1st Trimester Ends, 2nd Trimester Begins

***written on June 7th***

Today, I'm exactly at 12 weeks of my pregnancy based on my LMP. The 1st trimester has officially ended and I'm about to enter the 2nd trimester. I am really hoping that I'd feel much better in the days to come.

While I've been compalining of feeling sick from time to time, I think I'm among the lucky women who have manageable pregnancy symptoms. As long as I avoid anything that triggers my nausea, I'm fine. The most challenging for me is my heightened sense of smell. There are times...I'll rephrase that - I can't really stand being in the kitchen or just being outside our room when something is being cooked in the kitchen. The smell is just unbearable and makes me really sick. I can't even bring dirty plates to the sink because it makes me want to puke even just standing near the kitchen. Walter comes to a point where he doesn't know what to do anymore :) It's also frustrating that I can't do anything in the kitchen - not even getting water from the fridge.

Well, now that I'm entering the 2nd trim, I do hope that my sense of smell will be back to its normal levels or at least at less intense levels.
How about you? How do you manage pregnancy symptoms?

9th Week Scan

Last monday (May 17th), I went for my 9th week scan. Actually it was a follow-up of the previous scan to determine the viability of the third sac. At this time, the third sac still has no heart beat and was concluded not to be a viable so it's definitely going to be twins! I did not go back to my doctor after the scan. He said, there's no need to visit him. If the sac did not develop, it will just be re-absorb into the uterus so there's nothing to worry about that.

When I found out about the possibility of triplets, I was thrilled by the idea. But somehow, I felt relieved that that there's only two and not three. Having twins will have lesser complications for me and the babies. Risk of pre-mature birth will be much lower and I'm sure the prenancy itself will be more managebale.

Given the chance, would you like to have twins?

The Cravings and Nausea

Unlike other women, I don't have any weird cravings; but, I did have strong cravings for Filipino food during the early weeks (before the 6th week) of my pregnancy. Unfortunately, there's no pork here so I am not able to eat anything pork during that time.

I'm glad that during the early weeks of my pregnancy, I did not feel sick at all. But by the time I reached six (6) weeks of gestation, I started feeling nauseated intermittently. It wasn't too bad though and good thing is I am not throwing-up. In fact, I am able to go to work without any problems. Later on, I found out that keeping myself stuffed relieves me of feeling sick. Eating cereals, apples, bananas, small sandwiches between main meals kept my nausea away.

But I have another problem. By 6th week, I developed a strong sense of smell and I feel sick whenever I smell food being cooked especially garlic. I started being picky with what I eat. I can't eat food with very strong flavor like green bell pepper and coriander although I am still able to enjoy a wide variety of dishes. I also can't stand stinky smell like that of dirty rest room and strong body odor, not even for few seconds.

Overall, my pregnancy is going well with manageable discomfort. I easily get tired and I can't stand for long periods but that's also manageable. Can't wait for the nausea to go away completely! I am so looking forward for the second timester. How's your pregnancy experience?

It's Twins

So we went for a scan yesterday morning. The ultrasound (U/S) tech found heart beats in two out of the three sacs. We're having twins!!!! I'm very happy with this development. The U/S tech gave another schedule after one week to confirm the heart beat of the third sac.


In the afternoon, we visited Dr. Shahata and he explained to us that it is unlikely that the third sac will still develop heart beat since I'm already at 8 weeks of gestation. He also told us that having twins will have lesser complications than having triplets so we shouldn't feel feel bad if the third sac will not develop at all. He gave me enough meds (progesterone and folic acid) for another six weeks. Another U/S was scheduled on the 13th week of gestation to confirm if my baby is developing normally. He also ordered blood tests and urine tests as part of routine lab tests.

While I'm quite happy with my doctor at Hamad Women's Hospital, we will be seeing another doctor in a private clinic later today because Walter wants to see the heart beat in the U/S scan. He feels deprived of the joy of seeing and hearing his babies because men are not allowed inside the U/S sound room at Hamad and copies of U/S reports are also not provided to patients.



I am happy that my pregnancy is progressing very well. Can't wait for the next months to come and finally see them in flesh.

Too Excited

***This post was witten on May 9, 2010 and intentionally published on May 11, 2006***

I am scheduled for another ultrasound tomorrow. Hopefully, we'll finally see the fetal heart beat in at least one of the three sacs in my womb. Too excited to think of anything else. Lord, we're only asking for one, but if you give us triplets, we'll be very grateful.

The Long Wait is Over

***This post was written on May 3, 2010 and published on May 11, 2010***

Finally, after waiting for six long years, I am pregnant! My husband and I are overjoyed by this blessing. I can't say much at this point because I'm only at 7 weeks of gestation. I had my ultrasound (U/S) last week (at 6 weeks gestation) and they found three (3) gestational sacs but only one of them has a yolk sac and none of the sacs has fetal heart beat yet. Actually, I was a bit shocked to find out there are three sacs in my womb and that there is a high possibility of carrying a triplets. As soon as it sank-in , my mind raced as fast as a bullet train and I thought of 3 car seats, 3 strollers, bigger car, loads of feeding bottle, baby dresses, etc. My nausea also quickly disappeared! At the same time, I was thrilled by the idea of having triplets. When I came back to the car and told Walter of the results, he was also a bit shocked but very proud :)


In the afternoon, I visited my doctor and he said, it's too early to conclude anything at this point because there's still a high possibility that fetal heart beat may not develop in any or all three sacs. I need another U/S at least a week later to confirm the fetal heart beat. Since I was scheduled for another U/S in two weeks, I'll just wait patiently for my schedule because early U/S sometimes gives unnecessary disappointment.

