Luke's Dedication

Luke was dedicated to our Lord last November 17. A dedication is a Christian ceremony in which we, parents, make a commitment before the Lord to submit our child to God's will and to raise him according to God's Word and God's way. Luke was of the same age when Kuya Matt was dedicated that was why Kuya Matt's suit then fitted him also this time.



The dedication was a simple gathering of friends, family and relatives. Luke has 5 pairs of ninongs and ninangs.



I also surprised Dada Jay with a special AVP of greetings from artistas, haha! It was his birthday last Nov 19 and he had a very showbiz birthday celebration! I also gave him Edu Manzano's dance album personally autographed by Edu himself, hehe!

Our Matt Goes To Play School!

Last Monday was Matt's first day at play school. His class is from 11am to 12:30pm, Mon-Wed-Fri. It will just be 15 sessions. Dada and I accompanied him on his first day. Dada was like a stage father, he was watching Matt from the glass wall almost the whole time!

He had an assigment already. We were supposed to do it last night but i was sleepy while nursing Luke. I told Matt we would just do it this morning before going to class. When he woke up this morning, his first statement was, "Mimi, may assignment pa ko!" And so we did that. And while we were bathing, he told me, "Mimi, bilis, male-late na ko."

He is really excited! Nakakatuwa! Oh, our little boy is growing up fast!






By the way, I finally found the time to upload Luke's pictures from birth. You may view them here.

Blogging Again

Getting back to work after my 3-month maternity leave was quite hard. It's been 2 months since I last posted so you could just imagine how hectic my sked was. It's really difficult to juggle time among my duties as a wife, mom to 2 kids, my ministry work and my professional work. But I'm enjoying it at the same time. Hard but manageable...with God's grace.

Here's a recent photo of my 2 kiddos--->i miss them terribly when i'm at work.

It's Dada's Day!

Last Sunday was Father's Day. Our Church has an annual celebration for this event. As the Special Events Ministry Head, I hosted the celebration. One of our gimmicks is to Look Like Daddy (in whatever way to imitate Daddy or simply by being look-alikes). Um-effort si Mimi! I bought Dada and Matt red-and-white striped shirts to match Luke's bodysuit. Ang cute di ba?

After the Church service, we treated Dada to the ultimate buffet in Dad's Megamall. We knew how Dada loved his lunch!

Then picture-picture....



Luke fell asleep during the pictorial. So we opted to look like Luke this time...hehe!

The Battle is Over

Thank you so much to all those who prayed for my speedy recovery from Bell's Palsy.

Actually, after the two-week therapy and steroids intake, the rehab doctor said that I was ok. My case did not degenerate so if I did not tell you that I had Bell's Palsy you woudn't notice I had it. Praise God! He is really good..all the time!

I just don't blog recently because I don't have much time. It's not easy to juggle time if you have two kids already, hehe.

Anyway, Luke is gaining weight fast. He'll be two months on June 12. Matt is getting even smarter.

Fighting Bell's Palsy

After taking a bath last Friday, I went on my usual routine of checking myself in front of the mirror. I would like to know if I’m getting slimmer as an effect of my pure breastfeeding on Luke! Aside from the many benefits of breastfeeding, I know na super nakakapayat daw, hehe!

But then when I smiled, I noticed something different. Parang di pantay ang ngiti ko. Nakangiwi ako. Naka-favor sa left. Parang no reaction yung right part ng lips ko. Teka, ulitin ko nga. Change mirror. Aha, ganun pa rin. I cried. I thought I had a mild stroke. The day before, napansin ko while talking to a friend sa phone na nangingiwi ako magsalita. Pero di ko na pinansin kasi diretso naman ako magsalita after.

So that Friday morning, after noting na di pantay ang ngiti ko, I told Jay and my parents about it. I was crying. Sabi ni Jay, “Sige kindat mo kanang mata mo.” Oh no, I can’t squint my right eye! I immediately called a family doctor and relayed what I found out. He immediately said it could be BELL’S PALSY. Facial Paralysis in layman’s term. I asked if it’s related to my breastfeeding. No, it’s not in any way related to it. He immediately advised us to go to the hospital, he’d like to see me right away and endorsed me to the Physical Therapy unit. We were in the hospital in 15 minutes. When he saw me, he had no doubt it was Bell’s Palsy. What could be the cause? UNKNOWN. Up to now, puro theories pa lang. No proven fact.
1. It could be viral.
2. Exposure to extreme temperature.
3. Too much side-lying. (Pwedeng naipit ang nerves.)

