My everyday adventures. discoveries. memories.

Love,

Mommy, Daddy and Ate Amelie

If you have relatives or friends living in the Bay area, California USA, kindly pass this note from my photographer-friends, Marc and Phoebe Aviles.

“This Is It Photography is doing a fundraising drive to help the victims of the recent typhoon Ondoy that hit the Philippines.  Book any portrait/family or engagement session from October 2009 and we will donate 80% of your payment.  Visit this link for more details: http://thisisitphotography.photobiz.com/cart/index.cfm?start=products”

September 23, Wednesday

Although I had concerns about leaving my little girl behind while I’m at the hospital, deep down in my heart, I was so excited to give birth. I want so much to see our little boy and I wanted the physical pain that accompanied my pregnancy to finally end. I told a friend that this time around, I felt like I was pregnant for years!

So that day, I double-checked my hospital bag, prepared Amelie’s stuff for “school”, made sure that emergency contact numbers and Amelie-related routine/stuff were printed and posted on the pantry door in the kitchen (for my Nanay Lei’s reference).

Evening came and I couldn’t sleep. While hubs and Amelie were already in dreamland, I sat in bed with my ibook and chatted with my preggy friend in the US. I was even able to write this entry.

September 24, Thursday

Past midnight, I started to feel tummy cramps that came and went in 30-minute intervals. I thought it was just Braxton Hicks and I chose to bear with the discomfort. After another hour, the cramps came in 15-20 min intervals. I was still in denial that I could be in labor because my mind was “fixed” to give birth by induction procedure on September 25th. But it was not meant to be. I decided to rest and after a short while, the contractions came in stronger and in much shorter intervals, I finally decided to wake hubby up! I asked him to call my mother so she could look after A who was still sound asleep.  I then continued to give instructions to hubs to pick up my hospital bag and to call the hospital. Yep, despite the intense pain, I was still very alert! He he.

We were on the road in no time. My contractions were coming in 3-minute intervals. I didn’t know how painful going through labor was until that time. I wanted a dose of epidural! I was quickly wheeled in to the birthing suite and the midwife did quick checks and confirmed that I was already 6cm dilated. She called my O&G and waited for her to order administration of epidural. The anesthesiologist came which made me so happy (really, really happy!).

My O&G came in and asked me to try pushing but I couldn’t feel the contractions anymore. She asked the midwife to lower the epidural dosage and in twenty minutes, I retained sensation on my legs and started pushing. My little bub was out in no time!

After resting a bit at the birthing suite, we were transferred to our room. I stayed at the hospital for 3 1/2 days although the standard is 4 1/2. And as much as I enjoyed the meals and the 24/7-midwife assistance, I wanted to go home so bad.

God is so good. Isaiah is one healthy boy and I had no delivery complications. Isaiah’s Apgar test result was 9/10, he passed the hearing test and the pediatrician gave a go-ahead for an early discharge at the hospital.

Thanks for all your prayers!  Stories and more photos to follow.

It’s past midnight and I can’t sleep. The thought of finally seeing and holding our new baby excites me but the thought of not being with my little girl for at least two nights saddens me. Two extreme emotions filling my mind and heart as I write this.

How I wish that it’s already Friday afternoon when I expect (and hope) to have given birth already and to be cradling our little prince in my arms. Or make it Sunday so we’d all be at home. And by then, I’d feel complete.

Rewind

It was January this year when the husband and I were talking about plans for baby #2. Little did we know that two weeks after that, we’d find out that I was already pregnant with Bunso. 

God’s Timing is Impeccable

I have written over and over again on this blog how my pregnancy experience this time around is difficult. Nausea and vomiting on my first and third trimesters, experienced early release of relaxin resulting to pelvic girdle pain (PGP) since my second trimester, my scoliosis adding to the already challenging PGP — I could go on and on. And in the process I realize that had we waited for two or more years to conceive again, my body will be at a worse state. So, thank you Lord!

Sealed Deal

I’m scheduled for induction on September 25th, which makes it Bunso’s birth date.  I hope that the labor and delivery will be as smooth if not quicker and easier compared to my experience with Amelie.  This early, I am already dreading a long hospital stay. 

