Blessed (Belated) Birthday to THE MAN!

Had an advanced birthday treat for hubby on 14 April. I read some good reviews on the weekend high tea buffet at Olive Tree, Intercontinental Hotel, so we decided to go for it.

Although we made a reservation at 12.30pm, we soon realized that it was probably unnecessary, because there were not many people at that time. (By the way, the high tea buffet starts at 12.30pm, hence not many people yet.)

For those interested, here are the food that was available.

Cold station:

Prawns

Slip lobster

Mussels

Scallops

Salad bar

Sushi

Youtiao salad

Cooked food:

(didn't manage to take photos, except for the last item)

Sweet potato porridge

Bread station

Bak Kut Teh

Char Siew Pau

Steamed yam cake

DIY Kueh Pie Tee

Pasta

Oxtail stew

Yong Tau Foo

Sausages

Fried chicken wings

Naan with dhal curry and curry chicken

Laksa

Desserts:

(all in mini portions)

Cakes

Mousse

Puddings

Fondue

Scones

Ice cream

It's a mismatch to place scones & char siew sou side by side.

Generally, I found the food a little salty. Perhaps it's really salty, perhaps it's my current ultra sensitive taste buds and pickyness about food. There is no hot dish that I particularly like, though I remember helping to 3 or 4 kueh pie tees.
One of my favourite high tea items is scones. But this was a little disappointing. Probably because they were mini scones, so they felt a little overbaked and dry. But nonetheless, I like the fragrant buttery taste of scones.
Overall, the food was average. But hubby and I enjoyed each other's company, sharing food and just spending time with each other. We hadn't travelled further than Nex for a long time. (maybe as long as I was pregnant??)

Lastly, just want to say, BLESSED THIRTY-something BIRTHDAY to my dearest dearest dearest hubby. Love you much!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

33 weeks & counting..

Ok, for anyone who really wants to know, I shall announce that my Baby is a girl!
So the next question must be, "Is that what you wanted?"
Honestly speaking, that's my secret wish. But it's not like I am super super elated that this is really a girl, or be super disappointed if it turns out to be a boy. Whichever gender, I believe this is a gift and blessing from God. :)

And so I went to the gynae again on 22 April. I've gained 0.8kg, and Girl-girl has gained 0.8kg too. Which means I didn't gain anything! Gynae thought that I was dieting or not eating enough, but I swear I didn't diet. I eat 3 main meals & snack a few times a day, and this is the usual amount that I eat before I got pregnant. Actually, I did put on some weight (according to some people), it's just that Girl-girl is growing faster than I am. Now Girl-girl is weighing around 2kg, which is the right weight for now. Phew. I was pretty worried that she is underweight because of my small tummy and little weight gain. I pray that she will not be underweight, nor overweight by the time she is born.

I think Girl-girl is a shy baby. We wanted to take a good ultrasound picture of her but she was covering her face with her arms. Gynae tried for a good 10min or so, and we were telling her not to be shy, to move her arms away etc, but still to no avail. So in the end, no picture. :( Hope to catch her the next visit!

I also begin to catch a glimpse of the Chinese saying “养儿一百，长忧九十九”. When my tummy is too small, I worry. When Girl-girl doesn't move so much, I worry. I worry if she will be healthy, I worry if she will turn out to be a boy, I worry if she will be born smoothly.
Do I worry too much? Or is that just normal?
But I know that I can only trust that God has a wonderful plan for her and God will watch over her. Amen!

hello Baby!

Baby is weighing 1.1kg now, an increase of 0.2+kg from last month.
I am weighing 59kg, an increase of 1.3kg within 1 month. So the extra 1kg goes to....?
BP is 111/55, a good increase from last month, but still on the low side.

Though most of the times, I can't really make sense of the ultrasound scans, we actually saw Baby yawning just now! So cute! ;)

entering 29 weeks and...

#1... the third and final trimester!

#2... feeling the increase in my body temperature! Now I feel hot and perspire more easily than usual.

#3... feeling the tightness when I wear my wedding ring. Gonna take it off already.

#4... feeling hungry every 2-3 hours. Will I explode within 3 months?

#5... experiencing the backaches almost every morning.

