New-found Addiction

To keep my sanity (after facing the loads of crying moments, diaper changing sessions and feeding epics), I have embarked on reading multiple blogs to kill time and upkeep myself with some part of the world out there.

Loving how “The Goat That Wrote” writes his entries on KR. Reminded me of the many wonderful moments that I had in KR too. Sad that I did not manage to do a good immersion getaway to really explore the place better. “Hey from Japan” was great! It seems years away since I experienced an Onsen. Gosh! The therapeutic effect after e submergence in scalding hot water (aka stress relieve) totally making me crave to be in Japan right this very minute!

Obviously, being a new mom, exploring mother blogs is a must. Though I was never a big fan of those sell out bloggers, then again, they do prove to be quite an entertainment. Apart from the usual – “angelatay”, “the savvymummy”, “Sanses” and “MotherInc, I think that ‘ang mo’ blogs are so much more fun to read. Look at “metropolitan mum”, “a modern mother”, “brixtonjunkies”, “allnewadventures”… Their kids get so much exposure, resources and MASSIVE land to really play and have fun. Of course, best part? Their kids are so damn gorgeous. Thanks to the ‘ang mo’ genes.

Made me wonder – what happened to mine. Sadly, he’s downright Asian. Hopes of turning him into any form of heart-throb has flown out of the window when baby acne sprouted out all over his face just within the first week of entering into the world.

(erm…Eli if u are ever reading this post in the future – dun worry. U still have a special place somewhere in my heart – *me gives a one eye wink* hehe After which, please blame your father for any features that you deemed not satisfactory…teehee)

 

‘Disfigured’ Me!

Tags

2 weeks old, Baby acne, millia, Newborn care

Poor Eli! Suffering from acne!!! Gross but still pitiful looking. Hope it’s not itchy for him.

How are We progressing?

As we progress steadily into the 3rd week, Eli is fast growing. At least he managed to finally weigh past his birth weight at 3Kg (the last we measured yesterday at the doc).

Yesterday was a super fruitful trip to Thomson Medical. First, I had my stitches removed. Spent close to $900 on my medicine alone. Totally got a shock when about to pay. Uncle Mark brought Eli down to the Pediatrician to see what exactly caused his disfigurement. Yes. Eli now has tiny bumps of red marks across the whole of his face and due to it spreading like wild fire, I decided that the doc must take a look. Despite us knowing already that that could be baby acne. I was still adamant to at least have him diagnosed properly. Just in case it’s other forms of rashes that we do not know. Sighz. Talk about hormone changes. So Eli clocked up a $100+ bill as well. Making our visit at least $1k blown off in mere seconds. (of course that does not include the fact that I went t buy a laptop shortly after that. Oopz, ake that splurging off close to $3k in just 4hrs). SIGHZ

Uncle Mark is filling the strain though. He has fulfilled his job as a confinement nanny in the past 2 weeks. Tml he will resume his blue collared worker job and I think secretly he will be happy with the ‘freedom’ that comes along with it. Afterall it’s tough to be confined with me in the house (my parents’ place) eating home cooked food for so many days. He is an unhealthy kid and such a healthy lifestyle totally dis-fits him. Sad case. Well, I still appreciate him feeding and cleaning Eli at night especially Eli has recently mastered the art of ‘shit projectile’. He is now able to shoot his liquidy poo across a long distance of ’100m’ -which ended up us cleaning 2 uncle mark’s shorts, my dress and changing the crib’s bedsheets as well as cleaning up the floor. As he has done that twice, we sort of innately think he LOVES doing it. Just to spite us and show us that he can. KNS. Anywayz, uncle mark has been quite a patient father (just swearing in his heart several times).

Also, his enormous appetite scares me off. Just this morning considering that we feed him about 60ml at 5.30am, he is able to clamour for more milk at 6.30am where he drank off another 60ml. Waking me up at 8am, he actually wants more milk where he obviously suckled (coz I had no time to run downstairs to heat up the expressed milk for him) for close to 15min before willing to fall asleep. At this rate, my supply can never hit demand. Soon I might have to return to supplementing with formula milk. To think that I was so impressed with myself the other ay that I can express at least up to 4Oz now at each pumping session of 10min. Seriously, looks like I am rejoicing too soon.

