Baby Darius...My bundle of JOY...

Weather: Clear, -5°C

Picking up from ware i stop in the previous post...

As common as it is with all babies, Baby Darius was admitted into PLC for jaundice on Day 3 of his life...he underwent 24 hours of phototheraphy...n the nurse came to prick his little foot for blood test every 12 hours to check on his jaundice level...poor little guy...my heart aches so much to see him cry helplessly...

By Day 4 Darius' jaundice level went down n he was off the phototheraphy...but the blood test results showed he has G6PD condition...n the doc said tiz is very common among Asian males...n its genetic...but he assures us dat it will not affect his development as he grows up...but there are some food n med dat he must avoid his whole life...n as a baby we should make sure he does not get any infection as tiz might trigger his red blood cells to break...n in severe cases he will need blood transfusion...but doc says tiz is very very rare...

So i went to find out more abt G6PD...actually some pple might have tiz condition they are not aware of until some food or med they take n caused a trigger...but in normal cases the red blood cells are able to build up on their own...so as adults its not really an issue of concern...

And because it is most common in Asian males, like out of 20 males, 5 have tiz condition, therefore the doctors here will always test for G6PD deficiency on Asian baby boys...

Darius @ birth...

Darius @ 19 Hours old...

Darius finally home @ 6 days old...snug in his own bed...

Darius @ 1 Week old...having his weight taken by the public health nurse...he has regained his birth weight! yeah!

Darius enjoying his swing...it always works when he is fussing...

Darius after a satisfied feed...making faces...

Darius jus loves the camera...

Darius having his afternoon nap with grandma...

Darius sitting @ the sofa watching TV...

Darius enjoying his bathe by grandma...

It's been a while

Weather: Flurries, -18°C

I know many faithful readers of my blog are anxiously waiting for my next post since the birth of my precious boy...finally today i have the time and thanks to hubby , i could afford a good sleep last nite...

My Birth Story

In the wee hours of 16th Nov...

2.45 AM - Woke up to pee

3.00 AM - Heard 2 "POP" sounds...den felt fluid gushing out...OMG! My waterbag broke !Quickly jump out of bed (as i did not want to wet the mattress) and rush to the toilet bowl...den felt more gushing out...contractions starts to come in...but was still bearable...took a quick shower...woke hubby and mum up...den called Whampoa to inform my waterbag broke! Ate toast with jam and drank cereal...

4.15 AM - Grab hospital bag and headed for Peter Lougheed Centre... By then contractions were coming every 5 mins and last almost 2 - 3 mins...but i can still feel baby's active movements...Felt better in the car so ask hubby to drive slower so i can enjoy the ride...

5.00 AM - Arrive at PLC Emergency and was wheeled to Birth Centre on the 3rd level...By then contractions were more intense and painful...While hubby went to register my admission, i was being monitored at the Triage Room...Had 2 monitors attached to my tummy for baby's heartbeat and my contractions...

6.30 AM - Nurse came in to check me and i was 2 cm dilated only...was advised to get up and walk around to "open" the pelvic...Contractions getting more painful and closer dat i lost count...

9.15 AM - Returned to the Triage room and was told to move to Labor and Delivery Room as doctor confirms real labor is here...(of coz lah...waterbag broke leh...send me hm and wait for 4cm dilation meh...?!?!) Nurse gave me an option for Morphine to relieve the pain but baby will b drowsy after birth...so i rejected...

10.00 AM - Settled down in the Labor and Delivery Room...Hubby gave me massage and count me thru every contractions...they were really getting more painful and closer...hubby suggested i sit in the warm shower and it did help me feel better...

12.30PM - Thank GOD! The anaesthetic doctor finally came for my epidural...finally i could have a good sleep...

2.30 PM - Nurse came in to check and i was almost 5 cm dilated already...

4.00 PM - Though i had epidural, i realised i could feel the pain from contractions getting more intense...i "beg" the doctor to up my dosage...

5.30 PM - Contractions were only 30 secs apart and getting more intense...i was losing my senses already...Nurse heard me screaming for help...She checked me and said i was ready to push! But my sickening hubby and mummy were out having dinner...! Nurse called them to rush back!

6.00 PM - Started to push actively at every contraction...

8.00 PM - Baby still not out...Doc tried to use vacuum twice but failed as baby has too much
hair... :) so the grip was not strong...Doc did episiotomy on me as she said baby is too big...

8.29PM - Baby Darius is born!

Doctor Baxter placed him on my tummy immediately but i was too exhausted to cuddle him...so he was carried away for the Pediatrics to check him...but his little hand clung tightly onto one of the monitor dat was strapped to my tummy...seems like he does not want to be away from mummy... hehe...

