THE Day

And I thought I was gonna blog the last week as I counted down to Faith's arrival...she arrived even earlier than we expected. :)

I was out at Ikea with mom last Tuesday, trying to get as much done to set up our new flat before I'm 'confined' -- of course, scandalising the whole world thinking why in the world were these 2 women, one middle-aged, one heavily pregnant, lugging so much stuff from Ikea?!

The day after that, I was intending to rest at home before the planned induction the next day, but ended up visiting the preschooler and baby my mom looks after since their birth. My mom treats them as if her own grandchildren and pines for them while she's here to help us for a month. She couldn't sleep well the night before that when she heard that Baby Jason had been down with a flu and the new maid they have doesn't seem experienced looking after them. Zoey and Jason seemed very happy to see us. That was the first time I met the maid -- I am glad and even more resolute about my decision to look after my own daughter.

Show appeared after I had lunch with mom at around 2.30pm. I was already experiencing what I thought felt like menstrual cramps throughout the night before. The 'cramp' began to intensify as the day went on but was bearable. My gynae, Dr Yvonne Soong advised me on the phone to look out for more show to appear and monitor movements of the foetal. Andrew was supposed to go for IPPT that evening, but since I was still alright and moving around, and mom was already staying with us, I asked him to proceed with the IPPT. Dr Soong called again at 7 pm to check on me and advised that I make my way to meet her at TMC at 11 pm. My waterbag was burst after Dr Soong confirmed that I was already 2 cm dilated.

Contractions intensified by the hour, later on minutes...poor Andrew could hardly sit down to rest. Each time when he barely reached the edge of the black arm chair set in the delivery suite for him to rest during the night, contractions came and he quickly got up to hold my hand in support. Throughout labour, I was thinking in my semi-concious state, that I am most glad of my husband's presence and support throughout the pregnancy and labour...thank God for the blessing of my precious husband.

At around 5 or 6 am, I couldn't handle the pain anymore, and asked Andrew if I could have epidural. It was arranged and I was asked by one of the midwives to sign a consent (I was thinking to myself then, 'How strange...the words are so blur to me I can't even see what I'm signing...but hack!'

At 12pm, after pushing for...don't know how long...Dr Soong told me that Faith had turned to face up, i.e. facing the same direction as I was. She said it's such a pity because I was already 10cm dilated then and we didn't have to induce as we had previously planned, but the baby's heartbeat was beginning to decrease. I couldn't really understood her then (after effects of the laughing gas and long labour, I think), but I wanted the baby to be out quick, and safe. I turned to look at Andrew and asked him, 'Ok?' He nodded, giving me the 'no choice' look. That was the only reassurance I needed that that is the best we can do for our daughter.

At 3.15pm, I woke from the c-section and saw only Andrew in the ward with me. I started asking questions about my little girl. Andrew was all smiles and told me that Faith stopped crying and looked at him when he carried her and talked to her shortly after she was born. We are so proud of her...

At 3.20pm, Faith was finally brought to me after the paediatrician had examined her thoroughly. A lactation consultant came to our ward to help me put Faith to the breast. To my relief, Faith was able to latch on without much prompting. I was so worried that she wouldn't be able to latch on properly if I couldn't breastfeed her immediately after the c-section that Andrew told me, before I was even stitched back, I asked if I could breastfeed her immediately! Hehe...before I completely passed out straight after that.

Well, nothing could set my heart at ease then, until I held my baby girl in my arms and know that she's real, she's here and I have her in my arms...our first born. :)

Beginning of THE week

Mom's moved in with us for a month from today. Heheh...she seemed all geared up when we met in the morning, ready to get to work; but as the day went, she became more and more relaxed. Good to have her over to help out during the confinement, especially during the first two weeks when I'd be quite immobile, I suppose, but we really just wanted her to take a good break from fussing around my siblings and her two precious babies she's been babysitting since their birth.

She's slowly realizing that there's very little for her to do during my confinement besides cooking for us, bathing Faith and putting the laundry into the washer and dryer. Andrew also asked her to leave heavier tasks like mopping the floor to him when he gets home from work. I don't think she would though -- her own kitchen and bathroom floors are fit to be slept on ANYTIME!!! Usually, she stresses herself up (and others around her at the same time) being the perfectionist in housekeeping. She's less pushy when it's not her territory -- in this case.

I was out almost the whole day again today...what a scandal to many, I guess. ;p Even my own baby sister exclaimed, "What are you doing running around when you're near delivery THIS week?!" Hmm...put it this way, I'm really, really glad I can still move around despite my extremely swollen legs (yeah, not just feet) and reach to cut my own toe nails. The pain in my joints (finger-joints, knuckles, wrists, ankles and knees) subsides in the late mornings after I've moved around for awhile, so I'd rather keep moving than slow-down or do nothing. :) Thanks to all my kind friends, anyway. Please believe that I do cherish your well-meaning words and know that you care for my well-being.

My schedule tomorrow is to get the remaining things we need from Ikea, and clear up the remaining kitchen stuff in the living room and the mess on the dining table.

Not much time left...counting down to Thursday. I can relate to Mr Brown's feeling of everything around becoming larger than life when one expects the first-born...

