God's Best Surprise!

How do you think God plans His 'next move' for you?

Few months ago, it was announced that Harry Potter 7's first part of the movie will be showing on November 18, 2010. I was really excited to see the first half of the last HP movie and I looked forward to this date eversince.

It was also announced that Gin Blossoms will be having a concert at the Araneta Coliseum on the same date. Prince and I were both excited and planned to buy Upper Box A for reserved seating tickets at the venue on the day of the concert.

November 18, 2010 is a Thursday so I requested for a VL (vacation leave, hehe) months ago to make sure that these things that I'm looking forward to will not be missed. Little did I know that God has bigger plans for me that day...

According to my first ultrasound, my expected due date is December 9, 2010. Since it's my first baby, it could be expected two weeks before or after the due date.

Last Tuesday evening, November 16, I was out from work at 10pm, took a shower and took a nap. As usual, I waited for Prince to arrive from work so we can finish watching The Pianist. I felt a dysmenorrhea-like pain but it consistently wears out and goes back every 15 minutes. I had no idea that it's already the so-called 'contraction'. I've been reading articles about labor and childbirth but I wasn't able to imagine how it was described. I tried to ignore the pain until we're done with the movie and tried to go back to sleep. I've been waking up feeling the contractions getting stronger and by 10:30am, Wednesday, I decided to go and see my OB-Gyne instead of going to work. I immediately informed my boss that I can't go to work and asked to  have it filed as sick leave. We arrived at the hospital around 12:30pm. My doctor's staff lead me to the delivery room right away and they told me I was already 1cm dilated. The resident doctor asked if I could still go back home or be admitted while waiting to reach 10cm. I didn't want to stay longer in the delivery room because it's filled with about  6 other pregnant women waiting to give birth so all I could hear are moans due to severe pain. I told the doctor I'd go home and she advised me to go back immediately if the contractions becomes more frequent, if I have blood or water discharge. Prince went to work and I went back home.

The entire Wednesday afternoon, I've been trying to rest but the pain keeps going back every 15minutes. Before midnight, the pain goes back every 10minutes. Prince is off from work at 2am of Thursday and he asked me if I would want him to buy anything, I told him to just hurry back home as I might not be able to take the pain any longer. He's home at around 3am and convinced me to go back to the hospital. The same resident doctor told me that I'm already 3cm dilated and asked if I can still walk around the hospital as walking really helps to make the early stage of labor faster, otherwise she's going to have the dextrose thing (I don't know what to call it, it's my first time and it looked painful) placed in my right hand. I told her I'll try to walk around. She advised me to rest until 6am, have breakfast and return at 8am or when it's painful enough that I couldn't walk. Prince and I had light breakfast at a Jollibee stall next to the hospital but I wasn't able to finish my sandwich. We went back to the delivery room at 7am, the dextrose thing was placed on me and my water broke at around 9:30am. I totally blacked out about 5minutes before 11am after a couple of 'push'. The next thing I knew, I saw this yellow band on my wrist with my name, age and OB-Gyne's name on it. I was then transferred to a semi-private room where I saw the two bags that I packed few months ago - one for all my stuff, one for baby's. The nurse told me that baby's in the nursery, getting screened and will be sent to our room in 6-8 hours. Prince and I patiently wait but they were only able to bring him before lunch time of the following day. He's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.I would say that the entire childbirth is a team effort of me and my baby as designed by God. I've done my part, baby stayed healthy and God made his miracle happen - everything happened according to His plans and I'm happy that it did in spite of me having a totally different plan on that day. I will never doubt His ways.

God's Perfect Time

I first heard about the words "God's perfect time" about ten years ago when I became a Christian. I allowed myself to trust that everything's happening according to God's plan. There may be times when I feel down but there's no way I should question His will. I tracked the things that I remember when God's timing is just perfect and I came up with:

May 2005 - I turned 19 two weeks ago and moved out of my parents' house. Lived with my friend and her mom while job-hunting.
May 12, 2005 - First day, first job. Started looking for an apartment, close to school or to my office.
May 20, 2005 - Moved to my first apartment near my office in Eastwood City.
May 30, 2005 - First payday. Last day of enrollment for my senior year in college.
June 2005 - Classes starts at 7:30am and ends at 1:30pm or 3pm on some days. I still have time to sleep before my work starts at 8:30pm and end at 5:30am, just enough travel time to go to my first class the following day. Study lessons during office breaks.
July 2005 - Moved to an all-female boarding house close to the university campus. I realized it's more convenient to be closer to school than to my office.
October 2005 - SEMBREAK. I went back to my parents' house but continue to be a self-supporting student. I met Prince and we started hanging out more often. Enrolled for the last semester.
March 2006 - End of school year. End of college.
April 2006 - Turning 20. Finish all requirements for graduation.
May 5, 2006 - Took a leave from work for college graduation. Prince gave me flowers and I introduced him to the family.
July 2006 - I went to work for a different company.
March 2007 - I went to work for another company closer to my parents' house. I need to save, my brother's going to college soon.
March 2008 - I realized that I need to look for a job that pays 3 times of what I earn, youngest sister is going to college as well. They didn't get any scholarship.
April 2008 - One week off to Boracay while being interviewed by a Singaporean employer over the phone.
May 2008 - Back from vacation. I got the job and need to prepare to leave within a month.
June 2008 - Embracing changes. Started working in Singapore.
April 2009 - One week vacation to the Philippines. Three days spent in Manila, four days vacation to Bohol.
May 2009 - I am looking for a reason to stay in Singapore.
August 2009 - Finally got no reason to stay. Booked a flight back to Manila.
September 2009 - Job hunt.
September 7, 2009 - Back to work. In Manila. For good.
April 2010 - The good news just a month after getting regularized, the day after my 24th birthday. Prince and I found out that I'm almost 2 months pregnant.
November 2010 - Expecting baby to come out next month. God's best Christmas gift! :)

Sometimes, I don't like how things happen but I remain confident and positive that it will all be fine - and it always does.