Vital Statistics

Weight: 3.81 Kgs / 8lbs 6.5 ozs
Length: 53 cm / 21.5 IN
Head Circumference: 36 Cm

Right after birth...Darius only wail once den he was so alert n cheerful while the doctors check him...sooo lovable...





Stay tuned for more posts n pics...

Baby is due today...but...

Weather: Cloudy, 3°C

I'm not sure how accurate is the EDD provided by gynae...bt it seems like Darius really enjoys the cramp space in mummy's tummy...he has been actively moving and causing mummy pain in the pelvic area...y isn't labor starting yet? y is bracton hicks so pain? i tink i could b in the early phase of labor as i remembered early labor contractions could last for days...i dun need anymore practice contractions...can the real one jus come n get me over with birth?! its a torture man...

how long do i have to wait n suffer the suspense of cuddling my little boy...even my grandma is getting anxious...i really hope to deliver the good news to her soon...
i'm sure GOD knows when is the best time for baby to arrive...so i'll just have to patiently wait for His sign...

Actually as long as Darius is born healthy...all the waiting n pain is definitely worth it...! Even hubby will suddenly jerk up from his sleep and ask me...any signs? any pain? r u ok? Seems like he is also nt getting good sleep like me...every stretching movement of Darius inside me can wake me up from my sleep...n the frequent toilet trips is driving me nuts...

One more day left to Darius' arrival...

Ever since Sunday 11th Nov...which is also Remembrance Day here...i have been experiencing contractions and pelvic pains...like as if baby is trying to push his way down nearer to the world...contractions felt like 10 times more painful than menses cramps...everytime it comes...i just wanna swear out loud...argh~~~

Tmr is baby's actual EDD according to the gynae in SIN...14th Nov...SIN time of coz...but it seems like he is still enjoying his stay inside mummy...he has been moving alot today when i was out having dim sum with my mum n frens...mayb he knows he will be out soon...so he is doing house keeping today...haha...!
i'm sure i will miss feeling his movements inside me...but i look forward more to cuddling him in my arms...he is such a wonderful blessing to me...i'm getting impatient and more anxious to see how he looks like...

Having mum with me...really makes me feel less lonely and more confident...have been enjoying the bird nests she made for me...yummy! Poor mum...still trying to adjust herself to the time zone...everyday tell me she cant sleep well...i feel so heart pain...

Grandma is finally here...!

Weather: Clear 4°C

Time flies...the long awaited trip finally took off! My mummy will arrive today in Calgary...and will spend the next 2 mths here with me...! How i wish my beloved sista can b here too...really miss her...Anyway im contented and grateful towards my mum...its not easy for her to travel such a long distance here and commit 2 mths jus for me...I'm really glad she can be here with me during the most important moment of my life...having a baby is really the biggest event of our lives...he is a new member to our family...and we are all curious hw he looks like...wat he will grow up to be...I hope baby will take after his daddy's good traits...and none abit like his grandfather...

Other than being excited to see my mum after so long...i'm also excited to see wat she has packed for me...keke...excess baggage of 20 over kgs...wow! dats really alot of stuff she's bringing for me...

I'm thinking...after the long trip...can she still recognize me with my bulging tummy...? hehe...i hope we can all get along well...mum n her fren with hubby n me...

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@ 39 Weeks ! ! !

Yesterday went to see the gynae...seems like baby is not growing much...so doc arrange for me to go for ultrasound tmr morning...kinda worried...n his heartbeat was only 130 beats / min...which is lower than his normal 150 beats / min...bt after checking the internet i am more assured that this is normal...

The normal rate is generally considered to be between 120 and 160 beats per minute.

• The rates are typically higher (140-160) in early pregnancy, and lower (120-140) toward the end of pregnancy.
• Past term, some normal fetal heart rates fall to 110 BPM.
• There is no correlation between heart rate and the gender of the fetus.

Doc checked my cervix and said baby is quite low...and in a posterior position...i hope he will turn and cooperate when labor is here...
Ever since 32 weeks...i can finally see my baby again on the ultrasound screen...hope baby is doing fine...very soon...we'll meet...hang in there darius...mummy is here with u...

White Sunday Morning...

Weather: Mostly Cloudy, -1°

It snowed heavily again on Sat nite...I woke up to a beautifully white Sunday morning...the snow on the ground was almost 2 inches thick! Changed to long pants and put on my coat...went outside to satisfy my "sua ku - ness"...hehe...

Saw hubby shoving snow away from the pavement coz he's afraid i will slip n fall...awww...so sweet...bt i step onto the grass to "play" and made foot prints on the snow...only to get scolding from him...hee...



