No mood..

Haven't been in the mood to blog for the past week.. tired and learning to cope.. :(

Christabelle’s birth story: Fast and Furious!

Finally found some time to blog, 19 days after I have given birth..
Many of my friends tell me that when their water bags burst, they had time to shower and eat something, and then make their way to the hospital as there was no hurry..one even had time to take a hot bath, blogged about her water bag bursting then drive to the hospital!

So when I woke up on 10 Oct at 730am, when I felt fluid trickling, I went to toilet to check and YES! My water bag has finally burst! I m FINALLY going to give birth.. you can imagine how excited and overjoyed I was, after waiting for the past 4 weeks at home and 1 day short of my EDD (Expected Due Date, which was on 11 October- coincidentally my sister’s birthday). If I had given birth on 11 Oct, Christabelle would have been in my tum tum for exactly 40 weeks..

At week 36, my gynae told me that I will give birth anytime as my birth canal shortened to 1cm and my mucus plug kinda discharged.. so I hurriedly took leave and stay home, lest I give birth at work!

So I waited.. and waited for 1 month! Oh man.. waiting was such an agony…

Ok, continue with the birth story.. water bag burst, told papa Chua about it, ask MIL to cook breakfast while I showered (everyone said got time to shower and better shower coz a few days cant bath after that)..so I showered…and.. I really felt like passing motion! But.. nothing came out.. I started having contractions. By the time I was eating breakfast, the contractions were like every 5 minutes… which was weird coz our antenatal class instructor and all the baby books said that the contractions would be like 30mins apart until the time that the baby is coming, then it would be like 5 minutes apart.. and I kept on feeling like I want to poo! Which was so weird..!

So by the time we got on the car, the contractions were like so painful..! I called the labour ward to tell them we were coming and by the time we were almost there, I felt like I couldn’t walk at all, so better ask them standby wheelchair for me.. which they did. By the time we reached at 830am, a security guard was waiting for us with a wheelchair. He pushed me up to the labour ward and was trying to ask the nurse where to “place” me. So he left me at the labour ward reception and went to ask.. at that point, I was already cringing in pain and it was so painful that I was moaning in pain!

I told him, “Uncle, very painful already!” Then, he started to panic when he realize that I cannot tahan already.. the nurse placed me in the waiting bed (not the labour ward yet coz usually people don’t give birth so fast!) and when the mid wife came in, the first thing I asked was,

“Can I have epidural (pain relief) now?!! Very painful! I feel like I want to pass motion!”

She then explained that the feeling of wanting to pass motion is the baby pushing her way out and that I CANNOT PUSH now…I must resist the urge… (antenatal class teacher said, if the midwife say cannot push, you cannot push yet else your labour will take longer) BUT its was so hard to resist the urge! Have you ever tried holding back your poo when its almost coming out? Duh..

Then midwife proceed to check my dilation while I was screaming in pain.. she checked and started to panic when she said, “oh, you dilate 8cm already! (PS: 10cm = about time to give birth)”

Then she panicked. I kept asking for epidural coz it was painful..! She told me she go and look for anesthetist and prepare a ward for me. I asked where was papa Chua, and she told me he was doing the admission procedures and scolded me, “see lah, you come in so late, everyone rushing for you now!” I didn’t have the energy to tell her I came in almost immediately after water bag burst.. I almost thought I was going to give birth before hubby came up..

**Midwife stressed and complaining to the nearby nurses in the background, “see lah! She stressing me! Want epidural, dilated 8cm already! Still need to give her antibiotics! Where to find anesthetist?

After 3 minutes, she came back with the bad news..

Midwife: I can’t find any anesthetist for you now, all of them are busy. Anyway I don’t think you can make it for epidural, you will probably give birth by the time you get the epidural. So can you go without epidural?

Me: ????!!! No epidural?!!! How can? Huh! Everyone needs epidural..! But then, I think I didn’t have much of a choice… so ok.. no epidural loh..

Papa Chua came and the 1st thing I told him was that midwife said that I can’t have epidural coz no time and no anesthetist (later after I gave birth, he told me he was going like: Oh shit, no epidural.. cham liao! coz long time ago I told him I MUST have epidural, I scared pain…!)

