thank GOD, there is facebook

Nowadays, people from around the world enjoy the convenience of using the internet. May it be for business or leisure, local or international news, entertainment, lifestyle and even online games. Just one click of a button and we can already reach places far across the globe. This advancement of technology paves the way to communicate better and easier. We can meet new and exciting friends and we can also find long-lost friends and acquaintances using global social networking websites like Friendster, Multiply and Facebook.

One afternoon of September 12, while I was busy organizing my new photo album in Facebook, I thought of searching one of my old friend's name and fortunately, I find her profile and immediately sent my friend request. She was then online and I received an immediate confirmation and that's it. We started to chat and we both felt an overwhelming gladness that after more than a decade, we were able to get in touch. We could hardly believe that we're talking again like we used to. Many times, I tried to send Menchie or Tess a mail but I never did. Thank God, there is Facebook, now we can hear from each other more often.

We have our own families now and they look very contented and happy as I do with my three kids and my beloved husband.

It's so nice to be connected again. I just hope we'll meet in person one of these days.

our bundle of joy

When we laid eyes on his cute little face

our hearts are filled with delight.

With his two little pinkish feet
that look so soft and light.

Now that his around

our home is much complete.

His presence keeps us busy
We must not surrender nor retreat.

At one month old
he mostly wants to sleep.

On his second month
Papa can carry him with a safely grip.

Third month comes
and he can be bathed with little support.

Mama can relax for a while
to gain much needed effort.

And now that he's four months old
we enjoy him even more

Our lives become brighter and more meaningful
for we have baby Kiko whom we most adore.

mom 24/7

Being a new mother again after almost 10 years is an experience of mixed emotions. I thought I was only gifted to raise two undeniably good kids but to my surprise, another boy came out of my tummy through a third c-section operation. Now, I found myself with a bib on my right hand and a feeding bottle on my left. I realized that I am no longer a working mother but a "mom 24/7". It's not an easy job. It's challenging, very demanding and requires full attention, much effort and most of all... time consuming. I am not a first-time mom but it's my first time to be a full time mom.

Yes, I am organized and detail-oriented. Maybe those are good traits I got from my mother but doing domestic chores simultaneously is somehow difficult and getting things done faster is likewise. Each passing day is a one-woman-show except for weekends and during my hubby's day off.

Our house as my workplace now is much simpler to manage than to supervise a group of people with diversity of characters. The hard part is: I work alone with no one to turn to. What's cooking in the kitchen is hotter than an argument over the target sales for the month. Washing the dishes... cleaning the house... preparing the kids for school... aside from taking care of my baby and providing his everyday necessities form part of my routine 24 hours, seven days a week. I no longer prepare regular reports but I have to know the next menu to be served the following day.

Then I question myself: why does Bebeth, my housemaid for almost 5 years has to leave me just when I needed her most? I know, she has to because she too is expecting her first child come December. I can hardly find another Bebeth whom I considered a family.

No career is more stressful than being a full time mom but it's a rewarding experience. It may not require a diploma but the skills and expertise that a mother holds are much more honorable.

I am getting used to this new job. I know that I may not be the best mom but I will do my best to become one.

it's a boy inside my belly

Like most expectant mothers, I already prepared a name for my upcoming baby. One name for a boy: Francis Dan Riel, derived from

Francisco - name of my father-in-law
Danilo - name of my father
Ariel - my husband's name

two selections for a girl: Karla Ariesa and Lourina Therese, originated from

Ariel and Theresa - my husband's name and mine
Lourdes and Marina - my mother's name and name of my mother-in-law

Since, we have already a daughter and a son, the baby's gender was no longer an issue to us. But my OB-Gyne recommended a pelvic ultrasound during my fifth moth of pregnancy. The fact that I was having pre-term labor, she would like to know the fetal size, check on the placenta and amniotic fluid. She wanted to determine what caused my abdomen to harden frequently.

THE ULTRASOUND REPORT:

Within a gravid uterus is a single fetal structure, presently in cephalic presentation with biparietal diameter of 6.0 cm, femoral length of 4.5 cm and abdominal circumference of 20.4 cm equivalent to 24 weeks 3 days, 24weeks 3 days and 24 weeks 6 days age of gestation, respectively. Real time scan show active somatic movement and vigorous cardiac pulstations with HR = 134 beat/min. Placenta is posterior, grade l maturity with no evidence of previa. Amniotic fluid is aduquate with AFV = 12 cm. EFW = 773 g.

IMPRESSION:

SINGLE, LIVE, INTRAUTERINE PREGNANCY , PRESENTLY CEPHALIC WOTH COMPOSITE AOG OF 24 WEEKS 4 DAYS BY BPD, FL AND AC. POSTERIOR PLACENTA, GRADE I
NORMOHYDRAMNIOS.
MALE FETUS.

This video shows my baby's fetal heartbeat





While this video shows how we warmly welcome our baby
K I K O




Every worry fades away
when I hold him in my arms...

Happiness is beyond compare
knowing my pains caused him no harm.

Practicality wise

My belly was eight months old in this photo. I was having uterine contractions already and some symptoms that indicated an early onset of labor like:


*A contraction more often withing one hour
*Menstrual-like cramps
*Low, dull backache
*Pelvic pressure that feels like the baby is pushing down
*Abdominal cramps


Although everything was ready for my unexpected delivery, my husband and I were still hoping and praying that the baby would come out on the date we have set since I would be giving birth through CS operation One thing more, I was scheduled to be admitted at Santissima Trinidad Hospital in Malolos, Bulacan where I would also be undergoing Tubal Ligation.

Any operations done in Manila whether it be in ordinary hospitals are so expensive. The package ranges from Php 40,000 to as much as more than 100,000 depending on the method of delivery and type of hospital room. We decided to travel that far because of practical reasons and since the OB-Gyne who operated me 10 years ago is the same doctor who performed the C-section and ligation. The only difference is, she now owns the hospital unlike before wherein she only held affiliation.