This is a story how I lost my appendix last week.

After celebrating my third week of my summer practicum, I experienced really bad pains in my stomach, particularly inches below the navel area. It was really shiznit painful, to the point that I was writhing and crying in pain. I was rushed to the nearest hospital to get immediate help and some initial diagnosis of what was wrong with me.

I went through a series of tests. We first suspected that it was another case of a bladder infection (I had it last February and I learned that I should stop being the master of holding my pee in). But my urinalysis came out clear which ruled out the urinary tract infection. It wasn't dengue because my platelet count was high. X-ray showed that my lungs were clear. The blood test showed that there was clearly an infection, but WHERE THE HALE IN MY BODEH WAS THE INFECTION?

I lined up for an ultrasound. The ladies were looking at me funny because they were all preggy while I was clutching my obviously-not-preggy tummy. Fuzz off, I'm in labor pain here. There was a suspected hemorrhagic cyst but the OB-GYNE said that she couldn't say it was deadly because feeling feverish wasn't a symptom of the cyst.

So after two days of confusing diagnosis from doctors, we went to another set of doctors for a second opinion. This time, from a bigger and better hospital.

A new set of doctors meant new series of tests -- blood tests, trans-rectal ultrasound (oh god) and doctor appointments.

Finally, some answers. The hemorrhagic something was normal because I was in the ovulation stage. After having my --TMI ALERT -- period (now everyone knows when I got my period. Clue: Avengers), there would be one egg floating around. And since there isn't any preggy moment for me (not anytime soon, please) the egg would burst. And since that bursting was a bit sensitive, I felt pain. So there's nothing alarming about it.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE. Apparently I was experiencing two kinds of pain. So off to the surgeon I went and the doctor suspected that I was having acute appendicitis. So he scheduled me for an operation.

I went back home to pack my things and returned to the hospital the day after. I was expecting to be admitted first and have a room secured. However, breaking neewwwssss! As soon as I was wheeled in the emergency room (I felt silly being wheeled when I could completely walk from the admitting office to the ER), the doctors told me to change into the operating clothes because I was scheduled for operation on that minute.

TATATADAAAAH. Wait, what?

I didn't have time to process things. The next thing I knew, I was inside the holy-woohoo-cold operating room and the anesthesiologist had me in a fetal position and was lulling me to sleep.

I woke up in the recovery room. My legs felt fat and I couldn't move them. The surgeon did their job of removing my appendix (apparently it was already ruptured and he saved it just in time from spreading poisonous liquid). It was my turn to wiggle my feet.

It finally took me around 3 hours to get some feeling in my toes and I was wheeled out of the recovery room.

The next part was dealing with the pain of the surgery. Every now and then, the nurse from the pain management department was in my room, injecting pain killers in my IV. It helped me sleep for at least a few hours or so. I probably was high from the drugs in my system. WOOOOOO YEAAHHH DUUUDDEE.

But I was determined to get up and get out of the hospital, because it was depressing to be there. One, there's no internet. LOL MY PRIORITIES. My phone bill shot up because I had nothing to do so I was always online on my phone. Two, I did have a window to the outside world but the view was pathetic. I could see the facade of the other building. So much for a lovely view. Three, I hate being confined to one small space -- aka my bed. Four, the liquid diet was not a laughing matter. The doctors advised to have me on liquid diet until I passed gas. I had oatmeal for breakfast (adding sugar didn't fool me. It really tasted bad.) and lugaw (watered down rice) for lunch.

When I finally passed gas, it was a celebration. It meant that I would get meal upgrades. HOLY-FARTING-HALLELUJAH!

And to my lovely surprise, after two nights and a day, the surgeon visited me, took out the drain attached to my tummy and gave me a discharge slip. I AM FINALLY GOING HOOOMMMEEE! I could finally strip off the smelly hospital clothes (because I hadn't taken a bath since I arrived Tuesday) and snuggle with my Yumi-smelling pillows and blanket.

To all who sent their well wishes via Twitter and text messages, you are all in my heart and mind. To my relatives and my teacher who visited me in the hospital, thank you for all the help. You made the boring stay in the hospital a bit interesting. Sorry to Tita Mimi, Jonah, Tita Jojo and Tito Gil for ignoring you on the first night because I was still groggy from the anesthesia. I'll make it up to you when I see you again.

Right now, I'm in the comforts of my home. I'm still nursing serious headaches. It's the effect of the anesthesia in my system. I need to drink more meds and lots of water to flush out the remaining anesthesia in my system. Jonah (ze cousin who is also a doctor) said that it may last a week. oh noes. But I'm trying to work when the painkillers take effect and I could sit up from the bed.

