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Shortly after 0600hrs on 14th May 2009, Mirza Anaqi became the newest member of our family. He weighed at 3.225kg and measured at 49cm in length. Even though this was my third labour ordeal, the whole experience did not fall short of being dramatic. So much for the "I-should-be-used-to-it-by-now" mentality.
Me and my newborn, Mirza Anaqi.
I was already having slight contractions throughout Wednesday night. As the frequency was irregular, I simply just ignored them. It was in the wee hours of Thursday morning, around 0115hrs, I was still online checking my emails (even forwarded a Pumpkin Patch Mid Season sale promotion to Liz and Yati), when I felt the contractions were about 10 minutes apart. I thought I’d just shut down my computer, head to bed and try to sleep off the pain, and probably wait till the next morning to go over to the hospital after both Ipul and Misha had headed for school.
Well, I thought wrong! Trying to sleep sucked as I was feeling really uncomfortable. I took a hot shower and felt that I needed to go to the hospital right away. After bath, I woke P up (who apparently had just dozed off while I was showering) and requested him to send me to East Shore. I think it was around 0300hrs at that time (I wasn’t exactly keeping track). The contractions felt even closer now (and a bit unbearable), and we really had no choice but to leave the sleeping kids behind, at home alone, while we zoomed off to the hospital.
As soon as we reached there, I was a little lost because the place is just newly-renovated, and the entrance has been detoured. Ultimately the security guard saw me, and helped to wheel me in on a wheelchair. I was sent straight to the labour ward, as opposed to the previous two experiences where I had to register myself first before being sent to the ward. P made a return trip home in an attempt to send the kids over to my parents’.
In the ward, I had to change to the operating gown while lying down on the delivery bed. The midwife checked me and I was told I was already 8cm dilated, and can deliver about anytime soon. I texted P to ask him to return back to the hospital immediately, after I called and spoke to my dad to help fetch the kids instead. At that time, it was about 0400hrs in the morning.
The midwife did all the prep work – strapped me to check my BP, contraction level, baby’s heart rate, etc. This time, there was no inducing required. I was informed that the baby’s heart rate was pretty low on and off, and warned me against using any form of anesthesia – the gas and/or pethidine drug – as it may put the baby at risk. I was asked only to inhale oxygen to help regulate the baby’s heart rate better. Imagine the pain I had to endure throughout the whole thing!
Baby’s heart rate was low on and off.
Time passed by pretty fast when you’re in pain. After reaching 10cm dilation, Dr Heng (my gynae) eventually arrived, and with the midwife’s "assistance" (I’m not going into much details on that), at 0605hrs, the baby’s finally outside, instead of inside, before you know it! It was all 100% natural! I was of course sore and a bit tired, but recovering well, and very happy to be done with pregnancy.
The baby is indeed adorable and cuddly, and P and I are having a wonderful time getting to know our new son! I will upload more pictures on Flickr, Facebook and Multiply soon.
Nope, this has nothing to do with Helene Klodawsky’s film documentary. It’s just that for the past two weekends, my time was spent mostly in shopping malls. Not that I was out there with any intention of shopping (okay, maybe just a bit of window shopping), but I was there merely to hang out with pals and check out the place (especially the new mall which just opened on April 9th, and it is only a few blocks away from where I stay).
On April 12th, my family and I had decided to meet up with the Nasirs to check out the new Tampines1. We hear there is a great deal of stores there, with more than 20 brands opening their first suburban stores. There is no longer any need to drive to the city to go for international fashion brands like Dorothy Perkins, Diva, Promod, Springfield, Topshop, Topman, and the much buzzed about Uniqlo. Plus, it even has Sushi Tei (being sushi lovers, this is definitely a plus point for my hubby and I).
Being a new mall, it is bound to have many visitors (especially those with retail therapy urges) since we went on the very first weekend of its opening. The crowd there was simply madness! People had to go up escalators in batches (thanks to the crowd controllers).
We took a short break at Teadot for some drinks. Their drinks are mostly made out of green tea, reinvented with unconventional flavour combinations, but many in the menu are still not yet available (maybe they would expand their drinks variety in future). But they do have nice cakes specially sourced from a five-star hotel (I think we ordered about 5 servings in all).
Ipul & Misha enjoying their chocolate cake.
