My little song for the baby

Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.

One for the Papa,

One for the Mama,

One for the little baby named Vanessa.

I suck at singing, and my memory for the lyrics is even worse. Thanks to the hubby, even my version of "twinkle twinkle little stars" have been corrupted (he ended it with "next time won't you sing with me") . So this is the little song I'm best at for the moment, and my secret way of getting her use to my preferred name for her ... Sneaky, ain't I? *hehe*

I've been called a cheat!

Some of you might know I'm a die hard fan of CSI: Las Vegas. So to my dismay, AXN started showing CSI Season 7 last wednesday and I didn't know about it! However, luckily for CSI fans, we do know they show a rerun on Sunday, so all we need to do is sit in front of the TV from 9pm onwards. So, we got to watch the show afterall.

 

Not that I didn't know what was going on - I had already read the review of the episodes, thanks to MSNBC Entertainment site. The more I read, the more I wanted to watch the show! I mean, after the last season's final episode of the Grissom and Sarah's bedding in the same bed (implied), I'm more than eager to see how these 2 have progressed (yes, I'm supportive of this romance!). Then reading the review of the miniature replica of the murder scene, it's literally breathtaking to see on the TV, how exactly those items were replicated in the miniature and the murder scene. No description will do justice to it!

 

While some says I should avoid watching such bloody stuff on TV (I used to forbid my nephew to watch it with me and I had to grudgingly switched to Cartoon Networks for him), but er, she's too young to know anything right?

 

The hubby was quite upset when he found out that I had access to such "sacred" literature online and not sharing with him - he implied that I was "a cheat" when he described the MSNBC review as "it's like cheating in literature exams with a literature guide book!"

 

Frankly speaking, I have no idea why he's so upset, reading the reviews only piped my interest in the show and I look out for all the little insider information give, which I might have missed. For example, the glances shared by Grissom and Sarah, various times in the episode. And it is _funny_ when Sarah declared that the murder was done by the Malibu Barbie when she examined the miniature replica of the crime scene (the doll did look a bit like Ken!) and the hubby was going "huh?"

 

The only sad thing is, I probably will missed some episodes since the little one will pop out halfway the season *sigh*

 

Anyway, she was fast asleep when I was watching the show ;P because every little movement she makes is keenly felt ... I just wonder how much she has grown since the last scan :)

10 little swollen digits

These days, the swollen legs and the backaches don't bother me as much as my 10 little swollen digits - I wake up every morning to the humming of pain in my swollen fingers and palm (I removed my wedding band long time ago) and it's so bad that:

1. I cannot clench my hand into a fist - it's way to painful to even curl the fingers towards the palm
2. I cannot grip the door knob - any application of pressure hurts
3. I can't wash my hair using my fingers since I cannot curl them - I use my palms to rub the shampoo in
4. Gripping the toothbrush to do the deed is a painful affair to - so now I resolve to just gargle in the mornings with mouthwash and to thoroughly brush my teeth before I sleep (no more in between Milo!)

I tried doing some research as to how to reduce the pain and the swelling and some of which I came across were - soaking the hands (whatever apply to the feet should apply to the hands right?) in warm water (with added bath salts), massage (yoohooo hubby do you read this??), and placing the hands above the head (I tried, but how long can I hold it up? Not unless i handcuff myself!). Even typing on the keyboard is getting bothersome, but it is still manageable for now. However, using a pen or pencil to write, it's still a pretty painful affair.

In fact, I even noticed that the swollen areas on my feet, even if it's not swollen when touched, any slight pressure applied hurts too. I missed my foot massage this week and I hope I won't miss it the coming week! I really need the massages to keep my digits and limbs working with little pain/ ache as much as possible until the little one pops up!

In the meanwhile, I guess the soaking in warm water with added bath salt should be the best option for now - I only have a few more weeks to go ...

Our Birth Plan!

(Created from www.birthplan.com)

Our wishes for Childbirth
Due Date: 19 April 2007
Patient of Dr Y
Scheduled to deliver at Thomas Medical Centre.

Feb 21, 2007

Dear Dr Y and the staff of TMC

We have considered carefully the various options and procedures for childbirth, and we have arrived at the following decisions. Thank you for your help in advance!

