Born on the 4th of July..NOT!

It would've been better if I chose to give birth today. It's Fil-Am Friendship Day, ayt? A few people are pushing us to have the OR done on this special day, however, to no avail. *wink*
Our little one seems to cooperate well.

Labor hasn't started yet...oops....not yet please!!! *knock on wood*

3 days more Kimi. Kita-kits!! =)

Lulubog..Lilitaw

In 2-3 wks time, Kimi will be out. I don't know if I will be scared....or more scared. =) The contractions are getting more pronounced. Not constant yet 'though.

I am not sure whether he can wait til the 7th of July.

Hopefully... *crossed fingers*

P.S.: I have the least resources to update this space..so sorry. But I will try as often as I could. Perhaps, when the baby is sober *wink*

I'm nestling..

I've been mute for a while trying to organize things with Hubi for our little one. YES...I'm back in my hometown for good. The adjustment period isn't over yet. As if my fingers haven't stopped craving for abnormal karyotypes. Ooops!! *knock on wood*

I have definitely gained WEIGHT this time. Voracious is my name, Plate licking is my game! Not to mention more swollen extremities....eeeeew! =)

A month to go & I'm having mixed emotions. I'm not scared....errr...a bit? Or I'm just thinking too much. Anyways, we just hope, Kimi's (yes, we have a name!!) birthday falls on the 7th of July. Easier to remember: 07-07-07. An auspicious date too for the almond eyes!!!!

CS here I come!!

Hubi...S.O.S.! *wink*

plus/minus 27weeks

I had my check-up today and there's nothing much interesting to share. The procedure remains the same - scan here&there, to&fro, however, the euphoria of just seeing the baby's heartbeat makes a great difference.

Bunny was quite naughty throughout the scan. I had a view of his butt for the first time and his unusually spread fingers, as if waving to me either saying "Hi, Mommy!" or "Look Mom, I can count". Whichever way he goes, he's still at the same upright position as last month. He's not ready yet. Hmmm...CS to the rescue? It's way too early...hello?

So far I have gained ~10kg and 10% of it is Bunny's weight, as of this moment. Time moves so fast and I'm having the jitters already.

I may have high pain tolerance but as the day draws closer, I'm slowly creeping towards my shell.

Eileen = scaredy cat

Haaaay...

Paging

The horrormones are taking over. A mixed feeling of sadness, abandonment & no reaction persists. *sigh*

If only every human can understand that it's absolutely an indispensable and uncontrollable phase in pregnancy.

Only the WISE should know.

10 Little Indian Boys

Now that my feet have expanded, my shoes are quite tight. I feel more uneasy as I had been born with my left slightly longer than my right. Luckily, most of my shoes have enough allowance to accommodate the change plus the strap holes and long laces. I guess the looser ones fit just right now.

Will I ever go back to my previous size post partum?

Sayang naman noh!

Well, my toes might have gotten fleshier now, but slimmer nonetheless than Swift's mighty meaty hotdog cocktail.

Surprise! Surprise!

I had my check-up today & my doctor let me hear Bunny's heartbeat again plus a picture (again & again) of him.

Bunny seemed to have grown soooooo fast & accdg to his size I should be 24 weeks (6mos) come tomorrow. I was so shocked 'coz in my mind I know I am only 20 weeks (5mos) today, and that, too, is accdg to my calculations. Therefore, my EDD has been moved 2 weeks forward from July 6 to June 23. Geez...

Nevertheless, the age is always +/- 2 weeks, but still, I am confused if in case someone asks me how many months I am now. I guess I will just have to say "..ahh..eh..basta buntis ako.." *kidding*

...and the kicks are getting stronger each day. There's so much activity inside that the baby is in breech right now. Phew!

Bunny's position will still change definitely, so, no worries. =)

"Napakasakit, Kuya Eddie"

I earned the biggest insult this afternoon and I don't know how to react. I'm smiling inside 'though. =)

(flashback)

Burmese lady housekeeper/dispatch lady: "You pregnant?"

Eileen: "Yes..why?"

Burmese lady housekeeper/dispatch lady: "Oh, I thought you were becoming fat and still single."

Eileen: "No, I'm 5 months already and happily married."

