maAGA ang pasko sa SG

dear husband got this for me yesterday…

e2 daw ang reward ko. sweet mo naman mahal.

he offered to get me an iPhone.
ba, binabasa mo ang blog ko Dong?
I declined dahil nga maraming hang-ups and I am a Sony Ericsson fan.
I like their phones mainly for the camera function.

dahil maAGA ang pasko, I named my phone AGA. Guwapo naman eh.
I have named all my previous SE phones Andrei (I,II,III) after Agassi.
I need sometime to get to know AGA better.
Sa lapad ata ng daliri ko, mali mali ang nata-type ko…

Maaga din ako naglagay ng christmas décor sa bahay.
Pero hanggang ngayon, hindi pa ramdam ang pasko :-(


decor on my new buffet
nothing new on my christmas tree this year

I did it!

Here is my day to day account for the General Motors Diet that I embarked on this week:

Day 1: Breakfast was a baby royal gala apple and a china pear. First cup of water was at 9:30. Since it is Monday, I cleaned my water bottle. While cleaning it, I saw my colleagues washing their water bottles with hot water. So I copied, my bottle melted! So I have to take water cup by cup…haaay. 10:20 I am already hungry, so took some grapes which I prepared for lunch. I’m already worried that I won’t have enough for lunch. I still have another apple and china pear.


For lunch, I had a cup of mixed fruits – watermelon, cantaloupe, guava, papaya and pineapple plus my china pear. I have ordered another cup for afternoon snack. So far I do not feel hungry but due to 3 cups of water, my stomach feels cold. No dizziness so far.


2:30 sakit sakit na ng tiyan ko. Just downed my 4th cup of water. Kumain ng konting fruit then it’s better. Hanep, clear ang wiwi ko.


Promise, bukas kakain na ako ng tama! Maybe I will just maintain Mondays to be Fruit day. Pero sorry nalang give up na ako sa GM diet na ito.


Day 2: balik breakfast ng oatmeal. All veggie day dapat ngayon, pero I had fruits for lunch instead. Natamad lang lumabas to eat. Dinner was bonggang roasted chicken. Note: pag dating ko sa bahay ng 6 pm, binabanatan ko ang peanut butter sandwich. Sabi ko after six…after six, tapos na ang diet. Hehehe


Day 3: Akala ko ba give up na ako? Tinatamad talaga ako bumili ng lunch sa canteen. So since banana and milk today, nag tall glass of fresh milk ako with my oats for breakfast. Lunch was two big bananas. Nagutom ako ng 3 pm, so I got my Kinder Bueno. Ay grabe tong diet na ito, lalo akong pinapataba. After six, no more diet. Heavy dinner ulit kasi I need to wash feeding bottles, nurse my son, rock him to sleep like forever! 2 am, 5 am, 6 am…He needs to feed, so I need all those energy.


On this night, I got my weighing scale. I was surprised!!! I lost 1 kg. Huuus, malamang sira na yung analog na kilohan ko. Wala akong tiwala. At di ako nagtimbang before embarking on this diet plan. Baka matagal na pala akong one kilo lighter.


Day 4: Beef and veggies day. Puwede daw kumain ng hamburger. So I had upsized Quarter Pounder meal. Beef naman yun, vegetable naman ang French fries di ba? Hindi nako magtitimbang tonight LOL.


I checked the diet schedule, hindi ko pala namemeet yung sequence. I skipped the fruits and veggies only day, supposed to be day 3. At di ko rin meet ang 10 glasses of water a day. Eh yung normal na 8 nga eh d ko kaya no!


Day 5: may dalawang nagresign sa department naming at end of the year na kaya’t nanlibre ng lunch ang bossing. Lahat kami, order ang pinakamahal siyempre. Beef day parin today. So beef set it is! I’m loving this diet ha ha ha. Kalerky to the max!


GM diet is 7 days but tomorrow is my family day, I usually cook good food on weekends. Monday, is my father’s birthday and we plan to have buffet lunch this Sunday. No diet for me.


Anyway, Monday is all fruits day. I’ll weigh again on the 15th maybe I’ll loose another kilo???

Overall, I think this diet works.  I felt lighter during the fruits days and a clear wiwi is of course a very good thing but drinking lots of water will be enough for that.  Unfortunately, I can survive the whole day without water, days later, I'll have UTI though. 

Going through 3 days fruit lunch also made my capacity lower. I could normally consume my quarter pounder and large french fries but last Thursday, I left "some".

I'll probably do another "stick to the rules" round by Chinese New Year.


A Family that Stays Together....

Gets sick together!

Audrey started coughing after Halloween. She ate more sweets than she is supposed to. My daughter's tonsils are very sensitive. If she eat sweets, it gets inflamed FAST. But she is just a kid! So she had sore throat and started coughing. Made worse by her busy activity due to Kindergarten Graduation. It was my first time to see my daughter perform on stage. So that is how a mother feels!!! Fantastic.

Since we stay together in our small flat and we love to hug tight and kiss, Aeden started sniffing, then next thing, I have chills and fever. The next week after, dear Daddy is also coughing. Last Monday when I came home, my mom sounded like she just cried. I thought she cried over the telenovelas she's watching. Actually, she has bad flu! Poor Lola had runny nose and headache.


