The Unbalanced Libra..

K and I spent nearly the whole day downtown today.  I was basically tagging along with K on one of his customer and shop visits.  K got an invitation to attend the official opening of HMV at 313 Somerset so i tagged along and went to 313 for the first time..

I had expected like a buffet spread at the opening but it was quite a disappointment.  First of all, there was no buffet.. I had not taken lunch then and it was nearly 2pm.. All we got was a goodie bag with some lame stuff inside (2GB USB drive, HMV bear and $1 HMV voucher etc..)  But there was a huge crowd gathered inside the store waiting for the special guest appearance of this Korean pop band called "T Max" or something. I don't even know who they are.  So i walked around the DVD section and copied down all the interesting movies i can watch later on http://www.pipi.cn/  haha.. = )

By the time we were ready to leave the store, T Max had arrived so the staff there had sealed off the exit / entrance.  So K and I got stuck inside the store for a while.  And since i had nothing else to do, i decided to join in the crowd and waited to take pictures of T Max..  Didn't manage to get anything in the end.. (see second photo below) haha..



After the HMV extravanganza, K and I headed to the lobby and took pictures with Santa Claus and Santarina.  The mall had arranged for free photo taking and instant photos (courtesy of Canon) for all shoppers, which i thought was really nice.  Plus, for some reason, there was no queue!

K and I went for Bria's check up in the morning today cause Dr. Lim came in early..  We still had to wait but at least the queue was not that bad..

Doc prescribed some medication for my flu, which had developed into a cough and sore throat over the last few days.. i even had a slight fever yesterday.. PLUS super itchy rashes on my feet..  It was horrible.. And as if things weren't bad enough, a huge zit appeared on my right cheek..

Doc did the usual scan, and told me that Bria wouldn't be due so soon, not at least within the next 7 days. He also mentioned to me that he would be going on leave the next day and back on Monday.. According to the ultrasound, Bria weighed about 3.3kg .  That's 0.5kg heavier than her last check up 10 days ago.. Which made me a bit worried cause that's quite big, and she still has another 7 days to grow, which means she will be huge when she comes out! Huge = more painful labor.. While Bria gains weight, poor mummy lost 0.6kg due to my stupid flu = )

For the past few days, my wonderful helper (let's call her C) played a huge part in making sure i got well quickly.  She made ginger tea for my flu, honey lime for my throat, and even offered to massage me every night before bedtime.  If there is an award / contest for "Most Outstanding Helper", i will definitely nominate her! = )

After realizing that Bria now weighs 3.3kg, i started to worry about how difficult it would be to give birth to a huge baby.. While chatting online with G today, she mentioned something about her second baby weighing 3.2 kg also at 38 weeks, and how her midwife said she might have to go for c-section if the baby grows too big.. That kinda added on to what i was afraid of and made it worse.. = (


To ease my tension, G suggested 2 ways of bringing on early labor. I found a third method online.

1. Have sex
2. Stimulate my nipples

3. Do more walking

Let's just say only 1 appealed to me = )

I fell sick yesterday.. Woke up with a sore throat, and bad running nose.. kept sneezing throughout the day i thought i could die.  Everytime i sneezed, my stomach contracts, so it really hurts.. But after an entire day of sneezing, it stopped hurting..

Poor Bria didn't move as much for the entire day yesterday cause Mummy was so weak and had to lie in bed the whole day.  And what's worse is i can't even take medication for fear that it will affect Bria.  So i basically just drank water and slept the whole day.  In the evening, my helper made this really potent hot ginger tea for me.  Super spicy man!

I had lots of trouble sleeping last night because of this stupid flu and sore throat.  Plus, for some reason, the minute i lie down, i started burping non stop.  So i had to get up several times.

Anyway, this morning i thought i felt better.. but now i'm starting to sneeze again, and feeling really weak and drowsy...

Sigh.. this is SO not a good time to fall sick. I really hope Bria won't come out anytime soon otherwise i won't have the energy to push her out.. = (

 It's really ridiculous how i can fall sick despite staying at home like 95% of the time.  So i blamed it on K, who have been down with flu as well for the past 1 week.  It's the second time that he's passed the virus to me, the first being the stomach flu virus, which caused me to vomit for the first time throughout my entire pregnancy.. and now this flu virus.. Sigh.. really wish he can take better care of himself.. He's been working and sleeping late everyday, not eating well etc.. I really need him to be healthy as well, not just me! =(

I got so freaked out yesterday when i got an sms from my colleague that his wife just gave birth..

I've been keeping in touch with his wife for the past few weeks and on and off throughout my pregnancy, cause our due dates were really close to each other.  And we are both having girls.