Sincerely,

Labour

1. I wish to be able to move around and change position at will throughout labor.
2. I will be bringing my own music to play during labor.
3. I would like the lights in the room to be kept low during my labor.
4. I would prefer to keep the number of vaginal exams to a minimum.
5. I would like to be given ice chips and milo drink during the first stage of labour
   

Monitoring

1. I do not want an internal monitor unless My baby has shown some sign of distress.
2. I wish to have continuous fetal monitoring
   

Labour Augmentation/Induction

1. If labour needs to be induced, we prefer to opt for C-section (LA)
   

Anesthesia/Pain Medication

1. I may wish to consider to have a standard epidural

Cesarean

1. If a Cesarean delivery is indicated, I would like to be fully informed and to participate in the decision-making process.
2. I would like My husband present at all times if My baby requires a Cesarean delivery.
3. I wish to have an epidural for anesthesia
4. If My baby is not in distress, My baby should be given to me immediately after birth.
   

Episiotomy

1. I would prefer not to have an episiotomy unless absolutely required for the baby's safety.
2. I would appreciate guidance in when to push and when to stop pushing so the perineum can stretch.
3. I would prefer an episiotomy rather than a tear.
4. I would like a local anesthetic to repair a tear or an episiotomy.
   

Delivery

1. I would like My husband and/or nurses to support me and my legs as necessary during the pushing stage.
2. Even if I am fully dilated, and assuming My baby is not in distress, I would like to try to wait until I feel the urge to push before beginning the pushing phase.
3. I would appreciate having the room lights turned low for the actual delivery.
4. I would like to have My baby placed on my stomach/chest immediately after delivery.
   

Immediately After Delivery

1. I would like to have My husband cut the cord.
2. I do not want a routine injection of pitocin after the delivery to aid in expelling the placenta.
3. I would like to donate the umbilical cord blood if possible.
   

Postpartum

1. Unless required for health reasons, I do not wish to be separated from My baby.
2. I would like to have My baby 'room in' after I have had some time to recover.
3. I would like My baby with me during the day but in the nursery at night.

Breastfeeding

1. I plan to breastfeed My baby and would like to begin nursing very shortly after birth.
2. Unless medically necessary, I do not wish to have any bottles given to My baby (including glucose water or plain water).
3. I do not want My baby to be given a pacifier.
4. If I am unable to breastfeed after delivery for whatever reason and my baby is hungry, please feed my baby formula milk with a cup

*End*

State of the Hospital Bag

Let's take a look at how ready I am to dash off to the hospital if the baby decides to come early:

1. Hospital Notes - none (probably won't be doing one)
2. Birth Plan - in progress!
3. Nightgowns (Preferably the type you can unbutton in front of easy breastfeeding) - checked!
4. Maternity bras - checked!
5. Bra pads - checked!
6. Maternity sanitary pads - checked!
7. Small plastic bags for soiled stuff (personal hygiene) - to note
8. Bedroom Slippers - er I only have one side, the other side is still MIA :P
9. Nipple Cream - checked!
10. Dark coloured towel - checked!
11. Comfortable briefs or disposable underwear -checked!
12. Clothes for when leaving the hospital - to note
13. Favourite toiletries - checked! (except for toothbrush and toothpaste though ...)

8 out of 12 items isn't all too bad I guess - but I'm still working 1 item, and the other 3 items can be easily resolved, so I guess I am almost ready! Now to remember for the other 2 lists ;P when I get down to it ...

Things to do

1. Complete packing the hospital bag - ok this is a must do! hubby's friend just gave birth today and they had not packed their hospital bag yet (was due for C-section on the coming monday)
2. To clean out the maid's room and get in new furniture for her - time to go shopping at Ikea!
3. To clean out the nursery room and put up the cutesy pictures I bought - note to self: buy glue and frame for the pooh's jigsaw puzzle
4. To disassemble cot and reassemble cot when nursery is cleaned out
5. Buy furniture for nursery - mainly drawers and changing pad (white!) - Ikea too!
6. To complete birth plan - to include some other minor details that I think should not be left to my hubby in case I get conked out on the epidural
7. Wash and sort out hand-me-downs baby clothes - 80% done! Soaked the whites and pastels and managed to get most of the stains out, left the other 20% coloured clothings to wash, will try to do so by this weekend
8. Clean out closet and donate old clothes to Salvation Army - must remember to be "cruel" to my clothes and if the hubby's still not doing it, to clean out his clothes anyway
9. Clean out expired stuff in fridge and around the house - should I wait for the maid to do this? ;P
10. Scan baby's pictures - before the hubby says,"But you kept them right?"
11. *ermmmmm*

What was that again?