Tuesday morning I saw a red spot on Audrey's face. I checked her back and was surprised to find more. It was chicken pox. Damn! I had her immunized when she was little, why now? She needed to be isolated so she and daddy are now sleeping in the living room. She just peeps at the bedroom door to say her good night to me and Aeden. It is heart breaking. I haven't had chicken pox so I dare not kiss or hug my girl. Her pedia warned me last time that I should get immunized more than my daughter as I am in more danger than the baby.


Saturday night, Aeden develops low fever. He had a hard time sleeping and so did mommy of course. On Sunday, he has red patches already. Oh no. My young boy has chicken pox! Please Lord, spare him. Until today, his red patches come and go. Hopefully the antibodies from my breastmilk do wonders for him. He's too young to be sick.


Matiyaga Ako!

dapat ay nag-eexpress ako ng milk ngayon.
pero feeling ko sobrang tired ako.
so I will just write away…


hindi nga pala ako kumain ng lunch, except for the 2 small pears.
diet? sana nga diet na yun. tamad is more true!
yan tuloy, lantutay nako.
pagdating sa bahay, lagot, kakain na naman ng madami dahil sa sobrang gutom.

yan ang worst enemy sa pagpapapayat, ang hindi kumain.
when you starve yourself, your body stores more energy rather than burn it.
madali akong magpapaniwala sa mga nababasa at napapanood ko.
kaya pala hanggang ngayon, hindi parin bumabalik ang katawan ko sa kanyang pre-pregnancy state.
today is the first time I let myself starve…lamon ako ng lamon!
kasi sabi you need an extra 500 calories when you are breastfeeding. che!
so anong nangyari sa pag be-breastfeeding will help you loose weight?
oh hindi ko sinasabing wag na mag breastfeed! Liquid Gold is still the best.
actually I read somewhere na makikita lang ang weight loss after 6 months of BF.
Hay, kalerky…but I'm halfway there and I am enjoying every moment of BF.


I'm using a manual Pigeon pump. Nabili ko ng sale sa hospital. $59 from a regular price na $80.
Actually dahil sale, dalawa ang binili ko. Para umabot ng isang taon. Naku, isang buwan palang eh mahina na ang pump. Or mahina na ang gatas ko? Both. I'm forcing myself to believe na at this point, malakas parin ang gatas ko. May malunggay capsules or wala. Really! kasi I can pump 3 oz from one side. Eh sa mga nababasa ko, madami na daw yung 2 oz from both sides. Oh divah? May Parenthood Fair sa weekend, nangangati na naman ang mga paa kong magpunta and guess what kung anong gusto kong bilhin…another pump. Karir na karir! Well if you would compare the price of milk formula to pump cost, it's really all worth it. Aabot din ng $80 ang isang malaking lata ng gatas na kayang maubos ng 3 month old in a week or two. At hindi yan ang main reason kung bakit ko kinakarir ito. Dahil bakit ko papainumin ng gatas ng baka ang anak ko kung meron naman akong gatas? I think the Pigeon pump is worth it. Natatawa ako sa mga reviews ng ibang mommy na mega sakit daw ng mga kamay nila sa kakapump. Try kaya nila magpump ng poso ng tubig. I plan to buy the Avent manual pump. Ok ang mga reviews niya. It's a bit more expensive, more than $100. Pero compared naman sa mga electric pump na $200 pataas. Sabi ng marami, pang occassional use lang daw ang manual pump. Di naman! I use mine 4X a day, 5 days a week. Kung afford niyo ang electric pump, di go! Kuripot Matiyaga ako eh.


Kakalito ang BM storage guidelines. A few years ago, they could store BM in the fridge for upto 7 days. Pero ngayon, 24 hours nalang ang nakalagay sa mga recommendations. But these are recommendations of companies of formula milk or bottle feeding items. Para ba mahirapan ang mga mommy at mag formula nalang? Buti I stumbled on one article which said that in the experiment, BM quality is maintained even after 4 days in the deep area of the fridge. Wag daw ilagay ang gatas sa pinto ng ref kasi pag madalas binubuksan, pabago bago ang temperature. So I keep my EBM in a Fridge-to-go bag. May dalawang cooling blocks na fini-freeze ko sa gabi. Pag dating ko dito sa office, nilalagay ko yung isa sa freezer sa pantry and put it back in the bag lunch time. Mabilis kasi siya matunaw pero kahit tunaw na, malamig parin naman. It's cool maghapon kasi aircon naman sa office. Yung pump ko, I also leave it inside the bag. Di ko na hinuhugasan after expressing. I find this more hygienic than cleaning your pump every after use. Baka kung anong bacteria pa ang meron sa panglinis na water. Sterilize ko lang siya at night. Mas madali din kasi maluma ang pump accessories sa kaka-boil. Merong mga sterilizing tablets, ibabad mo lang sa water. Pero this is chemical, so I still do the traditional pakulo. Meron nga akong steam sterilizer pero mahal kasi ang kuryente eh and di ata kasya lahat ng gamit ko doon. Di ko pa nasubukan, ma try nga sa bakasyon.


