baby shower part 1

My college barkada gave me a baby shower last April 23 at Crocodile Grill. It is also an advance celebration for Mimaw's birthday on May 1 as well. Here are some photos and some of what's left in our plates... it was a luscious seafood lunch with the exception of the only meat ,which was served last, the Crispy Pata. yamyam! haha!

Chicco Digital Thermometer from Jacq

nursery set from Wheng

chicco teether from Leslie

enfant hangers and bath cradle from Mimaw

shoes and feeding bottles from Khor

what's left of our delicious lunch


Standing L-R: Mimaw and Wheng
Seated L-R: Bianca (my godchild), Jacq, Khor & Me

Bed rest for a week

I'm recovering fairly well. No more bleeding and no more infections. The thought of spending the whole week in bed and no work was very welcoming at the beginning, but as the days goes buy, watching TV, eating and sleeping can be a drag too... and not to mention draining. I used to finish a magazine in a week...and that's not yet reading it from cover to cover. Nowadays, I can finish a Good Housekeeping or a Smart Parenting magazine reading it from cover to cover in just one day. I even read articles that does not interest me (like gardening, diy carpentry etc.)

My everyday ritual for this bed rest week are as follows:

1. wake up in the morning
2. eat breakfast, drink medicine
3. read, sleep, watch TV
4. have lunch
5. take a bath, watch TV, read and sleep
6. go online (check emails and surf)
7. take a bath ( due to the extreme humidity, i tend to perspire more than usual)
8. have dinner
9. watch TV, read and sleep

See how productive my day is? If your reading this, you might say that I'm having the time of my life! But if your in my shoes, sleeping on your side all the time with a bulging belly that seems like its gonna pop out anytime soon and an aching back, you better think twice sweetie.

I'm now only counting weeks before I can lay my eyes and hands on this baby. And each day is a struggle with excitement and tension, anticipation and fear, wonder and delight. And thoughts of sleepless nights, diaper changes, breastfeeding, bath time and play time. Ahh.. Motherhood. It will surely change me.

Hospital Scare

Last Saturday and Sunday I was bleeding like having my first day of menstruation. At first I drank a prescribed medicine (isoxilan) for the bleeding to stop but when it did not; I went to my OB-Gyn last Monday for a check up and have my glucose test and urinalysis. When I told her about the bleeding, she said that she has to admit me to the hospital because it is unlikely to still have bleeding in my 7th month with a high-lying placenta. I may be in a preterm labor already. So I called Adrian and told him that I will be admitted that night as I head to the delivery room where they monitored my babys heart beat.

I was put on dextrose (which was my first time ever, I have never been admitted in a hospital until now) and they monitored the baby all through out my stay in the hospital... Though my cervix is still closed, I am already having mild preterm labor contractions. And my OB says that if the bleeding does not stop, they have to do a c-section on me and deliver the baby prematurely and incubate him just to be safe. Since the baby is just 7 months old, his lungs are not yet well developed so they injected me with steroids just in case I need to go through the operation. I was so scared of the thought of delivering the baby prematurely... aside from the costs of the incubator, he might not survive. He is so small. According to the ultrasound done on my 2nd day in the hospital, he weighs only 3.5 lbs. I sent text messages to pray for me and my baby. I do not want to give birth just yet.

Good thing on the second night in the hospital the bleeding lightens and eventually stopped. Though I still have some yeast discharge. My OB gave me prescription for the infection and for the bleeding. Thank God that the bleeding stopped. I do not want to deliver my baby without matured lungs...

Adrian was my personal nurse, since I am advised to stay in bed and not even permitted to go to the bathroom, so he took care of me while I pee on a bed pan, assist me while I eat my food, brush my teeth, raise my bed up and down and buy medicine for my dextrose. I know it was hard on him seeing us like that. But I am glad he was with me all through out this time. My mom slept at the hospital for two nights, she brought our clothes and toiletries and other essentials. My in-laws in the States called everyday to check on us too. And some friends and officemates came to visit me as well.

For now, I am asked to take bed rest for a week and will have another check up next week if I am already fit to work. But I am still thinking if I will have an early maternity leave or work from home depends if our Manager will permit me to work from home or take a 4 months maternity leave.

BTW, as per my new ultrasound, it is confirmed that we are having a BOY. I saw the penis and the scrotum :) have you voted for the baby name already?

