Hong Kong : Jashan Indian Restaurant

During my Japan - Hong Kong trip, we had our lunch at Jashan, the best Indian Restaurant in Hong Kong. 

The food were great! Enjoy the photos. I cant remember the name of the dishes except for ice-cream ;p

Adelaide : Butts please

Cute. Thoughtful.

Nazran's playground

Nazran really enjoy being in the kitchen. Especially at the white cabinet.

Nabil, the happiest big brother

Nabil begged me to express the milk because he wanted to feed baby Nazmi. You can see the pure happiness there although I manage to get only 2 oz in a short time. I have the feeling he want to do this more often afterwards.

Then he begged me to burp baby Nazmi. Pure joy when baby Nazmi burped after a few gentle pats at the back. (Nazmi was not colour coordinated because Nabil was too busy playing and Mama was not in the mood to look for matching attire ;p la la la. I just grabbed anything on the top of the drawer)

Boy he is really excited with anything to do with babies nowadays!

Thank you for visiting us! Part 3

Last week, baby Nazmi received a present from Haziq & Sarah. My adorable nephew & niece. And then, Afif, Athirah, Adilla & Ayuni (my adorable neighbours) came with their mom to visit baby Nazmi. They brought a present as well! Thank you very much. 

On Saturday, my SIL and her family came all the way from Seremban to visit us at my mum's since we usually overnight there during weekend. Thanks for the cute presents (on the right)! I love the blankets so much!

Moving In : Part 17 - Slipper / sandal organiser

We came across a few wooden pallets at an industrial area. We brought home some. I just cant stand looking at good things being wasted. One of them has been upcycled to be the base of our bulky TV (this entry). And this one.....

We upcycled it to be a slipper / sandal organiser. Nabil painted it white and Papa mounted it to the wall. We put a wooden plank on top for shoes. I love the fact that the size of the pallet is exactly the same as the piece of wall available next to the door, underneath the window.

More on our MOVING IN Adventures! Click here.

Thank you for visiting us! Part 2

Just now my husband's family, grandmother, aunt, uncle and cousin came to visit baby Nazmi. We bought some boiled corn and muffins. We made chocolate bread pudding and quesadilla. Served it with strawberry tea and freshly-squeezed lemonade.

Messy food prep at the dining hall :) They had their meal at the living room.

Boiled corn, chocolate bread pudding and quesadilla. The bread pudding is best eaten with the chocolate sauce. Unfortunately I ran out of the main ingredient to make the chocolate sauce, so I just served it plain :(  Not chocolatey enough. I have to make the chocolate sauce tomorrow!

It feels good to have guests coming. Thank you for visiting us!

Juices and food

In the morning, when I cant decide what fruit will go into the blender, whether it is green apple?  red apple? or orange? I usually blend all the fruits separately and I end up with 2 or 3 glasses of fruit juice. I dont strain them because I need the fibre.

I will only use the juicer in the evening. I like to sip the pure juice while relaxing in the evening. Juicer is really hard to clean - especially the strainer.

This was my lunch yesterday. Grilled lemon and ginger chicken with grilled potato. I sprinkle a bit of black pepper and paprika. Ate it with mustard. I cut the chicken breast into bite-size pieces because I have to eat it with only one hand (fork only), the other hand should be available in case I need to breastfeed. #strategy

I pair it with a glass of refreshing hand-squeeze lemonade.

naZZZZZZZZZZZZZmi

Fruit juices

Fruit supply for one week for mummy in confinement. Banana not included. That is Nazran's. He insisted to put in there. I dont eat banana.

I just love fresh fruit juice. I dont eat vegetable so I have to depend on fruits for fibre and other necessary vitamins. 

Confinement period = reading time!!!

What I love about my confinement period is... I have unbelievable amount of time to READ! yay!

Yes, I need to feed the baby, change his nappy, express the milk, but that didnt take me the whole day. I am blessed with easy to handle babies. They dont cry. They are not colicky. When they are awake, they just stare at the ceiling the whole time, acting like they are very excited to see the ceiling fan and the lighting fixtures.

I stay up all night reading so I didnt miss the two-hourly feeding. I also can just sit and read a book during the day, in between cooking and doing laundry. Yes, we are now back to our own house on the 10th day and I do the house chore myself. Slowly. I still wear bengkung, bertungku, watch what I eat, just like what women in confinement supposed to do. 

My brother lend me a few interesting books. I just started the first one but I left it at my mum's. I am now trying my best to finish the last book I bought at Big Bad Wolf Sale last time.

**I dont online much during confinement period. I prepared some blog entries and set it to auto-publish for the whole week. Two or three entries per day.

Birth story.

29 Jan 2013

I went to work as usual although I was dilating. My sister didnt allowed me to work but I NEED TO ATTEND A BAREFOOT LEADERSHIP CIRCLE 2.0's first meeting. I have to complete 25 sessions to be part of BLC 2.0. I went home and strongly feel that I have to clean the baby cot (this entry). 

