On my way to WAHM-ing

It is Kali's birthday today. Unfortunately, I don't have anything for him. Well simply because I ran out of budget for it. October is pretty much a very pocket-wrecking month. With two anniversaries to celebrate plus Kali's birthday, I definitely expect to ran out of money given the fact that I don't have a job. I only make some out of the money Kali hands me (once in a blue moon). And yes, you're right to think that I don't actually hold our family budget. 

I think the heavens already heard my prayers and finally opened a door for me. Last night, I just had my first online job interview via Skype. I applied for this part-time and home-based job last week and they scheduled me for an interview. I'm very much happy to say that I finally got a shot and was called for a training which would last for around ten days. Not bad at all because after the training, everything will be home-based already. 

I am pretty much excited to work. I know it's not my ideal job but right now, for me, what is important is I could still get to look after Inno while making my own money. It's a lot different to have your own money to save and spend rather than waiting for the husband to hand his pay to you (which in my case, doesn't really happen). I've got things I want to accomplish in the future and the only way I could make that happen is to have my own money to study for it. 

Kali already told me to set that 'dream' aside and find a job so I could help him with the saving thing. But I just cannot push myself to find a work that I know I would not enjoy and then resign (again) in the future, the reason I am finding ways to earn money without even having to sacrifice my time for Inno and tying myself to a job that I don't really like just for the sake of earning. 

So, Yes. I am on my way to becoming a WAHM and I'm finding more opportunities to increase my chances of earning while staying at home and taking care of our family. I don't mind what other people would think about it because in the end, it's still my life and I would live it the way I want. :)

Weekend Mishaps

Weekend passed me by just like that but it's pretty okay with me since it didn't kick off the way it should be -great and fun. Aside from our quick movie date, we finally watched the The Perks of Being a Wallflower movie, nothing special happened. There were just a lot of mishaps which I intend to forget after this post. I swear. 

First Mishap: The Pissing Checkup

I'm sure that our checkup this month is something I would always take as a lesson. It was Inno's seventh month checkup last Friday. For months now, I always dread his checkups since I've aready sensed since the beginning that our pedia will try to let him take formula milk. My answer to her every time she asks me about that is I am still breastfeeding and have no plans to stop anytime soon. I have to admit that partly it was my fault why she was more gauged to offer us formula milk this time. It was because of an inquiry that I texted her earlier this month. Supposedly, Kali and I were to spend our first wedding anniversary without Inno but there was some miscommunication between Kali and me that I thought Inno would be coming around already because there's no one available to babysit him on that weekend. Well, the truth is there's Ate Jem and Mama but both were scared every time Inno would start to wail, so they asked us to bring Inno along. 

Going back, since I thought that Inno will be coming with us, I decided not to pump the entire week since I'll be direct feeding him on the weekend. Friday came and Kali asked if I pumped enough for overnight away from Inno and I was surprised and told him that I didn't. There were around six packs of frozen breastmilk in the fridge but it won't be enough since he's feeding every three hours even with solid foods. Came Saturday, I told Kali that we could still leave Inno and provide a small can of formula milk alternately with the frozen ones only for that day. I texted our pedia what could Inno take for his age and she said this particular milk. Of course, with the turn of events, we didn't avail the formula milk. 

Maybe she thought I'm willing to take formula after all, but even so, I think she could have first encouraged me to continue breastfeeding. What's worse is she told me that of all the breastfed babies that she knows, Inno was not the chubby/siksik type. What a way to support me on my breastfeeding journey, right?! Well, for those of you who haven't seen Inno yet, we could tell that he is tall for his age. The reason why every time he gains weight, it might not be visually significant. You just can't expect a tall baby to be chubby at the same time considering his parents' body frames. Nakakaloka talaga. And of course, being the praning mother that I am, I gave in to the idea of mix feeding which I intend to dispose after Inno finishes this one and only can of formula milk he will ever take for his entire life. 

I know what this mix feeding thing could do to my milk and in order to maintain my supply, I pump on the times he would drink by the bottle and direct feed him alternately. Also, I make sure to take lactation supplements to further boost my milk flow. 

Update! I'm changing our Pedia next month! Thank You dear Lord!

