Exiting the UAE is a lot tiring than I thought!

After several weeks of packing and re-packing (excess baggage na kami so we had to send other items via empost boxes), sending three extra large LBC boxes to the Philippines, selling/donating/disposing furnitures and household items, and cleaning our flat [sealing all holes, scrubbing walls (vandalized by my very artistic son), vacuuming and mopping floors] -- all of which were done by me and my husband while looking after two kids (4y/o and 9m/o respectively) and we got no helper/ yaya -- here we are, finally getting the chance to slow down and relax a bit.  Yay!  Thank you, Lord!!!

It's a very exhausting and stressful experience, but I am happy we're almost done with our "to do list."  All the credit goes to my husband, who is a very responsible head of the family, and his thoughtful planning.  We are even ahead of our schedule!  Thank you, my love, for always being a good leader!

We stayed in a Deluxe Suite in Al Maha Arjaan by Rotana Hotel during our last few weeks in Abu Dhabi.  It's a very spacious 87sqm room with a living room, an updated and fully equipped kitchenette, a separate bedroom with a king-sized bed, and a bathroom with a large walk-in shower and a bathtub.  We got it at a special rate of AED 300+ per night, including buffet breakfast.  Not bad, right?

Apart from waiting for my husband's end of service and doing last minute errands, we also made sure to meet our friends for the very last time:

We are, indeed, very grateful to all the wonderful people we've met on this side of the world!  We will surely miss all of you and we hope to see you again!

PS. In my next blog post, I'll be taking you with my family to the Land Down Under.  'Til then!

I've been preoccupied with packing our things and fitting them all together in four pieces of luggage that I have neglected to feel the emotions associated with leaving.  However, everything eventually sank in when the time came that we had to bid goodbye to our first home. 

It was heartbreaking to think that we would never see this place again.  A place that held so much happy memories for our family.  A place we called "HOME" for almost six years.

Seeing it for the last time brought back all the precious moments we have had in this flat -- from the time we learned about my pregnancy, to bringing Rafa home for the first time (and all the sleepless nights that came after that), to becoming pregnant for the second time, and eventually welcoming Joaquin who completed our family.  The feeling was overwhelming, I felt like a tear would fall from my eyes.

My heart is heavy to leave but it's now time to move to the next chapter of our lives.  Thank you so much, Abu Dhabi, for all the wonderful opportunities you have brought to our family!  Our hearts will be forever grateful!

Off we go to our next adventure!

I have had eczema for almost ten years and all those years I've treated my stubborn itchy rashes with topical steroids.  It is, after all, the first line of treatment dermatologists use for most inflammatory skin conditions.  It's effective, less time-consuming, and cheap.  However, just like any kind of medication, topical steroids have side effects, too.  The scariest of which would be the "Red Skin Syndrome" or "Topical Steroid Addiction" or "Topical Steroid Withdrawal".

I have always been cautious in using my cream/ ointment because I am fully aware of the consequences of abusing/ misusing it.  However, I still came to that point where in my medication suddenly stopped working and my derma would have no choice but to increase the strength of my topical steroid.  This scenario continued on and on until such time that I was already using the superpotent - class 1 steroid cream yet my rashes would still come back (with vengeance) in just 10 days where each flare-up appeared to be worse than the previous one. 

I was worried so I started reading articles and journals about eczema and steroid use.  And guess what?  The information I read from the recent researches published online made me feel even more scared because apparently, topical steroid withdrawal can result from discontinuing topical steroids used for as little as 2 months and that resultant signs/symptoms can last >12 months, even with short duration of use.  I've been on topical steroid therapy for almost 10 years, so I was totally in a panic!!! 

This was the major turning point of my battle with eczema.  I decided I will never use steroids anymore!  This medication is so powerful it can relieve itching in almost an instant and clear up rashes in a matter of days.  However, with prolonged and frequent use, it can cause dependence, addiction, and even steroid-induced rashes that's way worse than your pre-treatment rash. 

With the help of my dermatologist, I first underwent a skin biopsy procedure to establish a correct working diagnosis.  This is essential to make sure that the treatment plan will be appropriate for my skin condition since some clinical presentations of dermatoses can be atypical.

After getting the confirmation, we did a blood test to make sure it's safe for me to do phototherapy.  Once cleared, we then proceeded with my treatment.  

Phototherapy is a kind of therapy wherein the body part affected by eczema is exposed to narrowband UVB light.  (Please note that this treatment requires commitment because you need to go 2-3x a week otherwise, it won't be effective.)  It is given in outpatient clinics wherein you will be asked to get inside a walk-in cabinet containing fluorescent light bulbs.  The starting dose that was given to me was 100 mJ which lasted a few seconds only.  It was then increased gradually, lasting to almost 2 minutes.  Having light therapy is similar to sunbathing so expect your skin to get really dry after each session (a liberal amount of moisturizer should be enough to address this issue).   

