#latepost

It's seven months for Cassandra!

Last May 15, we had a simple lunch out to bring our baby Cassandra for a treat.  Some changes we noticed on her:

1. She's now used to BLW.  When she eats, she really munches on the veggies.  Probably a great reason why she's that big.
2. She's beginning to do the close-open trick. I'm not sure if it's universal, but as Pinoys, doing the close-open is a right of passage for all babies.
3. She can now sit independently.  Though there's some wobblyness, she seem to be pretty independent.
4. And just today, we found out that she's beginning to have teeth.

For quite some time, I've been doing some travel for work.  I remembered my first on shore assignment which took about four months and I had no problem getting home sick.  But that was before Cali, Champee and soon, Cassandra.

Last weekend, I went for another trip to MSP.  I wasn't prepared for the emotional ride as I thought this would just be one of those trips as it's only two weeks.

But then again, it was the first time where Champee seemed to understand and know what's going on already so that makes it extra hard.  The day before my flight, that was the time I really felt sad... Sad because I'm not used to sleeping without my girls (even though I sleep in a small sofa bed and have Champee and Cali in the big bed).  I miss the late night plants vs. zombies session, the peppa pig role playing and the super sweet hugs and kisses of my girls.

Now I'm 7842 miles away from home. Good thing there's technology to bring us closer.  Thanks to Skype as we're able to see each other at the start and end of our day.

Three things I realized while being away from my girls:

1. I have two big beds in the hotel, two big tvs, great aircon but stillI really find it hard to sleep.  At home I sleep with only half of my back having cushion but can clock in 8 hours.  There's nothing more comfortable than being home with your loved ones. Now I appreciate the imperfections of our house, as what is important is that everyone's together.
   
2. If I felt sad being away for 2 weeks, how much more our OFWs?  I admire the strength of those who sacrificed being away with their families to earn more.  However, I still think that it's a very big price to pay as families learn to live without their parents therefore weakening the basic unit of society.
3. When you're surrounded with people who have families, they completely understand what you're feeling and would go out of their way to make you feel at home. For the week I've been away, God sent people who could help me keep my sanity intact 

It was hard to travel away from your loved ones. And it would have been more difficult if my reasons for travel were not intact. In the end, it was all about getting to know my why's for choosing to go. Was it just to improve my work?  Maybe it's a part of it... but more so making my girls know that my love for them outweighs my work objectives.