So I got wheeled into labour ward and nurse told me, ok, you can start pushing anytime, gynae will come up soon.. so daddy chua and the midwife became my cheerleaders…push and push.. (sounds easy huh? But pushing not painful was the earlier part of contractions that can die one..) ok, at last at 0959hrs (1 min short of 10am- someone said she got character, purposely come out at 0959 instead of 10am), our baby belle came out into this wonderful world! Luckily she’s kind to mummy, come out fast fast in record time, in 2.5hrs! When she don’t want to come out, she make us wait for 1 month, when she feel like coming out, its fast and furious! Maybe she’s still in post F1 mood..

But anyway, I still can’t believe I made it without epidural- not that I had much of a choice! (I thought no epidural -was only for the very brave women out there, so far I only know of one case, the mummy say she don’t want epidural, I was full of admiration for her courage!) but still it was an amazing feat and I think I should give myself a big pat on my back!

PS: the midwife said that my 2nd kid will come even faster.. so any signs, must go to hospital immediately..else end up giving birth in the car! I met a mummy that day and she told me she gave birth to her son at the HDB void deck! wah, so drama.. like in TV show.. the midwife heard and commented to the baby, "wah, you want to open void deck party is it?!" so funny! I better don't laugh, later my turn! =p

Somewhere over the rainbow..

When I was a kid, I had this battery operated musical box that played this  song over and over again.. It was one of my favourite toys, but I kinda lost it...Recently I heard Connie Talbot (6 years old) sing this on Britain's got talent and it simply melt me away!

I'm so going to sing this to Christabelle when she comes out...Its such an inspiring song, it melts my heart every time I hear it...!

Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby
Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why, can't I?

Mummy's 28th birthday celebrations + Christabelle's too!

Part 1...Pre bdae celebrations with daddy (in case belle belle decides to come out on my bdae) Also to celebrate Christabelle making it to 1 Oct as an October baby!

Part 2... Birthday celebrations with close friends! So happening with all the action! Was hoping after all the walking about and cooking that day, I will happily "pop" that night! But didnt...

Part 3: Actual Day birthday celebration @ No Signboard! Yummy Chilli Crab!

nice birthday pressies from daddy! Its a card for you and me and hello kitty!

Mummy had a really great time with friends who mean so much to me and with daddy! We ate so many nice things and Christabelle must be enjoying all the good food inside mummy's tum tum, so its time to come out already ok! *muaks!*

I can't wait to give birth! @40 weeks & 4 days!

Oh baby! When are you coming out? Mummy and daddy has been waiting and waiting...every night when mummy goes to sleep, I will think to myself, will my water bag break tonight? Will I give birth tomorrow morning? For the past few weeks, everyday and every night mummy will have such thoughts...waiting and waiting...Am now trying out all the "advice" that other aunties are giving: walk more (been walking after dinner every night), do squats, eat chilli (crab),  walk up and down stairs, sit up more...and Christabelle is still happily eating buffet in my tum tum! *faint* waiting for 40 weeks is really... testing mummy's patience~!

Christabelle baby..I can’t wait…

To go into labour (I hope I don’t regret saying this! Oops!)
For you to come out and disturb me and daddy! Hehe
For sleepless nights of breastfeeding, endless diaper changing and burping
To bath you and tug you to bed every night
For you to grow up and hug mummy and daddy to sleep
For you to take your first step and give me your first kiss!
To see you get married and have your own babies, just like I’m having mine..

Bye bye Bebe (For now) ~ Bebe the dog going for a "holiday"

Our favourite bebe the dog is going for a 3 month vacation at AMK! Coz baby coming, not sure if we can cope with the dog around and not sure how he will react, so we are giving ourselves some time to adjust to the baby before bringing our beloved bebe back home! I'm so gonna miss him! He follows us everywhere in the house, even into the toilet when we bath...in the morning he is our alarm clock coz he will wake us up to bring him down to pee...he is our door bell echo coz he barks non stop when someone presses the door bell or opens the auto gate.. gonna miss his biscuit face too! and miss bebe hand (when he licks hc's hand non stop then will get bebe hand..complete with smell and feeling!)

we're gonna miss you bebe! Mummy and daddy still love you ok!

Mummy's preggy pics over 10 months!

Belle belle, Look how mummy's tum tum has grown over the past 10 months...

Christabelle's Ultrasounds

This is a backdated post..just to share belle belle's ultrasound pictures.. Its amazing to see how our little girl grow over the weeks and months and eventually...over the years..