Among the three, the nearest to my case is the last one. I always lie on either side when breastfeeding on bed. Pero wala naman akong kakilalang nagbe-breastfeed na nagka-bell’s palsy. Side-lying is one of the most comfortable breastfeeding positions. Saka di ba, pag- preggy nga dapat sa left side natutulog. So parang di naman ako convinced na ito ang cause.

Jay and my parents even had their own theory: STRESS. After delivery, they knew how stressed I was. Puyat. Recovery from 2nd CS after 10 hours of painful labor, etc, etc.

Whatever the cause is, this is a battle I have to fight. And I hold on to what the doctors said that this is NOT permanent. Bell’s Palsy is curable. 2 weeks to a month at the earliest. I just have to be faithful to the therapy sessions and medications.

I had to take steroids to prevent swelling of my right facial muscles. At first, our family doctor said I could NOT go on breastfeeding. I could not help but cry. I’ve exerted so much effort going on pure breastfeeding. It was just a week since I became successful on that. Well, it was to save my face daw, to avoid sagging. It was a good thing I detected the condition early. Some do because they notice facial deformities already.

That same Friday morning, I was asked to start the 6 series of therapy sessions. Iyak pa rin ako nang iyak knowing I had to stop breastfeeding. Baka nga nagtataka yung therapist kasi sabi niya gagaling naman ako pero tumutulo luha ko. More than anything, it was stopping breastfeeding that made me the saddest.

It was a good thing that while I was undergoing the procedure, our family doctor came back and told me that he had consulted an expert on steroids. And yes, it’s ok for me to go on breastfeeding Luke even if I’m on steroids. Yehey!

I was kinda emotional the first few days upon learning I have Bell’s Palsy. But then I realize my condition is not so bad.

Let me tell you why the Lord is so good to me.

1. I have this condition two weeks after delivery. If I had this earlier on while pregnant, steroids are a no-no for preggies. I read that for preggies, Bell’s Palsy strikes on the 3rd trimester.
2. I have this while I’m still on maternity leave. I have a lot of time going to the therapy sessions and check-ups. Ayoko ngang makita ng officemates ko na ngiwi ang mukha ko, hehe.
3. For some reason, I began storing breastmilk when Luke was 11 days old. I discovered Bell’s Palsy when he was 14 days old. That means, I have enough milk stored for him even if I have to go out.

It was said that my condition would go through a phase of regression. Lalala daw. Kasi for the nerves to regenerate, it has to complete the process of degeneration. That means papangit ako, hehe! Ok lang, sabi naman ni Dada Jay, love pa rin niya ko kahit pumangit ako, haha!

With the Lord on my side, this would be an easy battle. Plus the support of my family, Church mates, and friends is really overwhelming. I cannot ask for anything more.

Well, God is indeed good…all the time.

A Very Happy Birthday

April is a very special month for our family. With the arrival of Luke on the exact day of our Wedding Anniversary, we now have 3 special occasions to celebrate this month. Last Sunday, I celebrated my birthday (my last on the calendar, hehe!). It was a simple get-together of family and friends. I just invited Churchmates. But Jay surprised me by inviting 3 of my closest officemates and 2 of our HS friends. It was a very happy birthday for me. Thanks to Dada Jay!

Who's Who?

Presenting the look-alikes...





Would you be able to tell who's Matt and who's Luke?




The first in the 2 pairs of pictures is Luke. He resembles Kuya Matt a lot!

Luke has finally arrived last April 12. He was God's perfect gift to us because it was also our 4th Wedding Anniversary the exact day he was born.

We were thinking to go to Enchanted Kingdom that day. Jay has 3 free tickets. Since Monday last week, we were always out strolling as we await the big day. But oh, I was in the labor room 7am because of super painful contractions.

I attempted for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). Luke was in head-down position in the last utrasound. I labored for 10 hours but dilated up to 6 cm only. Luke was a big baby (like Kuya Matt) and although my xray pelvimetry revealed that my pelvic diameter has adequate dimension, his head did not engage in my pelvic inlet (like Kuya Matt). Oh well, I guess I'm always meant for a CS hehe. God has planned for that to happen because it would be safer for me and my babies. (",)

Thanks to those who prayed for my safe delivery. We will begin another chapter in our family.

Our Luke is Very Active!

