8 weeks and counting

I've been puking everyday, mostly mornings and mostly just water. As work got demanding this week, I also had less sleep and hence, I got sick with a sore throat and a cough. Again, no fun being sick when you're pregnant. I hope the girl doesn't get this from me as I cannot afford her sick right now with hubby being away this coming whole week. :( [a mental note to remind rye li not to ever marry a guy who travels so much unless he can afford to bring her along at all trips! ;)]

Here's what Baby Centre has to say at 8 weeks:-

If you could see your baby this week you'd see that his fingers and toes are emerging, his eyelids practically cover his eyes and his embryonic tail is just about gone. Of course, it's still too early to tell whether you're having a boy or a girl because the telltale parts aren't visible yet, but go ahead and play the guessing game. Many mums-to-be say they have an inkling early on - and often they're right!

I don't really have a clue at all as to whether I'm having a boy or girl. The symptoms are the same with Rye Li except that I got this constant funny taste in my mouth and that my cravings started earlier and it's mainly for spicy and sour stuff. With Rye Li, my cravings came later and it's mostly sweet stuff. So could it really be the opposite gender of Rye Li- she will be happy if she gets a ti-ti I guess? Oh well, we shall just see.

I'm not going to blog more but will cut and paste from what I wrote before when I was pregnant with Rye Li about the same time. Reading back that post, I realised my english really sucks and I will probably feel the same if I read back all the posts I've written in the girl's blog and mine. I know I could correct it now but I'm not bothered really.... Haha.

We had the following check up this Monday. Didn’t realise hubby was more excited that I was….he was worrying the whole day on the doctor’s appointment than I was. He said he wanted to sms me but didn’t want me to worry. Told him I didn’t really think much abt it too.So after work we went.

He picked me up from the train station and headed to the specialist center. Waited for a little bit but not as long as our first trip there. Went in and the doc asked how have I been feeling for the last 3 weeks. I said not that good and told him my concerns especially on how different my symptoms are compared to my sister and cousin. He mentioned that I should not be comparing at all and said all individuals are different. The doc was kinda different this time, more caring and had a lot more to say than our first visit. I think he sense that I may go for a second opinion if I’m not happy with him. Hah.

Anyhow, he did a scan again and this time, he allowed hubby to join us behind the curtain. He took a while trying to search for the little fella while we wait. Then he said there it is…and both of us were looking at it trying to make up of what exactly we are looking at. Then the doc went, there’s the heartbeat….and both of us went where? We have no clue what to look for. The doc then zoom into a spot and used the cursor on the screen to show us the blinking of the heartbeat. Only then we saw! It was so tiny and so cute! And yet I cannot tell it’s form really….hubby was really excited, more than me. This I only got to know later when he was happily talking abt the heartbeat after the check up.

The doc said that the little one is growing fine and that I’m exactly 8 weeks and 2 days old which means my due date that he gave from our first visit remains the same which is 20th January 2006. I asked abt the scarring and he said it has gone which is so much to our relief really. He said he doesn’t see anything wrong with the embryo so far and said our next appointment will be in a month’s time.

I asked him about a blood test and he said he usually take it at 3-4 mths and that if I wanted to, he can take one there and then. I decided to leave it as that and wait for a month or so. Hope that I will have nothing to worry about.

So far, this journey has been a roller coaster ride in terms of emotional and physical being. I have puked 6 times so far as of today and the nauseous feeling is still there although lesser these days. And I’ve been peeing so much….damn a lot actually. Just last nite, I think I went to pee like 10 times and I couldn’t sleep much. It says in the books that usually it will go away after the third month and come back later in the third trimester. I really hope so. It is annoying to have your sleep disrupted. And it doesn’t help either that I cant drink much water and when I try to compensate at nite, I pee more. Boo hoo.

It’s amazing how a little life growing within you can do so many changes to your body. My whole taste buds have changed. A lot of my favourite food is no longer edible to me without feeling nauseous. And I cant eat much at times which means poor hubby will finish it for me. He has put on more weight than me….hehe. am trying to make sure he starts his exercise program again for his sake. And I eat regularly too coz I get hunger pangs all the time. Which hubby will follow me when he feels greedy.