With the advancing of the pregnancy, my memory is getting progressively worse.

For example, at the annual poker game organised by my gf, I could scarely remembered what was my covered card, even though I had just looked at it barely 1 second ago. In the end, I had to look at the card constantly to make sure I got the card correct. *tsk*

Not to mention, I am failing to remember my various bosses names (yes, how bad can it get!) and I could only point to the room and say "that one!" and someone else fills in the blank for me. I am so worried now that I will forget to do something *ack* and then it comes back to haunt me BIG TIME ... for eg, "bad girl! no bonus for you! no pay rise for you!" *argh* So far I'm still ok, I have colleagues to remind me what I need to get done, but even with the constant reminder and my taped-up "to do list", I still feel very insecure. I guess I'll just have to scribble down when the "reminders" suddenly flash across my eyes - if I am fast enough that is, I might just hold the pen over the paper and wonder "what was that again?"

I'm told it will get worse, and it'll last for several months after the baby pops out even - it doesn't help that I have poor memory skills to begin with ... I should start getting finger tags soon, since I'll probably forget why I tied my fingers with a ribbon in the first place!

The personality of the baby

Strange but I'm beginning to discern a few personality traits of of the little missy ...

1. She's a sleepy head like me - can sleep and sleep ... she seldom kicks me at night, and she's usually awake for short spurts during the day time
2. She doesn't like meetings - she kicks non-stop whenever I'm engaged in a meeting (serious!)
3. She doesn't like to entertain people - only as and when she pleases!

She's sticking her feet right up in my ribs again!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Happy CNY! Baby sorta spent the first CNY quietly - she's hardly fidgeting except for a bout of suspected hiccups this evening (rhythmic "blips" continously for 2 minutes or so).

She's probably tired since I didn't have a good rest last night - hubby complained about me snoring and I complained about him snoring, Iwas half asleep throughout the entire night and was continously awoken by the pain on my hips (can't sleep on the left, can't sleep on the right!). After this morning visits, we came straight home and slept for a solid 2 hours! Then we made our way out again for more visits. Tomorrow is a quiet day, not much activities/ visits planned, so it would be a good day to rest at home.

She's moving alright - she stuck her feet/ legs up on my sides again and I felt her shifting a bit but she's just not vigrously actively kicking (which she always does when I am in a meeting).

2 more months to go - and she's out ... I'm excited yet scared at the same time ... of the childbirth, of the days ahead when I have to cradle her, feed her, bathe her - am I up to it?

Updates ... We're in Week 31!

1) I've gained about 4kg since my last visit *GASP* now I weigh in at 68kg so my total weight gain is now almost 9 kg! *ack*

2) Baby's gained 700 another grams, making her now 1.8kg. Dr Y says she's in a VERY good size (I assume for natural birth)

3) My glucose intolerance tests results are negative so I'm clear of gestational diabetes! *hooray*

4) Her head already quite "down" so unlikely to turn anymore (sideways or beech) - meaning she'll probably engage in the correct position for natural birth

5) Brought along the birth plan which I completed in less than 20 minutes *strut* Thanks to my Sis-in-law copy she did up for her birth and I found this website: http://birthplan.com/ I wasn't really sure about all the options, but I could remember some of the stuff from my SIL's BP and so I click on those that matter to me, some iffy ones and showed them to Dr Y. So we had a quick discussion what is possible and what is not, as well as those iffy ones that I asked him to explain, for eg, what is pitocin? So now at least I have a better idea, I can finalise the birth plan.

6) I wanted a picture of baby too, but she wasn't in a good mood. Her face is pressing against the side so we can't see what's her expression, so I wanted a picture of her hands or feet. Anyway didn't get a decent view, so we settled for the side view instead.

7) We remembered in time to ask him about booking the delivery hospital - so we settled for TMC single bed. Hopefully we will be able to get the renovated rooms when she's ready to see the world.

