Have you heard about Pap Smear?

I heard about it but never see Pap Smear as a very serious & necessary routine for any mom & woman today. I just thought it was just part of a campaign made by health workers but never see its significance at all. 

Last August 16, my college friends and I had a reunion after such 8 years of not seeing each other although we usually talk on social networking sites. The usual laughter and teasing which are our bonding activities during the old day plus the 'karaoke' add on had complete our routine of enjoyment. But as we go along our relish, a topic was opened by Vanessa Griño whom is a medical representative; 'Have you had a pap smear ever?' Ooopps... I hadn't had one but although I heard about it.

Among the seven girls and a guy in the group, three of us are moms already and none of us had any Pap Smear since, of course aside from Vanessa. The thought of getting a pap smear or a pap test sank into e as days go on.  So one day, I pushed myself to get a researched done about the interest and value of it. I went to the city library of Davao located at the 3rd floor of the Sangguniang Panglungsod or the City Hall. 

I started to look and found out the best book talking about the Pap Smear or the Pap Test. And luckily, I could share it here without concerning of  practicing plagiarism. Hope these would also help other moms and woman out there to have a good comprehension about Pap Smear. 

What is a Pap Test?

 A pap test is the removal and microscopic examination of the outer layer of cells lining the cervic. Named after its inventor, Dr. George Papanicolaou, it is based on the principle that if the cells are normal, the result is negative. if abnormal cells are found, the the result is positive and the woman is asked to a repeat test to confirm findings. These cells are shed continuously and are contained in vaginal secretions. Samples are taken from the cervical canal during internal examination and sent to the laboratory for analysis with a microscope. 

-Surgery on File, Obstetrics and Gynecology by The Diagram Group
Paulette Pratt and Ellen Sarewits
Facts on File Publications
July 1, 1988


To be Continue.

VALUES EDUCATION:How to change your negative responses?

Have you ever had negative responses to your children at some time of you being a mom or a woman? 

When at times of difficultness like being stressed, getting into a hard situation, or suffering from a really deep pain and yet you still did negative responses to your children and suddenly you realize that you did was wrong? And you can't even hold it back the way you wanted and the way it should be retorted. That makes you upset, right?

I would like to share tips from the book '365 Ways to Help Your Children Grow' by Shella Ellison and Barbara Ann Barnett, Ph.D on what to do when you aren't happy on the way you reacted under a sudden unexpected situation.

1. Close your eyes and review the situation in your head, trying to see all the little details, onceyou have it clearly in your head, run the scene again, except this time change the way you act. Even though it is in your mine, it is a step toward being able to respond differently next time.

2. It is never too late to say you're sorry. A child will learn very much from this kind of modeling. You might say, " I had a very, hard day today and I am so sorry that I yelled the way I did, it had nothing to do with how you were acting. Do you forgive me?"

I hope these guides on 'how to change your negative responses would definitely helped us parents, moms, woman, and anyone on our daily lives to achieve a better and happier family we are building, foq a happy family would produce into a better individuals being responsible as each member grows in a society and become a good example for each one of us.

So, share us how did you had negative responses and how you had handled it on a well-behaved situation where you felt fine and satisfied? Feel free to share us your thoughts.

First Name Errors: A Serious Matter

Twenty-eight years of my life and of my existence and still my life hasn't move on into the life I was always dreaming of. Why? Because from the start of it, I wasn't even settled into the right way. Funny and dramatic but it's the reality. Yes, for some 'first name errors', on a serious matter, I still can't move on.

The Birth

I was born on February 21, 1984 with my parents' happiness  as my mom gave birth to a cute baby girl(love your own :)). With the excitement they had, together with the elders whom had they took advice on how to take good care of a child, they named me after my father's first name, Dionessa. Please don't gave any comment about it, I wasn't even giving any. :) I was left at the hospital for I had to be confined for the reason that I ate some of the wastes on my mother's womb. After a month, it was then I finally got home. But for the first three months, I wasn't enjoying my baby life for I was always getting sick.

The Life-changing Decision

Filipinos respect their elders and every opinion they gave really affects each family they get involved. So as one of the elders gave an advice to my parents whom are very young at their age at that moment, that the reason behind my sickness was I myself doesn't like the name they had gave me. Yes, I wasn't liking my name, as the elders said. How'd they know? We'll, maybe I wasn't really liking my name at all. Don't even mention it to my father. Anyways, I was baptized in the name of Mary Charmaine Ness Nioda and eventually after the 'baptism',  the sickness I was suffering faded away.

