Soon...

It's been such a long, long time since I last updated this blog. I've always find it hard to slip this into my daily schedule having to take care of an infant at the same time. But, I've decided to come back to blogging and post as often as I could. I just need time to catch up with what's been going on here.

CampJK Update!!

This is going to be a short update. I'm just taking this chance to post while our little boy is asleep. It's not going to be the same for me anymore since we already have him. My time will be spent more on taking care of him and our family.

Just to keep you posted somehow :) I already gave birth to a healthy baby boy a week ago at the Naval Medical Center San Diego. He weighed 7 lbs 4 oz and measured 21 inches long. No wonder why I had a big, big tummy for a first-time Mother during my pregnancy. My labor lasted for 13 hours. It wasn't that hard considering it as my first time, but the pain as the labor progressed, was unbearable. My water broke at 5:30 in the morning but we didn't drive to the hospital until it was almost 9:30 and the hospital is about 20 minutes away from where we live. I was in pain at home but still packing our stuff at the same time. My husband was even able to do one load of laundry. It was an unusual thing to do for a woman who's in labor pain, but since we never really expected he'd come out that early [2 weeks early..I'm supposed to give birth on the first week of August], we weren't able to actually put the things in their bags that we'd be taking with us to the hospital. So, when we got to the Labor and Delivery and they checked on me, I was already 6cm dilated. I was almost about to pop!!

Anyway, to cut this post short, everything went well and we're so thankful to God above for being with us the whole time. I will try to write a post about my labor and delivery when I get the chance to. For now, I just wanted to take this time to let you know that he's finally here - our little bundle of joy. His first name is Skyler :)

Here's our very first photo together that's taken at home right after we got discharged from the hospital and our little angel.

Greetings from our family to yours ;)

Pregnancy Discomfort: Back Pain

Since last week, days have just been so tough for me. I have been having terrible back pain on my lower left side and it has taken its toll on me. Being pregnant, it's advisable to lay on your left side when sleeping as it promotes better blood circulation throughout the body, thus, supplying adequate amount of oxygen to the baby. But since I am not that big of a person (I'm just 5'4 1/2 in height) and the growing belly added so much extra weight on my body, it put a lot of strain on my left side causing severe muscle spasm, which, right now is making it hard for me to do stuff around the apartment. I have been dealing with the pain for a week now and since I cannot take any pain medication, the more it is harder for me to move around. When the pain starts, I cannot even sit for longer than a minute. I have to stand up and walk, and even then, it still is hard for me to do so. Walking helps alleviate the pain but it takes a little while for it to take effect on me.

The only things that help the pain somehow are, Katinko and Tiger Balm that my husband applies and rub on my back every time the pain occurs. And not only that. He also runs a warm bubble bath for me twice a day to help me relax. They are such a big, big help, but sad to say that when the pain is intense, the effect doesn't last that long. But, I am so grateful that I have a husband who doesn't care at all doing everything he does just to make sure I feel fine. He wakes up anytime of the night just to rub my back and he stays up with me until I feel better enough to go back to bed. I kind of feel bad that he has to stay up because he has to go to work, but that's how things are right now. Sometimes, I try to endure the pain so I won't have to bother him but when the pain is so bad, I have no other choice.

I am so looking forward to finally giving birth, though in the back of my head, the reality is there that I am scared and nervous - like first-time mothers felt for sure. Of course, the main reason is, we are so excited to get to see our little angel, and to finally get over with these pregnancy discomforts. Don't get me wrong. I am happy being pregnant - but the discomforts just don't make me want to flash a smile at all. [Hehehe]

Anyway, I am hoping I'd still have enough strength to get things done before it's time to pop. There's still some stuff that need to get done and I want to be able to do them and not leave them all to my husband to take care by himself. So, I am going to try to take some rest right now. I will keep everybody posted :)

Have a nice day everyone...

The Girls: Sophie and Nani

Playtime with Daddy

with Sophie and Nani

These dogs are the best in the whole world!! Even before I've actually met them, John has already told me so much about his "girls" that's why I feel like I've actually been with them for a long time now. Sophie (the black dog), is such a sweetie. Nani (the cutie Golden Retriever), is the "baby" in the family right now. Well, both of them really are but Nani is more of the "Daddy's Girl".

They are so amazing!! They keep me company at home when John is at work. They make me feel safe and secured whenever my husband is not around because I know they will definitely defend me. They are the sweetest dogs ever but they know when to be on their guard. No doubt, they will be great "sisters" to our little boy and we both know they will be there to help us take care of him as well.

There are so many things that really amaze me about them. One of them is, they know the sound of their Daddy's car. Whenever John comes home from work, the moment they hear his car from the parking area, they'll go crazy and they'll come to me as if asking me to open the door for them so they could go and greet Daddy. So, I know whenever John arrives.

