The Doctor Is In

It was our first antenatal appointment, yey! I was really excited and anxious at the same time. I don't know. There's just alot of things going on in my mind. Anyways, Mark and I woke up around half past two in the afternoon and was ready to go at half past three. We were scheduled to meet our GP at four in the afternoon at Northwick Surgery. Suddenly, my phone rang from an unknown number. Answered it hurriedly and found out that it was the clinic. To inform us that our appointment was being rescheduled for the next day as Dr Zaidi, the doctor who's supposed to meet me, was in a meeting. We were disappointed but left with no choice, we agreed to have it the next day at 10:10am.

Mom & Dad all prepped up

Since Mark and I were all prepped up and good to go, we decided to go out and hed to the mall. Half way through our journey, my phone rang and it was the clinic again. The same lady asked me if I could do a 5:00pm appointment with Dr Zaidi. We agreed ofcourse. But before heading to the clinic, we first stuffed ourselves with some hotdogs and fries at St Anne's. One happy tummy. We head down to the clinic at around quarter past four in the afternoon.

Upon arriving in the clinic, I notified the lady at the reception about my appointment and was told to have a seat and wait to be called. There were alot of patients already. Babies, moms and dads, and there were still more coming in and out of the clinic.

We were called up by Dr. Anjum Zaidi 15minutes after we arrived and was ushered into her office. Dr. Zaidi is in her mid-fourties, I assumed, and has a welcoming aura within her. A nice thing. Her office was not really an organized one but it's an office alright. I was asked to sit on the seat next to her and congratulated both Mark and I for having our first baby. She then scanned through her computer and asked some information she needed for my file. She then took my BP and said that it was fine. Asked for my last period and told me that I'm almost 10weeks, and that expected due date is on September 16, 2013. Gave me a pregnancy book that I should read that could help me through my pregnancy. She also issued an exemption card for free prescriptions during my pregnancy. Then she informed me that I was to wait for a letter or call from the hospital for my next appointment that would take place in my chosen hospital, which was Northwick Park Hospital. After that brief encounter with her, that's it, we're off home.

First GP Appointment

I was expecting an extensive check up with my GP but ended up with just a confirmation from a GP that I am indeed pregnant. I was informed that I would be having my blood and urine tests as well as my first ultrasound in the hospital. I just can't help but compare the process of pregnancy appointments here in London and back in the Philippines. Mama and my sisters back home were saying that it's taking too long for me to have a proper pregnancy appointment. I've also asked a few of the pregnant ladies who's friends with Mark, and they told me that this was really how it works here. You can't just go to a hospital and ask for an ultrasound or a test. Appointments are important and so is having a GP.

Anyways, I just have to wait a letter or call from the hospital and hope that it would come the soonest. I'm feeling good with my pregnancy right no, no serious complications whatsoever. Thank God. But I just want an assurance from a professional that my baby is doing fine inside my tummy.

Not Feeling Well

I am not really in the mood for any blog writing right now. I feel like my entire body is always drained out. Headaches, body aches, lose of appetite. I'm not really sure what's wrong but I'm guessing it's the hormones. Mark was also teasing me that maybe I'm just nervous for our first GP appointment that's why I'm experiencing alot of things lately. I just hope that nothing's seriously wrong. That it's all part of this morning sickness dilemma.

Heart Day is LOVE Day

Been seeing alot of valentine-related posts in facebook as early as the 13th of February but it didn't bother me at all. As everybody keeps on saying, it's just like any ordinary day, a Thursday. Besides, EVERYDAY should be a LOVE DAY, right.

Mark of course didn't forget, he greeted me with the sweetest kiss and hug before leaving for work. All alone in my room for the whole day, I began to envy those people who post photos of their valentine surprises from their special someone. Oh my. I just wish Mark could be one of those surprising-type of guy, which unfortunately he isn't.

To please myself, I browsed online to check out things Mark and I can do this weekend to celebrate our post-hearts day. Then I came across the Harry Potter Studio Tour. Not really the most romantic way to  celebrate valentines day, but a fun way for sure. Also, we both love the movie, so it's a win-win. Read through their site and asked Mark if he wants to do the tour this weekend, which in turn he agreed on. The typical me looking for a way unique way for us to have a good time, and Mark just agreeing on it. So it's a date. We just have to purchase the ticket beforehand and we're off to the magical world of Harry Potter.