Having a break…
We then headed to United Kids store, and ultimately bought a few Thomas’ and friends toys for Mika, before we strolled down to Tampines Mall next door for dinner at Swensens’.
It was April 10th, just 4 days after we celebrated my dear hubby’s birthday. I had earlier went to TM to buy a Dark Chocolate Truffle cake at The Royals.
That night, we had a late night supper at Changi where we stuffed ourselves with Nasi Ayam Penyet and Nasi Lemak, followed by a mini cake-cutting affair by the beach while letting the kids run around…at midnight!
Happy Birthday, Mom! May Allah bless you with good health always…
Just about a week ago, my aunt’s family from Perth came to Singapore for a short holiday visit. It had been a long while since we had an (extended) family gathering, so we had organized a family BBQ to be held at Costa Sands Pasir Ris on Sunday, 28th Dec. Well, actually the organizing was done by my aunts/uncles (my mom included). I just tagged myself along with whatever the plan was (hee).
The kids really enjoyed themselves. They love to play in the water, and they just don’t want to leave!
Little did I know, just 10 hours later, a mishap were to happen to a poor teenage boy who drowned at the very same pool area 
. I came to know about it only the next day after my sis had texted me to read the newspaper front page.
Anyways…as maghrib came, all of us headed back to our chalet to change. I helped a bit with the food preps, and we all ate our hearts out. P helped my uncle and cousins to barbeque (satay, lamb and chicken – yummy!), and my siblings took turns to babysit Mika while I eat. (I’ve got to admit the baked potato with cheese prepared by my aunt was just super!)
The night was spent lazing around, gossiping and eating away! *grins*
We all waited for my parents to arrive, after which we had a small birthday cake-cutting affair for my littlest cousin from Perth.
It was a night of great fun.
More photos:
http://aprima.multiply.com/photos/album/57/Family_Chalet_Costa_Sands_Pasir_Ris
Nope, I wasn’t talking about chocolates that melt in your mouth. I was referring to my two kids, Misha and Mika, actually. Last Saturday, we had a great bonding time. The three of us had breakfast at TM’s McDonalds. We wanted to get ourselves Big Breakfast meal, but unfortunately they ran out of sausages because their grill was out of order, so I ended up buying us Hotcakes meal instead. Of course, *that* was not part of Mika’s diet. I had prepared some baby cereals for him.
Since I was the only adult handling two kids that day, I had asked Misha to stay put at the table while I get food. At that time, Mika was asleep in his stroller. Thankfully I was greeted by a very nice old couple who offered to keep an eye on the kids while I queue. It’s rare to find people like that these days, especially stangers, but their kind gesture really made my day!
Anyway, after breakfast, we headed to Emiko Arts and I asked Misha if she would like to paint. She agreed. Since it was her first time, things got a little messy at first, but it turned out pretty nice. A bit untidy but who cares, it’s art, right? 
Once she’s done, we headed off to the library to spend some time reading. Misha got excited at the sight of so many books around her. She picked up a few books that caught her attention and asked me to read to her. I think she enjoyed herself that day.
“Hope no one minds if I sit on the floor…”
06.04.08 – The day the husband turned 37, we decided to spend some family time at the Singapore Flyer – just the four of us (…and, uh, a few other people in our cabin too).
The husband initially wasn’t keen, saying it’s a bit expensive ($29.50 per adult for a 30-minute ride, luckily kids under 3 years of age is f.o.c). But after much ‘ngoyok-ing’ from the wife, and considering this as a birthday treat, he complied.
With two clingy kids, taking photos weren’t easy at first. After a while, it’s snap-snap-snap away!
More photos [here].
P and I would like to congratulate Fazlinda (his niece) on the birth of their beautiful baby daughter, Nurfiqah Naima. The healthy baby, born on March 1st at KKH, weighs 3.130kg at birth.
Welcome to the world, Baby Naima!
We left home for KKH only after maghrib, which means we arrived shortly after visiting hours. We didn’t get a chance to see the baby face-to-face because the nurse had refused to bring the baby out of the nursery and allowed us to only view from the glass window. Looks like we’ll be visiting again tomorrow, so Misha will get a chance to befriend her newly-arrived niece.
Erm, that means I am now officially a grandaunt! *oh…tidaaaaaaaakkk!!!*
