弟弟's First Visit To Dentist

弟弟 had informed us his front tooth is loose. By the time when it's almost school holidays, both of his front teeth are loose. He had bear with the loose teeth, and is still able to eat. However we knew it was getting painful and annoying for him. 爸爸 scheduled a dental appointment for him during school holidays. Actually the dentist said we can leave the teeth alone and let it fall off naturally. However 爸爸 said don't want to wait as the new teeth are erupting already. Not only he request to extract 弟弟's two front teeth, he requested the dentist to extract another lower incisor which was loose too. So in total, 弟弟 had 3 teeth extracted in one visit! Poor boy! He is brave, it must have hurt. But I wouldn't have wanted to extract so many in one visit :( 爸爸 only wanted to save making another trip to the dentist. Guys! Where got so heartless, 3 teeth you know :(

Only showing the cheerful photos as I felt giddy looking at some of them. Oh yes, tooth fairy gave him RM1 for each tooth under his pillow, so he got RM3.

Our brave boy showing the teeth extracted in plastic case

Poor boy, still smile :)

Showing a cute cup with teeth cartoon. His front-toothless grin :)

Program Pelajar Emas from Penang State Government

Update in 2020 - seems like Pelajar Emas program discontinued by Penang state
(Source: http://www.bernama.com/bm/news.php?id=1722631 )

This year we have one Standard 1 and one Standard 4 in our family :) Both eligible for the Pelajar Emas program by our Penang State Government. We applied for it through our neighbourhood DUN center as there was no forms being distributed via schools. All we need to do is fill up a form, provide a copy of parent's IC and a copy of the child's MyKid and birth cert.

Status of application can be checked online via i-Sejahtera. Just key in the child's myKid #. When it is successful, we saw this screen with our details. 

Screen shot of status page after successfully applied for program Pelajar Emas

About a couple of months later, we got the official letter with information how to claim the Pelajar Emas contribution. I think it's because when we applied, it is near the April 30 first cut-off date. Hehe, the children were so excited getting their "gift" from the Penang state. Too bad 爸爸 was so busy that day until forgot to take a photo of them.

Baby Orange is born!

It wasn't any easier going into the labour room for the third time :P There was no warning signs that I noticed, except I was having Braxton Hicks throughout the night. I dreamt of a little baby telling me he is arriving, and I keep telling the little baby (in my dream) it's not time yet, he is still not "fat" enough yet :) In fact my EDD from ultrasound scanner is 20 May 2014. We have not even finished preparing everything yet, and I haven't packed a single thing :P

But it looks like baby Orange has other ideas. Oh ya, the baby's nickname is Orange, given by the children, because they thought he looked like an orange on the ultrasound screen. They had watched him grow from smaller than little Blue Ippy to now.

In the morning, I even had 爸爸 buy Hello Kitty Circus for us. It's the 2nd week it's been released. Went to the bathroom after having McMuffin with Egg. Big surprise as I found that I'm showing! It's about 12 days before the EDD, and both older children had not been early. Since I have contractions too (which I thought was Braxton Hicks), and it's the day of my gynae appointment, we decided to go earlier to the hospital to get checked. Rushed to shower and pack my clothes. Hm, I didn't even pack my hospital stay clothes yet since there's supposed to be another 2 weeks.

At the doctor's clinic, nurse asked me to wait since I have an appointment.  In fact, at this appointment I'm supposed to be checked for any dilation. Guess it was a stressful event to my subconscious mind? We waited and waited and the contractions start getting closer and closer apart. The doctor came and yet he was reviewing other patients. Until my contractions are getting about 5 minutes apart, beh tahan already and quickly informed the nurse. After she informed the doctor, they escort me directly to the labour room.

Let's not go into details of labour, I would like to forget about it even :P I hope not to impact my girl (or anyone else) about it either so no mentioning details ya.

In summary, baby Orange joined us in this world in the afternoon of 8 May 2014. He's smaller than the two older children, being at 2.785 kg at birth (or 6 lb 2 oz). Luckily he is considered as full term baby, being born at a little over 37 weeks (in the baby book it's written 37/52 + 1/7 -- whatever that means).

Baby Orange on "display"

Another view - can see the nursery

Baby Orange's first photo from his baby book.
Someone who processed the photo didn't enlarge it properly, thus making his face seem very big :P

As the hospital is going for certification of a baby-friendly hospital in the future, there are new practises that I had not experienced with the older two children. They put baby Orange to my breast right after they gave him a little clean-up. So he was encouraged to breastfeed right from the start. They no longer gave milk powder samples and we didn't have time to prepare so baby Orange is considered as being fully bf.

