StuckWith3 Diaries: Am I a #GSKExpertMom?

11 years ago, I became a parent.  Like most of the parents out there, this had not been my plan.
But my eldest daughter had been conceived and born while I was married, plus two more.
I had imagined that I would be working abroad side by side with my auntie, who is currently manages a hospital laboratory somewhere in Chicago. That was the whole plan. But the universe has other plans for me.
So, anyway, as a young and new mom, I became very protective of my kids. It was like "Instincts Gone Wild", specially when cleanliness is involved. I wanted my kids to be germ-free every single time that I already compromised their health and immunity.
One mom I knew whose kids grew up on a farm seem to show lower rates of allergies. My pack kind of didn't learn to adapt and interact with germs so they tend to easily get allergies from...almost everything. I though I was a failure mom.
The children of today seem to pick up all kinds of bugs and colds much faster than we ever did when we were growing up.
So, what to do? How can we make our kids allergy-free?
Thank you GSK for these Antihistamines!

Virlix® (Cetirizine) has been a staple in my home and an absolute life-saver for us especially on summer days when allergies are prevalent.  After giving them Virlix® (Cetirizine) for a minute or two, there is always immediate soothing improvement with the itchiness; everything is calmed down.

But we all know that after the allergies, comes the dreaded cough. It is like a normal routine for my kids. Our Pedia always recommends Ambrolex® (Ambroxol) for the kids as it is really tough on cough. This is something I take seriously as it can easily be passed on to my other children. My kids like it more  because as we all know, a lot of cough medicines have a bitter aftertaste and before I give any medicine to them, I make sure to taste them first.
Ambrolex® (Ambroxol) has a sweet blackcurrant flavor that my kids love , making it way easier for me to get them better.

When I attended the Expert Mom campaign launch recently with the expert mom herself, Ms. Rica Paralejo-Bonifacio, part of me didn't want to go because I don't consider myself as one. All I know is how to make things work at my house and I have ideas how that might work for others but these insights are usually private and yes, you guessed it right -- my self esteem is low, I don't really want people to start putting expectations on me.

But as what she said at the event, GSK Expert MOM campaign launch is not all about perfection on motherhood, it's all about providing us and empowering us women more information on motherhood. Being an expert mom is doing everything for the family. There were expert people also present during the launch to help all of us in becoming Expert Moms.

I also had the privilege to try my Bento making skills , thanks to Bento Expert Mom, Kat Maderazo of BentoBaby Kat.
I wanted to try bento making like forever because I got astounded at the beauty and care put into making lunch by other moms. I know for a fact that I USED to be crafty but with no patience at all. Since I already experienced what it was like to do bento, I think I would continue my bento journey, since we have an amazing selection of local produce, fish, meat, and artisan products here in our country.
I think bentos are practical for anyone, and my focus would be mainly on healthy food for the 3.

Is this nightmare before bento? I used to be crafty :(

So, am I an Expert Mom? Most definitely.
Because I always make sure, not just in summer but the whole year round, that the days are more memorable for the whole family. Just like what Ms. Rica said that being in tip-top shape allows the whole family to have the best summer and enjoy the vacation.
Of course the priority is to keep everyone healthy, and making sure to prepare the necessary medications when travelling.

Being an Expert Mom is all about ensuring that the whole family is happy, healthy, and free from disease.
And we do that always, right?

Ambrolex Safety Information – Common Adverse Event: Dysgeusia* (e.g. Altered flavors), nausea, oral and pharyngeal hypoesthesia* (*adverse events have only been reported after syrup use). 

Virlix Safety Information – Common Adverse Event: somnolence, fatigue, dizziness and headache.

About GSK
GSK is one of the world’s leading, research-based pharmaceutical companies with the mission to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. At the core of GSK’s business model is the use of knowledge and development of intellectual property. We create value by researching, manufacturing and making available products that improve people’s health and well-being. A healthier society enables people to live life to the fullest, allowing them and their communities to prosper. A sustained flow of innovative products enables our business to grow and replenish our value to patients and consumers.

About Ambrolex®
Ambrolex®, GSK’s medicine for cough, is an Over-the-Counter (OTC) brand which is available in leading drugstores nationwide. Its generic name is Ambroxol, which works by making the phlegm thinner, less sticky, and therefore easier to transport out of the lungs. Ambrolex® is available in both Pediatric (Syrup and Infant Drops) and Adult Formats (thrice-a-day tablets and once-a-day capsule). It is more affordable than the leading Ambroxol brand by as much as 6%, allowing patients to enjoy savings on their cough medication.

About Virlix®
Virlix® (Cetirizine), is a second-generation antihistamine that works by reducing inflammation, swelling, congestion, mucus production, and other symptoms of allergies that are caused by histamines. Histamine is a naturally occurring substance produced by the body after being exposed to an allergen. Virlix® is less-sedating than its counterparts such as Hydroxyzine and Chlorpheniramine, and works faster (i.e. in 42 minutes) than Loratadine (which works in 3-4 hours). It is available in both Pediatric (Syrup & Infant Drops), and Adult Formats (once-a day tablets), and is available nationwide in leading drugstores.