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Joanne Figueroa Yap 36, Female Blacktown, Australia: 1iv7lxk12fi74; Share

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Mommy JO's blog

Finally a little ray of sunshine

The unbelievable weather was matching my so so moods the past weeks but finally a ray of sunshine to uplift my spirits.

I have been quietly praying to have another pictorial of the kids,.... yeah another one --- something about seeing my children captured in photographs that reminds me --- I am doing something right for them.. And that I am doing somewhat a good job raising them with my husband. So here's maybe something to perhaps make you smile too -- because I have to tell you it has really given me that and more... a great boost to start anew and be stronger in facing tommorow's challenges.

Good news is my parents are here for a month from Singapore - nothing like mom and pop to make me feel more at ease.... you gotta love them.. Of course Mom came home with nice goodies for me.. even handcarrying some Scrap goodies from fellow Scrappin Moms April Lim....

Somehow all this grey skies are in the clear and I am trying my very best to focus and be strong enough for what lies ahead....

(last photo is of our Photographer from Manila Jason De Guzman of Image nation.... He was wonderful with the kids and great with our shots ! So good I had them printed today and the photo shoot was just yesterday...)

Am back to a scrap nook...

I finally found the time to upload some of my pics from my cam to the laptop....

Its been tricky the past months working on my pages having to do it on the floor or the dining table... I end up making a mess and having to vacuum it because of the constant moving and shuffling of things -- I have to keep moving my artbin anywhere I can cut and anywhere I can work while watching the boys....

I am hoping I can finally get the time to find a table and some extra shelves because my present shelves are busting out it seams.. I miss my spacious scrap area in Manila.... it was a dream of a room.... now its a just back to a corner of the room where everything is stowed away. Its organized but takes longer to find things when I am working. I am a visual person I want to be able to see things in one scan and have it right at my finger tips.. I guess with time constraints to even sit on the computer, sitting to work on my pages is just last on my priority list these days (I guess some of you read of my last post -- this is why.... :( ..........)

Here are some of my scrap area shots -- pardon the blurred shots --- I had a little elf move around the time I was taking these..... check him out -- he is so cute ! When I work he is always just next to me there like my little shadow he loves to fiddle with my things and check out pictures and our album

In his perfect time

It been awhile since I have been actively doing anything, whether it scrapping, updating this blog, visiting my egroups... things havent been the BEST... and I have been carrying this load on my back.... I have kept quiet (with the exception of trusted friends) about everything thats is going on with me, because the family has been dealing with it all. Everyone has been rallying to stay strong and face head on the challenges life in Australia has brought upon us.

To date, we are coping with the changes, the children are doing ok here. You know.....I would always be asked as to why we gave up our comfortable life in Manila to say 'rough it out' here in Sydney.... We are not rich but we have lead a comfortable life there. I am not ashamed to say I have gotten used to my routines and the team behind runnning our household (esp my Yaya Belle -- whom I miss so much!)..... So when asked as we began life here -- why we left -- I would have an automatic answer of saying "its for the kids future".

Its not to say, there's no truth in that statement -- we will not even decide this if not for the kids.. God has his perfect way of stressing my statement and before my eyes have really told me ---why we totally relocated our life here.... Its been an eye opening experience and NOW I will never look back to say it was ever wrong to do all this --- I have been affirmed that we are where we should be....

With the kids in kinder and pre school. I really wanted to make sure they were on the right track. If they were adjusting and coping well with a big school and a totally different environment.

First up was Jacob. I thought all the while he was doing great, but I realised later that he wasnt paying attention in school. His teacher had difficulty getting him to sit down and pay attention. I am not sure if the distraction comes from his seatmates or he just doesnt respond well to his teacher. Anyway after his mid year report card came out and our PTA was set up, the teacher has reported that he has slowly been interacting and had increased cooperation with his teacher. I am praying by Year 1 he has developed socially and can be more attentive to his teacher and studies. I have started him to do Kumon to help him with concentration and fine motor skills. To date he is one of the faster readers in class. I am praying he can apply himself more because he is a very bright child who has a very wide imagination.... I hope he can mature more in the coming months.