And when you really feel how sick you can get with all these morning sickness and all, you don’t loathe at what is happening to you. You accept it with grace and pride to know that you have a baby growing in you. And it really helps to have such a wonderful partner who tries to understand what is going on with you. He wasn’t there when I puked the first 2 times as he was traveling out of state. On my third one, he was next to me over the toilet bowl patting my back, consoling me. I didn’t expect him to do so and at that time I jst wanted him to go away coz I was at such a vulnerable state (and also I didn’t want him joining me in puking). But I got to know that he wants to be there although he feels helpless. After that, he was at every puke except for this morning’s coz he was in the other toilet having a tummy ache. He told me he could hear me but couldn’t come to my rescue coz he was in the middle of his business. So sweet of him. And this is what I’ve learnt too about being pregnant….such love! from your partner and from what a mother has towards her child no matter how the child reacts. This is a wonderful journey alright and I cannot wait to see the little fella come January next year!

I have to add one thing though, yes hubby was really sweet then with my condition and he is still as sweet now. He doesn't hang out with me in the toilet anymore when I puke (coz he's hardly around) and when he is around, he tends to Rye Li most of the time.

2nd checkup

We were at my Obgyn's this morning and we saw Baby 2's heartbeat, including Rye Li. I guess amidst the morning sickness and nausea and the horrible feeling I'm going through, that sight just made the whole thing worth it! hehe.

We had the scan printed out too. My Obgyn was saying what for since can't see much and I said to compare with Rye Li's (although we forgot to ask the 1st time scan to be printed out).

We are looking forward to seeing Baby 2's full form in 4 weeks time, which is the next check up. I am at 7 and a half week's now.

Below is what Baby Centre has to say at 7 weeks;

Your uterus has doubled in size in just two months (my comments: holy cow!) but you're unlikely to look pregnant yet (my comments: with the 'leftovers' from Rye Li, my tummy does look big!) , even though inside you may be on an emotional rollercoaster (my comments: tell me about it!). If you could see your baby, you'd probably notice eyelids forming, the nubs where fingers and toes are beginning to grow, and a tiny heart beating beneath parchment-thin skin. This is a critical stage when many major organs are forming.

As for Rye Li, we have already told her a few week's back about Baby 2. Initially, she will ask me "where's baby"? And then there was once she asked "where's ti-ti (chinese: little brother)?" [she's still adamant for wanting a ti-ti]. I had to correct her saying we don't know whether Baby 2 is a mei-mei (chinese: little sister) or a ti-ti yet. Now if you ask her where's mummy's baby and she will say "Inside Mummy's stomach". She's also willing to kiss my tummy and say "Goodnight Baby or Hello Baby" and will pat my tummy gently. She gets excited when I say when Baby 2 comes out, she will be a cher-cher (chinese: elder sister)and she will go "Rye Li cher-cher". I just pray that she is still this excited when Baby 2 is actually out! LOL, we shall see eh?!

Lately, she is also showing signs of being extra demanding. This whole week when we picked her up from the daycare, she was always in a foul mood and refused to cooperate when sitting in her car seat. So we had to force her and her mood just gets worst for the whole journey home! I am wondering is this also in relation to Baby 2.

At my Obgyn this morning, the girl was her usual talkative self. She always ask to see Dr. Fan when he's not in sight but when he is, she goes numb. But it was interesting to see Dr. Fan teasing her and she will reply at times. At our first visit nearly 3 weeks ago, Dr. Fan said she's a real cili padi (malay: small chilli, aka small but fierce!)as she was talking non-stop throughout our visit there. I am really curious to see her reaction towards the up-coming scans. I do want to share as much as I can with her for this pregnancy to also prepare her for what is in store for her. I wonder if she really knows what's going on.

The beginning of nausea, morning sickness and lotsa farts!

Since my last update, history has repeated itself. I see myself going through very similiar paths when I was pregnant with Rye Li. My nightmare has begin and yes, at times I do ask myself what have I gotten myself into (with no offense to Baby 2 of course).

I have puked everyday for the last 5 days, twice on Sunday. Luckily, it's literary morning sickness but the nausea stays nearly the whole day. I can't think straight anymore (just think constant motion sickness, that is how I feel!).