As for my summer class, I had to cancel class. I'm getting an incomplete grade. It's fine with me because there's nothing I could do about it. I'm just glad that the people in the reading department are coming up with a plan that would allow me to complete the remaining teaching sessions this June. We'll see how that meeting will go. Thank you to T. Portia and T. Hazel for understanding. And to the Dean, thank you for the concern.

Thanks heaps to my parents for being there for me.

Oh Lord, you are definitely the best. Thank you for guiding Tito Arthur's (the surgeon) hand while taking out my appendix. Thank you for containing the pus. Thank you for getting me out of the hospital just after a few days. Oh, and thank you for making me fart. Best moment right tharrrr.

It's time to maximize the lasting effect of the painkillers. I'm done with my first deadline for work. What's next?

This will be a multiple-topic post so that it wouldn't end up like I'm a whiny little gal. :P

The first week of my summer practicum for my graduate degree had just ended. I still have 4 weeks or 12 meetings left before it ends and can finally breathe properly. I've been dreading this summer practicum since I learned about this two years ago, and now that I'm doing it, I'm still dreading going to school every other weekday.

But the reason for dreading it changed over time.

( needs serious de-stressing )

Probably by now everyone knows that Colton was eliminated from American Idol today, which places him 7th in ranking. Sad, he was my favorite.

I've always wanted to discuss the idols but never found the time or reason. But now that I'm already here writing a journal, I might as well discuss who I think should win.

( I was surprised to know that Colton's red streak was only a clip on. )

So that's it for my idol-related post. And this has been a long entry.

Confirmation: I am a better student than a teacher.

heh.

My summer practicum as a reading teacher to struggling grade 5 students started this morning. Actually, the more challenging part is to get to them to participate and talk. While I'm thankful that there are students who are reciting, I would like the quiet ones to speak up. I'm more worried about them warming up to me rather than them learning the lessons. hehe

Which means I need to look for some engaging class activity that will get them to move around the classroom and interact with each other. Teaching strategies, I need you like air like now.


(From Tumblr)

It's just the first day and I'm already struggling. Struggling to think of fun activities. Struggling to get my students to talk. Struggling to make questions. Struggling to get over the pressure of helping the kids comprehend. Struggling to become a good teacher.

The quote is perfect to help me get through this little bump in the road. A challenge is good, right? I know that I'm just not a teacher, but a student too. I'll learn how to find those strategies. I'll learn how to become a reading teacher.

One teaching day done, fourteen more to go. I'm going to do this countdown until my summer practicum ends.

This is the third day in my 5-day Philippine holiday spree and the last day to write my final paper for the second semester. Let's see what I have accomplished:

[x] chapter 1: introduction, background of study, aim and research questions, scope and delimitation - Accomplished on March 30 at around 1:30 AM.
[x] chapter 2, topic 1: process writing (but I think I'll still be editing this after I finish writing the whole thing) - Accomplished on April 10 at 11:30
[x] chapter 2, topic 2: reader interest - Accomplished on April 6 at 12:30 AM
[x] chapter 2, topic 3: connection of reading and writing (at this point, I don't know if what I'm writing is correct) - Accomplished on April 7 at 3 AM.
[x] chapter 2: conceptual framework - Accomplished on April 7 at 5 PM.
[x] chapter 3: methodology - MUST. FINISH. TONIGHT. - Accomplished on April 8 at 12:31 AM.

I'm at the last stretch, but I'm starting to feel lazy. I'll probably take a break then cram the rest of the paper tonight. I have tomorrow as deadline anyway. I just want it done today so I can have a day's rest before I think of my summer class.

ETA: SECOND SEMESTER, YOU ARE NOW HISTORY!!

I can't celebrate just yet until I get my final grade for this class. I got a 1.50 on my Statistics class. I was expecting a 1.25. Ah well, I guess I didn't do well on my second test and my paper. hahaha

Also, the famous Instagram app is now on Android. Unfortunately for my picky phone, I'm not able to download it because it's not compatible despite its Gingerbread OS and 3.1 MP camera. I don't know why I can't use it on my phone. whitesummerside told me to wait for updates. I'll just hold on to that hopeful feeling that one day I can join the cool guys and have that instagram url when posting photos.

But for now, I am contented with the Pixlr-o-matic app because it produces Instagram-ic photos.



Say hello to my lovely raw food and healthy lunch. Tacos and pineapple juice!

