Second Baby is ....

Wanted to update to all my friends on 22 April 2010, but most of the time(night) I had already no mood to post and no strength to sit in front the computer. It made me late 3weeks to post this.
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Thurs,22 April 2010

Today is the day that I’ve been waiting for. We’ll go to see our baby… We’re so excited as we would know the gender of the baby by 7pm. My pregnancy is 16weeks now.
It was a busy day again for me. Morning had a Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). At noon wanted to have lunch with my friend-Chiali, but last minute I need to cancel it because I had my dad’s order of business. I reached home with Fidel sleeping in a car. Fidel always fall asleep in the car after BSF-doing some activity from children programme (Quite time, pray, Bible storytelling, singing hymn, have some snacks and play), provided by BSF.

I had my lunch while he sleeps. Thank God that I could enjoy my lunch while I’m very very hungry without being “disturb”. After did some chores, he woke up and I fed him lunch.

Three O’clock, I took Fidel to Bukit Mertajam to do dad’s business, Joseph was with me as he took half day leave—come back from dentist, he was not feeling well too.

Well… Let me cut my long….story. We reached home at 5pm. Rest for a while, and fed Fidel dinner, while Joseph still lying sick on the bed. I think he is too sick. I managed to get Chiali to accompany me.

Tadaa…! We reach the clinic. While waiting for my turn, Chiali and I were guessing what is the gender of my baby. Boy or girl is OK for me. But if ask me to choose…. I would prefer girl. I thought I can take “a breath” in the future as people say girl is more quite, not so active like a boy. I could experience new “model” of God’s creation, dress her like a doll. 

“Liana!” the nurse called my name. Oh, oh! It’s my turn now.

After “bli bli bla bla” with the Dr. I lied on the bed and Dr was ready to do the scanning.

Oh…. I’m so happy to see you again, my baby, I spoke heart to heart to the baby as I saw him/her in the screen. I looked carefully and keep searching whether there is “a spout” coming out. Since Dr started does the scanning, telling me this is the spine, kidney, heart, brain, legs, hands, etc. until few minutes… the baby was not in a good position. He was stuck at one corner for so long. The position was very very bad. Finally, when Dr was about to “give up”, the baby finally could come out from the corner, as if he/she heard our conversation. While he/she stretch the body, Dr captured the photo. Before he captured the photo, he tried to search the gender and told me that he think it’s a male.

“Huh….??” My response was like asking the Dr to repeat again what he just said.
“I think is a son. 85% is a boy…” said the Dr.

O… ow… What immediately come to my mind was “How if the second one is active just like his brother? How to cope with them?”

However… male or female is OK for me. I just felt a bit “shocked” because few of my friends say, “It could be a girl” as they said that I look prettier since pregnant. Hahaha 

I went back home and told Joseph that it’s a boy. He said, “Good lah… so we have chance to have the third one.”
“What…?? How if the third one is boy again or TWIN BOYS??”

Anyhow… whatever the gender is…, “We welcome you, babe”. We believe God has His beautiful plan in each creation.

New Words

Two weeks ago we were visited by four friends from Jakarta. They are Devi, Christina, Renna and Cecilia; very talented young musicians. They did a classical concert here in Penang. Many people loved their performance.

They stayed in our tiny apartment and we (Joseph, Fidel and I) had a great time with the joy and happiness that they brought. Fidel was very happy, because got many “Jie Jie”(sister) played with him.
I told Fidel many times that they are “jie jie” when they played together. One day in the car, he looked to the back where they sat and he said “ceh... ceh…” Everybody was shocked to hear Fidel call “ceh-ceh” instead of “jie jie”. His ability to vocalize is improving.

Second word that he learned recently was when he plays with my handphone and the light of the handphone was automatically off, I said “No more light…, no more…” and Fidel imitated me by saying, “mo-mo…mo-mo”. I was shocked again, he learn something very fast. He is 10.5months now.
Few moments that Fidel will say “mo-mo” and turn his wrist, when:
1. Each part of Fun Song Factory-children song program that he watches finish.
2. I switch off the laptop.

Must Check The Date of Expiry!

Today I bought a pack of formula milk for Fidel. Tomorrow morning we will leave our house quite early to the church, so I prepared his rice cereal into the plastic container.

I opened the box and when I took out the packing inside, suddenly my eyes gazed the date which was written there “USE BY 04/06/2009”. Oh dear! The milk is expired. It was really scared me when thinking of how if I didn’t see the date and let my baby consume the expired milk. Oh no, oh no! I hurried check all the rest of baby foods that I bought.

Normally, beside dairy product or something which can stand for few days, I rarely check the expiry date of the food that I buy. Next time, I will check all the date of expiry, no matter what. Must remember to check!

Thank God that He protects my baby. He opened my eyes to stare at the date.

Train Fidel To Sleep Through The Night

Last week, I lied on the bed for three days. I had a bad flu-runny nose, fever, backache and headache. I really need my mother-in-law to take care of Fidel at daytime, and Joseph takes turn in the evening. I went to doctor and he suggested me to stop breastfeeding for 2-3days though he didn’t prescribe antibiotic for me. But anyhow I managed to breastfeed Fidel for 3-4times/day.

