Friday, February 23, 2007

Unwind

Two Tuesdays ago, we went to Guoman for a one night stay. B had work to do and asked if I wanted to tag along. I said, yeah why not. Sun, sea, sand and sex... sape tak nak kan... hehehe...

It was Zara's first mini holiday and I wasn't too sure how she would react to it. I packed our stuffs and by noon we were off to PD. When we checked into our room, Zareef made a thorough tour of the room and gave his seal of approval, the two thumbs up (Zareef really, really loves staying at hotels) although I wasn't that satisfied with the room. The room decor was mighty ancient, there were no tub to chill in, air-cond wasn't working well (we were all sweating in the room that night. nasib baik ada kipas), channel selection wasn't impressive at all and the house-keeping service let me down (I requested for a shower gel TWICE but it never turned up!). However, the view from our floor managed to compensate for all the shortcomings that I had to endure.








Zareef was itching to jump into the pool and hit the beach. B was already gone for his workshop thingy. I was left alone to take care of the two kids. Hmmm... So I told Zareef not to wander too far from me. Just stick to playing the sand and the water's edge while I stayed with Zara who was firmly strapped to her Maclaren. Zareef was fine with that and so he ventured out on his own under my watchful eagle eyes.


I managed to snap the sunset. It took a lot of fiddling on my new cybershot but it was well worth it. Zareef, Zara and I just sat there and waited for the sun to set. Lovely, lovely sight. I just wished someone was there to capture a picture of the three of us with that beautiful view as a background. There wasn't a single soul to be found. We had the beach all to ourselves. Pretty wonderful and peaceful, I could just have stayed there forever.


The next morning, we woke up early (I really didn't get much sleep actually) so that B could spend some time with us especially since his son who was begging him to go swimming with him. Luckily enough, Zara managed to doze off. Maybe it was the cool sea breeze that did it but I was thankful because that means I could jump into the pool to take a dip.


It felt great to be able to swim again. I managed a few laps that was until Zareef decided to tail me and play a game of tag with me in the pool.


After what must have been ages, we finally went up to our room. I washed Zareef and Zara up, packed our things, ate sandwiches, fed Zara and Zareef and finally I could hit the shower. I reminded Zareef profusely to come and get me if Zara cried. This was what greeted me when I got out...


My two angels sleeping together. This is what I call, heaven on earth. It doesn't matter where I am, if my angels are with me, that is as close as heaven that I can get.

By the by, if anyone is interested in staying at Guoman and you're paying, then it'll set you back at RM440 per night. But I would say, it's not worth it with the kind of room that they have. However, if someone else is paying, then by all means, go. The pool and the beach made up for what the room lacked, as in our case that is.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Zara's Story

This is the story of Zara's birth. If it bores your eyes out, blame it on Along. She made a request for it.

3 days before Zara was borned, I had already felt wave of contractions come and go but they were so unpredictable that I said to myself, maybe it's just the braxton hicks making themself more prominent than ever.

Come the third day i.e. Thursday, Nov 9th, I couldn't stand it anymore. I woke B up and told him lets just go to the hospital because a) I'm worried that baby is not moving and b) contractions are getting to be unbearable albeit irregular. After solat and breakfast, I kissed Zareef goodbye (he was sleeping soundly and looking very angel-like), memorizing his face so that if anything happens to me, I'll be able to carry his memory with me. Yeah, very dramatic. I blame it on the hormones. In the car, while B was driving, I even minta maaf and minta halal makan minum. Pastu, ada ke B gelakkan. Cehhh... he assured me that everything was going to be fine and he'll be with me all the way.

We reached UKM's O&G emergency at 9 am. The attending doctor did a check on my progress and said that I was dilated at 3 cm but waterbag is still intact. So, to excite things, she went ahead and burst my waterbag. Oh my... the feeling of warm water gushing between my thighs was oh so uncomfortable. That was when the real pain began.

