The Year That Was 2011

Only 5 days left 'til Christmas! This will only be the second time my husband and I will celebrate Christmas here in Sydney. The first was in 2008. We've been spending our holidays in Manila the past two years. This year we couldn't go home because I'm due to give birth in January so we flew my mum and youngest sister here instead. It would've been great if the family could all be here but of course that's not a possibility.

As what I did last year, I'd like to look back on all the things that happened to me & my family this year.

January - My husband and I welcomed the New Year with my family in Manila. We flew back to Sydney just before my husband's birthday. We didn't have our own place yet (we lived in Tamworth before we went on our holiday) so we stayed with our friends in Gladesville while we were looking for one. Luckily, we found a unit in Mount Druitt before the month ended. We moved into the unit on 22 January. Before I forget, my husband got me a washing machine. Yay! :D

February - Not much happened this month. In addition to the stuff we kept in storage, we bought a sofa, some home furnishings and kitchenware to make our unit 'homier'. :)

Kiama Rock Pool

March - I turned a year older, hopefully a year wiser as well. To celebrate, we went on our first road trip south of Sydney -- to Kiama. We had fun, more so my husband, although the blow hole did not 'blow' when we were there. He swam in the rock pool. We had fish & chips and ice cream for lunch.

This month, we started our Christian Life Program (CLP) in preparation for joining Couples for Christ (CFC).


I had blood tests and ultrasound towards the end of the month in preparation for the next step in our TTC journey -- IVF.

April - We consulted with our Fertility Specialist (FS) on 5 April and we finalized the protocol for our IVF/ICSI. We had our orientation on 12 April where a nurse showed my husband and I how to administer the drugs I would be needing (via injection, of course). I started my first injection on 15 April. There was no looking back after that. I had blood test and ultrasound almost every other day. Just for fun(!), I added and I had 7 blood tests and 5 ultrasounds. :))

May - I had egg collection on 2 May and then embryo transfer on 7 May. After that, it was an agonizing wait to find out if I'm pregnant or not. My pregnancy blood test (beta hCG) at the clinic was scheduled for 18 May but I couldn't wait that long (impatient much!) so I did a home pregnancy test on 14 May and the result was positive. My beta hCG confirmed this. My husband and I were so happy. We shared the wonderful news with our immediate family and closest friends. I started acupuncture on 21 May. My all-day sickness started SOON after.

June - We had our 7-week scan on 9 June. This was the first time we saw our 'jellybean' and its heartbeat. Such a precious moment! We graduated from the CLP on 5 June.

July - Our 12-week scan or Nuchal Scan happened on 15 July. I decided to temporarily call our bub Bee until we find out his/her gender. Thank God, the results of the scan came back normal. I had my initial interview at Blacktown Hospital (where I will give birth) on 26 July.

August - We found out that we're having a BOY at our Morphology Scan on 25 August. By this time I was already 19 weeks pregnant. We've decided to name him Jacob Lucas. I had my first doctor visit at the hospital on 30 August.

September - I had my first antenatal check up on 28 September at almost 24 weeks. My husband and I celebrated our 12th Anniversary/6th Wedding Anniversary on the 30th of the month. Happy times!

October - We had our babymoon at Wisemans Ferry from the 16th to the 18th. This month I also started my Aqua Natal Class.

November - We again 'saw' Jacob at our 3D/4D Scan on the 12th. My husband and I attended the first part of Parent Education Session at the hospital on 26 November.

December - The second part of our Parent Education Session happened on the 3rd. Jacob and I gradated from Aqua Natal class on the 6th. We had a growth scan on the morning of the 9th at 34 weeks. Then in the evening, our CFC Family gave us a baby Shower. We had so much fun! :)

As you can see, 2011 has been a great year not only for my husband and I but also for our family. God has given us the biggest blessing of all, Jacob. We can't wait to meet him in a few weeks time! In the meantime, I'm enjoying the remaining weeks of my pregnancy. I know I will surely miss having Jacob inside my tummy. :)

♥♥♥ A Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year from My Family to Yours! ♥♥♥

Gratitude Entry

It's Thanksgiving again! Even though we don't celebrate it here in Australia, I thought I should write an entry about gratitude, just like last year. 

