My vegies...and more!

Look! It's day 28 of my Kangkung. It's ready and healthy to be picked. I took this picture the morning, just before I harvest it. And this morning, I used it to make Nasi Goreng Kangkung. Fortunately tonight, it is finally proven that everyone didn't get sick from eating my home vegies. Yay!!! Early this morning after Arishah took her morning nap, I went out and re'potted' some more kangkung, and this time I'm planning for 10 kangkung per planter. And, planting new ones every 2 weeks, so at least every 2 weeks I can harvest my own Kangkung. But that's later plan. Too much, takut tak terjaga pulak :)
And this is my Okra...alive and thriving. I added another two small ones, so that makes 4 okras in 1 big container. Looks like it's doing well, so I'm not planning to change place. This one is going to take more than 2 months before bearing fruit. So 1 months time is up. Waiting for it to grow, and show it's yellow flowers. Once the yellow flowers is up, it'll be a week later that the fruit start to sprung. Patience...patience..
This is my cherry tomato. I changed the one in a small pot, into a bigger container. This one is for Kak Chal later. I added more soil to cover the stem. They say that is the main idea in planting tomato, because the lower part of the stem will actually grow good root system, so covering it with soil will provide better growth. This one also takes more than 2 month. I can't wait to take pictures of dangling red tomatoes!
Now this is a quilt Tok Ma made for Arishah, after I requested it...hehehe. That's for upah Ici susunkan Mama punya pattern. See how Arishah is sleeping, menonggeng. She regularly sleeps that way now. Got temper now and again if she didn't get what she wants. Grrr! And she makes little grrr sounds, and I think she learned it when I read her book about animals. The picture said "Roar...like a lion." She's practically imitating everything. Got to watch what she's learning closely, now then ever before.
Arishah spent Raya Haji on the 9th with her cousins, Amin and Ammar, all sprawled on the same bantal, as Tok Ma tells her bedtime story. Hmm, sah dah besar nanti asyik mintak Tok Ma dia ceritakan stories...just like her Mama used to make Tok Ma do.
And what's this???!!! It's a Marshmallow bar, packed with peanuts and hazelnuts for high protein, topped with chocolate layer on top! First try was a disaster, I tell you, but also because I was in a hurry. First try was done 5 days ago, the night before on call, and I wanted to prepare it for...no other than healthy freak...BABA Rusydan. I thought, "Hey, I used to make these granola bar when I was a kid. Why does he have to buy one outside which cost RM5-10 a piece." So the second try, which was last night, was successful...according to Baba lah, since he's the judge. He was nice enough to temankan Ici downstairs main masak masak, while he browse the net via wifi in the kitchen. He said, it tasted just like the 'real' thing they sold outside. Wah!!! I feel so proud...hehehe. Even my in laws like them. I've cut them up, and rolled them inside a plastic cover, so if anyone wants to grab it before going out, they can do so. I hope it can last long. I bought more Marshmallow today, other ingredients are still a lot stashed away in boxes. Rusydan is asking for more so that he can take it during his biking sessions. He's making me add his protein shake.

Well, tomorrow is on call. I just wanted to upload these pictures. I'm very happy about this whole week. Going to sleep now.

Tok ma...40 years ago

Phewit!!!

Pictures of My Vegetable Gardening

Gardening

...is my new hobby.

I don't know what's wrong with me. I just wanted to do something else at home. 3 weeks ago I thought of starting a new hobby. Not gardening, but scrapbooking.

I actually planned to do some scrapbooking ever since I was pregnant, thought of doing a scrapbook on my babymoon trip to Bangkok. I was 7 months pregnant with Arishah. Bought Canon selphy photo printer just for that. At first I wanted a full A4 colour printer, but the salesman said it's cheaper if I buy the canon selphy in long terms compare to printing it at the photo shop. It was about rm600, with 108 prints. I really don't like seeing pictures in the computer, it's just not the same. Photo album shall live on!!!

I was quite stressed a month ago, mainly because I don't know where I'm going with my career. So I thought I'd drown myself in artsy stuff. Hehe (excuses!).

I chose and collected pictures of Arishah during her neonatal period (first 28 days of life). It took me about 2 weeks to finish. I loved it! I bought some stamps and lettering and (expensive) scrapbooking paper. I don' t know why doing art have to be so expensive here. Hrmph! But I love my letter stamps. It costs rm100 in all! blargh. I found nice stickers at cheap shops, rather than buy them at art shop. The art shop can really be a cutthroat.

