The Day TNLO Said Hello

*TNLO - The New Little One
*TLO - The Little One - newly promoted Ate (older sister)

I'm trying to remember as much as I can (forgive the diary-like statements) about TNLO's debut on planet Earth while giving back to the community of mommies searching for answers online. I found a lot of answers and comfort in mommy blogs the entire time I was pregnant. I hope that these TNLO entries will be of assistance to even just one infanticipating mom.

Full Term Redefined

The last time I was pregnant (2008), full term = 36 weeks. And then you'll hear plus/minus two weeks for first time moms. This time around, the doctors said that 37 weeks is the new full term and that the optimal # of weeks in the oven is actually 39! The changes had me consult Dr. Google once again and found this - confirmed. According to the article:

• Early Term:  Between 37 weeks 0 days and 38 weeks 6 days
• Full Term:    Between 39 weeks 0 days and 40 weeks 6 days
• Late Term:   Between 41 weeks 0 days and 41 weeks 6 days
• Postterm:     Between 42 weeks 0 days and beyond

TNLO Scheduled Arrival

TLO was born in April and based on some sad stories about siblings sharing birth months (ex. the wild competition and adverse response to being compared/under each other's shadow), I wanted TNLO to be born on his 40th week, May5. My dear OBGYN said "ok" but gave a stern warning that although I can pick the date (scheduled CS delivery as my first born was also delivered CS), I will need to go through an emergency CS operation the moment I go into labor.

However, as we got closer to the favored date, the waiting game became more and more difficult. I, at one point, had to be rushed to the delivery room due to early labor contractions. TNLO was only at his 36th week back then - not yet ready based on new definitions - and so the doctors managed the contractions through medication. I had to go on "bed rest" = d i f f i c u l t.

Because of this, we also had to choose a new date for TNLO. May5 just didn't seem realistic. I looked like I was going to pop with one monster sneeze/cough. Also, we got an expense scare. It seemed that if we chose a date and I give birth before said date, we'll need to pay extra. No way. So Apr26 became the new ETA.

T Minus... Whatever

Apr19. Remember what I said about bedresting? Ok, here it is =  d i f f i c u l t. So I gave in to a desire to go somewhere --- for TLO her cousins and doting tita M. Everyone had fun at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. Kahit nakaupo lang ako, fun din.

Apr20. The Hubby and I were alone in the apartment. TLO's still on vacation. We had an irreverent but BFF meal for dinner... while watching Toy Story 2. Juvenile! We finished the humongous fries and I had my first Quarter Pounder... side dish = contractions. Yes, I was in pain the entire evening. It was too painful to lie on my back that I only slept for a few hours while sitting down.

BFF Burger Bundle (Photo from McDonalds and Coca Cola)

Apr21. Must I pay so dearly for the BFF meal and Coke? Madrama ang umaga. May iyakan bago pumasok si Hubby sa work. Why? If you're a woman, imagine your most painful dysmenorrhea and multiply the ouch by 100. If you're a guy... imagine your body and arms tied to the backrest of a chair, your legs spread apart... then a big guy comes in and starts kicking you in the 'nads, every 3 minutes. That's the kind of pain I felt.

Apr21. 9AM. Tadaaaaaaaan - Bloody Show! I immediately texted my doctor and to my surprise, he didn't reply via text. He actually called. "O nagle-labor ka na niyan. Punta na kayo sa Makati Med. Pa-schedule ko na CS mo ng 11AM." I was really shocked. I asked "ngayon na agad doc? diba sa April 26 pa tayo?" To which he replied - "aba'y anong gusto mong gawin natin, alangan namang patapalan ko yan, di naman puwede." I love my OBGYN!

I then called the hubby and started the call by saying, "don't panic ha, punta na raw tayo sa hospital." Projection is the best. Ako naman talaga ang nag-panic hindi siya. Pero in fairness sa akin, nakuha ko pang maligo. Napapasandal nga lang ako sa dingding sa sakit. Iyon ang unang ligo na hindi masaya.

Up next - Makati Medical Center, here we come! Are you ready for images na pwede sa Animal Planet or Nat Geo? Heheh!

Testing

Testing app.

Posted via Blogaway

Finally!

Late post from 02/22/14, 1PM

After a year's worth of delay (usual turnover problem in the Philippines), two failed inspection sessions (ever heard of "kapak" tiles?) and one encounter with a property tour guide from hell (she told us that we can't test if the faucets and power switches/outlets are working)... we finally got the keys!

