34 weeks!

The countdown begins!  I went to my OB today and she said that I can give birth as early as within 3 weeks! Oh my... I was relieved when she told me that I have plenty of water (amniotic fluid) now.  2 weeks ago, she told me that my water levels were alarmingly low and that I should drink between 2-3 liters of water a day to hydrate myself and give my body the chance to filter that into amniotic fluid.  I took her words to heart and have been drinking at least 104 ounces of water a day.  What does that translate to?  It's 3.04 liters of water.  Of course, this also helps with my kidneys because i'm flushing out the stones! -- hopefully, by the time i go back to my urologist, he'll tell me that they're gone!  haha  (there's always that hope!!) 

I'm aiming for the at least the first week of August to give birth... Right now, my little one is transverse in my tummy - that means he's lying sideways.  Not a good thing.  If I go into labor now, there is no way i would give birth because his back is to my cervix.  So, I'm supposed to gently encourage him to move into the correct position (head down) by rubbing on his butt to move it up.  Otherwise, I'll have to undergo a cesarean.  That isn't so bad, actually.  I found it easier to recover from my c-section (for the twins) than my normal delivery (for micael)... But then again... I was younger then.  I can honestly say that I'm apprehensive about this birth.  I'm definitely not looking forward to the pain, but I know that it's necessary.  I offer up to God the worries I have, the pain I will endure (during and after the birth) and the joy I will feel when I finally look at the face of my newest bundle of joy!  

My little one is  (according to the ultrasound machine) 5 lbs and 5 ounces.  Wow... I'm constantly amazed by the miracle that is my unborn child. It is amazing to me that he is alive and sleeps just under my heart... 

I look at my boys now and I remember when they were small and I am awed by their growth and strength.  The sheer strength of their personalities are so amazing to me!  They have definite opinions, wants and needs.  They are very definitely their own persons!  I am humbled by the part I played in bringing them into this world and I love them so very much.  In preparation for the birth of Joachim Uriel, i've been spending loads of time with Mica, Gabe and Rafa.  Sort of like banking time with them because after I give birth, my attention will be, by necessity, on Joachim.  So I'm hoping that they'll remember that I spent a lot of time and gave them lots of attention now...

I know they'll be awesome older brothers to Joachim.  And they are already such sweethearts that it makes me cry... The way Mica's face lights up when he feels Joachim move in my tummy; Gabe's way of hugging me and speaking directly to his younger brother (in my tummy), totally bypassing me; and Rafa always remembers to say good night, hello or good bye to Joachim is truly amazing!  They are so excited to see him already!

33 weeks!

I'm at 33 weeks!  I can't believe it!  Time flies... I was admitted to Makati Med last week because I had high fever, was chilling and generally felt like crap.  We found out (well, the doctors did) that it was because i had uti due to complications from having kidney stones.  Of course, Tabby was like "Yan!  Kasi!  No more na salt and patis!!"  >sigh<  oh well...

So, now I'm out and i've been avoiding salty foods...  can you believe i haven't had patis or added salt to anything i've eaten?!  (in the interest of honesty, i had soy sauce with my sushi, but that's it!)  i'm so proud of me! haha =) 

Since i've been released from the hospital, i get tired more easily.  i'm more prone to cramping and i feel more delicate.  i feel like this pregnancy is taking forever, but i know that in about 5 weeks, i'll get to see my baby na!  it's so soon!  i've realized that i've been putting off stuff that shouldn't be put off... like getting the newborn clothes out of storage and having them washed and put away in my room or getting the receiving blankets ready or bringing the crib out... it seems to me like i'm so woefully unprepared. i need to make more of an effort to get things ready for my newest love...

driving while pregnant...

I used to be horrified at the thought of a pregnant woman driving a car... Until I realized that I am that pregnant woman. It's almost comical, the faces on the drivers waiting in the driver's lounge in the malls when they see me come out from the driver's side of the car and that there's no one with me.  Also the face of the security guard in polo where i bring the kids for their soccer 3 times a week. It's like they're waiting for someone else to get out of the car and then when they realize it's just me (hugely pregnant me) coming down from the car, they're shocked!

It's not something that i plan to be doing (driving that is) until i give birth.  It's just that i have no driver, so it's a necessity for me to drive.  There are days when I get so tired just from driving around that I'm crazy sungit... and it doesn't help when people with the best intentions get on my back about how i shouldn't drive.  So... if you know of a driver that's looking for work, please contact me   I've been looking for one, but am not having any luck with it.

I enjoy driving! Honestly, I find it easier to anticipate the bumps on the road because I'm in control of the car.  This way, i don't get surprised and my tummy doesn't get jostled painfully.  I'm already braced for the impact of the pothole on the car... Don't get me wrong.  I don't drive very fast... My average is about 40kph!  haha  And even if I'm late, doesn't mean that i push the limit... my max speed is 80. 

I always think of a friend of mine who i had dinner with a few months ago - she was 7 or 8 months pregnant and i was horrified to find out she was driving herself home from greenbelt!  of course, she lives in sanlo, but still! just the thought that she was driving (alone!) to her place made me feel iffy... She just said that her in-laws, who live abroad, all drove themselves everywhere - even when they were pregnant.  In fact, some of them even drove themselves to the hospital to give birth!  So, if she can't drive herself home from greenbelt, kakahiya naman, diba?!  I kinda understood it then, but now i understand it perfectly.  I guess this is one situation where you have to be in it to fully understand