Komikon 2010

Prince and I went to the Komikon 2010 (Comic Convention) at the Starmall Trade Hall after their band practice last Saturday. The venue was packed with comic-loving kids and kids at heart. It's sad that we're not able to arrive earlier for their special guests Jess and Manix Abrera's talk. There's been a shortage of cabs when you need one and the traffic is horrible as usual.

It's our first time to attend such event although I've been a Kikomachine Komix fan for a couple of years now. I was able to have the first four Kikomachine Komix signed about two years ago at the Visprint's book signing in Cubao X. I didn't expect that the line for Manix Abrera's book signing would be five times (or more) longer this time.

The event is only from 10am to 7pm so when it's already past 7pm and there's still a couple of people in line for Manix Abrera's autograph, some of the organizers told us that we'll have to proceed outside the venue. Manix, however never stopped signing, hehe.

After about three hours of waiting, it's finally my turn. Yay!

I had my Kikomachine Komix Blg. 5 and 6 signed. 'Til next time! :D

The Barbie Almalbis Experience + Banapple

Prince went half-day yesterday as The Naked Lights played at Route196 in Katipunan Avenue. He picked me up from work at 10pm, had a really quick dinner while in the cab and we arrived at the venue after 15minutes. The good thing about Route196 is that ambiance which reminds me of Saguijo. The audience can have enough intimacy with whoever is playing. Best thing about it - being next to Banapple! haha ;)

We left Prince's gear at the venue and went to Banapple to have dessert. Their cakes are about Php80-Php100 per slice so it's really reasonable. I had a slice of blueberry cheesecake and Prince had coffee toffee. If you're feeling full, my suggestion would be sharing a slice because it may look like a small serving until you realize how generous it was. I'm sure we'll be coming back to try out more of their food soon.

We went back to the venue and found increase in the number of audience. It was understandable because Barbie is about to play. Although I've been listening to her since late 90's, I first saw her live during her 10th year in the business launching her DVD concert at the Eastwood City when Prince and I had dinner to celebrate our 2nd anniversary.

Barbie Almalbis-Honasan is one of the musicians who gained my respect in my early years of exploring Pinoy music - she was able to balance the ability to express herself in her music and be in the mainstream scene at the same time. The ability to make your private life interesting but far away from the public while being a celebrity is not something most people can do. It was a really good set especially when Roger Alcantara did bass and they played Money for Food (one of my favorites in Music Under the Buffet Table album). Her guitar playing improved a lot, her voice is as sweet as always and I'll be looking forward to the release of a new album. :)

The Naked Lights played after Barbie and I knew each of them feels the pressure but they did manage to give us a fairly good set as well. I will always be a fan! ;)

Fuji Finepix Z33 - One of My Simple Needs

I know I've been wishing for the Samsung WP10 since the Samsung L73 gave up on me but I think what I received is better - got the Fuji Finepix Z33 earlier today and I can't wait to take snapshots again!

When I bought the Samsung L73 more than two years ago, I relied much on the online reviews and ratings about it. I got it from ebay as this particular model wasn't released here (not sure if it's available in any country in Asia) and a student from the US is selling it brand new for only Php7,500 which I found a lot cheaper than Canon and Sony digicams (more than Php15K at that time). Darlyn and I needed a handy digicam for our week-long Boracay trip and I need to buy myself a birthday gift so it was really a perfect timing. I never had any regret in buying the Samsung L73, it's really very useful for the past two years so when the time came that it needed to retire, I've been having a hard time finding a replacement.

This search's top priority: waterproof digital camera for beach trips. I am not into bulky DSLR's that's really in right now so I focused the search on these things I needed to consider:
1. AFFORDABLE - limited budget as we need to prepare for the baby
2. COMPACT - it should fit my pocket or a small handbag
3. USER-FRIENDLY - I'm not familiar with the photographer's jargon :p
4. SLEEK AND available in PINK and/or BLACK

At some point, I had second thoughts about the Samsung WP10 because I wanted to try a different brand. I was traumatized by the 'lines' that started appearing before the Samsung L73 completely broke down. Canon D10 came to my mind but I find all the Powershot models just too bulky for me plus this model doesn't have any other color.I also considered the Olympus Stylus 850 even if the one being sold is second-hand but for some reason, I didn't get any response from the ebay seller. :(Finally, the Fuji Finepix Z33 won. Everything in my checklist was met and the seller's really prompt to reply so I didn't have any trouble dealing with her.I found the interface a little old-school but it didn't matter. Can't wait to go out of town! hehe ;)