31 weeks, among other things

31 weeks and I feel I’m ready to give birth already. Of course it’s still too early but the way Baby H has been moving, I kind of half wish she will be out earlier than expected. Seriously, I cannot remember feeling this much of discomfort with Rye Li at such an early stage. I really loved Rye Li’s movements in my tummy as she was gentle, hardly any ‘shocks’, only towards the end. I’m just regretting on what I’ve said earlier on how much I miss the baby movements in my tummy when I found out I was pregnant months back!

The way Baby H moves, I’m very worried that she will be a big baby. I had my check-up on Saturday and my Obgyn said that it’s normal for our tummies to be extra sensitive to Baby’s movements second time onwards. Funny though, I would have thought it should be the other way round since our tummies were stretched the first time and hence, should be less sensitive. Go figure!

Anyway, yours truly has so far put on 12kgs….nice. Stay like this and I should not put on as much as I did before with Rye Li. But still, my bum looks really big and so do my arms. Of course, the tummy too coz I really feel Baby H is big! I still have another 9 weeks or so to go and the way I’ve been eating…tsk tsk tsk!

I’ve bought some baby stuff over the long weekend and I should start doing her laundry in the weeks to come. I only need to clear out Rye Li’s clothes to her new drawers we got her to make space for Baby H’s stuff. My maid is pretty free at times (my condo isn’t that big) and even asked me whether she can start washing Baby H’s stuff 2 weeks back but I said I need to get some baby’s detergent first.

Anyway, my maid should have more work to do soon since she will need to help out more at the day care (the maid there is leaving) in terms of housework and also I would want her to cook for us over weekends once whoever (either hubby/me/Aunty Ng/in-laws) teaches her. A lot of people have been telling me that I’m under utilizing my maid. I’m also slowly letting her handle Rye Li wherever she can like when the girl wants to pee (we still have to keep an eye on her when she goes to her potty although she managed to pee on her own without informing us many times but someone just got to make sure she washes her hand!) or play with her (this is because Rye Li asked for it at times and I let them be, if the maid has done her work) but overall, the girl still prefers me. I will next let her start to pack Rye Li’s stuff for the day care and also when we go out (like preparing her milk powder, bottle and hot water) – I didn’t teach her this initially as I don’t trust her from a hygienic point of view. She still needs to gain my trust in terms of this area (I caught her with several bad habits like picking her teeth with the same toothpick kept in her room and picking at her hair – squatting and face down with fingers picking at her as if she’s got hair lice which I know she doesn’t as all of us would have gotten it by now). This is also one of the reasons why I have not gotten her to cook for us yet. I have loads more to say about the maid but since my time is precious on blogging, I’d rather not waste my time on her – she is overall alright but at times can get on my nerves. J

Back to my pregnancy, my checkups are now every 2 weeks and I have yet to talk to my Obgyn about the delivery plans. I have loads of questions to ask especially about my apparent high blood pressure when I was delivering Rye Li. I only knew this 6 weeks after I’ve delivered Rye Li. Interestingly, during her pregnancy and after she came out, I don’t have any problems with my blood pressure. Even now, during this pregnancy, I also don’t have any problems which I’m jumping to conclusion that my blood pressure could have shot up then due to the pain I was going through or rather, the fear of the pain that I was going through then. This reminds me that I need to finish my birth story with Rye Li – it is kinda funny now thinking back although I know it won’t be funny going through the pain again this time!

Anyway, my Obgyn told me then that if I were to have a high BP second time round delivering means I would need to take caution should I go for my third child. I need to remind him this again in my next visit as I feel if it was really due to my fear of pain, I will tell him in advance this time that by hook or crook, I want the darn epidural! I didn’t get this the first time round as I dilated too fast! I know I can save heaps of money not using the epidural and the fact that if I could last the pain first time round means I can last the pain second time round too but heck, it’s my body and I do whatever pleases me. Too bad there are only 2 ways to get a baby out of you and both ways also scare the jeepers out of me. Sigh!