Luke has always been on head-down position (cephalic). But these past few weeks, he is making a tour of my uterus! 2 weeks ago, at 35 weeks, he was found to be of breech presentation. The week after, my OB could sense that he was head-down again. Last week, my doctor sensed he was breech again. So it's like every week, during check-ups he changes position. We kind of worry because based on his 4D ultrasound before, he had loose cord coil.

I am aspiring for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) this time. I've disciplined myself a lot to be able to do that. My sugar level didn't go up. I didn't have manas this time unlike with Matt's. But if Luke's position is really breech then I'm a likely candidate for CS again.

Oh well, let's just wait and see. As long as he comes out safe and healthy, whatever the Lord's will...so be it...

Take a Look at Luke...

Last Feb 14, a 4D ultrasound was conducted to check on our 2nd baby, Luke at FortMed Medical Clinic in Makati.




At first, we couldn't see his face because he was angled with his back towards the ultrasound camera. So they asked me to walk for 10 minutes. He changed position after but was quite elusive because his hands were all over his face. After sometime, voila! We were able to take a peek on him.



I guess he resembles Matt.
But then it was found out that he has loose cord coil. The cord was over his shoulders. Kindly pray that he'll be ok inside my womb. Thank you so much!

Matt Turned 3

Matt had a small party two days before his birthday. We just invited Church friends and close family members. Holding a party for him was a sudden decision. Matt was the one who requested for a party and specifically told us that he wanted a pabitin. Oh well, i guess this is the time that he appreciates parties and games so why not. It was just a simple merienda.



He also chose the design of his cake. At first, we just ordered for a Spongebob cake but later he said he wanted to include Patrick and Sandy in the design.



And of course, the pabitin...




On his birthday, Feb 13, we brought him to Fun Ranch near Tiendesitas. He played there for an hour.




Matt loves being massaged! Bisyo nya 'to bago matulog. So we treated him to his first ever spa in Fun Ranch.





It was a fun-filled day although Matt was not feeling well. In fact, that morning, we brought him to his pediatrician.

One Day in the Life of A Working Mom

Matt and I spent a lot of time during the holidays. I took a vacation leave during the Christmas week. We had so much bonding.

I brought him to the office the other day. Yesterday, while I was dressing up for work...

Matt: "Mimi, punta ka ng office?"
Mimi: "Yes, baby."
Matt: "Wag ka punta, Mimi. Dito ka lang sa bahay."

He began to cry.

Mimi: "Sinama na kita sa office kahapon, di ba? At saka andito naman si Yaya."
Matt: "Ayoko si Yaya, gusto ko ikaw alaga sa akin."

He was crying a river. He was begging me to stay home.

Matt: "Mimi, please Mimi, please...please." He went on crying.

My heart melted and I was also crying. Then I decided not to go to work yesterday.

Mimi: "O sige, hindi ako pasok today pero bukas pasok ako, ha?"
Matt: "Ayoko, wag ka ring pasok, bukas."

Aha, he wanted me not to work anymore!

So I convinced him that I would bring him to the office again yesterday. I didn't bring Yaya.

While in the car, I was crying and was contemplating of being a stay-at-home mom. Oh well,that's a tough decision to make. Maybe in time...

Well, we survived the day without Yaya. My officemates looked after him. I even attended two meetings yesterday.

So how did I manage to go to work today without the mala-teleserye scene again? I asked Matt's Lolo and Lola (my parents) to come over our house to be with Matt. That way, he would be busy doing things with his grannies.

It was another struggle of being a working mom...

And Our Second Baby Is...

It's been a long time since my last post. I miss blogging!

Anyway, Happy New Year to all! Been busy the holidays.

I had a Congenital Anomaly Scan last week. It's a kind of pelvic ultrasound where the baby is scanned if his organs are developing well. We're happy to know that our second baby is growing ok in my tummy.

Plus, we knew the gender already! And we're having another baby BOY!

We've been praying for a baby girl this time but I believe the Lord knows so well that He gave us another boy. We shall name him Luke. We purposely passed on Mark kasi baka magtuluy-tuloy yung 4 evangelists and maging boy lahat ang kids namin, hehe!

Before the ultrasound, Matt changed his mind and told us that he wanted a baby brother. He is super happy because we're having another boy. Para siguro playmate. We always tell him to be a good Kuya to Luke, to lend his toys to his brother and even the clothes that are small for him already.

When he is wearing something that's too fit for him, he would take it off and tell me, "Mimi, kay Luke na lang 'tong damit ko, kasi masikip na." That's cute and sweet. (",)