Another thing is, every morning, they'd hop on the bed and wake us up. And the moment my husband leaves for work, the two dogs stay on the bed with me until I am finally up. When they feel me moved, they'd come to me and start licking me as if their way of greeting me "Good Morning" and they'd lay close to my side. They'll stay that way till it's time to take them out to go potty.

I won't lie, they are the greatest dogs. And they'd drive you crazy especially when they start acting like they're really "human beings". I love these dogs and now I know how it's actually like being with them. There's no way you won't get to like them once you've seen them. They are just so adorable!!

To Sophie and Nani, you girls are the best!! Daddy and I love you both!!

Off to Fiesta Island on The 4th of July

Just taking this short time to post something on here. My husband and our friends, Kimo and Chanhthy (a couple) just went out to grab some food and drinks at Albertsons that we'll be taking with us to Fiesta Island. My husband let me stay here at home because he didn't want me to walk around and tire myself especially that, for sure, we'll be having a long and tiresome day today. They won't be gone that long anyway, so I'm fine with that.

This is my first ever 4th of July (Independence Day) here in the US and I've been looking forward to this. We may not be able to take a lot of photos, but we'll do our best to at least take some that we could post and show to our family back home in the Philippines. I'm not saying that there's no way we could not take a lot of photos when we have all the time to do so. It's just that, we spend most of our time more with friends, talking to them and sharing stories and jokes. Taking photos comes next.

Anyway, we started our day greeting each other "Happy 4th of July, Mahal" with matching hugs and kisses and hmmm...[hahaha] I feel so proud and happy being able to spend this day with my husband. Him being in the military just gives this day a more special and deeper meaning to me. This day, for me, is dedicated to those who had risked their lives and to those who are still out there fighting for the freedom that we're experiencing right now. They deserve all the honor and as a military wife, I just want to say "Thank you to all the soldiers out there for fighting for our freedom. I am so proud of you as I am proud of being married to a Military Man!!"

God Bless The USA!! And may God continue to bless and keep our men out there safe until their back home in their love ones arms.

"A BLESSED AND HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO YOU ALL!!"

All-In-One-Day Blessings

What a Monday to start our week with!! God indeed is good all the time. I'm just so happy to share this with you all.

That today --

I finally got my Green Card!! It only took less than two weeks since I got my Welcome Notice from the USCIS. Thank God, things are starting to fall into place now.

My Social Security Number has arrived, too. Yehey!! Now, we can start applying for stuff here to build my credit - this would be very helpful to us right now, especially that we're buying a house anytime soon. The husband also said he can now go ahead and put me on the Navy Fed account since I have my own SSN now!!

The guys who install DirectTV are here in our apartment right now. Guess what I'm getting after all this is done?! The Filipino Channel Direct!! Yehey, I can finally start watching Tagalog shows again. Haven't done that since I got here. Can't wait to just sit on the couch, do cross-stitching, and watch Tagalog shows while waiting for my husband to come home from work. Now, I won't be that bored anymore. Thanks to my husband again for doing this for me. He could have gotten his high definition channels with DVR from the other TV company, but he chose DirectTV so I can have my TFC. I don't even know what to say to him for this big gesture he did for me. But I am sure my husband knows how much I appreciate this and how grateful I am for him always thinking about me first.

Anyway, they're almost done installing and now I have to go back to Babies R Us to start putting stuff into our cart. I'll be done here in a few and I can't wait to start watching Tagalog shows or whatever movie is on right now. So, see you!!

She's Finally Here ;)

My older sister, Hazel arrived here in the States on Monday, June 22nd. She lives with her husband about an hour and forty-some minutes drive from where we live. I'm so glad that she's finally here and that she could come and visit me when I give birth. It sometimes is still hard for me being away from my family, but having my sister here with me now, somehow makes it easier for me to bear. I haven't met her, yet since she got here but, we constantly talk to each other on the phone.

We do feel happy for her, especially that she's with her husband now. They've been away from each other for almost 8 months and I know how tough it has been for both of them. Now, the only thing that I know both of them are trying to deal with is, being away from their kids - Haniel, 4, and our little Princess Rhecia, 2. They're too young to be away from their parents, but that's how things need to be for now. Soon, they'll be here as well. That's one of our many prayers.

I do hope to go up there and meet them. My husband and I are kind of busy right now putting things in order in our apartment and the only available time we could possibly drive up there is during weekends. We're thinking about visiting them this weekend, the 4th of July, but that isn't for sure as of now. If anything, we'd probably head up there next weekend. But, we're definitely going to visit them.