We were even supposed to meet up for lunch next week.  Her due date is on 18 Dec, while mine's 21 Dec. So when i got the sms yesterday that she had popped, i got so nervous.  Cause it means it'll be my turn very soon..

K didn't help when he said Bria will arrive in 3 days time this Sunday, since my due date is 3 days apart from hers.  Then after that, he "redeemed" himself by reassuring me that tens of thousands of women have done it for centuries so everything will be just fine..   =)

I really can't imagine how my labor will be like.  But as each day passes, i just get more and more nervous la!

My helper laid some water proof ground sheets beneath my bedsheets 2 days ago.  At least when my water bag breaks while i'm sleeping, my mattress won't be ruined..

On Tuesday, K brought me out for ice-cream after dinner at home.. We drove to "Ice cream chefs" in East Coast, and ordered a pint of chocolate hershey's and vanilla ice cream with cornflakes mixed in. Super shiok!!  There's still some left in the fridge.. Will gobble it up later today =)

Yesterday was "Satisfy-my-cravings" day.. But somehow, i wasn't entirely satisfied leh.. = )

K and I were out the whole day.. In the morning, we went to Tuas to return some samples, then drove to JB (since we were so near) to wash car and pump petrol.. After that, we went to Woodlands for my favorite fish ball noodles.  Turned out it wasn't that nice after all.  I think they changed the cook, and the one at Bedok North hawker center is much nicer.

After lunch, we went to Vivocity cause K wanted to do some work at the bookstores.. I had a quick window shop in La Senza while waiting for K, and saw this really cute pair of pajamas with sheep prints on it.. Was so tempted to buy it so i can wear for my confinement. But it was like $45 for the whole set.  I can buy similar PJs for $15 at People's Park!

When K was done, we headed to Marche for some banana waffles with ice-cream (another craving i had).  But they didn't serve waffles any more, only crepes.  And ice-cream was mint (K's favourite.. it was a compromise!).  Plus, K had to add in raisins and forced me to eat it, so in the end i didn't really enjoy the dessert... = (

Dinner was at my in laws place.. had home made meat dumplings, and a long long chat with my parents in laws about the baby, our new house, the car, and the stock market.  We then left and drove to ta pau supper: Fried hokkien noodles in black sauce from Fatty Weng's, another of my cravings!  That was the only craving yesterday that was completely satisfied. = ) 



Now i just need to complete the other items on my list:

- Jumbo seafood chilli crab with deep fried bun
- Jumbo seafood mee goreng
- Deep fried You tiao
- Real banana waffles with ice cream!
- Roti Prata

And the list goes on...

K and I went for Bria's check up on Monday evening.. We were the last couple again, so the wait was not long. = )

I've gained another 500grams since my last check up 10 days ago.. Grand total weight gain: 10kg!  As for my baby, she's gained another 200g and now weighs about 3kg according to Dr. Lim..  Scary!  3kg is like a little big loh!  And she's still 3 weeks away from her due date!  Good thing is, Dr. Lim says Bria is growing very well. Plus, she's now in the Anterior position, facing my spine (an easier position for birth) = )

During the check up, Dr. Lim saw my swollen feet, and advised me to get more rest.  He also admonish the saying that swollen feet indicates the arrival of the baby.  Once again, so much for old wives' tales!  I was puzzled when he asked me to get more rest though, cause i've been doing nothing but rest at home for the past few weeks!  Plus, this was not the first time he had asked me to get more rest during my check ups.  So i asked him, and he explained that i needed more BED rest, and sitting down at home doesn't count.  I needed to lie down more so my feet will get better and my baby will get more oxygen.  So des ne!

Problem is, I'm not really an afternoon nap person, although i know i will appreciate all the bed rest i can get once the baby is born!  So what i do is i will try and watch all my movies on my laptop in bed, half lying down.  I am already bored enough at home, can't imagine having to lie in bed and try to sleep everyday!

I had another weird dream again last night..

This time, i dreamt of Bria.  It's the first time ever that i've actually dreamt of her. We were inside a taxi, on the way home from the hospital after my discharge.  I was holding her in my arms and talking to her.. In my dream, Bria was a really happy baby, smiling all the time. = )

But there was something wrong with her.. she had really really short legs. Cause she has this bone density loss problem.. And when we alighted from the taxi and walking along this bus stop, i dropped her on the pavement, and her umbilical cord fell off!! Fortunately, she was unhurt, and still smiling despite the fall.  But the whole dream is SOOO weird, and SCARY! 

Sigh.. what's happening to me..

I've been rather deprived of happiness recently.   I wouldn't say i am UN-happy, just lack some joy and laughter in my life.

