Pregnancy and birth story of my eldest

July 5, 2005, 17 days after our wedding day, two red lines from the pregnancy test faced me. I smiled knowing I'm gonna be a mom but scared knowing that I'm gonna be a mom!
 

For my first trimester, I don't have food cravings. As far as I remember, there is only one crave I requested from hubby, that is to let him buy a Kit-Kat chocolate wafer for me and unfortunately he bought Knick-Knacks chocolate biscuits. Not a big deal for me, I ate the Kinick-Knacks :D Since its my first pregnancy, we are kind of OC - you know like being extra careful in everything stuffs and lots to avoid of. Good thing my OB is Dra. Atoc who is based at Mactan Doctors Hospital, a conventional type of doctor yet open to embrace new techniques and approach to caring pregnancy. 

5 months later, I quit my job and went home to our hometown. Nothing can help me relax than the comfort and support from my family especially my parents. I know I should stay with hubby and give birth beside him but him at work and me home alone all day seems scary while at hometown, I had anyone. This time Dra. Paano-Go is my OB, she's recommended by a very good friend and my cousin, Annalie, who at that time is also pregnant. Dra. Paano-Go is also her doctor so that alone is a big comfort. My cousin and I happen to have same expected delivery month.
 

On the night of March 6, 2006, I felt contractions every after ~20 minutes and because I cannot sleep, I asked mom to bring me to the hospital. But the resident doctor who checked my cervix informed me that its not open yet. Talk about false alarm. I tell you my tummy is in pain that night! That same night at the same hospital, mom told me that my cousin is on the delivery room about to gave birth. That makes me wanna push so we can have same birthdays on our daughters :D  (some wishful thinking eh :D) So the following days, hoping I get dilated before my due date, I took long walks. By the way, I was told that walking exercise will not make you dilate instead it will prepare your breathing as you make your big push.
 
On my due date, March 12, still there are no contractions :( We waited for 2 more days and still no progress so I went to check with my OB the baby's status. My ultrasound results then shows small particles beside my baby. Afraid that it might be the baby's first droppings (meconium), my OB recommends induced labor on that day. I went home, called hubby, took a refreshing bathe (mom said, I should at least be presentable :D) and checked again our hospital bags and relax (coz really I'm excited and at same time in panic mode) By 7pm that day, accompanied by my sisters, we're back at the hospital ready for induced labor. Late in the evening, the resident doctor check me and I'm 1cm dilated, I think I don't sleep well as I already feel the pain due to contractions yet when the resident doctor check again, it still 1cm. Yes, just the resident doctor, I haven't seen my OB that night.

 

The following day, still no progress with the dilation but its comforting to know that hubby is home. And I can now feel my OB's presence. She personally checks my cervix and yep its still 1cm. Its so upsetting bearing the pain for almost 8 hrs already and yet no progress. My water broke by midday, we were told that those particle seen in the ultrasound are not my baby's feces. I forgot to ask what were those particles.

By 8pm that night I was told I'm 5cm dilated but seems like I cannot take the pain anymore. I heard my mom asked me for something and I can't answer her straight. According to her, seeing  how I respond to her makes her conclude that I cannot wait longer for 10cm complete dilation, thus, she decided to tell my OB and hubby to proceed with cesarean delivery. Yes, I also agreed to perform CS since being in pain for ~24hrs is so unbearable.  I remembered being wheeled to the operation room. They have to let me curled so they can give the anesthesia, subconsciously I followed their instructions. Have heard their questions yet I vaguely remember my answers but I swear I heard my baby cried and I heard my OB's comment that my baby is clean. Next thing I know, I'm fully conscious and asked dad with regards to my baby. 

By morning, OB checked on me and inform me I could visit my baby at the baby station and I should start breastfeeding my daughter. All the pain vanished as I held my little baby for the first time. 

Here she is @ 5 days old.

Visiting Bantayan Island for the second time

I fell in love to it since my first visit. 

It's my husband's top place to visit in Cebu when family & relatives would ask.

And just because we want to have one last blast for summer 2014, off we went.

Because of our spontaneity, we travel by land through a non-aircon bus. We could not wait for the aircon bus and for trying to catch the 10:30AM voyage from Hagnaya Port, non-aircon bus it. Yes, we were not able to make the 10:30AM voyage. Instead, we have to ride on a 12:30PM with smaller ferry. By the way, during this time of the month, Amihan and Habagat (wind directions) seems like have an effect since waves are bigger thus, sailing is not that smooth. Infact, it makes me dizzy a bit.

We stayed at Beach Placid and choose Beach Front Room good for 4 persons at 1800PHP. This is with free breakfast. For our other meals, hubby chose to buy food outside the resort (fresh fish and fruits) and we just request the resort to cook for us. It has additional charges though. The resort is closer to the Sta. Fe's port. Though the beach is still clean, I personally prefer to beaches farther from the port. 

