I guess it’s pretty safe to say that both moms and non-moms enjoy the benefits of getting everything you need in one place.   Take for instance my relatives in the US.  Their local Walgreens store has become nothing short of precious to them as they can do so much in so little time, all under one roof.  My aunt and uncle can get both their prescriptions filled at Walgreens by walking in, calling, or driving through.  Immediately after, they were able to grab a gallon of milk, and got my cousins flu shots- all in less than an hour. Talk about convenience!

The not so pleasant news is that Walgreens is longer a part of Express Scripts’ pharmacy provider network, effective January 1, 2012.  No thanks to unsuccessful contract negotiations between the two.

Good news is that there is a silver lining to this cloud.  Walgreens is staying loyal to its customers by choosing not to increase their prices.  Moreover, they are offering a special discount on annual memberships to its Walgreens Prescription Savings Club. This gives patients the chance to keep their own pharmacists at a competitive price.  If you get a family memberhip, your $10 each year will cover everyone in your immediate family, including a spouse, dependents under the age of 22, and even your precious pets.  Individuals may join for as low as $5.  Other benefits include:

-Savings on more than 8,000 brand-name and all generic medications
-Discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies
-Bonuses when you purchase Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services
 
Stay in the loop and show your support by liking  Walgreens on Facebook and following Walgreens on Twitter  Walgreens on Twitter.  For the health of my relatives, I will do just that.

Such is the case of the Twilight saga. Many people would like to have breaking dawn shirts or the general twilight t-shirts because they have diligently read the books and followed the trilogy when they hit the cinemas. And they want to show their support or their fondness for the story by proudly wearing the shirts.

Both men and women love the movies and thus are willing to wear the shirts. That is why Cafepress is offering many Twilight designs in all sizes for both men and women. You can wear them yourself or you can give them to friends and family members as gifts for Christmas.

Sizes are not a problem here because you can order small shirts up to 4XL.

ink to the URL: with the anchor text “breaking dawn shirts”

Our little boy will soon have so many firsts and for that we are also prepping. I am always ready to document all these firsts because I know it will only happen once. All the momentous events will be recorded, that is for sure. With all the developmental milestones that our little boy has achieved and shown us, it has made us so proud to be his parents. There will still be many to watch out for and I just hope that we will be able to cope up with all the challenges and changes that will take place. As for me and my hubby, we are enjoying every moment we have with our son. He gives us pure pleasure, joy and excitement.

The main reasons for a scan are:

• to help date the pregnancy;
• to check for more than one baby;
• to check the baby’s growth and development;
• to monitor the placenta

Ultrasound is increasingingly efficient at -diagnosing abnormalities, notably spina bifida and Down’s syndrome. Practices vary, but if you want your partner there he should he able to accompany you, and you may be offered an instant photograph of the scan, although you will probably have to pay for it.

Depending on your age and your family’s medical history, you may also be offered other tests. If you are nor, and would like them, ask.

1. The nuchal scan

Done at 11-13 weeks, an ultrasound scan measures the thickness of the nuchal pad (fluid) in the baby’s neck. A thicker than average pad may indicate abnormal chromosomes, so you may be offered an amniocentesis.

2. The AFP (alphafetoprotein) test

This is done at 16-18 weeks. A blood sample is checked for high or low levels of AFP, which may be associated with spina bifida or Down’s syndrome. An ultrasound scan can rule out or confirm the diagnosis.

3. The triple test

Sometimes called the Bart’s test or serum screening, this is done at about 15 weeks. A blood sample is tested for chemicals that help to calculate the risks of Down’s syndrome or spina bifida. You may then be offered a diagnostic scan or amniocentesis.

4. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)

This is done at around 10-1 / weeks and involves removing a tiny frond of the tissue that forms the placenta and examining it for chromosomal abnormalities, especially Down’s syndrome.

5. Amniocentesis

Carried out at around 18 weeks, amniocentesis involves having a needle inserted in your abdomen to draw off a sample of amniotic fluid. The sample is then checked for abnormalities, especially Down’s syndrome, but also spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis and haemophilia. It will also determine the sex of the baby: if you do not want to know, say so.

6. Getting the results

None of these tests is perfect. Both CVS and amniocentesis carry a small risk of miscarriage and any test could increase your anxiety (although, since the results usually show that there is nothing to worry about, some women are more reassured by them). None of the tests offers a totally certain diagnosis and even routine ultrasound has its critics.

If a test shows that your baby is likely to have an abnormality, you may want to consider a termination. You should be given a chance to talk this through before you have the test. Even if you know you could not consider a termination, you may want the time to prepare for having a baby with special needs.

Depending on where you live, your ethnic origin and family history, you may also be offered other, less common tests. You should be given the chance to discuss the associated risks and benefits before you decide whether to go ahead.

I don’t really recall how I met Gene but what I can remember is that she’s a very sweet girl. I am glad we got reconnected through the Marce Club – (a club of godmothers of Sati), I hope we get to know each other even better as days passed. Kung may kailangan ka Marce, I am just a buzz away:)

Happy Birthday Marce Gene!

If you would like to get to know this sweet girl, do drop by at her blogs:

Her and History

Fashion Explorer

To support that good vibes, I am searching online for kids furniture as early as now. You know what they say. If you really really want something, you have to visualize it clearly in your mind in order for the power of the mind to work. So I’m thinking cute baby kids furniture almost everyday and how my baby will look so perfect in/using them. I don’t care if it’s a girl or a boy. I can always redecorate and replace the kids bedroom furniture I have in mind to accommodate the arrival of our precious one.

One week to go! I’m really very excited. Friends, please pray for me. Your prayers would mean so much. I am aching for this to finally come true. I want this more than anything in the world. I hope and pray for this to be my greatest birthday present of all time.

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Fire tree grows in Asia. We have a lot of these in Palawan on the roadside and I just saw that it also grows here in Singapore where I currently live. It’s very beautiful especially when you see a cluster of trees together.

Congrats Pehpot! I will be sending the prize shortly.