Me-Time

I love me-time my dear husband has sponsored me for this Perth trip back home to attend my sister’s graduation that fell on 15th February 2011. It was great.

We all took family photo with the graduate, wandered about and took more photos in the university yard, moved ourselves into the seating area of all invited family members and friends, enjoyed the 1.5 hours of graduation ceremony and feast our eyes with the fireworks that blew right in front and above our skies. It was all jolly and magnificent and i’m proud of my baby sister for finishing her nursing course that lasted 3.5 years! She’s just more than glad herself. We shared her joy, of course =)

It’s all family and me-time back in Perth alone this trip. I’m gonna spend my time wisely on important stuffs and people around me and in 8 days time, i’ll be heading home to my beloved little family in Kuching. Life is full of wonders. You just need to spend time to figure it out.

Happy Chinese New Year 2011

I’m back. and for more.

Recap of an eventful week

27 May 2010 @ 9.34AM
The birth of my baby boy Ian Au Yi Hang (区奕航).

28 May 2010 @ noon
Being discharged from hospital together with Ian…home sweet home after a dreadful night in hospital.

29 May 2010 @ midnight & afternoon
Had fever up to 38+ degree Celcius twice due to breasts engorgement (no let down yet) and UTI. Didn’t take any medication as I was afraid it might go into breast milk but later advised by three different person (Dr Siew, Annie and a nurse relative) that panadol can be taken only when needed and it won’t affect the milk for the baby. If antibiotic is prescribed, it should be breast feeding safe.

31 May 2010 @ noon
Return to hospital for my checkup on wound and baby’s on jaundice. He was admitted right after blood test result was out. His jaundice level was relatively high at 16.1. It should not go beyond 14 and must stay below 12 to be ok to go home. I was admitted together with Ian because breast feeding was not yet established properly (no let down yet) and he rejects bottle teats.

1 June 2010 @ 9AM
Blood test was done at 6AM and Dr Siew called me up in the ward at 9AM telling me the jaundice level actually shoot up to 17!!! My heart sank! Called up husband and discussed what we should do and we decided I should go home to express milk for Ian while he needs to stay back in hospital to continue with the phototherapy treatment.

2 June 2010
Second blood test was taken and a nurse called me up breaking the good news to me Ian’s jaundice level has gone down to 12.3!!! THANK GOD!! I was in tears and woke husband up to break him the good news too! God is listening to our prayers. Dr Siew said Ian needs to be monitored for another day before he could be discharged and my duty is to express milk as much as possible and sent them to hospital twice the day.

3 June 2010 @ 5AM
Woke up at 5 to express milk and I haven’t get back to my sleep yet…I’m anxiously waiting for the phone call from the nurse….will keep you up to date!
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Recent update:
Ian’s jaundice level has dropped to 10.1!! Doctor said he can go home now *gleeeeee* thank God!

On the other hand, I need to remove my stitches today! A bit scary to think of it so just let it be la…I’ve already been through the most difficult phase so this is nothing if it really hurts a little (YES! It did sting when the string was being pulled out – OUCH!!!!).

Exactly one week has gone from the date of Cesarean, I’ve lost 7.5kgs! Another 5 kgs to go for me to reach my pre-pregnancy weight. Of course, the more I can get rid of the better (tee hee!)

On ANOTHER note, my confinement has been a chaos! Hahaha~ I’d been going in and out of the house endless of times wearing shorts & T-shirts, had 3 times bath including hair wash in the first week, washing endless of bottles and equipments for milk pump etc etc. Since the pediatrician strongly doesn’t encourage me to take wine and ginger when i’m breast feeding, i stopped. Basically, i’m just waiting to be “discharged” from the one-month confinement period.

Chloe at 18 months old

It has been 1 and half year since i gave birth to my girl, Chloe. And to that, she has never failed to amaze me over and over with her sharp observation and new trick performance every now and then. I realize she is a “problem-solver” as she loves to handle puzzles, figure out difficult (to her level) problem and look for the right solution (i.e. trying to figure out which is the right key in the bundle to open a door) and she’s very observant at what people are doing. She imitates right after you and that makes me really stress of being very careful what we do/say in front of her.