The' School' Stage

I wonder how I went to school with the conflict I had in my birth certificate. I haven't even realize how hard it is when the legal papers matter. Guess what? As of now, I am using Ma. Charmaine Ness Nioda, as you can see on myprofile here. I know, you feel like I'm riding on a roller coaster with different angles and heights. Wish you weren't like me.

Anyways, I did notice that I had a 'forge' birth certificate when I went to college and settle my own requirements by myself,  although, in my entire life I did know all about my name. But the university I attended to, haven't even questioned the certification I submitted to them. So I was thinking it was ok then.

The Realization

Along the college days, my friends and I decided for us to get a job at the same time. So, we look for jobs during the day for we  attended school during late times at the day, an evening students. So we went looking on fast food chains and given the requirements, I was stunned! One of the requirements should be NSO(National Statistics Office) authenticated birth certificate. Whew!!! That was it. I, having different names, wasn't getting the job I was looking for, mainly with the reason of conflict legal birth certificate.

That was one of the discouragement I had until some things did change my life. Have you had the feeling of not getting into somewhere you were dreaming of? That was what I feel until now.

I did look for jobs but jobs whom doesn't require any legal papers at all. What was the reciprocity? No benefits at all; Phil health, SSS, Pag-ibig etc. only with a much lesser salary that the law requires to. The worst was, I cannot even work abroad for we all know that there is much chance of a lightier life when you work abroad. A chance for you to get your dreams much closer than working here in the Philippines, as we all know, economy reality, but not degrading the government at all.

Lessons in Life

I'm not even blaming my parents for I understand that what they did was for my own sake but risking in reality. But how I really wish they haven't done this at all. Now, being a mom and a woman, I see to it that I am using the right thing to my children when in terms of their names. I rest assured that what's registered on the Civil Registry, the baptismal and the name they are using is not conflicting with each other. I am into this trouble, so I won't even wanted my children  or anyone get into this. I just hope the parents would really see to it and assured themselves the security to their children because my whole life change at all the moment my parents change my name.

The Solution

But it's not at all too late. :) I did research on the internet and do some work on going to the Civil Registry Office to do the homework. What I found out that it was really not too late for me to fix this trouble at all. What just made me discourage was the amount I should spend on to fix this. I heard that the processing fee is three thousand pesos plus the other requirements plus the two weeks publishing and the four to six months processing. See, it's even harder but at least there is this chance.

The Requirements

I went to the Civil Registry office one day to ask for the requirements for me to get fix my first name error. But the officer in-charge told me to present first my Certification of Live Birth. So what I did was I look for other sources and finally found out the requirements I should submit in terms of fixing my first name errors. What I found was:

RA 9048 (known as) correction of clerical error birth, marriage & death (CCE) and change of first name (CFN)

Requirements:

·         Certificate of Live Birth, Marriage & Death

·         Baptismal Certificate

·         Secondary & College Transcript of Records

·         Valid Identification Card

·         Police Clearance

·         NBI Clearance

·         Affidavit of Two Disinterested Person

That's it but here's the steps to be followed (the hard-long steps):

❶Receiving/Review of Petition

❷Payment of Fees(Treasury Office) -which I heard was P3,000

❸Preparation & Posting (10 days)

❹Publication of Petition ( 2 weeks)

❺Decision of CFN

❻Submission of Petition (NSO Manila)

❼Affirmation of Decision

❽Issuance of Finality

See? Reading these would let you imagine the money you should spend, the time you should spare, and the patience you should hold. So you realize the simplier way to fix your mind on your children's first name.

I should Do

My mother, whom I told the processes I should go, told me to get an advice from legal office on changing my first name error. She said that if following my live birth certificate name would spend a much lesser time, effort and money, then I should do follow it rather than changing it at all. I answered her, I would've get sick again. :) I just really love my name today.

Although, in reality, I just really don't know where to get the financial support for me  to fix things up, but I know at least I had the chance. I had started to gather the requirements I needed and all I hope was for me to fix my first name error for the better future ahead of me being a mom and a woman of today.

I am hoping to hear from you guys about how you had in a way involve for fixing first name errors and share it with us. :)

Mom's Birthday Today

Happy Birthday Mama!

