WM-October Issue....

I been busy as always that I can't even update my blog..Anyway, there's an important things to post, hahaha. But inspite of a very late post, i still want to share this simple happiness...

September 30, 2007 / 7:25 in the evening my friend Pia Lopez called me up a very good news for me...She said that my letter/comments to working moms magazine was published in their October issue...By then I don't have a copy yet. I just dropped by in a magazine stands in SM-Cebu but no delivery yet...I want a copy because I collect this magz since May 2007 after knowing that they have an article about scrapbooking...And this October, I don't want to miss an issue bec. Pia Lopez make-over was included in this issue..

I can't remember my reaction after Pia's call..I keep on jumping and laughing, i'm very happy as in happy where my 2 kids join me jumping while asking me why....hahaha...

I would like to thank Pia Lopez & Joanne Yap for encouraging me to write the WM editor...Having my name published in a great magazine in the market now, i feel very overwhelmed...that..."I can die na coz nasa magazine na kahit my name"...hahaha

Latest Layouts....

Finally I have able to finish new layouts....Eventhough I'm busy, I still spare quite some time to my scrapping....I'm very sorry for a blurred picture, I don't know yet the settings of my scanner...LOL Smile

A layout I made for my baby Arryanne.... I use Craft express papers..Alike Quel

I decided to make this layout when I see my baby picture & got a baby picture of my youngest which we're very alike...It's alike coz my name is Raquel while my baby is Arryanne Quelle... We're called as Mommy Quel & Baby Quel by Von...I use the papers given by Pia Lopez...Thank you so much sis...

Adorable

Layout for my baby Arryanne again while having cute pose in her own...I use craft express papers & bazzill cardstock...

A new life together to celebrate...

Picture taken during our wedding at the reception...I use craft express wedding kit papers...

Power of Prayers...

Another situations happened in our family how prayers are powerful...Thanks God for all the blessings & hearing our prayers for our son...We started asking help in praying for my sons Jorges Von condition...After 6 months of praying & hoping that his cbc would turn out normal & very much okay...Finally, last June 8, 2000, he had his follow-up cbc after April's cbc. As what his hematologist , so far, the result turn out very good eventhough his EOS was still high, but according to her..it's just a normal body reaction bec he was given 6 months medication of antihistamine since he's asthmatic. And what is important to her is...his hemoglobin is very okay...And it's just only 2 months yet of taking antihistamine...Still, we're praying for a full recovery...

We would like to thank everybody praying with us...our families, friends, our marriage encounter community, my Scrapbook-Exchange friends who are always there for us eventhough I haven't meet most of them personally..

For a brief story: Because of having bruises most of the time & frequent nose bleeding even sleeping. And having a result of IDA for 2 years. We decided to let him check by a hematologist... The first test, still not that normal, the hema give 15ml a day of ascorbic acid for 2 months. He was diagnosed by then of VASCULAR PURPURA. By April 30, 2007 he undergo for a follow-up cbc again. That's the alarming result for us...he's EOS is high & more platelets seen. The hema keep on asking me if we both don't have a history of blood related problem...For a new medication, he give him 6 months intake of antihistamine. She give him antihistamine for 6 months bec. increased of EOS s usually associated with allergic diseases & parasites. And possible disorders include: Leukemia, Asthma, Eczema, Autoimmune diseases, Hay fever...Since we have history of blood problem..She focused of making it increased bec of Asthma...By giving such medication, she's hoping that the next cbc would turn out okay...As a mother, I ask her what if having medications, he's EOS still abnormal, what would happen...She says, that if it's the case, he might have a malignancy in his blood...In that moment, I'm teary eyed talking to his hema...Bec of the result, he was again scheduled for a cbc test June 15, 2007...While in the taxi way home, i can't help but cry & praying that he will be okay & nothing serious diagnosis in his next test.

Flowers Bloom in May Challenge!!!