Ang haba na nito. Well, I just wanted to write how/what I'm going through now. Baka sakaling may isang mommy na makabasa nito and makatulong. I have learned so much from reading other blogs and forums. Minsan kasi yung mga lactation websites, pare parehas ang nakasulat. Mas maganda at nakakatulong yung sharing ng mga mommies. Oh and if any daddy reads my blog, you'll be able to help your wifey.


Happy Breastfeeding!


Hubby snapped this photo early morning just after Aeden finished feeding (batchoy ko!)


My Third Eye

Malakas talaga ang "intuition" ko.  Sabi nga ng kaibigan ko, may third eye daw ako.
Nung college ako nung nag bye bye na kami ng aking first BF, alam na alam ko kung masasalubong ko siya sa Session Road.
Nakakaramdam ako ng kakaiba at bongga, yun na nga siya, malayo palang kita ko na.
Nakakatuwa kaya lang minsan, kasama na niya yung babaeng mega kung maglipstick hahahah (sour-ness pa?)


Nakakakita/nakakaramdam din ako ng mga MULTO!
Oo nung nasa Sagada kami ng HS barkada ko.
Takot sila lahat tumabi sakin kasi bigla akong may nakikitang kung ano ano.
But I have "closed" that eye na.
Shooo na lahat ng mga multo, di ko kayo type ano.


Dahil sa kinakarir ko ang pagpa-pump ng gatas ni Aeden kahit na nagtatrabaho na ako, ayan gumana na naman!
Ayaw ko na kasi gawin ang project ko sa TOILET!!!
Kasi kahit kegaganda at ketataas ng mga skirt at heels ng mga nasa admin, ambabaho ng mga poopoo nila.
Yes, minsan nasusuka na ako. Bakit kasi kelangan pa nilang gawin yun sa office? Pag gising kasi dapat dumumi na! Sa bahay….
Walang breeding ang mga insektong to!


So mega hanap ako ng secluded corner. Walang iba kundi ang helium room na nasa tapat lang ng mesa ko.
OK nagdala ako ng wall paper para masaraduhan ko ang salamin sa pinto.
Hinahanap ko yung Engineer in-charge para naman makapag paalam.
At ang aga namang pumasok ng clean room.


Kaya sige, kinabit ko na ang papel.
Naku oras na ng project, wala pa siya.
So, dapat stick to schedule, kaya pumasok nako at naglock.
Pawisan ako kasi normally wala naman sila sa office, lagi sa production.
Bakit today, rinig ko silang lahat sa labas? Naku laking takot ko na may kailangan sila sa room at pumasok.
Huwag naman pleaaaase...pero feeling ko talaga mangyayari eh.

Midway of my project…the door knob clicks!


SHET! di ako nagmumura sa totoong buhay.
So naghuhulaan sila sa labas kung sino ang nasa loob at bakit nakalock, binaba ko ang shirt ko at lumabas.
"Sorry, I'm using the room." I felt my blood rush to my cheeks. Gawang Baguio girl nga ako, rosy cheeks.
Pati sila nahiya sa pangyayari. 6 MALE engineers!!!! Discovered my innovative project hahahaha.
Bumalik ako sa loob para ituloy, intsikan sila ng instikan, hagikhik ng hagikhik. Nahiya tuloy ang milk lumabas :-(


Naku Aeden, pag laki mo ikukuwento ko to sa iyo.
Gusto ko na matunaw on the spot.


Well, gusto ko paring ituloy ito. Pero dahil sa stress/pagod, kulang na ang na-eexpress ko.
I could do 7 ounce on one side dati pero ngayon 2 ounce nalang from 2 sides pa.
Aeden needs 3 ounces every 3 hours.
I've been taking Malunggay capsules but has no effect. 2 capsules every morning.
Now I read a study at the Ospital ng Maynila that they gave 2 tablets 3X a day to increase breastmilk.
Haaay….kelangan pala nilalaklak ang malunggay. Masubukan nga.
At simula sa Lunes, di na muna ako magmamadaling umuwi ng tanghali.
Pahinga muna si Mommy.


holiday mood

57 days nalang, Pasko na
Dec 17 last day of work dahil 2 weeks shutdown na naman
Nov. 5 and 17 walang pasok dahil public holiday
Next week on leave si bossing
Friday na!

Wow ang sarap isipin ang lahat ng ito, holiday mood.
Sana sunod sunod silang mangyari, yung as in everyday.

Pero bago mangyari ang lahat ng yan, kelangan ko parin tapusin ang mga nasa listahan ko.
Ang dami...gawin ko na nga para mabawasan na!

di ko na ata to kaya

akala ko ikaw ay akin

totoo sa aking paningin
ngunit ng ika'y yakapin

bakit bako kumakanta?
dapat nagsusulat ako.


di ko na ata to kaya.


gising ng 6 am para magpondo ng morning feeds.
takbo sa ladies ng 9:30 am para sa afternoon feeds.
eskapo ng 11:40 para umuwi.
lakad ng 15 minutes sa ilalim ng tirik na araw.


itransfer ang dalang feed sa bottles
i-feed si baby ng kanyang lunch
kainin ang lunch
balik sa opisina


…dapat 12~12:45 lang ang lunch break
latest na dumating ako this week is 1:20
nasa office namin si Director, nakikichika :-)
kitang kita niyang may dala akong bag at payong
KEVS!


