Send Me In Orbit

Disney Princess

Leah was often asked how she did it. Five kids, a household to manage, and two part-time jobs...Leah was often looked at as if she was Super Woman.

Out of their extended families and closest friends, Leah and Clark had the most kids. Manang Tiffany and Kuya Tolayts had 3, Dayunior having been followed by the girl Manang has always wanted. Jigs and Angela had 3 girls. Clark's brother Ethan had 2, Cecile had the one, Jordan had 2, and Jenny was currently pregnant with her second. Only Clark and Leah had taken the plunge to really grow their family beyond what has become the normal numbers.

Leah wouldn't change anything though. Clark has always dreamed of a big family and it was her joy to give it to him. She loved her husband and children beyond measure. There was no describing the happiness she felt at watching each of them grow up and become their own unique persons. Now that their eldest is 16 and almost a man, Leah thanks God everyday that she and Clark have been able to be there for their kids and for the blessing of giving them the upbringing that she and Clark didn't experience.

The only melancholy Leah felt was because the kids were growing up so fast. It seemed like it was just yesterday that she had three babies, now she had three fully grown teenagers. Her youngest boy was suddenly no longer an infant but now a toddler, walking and talking and soon to be going to school. And finally, her second youngest, her baby girl was turning that milestone age of seven.

Out of the 5 kids, only CJ and Larissa had the distinction of being planned out and prepared for pregnancies. The rest were very happy but unexpected surprises. Ceres was four, almost five, when Clark and Leah started talking about having another baby. At that point all of the kids were in school and Leah had more time to herself at home. It was nice but she did miss having a baby to hold and take care of. When Clark started voicing his wishes to have another baby, Leah found that it wasn't hard to picture a baby boy coming to complete their family. They started trying, though it was difficult with three loud and energetic children in the house.

It was on their eighth anniversary that Clark gave Leah a long weekend trip to Tokyo. They left the kids with Nanang, Tatang, and Manang Tiffany and had an amazing weekend together. They explored Tokyo and spent a night at a Ryokan in Hakone where...yes, Larissa was conceived.

She wasn't a boy as Clark and Leah had planned and hoped for but still an enormous blessing that they were happy to have. Larissa's personality was somewhere between her outgoing Ate Claire and her shy Ate Ceres. Leah thought that out of the three girls, Issa was probably the most like her. She was optimistic, warm and friendly, and a constant dreamer. To Clark's dismay, from a very young age Larissa was also a hopeless romantic who quickly developed an obsession with Disney movie fairytales. She dreamed of finding her own Prince Charming one day and was absolutely enchanted with her mommy and daddy's love story.

Leah walked into Larissa's bedroom where her little girl was already climbing into bed. She walked straight to her small bookshelf.

"Ano gusto mong story, Anak? The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast?"

"No, Mommy."

"Ah, Sleeping Beauty?" She pulled out the book.

"No, Mommy!"

Leah turned to her. "Ano gusto mo?"

"Gusto ko story niyo ni Daddy."

"Ulit?" Leah grinned. She must have told her love story to her girls a hundred times by now. Still, she loves the kilig it gives them and even feels it herself still when she recounts her memories with Clark.

Larissa nodded.

Leah walked over to the bed and sat down beside her daughter, wrapping an arm around her. Larissa curled up into her side.