Just Like the Good Ol' Days

Back when I was still in our hometown, I used to play billiards with some of my friends in bars. Although I was not so good at it, I managed to break the rack and sink some balls. Now, I'm starting to miss those days. With this pregnancy that I'm going through, all the more it's impossible for me to go out and play billiards with friends.

Good thing, I found this site which allows me to play multiplayer games,8c1.net.http://www.8c1.net online. Even at the comfort of my room, I can invite my friends to play billiards online with me. Or in case they're not available, I can always join the other players via the net. Oh, this is just like the good ol' days!

Leg Cramps During Pregnancy

Oh, how I hate leg cramps during pregnancy! This isn't the first time that I experienced it, but I still couldn't bear the pain whenever I feel my leg muscles tightening. Usually, it occurs at the middle of the night. I didn't know if I made a wrong turn while sleeping last night, the next thing I knew I was already crying in pain. I already tried to stretch my calf muscle by flexing my toes back toward the shim, but that didn't help still. So, I called out Baby Guian's nanny to flex my toes for me.And there, I found relief.

Whew, I don't know until when I'll experience these leg cramps. So, I researched about it to learn more how to get relief when it strikes and to avoid experiencing it further.

Why am I having leg cramps during pregnancy?

No one really knows why women have more leg cramps when they're pregnant. It's possible that your leg muscles are tired from carrying around all of your extra weight. Or they may be aggravated by the pressure your expanding uterus puts on the blood vessels that return blood from your legs to your heart and the nerves that lead from your trunk to your legs.

Leg cramps may start to plague you during your second trimester and may get worse as your pregnancy progresses and your belly gets bigger. While these cramps can occur during the day, you'll probably notice them most at night.

How can I prevent these cramps?

Try these tips for keeping leg cramps at bay:

• Avoid standing or sitting with your legs crossed for long periods of time.

• Stretch your calf muscles regularly during the day and several times before you go to bed.

• Rotate your ankles and wiggle your toes when you sit, eat dinner, or watch TV.

• Take a walk every day, unless your midwife or doctor has advised you not to exercise.

• Avoid getting too tired. Lie down on your left side to improve circulation to and from your legs.

• Stay hydrated during the day by drinking water regularly.

• Try a warm bath before bed to relax your muscles.

• There's some evidence that taking a magnesium supplement in addition to a prenatal vitamin may help some women. Check with your provider before taking any kind of supplement during pregnancy.

You may have heard that having leg cramps is a sign that you need more calcium, and that calcium supplements will relieve the problem. Though it's certainly important to get enough calcium, there's no good evidence that taking extra calcium will help prevent leg cramps during pregnancy. In fact, in one well-designed study, pregnant women taking calcium got no more relief from leg cramps than those taking a placebo.

What's the best way to relieve a cramp when I get one?

If you do get a cramp, immediately stretch your calf muscles: Straighten your leg, heel first, and gently flex your toes back toward your shins. It might hurt at first, but it will ease the spasm and the pain will gradually go away.

You can try to relax the cramp by massaging the muscle or warming it with a hot water bottle. Walking around for a few minutes may help too.

With this information on hand, I know exactly what to do now when I experience leg cramps.

Thanks www.babycenter.com for this info!

Baby Guian Wants a Toddler Backpack

Ever since my 5-year old daughter started going to school last Monday, my Baby Guian suddenly became very eager to have her own toddler backpack as well. She and the nanny are the ones who send and fetch Ate Yana to daycare school from Monday to Friday. So, whenever Baby Guian sees her Ate looking really cute from wearing her backpack, she keeps on saying that she wants one as well.

So to grant her wish, I decided to check some toddler backpack options. And here is what I liked so much so far:


Almost all of Baby Guian's stuffs, starting from clothes to shoes and accessories, are colored pink. So, I thought she'd also love this pink pony mint toddler backpack. I found it from Posy Lane, an online shop that offers a wide array of personalized items such as kids backpacks, ezy roller, laundry bags, and even personalized children's plates. It's really a great site, so why don't you check it out as well?

Pregnancy Update: Week 21

When I arrived at the office this morning, I was still feeling a little better. But after 2 hours in front of my desk, I can already feel my lower abdomen aching. I don't know what's causing this discomfort; I felt worried because perhaps, it's the placenta previa totalis again. I haven't visited my OB-GYNE since the last time I had an ultrasound, I guess that's over a month ago. So, this lower abdominal pain really scared me.