Interestingly, a week back, hubby asked me how many kids do I intend to have and I told him now is not a good time to ask at all! He has intentions to add another set of tattoo on his other arm with all of our names on it and he said he will leave 2 spaces blank for Baby 2 and if ever, Baby 3 as well. Sigh! What is with some people and their tattoos!

On the positive side, the spottings has stopped I hope. It did come now and then last week but it has stopped since the weekend. Comparing to Rye Li's time, the spotting then was pretty consistent. This time, it is not and at least the cramps have stopped but I do get backaches now and then.

Oh and the wind and farts! I have never farted and burped so much ever since I was pregnant with Rye Li and now it is starting again. I don't remember it starting so early though with Rye Li.

I will be seeing my obgyn this Saturday and after which, I should be telling most of the world about this pregnancy. We finally informed my family on Sunday after hubby took pity on me when he saw me puked twice that day. Of course, they are more excited than I am and soon enough, some of my relatives also got to know as well. Not surprised here. ;)

As of today, I'm 7 weeks and still feeling tired and very sick! It doesn't help that hubby is travelling frequently for work again and I'm in desperate need of a maid. We will be applying soon and I pray we strike the lottery with the first one as I'm in no mood to go through several maids in the coming months. It is also my first time ever in getting a maid and I pray for the process to be a smooth one. Most likely we will be getting a Cambodian for certain reasons but the thought of communicating to her still scares me but will have to work it out then when the time comes.

I haven't got the 7 weeks update from Baby Center yet so I will post what they had to say about Baby 2 at 6 weeks....

This week, your baby's brain, muscles and bones are beginning to take shape. His hands and feet resemble little paddles and his tiny heart is beating — twice as fast as yours, in fact. Although you probably won't feel anything for nine or ten more weeks, he's about to make his very first movements.

Eversince Rye Li has left my tummy, I really miss the movements she made inside. And I'm not sure if it was due to this that at times I still feel "little kicks" in my tummy long after she came out. So now with the fact that I know I'm pregnant, I also have these "little kicks" and I'm positively sure it's not Baby 2.

Anyhow, with what I'm feeling lately, I'm still adamant about being a boy in my next life!

Leaving it to fate

After the initial scare, there were only a few yellow spotting which I didn't feel the need to go see my doctor immediately. Then later in the evening, after picking the girl up from the nursery, there was another discharge again similiar to the day before and I put two and two together and figured it was from carrying the girl to and from the carseat. However, this time there were no signs of blood.

I told hubby about this and I said I cannot not carry the girl now and then especially when I'm alone with her most of the time and neither will I blame the girl if anything were to happen to this pregnancy. I am going to leave it to fate, if it's meant to be, it's meant to be. This was how I felt too during Rye Li's time. I really thought I would have lost her from all that spotting and cramps at that time.

I'm also wondering how did many mothers during my mother's and grandma's time have so many kids one after another with no help survive their pregnancies! Are they made of steel then? Haha...even now, for those mothers who have so many kids, how did you all do it? I know you guys just take it as normal and live life like usual. So this is what I'm going to do, live like normal (while coping with the nausea, tiredness and an active 2 year old at home!).

And while I'm at it, I might as well make the most of out this pregancy....I didn't actually have a pregnancy diary when I had Rye Li (I did do some at my other blog which I will extract what I typed out there where necessary to do a comparison) so I will try and do one here for Baby 2. Yes, I will name it baby 2 as I don't feel nice calling it "it". ;)

From Baby Centre, it said that at 5 weeks, "Your embryo (at this tiny stage, she's still not technically considered a baby or even a fetus yet) is enjoying her first huge growth spurt. Although she still resembles a tadpole more than anything else, she's sprouting tiny buds that eventually will become arms and legs. Already her vital organs, including the heart, kidneys, and liver, are in place and growing. "

This is so amazing, a miracle, from nothing to growing into something. Of course I can't help but glee from ear to ear. Although the nauseous feeling is making me feel down now, and because of this I also ask myself "what have I got myself into again?!" (since Rye Li, I still have the fear of the nausea and morning sickness phase!) but I know in a year's time, if you ask me if I will go through this again just to have my babies, my answer will be "YES!".