Scrapbytes have another challenge this mommy's month...The Flowers Bloom in May.
The challenge this month, is to include flowers in your layouts. Use die-cuts, felt, fabrics, metal or paper flowers. Anything that tickles your flower fancy!But remember, you must USE AT LEAST 10 pieces of flower items in your layouts. The more the merrier.(rules)

For this challenge, Imade a layout for my baby Arryanne photo while she's still in the nursery room of St Dominic Medical Center, Bacoor, Cavite...She was born May 26, 2003. Next day after birth, her pedia talk to us about her condition. She didn't make POO within 24 hours, her stomach bloated already. As we see the x-ray, it seems that her anus was closed. Her pedia consulted to a pediatric surgeon right away & they talk to us after the surgeon examined my baby. He give us another 24 hour observation after he check the baby. And if, it doesn't work, in her 2nd day she will undergo to an operation. As a mother, i can't help but cry..thinking what might happen during the operation. The whole family are worried not only for the baby but for the fee coz the surgeon give us the figure of about 1 to 2 hundred thousand. What else I am worried is, how can I see my baby with many tube connected to her???

Von & I are lifting up to God & praying that she will not undergo an operation. My mother pray over her in the nursery room. We seek prayers from our family's & friends mostly to the Marriage Encounter Community where my parents are engaged already. By the power of prayers, the next day she poo already, even little by little, still she will not undergo for an operation. Becuse of not having Poo for almost 48 hours, she had an infection already. & the peadia decided to left her in the hosp nursery room for a few days to an observation.

Going home after giving birth without a baby was not that easy. I thought that it only happened to my eldest but it was also to my new baby.

Here's my Miracle Layout:

Materials used: Bazzil cardstock, UrbanLily-babylily collection(Denim), ChatterBox-Olive Orchard Blossom ( for handcuts flowers), Colorbox Ink.

Journalling: Having you was already a Miracle given by God to us. And bringing you home after a few days left at the hospital's nursery room without having the operation you might undergo while your're just two days old, was another Miracle, and this time power of prayers works in our family.

Side Trip....

Aside of having a vacation in Ormoc, Von made a schedule of having a customer visit at Coca Cola Tacloban Plant, May 10, 2007. Since I haven't gone to Coke, Tacloban & haven't visit some tourist spot there, I decided to go with him for a plan of having a side trip also LOL. Then, after his short meeting with the Quality Assurance Manager. We went to the plan site.....the Mac Arthur Shrine / Leyte Landing Park, Palo Leyte. It was too hot that day. But it didn't matter as long as we can took some pictures....LOL. In short...we really felt we're tourist.

Mother's Day Month!!!

Belated happy mother's day to all!!!

I just came from a vacation at Ormoc, Leyte & celebrated mother's day entertaining visitors coz its our Barrio Fiesta, Feast of Fatima... The whole family are excited in this trip, for me personally, after 12 years I was able to attend the said fiesta once again. & the kids are more excited than I am coz they're going to the beach & swim.

For mother's day...I have made a layout for me & my hubby (Von) did the journalling:

RAQUEL

Journalling from hubby says:

A warm wife to me ( Von Ryan V. Cortez)...

A full time mommy to Jayvee & Arryanne...

A Sweet & Lovable Person...

A Caring Mother...

A Scrapper...

Scrapbyte's April Challenge!!!

After waiting for a time to join a challenge. I finally uploaded it today after having a paper that match the photos.
The paper just delivered yesterday morning. very much excited, to start my layout coz i decided to join this time. I started it right away last night & make it sure that i'm going to upload it today. Thanks to hubby.a week before he buy a HP f380 printer with scanner for me...again!!! While handcutting the papers, hubby was busy to adjust scanner settings for this layout. LoL!

I use Urban Lily-Babylily Collection & a cloth flower embellishment. Its my first try of handcutting. Journalling says: After knowing that by four months, a baby will have its first roll over. And in your fourth to fifth month, mommy always keep her camera ready just to toke you a shot in that special moment. And, finally you did it when your four months & three days old....In your innocence, you didn't know how happy mommy was to witnessed you roll over....

Silang, Sept 29,2003

First Layouts!!!