The car was covered in snow...like icing on a piece of blackforest cake...yummy...! So hubby have to brush the snow off the car too...looks fun! so i also tried but instead, i shove the snow flakes towards him! haha...so fun...! end up we were making snow balls and throwing at each other...chasing ard the car...so fun! dat was my first time playing with real snow...!







How i wish my beloved sista can b here with me...i remember when i was 16, mum brought us to korea for holiday...bt the snow at the ski resort was partially man made snow...but still we both had fun throwing snow at each other... :P

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Playing the Waiting Game...

After experiencing an hour of painful contractions last Wed...i managed to have a few peaceful days until yesterday when i was out shopping for TV with hubby...contractions came! Made me no mood for browsing...in the end we did not buy anything...

After braving the cold wind and getting into the car...nice and warm...it subsided and i felt better...upon reaching home contractions attack me again...lie in bed for awhile and it subsided...
Baby...hang in there okie...? Grandma will be here soon...

As i'm blogging now...i ald experience contractions twice...! Knowing the fact dat i only need to play another week of waiting game...im really nervous and excited...at the same time worried...
He has been part of me for the past 39 weeks...can i handle him as an individual? will he dislike me? can we bond? how does he look like? so much to think about...

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Never enough...

Everyday looking at baby's crib...playing with his mobile...it always occurred to me dat am i missing some things? should i get more hats? more blankets? more clothes? more diapers? more toys? mayb coz i feel bad dat some stuffs are hand-me-downs...though many people say babies grow very fast...dun need to buy so many new clothes...they outgrow b4 they wear each piece for 10 times...but its natural dat every parents want the best for their child...

Since i'm not working now...i cant afford the best toys or clothes for him now...but i'm sure i will make it up to him in future...i believe providing him a loving family to grow up is more important than materials...i rather save up for his education and bring him for holidays than buying him new baby clothes which he dun even know if they are new or old...as long as they keep him warm n comfy...

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Sorry hubby...i love u...

Last night...i caused hubby to drop his pc and now he has to reformat everything...all his data were gone! i feel so bad...y did i threw temper at him? he did nothing wrong! y cant i learn self control? y must i flare up at such a petty issue? y m i so rash? y m i still so childish!? i hate myself! I have such bad character...yet GOD blessed me with such a good husband...do i deserve him? i duno...but i'm sure he dun deserve such a wilful wife like me...i must change! but how...? i know if this go on for years...he will surely lose his patience with me...mayb i should sign up for anger management class...

I hope tiz is due to hormonal imbalance in me like my sista said since i'm preggy...after my body resumes to normal operation...hope everyting will improve...
But still...i really appreciate his patience with me...

When i'm hungry...he cooks for me...
When i'm tired...he lends me a shoulder to lay on...
When i throw tantrums...he patiently calms me down...
When i'm cold...he warms me with his love...
When i'm depressed...he cheers me up...

Hubby...i loVe u...ur the one dat i need for all times...

On Halloween Nite...

Weather: Mostly Cloudy, 1°C

Last nite while i was having dinner...i experienced a few terrible contractions...they were about 10 mins apart and lasted almost 3 mins...when it subsided, hubby ask me faster finish my dinner...in case shd i really go into labor, i will feel hungry...at dat moment...duno want to laugh or cry eh...

Took a few mouth of rice...contractions peaked...walk around for awhile...it subsided...return to the dinner table...eat abit more...contractions peaked again...went to bed n lie for a while...it subsided...quickly finish up my dinner...wanted to wash dishes...contractions peaked again...kaoz...! i also did realise the contractions become stronger n stronger...i was really worried dat i will go into labor...n yet hubby happily talking to himself...yeah tmr no need work...sickening...!

I kept telling baby...hang in there for jus one more week pls pls pls...at least when grandma is here...else mummy will b at a lost...another reason was also i dun wish to miss the birthing class tonite...hehe...

I was gald i could sleep thru'out the nite without any contractions...but woke up tiz morning with a sharp pain near my bladder...luckily i felt better after emptying it...
I'm happy that my day so far is smooth sailing...hope it will continue tiz way over the weekend as i need to make final arrangements for my mum's arrival next week...wonder how's her packing now...

Halloween in SIN is jus about partying, clubbing, drinking and not everyone dress up...
But its an interesting practice here...kids will dress up in halloween suits and walk around the neighborhood with an empty bag...asking for candies and sweets...and if ur household has nothing to offier...remember to turn off ur porch lights...tiz way they will not knock on ur door...some people will hold halloween parties in their home and dress up their garden...hang 'ghosts' n skeletons on their trees and light up pumpkins along the door way...
As i drive thru the neighborhood...can really feel the atmosphere...
Also heard from hubby dat some of his colleagues even dress up in halloween costumes with bloody makeup and went to work...so fun!