Jaundice baby

We had an appointment today with Claira's Pediatrician and one of my concern is her yellowish eyes. The Doctor told us to have her bilirubin check right away before it's too late so we headed to the Laboratory and waited for the result at home. The Doctor called and told us that she's got jaundice so they arranged a nurse to visit us and bring a bili-bed (bed with ultra violet light) to lower down her bilirubin count. It's so sad that she's here with us but we only have a limited time to hold her coz she has to be in bili-bed most of the time. We can only take her out of the bili-bed to change her diaper and during feeding but not more than 30 mins. And that really breaks my heart. (sigh)

Here's our poor little one in bili-bed.

The Reward of My Agony

Claira at 8 hrs old.

19 hrs old

Sorry for not visiting your blogs guys. I will post what happened when I can keep up with this new stage of life and recover from the battle of my labor. Hopefully soon...

On Stretch marks

I never thought I would get any stretch marks on my tummy coz I wasn't scratching my tummy. But lately this month, I suddenly noticed the stretch marks and it's getting worst. I felt a little itch on my tummy but what makes it worst is I feel pain when I'm contracting. I just realized that the result of the pain are the stretch marks and it feels like somebody is slicing my tummy. I wonder at first of what the pink lines are and now I saw a little blood almost coming out. Oh boy, I hope the cocoa butter will do some miracle but I doubt it. I read the pregnancy book and it says there that there's nothing I can do with the stretch mark even if I apply something to stop it. I guess I just have to live with it and accept that it's part of being a mom. (sigh)

On indulging sweets...

As days goes by, my tummy grows bigger and I am gaining weight too. My feet are now getting wider from swelling and I am thankful that I have some sandals which are kinda loose in the past that perfectly fit on my feet now. I sort of blame myself for indulging sweets lately but hubby told me that if I don't indulge then maybe I feel weak also. I felt better when he told me the positive side of indulging sweets. Though I didn't like gaining more than what I targeted but I didn't feel breathless or weak anymore which I complain in the past. Hubby was worried seeing me weak especially if it happens in the morning when it's time for him to go to work but that didn't happen anymore after I started eating sweets regularly. But of course, I still try not to over indulge coz I don't want to end up having problems with diabetes. Sweets are okay in moderation as long as you know where your limits are then you'll be fine.

Lumpia and rice

I was craving for this lately so I made some in preparation for my delivery and cooked some for me too. Yummy! ^_^

Latest Pictures

I've been tagged by Joy "Pinaymama" with this meme. Thanks Joy for sharing this with me. I appreciate the thought. :)

All you need to do is:

1. Take your latest picture.

2. Take your picture as natural as possible.

3. Post your picture on your blog.

4. Post the rules.

5. Tag 10 people to do this tag.

Here are two of my latest pictures taken last Monday when I was 38 weeks preggy. ^_^





Now I'm tagging: Jenn, Twerlyn, Laradee, Sheng, Lynn, Elda, NovaS, Amiable Amy, Darlene and Nancy.

OB appointment today

Hubby and I went to the OB clinic today for the weekly check up. We listen to the baby's heartbeat and the practitioner measured my tummy. I am now 2 cm dilated and 50-60% effaced. One of the topic for today's visit is about inducing me the day or days before my due date once the baby doesn't want to come out yet. I could have gone to the hospital today if I want the baby out early but hubby and I prefer to wait for the real labor and not with the help of medicine if possible. But we agreed that if there's no sign yet next week after my next visit then we're going to use the medicine to start the process of labor. We'll just wait for my OB's go signal and see what will happen next...

Still Waiting...

... for that 5 minutes contraction to happen or my bag of water to break. There are times when I thought that I might be on labor when I feel the pain on my back and my abdomen plus I am contracting 7 to 5 minutes apart which of course made me think to do something and see if the pain will go away or my contraction will become closer. This contraction thingy made me nuts coz I'm scared thinking about the pain. I was thinking that it's better if the baby stay longer in my tummy but then I realize that the baby is getting bigger and heavier and the stretch marks on my tummy are now spreading and obvious. So now I wanted the baby out but there are things that hubby and I need to do, decide, work and we can do it better if the baby is still in my tummy. It's something very important and serious so I can't tell it here now coz it's not confirmed yet. Needs to think, think and think more. I hope everything will turn out the way we wanted it to be.