At home, she has her collection of toys and she has been “playing” with them since very young but those were all about biting and putting them into her mouth and creating mess for me to clean and tidy them up after she got tired of them. But recently (last night to be exact), she could recognize and identify ALL her shape sorters according to the shapes and colours without a miss!! I was in awe and i could feel my jaw dropped (literally) and my mind was completely blown away by her actions. She hugged the whole shape sorter’s “house” to me and requested me to open it for her. First I thought “Oh well, i’m going to have to tidy the mess up after you when you go to sleep later.” I opened it for her then i left her alone to play with it while i got the water boiled to make her milk before i tucked her into bed.

And yes, i came back to her jaw dropped! What was my baby doing?! Did my eyes play trick on me?! The amazement was simply too awesome to put into words. My nanny doesn’t teach her shape-sorting at her place so it’s like my past months’ effort to pitch her the idea how to sort the shapes accordingly all being worthwhile (over the night!). A gush of motherhood’s proud came rushing out and tears started to build up in my eyes. Overwhelmed and completely thrown over board! Suddenly i asked myself “Where has the baby who was gugu gaga-ing gone now?” She has grown older over the night. I shall miss the baby version of her and completely adore and appreciate every moment of her toddler version now on. I’m scared that i might miss out on her milestones development if i’m not paying attention to her for just one second.

Motherhood is a ride of roller coaster and i totally love it to bits!

I hope you enjoy the moment as much as i do ^_^

P/S:
1. On and off and depending on her mood, she can now say “How are you”, “I love you” and “I know..”. As for those “Hi”, “Bye-bye”, flying kiss, kiss daddy & mommy, keep calling “mami or mi” several times with her sweetest voice tone ever while staring straight into my eyes (these are old tricks that she uses to entertain us and to get away from her mischief!)

2. Somehow, i love her open & friendly attitude towards strangers and i keep saying she’s like an Australian! She waves or raised up her hand saying “Hi” to passerby and cars passing by. Sometimes, her friendliness really brings headache to the mom when she tries to make friends with other kids (whom the parents are not so open with the idea).

3. She’s very chatty! A chatterbox! But she still has a long way to go before one could really understand her ^_^

给 boy boy 的一封信

爸爸妈咪的第二个宝贝，

再倒数十天爸爸妈咪就要和你的见面了。初次见面请多多指教哦！嘻嘻！

Boy, 很对不起这36周里妈咪没时常和你多说话因为总是为着工作，姐姐还有爸爸而忙。但不要紧！当你来到世上了妈咪也就要为你而忙了。妈咪的时间就要被分配成四份。为爸爸，姐姐，你还有妈咪自己而忙。

好期待见到你的那一刻！你会比较像爸爸还是妈咪呢？无论怎样只要你健康健全平安的出世就好。。期待。。。。脐带。。。。

Looking Ahead: Signs & Symptoms of Labor [Source: pregnancy.org]

Listed below are several common signs and symptoms of approaching labor.

