Caterpillars!

I have always wanted to get my hands on caterpillars. Since N is old enough to appreciate and since she loves science. 

I was super excited when my sis posted on facebook that her FIL's lime tree was infested with caterpillars. I immediately told her i wanted to adopt 2! 

I thought i could wait till the next day for photos but it was too late! One was on its way to be a pupae, while the other was chomping its way through another leaf... 

This is the one that was hanging from the top of the bowl cover... 

Horrors of horrors! It fell off the top! :( and it's at the bottom of the bowl... 

Am praying it doesn't die... Consulted a few friends who told me to leave it alone. Like some first time parent, i took out the bowl to look at the "fallen" caterpillar and noticed it was turning lighter - a process called crystallis... Hopefully it will continue to grow into a beautiful butterfly... 

Anyway I did some research and with confirmation from my friend Sylvia, it is concluded that this is a lime butterfly offspring at its very late final stages of being a caterpillar. The lifecycle is being chronicled in this blog I found online. 

http://butterflycircle.blogspot.sg/2011/11/life-history-of-lime-butterfly-v20.html?m=1

The best June holidays...

Having my maternity leave through the June holidays is perhaps the best thing that ever happen... Hubby is home most days and we get to go out together (thankfully L latches so going out is considered a breeze). The June holidays is ending and how I wish it will not end!

I see lots of friends bringing their kids to museums but (ooops) I bring mine to shopping centre (bleah). 

Late evening Mac dinner at Ridout Gardens - good thing is both kids already had their dinner so they didnt need to eat junk. Then I took a nice shot of hubby and the kids (back).

Anyway today, we had an enjoyable day out at Singapore's most suay shopping mall - JEM - yup the one plaugued with calamities even before it open. We survived the trip without any fire, water sprinkler going off or ceiling falling off. For a mall so fraught with "negative news", it was pretty busy and the car park was full lor! 

Our main objective was actually to go to Robinsons which is a major anchor tenant- occupying level 1 to 4. The baby/kid section is still smaller (sharing floor space with kitchen and electrical appliance) than the one that closed at Centrepoint (which had one floor on its own). 

After making our purchases, L fussed for milk. Saw diaper changing rooms on almost ever floor at two corners of the mall. It was really nice actually - a family toilet of sorts - with diaper changing station, toodler baby chair, child sized toilet bowls and sink! Importantly, the toilet is big enough for a baby pram. They have a seperate toilet for the hanicap shoppers. ;) 

The parent room on Level 5 was really nice n spacious! 3 seperate breastfeeding rooms with doors that you can lock (comes with electrical points and can fit your pram), one family toilet (like the one above). The parent room also has three open diaper changing station and hot water dispenser! Totally love the clean and cool enviornment (i have been to stuffy nursing rooms!)

Hubby brought the kids to play while I fed L. The kids play area was also on level 5 with the food court.

Eventually, we had dinner at the food court which is part of the Koufu chain with Food Republic prices! Food was not exceptional - was ok only. Hubby was shocked the drinks stall did not offer coke or pepsi. Hubby rejected the "Sarsi" proposal... 

So off we went for ice cream - a promise I made to N if she was good to share a Jap bento (she wanted Pastamania initially) with M and finish her share. She finished half a bowl of rice with fish and almost the whole cup of steamed egg (all by herself!). 

Sometimes the best in life is not about going to expensive places, it is about savouring the company and the little things in life.

The TMC Birth Experience

This is a recap of my experience of delivering at TMC. Being a supporter of TMC since my first delivery also means that I have no other hospital experience to compare against.

Regardless, i am impressed by the professionalism of the nurses who took care of me the moment I stepped into the delivery ward. They were not expecting me to be an urgent case (visually I looked calm enough). Once they straighten out that I was 9cm dilated, the nurses gave me my anti-b via iv, pushed me to the delivery and called for my gynae to come down immediately. The Indian nurse on duty in particular reminded me that I should not take pethedine since i was delivering soon. The nurses were all encouraging me to take deep breaths when I cringed at the contractions. In the end, I am super grateful that I manage to survive just on laughing gas. 