But now, I'm concentrating on gardening...Vegetable gardening. I don't think I like flower gardening much. The only plants I like before this are broad leaf plants...simply because they are easy to take care off...and really is a good air cleaner. It's just too much dust in the city! No wonder la Tok Bah suka duduk dalam hutan.

So last month was my trial month. I planted Pak Choy and Kangkung. Didn't worked well :( It would have gone great if:
1. ...Mama's planter have a good drainage. She pulled the lower layer of the planter...aiyah!!! Tok Ma ni!
2. ...Mama's soil was not a clay soil. When the soil was dry, it was like a rock!
3. ...Evil snails aren't eating my vegies!

I'm planning to plant:
1. Spinach - germinating. Ready to be transplanted, but no soil :(
2. Kangkung - didn't grow well because of the clay soil and bad drainage. Replaced the old one and waiting for the new one to reach full growth. Hopefully can be picked in 2 weeks time
3. Baby Pak Choy - gone and eaten by snails, but managed to germinate it well
4. Occasional salads - haven't tried yet
5. Tomato cherries - already transplanted to a bigger pot this evening. I'm excited about this one
6. Okra/bendi - this one transplanted to a bigger pot too
7. A round dish of parsley and chinese parsley (daun sup)

I'm worried about the snails!!! They are destroying my hard work! I bought a snail pesticide, metaldehyde, but I regretted it. It's not good for my plants and me and my family! I'm going to try to use mint leaves next, that's the most natural way to keep them away that I can manage. Killing them with beer (as if I'm going to go to a store and buy myself an alcoholic drink without being caught) or an organic snail killer (they have sluggo and escar-go, but not here in Malaysia I think), is a great idea but not feasable at this time.

Will provide pictures...tomorrow. Good night for now!

Scrapbooking

That's what I'm doing. I'm compiling all the pictures that was taken, and printing it out to put it safely in an album. There's nothing like viewing pictures in an album. View kat PC tak best lah, lama lama sakit mata.

I used Canon Selphy CP740. Printed out very well. Tapi only 4x6 in punya gambar je la. Dulu mengecek jugak kat Baba nak printer A4 with colour, but org kedai tu kata not worth it sebab ink mahal. So I settled with home photo printer. And I bought that when Arishah was 6 months old. She's 9 now, and this is the first time I really use the printer.

I'm using Picasa 3 to view and edit some of the pictures. It's simple, not high tech sangat. I can even make a movie now with a new version of Picasa. That project will have to wait until I finish up Arishah's first album.

Arishah is 9 months now!!! I brought her to Poliklinik Kesihatan for regular follow up. She's 7.2 kg...a bit small, but not abnormal. The nurse asked if she eat well, and I told her this babe eat A LOT, and almost ANYTHING too. I guess she has her Mama's and Baba's gene, makan banyak tapi metabolism tinggi kot. Jangan jadi hyperactive sudah. Arishah eat very well, and she loves fruit. Morning, she can finish up 1 whole banana, and she can tollerate boiled egg now. At 11.30 to 12 noon, she'll have her lunch. Then at 5-6 pm, she'll have her dinner. And at night before going to sleep, we usually let her much something, like papaya or apple while we have our dinner. Kalau tak nak makan mesti Arishah kacau.

She's trying really hard to pick small food and put it into her mouth successfully. Mak introduced RUSK biscuits to her already, and she's nuts over it. Manis kot. She'll bite a chunk, then chew with her gums until it melts in her mouth. Hish, macam orang besar. I'm trying not to give her much, coz it's a processed food. Might as well give her real food. Besides, yang menghabiskan RUSK kat rumah ni pun most probably is Baba and Aunts.

Okay, nak sambung balik printing pictures. I really would recommend using Picasa to my family members yang nak print pictures jugak. You can always save it into thumb drive and print at kiosk. I think it's quite cheap now, 70 cents per print 4 x 6 in.

Keletah Arishah

She's really is a handful at this time. She's crawling now, but she just can't wait to stand on her own and take that steps. I hope I don't miss her first steps. I might not be able to catch it on camera, but I just wanna see it myself.