• Increased vaginal discharge – Usually clear mucous, but sometimes streaked or tinged with brown or pink. This is sometimes referred to as “bloody show”. This discharge may appear at the same time that contractions begin or a few days before. Your mucus plug, which has blocked the cervix throughout the pregnancy to protect your baby from infection, may loosen and be expelled. Any amount of vaginal bleeding should be reported to our doctors and nurses at once. Yes, I think so?
• Engagement – The baby’s movement into your pelvis in preparation for birth (also called “lightening” or “the baby dropping”). It can happen anywhere from a few weeks to a few hours before labor begins. You will find that it will be easier to breathe and heartburn may be lessened. But the additional pressure of your baby’s head on your bladder may make you need to urinate more frequently. This is definitely as doctor has had this ultrasound scan done one me yesterday and baby is already “very down there”. Why THANK YOU for all the pressure and pain in the pelvis! I’ve never had this pressure pain when Chloe was near the expected due date. I guess that’s why i had (chosen) the Caesarean at the first place.
• Weight Loss – As a result of changes in your hormone levels, you may lose 1 to 3 pounds in the week before labor begins. This is mostly a loss of fluid that has been held in your tissues. Don’t think i have loss any weight so far. I think i’ve gained some more because baby is getting heavier now.
• Backache – Dull, lower backache that may come and go. I’ve been having this all the time since early of 3rd trimester until now.
• Diarrhea, Indigestion, Nausea and Vomiting – You may experience one or more of these conditions before or at the beginning of labor, often accompanied by cramping. This is just your body’s way of responding to the labor process.Diarrhea (yes), others (nope, not a bit).
• Rupture of the Amniotic Membranes – The breaking of your “bag of water”. This may happen several hours before labor begins, but in most cases, the fluid-filled sac that surrounds your baby during pregnancy doesn’t rupture until later in the labor process. Discharge may be a continuous trickle or a gush of watery fluid from your vagina. If you are not already in the hospital when you rupture your membranes, notify your provider immediately to describe the time of rupture, the color and amount of fluid. Last time, i had this “exciting” experience with Chloe. I do hope that this time baby will stick to the schedule to arrive on the appointed full term date so that there’s no mess for me to clean up.
• Contractions – The most obvious sign of labor, but often confusing because irregular cramps of false labor pains occur. You may have experienced these “Braxton Hicks” or “practice” contractions throughout your pregnancy, but you will notice an increase in frequency and intensity in these last weeks before delivery. Your abdomen may feel like it is tightening or hardening. Some women have compared it to strong menstrual or intestinal cramps. Aww~I think this one is the most obvious sign i have so far that i did not have with Chloe. I’m pretty sure they’re not Braxton Hicks because the time interval in between these frequent contractions are about 5-10 mins apart and the intensity is getting stronger each day. Each contraction can last for about 20-30 secs. I read this somewhere else that this is regarded as 1st stage of labor where cervix is dilating to 3-4cm and sometimes, water might rupture or bloody show might occur.

There is officially 20 days to count down from now. *Cross fingers*

Gestational 34w5d

Things are so far so good. Boy boy is actively moving about in the belly and i am heavily pregnant to the extent that my tummy’s skin is so stretched out it literally shines under the light, not to mention the old silvery lines of stretch marks left behind from previous pregnancy. The thing is, I am not a bit concerned if there are any new stretch marks developing as now i know, they will fade away. Not that anyone will get to see them anyway.

As I am only 3 weeks away from the full term finishing line (week 38 that is), i am quite relax throughout the whole pregnancy. And it’s a bliss that with Caesarean, one can do it once the baby reaches gestational age of week 38! Mommy can’t wait to meet you, my boy. I am all giggling with excitement and heart pounding with anxiousness again. It’s like falling in love for the 3rd time round!!

Mommy is all ready now. Milk bottles, milk storing bottles, breast pumps, newborn-size diapers, receiving blanket, baby wraps, little hats, mittens and booties, washed newborn clothes from Chloe, new blue series of mattress covers, pillow covers, hankies being sewn by mother-in-law and etc….Boy, we are ready dear. We are waiting for you to enter this world with a big cry!

Not an early bird

Chloe at 17 months 1 week

How lovely to gaze into that peacefulness in her while she sleeps....

After she wakes up..(shudder)…..

Love

My heart shares the warmth of love that Karen’s husband has showered her through simple act. Even after going through a decade, they are still falling in love with each others. I feel the happiness in me for them that there’s a family who the family members are so loving and tender to each others (in my hometown, Perth).

Sometimes, love doesn’t need words reassurance. It’s your thoughts and simple actions that count.

Chinese new year cookies

It will never be missed out during the joyful occasion of chinese new year. Here’s my beloved pineapple tarts. NOthing beats a cup of hot tea and pineapple tarts.

Especially love the floral pattern. Spring is blossoming with LOVE ^_^