now be easier because I am just 99 sleeps away! I thank the Lord for keeping you and Papa strong.

Waking up to your photos and voice messages makes me smile :)

Mama's first weekend in Belgium coincided with a culture fair. It was fun, and it made me look forward to the many things, places and experiences I have yet to discover.  

Mama wearing your Lola Loida's blouse from the '80s. (I always carry her in my heart.) I brought my colorful bag from the Philippines, made by community artisans from cloth scraps and traditional fabrics.

This is the town hall of Antwerp, a UNESCO world heritage site. Can you spot the Philippine flag proudly displayed?

This photo fascinated you because they converted the container van into a stage!

Little girls lined up for a free hairdo fix (mess). Stylists use air compressors, and clients wear ear muffs for safety. 

This young couple collected money for their honeymoon. Every time a coin was dropped, they mimed gestures of gratitude. Against the background of workmen sculptures, the amusement they provide is beauty, and work in itself. 

I still have hundreds of photos and stories I cannot wait to share!

Until tomorrow,

Mama 

xxx

100 days 'til Home

It's been three years since I last visited this page!

In between, I pursued what the Lord has put in my heart in the best way I know how. This led me to advocacy and health system work related to maternal and child health. The deeper I got into it, the more I realize the complexity of hurdles for mothers and families who want to breastfeed.

Long story short, I felt the need to study again. I was granted a scholarship to study in Belgium. It was a tough decision to leave behind my boys.

Spending time in Bohol, Philippines just days before I left.

Alone on my second day in Belgium, 9pm view from my balcony.  The building shown used to be a monastery, but now this is where we have classes.

Student again! First day of classes. I am doing a graduate course in public health, focusing on strategic management of health systems.

I have been living in the beautiful city of Antwerp for 8 months now. (What are the chances of me even making it to the city's promotional video! 1:40)

But today, I realized I only have 100 days left here!

To mark this, I will attempt to write short tales of the mundane, and not so mundane aspects of my life as an expatriate. I also need this creative outlet, so I can break from writing serious academic stuff.

My stories will be addressed to my little boy so when he is older, he will know I always carried him in my heart every single day we were apart. I know he won't mind that I am sharing this with you.

Let me start tomorrow :)

Until then,

Lei

Closing Doors, New Opportunities

The recent months have been crazy. Mommy's cancer found its way back and I had to drop everything for her. She was a fierce fighter - battling it on her own until she can't anymore. She had a beautiful death, dying peacefully in my Daddy's arms when all of us have unintentionally fallen asleep. And just like that, she is gone. 

  

She had a beautiful life of faith. Her life revolved around us. She reminded me of important things and how fleeting life can be.

A week after her death, I was scheduled to attend a week-long leadership journey for doctors. I almost didn't want to go but was reminded that Mommy was happy to receive the news that I was chosen for the program.

So for her, I went. The journey was life-changing and it allowed me to think deeper about my life purpose. In one word, the experience is Affirmation.

Beholding the beauty of Siargao. As one of my batchmates asked, "What did I do to deserve this?"

On to a healthier Philippines! My Leadership Journey Family.

The inventure was just what I needed. I have made the following resolutions:

1. I will stick with my own standards of success. 

2. I will not doubt my self, as I have surrendered my course to God. 

3. I will be jealous of my time. (Ate Kathy, I borrow the phrase from you!)

4. I will write my stories.

Let me share a story. Something I have to let go of, with some sadness but full of hope.

I built an online store from scratch. I didn't have the capital, I didn't have the connections. I was just a stay at home mom who wanted to share a new found lifestyle that became an increasingly popular option. Along the way, I found friends and like-minded people. I felt the connection with mothers and the people who would entrust their brands with me. I found a niche. It was amazing. I thought the store was headed towards the right direction. I convinced my sister to take over with plans of expanding it.

Multiply (the e-commerce platform) shut down, and then my sister had to go back to the province for Mommy. It was difficult to keep up with the demands of work and family. It happened in almost a rapid sequence, so I thought it was best to temporarily close down the store.  

Between that time and now, I had to evaluate why the store exists. 

The first reason is to influence. Around 2 years ago, there were just a few of us pioneering a similar trend so we were quite easy to spot. Then we got featured on TV and on magazines and I got to talk in cool places like Rockwell Tent and ADB. The network also grew to 3,500 followers. Some influence must be there.  It delights me that stores of the same theme are now flourishing. I can only hope that I was able to contribute to this awareness.

I volunteered my time in a hospital to help new moms breastfeed. I work for an NGO that promotes maternal and child health. I decided not to do full time medical practice for a living and the store has become a source of extra income so I can continue doing things I really love.

With change-makers at the ADB No Impact Week early this year.
Here with Jen Horn of  Muni,  Reese Ruiz of  Rags 2 Riches and Anna Oposa of Save Philippine Seas. 

During an Unang Yakap lay forum. The Medical City.

In one of our many Unang Yakap workshops for health care providers. 

These benefits from the store also come with some personal costs.

The routine of running the store has taken a toll on me. For example, I want responses to inquiries to be prompt. I usually don't give direct answers but guide the moms through the process of decision making. (I started this blog to just direct them here but of course, I was too lazy to write). Orders should be with clients the next day or two. Reports and payments should be with suppliers on the dot. It bothers me if any of these things are not served. Oh, and I have been having backlogs since July so that's not a pretty good shape. The most crucial factor is not having somebody else to oversee the store and my household. It is all just me. 