Funny eh, you would think an experienced mom would think lesser of delivering the baby second time round but not me man! I remember having so many weird dreams in my first trimester about giving birth and I always wake up thinking “That’s it, I know I want epidural upfront this time!” …I am paranoid about the pain. When I tell people about my fear, some asked me to opt of C-sect instead since it’s faster and less hassle. I’m scared of surgery la…and I don’t think I can be awake knowing I’m being cut up and I want to be awake when my baby comes out to this world. Only 2 things now will make me go for a C-sect and that is if she’s breached and the other is if she’s really huge like over 3.5kgs kind of huge! Let’s pray she’s not huge and not breached. :)

Having a maid so far....

As much as I’ve said before that I do like my maid, she has her imperfections as well and at the same time, I’m trying my best to get use to a stranger staying in my house.

She’s been with us for nearly 3 weeks now and I do notice her flaws here and there. It doesn’t bother me big time as she does the basic stuff but I’m aware that I need to remind her now and then to do it this way or that way when I feel she’s not doing things right.

She washes up our used plates, cups, utensils etc and will put them back into the kitchen cupboard where they belong but there are some stuff that she will leave behind like the plastic containers and other type of bowls that were left there before she came along. I’m guessing that she doesn’t know where to put these plastic containers and so I told her that she can keep them in another place in the kitchen and that she can also arranged them nicely (as I’ve neglected this spot for a long time since it needs me to stand on a stool).

She sweeps and mops the floor everyday and yet I found some spots to be uncleaned and started doubting whether she does this everyday or not (she wakes up earlier than we do). I know for sure that there’s this corner she had missed, as the dirt was visible and I wanted her to mop my living room again. She told me that morning that she had already mopped the floor and then I asked her why that corner was still dirty and she apologized and said that she was scared to clean that corner as there were full of things (extension cords with some electrical items). I told her that she could always move them one side to clean the corner as well as to clean behind my TV stand. I didn’t make her do it there and then and told her that she can do it the next morning before we leave the house to the day care.

She also cleans my toilets twice over the weekend but I found some fungus stains still left behind on the floor and also noticed that she didn’t touch my sink at all. And so I had to teach her the basic again, so I showed her that the fungus stains can be removed and told her that she can clean my sink by removing my things on them and then put it back again. I hope she gets the message this time.

I know I may sound too picky and that I hardly clean my house before she came along but the times when I do, I made sure that these things are thoroughly cleaned as well. Before she came along, I had my sister’s maid to come over every two weeks to clean my house and I didn’t have to tell her what to do, she knew what to do. And I guess I too took this for granted and expected my maid to do the same as I got my sister’s maid to train her the day I got her into my place.

She knows how to use my washing machine and in the first week she was with us, she washes my stuff all the time, whether it was a full load or not. I guess she mistook the fact that we wash Rye Li’s stuff on half-load basis as we have done this all the time since the girl started going to the day care, and think it is the same for the rest of my washable items too. She even started washing blankets one at a time. Since then I told her not to wash until it is a full load unless it is Rye Li’s clothes during the week and now I will still remind her just so she gets the message.

Several nights ago, I got a shocked of my life when my maid started blowing her nose by using her t-shirt (at the collar part) like it’s a normal thing to do (maybe it is at her hometown). I told her that she can always use the tissue and not to do that anymore as it is not a right thing to do here. I also asked if she’s ill and she said no, only a cold. No fever or cough. I reminded her not to touch the kids or go near the kids at the day care. She probably got the cold from Rye Li as well as the other kids from the day care. I also told her that if she doesn’t feel well, she needs to tell me so that I can take her to the doctor’s and that I will let her rest instead of doing work. When I passed her a box of tissue to put in her room and also some to take to the day care the next day, she took one piece and started blowing her nose and kept it in her pocket. I immediately told her to please throw it away and that she can only use tissue once. And all this time, I didn’t yell at her or scold her but told her in a nice, firmed manner. But I had to repeat myself just to make sure she understood.

The next morning, I reminded her again and told her that I will get her some medication. That evening, I explained to her why was I so particular about hygiene and also said that I realized she comes from a kampong (malay: village) area and that she may be used to the habits there but it is very different here in KL. I further explained to her but I’m not sure whether she understood me or not. But whatever it is, I also realized that I need to remind her constantly whether I like it or not so she will remember these things.