Baba got his new toy, Wrath of the Lich King, World of Warcraft expansion pack. Got to keep Arishah from attacking Baba's mouse everytime he's playing the game on the bed. She's so fast! And her cute little fore fingers...she knows how to use the scroller. Cute little hand on a big black mouse...got to take a picture of that someday.

I'm browsing her pics and movies. Feel like there's too few movies in the camera. I think I might have saved it elsewhere.

I also need to print out her pics soon and make an album. Making a scrapbook seems so tedious at the moment, with her crawling everywhere, and no space to start the project. On calls now looks better with 5 of us in a team. I still don't know how long I'm going to be there, but I'm really thinking about it, what my plan in the near future will be.

Did some talking to Along the other day, he gave me some great advice. Thanks Along...love you so much!!!

I've already signed up to take part 1 MRCOG exam in March 2009. Haha, can you believe it? I paid up PS275. I just don't want to think and wait any longer when I made that decision. If I fail, then maybe I'm not suppose to take it. I still got one year to think about Obs and Gynae. Off course I do have to start studying now!!!

I'm taking next month one day leave to visit kedai buku. Brought back my old old books back to Damansara. I don't have a condusive place to study, but it'll do. Finding time is not easy, as Arishah is very clingy at the moment, but there are good times. So studying has to be at work. I'm gonna go dive straight into doing mcqs and past paper starting next month.

It's almost 1 am. Gotta rest.

Back into my cot

Ain't she cute?! Sigh, imagine 5 of 'these' running around amok. Adorable still? Hehe

Seronoknye!

Arishah came to visit mama here in bagan lalang. Sampai-sampai je terus main air swimming pool at the kids area. Baba was out of breath trying to fill the pelampung with air. While waiting, arishah n mama played at the edge. She just got so excited!
Her legs were already splashing. By the time she was inside the pelampung, her legs was swishing vigorously. I had to hold her without going too far. But she soon got bored.
And then baba got in n joined her. We pulled her out of her seat n let her free. Mata kena air banyak kali pun nak main lagi! It was already half an hour, she tried to wriggle out of my arms n into the pool.
Thank u baba!

Thing i do during lectures

Hehe

I miss arishah right now

I want her to play in the pool with her pelampung! I regret not buying her a swimming trunk. I wish i had brought mine also! :'( arishah wud have luv splashing with me

The beach

At 5.45 pm, air pasang. Saw two giant jellyfish, dead. Nasib tak pijak hehe

Bagan lalang beach

Not crowded at all, clean beach. Wish can bring arishah play with water

I luv to stand!

On my own please. Arishah luv to play in her cot nowadays since she can pull herself up. She still scares mama when she let the rail go to sit. But arishah is a tough girl! Hehe she didnt cry if she bumped her head a little.

Ici is currently in bagan lalang doing my induksi. Hope all goes well n b home soon, so i wont miss all the little tricks arishah has.

Help! My nose is running away!

Aunti mel n aunti a'ah said she lookep like casper the ghost.

Arishah got runny nose n slight temperature after raya at Tok Ma's house. Mesti berjangkit dengan abg farith dia. So she was a bit cranky since last night.

Look ma!

Splash!

23 sept 2008 6 pm

Arishah had a blast! She was giggling away even before she got in, just as excited seeing the water filling the small pool. I'm so glad I bought the trainer seat. She's not afraid at all. I can see her two feet juggling away. I wish the pool is deeper though. It's only 10 inch deep if full. And the trainer seat takes almost a quater of the pool size already. Well, at least it's only rm 25 in Jusco.

It was a nice weather that day. By 5.30, the sun was still shining. I prepared the pool in front of the house, it's shaded by the house. Too bad Tok Ayah and Aunty Mel not around. Took a lot of pictures, some I've saved in my handphone. That's how I sent this picture. Tak jemu browsing through her pictures.

Too bad she doesn't have a swimming suit. I saw two cute ones at Bangsar Village about 2 weeks ago, but was having second thought. It was RM45 each, erk! But now I can't find her size at a department store. Maybe I'll look harder. Haven't been out much lately anyway.

If Amin, Ammar and Alia around, it would be great! They would really have a splashing time! But then again, I may have to find a bigger pool...hehe.

Sit...stand...fall down!

