A closer look on our baby

Finally we went for the 4D!

A little too late now as I am 35.5 weeks, yes a few days short of my 9th month. Hence if I haven't mentioned before expected date of delivery (EDD) is July 7, 2007. We didn't know it's advisable to go for 4D between 20-28 weeks of the pregnancy while there's plenty of room to move around for the baby giving the gyne more freedom to check the baby's health and vital signs inside mommy's womb. What we knew was that the 4D will give such accurate images so the closer to full term the better so we would know if the organs are complete etc. and it really drove us to go for it since our OB just shrugged of the idea of checking out the baby's gender. Hmp!Super kainis. Enough of the backgrounder...here's a closer look to our baby girl. =)



Soooo cute to see such a calm and peaceful image inside me! It builds up more excitement for me and Ryan. Now we can call the baby by her name / nickname. =)At first she had her hand on her face but later on she removed it making us see her face better. Chubby daw sabi ng doctor...naku bigla akong kinabahan but they later re-assured me that she is estimatedly 2.5-3 kg...I hope that's good. More good news was the baby was healthy as far as the test could check - heart, brain, liver, lungs, spine, my placenta, the amount of water. So far it's all up to me enduring the upcoming birthing pains. Woohoo! Anyway I'm sure it will all be worth it. =)

I immediately called mama to tell her the good news muntik na ma-heart attack si mama kse kala nya nanganak na ako...hahaha!Oo nga naman sabihin ko ba kseng.. "ma!it's a baby girl!!"

Star struck!

Tonight was the farewell dinner party for our colleague Pugaz. I voted we go for Chili's para makakain naman ako at di naman Indian food na naman...kawawa naman si baby.

The elevator from the carpark was a little cramped and there were 2 people inside. The girl looked familiar but I can't name her in my mind. Chili's was at the ground floor and I know that very well. We were chatting with the 2 ladies inside the lift talking how cramped it was there etc. Then our floor came the other woman suddenly blurted “it's not everyday you get to share lift with MICHELLE YEOH”. I was out of the elevator already waiting for my colleagues to step out..suddenly walang kumikilos and I digested na it was really Michelle Yeoh with us. Sobrang tagal ng processing ko...I was thinking hey this is our floor and I want a picture with Michelle, gosh why did I hesitate bringing our digi cam this morning, wait autograph n lng kaya..as in all that in a few seconds and a lady outside the lift was waiting for us to get off a little pissed we were holding up the lift. Then I don't know who said "Chili's is at 3rd floor" I nodded and agreed.."yes I think it's at the 3rd floor" and entered the lift again.

Azlina was so fast with her phone she was beside Michelle so she took a snap with her. Michelle's companion said..I'm her agent and I will charge you RM10 each for each picture, jokingly. She said okay lets step out and do it outside. Oh my gosh! We were all raving here at this point so excited!!!

Michelle was chatting with us..asking so were did you all come from or something and I said "We're from the Phils." (referring to me & Kim), "one is a local Malaysian and 2 of them are from India" Kim continued. Michelle said "Wow and you're all going out together?" we replied "Yes we all work together and we're going out for dinner".

Azlina again brought out her phone and I brought out my XDA (really hating that it's so low res and again regretting why I left the digi cam today). Michelle even asked me so when are you due? She was so nice, simple and humble. Nothing compared to Mikee Cojuanco nung nakasabay ko sya sa elevator ng DOLE.

Sobra kmeng star struck lahat...I mean it's not everyday that you see an international actress isn't it?

34 Weeks and counting

from my babycenter.com subscription:

Hello, Rhodora!

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds and is probably almost 18 inches long from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet. Her central nervous system is still maturing, but her lungs are well developed now. That's great news in case she decides to come early. If you've been nervous about going into preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that 99 percent of babies this age can survive outside the womb — and most have no major long-term problems related to prematurity.

Yey!We are sooo excited. But I hope pag nandito na lng si mama coz I want to give birth when she is here so she can help me & Ryan out. Last Monday since Ryan & I went for a lunch outside I felt the baby go down while walking back to the office. A little painful like I'm going to have my period already..so far ok pa naman. Baby's still in. =) Baka excited lng din kse almost everything is set.

The story of the elusive play pen

We were always putting off the shopping day for baby items but surely when we are at a mall we never fail to visit 2-3 baby shops. We wanted to make sure we buy only the essentials knowing how excited we get for things like this. An example was our wedding -- Ryan and I will like different things so we end up having both making it more expensive for us.