If there's one thing about the Philippines that I really love, it's the holidays. Because the country is highly religious, the people really take the Holy week seriously. This is why I'm online at home on a lovely Thursday, happy that I have the time to write the last requirement of the semester. The whole of the Philippines is on holiday for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. It's also a holiday on Monday for the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) which means I have a five-day rest from work.

But it doesn't mean that I'll be frolicking on those five days. Three of those five days will be spent finishing a paper, while the two will be spent preparing for my summer class. For those who are not familiar with our bipolar weather, March to May is supposedly our summer season. However our weather is fickle-minded lately. Once in a while, we get the rainshowers. In summer.

Sometimes I don't know what to wear to work. Flats and loose clothes for the hot weather? Or boots and long sleeves for the rain? I'm a fashion disaster this summer. Well, I don't really dress up so either way, I'm a disgrace to the fashionistas. lol.

Anyway, I'm glad for this long weekend because I can finally catch up and not be overly stressed with school work. I can pace myself with researching and writing my paper. Let us track my progress on that pre-thesis class.

[x] chapter 1: introduction, background of study, aim and research questions, scope and delimitation
[x] chapter 2, topic 1: process writing (but I think I'll still be editing this after I finish writing the whole thing)
[x] chapter 2, topic 2: reader interest
[x] chapter 2, topic 3: connection of reading and writing (at this point, I don't know if what I'm writing is correct)
[ ] chapter 2: conceptual framework
[ ] chapter 3: methodology

Over the week, I met some of my future students for my summer practicum. As part of the reading program under the College of Education, we're required to teach a class of students how to develop their reading skills. We had an assessment of skills last Monday and I administered the test to a group of incoming grade 5 students. After checking their tests, we grouped them according to their reading level. So far, I have 14 grade 5 students to teach. I hope I don't get more than 20 when they do a second batch of tests on Tuesday. I might panic if there are too many kids in my class. haha Help me Lord, I'm not even a classroom teacher.

I don't want to think about lesson plans and teaching strategies yet. I have to finish this paper and this semester before I can finally move on to the summer requirements. Hang in there, self. I just have to hurdle this summer before I can breathe properly. The finish line is almost there!

The last few pages of my Moleskine were filled with artwork by eight kids ranging from first to third grade. We held a pilot run of the reading program that we developed and we invited some kids to help us test the program.

During the break, I asked the kids to draw on my Moleskine. In exchange for the artwork, they got an idea to make me into their corkboard, sticking their name tags to my clothes. Niiiice. I didn't want to throw away the nametags, so I stuck them in my notebook instead.


Eight kids


Aaliyah's butterfly and CJ's obsession with Angry Birds


Katie's garden and Russco's future home


Julia's typography skills

The pilot run is over and I'm going to miss those talkative kids. It was nice to go on a field work for a few days, because it provided a break from the mundane job I have in the office. heh.

So the countdown has begun to David's return. He just left the entertainment world to fulfill his missionary duties. He's still probably training before he goes to South America (heard he's going to Chile) for his two-year mission duties.

But he's not completely disappearing from the face of the earth. His OPM album "Forevermore" was released last March 26. I think TV5 is also releasing a DVD copy of the soap opera Nandito Ako. David recorded another album in the States and had a series of photoshoots. No release date has been set yet for that album. I guess we have to overplay the OPM album first before the other album is revealed.

I know not all people are able to buy a physical copy of "Forevermore" so I'm leaving a download link somewhere here in this post. I haven't gotten hold of my copy either, because it's still with my cousin who went to the Meet and Greet last month and she had the claiming stubs. The audio is provided by chikaichix. I just converted them to mp3s.



Forevermore Track List:
1. Forevermore
2. Rainbow
3. I'll Never Go
4. You Are My Song (Watch out for the growling. Sexeh.)
5. Hold On (My most favorite song in the album. Maybe it's the arrangement.)
6. Wherever You Are
7. Maybe
8. Tell Me
9. Reaching Out
10. Nandito Ako (FOREVER LSS SONG.)
11. Forevermore (Instrumental) - SING ALONG TIIIEEEEM.
12. I'll Never Go (Instrumental)
13. Rainbow (Instrumental)

My parents are funny. When they mention Josh, I know they're not referring to Josh Groban. David will forever be Josh to them, after his character on the show.

It's the time of the semester when I do a ticky box list to completing all requirements and concluding this semester. My semester ends on the last week of March but the deadline on one paper was extended to April.

