Seven year trip

We reached the Lucky Seven which could have easily been the Dreaded Seven. But our marriage has been a blessed one despite all the struggles through the first years when we did not know why we had difficulty bearing a child.

Aires and I aren’t exactly two peas in a pod. We are poles apart on so many things. I am laid back and carefree. She is structured and on-the-dot. I worry about what others feel. She speaks her mind. I love books. She digs horror movies. I abhor shopping. She adores bargains. I have no money acumen. She is a finance wiz.

Physics says that’s the way the law of attraction works. Like poles repel. Opposites attract. But in Marriage 101, a balance must be reached at one point when opposites also need to play opposites and like poles become allies.

When Aires became pregnant, we had to move in synch with each other. I had to journey with her through her ups and downs. She also had to give way when I was the one needing a steady hand.

The journey is not over though. After Heaven was born, we continue to play either likes or opposites. I want Heaven to be exclusively breastfed; she does this remarkably but sometimes feels like giving up. She demands full attention when Heaven is with us; I sometimes stray away. She sometimes has to spend more time with work; I cringe when Heaven needs her so badly that he cries his lungs out.

This week, we celebrate our seventh year as husband and wife. We also celebrate Heaven’s seventh month. It’s a double seven celebration that’s one for the books. What a journey it has been!

Prescription for cough and colds

I got sick last week. My guts turned queasy. My head ached. My coughing worsened. I had rashes all over my hands. I got feverish.

Last year, despite all the tension and difficulties with Aires’ pregnancy, I did not get sick. I had to dig down within me all the strength I could muster to make sure that I was there for Aires. But my body finally gave in last week.

To make it worse, Heaven also started coughing. By Friday, we took him to his pediatrician. Thankfully, Heaven had no symptoms of pneumonia. His nostrils were not flared. His breathing was not laborious. There was no need for antibiotics. The only prescription… continue breastfeeding. Aires’ breast milk has all the antibodies that Heaven needs to fight the colds-causing and cough-inducing virus that seemed to have plagued my office.

You see, Heaven goes to work with me everyday. Our office has a special nursery-breastfeeding room. Here, Heaven stays when he is asleep or feeding. But last week, many of my officemates were down with the flu. Heaven may have gotten a sniff of the bug either from an officemate or directly from me.

But other than the occasional coughing and hatchoo’s, Heaven seemed to be weathering the storm really well. His nose was not clogged with mucus at all. His eyes looked a bit gloomy but his face still lit up when it was time to play or feed. He also slept soundly.

Now… if only I could share with Heaven his mom’s breast milk…

For Heaven's sake

My wrist has been aching for weeks already. I do not know exactly why.

I went to a clinic to have it checked. The doctor asked if I had “trauma”. Hhhmmm. What could be traumatic in carrying a 4.7 kilo six month old baby? It sounds so un-fatherly if I sprained my wrist for carrying my baby. So… No. I did not sprain my wrist for carrying Heaven Czar.

The doctor checked my fingers, asking: “Does this hurt? How about this one?” My wrist aches, not my fingers. If I extend my thumb outward, the pain explodes around the wrist area. She made a splint to immobilize my left thumb. “Do not carry your baby yet,” the good doctor reminded. I would also need to have my left hand x-rayed and see if there’s any indication of a fracture.

For two days, I sported the splint and this got people asking. “No. I did not injure my wrist for carrying Heaven Czar,” I kept saying to those who asked. The x-ray results ruled out fracture. So what could be causing the pain? A muscle tear? A torn ligament?

Aires was concerned but also frowned on my wimpy state. Both of us could not afford to be sick. We know that Heaven Czar needs us to be in the best state of mind and body. Just like with my left hand. When my thumb got immobilized, it was difficult to do stuff like driving or changing Heaven’s diapers. Without a healthy me, it will be difficult for Aires to keep things going smoothly especially with and for Heaven.

This pain has gotten me thinking about my sordid state of health. I have gained weight. I now look fatherly with this stump around my waist. I vowed to go back jogging or hit the gym again. But I have not yet still fulfilled my promise.

To get me back on track, Aires simply said: “For Heaven’s sake.” This would surely get me going now.