SUCH A LOVELY SONG :-)

"You and me against the world
Sometimes it feels like you and me against the world
When all the others turn their backs and walked away
You can count on me to stay

Remember when the circus came to town
How you were frightened by the clown
Wasn't it nice to be around someone that you knew
Someone who was big and strong and looking out for you...

...and me against the world
Sometimes it feels like you and me against the world
And for all the times we've cried I always felt that
God was on our side.

And when one of us is gone,
And one of us is left to carry on,
Then remembering will have to do
Our memories alone will get us through
Think about the days of me and you
Of you and me against the world..."

THANK YOU LORD FOR 2012, ON TO 2013!

Yeah I know it's quite late for this New Year post, but I just can't pass up the chance to thank the Lord for a wonderful 2012. This is my year in review! (Might have forgotten some, but I will just update this post later on)

• Met my best friend and partner for life: I love you Dadi!
• Purchased an industrial oven
• I launched my own business, Duckie's Cupcakes 
• My beautiful niece Juno was born!
• We were able to participate at Midnight Mercato for four months, and most of the time the cupcakes sold out!
• Experienced Sonya's Garden, Bag of Beans, Antonio's, and Baan Thai with Dadi
• Got my car, Kapkeyk <3
• First time to be confined in an ICU
• Finally saw the beautiful casas of Acuzar
• Started having branded items c/o Dadi haha. Spoiled!
• Revisited Baguio where Dadi and I had an awesome food trip and babymoon
• Renewed my passport which took only 45 minutes!
• I was able to explore buffets with friends
• The Super Friends met up this year several times, and for Christmas, they had gifts for Baby Cookie, too, awwww
• Went to Bicol with Baby Cookie!
• Received lots of flowers from Dadi (ngayon lang may gumawa sa akin nito! hehe), and we were able to check out moooore foodie places including one that serves drinks with exotic seeds hahaha (private joke)
• I learned how to inject myself with medications
• Had a great time with Dadi at Little Tokyo
• Tried a Deluxe bus going to Baguio! I love it!
• Catered to an amazing event in SMX! Hahaha
• Experienced Serenitea's JUMBO Iced Tea
• After four years, I got a Starbucks Planner again
• I got promoted to Senior Regional Instructional Designer (kailangan buo ang title? haha)
• Got "evicted" from my rented house, don't worry, it wasn't because I was pasaway or whatever. Hihi
• 2012 was my all time lowest financially, but still, God provided and continues to provide, and we're doing great no matter what!
• ...and of course: I GOT PREGNANT! Can't wait to see you Baby Cookie! (Yes, we're having a boy!!)

In 2012, God has taught me even more to always count my blessings. To be always thankful for what I have, and not seek that which I don't. God has provided me and my family with everything that we need every day. More than money, or expensive gifts, or high-end gadgets, it's the little things that make life truly worthwhile. For me, having a loving hubby, a wonderful family, awesome friends, and of course, soon our baby Cookie, I don't think I would need to ask for anything more.

By the way... got my hair colored recently, so this is how I look like nowadays... haha! Happy third trimester to me!

 XOXO

THE BELLY BELT

Hey dearies. Just wanted to share with you an awesome preggy find!

I was quite overwhelmed with the price and irregular sizes of maternity pants, not to mention the worries that come along with it --- thinking what would I do with the items after giving birth.

Thank God one day I came across Mommy Matters (FB-Twitter: mommymattersph) and saw that they were dealers of the Belly Belt!! This genius product from Australia lets you wear your pre-maternity jeans (yes, even your skinny jeans) up to 9 months! How cool is that?

Image taken from here.

The product is easily adjustable and has a "button" belt and a "clasp" belt for jeans, slacks, shorts, skirts... You will never have to spend a single cent on maternity pants anymore, and still wear the clothes that you love while preggers. I love, love, love the Belly Belt! :-) I totally agree with the testimonial on the product box: BEST MATERNITY PURCHASE EVER. :-)

XOXO

SOME LATE NIGHT (OR EARLY MORNING) THOUGHTS

Here I am in front of the computer. Yes I am still up at almost 2 a.m. in the morning no thanks to the dreaded heartburn. :-/

A lot of wonderful things happened the past few weeks and hey, I haven't taken note of them in this blog. Now, now, now, where to begin.

ULTRASOUND. Our last ultrasound was very interesting, hehe! Baby was facing down. Shy type? We were sort of expecting a similar image from what we browsed on the net (thumbsucking, or baby facing us again...) but instead, baby was planking. Mwehehe. I can't wait for our next ultrasound: baby's sex will be finally revealed! Dadi and I have this ongoing bet, and the prizes at stake are a bit pricey. Let's see who wins. (I think I will, though. Ha!)