30 Jan 2013

I was not feeling well. Went to see my doctor. She gave me an MC for two days. I started to develop a fever. It getting worse in the evening. My husband send the kids to my mum's so he can take a good care of me.

31 Jan 2013
I tried my best to go to work because I have to attend the 2nd Dale Carnegie Training session. I need to complete 4 sessions to be able to graduate from the training. But I cant get up at all.

Last breakfast before giving birth (this entry)
Last lunch before giving birth (this entry)

8.00pm - My mum called to check on me - she asked me to go to the hospital since my fever is getting worse.

9.00pm - Went to my mum's to check on the kids. Took some BP reading to rule out high blood pressure. I had a really terrible headache the whole day. My doctor sister asked my husband to bring me to the hospital ASAP. She was afraid I had an infection since I had dilated for nearly one week. She told me, if I happened to give birth during the day, please ask for epidural analgesia. I dont know why but when the expert asked you to do certain thing, just do it ;p

11.00pm - Went to Dewan Bersalin. My brother took care of my kids since my parent went to my relative's house nearby to prepare for an akad nikah ceremony tomorrow. My temperature is nearly 40 degrees Celsius. A few doctors came in and checked. I was observed for a few hours and I requested to go home since it was extremely uncomfortable being surrounded by other mommies in labour. 

1 Feb 2013

2.45am - Went back to my mum's. My parent just came back from the akad nikah prep. Clean up and prepare to sleep. I told my husband how I wish to be in labour today.

3.30am - Sudden sharp pain in my tummy. Woke up for 2-3 minutes. Continue to sleep.

4.00am - My water breaking. First experience with the water. With previous births, I only had bloody show. It was sort of leaking water instead of the more dramatic gush a la Hollywood movie.

4.30am - Arrive in Dewan Bersalin, again. Greet by all doctors and nurses because they just sent me home and I came back in less than 2 hours. Observed for a few hours. Temperature still high, between 38 - 39 degree Celsius. Doctor asked me whether I want a VBAC or C-sect. Of course I want a VBAC.

10.00am - To the labour room. Doctor decided for augmented labour or c-sect if the progress is too slow. The moment they put me on oxytocin drip, I know it is going to be an augmented labour. phew.

11.00am - Anaes came for epidural procedure. Unfortunately I didnt feel any difference with the epidural. The contraction is getting intense afterward, thanks to the oxytocin, but with Doa Nabi Yunus, it is Alhamdulillah, bearable. 

1.20pm - Doctor asked me if I am ready to push since I was already too weak. I keep dozing off in between contraction due to the drowsy effect of Piriton I took earlier. At 9cm, I begin to push.

1.41pm - Baby Nazmi was born. Easy one. Alhamdulillah. No episiotomy.

Jaundice, go away

Baby Nazmi is recovering well from jaundice after numbers of blood tests in the clinic and hospital. Alhamdulillah. 

From 221μmol/L to 236 μmol/L the next day. Breastfeeding every two hours manage to bring it down to 211 μmol/L. I look like a zombie for a week because I have to make sure he breastfeed on time (doesnt all moms with newborn look like a zombie for at least one month??). I didnt sleep at all. Jaundice baby tend to sleep the whole time. It was hard at the beginning. Anyway, it paid off. Yesterday the reading was 145 μmol/L. He is OK.

Brotherhood

Every night. 
Nabil and baby Nazmi.

When Papa wants to give baby Nazmi a bath, these are what Nabil prepare on the bed. He will colour coordinate the whole look - the onesie, bootie and mitten. Such a responsible and loving brother :)

It is official!

MUHAMMAD NAZMI SYAZWAN.

Teach them some responsibilities

This was happened when I went out with my mom - this entry.

My dad have to take care all the kids - 10yo Haziq, 8yo Nabil, 8yo Sarah and 5yo Nazran. I brought Nazreen along with me. Knowing how handful they could be, I assigned them to a specific task, just to get them excited. One person in-charge of security (no one should open the front door), one person in-charge on food (in case Nazran is hungry) and the other one is on cleanliness (clean up the mess after they play).

When we came back, I noticed there were some changes on the tasks. They have appointed Nazran to be the AJK 5 tahun AT FIRST. Then, after a while, when he couldnt stop talking (yes, he is very talkative), they appointed him to be the Ketua Membebel.

I am not sure what is the scope of work for Ketua Membebel but I know Nazran has done a very good job.

Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday to you.
Today is my husband's birthday. This is what the kids gave him as a present.

 This is my favourite quote from the book. So true. If you have SONS.

Last prep : Baby cot

29 January 2013 - Last preparation before I fell sick the next day. After I came back from my office, we unpacked the old baby cot and wash it thoroughly. It was such a joy to prepare for the latest member of our family :) It is great to see the baby cot after 5 years. Still in a good shape.

