Felin and I started to discuss about behaviour of children when we are out with common friends lately. 2 infant boys whom we met recently encouraged us a lot because they behave so well when they are out with their parents. The boys were able to sit quietly in their stroller and be carried around by anyone in the room. They learnt eye contact and are so willing to take pictures when asked to. We never hear them cry to seek attention and will just sleep when its time for them to do so. Wow... Felin and I are really praying hard that our babies will just be like them.
As for the other boy whom we met, he is about 2.5 years old. We learned about how tiring and patient we must be to take care kids of this age. He seeks a lot of attention from the parents and constantly don't seems to be satisfied playing on his own. He can stay in the playground for a good half an hour doing things repeatedly but keep wanting his parents to watch him all the time. While having dinner, he constantly play around with the utensils, play with food and pouring water around. I seriously doubt I have the patience if he is my own child. I can't really imagine as yet on how we can have meals in future with 2 boys too.
I'm seeing challenges ahead but yet I'm still treating as if they are not coming anytime yet. I did not keep my objectives that I made few months ago and yet time is running out. I reduced my exercise regime quite a lot and became no so fit again, I did not have regular quiet time and read the bible for a few weeks, my sales wasn't exactly good, I did not train well on my public speaking, I spent too much time on TV and other useless stuffs, etc... I know time is running out but yet my spirit is weak to do things I wanted to do. I'm trying to pack my appointments but I know many of these appointments does not translate to sales.
I remembered my 5 pillars of wealth which stems from Spiritual growth. Perhaps, I must first focus on God before things get right for me again. I have no more time and only God can give me the capabilities to handle the stress ahead.
Twice the Joy
Monday, December 29, 2014
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Christmas Day 2014
Its a simple Christmas for me and Felin today. We thought we are not able to put up our Christmas Tree after moving to Livia this year due to the smaller space but we were wrong. Our Christmas Tree still looks as beautiful as before after decoration and putting up our family Christmas wishes cards. It sit nicely on our planter area.
We went for our morning Church Service and I cleaned up the house and cooked lunch for Felin. She rested and arranged the clothes for the babies. Just doing some light preparation for their arrivals.
Felin will be stopping work from tomorrow onwards and prepare herself to the babies' D day, currently set to be 10th January 2015. Its tentative and to be confirmed in the next 1 week.
Our Christmas wish for this year is simple. Safe delivery of the babies and that we are able to handle the stress and challenges coming ahead. We will want to celebrate Christmas together as a new family unit in 2015, happily and feeling blissful when we look back this year's Christmas...
We went for our morning Church Service and I cleaned up the house and cooked lunch for Felin. She rested and arranged the clothes for the babies. Just doing some light preparation for their arrivals.
Felin will be stopping work from tomorrow onwards and prepare herself to the babies' D day, currently set to be 10th January 2015. Its tentative and to be confirmed in the next 1 week.
Our Christmas wish for this year is simple. Safe delivery of the babies and that we are able to handle the stress and challenges coming ahead. We will want to celebrate Christmas together as a new family unit in 2015, happily and feeling blissful when we look back this year's Christmas...
Nearly went A&E on Christmas Eve
Felin complained that her calves were painful on Christmas Eve. She shared about this nagging "muscle ache" like pain for the past 1 week which I message her legs every night. The pain are usually more pronounced during the night. I'm have been monitoring her legs and read up quite a bit because of this. However, after a week, she felt unsure and prefer to visit the GP to seek more information.
The GP instead of giving us any info, referred us to NUH A&E straight and when asked what could be the problem, she answered that she does not want to speculate and told us to go for further check-up. I believed that it shouldn't be something serious after reading quite a bit about muscle aches during late stage pregnancy.
From what I read, typically, the ache and swollen leg can be caused by fluid retention which is particularly pronounced in feet, ankles, and calves because the growing uterus puts pressure on the veins that carry blood back from the lower body. This partially blocks blood flow, keeping fluid in legs and feet. Blood vessels are also smallest in your foot and ankle so body has difficulty accommodating the extra fluid pouring in there.
