Mother of 2

Alhamdulillah, I'm done with confinement.
Although I didn't get to be all manja this time around because I have a 3 year old to look after.
I followed strict confinement diet, wore socks, no heavy lifting.
That's about it.
Other than that-
cooking, vacuuming, laundry, bathe the boys...
Did them all.

There are days when everything seem so overwhelming.
I have a pair of arms that can only hold one baby at a time.
When both want simultaneous attention, that's when things get slightly overwhelming.

Faruq is wonderful.
He's independent in the sense that if I leave him to play in cot while I need to run chores, he'll just play on his own or just stare at the moving mobile..
And he sleeps rather well on his own, too.

Faris can throw abit of a tantrum.
He wants attention.
But more often than not, he's very understanding that Bonda needs to be with adik more.
So proud of him.

It has it's challenges.
There are days I just want to cry in the bathroom.
But it's always been good. Never bad.

Alhamdulillah.
So blessed to have these two boys.

Our Second

You know when there's a pool of something sweet on the kitchen counter, and it is unfortunate enough that there's a ring of ants surrounding it?
And then you disturb their nectar snack time and they scurry?
Ever notice how they scurry?
In every which direction. An organized panic, if you will.

That's what happened at 3pm-ish, Saturday, 21st July 2012, when the doctor ruptured my water bag and found that it's not the clear fluid that it's supposed to be, but green - like pea soup.

Doctor yelling instructions to nurses.
Nurses half running to get equipments, medication, etc.
And me -
I just laid there, instinctively one hand on my belly, trying to protect my baby from this chaos,
when the threat to him was already inside.

"Ceasar. Now!" was all I remembered the doctor half-yelling.
After that was just... buzzing.
Part of this tuning out was panic.

I was in labour.
Contractions were good.
Starting to dilate, albeit at a very slow rate.
But once the water bag broke, doctor informed me that baby had passed motion in the belly.
He didn't know how long it's been like that, but it was crucial for him to get the baby out, immediately.

Alhamdulillah, after my second emergency ceaser, our second son was born.

Faruq.
One with the ability to distinguish right from wrong.
3.06kgs

Due to the fact that whilst in the belly he already inhaled the contaminated amniotic fluids,
Faruq has been in an incubator since birth.
I haven't held him.
I haven't fed him.
Or kissed him.

This breaks my heart, but I have faith that this is Allah's plan.
This is the best for him, and the best for us.

Redha.
And with patience, insyaAllah, we'll have our boy soon.

My False Labour

July 4th.
3am.
Woken up by a sharp pain. Realised I was sweating from trying to withstand the pain in my sleep.
Yes.
Contractions.
The real kind.

Since I know the baby's not due yet, I decided to not wake Husband and freak him out.
Instead, I did some breathing exercises.
Solat.
I did the laundry (at 3:30am)
I cleaned the kitchen, cleared the dishes.
Walked around the house.
All in the effort to reduce the contraction pains.

By 4:30am, the contractions were less painful and infrequent.
I decided to go back to sleep.

At 6:30am, I woke up for Fajr prayers.
During prayers, the contractions started again.
After prayers I walked around the house again.
Did whatever chores I could do.
By 8am, I was exhausted and decided to sleep, again.

9:30am.
Woken up by another stream of painful contractions.
Glad that by this time, Husband and Son were already up.
So I decided to tell Husband that I think we need to go to the hospital.

At the hospital, I was sent to do a CTG;
to monitor baby's heartbeat and measure the contractions.
I had mild-to-strong contractions about 12 minutes apart.
Doc check whether I was dilating.
No. I was still closed.

Doc prescribed meds to stop the contractions for now, since baby is still preterm.
InsyaAllah will reach full term by Monday 9th July.
After that, I have to go back to the hospital to recheck the baby's progress.
If he's ready, and I'm ready, will deliver next week.

Dear Baby Adek,

Bonda knows you want to come out and join us. And play with your Abang.

We are very keen on meeting you too.

But it's okay to take your time, darling dear.

We'll be here, waiting, insyaAllah.

We love you.

Puzzle Post #3

I've found that I've made an error regarding the Melissa and Doug Sound Puzzles.
They are actually activated by light or light-sensitive.
So, you and your kids should play with it in a well lit room.
In the day, near windows should be perfect.
At night, I find that it works best under the orange-y light rather than the white-ish light.