Mummy will show this to Christabelle when she's older and told her that she grew in mummy's tummy from starting from a "seed" to a "beansprout" and into a pretty and cute little girl!

The funny things kids say...

One last blog before mummy calls it a night...this was what happened during dinner just now when your cousins came over... quite funny conversation, next time when you come out, you ask han han jie jie why she say what she said ok?

Green Parenting~ Our committment to be Green Parents!

Just to share a series of green tips that I have put togethe (shared with the people I worked with). Hope this is useful to all parents! Happy Reading! (Click for a larger image)

Presents from very nice aunties, uncles, kor kors and jie jies!

A big thank you to all who have put in kind thoughts when getting the gifts, we really love them alot!

Ten random thoughts about baby Christabelle "Xuan Xuan"..while waiting!

September 27, 2009

1. You have been such a good girl in mummy's tummy..you always sayang mummy with your little feet and backside and seldom kick mummy..Gentle baby... at most you just flutter around mummy's tummy when you were smaller, doing somersaults.

2. your favourite past time is hiccupping! Your record time was 15mins of non-stop hiccupping! and the timings all during mummy's meal times- lunch and dinner time! must be you too hungry, eat too fast, then kenna hiccup! hehe, greedy like mummy! (daddy say one) Daddy, Ah ma and auntie Joy were so amazed that you can actually hiccup in mummy's womb.. they all felt it and were thrilled!

3. Daddy's favourite phrase to you is, "Good night baby, daddy very tired and want to go and sleep now...zzZZZZ!" Tsk tsk...!

4. You are a brave girl and you are not scared of bebe's barks.. think you are so used to his incessant and naughty barking already, I'm sure you will be able to help mummy scold him next time when he's naughty! PS: Mummy always say, "bebe, you naughty boy! mummy gonna beat your backside!"

5.You sure have your driving license ready! AT week 35, you already know how to step on the accelerator and tell mummy you wanna come out! Mummy and daddy say wait.. and you step on your brakes and parked your car for a good 3 weeks before deciding when you want to park your car until..maybe F1 is over? [Sg F1 was today :)]

6. At first, mummy scared you come out as a premature baby, now mummy everyday wondering, when will my belle belle come out? Mummy cant wait for you to be out, enough scooby doo for 3 weeks already... when you actually come out, think mummy will miss you inside my belly (at least its sound proof, water proof, diaper proof and I think you dont cry when you are inside?)

7. But daddy and mummy can't wait to cuddle you to sleep, even though it will be sleepless nights for us, its still going to be the best moments in the world.

8. Inside mummy's belly you can eat so many things, mango sorbet, durian mooncakes, dim sum, China apple can drinks, ginger beer, pizza...but come out, you can only drink milk. But at least your taste quite similar to mummy's.. junk food princess's princess!~

9. CHoosing an auspicious date to come into this world, some options:-

a.1 Oct- children's day (primary school holiday) then every year during your bdae, MOE give you a present- a school free day! and all your friends can come to your birthday party!

b.3 Oct (15th day of the 8th month for 2009)- nice to be a mooncake baby! my friend say I can call you Chang-Er if you born on that date. I think Ke Xuan sounds better :)

c.5 Oct- better still, mummy's birthday! you can be the best birthday present mummy has ever had!

Whichever day you choose to come out, we still love you the same, baby!

10. Between London Bridge and Twinkle Twinkle little star, you like London Bridge more. You always ask for encore when we sing to you. Must be daddy stay in UK for too long, influence you also. Next time mummy bring you to see the real London Bridge ok?

The Price of Children

September 27, 2009

Came across this really meaningful article online but its a pity they couldnt trace the original writer.. For those who always say, having a child is expensive (esp in sg), let me assure you that they are worth every single cent you spend on them! =)

The Price of Children

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.

But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into $8,896.66 a year, $741.38 a month, or $171.08 a week. That's a mere $24.24 a day! Just over a dollar an hour. Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140?

• Naming rights. First, middle, and last!

• Glimpses of God every day.

• Giggles under the covers every night.

• More love than your heart can hold.

• Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.

• Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.

• A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.

• A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sandcastles, and skipping down the sidewalk in the pouring rain.

• Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up.

• You get to finger-paint, carve pumpkins, play hide-and-seek, catch lightning bugs, and never stop believing in Santa Claus.

• You have an excuse to keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh, watching Saturday morning cartoons, going to Disney movies, and wishing on stars.

