Ladies and gentlemen, this is (not) me…

I have been dreading to write this entry, but I just have too.

Afternoon of Friday 17 Aug, Ia and I were interviewed by a Metrobank staff for an AVP that they will be showing for the bank’s anniversary.  The bank’s theme for this year was "Paying it Forward".  They are highlighting individuals that have been blessed by the bank and decided to return the gratitude to society.  Since me and my wife are both Metrobank Foundation Scholars, and are pioneers of ASSET, we were chosen to provide a few words.

After the interview, we had to accompany our interviewers out of our village so they would not get lost.  We were on our way to work anyway.  But Ia asked me to turn around and return to the house as she forgot to bring a medical prescription.  Back at the house, she decided to take a pee.  The I heard her calling my name.  I asked what was wrong.  She said she was bleeding.  Panic rushed through my head when she showed me the bloodied tissue.

When Ia started to cry, I decided to push out the panic inside me.  One of us had to have a clear head.  I decided to bring her to FEU hospital which was the nearest hospital.  We called our OB, and she advised that I rush her to St. Luke’s instead.

Still keeping a level head, I drove as fast and yet as carefully as I can while I shoot out the best comforting words to Ia: "Everything is going to be alright." , "Our baby’s tough, he will hang on." , "We’re almost there." 

I think I violated a dozen of traffic rules and had been rude with a lot of motorists.  But hey, I got to get my wife and kid to the hospital fast.  I have been a good motorist before, I deserve to be rude just this one time.

I dropped Ia at the hospital lobby and instructed 1 murse to take her to the Maternity unit.  When I was parking the car, I just realised, I should have used valet parking! 

Anyway, when I got to the Maternity unit, Ia is bing assisted by nurses.  They did some vaginal examinations, and one of them looks really painful.  They can’t seem to find the source of the bleeding.  One resident OB even said that Ia’s cervix is closed and intact.  One nurse used a doppler and had us listen to our baby’s fast and healthy heartbeat.  At this point, I relaxed a bit.  It seems like our baby is safe.  One down, one to go.

Our OB advised Ia to stay overnight for more observations and until Ia poo-poos (she as constipated since Wed).  There were no more bleeding since there are no contractions.  On Saturday morning, we requested for glycerin to loosen up Ia’s bowel.  But eventually around lunch time, Ia "successfully" poo-poo.  Finally, both of them are now out of harm’s way.  But we requested to stay one more night to be on the safer side.

That was one scary weekend for me.  But, as much as possible, I did not show it to Ia.  She is afraid herself, and she would need someone whom she can draw strength from.  We both drew it from Him.

Last Sunday, we decided to have my wife’s pre-natal check-up at Patient’s First instead of St. Luke’s.  My wife’s HMO covered the check-up.  The doctor measured our baby and everything is just right - 22 centimeters for 22 weeks.  She even asked me to feel it.  I did.  I felt something hard.  It was my first time to "indirectly" touch my baby.  The feeling was exhilarating.

Then we thought that we wanted to find out our baby’s gender.  We asked the clinic to check her HMO if an ultrasound can be covered since it is a bit expensive in Patient’s First.    They approved it!  Thank you Maxicare!

I was very excited as we enter the room, anxious to receive a surprise.  The nurse took some measurements first (head size, abdomen size, length of spine, length of thigh bone).  Seeing all these reminded me again that there is already a human being growing inside.

Then when the nurse told us that it is hard to spot the "thingie" because our baby’s thighs are crossed.  Ia jiggled a bit, and even coughed but our baby is so comfy with that position.  The nurse said that it might be a boy but she might have mistaken "it" with the umbilical cord.  I was a little sad, but still seeing our baby looking more human is enough reward for me for the day.

Then the nurse moved her hand around and focused on the head.  Then she showed us, the forehead, the eyes, the nose and traces of the mouth.  Our baby is staring right back us thru the monitor (or so I imagined when in reality our baby’s eyes should be close)!  I am now seeing our baby’s face.  Our baby is so beautiful!  And I reckon I even saw our baby smile back! 

While driving back, I just had a mental picture of my baby’s face (and a physical photo when I asked the nurse to print one out even if it is not routine).  I can’t help but smile.

We visited my bestfriend Paulo and his wife Lyn in the hospital since Lyn just gave birth to Paulyn Blossom.  She was very beautiful.  And I can see a daddy’s little girl in the making.  Paulo just can’t get her hands off her.

p.s.  corrected inches to centimeters, thanks to vanessa.