I can't wait to see my sister!!

Quick Post...

There are still stuff around the house that we haven't put away till now. Well, some of them need to go back to storage, anyway so not really worried about them. [Hehehe]

I'm just dropping by to post a quick update. Won't be too long...

We started staying in our apartment on Friday, June 19th.

I finally was able to apply for Social Security Number on Monday, June 23rd. I will receive it through mail in two weeks ;)

We're slowly but surely turning the once empty place into our "home" :) We started hanging frames and wall decors this afternoon after hubby got off from work.

There's still so much more, but that's all for now..Will update more here soon..

Welcome Notice from USCIS

Got my Welcome Notice on Monday, June 15th. It arrived right after we got back from the apartment. Though I should have gotten my Green Card within 30 days after my arrival, I'm happy that at least they got now my immigrant visa packet from the Port of Entry where I entered the US - at LAX. The letter said I should hear from them within 30 days and that's fine with us. John actually called them last week asking why I still haven't received my Green Card and the lady told him that they're doing some upgrade in the system I guess, so maybe that's the cause of delays. She then told him that I should be good for now since there's an attached note on my VISA that serves as my temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year.

We're thankful to God for this news. Now, we're just waiting for my Green Card. I hope it won't take them 30 days, though because we're planning on getting me my social security number here soon. But, we know, everything is still in God's hands. Whatever is His will, let it be done!!

Busy...Busy...Busy!!!

It's such a busy week for us right now. First of, I'm so happy to say that we finally got our apartment keys on Monday. We went there to finalize everything and so glad we got it all done in no time.

My husband and our friend, Kimo started pulling out important stuff from the storage yesterday and brought them straight to the apartment. The moved the bed, couch, table, and some other necessary things. So, we basically started moving our stuff yesterday. I had to stay behind because I started feeling a little sick, but I was in-charge of packing small stuff that we have here in our room. I am not done, yet and there's still a lot to pack. But most of them are clothes, shoes, toiletries, and pillows so I'm sure it won't take us that long to pack them. Hubby just left the other TV so we could have at least something to watch while we're still here at our friends' house.

We're so busy that I had to call NTC this morning to reschedule my prenatal appointment for today. My husband can't make it out of work early and my schedule would have been at 13:10. Not to mention that we still have the U-Haul truck that we rented yesterday and it is due to be returned before 15:15. So, we had to cancel one appointment to be able to take care of other important things right now. But, I made sure I got my new schedule so that won't be a problem anymore and that would be on Monday, June 22.

Right now, I just have a little time to update real quick. I will be posting again here soon. I'm not sure when are we going to have our internet at the apartment, but my husband has that taken care of. So, hopefully within this week we'll be able to use internet at our new place. Plus, on Friday, people from DirectTV will have our cable set up. I'm actually excited about that because John ordered TFC Direct for me!! I haven't watched any Tagalog shows since I got here because they don't have any Filipino channel here. I guess that's why he got that one for me. I can't thank him enough but I know hubby knows how much I appreciate what he's done for me.

Anyway, got to go now. I heard laundry is done. [hehehe] Oh, before I forget -- I'll post my second Monday Musical when I get a free time. I already picked a song but just don't have the time to post it right now. Will do that here soon.

Moving in to the apartment in 5 Days!!

We finally found a one-bedroom apartment that we'll be staying in for the mean time and we're moving in on Monday!! We need a bigger place so we could provide space for the baby's crib and for everything that he would be needing. Plus, we have two beautiful dogs to consider. Right now, we're staying at John's friend's house. We're also paying rent so it's almost the same only that after we move out, we'd totally be on ourselves. We'll surely miss the Trans. They're such a great and nice couple and really are good friends to us. Anyway, we won't be too far from them so we can still see each other from time to time.

And guess where we're moving in to?

No other than the same apartment that my husband had stayed in before we got married and before he left on deployment. The same exact room!! God indeed works in mysterious ways. John left there more than a year ago, and when we were in need to find a place for us, God has provided!! Who would have thought that the same apartment would be empty at the same exact time we were looking for a place to stay? Not only that He gave us a place to stay in while we're looking for a house to buy, He made sure we'll be in a place where at least one of us has an idea about. It was indeed mysterious. And we both know, God has been in control the whole time. If only we'll keep our faith and trust in Him, He will never forsake us.

We're excited to start moving out our stuff and bring them to the apartment. I can't wait to start arranging and decorating our own place. Though I know it will be a lot of work, I also know that everything will be worth it so, that's not a big deal at all. Plus, we have friends who are willing to help us out. For sure, it's going to be a long, busy weekend for Mr. and Mrs. John.

We can't wait to finally be on ourselves - in our very own household.