Mama & Papa

Today's my mom's 52nd  birthday. We had started the day with a 'mananita' activity. In short, with a prayer lead by the four of the greatest and oldest leaders in our little community in church.

We were really happy about it. Everybody wish my mom to be happy. Yes. happy! Recently, a really hard trial had been through with us. Although we still working on it as a family. The family as of today is not really in a good situation but I know each one of us still continue to fight.

I'm just glad that my mom chooses us to be complete rather than choosing to fight with the battle alone. As they always say:

The family that prays together, stays together.

Happy birthday Mama. Thank you for almost 30 years of taking good care of us. Thank you for the unconditional love, and sorry for the misunderstandings we had. I know in that we continue to understand each other. I became a mom and that I owe to you. What I learned today, was for what you had thought us.Thank You and we love you so much.

Monster Questions...

Have you ever experienced being asked by your children with 'monster questions'? Yes, I called them as monster questions because just really don't know where I could find the answers or even deliver an answer on a way they would understand.

One day, I was working on my blog when my eldest son, Ares, asked me a question: ' Why does I don't have an H. in my name?' I figured out what is he talking about. And I understood that it was all about his middle name. Yes, he has no middle name and he carries my surname for the reason that he's father was not there to acknowledge his surname being carried by our son, in short an illegitimate child but not unwanted.

So, again I understood that I was asked again a 'monster question'. So, I hurriedly looked for a better, easy-to-understand answer. I told him that his father was not there physically to recognized him on his birth certificate and explaining it in a much broad and easy way. As I was looking at him, I saw a still unacceptable confused mind. I wonder if he really got my explanation, but he did stop asking again.

Whew! What a day! I wish those monster questions would never come again, but I know it wouldn't . For all we know that children as of today are really smarter and confused than we thought.

Have you ever asked monster questions by your kids?How did you deal with it. I would really appreciate to get a response from you guys being a mom and a woman.

How to Learn Biking After 28 years!

Biking is fun!

The history...

                I’ve been wanting to learn biking since I was a kid. But fears came first. I was really afraid of getting down and getting wounds as a bonus from the experience of the enjoyment of biking. Now, being a woman and a mom, riding a bike is really fun after 28 years.

                Now, I have the courage, the searched braveness that I was looking for back then. Why not face my fears now? Although, I was being depressed for some reason, I tried converting it into a positive way. And that’s biking.

               I was really envy when I saw people who knows how to ride a bike especially girls. Just one day, my youngest sister, Jelly, 7, rush through me just being proud that at last she learned riding a bike. So I and my other sister Charizza, 18, not to mention that she already enjoyed riding a bike also, went outside to see ourselves the truth. And then, we started to widen our smiles as we see Jelly really knows how to do it. Wow! Then I thought: what about me? I was the only sibling who doesn’t know it as of now. So, an idea came into me. Why not tried it? Why not instead of just letting myself lie on the corner my bed still thinking of the why and how things, why not make myself busy trying to put things in a positive way?

Started the first step...and being discouraged

                The next day, about 2:30pm,  I pulled myself and Charizza carrying the small bike into the road, for confidence security. I tried sitting myself on the little triangle chair in the middle and started to pedalled, but I failed. I couldn’t continue the pace. I was also conscious that the neighbours are yelling at me like they’ve never see any 28 year-old, chubby woman tries to learn riding a bike, in their whole life. So, I got shy. I decided to go back in the house and hide myself. The awkwardness, the hesitant, and the self-pity came into me. Why does I really never had the courage to face this when I was a kid. Back then, I would never felt this kind of emotions.

And so pushing through...

                Days passed and the courage was just racing up and down. I tried learning it inside our house which the space couldn’t even reach more than five meters. I hide myself. Then one night, I dreamt of seeing myself riding a bike. So the next morning, I suggested to Charizza to go with me at Mount Carmel, where an elevated, silent road is waiting for me. There, I started again to pedal, pushing my feet to continue pedalling. But failure kept on winning over me again and again. Then Charizza suggested that I should go on the higher part of the road, riding the bike heading downwards where less effort is needed. All I should do is balancing. And I tried, and to my shock, I did it although holding tight the brakes. And I started heading upwards, and the failure comes again. I’ve done it, why not now? So, instead of bothering myself the answers, I just kept on trying the easier way, heading downwards. After some couple of riding downwards, I , again tried the harder way, heading upwards for I know that it is the key on being successful on this mission. Rushing and hurrying, I pedalled. And tralahhh! I did it! The only secret is that I should pedal the bike on a rush so that I could get the balance and the continuous of pushing it. I just did it. I was so proud of myself and so my siblings are. They kept on cheering me up and that really keeps me going. Thanks to them.