False Alarm

Thursday last week, I went through the worst onset of nausea.  It was Amelie’s scheduled “school day” and had arranged with hubs that I’ll be the one to bring her to daycare and go straight to Target with my Nanay Lei.  But after we had breakfast, I started throwing up like mad, which led to manageable and then later on turned to painful contractions.  I timed it for two hours, stayed in bed and slept on and off.  I had my mother prepare the rest of the items that needed to go my maternity bag.  I called hubs at work and we decided to schedule a visit to my O&G.

I felt so “wasted” when we reached the clinic.   But after a quick check with my O&G, she said that I was going through pre-labor, which may or may not lead to actual labor.  I was sent home and was requested to continue monitoring my contractions.  Here I am, still pregnant at 38 weeks.

Going through the “drama” of childbirth was far from my mind since my first experience can be compared to a “drive-through” delivery.  We went to the hospital in the morning, was on epidural midday, labored for half a day and out Amelie came around 5 past.  Pramis, there was no screaming. Ha ha.

So, I don’t have a clue on how it will be like on Friday.  I just hope that our little boy will be safe and healthy as he makes his grand entrance into this world.

A few days from now, we will be welcoming the new addition to our family. The past 38 weeks have been a roller coaster ride with new pregnancy experiences and day to day adjustments as I have become much less mobile especially at this stage.

It helps that I have a very supportive husband, who has taken over most of my house and child-caring duties since I became pregnant. I remember how he would buy me dinner as soon as he reached home from work because I didn’t each much throughout the day due to nausea. In the process, he also learned how to bathe and dress-up Amelie when I could no longer kneel and bend my back due to scoliosis. He took Amelie out to parks and malls during weekends to make up for weekdays that I couldn’t (and shouldn’t) drive because of the sudden onset of dizziness. And all this time, he never gave me a sad vibe or a tired look when he would continue to do chores after a long day at work. He never complained. Ever.

My kids are so blessed to have him as their father. And I would not have known the extent of his goodness if not for our current living arrangement here in Sydney. We have no house help, no nanny and no family to run to for emergencies. But with God’s guidance, grace and prayers/support from friends and family, we are still here, standing.

That’s why, whenever fear or worries set in, I just need to look up to God and look beside me, because I know that’s where my husband — my anchor, will be.

It was Father’s Day here in Australia last Sunday and our family celebrated it a day earlier. We went to Hog’s Breath Cafe at Castle Hill Towers for lunch and shopped for R’s gift at Myer’s after. (I have a self-imposed rule not to go malling by myself now that I’m on my 36th week.) But R was still pleased with my gift sans the surprise. Hee hee.

The Two Coo-lits.

Amelie’s getting better at taking photos using the cam phone.

Yummy!

I wonder what Amelie’s thinking about when I took this photo.

Loving her ice cream.

Amelie also has a gift for his dad — courtesy of her learning centre. R wanted to open it on Father’s Day itself and we waited until bedtime to do so. It’s a hand-painted photo frame with A’s photo, which is now displayed on our desk.

Sunday’s church service was dedicated to fathers and they were given a chocolate bar each, a gift from our pastors. We had lunch with friends afterwards and headed home after a quick trip to the supermarket. It was a good weekend. With lesser ‘to-dos’ for our anticipated newcomer, we’re spending more time with each other before the big day comes. Just two and a half weeks more!

To you my dear R, you have been a great father to A and that is evident with how our little girl adores you. I have no doubt that our new baby will come to experience the same love and dedication from you as he grows. Fatherhood has brought the greatest traits in you and I’m thankful to God for that. Blessings to you always and to all the loving fathers out there!

For my mom, Nanay Lei.

There is not one childhood memory or a major event in my life that you were not there and I am so grateful for that. You are one of the motivating factors that helped me decide to quit the workforce to be a stay-at-home mom at least for the time being that my kids are very young. Know that I have always treasured the time you spent with my siblings and me when we were kids. Now that we have families of our own, all the more that we value every single thing that you have done for us (and is still doing for us). We can never thank you enough, Nanay.

I hope and pray that God will give you continued good health that you may enjoy many more years of your life with us, your grandchildren, Tatay and your circle of friends. Always know that you are loved. Happy 60th Birthday!

Nanay Lei with grandkids Carlos Miguel, Amelie and Louise Andrea