Kit:  Shabby Shoppe's An Affair to Remember.

Kit: Shabby Shoppe's An Affair To Remember.  Thanks again, Mich for the kit.

Printed on 4x6 matte paper.  Kit:  Shabby Shoppe's Gigglebox.  Created for Sy's baptism, January 2010.  Thanks, Mich for the kit.

Credits: Paper and elements by Enable 'Em.  Additional elements by Athena Gray.

Credits to Heather Designs for the elements and paper used.

Love,

Mommy, Daddy and Ate Amelie

"This Is It Photography is doing a fundraising drive to help the victims of the recent typhoon Ondoy that hit the Philippines.  Book any portrait/family or engagement session from October 2009 and we will donate 80% of your payment.  Visit this link for more details: http://thisisitphotography.photobiz.com/cart/index.cfm?start=products"

Although I had concerns about leaving my little girl behind while I'm at the hospital, deep down in my heart, I was so excited to give birth. I want so much to see our little boy and I wanted the physical pain that accompanied my pregnancy to finally end. I told a friend that this time around, I felt like I was pregnant for years!

So that day, I double-checked my hospital bag, prepared Amelie's stuff for "school", made sure that emergency contact numbers and Amelie-related routine/stuff were printed and posted on the pantry door in the kitchen (for my Nanay Lei's reference).

Evening came and I couldn't sleep. While hubs and Amelie were already in dreamland, I sat in bed with my ibook and chatted with my preggy friend in the US. I was even able to write this entry.

September 24, Thursday

Past midnight, I started to feel tummy cramps that came and went in 30-minute intervals. I thought it was just Braxton Hicks and I chose to bear with the discomfort. After another hour, the cramps came in 15-20 min intervals. I was still in denial that I could be in labor because my mind was "fixed" to give birth by induction procedure on September 25th. But it was not meant to be. I decided to rest and after a short while, the contractions came in stronger and in much shorter intervals, I finally decided to wake hubby up! I asked him to call my mother so she could look after A who was still sound asleep.  I then continued to give instructions to hubs to pick up my hospital bag and to call the hospital. Yep, despite the intense pain, I was still very alert! He he.

We were on the road in no time. My contractions were coming in 3-minute intervals. I didn't know how painful going through labor was until that time. I wanted a dose of epidural! I was quickly wheeled in to the birthing suite and the midwife did quick checks and confirmed that I was already 6cm dilated. She called my O&G and waited for her to order administration of epidural. The anesthesiologist came which made me so happy (really, really happy!).

My O&G came in and asked me to try pushing but I couldn't feel the contractions anymore. She asked the midwife to lower the epidural dosage and in twenty minutes, I retained sensation on my legs and started pushing. My little bub was out in no time!

After resting a bit at the birthing suite, we were transferred to our room. I stayed at the hospital for 3 1/2 days although the standard is 4 1/2. And as much as I enjoyed the meals and the 24/7-midwife assistance, I wanted to go home so bad.

God is so good. Isaiah is one healthy boy and I had no delivery complications. Isaiah's Apgar test result was 9/10, he passed the hearing test and the pediatrician gave a go-ahead for an early discharge at the hospital.

Thanks for all your prayers!  Stories and more photos to follow.

How I wish that it's already Friday afternoon when I expect (and hope) to have given birth already and to be cradling our little prince in my arms. Or make it Sunday so we'd all be at home. And by then, I'd feel complete.