Items that we see are mostly not for unisex most of it are gender biased and it's another dilemma to spend for something we are unsure of. Months ago we came across this playpen that can be initially used as a crib. It's made by Graco and they call it Pack & Play. Travel practical as well so we can easily shuttle from room to room and even easily bring to the Phils if we go home. It was perfect! We wanted something practical and easy to pack for whatever plans we will have in the future. This is the second big item we put on the list. First one was the Chicco stroller we found in the Phils which we fervently looked for here in MY as well.

When we finally decided to buy it, it was on sale!Yey! Unfortunately we didn't like the color stock they have. One store promised that they will reserve us from the suppplier itself it was a blue & green one so even if the baby was a boy or a girl it would still be okay. Not to mention the vibrant colors fit for babies. So okay na. The next day they informed us na wala na sa supplier ang color na yun. So we waited for another weekend to go to a different mall to check out the same item. Gulay! They also have it in dark brown & light brown color na sobrang dull at mahirap ternuhan ng colorful beddings and mobile. Kinareer namin lahat ng baby shops and always end up with the same color. Even the sales ladies are aware that this color is a slow seller unlike other stocks they previously have.

We let go of the sale and decided to just buy near my labor date or worst case scenario pag nanganak na tlga ako. Hehehe. Anyway we were able to buy this mattress and baby bath tub. So those are baby's first items to be bought.

Weeks passed and we never missed a single mall day without looking for differently colored playpen. Finally Saturday we entered this shop and asked for the same thing..check their other store for the stock. Bingo! The shop has it from another branch. Promise gusto na naming bayaran but they were so willing just to have it delivered there. They were saying it will take two weeks for the transfer. I was okay with it but an excited daddy beside me was not...Gusto nya mabilisan kse matagal na tlga nya pinapangarap i-setup. Still at least it's the color that we want at hindi sya display lng. They did not require for a downpayment and said they will just contact me if it's in their store na. Actually gusto na ni Ryan kareerin at aralin ng pagpunta sa branch na pagkukunan.

Anyway I thought that was the end of the story for the playpen. Ngunit!Subalit!Datapwat...nag-mall ulit kme nung Sunday to buy for baby clothes. Kahit na sa SM na ako nagpapabili kay mama dahil di hamak na mas mura sa Pinas eh pang-araw araw lng naman ni baby. Kaso parang ayokong ma-miss ang shopping experience so I insisted on buying a few items myself. After shopping for the clothes we had lunch at the adjoining mall and found out there were so many baby stores there!!!Sobrang nakakalaway...as a habit we checked out the playpen and guess what?!! They have a stock although di sya blue & green as we wanted it was still better than that dark & light brown. It was moss green and had Winnie the Pooh character design. Graco pa din so ok pa din sa quality and best of all mas mura!!!Way cheaper than the discount during the sale. End of the story: satistifed and excited mommy & daddy went home with the playpen + plenty of free gifts (dahil sa promo nila).

Epilogue: This morning in my mobile...krinnnggg!
Dowa:Hello?
Girl on the line: Hi this is from (name of the store) regarding the Graco play pen you order.
Dowa: Yes I was about to call you about that.
Girl on the line: Well we have it delivered here already. So you can purchase it anytime.
Dowa: Oh noh!Yesterday we saw the same item on the other mall and we immediately bought it.
Buti na lng ha mabait sila. Banned na kme sa lahat ng stores nila! hehehe! Buti di ako member sa store na yun.

Here it is!

False alarm

In fairness to me alam ko na false alarm pa naman...hahaha!

Here goes my story last Tuesday...I was home alone. To think may guest of honor kme..Rene & his wife pero wala pa sila nasa galaan. Si Florence 8:30 PM - 8:30 AM ang duty..si Ryan 3:00 PM - 12:00 AM ang duty. Napakasaklap..and since Ryan was so busy in the office I told him to drop me off the nearby mall so I can just grab a taxi and he can go back.