Burmese lady housekeeper/dispatch lady: "Ah..that's why it looked so strange that you grow big only in front. I'm sorry. "

Eileen: "It's alright."*chuckling*

Gosh..all the while I thought I'm sooo obviously pregnant. I should have heeded my colleagues' advice to start wearing this:

...with Wings

Bunny's movements are becoming more pronounced now. Indeed, it feels like there are butterflies in my stomach, i.e., literally. Soon the butterflies will mutate into birds then into bats then into a healthy baby Boy. ;p

The entire afternoon, Bunny seemed uneasy. I felt him move round-&-about, here-&-there. I'm uncertain if my pants was squeezing him a bit in that I am seated or I was often pressing my tummy against the edge of the table which bothers him a lot? *paranoid*

Kidding!!

Of course, we all know that nothing can directly affect the baby for the amniotic fluid cushions his body well...AND...the baby is starting to stretch & flex his arms & legs, hence, the movements. And moreover, Bunny's a boy kaya malikot. *wink*

If only MEN can experience this too. They'd love it. I swear! =)

Hopeless Case

I'm nearly 5 months preggy and yet I still don't have any specific, special, whaddahell craving -- the most significant symptom I'd been waiting for. *sigh*
I guess it will never occur for I have passed the "crucial period". It would be a one of a kind experience 'though if it starts to emerge on my last trimester. Aba! I didn't go with the trend! Kakaiba 'to!

...hoping...hoping...

When I wasn't preggy yet, I used to lust for this & that kind of food at the wrong time & at the wrong place. And if it strikes, I always try to satiate my taste buds by hook or by crook unless it's during the wee hours of course. No need to worry for the pang can wait.

In my case, I may not have a liking for a specific something, however, I do have a few things to shove away like milk, rice and oily oily stuff. Maybe that's already IT.

Sayang! I could have exploited Hubi to find an exotic food available only in a galaxy far, far away and he would have proven that He will do everything to pacify me. Ay sus! sa pelikula Pilipino lang yun! ...exaggeration to the maX!

For sure, he's thankful that the paglilihi period is over. I dunno if deprivation does initiate it.

...reminiscing...reminiscing...

"It's getting hot in here!"

Is it global warming or is it just Bunny?

I feel so irritated by the warm weather. As far as I can remember, this day last year was so cool and breezy. Could it be that the trend is indeed changing? At the same time, I have a little one inside me, thus, the magnified heat to the Nth power.

Haaay, please send me some fog! A.S.A.P.! ;p

The faulty stars fell...

...and my outstretched arms were 'fortunate' to have caught them all.

Looks like the trail is neverending. My deepest, darkest secrets are starting to surface.
Another revelation in the life of Eileen. Well, who would be interested anyway. ;p

I got the biggest shock of my life yesterday when I learned that I was a carrier. Nope! not HIV or any STD. =) ...but the alpha thalassemia trait. Had I not conceived, I/we wouldn't know.

I had my routine blood test and hemoglobin electrophoresis done more than a month ago & I was diagnosed to be iron deficient so my doctor prescribed an iron supplement to be taken for one month then have the test repeated to rule out thalassemia, if present. I did as I was told. Then, last Tuesday, I went to have the test done again. After 2 days, the nurse called me and said that the results were exactly the same as my previous result. Therefore, the tablets didn't have effect on me at all. It's been confirmed even before that I am anemic, but being thalassemic is another issue. I have doubts whether the results are really conclusive.

Anyhow, there won't be any adverse effect on my pregnancy unless Hubi is also a carrier. And definitely, he is not. So, Bunny should be alright. Definitely, he will be!!!

So, what's the next blow?

Should I start digging out the roots of my family tree now? *sigh*

I felt Bunny move....

.....I think.

Actually, it's been going on for weeks now, however, I couldn't decipher if these really are his movements. First time ko? =)

Either I experience random bubbles inside synonymous to passing gas or at other times a gurgling sensation synonymous to borborygmi. I didn't make a big fuss out of it for I have lived with it eversince. Oh ulcer, layuan mo ako! =)

The only difference is that I usually feel the tumbles after eating, before I go to bed or when in bed, so perhaps, there really is something different going on in there. *echo*echo*echo*

Well, accdg to this book I'm reading now for Preggies, some resemble a fluttering feeling as if after "swallowing a small bird" or a creeping to the bone sensation or, just like me, gas movements. YES!! It's not mere hallucination. But still, I am in doubt. Unless, I feel the kicks then will I be secured. =) *kidding*

Hmmm..but the most important matter here now is, I am absolutely enjoying every single minute of it.

So if i were you, Come on! Join the Club!!!

"Anatomy of a Pregnant Woman"

*source: SciencePhotoLibrary

FLASH!