Welcoming 2010

It’s been al most a year since my last update. Yes, I am one of those people who neglected blogging because of FB addiction. LOLs. As much as I would like to write updates regularly, it’s difficult to juggle between work, household chores, baking, FB and FB games. Many times, I attempted to write an update but crops waiting to be harvested and dishes waiting to be served kept me glued to FB . Yes, it’s bad, I know.

I have to admit that while FB is more exciting, blogging is still better than posting mini-updates in FB. Some thoughts are just too long to be posted as status updates and it’s really nice to keep a proper journal of personal thoughts in a personal domain.

As I welcome 2010, I hope to catch-up on my posts as well as my blog-friends.

Tough Four

Again, I was tagged by Dee to do this meme. It's a bit tough to choose the best answers as I love so many things. My answers are the first things that came to my mind and not necessarily my top four (4) favorites.

Enjoy reading and don't forget to tag your friends.

Four jobs I have had in my life:

1. Environmental Specialist, (DENR, Philippines)
2. Project Officer (Office of the President)
3. Laboratory Engineer (Schlumberger, Qatar)
4. Environmental Consultant, (Doha, Qatar)

Four movies I watch over and over:

1. The Sound of Music
2. Sex & the City
3. Titanic
4. Ghost

Four places I have lived:

1. Bataan, Philippines
2. Manila, Philippines
3. Pampanga, Philippines
4. Doha, Qatar

Four TV shows that I watch (or used to watch):

1. CSI
2. Sex & the City
3. Scrubs
4. Lost

Four CDs/songs I could listen to over and over:

1. Oldies by goodies music
2. Love songs
3. Our wedding CD
4. Danceable music

Four best places you have been:

1. Boracay, Philippines
2. Paris, France
3. Florence and Rome, Italy
4. Bruges, Belgium

Four of my favorite foods:

1. Pinoy
2. Chinese
3. Japanese
4. Italian

Four of my favorite beverages:

1. Diet Pepsi
2. Florida’s fresh fruit juices
3. Iced tea with lots of ice and sweetened with syrup
4. Water

Four things you are looking forward to the rest of this year:

1. Getting pregnant
2. HK trip with family
3. Weight loss
4. Achieving my savings goal

Another Meme...

It seems that there are more meme in Facebook. I was tagged again by Dee and ofcourse I answered the questions. Memes keep my blog busy while I am not in full blogging mode yet. Hehehehehe!!!!

* * * * * * *

Indulge me, really interested to know your answers :)

Post this list on your profile (in Notes) replacing my answers with yours. Tag 25 people to do the same thing. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you :)

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes, the perfume NINA RICCI

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Two weeks ago.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes, except when I am in a hurry.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Luncheon meat? SPAM and SPAM and SPAM

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Still making one :)

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes, because I am
loyal and sincere.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? Sometimes, when one tries to use sarcasm on me ;)

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? So far, yes.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No, I don’t like extreme activities.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Muesli with lots of nuts and dried fruits.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Yes, because my feet are big and
difficult to remove shoes from my feet :)

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Authentic gelato.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? The face – eyes, nose and lips.

15. RED OR PINK? Pink.

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Fats in the "wrong" places
(copying Dee’s answer, hehehehe).


17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Right now, I miss nephew!

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST? Yes, if they can.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? White capri and black silk blouse,
house slippers.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? None, I am watching TV while waiting for my husband.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Purple.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Fresh and crisp scent.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My brother, he called a few minutes ago.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yes :)

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? None really but the last one I’ve watched is Tennis
during the 2009 Qatar Open.

27. HAIR COLOR? Black.

28. EYE COLOR? Black.

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? I used to before I underwent LASIK.

30. FAVORITE FOOD? Pork, Pork, Pork. I miss so it much ‘coz there’s no pork here.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings, of course ;) I never liked scary movies.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Confessions of a Shopaholic.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Black silk blouse

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Since winter here is actually the summer in other countries, I’d go for winter but my favorite is spring.

35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs only.

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? I have no idea.

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? I have no idea.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? None but I blog hop everyday if that counts in lieu of books.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? I have an optical mouse so mouse pad is not necessary.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? GMA news.

42. FAVORITE SOUND(S) old songs, instrumental music, etc.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles, only because I know some of their songs.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Europe / USA/ Middle East

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Hmmm….Eating?

46 WHERE WERE U BORN? Bataan, Philippines

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Everyone’s

48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER? He is a colleague from my previous work.

I'm not tagging anyone, although I tagged some people in my facebok account. Let me know if you did this meme so I can visit yours :)

Arrgh, it's back again!

I gained back those stubborn pounds again plus more! It’s so frustrating to try different types of diet, start an exercise program, which I can’t sustain, etc. I wish there’s a more effective solution to my never ending saga to lose weight. I am thinking of trying Acai Berry for a change. Any thoughts?