After having dinner by myself (sniff,sniff) instead of immediately washing the dishes I watched TV first. Humiga sa sofa and voila few mins after I had difficulty breathing and my tummy was sooooooo stiff. Oh noh! I didn't know how contractions felt. It was 9:20 PM so I said ok I will wait for this to go away. So umupo ako tried breathing normally but the stiffness won't go away. If it goes away, only for a few minutes then the pain and stiffness are there again. By 9:35 I texted Ryan na..Ang saya ubos na din ang load ko to make a call.."PLS CALL NOW" 2 mins passed he hasn't called I sent the same msg to Florence. In a few minutes Florence called. I tried to be as calm as possible knowing how panicked Florence can get..."Lence,I don't know the feeling but since I'm alone if ever this is it at manganganak na ako I don't want to be alone. Pwede pong pakitawagan sa taas and call Arnold & Boyet?Kakaiba kse feeling ko parang manganganak na ako or what di ko maintindihan." Syempre Florence did so without hesitation and in a few more minutes the guys were here (they are living in the high rise tower within our phase and I specifically chose them since sila ung may babies na female neighbors are all single).

They came with Marrix and they were all so worried. Since nakaka-daldal ever pa ako mukhang ok pa tlga..pero this is the longest and most painful "contractions" (if that's what it was) I ever felt. Ryan called pala before they came I didn't want to bother him coz I honestly don't feel the baby coming out yet..I just don't want to be alone just in case I feel something different or I should be rushed to the hospital. Anyway even if they were there Ryan decided to leave his post and go home. In a matter of 15 mins when he arrived I felt normal again...Arnold, Boyet & Marrix left. Ryan decided to stay even if he left his laptop on in the office etc. Hmmm...sabi ni Ryan sa baby "hmmm namiss nyo lang ata ako ni mommy eh kse di ko kayo hinatid pauwi"...hehehe. All the commotion for nothing but I'm comforted by the fact that we're not completely alone here even in a foreign land. Thanks to our helpful friends who were all so prompt in attending to my call for help. Kahit we were all so clueless.

Same night Arnold was chatting with his wife and his wife told him all that I'll be feeling etc. The next day we were all laughing about it. Although I can still tell with their text messages that they were all so concerned. =)

Pregnancy journals

*Miscarriage scare*

What I used to read on the posts of fellow expectant moms in my e-group about losing their baby, almost came so real to me. Sunday after mass, Ryan and I decided to do some grocery. While he checked out some stuff from the diving shop for our weekend trip with the recruitment team I went to the restroom to pee. Before I stood up I noticed blood. Immediately I searched for Ryan praying that everything will be just fine and talking to my baby to hold on and be strong.

When we reached the hospital, they immediately took me in via emergency room and while waiting for the doctor I really can't help but cry. I know I'm supposed to relax but suddenly it dawned on me that all the stress and the physical strain of working for the weekend jobfair could have caused this. I feel so scared that I am putting our baby's life in the line because of my job. I could tell that Ryan was trying to hold his control being worried for me and the baby and being so sweet not to scold me even if he told me to stay at home & rest than work that Saturday. I was so impressed on how Ryan tried to hold up and be strong for me so that I will stop worrying...but I can tell in his eyes that he was too.

As per my OB's orders I was admitted. Surprisingly at the ER here they do not do a lot of test compared with ER in the Phil - well of course it has it's pros & cons.
I told Ryan to just get a ward since my insurance does not cover any pregnancy related illness and we do not know how much this hospitalization will cost us. I sent an SMS to my boss telling him about my situation. Kinabahan tuloy sya and naguilty kse alam nyang pinagtrabaho nya ako ng weekend. In fairness the ward here is so nice wala lng tv pero parang hotel ha. I had this impression kse of wards in the Philippines and good thing it was not even a fraction of that. All four beds were empty so I had the entire ward by myself which was actually a good thing since companions of the patients are not allowed to stay there overnight. The following day if we didn't follow it up due to the carelessness of my doctor's assistant they haven't done any tests to me yet. Promise ha all this waiting is causing me so much anxiety. Ryan & I were suspecting it had nothing to do with the baby but more on my urine. This was confirmed after they did the test. My doctor allowed me to go home but under strict orders that I should rest and take it easy.

It was indeed a big sigh of relief for us after the ultrasound and all that the baby was fine. Although my bleeding from the urinary tract had to be treated somehow. After this I told myself I will take care of myself more...mahirap na I don't want to lose our first baby and it's not as simple. Nine months of bearing a child in the womb is really a task that even if you have really been with the baby physically I mean cuddle and take care of him the attachment is there. As I always expected and thought of there should be a certain preparedness in pregnancy and parenthood. Kaya nga it took us a while before we got into it and no matter how prepared you are, regardless of the books you read, the research you've done (not to emphasize that I'm mastering Human Development and have more than enough materials on all aspects of human development) you can't always have the answer to every situation.