GOODNEWS:

We did the Doppler scan yesterday & was soooo ecstatic upon seeing the results. Sitting at the lounge while waiting for my turn for ~45 mins made me verrrrry, verrrry anxious. Days prior, I had conditioned myself 'though to accept the worst. Eileen a.k.a. the pessimist...but who's to blame? *Refer to my previous post =)

And now, on my 18th week, we were able to see Bunny In & Out. Bunny equals HE and HE is normal. Of course, we have to accept that not all anomalies can be detectable even by such full assessment. But inspite of it all, I am more hopeful and more positive than ever.

Happy thoughts....think of happy thoughts. See how cute the pics are --

his kidneys, bladder, genitals(?), leg, feet & hands....

...and my R&L uterine artery, his head, spine, orbits, lips & nose, thorax and abdomen.

Sometimes you have to imagine then visualize how they look like. =) The exam went well, with the thrill of hearing the swish-swoosh, wee-yoh wee-yoh sound of the baby and the blood flow.

However,

the NOT SO GOODNEWS

As you can see, Bilateral Uterine notches were seen. My O&G simply and subtly explained it as irregular flow of blood in the uterine artery to the placenta. So, in order to "correct" this, she advised me to sleep on my left side with a pillow semi-tucked under my back, at the same time take deep breathes m-o-r-e often to permit oxygenation. If after a few weeks & there's no change, I'll have to ingest aspirin.

I've been reading articles 'bout the notches and I guess I'm starting to get panicky again. Notches could result in IUGR (intrauterine growth retardation), low birth weight, premature birth etc..etc..blah..blah. After a few clicks, I stopped. Anyway, I was assured that it is not something that alarming. The readings may still change since the scan was done earlier than the recommended time. Luckily, Bunny cooperated, otherwise we will have to be rescheduled after a week or so.

Gosh! Is it fate...or is it just me? *wink*

Delusional

I'm getting more paranoid as each day passes while my tummy’s growing. Definitely my work has a big effect on it. I guess having embraced this field for several yrs has its drawbacks especially now that I'm pregnant, emotionally and intellectually that is.

(*at 15 weeks)

A looooot of questions in mind. Is the baby inside my womb normal? Is he/she healthy? Will the baby have a risk of having Down Syndrome, aneuploidy or any of the genetic rearrangements? Would the baby hold on?

I know it's stupidity, but let's face it, these facts are not impossible. Good if you're a guy coz you won’t have to worry even if everyday you are to process tissue samples from a miscarriage or threatened abortion and exposed to cases with abnormal karyotypes.

In fact, almost all of my past and present colleagues experience this paranoia when infanticipating. Cytogenetics is all to blame and yet we looooove it.

On my 12th wk, I was scheduled to do an OSCAR test but refused on the last minute. Me and Hubi decided not to do this test or any exam for that matter w/c might be able to identify any genetic abnormality. Besides, we shall be keeping the baby whatever the result/s is/are.

More so, being poked a.k.a. amniocentesis is slightly risky. I wouldn’t dare torture myself afterwards by analyzing our own baby's chromosomes noh.

Well, I may be feeling like this, however, I definitely never regretted being fed by my superiors with "the knowledge". =)

Nonetheless, in 2 weeks time, Bunny shall undergo an extensive asessment scan. I'm excited and quite anxious at the same time.

Will update soon.... Que sera sera!

Chromosome Painting

Mocha on my Mind

Good news #1: Morning/Evening sickness and its kin have left me for good, HOWEVER, vomitting due to motion sickness is still occasional. I have better sense of smell now unlike the previous months where everything was stale & metallic.

Good news #2: I, too, have bathed my gut with 1% caffeine. Well, sort of. Thanks to Mocha! I know it's alright to drink coffee when preggy. Take it from my Mom who used to drink cups & cups of coffee when she was carrying my brother =) Well, I am just cautious OR only too-too??

I am sometimes tempted 'though but have to shut the urge.

HOW?

....shift the frequency, take a Test, then imagine.

hmmmm....chocolate!!! =)

You are a Black Coffee

At your best, you are: low maintenance, friendly, and adaptable At your worst, you are: cheap and angsty You drink coffee when: you can get your hands on it Your caffeine addiction level: high

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Killing Time

Ok, ok...I have not posted anything recently. I guess I am lazy...or I haven't adjusted to Blogger yet. Sometimes I ought to be reminded that Me, Myself and Eileen is still alive and kickin'. I don't even have the energy to blog hop anymore. *sigh* How long shall this persist? No one knows.

