Mrs. Veloso...at last!

I can't still believe i'm married...wahaha! Artiiiiiiii! It hasn't sink in yet since i'm still using my surname. I live with my husband in Laguna and it gives me little time to blog and chat with my friends. Well, its worth it. Having to wake up every morning with the man that you love...worth it nga talaga! I'll post the pics soon.

We'll be having our Full Congenital Anomaly test on Monday and hopefully, we'll be able to see my Baby's gender. My Baby has lots of clothes and things...I took a picture of them but can't find the time to upload it here.

2008 Presidential Election and Celebrities

Do celebrities campaigning for candidates make a difference at the polling booth? Hmmm ... it does help the candidate grab headlines ... we have seen more in the news about Oprah campaigning for Obama, than his health care plan. And there seems to be a resounding lack of celebrity supporters for McCain.

Charity from dNeero-ites

Have you seen the new dNeero home page Dneero? On the left hand column you'll see two boxes that deal with dNeero charity ("Donations to Charity" and "Recent Charity Donators").
First, thanks and kudos to all those who have taken surveys for charity ... keep it up. Second, thusfar in this calendar quarter, receipts for charity are lagging behind previous quarters ... how come?

Customer Service or Customer No Service - Part 4

Memento

I had a busy week...

I need to pack all my things for I am scheduled to move in my husband's house this week. Finally...yeah...finally! I checked all my stuff here in our house...and I was able to throw away a sack of old junks! I still have a lot of stuff from highschool. From letters to test papers and also film showing tickets. Woah! I didn't know I really had this thing for keeping memorabilia. Here are the list of some things I found in my stuff:

a. Letters from ex-boyfriends
- It's kinda funny how I read all of them...the feeling of "kilig" (we'll I hope I really felt that way before) is now replaced with disgust...ewwww! Corny...hehehe! Some had wrong grammar and misspelled words. Some I can't even understand. Nevertheless, I am thankful that they came into my life. Somehow it prepared me for my husband.

b. Medical prescription
- For unknown illness...hehehe! Can't even read the doctors handwriting.

c. Letters from several people...mostly classmates
- I can't throw them but I can't keep them either. so, i'll create a new blog and i'll post in there some significant letters.

d. Medals
- Not that I have many...but at least I have some. Hehehe! My mom said to keep them, to show off to my Baby.

e. Sach from various pageant
- I know, i'm 4'11 in height. So what! Hahaha! I'm living my dreams to the fullest. Wahaha! Besides, I've won. I paid the judges...

f. Pics of me and my exes
- Now, that's really yuckee! Hahaha!

g. Mickey Mouse stuff
- I found some pics, rulers, stationary, tapes and other things of Mickey Mouse. Sad to say, I have to give them away. Although, I was able to keep a few that will fit our place.

h. ID
- I had ID from my previous company... this is really interesting...I kept an ID of my highschool classmate. Nyek!

I have to stop...I hate the keyboard...no letters! I'll continue later.

Customer Service or Customer No Service - Part 3

Torn Between PCMC and UST

We talked to my doctor, Dr. Matias regarding the case of my Baby last Monday, May 12. She is recommending a physician that will be present during my delivery and also will take care of my Baby's operation. The said physician is affiliated with PCMC, Philippine Children Medical Center, a government owned hospital that specializes in taking care of children. Since it is government-owned corporate, the expenses will not be that expensive. My doctor cannot give any projected price yet since she is not aware of the particular operations needed. Besides, we can only know the types of operation we need to have once the Baby gets out.

My husband has a cousin working in UST. He is also recommending another doctor who will help us with my Baby's operation. He estimated an expense of half a million for my Baby's case, but it will decrease to Php200000 if he will apply our case to the charity program of UST. We haven't talk to any of the UST doctors yet, that's why we cannot decide which hospital. But from what I heard they have good doctors and will surely take care of my Baby.

Our dilemma is that I like my OB so much and i'm very comfortable with her. Plus, she is affiliated with Intellicare the health card that I am using. My pre-natal and post-natal is free which is of a big help especially that my check-up is scheduled twice a month. But UST has a good reputation and we know somebody, a relative who can surely help us with whatever issues that we may encounter.

If you have any suggestions or any experiences from this two hospitals that can help us decide, please PM or leave a comment to my blog.

Customer Service or Customer No Service - Part 2

Talking 'bout customer service again...

Hooray! My PayPerPost application was approved.

I heard from my friend Jhongke that I can earn extra cash by blogging. At first I was doubtful since I know there will be a lot of requirements before they will approve your application. She gave me the payperpost site for my first “earn by blogging” experience. I said I’ll give it a shot, since this is something I do anyway…nothing to lose. Besides, blogging is a therapy for me. I can write anything that I want to talk and it also serves as my journal for me to remember any special events in my life. And after a few days, I am overjoyed that my application was approved.

My earnings will be helpful for my Baby’s medication. As I’ve mentioned on my previous post that my Baby has Omphalocele and I know that we still have a long way for my Baby’s recovery. Since I cannot have a second job because i'm still pregnant, the money that I will be earning will be helpful for the operation of my Baby. From blog hopping that I make, I've read a lot of positive feedback for PayPerPost. It seems that a lot of people who signed up with them get actually what they've wanted. I’ve also heard that PayPerPost really do pay out, you’ll be surely paid for every post that you make. For those who want to earn extra money, try signing up with PayPerPost.

Finally, I have my SSS ID

I went to SSS Member Assistance Office here in Diliman for my SSS ID. I've been going back and forth for this ID for four days. The last time I was there, they informed me that I need to wait for two weeks before I can have my ID taken because the SSS number I have is temporary. And earlier, I was overjoyed that I finally got my SSS ID. Though it is just the receipt, I can still use it for my maternity notification.