BICOL. Last week, baby and I went to Bicol! :-) Don't call me crazy, the flight was booked early this year, with me not knowing I will get knocked up come third quarter. The trip was awesome, the province of Sorsogon really captured our hearts and was even more beautiful seen in person than in photos we came across with while structuring our itinerary. Here's a photo of me and baby on white sand at Subic Beach in Matnog, Sorsogon:

MASTERS. Not-so-baby related but oh boy, this trimester was quite a struggle for me taking two courses AND getting preggers at the same time. Not to mention I was hospitalized for two weeks because of my dearest DVT. Thank God the trimester's over, maybe I'll take only one MA course come January 2013.

QUICKENING. Finally felt baby move a couple of days ago. It was like having a worm... or fish... or tiny bubbles... moving inside my tummy. It felt really cute and ticklish. Ah, the wonders of pregnancy.

FAIRY TALES. The OB said baby can hear my voice at this point of the pregnancy. I can start reading to baby if I want to... Of course I want to! So off I went to buy baby a fairy tale book. The first story was 'Chicken Licken'. The illustrations were really cute, and the story was going fine with all the fancy names (Turkey Leurkey, Cocky Locky, etc.) only for it to end in tragedy: the whole flock getting consumed by foxes. Sorry baby that your first tale turned out to be a massacre :-/ (I remember saying to myself while closing the book: "Ang tragic naman nito..." hehehe)

WORK. I got promoted! Yey! :-)

Baby is currently 10 inches long, and I will be on my fifth month being preggy next week. Dadi and Mami can't wait to hug you, and kiss you, and hold you in our arms next year baby. 'Di bale, December na! :-)

All praises and glory to God who continues to take care of our family and provides for all our needs. You are faithful Lord. We love You!

ALL WE WANT TO SAY IS....

Image from here.

CRAVINGS

Just thought I'd share my "lihi" items with you. :-) I am now entering the second trimester of my pregnancy and the cravings have gone away. In fact, I am one of the blessed ones who did not experience any vomiting episodes AT ALL. Hehe! :-)

Image from here.

MY "LIHI" LIST:

1. Pomelo with vinegar, salt and chili powder
2. Green mangoes with bagoong isda (yes, the liquid bagoong!)
3. Dalandan
4. Steamed rice topped with aligue, with calamansi squeezed on the mixture
5. Lettuce with balsamic vinegar and olive oil
6. Frozen yoghurt
7. Dried cranberries and whole almonds

Uhm, all sour, eh?

XOXO

HOW TO INJECT CLEXANE... AND HOW MUCH IT COSTS!

It has been a good 12 weeks for me and baby. :-) I have been injecting Clexane twice a day since I was hospitalized, so that would be a total of 4 weeks worth of shots so far. (Total needle encounters: 56)

Image from here.

I read about fellow preggies having bruises while on Clexane, as a result of the injections. So far, I have only two bruises from injecting the medicine the wrong way, but I have figured out a way on how to prevent bruising as much as possible. (Some tips, I lifted off gazillions of forums, and some, based on my own experience.) Hope all of you fellow Pinay Clexane users out there find these tips helpful!

1. Inject in fatty areas. The tummy (left and right) area, about 4-5 inches from your belly button, is the most ideal. I've read about some preggies injecting Clexane on their thighs but I haven't (and I don't think I will) tried it.

2. Swab with alcohol the area you will be injecting on. Hold a piece of the "flab" (hehe!) between your thumb and index finger. Make sure you keep this grip as you inject.

3. Press on the plunger, not on the injection.

4. DO NOT rub the area after administering injection.

5. You may also opt to soften your skin before injecting. I use cocoa body butter... I am not sure if it will work for everyone, but in my case it makes the tummy easier to pierce.

6. DO NOT expel the bubble from the syringe before injecting. The bubble is supposed to prevent bruising.

7. If you bleed (trickles of blood), it means you hit a capillary of some sort. You need not be alarmed. However, if you continue bleeding excessively, call your doctor immediately.

These are some tips I could think of for now. I can update this post later on ;-)

On another note...

A lot of my friends are curious on how much my injections cost as I have previously mentioned in my other post: they are NOT cheap.

The price depends on the dosage. I do not know how much the other doses cost, but for me who has been prescribed 0.6 mL shots, a shot of Clexane is 850 pesos. Two shots a day, that's 1,700 pesos per day.

The tricky part: I was advised to stay on Clexane until a month after I give birth. If, after my check up this week, they decide to maintain the dose (Lord, please let it be lower... or stopped totally!), that would mean 448 shots more to go. That would amount to 380,800 pesos. Quite manageable, compared to other sicknesses I have heard of, and of course, we will never let money stuff compromise our baby's safety.

I am still wondering up to now where to get the funds for my meds, I was actually worrying a lot last week but hey, GOD WILL PROVIDE. He will never give us anything we can't bear. Some would initially think the money could have been used somewhere instead of injections. But then again, our baby is our love and our priority and we will do anything to make sure baby comes out into this wonderful world safe and healthy.

I love you Dadi Munchkin and Baby Muffin! :-)