GRINNING!

I am so overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness!!!

Scare

Monday night, I went to the birth place of the hospital close to where we live. I've had more than four contractions in less than an hour while I was lying on the sofa that very night... relaxing after a post Valentine Italian dinner and a trip to the grocery. Each contraction was getting closer, from fifteen minutes down to eleven then to eight minutes, lasting from about a minute to three minutes and the tightening was intense. Although it's really nothing like the worst menstrual cramp I have ever had, it surely felt different.

When I called my OB she asked me to go straight to the hospital to stop it. What do you know, when I was strapped on to the monitor my contractions were already three minutes apart!!! Good thing my cervix has not dilated yet! But it was about to because according to the nurse, it has soften and about ready to... she tried to push back the baby's head which was obviously engaged down there getting ready for the major show! NOOOOOOOO! It's still too early...

I was given two shots of terbutalyn to stop the contractions. It gave me palpitations and it felt I was catching my breath every time... that was the side effect. The good thing was the contractions were gone. I was sent home after being in the triage for five hours. My little boy was asleep, oh poor thing. We had to drag him out at three in the morning to go back home...

Now, I'm home not entirely bed bound but mostly comfortable. I cannot be standing too much. Whenever I feel tightening and a bit of cramping, I'd go lie down on my left side and try to relax. The chores are taken care of. I am grateful that my husband agreed to hire a househelp! Otherwise, I'd be crazy and tired and crazy!

Oh well, here's to four more weeks and I should be fine! Oh baby, hang in there! =)

Valentines

It was a Saturday full of love and happiness! A wonderful way to celebrate the Valentines indeed. I had my second shower courtesy of my soul sisters here in Colorado (the Couples for Christ). It was an intimate one because I chose the guests (but of course LOL!)... we were as loud as we can be and we had so much fun with the oh so many games.

We capped the night off by having a Mexican dinner, to send off one of our Titas (well she's going to NY for a couple of months or so)... boy, I can really use their company. I am glad how they have planned and offered how to help us when we have the little ones. Oh such generous souls, and such wonderful people!

This baby is surely loved even before she was conceived!

***

On my 33rd week now (in four weeks, I'll be full term), and gosh everything is just HEAVY! I am in pain, headaches, cramps, back aches, hip pain, etc. I feel like the baby is pounding on my pubic bone already. Yes, I'm carrying low now. I have a new set of stretchmarks around the belly button and and my pits couldn't be darker (Oh Lord!), my nose has blown beyond my imagination (hahaha!)... and oh I try to feel beautiful despite all these... I TRY!

At night, it's difficult to find a good position and once I get at it I need to get up again to pee! And there goes the routine of trying to get into a comfortable position, and back again hahay! I have been taking Tylenol perhaps three nights already just to manage some pains and headaches. It does help, but I have to check with my OB if I can get addicted (hope not).

***

I plan to get the help move in two weeks earlier than planned. I can't manage anymore. All I want is to lie down, raise my legs, and just sleep the pain away. The laundry awaits, need to load the dryer, the dishwasher, vacuum, and of course prepare the baby stuffs and the maternity bag! SIGH!

***

All these plus office chores and whatnots. Lord, I know I should be grateful!!! And I am... Thank you for keeping my mind and body busy... away from the temptation of crazyvilla... hehehe!

Swell

At thirty two weeks, I see that my calves and my feet have grown to a size able enough to carry my weight... otherwise, matikwang ko LOL! Yes, I am now swelling... from my nose to my toes! There is this tightening around my lower abdomen and groin that feels like I'm wearing a very tight garter around where my belly sits. It is very uncomfortable and painful sometimes!

There is nothing much that I can do but sleep it off. I get pissed of complaining about all these... and I am tired of feeling useless and almost always out of breath and energy to do simple chores. Still eight weeks to go and I am so tempted to schedule an induced labor at thirty seven weeks, so this whole ordeal will be over. I am no longer scared nor terrified of the nightmares I've had about labor and delivery.

My belly feels so low already and my OB thinks so too, but that doesn't change my due date! My abdominal muscles are just loose, that's all there is. Although a part me of thinks this baby may be bigger than Akio... more than seven pounds perhaps? Who knows! Oh well...

This coming Saturday, another shower to go to... I am looking forward to it! I just hope it's going to get warmer because all my pants doesn't seem to fit anymore... (and I want to wear a dress) this belly has increased by two inches since last week and my belly button is winking to its closure.

Oh pregnancy, oh pregnancy! Oh baby, oh baby! The woes and joys, one can never have one without the other... like yin and the yang... the bitter and the sweet... who cares... I can't wait to have my baby SOOON!