Below is what I wrote in my non-active private blog when I found out I was pregnant with Rye Li and the title was "In my next life, I wanna be a boy!" (I know, I can be such drama queen). It looks as if my emotions are just the same, very emotional as always.

It’s been nearly 2 weeks since we found out. We have been trying since after cny this year but were not trying hard enough. Results didn’t show and as much as I was disappointed, I know that it should not be the case coz we were not trying that hard. Not easy making a baby. I know many will beg to differ but that is the case with us. And with all those years of wondering and worrying whether I could and so on, it finally came true!

My period was late in april running into the 35th day cycle…I’m always around 28-32 days there. And I was spotting in between and definitely cramping but there were no sign of blood. Visited the doc at the normal clinic and he did a urine test. Negative. He said if my period don’t come in a week’s time, to come in a check again. I was disappointed then coz I thought perhaps I could be. 2 days later, my period came. Screwed my system up for the first time in many years and I was thinking to myself, how am I going to calculate my ‘peak’ time now. And not forgetting, it spoilt our koh samui trip. The trip was suppose to be THE trip where we will try like mad in a relaxed environment. But it was not meant to be.

The next period…again late. And I thought it could be the same case as the previous month. And I was cramping too and spotting again…didn’t think I was coz it’s too painful to be pregnant.Wanted to wait till I’m 45 days late but when I hit 43 and was spotting the day before, I thought I shld jst go and check with the doctor. This time I went to another clinic coz I felt that the last one was negative and I didn’t want to go through that all similar path again jst to find the same results back. Also, I didn’t want the cute doctor to think I was paranoid. Haha.

Did a urine test and it came out positive. Was so shocked! Really shocked…it worked! Hah. But the doc said that I shld go see a proper gynae to rule out any danger since I’m not suppose to be cramping and spotting. Hubby was shocked too and happy. We both had mixed feelings…was too excited to have lunch even.

We went to the gynae that nite itself…the wait was crazily trying for us. We both were still in shock and worried. Finally our turn came. The doc ultra scanned me but he said that it’s too vague to see and asked whether I want to wait for another week or so or do the scope thingy. Guess he had to ask coz there’s a price to pay for anything and everything. I just told him to do the scope coz I don’t think I can possibly wait any longer.

The scope confirmed the pregnancy and next to the little fella, there was a dark line which the doc confirmed was blood clots. In all that excitement and shock, we didn’t even ask him why was in there. He jst told us that I will need to take this medication for the nxt 10 days to clear the blood clot or to stop the bleeding. And to see him in 3 weeks time. And he said I was 6 weeks. Hubby and I looked at each other shocked coz we know it was impossible. The doc just said to know how accurate the little fella is, we will know in the nxt visit.

We walked out dazed and still in shock. And we told his family and our close friends. It’s nearly 2 weeks since then and I have been sick! Had morning sickness for 3 days in a row last week and have been feeling nauseous all the time. And it was in such a bad timing to have all these as my work has been crazy. And the doc said I should be resting! Sigh! And then there was all the weird symptoms….side pains, cramping and I was still spotting now and then.

Have been reading some books and there’s so many questions I need to ask the doc when I see him next Monday. I’m gonna do a blood test to make sure the little fella is healthy. I pray to god that he/she is….i don’t want to have to face to make a difficult situation later.

A scare!

I have been extra careful ever since we found out that I was pregnant. My doctor gave me the week off to rest and he said that I should not carry the girl at all if I can help it.

I've been working from home when I can (as my work cannot exactly wait although hubby would go against this) and have been for 2 appointments so far with my clients that cannot be postponed. Although doing these, I've been really careful not to overstress myself.

As for carrying the girl, I have minimised it alot but I cannot help it when I need to take her to and fro from the daycare and thus, I need to carry her to and fro from the carseat. Hubby is away these 3 days for a business trip to Penang so I'm all alone.

Yesterday, when I picked the girl up from the daycare, I felt a pull when I lifted her to her car seat. There wasn't any pain or anything so I just let it be. Later that night, I also felt a tug at my wee-wee area and when I went for my shower, I notice a full discharge of pale brownish colour and a very small tiny streak of blood. This reminded me of the night my waterbag broke with Rye Li except that Rye Li's time, I had more water gushed out and the tiny streaks of blood was more vicible then.