pahinga pahinga pahinga
paypay paypay paypay
aba 3:30 na pala?
takbo ulit sa ladies….
wala na, drained na ang mudra ni Aeden!
buti nalang malapit na ang alas sinko.


pag uwi, piliting dumede si baby, left and right
actually gusto ko lang humiga at magpahinga :-(
<>
istorbo pero sweet


maya maya lang maglilinis pako ng mga bote
tapos sterilize them
kelangan pa bantayan si Audrey magpratice ng piano….


balik opisina nako nung lunes
tuesday palang ramdam ko na ang pagod
kagabi sabi na ni Audrey mukha daw akong may sakit.






that is how mothers spell L-O-V-E






ooops di pa tapos


may umiiyak ng malakas, kelangan isayaw/ijogging/kantahan/padedehen hanggang mabilaukan


may umiiyak, matagal ko na daw siya hindi kinakantahan
tabihan ko daw siya sa pagtulog tulad ng dati
hawak kamay daw kami






naku mga anak!


…..salamat at dahil sa inyo alam ko ang aking papel sa mundong ito.


sana magampanan ko ng katanggap tangap sa Kanya na siyang nagpahiram sa inyo sa akin. I love you Audrey and Aeden!








"You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance."


-----Franklin P. Jones


Did I marry the right person?

sabi ko: (via FB)

I'm glad to have said "I do" 6 years ago...may each and every remaining day I spend with you be as blessed and joyous as those we've already shared. I pray that our union give glory to the Lord who has brought us together.

Happy Anniversary Dong! mmmmmwah

sabi niya: (via sms)

Mmmmmmwah Happy Anniversary! I love you so much. Thank you for this beautiful life I'm sharing with you mwah mwah mwah mwah

sabi niya: (via FB - aba himala!)
Happy Anniversary Mahal ko!!! Thank you for this beautiful life we're sharing with our kids and God as our foundation. I'm looking forward to many many more sunshines in our lives... mmmmwah

6 years na kaming kasal ni Dong + 2 years na mag GFBF...tagal na ha...laking pasasalamat ko sa Panginoon nang just a year ago, I surrendered.  Nakakabigla na nagbago ang lahat.  Totoo nga ang nasusulat, THE KEY TO SUCCEEDING IN MARRIAGE/RELATIONSH IP IS NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON; IT'S LEARNING TO LOVE THE PERSON YOU FOUND.

At nung tumigil ako sa kakadakdak at kakakimkim ng mga sama ng loob...nakita ko sa asawa ko ang PRINCE CHARMING na hinahanap ko...waaah ang saya. 

Hindi pala tayo para sa isa't-isa

hindi na, ayoko na.
tatapusin ko nalang ang nalalabing ilang buwan.
hahanap nalang ako ng iba.
akala ko, nasa iyo na lahat ng katangian na hanap ko.
mali ako.

mabagal ka, ma-arte, mapili, although good looking talaga at may status!
marami sana tayong magagawang dalawa.
at saka, magastos ka!

pero may mga mas importante akong aasikasuhin.
wala rin lang akong panahon para sa iyo.

goodbye iPhone....

I've promised myself to get an iPhone.  Well, everyone has it, why shouldn't I?  It was supposed to be my reward.  After all, I saved hard (very very very hard) for our flat.  Now we have it! After all, I've given birth to my boy and my daughter is now 5... I felt I needed to be rewarded.

I was crazy...my reward is actually right in front of my eyes!  The three people who kissed me goodnight last night and will do again later :-)

Random KT

Hinila lang?

I went to my OB yesterday for post partum check.  At the onset of my pregnancy, Doctor already spotted a polyp in my cervix.  It was the cause of my week-long bleeding. I was worried.  I had a polyp during my pregnancy with Audrey.  It was removed via a "delicate" operation, general anesthesia.  After giving birth to Audrey, I went through D&C or raspa to remove another polyp.  Doc finished the check and as I sat down for discussion, he pointed to the container with my polyp.  My eyes grew big.  He has removed it just with tweezers.  I did not even feel it.  So bakit tinakot takot pa ako ng mga OB sa Pinas noon? "You have to choose, we do not have to remove your polyp now, but you'll keep on bleeding and you may loose your baby" was what they told me last time.  "It's not a thing to worry, leave it there.  It may shrink during the course of your pregnancy" that's what was told to me this time.

Kasal?

So kasal na nga ba si Robin at Mariel?  Igorot din ako, so I feel bad na deny to the max ang dalawa although they went through the ritual.  Hurt ako to see Mariel's Lola and Lolo cry...bad ka Mariel! Bastos ka Robin!  Why would they let their elders find out about the wedding through text and TV?  Walang ka-gentleman gentleman naman si 'Tol.  Haaay, love is blind nga naman.

Legally Married in 2004, sa Baguio din :-)

EBM

I'm introducing the bottle to Aeden, minsan choks, minsan di choks. At mega sakit ng "twins" ko.  I read that milk supply is more from 1 am to 5 am.  So siguro palitan ko yung expressing schedule ko from day to night.  Hmmm, di ako masyadong mapressure between work and pumping.  I'm still reading office mail from time to time and my boss has already committed to the world na mag audit ako sa Korea by November.  Masaya sana kasi winter.  Magagamit ko na yung mga na-ukay ukay kong winter clothes.  But I'm not going, no no no.  I'm gonna loose my milk supply and surely, sasakit yung tahi ko.  Do I have the right to not do part of my job because of these reasons?