The girl has grown attached to the maid although she still wants me most of the times. I have to admit there were times whereby she prefers the maid, like bringing her down from the car, which kind of gets to me – probably cause I’m so used to always being there for the girl. But I didn’t show any of this to the maid and let them be, as I also need to learn to let go when it comes to handling Rye Li 100%. Of course, the maid hasn’t been taking care of Rye Li and she is not even allowed to at the day care – I was told by Aunty Ng that the first few days there, she was always tending to Rye Li which Aunty Ng told her not to. But even so, I can see the maid tries her best to please Rye Li in any way she can since day one. We do let her but when we feel she’s being too much like pampering Rye Li (wearing her shoes, picking up after her or teaching her the wrong things), we will butt in.

In the second week the maid was here, the girl wanted to stay at home alone with the maid when hubby and I wanted to go out for dinner. We were caught off guard by this but let her stayed back with the maid. We went to our condo’s swimming pool’s café for dinner instead of driving out (we were supposed to drive out for dinner) to be on the safe side as I still haven’t exactly gained full trust on my maid yet and of course, I didn’t leave the house keys behind. We were out for less than an hour and I was curious whether the girl would cry for us but when we got back, the girl was watching her TV and the maid was playing with her Legos. Since then, we have yet to leave the girl alone with the maid although I know Rye Li would be alright with her. A number of my friends say that this is a good sign so hubby and I can have “our time” now but wait-la, when I know I can trust the maid fully. It is still too soon!

An update on what the agent has got to say to our earlier request; they came back saying that they will agree on certain basis, one of which is that if we replace the maid on a medical unfit term, it has got to do with lungs and nothing else. So to cut things short, we got our request. At least I don’t have to go through another headache with dealing with a new maid or that I don’t have to deal with the agent till the time comes. Let’s pray that my maid’s x-ray will come out fine in December. As for now, I’m still adjusting to having a stranger in my house. I really salute to those who welcome their maids openly and letting them take care of their children immediately alone without any other family on hand. I don’t think I can as yet or ever will.

Ok, this is long enough about my maid, I need to update on my pregnancy soon as I’ve been neglecting this part. ;)

Our decision

Thanks so much to all for the responses (via blog as well as msn) to my previous post on my dilemma. We have made up our minds.

Hubby took our maid’s x-ray and report to another doctor on Monday for a second opinion and she said that she didn’t see anything wrong with our maid’s x-ray. If we want to be on the safe side, perhaps to bring the maid in for another x-ray test in 6 months time. She also said things to look out for in our maid’s health, whether she is eating well or falling sick easily.

Thus, we both felt that we should maintain the maid but seek a request from the agent to extend the 100% replacement guarantee within a year instead incase the report comes out unfavourable by year end.

Hubby was at the agent before he went to seek for a second opinion from the doctor at Kelana Medical Centre and he reported what he saw while waiting to talk to that B (I’ve termed the lady this and no prize for you if you know which B-word I’m referring to! LOL). He said if I were there, I wouldn’t want to have a maid ever. There were so many people bringing in their maids to complaint and the agent reps there are just so cold and rude to the maids and yes, to the people at times too. He felt that these agent reps must be so used to the negative feedbacks that they have become just so cold!

He also told me that the B made a comment about how their clients think they know everything just because they helped them to get a maid. Oh DUH! Who else can we consult then if not the agent? I mean we pay them for a service and we expect such service - mind you, this agent is one of the expensive ones out there and I just feel that I’m being so cheated from the kind of service I’m getting from them! To make matters worst, I know at least 2 people who also got such lousy service from them already. And I’m aware whether I like it or not, I’m stuck with this agent until I’m done with this maid.

When we picked the maid up the first time, B was very rude to our maid, acting as if she’s the boss, telling her what to do and all in front of us. I was wondering at that time, whether it was all a show to impress us but really, I was so disgusted. I am a working person and if my boss acts that way to me, I will definitely ask my boss to go fly kite! We are individuals who deserve respect no matter where you come from. And if you want respect in return, you better start giving as well too. Anyway, I was just so glad that Rye Li didn’t come along with us that day or else she would think it’s alright to shout to the maid too.

