What did I do to deserve this?

I have wanted to visit this spa in Quezon City which specializes in prenatal massage. When I hit 2nd trimester I knew my back was going to suffer really badly, so I craved a massage everyday and would only read about this spa and its reviews over the net but not really knowing when I'd be able to get it done on me. It's just an awful waste of time, effort, money and energy to travel from Cavite to QC just for a massage when I'd have to travel back to Cavite soon after...

Then yesterday morning, as I was settling into my now normal routine of feeding my shih tzu's pups and making sure that Sofia (the dam) gets to take her meds and drink her milk (since it's the only thing she tolerates, although I still have to force it on her), a question was brought up by my dear dear Josua: "Gusto mong massage?" (You want a massage?) And acting a little bit less excited, I said: "Well, who would say no to that?", while I hide a grin that has spread across my face.

I didn't know when this massage was going to transpire, but I looked forward to it the entire day.

Apparently, he's been youtube-ing prenatal massages the entire day and learning the strokes...

That night at around 8.30pm, from the very first warm oily stroke along my calves, I have felt heaven. He didn't knead me like a dough, as I was accustomed to with previous massages I've experienced, it was a very gentle, very loving rub. And I could feel my dear Kulay moving in my belly, probably sensing the relief and relaxation his momma is experiencing.

I loved the shoulder rub, my shoulder's have been taking a beating since the pups have arrived, but the best part of it all is when Josua told me: "Nag-eenjoy ako sa ginagawa ko." (I'm enjoying what I'm doing.) That just sealed it. I am sure to coax another round of this before and after I give birth. At least I didn't force it on him.

When he finished with both sides of my body, I was sort of in a trance, super relaxed and almost asleep but conscious enough to know it's over. If I didn' have to feed the pups for the last time before I sleep, I would have just dozed off at that moment.

Just to be certain, as I was going through the pups one last time before I sleep, I thanked my love, Josua, for the best massage EVER! (better than the most expensive ones I've tried) and I subtly, vocally, wondered "Mauulit kaya ito?" (Would it happen again?)

And the answer was a happy "YES."

YU-TEE-AY, and the days that follow its discovery

(this is a LOOOOONNGGGG one, narrative ang tawag dito)

Early on in my pregnancy, I started getting used to bladder issues, it was my first complaint to my OB as I was describing to her how I was feeling after knowing I was pregnant. I was told it's normal to be peeing more often. Hah!

On my 6th month visit to my OB, I told her that I'm itchy down there. And that whenever I feel like peeing and having a full bladder I would pee too little to my dismay and discomfort. She immediately suspected that I have a urinary track infection, thus, a urine sample was in order. After proving her suspicions, she gave me prescription of antibiotics which I have to take 3 times a day for 7 days with the additional instruction of drinking loads of water.

And the adventure happens the following day:

I was set to meet with a dear friend, Wanda, who just had a knee operation. I couldn't visit her then, due to her exposure to someone with chicken pox, so we set a date when she was already able to get out of the house to meet up.

Taking to heart, my doctor's last instruction. I was on water therapy from the get go. I knew I was gonna pee a lot but I didn't know what was in store for me until I left the house. I actually made sure I peed 3 times before leaving. However, I have only walked a few meters from the gate when I started feeling the urge but it wasn't that great an urge, so I disregarded it and rode the bus which was to take me 'til Baclaran. 2 mins in, I was really really feeling it! Good thing there was a stop near a Chowking where the bus would be waiting a while, I spoke to the conductor and told him to wait for me, I just needed to pee. (that was a relief!)

Now, I thought, maybe this would be the last until I reach Baclaran. Was I so WRONG! 10 mins, into the ride, about 30 mins away from SM Bacoor (my nearest possible Toilet access) I was feeling the urge again. I was feeling it everytime the Bus had a sudden move. I was able to make it to SM, however when I had my chance to go down, it felt like I could make it til Baclaran. So I forged on. But on that very short but very jammed Aguinaldo road that will lead the bus to Coastal, the urge seemed to be stronger... there was light in the fact that a Jollibee was on the way. But then again, I still felt like I could make it til Baclaran, so I forged on still!!! (Sayang ang pamasahe). Good thing Coastal road wasn't that jammed that day, save for the stop light at the end of it. By that time I was really set on going down Airport Road, there was a KFC near the corner, I just needed to go down on a red light, otherwise I'd be climbing up and down the pedestrian walkway. Yey! Red light, right when the Bus was infront of the pedestrian passage. OH noh!!! Such bad timing for the traffic enforcer to assist in the flow of traffic, he was letting the cars from Coastal move forward to ease the traffic! I had no choice, I had to wait til Baclaran.

In Baclaran, the driver chose to stop a few meters after the pedestrian opening, My nearest toilet access was a 2 minute brisk walk, which I could only describe as hell-ish for me. However, upon reaching Mang Inasal's restrooms, I was SOOO glad that there wasn't any line, as I was prepared to beg whoever was first in line. The trip to this restroom may have been hell, but the relief that follow after was definitely close enough to Heaven.

I was already on EDSA when Wanda sent a text: "Mare, I found something on my arm. It may be chicken pox, it's not itchy, but it could be it. So your call..." Sheesh after all I've been through! Good thing, a blessing in disguise of sorts, I was also on my way to see a friend (and her family) at her father's burial. Or else, I would have seriously seriously thrown a fit! hahaha! (Actually not really, I also scheduled this to go to SM for my baby shower registry, but still)

The rest of the day was easy enough, I guess I learned my lesson well.

So I canceled my meet up with Wanda. For lunch, I took my antibiotics with not so much water, but still more than usual, I was in a mall anyway, there's toilet everywhere. And I'll just be 10 mins away from where my friend is by cab.

