Will miss traveling...

I finally received yesterday the Maldives postcard that Raxie sent me last month...

Oh, how I miss Raxie! And I miss our travels, too!

My BFF Raxie's been my constant travel buddy since we were out from college. We've been to many places, experienced many things together. Last August, for my last hurray before I migrated, we went to Iloilo-Bacolod-Guimaras to celebrate our birthday. She even came back to Pinas (she's currently based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) just to travel with me. I love her to bits!

How time flies! From being a carefree single gal, I am now traveling to a different path - motherhood. Raxie, on the other hand, is having the time of her life. With a good career and disposable money, she can continue going places!

I am so looking forward to traveling with Raxie again, but I know it won't be easy. With Chicklet now present in my life, I am not as free as before. I also am not working (blame it to Chicklet again haha!) so budget will be a concern. With mortgages and other bills continuously coming in, expensive travels won't be a priority as of now.

I guess I just have to contented with what I have. I'll just wait for more postcards (and ref magnets) that Raxie will be sending me haha!

Thanks again for this, Raxie! Travel more! I'd be with you in spirit! :)

That sense of powerlessness

One of the things I love in living here in Canada is the 'free health care.' Coming from a country where hospitalization and unforeseen medical needs can drain all your resources, this is like a dream come true.

I first experienced my free medical privilege in December 2013, just barely a month after I immigrated In this country. As an Alberta resident, I was entitled to free medical services the moment I landed here (unlike in other provinces where you have to wait for three months). I remember having so many blood tests (which are expensive) and even an ultrasound because I had some 'abdominal' issues.

I never felt guilty though about using Canadian resources that early because my husband has been paying so much taxes since 2010. He's never availed any medical care so far, so I told him, "at least nakabawi ka sa akin." 

The experience of going to a clinic or a laboratory without having to pay anything was truly awesome.

Chicklet @ 23 weeks and 3 days

But now that I am pregnant, I realized that socialized health care has drawbacks too.

Inasmuch as I am thankful that I will be giving birth in a huge hospital for free, I couldn't help but think that I would have had an easier pregnancy had I been in the Philippines. Evidently, their medical approach here is very much different from what I got used to back home.

This is my first pregnancy and I am naturally scared. I have so many questions in mind that needed answers. I constantly long for assurances that me and the baby are okay. But I couldn't get that here.

You see, doctors here do not "baby" their clients. And because there is no abundance of medical practitioners here, they are always in a rush. Or could it be because we are not paying their fees directly? Everything is being done on appointment system. You can't just pop in the doctor's clinic if you have some pregnancy concerns. Just visit the ever-reliable google if you are in despair.

I am 24 weeks and 1 day as of this writing and I want to have another ultrasound. The last one I had was on June 12 and I had severe colds after that. I am even suffering from phlegm (in the throat) until now. I last saw my OB-GYNE last July 7 and when I told her about my colds and phlegm, it's as if she's heard nothing. I finally asked her about the schedule of my next ultrasound and she said it will be done on my 32nd week. Whoaah, that would be 10 weeks away from that day.

I honestly felt so powerless. Without her referral, I won't be able to have an ultrasound. I want to see my baby badly. I want to be assured that he's doing fine because I've been experiencing tummy pain the past weeks (due to constant coughing and hacking). Oh how I wish I am in Pinas during these times!

In our country, I can get a check-up anytime. I can even SMS my doctor if I have urgent concerns! And my bestcousin is a radiologist who can conduct an ultrasound test on me any day I want. Modesty aside, we are not exactly poor in the Philippines so we can afford to pay for medical services. I can even give birth to the most expensive hospital there. No doubt, I would have a smoother and calmer pregnancy if I am in my home country.

I am not saying that medical care in the Philippines is better (if you have money, that is). I guess it just takes time getting used to a different system.


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NOTE: I will be writing my more detailed medical experience here in Edmonton after giving birth.

Our Canada Day 2014

First of all, Ford and I want to express our gratitude to our adoptive country Canada. Our hearts are filled with joy because after a decade of being in a long distance relationship, we are now building our family life together. This became possible because Canada took us in.

