Scrap Haven

Just finished reading Twilight by Stephenie Meyer a few days ago. It was recommended by my sis in college. Tama ka, sis! Can’t remember the last time I read a book that made me have butterflies in my midsection. I had this warm, wonderful feeling inside. I wanted to just sit there and think of the kilig moments in my life back when everything was less complicated.

Since I haven’t had the chance to get a copy of Meyer’s other book, I settled for one written by Jodi Picoult, The Pact. I haven’t read a lot of love stories in my entire life because mostly I’m hooked on murder mysteries, suspense and courtroom dramas. But I must say I’m starting to like Picoult’s novel. Para ma-iba naman. Sometimes we need a little change to stimulate our minds.

Some people wonder how I am able to read a book, let alone finish it, with all the work I need to do. I read during lunch. I go to my car and read till it’s time to go back to work. I read while I’m waiting for my daughter get off from school. I read at night when the kids are asleep. Other moms go shopping or get their nails done or some other stuff to pamper themselves. Me? I read a book. It’s very relaxing and I get to brush up on my vocabulary. Can’t wait to finish the one I’m reading now so I can move on to the next one on my list. So….this is it….happy reading!

Happy New Year! I hope this year will be better than the last. Not that I’m complaining. New year, new challenges, new blessings. Life is complicated! That’s just how it is. But no matter how busy life can be, I still look forward to spending some quality time with family and friends. Kelan next gimik? Don’t know yet but I hope it will be soon.

I’m looking forward to seeing my sis from Six Sigma in February as well as my bestfriend who’ll be visiting me again in June. Last time she was here was in 2004 and we had a wonderful time. I also can’t wait to see the new babies who’ll be born this year. I’m sure they’ll all be cute and adorable but I also pray that they will all be healthy.

I’ve been fighting the urge to doze off for the last couple of hours. I got up really early this morning to attend the first day of Simbang Gabi. Yep…I know you might be wondering why it’s called Simbang Gabi when in fact it’s in the morning. Don’t know the answer to that. But maybe this website will help: http://www.globalpinoy.com/xmas_trivia/simbanggabi.php Anyway….

It’s been 6 years since I’ve attended Simbang Gabi. I remember my dad used to wake us up and go to mass starting on December 16. Simbang Gabi lasts for nine consecutive days culminating with the midnight mass held on the eve of Christmas Day. Some people back home believe that when you complete the Simbang Gabi, you could make a wish and it will come true.

For the last couple of days, I have been planning on going. I was supposed to call the church on Thursday to find out what time the service will be. I have been busy and I completely forgot. So I was thinking that since there were a lot of Filipinos in the area that we live in, the church might follow the tradition back in the Philippines that mass was held early morning about 5:00 am or so (sometimes it was as early as 4:30 am). Because of this I decided to set the alarm to go off at 4:45 am. Kids were sleeping as with the hubby so I went by myself. Can’t believe that I’m actually doing this without anyone telling me to. Back when I was younger, I had only done this because my dad wanted me to. My heart wasn’t in it nor was my mind. Sure, I prayed a little but that was it. I probably was just looking forward to buying "puto bungbong" after the mass. Now that I’m older (and hopefully a little wiser!) it’s different.

I am what some people might call "mababaw ang luha". So when the choir started to sing Tagalog Christmas Carols, couldn’t help but get tears in my eyes. Of course I pretended I was yawning para hindi naman halata. I miss my family back home. How I wish we could just get up and leave at a moments notice. Sadly, it’s not that easy.

Eight days to go….see you at 5:30!

Maternity leave is over! After 2 months at home with my new baby I’m back at work as of yesterday. How I wish I had more time to spend with Kathleen but I have to go back to work. Good thing is my boss lets me bring her to work until my mother-in-law arrives on December 23. So while I’m being trained on the new job I’ll be doing, baby is comfortably cradled in my arms listening and looking around. Or if I’m lucky she’s sound asleep in her stroller.