Stayed a while at the funeral, hoping to catch the early birds among our friends. Left about 7-ish, took a cab to Galleria and then took a bus to MOA, I had an easy takeout for dinner and took my antibiotics with enough water. Traffic wasn't that bad. I was still on a major peeing mode when I got home, but it wasn't as bad as it was in the morning.

What a day! I don't want to have to take medication again during this pregnancy!!! It's just a huge hassle.

The not so Minor Rash

Forget oggling over the size of that tummy, just look at those red blotches!!!

I've read in so many articles and books, that during the last trimester, sleep would be hard to come by because of difficulty finding a good sleeping position. I knew I don't want it to happen to me, so early on in the pregnancy, I've trained myself to sleep on one side. (Although, I miss lying flat on my back with my feet up on a couple of pillows. This will be my reward after labor.) Now, that was a big NOT TRUE for my own pregnancy.

During my previous blog, I mentioned a rash in my tummy which I regarded as MINOR. I guess it was the biggest mistake of my pregnant life.

This RASH has kept me up half the night. If I just sweat a little on the side I was lying on, that would itch a bit and if I unconsciously start scratching that bit, I would eventually wake up in a scratching fit all over my tummy. The only solution I had last night was to douse it with alcohol over and over until the itchiness subsides and when it's dried, I would pour cornstarch powder over. After which, I would probably be able to sleep for an hour until it happens again.

Now, I'm buying calamine lotion, hope it does its promised job. And make me sleep longer than an hour. I will also try to do some home remedy: Oatmeal and/or Aloe Vera. Keeping fingers crossed that one of these work for me. :D

A doctor's visit and the dreaded weighing scale

It's not good news.
3 out of the four things she told me were bad news.

I gained 5 lbs. over the last 3 weeks. :(

I have rashes around my belly. The news ain't that bad, I just need to put hydrocortisone cream on it.

The doctor said with my tummy size, there's a huge chance I'll have to give birth through caesarian section, which she'll know for sure on my 38th week. The fat surrounding my birth canal may make it hard or impossible for a normal delivery.

The only positive thing she said upon checking of my fundus (height of the uterus), the baby isn't overgrown, so there's still light at the end of the dark tunnel. Still a chance at normal delivery.

For what it's worth I think I can will a normal delivery.

What's in a Name?

It amazes me how opinionated people can get regarding your own choices.

I've never really liked my own Given name. It makes a confusing sound that people often mistake it for another more common sounding name. I started abhoring it, ever since I became aware that there was another girl in our little baranggay, about my age, with the same name -- too much for originality. I abhored it to a point that, I campaigned to be called Sunshine by people in our neighborhood. Later on, I made my peace with my name (I really don't have much of a choice, anyway. And in the Philippines, changing names is an expensive and rigorous court process, unlike in other places like England. I digress.)

So as early as 4th grade, I had my thoughts as to what I'll name my future children. The list goes:

Sofia, Serena, Alexis, Anthony, Elijah, Ethan... All very western sounding. That's because the television I grew up watching (save for Batibot) would have these western names.

I was already living in Boracay, about 2 years ago, when I made a concious decision to name my future children in a very Filipino sounding, hopefully meaningful, name. Thus my first dog is named SinagTala (Tala for short), our first cat is TakipSilim (Silim).

Sometime in August or September last year, during one lazy afternoon, while Josua was target shooting and I was knitting a cotton scarf. I brought up the "What would we name our future children game?" That was when I learned that Josua wanted his children's name to start with a letter K, for some reason he cannot explain. So I settled with that, making sure that the final decision would be mine as long as the name starts with the letter K, with clarification that the name would be Filipino and would have a dictionary meaning.

Here's a rundown of what we came up with:

Girls:
Kalangitan - Heavens/Sky (doesn't sound right)
Karaniwan - Ordinary (who would want to name a child ordinary?)
Kutitap - Shine (doesn't sound like a name)
Kislap - Twinkle (PERFECT!)

Boys:
Kidlat - Lightning (too harsh, and I know someone with that Given name)
Kalayaan - Freedom (didn't pass Josua, and again the same person above has this for a second name)
Kawayan - Bamboo (Kidlat Kalayaan's brother)
Kahoy - Wood (no really! who would wanna be named Wood? and be nicknamed Woody?)
Kulay - Color (TO ME THAT'S PERFECT!)

For the longest time during the 1st and 2nd trimester of my pregnancy, we thought we were having a girl. And we kept calling my tummy Kislap, I searched for a second name to be attached to this. My final option was Kislap Chaya. After finding out that we are infact having a boy, it took about two weeks to get used to calling my tummy Kulay.

I was so set on having Kulay only as the name but Josua thought it needed a more macho companion for a second name. He wanted Kulay Makisig and I was set on Kulay Dakila. Until I found out someone else in our baranggay was named Dakila, and Makisig just sounds too showbiz for me.

After about a week or two of some convincing, Josua was okay with just Kulay. YESSS!!!

I don't think I have told my mom what I'll name my kid, cause I just don't want to hear what she'll have to say about it. As for Josua's mom, as much as she doesn't like it, she just won't say anything.

Among my friends, it's a mix of: "That's nice."; "It's a bit feminine."; "I like it."; "Such a "cool" name!" Generally a positive reaction, I should say.

As I was sending out the baby shower invites, I heard the worst comment regarding our choice of name: "Kulay ang pangalan? Ang baduy!" (The name is Kulay. How corny!) I think I handled it pretty well with an answer: "Wala kang pakialam!" ((not sure how to translate this one) What do you care!) and cut the conversation there.

As far as Josua and I are concerned, we love the name we've chosen. And I can only hope that Kulay will love it as well.