It's a girl!

I'm choosing the easiest way to post. This announcement is long overdue. We are more than half-way through our pregnancy. Please pray that we will have a safe, uneventful, normal delivery of a beautiful, smart, kind, generous, God-fearing, healthy baby girl.

Congenital Anomaly Scan Report

Head

Spine

Stomach and Kidneys

Nasal bridge and Lips

most importantly, the gender

After three boys, we are finally having a girl! All praises and glory to our God!

AVENT SALE

I have been on hiatus for quite some time. This will be a quick post for all those Avent fan mommies. This is for you.

Hope to get back to blogging soon.

*Thanks to manilaonsale.com for the photos.

Dear Luc

Dear Lucas,

Hi baby! Just wondering how you are. We still think about you. Just this morning, while I was watching your brothers sleep, I thought about where will you be staying if you are still with us. We love you baby!!!

Saw this McDonald's advertisement we can't help but think it could have been you and Andres. Of course your Kuya Rafa has to be there too. Thank you Mc Donald's for this :)

Dipyridamole-Thallium Scan Prices

I would rather be researching for the prices of the newest cars but my mandate today is to look for the best rate for the Dipyridamole-Thallium Scan in the metro. You see, last year, my mom had an angioplasty. Doctors tried to restore blood flow using balloons and stents. It has been a year since and they need to check the condition of the arteries.

For the uninitiated, Dipyridamole-Thallium Scan (Dip-Thall) is a myocardial perfusion study: it looks at blood supply to the heart muscle while under the relative stress of dipyridamole, which causes the coronary arteries to slightly and temporarily constrict (become narrower). Thallium is the radio-isotope used to "light up" the blood cells.

As always, I hope no one is in need of this list but in case you do, here is what I got:

Hospital / Clinic: Asian Hospital and Medical Center
Price: approximately Php 24,000; Senior: Php 19,808

Contact Numbers:771.9000

Hospital / Clinic: Capitol Medical Center

Price: Php 12,690* without medicine (roughly Php 1,000) 

Contact Numbers:372.3825 to 44 local 1225

Hospital / Clinic: Cardinal Santos Medical Center

Price: Php 24,934* +1,600 for doctor's fee

Contact Numbers: 727.0001 local 4204 or 727.5793 by appointment

Hospital / Clinic: Makati Medical Center

Price: Php 19,500; Senior: 16,915.94

Note: Need to pay the whole procedure. Might need to come back for the test

Contact Numbers:8888.999 local 3301 to 03

Hospital / Clinic: Philippine Heart Center

Price: Php 16,900; Senior: Php 14,960

Contact Numbers:925.2401 local 2164/2165

Hospital / Clinic: St. Lukes Medical Center (Global City)

Price: Php 19,845; Senior: Php 18,900

Contact Numbers:789.7700 local 1004/1152

Hospital / Clinic: St. Lukes Medical Center (Q.C.)

Price: Php 19,845; Senior: Php 18,900

Contact Numbers:723.0101 or 727.5419

Hospital / Clinic: The Medical City

Price: Php 21,120* (this may vary depending on the number of ampules used in the procedure)

Contact Numbers: 635.6789

Hospital / Clinic: UST Hospital

Price: Php 16,300; Senior: almost Php 15,000

Note: Need Php 5,000 deposit upon setting the appointment

Contact Numbers:731.3001 local 2354

No nuclear medicine section for the following:

Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center

UERM Medical Center

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital

UP Philippine General Hospital

I stopped now since I think I have enough on my list. Feel free to comment to add to the list to help others. God bless and stay healthy!

*This will be subject to a 20% discount for senior citizens

Meet My Bike

As part of my personal wellness campaign, I bought a folding bike. This is David or at least this is how David (my bike) looks. We hope to go places together for fitness and fun. Just yesterday we had a bike ride to raise funds for Teen St. Pedro (Calungsod). We are looking forward to other projects or even just for simple joy rides. It is also a way for my husband and I to bond. It even creates good memories for our eldest boy, who joins us for the first lap whenever we ride around our village.

12 PROMISES OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Today is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. You might want to start your devotion. Check out the "PERKS". May God bless all of us!