Turon

I was dropping EC one time when I saw a video of how to make turon (banana wrapped in eggroll wrapper) at Manong Ken's Carinderia website so I thought of making it someday. A friend of mine also mentioned that one of our Pinay friends here love to make this turon so that made me interested to try making it last week. This was my dinner and ate them all. Yummy! I will make this again. ^_^

A nice tag from blogging buddy Lynn. Thanks for sharing this sis, I appreciate it. :)

(The answers to the questions below must be based on "at this current moment.")

1. Where is your cellphone - at the dining table.
2. Your hair - a little below shoulder level.
3. Your father - he passed away when I was 8.
4. Your favorite thing - now? relaxing... (",)
5. Your dream last night - im not sure if i had one. maybe none. haha
6. Your favorite drink - water, unsweet tea and diet pepsi caffeine free.
7. Your dream goal - happy family
8. The room you are in - home office/baby's room.
9. Your fear - death of a loved one and a tight budget because of the bad economy
10. Where do you want to be in 6 years - here in US with my own family.
11. Muffins - regular or chocolate is ok as long as it's not too sweet coz im not a muffin lover.
12. One of your wish list items - dream house...
13. Where you grew up - Leyte
14. The last thing you did - putting vaseline on my lip.
15. What are you wearing - green sleeveless top and black maternity pants.
16. Your TV - ProScan
17. Your pets- none.
18. Your computer- MSI
19. Your life - great! (",)
20. Your mood - happy, excited, scared of the pain about the labor and sleepy again! hehe
21. Missing someone - nope.
22. Your car - Saturn
23. Favorite store - Ross!!!
24. Your summer - no plans yet
25. Your favorite color - pink
26. When was the last time you laughed - this afternoon when hubby said something funny. :)
27. When was the last time you cried - the other day while watching tv coz I got carried away. hehe
28. Last person who emailed you - sister
29. Your favorite food - a lot depends on my mood but now it's fried chicken.
30. A place you would rather be right now - Philippines so I can eat the yummy Filipino foods again. *wink*

Tagging those who are listed in my blog links and those who are interested to grab this. :)

Rest day...

It feels so good when I woke up this morning after having a good sleep. My baby really understand that mommy needs the sleep. After eating breakfast I went to bed again and sleep. I get up to eat lunch and back to bed again for more sleep. haha That's what hubby and I were doing today coz today is our rest day. I hope tomorrow we can have more sleep again. :)

Sleep is all I need

I just had 2 hrs of sleep last night, an hour of nap this morning and this afternoon. My baby is somewhat active and sort of wants to come out I think but I'm trying to tell her not yet coz I didn't have enough sleep. I'm afraid I won't be able to push the baby because I don't have the energy to do it. So far my baby is listening to me I think every time I tell her that I have to have a good sleep first and if it happens then she can come out whenever she wants to. hehe Aside from that, I think Friday the 13th is not a good day. I hope I can sleep well tonight so if I'll be on labor tomorrow then I have the strength to push and take care of myself and the baby while we're at the hospital. God Bless Us both. :)

Pregnancy Update and Ladies Night...

My day started with an OB appointment today. Hubby went with me coz he wants to know if my OB or practitioner will say something that he needs to know. Baby's heartbeat is 147 and I am 1 1/2 cm. dilated. Whoah! That surprise me and hubby knowing that the baby might come out any time soon though my due date is on the 30th of this month. So now we're just waiting for my bag of water to break or if I have 7 to 5 minutes regular contraction in 1 hour or if I have an intense pain coz that's the time to go to the Hospital. Hubby asked if I can still drive and the practitioner said that it's okay as long as I am 5-15 minutes away from the Hospital just in case something happen. We then had our lunch at an Irish Pub then headed to the Asian Market and went home. I made some eggrolls to throw in the freezer so after I give birth I have something to cook right away. Hubby went home and pick me up for another appointment and that's for our baby's Pediatrician. The Pediatrician interviewed us and we also interviewed him but mostly it's hubby who asked the questions that I told him to ask. The interview went well and we probably choose him and his wife as our baby's Pediatrician if I give birth tonight or tomorrow but we are expecting a call from another Pediatrician that a friend of mine referred to so we'll see.

