Edgar's turn

Dear Mama,

    Edgar did not work today. He has fever, Mama. Last night he was having asthma attack. I am at work now, Mama. He said he'll be fine, but he was still lying down when I left this morning.

    Ralph will be running on some of his papers today. He just came from work, so he won't be sleeping today until he finish his errands, Mama.

    I hope Angel will be able to take care of Edgar. 

    I'm sorry our son has to be sick again, Mama. Please help me. Make Edgar well, Mama.

                                                                                                        Daddy

Nanay's 95th birthday

Dear Mama,

    Ralph just left for work a while ago. He did not take his dinner anymore, he'll just eat at the office probably. We had our dinner already, Mama. Edgar is washing the dishes, and Angel will be feeding the cats in a while.

    Next month, we will be celebrating Nanay's 95th birthday, Mama. Ate Let is already here, she arrived first week of February. Koya Boy, I think, will arrive on March 1st. Nanay's birthday will be on the 2nd. First, we will be having lunch with our cousins from Manila, and some friends of Nanay. Then there will be another celebration in the evening with other friends and relatives, Mama.

    Of course, after Nanay's birthday, the next occasion will be Edgar's birthday, Mama. We still have not discussed it, though. So, there are no plans yet. I still don't know what gift to buy for him, Mama. If you have any suggestions, please help me.

    I wish you could join us on all these celebrations, Mama. I miss you.

    I love you, Mama.

                                                                                                    Daddy

Post-Valentine dinner

Dear Mama,

    The kids and I went out today for our post-Valentine dinner. Of course, it was Ralph's treat, Mama.

    We were supposed to go to the new restaurant in Friendship, Mama. Unfortunately, it was not found in the Grab app. We tried looking for another place to pin near the restaurant, but Ralph was not able to find any. We opted to search for other restaurants in Friendship, but there so many we cannot decide. And it was hard to book a Grab car, Mama.

    We settled for a new place in Angeles proper. Still, Ralph had a difficult time booking a ride. After more than 30 minutes, he was finally able to get one. When we reached our drop-off place, we noticed the Pancake House had only few people. So, we had our dinner there instead of our original plan, which a new place near.

    After dinner, we went to Stabucks which is just beside the Pancake House, Mama. We stayed there probably for 30 to 50 minutes. Then, we went home. That's how we spent the post-Valentine, Mama. Wish you were with us.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                        Daddy

Valentine's Day 2025

Dear Mama,

    It's Valentine's Day. It's the 17th year since the day you left us. I still have not gotten over it. Especially now, when our kids are all grown up. I'm sure they would have showered you with flowers and gifts if you were still here, Mama. I'm sorry, Mama.

    I bought a cake for Angel. Something I knew she'd like, Mama. A cute Valentine cake. It has a cute baby bear in the middle of it. She liked it, Mama. We ate it after dinner.

    Ralph is on his way to work now. I'm following his current mobile tracking which he sent. I hope he won't be late. There was quite a heavy traffic jam earlier, Mama. It took him a long time before he was to book his Grab ride. He's almost there, Mama. Looks like he won't be late after all. I hope so.

    We will go grocery shopping tomorrow, Mama. Ralph will meet us at the supermarket. He'll proceed after work, although he'll have to wait for about 2 hours.

    Anyway, I think that will be all for now, Mama.

    I miss you.

    I love you, Mama.

                                                                                                         Daddy

I feel cold

Dear Mama,

Ralph just left for work. We already had our dinner.

I feel cold, Mama. It looks like it's My turn to get sick. I already took paracetamol, Mama.

I wish you were here.

Daddy 

Sunday update

Dear Mama

    I'm sorry for not writing for a while. I was meaning to write within the week but I did not know what to say or where to start.

    Anyway, Ralph is finished with his antibiotic and he's okay so far. No more fever, Mama, although as I've mentioned, he is still coughing. 

    Last Friday, I filed a leave from work and we went to Manila to visit the wake of my cousin, Bimbo. I was with Nanay and my siblings, Mama, together with Ate Let who arrived last Monday evening. Yesterday, we had dinner at the maternal house in Sta. Teresita. It was only Ralph, Edgar, and I who went there, Mama. Angel did not go with us. Ate Let will be here until Nanay's birthday on the 2nd of March. Koya Boy will also be going home for the celebration. Nanay will be 95 years old on her birthday, Mama.

    On Friday, February 14 will be the 17th year you will be celebrating your birthday in heaven, Mama. We still miss you. I still miss you, Mama. I still wish it did not happen, but I knew it was the best for you - to get the rest you deserved. But I still wish it did not happen.

    Anyway, I'll have to stop now, Mama. Otherwise, this letter might turn dramatic again. I miss you, Mama. Please pray for my peace.

    I love you.

                                                                                                        Daddy

Life so far

Dear Mama,

    I just want to update you on what has happened so far. Ralph has completed his 7 days antibiotics and he also has not gotten any fever. Thank you for taking care of him, Mama. He is still coughing, though. I hope he will be cured from this, too. He is already at work now, Mama. He left earlier before 8 p.m. (it's already 9:18 p.m. now).

    I haven't done anything much from my plans, Mama. So far, all I've been doing are doodles, and I'm not even good at it!

    Edgar is fine now. Angel is also fine, although she has been getting fever every now and then, which she would just sleep off.

    I guess that will all for now, Mama. Nothing much happening, really. 

    I miss you, Mama. Please pray for my peace.

    I love you.

                                                                                                        Daddy

A trip to the ER

Dear Mama,

    This afternoon, I took Ralph to the ER of AUFMC. He asked to be brought to the hospital, Mama because of his lingering fever. I have already started with the laundry when he said he wanted to go to the hospital. So, I stopped what I'm doing and we got ready to go to AUFMC. Edgar booked a Grab car for us. 

    We went to the ER at around 4 p.m., Mama. They took his temperature and BP after he filled up the info sheet. His temperature was 38.+ which was lower than his tempt at home which was 39.+. Probably because he took Bioflu at around 2 p.m., Mama. What surprised me was his temperature was normal!

    Finally, he was looked into by the ER doctor, Mama. The usual routine questions, to determine what was causing Ralph's fever. They ordered some lab tests - CBC, platelets count for possible dengue, urinalysis, and ECG. He was supposed to have stool exam, too but he wasn't able to produce stool samples.

    Then we waited for the results, Mama. Ralph was also administered IV fluids because they felt he was dehydrated. And then we waited some more. At past 7 p.m., the doctors finally came back to us and said Ralph's lab tests are all okay, and he is negative for dengue. He was also not dehydrated. I breathe a sigh of relief, Mama. We were then advised to wait for the discharge instructions before they send us home.

    After 30 minutes, they came back with the discharge instructions. Ralph was prescribed with antibiotics and some medicines, including paracetamol. We then waited for the cashier because they had to coordinate with the HMO provider for Ralph's bill. Good thing it was approved because they said the whole procedure would have cost 10 to 12 thousand pesos, and that's just for the lab tests.

    Anyway, we went home at around 8 p.m. We stayed at the ER for more than 4 hours. But I can't complain, at least Ralph's okay. We also passed by the drugstore so Ralph can buy his medicines, and bought litson manok for our dinner.

    Ralph's already sleeping now, Mama. He feels better. I hope this will continue and he'll be well tomorrow.

    That's all for now, Mama. I just want to update you on Ralph's condition. Please continue guiding us, especially our children. Please pray for my peace.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                        Daddy