• You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day. For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck.

• You get to be a hero just for retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof, taking the training wheels off a bike, removing a splinter, filling a wading pool, coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

• You get a front row seat to history to witness the first step, first word, first bra, first date, and first time behind the wheel.

• You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so . . one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. We all know they grow up too soon.

Author Unknown

False alarm? Cramps!

September 26, 2009

We are almost at 38 weeks my gosh! Last night, mummy and daddy got false alarm...at around 12am mummy's tummy started having cramps at 15mins intervals, I thought i was having contractions, wasnt sure at all, so we decided to wait and wait and until 3am still having mild painful cramps every now and then..belle belle's head like pushing hard down wards the pelvic region like trying to engage the head like that...

daddy was going, "oh no, she really going to come out liao!" never had contractions before so didnt know what to expect, so duno whether to go hosiptal, so we wait and see if the contractions get stronger, wait until... we both K.O! So means the time not up yet....!

Just 4 more days to October, hang in there baby! You can do it!! hehe

Christabelle- an October baby?

September 23, 2009

Mummy saw Dr Cheng yesterday for my weekly checkup and he said that your head isnt really engaged yet, so means it will be a while more before you come out! Yeah! got chance that you will be an October baby like mummy! Mummy would love to celebrate my birthday with you baby! It will be so nice if you can come out as a birthday present for mummy! It would be the nicest birthday present ever! so Christabelle, be a good girl ok, tahan for another week and it will be oct! good girl!

Week 37 and counting! Daddy the Nanny!

September 21, 2009
Belle belle is 37 weeks today! Clever girl! How you stay inside for so long?

Daddy brought mummy to buy durian mooncake from Parkway and its soooo yummy! Brought mango mooncake too! yummy as well! everyone's been asking whether you come out already or not.. Uncle Daryl say he everyday go KK to ask if mummy give birth already or not leh (this uncle very funny hor? go to the wrong hospital some more).

Good girl, stay inside and eat more while you can ok? come out only can drink milk.. anyway Daddy is going to be your nanny! we decided to do away with the confinement nanny as it was hard to find a reliable one. Ah ma will cook the confinement food and daddy will look after you ok? Daddy will do a good job! he's the best nanny you can ever get! hehe

Good girl!

September 18, 2009

Christabelle "Xuan Xuan" is a very good girl! She can listen to mummy and daddy and hang in there for almost 2 weeks already! good girl baby! Ah gong and Ah ma come back from Japan with lotsa yummy titbits and mummy is chomping on them for you to eat! yumyum! She hang in there for almost 2 weeks already, just hope she makes it pass this weekend coz its the special dates weekend (19/09 and 20/09) where I think many mummies will induce their babies! dont want to be waiting outside labour ward or have no room to stay!

Auntie Huiling sent mummy a very nice hello kitty book and mummy is going to use it to ask all the uncles and aunties to write their wishes for you so that you can read it when you are older ok! it came with very pretty hello kitty stamps too! Thank u auntie Huiling! *kisses from Christabelle!*















Last week, daddy and mummy took some nice photos together so that we can show it to you next time and we took a video for you too. Hope you will like it! Luff, luff!

We made it to 36weeks!

September 14, 2009

Hey Christabelle baby, you made it to 36 weeks! well done girl, mummy's so proud of you! we are now closer to you becoming chubby and strong. Mummy was so worried last week about you coming out at 35 weeks. phew! mummy has loaded more new photos of me and daddy having fun before you come out! we made a video for you too! we will show it to you when you grow up to a big girl ok? muaks and be a good baby, come out after the seventh month ok? good girl! muaks

Mummy the eating and sleeping machine!

September 10, 2009

Mummy needs to fatten you up so mummy is eating and eating and lying down whenever I can! I hope you can put on my weight this way and come out as a chubby baby! eating tons of ice cream..and daddy will buy durians later, hope it helps! gosh, mummy really feel like piggy!

Week 35: Christabelle is coming out so soon??

September 10, 2009

Mummy's mucus plug was dislodged on Tues, leading to blood discharge and a scare.. but Gynae said that the cervix shortened to 1cm already and mummy will be giving birth very soon, within the next 1-2 weeks, in fact, any time! So mummy cant go to work any more have to stay at home and standby already. Mummy and daddy hopes that our little baby girl can stay in there for a while more...