Harlo Peeps!!!!
Missed ya all... I din go anywhere - was kinda piled up with work and unable to do any blogging in office.
Good news was Yenting has been selected to fulfil my duties while I am on my maternity leave, so now i am handing over and guiding her on the daily stuffs i do for my clients accounts, the admin, the filing and what nots.
I must have been lazy for a while. The last time i wanted to load some pic to share, but there was error when loading. So i gave up trying and took some break from this blog. Meanwhile, while i have time, i check out facebook using my mobile. Im gg to try again tonight, perhaphs - to load my pic and some gifts which Faith has already received!
Yupz, October is going to be a busy month for me... especially the weekends are quite packed with schedules already. Not forgetting our weekly Parentcraft lessons on sunday (12.30 - 2.30pm) at AMK Hub
I will share more about this class later.
Coming events:
17th October - Evening BBQ at Leng Kah's house (colleague)
Extras: Going to ask Teresa to teach me how to make Oreo Cheesecake at Lengkah's house. I would like to make one small one as trial. And i hope i can make one for Julian for his birthday. Besides FIL loves cheesecake) Learning the chilled version of cheesecake would do us fine, cos we do not have oven. (Hmm. but maybe i will need an electric mixer, or else my arms will become very muscular...haha - i guess!)
18th October - Wedding 1: Liesl (NYP fren) -->As it is a lunch reception, we have to take our Parentcraft 2nd lesson on a later slot, prob have to leave her wedding reception earlier to rush in time for the 3pm class at AMK Hub... =(
(What an unfortunate clash of events)
Venue: Regent Hotel
23rd October - Chalet (Jul's Uni friends)
Intend to take half day leave from work for a medical apt at Changi.
Then go join Julian's Uni friends at Chalet.
If possible, make the cheesecake for Julian at the chalet so at night can let him try out =)
24th October - Gynae appt with Dr Heng at 11.25am.
We will set off from chalet.
I can foresee weight gain - i have increased appetite for chocolates this past weeks. And have not been brisk walking regularly. Opps..
25th October - Wedding 2: Valarie (Colleague from Export Dept)
Venue: Amara Hotel, Dinner banquet
"Hand me downs" for Baby Faith: In the afternoon, gotta go down to Tampines to collect "hand me downs" for Faith from relative, Eileen. This includes a baby rocker chair -good for the living room
My weekend (9th-10th-11th October 09):
Please enjoy the short stories... they even have titles =D
FRIDAY (9th Oct):
Soccer with flood lights @ NYP
Although i had in mind to finish work and be on time to catch the soccer match between Jul's gang (consists of T.O players and LA gang) and NYP staff (James' lobang) @ NYP, i only left office at ard 7.30pm. And there was an email i need to send to Europe, so i took my laptop home.
I must thank God for meeting Big boss in the lift, he was able to give me a lift to NYP. (Cos i told him, my 'Ahmad' was having soccer match, not coming to pick me up today)
Anyway, it was an okay journey. He was asking about work most of the time and eventually he came to the question: if I could handle more accounts than the present two. I think you all should know my answer. (Got choice meh?) hehe..
I alighted at the furthest entrance of the school and took my time to walk into the Sports Complex, where the match was held.
Along the way, i called up Sis to chat with her. It was her second night at TTSH.
Her fever had not subsided and on Thursday (8th Oct) the clinic gave her a referral letter to go TTSH and TTSH warded her to do test on her, eventually reveal she had infection on her gall bladder and kidneys. She was put on antibiotic drip.
Sis sounded energetic and we both lamented how hospitals can get away to keep their patients warded in the hospital with "all kinds of reasons and tests". It was not much of a choice the patient have. I did urge Sis to tell the doc she wants to be discharged asap. But then TTSH says they want to keep her in ward until the blood test is out...
Then i told her i could visit her on Saturday and she sms-ed me her ward number.
Latest update: Sis was discharged yesterday (Monday) afternoon and her blood test report was all clear - meaning no virus/bacteria in her blood. Good. Thank God it was over for her. And she was on another set of antibiotics - stronger dosage. I hope this really helps her increase her immunity this time and no more high fever for her...
Back to my journey into NYP:
Although i had been in this campus for 2.5 yrs, (previously the campus had different campus and business campus was the one at Tiong Bahru -We moved into the new campus in our 2nd Year), but there are stil parts/areas/block of this campus which i have never ventured before. I have been to the engineering block to have meals, and went swimming at the campus pool with Elaine and Limei (i think!!) and i guess that was by far the furthest i have ventured - out of our School of Business Mgmt (SBM) blocks. So i knew i would get lost. But eventually i followed my ears when i heard familiar noises of a soccer match plus following the flood lights - i reached the fields - and in time to hear the final whistle.... i was so very late.