(L) Family pic at the door,  (M) With courteous, warm and service-oriented tour guide Jazzy,
(R) With The talented, dedicated and fab Architect/Interior Designer Red Fuertes

This is a 2-bedroom fully furnished unit at SM Jazz Residences. We have yet to move in as we need the place renovated. We need to put in elements that will help us maximize the small space in Meketeh Ceteh that we can afford. We also need to ensure that the unit will be able to address our needs for the next seven years (because the next big dream is to have a real house by then! pray for us!).

"Bahay namin maliit lamang,
Pero, pero, pero malinis 'to pati sa kusina"

Kitchen. Bye bye LPG days. I will need to adjust to electric stove cooking.

(L) Kids' bedroom, (R) Our bedroom

Living Room

I didn't like the photos of the bathroom that I took. But it's the most "spacious" room in the house. I don't understand why. Anyways, we're very excited to see this baby transform into what and how we envisioned it will and should be. 

Speaking of excitement, one of the biggest reasons behind my excitement is ready... but not yet operational. This is the view of the 6/F. The tower's pool area. The common area for the four towers, where the olympic size pool, more kiddie pools, function rooms/clubhouse area and jogging path are, is still under construction. So yeah, I don't see why we should be paying association dues without the complete set of amenities we signed up for. But what can you do against the good guys? Blah.

Bullshirts by YummyliciousLady #02

Can't sleep. I should do this more often. I should re-learn Photoshop.

On the 20th hour

Konting kembot na lang ay 20 hours na akong gising. Nakasunog ako ng isang pirasong tortang giniling. Naghugas ako ng isang kawali nang lagpas sampung minuto (puro kuskos lang). At nakaligtaan kong umaapaw ang iniipong tubig to the point na napuno ang plangganita kung saan nakapatong ang lalagyan ng tubig. Muntik na rin akong mahulog sa upuan. Nasusuka ako at gumuguhit ang matapang na acid sa aking lalamunan. Maski si Sopling (The New Little One - TNLE) ay aligagang aligaga. Panay ang tigas ng tiyan ko. Sinubukan ko na ang mag-vent kay Luz Klarita pero di pa rin ako kumakalma. Ayoko namang magdasal kasi hindi pa ako tapos magtampo. Oras na para sa ultimate cure. Kailangan na itong isulat.

Kung magkakilala tayo sa totoong buhay ay alam mo ang tungkol sa sitwasyon ni TLO (The Little One). Alam mo na hindi pa siya nagsasalita kahit malapit na siyang mag-limang taon. Alam mo na panay ang attend niya ng speech at occupational therapy, alam mo na nag-aaral siya sa SPED school at alam mo rin na wala kaming nakikitang progreso. Kung updated ka, siguro alam mo rin na minalas kami sa Developmental Pedia at nagsayang ng halos dalawang taon. Alam mo na rin siguro na bumalik kami sa mahusay na DevPed at ngayon ay binubusisi niya ang lahat ng posibleng dahilan ng Global Delay ni TLO.

Hindi siya bingi.

Walang problema sa pandinig si TLO ayon sa dalawang mamahaling tests na ginawa sa kanya. At dahil cleared siya sa aspetong yan, move on kaming lahat sa next possible cause. Ang utak.

Research: Tuberous Sclerosis

Sa unang session sa isang Pediatric Neurologist, tinanong kami kung may balat na puti si TLO. Positive. Ang tawag daw roon ay ash leaf spot at iyon ay isang posible sintomas ng Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC). Ang TSC ay may malawak na range ng sintomas --- pwedeng normal ang bata, pwedeng madalas mag-seizure, puwedeng may epilepsy, pwedeng may Global Delay at higit sa lahat, pwedeng may mental retardation (kung saan tumitigil ang development ng utak sa isang edad kahit ang may katawan ay tuloy sa "pagtanda"). Puwede ring may mga tumor ang bata sa utak, puso o kidney.

Para malaman kung ang tao ay may TSC, kailangang dumaan sa EEG at iba pang follow-up tests depende sa resulta ng EEG (ex. CT Scan, MRI).

Image Source: http://rhemashope.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/sleep-deprived-eeg/

Sa Sabado ay dadaan na si TLO sa EEG.

Hindi ako handang malaman ang posible naming malaman. At dahil genetic disorder ang TSC, hindi rin ako handang malaman kung pati sa NTLO ay apektado rin.

Bakit ang lakas mag-trip ng Diyos?