Feeling Blessed! :)

As I mentioned in my previous post in facebook, my husband and I found out through a home pregnancy test that I was pregnant on March 17, 2013. But since I did not experience the usual symptoms of being pregnant, we opted not to share it to others up until we have consulted a doctor and confirmed it with her.

On March 30 (Saturday) and on April 1 (Monday) of 2013, after the holy week, I noticed that I had a slight bleeding. Since it happened during office hours, I consulted our school nurse and she suggested to immediately go to the doctor to personally check the reason why it happened this early. So after work, my husband and I went to the nearest hospital. I had laboratory tests; we confirmed that I was pregnant and everything was normal. The doctor in the Emergency Room scheduled me for an ultrasound the following morning to see if everything was really okay.

So on Tuesday morning April 2, 2013 (exactly one year ago today), I had my first ultrasound and was shocked to find out that I had an existing 7weeks yolk sac without an embryo inside. The doctor asked me to come back on April 9, 2014 (Tuesday) to repeat the ultrasound procedure, to see if the pregnancy will push through or not.

I asked if I can still go to work and the doctor said, if there is no bleeding, I can continue working. If the bleeding continues, I will have to rest for a week or so. Fortunately, the bleeding stopped so I went back to work after lunch that day. I felt really scared and weak inside but we chose not to entertain the negative thoughts I had in mind. We strongly believe in prayer and I know that whatever happen, it is always for our own good. We just prayed that whatever it is that He planned for us, we can be able to wholeheartedly accept and understand it.

On April 9, 2013 (Tuesday), we went back to the hospital for another ultrasound. There, we were able to see a live embryo who is 7weeks and 4 days old with a heartbeat of 159bpm. We really thanked the Lord for this wonderful blessing! He made us so happy. Nothing is really impossible with God.

As of today, my very healthy baby Ava is 4 months and 11 days old. She is a blessing from heaven that we will always treasure for the rest of our lives. J

The Anxiety I Got from the Congenital Anomaly Scan

My OB-Gyn suggested that I should undergo Congenital Anomaly Scan. The name of the procedure itself made me feel very anxious the moment she told us that.

To fully understand, I shall explain briefly what really is it.

CAS is a procedure which takes a closer look at the baby inside the pregnant's womb. The sonographer (the one who performs it) will check whether the baby is developing normally. She will look at where the placenta is lying inside the pregnant's uterus. She will also count the fingers and measure the size of the baby's bones. It is usually done between 18 to 20 weeks (and above) of pregnancy.

I was supposed to have it on August 10, but I insisted to have it on August 3 because I was feeling soooo anxious about it for a month already. Plus the fact that I also wanted to know this early if it will be "little noel or little tina" :)

So the moment of truth came. We went to the hospital early but we still got the 9th slot. It was a bit expensive but that's okay, it's for our baby (that's our motivation! :p)

I was praying while the sonographer was doing the procedure. I was also looking at the monitor even though I don't understand what she was looking at. hehehe! When she's done measuring all my baby's body parts, I immediately ask for the gender. hahaha! and she said... It's a Girl! I am so happy she would be a Scholastican ^_^

Then she told me there is something she sees in the heart. But my OB-Gyn will be the one to explain what is it. OMG! That statement took my smile away. I felt so anxious again. Then the sonographer got an anxious look on her face. I did not understand why. Then she told me, my baby was hiding her face. She was covering it with her hands. So she told me to go out, walk and drink then come back after she's done with two other patients.

So I approached my hubby who was waiting outside. I told him what the sonographer told me and we calmed ourselves up. Whatever happens, we both know we did our best, so there is no one to blame. My hubby also called my sister who is a nurse (she is also performing 2D echo to adult patients) to ask for advice.

Then when we went back to the room, the sonographer allowed my husband to accompany me during the remaining procedure. She lets us see the face of the baby and it was sooo cute!

Maybe because she noticed we were really worried, she briefly explained what she saw in my baby's heart. She said there was an echogenic structure seen in the left ventricle of my little princess' heart. Then she said there are studies saying that those echogenic structure seen during scans are insignificant. Maybe the little white spot there was calcium deposit or just muscles that is yet to develop. (Thank God!)

But at the end, she suggested to do fetal 2D Echo to make sure everything is really okay.

At 2pm, we went to our OB-Gyn and raised the issue seen in the scan. My doctor said she had patients who happen to have the same experience as ours, but the babies turned very healthy. So meaning, nothing significant. Thank God. There is really nothing to worry about.

The following day, we showed the result to my sister and she said everything is going to be fine... and we are claiming, everything and everyone is in good condition. There is no impossible with God! :)

Feeling Frustrated

I feel sad.. really sad :(

Last May, I did not get a chance to use my remaining sick leave (more or less 3days) and vacation leave (6 and a half days) because of the workloads in the office. On May 6, I filed for a sick leave because of my pre-natal check-up. But my hubby was not available to accompany me so he moved the appointment on Tuesday. I reported to work that Monday. I asked my co-counselor (who is on-leave) to come to school so I can be absent on Tuesday (May 7). But since I know we have a lot of things to do in the office, I went to school to help her from 8:00am to 10:00am. I did not record my time-in/time-out that day, for I believe, I was on sick leave.

On May 17, now I remember, I decided to use my vacation leave for one day so I filed it (this is what I remember). But my husband does not want to be absent from work. So I realized, I should come to school instead, because I have nothing to do at home. Since I filed a vacation leave, I went to work and did not record my time in/out again. 