We have the best excuse not to join my dad, the kids and our neighbours to clear the area in front of their house. They chopped down two old trees that day. Kids were having fun with their friends.

Nazran didn't join the party outside. He prefer to be..... in the cot. He still think he is the baby.

Upcycle : Glass bottles

I love clear glass bottles. I never throw away soy sauce, ketchup, oyster sauce bottles. I brought some to my office last time just to spice up my steel cabinet top. It is simple, cheap and cute.

VBAC, big deal

I had a c-sect for my third son in 2008 and I decided to have a VBAC this time around. I had prepared myself physically and mentally especially on not to get intimidated with the downside of the VBAC especially on the risk of uterine rupture. I only read good stuff on VBAC. I know it is risky but assurance from doctors, nurses and midwives has put me in different perspective. And I am really determine to have a VBAC. C-sect is so torturing.

Anyway, I had a successful VBAC!!! Yay!!

Thanks to the great team in Selayang Hospital who monitored me closely all the time. The charming anaes, Dr Nurulhasyim, the experienced doctor, Dr Suriani, Dr Wong, two other beautiful doctors which I didnt get their name, Dr Shogan, Dr Adrian and Dr Jeslyn, the speacialist in-charged for my case, Dr Philip, the cute paed, Dr Maimuna and all nurses and midwives. That was the best team so far and I have a great labour experience! Thank you doctors!

The last lunch before the baby popped out

31 Jan 2013 - Me and my husband went out for a while to buy some baby stuff eventho I was really sick. On the way back, we stopped by at my friend's restaurant. Khairiah was my course mate in Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design. I did my major in Architecture and she chose Urban and Regional Planning. I met her in Fever Centre, Selayang Hospital last time and she invited me to her restaurant.

So, there we were. Mee Udang Restaurant D'Tanjung. I love the cucur udang. Made to order. With a lot of love. 

You can order Mee Udang Special and get generous amount of huge udang on top. I am not the fan of mee (noodle) but I finished the whole bowl. I ordered the plain mee udang. This was the last meal I had before I delivered my son the next day.

The last breakfast before the baby popped out

I had a high fever two days before I delivered my fourth son. I cant get up so my husband prepared a simple but yummy breakfast. I force myself to eat because I am afraid I will be in labour anytime soon. I didnt know how, but I just can tell it is REALLY NEAR.

Traditional Postnatal Massage

I just completed my 4th traditional postnatal massage session. Just now.

(pic googled)

It supposed to be 7 days in a row, right after I came back from the hospital but I can only stand 3 sessions in a row. I asked the bibik urut for two days break BECAUSE POSTNATAL MASSAGE IS SUCH A PAINFUL ORDEAL. I dont believe in gentle postnatal massage.

It took 9 months of pregnancy and a few hours of contractions and labour process to make whatever inside you haywire. And it is impossible to fix it in 7 days. 

I supposed to have another session tomorrow but I cancelled it. I think age is catching up with me. Last time, I was a fan of traditional postnatal massage because it is extremely rejuvenating (it still does!), purely addictive and therapeutic.

Anyway, I will complete the 7 sessions or probably more. The best thing about this massage is, when I came back from the hospital, I still look like 6 months pregnant, but after two sessions, my tummy is as flat as a board ;p 

This is from BabyCenter.com :

What are the benefits of the traditional postnatal massage?

According to Datin Sharifah Anisah, founder of Nona Roguy (now NR) and author of Ensiklopedia Perbidanan Melayu (Encyclopaedia of Malay Midwifery), the postnatal massage will:

• improve blood circulation;
• expel lochia;
• "lift" the womb and keep it from sagging;
• break down fat;
• tone and shape the body to help the new mum get her pre-baby body back; and
• speed up overall recovery from labour and birth.

Thank you for visiting us! Part 1

My x-colleagues from International Unit MHLG came and visited us last Friday. I am so thankful because I left MHLG for nearly a year now but there are people who remember me. They came all the way from Putrajaya to Gombak just to meet the baby. Thanks Rosdiana, Nadia Aimi, Rafidah, Tengku Nurashiha and of course, handsome 6mo Irfan :)

I really appreciate that. You guys are the best.

The almost-theres : 36 & 37 weeks

My last day working as a pregnant lady :)
29 January 2013.

My mom insisted me to wear this attire for the self-portrait session at the lobby. I never told her about my everyday activity at the lobby. My aunts and my cousin were the one who told her about this. 

OK. Now I missed being pregnant!

He is finally here!!

My 4th baby boy was born on 1 February 2013. Three weeks earlier than the EDD (He supposed to come out on 23 Feb 2013).
1.41pm.
3.29kg.
VBAC :) big deal.

I am recovering from high fever (and of course, stitchesss). He is struggling with jaundice.
See you guys later, when we are feeling better.