I’m letting hubby do all the communication with this B now since I feel she responds better to men and I don’t want to be worked up over her rude behaviour. We wrote in already requesting for this extension and I’m waiting to see what kind of response I’m getting from them. If they want to be cocky with us, then perhaps we just have to get a replacement now.

Hubby and I felt that we should give our maid a chance to work since the doctor’s comment seems somewhat favourable. And like what some of you have also commented, who knows, if I do return the maid, the agent would probably recycle her as I feel the maid would still want to earn a living in her condition.

She doesn’t know yet of her condition and we feel that we should not let her know until it is serious. She has proven to us she is also somewhat worthy to keep although we are aware that we only had her for like 12 days so far. Her personality has started to show and it is through Rye Li – she only opens up to the girl. She plays and sings to Rye Li. She also talks to Rye Li although the girl don’t understand her most of the time. I’m giving her another month before she can speak the lingo with the maid. She has already picked up some words and so has the maid. The maid works hard in getting Rye Li’s attention. Depending on the girl’s mood, she will play along or she will treat the maid rudely at times which we will scold her for. We want to make it clear to Rye Li that she needs to respect the maid no matter what. I also feel that in time when Rye Li realizes how the maid will spoil her, she will go to her eventually but I will try my best to intervene when this happens. Already, the maid will pick up after the girl on her toys which hubby and I told the maid not to.

Three nights ago, the girl started acting up again and the maid was already asleep. Hubby and I let her be to cry on herself and after like 15 mins or so with her crying, the maid came out and wanted to carry Rye Li but the girl didn’t let her. Hubby was impressed with this as it shows that she cared. This is why I feel that in time, the girl will realize how the maid will give in to her needs and she will most likely team up with her.

Only thing that gets to me so far on the maid is she mostly answer yes to everything I ask her, even when I ask her what she wants to eat or whether she wants to cook. Because she doesn’t give me her opinions, I takeaway or cook whatever I want. At least she finishes everything we give her to eat and I like this. You may say she doesn’t understand me but I feel she does. On the first day, I asked if she can speak English and she said she doesn’t, only know the words yes, no, sir and madam. But in the days to come after that, I hear her speaking to Rye Li in some English words and also humming some nursery songs. I’m guessing she picked them up from the daycare or from the shows Rye Li watches or when Rye Li and I sing or from our conversations.

She’s also too efficient in some ways – she can’t sit still, always cleaning. The first few days, I made this comment to hubby and he asked me to ask her to do less but I said to wait first, let her get used to the routine. Then when I told my friends about this, they said not to as from their experiences, the maids were always hardworking the first few months and then they tend to slack eventually. She even irons Rye Li’s clothes and my bed sheets and pillow cases – something I have never done before! I don’t know if this is a show or this is exactly her style but as far as I’m concerned, as long as she don’t step on our heads, I’m fine.

We are still trying to get use to a maid in the house and we’re still learning. Now, I hope to get a favourable response from the agent.

With all the maid agents’ problem I’m hearing lately through friends as well as blogger moms, I’m thinking we should start some kind of an online community to have recycled maids (the good ones). Why I’m suggesting this is that I had two offers of recycled maids after I have already applied for one at my agent. One was a friend’s sister of my sister’s maid who wants to work here and another was my sister’s mother-in-law’s friend who doesn’t need her second maid anymore and was asking around. Too bad they couldn’t find a home for her so they had to send her back. It seemed that she was a good maid too. With the network we can build online, we can teach these agents a lesson of the kind of lousy service they’re giving us! And with this way, we can also save a couple of thousands as well. Only thing is we may need to take some days off to run around the immigration for application and all. Anyone wants to do this? I’ll be happy to help!

Dilemma

Our maid has been with us since last Saturday and she has so far been quite all right. In fact, we like her, even the girl. For someone with no previous experience, she is a fast learner and it could be also that hubby and I are not fussy with how our house is cleaned (we both have never ever had a maid in our lives before). As long as the basic stuff is done, we’re happy.

