Silent Night

A very silent Christmas eve indeed.

This is by far the most silent Christmas eve I've ever experienced. I woke up at around 12:30am today, greeted my husband a Merry Christmas, and went out only to find out that the lights outside our room were off. I was actually hoping to see my younger sister watching the television, since she said earlier that she won't be sleeping. But when I got out of the room, no one's there. I carried my daughter and observed for a minute or two outside our room, then went back inside. I put her back in our bed, then observed from our room if someone's outside. I saw that the lights went on so hurried out again. And there at our terrace, I saw my father, the last person I expected to be awake today. He was just there observing my sister's family lighting up some fireworks. He was worried that the fireworks might torn the roof they worked hard for earlier before they got to bed. Then my sister came to give us the Buko Salad and Spaghetti they prepared for Noche Buena.

Later, after filling up the water in the comfort room, my father went back to sleep. So I was alone again. I washed my son's milk bottles and sterilized them. Then transferred the Buko Salad to a smaller container that can be put in our fridge. I took four plates and four pairs of spoon and fork to the table, in case someone else wakes up. I went inside the room to ask my husband if he would like to eat or just sleep and take a rest (he was complaining about his headache earlier this evening). When he said he'll just take a rest, I went outside again and waited for a moment, hoping (again) that someone will walk out of their room to eat Noche Buena. But nobody came out so I decided to eat alone.

I took a peace of banana cake, a portion of the spaghetti from my sister, and two slices of Liempo, then just a cup of Pepsi. I went to the sala, turned the television on, and sit at the center table. I browsed thru the channels, and finally landing at Star Movies, watching "Titan AE". After finishing my food, I washed my plate and my cup, then went back in front of the television. But after 20 minutes, I turned it off and went back here at our room. I asked my husband if I can surf the Internet...I guess you know his reply.

So here I am now. Instead of having fun with my family, I'm typing this blog. Pretty boring and silent. I guess I should expect this from now on. My family's becoming busier each year to be very tired to even have Noche Buena. Lucky for us last year, my brother went home for my wedding. We had our usual Noche Buena. But this year, nothing. I think it's safe to say, our tradition is now lost. Is this the price we pay for having a successful year (financially, so to speak)?

Updates

*sigh

After weeks of being away from the pc, here I am again. A lot of things happened...and just too many to mention. hehehe...

So to cut the story short (as if there's really a story...haha!), here's a picture of my kids. I took this photo last week, when my son was in the mood to hold his baby sister. Funny thing, when I already took my daughter, he was really angry. He still wanted his sister on his lap. haha!
More pictures at Joemelle's Multiply...^_^

The Aftermath

After how many weeks, I'm able to go online again tonight. And thank God the connection's faster.

Today's just another day for us here in Kidapawan. But of course, aside from my son, we have a new addition to our family. Yep, that's right! I gave birth to a "quite" healthy baby girl last November 9. She weighed 3.5 kls., obviously bigger than Myles when I gave birth to him. We named her Joannie Melle, and although Joemelle wanted Jemellaine Mai, I insisted the former. I've got reasons. hehe....

Anyway, the delivery was not that easy. Well, not as easy as during Myles's. It was more painful, and I can say, there was fear involved. I really believe it's traumatic, though not as long as during my labor with my son, and made me tell myself, "I don't want to undergo the same pain and feeling again". I was really afraid, and this feeling wrapped my whole body and soul. Everytime my parents and siblings check on me, I'd tell them I'm fine. But when my husband and I were alone, when I was alone, fear overpowered me. No matter how I told myself, it was just the same as the first time I gave birth, I knew that something wasn't right, I knew that something's off. And I was right.

THE DETAILS
My water broke at around 4:00 AM last November 9, but the contractions started just later that day. From that only, I thought, the timing was off. Usually, in a normal labor, the contractions are the first to encounter, then the mucus with blood, then the water will break. But in my case, it's different. I ignored it anyway, thinking that it might be normal in some cases. So when the mucus with blood came out at around 10:00 AM, I told my husband, then my Mom. But since I could still handle the pain brought by the contractions, we didn't go to the hospital yet. Well, not until 12:00 NN, after we had our lunch.