But for sure, I am now feeling a whole lot better. Perhaps, I could already shout to the world that I am enjoying my pregnancy. Now that I have survived the 1st trimester, that is.

Bunny's growing fast..faster. And I don't know how many kg I gained for the past weeks. *phew* Really sad whenever I stare at the weighing scale. For Bunny's sake 'though, I will endure everything.

I am happy, I am contented and I have iron deficiency. This was re-confirmed the other day. I've had this long before, however, haven't dealt with it well. Stubborness!! Maybe the dosage was too low for me. =) My O&G prescribed tabs good for 1 month and I have to re-take the blood test afterwards to exclude any form of thalassaemia. Hmmm..it only takes a big lump on the tummy before Eileen would heed. *wink*
No need to worry for there is no problem that can't be solved.

There is no space for loneliness in my vocabulary now. I still have 6 months to go to set melancholy aside.

source: http://www.megamonalisa.com/

Post-holiday Blues

I'm missing Baguio -- the cool, cool weather, the freedom to stay up late and wake up the next day at 12 noon or past w/o anybody intervening & the absence of an irritating alarm which had willingly rested in peace during my non-working days. By right, it, too, had to consume its day offs. Me & Hubi didn't have much to do then; thus, the laxity. I did nothing but eat, sleep, house hop, play with the huskies plus Tiny, a boston terrier & be merry. I was so pampered & this is the nicest thing bout being pregnant. So get pregnant if I were you!! =) Thanks to everybody back home. *mwah*mwah* Di ko talaga ipagpapalit ang Baguio!!

"Rape! Rape!"
(Husky & Tiny)

The good news is I never experienced the nasty cramps the entire time I was up. I guess Bunny liked the weather so much =) despite the erratic terrain. Not even a slight prick, thank heavens! I only had to survive throwing up every now & then 'though the frequency has begun to wane. "Look Ma, I'm not wasting food anymore." In fact, my appetite is normalizing already....to the extent of gluttony? *wink* Imagine, I was able to eat shawarma, a BIG hamburger sandwich, arroz caldo, "biko" & fruit pie at so very short intervals. *phew* As if I was on death row. But it was really tiring you know.

I know I have sinned for not being able to personally greet or meet up with old, old friends. So sorry. Well, I'm sure they would understand. They're mature enough. =) *fingers crossed* Ok, ok, being preggy is not a valid excuse. The culprit appears to be my closest buddy -- the bed + the comforter and a dash of JuanT. Luckily, I have sent emails before I left. Btw, thanks to those who sent cards by post. A lucky year for you all!!!

Hmmm...I was just wondering what will be in store for Hubi & I this year?? Pakilabas ang bolang kristal, please.. Will it be a boy or a girl?

Deal? or No Deal?

Lucky 9

Despite the discomfort I've been experiencing, we're, indeed, very grateful for having been blessed with our little precious. A Christmas gift in advance for both sides.

I'm at my 9th week & Bunny has obviously G-R-O-W-N ...from 7mm to 26mm.
The head is much differentiated now from the body & the heartbeat is more distinct.
Lucky Bunny! =)

Inhale...Exhale...

The symptoms are getting serious and I'm starting to dislike them. I survived 3 days symptomless. I thought I was getting by when suddenly things got worst. Sabi na kasing wag batiin..

It's the evemorning sickness that kills. Good thing I am already at home by the time the feeling bursts. I have no appetite at night but still I force food inside my mouth so that Bunny can absorb something from me even if after 10 minutes, I evacuate the morsels out up to the point of throwing up nothing but sound.

I have no specific cravings yet; only yesterday: Star Cafe's saucy Pancit Canton loaded with lotsa Baguio veggies + pork + liver + madami pang sahog =)

Since it doesn't come handy, Bunny was deprived. *sigh* So, I resorted to a bland and bare pancit bihon + luncheon meat + sunny-side up. Weird combination, ey? Well, it sure does taste good with pickled chilli except yesterday. Scoopfuls of the chilli & a squeeze of lime can't do any trick. I had to share 3/4 of the meal with the litter bin. I had no choice. =) Sorry, but I'm not in any way related to Asyong Aksaya *wink*

I guess I will have to bear everything. I'm not even halfway & I think I wanna give up already. Ok, ok, I admit, I am a sore loser =)

There's no more turning back 'though, I have to keep the white flag down whether I like it....
....or else.