It was an added icing on the cake when Hubby told me about the 龙马精神 promotion which I was eligible for - having gave birth to a dragon and then a horse at TMC... There was a $288 one time discount and my doting husband decided to upgrade me to a single bedded this time.

The single bedded experience was way better. With hubby's company, I also felt "safe" to go ahead and sleep. The space was much bigger and I could accommodate my guests better. 

I am not sure if its the same for the double bedded rooms but the bidet actually dispense warm water - which is more comfortable for washing the wound down south... The inner knob has a temperature control... Cool right? 

The nurses at the delivery suite also gave hubby a letter to redeem a free 2D Acrylic baby footprint. Cool! Baby L had his footprint taken before discharge. 

And for being such a loyal mummy, I was presented w a lovely hamper from the management of TMC. That really suprised me as I never thought the hospital would send me a hamper and a card. 

The nurses on level 5 were also very friendly. In fact I am delighted to have the company of the nurses for my three "staycations" there. Food wise, I really love the papaya fish soup that comes in the mid morning. Thick white and yummy, i wonder if its also the reason why my milk flow came in early! I had three servings during this staycation! 

And to top it all off, on the day of discharge, the nurse brought me milo and sandwich while we waited for the bill. It was already lunch time (on day of discharge, lunch is not provided) and I was feeling hungry already. The sweet voluntary offer made me feel so touched! 

The "paiseh" part is when I actually "over-stayed... Baby L decided to latch for almost 45 mins after settling our bill. The cleaner lady was tasked to clean the room but baby L was suckling away enthusiastically... 

And check out the diaper bag! Its the nicest bag I have gotten from the hospital! One in 2008, 2013 & 2014... I must say the bag's quality is improving! And in it are essentials such as the leftover baby diapers, baby wipes, hand sanitiser, TMC's very own brand of baby lotion, nipple cream, baby wash, feminine wash, etc. During check in, we were also given a bag of Baby Care goodies - got kodomo and j&j goodies inside... ;)

One week later at home, I recieved a follow up call from TMC to check on my progress with the newborn. How I was feeling, my progress regarding breast feeding, etc. 

In all, the end to end hospital experience has been a great one and I must say this experience has dug a deep impression on me (for me to even write this post). If and its a BIG MEGA IF I have a #4, I will surely choose TMC again. 

#3- Birth Story ;)

This birth story is ultra short because it all happened within 1.5 hours- from the time I woke up to get ready to the time baby was born. This time I listened carefully to my gynae- pain level -7/10, contractions last 30 secs, 8 mins apart. 

I started feeling contractions after making THE Facebook post but it was not painful- so mild that I thought they were braxton hicks. The contractions were then 4-5mins apart but pain level was only 2-3/10. So fulfils only 2 out of 3 criteria. 

Tried to get some sleep and sleep I did at about 1.20am - too excited about the possibility of meeting him. Baby M was asleep but started tossing around quite madly in her play pen at about 3.15am... Then she finally cried at 3.20am. Hug her to bed and went to toilet. While lying down, contractions came strongly. Was still struggling if I should head to the hospital and after three contractions which were abt 3-4 mins apart, I decided it was time to get to hospital. Woke hubby up and went to wash up. 

Moved quickly, reached hospital at 3.40am. By which I could barely move/talk when I had the contraction. Went to toilet to change to the blue gown... Couldn't pee to get urine sample because it was just too painful - by which I also noticed that my panty liners were fully stained. 

Nurse did a check and found me to be 9cm dilated *all gasped!*. They moved very quickly to give me my anti-biotic for the GBS... I was begging for my pethedine. The very nice Indian nurse told me its too late for pethedine since I was soooo close to labour. *sobs*

And so after agonizing through countless contractions in the delivery suite and hubby away trying to get paperwork done, all I could do is hold on to the gas mask for dear life. The nurses were all saying breathe-breathe deeply but all I could think of "what if Dr Tseng cannot come in time?". 