I guess it's hard to be happy when you're bored and stuck at home most of the time.  It's really getting more and more difficult for me to walk around nowadays, even in the house.  Bria's getting heavier and i can feel her head descending in my pelvis. Plus, both my feet have swelled for the third time now.. It's been more than a week and it's still swollen.  This time it's the worst, cause it's actually causing me some pain and discomfort compared to the previous two times, especially my left foot.  Mom told me to soak my feet in warm salt water to reduce the swelling, which i did.  But that kinda worsen things cause the swelling and pain got worse.  Then i went to research on the internet, and found out that one of the causes for swollen feet is salt and water retention.  Sigh!  So much for all these old wives' tales!

ANYWAY, since i lack some happiness in my life, i decided to do something about it.  As a start, i decided i was bored of reading, so i rented some DVDs to watch, mostly comedy.   I rented the cartoon "UP", Adam Sandler's "Bedtime Stories" and Angelina Jolie's "Changeling", which isn't comedy at all, but a true story that i thought was really good. I've always had a thing for true story movies. = )


Things started getting "happier" since. During the recent long weekend, i felt as if i was part of the local community that was celebrating Hari Raya Haji.  It was feast after feast. = )  I celebrated both my Dad's and Keson's Grandma's birthday over the weekend.  On Friday, we had seafood lunch with my in laws and Keson's grandma.  We were quite a comical sight, party of 6, and half were sort of "immobile".  My mom in law had one leg in a cast and was in her clutches, grandma with her walking stick, and me, well I was outright waddling.  haha.. i couldn't help smiling when i saw us leaving the restaurant and walking towards our car. = )

On Saturday, i celebrated my Dad's birthday, and then Keson's grandma's birthday on Sunday.  After attending both celebrations, i can't help but feel sad at the huge contrast between the 2 celebrations.  My dad's birthday was celebrated over dinner at a stir fry restaurant in a coffee shop near his HDB flat.  Then we had fruits and the birthday cake back at Dad's house.  It was a simple, small and cosy affair, as with all previous birthdays.  Thing was, it was my Dad's 60th birthday.  So to me, it should have been a big one.  Then again, there's always the big "BUT" when it comes to family celebrations.. = )

For Keson's grandma's birthday, we had an 11-course dinner at a chinese restaurant in Orchard Hotel.  As with previous years, we had a private room with 2 tables.  And every time the whole family gathers together to sing the birthday song, i see so much joy and happiness in grandma's eyes as she witnessed her 3 generations of descendants all gathered together to celebrate her birthday with her.

THIS is what i want when i grow old.  THIS is why i need to have more children.. = )

I've been thinking what kind of values i want to instill in Bria when she is growing up..  So i decided to start listing some positive virtues for each letter in her name.

B = Benevolent, Brave, Brilliant, Bold
R = Respectful, Responsible, Righteous, Reliable, Resilient
I  = Integrity, Intelligent, Insightful, Inspiring
A = Amiable, Affectionate, Ambitious, Adventurous

There seem to be 2 pregnant people in my house.. Cause K seems to be rather forgetful too nowadays..  It's kind of disturbing for me, cause i need him to NOT be forgetful especially at this crucial time! Sigh..

My feet are swollen again, it's been swollen for a few days now, and it's starting to hurt, especially my left one.  I really need a feet massage, but i have no oil or cream for massaging.. Hai.. so ke lian..

Bria is doing hiccups inside me again.. These days, i can feel her EVERY move.  Cause my tummy is now 90% her and 10% liquid and sac.. 4 more weeks!!! = )

I've been having strange nightmares recently.  Few days ago, i dreamt that i was being chased by a ghost.  But i could run really fast in my dream, which meant i probably weren't pregnant.

Then yesterday night, i dreamt that i was bitten by a huge furry black spider while i was at an animal museum / zoo.  The freakin' spider just flung itself on my shoulder and bit me near my neck area.  In my dream, i started to imagine things after the spider bit me, that my baby will be poisoned, that the baby inside my tummy became a black spider and so on..  Basically i totally freaked out in my dream.  It was so scary.

I wonder why i am having such strange dreams recently.  Maybe because i haven't been too happy.  I mean i'm not unhappy, just not VERY happy, and extremely bored.  These days, nothing seems to make me happy, except thinking about Bria and how soon i will get to meet her.  Then again, THAT makes me nervous too.  I need something or someone to make me happy, but i don't know who or how or what.  Maybe i need to have a party at my house, but i am too tired to organize one.. And i definitely am not in the right physical state to go to one.. SIGH....

My helper got Bria's crib ready today.. Doesn't it so sweet!!