The effect of phototherapy won't be visible right away.  It will take weeks before rashes would clear up.  Sometimes, the first few weeks of treatment could even make your initial skin condition worse, which actually happened to me.  But fear not, for 70% of atopic dermatitis cases actually respond well to UV therapy.  Hence, patience is key.  For a more detailed information about phototherapy, please CLICK HERE.
*Photo credit

Apart from light therapy, the following also helped me manage my eczema: 

1.  Ditch the soap.  People with eczema usually have very dry and sensitive skin, and regular soap can aggravate it furthermore thereby, causing a flare.  Give your skin the TLC it needs by using a mild and fragrance-free cleansing bar like Cetaphil or Dove.  

2.  Moisturize.  Moisturize.  Moisturize.  Slather an emollient (creams are better than lotion; I use Nutraplus cream and Cetaphil moisturizing cream) within 3 minutes after taking a shower to lock in moisture more effectively. Re-apply moisturizer as often as needed (twice a day should be the minimum).  Remember, dry skin triggers flare-ups so be diligent about it. 

3.  Wet wrap therapy.  Itching, which is more pronounced at night, is probably the worst symptom associated with eczema -- it wakes you from your sleep and makes you scratch your rashes endlessly. It's a total nightmare!  Wet wrapping with Vaseline petroleum jelly helps a lot in calming the itch and therefore promotes a good night's rest.  (Using topical steroid for wet wraps should only be done under the careful supervision of a health professional.) 

4.  Diet modification.  Eczema is also known as "skin asthma".  It's a condition wherein your skin reacts to certain allergens that cause the itching and rashes.  Sometimes, these allergens can be found in the food that you eat.  Try eliminating the most common allergy-causing food in your diet (eggs, seafood, dairy, nuts, soy) or better yet, get yourself an allergy test to identify your "triggers" and totally avoid them.  (Allergy patch testing is very expensive in Abu Dhabi and it's not covered by insurance, so I was not able to do it.) 

5.  Use plant-based products.  When all else fails, try natural!  Natralia is a steroid-free alternative to relieve itchy and uncomfortable eczema flare-ups.  Made of homeopathic, natural herbs and essential oils (free from coal, pine tar, paraffin, parabens, and nut oils), their cream helped me keep my sanity when I can't stop scratching my skin. It's safe and effective! 

6.  Dress for comfort.  Forget about skinny jeans, leggings/jeggings or anything tight-fitting.  Make your skin breathe by wearing loose and soft fabrics that won't rub against your skin like maxi-dresses and palazzo pants.  Believe me, your skin will thank you for it. 

Anyway, it has been three months since I totally stopped using topical steroids.  I still get a few rashes every now and then but they can now be managed by moisturizers alone, so I'm happy!  I suppose the phototherapy helped a lot in putting my eczema into remission.  

If you're battling this chronic skin condition and you want to get rid of steroids then talk to your dermatologist and ask about light therapy.  I promise it's worth giving a try. 

After five months, I am finally sharing with you our family's trip to Kidzania!  This was taken last March when we had our three-week vacation in the Philippines.  As you all know, the traffic jam in Metro Manila is just horrible.  I hate going out because I don't want to waste my time commuting, but if it's for my son, then that's a different story.

Kidzania Manila is an educational entertainment theme park, located in Taguig, where kids can role-play different professions, just like in real life.  It's perfect for kids ages 4 to 6 years old, especially since this is the stage when they are mostly in-love with pretend play. 

I remember when I was in primary school, we went for a field trip to Museo Pambata, a discovery museum that features hands-on exhibits.  It was fun and enjoyable, so I thought my son would probably appreciate a similar experience, too.

What I love most about Kidzania, aside from the fun learning experience they provide, is that they also teach the kids how the real adult world goes, somehow.  It's basically a mini-city where kids pretend to be adults.

When you check-in, each kid is automatically given 50 kidzos (the official currency of kidzania) that they can use for shopping, pay for services, or pay to participate in an activity.  Other establishments let children "work" in order to earn kidzos.  Hence, the more they work, the more they earn! 

However, do keep in mind that you cannot buy kidzos  -- this leaves the kids with equal opportunities unhampered by special treatment or preferences.  In short, 'kahit maraming pera parents mo, kailangan mo pa rin magtrabaho.'  What a great way of teaching independence and financial literacy to a young mind, don't you think?

Surprisingly, my first-born preferred to work and earn rather than avail a service.  He loved working in the urban garden, gasoline station and factories (bottling plant, ice cream / snack factory, etc.).  If there was a recycling center, I'm pretty sure my son would have loved to try it, too!  He was such a big fan of garbage men, he even wanted to be one!  Lol!

Rafa really had a great time, he didn't want to go home anymore!  I guess, our visit was indeed a bit 'bitin' since we came here at a little past 12 noon already (the park closes at 4pm on weekdays and 5pm on weekends) and the queue on the establishments that my son wants to participate in were quite long (there were a lot of students having their field trip that day).  If you are interested in bringing your kids here, I suggest you go as early as possible (they open at 9am on weekdays and 10am on weekends) so your child can make the most of it.

**For admission guidelines and ticket pricing, click HERE.