Little Mao celebrates his 1st year of LIFE!

I had 15 days to come up with the best FIRST birthday party for my Little Mao. Although at 6 months of age, I already knew what kinda party to throw. My Mikko loves Sesame Street to my delight because I grew up with the characters so I already envisioned the kind of birthday event we will be having. I didn’t want to splurge so much and stay practical so I made a 10K budget to make my SESAME STREET party happen. 

Now I have this idea that in order to get things done I must make invitations first and give them early on for my motivation. To save $, I made, designed and printed the invitations myself. 

Then I got T-shirts for *ALL* of us…

Everybody happy? That’s right!

Along with other printed materials like the party banners and banderitas, I also made the goodie bag tags, play money for use to buy food (just for fun!), gift certificates as prizes for the party games (such as the classic Filipino “pabitin" and break the pot), and props for the photobooth.

And to add more color to the party, we set up a NAIL COLOR “booth" so everyone else can get colorful nails like I did. Kikayness. A sure treat for the yayas and the moms.

Along with the super fun photobooth by SALA Lounge + Café (ahem!) and nail color areas, we rented a local cotton candy machine maker, put up a hotdog/marshmallow table, and bought 6 gallons of delicious local Batangueño (dirty) ice cream. It’s not dirty per se but that’s what it’s called and we kids here in Ormoc City grew up eating this awesome cheap local treat.

The cake & cupcakes were given as a gift from Ninang Ishshah Franco-Kangleon of Buttercup Boutique & Novelty Shop, my pretty sis-in-law and made by Julina Larrazabal-Algarra. The balloons and tables were from This & That, the premier gift shop here in town. Paid for as a gift from Mikko’s great grandparents. :P Aren’t we lucky? Hehe. We were also blessed by generous sponsors for the food prepared. Also we are fortunate to have people working and volunteering to get the party going. Shout outs to Yaya Mila, Tatay Bobby, Mianne, Liny, Melinda, Diday, Dorothy, Diane, Anrie, Yaya Maricel, Yayo Marjun as well as our cousins, friends, and neighbors Cecil, Rae Ann, Tita Agnes, Celsa, Tita Baday for all your help.

We thanked the Lord above for the gift of life before celebrating Mikko’s birthday even though he kept crying and screaming at church either because he got hungry or it was too hot. (Better than a rainy day, right?)

Okay, I think the rest of these photos below should speak for themselves.

It was indeed a truly remarkable and unforgettable birthday party that I hope Mikko will appreciate when he’s older and sees the photos we’ve taken to remind us all of the fun we had celebrating his FIRST birthday party. It was tiring really but it was all worth it. Anything for our baby boy.

We love you, Little Mao. Wishing you many more happy years ahead!

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The Francos. Our first formal family picture. :)

This one will go down into the (scrap)books. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! -MVF

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Immunization 101: Cost & Necessity

I must admit that memory is not my strongest point. I know I have short-term memory now and as much as I want it to work better with Mikko’s immunization schedule, alas I can only leave it all up to the pediatrician. Or her secretary who never fails to call me up reminding that it’s time for another shot. :)

I mean, take a look at this chart:

 

Que horror! You think I can keep track of all that even with the help of online schedulers and apps? No, thank you. That’s why I think it’s important to pick your pediatrician! You gotta have one that REALLY CARES for your child.

Although as far as vaccines are concerned, there are health centers who can provide you with the assistance and even give free shots! But those are (again) scheduled and I don’t think that my memory is really thrilled to bits about that.

Thank goodness for my pedia. Hi, Doc Lynette Co! She fusses about Mikko as if it’s her own child! :D We couldn’t be happier!

Here’s Mikko getting his shots last month:

Poor baby! :( 

With all the medical advancement in the world today, you’d think there’s an easier way. Yes, there is. Now we got all these 5-in-1 or 6-in-1 shots! I can’t imagine watching my baby getting all those shots in the chart, ONE BY ONE! Hmmm… can you? 

At birth, he was given his BCG and Hepatitis B vaccines. And last month we got these two:

Infanrix Hexa (Combined diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis, hepatitis B, enhanced inactivated polio vaccine & Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine.) and Rotarix (Active immunization of infants against gastroenteritis due to rotavirus.).

 

The first was injected to his thigh and the latter was taken orally. We were told to expect that Mikko might get a fever that night after getting vaccinated but he didn’t. Hmmm.

Word to the wise, these vaccines can cost pretty darn high so you might want to check out your options. Let’s just say for these two, it can set you back 5 to 6 thousand pesos. Eeek! But also consider this, if you get shots individually, depending on where you will get them, the price would be the same or even higher.  

The most recent shot Mikko had was for Prevenar 13. (Active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease, pneumonia & acute otitis media caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in infant & children 6 wk-5 yr.)

And that’s another 4+K, well spent anyway. ;) But 4+K! That’s the same amount I used to pay monthly for my phone bills back in college. FML.

With the high cost of immunization, you might be wondering, is it really necessary? Well, immunizations were made for protection against serious illnesses. You know, like polio, tetanus, measles, mumps, and the seasonal flu. Bacteria/viruses = immune system = antibodies. You remember your Science & Health class? So yes, if you ask me. I think it’s really important as much as well-child checkups. Especially for the first 6 months of life. I just don’t think it’s worth the risk so I won’t take my chances. I guess when you’re a mom, you’re willing to do anything just to make sure your baby gets only the best. And whatever it takes. ;) 

Pedia advised that the next shot will be for DPT2, OPV2, HCP B3, but hey, why confuse myself? I’ll just wait for the secretary to call me and say it’s time! Til then I’ll have to start $$$aving. Ka-ching!

Hmmm. Nobody said raising a kid was cheap. Yup, nobody said that.

 

Check out Mikko’s awesome pediatrician:

DR. NAOMI LYNN LAGADO-CO, Pediatrics

Room 204, LRE Building

Corner Rizal & Lopez Jaena Sts., Ormoc City

(053)560-8910; 09173082929

drcowa@yahoo.com

Clinic hours: 9AM-12NN; 2PM-5PM (Mon-Sat)

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