This time last year we were still in Tamworth, getting ready to leave for our holidays in Manila and Hong Kong. Now, we're back in Sydney and has been living here in the West for about 10 months. I have heaps of people and things to be thankful for. I can't even begin to name all of them but here's me trying:

• I am beyond thankful for the little miracle growing inside of me. After waiting for nearly 5 and a half years, we've finally been blessed with Jacob. His Daddy and I can't wait to meet him in less than 2 months.
• I'm thankful for my husband; he's all that I've ever hoped for and MORE! I am truly blessed to have him as my partner, best friend and ally, no matter what.
• I am thankful for my family in Manila. Despite the distance they never fail to make us feel loved. I am thankful that they are all relatively healthy, especially my grandmother. I am thankful that my mum and youngest sister were granted visas to come visit us here in Australia. I'm so happy and excited that they're arriving soon.
• I am thankful for our relatives, friends and CFC family here in Sydney.
• I am thankful for all the blessings and provisions that we continually receive, especially my husband's job. 

I am well and truly blessed. Thank you, Lord! :)

The Year That Was 2010

As 2010 is nearing its end, I’d like to look back, reminisce and hopefully put into perspective how this year unfolded for me.

January – My husband and I welcomed the New Year in Hong Kong. We arrived there New Year’s eve and stayed until my husband’s birthday, 5 January. It was a different experience altogether - one that I will fondly remember always. After Hong Kong, we flew back to Manila, spent a week there before flying to Singapore with my family. Another holiday I will cherish. After four days we went back to Sydney, back to reality.

February – I was supposed to have surgery this month but it was postponed because my husband was assigned to work in a project in Tamworth, NSW. Tamworth is the country’s Country Music Capital, about 400km or 5.5hours from Sydney. We were apprehensive at first because we were so used to living in the city but we chose to look at it as a blessing in disguise. And indeed it is a blessing, in more ways than one.

March – I celebrated another milestone in life, I turned 30! My husband and I normally celebrate my birthday with a holiday but we chose to forego that tradition this year. Instead, we celebrated with a simple dinner at home. Greetings from family and friends made my day more special. I felt loved and blessed.

April – We went on a 5-day holiday to Coffs Harbour at the beginning of the month, in time for Holy Week. It was our first time to go there and we weren’t disappointed. We didn’t have any plans or itinerary going there but we had heaps of fun! Great food and great place = happy us. We vowed to go back soon. Before the month ended, we went on another holiday, a short one, to Hunter Valley. It was also our first time to go there. Heaps of firsts this month!

May-June-July-August – Not much happened during this stretch. We spent several weekends in Sydney. Most notable was my husband’s fraternity’s anniversary in August. Good food and great company are always a treat to enjoy.

September – My husband and I celebrated our 11^th Anniversary/5^th Wedding Anniversary on the 30^th of the month. We had a simple dinner at my favourite Italian restaurant here in Tamworth. Again, I marvel at the fact that I have been with the same person for more than a third of my life. Amazing!

October – I had surgery in Sydney on the 8^th. I had hysteroscopy and laparoscopy, my first two operations EVER! I was so nervous! Thankfully, everything went well. Thanks to my very good anaesthetist and specialist, another hurdle on our TTC (trying-to-conceive) journey taken care of. Excited, hopeful and positive about the possibilities!

November – My husband was told that his next project will be in Sydney. This means that we won’t need to go back to Tamworth after our holiday. Yay! As I’m writing this entry, we only have 5 days left before we fly back to Manila. I am so happy, ecstatic even! To be able to celebrate Christmas with my family is indeed a blessing I am thankful for.

December – Holiday season will be spent with family and friends!!!  Plus, we’re going back to Hong Kong. Two HK holidays this year. Yay!

Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong

 How was your year?

What Are You Thankful For?

I was watching the show Ellen this morning and that very same question popped on the telly. I guess because it’s almost Thanksgiving that’s why. It made me think, even though we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here in Australia, likewise in the Philippines. I have a lot of blessings I am thankful for. I can’t even begin to name all but here are some:

-          I am thankful for my husband; ever loving, ever reliable and ever understanding. He is my rock, my best friend in the truest sense. I am thankful that we are both healthy and that my husband has a good job which can support both of us without me having to work. (Note: I well and truly intend to look for a job as soon as we’re settled back in Sydney.)

-          I am thankful for my family in Manila. Despite the distance between us, I feel loved, always. I am thankful that my parents and grandmother are all relatively healthy, same with my brothers and sisters.

-          I am thankful that my operation last October went well. Now we are hopeful that we will be blessed with an addition to our family soon.

-          I am thankful for the opportunity to spend the coming holiday season with family and friends. Time spent with them are truly precious, something no amount of money can buy.

These are just some of the things that come to mind right now. I’m sure I’ve forgotten heaps but you get the picture.

Now it’s your turn. What are you thankful for?