THE NINE FIRST FRIDAYS DEVOTION AND THE TWELVE PROMISES OF THE SACRED HEART MADE TO ST. MARGARET MARY 

1. I WILL GIVE THEM ALL THE GRACES NECESSARY FOR THEIR STATE OF LIFE. 
2. I WILL GIVE PEACE IN THEIR FAMILIES 
3. I WILL CONSOLE THEM IN ALL THEIR TROUBLES. 
4. THEY SHALL FIND IN MY HEART AN ASSURED REFUGE DURING LIFE AND ESPECIALLY AT THE HOUR OF DEATH. 
5. I WILL POUR ABUNDANT BLESSINGS ON ALL THEIR UNDERTAKINGS. 
6. SINNERS SHALL FIND IN MY HEART THE SOURCE AND INFINITE OCEAN OF MERCY. 
7. TEPID SOULS SHALL BECOME FERVENT. 
8. FERVENT SOULS SHALL SPEEDILY RISE TO GREAT PERFECTION. 
9. I WILL BLESS THE HOMES IN WHICH THE IMAGE OF MY SACRED HEART SHALL BE EXPOSED AND HONORED. 
10. I WILL GIVE TO PRIESTS THE POWER TO TOUCH THE MOST HARDENED HEARTS. 
 11. THOSE WHO PROPAGATE THIS DEVOTION SHALL HAVE THEIR NAME WRITTEN IN MY HEART, AND IT SHALL NEVER BE EFFACED.
12. THE ALL-POWERFUL LOVE OF MY HEART WILL GRANT TO ALL THOSE WHO SHALL RECEIVE COMMUNION ON THE FIRST FRIDAY OF NINE CONSECUTIVE MONTHS THE GRACE OF FINAL REPENTANCE; THEY SHALL NOT DIE UNDER MY  DISPLEASURE, NOR WITHOUT RECEIVING THE SACRAMENTS; MY HEART SHALL BE THEIR ASSURED REFUGE AT THE LAST HOUR.

this is taken from http://www.catholictradition.org/Two-Hearts/devotion12.htm

Chuck of Reece's Rainbow

I have recently visited Reece's Rainbow and chanced upon their prayer warrior program.

The Reece’s Rainbow Prayer Warrior Ministry was created with three goals in mind:

1.To lift the daily needs of each waiting child up in prayer
2.To lift the ministry of Reece’s Rainbow up in prayer
3.To lift the families whom God is preparing for each waiting child up in prayer

I have not officially signed up but we have started to include Chuck in our daily prayers. If you have a regular prayer time or want to establish one, you might try to sign up for this. It will be another reason for you to stick to your commitment to prayer. We may not have money to donate but our intercession and promotion of such an organization as Reece's Rainbow will do much for the orphans. To know more about Reece's Rainbow and the Prayer Warrior Program, please check this URL: http://reecesrainbow.org/

How I chose Chuck? I simply looked at the Waiting Children tab and clicked on the Down Syndrome boys ages 3-5. For those who read my blog for the first time, my son Lucas was born on the same month and year as Chuck. I would love to visit this boy and see how he is doing. If finances and all other things will allow, we would consider adopting him. We pray for all the children in this site especially those who are abandoned or unwanted. May our God find them their families who will love them and provide for them.

My Cholesterol Update

OCT 2012

total cholesterol - 255

low density - 169

MAY 2013

total cholesterol - 224

low density - 152

Things are moving toward the right direction :)

Birthday Prayer

Thank you, God for giving me another year of life.  Thank You for all the people who remembered me by sending gifts and good wishes.  Thank You for all the experience of this past year; for times of success which will always be happy memories, for times of failure which reminded me of my own weakness and of my need for You, for times of joy when the sun was shining, for times of sadness which drove me to You.  Forgive me for the hours I wasted, for the chances I failed to take, for the opportunities I missed the past year.  Help me in the days ahead to make this the best year yet, and through it to bring good credit to myself, happiness and pride to my loved ones, and joy to You. Amen

This was taken from http://roda-footprints.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-birthday-prayer.html
Thank you for the beautiful prayer.

