The pain of joy!

The night before.. appas and I were at a mamak stall having our supper when I mentioned that I have a 9-10 minute contraction.. little did we expect that we were gonna welcome the arrival of our first born!

We went in for my normal check-up at 37 weeks. I highlighted to my gynae that I had timed my contractions as 6-7 minutes early that morning. “Why don’t we check the opening then?” and when she did, “Yeap, you have a 3 cm opening. You can get yourself admitted today..” We were definitely caught by surprise as we were not prepared and I didn’t bring my bag that I had packed weeks earlier for the delivery.

Got admitted into the labour room at about 11.00 a.m. Knowing that I cannot bear the pain, we requested for epidural.. and thus, had to be bedridden.

Since we were planning to have our breakfast after the check-up, I was lying there so hungry.. (not supposed to eat). Apps did sneak in some milo for me as I was already feeling the gastric juice building up in my stomach.

After a long day on the bed, I was so tired. It was not easy to fall asleep with all the anxiety in the air...

At least, at about 8.05 p.m., the opening was 9 cm. The gynae and nurses were getting ready in front of me. They asked me whether I could feel the contraction.. and I said “Not really..” The gastric cramps overcame the contraction feeling! So, one of the nurse had to assist me and told me when I was contracting, and I pushed. Three pushes, and he was out.. Phew!

I looked at him as the nurses placed him on the cleaning counter next to me.. I smiled with tears of joy flooding my eyes. My FIRST born! And I couldn’t help notice that he has my lips.. a.k.a his maternal grandpa’s lips :)

Due date : 16 April 2004
Delivered on : 7 April 2004
Weight : 3.45 kg
Length : 53 cm

Finally!

I delivered my 3rd son on September 12, 2007.

Yeap, it's a boy.. another one!

Can you imagine? 3 boys! I can imagine myself being on my feet already..

Thank you for all the best wishes. I was trying to post about my delivery earlier, but guess what, I forgot my password! Hehehe.. Only today I was able to log in with the correct password to post about the good news :)

Shall update more on my 3rd prince, as well as my other two prince soon!

Still waiting..

We are still waiting for the arrival of our baby.

I got readmitted last week.. for 5 days this time. I had contractions, but I was not open! So, I could not deliver, but had to be on stand by. I was getting frustrated already. I am at the hospital, but not delivering just yet.. *sigh*

Since I am not 37 weeks yet, my gynae wants me to rest. She prefers the baby to come out full term. So, here I am am, resting at home, waiting for the arrival of the baby...

Since the day of my first admission, our close family members have been eagerly waiting for the baby. They are also suggesting dates of when the baby might be delivered.. "This day is my birthday", "This date is a good date", "Merdeka baby would be fun!"

Well, I guess the baby is choosing his own date ;)

A bit too early..

Baby wanted to come out already!

I felt regular contractions last Tuesday. Is this real? I am only 33 weeks..

Couldn't take any chances as I felt slight back ache too. Got off work a couple of hours earlier and drove home. Apps followed me on my drive home.. closely behind in his car.. just in case!

By dinner time, I knew it could not be Braxton Hicks. Took my bathe and packed my bag. We drove the boys to in-laws and rushed to the hospital. Labout time of the 3rd child can be shorter ;)

My doctor said it was too early to deliver.. and wanted to try delay the delivery. Got some jabs and she asked me to rest. The medication resulted in palpitations and I had to stay in hospital for another two days. Got discharged on Friday.. Phew! I really missed the boys.

Now, I am on medical leave.. strictly to be on bed rest. Doctor says that the next time I get my contractions, I will have to deliver, whether it's due or not. She cannot give me any more medications to delay the delivery as I am having experiencing side effects.. palpitations.

So, I am sitting at home.. waiting for the arrival of the baby :)

How is it going...

.. with me?

I am definitely getting so much heavier than the last two pregnancies. I'm in my 33rd week now, and can't wait to deliver already. I wonder whether I will deliver early just like my second pregnancy.. at the 37th week.

So far, we are unable to confirm the baby's sex. Since we have waited till long, we might as well wait another month, huh?

.. with Champion?

He is impressing us with his perfect sentences.. with some English accent.

"Amma, can I some orange juice please?"
"Can I watch that CD, please?"
"Can I have some more please?"
"Thank you amma." When we say welcome, he replies with a "No problem."
Or, he gives us the short "Thanks" .. sounding just like a grown up.

Hmm, apart from learning manners from us, I think the TV programmes is influencing him. He is a TV addict. Given a chance, he will sit there watching TV whole day. He does get involved with other activities like badminton with apps, loves his 12-piece jigsaw puzzle, playing with his cars and reading books, or rather, getting me to read to him.. but when he is not given any attention, he resorts to the TV. I wish I was able to spend more quality time with him.. especially at this age.. but since I am trying to cope with myself at the moment, it is tough to sit with him long enough :( I guess I can do better after the delivery...