For now, I just did a research about my pregnancy update. Since my due date is on October 22nd, I'm now entering week 21.

How Big is the Baby at 21 Weeks Pregnant?

By pregnancy week 21 your baby now weighs over 10 ounces and is a little larger than 7 inches long or about the length of a full banana by now! Your baby will continue to grow at a remarkable pace as you continue your pregnancy week by week.

Your Baby's Growth and Development

By pregnancy 21 weeks your baby's growth has now slowed somewhat though your baby is still growing and developing at a remarkable pace. At pregnancy week 21 your baby's organs and central nervous system are still developing and maturing. Your baby's skin continues to develop and mature as well.

Though not fully matured or developed, your baby's digestive system is also working minimally at pregnancy 21 weeks. The intestines are slowly starting to contract and relax during pregnancy at 21 weeks, and your baby is able to swallow and absorb fluids through the amniotic fluid at 21 weeks pregnant.

Though it seems unusual that your baby may swallow amniotic fluid, this actually helps mature the digestive system.

At some point in your pregnancy, you might actually start noticing that your baby has started hiccupping. Believe it or not, hiccupping in utero is actually quite common, and typically not a sign that your baby is in distress. Fetal hiccups typically begin sometime during the second trimester. You may notice hiccups as a small, repetitive and rhythmic movement that occurs for a few minutes at a time in your belly. Many women actually enjoy the sensation of their baby's hiccups because it reminds them that all is well with their newborn baby.

Changes in Mommy:

You may be noticing aches and pains in your leg during or after 21 weeks pregnant. Just as with varicose veins, discussed in previous weeks, support stockings can help alleviate leg heaviness and aches during pregnancy. Try putting your maternity support hose on first thing in the morning before you get out of bed. This will help alleviate unnecessary swelling and discomfort in your legs.

Also consider propping your feet up when sitting if you don't already do so. Another way to alleviate aches and pains is regular exercise and stretching. Consider a 15-minute stretch and walk during your lunch break or once in the morning and once during the afternoon. This will go a long way toward alleviating aches and pains.

Source: www.pregnancyhut.com
www.womenshealthcaretopics.com

Pink and Aqua Laundry Bags I Like

I've been thinking what stuff to bring when I give birth this October. Aside from the usual baby clothes and things, I'm also considering the other important items that the nanny and I will use at the hospital. And since I'm expecting more laundries during the day I give birth, I'm planning to bring laundry bags.

Yes, it's a must that we bring these laundry bags along so we'll be able to organize the clothing that the baby and I will use at the hospital. But I don't want ordinary bags at that. I want something like these aqua and pink laundry bags. Aren't they cute? They're being offered at Posy Lane, together with these baby memory books and kids backpack. Whether you want to get one for personal use or as a gift, these items from Posy Lane will sure suit your budget.

Now, let me look at these laundry bags again. What do you think, should I go for the pink one or the aqua one? Feel free to share your comment.

Macbook's Busted

Jeez, why now? One minute I was updating my Mac software, then another minute this message appeared:

Panic (system crashes) log Size: 2.51 KB Last Modified: 4/17/06 8:14 AM Location: /Library/Logs/panic.log Recent Contents: Fri Apr 14 20:52:55 2006 panic(cpu 0 caller 0x0034FC40): mbuf address out of range 0x21460000 Backtrace, Format - Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack) 0x25b3bbc4 : 0x128b5e (0x3bbeb8 0x25b3bbe8 0x131bbc 0x0) 0x25b3bc04 : 0x34fc40 (0x3db914 0x21460000 0x25b30010 0x37445300) 0x25b3bc24 : 0x34ffe7 (0x37445300 0x47b1630 0x0 0xde) 0x25b3bc44 : 0x22d2ff (0x37445300 0x1 0x1 0x601000a) 0x25b3be14 : 0x222007 (0x37445300 0x14 0x25b3bf14 0x526b8506) 0x25b3be54 : 0x223a8b (0x37445300 0x14 0x6 0x0) 0x25b3bf64 : 0x211109 (0x37445300 0x37445300 0x42cb5c 0x135798) 0x25b3bfa4 : 0x1f773d (0x46b9e04 0x37445300 0x3745c816 0x1) 0x25b3bfd4 : 0x197a21 (0x0 0x0 0x3fa0d48 0x134aec) Backtrace terminated-invalid frame pointer 0x0 Kernel version: Darwin Kernel Version 8.6.1: Tue Mar 7 16:55:45 PST 2006; root:xnu-792.9.22.obj~1/RELEASE_I386

Together with this image:


Image Source: Wikipedia

I already searched the net for some troubleshooting tips, but my Macbook doesn't want to cooperate, still the same message and image appeared. I'm really losing hope that I can fix this now. I guess, the only solution to this is to have it checked by a computer technician. Oh, if only Daddy G is here, I'm sure he knows how to fix this.