I panicked upon seeing this last night and as much as I'm trying to be positive about this pregnancy, I am also darn worried and can't help thinking the worst. I have not been spotting since Saturday although the cramps are there now and then and now this! Since that discharge, there have been small yellow spottings and no sign of blood. I'm on alert mode right now and if I sense anything abnormal, I will be off to the doctor. The thing is, if this happen in the middle of the night with hubby not around, I got no choice but to wait till day time. I pray that the discharge is purely nothing.

Why I'm also worried is that I find myself going back to history whereby any discharge I feel, I have to immediately go and check and will stare and stare at it to make sure it's not blood! I remember how paranoid I was when I was pregnant with Rye Li and there were a few times I had to show hubby to make sure it wasn't blood!

I'm also feeling guilty of over-doing it at Bangkok in terms of walking alot and that one massage that I had. That massage was also my first time in terms of that lady having to massage my tummy area and she did push my womb up. The previous Thai massage I had never had this before. I didn't worry that time as I knew my period was coming. I asked my doctor about this and he pushed my worries aside, he said as long as they didn't step on my back (but the lady did kind of sit on my back when she was massaging my shoulder!).

I hate this situation of not knowing and wondering whether I should have done this or that. At this point in time, I only have to pray for the best.

Good News?!

It's official, I'm pregnant! :D

I knew my period was due during my sales training at Bangkok and there were signs of cramping already before the trip. And the last thing on my mind was that I could be pregnant. So once my colleagues and I landed at Bangkok, we went shopping and that night itself I had a Thai massage.

The next few days, still cramping but no sign of my period yet. I had coffee throughout our training, beer and wine on our 2nd night there with my colleagues and went shopping again on the 3rd night there. While shopping, I felt a discharge and know that my period came. But upon checking, it wasn't blood per se but more like towards the end of your period cycle, the brownish -pale looking stuff. But nonetheless, I started wearing my pad since that night. The next few days, there were spotting and discharge and cramps still but no blood and the idea of me being pregnant started to settle in although I was in disbelief as the cramps were very real and more painful when I'm sleeping.

The last 2 days I was in Bangkok, the spotting stop although there were colourless discharge still and cramps. And although we shopped alot, all that walking made me really tired and it was worst when I had to walk up the stairs, it took me ages to walk up the stairs. I was thinking of seeing my doctor on Monday once I'm back to KL but hubby said to wait another week and see. But before I picked the girl up from my sister's, I went to the pharmacy to get me a test-kit and tested it that evening when we reached home. It came out positive and I told hubby that I should go see my doctor that night itself since it's on duty on Monday and Wednesday evening at this place near my home.

My doctor confirmed it with the scan (which I was surprised that it could be seen so clearly at 5 weeks since I had to do the vaginal scan with Rye Li when I was like 5 and a half weeks with her). And he gave me the rest of the week off since I was still cramping with some medication. This came as a bad timing as I had so much of things to do at work but both my doc and hubby talked some sense into me saying that if anything were to happen to my pregnancy, my office cannot bring it back.

I'm not sure why either that hubby became so superstitious and said not to tell anybody yet until 3 weeks later which is my next appointment with the doctor. So, as of now, only hubby and I as well as my boss (as I need her to understand why I'm taking the whole week off) know about this. I'm sorry that by the time you read this, I'm probably be at least 8 weeks or so already. You cannot imagine how badly I want to tell the whole world (well, at least our family and close friends and some of my blogger friends too!).

I am at of mixed feelings now - I am happy and excited that I am actually pregnant since we have been planning for several months now but upset that the symptoms are similiar to Rye Li's. With Rye Li, I was spotting more and lesser cramps and the spotting lasted all the way to 5th month. This time, it's lesser spotting but more cramping. I mean, most healthy pregnancies do not have these symptoms right?!

Yes, to console myself, Rye Li is out and she is a healthy baby although I went through all that with her. So if this baby is as tough as Rye Li, I don't have anything to worry about eh?! ;)

Also, with those symptoms, we announce to everyone about my pregnancy when I was like 5 and half weeks but now I've to keep mum till my next appointment which will see me about 8 weeks then. Hubby is more sensitive now that he knows natural abortion is also a common thing.