Thank you, Canada! We promise to continuously being your good and productive citizens. Mabuhay ka!

My UP doll "ISKO" happy to be holding a Canadian flag :)

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July 1, 2014. This wasn't actually my first experience of Canada Day. I first visited Edmonton in July-August 2012 (when Ford and I were newly married) and we were able to watch the fireworks display at Alberta Legislature Grounds. I remember feeling overwhelmed seeing so many Canadians rejoicing for their beloved country. Their celebration was relatively modest but the Canadian spirit of solidarity was there. It was then that I realized that yeah, I would want to be a Canadian too someday.

Anyway, since I am pregnant, going to a crowded event this year was not an option so the husband and I decided to just celebrate Canada Day at home. We also invited Ate June (Ford's cousin) and Cecil and Claire. Ford and I do not know how to cook (I only cook for my own consumption) so it was just a barbeque event haha!

Ford had to fetch Ate June and Cecil and Claire because they do not drive in Edmonton yet.

Oops, pardon our front porch/stair... hindi pa rin tapos hanggang ngayon!

I planned on buying so many Canada Day paraphernalia (haha, I am such a sucker for all mababaw na bagay!) but my condition hindered me to do so. Di bale, next year na lang.

This was what we feasted in -- steak, pork barbeque, tilapia, mussels, corn.

Our guests really liked my pork barbeque haha! I used Tita Che's recipe for that. Success!

By the way, it was the first time that we 'used' (and enjoyed) our balcony. =)

For dessert, we chose Selecta ice cream! Panlasang pinoy pa rin ang nanaig!

I do not feel confident having my picture taken lately (I am so tamad mag-ayos) so si Chicklet na lang. This is my baby's first ever Canada Day.

  

I am thankful to my husband for bringing me here in Canada. In a few more months, we'll have our own Canadian child na hahaha!

Happy Canada Day! =)

More clothes for Baby Chicklet!

I woke up last Sunday morning with a viber message from my sis-in-law Cecille (Ford's only sister who is based in California). She said she bought some clothes for Chicklet and Baby Y. Haha, I was surprised! We were chatting the night before and I was telling her how "kuripot" his brother is in buying clothes for the baby. You see, my Ilocano husband is really not into clothes. He would always kid me that just like him, a baby only need few clothes kaloka! Or better daw, balutin na lang ng tela! (He was just kidding, of course.)

And so Chicklet's Tita Ninang Cil Cil took pity on him and bought some clothes at Carters.

Thank you, Tita Ninang Cil Cil! You are so sweet!

Oops by the way, Baby Y is Chicklet's cousin. Ford's brother Ryan and his wife Sherrilyn are also pregnant -- they are five weeks ahead of us. It'll be an exciting year for the Blancos because we'll be welcoming the first two grandkids of the family by October and November. Luckily, girl and boy ang dalawang parating na bagets! :)

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NOTE: A few weeks ago, Cecille guessed that Ryan will have a girl and Ford a boy. And she was right! 

Some rainy day sentiments

It's a cold and rainy Thursday. I am loving the weather. Parang nakikisama ang panahon, nakikisabay sa maulang lagay ng Pilipinas sa ngayon.

But unlike in the Philippines, there will be no dreadful typhoons here. No destructive winds. No deep floods. Just mere rain showers.

According to my husband, there is hardly any natural calamity here in Edmonton. An earthquake is in fact very unlikely to happen. Whoaah, so ganito pala sa ibang panig ng mundo. While we Filipinos are getting so used to regular calamities and natural disasters (Philippines daw is the 3rd most disaster-prone countries in the world, next to Tonga and Vanuatu), other countries and people are enjoying hassle-free lives. Ni hindi uso ang brownout dito.

Life is really not fair noh?

