Kogi Bulgogi

My sister and I had dinner at a Korean restaurant in Eastwood called Kogi Bulgogi. She said the dishes and prices are good.

We ordered the Bibimbap, Dak Ssambap and Melon ice cream bar. Total: P390!

Bibimbap (above) is rice, beef, cabbage, carrots, onions and fried egg served in a very hot stone pot. You need to mix it once served at the table. They have other options for protein such as chicken, salmon and pork. You can add the red tomato paste (I think that's what it is) to give it some flavor and spice.

Chicken Ssambap is like fresh lumpia. You put the grilled meat and balled rice into a lettuce leaf, add some sauces (they serve three sauces) roll and then eat. Yum!

To cap off our dinner, we shared a Melon-flavored ice cream bar. The smell and taste is melony of course.

Tip for first-time future diners at Kogi, ask the waiter to serve appetizers. They're free of charge and you can munch on them as you wait for your order.

Happy eating!

Young coconut water

The local hilot says drinking water/juice from a young coconut (malauhog) helps the sperms to stay inside the uterus. This may be true or just plain hokum. Nevertheless, you cannot dismiss the fact that coconut water is good for your health. So, drink up for better health!

Anji Online

I found a website, Anji Online, that shares information on balancing your life in preparation for pregnancy. When you register, you will receive a link to a downloadable document titled "3 Ways Your Body May be Blocking Conception….and what you can do to heal them" and downloadable meditations. Of course I signed up!

The website says subscribers will receive a weekly ezine but I only got two since I signed up. The ezines are insightful and informative.

I have yet to start listening to the meditations and is excited to do so tonight.

Baby dust to all of us!

I Will Be Better

Here is a poem I read in the Infertility Phils. blog which is inspiring and gives me hope that parenthood is for us. In the midst of infertility treatments, I usually get lost in the stressful emotions that goes with it. It's good to remind myself that God's plan is always best and perfect.

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I WILL BE BETTER

There are women that become mothers without effort, without thought, without patience or loss and though they are good mothers and love their children, I know that I will be better. I will be better not because of genetics, or money or that I have read more books but because I have struggled and toiled for this child.

I have longed and waited. I have cried and prayed. I have endured and planned over and over again. Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams. I will notice everything about my child.


I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore and discover. I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life. I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold and feed him and that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream.

My dream will be crying for me.

I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child that my friends will not see. Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a child that God leads me to, I will not be careless with my love. I will be a better mother for all that I have endured.

I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend and sister because I have known pain. I know disillusionment as my own body has betrayed me. I have been tried by fire and hell many never face, yet given time, I stood tall. I have prevailed. I have succeeded. I have won.

So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort. I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs. I listen. And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely. I have learned the immense power of another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth and when life is beyond hard.

I have learned a compassion that only comes with walking in those shoes.

I have learned to appreciate life.

And yes I will be a wonderful mother.

-UNKNOWN

14th Acupuncture

Last Saturday, Hubby and I went to St. Francis Natural Clinic for my acupuncture treatment. We were late (!) and had to wait a few minutes. There were two new patients who were filling out the clinic's form.

I was assigned cubicle #2. Sister Regina came and asked about my well being. I lay down and she took my pulse. I told her that I had taken Clomiphene (Clomid is the most popular brand but I took Ova-mit, a cheaper brand) and showed her my TVS form from last cycle. She wrote something on my chart and was serious as she jot down notes. I was wondering what she was thinking. She asked me if I'm working (I am). I told her that I had a two-week vacation but is still not pregnant (insert sad face). She touched my left hand and said, "Relax. We'll get there." Right there I realized that I'm really stressed about not conceiving. I'm denying it outside but inside, not conceiving saddens my heart.

As needles were inserted and the moxa was lighted, I closed my eyes and thought about happy things. I sent a little prayer to our future baby to come to us as we are eagerly awaiting for him/her. And then, I fell asleep. I didn't wake when the nurse changed the moxa in my tummy. Maybe I'm really stressed and the needles did me some good.

Sister Regina prescribed another set of herbal medicines for one week.

Fees:
Treatment - P900
Herbal medicines - P1,060   

Most Consistent Award

This award goes to my period. Aunt Flo never misses her visits.

Like other TTC couples, we were very optimistic that this cycle would be "THE" cycle we would conceive. For this cycle, we did the following:

• I had one acupuncture treatment
• took Sister Regina's herbal tea
• took 50g Clomiphene for 5 days
• visited Dra. Aguilar twice for follicle monitoring (on cd 15 I got 1 maturing follicle and 2 not so dominant ones in each ovary)
• went to a local "hilot" to make the position of my uterus OK (translation: nagpataas ng matris)
• had a two-week vacation in my hometown to relax and spend more time with Hubby

I compare this TTC journey as that of Manny Pacquiao's training before a boxing match. Pacquiao said, he trains hard, does everything to prepare for a fight but in the end, only God knows the result.