Sick Days Before And After Kids

A few weeks ago I had a slight fever and sore throat so I had to take a sick leave only to realize that sick leaves aren't what they used to be. Below is a tale of two sick days - before kids and after kids:

Twin Tips: Packing Your Hospital Bag

My due date was in the middle of January so I figured I had the first few weeks of December to pack my hospital bag. I already had most of the stuff I needed. It was just the packing part that had to be done. But during a scheduled checkup in the second week of December, we found out I was already 5cm dilated. What was supposed to be a one-hour appointment turned into 5 days of complete bed rest in the hospital's High Risk Pregnancy Unit (HRPU) and the early birth of our twins. Luckily, I already prepared a list of things to pack so while my mom watched over me, Joey went back home to get everything.

Mapping The Maternal Brain

The title sounds scientific enough, right? Good. Then there shall be no disputes about the accuracy of this brain map.

Twin Tips: Daddy Duties

This installment of Twin Tips is for the dads. I'm sure the moment you announced your twin pregnancy, friends and family started lavishing your wife with attention. But this doesn't mean that your role is less important. While it's true that the physical aspect of pregnancy is only experienced by mom, both mom and dad still share equal responsibility in preparing for the arrival of their babies. So to guide you in this nine-month roller coaster ride, I interviewed my husband to get some suggestions on how to prepare to welcome your two bundles of joy. Here's what he said:

10 Faces of Parenthood in Emojis

Because 😴 does not even even begin to describe it...

😫The first time you stayed awake for 24 consecutive hours.

🤔Is it normal if my baby...

😖When your sleeping baby cries the moment you put him down in his crib.

😬The first time you got poop on your finger while doing a diaper check.

😣The accidental baby headbutt.

😜Trying to get baby to laugh.

😒When someone tells you everything you're doing wrong as a parent.

😌 The first time your baby cries and you know exactly what it means.

🤗When your baby says mama or dada for the first time after months of babbling.

😍When you realize you're the center of their universe and source of comfort.

Twin Tips: Dealing With Bed Rest

I was put on bed rest during my first trimester for bleeding and Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). I was able to go back to work for a few weeks but was put back on bed rest to avoid preterm labor. All in all, I spent about half of my pregnancy on bed rest. In theory, lying in bed all day may seem like a vacation, but in reality, bed rest can be stressful, inconvenient and frustrating. There will definitely be days when you will be wondering how you will be able to cope until it's time to give birth. And because bed rest is pretty common in twin pregnancies, here are some survival tips for you twin mommies on bed rest.

5 Things I Never Thought I'd Do... Then I Became A Mom!

To say having twins turned our lives upside down is an understatement. Joey and I went from being a newly married couple to a family of 4 with 2 newborns requiring our undivided attention.  Parenting twins has brought about lots of surprises and I found myself doing unusual things that pre-baby me would have never thought of doing like...

Twin Tips: Budget Planning for Your Twins

Now that the news of having twins has sunk in, it's time to get a bit more serious. The third installment of my Twin Tips series will help you plan your budget if you're expecting twins and don't have George Clooney or Beyonce money. So read below for some tips on how to prepare financially for your twins' arrival.

Managing Postpartum Hairfall

When I was pregnant with the twins, I didn't have the celebrated pregnancy glow. It was more like shiny oily face for me. But my lack in pregnancy glow was made up for by my thick and shiny pregnancy hair. I've always had thin and dull hair so I was very thrilled about this one "side effect" of pregnancy. You see, during pregnancy, a woman has higher levels of estrogen. This results in less shedding and healthier looking hair. And while I knew it wasn't a permanent thing, I still enjoyed my new and improved locks.