arrival of baby Reiko Ariel

I am pleased to announce that baby Reiko Ariel was born on 12 May 2014, naturally(induced) without epidural 🙂

Initially we wanted to name her English name as Juvia, somehow we are flickled minded too.. After lots of arguments, we finally decided on Ariel. Yup, the mermaid Ariel 🙂

Having Ariel during the pregnancy is not easy at all. 10weeks of morning sickness, where I basically puke no matter what I eat and I lost 3kg easily without any exercise or diet. Same like the previous pregnancy, I don’t have any cravings at all (too easy on bear huh).

Every pregnancy is indeed different. This time I feel more restless that I basically don’t have any energy to play with Aerith. My skin suddenly got so sensitive that my eczema flared up on my legs, leaving behind ugly marks. And becos of a suspected food poisoning, I was admitted to Mt Alvernia  at end of March, as I experienced contractions. Dr Chen worried that I may give birth early as I was only 32 weeks then. After discharge, I was given hospitalisation leave though I can rest at home.

Went back to office to do some last min handover. Can see that my managers and colleagues aren’t very happy about that. Well, for the safety of my baby, I have no choice. Dr Chen told me that my colleagues can help with my work, but my baby and my health, only I can take care of myself..

Anyway, this time, I was induced as well as baby is not growing at all between 37 & 38 weeks.  I was asked to induced on 12May, at 39 weeks.

12 may 2014

610am – while I was preparing to go hospital, I had the bloody show and I know its time.

715am – reach Mt Alvernia and ‘check-in’

740am – the nurse did vagina examination(VE) for me and was told that I was dilated 1cm. I was given suppository to clear my bowels.

843am – induction drip was on. Somehow, my veins keep ‘running’ around and end up swollen. The nurse has to poke me on another vein and my left hand is in pain.

About 920am – I start to feel some contractions at 2min interval

1115am – did VE again, and I was 3.5cm dilated. Took the painkiller jab on my buttock and it does help me relax and managed to sleep for a while.

1230pm – dilate 5cm. We thought we still have a few hours to go. Nurse ask if I wan to pee but I got no feeling. So she help me to ‘drain’ my urine. Then immediately after that, I saw all the nurses and midwife rushing here and there. Dr Chen appeared and tell me I am going to give birth. Gosh, it was so sudden that I am no prepared at all. Contractions by then was so intense that I finally feel pain.

I was shouting and Dr Chen asked me to calm down. Its really difficult to not to shout at that moment. With 2-3 pushes, I heard baby Reiko’s first cries. When I first held her in my arms, I cried too. I feel that moment is so touching and finally I get to carry my baby after so many months. Strange that I don’t really feel that when I gave birth to Aerith. Probably this time the pregnancy is not smooth sailing as the previous one. And on 12 may, I am promoted to mother of 2.

Baby Reiko weigh 2560g at birth and standing 49cm tall. Head diameter 31cm.

She had her first suckle of liquid gold (colostrum) at 215pm and she is a hairy princess

 after freshen up

first photo with yours truly.

when Aerith meet Ariel the first time, we made them exchange presents 🙂 my darling Aerith is a sister now.

me and my 2 princesses

and our new family photo =)

2 days old Ariel

this time, we only stayed 2 days 1 night at Mt Alvernia as Dr Chen say that my recovery is fast and since I have no complications, I can discharge early. Baby Ariel is fine and she is ok to discharge as well. Good for us cause we can save money.

When home, Ariel become a devil and she wants milk every hour day and night. I am persistent to total breastfeed this time and didn’t standby any formula. But reality kicks in when my breasts are too engorged and she can’t suck any milk out. On 4th day, I had a breakdown and asked bear to buy a tin of FM in the middle of the night. As much as I don’t want to give FM, but I can’t let Ariel keep crying too. Haiz. I know giving FM doesn’t make me less a mother, but I still thought that I can total breastfeed this time.

1 week old Ariel, waking up when all of us were preparing to sleep.

As of today, Ariel is 23 days old. Her feeding demand still remain as 1-1.5hrs and I only gave in to FM once a day, usually at night. I am trying to be more hardworking to pump after latch, hoping can up my supply. But I am really tired physically and mentally. Probably becos this time I didn’t engage confinement lady and insist to do everything by myself. Well, at least this time, I have no CL and MOL to nag me on stupid restrictions. I am happier too.

Part of me feel so guilty towards Aerith, cos she yearn for my attention so much that she purposely do things to make me angry. I flared up on her and bear a few times but I just can’t control my emotions. Hope all these negative feelings will go away soon.

baby R.J is coming soon

baby R.J is 34 weeks + 5 days now. I am currently on hospital leave till 18 Apr and will be resuming work on 21 Apr, unless Dr Chen wants to extend my HL, until I give birth…

I was admitted to Mt. Alvernia on 21 Mar due to contractions and was suspected food poisoning. At that time, baby R was barely 32 weeks and it was obviously too early for me to give birth, as baby’s liver has not fully developed. Staying at the observation ward is no fun as I was confined to my bed. During that 3 days, I missed my darling so much that I cried almost every day in the hospital.

