The year that was - 2008

It's 2009. But before I finally say hello to the year of the ox, I want to bid 2008 goodbye. 2008 was a bittersweet year for me. Like I said in my previous blog, it's been a roller coaster ride. Here is my account of the year that was.

January
Jan 9. My then husband to be celebrated his 29th birthday. His last, as a bachelor. We just had a simple celebration. It was also the day when we finalized the details of our wedding, with the help of our wedding coordinator, Marj Dizon, and our catering rep, Judith Dayrit. Our youngest cat to date, Uyay was also born on that same date.

February
Feb 9. Our wedding day. We really had our dream wedding. After over 2 years of preparation, we finally walked down the aisle and said our "I do's". This day marked our journery towards our happy ever after. We had our wedding night at Edsa Shangri-La, where we also stayed the day before for our wedding preps.

We moved in to our apartment in 19th Avenue the day after. I did cry a lot when I realized that we were finally alone. The thought of being away from my family from that day on made me really sad. But eventually I got used to it.

A week after, Kristian and I went to Boracay for our honeymoon. We stayed at the Pearl of the Pacific for 3 days and 2 nights. The accommodation was one of the prizes we got from the story writing contest of Angel's Wink.

When we returned from our trip, we got Popop, my beloved cat, from my parents' house, to stay with us in our apartment.
And then we learned that man behind the said Angel's Wink, Paulo Clemente, who helped us a lot during our wedding preps and even sang us 3 songs on our wedding day, passed away.

March

March 3, Kristian and I went back to work after our month-long wedding vacation.

The following day, I took a pregnancy test since I was almost 2 weeks delayed, and it was positive. Although we didn't really plan to get pregnant right away, we felt that we were blessed to have this baby. I had my t-v u/s March 6 and it showed the sac but no embryo yet. We went to see an OB-Gyne, a referral of Ate Michelle, Kristian's sis in law, that Saturday and she prescribed me vitamins.

March 15, Kristian left for a month-long training in Germany (side-trip to Paris). The plan was for me to stay in our apartment with my mom or our maid on weekdays and then go to my parents' on weekends. I only had to work 3 days the following week since it was already Holy Week. Popop was returned to my parents' house.

March 21, Good Friday. I had my first spotting. My OB advised me to take Isoxilan and bed rest.

March 22, Black Saturday. The spotting continued.

March 23, Easter Sunday. The whole family went to the church and then we went to our apartment to defrost our fridge. Spotting still continued.

March 24, My parents and I went to see my OB at the PCMC because the spotting got heavier. I had another u/s, this time, the embryo was there, but no heartbeat. I was advised to have another u/s the following week. But it never happened.

March 25, 5AM, I was rushed to Delgado Hospital because the pain became intolerable and the bleeding became more profused. My cervix hasn't opened yet, there's still hope that the baby will be saved. And then at about 8PM, my OB did an IE. My cervix was open. I was scheduled to undergo D&C the following day.

March 26, 730AM, my baby was gone. That night, I had the worst pain of my life.

April-May

April 6, Kristian returned from Germany. We went back to our apartment.I became a stay at home wife for 2 months because of my maternity leave. Julie, my boss, called to tell me about the good news of my upcoming promotion to HR Manager in June. We bought my new cellphone, a red Nokia N76, to celebrate.

June

No promotion happened. I was advised that the execs wanted me to have a 3-month developmental program as Site HR OIC first.

I joined the Ops' Summer Outing at Island Cove.

July

I learned that I was a potential candidate for HPV and I was given medications for it. Kris and I also experienced financial drought. We managed to get by through our smart and fun ideas.

August

Popop celebrated his 8th birthday.

HR Strategic Planning Session slash Visioning Activity at the Ascott. We also had our videoke session in Music 21. Still no promotion.

September

HR Planning in Fontana. My promotion as HR Manager for UP Science Park effective October 1 was announced.

We finally decided to have a minor operation to prevent HPV from developing. Another shot of anaesthesia for me. Finally, when I had it removed, I was advised that we can start trying to conceive again.

The HR Management group also went to Baguio for the 45th PMAP Convention. We stayed at Hotel Elizabeth. That was my first time in Baguio.
October

Kris and I went to Tagaytay to celebrate our 9th Anniversary as a couple. We went to Lourdes, Pink Sisters, Picnic Grove, Chapel on the Hill and Caleruega. We ate at Leslie's, Carlo's Pizza, Discovery Country Suites' Verbena, and Manos Greek Taverna. We stayed at Mi-Jo's.




I left my old site and moved to the new one, my temporary office in Ortigas Building. Still no promotion. I was promised that the final date will be December 1.

November

My mom went to Pakil with us for All Saint's Day. We stayed at Ate Neri's place for 3 days and 2 nights. Kristian and I gave her a tour of Kristian's province. Kristian's dad was there too.

November 11. I celebrated my 29th birthday. Kristian took me to lunch at Conti's and bought me blouse and a pair of shoes. Then we had dinner at my parents' house.

December
My first taste of the social scene at work. I attended the Site Christmas Party hosted by our Canadian Site Leader in his Makati condo last December 6
Then we had our north-sites Christmas Party in Crossroad 77 last December 12. December 13, I got a positive PT. Went to my OB immediately. Had spottings a few hours after. Bed rest for over 2 weeks. I missed our HR Christmas Party. I waas absent for exactly 8 days. My promotion was again placed on hold as operations had push backs on it, according to our new Sr. Director.December 22, I had my u/s, but found nothing in there. No signs of pregnancy. My HCG was at 7++. I learned that it has to be at least 25 to declare pregnancy. My OB said we had to rule out ectopic pregnancy. I got really scared as that would mean I will have to undergo another operation. Mt third anaesthesia for the year. The next day I had a heavy bleeding, with really painful cramps. December 24, I took another PT - NEGATIVE! How did it happen? I still don't know. But then it paved the way for my peace of mind on Christmas Day.

We had a simple yet happy celebration at my parent's house. My first as a married woman.



We were able to buy our matching Lacoste shirts as planned, and we wore them for New Year's, and also bought PSP on New Year's Day.

What a bad year for career and pregnancy it was. But I would still want to think of everything that happened as blessings. Right now, I may not know all the reasons behind them, or I may never know what the reasons were, but the fact that I am still here, breathing, smiling and surrounded by the people and pets who matter, makes me thankful enough. After all, there were also lots of happy memories for 2008. And who knows? 2009 might just be a better year for me. Happy New Year! :)