Part 3: The Operating Room — Letting Go of Baby Lux (My D&C / Dilation and Curettage Experience)

March 10, 2026March 10, 2026Leave a comment

The Waiting Before They Came For Me

That afternoon, I began quietly counting the minutes.

Around 1:30 p.m., I kept glancing at the clock. We had originally been told that I might be wheeled to the operating room around 2:00 p.m., but one of the resident doctors had also warned me earlier that my OB still had other patients scheduled before me.

So it might be 3:00 p.m.
Or even 4:00 p.m.

Still, the waiting made every minute feel longer.

Nurses came in and out of the room throughout the afternoon, checking my blood pressure, oxygen levels, and asking the usual questions. Each time the door opened, I wondered if it was finally time.

At 3:30 p.m., the gurney finally arrived.

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Part 2: The Morning Before Surgery — Saying Goodbye to Baby Lux

March 9, 2026March 9, 20261 Comment

Part 1 ended with us entering the hospital not knowing exactly what the next hours would bring.

Morning came anyway.

And with it came the quiet understanding that the day ahead would ask us to let go of the life we had begun imagining.

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Part 1: The Day We Went to Hear Baby Lux’s Heartbeat

March 8, 2026March 9, 20262 Comments

Before I begin this story, I want to anchor it to two posts I wrote earlier in my Pregnancy & Perimenopause Diary Series.

At the time, I was writing in real time — still in the “in-between,” still waiting to understand what was happening inside my body.

If you’ve read those entries:
Pregnancy & Perimenopause Diary Series: Notes from the In-Between and
Pregnancy & Perimenopause Diary Series: The Waiting, the Wanting, the Yes

— then you already know the emotional landscape we were standing in.

Those posts captured the uncertainty, the quiet hope, and the fragile possibility that a new life might be beginning.

What I’m sharing now is what happened next.

This story begins on the day we went to my OB’s clinic… on what we thought would be a joyful day — the day we were supposed to hear Baby Lux’s heartbeat for the first time.

We went to my OB’s clinic for a transvaginal ultrasound, expecting the usual moment many parents look forward to: that tiny flicker on the screen that confirms a little life is growing.

Instead, the screen showed something else.

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Pregnancy & Perimenopause Diary Series: The Waiting, the Wanting, the Yes

February 5, 2026March 9, 20263 Comments

This is what happened next…

Today was quieter than yesterday.
Not calm exactly… but softer.

At around 3 p.m., Hanz and I went to the diagnostic center for the blood test. The one that would say, clearly and officially, whether this pregnancy was real or not. We waited, did what we had to do, and then decided not to hover. We went to a nearby restaurant for my first meal of the day.

It was a nice moment. Ordinary in the best way. Good food. Sitting across from my husband. Life continuing while something very big hovered in the background.

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Pregnancy & Perimenopause Diary Series: Notes from the In-Between

February 3, 2026March 9, 20265 Comments

A Note Before You Read

This is a personal diary series written in real time.

It’s about pregnancy and perimenopause — not as medical advice, not as inspiration, and not as a lesson already learned — but as lived experience while it’s still unfolding.

I’m not writing this to explain myself, to perform gratitude, or to arrive at neat conclusions.
I’m writing to witness what it feels like to be here.

Some entries may hold uncertainty, grief, tenderness, or contradiction.
That doesn’t mean I’m lost — it means I’m present.

I’m not looking for advice, reassurance, or interpretation.
What I welcome instead is quiet witnessing.

If you’re reading because you’re curious, reflective, or simply human — thank you.
If you’re looking for certainty, answers, or conclusions — this may not be the place.

This is not an announcement.
It’s a diary.

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The Quiet Wins of My First Week of January 2026 (A MomTraNeur reflection)

January 19, 2026January 19, 20261 Comment

A quick note before you read:

I wrote this reflection during the first week of January, when things felt clear, grounded, and quietly victorious. I planned to publish it then… but life continued to unfold.