I had the painkiller jab so I was feeling really steamed and pening. Later I found it's called pethidine. Wow, I felt it didn't really help me during the contractions but the after effects are really bad. I was still dizzy, sleepy and practically don't really know what I'm talking about (kind of like being drunk) hours after delivery. I think baby Orange was affected too and he was super sleepy when I tried to bf him later. I was super tired and dizzy, both from the jab and getting high blood pressure, probably from the stress of labour. With both children I had high blood pressure after delivery too. The babies' nursery seems like miles away from my room, as we had to go there to bf our baby. First time I was sent there on wheelchair (hahahaha!) as I was dizzy and the stitches still hurt. After that, I practically hobbled there, one step at a time. As baby Orange is sleepy, he didn't cry for milk so I wasn't asked to go to the nursery often. I had to time myself for the 2-3 hourly feed and went there myself. So much for a baby-friendly hospital eh....

So I wasn't thinking much and just go along with bf fully, instead of giving baby Orange some milk powder to see him through before milk "came in". I didn't have the energy nor the time to pump, didn't bring the pump either, as baby Orange seems to want to bf all the time. Poor boy :P

The children and 爸爸 only get to see baby Orange through the "looking glass", they were so excited to see him :) Poor baby Orange had red and white spots on his face and body, and he had peeling skin on his hands and feet. He had lots of eye discharge too (me too heaty when carrying him?). As with the other two older children, I couldn't see his eyelashes yet.

On the second day in hospital I was feeling much better. Food was good as usual, I chose fish dishes. There was this delicious fish soup, fried fish, or steamed fish and veggies. Previously they provided fried eggs during my delivery of the two older children, but not this time. Perhaps there was complaints as Chinese do not want to eat eggs before 12 days in confinement. I ate everything up as my appetite came back after delivery. And of course mommy need to eat to produce milk. My room-mate didn't eat a dash of the food provided, she ate customized confinement food brought by her family while her family ate up the hospital food, so funny :P During her first day after delivery, the nurse brought baby to her for breastfeeding as she had caesarean. But she didn't know what to do, told the nurse she isn't ready, and provided milk powder for the baby instead. Glad to see her at the nursery later on my last day. I overheard her telling her female relative about how she doesn't know what to do and that she didn't go to the breastfeeding talk.

In the nursery on Day 2. 

As for me, I'm a frequent visitor to the nursery to bf baby Orange. Even though I don't know if he's getting enough but he was always sleepy. I think baby Orange is a little jaundiced by the end of the stay, but his paed didn't think it was serious so we were discharged on the third day. After discharge, baby Orange and I went to the confinement home we booked (that's another post).

I was given the memo on how to register for baby's birth cert. Seems like the process got more complicated as we need to provide not only the parents' IC and marriage cert, we also need to bring the baby book, baby's appointment card and immunization card, mother's appointment card during pregnancy and the usual letter of certified delivery given by hospital (all with original and photocopy). Gosh, and still there are non-citizens able to get our IC when the birth registration process is so complicated now. Baby Orange received a blue booked called "Rekod Kesihatan Bayi Dan Kanak-Kanak" issued by the Health Ministry.

My Pregnancy Diary ~ baby#3 ~

At first, it was me feeling tired more than usual, more moody and funny feeling in the abdomen, which I thought is gastric. Of course having delayed period too, but I thought it was due to stress. I couldn't even stay awake to watch my favourite K-drama. Didn't get any check-up as I got similar symptoms before but turned out my period came the day after seeing my gynae. I even thought menopause is coming early for me :p

One night I got stomach cramp, which seemed unusual, and just remembered my period is very late. Got a pregnancy kit and tested positive, but it was not very clear positive line. So I repeated the test the next day, got positive result again. I guess I was still in denial mode, I thought I read somewhere that even having some type of female cancer, we will get positive pregnancy test. I was telling 爸爸, unbelievable as it seems since it had been more than 6 years when 弟弟 was born, I'd rather be pregnant than be sick!

We quickly went to see gynae the next day. The nurse at clinic even told me, if too early stage doctor might not see the embryo yet, so it's possible they might ask me to go for another round of pregnancy test. When it's my turn, as soon as doctor started scanning, he confirmed I'm expecting baby #3! And far along to see the fetus clearly by now. So even though I couldn't recall my last period, the ultrasound detected baby as about 8 weeks.

We have not told the children about the pregnancy yet. When we went home, since the children had to be at 婆婆's house, they keep asking what did the doctor say. 姐姐 even said, I think you're not sick but you are going to have a baby. OMG, how true, so we 'fessed up to them. They are pretty excited and happy to have a little baby at home soon. I attended the last activity at 姐姐's school which is her Hari Penyampaian Hadiah. I couldn't accompany her for her school trip as afraid would be too tiring being out the whole day.

The second doctor's visit, I was recommended by the doctor to go for a more comprehensive check-up at Island Hospital due to my age. Now we know, it's not the father's age that will get doctor's attention for further checks, it's mommy's age. Sigh, it was quite worrying not knowing what to expect.