I love the fact that our floors are cleaned everyday and our feet can really tell the difference. Even hubby commented on this…goes to show how often I cleaned my floor before this! ;)

When we picked her up last Saturday, we took her for a blood and urine test at the lab and then we took her for an x-ray test at a clinic. I managed to find a lab that can give the results within 3 hours but the x-ray will take at least 3 working days. Thankfully, the blood and urine test came back normal.

So the maid has been following the girl to the day care this week.

Today, I went to pick up her x-ray ( we didn’t have time during the week) only to find out she has some kind of defect in her lungs. Nothing that is contagious (Thank God!) but something that may or may not affect her health in the long run. The doctor advise that since we can still replace her with the agent, we might as well do so as if her health is affected after 6 months, the agent will not be responsible in replacing the maid then.

I asked the doctor why would FOMEMA release her if she has this and she said that if she only saw the x-ray without the report, she would also think that there’s nothing wrong with her lungs. She said that my maid can become breathless at times in this condition and whatever she has may affect her overall health.

I also asked the doctor if this result wasn’t my maid’s and it was mine, what would she advise me. She said that she would ask me to rest and just see what other symptoms I will have along the way before doing any further test.

I spoke to the lady at the agent and I seriously dislike her. When we picked the maid up last week, she was plain rude as she answered a call while briefing us the paperwork. I’m okay with this but the fact that she was even rude to the other lady on the call (the lady wants to return her new maid as the medical check up she had for her the maid didn’t come back good) made it worst. She left the phone on it’s own and talked back to us and then got back to the woman rudely. When we left, I told hubby that I hope we don’t have to deal with her anymore but I had to today.

I told her what happened and this is what she has to say “If you get another one, it doesn’t guarantee you that her health is okay after 6 months also as anything can happened”. So I said that is right but the fact that I know my maid’s health now upfront, I can do something about it. So she went on that it is my decision to make and that if I want a replacement, I don’t have to go through this entire story. What a cocky woman this one!

So I asked her has she gone through this situation before and she said not to this extreme and said I can write in with my maid’s medical report and ask for some kind of guarantee after 6 months but said maybe they will allow for a year but definitely not 2 years. She also said that I can do a replacement but will have to wait the usual 2-3 months for one and I will have to pay additional RM200 for the FOMEMA medical and the salary of the current maid to whatever period that she has been with us. I didn’t want to talk to her anymore and said I will discuss with hubby and get back to her.

Hubby said we should get a second opinion on our maid’s x-ray and also find out to what extent the personal insurance we got for the maid through the agent will cover her before we decide to send her back. I am thinking if we have to send the maid back, whether we can get a refund from the agent and if yes, I am willing to wait another 3 months for a new maid with another agent. Yes, it will be closer to my due date then but I am willing to wait if this rude woman at the agent is pissing me off big time.

I’m sad with the fact that I may have to terminate this maid. But I have to be selfish here. I also told hubby that if really she has this health problem that may shorten her life, I feel she should go home and spend some time with her family instead of working for money. I haven’t told her about the results yet (in case she will run away) but I will let her know when I have to return her to the agent and I just hope the agent will not recycle her.

It is just our luck that we got this horrible lady at the agent as well as an “unhealthy maid” too. I will update again on our decision later, we need to seek another doctor’s advice first.

What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Maid still not here

It's Saturday and our maid is not here and yes, the medical report is still not out. This is really weird as I remember the agent mentioned it takes 2-3 days last week but now they said it takes 7-10 working days. And we had to call the agent, not the other way round!

So I should be picking the maid up next Saturday which really upsets me as my own checkup is on that day too. It looks like we will be having a hectic Saturday then as now I have to pick the maid up in the morning, rush her to her checkup and then I will have to postpone mine to the afternoon and she will have to tag along with us for my doc's appointment.

And poor Rye Li will also have to tag along for this the whole day! I wanted to leave the girl at the daycare for half day today since they're open as I didn't want her to tag along while we take the maid for her checkups (it will be at 2 places since the one that does the blood and urine test which I can have the results in 3 hours don't do x-ray). But now that the maid is not ready, and the fact that they daycare is closed next Saturday, my plans are all screwed up, no thanks to the darn agent!