Next up, planning Eli’s 1-mth celebration. Now that I got the venue booked and the date/time fixed. It’s time to send out the invitations – via sms/facebook! Yippee! And next week onwards, I will finally get the massage lady. My poor aching shoulders.

 

Series of Laptop Crashes

I know that confinement period means a period of time to really take good care of your newborn. Giving him/her your total, undivided attention. However, as the days progress and when day/night seriously gets into a routine of feeding, pumping, changing diapers and all over – genuinely, days get boring and time is a blur.

So obviously, I turned to technology to help me pass the days. Especially when I am left alone with the kid for the full day. Then that’s when lightning strikes. My trusty (or used to be trusty) netbook – Aspire One decided to fail me on times when I most needed him. Followed by uncle mark’s laptop which seriously refused to boot up when my sacred finger touches the ‘on’ button. Miraculously, when uncle mark’s hard long index finger touches the ‘on’ button, the computer totally lights up in glee and delight. Total piece of @#$(@#!

Then came the craving of getting myself a new book. Using my about-to-spoil iphone (the button has decidedly malfunction on me as well), I decided that I am going to get myself an ultrabook. GOSH. This Asus ZenX31 not only proves to be gorgeous, as I am typing on it now (yes! I actually went all the way to century square, carrying Elijah after the doc appt to get it. Talk about tech addiction); it’s totally sleek and proved worthy of my investment of SG$1.7K

Now, I am able to blog freely, watch my videos freely, play music for Elijah (yes, albeit another excuse but hey…it’s an legitimate one nonetheless) and work on my media project which is thankfully ending today.

What will I do without the internet world and the various tech discoveries that link me to that world full of entertainment and knowledge.

Love my Zenbook. Totally rocks!

Settling in

Tags

1week, breastfeeding, chinese new year, Newborn, night wakes, reading up

Chinese new year is here!!! Though there’s not much mood this year, it’s been quite a huge change in adjusting to taking care of a little one.

Thanks to uncle Markie who is able to take 2 weeks leave to help out w the confinement. Though basically e main task of feeding is still me since I am bf…it’s good to have someone to share e changing or pacifying e kid…cooking meals for me while I conc on fulfilling Eli needs.

I am just worried about e weeks approaching without uncle mark…it means I only have myself to rely on. Only at night will I have my mum and uncle mark to help take care while I catch a wink.

Confinement can really b boring since I only have Eli to talk to most of e time if am left alone. Apart from him crying massively…it does get pretty lonely. Glad to have iPhone around to entertain while I pump or bf Eli in e sanctuary of my room. Soon it will be Eli’s 1 month old celebration. Still pondering over what should we do. I am thinking of inviting close friends and family but some have different thoughts and seriously want to expand to many people. Talk bout budget constraint here!

Nighttime is fast approaching. Really hate e nights as Eli does not cooperate in e feeding and drinking of milk process. He totally likes to bring e house down every time he opens that mouth of his.

Can’t wait for e confinement month to b over. I really do want to go out of e house looking decently decent. Now I just feel half naked all e time due to e need to bf and keep e milk coming.

To uncle mark: here’s to celebrating our monthly versary! *clink* fake wine glasses and lots of soiled nappies!

Arrival

Tags

breastfeeding, bundle of joy, c-section, Childbirth, no colostrum, no milk, or not

Finally e day arrived with Eli brought to e world. Thanks to various aunties and friends, Eli was super well received!
Thanks everyone for e pressies!

So here I am blogging in e morning, waiting for him to be fetched to me for his feed. Sadly to say…I have no colostrum…no milk despite given birth for 4days now. He tried latching to no milk produced. Though e initial plan was to put him on total breastfeeding, I seriously do not want him to suffer jaundice and thus put him on supplementary feed of formula milk via cup feeding. It’s not too bad actually. I thought I will be super against or unhappy about not being able to provide e basic milk for a child…but so far…I actually think its e best move.

Of course, meantime I am totally getting my breasts squeezed and prodded by nurses (freaking painful), massaged b4 every feed, pumping it after every feed…putting warm pads, using nipple cream…taking pills to increase milk flow…basically doing everything to see if I can squeeze out even a tiny drop of white liquid. Sadly as of today…nothing again! The lactation docs also can’t do much except to prod at me now and then. Sad case!

Oh wells, let’s hope that today after discharging and going home, things will get better. I do hope I can produce at least some milk for Eli’s antibodies to b stronger…gosh!