Oh well, at least I still get to spend the day with her. In a few weeks’ time, I’ll only get to be with her at night. And by the time I get home she’ll be sleeping. I hope I will be there when she says her first word or takes her first step….the usual milestones in a baby’s life.

So for expectant mother’s out there, enjoy every moment with your baby. Time goes by so fast and before you know it they’re not babies anymore.

Our new baby, Kathleen Alyssa was born early morning of September 22. She weighed 7 lbs and 4 oz and was 20 inches long.

I started having mild contractions on Monday, September 19. I still went to work up until the day I was admitted at Sequoia Hospital which was on Wednesday, September 21. On this day I had my regular prenatal checkup with Dr. O. She said I was around 2-3 inches dilated but 90% effaced. She told me to come to the hospital at 8:00 pm that night so she could check me again but also said that she wouldn’t be surprised if I would be calling her at around 5:00 pm. So I told her that when I leave her office I’ll pick up my daughter from school and head home to wait for Kyo. But upon learning that I lived in Fremont she didn’t want me driving all the way across the bridge. She asked me to call a friend or a relative who lived close by and just hang out until I have to come back. So I called Cyn, drove to their house in Foster City with Kamille and waited for Kyo, Owan, Bobby and Kiko to arrive. By this time the contractions were coming much faster and closer and more intense although I was still able to handle it. Sure enough at around 5:30 pm, Kyo and I went to the hospital and was met there by Owan, Bobby and Kamille. I was immediately hooked up to the fetal monitor but then the nurse had a hard time finding a vein where they could insert the IV. She even had to call on the anaesthesiologist. Still, he poked me five times before he was successful. Finally!

I was given some pain medication but when the contractions got more intense I asked for the epidural. I have not broken my water bag yet so they had to do it manually and that’s when they found out that the baby had already pooped inside. Better her than me, right?! Because of this they had to insert something to suction out the poop. I know….I know….TMI! Anyway….at around 12:30 am of September 22 I was ready to push. And for 30 minutes that’s what I did until Kathleen said hello to the world at 1:01 am.

Check out our new baby’s website at www.suayan.com/kathleen. Next time na lang ang kwento at medyo busy pa.

Had my weekly check up today. And guess what? I’m already dilated 1 cm! Only 9 cms to go. I hope I can last till the expected delivery date of September 28.

Five years ago, a gallon of milk sold for $2.80, a loaf of bread sold for $1.72, a gallon of regular gas sold for $1.52. Last weekend, Owan and I were browsing over Kamille’s Baby Book. I haven’t really finished entering information in her book, still the stuff that I managed to write was worth reading and smiling about. I don’t know how true this is (maybe just from my point of view) but I wrote down that Sugar Ray was one of the hottest bands during that year.

A couple of weeks ago, Kyo, Kamille and I, together with Manny, Nel, Cyn, Kyle, Cris and Edwin watched Sugar Ray’s concert at the San Mateo County Fair. It was only the second concert that I have been to (first one was Gin Blossoms also at the Fair). The place was packed! We were about to get good seats near the stage but there was a misunderstanding with the additional price we had to pay so we ended up sitting about 20 rows from the stage. Which is not that bad. When the concert started, it was so loud! I’m surprised Kyle was able to sleep through all that noise. Kyo brought with him his zoom lens and he was able to take some photos of Mark McGrath and the rest of Sugar Ray. Cris and I wanted to see Mark upclose so we walked up near the stage just to get even a quick glimpse of what he looked like. He’s aight (as Randy Jackson of American Idol would have said).

Kamille made a comment to her godmother, Cyn, that "concerts are no fun". To which Cyn replied, "tell that to me in 10 years". One time I asked her if she would be driving me around when she gets older but she said she doesn’t want to drive. Yeah, right! I’m betting that by the time she’s almost 16 she’ll be begging us to teach her how to drive.

I know she’s still young and right now all she cares about is playing and school. Time will come when she will start to do more of the adult stuff and slowly I’m preparing myself for the inevitable. How I wish that she would remain a baby forever but someday I will need to let go. And I know that. Kyo and I will just be on the sidelines watching her and hoping that we’ve taught her well.