Another possibility is symptoms of blood clotting. Pregnant woman are more prone of getting a blood clot because blood flows moving from the veins in legs to heart much more slowly due to pregnancy hormones and uterus (womb) getting larger as the baby grow. Or during this stage of pregnancy, veins can become slightly damaged as baby presses on the veins to pelvis
Of course, I'm aware that it could be Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a blood clot in a vein deep below the skin's surface. DVT can appear in the deep veins in the back of leg, or in thigh or pelvis. DVT can be dangerous but there is only a very small chance of getting it during pregnancy. Only one or two women in 1,000 will have one either during pregnancy or during the first six weeks after giving birth..
We discussed about it and we agreed that should the pain becomes unbearable or it persisted the next morning, we will go A&E.
Glad that Felin's legs got much better the next morning and we went to church Christmas service without any problem. Thank God that we need not go A&E and my funny thoughts about babies needing to come at Christmas Day, which is Felin's wish over the years to have a Christmas baby came true.
The GP instead of giving us any info, referred us to NUH A&E straight and when asked what could be the problem, she answered that she does not want to speculate and told us to go for further check-up. I believed that it shouldn't be something serious after reading quite a bit about muscle aches during late stage pregnancy.
From what I read, typically, the ache and swollen leg can be caused by fluid retention which is particularly pronounced in feet, ankles, and calves because the growing uterus puts pressure on the veins that carry blood back from the lower body. This partially blocks blood flow, keeping fluid in legs and feet. Blood vessels are also smallest in your foot and ankle so body has difficulty accommodating the extra fluid pouring in there.
Another possibility is symptoms of blood clotting. Pregnant woman are more prone of getting a blood clot because blood flows moving from the veins in legs to heart much more slowly due to pregnancy hormones and uterus (womb) getting larger as the baby grow. Or during this stage of pregnancy, veins can become slightly damaged as baby presses on the veins to pelvis
Of course, I'm aware that it could be Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a blood clot in a vein deep below the skin's surface. DVT can appear in the deep veins in the back of leg, or in thigh or pelvis. DVT can be dangerous but there is only a very small chance of getting it during pregnancy. Only one or two women in 1,000 will have one either during pregnancy or during the first six weeks after giving birth..
We discussed about it and we agreed that should the pain becomes unbearable or it persisted the next morning, we will go A&E.
Glad that Felin's legs got much better the next morning and we went to church Christmas service without any problem. Thank God that we need not go A&E and my funny thoughts about babies needing to come at Christmas Day, which is Felin's wish over the years to have a Christmas baby came true.
Monday, December 22, 2014
2 Christmas Celebration with Families
When my sister suggested holding a Christmas Celebration on 20th Dec few weeks ago, I was still wondering if Felin can hold on till the date. I was also wondering if our annual Christmas party at our place for Felin's family can be held for this year. I'm really happy that the babies hold on till today that we are able to complete the 2 celebrations.
TV is showing 11 more days to 2015 today and we are really counting down towards it. The babies passed their 35th week and we are out of ICU zone at least. Well done, babies...
Mother and Mother-In-Law assured that they will be helping us once the babies are born. MIL should be helping out on the 2nd month. Lest we are assured helping hands till the 3rd month where I should get domestic help by then.
This year's party was a simple affair. They went church in the morning to watch the drama on Christmas. After Service, we purchased Po Piah fillings to DIY and ordered Pizzas for lunch. We played games and enjoyed ourselves in the function room. We then rested in the entertainment room while watching Felin's montage for last year's celebration. The day ended with a nice dinner at the Central coffeeshop. Its a success this year but 2015 celebrations will be a very challenging one and I'm again not sure if we are capable to hold it together with the babies.