2013 Goals

Last year I posted my goals for the year and met some of them, made dents on others and still to work on the last one. At the start of this year, I was not able to do that but as the saying goes, better late than later :P

1. Bring my cholesterol level to normal
2. Achieve a lean 120-lbs body
3. Have a regular exercise regimen
4. Start a business - probably in food or printing business
5. Deeper appreciation of the Holy Eucharist
6. Establish my prayer time
7. Learn more about Mary, the Mother of Jesus

April 14

posing while watching the airplanes

waiting to board

last picture before we hurry to a different gate

family picture

reviewing the instructions for a water landing

lining up to ride the shuttle bus for immigration and our luggage

with Mamita

one shot before we head out of the airport to catch the bus to the city

Travel Tips for Hong Kong

Our family recently visited Hong Kong and would like to share some tips for future travellers. I would not take credit for everything written here. Pinoy exchange is a great site to get tips.  Most, if not all the tips in this post, I got from this site http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=607496

1. Travel light. This will make you enjoy your trip much more especially in a fast paced city like Hong Kong.
2. Get an octopus card. Especially if you are a lone traveller, a cab would be an expensive means of transport while the train might be just as convenient. You may get your octopus card behind the door with "NOTHING TO DECLARE" sign, after getting your luggage from the baggage carousel. Please remember that there are special octopus cards for children and senior citizens. Children below 3 are free of charge. You may reload your card at 7 eleven stores which are conveniently located around Hong Kong. 
3. Stay at a hotel near the MTR station to minimize walking. 
4. You can get discounted tickets through China Travel Service or you may inquire at your hotel/hostel if they have discounted tickets.
5. Don't make your itinerary too tight. Provide allowances for delays especially if you are travelling with kids and elderly.
6. Try to make your trip longer to be able to enjoy Hong Kong better. A 3-day 2-night trip might be more costly since the airfare would be quite steep for such a short stay. There are some nice places to visit at a minimal fee or sometime no cost at all.
7. Be prepared for the weather. Hong Kong has four seasons. You may check the forecast for your trip to gear up for the weather accordingly.
8. For those who are going to Hong Kong for the sale, the best time to go is around July to August. If you are going there for the cool weather, November - early March would be the time to go.
9. Check for the holidays to avoid crowds in the park during peak season. The accommodation would also be a little higher during these periods. 
10. For those who need to change their Philippine peso to Hong Kong dollar, there are legitimate money changers in Manila. You may change some just so to be able to purchase your octopus cards and go to money changers in Hong Kong. If you are a BDO account holder, you may request to change it through the bank but pre-order is necessary. You would need photocopy of your passport and ticket.

Family Time at Hong Kong Disneyland

Maundy Thursday

Every year, we visit seven churches to join the journey of Jesus thousands of years ago in His passion. There is also a vigil which commemorates His agony in the garden when He asked for His apostles to keep vigil.

We did not plan our itinerary. We just thought of taking a different route. We ended up with 3 new churches (meaning, first time visits),3 first time Visita Iglesia churches (first time to visit for the stations of the cross) and our staple church, where our baby's remains rest.

Another new thing this year is that the reflections of the stations of the cross were from Mary's perspective. As a mother, I related to her feelings. I admire Mary's obedience. She is definitely full of grace. She is no ordinary lady.

Toby's Sports Garage Sale

Got these from the sale at 50% off. Yey!

firsts

We had some firsts for the boys. It was the first time for Andres to had buffet lunch at Heat. He had soup, bread, rice and panna cotta for dessert. Rafa on the otherhand never ate cotton candy until recently. He told me he wonder what it tastes like. He sees his classmate eat it after school. He does not bring money to school and he never asked how much it was. Finally, after almost 6 years of existence, he had his first blue cotton candy :) He passed up his takoyaki for this.

2012: Assessment

Here is the list of things to accomplish last year:
1. Safely deliver a healthy, normal, kind, happy, smart and loving baby boy - check
2. Top the real estate broker's exam this March 2012 - did not top it but passed; just like topping considering I gave birth during my review and took the exam a month postnatal
3. Weigh 120 pounds by Dec 2012 - I was a few pounds off but a lot noticed my weightloss
4. Bring down my cholesterol level to normal values - it improved by around 20 points
5. Start my own business - uhmm... that is why there is 2013

I need some serious planning time very soon, like NOW!

Some Christmas Pictures