Well, a friend of mine called me early this morning and said that we might have a ladies night out tonight and she'll call me back if it's confirm that we'll go out. After knowing that I am 1 1/2 cm dilated, I talked to my baby and told her not to come out yet coz mommy wants to have a good time first before she comes out. haha Hubby teased me that the baby will come out tonight but after my friend called me to confirm that we're going out, hubby wasn't worried if I go out driving alone and he even told me to have fun. (wink) I told hubby to put my luggage in the trunk of my car just in case the baby wants to come out while I'm on the road or at the Restaurant with my friends then I don't need to go home. All I need to do is go to the Hospital myself and meet hubby there. Then I put a towel on my seat, getting ready for the mess that my bag of water will bring. I hit the road and had a good time eating seafoods and chit chatting with my friends at the Chinese Buffet Resto especially the birthday treat (free dinner). haha We went to a shopping center after dinner and met at the store that we like to shop to see if there are items on sale. After that we decided to continue our chitchat at home coz my friends wants to see the baby stuff. hehe We had a good laugh sharing stories and experiences then my friends went home before midnight. It's nice to have friends around. I think everybody enjoyed the night though it's cold outside. :)

Here we are at our fave Chinese Buffet Restaurant. :)

Me and my friends again at home with our little angel's crib. ^_^

Is it Prodomal Labor?

I've been experiencing contractions and recorded them so I would know if I'm in the first stage of labor or not. I noticed that my tummy is kinda painful a little bit so I was massaging my tummy while surfing the net. I am trying to ignore the contractions coz it's not really that painful yet and so I thought I better get up, do something and see if the contraction or pain will go away. I had a snack first coz I was a little hungry then I wash the dishes and clean the kitchen. Here's what Prodomal Labor means.

Prodomal Labor:

WHAT'S HAPPENING
* The cervix begins to soften, thin and move forward, and it may begin to open. The baby settles into the pelvis.

* Contractions may be noticeable as an achy sensation or pressure in the lower abdomen or back. Contractions in this phase are usually irregular - starting and stopping, strong or mild. This is your body's natural way of gearing up.

* This phase can last from a few hours to a few days.

WHAT HELPS
* Don't worry whether or not this is really labor. For the vast majority, labor eventually makes itself very clear.

* Try to be patient and have confidence that your body is doing exactly what it needs to do.

* Take good care of yourself. Eat, drink plenty of fluids, rest, or take a walk.

* Surround yourself with people who can help you feel comfortable and safe. Your support team can keep you company and provide reassurance.

Food and Me...

Food, food, food. There's a lot of food to choose from. Restaurants are everywhere but I only like a few of them. I tried Indian, Chinese, Italian, Cajun, German, American, Vietnamese, Mexican and Filipino restaurants and the one that I like the most is of course the Filipino restaurant. Too bad, it's not available here. Anyways, those different cuisines are pretty interesting to me because my palate is used to the foods in the Philippines. I sometimes long for the Filipino cooking every now and then but I also have to learn how to like the foods that are available here. Now I learn to like the steak which I don't like even just the smell of it when I first arrive here. According to my Uncle who's in New Jersey that when he first went back to Philippines, he ate a lot of the stinky dried fish there because he missed it but after staying here for years, he said that the smell really stink. haha Isn't it funny? As of now, I still like the stinky foods which hubby sometimes asked me why I dare to eat the dried fish and squid that stinks but not the steamed vegetables which is good for my health. Oh well, I need more time to like the steamed veggies because it taste bitter. But I force myself to eat veggies here if I'm feeling weak or sick. No good. haha

Here's my opinion about the different cuisines that I tried...

Chinese - yummy but oily

Indian - more on hot and spicy. I can't understand the taste but will give it a second chance.

German - it was okay I think coz I wasn't complaining after eating. And in my third trimester, I love to eat in a Greek Resto here.

Mexican - I like the salsa and chips but most of their foods smell like kili-kili. haha

Cajun - spicy. I tried it a few times but didn't like the taste. Only their stuffed pork chop is acceptable to my taste buds.

Italian - It's acceptable. I love the Olive Garden Resto!