I'll see Dr Y in 3 weeks time again - hopefully I won't gain too much weight since there'll be plenty of CNY goodies to munch on. He did tell me to lay off as much as possible the Macs meal but it's one of the easiest food to lay my hands on. *sigh* Oh, and the swollen pig trotters of mine is here to stay till baby is out. *double sigh*

A tight fit and other random thoughts

I think it must be getting to be a tight fit for my girl, since she's in the habit of sticking her limbs at my sides. Unless it gets too uncomfortable, I'll let her have her way, since she needs the space to stretch a little. I can't see any fist or the foot sticking out like a print on my side, so it's a guessing game for now.

Some random thoughts:
1) I heard over the radio "I want you back, I want you back back" and I thought of my "wild" days ... I don't know why, but the image of my friend, Kenny (who happens to be a father of 2 kiddos now!), dancing away on the table top in Wong Sans (already defunct) flashed across my eyes so vividly. Then I thought, "What's my little girl going to be like when she's 25?" Then followed by, "Argh! I don't think I want to know!"

2) Am I going to be like my mum??????

3) Can I count on my hubby to play with her? I'm horrid at playing with kids - I just don't know how to amuse them! masak masak time will probably be the most tiring for me!

4) Would she grow up to be my little helper when it's baking time? Would she share my interest in reading and baking? Not collecting Swarovski stuff is fine with me - it is expensive enough as it is to have a collector! I just hope she won't get addicted to Warcraft :P

5) What is she going to be like when she's in her pre-teens and teens? I think this is probably the most scary bit =( boys problems, girlfriends problems, this 2 issues are enough to turn my hair white ...

*sigh*

Just another day ...

Woke up with backache and swollen hands/ fingers again ... but at least it's a Saturday and I can wallow in self-misery while snuggling under the blanket and extend the ZzzZzz hours. I still woke up earlier than my hubby who was basically almost dead to the world - fiddled with my orchids and pieceing some pieces of the Pooh's jigsaw puzzle. He had to go to work today and so we went for a quick breakfast at Macs then I dropped him off at work since I had a lunch appointment.

On the way back, I popped by Sunset Way to get some fishes (since all the others expired) and thankfully the nearest carpark had parking spaces available. In total, I spent $50, bought some fake plants (since real plants never last more than 2 weeks and in case the fishes wants to produce offsprings), 11 swordtails, 3 albino catfishes and 3 sucker fishes. Hopefully, tomorrow I won't see any floating bodies, I had dumped in 150ml of bio-starter liquid as well as 100ml of 5-in-1 water conditioner on Friday night.

Lunch was ok - saved for some young lady who doesn't know the meaning of being gracious to a pregnant lady, but it's ok. What goes round comes round :) Had fun catching up with ex-colleagues and my hubby graciously agreed to come down to town and to drive us back (traffic was horrendous and I horned no less than 20 times on the way to lunch - blamed it on the hormones?)

We came back and took a nap (in air con comfort since my bedroom windows faces the west). Then we headed out for dinner with the couple we travelled with to Japan. Dinner was DELICIOUS since basically I called the shots - had black pepper crab, druken herbal prawns, marmite chicken and fried rice with salted fish. It was a great excuse to make a trip down to G7 aka Sinma Restuarant (at Geylang Lorong 3) since the couple stayed nearby. After that, we went to their place to pick up some baby stuff - about 6 to 7 bags in total! So we would have to sort it out after CNY, hopefully the baby doesn't decide she wants to come out early!

I came back and potter a bit more around my plants - went downstairs and got myself a sprig of money plant (the hubby refuses to engage in "illegal" activities). It's now sitting in a pot of soil and I hope it will survive!

My orchids are growing lots of flowers shoots and I do hope they open in time for CNY - then the couplet on my main door would really ring true!

迎 花
春 开
接 富
福 贵

I'm 30 weeks? Wow!

How time flies, baby's just turned the big 3 0 inside me ... and I didn't even realise I'm so far in my pregnancy (10 weeks to go if she decides to come on the EDD).

Panicking? You bet ... I haven't pack the room meant for the nursery! I haven't cleared out the room for the maid! I haven't even pack my hospital bag *argh* I haven't even decided on the birth plan yet! OOOPS!

The only thing I've completed is .... washed the covers for the sofa ;P

Ouch!

