It's LukeFace.

Hey dad, let me have that.

It's been a while..

It's been a while. The baby is now 17 months, us on the other hand feel 67. It has been quite the adventure from early morming feedings and panicky hospital runs to the surreal and absurd babbling at 3:30 am (daddy! daddy! - first words I swear). Anyway, Luke is constantly changing and for the most part, so are we. I'm currently working at Levi's by the Embarcadero doing Tech Leading stuff and Michelle is at DHR (Department of Human Resources) for the City and County of SF. The best thing for me is that on Fridays, everyone leaves work by noon. Don't really get to take advantage of it that much but at least the option is there. Nice right?

New Year, New Challenges, New Baby

At around 3:30am on Thursday, February 2nd 2007, Michelle started feeling severe contractions. I was already prepared at home since she had contractions the day before which subsided. We both had waffles for breakfast wondering whether we should go to the hospital or not. The night before was an ordeal because we were both not sleeping in anticipation for the mad rush to the hospital. At around 6:00am, we called our doctor and she confirmed that Michelle was indeed in labor. As panic started to set in for me, Michelle wanted to put away some clothes, take out the trash and wash the dishes before going to the hospital. We eventually made our way out of the house by 7:10am to go to CPMC hospital in San Francisco. Smack dab in the morning rush hour traffic.
Labor was just sitting around and waiting for Michelle to dilate. This was a complete replica of our rehearsal in December when Michelle had to be admitted for prenatal complications. Back then, with the 4 week bed rest, we were watching for contractions and hoping it would stop. This time was the complete opposite. Sitting there waiting and measuring the time between them.
Jen , Maan, Raldy and Maxine were all at the hospital to lend morale support. By 12:00am, it was time to start pushing. Her pain medicine was starting to wear off and the ordeal was becoming painful for her. By 3:00am, Luke was still not out. Dr. Pearl Yee and Nurse Lisa began prepping for an emergency C-section.
Jen and I dressed up in our scrubs as Max headed off to the waiting room. At this point, Michelle was completely exhausted having been up for the past 24 hours with not much sleep the night before.

At 3:49am, Luke was born.

Back in the USA

Just got back last night and trying to recover from the trip. Tons of paper mail that I have to open. Anyway, the plane ride wasn't so bad this time around. No kids and only 10 hours(thank you jet stream). The airport baggage took 45 minutes to recover. I guess I'm jet lagging big time since I slept till 3:00pm Sunday which would make it about 6:00am body time. I'm gonna drink a glass of wine and try to get to bed early tonight.

Hong Kong

So Michelle and I decided that we would take a little detour. Since we had an 8 hour lay over in Hong Kong, we took the Express train to Hong Kong Central and Kowloon. I've never seen Michelle's eyes grow that big before. It would probably be like me going to a Fry's nation. Anyway, we are winding down our trup and I'm writing this at the airport terminal in HK. The trip was quite memorable. Many goals achieved, some that are just too private to discuss in this blog but I'm sure we would be talking to you all in person. I'm dreading the 15 hour plane ride. Sleepy as hell.I'm well prepared though. I have some Durian candies in my pocket. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's a kind of fruit that tastes like heaven but smells like ass. Yes, I kind of like the sound of this. Smelling like ass to any seat kicking perpetrators behind us. Oh yeah, got tons of cool dvds. Will be sharing when I get back. Wish us good trip. See you all back home.

Marketing Genius

So I ran across this bakery or at least I think it's a bakery. John, would you like a nice "chessy" empanada from here?

Sinulog's revenge score

Me
Mango shake -- no effect
Fruit Basket -- no effect
Shrimp -- no effect
Salt Water - no effect
Sun -- no effect
Hella Barbeque -- no effect
Fried Banana -- no effect

Michelle
I ask her how she's doing -- stomach ache, sea sickness, head cold, heat rash


We need to get out more.

Boracay

The day after my birthday, we headed off to Boracay. For anyone who likes all the water activities, this is the place to visit. We got here early in the morning. Lots of Europeans with their new brides. They still had their postage stamps on them. Crazy puts. Today, we took a trip around the island for snorkeling and lunch at the opposite beach. The water was warm but the boat ride was really choppy. Michelle got sea sick and it didn't help that she had a head cold. The snorkeling was cool. It felt like I was swimming in an aquarium. The guy brought some bread but it kinda freaked me out when all the fish started going for it. Frigging piranhas. Stomach of steel! Michelle still has a stomach ache. Oh yeah, and I left some hopia on the counter so we had a bunch of fire ants but I told Michelle it was her potato chips. heh heh.

Happy Birthday to Me!!

My cousin was nice enough to prepare a birthday party for me! It was cool to see most of my family under one roof. Some of my childhood friends came too: Cielo, Angel, Hilda and Judy. Yes, I ran with some of the pretty girls in the neighborhood. The party reminded me when we were kids running around our old house where everyone use to gather except now the next generation is running around making all the old fogies crazy. All in all it was a pretty good time for me. All my cousins came up to me and started quizzing me on who they were. Got an A+. I'll have to post pictures a little later.

Bohol

We went on a day trip to Bohol on Friday. The place feels like the Philippines. Very clean and inviting in comaprison to Cebu. We took a trip to the Chocolate Hills but since it's winter time, it was more like mint hills to me. We also went to the man made mahogany forest but it was crawling with big ass centipedes. We had lunch on Loboc river which was pretty cool. So laid back. The kids were just hanging around swimming in the river at 12:00pm in the afternoon. There was a site there that has the Tarsiers monkeys. I took a picture with one on my shoulder. It looked like a cross between a rat and Golem. The trip is pretty good so far. My stomach of steel is holding up. Michelle is starting to get her heat rashes which really sucked for her. I guess all the skin softening moisturizing reatments have their side effects. Unlike me, all leathery.

Family Time

Michelle and I met a few of my relatives this past few days. The last time they saw me, I was only 12 so it was a little surprising to many of them, specially my aunts, to see me. They kept saying how much I've changed. To me, this whole place has changed. It is completely packed. I can't recognize any of the streets or any of the people. Luckily, the driver I hired knows all the shortcuts and the tourist spots here. My cousin's wife also showed us around and she prepared a small package of lost family pictures for Michelle. Tre cool.