She is 6 month old and sitting by herself. Took this pic only yesterday. Still a bit wobbly, but i just need to stimulate her further. Wants to buy more toys appropriate for her age. Arishah can hold her bottle for awhile, firmer n steadier grip.
Vocab is increasing. She knows clock fan lights sit stand milk bath/mandi. Very acute to her own name n my voice.
Ici on call tonight, cant make it to family bbq on saturday bcoz on call jugak. So so sad :'( i'm missing a lot of things, just me wonder sumtimes if it is all worth it. Only time will tell i guess.

The morning before BTN

Arishah was a happy girl that morning. She woke up at 730 am with long stretch. N off course her morning babbles greeted me, followed by sweet no-teeth-see-your-gums smile.

I'm scheduled for BTN in bt 13 muar johor for 1 wk. I just got back fr my first medical/drug conference n port dickson. I brought baba n arishah along. Baba was supposed to take care of arishah while i attend the lectures. Everyone was worried, but baba n arishah was just fine.

Now that i'm here in this camp for 1 wk, arishah is taken care by her tok wan at home. :'( i cried as usual, just that this time i cried in front of mak. She panicked n told everyone hehe.

Currently staying in a small rm of 9 ppl n my colleague brought her 3 months old baby boy name omar. I played with him whenever i can. Rindu sgt kat arishah. A lot more program in store for us. So me getting my much needed sleep. Nite2 arishah! Muahs! Sniff sniff!

My birthday gift to hubby

Comel tak? His birthday was on 1st july. Well, mine is today, i am 27 years old. Our first birthday as parents! We went to midvalley to celebrate, and arishah was an angel, minimal fuss when hungry only. We had fun!

4 month birthday

Arishah is having a cood and cough. I had to go on call n leave her 2 days ago, only back to see her yesterday evening. Temperature not too bad, but the cold is giving her a blocked nose.

Just fed her when i took this picture. I only put her down for 10 minutes n she woke up again. Last night she didnt sleep so well either.

Ooh! She's straining a bit. Nak yak! Ici started giving apple puree last week. Couldn't help seeing her hungry coz my milk supply is getting low. Only after introducing her to the apple, that she starts to drink formula milk. Previously, she just wouldnt accept any other milk other than mine.

Dah change diapers! Smelly! Brownish. Formed stool. Kesian arishah. Just good enuf she is not constipated. Tapi td meneran muka merah la jugak.

Besok n ahad on call lg, tak dpt main dgn arishah lg. Sigh! Rindunye! Sekarang tengah peluk pun rasa rindu. Dah tido, finally! Oh well, tak bole kesian sangat, nanti dah besar she always feel sorry for herself, asking other people's pity, n don't feel confident enough. My daughter is a bright n independent girl, yes she is!

Little projects

I should have written this down a long time ago, just too tired to do so only. But today I'm taking sick leave for two days. Too much is happening during my calls. Memang jona! Got cold and cough past 3 days, but everytime it gets better, my calls made it worse. It seems to affect my judgement too these couple of days :(

Anyway, wanna share good news...Got myself a new handphone~~~!!! Whoop! This is the first time my handphone cost more than a thou...hehe. This is what it looks like:

Got myself a K810i last month. Wanted a camera phone so I can take pics of good/weird medical signs I stumble during work.

That's how I've been posting Arishah's pictures...I can blog the pictures I've taken...yay!









Second big news, I've got myself an AIA life insurance with TPD. Phew...finally! Along introduced him to me. I'm paying yearly, so I don't have to bother much. Rusydan said he'd rather have it annually so he can have regular contact with his agent. Either way, one big thing settled. I didn't take medical card though, because I'm still working under the government. Besides, my agent adviced, if I'm still working in the goverment and would rather seek the perks it gave me, the insurance payment is my right and I can just save it up in my ASB account. Good idea huh! But hope nothing like that happens though, Nauzubillah.

Alamak Arishah dah bangun......She's on my lap now Dia pun selsema, jangkit dgn ici. Kadang2 badan panas jugak, tapi ici demah dgn air je, not for medication yet. She sweats a lot during feeding, lets the heat out. I'm the one who needs drugs. Sleepy most of the time.


Hmm apa lagi ye?. Susah la type sebelah tangan ni. to be continued lah...hehehe...

Topsy turvy

Whoop! Why am is arishah upside down? Tonight i have witnessed her victory to turn over n back again. She's practically rolling! Hmm cant leave her alone anymore without a barrier.