Poor Andrew...

How nice...to be away from work; yet ironically, it has been the next busiest time of this year, rather, my life, for the past week.

Friends have been telling me to rest, rest and rest because I'm near labour anytime soon. Much as I'd like to, I haven't been able to. Those who care for me think I did not exercise my 'choice'. To me, I haven't done much because I can't move faster than I can in my state now, except do whatever I can, to cover Andrew wherever he can't.

Too much for him to handle alone...moving to the new flat; getting it set up so that we can at least settle in without people tripping over as we buzz around when baby comes home with us; settling outstanding issues of the old apartment; trying to complete the thesis he meant to hand in end October; looking after me (with this incessant cough!); worrying about Faith's condition (whether her umbilical cord is endangering her further); admitting me to the hospital next Thursday night...etc. My poor man is up to his nose...

Alamak~! Just as I write, my dear husband (who has been seemingly losing his sense of directions recently) realized and exclaimed to me that he'd wasted 2 cheques without realizing we can actually pay our credit card bills at the AXN machine. '_' You see what I mean? I'll tell you how tired his mind is... We met the Lows for dinner at the Esplanade. Juriah pointed to a poster and told him, "They'll be showing 'The Little Prince' soon." He exclaimed, "Where?! There? In the restaurant???" Then, when we were waiting for the buses to go home, Illysa told us, "Godma, one day, I saw an egret crossing the road with the zebra crossing." He exclaimed again, searching around wide-eyed, "Huh?! Where?!" Juriah and I both went, "Aiyo~"

Ouch~! Contractions again. Been coming on and off since late afternoon today. Hmmm...

I am Sleeping Beauty...@^_^@

Recommended by Mumspotter...haha, and guess which Disney character is my alter ego (to my surprise too!) -- Sleeping Beauty!!! Yeah...ok...well...I like to sleep; when I believe its possible, then it IS possible; I disobey my parents a lot; I have a vivid imagination; I am naturally curious; I love deeply and passionately...but of all the characters -- Sleeping Beauty...er...herher...#@_@# A bit unexpected.

You scored as Sleeping Beauty. Your alter ego is Princess Aurora, a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty! You are beautiful and enchanting, and as sweet as ever.

Peter Pan		94%
Sleeping Beauty		94%
The Beast		69%
Cinderella		69%
Ariel		63%
Donald Duck		56%
Goofy		50%
Snow White		44%
Pinocchio		38%
Cruella De Ville		25%

Which Disney Character is your Alter Ego?
created with QuizFarm.com

Past few days...

Past few days have been a frenzied whirlwind of happenings keeping us on tiptoes most of the time. We hardly even stopped to speak to each other, and when we did, it'd have been late and we're both dead tired.

Andrew's trying to get as much organised and done around the two apartments at the same time; but I could tell he's more or less a working zombie...trying to stay focused and less confused by his mixed emotions. I can tell there're lots on his mind, but he's trying not to worry me.

Only until this morning, were the two of us finally breaking down...

Faith hardly moved yesterday. The standard observation we were told at the antenatal classes we attended was that there should be at least 10 movements in 12 hours. However, as she's usually very, very active -- often 20-30 movements in 20 minutes (especially when there are interesting sounds like children's voices, people talking to me in a quick and high-pitched tone, loud music, machinery moving near me, Andrew's voice etc.), it got us really, really worried.

I'd been picking up and putting back Yvonne's card with the emergency number yesterday, wondering to call or not to call her. It's a public holiday, and each time when I wanted to call her, Faith moved -- once. At 9.30pm, when I was unpacking our clothes from the suitcases, she started to move regularly again, but still slower than her usual. When Andrew returned from moving the last piece of furniture from Dragon View Park, she perked up responding to his palm placed on my tummy again, like she always does.

We went to Yvonne's clinic first thing this morning and had the CTG done. Heartbeat's normal, as we have observed using stetascope yesterday; movements were still lesser than her usual. Ultrasound showed the umbilical cord has moved up to her ear, but I agree with Yvonne -- we'd rather still play safe. If she's still quiet today and tomorrow, we'll induce on Friday; if she resumes her activity, we'll wait till next week. The strange thing is, after we've made that decision, Faith started to resume her activity.

I wonder if all these were caused by my physical and mental stress over the last few days. I hadn't been resting well because there was too much movement around. I didn't do much (because the guys and girls won't let me touch things) but maybe I've been upright -- sitting or standing around for too long. The swell in my feet just won't come down anymore, even when I've propped them up while I slept. Andrew thinks it might be because Faith is resting on some blood vessel.

Anyway, our new home has been tidied up in a shorter time than we expected. Andrew's set up Faith's room for mom's comfort during her stay with us for my confinement. While I write, he's set up Faith's little corner in our room with her playpen and changing station. He's also set up the study and pc yesterday and today. The rest of the unopened cartons can be sorted out slowly, over time. We have 'volunteers' to help unpack, hehe... Juriah has volunteered her children and herself to help unpack some of the stuff like books and cutlery since school holidays are round the corner.

We have been surrounded by so much love...and we cannot thank God enough for blessing us with all these people whom we love and who loves us...