2nd Checkup

On July 21, 2009 I had my second prenatal checkup and I'm relieved to know that my baby's ok. It has evidently grown a lot bigger since the last time I saw it. But what's so amazing is that we heard its heartbeat for the very first time and we also got to see his hands and feet. Our baby truly is a wonderchild. We can't wait to meet him/her...

No Rest for the Bride to Be

Wow.

As in WOW.

I can't explain the series of fortunate and unfortunate events that had been going on since.. well, we got engaged! Well for one, I got myself a pretty serious migraine yesterday which lasted for more than 12 hours. I actually thought it will never go away. I was too scared to take any medication at first because now that I'm pregnant I'm really careful about what I take in and if it's possible, I wouldn't take any medication at all. So I tried other ways to try to alleviate the pain, like rubbing Katinko on my forehead (as advised by my mom-in-law). My loving husband-to-be-in-a-matter-of-two-weeks was kind enough to do it for me so all I had to do was just lie on the couch as he massaged my forehead lovingly.

Love stayed by my side the whole time I was feeling sick. I was in so much pain that I couldn't keep my eyes open for too long but everytime I opened them and I saw him staring at me with his beautiful eyes, it felt like I was being healed each time.

But it got to the point that I couldn't stand the pain anymore so I took Paracetamol which I learned, to my relief, is safe for unborn babies in all stages of pregnancy.

I don't know if it was lack of sleep or the unpredictable weather or all the errands that I'm running that caused the recent migraine attack. I've been so busy lately. The pieces of the wedding are all coming together at a slow but steady pace. We're halfway done with the preparations. This morning Jai and I attended our last scheduled seminar which lasted for half a day, this afternoon we picked up our bridesmaids' and secondary sponsors' gowns and distributed them to the girls, and tomorrow we're going to Manila to buy his "dream wedding shoes". He's very excited about it.

I was supposed to meet my doctor yesterday but unfortunately she already left the clinic before we even got there. I felt really disappointed because I thought I was gonna see my baby for the second time. The secretary said we could come back tomorrow which is Monday but because we need to be somewhere tomorrow we need to hold off the check-up for another day. SAD. I'm really concerned about the welfare of my baby because let me tell you the absolute truth: IT'S NOT EASY TO PREPARE FOR A WEDDING. The length of time that you prepare for the wedding doesn't matter. You can prepare a year ahead but I'm telling you, IT'S STILL DIFFICULT. It's a package deal of STRESS AND DISTRESS so it's really taking a toll on my body. Some brides may let other people make the wedding decisions for them but NOT ME, it's my wedding so it's just right that I get to say what I want and work for it. Anyway, I'll be coming back to see my doctor on Tuesday. I can't wait to get these pregnancy worries off my chest.

I was supposed to name this entry Pregnancy Diaries 3, but since I really don't have any new pregnancy news, what's the point?

Maybe in 2 or 3 days? :)

Three Updates

Two days of bed rest are over. I left home early this morning to run a few errands. Here's a few updates about me:

1. My sexy love Jai and I finally bought some sample materials for our personally made, hand crafted wedding invitations. Maybe tomorrow morning we'll start working on a few.

2. My youngest sister will be performing tomorrow at the SM City Batangas Event Center for the Search for the New Hannah Montana Rock Sensation. Today I bought her a complete set of fancy accessories to complete her Hannah Montana look--and for a really good bargain! Well that's because frankly, we don't really care that much about how she looks tomorrow. My youngest sister Zshalia has been declared champion in countless singing competitions in school so we're pretty positive about her impressing the judges tomorrow with her golden voice. I'm really proud of my little sister because she has the initiative to join such contest which involves a bigger audience and demands a higher performance level. I also admire how she's so confident whenever she's onstage. And since she registered for the contest she's been practicing her song and routine. Such dedication. And you know what, win or lose, she's still #1 to us. Zshalia, my friends, is just ten years old.

3. And now the sad part... My only living grandfather, lolo Victor, who just celebrated 50 years of marriage with my lola Rosa is in the ICU again. The other day my lola Rosa was just discharged from the hospital and just a day after that, unfortunately it was my lolo's turn to be confined. Jai and I visited him today and seeing him like that broke my heart. I just kept the tears from falling. He's been admitted to the same ICU many times before and now my lolo has tubes sticking out of his nose and mouth and he's hooked to different machines again. He looks so tired and he's having a hard time dealing with his endotracheal tube. He's still sedated but I'm glad he could respond to me when I talk to him by nodding or opening his eyes weakly. At one point he even pointed at his endotracheal tube, maybe asking me what it was for or when they would take it out, but I just said that they can't take it out yet because his breathing needs to stabilize first. Jai could only stand behind me and hold me and watch me stroke my grandfather's hand and back. It was really sad to see him like that, and knowing he's still in that condition makes my heart sink every time I remember. Right now I'm asking you to pray for my grandfather, Lolo Victor, because he needs to get well. He's suffering... and as his eldest grandchild I'm asking you to pray with me, that my lolo will be given the strength of body, mind, and spirit to surpass what he is going through.