Less than an hour after walking into the delivery suite, Dr Tseng made, broke the waterbag/ membrane and with 2 pushes... Presenting Baby Tey... 

速战速决！

After thought: Was really happy that I managed to survive through those contractions without invasive pain killers. The gas mask was not as stinky as before and actually deep breathing does help - even though I must say it's really really damn difficult for me to breathe when the pain essentially "took my breathe away". Thanks hubby for allowing me to squeeze yr fingers when the contractions came... ;) 

Numero Tres

While being pregnant this round, a typical conversation with the random public would go like this:

P: "Your second?" 

Me: "Nope" 

P: "Oh your first! How is it?" 

Me: "It's my third actually..." 

P: (look of shock on the face) "wow!!!" Or "The SG government will be so thankful!" 

Lol! I have had many "flattering" remarks about how young I am to have three kids already... How brave, etc and some even asking me if I will venture for another. 

This pregnancy had caught hubby and I by surprise. Sometime when baby M was 8 months old (ie September 13), my breast milk supply dipped. Originally I attributed the drop to my flu... After recovering, the supply did not return and instead dipped further. I was absolutely puzzled and upset, since I was 3 months away from my aim of 11 months- N was TBF for 11 mths. The supply had dipped so much that the combined yield from 4 expression sessions and adding another before I went to sleep was simply not enough for a feed. After one week and getting bitten by M three times during one latch session, I gave up breast feeding... 

In the same month, I started having smell sensitivities especially fishy smells. I remember returning home one day and exclaiming to MIL that the fishy smell in the house was making me nauseous. That dinner I did not touch the plate of prawns (the culprit) and MIL wondered aloud if I was pregnant. 

MIL's comment triggered me to do home tests. Well, who would expect 3 negative results to be false negatives? I tested a total of 3 times over a month - twice using home test kits (w first morning pee) and once at Raffles Medical Group before the pre-employment x-ray... 

So how and when did I know I was pregnant? Fast forward to December, I was not feeling well - bad headache and aching body. The company GP looked at me and then my tummy... Part of the conversation:

D: when was your last menses?

Me: (suprised) June? 

D: So long ago? You have irregular menses? 

Me: I am breastfeeding so irregular menses is kinda "normal"? I am intending to go back to my gynae to make sure I am ok. 

D: Hmmm... Did you do pregnancy test after missing your menses? 

Me: yes, three times in Sep! All three times negative so I don't think I will be pregnant. 

D: That's like 3 months ago... Do you want to re-test? 

Me: mmmmmm.... Ok lor... 

D: The urine test will be $15, not included in your company insurance. Is that ok? 

Me: Ok (since i didn't know when I could get an appointment with my gynae)

After doing the pee test, I went to inform hb - that doc suggested a pregnancy test. I remember saying to him: "aiyah can't be one la... Test 3 times negative..." The nurses called us in (they were smiling widely at me) - I sat down, hb stood next to me. The doc pushed the strip across the table. On it, two dark lines. Oh yes, I know what it meant... But the doctor said it anyway "As you can see. Two lines. You are pregnant.".

Disbelief! I was happy yet in serious doubt... How was I going to face my boss (being in the new job for only 3 months)? Hb's reaction was "So how many weeks is she?". (Yah, funny question from an experienced father. Which test kit tells you the number of weeks?)

After the discovery, I made the appointment with gynae. Hubby was of course elated and I told him I might be more than 16 weeks because I felt movements in my tummy (which at that time, hubby brushed off as "stomach wind- you are hungry"). During the appt, gynae proded my abdomen and annouced "already quite big!". And indeed, the scan indicated that baby was already 18 wks! 