But on June 2013, when we signed the attendance log, I was reported absent on May 7 and 17. In my pay slip, I was deducted for two days. That was equivalent to P1+++! Now I could not get the money they deducted from me because my two application forms for sick and vacation leave were missing. I feel really sad about it. I am fully aware that I also have a mistake. I feel sad because my intention was purely good and this is what I get. I am very much "attendance conscious". As much as possible, I do not want to be late nor be absent in work/school. I even come to school during holidays and I am more than willing to spend extra hours (without pay) just to finish what I have to do.

I just feel emotional right now... and I really wanted to release all my negative thoughts and feelings.

I remember... It was in school year 2011-2012 when I was assigned to become the Art Club Moderator. Being the head of the Art Club, it is my responsibility to make backdrops for the school's events and programs. One of these is the Culminating Activity for the Buwan ng Wika. Since it was a holiday the day before the culminating activity and because we were not able to finish doing the backdrop, i went to school with my cousin and tried to finish it. Luckily, we were able to finish 90% of it so the event went well.

Another thing, I was usually half day on Saturdays. But on January 29, 2011 I was scheduled to administer the entrance test for year 1. The test started at 8am and ended at around 3pm. We wanted to have a lot of enrollees so I volunteered to extend until almost 5pm just to finish the test and to release the exam result. The same thing during Cavite Day. It's always declared as holiday but when needed, i report to school, especially for entrance test administration.

I am being emotional because my time-in/time-out that the school guards recorded is not enough for me to get back the money they deducted. I was indeed present and I reported to work on May 7 (8am to 10am) and May 17 (7:46am to 4:11pm).

I feel sad because I was not able to maximize the vacation that i deserve. I have been in SSCW since 2010. I was not entitled yet for a summer vacation for sy2010-2011, I filed a two day vacation leave for sy2011-2012 (13 vacation leave were not used), and for sy2012-2013, I used 8.5days for our wedding and was not able to use 6.5days of it.

Now what? :( I blame myself for being irresponsible :( I feel sad and frustrated because I believe i do not deserve the deductions i got. Am I being irrational already? :( 

Ang mga Taong "Relihiyoso"

Nasasaad sa Bibliya, ang paglilingkod sa kapwa ay paglilingkod sa Dios, pagibig sa Dios, pagmamahal, tungkulin at pagsunod sa kautusan at sa kalooban ng Dios - Mateo 25:31-40 

Simba ng Simba ngunit hindi marunong isabuhay ng mga Salita ng Diyos.

Ganito na ba ang trend ngayon?

Kung sino pa ang palagi mong nakikita sa simbahan, nagsisimba, o nagbibigay ng kanilang "serbisyo" sa Panginoon ay siya pang mga taong kakikitaan mo ng hindi mabubuting asal.

Nasaan ang sinasabi ninyong serbisyo kung ang Salita ng Diyos ay hindi nakikita sa mga gawa ninyo?

Nakakalungkot..

"Things I Wish I'd Known Before We Got Married"

Last September 13, I was asked to join the Book Fair in MOA. Then while browsing the books in OMFLit Section (publishing house) I've found this very interesting title "Things I Wish I'd Known Before We Got Married" and it was written by Gary Chapman, to my delight. :) 

I remember that one of my professors, Prof. Myrna Sanchez (family counselor in CEFAM) uses the teachings of this respected author in her counseling. He was actually the one who coined the five love languages.

If you are single, in a relationship, currently engaged or married, i highly recommend that you read this book. I'm still not done reading it but I have already learned a lot and applied most of the pieces of advice that I got from Gary Chapman. 

Take note, I received positive feedback from my fiancé ever since i started reading this. ^_^

People from all walks of life will surely be able to relate in this book. Gary talks like you are just having a conversation over a cup of coffee. 

Following are the topics that you can find inside the book:

I wish I had known...

• That being in love is not an ADEQUATE FOUNDATION for building a SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE

I've learned that our thoughts are obsessive in nature. When we are in love, we see our partner as the most wonderful and exciting person that we have ever known. We want to be with them every single day of our lives. But this obsession period that we commonly experience has an average life span of two years. Imagine that. For some, it lasts longer but it will surely fade. Which is why, we have to do something to make our love and relationship grow and mature in order for it to last forever.

• That ROMANTIC LOVE has two STAGES

1st Stage: Requires a little effort. We do all the possible things that we see in order to see and be with the person we love. We please them as much as we could for we know that with this, we are able to make them feel how much we love them.

2nd Stage: Requires work in order to keep the emotional love alive. This includes identifying the love language of your partner.

According to Gary Chapman, there are five love languages that we have to consider in keeping and maintaining any kind of relationships. They are:

1. Words of Affirmation
2. Quality Time
3. Receiving Gifts
4. Acts of Service
5. Physical Touch

• That the saying "LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER" and "LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON" is not a myth
• How to solve DISAGREEMENTS without ARGUING
• That APOLOGIZING is a sign of STRENGTH

There are also five apology languages:

1. Expressing Regret

2. Accepting Responsibility

3. Making Restitution

4. Genuinely Repenting

5. Requesting Forgiveness

• That FORGIVENESS is not a FEELING
• That TOILETS are not SELF-CLEANING
• That mutual sexual FULFILLMENT is not AUTOMATIC
• That I was MARRYING into a FAMILY
• That SPIRITUALITY is not to be equated with "GOING TO CHURCH"
• That PERSONALITY profoundly influences BEHAVIOR
• Developing a HEALTHY DATING Relationship

I would not elaborate more because I am a bit tinatamad today. I will edit this blog, as soon as i find time. hehehe!

Alright!

I've been reading a lot of blog posts about marriage preparations and i found it very useful to us. Now is my turn to share with you our own marriage and wedding prepping. Enjoy!