The kids love the beach. I see a change of impression my youngest (my next fear is that maybe he will not appreciate beaches unless the sand is white and that the water is crystal clear :D). My eldest likes that the place is simple and quite and that there is no pollution (according to her). The kids had close encounter with jellyfish. They are so thrilled they found a live one (me too :D)

Hubby loves to explore the place. There locals that let their motorbikes lend for a overnight at certain rate. We were able to borrow for 24hrs at 250PHP. There are bicycles for rent too at 150PHP for 24 hrs. We were able to explore Barangay Bantayan's market for its famous fish (fresh and dried).

My kids can't get enough of the beach. Hopefully, we can go home with the rest of the family.

Tips:
- Its best to start your travel early in the morning to catch air-conditioned bus. Travel time for air-conditioned bus is shorter than non-air-conditioned bus due to minimal stops for passenger pick-up. Don't worry, there's not much difference with the fare. 

. The earlier you arrived at the Hagnaya Port the better so you could catch the 10:30AM voyage of the biggest ferry.

- When making reservations, ask for free transport service. Resorts may pick the client from the port and transport back to the port after the stay.
- The island is abundant of fresh fish and shells, you have the option to buy your meals and let the resort cook for you.
- Stores closes at 6PM (during ordinary days). No night life (based on my observation)
- 2-days/1-night relaxation is not enough. Plan a longer stay.

- Have fun.

PS:
Our first visit to Bantayan Island, 5 years ago. Kudos to the locals who take good care of the island :D

9 years and counting...

It has been nine years since we said our "I do"s.
Through the years,
   We had our misunderstanding;
   We had our disappointments;
   We argue or worst we fight;
   Our characters always clash;
   Our goals are the same but our ways are different;
   We are mad, we cried.
But despite everything, we are still together,
   Because we understand;
   Because we hope;
   Because we reconcile;
   Because we compromise;
   Because we reconsider;
   Because we love;
   And so we laugh, we smile. Happy anniversary my Luvs, my Papa, my Taniel, my Partner.

I love you to the moon and back!
Thank you for sticking :D
God knows how thankful I am having you in my life.
I'm counting for more years of togetherness to come through God's grace.

Taken 13 years ago (Bohol Honeymoon)

Are we prepared to K-12 Education Program?

K-12, according to government's official site, is considered as the basic education needed to equipped him/her with fundamental knowledge and be competitive globally.

It consist of 1 year in Kindergarten, 6 years of Primary Education, 4 years of Junior High School and 2 years of Senior High School. Implementation is effective 2013-2014 school year.

Photo Credits: verafiles.org

For my child to prepare in this new system and be accepted in a reputable school, I would initially enroll him/her first in a preschool class or toddler/playgroup class. Some schools nowadays expect that kids are knowledgeable in ABCs, 123s, colors and shapes. In fact, the school will have to undergo student assessment before they accept new students. If Kindergarten is for 5 yrs old, Preschool is for 4 yrs, Toddler or Playgroup is 2-3 yrs old.

I let my eldest join playgroup class for socialization since she does not have someone to interact with at home (aside from her nanny). The 2-hr session consist of singing and dancing and storytelling and playing. She's 2 yrs and 5-month old then. Two years after, she started Nursery, then Kindergarten. She'll be in third grade this coming June 2014 and still enjoying it.

This summer I let my youngest join a toddlers class (still for socialization development). However, seems like teaching style is different, maybe because its a different school. Nevertheless, I'm sure, their teaching style is not effective. Letting a toddlers sit on a chair for 2 hours while the teacher is discussing alphabets and numbers and shapes and colors or giving materials for them to color or write or read, I doubt if its a smooth sailing class. I still want the way where children learn through songs, dance, stories and play.

The government should review the system. Is it quantity over quality? Too may levels but are the contents really present for the students to grasp the fundamentals? There are successful Pinoys that excel and they came from a 10-year basic education. Are they resolving the root cause of the education system's problem?

How about you moms out there? Are you prepared to K-12?

Food Trip: Banana Cake

Because we were not able to make it to the swimming class. 
Because she has nothing to do while waiting her brother (who is attending summer class for toddlers). 
Because she needs to do anything so she has something to write on her English assignment's "My Summer Vacation".
For whatever reasons, she's currently in for a cooking class. And yes, she totally enjoyed it. In fact, she baked something for me last mother's day - banana cake.

 Her version of banana cake:
(recipe from her cooking class teacher)

Ingredient:
3 pcs green bananas
3 pcs large egg
1 cup white sugar
1 cup/ 8 oz butter at room temperature
3 cups cake flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup peanuts

Procedure:
1. Pre-heat oven at 350°F.
2. Mashed bananas.
3. Combine eggs, sugar, butter, flour and baking soda.
4. Fold in mashed banana followed by 1/2 cup peanuts.
5. Put the batter in the baking pan and top it with the remaining peanuts.
6. Bake for 30-45min or until wooden stick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

Simple gestures... affects me big time.