Executive Annual Check Up With Kids in Tow

Guijo at Makati Med's Corporate Wellness Center

Growing up, I didn't go for annual executive check-ups.  My mom was a firm believer in the body's natural ability to heal itself, so she was not dependent on medicine.  I was raised under my mother's careful watch, and healed by her own touch whenever I got sick - and her healing hands always proved effective (and sometimes we'd go to the manghihilot too). I don't remember being hospitalized, only when I was very young - my mother recalls - but then again I was too young to remember being confined for measles. It was only when I started working and studying abroad that executive check-ups became a regular occurence for me, as required by employers and schools.  Then, I married Oliver - and it seems in our first couple of years together, I've seen doctors and hospitals A LOT, for pregnancy-related consultations (that's the happy part), and for sickness in the family (the sad part). When Oliver lost his brother to cancer in 2011, we stared taking our annual check-ups seriously.  In 2011, it was just Oliver and I who did the executive check-up, in 2012 we took Narra with us; and now, 2013, we brought Guijo along too!

It was Guijo's first time to join us for our annual executive check-up at Makati Medical Center because he had to be 2 years old to qualify for coverage under Maxicare's Family health plan. I say, his day at the hospital went really well! He loved meeting so many doctors, nurses, and lab technicians. He was curious about all the equipment and instruments. He complied readily with all instructions, it was entertaining to watch! He was thrilled to submit his urine and stool samples - as though it was some sort of achievement (well, it is!) 

Guijo, getting weighed and measured.

                                       

Guijo was well prepared for the day. He even fasted! He had no food since the previous night's dinner, and didn't even drink milk. When it was his turn to have his ultrasound, the techbologist was surprised to see proof that his tummy was empty: "he fasted too?!" She exclaimed. "Galling naman".  He was so well behaved and relaxed. He looked at the screen at one point and asked if there was a monster in his belly :-) I did ask if they could find parasites like worms, if they'd show in the ultrasound, and I was told sometimes they enter the gallbladder and their presence can be detected through abdominal sonography! Yikes!  Fortunately, no worms we're seen in my kids' tummies.

Guijo, chilling out while having his ultrasound.

                                     

Narra asked for a blood test. Oliver wanted to skip the blood extraction for our kids, and I made sure Narra knew it was optional, but she insisted! She wanted the doctors to study her blood to make sure she is not a vampire! She didn't look away throughout the procedure and she gloated about her bravery all day long! 

Narra looking at her blood extraction.

With a skip and a hop she breezed through the busy corridors of the hospital to get her X-Ray, ultrasound, and ECG at the Heart Station.  She enjoyed doing the eye tests too - because she can already read letters and numbers! She did the test to see if she's color-blind: it's confirmed, she can see colors all right!

Narra's ECG at the Heart Station.

                                        

We had to consult many other doctors after our initial physical exam: I had to see an OB (and yet another OB to confirm/validate the first OB's diagnosis); I was referred by both to do further tests at the Breast Clinic; Narra had to see an Orthopedic specialist; and Guijo had to see a pediatric surgeon.  Fortunately, my tests came clear (whew); Narra was given  exercises to correct her pigeon-toe/intoeing; and Guijo - well, he was diagnosed with inguinal and umbilical hernias and both require surgery. So we'll study our options, consult our pediatrician, and plan our next steps for Guijo.

While waiting for our ultrasound.

                                     

I'm glad we did our annual check-up as a family - it was a fun bonding experience. And I felt proud of my kids and how well they behaved and socialized with doctors and medical staff. I hope we can continue this yearly tradition - it's a great way of infusing routine procedures with a greater sense of meaning. I am reminded to watch my health because I want to be around for my precious children, for a very long time. 

This new tradition I want to sustain for my family is a departure from my mother's more natural approach to health care... but I plan to honor her ways, by offering my own hands as a first line of defense against aches and pains.  I can only hope to be as caring as my mother was, with her healing touch and abundant TLC.  In an age of cancer, though, I believe prevention and early detection are our best defense - so I embrace a new tradition for my family, and hope my kids will grow up with a sense of obligation to perform this annual ritual.

A healthy start to December: Getting Narra To Eat Green Leafy Veggies

Narra's first encounter with kale.

                           

I'm not waiting until January to start fresh. Today, December 1st, I re-launched my Cohen eating plan and stocked up on lots of greens and lean meats. While at the grocery, I was excited to discover that kale was available at S&R. I just read a magazine feature on this super-nutritious vegetable. I wanted to try the kid-friendly recipe for kale crisps which promised to be as fun and tasty as potato chips.

The Redbook Magazine article with this kale recipe.

                                        

Sunday morning, after Narra had her breakfast, while she was still in her sleepwear, I roped her into our kitchen adventure. I got her to rip the curly leaves off the stems, then had her spray some extra virgin olive oil on them, then we used our hands to spread the oil around to cover each curly leaf.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil sprayed on kale leaves.

                                         

Then we arranged the leaves on baking sheets, a task Narra enjoyed thoroughly. I may not do a lot of cooking, but I know Narra will grow up with a lot of memories of us doing stuff together in the kitchen.

My excited toddler fiddling with her veggies!

                                   

We popped the kale in the oven and it was done in just 5 minutes! We sprinkled salt on top and voila - crisps!

P80 pesos worth of kale leaves crisping in the oven.

                                    

We dug into our bowls the same way we attack pop corn :-) It was crispy and salty and had a distinctive crunch. It was still slightly bitter-like, in a raw-cabbage way, just enough to remind one that it is a veggie and not anything close to Cheetos. 

Our healthier alternative to potato chips :-D

                             

As an experiment in getting Narra to eat veggies, it's a resounding success! She munched on her bowl of kale with gusto! Yay! Kale would be rather hard to eat otherwise, in its raw state it can be tough to chew on, and the taste could be off-putting. But Narra are a good serving! And we bonded in the process.

Willingly eating her greens! Woohoo!