Staying so many days at e hospital is no joke. I have yet to see e sun for e past 3days. Kinda feel like a vampire.

Tummy and water retention still far from subsiding. Seems like to b a slim mummy is tough! Sigh another sad part of pregnancy…it’s no wonder why guys end up finding new wives…hahaha after I looked at my body I also think that the chances are very high. It’s do hard to look at myself now much less others. Hmmz. Guess that’s where true love steps in. Otherwise change focus and just see how ‘adorable’ e young one is. Blah!

Contractions & Addictions

Tags

contractions, kairosoft games, pregnancy, pressure, tired, ventolin

I am absolutely looking forward to the arrival of Elijah. However, it was not very pleasant yesterday at the weekly routine check-up to know that Eli is gradually having little space in me.

His poor knees are bent to accomodate his large tummy. I totally blame uncle mark for having his height. Recently, Eli is also getting quite a bit of hiccups – which explains the pulsating effect that I feel every night. Poor kid. I have issues of hiccups. Didn’t know it was ‘hereditary’.

So as per the lastest scan, I am having contractions that I am totally clueless about. TakingVentolin now which helps prevent preterm labour. The side effects only were felt when I left home for half an hour to get lunch. The cold sweat and trembling is no joke. I thought I was about to faint outside. Every step I felt woozy.

Well, as long as I do not give birth at home, any pills prescribed to me – gladly take it! I dun really want to go through the pain of natural birth. The pain doesn’t sound ‘natural’ at all. Even while typing this entry, I feel pressure below which makes me wonder are those even contractions or just purely my imagination.

It’s so scary!

While, fortunately I have Kairosoft games to help me pass the time & distracting me from the pressures. Anxiety wont help. I just want Mon to come quickly & see Eli face to face & start on my recovery process. After which, a safe entrance to NIE & start of juggling between work + kid + family + friends + exercise all over. Looking forward. I am officially tired of bedrest.

Tml will be a busy day packing up clothes & stuff to my parents’ place. Shall hang in there!

 

Best Entertainment For Bedrest

Tags

36weeks pregnant, bedrest, black and white, early learning, fetal movement, flashcards

Good reads…

Doing up Eli’s ‘Made W Love’ Flashcards – so ex to buy…hopefully this will help stimulate infant’s learning ability (according to Dr. Makoto Shichida & Glenn Doman as well as many early learning studies)

Listening to 就是万人迷!

Countdown Weekly Calendar Officially Starts Ticking

EXACTLY ONE MORE WEEK

Super mixed feelings.

Excited, Scared, Happy, Loss of Freedom, Something to finally call my own, Tired, Anxiety…All sorts.

1st CNY with a new addition into my little own family

HUGZ & Truly Looking Forward

How Can This Be?

1st Debelief: Sch starts tml. Can’t help but feel that I have wasted this whole hols away doing nothing super productive.

2nd Disbelief: Amazed to learn so much through lunches & tea times with so many of my friends. Everyone leads a really interesting life! It’s just great to take time to learn more and hear their stories  despite their busy schedule. LIKES!

3rd Disbelief: Eli’s potential -day has been brought forward. Totally confirmed today at the gynae. My happiness is indescribable. When I first found out that Eli doubled his weight in 2 weeks from 1.2kg to 2.6kg, I was quite petrified. Now that I am just hitting the 35weeks mark, Eli is at 2.7kg (think his weight has significantly stabled) but my gynae has advised that looking at my frame, its best to deliver as early as I can so 16-Jan will be the day he meets the world! Only good news out of this visit?! My pregnancy is huge so meaning that I have a big placenta, thick umbilica cord, lots of amiotic fluid which will all be taken out once Eli is born – aka bigger weight loss. Then comes the sad part. I will have tons of excess skin around my tummy which I will need to find ways to tummy tuck them. GOSH! Well, with it the only benefit is I have to get 1 week of hospitalisation leave to bed rest myself b4 delivery. How exciting?!

4th Disbelief – Rusty Brain. Really cannot leave your brain un-used for a while. Things inside get rusty and totally unused. Sighz. That’s what I feel now that I am working on my media project. Lots of uncertainties & doubts. Fortunately I am not doing this alone. Will totally bang my head against the wall. KNS

 

It feels so good to just sit at home & type this blog entry with a great cup of ice-cold oolong tea. okz…randomness!