Faith vs Superstition

My husband and I really wanted to have a baby. So, while we were still in Dubai, we had already bought baby stuffs (Philips Avent baby bottles, Graco stroller, baby clothes and shoes, and some other baby accessories) in preparation for having a baby. There were some people telling us not to buy stuffs ahead of time because it might pre-empt the event.  We respect the “pamahiin” that we Filipinos have but then, we held on to our faith that God will surely bless us with a precious child someday.

My husband bought me a book entitled “The Pregnancy Journal” by Christine Harris (A day-to-day guide to a healthy and happy pregnancy). Take note, I was not even pregnant yet at that time. He really searched over all the bookstores there, and once found, he had it reserved and bought it immediately. Another book he bought is entitled “Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy”, which is nowhere to be found here in the Philippines but is really very informative.

By faith we fought, we dreamed…and it all paid off. Thank God!

Simply Maternal

My husband and I attended the two series Simply Maternal Seminar conducted by Asian Hospital and Medical Center last August 21 and 28, 2010. Well, I have learned a lot about pre-natal care and newborn baby care. Good thing there are hospitals such as AHMC that are conducting seminars that are beneficial to pregnant women and first time moms like me.

The admission was free and they were also giving away freebies: Enfamama Milk, Avent container and breast pads, Pigeon wipes and breast pad, and J&J wipes, cologne, and oil. They also gave free snacks.

Me? Pregnant?

When I have learned that I was pregnant, I was overjoyed. Couldn’t express in words how I felt. This is it! We’ve patiently waited and prayed for it; finally, God blessed us in His perfect time. Having a very complicated medical history made this pregnancy really a miracle for me and my husband. I undergone surgery three years ago (September 2007) due to Endometriosis, then on December 2008, when I came back home for a check-up, I was said to have Polycystic ovaries. I had to take non-stop hormonal pills for six consecutive months as medication, so I thought it would take a long while before I conceive considering I have a retroverted uterus. Six months after I stopped taking the medicine, I finally got pregnant…thanks be to God!

Had a pregnancy test on May 13, 2010

Life outside Pinas

I admire OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers). Yes it’s true, they are the ‘heroes of today.’ They are heroes to their own families that they have to fight the sadness, aloneness, and homesickness of being away from them. They have overcome ignorance and fears of being a stranger in a foreign land. I was once an OFW and I enjoyed it - learning new things, adjusting in a new place, meeting new people. I was earning a lot, approximately five times of my salary when I was working here in the Philippines. I was able to buy branded clothes, watches, bags – shop till you drop! I was able to buy my family anything they requested. But in spite of living a comfortable, secure, safe, and let’s say, a bit luxurious life, it was not at all worth it. Each day of my life, I worried about my parents who were getting older day by day. I used to think of the days, months, and years that I was not able to spend with them and it made me feel regretful for the wasted time. Material things were just not enough to fill in the emptiness inside you being away from the people you love. Then I realized that sometimes, ‘A SIMPLE LIFE MEANS A HAPPIER LIFE’ Four years spent outside of my native land is enough, I want to go home. And here I am…happy and satisfied…no regrets!

Burj Al Arab in Dubai

The Wedding

According to Wikipedia, ‘Wedding’ “is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage.” There are some who prefer to have a solemn ceremony witnessed by families and few friends only. There are others who want to have a grand wedding celebration with almost the whole town residents invited. Others prefer civil wedding over a church wedding not because of lack of money but for practicality reasons. There are some who think that they will only receive God’s blessing if they are wedded in the church. We have different opinions about wedding, it doesn’t really matter how it is celebrated, what would matter in the end is the reason why it was done – because there are two people who love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together – MARRIAGE.

The Countdown Begins...

100 days to go and it’s…CHRISTMAS! Oh, how I miss celebrating Christmas here in the Philippines. I can really smell it as far as now. Can now see lanterns being sold in the streets, Christmas lights in some of the houses, and castanas (chestnuts) back in the market again!

It’s still early to think of gifts to give but already started to think of some gift ideas. I’m just so excited because now I’m back here in my home country wherein we celebrate Christmas at the longest time compared with other countries. But along with that excitement comes fear…because as reported in the news, Christmas-related crimes such as bag-snatching, picking-pocket, hold-upping, and other modus operandis will proliferate once again. Well I guess that’s part of life, we just have to be more careful and more cautious about our surroundings and never forget to pray for our safety.