I am grateful that at 34, I was given the chance to move into a developed country where life is much better and easier. But I am not selfish.  Inasmuch as I am having a good time here, I couldn't help but feel the hardships that my fellow Filipinos are experiencing in our home country right now. I get heart-broken whenever I watch the news, seeing homeless families and hungry children is just too much painful to bear. If only there's something I can do.

Let's just all pray for our beloved Philippines.

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NOTE: Due to strong winds of Typhoon Glenda last July 16 (Philippine time), the huge gate of our garage hit the windshield of one of our buses. My brother also incurred a minor knee injury because he was trying to control the said gate. But other than that, we are thankful that all our family, relatives and friends (and our other properties) are safe. 

Shopping for Chicklet starts now!

I've been pregnant for more than five months now and I realized that it's about time we start buying things for our little boy.

Ah huh, we're having a baby boy! Sana lang hindi kami ma-surprise later on at maging girl haha!

Anyway, Ford and I were at Target (WEM) this evening and I was able to buy these two onesies. And yep, they were on sale!

Our baby will be born on the cold month of November so we have to buy 'panlamig' clothes. I was advised not to buy newborn clothing (masasayang lang daw) kaya pang three months na ang binili namin.

So I guess this is the official start of  the 'shopping-for-baby' phase of our life. But before we proceed with that, here are some of my thoughts:

• It's really more fun shopping for girls' stuff (sorry Chicklet, but it's the truth!). Haha, andaming kakikayan pag baby girl.
• Inasmuch as I am excited to buy stuff for my very first child, I have to control myself. Babies grow fast so sayang talaga ang maraming damit na mabilis makalakihan.
• Again, look for "great deals" when shopping. Di pwedeng maatat agad, kailangan mag-antay ng sale haha! Namamahalan ako sa mga gamit dito (sana lang may Divisoria dito noh) and pag nag-convert ka in pesos, malamang di ka makakabili.
• Never buy uber expensive things for the baby kasi di naman nila talaga maaappreciate pa.
• As first time parents, our initial reaction on 'hand-me-downs' was "no, thank you." But then later in this pregnancy I realized na 'bakit naman hindi?' My friend Mels wants to give me her baby's pambahay (i.e. shorts and sandos) pag-uwi namin sa Pinas para daw may pang-araw-araw si baby and I gladly accepted. Sayang naman nga kasi kung bibili pa ako tapos sandali lang magagamit.
• It kinda feels sad because most of our baby's things will be bought by us. We don't have that much family and friends here na magreregalo eh. It feels good to receive gifts, right? Parang ang daming excited at gustong mag-welcome sa baby kapag ganun.
• We have to take good care of all Chicklet's things because who knows, we might have another baby in the future who might need them (haha, poor bunso!).

Had I been living in the Philippines, I won't have any problem shopping for the baby. I am familiar with the malls and stores and I know where to score good deals. Dito mangangapa pa ako. But I'll get there.

Oops, before I forget, ang mga unang gamit ni Chicklet ay galing kay Mamoosh (from the Philippines). When Ford went home to Pinas last May for his grandmother's burial, I asked my mother to shop for the baby. Nagpabili ako ng mga gamit ng bata na wala raw dito. I'll post them later on. Thanks, Mamoosh! =)

I am back -- with a baby! =)

Hola! I can't believe it's been four months since I last blogged!

Obviously I have an excuse. I AM PREGNANT! 22 weeks and 2 days by this very day.

Picture taken on June 14, 2014 (19 weeks and 2 days pregnant)

The past months and weeks have witnessed so many changes in my life (and my body!) and all the more that I should have blogged to document everything about my pregnancy. But I just didn't have the energy to do so.

But hey, I can still catch up right? I'll try hard to (so that Baby Chicklet can have something amusing to read on later).

Hay I've missed blogging! I still have almost four months before I become "really" busy (I am due on November) and I hope I can still manage to write when there's already a baby demanding my full attention. I never intended to have a "mommy blog" but I guess it's inevitable now since my life in the coming months (and probably the next few years) will just revolve around the baby, the hubby, and our Casa Blanco.

New phase in life, new adventures. I am excited. I am definitely back!