#6... still enjoying Baby's kicks and punches.

#7... just had a good spree at Baby Expo today. I SOMPAH we didn't go there on purpose. We just happened to be in the area because service was at Expo this weekend. In the end, we bought 6 rompers, 2 singlets, 3 shorts, 1 pillow & a diaper changing bag, all for $50 only! 我们在教 Baby 节俭的美德。hehe! And thank you Hubby for digging through that mountain of rompers for me, for suggesting to buy the Pooh bear pillow (even though I didn't thought of buying) & for allowing me to buy the diaper changing bag that I've been eyeing for a long time.

#8... still left with shifting the furniture around in brother's room, getting the cot and clothes drawer from our kind friends, washing more clothes that Hubby and I bought, the bumper, bolsters etc, and purchasing the basic necessities, for eg. diapers, baby wipes, liquid cleanser etc.

#9... very excited to see Baby again tomorrow! :)

Baby's clothes - folded and kept!

I spent 2 hours taking down the clothes, folding and organizing them into "home clothes" and "gai-gai clothes", and according to their sizes, then putting them into the vacuum bag and back into the luggage.
I think I need to do a little more sorting out when the clothes drawer comes and when I take them out from the vacuum bag again.

Somehow, I feel that Baby doesn't have enough home clothes for 0-3 months. So I bought another pack of 5 rompers from Qoo10. Mothers, mothers, mothers.. Can never stop buying clothes for baby. Hehe!

Baby's not very active today. Hope Baby is fine and this is just one of the lazy days...

we washed baby's clothes!

Personally very amused by this photo. I was telling Hubby, 以后就是这样了咯。

We have washed most of the 0-6 months clothes. Those suitable for 6 months and above, we are leaving them aside for now. 

Colleagues have commented that my tummy is more obvious now. I can feel that it's bigger now too. It was difficult cutting my toe nails yesterday. I think the next time I need to cut my toe nails, I will need Hubby's help.

Baby is very active now. I think Baby wakes up together with me. I can Baby's movements soon after I wake up sometimes. When I don't feel movements, sometimes I worry too. Is Baby ok? Is Baby healthy? Is Baby growing and developing? But generally, it's really amazing to feel Baby's kicks and punches. :)

the first taste of...

半夜脚抽筋。

Have read on websites and heard about it from my Sis-in-law. And last night, I had my very first leg cramp in the middle of the night. All I can say is, IT'S VERY PAINFUL!!! :(

updates!

1. We lugged 2 luggage worth of baby clothes, bumpers, pillows, milk bottles, breast pads, swaddles, nappies (and things which I cannot remember) from my brother's place on 大年初三。Seriously, I dodn't expect to bring back so many things. I'm waiting to take stock and wash the baby clothes during the March holidays. Then, I can buy more clothes for Baby again! Wahahaha...

2. Hubby and I visited the Babycare Festival in February. We took some free samples of diapers and bought 2 sleeping suits for Baby because the designs were just sooooooo cute and reasonably priced that I couldn't resist. But but but..... Our happiest buy that day was the stroller! $110 only!

Somehow or rather, we couldn't find Capella strollers when we walked around the hall, only saw Combi and the what-not atas brands. Came across some China brands, but were too heavy. Then we saw Baby Ace, took a look and the sales people explained the functions to us. The weight was acceptable to us, functions were comparable to the Capella model which we were eyeing, but cost only $110. We didn't know anything about this brand (until we googled about it at home), but both Hubby and I were ok with this particular model, so voila, we paid for it. After the purchase, THEN we saw the series of Capella strollers just 10metres away. We believe that God 'blinded' us for that moment, that we couldn't see the Capella strollers, so that we could make this purchase. I was very happy when I left Expo. :)

3. Last visit to the gynae on 25 Feb revealed an even lower BP - 98/46. Seriously, I don't know what causes it. Gynae asked if I was stressed at work. Hmmm.. maybe??

4. Survived 1.5 weeks of Hubby being in ICT. I actually had separation anxiety when he left for the camp. What's going to happen when he's going to Hong Kong in March?? T_T

5. I'm gaining my appetite back, I think. I still can't eat too much at one go, lest I get heartburn. But I am starting to feel hungry more easily, especially when I am in school. (Those boys do zapppppppp my energy).