I'm a milking cow - this is liquid gold

Giving Daddy a chance to feed Aeden
Audrey tries too!

F.O.D.

It's been four weeks of F.O.D. - Feeding On Demand for Baby Aeden.
I am frustrated to have not given birth to my kids the natural way, so I really have to make up by giving them breastmilk.  I am blessed to have no problem on this aspect.  Next to giving my kids the best nutrition, I get to loose weight faster.  Aba, I've lost about 13 kilos now *nice right*?  Pero hindi parin ako payatot...I am hoping to loose another 10 kilos, eh 2 na ang anak ko, baka malosyang na ako at tumingin si fafa sa ibang sexy, magnada at bata!  Am I that desperate? No, but of course, it's my responsibility to still look good.  Wait ka lang GM Diet, susubukan kita one day.

Sa laki ng baby ko, we are all worried that my milk won't be enough for him.  He has very varied feeding pattern.  He can go from every 3, 2, 1 hour and at times every 30 minutes.  He feeds at least 5 minutes to at most 15 minutes.  Just looking at his chubby cheeks makes everything worth it.

This week, I need to start introducing the bottle to him.  I will have to practise expressing my milk.  I remember when we were still at the hospital and Aeden was in Special Care, I had to visit him every 3 hours to feed him.  The lactation consultant advised me to pump milk in case he stays longer in the hospital than me.  So I bought pump (ang saya sa hospital, may mga mommy and baby care shops!). 

First attempt lasted for 1 hour with accompanying pain.  The result :  20 milliliters.
Tinataktak ko pa yung breast ko macatch ko lang ang patak ng gatas.  Did Aeden enjoy the milk? Oo, nilagok ng isang beses, after a few seconds, niluwa lang niya...there goes my paghihirap. 

Dahil nahirapan ako sa pagpump, tuloy ang breastfeeding.  I am really proud of myself though, kasi sa dami ng batang nasa special care, ako lang ang matiyagang nagpapasuso doon.  Imagine, may meningitis na nga yung anak mo, di mo pa pasusuhin!  Well, di ko naman masisi mga nanay, baka they are in pain or for whatever reason they have.

Halos walang tulog yung last 2 nights ko sa hospital dahil sa pag feed kay baby.  So nag second attempt ulit ako sa pumping.  Wow, ang saya naming mag asawa kasi in 20 minutes, naka 40 mL ako...naks!  Pero ganun parin, maraming niluluwa si baby.  Cup feeding lang kasi siya as I did not want him to feed from bottle.  He might get confused and prefer bottle.


My goal is to continue to give breastmilk to my son for AT LEAST 6 months.  Meron akong kawork na naging successful sa pag pump ng milk for her daughter for one year.  Amazed ako sa kuwento niya kasi kung ako cup B, siya cup cake lang pero meron siyang tiyagang ganun!  If everything goes well, sana kahit mixed feed na, mapaabot ko ng isang taon.  Who knows, maging 36-26-36 na ang vital statistics ko by then...wahahaha.  I'm joking myself.

Three is a crowd

It's my wish to spend nights with my husband in our room . . . just the two of us.
Audrey's been sleeping with us since birth, and she's 5 now.
I have thought that having her own bedroom will be my relief.  Not so.

And now that we have Aeden . . . I guess my dream space with my dear husband will still be a family space.

Initially I was sad, but now, seeing them all cuddled up together, it brings smile to my face.  What a joy to be with your loved ones.

Four people in a room is not a crowd!







Giving Birth

The countdown is over sabi nga ni M' Kaye.  8-15-2010 at 8:39 pm, my baby boy was born through emergency Caesarean. 

So ganon pala ang labor pain, ganon pala ang contraction.  Gusto ko lang talaga maranasan ang natural birth.  Kaya ni-ready ko ang sarili ko.  Lahat ng pinagtanungan ko kung ano ba yung labor? ang sagot lang ay yung hindi mai-explain na sakit. Yes, tama nga sila, hindi ko rin ma explain.  Sa mga mild contractions, it's a bit worse than dysmenorrhea (kakadugo naman ng ilong i-spell ito).  Pero yung trulala na labor, ay yun na! unexplainable pain.  In total, 15 hours ako naglabor.  10 hours ko rin pala tiniis...tolerable pa kasi.  Pero yung last 2 hours na medyo every 5 minutes na yung contraction, hay napapasigaw na ako.  So I shouted "I need Epidural! NOW!" At ganun pala pag naka pain killer kana, bilis alis ang sakit.  8 hours lang ang palugit ni Doc sakin maglabor.  Kasi baka bumuka daw ang sugat ko.  He forced my water bag to break to keep the labor in progress. Success naman ako to reach every minute contraction and 8 cm dilation.  However, my baby's head wasn't effacing, in short, nagsusumiksik siya sa mommy niya.  So, they brought me to the Operating Theater at 8 pm...30 minutes later, Baby Dong is out, I heard his loud cries.  Very loud! Then my OB told me, he's big, 4 Kg...ha ha ha buti nalang hindi niyako pinilit mag labor and to push.  