*Antenatal classes*

For this month (April) we enrolled at the hospital's antenatal classes. Ryan & I are often clueless on a lot of things and it will be a good help to hear it from the experts at the same time get a feel of what their practices are here.

It was very educational!Scary and...scary..hehehe! Especially for me who has very low tolerance of pain. I mean they explained what to expect and even showed us the needle for the epidural. While listening to the explanations sino bang di matatakot noh!

I kept on comparing myself to the other pregnant women in the class and boy are their tummies bulging!I am so glad Ryan joined me in these classes because he's now so educated about giving birth and all. Especially the possibility that daddies faint during the labor or panic etc.

We so love this hospital so far they only encourage breastfeeding nothing else and the nurses assigned in the station are so trained for that. Plus since mommy will be so tired after the delivery they will teach daddy how to bathe and take care of the baby. Awww...that's so sweet (and brilliant, para may enough rest si mommy)!!Although Ryan is scared in holding a vulnerable baby I'm sure he'll do just fine. =)

*Car for convenience(?)*

Since the cost of cars & petrol (hahaha, sanay na tlga ako sa Malaysian terms) is cheap we have been planning for so long to buy our own. Rental is also an option pero computing it mas lalabas na mahal. Unfortunately if you're an expat (naks!) mas costly & we have to find a guarantor etc. Taking taxi cabs are draining us I mean I take a cab going home for me was tolerable on our budget but with Ryan's crazy schedule his only option going home is also to take a cab with a 50% mark up kse past 12 midnight na. Not to mention with the baby it's not so ideal for us to travel around in public transpo. Good thing Chris one of the senior Pinoys here in MY will move back to the Phils he's actually selling his car but it's too small for us. Just the car seat of the Chicco stroller we are checking out will occupy the space in the car and we cannot do anymore grocery once the baby is here. So we told him if he likes pa-rent n muna nya sa amin. He agreed naman so hatid sundo na ako ni Ryan and maybe after I give birth if our extra money will still allow it saka na kme kukuha ng car na fit tlga for us. Nakakaloka pala mag-second hand! Walang pang one month ang dami nang sakit ng kotse na tyumempo pa sa amin. Another thought masarap palang may driver kse tinuturuan ako ni Ryan magdrive tamad na tamad ako..kahit tuloy wala pa sya tulog from night shift hatid sundo pa din nya ako...hehehee.bad!Dinadahilan ko ang hirap mag-drive kse buntis ako...hahaha!(sana saka n nya mabasa to)

*Baby nightmares*

Hala!I had a baby nightmare last week (May) as in we have two baby girls na who are so naughty and hyperactive hindi masaway. When I woke up Ryan had it from me. Pano ba naman everytime Ryan pictures our baby super daming naughty side na kinekwento nya at susuportahan. Cute daw kse! Aba aba aba!!

*Shy baby*

Since I got hospitalized on my 6th month every doctor's visit was something we look forward to because we so want to know the baby's gender already. I know it's safer and more practical to stick to neutral colors & items for the baby but I can't help it the gender specific items are too cute to pass on. I sooooooooo wanted to shop na!I have benn holding back for months since I got pregnant. Same as how I held back not buying maternity clothes since none of it fit me anyway.

Anyway for the 6th month baby was facing mommy and only the buttocks were showing. 7th month check up the doctor had difficulty figuring it out since it wasn't such an ideal position. 8th month, the most recent one baby was covering his/her genitals with his/her two legs. Sorry mommy & daddy it will be a surprise. Anyway Florence is more frustrated than us everytime we go home from a checkup with no news what the baby's gender is. Hahaha! Affected tlga si Florence. Anyway sabi ni Ryan paglabas ni baby may suot ng diaper sa sobrang pagkamahiyain. Super suspense tlga ang gender nya ha. Pinagiisipan ko pa if we will go for the 4D ang mahal kse ang dami ko nang mabibili na baby items. But it seems like daddy really wants to go for it..every checkup dala nya ang digicam at vinevideo nya ang ultrasound. Hehehe!