And how lovely, my sister in-law surprised darling Son with this:

Vehicles Sound Puzzle

The Mothercare sale was still on and all Chunky Puzzles were sold at 40% off.
So we borong these puzzles, keeping it for Baby Adek.

 Construction Chunky Puzzle

 

Tools Chunky Puzzle

Vehicles Chunky Puzzle

Happy puzzle babies, insyaAllah.

SNUGG preparations

The days are ticking until Baby Adek's arrival.
And I love babywearing.
And particularly stuff from SNUGGbaby. :)

Custom-ordered the following for Baby Adek:

Diaper Clutch. 
So pretty.

Nursing apron.
Let's face it. Malls and/or public places in Malaysia are breastfeeding friendly.
One mall actually put stools in toilet stalls and said it's for breastfeeding.
Hello, no one, Muslim or non-Muslim would want to breastfeed their baby in a filthy, public toilet stall.

And the lovely Ringsling.
I ordered this one without the shoulder pads because I'd like to try and wear Baby Adek from birth.

So happy.
:)

Project: Sheets and Things

So back in 2010, I made this project with the couch.
Then recently, we had to give the couch away because it was hazardous to an active and bouncy toddler.
The fabric that I used for the couch was washed and stored away.
I didn't want it to go to waste because it's so pretty.
From IKEA.

Hence, I launched another project.
Project: Sheets and Things.

Borrowed the sewing machine from my sister in law.
And made a cot fitted sheet.
Like so:

There are some imperfections, though, but I'm extremely happy with this first attempted.
It fitted perfectly on the mattress.
And you can see all the characters printed on the fabric.

Then I ventured on to sew bolster cases.
The size of these bolsters, the cases are hard to come by.
The only place I know that sells this size is Safe n' Sound.
Sometimes, the choices are limited.

And along with the bolsters, I sewed a toddler pillow case,
because I wanted something to match the bolsters and
I had extra fabric. :)

Overall, Alhamdulillah, Project: Sheets and Things was a success.
Hope Baby Adek will love it. 

Preparations

It seems that this pregnancy is flying by.
Alhamdulillah, safely in the third trimester now.
It's already May.

We have about 10 weeks to go, insyaAllah.

 

Preparations are underway.
I'm checking if everything is still working; breastpumps, bottle sterilisers, etc.
I've been washing some of Faris' old baby clothes, a little at a time.
The memories it brings. :)
And I cannot fathom that Faris was once that tiny.
He's growing up so fast.

There's a huge possibility that I may have to undergo Caesarian again,
if doctor finds that I am still a Group B streptococcus carrier.
Doc says just because I was a carrier when I was pregnant with Faris, I won't necessarily be one for this pregnancy.
However, to determine that, he'd have to run some tests when I reach Week 34 insyaAllah.

Praying for the best.
Safe.
Blessed.
Comfortable.

InsyaAllah.

Precious, Priceless Moments #38

Baby kicked.
I rubbed the belly and said "Hullo".
Faris came and put his hand on the big belly,
rubbed it in circles,
and said,
"Hi, Adek. Assalaamualaikumm."

*heart melts*

Kickin'

Today, after fajr prayers, I tried to go back to sleep since Son was still sleeping.
Then, in the stillness of the early morning, I felt it.
Baby Adek's first kick.

Mild, but a definite "I'm here".

MasyaAllah.
You are the Greatest, Ya Rabb.
Thank you.

Year of the Dragon

Merlin marathons have provoked many fantastic dreams. On one occasion, I dreamt that The Dragon Kilgharrah told me that my unborn child is destined for great things, seeing that he/she will be born in the Year of the Dragon. :))

Expecting

Alhamdulillah, we have been blessed with another pregnancy.
A third. Second baby.
The miscarriage with Baby Peanut has left a little cloud of phobia surrounding this new pregnancy.
Alas, I surrender all to Allah s.w.t and work hard at taking care of myself and our new precious cargo.

At 8 weeks, Baby has a very strong heartbeat and has developed arms and legs.
Alhamdulillah, MasyaAllah.

My Husband and Son and other family members have been such a great support system and my source of strength.
InsyaAllah all will go well.
Praying for a lasting heartbeat,
and a happy, healthy and safe pregnancy.

Amin.