Persistence

Arishah has been practicing really hard this last month to turn over. She's also has been visiting me at the hospital for milk. On call schedule this last wk has been hectic, kesian kat arishah

Baby crib

I am juz testing this out

Arishah's 2 month birthday

She's 2 months old now, and yesterday was my first day back at work. Tsk tsk tsk, I kept looking at her photo in my handphone A LOT! Called Mak at home in the afternoon just to check how she was doing.

She was a good girl yesterday...very good girl. Slept most of the time, letting her Tok Wan (my mother in law) to do quick chores. She sleeps well when she's well fed...like her mum hehe.

I learned that she really liked to be stroked at the back...a'hah...like me! She's enjoying her 2 times a day bath, especially when I massage her pre and post bath. Definitely going to have fun playing with her cousin, Amin and Ammar. I wonder what they'll be like. Farith, my nephew once asked my sister in law about his girl-cousin..."Kenapa Yaya punye takde lagi? Belum tumbuh yeh?" Hehe. He's only 4 years old and already knows how to tease my elder sister. "Aunty Eman tak de neno yeh? Dia terjatuh ke? Kenapa Aunty Eman tak jaga betul-betul?" ekekekek. Cute! Just wonder how their mind works sometimes.

She's communicating very well, making new noises. Can't wait to hear her say Mama and Baba. But poor her we didn't do much for her birthday. The house is still a mess. I'm doubting this house will be really over and done with by the end of the month. Some part of the ceiling is still leaking, and noticeable since it's been raining everyday now. Dah lap lantai dah, but now it's dusty again. Rasa malas nak lap lagi, mopping is useless since the debris won't really go away. But this family is staying here, so got to wipe this bedroom so Arishah won't get sick.

The old room turned into library already. Cabinets all done. Just books need to be placed. My books are mostly in Mama's house, don't know when to bring them here. Maybe I'll let them occupy the space with their stuff first, and see if there's anymore left. Useless to bring things back and forth if in the end there're still not enough space.

Cloths!!! Oh my God, I can't fit anymore into my Kebaya and goodbye to my trousers! haha. I'm giving the good ones to my nieces. They're still good to wear. Baju bertandang dah tak boleh pakai, sedihnye. But at least I can buy new ones...just don't have the time to go out. I want to bring Arishah with me if possible, see the WORLD!

Besok on-call. Arghhhh!!! Have to leave her home for 2 days and 1 night. Macam tido kat hotel pulak. Can't take half day off anymore post-call. A colleague of mine got into an accident and broke his tibia...ouch!

Anyway, too bad I can't post pic right now, entah mana pegi wire digital camera tu. Akikah pulak on hold. Initially nak buat sabtu/ahad ni, but I just postpone it since the house looks like this. Maybe when Arishah is 3-4 months old. I can save some extra money pun. And Baba is saving up baby videos...the one I like is Signing time. She really likes to watch it, but her attention span only last about 10-15 minutes. I'm learning how to sign milk, water, play, today, cat, dog and bird. Can't believe learning a new language can be so much fun.

Sign Language

I was browsing through a Malaysian Baby & Children online store called LittleWhiz.com and searched through the net about learning techniques, child brain development and brain food. I stumbled across a sign language course for babies! They claim to show marked improvement in the child language development at a very early stage ( I guess they manage to trigger other parts of the brain when learning sign language).

Here's a sample of the clip:



this would be a pretty good investment :)
Went searching for testimonials and reviews, and stumbled upon My Baby Can Talk DVDs from Amazon.com, and more products on sign language for babies. Anyway, if you guys are interested, visit those sites. Amazon provides good feedback on those products.

Interestingly, I also found Baby Signs Malaysia, stationed in PJ. I think I'd like to give it a try once Arishah is 6 months old. It's better than watching the cartoons in Astro.
----------------------

It seems Arishah is prone to colic, especially at night. She would cry inconsolably, her tummy would be bloated but still soft. She still want to breastfeed, but would cry intermittently during feeding, like every 5-10 seconds. Kesian dia.

The worst episode was on the night after her 1 month birthday...19 March 2008. She didn't stop crying from 11 pm until 6 am in the morning. I did almost everything, and went to the emergency dept when she didn't stop crying at 2.30 in the morning. She didn't pass motion or pass flatus, last checked was that 11 pm. At least, she didn't vomit.