So, what for me to do? Nada, as in nothing. The more I try to resolve this issue by myself, the bigger the risks for it to get busted more. So okay, I leave you alone for now, Macbook!

Our Neighbor's Warning on Asbestos Exposure

Weeks ago, our house had minor kitchen ceiling repairs due to the leak coming from the 2nd floor bathroom. Since the old ceiling was already damaged, the construction worker replaced it with another, which was according to him was made of asbestos combined with other materials.

I've heard the word asbestos a couple of times already, but never really knew that exposure to it could pose so much danger, until my neighbor saw me putting out of the house some of those asbestos ceiling remains. I was surprised when he told me that asbestos exposure could lead to lung cancer called mesothelioma. Often times, workers from construction and auto mechanics are the ones diagnosed with this. So, upon learning about this risk, Daddy and I decided to just replace the ceiling with something made from a better material.

I'm really glad that our neighbor warned my family and me as early as now. Because if not, any of us could be suffering from mesothelioma in the long run. But for those who are already diagnosed with this condition, there is still hope. And in order to receive compensation, consulting an experienced Mesothelioma Lawyer is the key. Manufacturers of this asbestos should be held liable for their exposure, thus they should pay.

Pregnancy Update: Week 20

I am now in week 20 and so my bulging tummy is becoming more visible. I even started wearing maternity clothes because my jeans and shirts are so tight already. With my black leggings on and loose blouses and shirts, I could move comfortably without having to worry about abdominal pain later.

So, how about the little fella inside? "He's" doing good, I guess, because at night, he keeps on doing somersaults which leave me sleeping rather late. But as far as his condition inside is concerned, I don't have a clue since I haven't had another ultrasound yet. Anyway, I made a research a while ago to check on my baby's development at week 20.

Week 20: How Big is Baby?

By pregnancy week 20 your baby is now almost 9 ounces and is between 5 1/2 and 6 1/2 inches long! The pregnancy week by week changes occurring at this stage are truly remarkable.

Baby's Growth and Development:

By pregnancy 20 weeks your baby is now practicing breathing and swallowing on a regular basis. Your baby continues to grow and fill out, with the head becoming slightly more proportional to the rest of the body.

Your baby's skin is becoming more complex at the end of pregnancy week 20, forming different layers. The epidermis, or surface of your baby's skin now has four layers that contain ridges for fingertips. The layers that form in your baby's palms and feet will provide him with his own unique fingerprint later in life.

I'm really getting more excited about this pregnancy. I'm halfway there and so stay with me until this little fella comes out.


Source: www.babycenter.com
www.womenshealthcaretopics.com

Rustic Furniture for Our Cavite Home

We moved in to our newly purchased home in Cavite just recently. So, what can you expect but a super-bare unit, waiting to be filled-in with really unique furniture and fixtures. Now, I'm thinking about getting rustic furniture for our bedroom. It brings a different kind of warmth inside the room, as if we're being drawn to nature closer. But I wonder whether Daddy G will like the idea or not, since our bedroom is not as big as this one.

Anyway, if he won’t like it, we’ll just look for other options. He mentioned to me before that he prefers wooden bed, but not the rustic type.

Meet Phoebz' Other-Half

For those who don't know me personally and for those who are not constant visitors of my family blog, The Baby in Between, perhaps you're wondering who is Phoebz' other-half. You've read so many posts here about my pregnancies, yet no clue as to who is the "lucky" dad :D . LOL.

Okay, so without further ado, let me introduce to you my other-half, Daddy G.

Daddy G is currently working in South Korea as an OFW. He just came home last January to spend a really memorable 2-month vacation with me and Baby Guian. He's a really funny and sweet guy, and he loves kids. I even envied him when my little girl learned first to call him Daddy than calling me Mommy. And mind you, she can sleep oh-so-soundly on his chest, while when with me, she won't stay even for a minute. But I love seeing them so sweet together, they are the two most precious gems of my life.

Anyway, back to Daddy G, hmm what else can I say about him? He's a very responsible and supportive husband and dad, a really helpful son and sibling, and a hardworking man at that. Sometimes, he would even work on a Sunday just to earn more than the usual. On the negative side, well, he's a little childish sometimes - which is acceptable because we all feel like kids sometimes. But overall, my other-half is really one great guy, who loves us and we love in return so much.