I want to commend the SSS management for doing a great job. Although we really have a very long line, we are secured because they are giving out numbers and you are assured that everyone will line up properly. This is also good when you want to go to the restroom. Plus, the air conditioning of the place is fine. It eases our burden.

Customer Service or Customer No Service

Is customer service rare in today's capitalistic society? According to a survey in USA Today, Customer Service is the #1 reason people choose to stay with a company long-term. Customer service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction ? that is, the feeling that a product or service has met the customer expectation.

My Neopets

These are my Neopets, Chumsy_er a 334 days old Kacheek and Choichoi_er a 277 days old Uni. I love taking care of them. When we lost our Internet connection, my friend Jhongke helped me feed them and also played games to earn NP or Neopoints to buy foods and other stuff. I can also leave them in a hotel for several days when I know I can't go online. They will be taking care off in that place, so no need for me to worry. I also created a house for my Neopets but they are not yet fully furnished. If you want to create your own Neopet, just click on the link: Neopets.

For this month free food, my Neopets chose: Vanilla Acara Sandwich Cookie for Choichoi_er and Snow Cake for Chumsy_er. I didn't know my Neopets love sweets.

An Inspirational Quote

I spent the entire afternoon searching for blogs that contains topics same to my Baby's condition. I run to this bog The Dasmal Family. While reading their post I was inspired by what the author wrote:

"Life has it's ways to test us and it is a blessing and fortune to be tested. For God's glory is reserved for his children who at times of pain and despair strengthen their resolve in him and increase their patience for the moment he unleashes his grace and kindness. At that moment all is good."

Omphalocele

Last Monday, May 5, 2008 I had my second ultrasound. I am 22 weeks and 5 days pregnant and we are hoping to see our Baby's gender. We went to Clinica Manila, Megamall for the ultrasound and was checked by Dr. Calderon. It toke several minutes before she finish checking my Baby, longer than usual and we already had the feeling that something is wrong because we can see from the monitor that she wasn't looking at our Baby. She was examining something else. When she was finished, all she said was that we can get the result after an hour. I asked her what the gender of our Baby, all she said was it can't be seen at this moment but there was some findings and our doctor will be the one to explain it to us.

The one hour that we waited for the result was the longest and most distressing one hour of my life. I am quiet most of the time and a lot of things crossed my mind but I am hoping that my Baby is still alright. I was lucky that my husband was there to give me encouraging words. My friends Elaine and Jhongke texted me immediately and Elaine went to the church to pray for my Baby's safety. She even made me laugh by saying, maybe they diagnosed that i'm carrying twins which is unlikely base from the size of my tummy.

After an hour we went back to the clinic and I immediately read the result. The impressions was good, my Baby is on the exact length, active fetal movement and good heartbeat. There was a note at the bottom of the page, it says: "There is a rounded, well circumscribed mass protruding at the anterior abdominal wall measuring 4.3 x 5.3 x cm. containing the intraabdominal contents (bowels and liver). Umbilical vessels are seen inserting into the sac. Consider Omphalocoele."

My husband and I are clueless of what it means. We even thought that it was me who has a problem. My main concern at that time was my Baby, I hope my Baby is not affected. I texted Jhongke to look over the Internet the meaning of Omphalocele because we need to wait another hour for my doctor. From the reply that I got from her, there is only two words that confirm my fret and it was "birth defect." It was seconded by Dr. Francisco, reliever of our doctor, Dr. Matias.

An omphalocele is a birth defect in which the infant's intestine or other abdominal organs stick out of the belly button (navel). In babies with an omphalocele, the intestines are covered only by a thin layer of tissue and can be easily seen. According to the article that i've read, nothing trigger this kind of birth defect. It happens 1 for every 5000 live birth.

It was really a devastating news for both of us. Feeling sad won't help my Baby survive. I know I should eat well and feel good so that my Baby will be healthy for the operation. Above all, prayers will save my Baby.

Earn Extra Money

Discounts when you use your tax rebates.

What do Women Really Want

I got this email from Viangs...it's hilarious but true.

This is very interesting. ......... (to women) please take time toponder...... ..(to men) enjoy the story....... .

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to
figure out the answer and, If after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death.

The question was: What do women really want?
Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, And to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end.
He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone:
The princes, the priests, the wise men, and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer. But the price would be high, as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant price she charged.
The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first.

The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, The most noble of the Knights of the Round Table, and Arthur's closest friend! Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life. He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden. But Lancelot, having learned of the proposal, spoke with Arthur.

He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life. And the reservation of the Round Table. Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered.

Arthur's question thus: "What a woman really wants?"
She said, "Is to be in charge of her own life."
Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth. And that Arthur's life would be spared.
And so it was.
The neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom. And Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding. The honeymoon hour approached and, Lancelot, bracing himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom.
But, what a sight awaited him.

The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened. The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth be her horrible and deformed self only half the time. And the beautiful maiden the other half.
"Which would you prefer? She asked him.
"Beautiful during the day .... or at night?"
Lancelot pondered the predicament.
During the day he could have a beautiful woman to show off to his friends,
But at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch!
Or,
Would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day?
But by night a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous, intimate moments with?

(If you are a man reading this...) What would YOUR choice be?
(If you are a woman reading this) What would YOUR MAN'S choice be?
What Lancelot chose, is given below:
BUT... make YOUR choice before you scroll down below... OKAY?


____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________











Noble Lancelot, knowing the answer the witch gave Arthur to his question,
He said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself.
Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time.
Because, he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life.
Now... what is the moral to this story?

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The moral is...
1) There is a witch in every woman no matter how beautiful she is!
2) If you don't let a woman have her own way, things are going to get ugly.


So, always remember...
IT'S EITHER "HER WAY" OR IT'S "NO WAY" !!!