39th week

I've filed for unpaid leave for the coming week as my EDD is on August 19, besides, I have to see my OB again this Monday.  Good thing, my boss approved it.  Good luck nalang sa mga pinag-iwanan ko ng aking trabaho!  Mag eenjoy muna ako in the coming 2 months. 

Maganda sana kung nangnanak ako last Sunday, 8-8-10, or nung Lunes 8-9-10 (Singapore National Day pa sana), or Tuesday 8-10-10.  Pero heto 8-14-10 na at juntish parin ako.  Buti nalang at hindi siya lumabas kahapon, or else, there will be instances na tatapat sa Friday the 13th ang birthday niya.

So I have been praying na sana manganak nako soon.  I'm really excited to see baby and I can't seem to endure more of this BIG thing.  This morning at 8 am while I was still in bed, I felt something break down there.  I stood up fast and run to the toilet.  Mucus tinged with brown and red! Has my water bag broken?  I checked my handy mommy book, it said it was a sign of labor but don't be fooled! It could be weeks or hours before baby will come out.  :-(   :-(  And then I felt cramps...and noticed it came every ten minutes.  It lasted for 2 hours.  That was a sure sign of labor!  I told my mom but not my husband as he would surely panic.  Then the contractions came in intervals of 30 minutes...what? Oh dear, what a crazy feeling this is.  So I still went to the market this morning as if nothing happened.  The last contraction was an hour ago.  Well baby...mommy will wait till you are ready! See you soon.  mmmmwah


August 10 - visited doctor and via ultrasound, estimated weight of baby is 3.5 Kg.
Man he's big!  Can I still do natural birth???


August 11 back to work

August 12 - do I look pregnant from back view?
 In my case, it is true that boys give you sharp tummy while girls are more rounded.

August 13 - OK last day at work...stress! stress! Got to hand over all work items.
Had to work overtime :-(

38th Week

wag madepress pag buntis, papangit ang anak!
so this week I made sure I am not depressed.
Last Monday, Mama and I went to buy some stuff. 
I needed to buy conditioner and lotion, make sure I have enough at baka pumutok ang mga litid ko kakaexplain kay Dong kung ano yung kailangan niyang bilhin pag naubusan ako after manganak.
I extended my afternoon walks.  Instead of going home straight, I went to the neighborhood markets on two afternoons.  Buying some organizers for baby and vegetables for a healthy mommy.
Yesterday afternoon, I went to the grocery with Dong.  It may take a long time again before I can do grocery.  Enjoy akong mag grocery, kasi si Dong naman nagbabayad, at mahilig siya bumili ng marami.  Sarap ng feeling...kasi kuripot nga eko, hindi ko kayang punuin ang cart.

I noticed I slept better dahil pagod.  So wala yung mga sakit sakit na nararamdaman ko.  Therapy talaga ang shopping!

At ginawa ko rin every morning, is to take pictures of my egg! Kay laking egg.
So malelate na ako, nag seset pa ako ng camera.  At araw araw sinusubukan ko kung anong setting.  Walang magandang kuha.  Eto ang rason bakit gusto ko bumili ng bagong camera.  Para mapicture ko ng malinaw si Baby Dong Jr.  Kaso....tsk tsk wa akong datung!

August 3 - di maisentro


August 4 - malayo, malabo, madilim

August 5 - better but not the best...pero kuha ang laki ng egg!

August 6 - agang nagising ni Ate so sinali ko na

Kahit na mga labo labo ang kuha ko....I'm keeping them for remembrance ng pinakamaling stage ko sa pagbubuntis.  Baka ito na ang huli at di na maulit muli. 

I will miss being pregnant!!! 

37th week

Nose so big.
Lips are swollen.
Face is so round.
Warts appear all around.
Hands and feet has water retention.
Leg cramps in the early morning.
Lethargic
Skin darkening.
Heavy at 72.5 Kg!!!!
Feeling Pain. . . pain. . . pain
Everyone reminding you how big you are every moment, betting that tomorrow you will be giving birth.  Asking if you are carrying twins as you look as big like an elephant!

With all of the above...I'm feeling depressed...crying every morning due to bad dreams and for no reason at all.

I'm expected to deliver on August 19, so that would be 3 more weeks from now. Baby is confirmed to have not yet engaged so cannot expect to deliver any earlier as of this moment.

This must be the longest month of my life so far.  I was on scheduled CS delivery for my first baby at 34 weeks so I never reached this difficult times.

This afternoon, I received a gift from my Korean friends...how nice of them to perk me up.



Anyway, soon, very soon, I'll be writing about the new addition.  I still remember the wonderful feeling when I first saw my darling Audrey.  And the two months we spent together was simply great!

Come on Boy, Mommy is so excited to hold you and kiss you!


The Wit of a 5 Year Old

Some lines that my girl has said...amazes me and makes me laugh!


Can I borrow your "daster" when I also get pregnant?

When you are not yet dead (by the time I can reach the stove), can you teach me how to cook?

When I grow up, will you look after my kids so that I can go to work?