Champion listens to our instructions well.. (most of the time). He even straightens things when they are not right.. puts back what he took. He is also easier to handle when we bring him out. When I brought him to a function without apps, he ate all by himself, even when I offered to feed him. He impressed me!

.. with lil' President?

He is getting more clingy to apps. When apps is not around, he looks for me. He is still sucking his thumb and looks for my elbow to scratch when he is sleepy. Somehow, he doesn't like apps elbow.. so it's mine that he looks for.. Even if he was sitting with apps, he will get down and look for me.. or rather, my elbow!

He too is getting involved with the 12-piece jigsaw puzzle.. but we would have to ask him for different parts of the picture and he would point out. Then, being lazy.. he would ask us to pick it up and fix it ourselves!

Somehow, he is not interested in TV.. he loves playing with toys.. even if it meant playing by himself. He loves to irritate his brother by switching off the TV while he is watching.. Hmm, may be he is seeking his brother's attention?!

His communication skills is definitely better than Champion at the same age. He speaks and understands three languages (English, Tamil and Bahasa Malaysia) quite well. I am impressed with his Bahasa Malaysia when he communicates with the maid.. Champion can do the same.. but lil' President is a year younger!

Lil' President is a little hard to discipline.. he does what he wants.. Champion was the opposite at his age. He listened well to our instructions and was an obedient boy. Lil' President loves to throw things and keep the table clean buy pushing everything to the floor!

.. with apps?

He is definitely doing his best to handle 3 people with different characters.. me, Champion and lil' President. He tries to satisfy our needs, tantrums and fusses.. and I must say, he is dong just great! ;)

Nowadays, since I have lessen my shouting and conditioning with the boys.. (to reduce my own stress..) apps is coming into action. He has been the quite one all this while.. but now the lion is awake. He can't help it but to do a little scolding and conditioning with the boys.. especially lil' President!

I guess we are just hanging in there and waiting for the arrival of the new addition to the family :)

Can I peek inside?

Champion is getting more curious. As my tummy gets bigger, he keeps on asking when is baby coming out. When I say it is painful here and there, he will come up to me and ask, "Baby coming out already?"

When I let him feel my tummy, he strokes it gently, and suddenly shouts, "Baby kicked my hand!" But actually, the baby didn't make any movement. He is just trying to feel what I say when the actually baby moves :)

The other day, I carried my T-shirt for him to feel my stomach. He saw my protruding belly button, and I told him, "Baby is inside here". He pushed my belly button up and down, and asked whether he can see inside. He bent down a little trying to peek inside! Finally, he gave up, pointed to the belly button and told me, "Ma, open here.. I want to see the baby."

On the other hand, lil' President thinks my breast is where baby is. When I am seated, he can't see the discontinuity of the shape of my breast and tummy. When we ask him to pat baby, he pats my breast instead!

He is just so sweet

My third pregnancy is not any easier. In fact, I was suffering from a terrible first trimester.. bad morning sickness. I went through those difficult months with apps help. He is so kind to wake up earlier in the morning, make milk for the boys and feed them.. and send them MILs place by 6.30 a.m. (which he has been doing before this anyway ;) I couldn't get myself to take turns with him coz' I feel nausea so early in the morning.

After that stretch, now I am feeling so much better in the second trimester. Apart from the terrible warmth I am feeling, I am doing quite fine. I do get drained out by the end of the week.. with work and taking care of the boys needs. Taking care of two boys aged 3 and 2 is definitely not easy!

I am much bigger than I was during my previous two pregnancy. I guess it is because my stomach has stretched out too much already. At 5+ months now, I am comparable to a first time mom at her 8 months. Can you imagine!

But best of all, apps is making it easier for me to go through this pregnancy as much as he can.. He helps me with boys when he is home. He fulfills my cravings within a day or two.. which really means so much to me.

A few days ago, I told him that I feel like eating cheese sandwich with cucumber. He did mention that the shops don't open so early in the morning. But the next day, he went to the shop at 7.30 and made me my cheese sandwich with the cucumber slices! By the way, he has been making my breakfast and milk everyday during my pregnancy :)

He also cuts fruits for me to snack on at work

I tell him I feel like drinking young coconut drink, and by evening (or the next day), he gets me the young coconut :)

When he travels, he gets me my favourite things (i.e. food or fruits) and makes sure he gets things for the boys too.

I find him much more caring and sensitive now. Although he does take it easy when I complain of some pain here and there. Being a doctor, he knows what is happening and just says, "It's common during pregnancy to experience such things.." Hmmpph, I just wanted some pity.. but I can't go on bullying him, right ;)

Hmmm.. what more can I ask from the sweetest man in my life.. He is definitely making my pregnancy experiences a much sweeter one :)

I love you, baby!

By the way, the boys who were excited about the baby in the earlier months got bored because its taking too long for baby to 'come out'. But now, again, they are excited as they see my stomach.. Champion says, "So big" while he strokes my stomach. Seeing his anna, lil' President also runs to me for his turn to stroke the baby :)