It's Thursday now, 3 days after we found out I'm actually pregnant. I'm not sure if it's all in the mind but at times I do feel nauseous but I pray that it won't be as bad as Rye Li's. With Rye Li, my morning sickness and nausea came a week later after I found out I was pregnant with her. And this lasted till 6 months too, the morning sickness that is. The nausea only lasted a month. But I do feel giddy in the mornings and I'm not sure whether it's got to do with the pregnancy.

I will update on my pregnancy here till I know the sex of the baby and then will decide his/her name in which I will start a separate blog for him/her. It will be tough to maintain 3 blogs then but my priority will be for my babies.

We haven't told Rye Li yet about this, we will probably prepare her once we tell the whole world too. But prior to this, I did ask her whether she wants a 'mei-mei' (little sister) or a 'ti-ti' (little brother) and her answer is always a ti-ti. I'm guessing it's because she likes this ti-ti at the daycare which is why she always answer that. I usually thought girls prefer girls no matter what at this age. Let's see if her answer will change later.

Wish me a smooth pregnancy!

My Bangkok trip

I had a sales training last week at Bangkok and this is the first time whereby I will be away from the girl the longest time ever which was in total 6 nights. The first 3 nights, hubby was around to look after her and the remaining 3 nights, she was looked after by my sister and her maid. From her blog, you will know that it went really well and I’m going to use this to my advantage to have more “me” or “our” time.

Anyway, this post is not about the girl (muahaha), it is about hubby and I. Hubby joined me for the weekend there and this is our first time away together in just over 2 years (yes, as old as Rye Li). So what did we do?! We shopped and shopped and eat and eat.

On Friday night, our friends took us to this lovely place for dinner which took us like over an hour to get there (including traffic). The food was delicious, a mixture of local thai food as well as continental. The theme of the place is very much like those dutch farms whereby the structure of the houses and buidling there looks dutch. Even the waiters and waitresses are dressed in dutch clothes. They have huge picnic tables all over and in the middle of the place, there is a swamp which has fishes, ducks and swans in it. They also have a little place for rabbits. You would bring your kids here for sure. Because one of our Thai friend’s friend brought his 3 year old daughter along for dinner, it made me miss the girl more and after I had my dinner, I went to play with the girl.

After dinner, hubby and I went shopping since they have midnight sales that weekend. The next morning, we went to the weekend market, Chatuchak and spent more than half the day there before heading to MBK for more shopping. Hubby and I had to rush back to the hotel to get ready for my surprise dinner from hubby (it wasn’t so much a surprise as he told me he had dinner plans for me on Saturday night when he arrived the day before). I sort of guess where he would take me for dinner but didn’t expect the place to be so damn nice! So where we had our romantic dinner?! ….at The Dome and at their restaurant, called Sirocco.

I was giddy with the fact that we’re 64 floors up in the air and it was really beautiful up there. This place is not cheap I tell you and let’s just say this is by far the most expensive dinner hubby and I ever had together. I was asked to shut up by hubby on the prices of the food and beverages before we even land on the top of this place (he knows me too well!). But when I saw the menu and of course, the prices, I was even more giddier and had to voice out my opinions!

So how was the food? Ok-la but it should be better for the price we paid! hehe. An interesting fact, I think the bill would have been more expensive if we were to have alcohol but it was the day before their elections and it is illegal to serve alcohol that day. I was just curious as to how the Mat Salleh’s (there were plenty of them) are enjoying their meals without their favourite beverages.

ignore my scary face - just look at the view! ;)

I have to say hubby gained more brownie points with this little surprise. I’ve never been pampered this way before and I tried my luck to see if he will ever take me to Lafite in KL?! Of course not! Hehe.

On Sunday, we did more shopping in between checking out of the hotel and waiting for our flight home. Although it was a short trip for both hubby and I and the fact that we had another person in our room that 2 nights (my boss), I guess it was worth it as now we know that the girl can live without us (since she was having such a gala time herself). Will we have more “our” trips? You betcha!