Usually I will feed my baby on the bed till him asleep and he will wake up and cry at least 2-3 times before he really got a deep sleep, again at 3-4am. Every time he must suck the breast milk only he will go back to sleep.

Since I was sick, Joseph thinks that it’s a best time to train him sleep through the night. Then, the training starts….

First night, after feed him to sleep (the last breast milk at night), I move to another room. Joseph sleeps with him. Like usual, he wakes up after 1hour, he cried but this time no more milk for him. Let him cry for half hour, and he go back to sleep.

Second night, he wakes up again at 1am, let him cry till he sleep. He woke up at 5am and tapped Joseph backside.

Third, fourth, till sixth day mostly he wakes up one time, and normally he sleeps again until 6am, and Joseph carries him to me, and I feed him.

Seventh day, he didn’t wake up at all from 10.30pm till 7.00am. We were surprised! Is it success? We are not sure about the answer. Joseph is sick now. I think I passed the virus to him. And Fidel will sleep with me again.

Thank God that Fidel is still fine; he is strong. I guess it because the antibody from the breast milk that he took while I was sick.

For all mothers who breastfeed your baby, when you are not feeling well, flu, fever, just continue the breastfeeding. Wear a face mask and feed your baby or you can pump the milk out. The breast milk will still contain antibody to prevent your baby from get sick.

Breastfeed For Health

Fidel is 8 months now, and I still breastfeed him, 3-4times/day.
From the newspaper I read last Sunday about breastfeeding; multiple studies have shown a reduced risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and postpartum depression in women who have breastfed their babies. The longer a woman breastfeeds, the lower her risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Breastfeeding helps restore the uterus to its original size by inducing uterine contractions and decreasing postpartum blood loss after birth. The act of breastfeeding also provides an intimate, relaxing experience for mother and baby, helping them bond. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm, and comforted.
Breastfeeding mothers also may have increased self-confidence and feelings of closeness to their infants.

Breast milk is always warm, ready for use, and in perfect proportion to infants’ needs: no bottles to wash or trash to discard. And because of the immune protections provided to infants, breastfed babies are healthier, saving on health care expenses and increasing productivity of parents who miss less work.

It is very important to do exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continued breastfeeding for the first year of life and beyond.

Fidel's Favorite Porridge

Since Fidel was 6 month old, I started give him porridge for his lunch and dinner. When he was 5.5months I gave him cereal twice a day. He doesn’t drink so much water, he doesn’t like drinking water. End up he got constipation. There was one day he tried to poopoo , already sat on the potty for 35minutes, till whole body sweating and crying, the stool still didn’t come out. The stool was too hard and he didn’t have strength to push it out. I took him to the hospital then.

The nurse helped to insert 5ml of Glycerin Enema into the rectum. This liquid treatment is adhered to clear the bowel, induce better functioning of the bowel, to cleanse and provide therapeutic benefits. After 1-2minutes, “all” came out. Wow!

OK… We go back to the porridge again. Doctor encouraged introducing more porridge and fruits/vegetable purees in his diet. These are rich in fibre and will help prevent constipation.

I cook porridge and add potato, carrot, and spinach/broccoli. I use slow cooker to cook the porridge. The spinach, I will put it in 20-30minutes before I get the porridge done. For the broccoli, 15minutes is enough. Overcooking vegetables may lose its nutrients and vitamins.

Shredded potato and carrot

Porridge with broccoli

Porridge with spinach

Fidel loves to eat the porridge. If we feed him too slow, he will complain and crying. Sometimes he will open his mouth big big while I just want to scoop it from the bowl. Must quick!

My Baby Had Pneumonia

It’s been a long time, I didn’t update my blog. I was busy with taking care of Fidel. We had hard weeks because our beloved baby fell sick.

It started with dry cough for few days and when it came to a cough with phlegm, I took him to the doctor.
After five days took the medicine, he didn’t recover. Doctor changed the medicine. The next day evening, I felt Fidel’s body a little bit warm. Fidel had fever for three days. I took him to the doctor again, and she said he had Pneumonia. It’s a lung infection because a lot of phlegm inside there and it cause fever.
Doctor asked us to do phlegm suction to Fidel as he was not able to make the phlegm out. We could not imagine 2 tiny tubes will go through his nose and mouth into his lung; sure he will feel painful and suffer. We don’t want our 6 month old Fidel to experience this thing, as he still taking the cough and runny nose medicine, plus nebulizer which we do at home every four hours (Thanks to Karen for lend me the nebulizer compressor)
Two days later we went to check again and the phlegm still remain the same. Next two days, also still the same. In one week, we went to doctor for four times. Finally doctor told us not to drag the time anymore, or it will cause lung damage as the phlegm stays too long in the lung, which is already 15days. When I heard that it can cause lung damage, it really broke my heart. With very heavy feeling I told doctor, “I’ll bring him two days later for suction if there is no progression.”