So that's it! Now you already know more about me and my family. Journey with us both as we welcome our new baby which is really coming soon.

Curious About buzzTrendz and Twitter

I told my husband the other night that I'm so into Twitter once again. In an instant, he was curious, and so I explained to me what it was. And just this noon, he found a new dneero conversation about buzzTrendz - bringing Twitter and YouTube together. Even if he wasn't that familiar with Twitter yet, he managed to answer the survey as honest as he could. Here's how the survey goes:

My Other Blogs

Good morning guys! What's up? What have you been up to lately? Me here, I'm quite busy updating my two other blogs, The Baby in Between and Phoebe Online. Although I'm spending more time on my family blog which is the former, I still see to it that I get to update this one and the latter. I admit, it's not easy to maintain three blogs at the same time. But I'm coping.

Anyway, if you have time, feel free to visit my other blogs. For now, let me get back to work. Ciao!

Over With Renting

Yes, it's true! Finally, I'm over with renting. Two months ago, we already moved in to the house and lot that my husband and I purchased. Although it's a little bit far from my work, I can manage the daily trip so long as my children are living conveniently in a house with bigger space compared to the unit that we have rented prior to moving in. Really, I’m thankful that we already have a place that we can call our own. But in case my friends need my advise about renting, I’ll always be open about it. I’d encourage them to try Real Property Management service so that it’ll be easier for them to find the unit for rent that suits their needs.

Constipation During Pregnancy

Lately, I've been experiencing constipation. It's so uncomfortable, to the extend that sometimes I don't feel like eating anymore. I always feel as if my stomach is so full, and there's a need for me to move my bowel. But when I'm already there, nothing happens.

They say that constipation is very common during pregnancy. This is mainly caused by hormonal changes brought by pregnancy and influences the whole digestive system. Symptoms often include the following:

• More than four days between each bowel movement.
  
  
• Feces are hard, which are difficult to pass.
  
  
• A feeling that not all the feces are being passed.
  
  

Aaarrgghhh, I really want constipation relief as soon as possible! If only I'm not pregnant, I would have taken one of those tea that I used to drink to help me pass my poops. But for now all I can do is to eat enough fibre, drink more water, and take exercise. I just hope these would help sooner.

Summertime is Back

Yep, summertime is back. And so we thought that it's over since the first week of May was rainy due to the two typhoons that hit our country. Now, it's hello sunshine once again. Although some people hated this summer heat in the Philippines, for me it's way better than the rainy days. It takes me 8 rides a day to and fro work, so this type of weather suits me well. And no doubt, if I’d be in Arizona, I’ll be able to manage well in spite of the heat. I heard there are new home developments in Arizona. If you're thinking about living in Arizona like hubby and I do, why not contact Scottsdale Arizona realtors now?

Hey, I Felt Him Move!

Yes, the little one is making those mini kicks again. I just felt him move a while ago. And it brought a smile to my face. As early as 19 weeks, I can already feel those little movements, and I can hardly wait to feel bigger ones as my pregnancy progresses.

Twenty-one weeks more and I'm off to see this little guy - (yeah, still hoping here that he's a little guy this time). Can't wait to see how he looks and touch his little hands and feet. Hmmm. I wonder if his foot is as cute as this one.

Image from: downtownbeatons.blogspot.com

Green Web Hosting for Phoebz Place

I've already secured a web hosting service for my domain name phoebeonline.com. Now, I'm thinking about getting another domain name and choosing a web hosting service provider for this blog, Phoebz Place. I've started this personal blog almost 3 years ago, created a couple of posts, and earned a little out of it. This year, I'm planning to give it a makeover, starting of course with a new domain name and web hosting.

With the domain name, I've already decided to get one from where I also acquired phoebeonline.com. But for web hosting, I'm still unsure what provider to choose. I'm thinking about going green this time - something which is more eco-friendly, a green web hosting perhaps. I want to contribute in my own way in saving the earth. So since a green host uses eco-friendly sources such as recycled wastes and plant trees to power its datacenter, it would be the best option for me.

To begin my search, I visited Web Hosting Geeks. And guess what I found? Really helpful green web hosting reviews, on which providers are also ranked according to their features and bonus features. A great site about web hosting, indeed! Finding the best green web hosting provider for Phoebz Place has been a breeze for a not-so-techie blogger like me.

