Isabel's Bday Celebration with her playmates

Isabel's little birthday get together with her friends from the neighborhood.



- Lei

Clean Bill of Health

Went to my final OB appt on June 26th, where she cleared me for ALL activities. :-) as long as I take it slow. I am already walking a lot more and up the hills now. I still have stomach pains and she says that's normal.

She also said my uterus seem to have shrunk normally so I can have more babies. She is already talking to me about giving birth vaginally next time. I can't believe it, but I guess it's good she thinks I can even though I had a C section. I am not sold though. Good thing, we don't need to decide for awhile - I hope. Perhaps about 3 years, if I had my say and the stars are aligned again for us to conceive easily. Keeping my fingers crossed :-)

- Lei

And Now ... Introducing ..... (drum roll please). ....ME!

Don't tell my parents, but I was pretending to take a nap. I wanted to break away from them for a few minutes to introduce myself.

My name is Isabel Mei Lapena. My parents told me that I was brought into the world on May 2nd, 2008 at 10:13pm. I was 7 lbs, 5 ounces and 21 inches (whatever this all means). Mom said that I kept her in labor for 40 hours. Well, I had to wait in her stomach for nine months in that uncomfortable position so we're even. I guess that's why I couldn't wait and decided to come one week early.

Where did I get my name? Well, let's see.

• Isabel is after Queen Isabella of Spain who sponsored the voyages of a guy named Christopher Columbus. They're supposed to be famous or something so one day I hope to meet both of them.
  
• Mei 玫 translates to "a sparkling red gem" in Chinese in respect to half of my culture. It also represents my parents' birthstone: ruby. My parents also said that to make my grandma happy, they explained it as the first chinese letter in the word "rose" (the word "rose" in Chinese is "mei gui") and this represents my dad's mom's name (Rose Marie).

So, thus my name, Isabel Mei, but you can call me Mei Mei.

So anyway, that's all I have time for now. I hear my mom coming back and I'm getting hungry. I have to start my routine of waking up, crying, eating, going potty, and sleeping. It's tough being me in this new world. Don't tell anyone this, but I'm actually starting to like it with all of the attention. I think I already have my dad wrapped around my finger. 'Nuff for now. I'll be in touch soon.

- Isabel "Mei Mei" Lapena

Now I am scared!

So, I am probably reading too much about pregnancy because it is scaring me. Two nights ago, I was reading "girlfriend's guide to pregnancy" - the chapter on "labor and delivery". For the first time, it dawned on me that this is going to hurt A LOT :-(

I think I have been in denial that somehow I will hurt less or perhaps I just need to think that so I am not freaked out. Also people always focus on the beauty of pregnancy or much less else. Well, this book goes into a lot of detail of how it will really feel. This knowledge + knowing that a short labor period is 12 hours gave me a much more instant sense of what it might really be like. YIKESSS!!!

I also read that I cannot eat or drink anything once I get to the hospital until I give birth. I will get everything thru an IV. I hope not. Food has became such a necessity these days every 2-3 hours. I cannot imagine not having anything for more than 10 hours. I will clarify this with my OB.

At the end of day, I am now starting to talk to my baby girl to tell her to be healthy but not grow too big. I am still having a hard time imagine producing a baby out of my body in 4 months. It's so surreal. I am only comforted by the knowledge that people all around me have given birth and seem to be fine. So whatever is the pain, I will be fine.

Maybe too much reading is not a good thing.. I will have to go back to denial mood again and enjoy the happiness of my growing belly and those constant little movement she makes. Regardless, I cannot wait to meet my baby girl!