The 3-month check @12 weeks is scheduled. At Island Hospital, ultrasound is conducted to check baby's growth, and the specialist gynae did some measurements. At first, baby did not flip to the side needed for measurement. I was advised to take a walk, drink milo or have a snack to help wake up the baby :) We had to go in and out of the room so that doctor can do a proper measurement. The doctor also informed us we're expecting a baby boy during her check too.

When the ultrasound is completed, I was sent to the lab to do blood test. Actually, the lab just help to draw the blood, it was sent to a lab in KL for further testing. From the ultrasound, luckily everything is OK, but we need confirmation with the blood test.

I remembered after this check, I started having morning sickness. Maybe it's stress or too tired? Honestly I still cannot believe being pregnant at this age. Also started to get phlegm and cough, thus I slowly passed the baton of sending the children to hobby classes to 爸爸.

It is about a week waiting for blood test result. This was indeed a difficult and stressful waiting time. Fortunately, my report came back as low risk. It didn't matter I had to call to follow-up on the report.

Me at about 15 weeks with #3

Me at about 17 weeks with #3

In between these important scans of 3 months and 5 months, we had a weeks' vacation in Hong Kong. We had booked the tickets and hotel much earlier before we even knew of #3 pregnancy so off we go with a bump in tow. I had lots of rests sitting while the children and 爸爸 went for rides or further exploring/sight-seeing. The children took very good care of me, rushing to reserve seat for me on the MTR or buses and at the waiting areas. Too bad I don't look very pregnant in my winter clothes so nobody ever gave up any seats for me. Heck, even old men and old ladies were walking faster than I am at the MTR stations. I definitely would not visit Hong Kong if I had known I was pregnant, ok :) Too fast-paced and rushed for tired, pregnant lady with children :P Surprisingly, I did not get morning sickness and no phlegm too, maybe due to the cool weather?

 

A collection of my photos at about W19 during vacation at Hong Kong

Another scan called anomaly scan is scheduled for 5-months (@20 weeks). With a big relief, the 20 weeks anomaly scan went smooth and baby is OK.

By now, all the morning sickness, cough and poor appetite is in full force. I cannot eat much due to the queasiness and heartburn. I think it was mostly crackers and milo for me :( I took lots of rests as I got brownish discharge if I am too tired or walked too much. Still, I'm not sure how I went through it all with 爸爸 flying here and there. This year 姐姐 goes to morning school, so I once caused her to be extremely late to school, luckily the teacher is understanding.

To ease the funny feeling in my mouth, I think I took tubs and tubs of sugar-free mints. Not that it helps much, but at least I didn't throw up in school while waiting for 姐姐's morning session to finish. I couldn't help the children take their school bags, so they are now well-trained to handle their own school bag although once 姐姐 fell on the road trying to push such a heavy bag into the car.

Major food craving is mango, I loved anything mango this time. Was a frequent visitor to the nearby Fruuze for their tutti-fruitti fro-yo. Dreaming about mangoes day and night, even visit blogs about the local mango called harumanis :)

As this is baby#3, most baby things are still being kept so we got kind of slack in preparation. Besides, I was really tired all the time and couldn't bear to go to the malls. I pushed 爸爸 to wash all the baby clothes but as usual he selamba saja. Luckily, still manage to get a new Avent breastpump towards end of April.

Couldn't help the children with school work too, as I felt giddy and tired when I try to exercise my brains for school stuff. Now I understand how did 黄蓉's mother got into difficult labour due to stress and tiredness from trying to rewrite 九阴真经. That's why I push all that work to 爸爸, but he is really slack in monitoring their progress.

The baby seem to enjoy listening to the children practising their music, and to 姐姐 practising ballet with the music. However he doesn't seem to enjoy the pop songs I liked.

I couldn't cook as the smell of cooking turns my stomach, so we got catering food from January 2014. Sometimes if the cooking consist of heavy smelling onions or garlic, I have to hold my breath until I have done preparing lunch/dinner for the children.

I, who used to have no major health issues, started getting headaches too, especially towards the evening. Can't tolerate noises too, so the children got major scolding if they are loud and arguing among themselves. Good to say they are learning to be more independent although I feel sorry for them sometimes they don't get to be so pampered now.

Both children were so excited every time they have an opportunity to accompany us for doctor's visit. They enjoy seeing the baby grow on the ultrasound screen. 姐姐 keep saying the baby looks exactly like 弟弟every time she sees the baby's scanning.

Towards the end of third trimester the doctor was saying I put on too little weight. Actually most people I know keep saying I don't look pregnant, ya right, I just put on weight hahahaha :P

All in all, this is not an easy pregnancy, probably due to my advance maternal age. Being tired easily, vomiting most of the time, and trying my best to protect the baby. Keep telling baby to be strong and healthy and come to us in full term.

More photos, mostly in the early trimester. Already posted the photos before but just didn't note down the stage of pregnancy :)

Me at about W22

Me at about W25

And this one is me pregnant with 弟弟 at about 8 months. 姐姐 is about 2 years old here.