There are also other opportunity costs. How time flies, Caleb turned 3 years old! While most mompreneurs can multi-task (my friend Jenny is the epitome of a multi-tasker), I want to start simplifying my life in order to do more and do what really counts. I dream of helping improve health outcomes for Filipino babies and I want this dream to take off. So I have resolved to be with Arvin and Caleb when I can, and be all there for them while I pursue my dream with undivided passion. 

My inspiration, a 3 year-old toddler.

Therefore, I am turning a page and letting go of the store. 

Thank you for transacting with me, it has been a joy to serve you and to be your friend. You know who you are. 

Thank you to all the suppliers who trusted and supported me. May the Lord repay your kindness and bless all the good intentions you have through your meaningful enterprises.  

Now, what will I do with a page that has 3,500 followers? Hmm...

Caleb's Closet will always be a testimony of the Lord's enabling and providence.

Will you still stick around as I close this door and start anew? I am not prolific nor eloquent. But maybe, I have some stories to share.

Thanks for listening, 

Lei

" Leap! And the net will appear." 

- John Borroughs

Breastmilk Storage Guidelines for Pinay Moms

A handful of working moms asked me on milk storage guidelines. Different sources would have different guidelines, and I thought somebody should put down a localized guideline for a temperate country like ours.

Months ago, I tagged along one of my mentors in a breastfeeding lay forum and she shared the one laid out by Philippine National Committee on Human Milk Banking. Credits to Dr. Jessa Sareno for this table.

Here it is:

Recently, I underwent the UNICEF/WHO module on Breastfeeding Management for health-workers in Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital. The guidelines are pretty much simplified. Here is the set of guidelines for a healthy term baby at home:


Milk should NOT be stored above 37 degrees.
4 hours at 25-37 degrees Celsius
8 hours at 15-25 degrees Celsius
8 days refrigerated (2-4 degrees Celsius)
However, many refrigerators do not keep a constant temperature. Thus, it's safer to use refrigerated milk within 3-5 days of storage and freeze* milk that will not be used within 5 days  right away.
Source:  Unicef/WHO Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Section 3: Breastfeeding Promotion and Support in a Baby-Friendly Hospital, Jan 2006

* Do not fill up a container completely, only up to 3/4 full because milk expands when frozen.

* You may refrigerate milk collected over 24 hours and then batch freeze.
 Author's note: If you are pumping milk in the office, or elsewhere you still need to transport milk you plan to store, it is best to store temporarily in a REFRIGERATOR and then just batch freeze when you get home. Why? If your milk partially or completely froze, and   you transport home, then there is a chance of it thawing to some degree. This can affect the quality of your milk.

*If you must, COOL freshly obrained milk before adding to the frozen batch.
Author's note: Again remember the principle of thawing. If you add freshly express milk (usually warm from our breast), it may thaw the frozen milk it gets into contact with. The viability of this combined milk will then take on the oldest milk collected.

*If you are using the cooler transport your pumped milk home, make sure that the milk is in contact with the ice/frozen gel packs. Frozen gel packs are better than ice cubes to keep milk cold or frozen.

*Domestic refrigerators are the ones that we usually have at home or the office. One-door types have more fluctuating temperatures so the two-door types keep milk longer. It's important to keep milk where the temperature is most constant (at the back, NOT on the door especially if you are using your office refrigerator to temporarily store).

*Preparing a Container of Expressed Breastmilk at Home
1. Wash the container with warm soapy water and thoroughly rinse.
2. Drip dry on a clean towel.
3. Pour hot water into the container.
4. When ready to express milk, pour the water out of the container.

*Preparing to Express Milk with a Breast Pump
1. Read the instruction sheet in the pump prior to first use.
2. Wash the parts of the pump that touch the breast or milk with clean warm soapy water. Thoroughly rinse and air dry.

(*Source: Strengthening Human Milk Banking Practices: A training manual for human milk bank personnel on the best practices of handling human milk and educating breast milk donors). Created by the UNICEF Technical Working Group on Human Milk Banking, reviewed by the Philippine National Committee on Human Milk Banking)
 

Here are some more practical tips:

1. As a rule, wash your hands properly before you collect milk. 
2. If you plan to store your milk, store it in the coldest storage RIGHT away. If you are placing milk on a temporary cold storage, you may keep it cold and then freeze it within 24 hours. 
3. Once frozen milk is thawed, NEVER freeze it again. If kept in the refrigerator, it should be consumed within 24 hours. 
4. Left over thawed milk should be consumed on the next immediate feeding. When in doubt, it's better to just discard it than give spoiled milk to your child. Thus it's very practical to freeze and thaw in small portions to prevent wastage or overfeeding (1-2oz blocks).  
5. Do NOT shake or overheat human milk, as this will destroy the nutrients - particularly the proteins that are supposed to protect your baby. Did you know that antibodies are actually tiny intricately folded proteins? Shaking and microwaving/overheating will actually cause them to unravel so they loose their protective powers. It's normal for milk to separate into layers, and you may swirl gently before offering it to your child. NEVER shake vigorously.
6. It's actually ok to give cold milk to babies :) To date, there is  no evidence that cold milk causes harm or colic. But for those who wouldn't want to give cold milk, be careful not to overheat (as this may cause scalding) and stay away from the microwave as much as possible. 
7. It's best to store milk in small cloudy-colored BPA-free plastics. Leukocytes may stick to the sides of some bottles. For short-term storage, there are special commercially available milk bags. In a milk bank I know, they use recycled BPA-free containers of a commercially available sterilized water brand.

There, that's it for now. Will try to come up with more practical guidelines and sources soon :)

Have a great weekend!

Dr. Lei