Went to Kajang Hospital, they took abdominal x-ray, found out she had dilated bowels. But the MO recommend that we go by ourselves to GHKL ourselves, since the procedure from a hospital to another would take time. I understand. Arishah didn't have any fever or vomitted. But I requested to go to PPUM instead, because I was a house officer there. It was already 4 am by then.

By the time we got to see the paediatrician in the Emergency dept in PPUM at 6 am, little princess Arishah gave out 3 massive thunder from down below and a burp to add the spice. Hmm...buat orang risau aje lah! At least she doesn't need to go for another abdominal x-ray since we are sure there's no obstruction. But still, poor her, crying sampai penat. She managed to sleep for almost an hour. Bila bangun je, nangis balik.

Well, that's an experience. Thank God colic doesn't last forever!

28 days old and acting like a princess

Hello people!!!

She knows the power of crying already! Oh, those sleepless nights. She doesn't want to sleep in her own cot...half an hour is tops, then she cries again. So she sleeps besides me and Baba now. I guess she wants the comfort and warmth. 2 weeks ago, she still able to sleep in her own cot, and even if she wakes up, hearing my voice is enough to make her comfortable again and put her to sleep. Now...no more.

She seems to have colic only at night, and has been having it for the past 4 nights. Kesian. I know she's in pain because even while she's breastfeeding, she cries intermittently.

Talked about breastfeeding...I tried to give her my breast milk with bottle, but she just don't want to take it. I guess she needs to learn how to suck from a bottle. Have been saving up on breast milk in the fridge. Got to buy some container with ice pack for travel and work purposes after confinement is over. Hopefully I can breastfeed at least for 6 months. Too much allergy history in both side of the family.

She burps...oh my...doesn't sound like a lady at all! hehe She posset (vomit) quite a lot, worse if not being burped beforehand. But she weighs 1 kg extra at 18 days of life, that's what the nurse told me...3.7 kg. Her cheeks are chubbier, but her behind still lacking some :) Will do another postnatal check up this coming Wednesdaay

Here are some of her third-week-of-life pictures: (mind the eyebrows, my mum gave her an early make-up lesson with Mecca Kohl)

Mama, I'm cold.

Hmm, thinking...thinking...Post-election lah katakan.

(Please insert witty comments here...hehe. Baba said she looks like a Komeng)


My 2nd year anniversary is coming up in 7th April. Wondering what to do. Maybe we'll leave Arishah with my in-laws (testing first before I start working and had to leave her during on calls. tsk tsk) and then go out for a nice dinner and a movie. I haven't watched a movie for such a long time!!! Movie apa best yek time time macam ni?

There are quite a lot of things to settle before I start working. I have another 20 days post confinement. Need to open an ASB account for Arishah and put her savings there. Maybe open my Tabung Haji account, I never had one...for emergency fund. Hopefully they will give my salary this end of month. I'm out of money...hehe. Wants to buy some toys for Arishah :)

Post election blues

I want to say something, yet my heart is disheartened. So I'm not going to, because too many people are voicing out the same views, yet it is still unheard by the eardrums of our 'leader'. Currently reading through blogs (too many to list down) and forum (www.mykmu.net) with hubby, updating with the current news, looking for signs of changes.

The only thing that made me smile is the cynical jokes posted, and my little baby. Pray to God to save this country, because there are many who works and pray hard for the love of this nation.

The Baby has Popped Out

2 weeks and 3 days ago...(flashback)

Sunday night at 6 pm - contractions getting regular, every 10 minutes. Still bearable. Thought I'd better go to the hospital. On second thought, might as well have dinner first. 8 pm, we drove to the hospital. Check up done...1 cm. :p

Monday morning at 5 am - contractions more frequent, every 5 minutes. It was strong enough to wake me up from sleep and keep me awake. Still I waited until 6 am before telling my hubby. And waited some more until 7 am...better eat breakfast first in case I'm going to be admitted. 7.30 am arrived at the hospital. Check up done...2 cm. :p. Geezzzzz, I was wondering how long my latent phase of labour is going to take me to the next stage...a week? It took 3 days from 1 cm to 2 cm. So I got admitted to the ward, but unfortunately no bed yet. I was privileged with a First class, 2 bedded room. But I was admitted to a 2nd class instead. I don't mind.

9.00 am - they gave me IM (intramuscular injection) pethidine. Ouch! Pain is getting stronger, but bearable. Contractions every 3 minutes. Next time, I'll remind myself to go on without the IM. I can't bear the dizziness. I forgot all about it. I can't take Tramal either. Vasteral is fine with me.