Having satisfied myself with the post-valentines date plan, I forgot all about the cheesy posts in facebook and dozed off until we left for Dollis Hill to celebrate our own valentines the pinoy way - Bulalohan style! Tita Edith, Yric and I headed to the place while PJ and JR followed around six or seven in the evening. We had a great time and one overly-satisfied tummy. Upon arriving home, I hurriedly changed into my sleeping clothes and went straight to bed to rest my tired legs and stuffed tummy. Then a few minutes after, Mark arrived. I wasn't really expecting but was somehow disappointed that he didn't even bother to pass through a store and bought maybe something to give me on this time of the year. So sad. Oh well. Gave Mark a kiss and a hug and prepared him his dinner. We stayed at the kitchen for sometime while he eat his dinner and said that he needs to study and answer something for his study day the next day. I was really exhausted that time and want to snuggle on my bed but decided to join him in the kitchen.

It was getting late and my body wants to feel the warmth of the bed now. Went to the toilet and when I came back, thankfully, Mark was finished. It's half past 11 now. When I opened our bedroom door...

There it was lying on our bed. Two bouquet of pretty flowers, a cute teddy and a card tucked inside a bag. What a wonderful surprise! Mark caught me off guard. I was speechless. I just hugged him and kissed him and asked alot of questions. Who bought it, when was it delivered, how did it came to our bedroom, and the questions came rushing in. Mark was laughing at me and asked me if I thought I would not be having any presents on this special day. I said yes because I was expecting a post-valentines date so receiving it minutes before the end of the 14th made my heart melt and my eyes twinkle. I feel loved and so blessed to have such a wonderful husband! Mark can be really unpredictable at times, not to mention unromantic most of the times. But when he do make one, it's absolutely an A+ for effort.

Thank you so much baby! These made my day. You never fail to surprise me in your own special way. I love you so much and will love you to infinity and beyond!

Happy Hearts Day everyone! 

Hope you had your own romantic surprise!

One Satisfied Preggo

February 7 Thursday

Woke up late, tired and famished. It's around 11am and my body still wants to rest but my tummy is saying otherwise. My tummy won ofcourse. Ate corned beef, egg, rice, pusit dipped in vinegar and oranges today. Wasn't really hungry now that I'm infront of different kinds of food. But I'm definitely craving for an ensaymada and chakoy. It's a bread that has margarine and sugar on top and tastes really yummy with cheese. Since we don't have them here and neither Mark nor I can make one, I tried satisfying my craving with a piece of bread and a powdered milk and milo. It somehow did the trick but  after a few hours I was still yearning for the ensaymada and chakoy. Sad sad morning.

What frustrates me more is that most of the posts in facebook involves food. Food that are so not instantly available here. It made me crave more. My sister, Ate Manlette, also added to the frustrations I had. She told me that her husband, Kuya Mike will be eating siopao and goto. Argh. I want some. He also have easy access to Pinoy store so he's able to buy any pinoy food he wants anytime he wants to. In my case, I have to travel atleast 45minutes just to get hand of the pinoy foods that I crave for. So disappointing.

Thankfully, one of our housemates, Tita Edith, decided to cook lumpia. Hoping this one satisfies all my cravings. It did. We ate at around half past seven, and I've eaten alot. Rice, lumpia, chili sauce and all. Without taking my eyes off my plate. That's how hungry I was and how desperate I want to be satisfied, food wise. I ended up with some oranges and a few gulps of juice. Yummy. Now I now my baby loves oranges and lumpia. I also noticed that I always itch for something sweet but I try to deny myself of that urge coz I heard that too much of those during pregnancy can be harmful for both mommy and baby. But once in a while I do give in to those sweet urges.

I haven't experienced any discomforts today, just the usual exhaustion and burping. Over all, the day was a satisfying one. Hopefully for the next coming days, I get to satisfy my palette again without being grumpy and all.

Daily Pregnancy Diary

February 5 Tuesday

Wasn't able to eat alot during breakfast, again dozed off for 3 hours after Mark went off to work. Hungry as usual upon waking up but couldn't decide on what to munch into. Instead of hijacking the fridge, I opted to clean the bathroom and our room. Weird, I know. Thankfully, one of my housemates was as hungry as I am so she cooked. The kitchen was covered with savoury air, one cannot resist. As I wait patiently, sitting on the one of the dinning chairs, I nibble on an orange. Then lunch is served, yey! On the menu is battered prawn and chopseuy (a filipino version of mixed vegetables). I had to start stuffing myself before my little angel inside me decides that he/she don't want that food. Alas, I had eaten more that time than the previous days combined.