Within that week, came red spots on Fidel face, shoulders, and arms till his whole body. It was measles. Thank God it’s a fake one, and it was called Roseola. Doctor didn’t do any treatment on it, and it disappeared after three days.
Many of our church members in Penang, Jakarta, and many places, they prayed for Fidel. We really hope that through prayers and the medicine and the treatment which Fidel takes, he can recover soon.

The next day we heard him cough and cough. Two days later we hardly heard him cough. He is getting better and better day by day. Few days later we brought him to check again, and the doctor said,” I didn’t hear anymore phlegm.”

Thank God, he finally answered our prayers.
Dear all brothers and sisters in Christ, we would like to thank you very very much for remember us, especially Fidel in your prayers.

Fidel First Tooth

Yesterday when Joseph and I had our dinner at home, Fidel smiles to me, and I saw something white and shinny in his mouth. I wondered whether it’s a tooth. I quickly washed my hand, and put my finger in. “Yeah! Fidel got a tooth!” I shouted happily. We were so happy because this is our first experience that our first child, Fidel had his first tooth at his 6.5 months old.

From what I read, baby first teeth usually sprout when they’re between 4 and 7 months of age.Last week I just thought why Fidel first tooth didn’t show up. I forgot to check the gum as well. Since last week Fidel keeps making bubble sounds. I think now I know why he keeps doing it, because he doesn’t feel comfortable with “something” in his mouth and he tries to blow it out.

Wanted to take his first tooth picture, but he puts his tongue out every time I press down his chin.

Fidel's Bathing Time

Talking about baby’s bath, what first come to my mind when I was pregnant is “Would I able to bath him smoothly?” I saw Youtube videos about bathing a baby for so many times since I was pregnant. Because I will take care the baby by myself. From the video, it looks very easy. I guess I have confidence to bath my baby.

First Fidel’s bath was done by my sister-in-law. She helped me as I did my confinement in Chinese tradition – cannot touch the water to avoid wind. Fidel cried on his half way bath time.
The second day, I couldn’t find anybody to help me in bathing the baby, so I decided to bath him by myself. What happen was he cried when I just started to wash his hair. Oh! I became nervous and after I wash his hair, I just deep his body awhile and hurry up took him out. While putting on his clothes, he still keeps crying. After finish, my whole body and face were sweating. In fact, the real and the one in the video were totally different, especially for my first experience. No photo for this, because Joseph and I were busy handling the baby.

The third day, the confinement food caterer helped me to bath the baby. She has a lot of experience. Fidel seldom cry when the aunty baths him every day. Every time she baths Fidel, I will look at her how she does it, and take some pictures.

Fidel likes this position

Fidel was 1 week-old3 week-old, Fidel is skinny, but has a big tummy
4 week-old

After full month, I started to bath Fidel by myself. What amaze me was… He didn’t cry! Wow! Thank God that Fidel is a baby who likes bath very much. So… I also very enjoy the moment I bath my baby. He will smile and stare at me in the bath tub if I sing a song.

5 week-old, I bath Fidel

6week-old, after bath8week-old

11week-old, after bath

Now, he is very active while he baths. I must wear a plastic apron, or else my whole shirt wet.

His neck is strong now, 17week-old

"Finish my bath"

Fidel Smiles

Within Fidel’s first month, we noticed that Fidel seldom smile. We hardly made him smile. He smiles only while he sleeps as he has drunk the milk.

Last week, he was 5 weeks old; we could see Fidel smiles to us while we talk to him. His smile is very sweet. Sometime he chuckles too.

Base on research, when the baby at his 6weeks, half of them can recognize their parents, they are so delighted that they welcome Mom or Dad with an excited, gurgly grin. This is one of the first signs that the baby is developing an ability to socialize. In fact, it’s called a “social smile".

We love to talk to him. Love to see his smile.

His Sleeping Time Totally Change

What a tiring day!
Before my baby one month old, he woke up every 3-4hours and opened his eyes, played for half hour. After he is one month old, especially last night, he woke up every one hour. My head just hit the pillow and I need to wake up and feed him again and again. I thought this morning he would be better, but it became worse. His sleeping time totally change. He opens his eyes for 3-4hours and sleep for half hour only.

My mother in law came and tried to make him sleep in her arm. But after one hour, she still couldn’t make it. He keeps looking around, opens his eyes so big and doesn’t even blink his eyes. I think he has a better vision now.

As I’m typing this post, he has been sleeping for one hour (one hour before midnight). Hope he will sleep longer.

Sweet dream little baby….

My Husband's New Hobby

Since Fidel was born, my husband has a new hobby. Like what you see in the photos. Yes, he likes to stare at Fidel. He stares at the baby until he falls asleep, or when he does his things, he will pull the baby cot close to him; just to feel that the baby is with him.

When Fidel sleeps, he makes hundred of expressions. He makes us chuckle. Thank God for the joy we feel everyday.