The agent better not charge me for the maid being in their hands. I still have yet to pay the maid's upfront 6 months salary to them and I only intend to pay her salary starting July onwards and not June. I feel we're being taken for a ride as I don't have people telling me that their agents sent their maids to them before the medical report is out or that the medical report takes more than 3 days. The lady at the agent sms-ed me to say that it is the norm and I'm really doubting this.

Maid agent nightmare begans

This post is gonna make me sound like a complainer like how I’ve been with my other posts! LOL…this is not the intention but how can you not be frustrated when your maid agent all of a sudden starts showing its true colours after you have paid them?!!

Last Wednesday, hubby received an sms from the lady at the agent to say that the maid has arrived after medical and that we can collect her on Friday. Hubby was in Shanghai then and called her to say that I will call her the next day to make arrangements.

I called her to find out she was on leave and was given her mobile number. I called her mobile but she didn’t pick up so I text her to tell her that we can’t collect the maid on Friday but Saturday morning instead and to let me know when is a good time to call her. No reply at all till the next morning and that also she text me back to say to confirm the collection time asap so she can make the arrangements. I called her at her mobile, no answer. Called her at the agent, not in yet. And by now I’m getting really irritated. I mean if it’s urgent, why can’t she call me?! So I had to try several times after that at the agent and she was mostly engaged with customers. I happened to call at 1 plus in the afternoon and was told that she was having lunch.

So finally I managed to get hold of her before 3pm on Friday. Told her that we can only come the next morning (Saturday) and she asked what time as she would be busy the whole day (what cheek of her!). I asked her how long will it take since this is our first time and we need to know the “do’s and don’ts” and she replied about 20-30 minutes. So I told we will be there before 10am in the morning. Then I asked her if the maid’s medical report is out yet and she said no. I was shocked and she said she didn’t mention to hubby at all that the report is out and that it will usually take 2-3 days for the report to be out. And then I asked her, “you expect me to bring the maid home first?!”. She then replied that she understands as I have a young kid at home. I told her not only that, the fact I’m pregnant as well and also the maid is to follow Rye Li to her day care on Monday morning and how can I take the risk of sending the maid to the day care?! Think she realized my tone of voice and she quickly added that she will put in my file to wait till the maid is medically fit first before pickup. I told her that I won’t be able to pick her up during the week and that I will pick the maid up the following Saturday only. And she went “no choice-la, we will keep her”.

I was really mad and lucky for her, I managed to maintain my cool but I was bitching away to my friends and family after that about this. I mean isn’t it standard practice for the report to come back first before releasing them to families?!!! I will definitely ask the lady at the agent this when I see her this coming Saturday! Anyway, I also intend to take the maid for another medical check up when I pick her up, only thing is I have to wait a few days for her x-ray results to come back. So at least I will know her blood and urine test results the same day. I hope she is really medically fit, if not, I will definitely bombard the agent more.

Their image was already ruined when I can’t seem to get hold of this lady all the time before this when I wanted to know when my maid will arrive. We submitted the documents for application early May in which she told us that it will be really fast but when I called her towards the end of May, she said our application has not been approved yet! She has the cheek to say that it takes 1 to 1 and a half months for approval! So when I called her up first week of June, she said our application was only approved end of May and now we have to wait 2-3 weeks for the maid to arrive. And now this?!

After this incident, I got a feeling that this is only the beginning of many more headaches to come. I’m really disappointed in this agent as they are not cheap and I thought with the number of years they have been around (15 years) with an ISO cert some more, they are at least professional in handling these things but they have not proofed this so far to me! Anyone else dealing with Philimore who share the same experiences as me?!

4th checkup, start of 2nd trimester, honeymoon period?

Today was my checkup again and I'm not sure why I ended up without a picture of Baby 2 as well as some of my questions unanswered. Probably due the fact that I was kind of preoccupied with the blood test that I had to do after seeing by Obgyn.