Finally, I already have the guts to share & post here my scrapbookings layouts!!!....From the start, its really my hobby to design my magnetic album, with cut outs gift wrap, letters...Until I found the site of Scrapbook-Exchange in the Goodhousekeeping magazine. I login & register right away...As what I read in the post...the group members are very warm...I learn so many things from them, mostly from Pia Lopez which is nearer to Silang, Cavite where I stayed before. She & Jeff was very nice to us (me &hubby)....She give me tips where & what scrapbooking stuffs to buy for a newbie. Because, I don't have any idea about acid-free...only when I become a member of SE... My first layouts (both 8x11 & 12x12) are scraplifted my from my first magazine, Scrapbooking & Beyond and Memories.... All my firt lo's are for my babies Jayvee & Arryanne...

My first layouts... 8x11!!!

Followed by my first 12x12 layouts!!!

Summer class at Playhouse & Bright Academy!!!

The school!!!

Jayvee & Arryanne!!!

Saturday, March 22, 2007...my babie sattend a 3 Saturday summer class for the first time...It was held at Playhouse & Bright Academy, Banilad Cebu. The class starts at 2:00 pm & ends at 4:00pm. We decided to enroll them for them to enjoy.

Jayvee's first choice was swimming, under coach Nina Dumasis. As expected, he didn't join the class...because he is shy, he wears his swimming attire already. So we transfered him to another class..Reading & Penmanship under Teacher Star since he's 2nd choice Arts & Crafts are already full. Still shy in his new class..to the extent that his dad stay in the room throughout the 2 hour session...

Arryanne was in a Playgroup class, under Teacher Elena...She enjoyed her class, participate the activity. Since it's their first time. Von & I were very excited, mostly to Arryanne.

I'm Happy!!!

Happy because von was back home from a 3 day trip to Manila for a meeting. He stayed in our house in Silang Cavite. He have a meeting at San Fernando, Pampanga..another company's plant. He bought toys for his children. He brought some things i needed most here. A stuff from his cousin, te itchie!!!

Happy beacuse i finally got my order glue (UHU twist & glue) from Liza Bermudez. He pick it up from Pia Lopez house since he stay in Silang quite near from Dasmarinas, Cavite. and most of all......

Happy because of the papers given by Pia Lopez!!!! Thank you, thank you & thank you Pia & Jeff. Your such a nice friend!!! From the start i found the group, your always their to support, advise me in this passion. I learn so much from your los & tips....I'm so much pressured how to make nice layouts from your papers!!!! nakaka tense!!!

Happy because Diane edit my blogsite...I ask her for a help because I don't have any idea on how to add this & that. Thank you Diane!!!

Jayvee's Recognition...

Pinning of the ribbon( Jayvee's academic award--Best in MAth)

Yesterday, March 22, 2007. Saint Monica School, Guizo Mandaue held its first recognition day. Jayvee transferred there only last December 2006. We dont expect any honors & awards because we are aware that he was only a transfer student. But during their final exam last March 12 & 13, he perfect the exam...So by the result the school give him an academic award...Best In Math!!! Since, Von give him a deal that once he got a good result from the exam, he will give him a Transformer toy.. He answered his Dad that he will!!! Without expecting anything..not just a high score he give but with a bonus of being a Best in Math. We're very happy & we give him his price. Von bought it from SM Dasmarinas coz, there's no available here.

Bumble Bee transformer--Jayvees price!!!

As expected of his being so shy....he didn't participate their presentation. He didn't march if I'm not joining. During the awarding, he went to the stage since the parents should accompany the child. On the stage, he almost cover his face. Von was not able to attend that day, he have to go to Manila to attend a meeting at San Fernando Pampanga. He miss the event so much. He did'nt witness how his son show his over shyness.

Flu Vaccine for Jayvee & Arryanne!!!