Thank you everyone for your prayers.. It meant a lot to me and baby Andre.

What if its a boy?

Thank you to all of our friends and family who voted in our baby name pool. We had a total of 28 respondents and 82% chose the name Ashley Sofia ( which means Ash tree and wisdom).

But what if its a boy? Since according to our recent ultrasound, there is a 10% chance that it might be a boy. So just in case.. we wanted to be ready with a boy's name as well. Adrian and I agreed that there should be an "Andre" in his name (which means manly, valiant, courageous). Help us choose his second name. Click here to vote.

The package has arrived

Last Wednesday, the most awaited package from my in-laws has arrived. I was so excited to get home from work and see what is inside the box for our little bundle of joy. There were so many nice and cute baby bodysuits from Carters (from new born to 9 months in size), a Playtex Ventaire feeding bottle set, some receiving blankets, crib sheet, bib and burp cloths, towel blankies, wash cloths, socks and caps, diaper bags. Me and my moms favorite among all of these were the Precious Moments Crib set, pillow and musical mobile. I can not wait to set up the nursery!


I am actually looking forward to fixing our room this coming holy week and set up the nursery. There are so much essential things that we still need to buy, like the bottle sterilizer, bottle warmer, breast pump, nursing pillow, portable infant bed, bathtub, stroller, car seat, high chair, rocking chair oh the list can go on and on… hopefully I get to receive some on my baby shower.

Rent

Our movie date day has been less and lesser these past few months. We used to make our Thursdays a movie date day since theaters usually changes movie schedules during Wednesdays. Since I'm already in my 3rd trimester, we now buy DVDs and watch at home. But a movie watched in theater is so much different (with popcorn at hand). We sometimes get to watch advance screenings, if my friend Jane has a spare ticket for us (the last advance screening we watched was VENDETTA). But last Monday, we watched the movie/musical RENT to celebrate our 6th year anniversary since we we're not able to celebrate it last March 29 due to our sales planning.

The movie was nice and touching but I cannot compare it to the play since I have not yet seen that version. So I cannot comment which is better.

In the spirit of LOVE, here's the lyrics of Seasons of Love.. come sing with me. I also like the song of Angel and Collins "I'll Cover You".

Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes,

Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Moments so dear.

Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes

How do you measure, measure a year?



In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights

In cups of coffee

In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.



In five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes

How do you measure

A year in the life?



How about love?

How about love?

How about love? Measure in love



Seasons of love. Seasons of love



Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes!

Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Journeys to plan.



Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes

How do you measure the life

Of a woman or a man?



In truths that she learned,

Or in times that he cried.

In bridges he burned,

Or the way that she died.



It's time now to sing out,

Tho' the story never ends

Let's celebrate

Remember a year in the life of friends

Remember the love!

Remember the love!

Seasons of love!


Oh you got to got to Remember the love! remember the love,

You Measure in love know that love is a gift from up above Seasons of love.

Share love, give love spread love Measure measure you life in love.

Planning at the La Mesa Eco Park

Last March 29, we had our team sales planning for the 2nd quarter of the year. We decided to spend the whole day at a cool and relaxing place so that our ideas may flow. We made our trip to the La Mesa Eco Park in the morning with our picnic stuff and lunch packs. The place was scerene and it was really nature with a capital N that surrounded us. After we found our picnic place and prepared our breakfast (Tocino and salted egg), we were ready to get on with the planning. We were all seated in the round benches while Jeri was walking around us because the mosquitoes are after him. Oh how he wished he didn't wear shorts that day. We expected it to be cool because of the trees but it was so damn hot that even an unchilled water tastes so good. No breez of air can be heard from the trees, they were so still and my hand held fan did'nt even make me feel better. But at the end of the day, it was a fruitful planning. Sharing with you some photos below.

Big trees greeted us as we enter the ecopark.

Carol preparing breakfast, while I talk to a client

Masarap ang tocilog sa umaga

What comes up must come down. Right Raffy? Courtesy of ibong adarna

Everyone's so serious, all work and no play.

after 3 hours, we just have to strech our legs and check out the scenery

Carol just gotta have her photo taken

the Petron Amphitheater

where will this trail lead us?

Lets go and strech those legs people

Kaya mo pa ba, Carol?

Team photo op before we wrap up this planning

On our way back to the city.
Reminds me of Jurong Bird Park and Night Safari ni Singapore