I can't understand how your mom became my Lola, then my Daddy's mom is also my Lola!

Will I get married someday? I want to marry a Filipino.  Can I marry Kuya Wacky (her first cousin)?

Mommy, you have such big butt and legs...eeew!

Dear Ate Charo,

taong 2001 nang una kong maranasan ang humiwalay sa piling ng aking mga magulang.
tumira ako sa Sampaloc, Manila ng 6 na buwan para sa review ng board exam.


pagkapasa ay lumayo akong lalo, napunta ako sa Sta. Rosa, Laguna kung saan akoy naging manggawa sa isang pabrika.


Dito sa Sta. Rosa, naranasan kong tumira sa tatlong apartment, hanggang sa lumipat ako sa aking sariling Row House sa Lakeside, Cabuyao, Laguna nung May 2004.


3 buwan lang ako sa pinapagawa ko palang na bahay ay lumipat naman ako sa kabilang village, sa Hong Kong. Sa bahay ng aking asawa.


Nagpabakod, nagpaextend, nagpa-grills, tiles…yun na. Ang saya saya ko naman sa aming munting tahanan. Namimiss ko ang orchid garden ko sa HKV. Kaso, lahat ng orchid ko pinabayaan ng asawa ko nung lumayo ako't nagpunta naman sa Singapore taong 2007.


Sa Singapore, tumira ako sa Ghim Moh, sa Eunos, sa Yishun, sa Sembwang, sa Ang Mo Kio at nitong buwan nga, kasabay ng aming pangalawang annibersaryo ng pagiging PR ng aking pamilya, ay lumipat na kami sa aming sariling bahay, sa AMK parin.  Itong bahay na ito ay uupahan namin sa susunod na 69 years dahil lahat ng bahay dito ay pag aari ng gobyerno.  Masasabi ko narin "amin" ang bahay, basta!


Gulo gulo parin ang aming bahay pero ang aking kalooban ay kalmado na. Hindi na ako guguluhin ng mga ka-board mate at ng mga land lord. Hindi narin ako maghihintay pag may nagugustuhan akong bilhin. Dati kasi laging "pag may bahay na ako" kasi pag umuupa ka lang, at palipat-lipat, ayaw mo ng sobrang daming gamit.

Ngayon ako'y lubos na nagpapasalamat sa iyo Ama, tunay kang matapat! Ang bawat araw ngayon ay mas lalong tumatamis. Papuri sa iyo!

Gumagalang,
Kuripot


"Sampung Taong Palipat-lipat"

RESERVED - II

pinigilan ko nalang maiyak sa awa sa sarili ko at sa precious baby boy ko.
morning I had the encounter with the uncle (see previous post), afternoon was as crazy as well.

dahil uwian na, siksikan ang train.  so I do not expect a free seat but if luck strikes me, someone will be good to offer their seat.  this is just not that afternoon.  two ends of the seat rows are RESERVED.  ironically, yung dalawang seat ay occupied ng mga babae at tulog na tulog parehas...while the middle seats were all occupied also by ladies.  These ladies were all eyeing me (are they wondering why I have such big tummy???) also people standing were all eyes on me...my face was perspiring and my baby was kicking me.  For 15 minutes, nobody was gracious enough to give up their seat for me.  So I turned around to check the other side...the guy who was seated at the reserved seat alighted, I had to rub elbows with another lady trying to grab the seat.  For heaven's sake...I am travelling for 45 minutes.  I really need and DESERVE the RESERVED seat ( wow, same letters in those two words).  Maybe the notice should be revised to RESERVED FOR THE DESERVING. 

This topic on graciousness on trains and buses has never died down.  On forums and on local papers.  Government has revised the notices from small to very large eye catching ones...all to no avail. 

how can people be so rude?

Singapore is a nice place...but the people are not nice! not at all...

God allowing, today will be my last long ride to work.  I hope to be able to sleep in my own home this weekend so the next week, I just need to walk to work.  Yahoo!

RESERVED

jurong east interchange. lahat ng pasahero ng train ay bumababa dahil dulo ng ito ng red line. sa mga babalik sa pinanggalingang destinasyon, maluwag at malaki ang opportunidad para makaupo.




word for the day is RESERVED : adj. - Set aside for the use of a particular person or party






kahit maluwag ang train, diretso ako sa mga reserved seats kasi nga, those are set aside for particular persons…like me! but today, this uncle sat on the reserved seat, there were so many available seats, actually one right beside him. I gave him the stare.






"you want this seat? sit here (pointing at the empty seat beside him)" I raised my eyebrow. "So many empty seat and you want this seat ah?" I softly said "because this is reserved seat, you should not take it" I was still standing in front of him. "Wah so many empty seat and you want this seat! If there are no available seats, I will give it to you but now so many empty seat." He was talking at quite a loud volume. I sat beside him and out of nowhere I kept on pestering him that he should, in the first place, not have seated on the reserved seat . He was pissed off and stood up "Nah, here you sit, you want? I give you!" He continued to grumble loudly till the next station then he alighted.






Ang topak ko naman kasi at binuwisit ko si Uncle. Malamang ay kagigising lang niya, nasira ang araw niya sa akin. Ang topak naman kasi niya at magdahilan pa siya na umupo ako sa ibang upuan. Sana nagslide nalang siya sa next seat at pinaupo niya ako.






what a day!


