BSP PRAISE

July 16'th BSP PRAISE Awarding Ceremony was moved to today, bumping the BSP Singers' concert off their July 30 lunch-time 45-minute mini-concert (Dream, Believe...The BSP Singers in Concert)

The good news is that, since the Singers would (undoubtedly) sing in the ceremony, we were able to practice a little more. We sang Pambansang Awit and two intermission songs, You Raise Me Up and Magandang Pilipinas. Since I am one of the awardees, I didn't have to be in chorale get-up. I didn't mind because, being 4-months pregnant now, I can't fit into my gown anymore.

And by the way, lunch was a treat for all awardees. Center Table was the best...I kept looking for Rica..heehee. Hingi sana ako ng take-out bag ng Tiramisu.

Here's me with some of my co-awardees (and ex-classmates)...with newly-appointed Monetary Board member, Mr. Ignacio Bunye...the good thing about these events is you get to mingle with those you otherwise would just read about in newspapers.

Berry Pancakes

I've been badgering hubby for strawberries for a while now...and not because I'm "infanticipating" but because I'm dying to make strawberry pancakes. I scoured SM grocery for strawberries, but came to nil. So I settled for good old strawberries in can.

Not only that, last week, I bought a 170-gram pack of dried blueberries. When I was shopping at Shopwise, everything was topsy-turvey. They were moving merchandise around. So I was shocked to see dried blueberries in one of the shelves. I got the shock of my life when the cashier punched in the price. At 320, it's more than I bargained for..so I figured I might as well maximize the blueberries.

So, here it goes...blueberrie pancakes with strawberry sauce.

Growing...growing

A few weeks ago, I got a tip that I should start taking pictures of my growing belly for a memorable pregnancy album...as if pregnancy is an easy thing to forget...

So here's a shot taken on May 23...at 6-7 weeks, I think...

And here's The Tummy (with a personality all its own) on 7 July

Yup, those are stretch marks. But I didn't get them because of my sky-rocketing weight gain...I've had them ever since I can remember...

10th Week

Books and the Internet says pregnancy shouldn't be too obvious (meaning, tummy, while not that flat, is still not really "distended") on the 10th week. Tummy will start to grow and be obvious around the 14th-16th week.

So that means, I'm just plain fat and bloated. Ha ha ha. Now nearing my 11th week, I've managed to gain 10 lbs, lose whatever idea of waistline I have and grow the breasts I've been waiting for since freshmen year.

So far, people just say I don't really look pregnant yet, just....well-fed. But now, I'm so well-fed I can't fit into any of my pants (yes, including the ones I had to hold up with safety pins and belts). I'm on the verge of raiding my giant of a sister's wardrobe, pending my overdue shopping spree for maternity wear.

On the brighter side, nausea has abated a bit...but only since yesteday when Jam and I attended a christening party for his boss' baby daughter. Days before that, I've been throwing up worse than ever, and Jam (im)patiently asked me if I would also be too sick during the baptismal reception. (Great, huh? Not even asking if I feel well enough to go...)So anyway, I had to plan my day ahead, and started by waking up to the sound of Beckay's (our househelp) footsteps, and asking her if breakfast is ready yet. I had to eat every two hours or so, and stuck to that timeline and it worked...So I was able to down a plateful of lunch and didn't get sick...I'm crossing my fingers this be the beginning of a wonderful week.

I've also begun attending choir practices again, lunch nap-times notwithstanding. They were able to schedule a July 30 concert, and I wouldn't dare to miss it, not when we'd be singing Bohemian Rhapsody! So after lunch, I'm now hauling my ass and getting my much-needed exercise, walking down a flight of stairs and to the next building. Plus maybe all that vocalization will improve my lung power as I scream my head off during labor.

But that's looking too far ahead.

7 weeks

I'm scanning through articles in the web for anything about pregnancy. Foremost on the list is how to survive Morning Sickness, second is how to make sure the little tyke is okay. Despite all the stuff floating around, it's pretty hard to grasp the one info any mother-to-be needs...How to be assured one is going to be a good mother.

Anyway, I've been advised to not really think about being pregnant. HUHWHHHAAAT? I mean, yeah, when I am asleep and not dreaming about filling up bottles with breastmilk (yes, that's how far my preggy-concsiousness got), I am awake and swallowing gallons after gallons of bitter saliva, convincing myself that MS spells a healthy pregnancy.

I also got the blood test results yesterday. As usual, I am anemic. Last year, the office doctors gave me 30 days worth of (nausea-inducing) Sangrobion (or something sounds like) to give my body more iron. I took about 15 days worth and dumped the whole lot into the medicine pouch. Now, I am almost regretting it. Almost...I don't think it did me any good. I've always been anemic and I'm sure I need more than gigantic capsules of iron to boost my blood count up.

I've got to submit the blood test results along with my ultrasound to my OB by this week. She told me to call-in the results but I don't know how you'll relay all those numbers (hematocrit and hemo whatever) via phone so maybe I'll drop by her clinic next Saturday. Then maybe I can personally ask her some of the stuff I've been surfing the Net for...Like how to survive MS.