Lesson I learned...

                No matter how old, no matter how heavy, no matter of the hindrances I’ve got, still did it. I really didn’t imagine myself that I would get this achievement at this pace of my life. But seriously, what really sinks into me is that never doubt on yourself , never say never, never say you can’t do it without even trying doing it. When no matter how big the hindrances are, how heavy the problem is, if you just see looking for the answers, then you’re closer to your goals. Just face the reality and go through the hindrances, you’ll be shock in the end that you have done it. Just be positive and make yourself proud. And to face fears, start making a pace through it!

                Now, I’m on my second day enjoying the ride. I even widen my quest to farther places and rough roads although still suffering body pains and violet-blue-green portions of my legs being snapped as a bonus. How about you guys? When did you start learning to ride a bike, ride a motorbike or a car? Is the satisfaction the same?

                

Mama, I Love You

I would to dedicate this video to all the moms and woman out there, especially to my Mom who has given me such unconditional love, a dedication without hesitation and a superb sacrifice. 

My mom, Florencia Nioda is a volunteer religion teacher. Although, there are a lot of things we don't agree at times, yet I never think of any mom in the world for her to be like. 

Every mom has its uniqueness in love and sacrifice. I, too, have my own. And when the turn of becoming a mom has placed in me, I, then understood the of what is like to be a mom. It was never easy as I thought. I wasn't even ready for that, but she was there. She had thought me everything I know and was even trained me before and then on how to be a mom. As, I remembered her saying to me always: "Wash the clothes and when time comes you have your own family, you'll know how to handle it." 

Primary Complex: Disease Our Children Fights

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love.  

~Mildred B. Vermont

The reason behind all of my struggles to find home jobs instead of a regular job is that of my son's health concern. That's why I have to be a full-time and hands-on mom for him.

Late March 2011, my youngest son suffered from a repeated fever, cough and colds. So I decided to have a check up after a week(which was not right and having 2-3days of fever should see a doctor immediately). After physical check-up and lab test results, the doctor diagnosed bronco. With medications given like anti-bacterial and meds given for a week, and under observation but not yet admitted in the hospital. So, after a  week, nothing has changed and for a month, my son had taken three kinds of antibacterials, more dosage, much expensive.

So, we as parents, panicked and so much afraid asking what was really going on with him. He's getting thinner and loosing much more of his appetite. He doesn't play anymore and all he just do is lie on his bed. We consulted different pedia just for my son to get well. Imagine, a 2 yr.old boy suffering from an unknown disease.

The x-ray results states that he has water in lungs or in medical terms as pleural effusion. His pedia, Ma. Theresa A. Cruz,M.D. Pediatrician,DPPS recommends us to consult a pulmonary pedia whom is expert for of children's lungs. So, we decided to consult the experts in Philippine Children's Medical Center, located at Quezon Ave.,Quezon City. And finally, thanks to Dr. Carren-Anne P. Batalla,M.D. Pediatrics for the final conclusion( although with the help also of a lot of experts), my son having PCAP or Primary Koch's Infection simply known as Primary Complex/TB for children. Medications for 6 months was given and follow-up checks ups to be done for the next months.

As of now, my son has finished the race(6 months medication) and the last x-ray result was cleared. Yet the pedia says there is still a chance that the virus may attack if my son's infected again. I'll just have to take good extra care of my son.

Prevention for Primary Complex:

In much of the world, the only method available to prevent tuberculosis in children is administration of a bacille Calmett-Guérin (BCG) vaccine. The BCG vaccines have never been used in the United States and, currently, only one type is available that is difficult to administer and of dubious efficacy. When considering the total body of literature of BCG vaccination of children, the general conclusion is that the BCG vaccines prevent 60 to 90% of serious tuberculosis cases in children.^[107,108] Clearly, the BCG vaccines are better than no method of prevention, but they are not capable of completely preventing tuberculosis disease in a population of children. BCG vaccination has worked better in some situations than others. In the United States, the presence of HIV infection in the child is an absolute contraindication to giving BCG vaccine; internationally, the presence of asymptomatic HIV infection is not considered a contraindication to BCG vaccination.

To know more about Primary Complex, click here.