Tito Noel and Tita Judith, our hosts during our stay in Las Vegas. Thank you so much for taking us in and letting us enjoy your company. It was great meeting the two of you. 
And of course, Ralline, one of the Sistahuds, again... saying thank you will never be enough for all that you have shared with me and my family. You made this trip possible and just in case you don't know it, me and the kids enjoyed our mini-vacation very much. Hope to see you again before you return to the Philippines.
The main reason why we braved the heat... Big Dog Sportswear. Got Axel two shirts and a pair of swim shorts... Ralline got something for herself and her Cheeblings :)
Buffet lunch at Circus Circus
Trying our luck at this giant slot machine. Man! That lever was sooooo heavy, it took the whole of me dangling from it to actually move down... wah ha ha!!!
108 Floors up... Stratosphere Hotel, at this height your perspective can certainly change :P
The rides Kyla wanted to try... she rode Insanity (will have more on another post)
Coca-cola's new models...
Hmmm... and I thought I was the one excited about going to M&M's World
This is the same ride from other theme parks, the free-fall one, only it's 109 floors from the ground. I don't know about you, but isn't that like double daring fate? 
I don't know about you, but even with seat belts, I would not want anybody trying to throw me off this thing from 108 floors up, would you?
The ride that Kyla chose... mind you, when I saw this ride, I felt that it was me about to fall off the roof. What can I say... would getting old be a good excuse for not riding this thing? Kyla was making fun of me for backing out... sorry dear, I had enough to worry about watching you do it ;p
Too high!!!! Ralline needed to get her bearings before braving walking around the outer viewing deck. I do think she lost at least 5lbs from breaking into a cold sweat for doing this... joke, ha ha ha!!!
Axel, Ralline and me shortly before Kyla went on the Insanity ride.
Just joined PhotoHunt and I wanted to start by posting on a "Happy" note... Kyla, Axel and me(my kids who always make me happy) on our first vacation made possible by Ralline.
Ahem!!! This deserves it's very own spot on my blog. Less than an hour after we reached Las Vegas and only minutes after reaching our dinner destination (Il Fornaio, New York New York), Ralline (youngest of the Sistahud's) has already snagged "Papa Joaquin Hagedorn". Hmmm... I must really be getting old. Or maybe I should start introducing my kids as my siblings :p 
Kyla and Axel at Il Fornaio, New York New York
Ralline and me (where art thou Mary Ann and Ella?)
Two of the Sistahuds and kids with our dinner host Tito Noel.
14 years ago, my son, Axel was born. To this day, I still cannot believe that the baby I held in my arms not so long ago is now a young man.
People would sometimes say that Axel is my favorite. In a way, I guess that might be true. But it is more because of the fact that having him was against all odds at that time. I wasn't supposed to have any more children, at least not so soon after the first. I had a herniated disc 4 months after giving birth to Kyla, that even after 3 years, my doctors didn't think it's safe to have another one.
Pregnancy was hard, I had to take medications to make sure I don't lose him during the first trimester. Then after that, I almost lost him at 6 months because I had UTI and that started my contractions. Same thing happened at 8 months, and by that time I was scared. My doctors were great and I kept thanking my friends sister and sister-in-law for recommending her. The situation was made worse because I did not tell my parents that I got pregnant. They had to come here to the United States to see my sister, and I knew that had I told them, my Dad would never have left. Thank God for friends!
Giving birth was a breeze. None of the difficulties I had while pregnant. Axel made sure I know he wants out at 2:30am of August 20th. Called my cousin (a surgeon) to make sure it's not a false alarm (wouldn't want to go all the way to PGH from Biñan, Laguna for nothing), called my Aunt, who in turn woke up a policeman friend of theirs to drive us. Turned out to be a good thing, he had all the lights flashing and the horn blowing all the way to the hospital. Made it possible for me to make it ;p Once there, it took a right hook to a nurse (making her nose bleed, yes, I punched the nurse because she yelled at me to stop pushing when all the while I was turning blue from not breathing trying to stop the baby from coming out... so I'm a bitch!), a mad dash for the delivery room, an argument because I refused to let another doctor deliver the baby, and a joke about getting what I want and Axel is crying his lungs out. All this, in less than 15 minutes. Have I mentioned that everything about Axel is a mad dash all the time? My Aunt and my now ex-husband were still waiting for doctor's orders so they can get a room when the nurse came out saying that I have given birth and was ready to be taken to my room. Whew!
The first year of Axel's life was touch and go. Although he doesn't have any serious illness we ended up going to the hospital almost every month. All the nurses, doctors and interns knew us by then. It's always one thing or another, and it's hard to divide time with a 3 year old and a sick baby.
Axel's always been an easy baby to take care of. He lies quietly and was sleeping almost through the night after a week. He plays on his own and only cried out when he's hungry or needed diaper change. He started late walking, but once he did, we had a tough time trying to catch up with him. It was hard when I had to leave him with my parents to come to the US. It was harder still, when I asked him to take care of his Grandma when his Grandad passed away. All these he took in without complaining.
And now, he's finally here with me. I am discovering what I missed while he was growing up. And he's grown up to be a fine young man. My baby... who's now bigger than me and is looking after me and his sister more than I am. You have such a long way to go still. Life is just beginning, enjoy it like only teenagers can. Believe and it shall be.
In church while waiting for the bride's arrival. Haven't really been to church for quite some time (unless having mass for my Dad's wake counts). But my friend, Obi, is getting married, so I had to come. I have never been a church-goer, probably because I always find it irritating that most priests in the Philippines would rather talk about politics than the word of God. Not to mention numerous secrets they hide behind their robes. It was a great day for a wedding even though I think we reached triple digits with the temperature. Good thing both the church and the reception venues were air-conditioned.
you may kiss the bride...