I've noticed that when I eat I should eat fast if I want to eat everything on my plate, otherwise I would be leaving almost half of it untouched. I'm not really sure how that works but it does work for me. Also, I love oranges, as compared to any other fruits. But as to other savoury dishes, I can't pin point yet.

After that heavy lunch, the next thing that I usually do is sleep (again), but I chose not to. I think that's a very unhealthy thing to do, isn't it. So, I walked around the room, did some not-so-strenuous exercises and watched some tv series, until Mark went home from work. Not a very productive day at all.

February 6 Wednesday

Mark and I were to go back to Northwick Surgery for our GP Registration Appointment. We are also going to book my very first antenatal appointment.

We were awaken by the call of Ate Tatet and her precious little girl around 6 in the morning. I was still too sleepy to get up that early but was overjoyed when I saw baby Bella. She's grown alot already from the day she was born. We also told Ate Tatet that we're expecting. It was nice seeing them via facetime since we won't be seeing them personally for a long time because of the baby.

I was craving for a pancake so I asked Mark to cook some for me. By the way, Mark was telling me that I was laughing while asleep a few hours before I woke up. I wonder what I was dreaming about that made me giggle that way. Oh well, its nice to know that I'm happy even when I'm asleep. That's good for the baby, right. Then, another funny thing is that, last night was the second time I dreamt of having a baby boy. Mark was telling me that it's a sign that we're gonna have a boy. Personally, I don't care if it be a boy or a girl, as long as he/she is normal and healthy.

Back to our breakfast. Mark prepared some pancake while I poured some cereals and fresh milk. When the pancake was done and I looked at it, I don't want to eat it anymore. Now it's Mark duty to finish it. Poor baby. Another funny thing is there's a piece of leftover chicken in front of me, I don't know why but I don't want it there. I don't want to eat it either, so Mark decided to throw it instead. Poor chicken. I've eaten almost half of the cereals then peeled my favourite fruit --- orange. Then that's it, my tummy cannot take another bite.

Prepared myself to go to the GP but this time I wasn't feeling well. My head is aching and my body wants to lie down. Seems like my comfy bed is calling and trying to convince me that I'm better off sleeping than walking outside on a windy afternoon. I decided to drink a paracetamol and forced myself to take a bath. To cut the long lazy story short, we walked from home down Northwick Surgery amidst the chilly windy gloomy day, registered with the GP and booked an Antenatal Appointment.

On the way home, I felt the urge to refuel my tummy again so we ate at this Chinese restaurant called Taste of China. It was a not so fancy restaurant that serves good food but a it pricey, I think. Anyhow, we ordered wanton soup, spring roll, pineapple rice, sweet and sour pork and apple juice. I loved the food! Happy mommy and happy baby! Even before my pregnancy, I always loved anything with sweet and sour sauce. I just love the sweetness and sourness flavour combined. Now that I'm having a baby, I'm thinking he/she loves that combination as well. Nice. I was even saying 'uhm ahm' after ever bite. Can anything be more delicioso than that. Stuffed and satisfied, we went home and now I'm writing this blog while Mark is busy with his Guild Wars game.

As of today and yesterday, I didn't experience any unusual and unhealthy discomfort aside from the laziness that strikes me everytime I see my bed. But there's one thing, I suppose, I always have difficulty in pooping. I'm afraid that if I push too hard to release my poop, it will hurt the baby in some way. I know, that's nonesense, but it's the way I feel. Still, I do poop daily so it's a good thing. I think I just need to drink more fluids and add more fibers to my diet for easy discharge. I think that's too much information. I'm going to stop now.

Experiencing First Trimester

I'm beginning to think that I've talked too soon about not feeling anything unusual during my pregnancy. Since the start of February, I think I began to feel the so-called "morning sickness" which by the way shouldn't be called by that name coz its a whole day sickness.

I always ask myself why it has to be this way. Why can it be just a normal day for a pregnant woman.

(Summarizing my daily experiences since February 1)

Almost every morning I don't feel like getting out of bed. When I feel hungry, there's always the urge to  taste everything in sight, but when I start eating it I don't want it anymore. Then I crave for some other to please my palette. Unfortunately, nothing seems to please me and it's so disappointing. In the middle of the day, I always end up taking a nap even though I didn't do anything physically draining.