The score was 4-3. Julian's team won and they were all very happy. Julian (being the coordinator) was the busy man of the night. Being his wife, of course i saw more of his 'anxiety' side in his preparation of this match - sharing with me his tactics for the team while i brush my teeth etc (he even wanted to bring a white board to draw the player position!).... he was still excited when lying in bed the night before... haha..
While the guys bathe, James brought me to see his 'workplace' - the staff gym. That was certainly some place i have never been to. Charlene was there waiting for James. She is James' gf. Kind and sweet girl - she bought me orange juice and a packet of Kinder Buenos! Julian also bought me a bread in case in get hungry when i watch the match.. but the busy man forgot to take it out from his car, only until Ken discovered it already squashed under the butt of either Tiang or Zhiming at the passenger seat. What a waste - but i told Jul was the thoughts that counts! =) Later we had our dinner at Yio Chu Kang and went home.
SATURDAY (10th Oct):
"Obedient D/ DIL and Grand DIL"
I woke up ard 10-ish and planned to go to TTSH. Absent-mindedly, i informed MIL about it. At the mention of the word 'hospital'...my fate for the day changed... MIL advised that it was better i stay away from crowds and "places of virus"- as i should keep my body in tip top healthy condition as my top priority now - because i have Faith inside me. I could hear that she tried to make it a point to explain to me her view and tried not to make me misunderstand her intention that she is 'evil'...
Well... i accepted her idea and kindness, i know what she meant. I have overloked the serious-ness of this matter. Thus I was blaming myself for not considering this factor and already promising Sis last night about my visit as i was too eager wishing i could pay Sis a visit. (I have not seen her for a long time!)
I should have known this would happen and slip out of house not revealing the "real" location i was heading to. Sigh..
But being me... I did not give up, holding onto the last ray of hope- I called up my mum hoping to get her consent. Well.. erhm... her reaction was similar. She also advised against me going to the hospital. OK. I accept my fate. Called up Julian and told him what happened - he blamed himself for forgetting to 'warn' me about the 'obstacles' he knew i would face today.(That's him) But what done could not be undone. I knew i had to stay home. So i called up Sis and seek her understanding. My heart went out to her, so wished i could accompany her at least for a few hours in the lonely hospital. But i was grounded.
I helped MIL to mop the flat, then settled down for a bowl of noodles which MIL made for me. Julian was not back yet. He will have soccer and a wedding dinner to attend later in the evening/night.
While having my noodles, MIL went into another round of 'stressing' why it was important that mothers kept themselves healthy during pregnancy. She cited examples of her relatives and friends, those who had high blood pressure/ diabetes etc during pregnancy, stressing again how important mothers should feed themselves only nutritious food at this point of time.(Also stressing that we should keep away from canned soft-drinks and those 'home-made' lemon tea that kopi-tiam sells cos of the "dangerously" high sugar content in them. MIL knows better -trust her on the lemon tea.) On my end, I appreciated the rare conversation that MIL initiated, although i have to say only certain parts was interactive - other times i was just slurping my noodles and nodding my head in silence- implying, "yes, i agree with you."
After Jul returned, he took a 15 mins nap and we drove down to Marsiling for his T.O (Means Team Orange) soccer match. Maybe it was due to the previous night match which drowned out T.O's losinf streak, the match resulted in a draw. This was a (phew) scrap through under the guidance of the replacement manager- Kenneth. Kelvin had work assignments in Sydney.
After Julian bathed, we drove down to Grandma's house to pick up small aunt (xiaogu).
His wedding dinner tonight was an appearance 'ordered' by his grandma. Julian and xiaogu had to attend this wedding dinner as representatives - cos Grandma and granpa were overseas. While small uncle and wife had to attend another relatives' wedding dinner.
Grandma did not allow me to go - for the same reason: stay away from crowded places. Although Julian was upset that he had to leave me alone in Grandma house (and according to his words: while he ate shark fin, he could not bear that i was having anything lower grade ...haha 
, but i was okay not attending - if Grandma finds out and she will definitely be angry and naggy about it.
We tabao my dinner - i ordered a beef steak -Western food style and for my leafy vege supplement - we order 3 bucks worth of 'oil vege' from a chicken rice stall. Yes, i love 'xiao bai cai'....
After they left, i savoured dinner and channel surfed along Channel U, Channel 8, Animal Planet and Natgeo.
At around 9.30pm, Jul called to inform me how slow dinner was progressing - i appreciated his call to let me have mental preparation on my wait. I even managed a 'sweaty' short nap on the leather sofa after a drink of Vitagen.