Then there is Jerome. He is my late bloomer in chatter dept.(spoke at age 3) but far advanced in social interaction. I call him my litle social butterfly because he breezed through adjustment in pre school like a PRO... The teacher raised the concern though, if he communicates well with me and I said yes.. I knew he was needing a SPEECH assessment and that I did. At present he is doing the theraphy to beef up his comprehension skills. He has improved in leaps and bounds. His teacher Mrs Wierzbicki and Ms Paulette has commented he does speak in short sentences now and communicates so much better with them and his classmates. He will move on to KINDY next year but thank GOD for Australia being so supportive of EDUCATION, I will inform his school about his speech theraphy and there will be funding to help him cope during the school year. He is only 5 by JAN 09, so we have a year next year to put him up to speed with theraphy and KINDY class to prepare him better for PRIMARY SCHOOL

Now for Jorel. I have been monitoring his speech dev't since we arrived here last OCT.07 because of my experience with Jerome. I waited till he was 2.5 years old till I started seeing my Pedia and began the series of tests in JUNE.... At present he has finished his blood/hearing/speech assessment test. To open up social interaction with other kids, we have started him with 2 days in preschool at ABC and began his speech theraphy. At this point I am also going to take him to Occupational Theraphy too to teach him play skills and assist his gross and fine motor skills....I have been also referred to bring him to a playgroup with kids (and parents) who are going through the same situation as my son. I know he and I will benefit in that tremendously... I have also put him on the list for EARLY intervention next year to help him get started..... Fingers crossed he gets a a spot...

Of course as I say this, it may seem I am so calm and collected. I am super ok now with the 2 older boys because time and maturity will solve their issues. My youngest son Jorel's situation is what makes my heart bleed. I did SPED in college and so I am so open to this but never in my dreams did I ever realise it will be this close to home.

I have been agonizing over waiting and waiting for his final test at the Childrens hospital, for developmental assessment... Not knowing whether he is a special child is causing me anxiety,...I am a true VIRGO - I hate now not knowing and not having an action plan.... it has gotten my temper flaring and I feel so sad for my 2 other kids who have to bear with my swinging moods. However I am human, I am not perfect, I am not the worlds best mom... This is my son, this is my last child, I know I have a great journey to travel with him and I am hoping that GOD will give me the strength and the will to keep going and to carry on all the trials that come our way.

I havent really cried hard about it --- just that its in my head all the time.. I wake up in the middle of the night --- thinking about it, worrying about it and agonizing over it. I guess you cant blame ME -- when this boy hugs and kisses you all the time (so loving...) you would really melt thinking - what can you do for him - how can you make his life better. As a parent, I want the best for him and I want so much to help him. I guess moving like what I have are my baby steps to help him but I pray hard that it will help him......

I guess you take it for granted when your kids blabber and scream at the top of their lungs... and here I am for Jorel waiting for the day he will call me ' MOM'.. thats my only fervent wish now --- IN GOD's perfect time...

So now when people ask me why we moved to Sydney -- it is with mind and heart I say -- for the Children's future,... for a better life for them.....

Good news

I just got off the phone and spoke to Karent of Fantasia here in Bella Vista... and they have accepted me to become one of their design team in the store.

You cant imagine how over joyed I am - finally a stint at an LSS - where I can goto and become a part of,....

I am so excited. I hope they will appreciate my work.. finally a community I can join here.... its a new a beggining...

here is the link to this LSS
http://www.fantasia.com.au/

tickled pink !

Talk about prolific !

Talk about prolific -- I can't for the life of me do layouts in one hour ---- but things change --- hahah I have done it ! here are my new layouts !These 3 layouts has evolved using a few common things: Cherry Arte Tropics pattern paper (blue/yellow/pink/green pattern) and different borders. The theme of these layouts is JOURNEY.