We all know that vaccine was very important to everybody mostly children...Last Saturday, Match 10, 2007, my babies Jayvee ( 5 yrs & 6mos) & Arryanne ( 3yrs & 10 mos) was scheduled for a Flu vaccine. We left at home by 9:00am & take a cab to Perpetual Succour Hosp. The clinic hours was 9-12am. As we arrived there, the doc was not in the clinic yet...we're the 2nd patient. As the doc arrived , we 're ( doc & I) laughing coz Jayvee will cry again...as in cry do the extend na nagwawala na.
Arryanne was the first given a shot...she's very brave you can only hear her says "aayyy" & a quick cry. Then its Jayvee's turn, as we expected...he cries so much...there were three of us ( daddy, me & secretary) who hold him...He's very angry after coz it hurts him so much daw...LOL...They was given their shot in their right arm...
They was scheduled again for another shot for Flu Vaccine on April 21, 2000. A month after the first dose was given.

Valentines 2006!!!

Febuary is always a special & memorable month for me. During this month way back year 2000, hubby and I met and it start for a wonderful relationship. This year, would be my unforgettable valentines since i got married. Maybe because, it's the first time we're not together in this day, Von have a plant audit at Rosario, Cavite.

Aside of being the month we first met....Febuary also was my hubby's birthday to be exact...Febuary 8. As a birthday present i made a layout for him....Photos are taken as we start our relationship..

Begin the Journey!!!

And most of all, because of my passion in scrapbooking which is he is very supportive. He just watching me carry my stuff everywhere in the house to scrap. Finally, before leaving to Manila he buy me a scrap table as a gift for valentines. It has a closed cabinet with layers and built in light, but still i have another light to be more brighter...Of course big smile syempre & very thankful at last naawa din... hehehe!!!!

Follows are photos of the scrap table:

Christmas 2006!!!

My family before going to cebu port for our trip to Ormoc, Leyte !!!

After 16 years since we move to Manila for our studies.My family are going to celebrate christmas in our province in Leyte. Since we're staying in Cebu now & a bit nearer to Ormoc, 3 to 4 hours by ship. December 23 my children are all excited our trip, they want to see thier papa & mama ( grandparents), & cousins.

With my family in Leyte, christmas 2006!!!

My parents opening their gifts!!!

My parents prepare a christmas party Dec 25 with our kababayans living in our lot. They decided to celebrate it with them bec my parents wants to share them blessings we have throughout the years. And its a thanksgiving & a reunion in our family because it's the first christmas after my father retired from being a mariner, a first christmas also in my parents renovated house after they decided to stay again in the province since we finished college already & three of us are married.
The party started a thanksgiving mass, I'm the one who reads the readings during the mass, and of course its cebuano....I read it difficulty & didn't understand what i read ( sobra kakahiya ang daming tao). During the mass we got the news about the Ormoc tragedy. My bestfriend since preschool was died in the Unitop fire...Then dinner follows, game, raffles, presentation by groups & dance party....All of us are all happy.

After celebrating chrismas & new year in Leyte...We go back home(in cebu), January 1,2007, 11:00 am via Roble Shipping...We arrived home around 5:00pm same day ( jan 1,2007). Both Von & I was very shocked coz the main door was blocked by galvanized steel roof. Since, he cant open the door, he talk to the caretaker what happened to our aparttment. Sad to hear the caretaker testimonial...our house was robbed around 3:00 am, after New Years Eve according to our neighbors coz they fell asleep around 1:00-2:00 am.

Photos follow when our house was robbed, January 1, 2007...

the window near the main door, the way how the door knob was opened!!!

our closet!!!

our room's door!!!

New Life!!!

Our home in Cebu!!!!

Since October 3, 2006 my family have a new life here in Cebu... It started when my hubby (von) was transferred to another plant here. His assignment here was a promotion as well, so he decided to accept it. It's not an issue for the both of us bec. I supported him all the way & some personal reason, it's quite near to my family's province in Leyte.

As we arrived here, we stayed in a hotel almost a month. We only transfer to house November 1, 2006. We need more adjustments mostly the climate....sobra init!!! About the dialect, I don't have a difficulty in understanding cebuano coz it's our province dialects also. Only my hubby can't understand but he have no choice but to understand every single cebuano word.