The pair returned at around 11-ish - i was watching Natgeo and they were showing their research on how King Tut's burial and mummification could have been done in a rushed manner.
We went home but that was not all to our weekend. Mahjong was waiting for us at 648.
We packed out stuffs and left to join Ken and Zhiming at 648. Our one round of mj (accompanied with smoke-breaks and soccer watching) ended at ard 3am. I was tired but i was glad i managed to minimise my loss to a mere 5 bucks.
Sunday (11th Oct):
Meeting the famous, Mrs Wong Boh Boi
It was a day i had been looking forward to... Yes! Our first lesson as first time parents. Of course it was long time since.. we had lessons together in same class, learning same thing since we graduate from poly. haha... We did not participate in any pre-maritial course, so i was glad to be able to make this course possible for Jul and myself. It was already good that, although Mrs Wong works under Thomson Medical Centre, this course was open for all, even if we are not delivering at TMC. (Of course we pay slightly more, cos no discount) I have read good comments abt Mrs Wong's class from forums. And if i want to engage Jul in this class, i wanted to ensure this was an interactive class and not just showing us old videos and slides.
While i was doing my makeup, i heard a whimper of pain from the shower. Julian had "sprained his neck" again.It must be the pillow - it was too low for him and when he is tired, he will stay in the sleeping position for too long during the night and his 'tight' shoulder will cause problem for his neck..
We were already running late. Our lesson was 12.30 and we aim to have lunch at AMK. I had got no choice - I was..... 'Ahmad' for the day. Had lunch at Pepper Lunch. It was a long time since i had Pepper Lunch. I ordered their Sukiyaki Beef set and enjoyed the meal thoroughly. We upgraded to a set and i had orange juice and a Caramel icecream as my side dish. Jul ordered a pepper beef set, Pepsi Light and a mash potato. We arrived at the classroom at 12.45.
Those who had arrived were watching a video about how caucasian mothers breastfed their twins babies. (The mothers made it looked so easy,b/fing with and without the 'horseshoe' cushion, and those huge, wide eyed babies din seem to have any problems latching onto their mother's breasts!)
All except Mrs Wong would be seated on the floor (this was to faciliate exercises to be done later). We sat on the given foldable mattress and two pillows.
We picked a corner area and half the mattress rest on the wall.
Now, going back to my poor Julian with a strained neck..... it was really heart breaking everytime i see him winced with pain when he moved his neck; and i could do nothing about it and reminded myself not to agitate him today.
Now he had to accompany me to sit on the floor for 2 hours for this lesson.
This neck sprain really came at a wrong time. I tried to cheer him up by being extra cheerful myself.
Mrs Wong was a slim, petite asian sized woman. I could say she was very filled to the brim with knowledge of childbirth, breastfeeding and mothercare that she sounded rather 'unpleasantly boastful' when she was introducing herself. Yes, as long as you read about any breastfeeding forum, she would be one of the speakers. She also wrote 3 books for TMC. Julian could feel her commitment to share her knowledge, although he called her a "witch". Even though it was our first lesson with Mrs Wong, i already know her favourite verse: "I dun wan history to repeat itself..."
Indeed, her lessons were interactive and also filled with jokes. Julian sat behind me (cos of the lack of space) and i would turn around and laugh at some jokes with him. Julian was amazed at how i enjoyed the lesson as he ruffled my hair during break time. I just smiled but did not tell him, tat actually it was simply becos of his presence.
Mrs Wong taught us a lot of exercises and the 'papas' in the class would follow and do along with the wife, assisting/supporting her in same.
She explained that fathers are the best doulas when their wives are in labour.
Because no mater how knowledgeable/smart/capable a woman is, when she is in labour - she is just "blur" and during this time, the papas would be there to guide "the poor woman in pain" what ever they have learnt together.
This is so right =)
Doulas: –noun
| a woman who assists women during labor and after childbirth. |
But din she know that pregnant women have poor memory? I could not take down all the exercises into my notebook in time and now i can only remember a few. I also learnt about placenta and the baby. She also passed around a sack, mould with a belly and breasts for the papas to put onto their front - so they could experience the extra weight gain that a pregnant women have to handle when they are pregnant. It was rather meaningful. =) Mrs Wong taught us how to move about up and down, leave our beds in the correct way without injuring ourselves and our frail bones. How to exercise such that certain muscles are relaxed and what exercise to do to reduce muscle cramps, relax our shoulders, firm our chests etc.
