A Time for Everything

As we enter the last quarter of the year, I already declare that 2014 is my year of change. Unfortunately, it is also my year of uncertainty. And that "uncertain-ness" manifested oh so strongly today.

I hate not being sure, not being in control, not having any plan so I am really feeling out of sorts.

I am not particularly known for being religious but I've always liked Ecclesiastes 3:9 since I used it for a speech in grade school:

3 There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

Hay Lord, You must have your reasons.

Swollen Feet

26 weeks this week. Lately, I've noticed the ever slightly swelling of my feet. I've taken to wriggling them while in the office. Today, I went to the office clinic to have my blood pressure taken and it's 120/80. My usual is 110/70. Googled like crazy, okay naman because not so drastic.

However, while I was drinking my milk tonight, I noticed that my feet are more swollen than usual. Ack. So now I'm in bed with my legs propped up on pillows. I really really hope I don't develop preeclampsia. 

 

I have a stuffy nose, too. Dunno if I'm getting a cold or it's just stuffy-nose-as-a-pregnancy-thing.

Entering the third trimester in a couple of weeks - eto na ba mga bagong aches and pains? Sob. 

Passed my OGTT!

Had my oral glucose tolerance test early this week. Having been diagnosed with PCOS, I've been warned that I am prone to developing diabetes. I've always had a sweet tooth, so while we were TTC (trying to conceive, yo) I tried watching my sugar intake. I cut back on coffee and softdrinks. I drank hot choco for breakfast for a while then eventually replaced it with green tea. I opted for dark chocolate. Since I wasn't still losing weight, I took up running in January and started taking half-rice lunches in March.

When I got pregnant, the particular cravings I got were Dunkin' Donuts choco butternut and Pan de Manila's spanish bread - hello, sugar! But I didn't crave them always so I wasn't too worried. Besides, I even lost two pounds during the first trimester.

However, after the OGTT was scheduled, I began craving Oreo and Starbucks' butterscotch oat fudge bar. Ack!

Bra Extenders

One of the perks (pun so intended) of being pregnant is that you get bigger boobies minus the breast augmentation price tag.

I think it was the near the end of my first trimester that I noticed my bras were getting snug. My cup didn't overfloweth and I can still close the snaps but I get the urge to un-snap them as they were uncomfortable. I wasn't keen on buying new bras because they aren't cheap and I won't have any use for them when the ladies shrink back to normal.

I remember reading about bra extenders once so I went to Landmark to find them.

This pack costs P89.75 for three different colored extenders. The saleslady also offered me a Barbizon one which I think was the same price but for only one piece. I'm all for getting the most bang out of my buck so I got this pack. They work naman. Although, the finishing of the stitches is kinda sloppy, there are some loose threads that you can just pull out, so if you're OC about that, this brand's not for you.

During this trip, I also bought a few maternity panties, the big granny ones which cover the belly hehe. I wear them when I wear dresses.

Now I'm thinking, do I have to buy nursing bras?

Cravings and Feelings

Today was not a good day. Ironic, because the weather was sunny and okay after days of rain, no mishaps on the train, and anything of that sort. I just felt down. I felt sorry for myself. Guess I woke up on the wrong side of the bed? Guess my hormones are acting up? 

I decided to have lunch early by myself at the nearby mall. Devoured beef caldereta and fresh lumpia which elicited a few somersaults from the wee one. But the real reason why I was in the mall was because I was craving Starbucks' butterscotch oat fudge bar since Tuesday. Thankfully, meron sa Midtown, worth the long walk. I wanted to buy one more but I didn't bring enough cash. Good luck to my OGTT next week. Yikes.

I barely accomplished anything in the office. I want to start shopping for the baby but I don't know where to start. Gah I hate this feeling.

Eraserheads in Esquire

I was in first year high school when the Eraserheads broke out in the local scene. High school angst meshed well with the unreciprocated love and obscenities that is "Pare Ko." Most of the boys then started creating their bands and Eheads tapes were staples during Kris Kringle.

"Minsan" will always remind me of a fight that some of us girls had at the end of freshman year. I can't remember the specifics now - but I think it involved common crushes. Sophomore girls helped us patch things up. I remember there was a picture of us that day all lined up in a row with eyes swollen from crying. A day or two after, one of the girls wrote us a letter and she wrote the lyrics of "Minsan", tweaking a few words, referring to the fight.

Funnily, Eraserheads was not as "famous" anymore when I got to UP in 1998. I can't even remember watching them in UP Fair. When they disbanded in 2002, I was also graduating. Reports say that Ely bowed out of the group by texting everyone that he has "graduated" from the group.

Then came the reunion on August 2008. Hubby scrambled to get us tickets. It felt surreal. Goosebumps erupted on my arms and all the lyrics kept coming back. I was in high school again. Then the concert was cut short.

We were there again for their March 7, 2009 concert. Frankly, and even if I am not the best singer out there, I can say that they do not sound that great live. Or maybe because it was an open venue. But we were there for the words, and for the feelings they evoked.

Between Life Stages

A couple of weeks ago, I read all the posts in my old blog that I archived the end of 2011. I was such an industrious blogger then, with posts featuring random photos and random thoughts. 

When I created this blog in 2012, the posts are few and far between. It was like I lost my blogging mojo. But then again, I'm blogging more now, although my posts are more about the pregnancy. I can't help but muse, was my life really that boring between 2011 and up until a few months ago? Well, to be honest, I was a tad depressed about the no-baby situation, and I was afraid that if I blogged, it would be one angsty post after another.

That said, I'm just glad and grateful that happier times are ahead - in real life and for this blog. :)

Congenital Anomaly Scan

We had our Congenital Anomaly Scan. It's a pelvic ultrasound where they count the fingers and toes, check the organs, check for cleft palate and other possible disorders. It sounds scary. Hubby pointed out that if we then find any disorders, then we're going to spend the next four months worrying about it. Oh well.

So we were off early to Medical City last Saturday. I scheduled beforehand for 10am. The ultrasound takes 30-45 minutes daw so I can take a nap. But the doctors then decided to play music and I was nervous so who could sleep?

The sonologist kept remarking that baby was moving a lot, i.e. "Ang likot likot ng baby na to!" so she was chasing the baby all around my belly.

Afterwards, they called hubby. Everything "appears normal". The best part: it's a BOY! I'm fine with whatever sex but hubby really wants a boy. He's been calling my bump "balong" - Ilocano for baby boy - and I'd admonish him because what if it's a girl? Confused na agad hehe! Also, I now weigh 125 pounds, so I've gained four pounds so far.

We went to the OB for check-up after. If we go by LMP, my due date is December 31, but per the first ultrasound, it's January 12. In this ultrasound, it's January 7. OB said since the discrepancy is less than 14 days, we'll go by the gestational age. So December 31 it is! Uh-oh, wag sana holiday rate!

I guess this means we can finally shop for baby stuff!