NZ SMC Visa Application

Our case officer's decision arrived yesterday via email. Feeling a mixture of emotions, we didn't know how to react but just opted to offer a thanksgiving prayer to God. Thankful and happy because my husband's visa was granted, better than getting rejected. A bit disappointed because my baby and I won't be able to join my husband in NZ because he got a JSV (Job Search Visa) or Work Visa – used to be called WTR or Work to Resident Visa. We learned that a partner used to be granted JSV as well. That is no longer the case now.

Same CO who reviewed our application granted the same visa type to a friend of mine who's single. She's now in NZ and has been looking for a job since July of this year. We heard that most families get RV or Resident Visa but recently COs are limiting provision of RVs to applicants. We think we answered well during the interview and submitted complete documents. My husband who is the primary applicant is an Application Programmer and has been in the IT field for 5 years now.

Could it be that COs base their decision on NZ government's list of current and urgent job vacancies that needed to be immediately filled in? We'll see what will happen but I guess the momentary separation is beneficial to our marriage. As always, we need to look for the silver lining in every circumstance.

Postpartum Blues

Now that your little angel has arrived, you're supposed to be filled with happiness. But why is this unexplainable sadness? No worries, you are experiencing this so called "baby blues". During this period, your husband becomes your object of anger (poor dad). Irritability & confusion set in and crying becomes your favorite hobby. You're afraid that you will practically lose your insanity. Sometimes, you'd think you will transition from reality to illusion so you would try to stay away from dangerous places or harmful objects so you don't get to harm yourself or your baby. It is important not to watch bad news on TV or absurd or disturbing movies like Black Swan. Kidding aside, it is beneficial to be aware that you're going through this temporary ordeal.
So how do you deal with it? Let me give you few tips based from my own experience.
- surround yourself with optimistic and happy people and stay away from the negative ones
- spend time with your loved ones
- eat nutritious foods,exercise & drink plenty of water
- read or research about postpartum depression to educate yourself and increase awareness
- pray
- discuss with your spouse
- watch comedy films or shows

Doctors' Spiel

When you're ill and doctors could not come up with accurate findings, they give you any of the following reasons:
- it's genetic or hereditary(based on family history or if someone in your family has that ailment as well)
- due to aging (if you're 30 & above)
- stress
- psychosomatic
We cannot deny the fact that medical science is still limited despite the state of the art technologies & inventions.
During my pregnancy, my amniotic fluid was at borderline level. There was no leak whatsoever so I was told it was because of late pregnancy. After a week of hydration using IV fluid, no progress occurred. I was sent home & advised to just take complete bed rest and drink 3 to 4 liters of water since there was nothing else that could be done. After few weeks of water therapy, my amniotic level went up from 6 to 16 - almost 300% increase!