It's not easy being a parent..

1st July 2008

2 days ago, Xavier suffered from severe colic and that made John and myself sleepless. We got up at every moment just to ensure that Xavier was alright. Now, John and I tried to get up on an alternate basis to feed him and to change his diaper. I was rather worried about John not getting enough sleep and having to drive and work the next day. But he convinced me that the thought of Xavier waiting for him at home makes him alert and careful during driving.

A Note of Thanks...

30th June 2008

Xavier is now 7 days old and all these while, I just felt that something was lacking. Then it just struck me that I needed to thank some of the people who have helped me in one way of another during my pregnancy and delivery.

First and foremost, I want Xavier to remember Dr John Tee CS of KKH who had delivered him. Before going to Dr Tee, I actually changed 2 gynecologists before May recommended him. All my fear of my first pregnancy was reassured after seeing him for the first time and although John feels he looks more like a construction worker than a doctor. Ha Ha. Dr. Tee was also very confident of what he was doing and he even told me I was going to deliver at about 4 o'clock. I even challenged him saying that I may delivered at 6. He delivered Xavier at 4.56pm. I've hear stories about gyne not delivering baby for you, leaving the job to the midwife. But on the day of delivery, I have 2 Johns by my side; my husband John and Dr John Tee. Thus, a hundred and thousand of thanks to Dr. John Tee and should anyone read this blog and is pregnant, you can consider making him your doctor. He's superb!

Secondly, Xavier, you must remember Snr Staff Nurse Song Lee Gek. Throughout the whole process, she has made my contraction painless and tried to encourage me throughout the whole process. She made small talk with me, trying to take my mind off the pain and checking on me every few minutes, ensuring that I was doing good. When I asked for more epidural, one of the nurses who came in told me that they may not give as I might be delivering an any moment. But Nurse Song told me "No problem. I don't want you to feel any pain when you are being stitched up!" She was right, I felt nothing at all. Thank you so much.

Xavier, you must also thank your Daddy John for being by my side when you were being born despite him afraid of blood. He stood by me, assisted in the delivery and got his arm covered with blood.But he did not backed off and instead, kept encouraging me, giving me the strength to push.

Night of Helplessness

28th June 2008

Last night, Xavier cried till about 2.30am, leaving me and John very helpless. We did not know what to do as we have already fed him and changed his diaper. But he just would not stop crying. At one moment, we were even contemplating bringing him down to KK to see a doctor. Thank God, he finally stopped crying at about 2.30am after another feed. But throughout the whole night, I became very sensitive to his every slight movement and woke up at every moment to check on him. But Xavier finally slept through the night and woke up only at 7.30am the next day.

Shower of blessing with.......Shit

27th June 2008
Janet and Serene always share about how baby will splatter you with their urine and shit and I always laugh it off..thinking that the tiny baby cannot be that almighty. But today, I finally experienced it.

I was changing diaper for Xavier. Just when I thought I was near completion, my dear son gave me a surprise gift by having his shit shooting high up into the air....I'm serious...it's really high up into the air. My immediate reaction was to put down his legs and screamed for help....Luckily...my son was not terrified by my scream. He was just staring in the air, innocently.

Lesson learnt: Covered his lower part of the body when changing diaper and don't remove the soiled diaper immediately. He may not have finish his business yet. Give him some time.

Confinement rules...and more...

27th June 2008

For once, I was glad that I did not engaged any confinement lady as it will definitely be a waste of money. There seems to be endless rules for a new mother to abide by. Must eat food laced with ginger....food cooked with wine.....eat liver and kidney(NO WAY!!)....no showering....etc etc etc....and I followed NONE of them....But there were moments when I wished I have additional help as I do not wish to tire my mum out too much...especially someone to help Xavier bathe. He still hates bathing and hearing him crying his lungs out hurt me so much. I thought babies are supposed to love water..since they were living in a bag of water for practically 10 months...or did I use the wrong technique and made him uncomfortable?

Tried breastfeeding again but again was rendered unsucessful John suggested that I signed up for the post-nantal class tomorrow at the polyclinic when we bring Xavier for his second jaundice check up..Maybe I should just give it a try.

Wedding Anniversary

26th June 2008

It is a very important day today.....it is our wedding anniversary....was expecting Xavier to be born today but he came a few days earlier....what a wonderful gift God has given to John and me.....

For the first time in my life, I bathe a baby and Xavier was wriggling in my fingers and hands. I was so worried that I might dropped him and thank God, with Mum's supervision, I managed to bathe him...of course with him "training his lungs" at the same time....

The amount of milk he is consuming increased today by 10 to 20 ml today and I am really glad about it. Tried to breastfed him also...though I was not very successful, I am not going to give up...thinking of all the benefit breastmilk will do for him....Wish me luck ok...

Xavier and his first Polyclinic Visit

25th June 2008
Xavier visited the polyclinic for his first routine check up for jaundice. Hearing him cry made me tear as well. My heart really melted when I imagined how the nurse was going to prick his tiny sole. I refused to enter the room and Daddy John had to bring him in on my behalf. When he came out from the room, I held him tightly, trying to soothe him from the pain and to stop the crying. At the moment, how I wish I could take all the immunisations on his behalf. Next month, he must take his second jab of Hepatitis B. My poor son.....

Xavier--My Pride and Joy...

October 2007, I realised I was pregnant....without much excitement....rather...with fear. I did not know what to expect and surprisingly, I was more concerned about my work and about how it would be affected. But on 23rd June 2008, at 1656hrs, I delivered Xavier after 8 hours of labour 'pain' with the help of epidural, I thank God for bringing Xavier to my life.