10.00 am - they send me up to the ward. Hubby brought all the stuff, but he can't stay. So he waited at the PAC, the place where we entered.

11.00 am - contractions becoming unbearable, every 2 minutes. Rang up the staff nurse. She timed contractions, check down there again. 3 cm. Finally! I said to myself. But 3 cm with 5:10 contractions? I tried to psycho myself about the pain. They told me they'll arrange to send me down.

12.00 noon - I feel it coming!!! Rang up the nurse like hell, because I sure don't want to deliver up in the regular ward. I could understand them not believing in me when I say the baby is coming. It was less then 2 hours! My tummy felt like bursting, just like the severe pain I used to have monthly, only this time it comes every 2 minutes. And I know it's not getting any less until this baby is out. So the nurses rushed...pushed...ran me down to the labour room. My eyes was closed, huffing and puffing trying to hold the baby from coming out...but I sure could feel the stroller strolled like crazy...hehehe

12.30 noon - arrived at the labour room. Shifted my behind from the stroller to the bed. Midwife checked...I was fully dilated. (I felt like telling the nurse upstairs, I told you so...hehehe). Got myself positioned...then I saw my hubby whizzed beside me with a white apron on. Hmm, sempat jugak pakai apron. I pushed twice for the first contraction, the nurse already wanted to do episiotomy, but I hold them off. Contraction wear off, so I asked to wait until the next contraction. I think it took me less than 5 pushes, and my baby girl is out :)

No IV line, no epidural (like I planned), no air selusuh. Just some prayers, and before that, months of lotssss of walking plus on-call - must have what helped me through. First child with 3 hrs of active phase of labour. I'm lucky...very lucky.

BTW, my hubby didn't faint. Thank God. At least he doesn't have to wait and watch me in pain for so long.

She was so tiny...and red! Kept her warm for awhile with my body heat while my hubby azan and qamat. She opened her left eye when she heard my hubby's voice. Smart little bugger.


Baby girl
Weighed 2.69 kg at birth
Named as Arishah

1 cm and a show

I had a show yesterday, early in the morning before going off to work. Yeah, a show...not the entertainment kind, but the bleeding kind as a sign of early labour. SMS my colleague, telling her I'm showing signs of labour, so taking the day off today. I'm waiting for the contractions coming

and waiting...
and waiting...
and waiting...

I only got irregular contraction. Show still there, with increasing amount. No leaking liquor (air ketuban tak meleleh lagi). By 2 pm, sms hubby (since he's so nervous and excited at the same time) that maybe I should just go check at the hospital what's going on.

My baby moves alright, still actively kicking around from time to time. Just afraid I'm mistaken the show is actually an infection. Besides, why still no contraction? It's been 8 hours already.

Arrived at Hosp. Serdang before 4 pm. It's a good thing we went there, got a first look at the registration area and how things work initially. Registered. Went in and pee. CTG put on me. Baby's heart rate constantly around 140s. Felt a mild contraction coming, and gone. Peaked at the CTG and saw the a mild peak. Doc came, checked. No signs of infection. Os 1 cm, cervix still 2 cm but soft.Tick tock tick tock. Might as well go home and wait for the regular contraction.

Went home, told my in-laws and family members. My in-laws couldn't sleep last night waiting. Me and hubby slept soundly after watching 4 episodes of Dr. House, the Evil Knievel.

This morning, woke up at 6.45 am. Hungry...so searching for food. Mama making curry dhal along with frying up chapatti. So in the mean time, updating my blog.

Baby...bila nak keluar ni? Tonight, my niece's birthday party at Nuar's house in Puchong. They are doing barbeque tonight after 6 pm. I guess this baby sure likes food, because she seems to want to taste some barbeque sauce before popping out. After coming out in the world, she would only taste mother's milk for the first 4 months. Pandai baby Mama ni. Notty pun ye jugak. Mak Long kata nak babap skit bila dah keluar nanti.

In the mean time, Mama is reminding me to keep on zikir. She wanted to induced me last night with her doa, but I said no. I know it'll work. But it won't be much different from medically inducing me, right? Don't want an 'early labour' that might go into a 'prolonged labour'.