Cake

An exchange of text messages:

ME: Len, pwede sakin na lang ung natitirang dulce de leche cake?

LEN: Ok. Para yun sa baby, hindi para sayo. Hahaha

ME: Yay lols

THANKS KAPATID! It's one of my most favorite cakes in the world!

The Pregnant Diaries 2

I can't take my mind off the fact that I'm a mother in the making. Every waking moment I say to myself, I'm a mom. I'm really a mom! Hindi kami baog! Hahaha. Every day as a pregnant woman is just so exciting!

I'm so overwhelmed with the support that I'm getting from my family and friends. Everytime they see me they're like, "Kumusta na ang buntis?" "Pahawak naman sa baby!" "Ilang months na baby mo?" "Kumain ka na?" "Kuha ka ng food, masama sa buntis ang gutom!" "Wag ka na mahiya, share tayo dito o!" "Upo ka, masama sayo matagal nakatayo at mapagod ng sobra." Which are all in my favor because being pregnant makes moms easily fatigued and super hungry all the time. Well I'm getting suspicious about my growing baby bump though because now that I'm 8 weeks along I don't know if I'm just bloated from all the food or it's really the baby that's starting to emerge. I've learned that women start to show at different times because the body frame, gravidity (the number of times a woman has been pregnant), and basically genetics play a huge part in the timing. Well whatever it is that's making my tummy swell this early--it has made me wear maternity clothes as early as last week!

Speaking of my baby bump, let me share with you an incident that happened at our pre-nup pictorial:

Photographer: "Uh, Jeean, stomach in ka konti."

Jai: "Pano magsstomach in eh magttwo months nang buntis?"

Hahahaha.

My grandmother got hospitalized a few days ago in the same hospital where I used to work as a nurse trainee. Wow, the looks on people's faces! It's just so funny to see my co-nurses see me like this. They had no idea I was already pregnant since May of this year and now that I've started to wear maternity clothes they're like, "How's the mom-to-be?!" And it's so touching whenever I feel even the slightest sincere notion that people are really happy for me.

I never thought being pregnant would be such a wonderful, unforgettable roller coaster ride. I'm so excited to grow a bigger bump and find out if it's a boy or a girl. 2 or 3 months from now we can finally know!

Cold & Twisted

I'm home alone... well not really, it's me and the baby. :) Actually I'm waiting for Jai to pick me up because I'm staying the night at his house. And then I figured... this is a great opportunity for a McDonald's drive thru!

I've been spotting posters of the Ice Age McFloat and the Twister Fries combo at McDonald's outlets and they have never really caught my attention until today. I don't know why but they just popped into my head and now I'm craving for that ice cold blue treat and that twisted potato delight!

The Pregnant Diaries 1

My beloved fiance/babydaddy and I had our pre nuptial pictorial today. I spent the previous night at his house so we can get going as early as we can. I brought tons of clothes with me but I only got to wear 3 ensembles because the pictorial was harder to do than I thought. The sun was scorching hot and for someone pregnant every stimulus is twice the impact. But the pictorial went great and we made lots of great pictures so we're really excited to share them with you.

My mom was right, I'm having a harder time being pregnant than when she was pregnant with me and my 2 sisters. I'm always nauseated and I can't tell exactly if I'm hungry or full or just thirsty. My food cravings are driving me crazy because one minute I want santol or mangoes and then the next thing I know they make me throw up. I'm easily fatigued so whenever an idle moment comes and I feel sleepy, I always want to grab the opportunity to doze off.

My first trimester so stressful but whenever I think about the baby that's growing inside me I just think to myself that it's only the first trimester and it will pass. What's important is that I stay healthy and my child stays healthy.

This week has been loaded with wedding preparations. Tomorrow Jai and I still have errands to run. I don't know when I'll be able to just lie in bed all day and take a break from all the stress but I'm really looking forward to it.

Being pregnant and preparing for a wedding isn't as easy as you may think, so I have to say thanks to the people who are supporting me and Jai all the way even though "thanks" just doesn't do it. Jai's family have been nothing but kind, caring, and very supportive to us. Their arms are wide open and I'm lucky to have in-laws who treat me like true family. And how can I forget the most important people in my life who have influenced me to become what I am now.. I am most grateful to my parents. My dad is still so understanding and supportive, and my mom is always there for me whenever I need her and even at times when it seems that I don't. At this point in my life I am enlightened about what goes on behind parents' tough exteriors. I feel so blessed that soon I'll be Jai's wife, right now I'm carrying Jai's baby, and still my mom takes care of me like that baby she carried in her womb 21 years ago.

To Jai, my loving fiance, my best friend, my shoulder to cry on, my private macho dancer, the father of my baby.. I love you. I love you. I love you. I just love you so much.. and thank you for being so good to me and our growing wonderchild.

A Sigh of Relief

I've quit my job.

My baby's health is more important than my career.

I don't know when I'll be coming back to work in a hospital but for now I'm gonna take good care of my growing bundle of joy.