After the lesson, i wanted to hang around to listen to the advices she has got for other mothers with questions. But i know Julian, with a spained neck woud not have it. So we left. I hope to be able to stay around next week, and ask her the questions that i have in mind. I also hope we can revise the exercises we did or maybe she will give us some notes about her lesson.
It was decided that we should have someone look at Jul's sprained neck. His movements were slow and he was straining his shoulders awkwardly that i was not getting very used to him...It was akin to a mother who would miss her child's activeness/naughtiness when he/she is sick...
So we went to AMK Central and decided to go to the "Gleneagles of Traditional Chinese Medicine" - Eu Yan Sang TCM Clinic. The 'yishi' rubbed and tried to relax Julian's shoulder muscle. In the end, though Julian tried to oppose, the yishi still went ahead to insert one accupucture needle into his left hand. I was accompanying Julian and was seated on an empty bed on his right. So i tried to distract Jul's attention when Jul turned away from his left hand, but i know i wasn't doing a good job cos i was also afraid of accupuncture needles myself!!! But it was fast, the yishi wanted Jul to rotate his neck while he rotated the accupucture needle in his hand, and within one minute the needle was removed. The yishi claimed the accupucture needle would help to relac jul's shoulder muscle. We had bought a Tiger Balm plaster and the yishi helped Julian to stick it on. Julian's conclusion: Did not felt any better and we went around searching for 'Zheng Gu Shui" which appeared to be Julian's most trusted brand for sprains. Unable to find one that comes with a spraying appartus, we went Guardian to get one empty container for him to transfer the medicated liquid.
We also went to NTUC to get gifts for Baby Gerelle -Weehow and Catherine's baby girl.
Weehow say that we could visit the family at night.
After having lor mee at home, i wrapped the present that we got for Gerelle - 2 baby wipes, one travel milk powder container with 3 compartments and a pair of pink car strap protector. We could not decide what toys to get her. So decided on the more 'useful' stuffs.
Baby Gerelle was having her milk (fed by her grandma) in the living room when we arrived. Her granddad was practising karaoke. The family just returned from an outing. Weehow and Catherine got married on the same day CWT Globelink had our 20th Anniversary Dinner last year. I could not attend their wedding dinner. We also did not visit the couple after their wedding at their house, thus it was my first time that night viewing their renovated room and baby's room. We also got to witness how busy the parents can get just to 'wipe' the baby and change her diapers cos she had soiled herself. Julian and me witness a crying baby girl and 3 pairs of hands around her - Weehow, his mother and Catherine. It was a short but good lesson - to bring us nearer to the future - our reality that we would be facing.
Now in my belly and safe in her 'water world', baby Faith is so nice to play with and we do not need to feed her, change her diapers, make sure she sleeps well etc.... but once out to this world- Expect Havoc - this was the message I got that night. I also heard the difference between a baby's cries and wails. Wailing was like a marathon of orchestrated cries - stereo. Apparently Gerelle loves bathing but hates being wiped dry. I wonder how Faith's cries and wails will sound like.... anyway, they will be part & parcel of my life, something i have to get used to, in the future so that i would still stay calm and steady when i am doing my job of cleaning her/ feeding her. I am in control of her world.
We left at 9pm, i guessed Jul needed rest for his neck already. Back at home, i was somehow struck with a slight pang of loss. Julian understood it clearer than me and spelt out that my worries surely stemed from my childhood experiences.
Yes, Part of me was afraid that i would be fighting this baby battle alone.
I shared with Julian that I was afraid we would have so much lesser time together once Faith is out. I may not have the time to smile at Julian anymore. Julian laughed and replied (without batting an eyelash): Faith brings me joy, and we will be in this together. "Will I bring you joy?" I asked Jul. Then i realised my silly question, wild thoughts may have brought me too far to cause insecurity to thrive.
Fortunately assurance from my sprained-necked Julian was still as effective. I guessed the 'playful' me was just complaining. I reminded myself that was not to overlook my vast circle of support from his grandma side, xiaogu, PIL and my mum - something which other others may not have... and they have to rely on maids and external help.
I am blessed. =)
I shall continue to look forward to this Saturday - i will be learning how to make a chilled cheesecake and i want to be able to make my first cheesecake for the family. =)
Consider this as something to add to my "Mummy's resume" - Cheers - to the 'mummy' in me! Heehee
You all, Have a good October! God BLess you! Shall write more 'short stories' soon!
P.S: Oh. i do miss Halloween.(just for the dress-up part).
If not for Faith, i was planning to get dressed up for one!
So do "jio" me next Halloween! hehe..
Currently listening to: Ban Qing Ge
Currently reading: Emails
Currently feeling: Lazy spirited
