Because of the robbery incident in March, the twins and I were forced to stay in Cebu (Philippines) for another month or two. While it was a heartbreaking experience, especially that we had to spend time away from Jeff, I personally didn’t want to wallow in the sorrow of a lost passport and cry about something I don’t have any control over. It was difficult for me though. Pregnant and working on graduate studies, which slammed me with back-to-back academic papers to write, I don’t know how I survive that month and kept my sanity almost intact.
The twins didn’t mind, obviously. We could not find any helper to look after the twins as I went around my usual business in Cebu. The wonderful blessing was that my Aunt Rose, my Mom’s younger sister, was free for the summer (April-May is summer time in the Philippines) and she brought along her younger daughter, Trixie, to stay in our little house in Liloan, Cebu. My Aunt coming to our home was a big blessing. I cannot even begin to thank her for all the help she extended to my family for spending more than a month taking care of the twins: making sure that the twins eat on time and eat the healthy food, they’re bathe and diapers changed, and they’re playing in a safe environment.
Spending time in the Philippines, the twins participated in an Easter Egg Hunt, visited the mall once or twice, interacted with children in our village, and sang nursery rhymes endlessly under the tutelage of my Mom and my nephew, Timothy Uriel.
Jeff visited us for five days and I could not remember feeling that happy seeing him with the twins after what felt like forever of not being together as a family.
That extended vacation was a blessing in a disguise. To quote my Mom: “It was able to buy me time so I can spend time with the twins before you move to the US, which is another continent, far, far, far away from Asia.”
