Three years ago, we walked down the aisle and said "I do" to a lifetime of adventure together. We carefully planned, prepared for, and saved for our wedding where family and loved ones witnessed and joined the celebration. We knew our first year of marriage wasn't going to be normal, because at the time, he was assigned in Leyte and I was in Manila. We knew we were going to have a long-distance relationship. I only have one ovary, and we thought that we might have a hard time getting pregnant.
A month after our wedding, I found out I was 4 weeks pregnant! It was a delightful surprise that we were immediately blessed with a baby. My first trimester was not much difficult, no morning sickness, no throwing up. But I have very little energy and my hormones were unexplainable. While pregnant, I tend to get annoyed with little things and disappointed with almost anything that I can't explain. My pregnancy was relatively normal, but being in a long-distance setting with my husband was challenging.
A few months later, we found out that my father-in-law was sick. We had to deal with all the emotional and financial struggles during that time. Anticipating the birth of our baby, and thinking about how to help with my father-in-law's situation. I was seven months pregnant when my husband decided to visit his father in Mindanao. He took the 48-hour bus ride from Tacloban City to Davao City, so he could see his father again. The last time he saw him was during our wedding. While only 2 hours away from home, my husband received a call that his father passed away. He was only two more hours away.
Two months later, I gave birth to our firstborn son, Shalom (meaning Peace). I had a relatively quick labor and normal delivery. We had a healthy baby and the joy of welcoming our own child was overwhelming. The first night at our house when we brought him home, I remember feeling an ounce of fear. I stared at my son latched onto my breast, thinking, "this life is completely dependent on me." 9 months of being a married woman, and now I am a mother. We welcomed parenthood along with all the joys, and challenges. My body has gone through all the changes that come with pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. This is accompanied by the fact that a few months later, I had to go back to work in Manila while I leave my son with my parents in Laguna (because it is harder to raise children, and hardest to find a trustworthy babysitter in Manila).
When Shalom was barely 8 months old, we found out that I was pregnant - again! It was an unexpected surprise that we welcomed with joy, anticipation, and some clouds of worry from time to time. We were dellighted to know that we have another blessing coming, but we were also anxious if we were actually ready to raise 2 children at a time! Were we ready with all the responsibilities that come along with it?
My second pregnancy was like the first, fairly easy, no morning sickness, no picky eating, no stress. Although this time I was more sensitive and emotional. We had extreme joy when we found out that we were having a daughter this time. It means me having to shop for baby girl clothes (that aren't pink!) I still used most of Shalom's clothes on his baby sister, but I like having a new set of clothes for the new baby too.
On our second anniversary, I was 37 weeks pregnant, belly full and ready to pop. We spent our time just nearby our house, had lunch and a relaxing time at the spa. Walking like a duck, and catching my breath, we had a date full of excitement for the coming baby. We even waited for her to come out that day! But, she chose to come out 11 days later, on September 8, 2018.
We named our daughter Agatha, meaning, noble woman. Seeing her flooded my heart with too much joy and excitement, and love. I went through the same journey of breastfeeding her, savoring every single moment I held her in my arms and she sucked on a part of me that nourished her and sustained her life.
When Agatha was 2 months old, we received a call that my mother-in-law was brought to the hospital. A few minutes later, there was another call to tell us that she passed away. Just like that. We were still celebrating our new baby, and planning on inviting my mother-in-law to spend Christmas with us so she could see her new granddaughter. In the end, we had to fly our children to Davao so we could all be at the funeral.
Flying a 2-month old and a toddler wasn't very easy, and the hardest part was that we had to commute by bus in some parts of the trip. I still vividly remember the night we flew back to Manila, taking the bus ride to the province, during my children's bedtime hour, and they were both screaming in a bus full of people (even the aisle was full of standing passengers). Grieving, at the same time, having to wake to the reality that two people are completely dependent on us. In a crowded bus with two screaming children that are both my own, I remember just sitting there, staring blankly outside the window, praying that they would both stop crying. They were both tired, just needed to be rocked, and maybe lie down in a flat surface. My husband and I were both tired, just needed to rest, and also lay flat on our backs.
When my daughter was 4 months old, I had to go back to work in Manila. I spend 4 days working, and 3 days at home with my children. My husband has longer working hours and would usually be traveling in different areas, sometimes even on weekends. Every day, we juggle making decisions at work, our finances, our future plans for our careers, our children, and our marriage.
Soon my daughter will be turning 1 and we will officially have no more baby. We are now dealing with two toddlers, each with a unique personality, needs, and abilities.
Before we got married, we knew we're in for quite an adventure. We didn't know what was in store for us then. 3 years into our marriage, and I feel like we've been through and conquered more than what feels like the strongest typhoon in world history.
Our love story began in the aftermath of the world's strongest recorded typhoon in 2013 (Yolanda). Today, our marriage has been tested through many difficult challenges -of two full cycles of facing life, and death, and there were many times that we felt like giving up. But we were only strengthened and sustained by the love of the Creator and Author of our love story.
We still have a lifetime ahead of us. Many more challenges, many more celebrations. Everyday, we will still deal with our marriage, our parenting, our children, our finances, our careers, our ministry. But in each passing day, I am thankful that I married this person and every single chapter of our story is worth all the joy and sorrow... "until Christ calls us home".