MIL helped to clean my house today. Sometimes wondering if my house is really so dirty that she need to mop my house and washed my toilet right after she steps in. As she was looking through the babies room, I put one of the babies clothes on the cover of the diaper changing mat and she immediately bring it out to wash, citing that the cover is dusty. I seriously don't think its dusty because if I did clean it before and I touched the cover umpteen times and never felt dirty about it. She then inspect my wardrobe and fan and told me to clean up the fans.
I am certainly not used to her standard of cleanliness and I think Felin will want this standard for the babies too. She said that babies can catch virus easily and hence everything must be very clean for them. I think its a bit of overdoing it because I think its not necessary for babies to live in a too clean environment. But when I was about to lose my patience, I remembered an advice from a friend. "Always be supportive of your wife. She will not harm the babies." I know what he meant now because his wife is more extreme in term of cleanliness standards. Woman are probably more protective towards the babies as they are so small and fragile. Be understanding...
This is just the start and I have to start imagining when everyone lacks sleep and feel irritated while taking care of the babies, I think our tempers may not be as controlled by then. Having 2 babies are indeed not going to be easy.
TV is showing 11 more days to 2015 today and we are really counting down towards it. The babies passed their 35th week and we are out of ICU zone at least. Well done, babies...
Mother and Mother-In-Law assured that they will be helping us once the babies are born. MIL should be helping out on the 2nd month. Lest we are assured helping hands till the 3rd month where I should get domestic help by then.
This year's party was a simple affair. They went church in the morning to watch the drama on Christmas. After Service, we purchased Po Piah fillings to DIY and ordered Pizzas for lunch. We played games and enjoyed ourselves in the function room. We then rested in the entertainment room while watching Felin's montage for last year's celebration. The day ended with a nice dinner at the Central coffeeshop. Its a success this year but 2015 celebrations will be a very challenging one and I'm again not sure if we are capable to hold it together with the babies.
MIL helped to clean my house today. Sometimes wondering if my house is really so dirty that she need to mop my house and washed my toilet right after she steps in. As she was looking through the babies room, I put one of the babies clothes on the cover of the diaper changing mat and she immediately bring it out to wash, citing that the cover is dusty. I seriously don't think its dusty because if I did clean it before and I touched the cover umpteen times and never felt dirty about it. She then inspect my wardrobe and fan and told me to clean up the fans.
I am certainly not used to her standard of cleanliness and I think Felin will want this standard for the babies too. She said that babies can catch virus easily and hence everything must be very clean for them. I think its a bit of overdoing it because I think its not necessary for babies to live in a too clean environment. But when I was about to lose my patience, I remembered an advice from a friend. "Always be supportive of your wife. She will not harm the babies." I know what he meant now because his wife is more extreme in term of cleanliness standards. Woman are probably more protective towards the babies as they are so small and fragile. Be understanding...
This is just the start and I have to start imagining when everyone lacks sleep and feel irritated while taking care of the babies, I think our tempers may not be as controlled by then. Having 2 babies are indeed not going to be easy.
Friday, December 19, 2014
34th Week Scan and Dialect name revealed
I have been busy sending my year-end greeting cards and calenders to my clients as well as juggling my daily work in office lately and had little time for other things such as exercising and updating my blog. My twice weekly gym schedule had reduced to one or sometimes none and my diet is back to less healthy. I'm starting to have rice and sugary stuff at night again. I have little time to get fit and energized for the babies and yet I'm giving all sort of excuses lately. Not too happy about it.
Felin and I went for our 34th week growth scan and I'm not particularly happy with the result. Their weight had dropped from previously >50% percentile to the present 16th Percentile for Josiah at 2.12kg and 29th Percentile for Joshua at 2.25kg. Josiah Femur is particularly short at 3rd percentile and Joshua at 33rd percentile. Their abdominal circumference had also dropped to 18th percentile. The only thing big is their head just like Daddy....
Dr Biswal told us that this is okay and I shouldn't be looking too much into the percentile because the weight is actually good and as long as they stay inside with no discomfort to the mother, they will just be fine. Anyway, he arranged for another scan on the 36th week which should be the final scan before the actual delivery to ensure everything will be fine. Hope the babies will continue to absorb all the good nutrients from the mother and grow well in it.