Evicted



We were evicted from our rental flat 2 pm yesterday.
We are temporarily living with my sister in-law.

napaka bait ni Lord, tinaon niyang nasa Pinas ang pamilya ng hipag ko so meron kaming tutuluyan.

I know in the Lord's time, matatapos na ang ginagawa sa aming flat.  At makakalipat narin kami.

I have to commute for more than an hour, eh hindi ko na-adjust ang body clock ko. So 1 hour late din ako sa work today...he he he

I'm so burned out...until I sleep in my newly painted room with all the things placed in their own place, I guess I can't feel rested however long I sleep.  I'm sorry baby boy, but mommy cannot control her emotions right now.

My Princess is excited to paint her room Sassy Pink!

Although small, a simple tile work should do the trick to our W.C.s

Audrey's Summer

I'm so glad my daughter had a blast this summer.  She prefers to stay in Baguio daw than in Pampanga kasi malamig.  Kaiba sa normal na ugali niyang tahimik, naging sobrang ingay siya with her cousins Hannah and Aerin.  Laro maghapon.  Pagkadating niya dito sa SG, nagsisigaw pa siya, and ang kulit...Sana makahanap kami ng friend ni Odie dito sa SG, para tuluyan nang mawala yung pagiging anti-social niya.

Pictures with her father side...magkakahawig sila.



Bakasyong kay saya!


Para mag-end ng masaya ang blog ko, unahin ko na yung mga hindi magandang nangyari sa pagbabalik-baguio ko.

1.)  a week before ako umuwi, nawala ang aso kong si Mushu.  8 years old na yung aso ko.  Napakaloyal niya sa aking pamilya.  Pinulutan ba siya?  Halos mapaiyak ako sa balitang ito.
2.)  2x akong muntik nang madukutan.  Nung unang araw na lumabas ako, at nung last minute shopping ko.  Buti wala namang nakuha.  Ang masama, na-slice ang Gucci bag ko...haaay buhay naman.
3.)  Nakakahiya mang Pizza, Ice Cream at Cake lang ang nailibre ko sa pamilya ko, naubos ang 35K ko.  Oo konti lang talaga ang budget ko.  Mayayaman na ata ang mga Pinoy ngayon, libo libo na ang ginagastos.  Sa isang linggo, naramdaman ko kung gaano kahirap mamuhay sa Pinas. 

Nabuong muli ang aking pamilya.  Well, kaming 5 magkakapatid ay nagsamasamang muli. Last reunion namin ay noong 2005 pa. Wala pang isang taon si Audrey (kaya tabatching pa ako).  Ngayon naman, tabatching parin kasi nga 28 weeks naman ang pinag bubuntis ko.  Haay, pero kitang tumanda na kaming magkakapatid.  At sa pagkakataong ito, hindi namin kasama ang kapatid naming lalaki.  Wala sa ayos ang kanyang buhay ngayon, pero sana alam niyang narito lang kami kung sakaling kailanganin niya kami.

Nakakatuwa (tawa) ang mga pinagkuwentuhan naming magkakapatid.  Ang tatay namin na tumatanda na, at ang mga kamag-anak naming panay ang hingi ng tulong, di naman tinutulungan ang mga sarili.  Walang kamatayang kuwento.... Buti nalang at advanced na ang technology,  parang hindi naman masyadong matagal yung 5 years na hindi kami nagsama-sama.  Merong tawag, text, e-mail, facebook at siyempre ang mga padala :-)  At nagkikita kita rin kami in person, sa mga dalaw.  Pero ngayon lang uli yung 5 talaga kami.

Wala akong balat sa puwet, pero simula ng dumating ako, araw araw na nag uulan. Wala naman akong balak mamasyal, masaya na ako na nasa piling ng mga kapatid ko.  Buti nalang buntis ako, kundi lalabas ang pagkatamad at kuripot ko! Aba balikbayan, lagi lang sa bahay?!  Eh sa ganda naman ng bahay ng ate ko, para na akong nasa hotel.  Mas nabobore ako pag lumalabas.  Puro tao at dumi lang nakikita ko.


Isa pang nakakatuwa ang pamangkin kong si Isa. Dalaga na talaga siya.  Sabi ko siya na ang bunso namin. College na siya, ilang taon nalang ay magkakatrabaho na siya.  Hehe siya naman ang manlilibre sa akin.  Yes!
At ang mga bata, nakakatuwa sila. Sana ay maging close din silang magpipinsan sa pag laki nila. 


Ganon kabilis ang 11 days.  Pero kahit 11 days lang taon taon ay lubos na kasiyahan naman ang baon ko pagbalik dito sa Singapore. 

Kasalukuyang lumilipad ang eroplano sakay ang asawa ko.  Uuwi rin siya para sa reunion nilang magkakapatid.  Sana ay maging masaya at ligtas ang kanilang muling pagkikita.

President Noynoy, sana nga by choice nalang ang pangingibang bansa ng mga Pilipino at hindi necessity.  Kasi mahirap panatiliing buo ang isang pamilya kung pinaglalayo naman ang bawat isa.