Vietnamese - similar to chinese cooking... yummy but oily.

American - steak and potato are a good match. I miss it sometimes especially if I can smell it. haha

Filipino - oh my, i miss pinoy foods soooooo much! How I wish to go back Pinas just to eat the foods there again. But it's too far and very expensive. (sad)

I'm ready...

At last, I can say that I'm ready for our baby's arrival. Hubby and I went to the Hospital last Saturday to Pre-register for my delivery. ^_^

Our little angel's crib with the monkey waiting for her.

With the praying doll.

And this is the hospital for Women and Children where I'm going to deliver the baby. :)

Bean sprouts with shrimps

I was thinking of cooking something healthy and so I made this bean sprouts with shrimps then I added some okra. The shrimp is good for my baby's brain now that I'm in the last trimester and the veggies are healthy for me and the baby. This is so yummy that I want to make this again and again. :)

Nobody's PERFECT!

I admit that I'm a perfectionist and I guess most of us wanted to be perfect in some ways. For me, I want to plan ahead and organize things around the house. I worry a lot of things which I shouldn't and that's one thing that gives me sleepless nights throughout my pregnancy. Yes, I sometimes can't sleep the whole night thinking of what to do next, how I'm going to do it and if I can finish everything that I planned. The last topic of our parenting class really hit me because our instructor who's a mom of 2 kids, a wife and a nurse is also a perfectionist and she shared her story that she still tried to organize everything in the house when she had her baby but then she failed. She said that it's hard for her to let go for being a perfectionist but if she wants to be good in one thing... she chose to be a good mom to her kids. This is kinda hard for me but she's right. I have to let go of that perfectionist thing or else I'll have an unhappy partner and a baby.

One of the issues when it comes to parenting is that mom's want their husbands to do the same thing that they do in taking care of their child which I agree but our instructor said that we moms need help and we should not be mad even if daddy is putting the diaper backward coz daddy will learn from his mistakes and will be good at it someday. She's right on this one too.

After the class last Thursday I kinda realize that I'm too hard on myself and to hubby when I want things done right away even if we're tired. I once told hubby that he has to do some work at home in preparation for the baby (though he needs some rest after work) and he can only rest once everything is done. The last Parenting Class session kinda open my eyes that babies doesn't need a very organize and very clean house but two loving parents who will take care and feed them.

Now I'm more relax knowing that supermoms are not real and if there's any then I salute them. I might be a supermom in one day but I can't guarantee to be a supermom every day so from now on I have to say "welcome clutter".

Moms, protect your newborn...

I remember when my Pinay friend gave birth to her son. I was visiting her and picked up her son without washing my hands. According to our instructor and to any pregnancy books that you can find that it's very important to wash hands before holding the baby coz the baby's immune system is not well develop yet. But what about sick visitors? Our instructor said that there are visitors who doesn't get it that sick people should not be around with the baby. She said that it's difficult to have a sick baby coz you have to watch the baby 24/7 with no medication if possible and that will make your life miserable and stressful to have a baby who doesn't want to eat, can't sleep and keep on crying because of pain and worst, a baby struggle from breathing.

First 2 weeks at home with the newborn:

1. No kids allowed in the house - kids can make your baby sick even if they don't look sick coz kids are like petri dishes. It's better though to keep your baby away from kids til they are 6 months old so your baby remain sick free.
2. No sick person allowed in the house
3. Accept offers from friends to do some chores but not offers of holding the baby while you're doing the chore coz you need to rest.
4. Accept food from family and friends.
5. Visitors should not stay longer than 30 mins. (I think this depends of who the visitor is) If the visitor makes mom happy then that's ok. I'm sure there are visitors that you don't want to be around especially if they are giving you unwanted advice and telling you what to do even if you know what you can do for your baby which is kinda annoying instead of making you feel better. So beware coz moms anger will go to the baby too.

That's all I can remember for now. Hope this can help a little bit to new moms out there. I know a few bloggers who are expecting for their first child so I'll post some info that we had in the Class. Good luck! ^_^

Update for Today...