I don't have Baby 2's measurements but he/she is growing well from what we saw on the screen. My Obgyn said that it is still to early to tell the gender so we shall see for next month's checkup which is 5 weeks away (4 week's time is a public holiday).

The blood test was painful (and my arm still kinda hurt) and I just pray that I won't be hearing from my Obgyn about the results until I see him again in 5 weeks time. And the blood test costs a lot, the highest bill so far from all the checkups I had.

As for how I am personally progressing with the pregnancy so far, the nausea is mostly gone and so is the vomiting, well nearly. I've puked 3 times this week and the recent was just before I saw my Obgyn this morning in the car. It is also my first time puking outside of a toilet bowl. It was provoked by a cough (we, the girl, hubby and I are all down with the flu) and I luckily I managed to get hold of a plastic bag.

At least I can eat better than before although I still dislike some food. And yes the weird after taste is still there after I eat food (some say I'm expecting a boy because of this). And I think my nose is changing its original shape too! :( ....a few days ago, I noticed it but of course I would be in denial. But the next day, my colleague asked me about it and I totally freaked out! My nose kinda got bigger towards the very end with Rye Li and now to have my nose changing at 14 weeks and I still got like 6 months or so to go, it is very scary-la! I just pray it has got to do with my runny nose and that I'm blewing my runny nose now and then. Hehe, we shall see (keeping fingers crossed!).

We should be getting our maid next month and I pray it's a smooth one. We settled for an Indonesian in the end as the agent was telling us we need to be extra patient with the communication part if we were to get a Cambodian one. I kinda figured that already I'm running out of patience with a 2 year old, I can't imagine another round with a foreign maid! Not that I will have it easy with the Indon but at least I don't have to start from scratch.

This week, when hubby was away for his business travels and the girl was not well (she was having fever for 6 nights and her cough is really bad), I really felt the huge pinch being alone with her. I have been mostly alone with her at nights since she turned one month old and I have managed to cope well from then till now.

Rye Li was a colicky baby at 6 weeks onwards till 3-4 months old and I was mostly alone with her. She was also sick now and then and I was mostly alone with her. All of these lonely times, I could cope and I am surprise at myself that I could cope although I did complain to hubby occasionally that we need a maid. When she turned 1 year old onwards, the thought of getting a maid just kind of disappear as she was easier to handle.

Now, with this pregnancy, it has been a test for me. Rye Li was having fever since the previous Thursday night. We were mostly awake throughout the nights as she was coughing badly and that we need to observe her fever. On Monday night when hubby was away, she woked up and coughed really badly and vomited out her milk. She soiled her bed but luckily the bulk of her puke ended up in a plastic bowl which we have prepared for this. I moved her to the other mattress wanting to change the whole bedsheet but I couldn't find her bedsheet. In the end (I was also dead tired), I just took a nappy cloth to cover the small wet patch which was towards the end of the bed and moved her back to her bed. The previous times when she actually puked everything on the bed, hubby was around to clean up the mess while I cleaned her up.

This week really made me wish my maid is already here. I know for a fact that I will need a maid when Baby 2 comes to assist in the house chores and at nights when I need to have my shower. She is not to look after the kids as I will be sending her and the kids to the daycare during the weekdays. I could cope with looking after Rye Li myself at nights and I know I can cope with Baby 2 too. Only thing I need to get rid off is the housechores, cleaning & sterilising bottles, laundry, packing for the daycare the next day so that I can pay attention to Rye Li as well. I cannot rely on Rye Li to look after Baby 2 when I shower so this is where I will depend on the maid. I need my shower so I can breastfeed (I cannot imagine breastfeeding after a day out at work) and Rye Li pratically watched me shower when I was all alone with her.

Having a maid and sending the kids to the daycare will be a huge additional expenses for us. But my consolation is that this is only temporary. The most, 2-3 years. If my maid proves that she is trustworthy and would want to stay on to work, I may just stopped sending the kids to the daycare as Rye Li would be in school by then and Baby 2 would have learnt alot from the daycare already by then too. If the maid doesn't want to stay on, then I would not get one anymore as Baby 2 would be easier to handle. The things we do for our kids eh?! ;)