When we arrived at the hospital, I was admitted, and took the preliminary tests (IE and all sorts). First IE, the OB-Gyne told me it was still 7cm, but she could already touch the head. So we were all expecting the delivery to be sooner. But before that, added to my fear was, we learned that my OB-Gyne was out of town, she was in Manila. Now that's really comforting!

Anyway, 4:00 PM came and I couldn't handle the pain anymore, so even when I wasn't that sure, my husband alerted the nurses that it's coming. So I was taken to the delivery room, and waited there. They cleaned me again, IE over and over again. My worries grew when I saw that OB-Gyne's expression in her face. It's as if telling me, something was wrong. My anxiousness pushed myself to ask her, what was wrong. And she truthfully answered me, instead of the baby pushing her way down towards the opening, she's being pushed back up, so even when the opening was bigger than the previous, we couldn't do the delivery because the baby was now farther from the opening. They couldn't force the delivery, too, unless the baby comes nearer, because if they'll do, my organs will be damaged. That time, I was really worried.

Two hours passed and still nothing happened. They couldn't decide on what to do, because they were not the one's I was having check-ups with in the first place. Thankfully, Dra. Lily Mudanza, my OB-Gyne came (fresh from Manila). After a few prelims, she told me, I might undergo CS operation if the baby won't really go down. So she consulted my husband first, and when it was agreed, they scheduled me for the operation. But while they were preparing, Dra. Mudanza was still hoping that I will have a normal delivery. Unfortunately, I didn't.

So they took me into the Operating Room after a few minutes, prepared myself, then started the operation. More than half my body was really numb that I couldn't believe my right leg had cramps right before they injected the anesthesia at my back. I was awake the whole time (even when another doctor assisting the operation injected something at my dextrose to put me to sleep) but I couldn't feel a thing. I could just hear their voices, and at 7:43 PM, I heard her cry. She was out and alive, thank God.

As they were stitching my muscles back, I could already feel the pulling of what they were suppose to stitch. I started to say something, so they injected the drug again to put me to sleep. This time, they succeeded. I already fell asleep. I just woke up when they were placing me into a stretcher to be delivered in my room. I was wrapped in a thick blanket but was still shivering. For a moment there, I actually thought I was going to die. Well, that's how I felt.

So, I was out from the Operating Room, was delivered to my room, with the newly born baby, and saw my family waiting for me. I was really glad. Anyway, it ended the details of my delivery, by the pain didn't end there.

Unlike a normal delivery, the pain from the operation won't wear off that easy. I remembered when I gave birth to our son, I was able to do household chores after a few days from being discharged. But now, even at this moment, I can't do my laundry, or sweep the floor, or even carry my son. My actions are limited, and my body, especially the part with the stitch, still aches. But who am I to complain? If I do, it's as if saying, having this baby is troublesome. I don't want to think that way. These babies are God's blessing. So I will bear everything that comes with them. (Charr!!!)

Anyway, 'till next time. My daughter's waking up now. =p

Big Deal!

I'm online again, twice in a day. It's a miracle! hehehe...

Anyway, my father asked me to update his profile for PhilGEPS, (correct me if I'm wrong please) an organization under the Department of Budget and Management that handles suppliers (and another one that I totally forgot) who want to be connected with government businesses (which includes manufacturers, contractors, distributors, businessmen, etc). His PhilGEPS certificate expired last May 2008, and he's been bugging me since then to renew his certificate. Now that I'm doing nothing except looking after my son, I don't have any more reasons (more like excuses) to say that I wasn't able to renew it. Well, it's no big deal anyway. After all, it's the least I can do.

Anyway, the aforementioned situation isn't the real reason why I'm blogging now. Found this post from my husband, and made me think, why can't I remember that much. hehehe...I'm really not good with remembering things. Anyway, enjoy reading.