February 1 Friday:
Had cereals, egg and choco drink for breakfast and prepared myself to go to the mall. Horray! We are to meet Thom at Westfield Shepherd's Bush, to help him pick out a suit for his prenup photoshoot late this month. While the boys, Mark and Thom went on with their suit-hunting, I was pleased to be left behind and do my own wardrobe hunting. One happy preggo. To cut the long story short, Thom got his suit, Mark was satisfied with his shirt and sweater purchased at Hollister at a very incredibly low price, and as for me, as I've said earlier, one-happy-preggo. Weird, how shopping can help pregnant women forget about their pregnancy discomforts. I should do this more often.

February 2 Saturday:
One of my housemate was cooking and i was awaken by the smell which was not an aromatic one according to my senses. Weird thing is that, before my pregnancy that same smell was the usual smell I always come in contact with when I'm cooking. But now, it seems like everything smells differently, everything smells bad. Then I asked Mark to get me a piece of that thing that's being cooked. Had a very small bite and then poof that's it I don't want it, I want another one. Mark decided to make me an oatmeal so I tried it also. Thankfully I get to eat half of it at least my tummy is happy.

February 3 Sunday:
Mark and I attended a birthday party later that night and I was really hungry when we arrived. So when we're asked to help ourselves with the array of food on the table, I didn't argue with them. Took small portions of each dish and placed it on my plate and begun munching my way to yummyland. I was still aching for more but sadly I think my baby doesn't want to. So I ended my meal with a few spoons of chocolate cake and thats it. When the other visitors who came late started eating, I was tempted to join, but no, my baby don't want another bite. How sad for mommy.

February 4 Monday:
Wasn't in the mood for a big hearty breakfast early this morning but I tried filling my stomach with a slice of sandwich, cereals and grapes. Slept for 3 hours after Mark went off to work, then woke up with a grumbling tummy. Prepared myself a whole sandwich, an oatmeal, some grapes and a small cupcake. I decided to cook some kare-kare for dinner, so when it was done, I have to try it so I did. The above-mentioned list of food items may seem aplenty but believe me they aren't. For a regular non-pregnant human being, it's considered an appetizer. More of an on-the-diet-person-meal.

I'm not planning on having a diet, not this time of the year. I know that my baby should have all the vitamins and nutrients it needs to grow fast and healthy. But I'm not sure if I'm giving my little angel enough of those because of my being picky. Hopefully, my doctor can address these problems when I get to have the appointment with him/her soon.

Another thing that's somewhat bothers me is that every after meal I burp a lot. I was thinking that instead of vomiting, I do this. It's not a burp after a full meal because I never am full after every meal, I'm feeling it's an indication that I have a lot of air inside my tummy and have to release it. Which can be very embarrassing. Imagine a lady burping like a gigantic man. That's how loud my burp is. Not to forget the bad smell of gas I release without any warning at all. How sexy is that.

I just hope that I can somewhat overcome these stage in my pregnancy. I'm sure every pregnant woman go through this phase but can there be an easier way through it?

Adorable Little Rascals

Mark and I attended a first birthday party last night, February 3, 2013. Andres Mateo is the cutie birthday boy. We were the first to arrive, which was not a bad thing. I get to take pictures with the Andres and had some time to play with him. He's one energetic boy, a handful as they say. Around 6:00pm, one by one the guests started to arrive. Mingled with friends and met new acquaintances.

Happy Birthday Andres!

It's always fun meeting new people. You get to share experiences and stories. Especially now that we're expecting our little angel soon, I'm always eager to talk with moms and listen to their share of motherhood stories. 

As Mark and I silently observe the mischievous actions of the vibrant little boys, Andres and Malachi, so many thoughts came popping in my head. Nice and funny ones. How can one be ever prepared to handle this kind of bubbly little ones. Running and crawling from one end to the other. Grabbing things and putting them into their mouth. Crying one time and laughing the next. Could anything be more mind-wobbling than that.

While listening to the varied conversations, I overheard someone said that being a mommy is a 24/7 job, especially if you're a working mom. Being a full time wife and soon to be mom, I'm thankful that I get to spend my 24/7 with my husband and baby. But kudos to all working moms out there! Right now, I can not exactly tell how difficult or easy it is to be a wife and a mom, but I'm sure it's a tough and fulfilling job.

Andres + Malachi + Zach

Kids will be kids. Being naughty and nice are just some of their characteristics that parents have to deal with. As all of the parents always say, kids do grow up real fast. Just like the blink of an eye, the little angel who came out from mommy hours ago, turns into an independent and mature adult. That's inevitable. That's life. As a mom, I think all i need to do is to be around my baby during his/her growing years. Enjoying everything with my baby. From the pleasant things to not so pleasant things. Teaching him/her right from wrong but at the same time giving him/her enough space to grow on his/her own.