So here's what I have to accomplish before I do my happy and relieved dance:

EDRE 231 (aka the Statistics class)
[x] study for the exam - four parts to the test (haha I was still studying hours before the test.)
[x] exam on March 22 (also the 2nd to the last episode of Nandito Ako. Hahaha)
[x] Critique paper (due March 26, but I want to submit it on the 22nd) (Lost sleep over the weekend but it's all good. As long as I get this done, it means I can now focus on my long test.
UPDATE: I AM OFFICIALLY DONE WITH YOU STATISTICS! WOOOOO!

EDUC 293 (the pre-thesis writing course)
[ ] keep on researching so that I have something to write on the paper
[ ] chapters 1-3 of the thesis (due on april 9)

Fight!

Posted via m.livejournal.com.

I just heard the best David Archuleta story from my friend Faith. Our little Archiboo has a rebellious (but still cute) side!







Summary for those who don't understand Tagalog:
1. David asked to be excused to go to the washroom. It took so long for him to come back so the staff was worried about him. When they checked the washroom, they found out that the window was opened and David sneaked out of studio, took off, and rode a jeep to a wet market (not sure if it was in Cubao, Quiapo or wherever. What matter is that he rode the jeep without any bodyguards).

It seems legit because it matches and fits the timeline of that interview with Philippine Star when David mentioned his little trip to the wet market. I was wondering why there weren't any photos of this mini trip. So I guess I got my answer. Sneaky David. This beats his TV show!

I just realized. Didn't the security guard stop him? How did they find out that he was in the wet market? Where was Kari (his road manager)? haha Anyway.

2. When one of his co-stars got sick (I know this is real because he tweeted about Eula's trip to the doctor because she was down with the flu), he asked his driver -- called him 'Bossing' HAHAHA -- to stop by a petstore to buy a hamster for Eula. SO ADORABLE.

Ate Vangie will be proud of you, David. You learned something from his Pinoy 101 tutorial. If you haven't seen that, watch this gem:




This post is dedicated to chikaichix who is celebrating her 18th birthday. LEGAL KA NA! hahahaha I love you bb!

Oh look, I'm alive!

The last post I've done was after the first episode of Nandito Ako. And since Nandito Ako is on its third week (yes, I'm keeping track because of the Trending Party that happens every day), it means I haven't been posting for three weeks. I guess I've been spending too much time on my filters rather than on my own bloggie.

So what is up besides the nice sunny sky?


1. I just recovered from a bladder infection. It's this internal thingie where I had icky pus cells inside my bladder which caused some serious tummy aches. I thought it was just gas pains, but when I told my mom that the pain was an inch below the belly button, she knew that farting (oops, TMI) or burping won't be an easy cure. So the parents rushed me to the doctor and found out that my bladder was sick. I was on sick leave for two days and a weekend and was on antibiotics for a week.

Lesson learned: never be a master of holding your pee in. Hold your horses, but never your pee. LOL


2. It's March, meaning:
a. The semester is going to end
b. I'm going to have the last long test in Statistics
c. I still need to write my Stat paper
d. I have to read tens of scholarly journals and write digests for each of them
e. I'm required to write the first three chapters of my Thesis
f. I'm going to die
g. DAVID ARCHULETA WILL BE RELEASING HIS OPM ALBUM (and I can finally get that signed sleeve, courtesy of ntravelbug, who I forced to take the MRT to Megamall to see and touch shake David's hand)
h. All of the above


3. I'm doing a doodle challenge with Ian. Here's what I have for February.


Week one: Wish list


Week two: Something that makes you happy


Week three: something on the desk

The whole post with Ian's sketches are on my Blogspot.


4. I am emotionally invested over Nandito Ako.


5. The July trip with blurredlights, ichihachi and transient_freak is confirmed and all set. I can't be too excited just yet, because I still have to suffer through 4 months of the end of my second semester and a summer class. So help me time lords.


6. I'm hungry.


7. Oh, the FYJG team just received lovely giveaway items from Sarah. We're excited to give them to the Tumblr fans! Note: they're signed. Oh and we made a video for the JGro for his birthday last February 27. I did this while I was sick in bed.




8. I have completed all the major missions on Zombie Lane. I'm just waiting for my money to reach 1.5 million and I'm all done. I wonder when they'll release new missions.


9. Any book recommendations for the Kindle? Oh wait, don't just yet. I've been reading 5 books simultaneously and I'm getting the plot lines mixed up already. hahaha


10. I hope I'll be as addicted to American Idol as I have been with seasons 7 and 8. My favorites are Colton, Heejun, Philip and Jessica. I want Jermaine to be eliminated first (he shouldn't have been in the top 13 in the first place). I wish Chase was given a wild card.