The days that followed were full. There was HR work for Oslob New Village. Tasks included hiring and screening, as well as managing payroll systems. Compliance was also addressed. Additionally, there was the invisible weight of holding a growing business and a family at the same time.

Sleep became irregular. Regulation became a daily practice again.

I’m sharing this now from Bohol. I arrived on January 18. I am slowing my nervous system down and allowing myself to rest. The wins still matter. And so does the honesty about what came after.

This post isn’t about perfection.
It’s about continuity.

Here’s a little glimpse of our arrival in Bohol before we dive back to the first week of January….

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Fun & Brain-Boosting Online Games for Kids and Adults Alike

March 2, 20251 Comment

As a homeschooling mom who spends a lot of time curating engaging yet educational activities for my son, I’m always on the lookout for games that are both fun and beneficial. While browsing online, I stumbled upon CulinarySchools.org, a site that offers a variety of online games catering to different age groups and interests. What intrigued me the most was the range of brain games, puzzles, and even sports-themed games that go beyond just entertainment—they also help with cognitive skills, problem-solving, and coordination!

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Reclaim Your Time: The Filipina Mom’s Guide to Dependable Childcare Solutions

November 14, 2023Leave a comment

As a Filipina mom, finding reliable childcare solutions is essential to reclaiming your time and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Juggling the demands of motherhood and personal responsibilities can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach, you can find dependable childcare options that cater to your specific needs.

In this guide, we will explore the importance of reliable childcare, identify your childcare needs, explore different childcare options, evaluate potential childcare providers, and make a smooth transition to a childcare solution that best suits your family.

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Teaching My 7-Year-Old Financial Literacy: Exploring ‘The First Ten Rules of Wealth’ by Richard Templar

October 23, 2023October 24, 2023Leave a comment

As a parent, I’ve always believed that education extends far beyond the walls of a traditional classroom. This belief has been a driving force behind our decision to homeschool our 7-year-old son, giving him the freedom to learn in ways that suit his interests and needs. One area that Mahal and I are particularly passionate about introducing to his curriculum is financial literacy. In today’s ever-changing world, the importance of understanding money, saving, and investing cannot be overstated. I grew up with a poverty mindset… that feeling that we’re always lacking… that belief that I’m not worthy of the good kind of life… and it took years of reading self-help books, and wealth-related books, and listening to Oprah and Tony Robbins before I was able to fairly say I that I’ve somehow overcome my poverty mindset and started my journey towards abundance. I want Tuz to have the right kind of thinking when it comes to money and wealth so that he will be able to live a more abundant, rich, and fulfilling life.

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How to Encourage Your Fussy Kids to Eat When Travelling the World

October 18, 2023October 21, 20231 Comment

Now that the big ticket items on our wish list had been ticked off (our dream beach wedding, making sure our businesses are now up and running smoothly — Mahal takes care of our little resort Oslob New Village and restaurant Lami-an while I take care of digital marketing for my clients via my new biz VirtuPro, — and overall management of our life here in our own version of paradise), we are now about to start our travel adventure outside of the country and one of the things I think about is how fussy our son is when it comes to eating. When traveling locally, Tuz already has a list of food he is willing to eat. But how about when we visit other cultures and places where the food is totally different from what he’s used to? Are you in the same situation? If you want to travel with your kids but feel as though it’s always an uphill battle to get them to eat, then you’re not alone. So many people are in the same position as you (as us), but there are things we can do to try and make things easier on ourselves. If you want to find out more then simply take a look below.

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Happy Father’s Day to All Amazing Dads Out There!

June 17, 2023Leave a comment

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL DADS!

…especially to my Mahal, Bebeko, Bebe, Tuz’s Dada… we wish you the happiest Father’s Day! You are the greatest support to our little family and Tuz is truly blessed for having the coolest, kindest, funniest, loving, and most doting father! You are our safe place, our haven, the source of our strength. Thank you for being our protector. I am so blissful and joyous that I got married to you, God’s miracle, and together, made a fantastic little family. We love you so, so much Dada… Now and forever…