Pregnancy Update: Week 18

I am now in week 18 of my pregnancy (almost 5 months at that). So far, so good. So good in the sense that I can manage to travel 8 short and long rides a day, to and from work. However, there are times that I find myself wishing that I'm just at home working and looking after the kids at the same time. In times like these, I simply console myself by saying this pregnancy will soon be over and that everything will be back to normal for me.

So, how am I and the baby doing in week 18? We're good, yeah! Although I'm not sure if I'm already placenta previa totalis-free. I haven't visited my OB-GYNE since my prenatal checkup last April and haven't had another ultrasound yet, so I have no clue. But still, I'm hoping that the placenta already migrated and that the baby shifted position from breech to head first. Anyway, on June 1, I'm planning to visit a new OB-GYNE near our vicinity. Only then will I know how my pregnancy condition is.

For now, I just update myself with what to look forward in pregnancy week 18 by researching on the Internet. So far, here is what I found out:

The Mom:

The hormones in pregnancy can cause changes in the appearance of your skin and hair. You may find that you have uneven patches of color or a butterfly shaped one called "the mask of pregnancy". These changes are more common in dark-skinned women. Your capillaries under your skin on your face can increase, causing you to look flushed. This is sometimes referred to as the "glow" that pregnant women are thought to have about them. You can use your foundation to cover both of these.

Your hair may appear thicker, it may gain a little curl, or it may start thinning. You will find that whatever your hair type, it usually becomes worse, i.e. dry hair becomes dryer.

You can now feel your uterus just below your navel.The average woman has gained close to 12 pounds by now.

SYMPTOMS YOU MAY EXPERIENCE

• Breast Changes, tenderness, fullness, darkening of the areola
• Frequent Urination
• Constipation
• Indigestion or heartburn
• Occasional headaches
• Stretch Marks (cocoa butter can help with these)
• Itching

The Baby:

This week your baby is about 5.6 inches long and by the end of the week will weigh about 5 ounces! She is really growing! You are also growing as well, Mom! You can probably feel your uterus just under your navel. You have probably gained about 10 to 12 pounds.

Source: http://www.amazingpregnancy.com/weekbyweek/week18.html
Image Source: www.babycorner.com

Scrubs - What is it?

When I gave birth to Baby Guian last 2007, the nurse who assisted me was very kind and friendly. She was also very patient in answering my questions with regards to postpartum concerns. I knew it was part of her job as a nurse. But after I read these inspiring nurses’ stories from Scrubs, a nursing clinical site, I realized that the nursing profession is far more than just caring, assisting, and answering patients’ questions all throughout their stay in the hospital.

Scrubs is a site dedicated to nurses all over the globe. It aims to inspire nurses and non-nurses alike through their articles, which are written by nurses themselves.

Recently, Scrubs launched this nursing poll with the question, “What is your favorite fictional portrayal of a nurse?” I participated and answered Carol Hathaway of ER. She’s really very effective in that role, and so I must say she’s my best choice. Well, no doubt, she has the highest vote as of today with 31%.

Aside from the nursing poll, Scrubs also has this Tip Jar page. It’s like a Q&A page, which is very helpful not only to nurses but also to non-nurses like myself. I’ve read through some questions and picked one that really caught my interest. It’s about How to Deal with a Patient Who Has Postpartum Depression. I’m currently pregnant, so the information I got from that tip would be really be of help. Thanks Scrubs!

Scrubs is really a great site to read. And now more than ever, I admire the nurses more, and so I’m looking forward to meeting the nurse who will assist me on my delivery this coming October.

Placenta Previa Totalis

Last April, I underwent an ultrasound. I made a post about it in my family blog, The Baby in Between. The result showed that I was experiencing a serious pregnancy complication called Placenta Previa Totalis. Some of you may be familiar with this condition. But for those who are not, you can hop on to my Placenta Previa post to learn more about it.

At first, I was so scared. But after reading various forums where moms, who also experienced the same complication, shared their PP stories, I felt a little relieved. Most of them were able to give birth normally because their placenta migrated after a couple of weeks or months, totally clearing the cervix to give way for the baby. So after reading, I'm more than hopeful that my placenta will also migrate since my uterus will still grow bigger as weeks pass.

I'm now on my 18th week of my pregnancy. Ten weeks more and I'm off to another ultrasound. Keeping my fingers crossed that my placenta already moved out of the baby's way. And I'm praying hard as well that me and my baby will continue to be safe all throughout this pregnancy.