That was the 1st time that we were ‘separated’ for 2 nights ever since she was born… Glad that I have my mum to help me take care and darling Aerith seems to understand that her mummy is not feeling well.

3 more weeks for baby R.J to be full term. Hopefully she can stay as long as possible.

updates for beginning 2014

hello and happy CNY to all! 1st post of 2014.

Been very busy at work for the past few months, ever since new manager took over. He simply throw everything to me and expect me to know everything. I used to complain about being so free in the office, making my brain turn rusty. Now I regret saying that.

And if you are not on FB, you may not know as well. I am currently 26 weeks pregnant with #2, and is another princess =) This time, is a planned one but never expect to come so early. Initually I wanted to have a Dec baby, just like me :P.  Well, sometimes, certain things are not for us to decide. We wanted a boy but is a girl again. I am quite ok with that but hb seems disappointed. Well, let’s see. If we have the finances in the future, we might consider to try for another boy 😛

This is our 2nd princess as of 24 Jan @ 24 weeks.

my tiny bump at 25 weeks

Darling Aerith has been throwing lots of tantrums lately and she seems more and more difficult to teach. She is so stubborn in her way that we have to scream and beat her almost everyday. Even, hb who always believe in soft approach, cannot take it anymore and lay his hands on her.

I hope this is just phase and I hope she wont become worse after #2 is out.

We have started our wedding car rental since last year too. Response is not bad and allows us to have additional income. If you are getting married or having frens getting married soon, do consider us as well =)

http://sportymercbridalcar.wordpress.com/

HFMD Attack!

Aerith caught HFMD on 16 Oct, Wed. Teacher called me to inform that they notice a few blisters near her mouth and she complained of pain in her mouth. Applied urgent leave and took her to doctor and confirmed its the nasty HFMD. She cannot go to sch for 10 days.

For the 1st 2 days, she refused to eat and drink and gets very cranky. When she cried, I cried too. I have tried all ways to make sure she is not dehydrated.  Blisters start to appear on the 2nd day and more on the 3rd. Other the medicines from doctor, I applied Young Living essential oils (Thieves & Purification) on her spine and feet almost every 30-45mins for the 1st 3 days. Glad that she is much better on the 3rd day and she began to eat a little. I still continue to apply the oils on her even the blisters are pretty dried up now. Seeing her regaining her appettite and activeness, I nvr felt so relieved and happy.

Brought her to doctor again last night for follow up. Yeah! Glad that the doctor say she is fit for school now. I didnt want to wait till 10th day cos I think she is well enough, and partly, my leaves are limited too. As usual, bear asked me to leave Aerith with his mum so that I do not need to take so many days leave. Anyone who know me, will know that I rather take unpaid leave than to leave my gal with MIL to take care.  Whether biased towards MIL or not, I feel that I have the responsibility to take care of my own kid if she is sick since I choose to give birth to her. Nothing is more important than the health of my gal.  =)

If you are a mummy, you will understand how I feel. Sorry to the daddies out there. I dont mean that daddies dont care, but I feel that mummies are always the one who sacrificed if kids are sick or sch is closed. Somemore, mummies are always the stronger ones and we are ‘forced’ to do alot of things on our own. Of course there are some hands-on daddies too. =)

Hope all children can be healthy and be free from all these nasty disease/illness!

4Q coming

Gosh! Time flies! Half of Sep is gone and the new year is coming soon.

Aerith turns 2 in August and she is really a cheeky little one. I love how sticky she is to me now. I love the way she call me mummy, sometimes call me ‘mi’ and sometimes purposely call me ‘老婆’ (she heard bear call me that).

I love the way we bond when we play cooking set or dressing set. Well, she has her terrors too. They are not called ‘Terrible Twos’ for nothing. She can be happy one moment and cry out suddenly the next.  She is getting more and more chatty too =)

Soon, another year has passed and me, still stucked in the same company for donkey years. I really wish I can get out of this job soon. Seems lady luck is not with me all the time. Whenever I wanted to quit, something unexpected happen. Probably this is destined that I should just stay.

Sometimes I do feel helpless when relatives/friends around me tell me about their new job. Why can’t I seems to pass all the interviews and get the shit out of this company? I think my interview skills sucks. Even my bro also think I have turned rusty.

I realize I am more and more absent-minded and stupid as I grow. Probably all the ‘cleverness’ goes to Aerith. Almost 30 and yet I have achieved nothing in my career. =(