The first ultrasound picture: 

Hubby was of course shocked beyond words. Pregnant the wife is but 18 weeks is beyond the 1st trimster. All he could say was I watched too much "I didn't know I was pregnant...". 

Esentially I had spent the 1st trimster doing things which pregnant mummies would never do: 

- eating sashimi however much I liked

- having beer (one count) with my colleagues (one and a half pint) 

- taking an x-ray for my pre employment (shld have been 6-8 wks then) 

- taking flu vaccination (shld have been 10-13 wks then) 

- running 7km SCB Ekiden Run (I can't really run but you know i pushed myself a little more than usual) 

- having more than a cup of tea or coffee daily

- wearing a tummy clincher for 4 weeks until one night while lying down in the clincher i felt some movements in my abdomen (the tummy started to stick out and a male colleague actually pointed to my tummy then signaled a pregnant tummy and mouthed "are you pregnant?". I remember laughing out and telling him "NO lah! i am just fat!")

Luckily, the detailed scan at week 23 was  normal and that was when I broke the news to most of my friends. Here's an ultrasound of baby's side profile during late 2nd trimster.

Time flies and I am already week 37 plus. Like the first two, I am excited to meet this little one. Maybe because its number three, still feeling cool and "relac one corner". 

Even the sign up for the cord blood donation was just completed. Really put it in late this round! But better late than never! ;) 

My Bloom Photo Shoot

It's my third pregnancy and hubby says possibly the last - so we decided to do a photoshoot to remember this last pregnancy. The 3rd pregnancy is not run in the mill for me because it came as a surprise (more details in another blog post).

For now, this is the photo shoot done at The Studio Loft. They shifted from Chinatown to their temp location at Joo Chiat and this shoot is taken at their permanent new location - Oxley Bizhub... The place is in Ubi, nice quiet place and very new with little tenants. Luckily we had a little guidance from Joanne, we were still kinda lost because the Security decided to close off the main entrance to the Basement Parking that we were suppose to go to. Nevertheless, you can still get to the basement parking by heading to the second building on the left - turn right into the one way, go straight all the way and turn right - you will see the basement entrance on the right. As for Lobby B which brings us directly to the studio, park at the areas where the car park pillars are painted with two red-orange-y strips.

It was a really fun photo shoot and I enjoyed myself very much. Thanks to Maryann for the wonderful and beautiful photos! :) I did take some tummy pictures using semi-transparent fabric for personal collection (yup so they won't be posted anywhere on the internet) - not that I have a to die for nice looking thighs or super big and nice looking tummy to boot (keke...).

The only photo where M was "forced" with her cheeks on my chest... LOL!

Who's the serious one in the family?

And suddenly, she shows a small ray of sunshine...

 

Like this photo! :)

*muacks* for being so glum the whole photoshoot...

This is actually the last of the series but the cutest
as N got to play with the face paint left over from M's birthday party...

Dipping her fingers into the paint...

The artist in action!

Bingo! That's the correct spelling for "BOY". There was no need to erase and re-spell the word. :p

The happy N with her "work of art"!

This is a photo that says "See I spell the word "BOY" correctly hor!"

Brought along a pair of boy socks as props... (this hubby uh... tsk tsk! where is the ring??!!!
Sidenote: Hubby then reminds me, EH HELLO! My ring is on the left hand LAH! *Opppssss*)

Love this picture although M is not smiling...
(Seriously, not easy to capture a toddler who is not co-operative!)

Didn't post the series of photos where hubby was staring "murderously" at me
in a bid to make his double eye lids appear... They are quite hilarious looking actually...

What more can I say? *Loves*

Uh huh... This is one of those not-so-"murderous" look photos...

In desperation to get M into the picture...
(Tip: Place her favourite food on my belly button, in picture her in action
picking up the rice crisp cracker)

M just cannot stop munching!

 

I do not know why M has that expression...

With food in her hands again!

Love this picture of myself... So ending this post with this photo!
(buay tahan myself sometimes...)