Felin and I went for our 34th week growth scan and I'm not particularly happy with the result. Their weight had dropped from previously >50% percentile to the present 16th Percentile for Josiah at 2.12kg and 29th Percentile for Joshua at 2.25kg. Josiah Femur is particularly short at 3rd percentile and Joshua at 33rd percentile. Their abdominal circumference had also dropped to 18th percentile. The only thing big is their head just like Daddy....
Dr Biswal told us that this is okay and I shouldn't be looking too much into the percentile because the weight is actually good and as long as they stay inside with no discomfort to the mother, they will just be fine. Anyway, he arranged for another scan on the 36th week which should be the final scan before the actual delivery to ensure everything will be fine. Hope the babies will continue to absorb all the good nutrients from the mother and grow well in it.
I sent a request to the Singapore Hokkien Huay Guan to seek help in pronouncing my babies names and they are very helpful and came back within a week.
阙予恒 - Khiat Woo Hing
阙予正 - Khiat Woo Chin
I told Felin about the names and she wasn't happy with them because they sound funny to her and difficult to pronounce. I insisted upon these names because I want their names to be as precise as possible to the actual Hokkien pronunciation and not any dialect name. I also do not want to use the Han Yu Pin Yin names to my "Khiat". It is to ensure the Hokkien roots are maintained in their names with the proper pronunciation.
Its another day before we reach our 35th week and it will be a milestone because as long as they are born after 35 weeks and weight above 2kg, they will not be needed to go ICU. Its tough on Felin at this stage because the babies are kicking harder and her legs are now swollen probably due to water retention lately. Its just another 13 days to go before 2015 and 23 days before their arrival. Woo Hoo...
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Still confused at week 34
We are getting closer to our D-Day and the mediacorp TV are counting down to 2015 everyday. As long as the babies can wait till 2015, we will just be satisfied. Today's TV is showing 19 days to 2015 and we are like counting down excitedly towards it.
I was surprised when Felin dug out so many new things for me to wash, despite the hundred of clothes that we had already washed. They are all new towels, clothes, swaddles, bedsheets, car seat covers, blankets, etc...
As of today, we are still unsure of many things such as whether to put the babies on 2 cots or on the floor after 2 months, whether they come into our rooms or to remain in their own room, etc...
On Thursday night, Felin woke up and was unable to fall back to sleep, we started talking about domestic helper. She told me that she don't like the idea of having another stranger in the house, She dislike losing the privacy and making our house feel smaller. I suggested infant care but she was very against it citing that they will fall sick very easily and they are too fragile for it.
We were also not sure if Mum will be happy taking care of our babies and whether Mum's help is still necessary if we are to engage a domestic worker. We are also unsure whether to get the worker now or probably 3-4 months after birth because Felin are very likely quitting her job after her maternity leave. There are really so many things which we are unsure and yet the D-day seems to creep nearer. We are not very proactive with the domestic helper issue and yet it seems urgent at this stage.
Nevertheless, we continue with our shopping at Tampines today and purchased a few new clothings for the babies. We had a relaxing evening and took pictures of our study table which we decided to give away. This table is somehow too big and we wanted to make better use of our bay window by putting our modular wooden cubes to be used as a storage area and as a diaper changing table. We kinda miss this table because it had accompanied me from my old house and served me well over the years. I posted in the Livia facebook page to if anyone wanted my table and I received a request within 10 minutes. This table will be gone by tomorrow and hence I post this picture below as a memory for myself. "Good Bye Table..., please serve your new master well."
I was surprised when Felin dug out so many new things for me to wash, despite the hundred of clothes that we had already washed. They are all new towels, clothes, swaddles, bedsheets, car seat covers, blankets, etc...
As of today, we are still unsure of many things such as whether to put the babies on 2 cots or on the floor after 2 months, whether they come into our rooms or to remain in their own room, etc...