I was given a gown to change into. I couldn't walk so I had to be wheeled to the delivery room. A midwife shoved a pill literally up my ass so that I could do the no. 2. Lo and behold, 3 seconds later I was practically running to the loo. That pill certainly did a good job and I would very well recommend it to anyone who's constipated out there.

Back in the delivery room, the same midwife strapped my bulging belly with the baby's monitor. Terus boleh dengar heartbeat Zara. Very loud and clear. I was so relieved that baby was okay.

Half-an-hour later, the anaesthetist walked in and asked me "Nak epidural ke?" and I went "Nakkkkk....". Yeah... I'm a junky when it comes to combating pain. I have a near-zero tolerance for pain especially when it comes to giving birth. I had epidural with Zareef and I wouldn't miss it for the world with Zara. Another half-an-hour and I still felt the pain. What the heck?? Consultant ni bagi aku placebo ke? I cried and asked B to go hunt for the drug doc. He came "Still rasa sakit ke?" I could only reply with a nod. "Selalunya org lain dah okay with this dose. Looks like I have to top up your dose". And so he did. But still nothing magical happened. I was beginning to bawl (I know.. I'm such a baby). B went chasing after the drug doc again. He came in "You boleh rasa sakit lagi ke? (Dia buat muka disbelief). I think I'll have to change you to a stronger epi". After doing so, baru la rasa comfortable. Now, I can smile. See... I told you my pain tolerance is very low.

At 11 am, my gynae walked in. The first thing that she said was "Eh... dah on epi ke?". I replied "Nak buat camna... I'm a drug junky". She checked on me and said I was still at 3cm. After much deliberation, she decided to induce me as not to prolong my labor due to my history with Zareef which was 30 hours. Both B and I immediately agreed with her. Again, more drugs cruised in my bloodstream. Thank God for the epi!! I was told not to eat but after everyone went out, naughty B snucked in a bar of chocolate and a choc drink. I ate and drank because I was famished. Tapi bila midwife masuk je, B cepat2 sembunyikan the forbidden stuffs. Hehehhe... we were like two naughty kids.

At 3.58 pm, I was ready to push. I felt the greatest sensation to poo. The midwife went running to find my gynae who was with another patient which happened to be giving birth at the same time. My gynae had to run between the two of us, weaving in and out of the delivery rooms.

7 hours later, at 4.01 pm, after a very big push, my little princess emerged, all pink and covered with goo. It took her a few seconds to cry. I cried and cried too. My emotions were running amok but if felt good.

After 4 years, it was an experience of a lifetime. I thought I would have forgotten how it felt, how to breathe and how to push but everything came to me naturally and fell into the right places at the right time. I had doubts about looking after Zara after a long hiatus with Zareef but they were all unfounded. I seemed to remember how to do everything. Even B was a natural. So, no worries in that department.

Zara is 3 months old now. She's getting chubbier, bubblier and quite talkative with each passing day. She has even rolled over now but for the life of her, can't roll back. Zareef has taken the role of a dutiful brother to see to it that his sister doesn't suffocate herself by rolling her so that she can lie on her back. He has become the responsible and loving brother. No sibling rivalry whatsoever.

I'm so thankful that B was with me throughout the whole journey. I wouldn't know what to do if B wasn't at my side. He was my pillar of strength, my sea of calm and my source of food... hehehhe.. But seriously, I don't think I can do it without B's help. For the life of me, I simply cannot imagine women out there who give birth everyday without their husband by their side. I salute them for their inner strength, courage and bravery.

I know I've said it but I can't say it enough. Thank you darling... thank you, thank you, thank you.

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Stupid is as Stupid does

I'm such a klutz!! I was trying to add some codes to my site and now everything has gone haywire! ARggghhhhh!!! All at a click of a button.

I've lost all my favorite links instead of saving it!

I'm lucky that all my previous posts are still there.

So people, bear with me as I try to fix this blog of mine. I can assure you, it'll be a very long work in progress... sheeesssshhhh!!