*Mommy's little kickboxer*

Since my figure is so small (I was sooo worried I will blow up tlga when I get pregnant) Since 5-6 mos yata baby's movement inside me is so strong already. But now that the baby is bigger and stronger aba parang kickboxer in the making sa likot and minsan ang sakit ha. Especially when the baby stays long near my rib cage..ouch!Kahit anong pakiusap ni mommy ayaw mag-move pag si daddy ang humawak at kumausap aba sumusunod naman. Hmmm...kaya kinakabahan ako sa mag-ama eh. Ang dami na kseng conniving plans ni Ryan for the kids mischief eh. (*my eyes rolling here).

Here's some of my preggy pictures:

*** to follow after editing it

Love letter from my B.F.

Mar 30, '07 6:12 AM
for users dowadee and auiedioses

how are you? how's ur tummy? how's dear ryan... I hope its so okay wid you I posted your letters for me. It made me miss you a lot more. It made me even notice that GOD has put us together though we are really opposites. You can sing I can dance. Ur'e good in english, id rather have math! ur the kind of girl who doesn't easily trust a guy, while Im a person who easily gives in in their "sugar-coated" "to good to be true" statements. I take good care of my stuffs while you lost a lot of pagers...u r tall, i am short. I am gifted but you are not (sorry but its the truth...you know which is the "gifted" part that i am referring...) hahahaha I come on time and you are always late.... both of us are miss friendship pero mas matindi ka kasi we always get stranded because of your friends and choovas!

thinking how would it be if we are still both in phils... u having ryan and being preggy while im busy preparing for my wedding =)

I thank God for what he has given us... as what everybody says... all of us may experience struggles in life but i'm so overjoyed and blessed for having you as my best frend EVER!

we maybe so miles away but always remember no one can ever replace the kind of friendship that we shared.

ilove u and take care of urself!!!

God bless........

cnu pa... ako pa din !
weewai



When I read Auie's heartwarming letter I was so moved that I had tears welling up in my eyes. Indeed when you look back in life there's no greater joy than to see how far you've gone and that you aged with TRUE friends if not a lot at least a few. Who knows and loves you inside out. All of a sudden past mistakes, previous heartaches, vanishes with tomorrow's promise. I am so thankful to God for having Auie as my best friend and I can't thank God enough for the continuous shower of blessings Ryan and I are receiving now. Life is still not a bed of roses but my life has surely turned around from the chaotic and somehow miserable life I grew up in.

Reminiscing Holy Week

Commemorating Holy Week is not as difficult as celebrating Christmas here since there are no decors required for that, except for the fact that there are no holidays for Catholics to do what we have practised for many years every Holy Week. Strictly observed pa naman ito sa family namin and my lolo would always scold us if we do anything fun (like hum a tune, listen to the radio or watch tv, play, etc) especially on Holy Friday. May mga family traditions din kme like going to mass, attending processions in Biñan, pasyon sa neighbors, way of the cross with family / friends and Easter egg hunt on Sundays until we grew old for that and lola passed away.

Since Ryan & I got married (2004) we have been visiting churches on Holy Thursdays and I would prepare him tacos for merienda after we got back. We would do the station of the cross at every church. Minsan nga kinareer pa naming lakarin ang mga simbahan sa Intramuros grabe pala ang San Agustin super jam packed. Tapos nag-jejeep jeep lng kme. Last year we did not go to a lot of churches but we went to nearby churches lng to pray. I have this adoration prayer that we prayed for an hour in Sacred Heart but those two years we never failed to visit Guadalupe Church where we got married. One of the best adoration altars ever. It's so solemn and it feels even more special for us to pray there.

May blooper pa kmeng dalawa nung 1st year namin to do the Bisita Iglesia, a lot of people often rave about how beautiful the set up of Sta. Ana (Our Lady of the Abandoned Church) is but when we went there it was so disappointing kse walang kaayos ayos at all. It was soooo dull that we just opted to pray the station of the cross outside. Aparently nasa pocket garden pala nila ang altar and the following year (after we were corrected by everybody we know who regularly visits this church) it was indeed so beautiful in the garden and so solemn there.

Holy week as I have learned to surpass even the traditions is really a holy week for me. Especially now that I feel I have to reflect on my wrong doings and be thankful of the countless blessings we are continously receiving. I want to be deserving of His grace especially now that He has given us so much than what we were praying for. Even if I am away from the Philippines now I want to take a day off to pray despite missing all the Holy Week traditions. Sayang walang 7th Heaven marathon dito...