On Thursday night, Felin woke up and was unable to fall back to sleep, we started talking about domestic helper. She told me that she don't like the idea of having another stranger in the house, She dislike losing the privacy and making our house feel smaller. I suggested infant care but she was very against it citing that they will fall sick very easily and they are too fragile for it.
We were also not sure if Mum will be happy taking care of our babies and whether Mum's help is still necessary if we are to engage a domestic worker. We are also unsure whether to get the worker now or probably 3-4 months after birth because Felin are very likely quitting her job after her maternity leave. There are really so many things which we are unsure and yet the D-day seems to creep nearer. We are not very proactive with the domestic helper issue and yet it seems urgent at this stage.
Nevertheless, we continue with our shopping at Tampines today and purchased a few new clothings for the babies. We had a relaxing evening and took pictures of our study table which we decided to give away. This table is somehow too big and we wanted to make better use of our bay window by putting our modular wooden cubes to be used as a storage area and as a diaper changing table. We kinda miss this table because it had accompanied me from my old house and served me well over the years. I posted in the Livia facebook page to if anyone wanted my table and I received a request within 10 minutes. This table will be gone by tomorrow and hence I post this picture below as a memory for myself. "Good Bye Table..., please serve your new master well."
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
D-Day pushed back to 10th January 2015
We had our 33rd week check-up on Monday and we encountered Dr Su having to go for a delivery for her patient again. The waiting time this time round is about 4 hours starting from our scheduled 2:50pm appointment to 6:50pm when we left. We are again the last to leave. Don't understand why we are always the last.
Felin mentioned about her seemingly contractions and the suspected leakage of her amniotic fluid to Dr Su. Dr Su conducted some test to confirm that there wasn't any leakages and assured Felin that as long as the contraction don't come regular, it should be fine. She then did her usual scan and we listened to our favourite sound of the ultrasound machine, which are the babies heart beats. We are just so glad to know that the babies are doing well in Felin's womb. Joshua is now in breach position and they are not in position for a normal delivery. Dr Su told us that she will only do the C-Section on the 38th week which is 10th January 2015. I'm pretty worried about this because the longer we delay, the likelihood of emergencies simply increase too. I just afraid of those emergency situations where I have to drive all the way to NUH in anxiety.
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We will be going for our 34th week scan next Monday and I'm really curious about the babies weight. Felin weight had increased from 48kg pre pregnancy to current 65.8kg as of week 33. I really hope the babies will cooperate next week and allow us to take a good picture of them.
Dr Su will be on leave till boxing day and Dr Biswal will be taking over our case. We had requested for hospitalisation leave from 26th December onwards and Dr Su agreed that she will issue it to us by then. Felin will take a 2 weeks break before the D-Day...
Felin mentioned about her seemingly contractions and the suspected leakage of her amniotic fluid to Dr Su. Dr Su conducted some test to confirm that there wasn't any leakages and assured Felin that as long as the contraction don't come regular, it should be fine. She then did her usual scan and we listened to our favourite sound of the ultrasound machine, which are the babies heart beats. We are just so glad to know that the babies are doing well in Felin's womb. Joshua is now in breach position and they are not in position for a normal delivery. Dr Su told us that she will only do the C-Section on the 38th week which is 10th January 2015. I'm pretty worried about this because the longer we delay, the likelihood of emergencies simply increase too. I just afraid of those emergency situations where I have to drive all the way to NUH in anxiety.
We will be going for our 34th week scan next Monday and I'm really curious about the babies weight. Felin weight had increased from 48kg pre pregnancy to current 65.8kg as of week 33. I really hope the babies will cooperate next week and allow us to take a good picture of them.
Dr Su will be on leave till boxing day and Dr Biswal will be taking over our case. We had requested for hospitalisation leave from 26th December onwards and Dr Su agreed that she will issue it to us by then. Felin will take a 2 weeks break before the D-Day...
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