Now all that's lacking is my little baby Bria.. = )




Coincidentally, just after Bria's cot bedding was all set up, i came across this article on MSN website.. Scary!!

I hope my baby cot will be sturdy enough!

After nearly a week (seems like a year) of hibernating at home, I finally went out and got myself some fresh air.

Since my helper came last Sunday, the only places i have been to are the coffee shops and wet market below my block.  But i've had fun cooking together with her!

On Friday, K and I went for baby's check up, and in the evening, I met up with my SATS colleagues for dinner at Orchard.  Dr Lim says Bria is growing very healthily and now weighs 2.8kg!  That's pretty big for 35 weeks, and it makes me a bit worried that she will be so big at full term that i will have a difficult labor.. = ( 
Anyway, last Friday's check up was like THE shortest wait i've ever had at the clinic, cause i was the 2nd last one.  The clinic actually had to call me to see if i was already on the way.. haha.. And by the time we were done, it was almost 7pm already.

Over the weekend, I attended a 20 minutes F&N beverage survey and got myself $20.  Then K and I went out to complete our baby shopping and did some grocery shopping.  In the evening, we went to my sister's house, where my helper further honed her cooking skills, and we all had dinner together with my parents.

This week, i am going to pack my hospital bag (finally), and explore some confinement dishes with my helper.  I went for another survey / focus group today for Canon, and got paid $70 for 2 hours of talking.  But it was so tiring for me i don't think i want to go out or do these surveys anymore. 

Bria is now 36 weeks old.. 4 more weeks to go!!  I am getting so lethargic these days..  Want to rest at home, but at the same time, feel so bored!  The mind is strong, but the body is weak.. Sigh..i guess i just have to bear with another 4 weeks of waiting in anticipation.. = )

Or maybe i should say I love HAVING a helper.

Since my helper came on Sunday, so much has improved:

• My house is cleaner
• My house is neater with all the boxes stored in the bomb shelter
  
• The baby's room is all set up 
• Baby clothes and stuff are all washed and packed
• I have someone making my milk and breakfast for me every day
• I have someone cutting fruits for me and bringing me glasses of water every day
• I have someone making my bed for me every morning
• I have someone cooking and doing all the cleaning and washing up for me after every meal!

So far, i have brought my helper to the market for 3 days, and cooked meals for 3 days now.. It's so nice to have home cooked meals!  I think K is enjoying it too.  Actually, i must say i am a good cook, just lazy to get down to it, and the cleaning and washing totally turns me off.  Now that i have a helper, all i have to do is supervise her, point here point there, and then sit down and wait for my food to be served!  Damn shiok man..

The problem is, I am running out of things for her to do except cook.  One can only cook so many meals a day.  Plus, i don't want her to do too much cleaning cause it's a huge waste of water.  So i basically dumped a whole lot of recipe books and ask her to read up.

Next week, we are going to learn and cook confinement food.. while i still can and before baby is born. = )

Ever since my tummy ballooned again for the 3rd or 4th time, i gave up wearing shorts when i'm in the house. So i basically just walk around with a really big tee shirt (one of K's) and "shortless".

I really hate wearing shorts cause the elastic types kinda leave marks below my tummy, even though i'm already wearing those huge ass size ones and K's shorts.  After all, they still need to fit me so i can't wear them too loose else they will drop!

Well, i have my one piece dress pajamas, which i totally love, cause it's huge and airy.  But i only have one piece.  I'm currently on the search for more one-piece dress pajamas with buttons in front (suitable for breast feeding), particularly the silky types.  But not sure where to get those leh!  Sigh...

ANYWAY, now that my helper is here, i don't feel that comfortable walking around the house without any bottoms... So I was looking for a pair of shorts to wear after my bath today, and K's boxers caught my eye.. I tried on a pair and viola! it's actually quite comfy.  So from now on, i shall wear K's boxers, although he ain't too happy about that.. haha. = P

I'm 5 weeks away to my due date now.. I REALLY need to start packing my hospital bag! Argghhh...

Or at least i think i have them.. Need i say more??

I went swimming today at S's condo...

Maybe it's been too damn long since i last craved for a dip in the pool, but i didn't really enjoy myself much.  K did not join me in the water at all.. He just basically kept himself dry sitting on the beach chair while chatting with me while I was in the jacuzzi and in the pool afterwards.  Plus, i couldn't really kick my legs much, cause it hurt a bit when i do that, so i just basically hop around and walk in the water.  So after a while, i got bored.  I was quite thrilled by the fact that i could actually jump and hop in the water though.  I can't even remember the last time i could do that on land. = )

Sigh.. so sad... looks like i have to stick to slow walks and strolls for my exercise!