Second Mishap: MY OB Checkup

While waiting for Inno's checkup, I was able to drop a visit to my OB-GYN who also shares the same clinic with Inno's pedia. As you know, My menstrual period has not returned yet up to this time. It's one of breastfeeding wonders which they refer to as lactational amennorhea. It is a nursing woman's natural way of preventing pregnancy while breastfeeding. But of course, there's a safer way of avoiding unplanned pregnancy by doing safe intercourse. I'm not really bothered with the absence of my period because I've read that it's really possible if you are exclusively breastfeeding. However, my OB says that I should start having my cycle back so that we could start on family planning already. She asked me to take these tablets that she already prescribed to me before but I refused to finish because it was making Inno fussy. And this time, she's asking me to take 15 of them. Facepalm. That's not the end of it. She also asked me to start weaning Inno from the breast. Bingo! Of course, I am hesitant and my insides were raging. She was really a good OB the whole time I was pregnant but after what she just asked me to do last weekend, I think I will never be seeing her until my next pregnancy. 

Seriously, how can these doctors just have the guts to ask moms to stop breastfeeding when they should be advocates of it in the first place? Now I know why more and more mothers are choosing to let their babies drink canned milk. Its because of these doctors who patronize these commercial products over the natural one. Coming from these 'experts', the tendency of these new mothers is to believe that they don't have enough to nourish their babies and therefore choose formula over breastmilk. 

C'mon! Think! Why do you think these milk companies mimic the breastmilk? It's because breastmilk is a lot more healthier to take. Aside from the nutritional benefit breastmilk has, it is also rich with antibodies that help boost babies' immune system. Something formula milk cannot offer your child. 

If you're a mom-to-be (or a dad-to-be for that matter), I hope and pray that you give breastfeeding a chance to nourish your baby first atleast before choosing formula milk agad. Don't believe everything your doctor says especially if they're against breastfeeding and of course, these professionals won't tell you if they are. What they'll do is convince you by offering you this certain can of milk and tell you that it has more nutrients over breastmilk. They may appear very much convincing but it will always be up to you to give in to them. 

Again, I don't have anything against mothers who choose to feed their babies formula milk. It is always a CHOICE. I just want to post a healthier (and yes, maybe old school) option to nourish your children. Nothing beats breastmilk and a lot of Filipina moms (and Hollywood mothers alike) have proven that. What other proof do you still need?

There are already a number of breastfeeding support groups in the Philippines and Mr. Google can help you with it. During my pregnancy, I frequently visited the Chronicles of A Nursing Mom website. Jenny is a Filipina breastfeeding mom herself and a certified LATCH expert and could help answer all your questions about breastfeeding. In her site is a VIP Tab too which features other BF support groups. 

Mishap Three: A Bad-Tempered Hubby

We capped the weekend in a not-so-nice way. It was just one of tampuhan episodes but what I really hate about it K's nagging temper. We were discussing about this upcoming family occasion which he's not sure about just yet. Well, I have to admit I made kulit him about it but only because I just want to spend my dad's birthday with my family in Laguna. For the past six years of our relationship, I have always prioritized K on his birthdays even if it would mean I can't celebrate my dad's because most of K's birthdays were spent out-of-town and in time for sembreaks. (Btw, K's bday is on the 25th, and my dad's on the 28th) I'm really torn apart now because I know dad would want Inno to be there on his birthday. :( And I badly want to make up for all those birthdays that I missed just because I chose to celebrate K's instead. 

My family back home were already asking me if we're going home for Dad's birthday and I can't say 'yes' just yet. It hurts like H. I'm still trying to compromise with them to spend it In Manila na lang so we could go. What i hate about our argument last Sunday is his raging temper. I understand that I pressured him somehow but that is not enough reason to talk like that. :(

You know Hon, I love you amidst all our countless differences but #1124 of the  List of things about me says: I hate being shouted at because it triggers my tear ducts. (Take note of that next time)

So far, my week is doing just fine (minus the formula feeding time, of course!). I love how I've been able to catch some Me Time in the afternoon for two days now. Moreso, I'm loving how, aside from blogging, I'm having more time to write in my journal now the old school way. Pen + Paper are my good friends now.

You. Yes you reading this. Tomorrow's hump day already. I hope you're having 

a blast. :) 

Xo,

Yan