Booster For the Heart

Day 18 of my confinement month...

It has been a very challenging period, both physically and mentally...So challenging that I sometimes lose control and cried, followed by episodes of constant worrying and feeling blues...

I basically worry about everything everyday...

Is baby getting enough to eat?
It's time to express milk again, and I'm late!
Who is going to take care of baby after the confinement period?
Will the day care centre staff take good care of Cedric?
If I be stay-at-home mom, will hubby be able to cope physically, mentally and financially?
What about our business that just started to grow?
Should I continue my CLP study this year???

All these question marks and uncertainties suddenly seem so real and haunt me so greatly, that I find myself drowning in the sea of negativity...Maybe this is what people meant by baby blues? Or postnatal depression?

When I am fighting very hard to be better, and to be my own old self again, one thing that always manage to soothe my empty soul is the show of love and care by people I love, and people who love me.

It is like a booster for my heart, so that I have the energy to keep going and continue going...

Gambateh!!!

Jia You!

Booster For The Heart

Becoming a Father

What really changes when I become a father?

Everything does, instantly. It is such an extraordinary event, truly life-changing moments.

When I was about to become a father for the first time, other men who’ve already blazed that trail are keen to share their experiences and then there are those who give me that funny look – a peculiar expression which seems to say “Congrats, you will have sleepless nights and panda eyes, Good Luck!”

Cedric is 6 days old. I am so blessed to have him into my world. The first 24hrs on the first day back home wasn't easy. Mummy only had about 4-5 hours of sleep, barely had enough rest and I can notice the sudden change of lifestyle is not easy to cope. Mummy was quite depressed because Cedric kept on crying every hour and had no idea what caused it.

I am sad to see Mummy's exhausted condition, maybe she has hit the 'baby blues' and become weepy most the time. The next night I volunteered to become 'night supervisor' so that Mummy can have a good rest. It was only me and Cedric at the living room and becoming a baby-sitter is not an easy task.

I have a crying baby and I go through all of the obvious things on my mental checklist. Is Cedric hungry? Is it nappy wet? Is it wind? By now I totally understand Mummy's feeling and realized it’s going to take patience and persistence to overcome the 'stress'

The biggest surprises were the obvious things - the lack of sleep and the sheer exhaustion, plus all the crying.

Although Cedric may make my days shorter, my nights longer, my bankroll smaller, he’ll also make my home happier and my life far more fulfilling.

Cedric Boy
D.O.B: 09/01/2012
Time: 00:12
Weight: 3.35kg
Height: 48cm

Pork Knuckles?

I have been suffering from sore and swollen feet since week 37 of pregnancy. 

Some people say when one is pregnant, the body tends to retain more water. 

According to babycenter.com, it may also be "due to the growing uterus puts pressure on your pelvic veins and your vena cava (the large vein on the right side of the body that carries blood from your lower limbs back to the heart). The pressure slows the return of blood from your legs, causing it to pool, which forces fluid from your veins into the tissues of your feet and ankles."

So I end up with feet that looks like pork knuckles...

My Pork Knuckles...

The only remedy that I have now is hubby's nightly massage...painful, but syiok!

Oops...I Pinched My Doctor

Went for my 39th week check up recently. 

Dr.Siti did an internal / pelvic examination on me to determine my pelvic dimensions and cervical ripeness. 

I was told to take off my pants and lie down with my legs spread widely apart...

"Open your legs...open more...more..." The doctor said.

Oh...That's awkward and embarrassing.... Especially with a young nurse looking at me and smiling one kind... I felt like a piece of meat under the spotlight awaiting to be slaughtered... Of course, it's a piece of meat with kaki terkangkang...

"It will not be painful, only a little bit uncomfortable..." The doctor said. 

Before I have time to be mentally prepared, she suddenly inserted something inside (probably her hand?) and started the examination.

Ouch...!!! That's not ONLY a little bit uncomfortable, that's VERY uncomfortable and it hurts...!!! 

Ouch....

It felt like an electric shock... My whole body suddenly tensed up and my facial muscles cramped together. I couldn't help but to involuntarily squeeze and pinch Dr.Siti's hand as hard as she squeezed her hand inside me...

"Don't pinch me....don't pinch me!" The doctor said, as her facial muscles cramped together as well. :p

After the whole procedure was done, I noticed hubby was snickering in amusement at the corner...

Phew...! I am so glad that it's now done and over with. But this internal exam definitely tops my list of the most uncomfortable procedures for the 9-month maternity follow up!

Summary of my 39th week check up:-

Weight before pregnant: 51kg
Weight at 39th week: 64kg
Baby's weight: 3.2kg
Baby's estimated weight at birth: 3.4-3.5kg
Baby's position: Good, head down.
Cervical dilation: 1 finger = X cm?
Labour method recommended: Natural birth
What to do now: Wait......wait......and wait.........

3 in 1 Celebration - Christmas, Birthday & 2012 New Year

I have been looking forward to 01/01/2012!

We missed our Christmas and birthday celebrations last week as hubby was down with flu. Now that he is better, he suggested to have a simple 3-in-1 celebration at 1-Utama. As promised, he'll treat me to a japanese lunch as replacement for Christmas, and chocolate fondue for my birthday.

Hurray! So great to be able to spend some quality time together finally... and we probably we will not have any 2-person outing for a long long time after the baby arrived...

The lunch at Sakae Sushi was great. The food was good, the ambiance was relaxing, I was super hungry and hubby always likes japanese food. So I felt great and enjoyed the lunch very much!

Sakae Sushi, 1-Utama

Always amazed by the genius who invented the sushi train - simple, efficient, and convenient

Dragon Roll, RM15.90 - Hubby said dragon year has to eat dragon roll :p

The soft and melt-in-mouth avocado adds a creamy yet refreshing taste to the sushi. Yummy!

Haru Set, RM24.90

Salmon Crepe Treasure, RM9.80

Spicy Idako Maki, RM5.99

Look at that smiley face! Hubby hasn't been smiling since he was sick, hope he enjoyed the lunch as much as I do

After the satisfying lunch, it was a solid 3 hours of walking and shopping. People said walking is good to bring about easier labour, I hope it's true, as my legs are all swollen and painful now...

By the end of the shopping, we bought some clothes for hubby and a present for our good friend, Stanley's house warming.

Last but not least was my favourite chocolate fondue for tea time!

Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Fondue, RM64.00

 Happy New Year everyone!