Not any contractions, but rather my left hip. It's has been giving me problems since the day before and last night was so bad I couldn't walk unassisted. Tried to apply heat pack and got the Hubby to do some massage, but it was still quite bad. This morning I rested in bed but I'm still hobbling around ... Probably a nerve got stuck at the wrong place!

Talking about contractions, I just purchased raspberry leaf tea from MomsInMind and I was warned not to take too much initally - else I will be experiencing strong contractions before I'm due for delivery! It's suppose to help during the childbirth so hopefully I won't have to endure 12 hours of labour. We toured the labour wards at TMC on sunday (after watching all the delivery videos - while not as bloody as I imagined, but I was still pretty scared!) and was told we could bring in our own heating pads as well as CDs, etc etc etc ... I'll make another list for the labour ward ;)

The number of things to bring seems to be increasing hehe ...

Spring cleaning and other what nots for CNY

It's the time for spring cleaning - I've yet to packed up the mess in the house, but I've managed to nag the hubby to finally take down the Christmas tree. Yesterday was baking day - first I baked a cake for Phoebe's first birthday (wasn't fair that she doesn't get her 1st birthday celebrations when Rascal did!) then proceeded to make sugi cookies with my sister (her kids helped too).

It was fun, while I cannot do a lot of things easily, like squatting or bending down, but the measuring of ingredients, frying of the almonds and doing up the cookie balls (the sifting of flour was covered by my sister-in-law and brother and the mixing of the cookie dough was delicately handled by my sister) was still relatively ok for me. At least I get to taste the good old flavours of yesterday - flavours of CNY when I was a kid! We accidentally halved the raising agent as we forgot we were doubling the recipe, but all in all, still a crunchy cookie with yummy almond bits!

Then yesterday I decided to "overhaul" the water feature - I had bought a new pump but never put it to use and my "fortune pot" is just wasting away in the algae. So I got the hubby to help, pumped out the smelly water and pour in new water. All in all, the water feature looked a lot cleaner, neater (since I fixed up the new pump and placed the pot properly but my fishes couldn't take the trauma and all, as in ALL, of them just expired. *sigh* This means I have to do another water change and get new fishes ... I was quite sad since these fishes had been with me for more than 2 years (although I was never as attached to them as to my goldfishes). Either my pails were dirty somehow, or the shifting of my "Fisherman Jiang" were not very good to the fishes :P

So now, we are left with packing the stuff in the house (junk junk junk everywhere) and to hang up some of the pictures we have gotten (and picked up from the dustbin - probably dumped by my neighbout but it was a picture I had been eyeing from Ikea for sometime!), cleaning up the bedrooms to get ready for the maid and the baby ... I better settle all these before the 7% GST apply!

Yay! No more needles for the day!

I'm proud to say that I survived the "ordeal". I didn't hurl although my body was 2 minds about it. Scratching the skin of the lemon definitely helped. The whiff of fresh lemons sent my stomach the other way and the occasional lick of the lemon flesh (I took tiny nibbles on the flesh ;P) helped me to endure the 2 hour ordeal.

In between, reading magazines helped to pass time a lot faster, and looking at food pictures or thinking of what food to eat after that (I was dreaming of tom yum soup) helped to distract my stomach and my mind from the vile liquid in my stomach.

The drawing of blood - well, second time was the most painful since she took from the same vein. The third one was more painful than the first, but probably because I was so terse - I couldn't wait for it to be over.

So when she said I could go, I was so relieved - I was all smiles to the receptionists. Yes, and I hurried down to Thai Express and ordered my Tom Yum soup!

Blood and needles and yucky sugar solution

Here I am again, at the clinic doing the glucose intolerance test.

This time, I came armed with a whole lemon, that in the event they refuse to suck the lemon, at least I can scratch the skin and breathe in the lemony smell.

So far so good, the lady who is drawing my blood (different from last week) is more professional. She has no hesitation in poking the needle in and actually, it's not as bad as last week. It's actually bearable.

Anyway, she allowed me to lick the lemon (I brought my table knife ;P) so it's a lot more bearable - at least I can use a combination of smell and taste to control the urge to hurl.

My dearest hubby just bought a pastry from Delifrance (his breakfast) and asked "Do you want any?" then "Oh, you cannot!" Ya, thanks a lot dear :P

15 more minutes to my next urine test and then blood test. I'll update again.