I had my OB appointment today. Hubby took some hours off so he can go with me to the OB just in case I feel weak to drive but I insist that I can go by myself and told him to go to the walk-in family Doctor for his thyroid prescription. The check up happened so quickly but I was in pain afterwards. I only stayed there for 25 mins. then I went to Target to buy something even if I'm hurting. I went home and getting ready to go to the Asian Market to buy some groceries but I noticed something with my urine when I went to the bathroom... blood. I looked at the red paper that our instructor in Childbirth gave us for the warning signs and when to call 911. It says there that I should call my Doctor but then I'm convinced that I should call my Doctor coz I wasn't contracting very closely. So I took the prepared childbirth book and read about the signs of labor. It says in the book that during the early labor the amniotic sac may rupture and a pink mucous discharge could be evident which commonly known as "show". I still think that I'm not in labor and the blood was from the rough check up. I called hubby but he told me to call the Doctor and because I wasn't convince that I'm in labor I just call my Filipina friend (a nurse) who works at my OB's office and told her about what happened. She told me to go to their office so they can check of what's going on but I said that I just went there. She asked me if I'm contracting and told me to record the contractions and if the bloody thing becomes worst then I have to go there or if their office is close then I'll go to the hospital. After a few minutes I felt better and went to the Asian Market. When I arrived home I felt tired and sleepy so I took a nap. When I woke up I noticed that my little one wasn't moving which is kinda strange. I was worried of what's going on so I talked to her and told her to move for me. I think she move a little bit but that was it. After our dinner I ate 2 Hershey’s chocolate kisses to see if the baby will start moving after feeding her with sugar. Thank God, she started moving while hubby and I were on our way to the Parenting Class and she was very active while we're in the Class. The chocolate works! ^_^


The two hershey chocolate kisses that stops my worries. :)

I'm ready...

No, I'm not the one ready but my dear hubby. He was looking at the crib last night and said that the crib is ready so he's ready. Hmm Only the crib is ready but not the car seat, playpen and some areas of the house. As I said in my previous post, our place is still a mess but at least the crib which is the most important place for the baby is already in it's proper place and now waiting for our little angel's arrival. I still have to do some arranging which hubby sometimes hesitate to follow coz I keep changing my mind of where things go especially the heavy ones. haha For the baby's corner, hubby still have to put frames of Angels and Mother Mary on the wall. I asked hubby after our dinner to assemble the playpen which he complain at first coz he have other things to do but he did it anyway coz I insist. (wink) Then I need to sew my own nursing poncho or nursing cover coz the one available at store and the internet are expensive and they look easy to make.

How I'm feeling? - I'm having some abdominal pains, braxton hicks contraction, back and leg pain, bloated, tired and sleepy.

Our little angel's corner

At last, the crib is ready eventhough the room is still a mess. haha My mind is trying to think where to put all the things in their proper place coz my brain is not working right. Hmm But that's what they said that pregnant women are forgetful because of the stress and lack of sleep plus the change of hormone. Oh well, that's part of being a mom I think.

Sweet honey mango

I've been thinking about this honey mango lately and thank God, last Thursday when hubby and I went to the Asian Market it's available. My eyes becomes big looking at the pretty mangoes that I wanted to eat for months already. haha I took 5 and add two when the guy working there put a box full of pretty mangoes. As you can see in the picture, they are not fully ripe yet coz they still have a little green color on the skin but my mouth can't wait so I ate the one that has more yellow color in it and enjoyed eating even if it has a little sour taste. I told hubby that I should have bought more coz it's sweet and hubby told me that I can get more if I want to but then my friend told me that there's only two left when she went to the Asian Market at 4:00 pm which means there's nothing left the next day. Hubby like the honey mango but this time he didn't bother eating one or even a slice coz he knows that I like it. I hope there'll be more mangoes this coming Thursday so hubby can have a bite too. haha

Top 10 EC Droppers... February 2009

I want to thank the top 10 EC droppers of this blog for the month of February. This is my first time of doing this coz I didn't know how to find the top EC droppers before but today I tried my best to search the table for the top EC droppers so I can start thanking them. Anyways, here are the top EC droppers of this blog.

More Than Sew So
My Sweet Haven
C'est La Vie
My so-called Life
Lainy's Musings
Wonderful Things in LIfe
Angels in my Life
The Joy Of Life Forever
My Online Paradise
JDBelle's Insights

Hope you'll continue dropping EC here. ^_^