Air selusuh is ready on the go, I'm just waiting for cervix opening 5 cm or above. Epidural? Well, a weakling like me, I might consider it at 5 cm also, hehe. My overnight bag is ready. I hope I don't have anything big that's missing...and get to taste that barbeque tonight!

Baby and Money. Anytime Now!!!

Soon, my baby will 'pop out'. Bila? Bila-bila masa saja :) [When? Anytime.]

I'm so excited. Now I'm getting nervous too, but that's normal. Braxton Hicks is becoming more often. But every night I check the engagement, it's still not engaged yet :( 3 finger breadth. Hmm, bila la baby ni nak betul betul turun yek?

I'm staying in Kajang now, with my mum. I'm closer to Serdang Hospital, my workplace. But hubby has to travel extra. If he's lucky, he works in Putrajaya. He sends and picks me up from work daily now. Kesian dia. I know he doesn't like to drive, and traffic jam makes him go crazy and balistic sometimes. I do let him know how much it means to me. He never complains...all for our baby!

Anyway, I'm reading a lot of non-medical related materials nowadays. I still haven't finish reading about arrhythmias...erk! I'm not keeping up with my deadlines. But I'm too excited about something else right now...future goals.

Hubby is still thinking about our baby's name last week. Now he calls her Arishah sometimes. Maybe we'll stick to that. Melekat jugak nama yang Mama pilih. She always said ada huruf 'Ain from `Ismat and Rush from Rusydan. Hubby also calls himself a Baba now. Baba and Mama...hehehe. I think my nephews and nieces might even start calling him BabaDan rather than UncleDan. We always laugh at it because anything that starts with Baba sounds so FAT. Cute!

About the books and articles I'm reading, it's more about financial matters. I'm so glad hubby has taken great interest in it too. Previously, I felt quite alone thinking about family finance and reading books about it. I want a financially sufficient family, especially for my kids. Since the last 2 months, he shared his idea about a business, for a variety of reasons.


I've introduced to him 2 weeks ago regarding Azizi Ali's book on Retire Rich. We read it together. At first, he starts questioning after every chapter he reads in the book. I keep encouraging him to finish it first. After all, a book is someone's idea. We may or may not implement it if it doesn't suits us. But opinion have to be heard through and through right? Only then we make the decision.

Now, he's reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kyosaki, also reading it together. We discuss before we go to sleep at night, we throw in our ideas, and we evaluate our values. I showed him the excel worksheets I've downloaded for loans, investment, budget, and retirement plan.


Now, reaching that goal feels so much lighter, because my partner is really working hard for it and share the same vision. Thank you God for opening up this opportunity :) I guess with all the things that's happening (even not getting paid for the past 2 months because some technical problems changing workplace), this baby memang bawak tuah, i.e rezeki is pouring. The knowledge and our love is growing.

10 on-calls for January!!!

I expect February will be a bliss for me...hopefully!

When I was transfered to Hospital Serdang in mid December, I was already started with 5 calls for that month. It was still alright. I was only 30 weeks pregnant. I'm still 'slim' and not bloated. No leg swelling. I can still walk faster than a teenager during emergency calls.

Come January, 10 calls. That means 10 nights not being at home out of 30 days of the month. If my calculation is right, I spent 35 working hours straight for 6 days, and 25 working hours for 4 days. I finished off my last call 3 days ago. I was 1 day away from being 36 weeks pregnant.

(for those who do not know, 38 weeks is the usual time people deliver)

So I huffed and I puffed and blow my mind away. They say it's natural to become forgetful during late trimester, but at least I didn't mismanage any of my patients during those calls...hopefully not...well, I don't think I did...did I? Sigh...

I missed my nephew's birthday today :( hubby got some work to do

I'm planning to move back to my mum's house in Kajang, that's where I'll be during confinement. Need to take babystuff back to Kajang, and maybe review back in case I miss anything.

Problem is, since moving out of PPUM to Serdang, my salary hasn't been paid for 2 full months. Yup, I am a survivor aren't I? That's because I'm a good saver, or some people may say I'm stingy, but at least I'm only stingy on myself but not to others.

Mama has finally got herself a maid. She arrived late last week. We all are going to tong-tong for her salary and the agent's payment. Now she's still in training for Mama's regular routine. Will be a great help during my confinement days.

Can't wait for my baby!!! I hope everything will be alright. I'm so excited. Maybe when the pain comes I'll be afraid, but right now I'm just rejoicing in the great expectations.