1) Title: Dont forget to dream
Journey of my 3 boys: Jacob, Jerome and Jorel A layout to encourage to dream far and wide, to try to fulfill their dreams as they begin life...
Materials: Fancy Pants rubons, Cherry Arte Tropics pp, Prima frame stamps, craft knife, Staz on ink

2) Title: 7 years

Journey of my husband and I, as a married couple A layout to show what we have accomplished in our seven years of marriage: good and blissful family life, 3 wonderful boys, a nice house and great relationship with our inlaws

Materials:Cherry Arte Tropics/Urbanlily/Rouge de Garance pp, Signo white pen, craft knife,Vellum caption, American craft sticker letter, Doodle bug frills

3) Title: Sunshine Joshua
Journey of my nephew Joshua

It's a layout of Joshua at 3 when he began some tests to find out why he hasn't began speaking. After all that, we did find out he is a special child and to date we have been praying for a miracle for him to connect with all of us....

Materials: Cherry Arte Tropics/Salsa celebration pp, Scenic Route chipboard frame, Adirondack paint, Heidi swapp flowers, craft knife, Kindy glitz glitter, Signo pen, Provocraft stickers, Doodlebug frills

Here's my poor attempt at cards -- am so card challenged !

v>

jo

Mommy JO to Jacob, Jerome and Jorel
Happy wife to Patrick for 8 years
Scrapbooking blissfully for 6 years

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Profile

Relationship Status:: Married

About Me:: Mommy Jo to Jacob, Jerome and Jorel, my 3 beautiful princes.
Happily Married to Patrick for 8 years now. Stay at home mom but happily scrapbooking for my family for 6 years. My best friend is a craft knife when scrapbooking -- there has to be some 3d element in my page for sure!

Website:: http://www.jothescrapaddict.blogspot.com

Location:: Sydney, Australia

How long have you been scrapbooking?: I have scrapbooking for 8 years now

Top 3 Scrapbooking Brands:: Basic Grey, Autumn Leaves and Making Memories are my faves!

Sweet Moments

My favorite layout to date.
Thanks to Jeff Lopez for this great photo of my family !

Comment Wall (100 comments)

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At 11:43am on August 21st, 2008, Donna said…: hi ms jo..kamusta :)

At 4:19am on August 19th, 2008, Ching said…: Hi Joanne,

Thanks for welcoming me to the groups !

Ching

At 6:51pm on August 18th, 2008, Jocelyn Baclor said…: Okay, thanks for that. Will call you. Let me know of the details of your September class and I will try to be there!

At 10:23am on August 18th, 2008, Lynette E. Gallinero said…: thanks jo.. already found suppliers here. by the way, love your site.. great shots! im in awe staring at your LOs.. you really have a good hand using the craft knife. have a nice day..

At 10:58pm on August 17th, 2008, Gracie Ann Tan said…: Thanks for adding me up. You've got some lovely pics here. Nice LO too! =)

At 4:38pm on August 13th, 2008, Liza Devera-Delacruz said…: I love the pictures! It amazes me! nice shots!

At 11:34am on August 12th, 2008, Jocelyn Baclor said…: Hi, Joanne. My apologies for not responding to your note a few weeks ago. The past few weeks have been really busy. Are you in Sydney in September? I have never been to any crop event and came across this one scheduled in Sydney soon http://croproyale.x10hosting.com/. Gusto mo mag-attend tayo? You can email me too at jobaclor@yahoo.com. We can probably trade contact numbers and finally talk!

At 1:03pm on July 23rd, 2008, Gilian G. Garcia said…: its always a pleasure. thanks

At 7:58pm on July 21st, 2008, andrea go said…: hi jo, thanks for the warm welcome. hope i can learn a thing or two from pros like you ;) had just given birth to a wonderful baby girl, so i become interested in scrapbooking. thanks.

At 9:51am on July 21st, 2008, Liza Devera-Delacruz said…: Thanks for welcoming Jo, nice to see everybody and everything here about Scrapbooking.. just like getting inside a candy store.. wow! Nice space also.. how i wish i'll have the same..cool!

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