6. Think we've gotten most of the large items needed. Only left with the cot (which a kind friend will be passing to us. We just got to assemble and give it a new coat of paint.), and basic necessities like laundry detergent, diapers and baby wipes etc etc.

7. We've decided on Baby's name!! But of course, I shall keep it a secret until you ask me for it! ;)

A few thoughts & updates

#1. Went back to work on 18 Jan. Colleagues were concerned, commented that I lost a lot of weight (some of them didn't know that it included what I lost during 1st trimester). Rather thankful for the concern that I received.

#2. Trying to get used to my lower physical strength. In the past, I could go for CCA on a Saturday morning, then cell group in the afternoon and church service at night. But now, I get tired after CCA. Got to learn to accept this graciously, especially as I approach the third trimester soon!

#3. Currently into my 22nd week and I haven't gained much weight yet (phew..). I was 59kg before pregnancy, lost 2 kg during the first trimester due to morning sickness, then another 1kg due to the sickness in January. Weighed 56kg on 12 Jan and 57.6kg in February. Baby's at the right weight and size for its stage, so actually I am the one losing the weight. Blessing in disguise? Not really sure about that. It's actually not too good for my body because it affects my health. I just pray that I will put on the appropriate weight, not fats.

#4. My bump is more obvious now. No longer look like I have overeaten at a buffet. I'm also trying to get used to the 'new look' and not feel paiseh about it, especially in school.

#5. Last visit to gynae still reveals that I have low blood pressure. BP 108/48. Gynae didn't suggest what to do to raise the BP, but just advised me to be careful when I stand up.

#6. The last post ended with saying that we will be going for the detailed scan soon. And so we did. Went through the report with gynae too. Baby's healthy and normal. As for the gender of the baby..... I shall keep it a mystery first. Ask me if you really really can't wait to know the gender of my child! ;P

on hospitalisation leave

(HOSPITALISATION LEAVE???????? OMG WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU???)

Well, everything started off with a sore left eye on 4 Jan, which worsened on 5 Jan. Visited the doctor, who said that it was conjunctivitis and prescribed me with eye drops.
Then, I developed a sore throat on 7 Jan (with the conjunctivitis still), and then fever on 8 Jan. The sore throat, fever and conjunctivitis were persistent. In fact, the conjunctivitis went from the left eye to both eyes! I was a red-eyed monster (literally). My appetite was also badly affected. Couldn't really eat much for that few days.
There was no improvement to my condition, and finally on 10 Jan, hubby decided to bring me to KKH.

The doctor (who was very nice and pretty~! haha..) said that everything seems to be due to viral infection. And I was dehydrated. So it's better that I get admitted for observation. So there I was, admitted on 10 Jan to KKH Ward 71.

That was the 2nd time I got admitted to hospital in the 28 years of my life.

Then came the taking of temperature and BP, needles, blood tests and DRIPS. The first night was quite alright. Hubby was there to keep me company. (But he forgot to bring my cuddly Pooh bear to the hospital that night..... Hmpf.)

The second day was unexpectedly painful. The blood test showed that I was very low in potassium, so I had to go on potassium drip. I could literally feel the fluid flowing through the needle and into my arm, and it was SUPER PAINFUL. The nurses had to coax me into going on this drip. The drip was regulated through a machine. The nurse put the speed at 50 (max was 100) and I was already groaning in pain. I nearly fainted when she said I had to finish 3 packets of potassium drip. (x_x) All in all, I took almost 6 hours to finish the 3 packets of potassium drip, and accompanied by tears of pain in between.

But thanks be to God, my fever and sore throat all subsided within a day. The redness in my eyes also subsided by quite a fair bit, and appetite improved. So I was discharged on 10 Jan.

Thank God that in the midst of the week-long illness, the little one remained alive and active. Visited the gynae yesterday, and the little one's heartbeat remained very strong. I've been saying “BB, 爸爸爱你，妈妈爱你，神爱你，你要健康成长ok?” to the little one everyday. We'll be excited to see it again during the detailed scan next week! :)