THINK BACK TO your 1st sem in college. Let's see how much you remember and how much you regret.

What section were you?
Z2

Who were your seatmates?
English - Can't remember a thing
Filipino - Joemelle (since he said I was his seatmate..haha!)
CS111 - Can't remember a thing
Math - I remember sa Trigo, si Cathy M., sa Algebra, parang si Cherry
P.E. - we sit everwhere...hehe

Still remember your English teacher?
nope...

What was your first class?
FYCF

Best friends?
I considered Joemelle as my best(est) friend. I could also be seen together with Cherry, Em-em, Leah, and Eileen.

How was your class schedule?
fine...freshmen are still adjusting to college years so it's understandable that we were not that busy....

Made any enemies?
i dunno

Who was your favorite teacher/s?
don't have any.

Sport?
none

Back then, do you always buy your lunch?
yep. I live in a dormitory, and my parents didn't allow me to cook...it wasn't wise since I'm alone, compared when my Kuya and Ate were studying, nakakaluto sila minsan.

Were you a party animal?
nope...just loved hanging out with my roommates after curfew. hehe

Were you well known in your school?
i don't think so

Did you get suspended/expelled?
nope.

Can you sing the alma mater?
uhmmmm...what was it again? hehe...joke lang. I know it, but I can't sing it

What was your favorite subject?
Trigonometry..I think it was Math 212

What was your school's full name?
Ateneo de Davao University

Where did you go most often during breaks?
lounge, dorm...that's it

What color of pen do you always use?
black

Recited often?
nope, I'm a silent type

Ever cheated?
can't remember...maybe

Do you bring your own paper and pen?
of course...kakahiya manghingi

Are you in the top ten of your class/es?
i dunno, maybe not. there were a lot of guys/gals better than me

Favorite things to do in class?
none

Classmates you didn't like?
secret....hehe

Subjects with highest grade?
Algebra..haha!

Lowest?
uhmmm...where's my transcript? hehe

Ever had a crush? Who?
yep...2, but I told myself, I'm taken. Well, that was before we broke up

What's your theme song for him/her?
none

Which of your classes was he/she in?
all of them!! ^_^

Fave events in 1st sem?
all events that didn't involve getting inside the classroom for a lecture. haha!

What are your favorite classrooms?
lab A

Do you sleep in class?
thinking about it, i think I have

Ever thought of burning your school?
nope

Ever messed with a prof?
ni hindi sumagi sa isip ko...

What do you miss most in your 1st sem?
ewan...

If you could go back in time and do it all over, would you?
nope...I might still have forgotten it anyway

Favorite PE?
i can't remember

Saan ka nag-aabang ng hot girls sa Ateneo?
ako ang inaabangan..hehe..jowk. my college life was boring...dorm-school-mall ang destination ko. plus, my brother was still working there, so bantay-sarado ako. hehe

Nakapag-field trip ka ba?
yep.

Ano ang Org mo?
ACCESS, ateneo circle of computer studies students...and SAMAHAN, of course!

Dorm, Boarding house, o Bahay?
Dorm

If you had your way, what was your dream course/major?
accountancy...or bs math...

Sino ang pinaka-una mong nakilala sa Ateneo?
Si Cherry...But it was Joemelle whom I first saw, we were the first ones in the z2 group sa covered court kasi

First play na napanood mo sa Ateneo?
i can't remember

May frat/soro bang nag-recruit sayo?
none

Masaya ba sa Ateneo?
yeah

Nakasama ka na ba sa rally?
nope

Pinangarap mo rin bang mag-laude nung 1st sem 1st year mo?
nope...just wanted to graduate with the course I first enrolled in (meaning, hindi nagshift)

Kung di ka Ateneo, anong school ka?
UP-D, MSU-IIT, etc. dami...but i know, Ateneo pa rin ang bagsak ko.

What do you remember most about 1st sem?
Algebra...haha!

Tagging: Anyone na makabasa nito...hehehe