Photo update

Packing up and ready to go to the hospital:


Waiting in the labour ward:


Baby Lucas makes his first appearance:


Post surgery - getting my first glimpse of lil' Lucas at 4.30am after an eternity's wait:


More to come, the lil' one is crying for his milk now...

Welcome to the world!

Ok, it's been a while since I blogged, but I told myself that no matter what, I MUST jot down the whole birthing experience, so that it will remain etched in my mind no matter how caught up I am with motherhood and taking care of baby Lucas.

It was truly unexpected. Pi was telling me how his colleague told him that baby Lucas might decide to make his grand arrival any time now, but we were laughing it off and telling ourselves, "It's one month more to his EDD, surely it won't happen to us!"

Speak of the devil...

On Oct 25, a Sunday, I was having a sleepless night, tossing and turning in my bed as I was experiencing what I initially thought were cramps - probably a more serious case of Braxton Hicks, I told myself. The next day, we were due for our regular review with the gynae, so Pi mentioned to the doc that I was feeling unwell. Imagine our shock when she said, "I think you'd better do the c-sec sooon, probably today or tomorrow, as I don't think we can wait any longer."

Being one for orderliness, imagine my horror as I realized I had so many things left undone - thinking that I had one more week to the scheduled c-sec on Nov 3. The sterilizer was not cleaned, the milk bottles were not washed, worse still, I had not even begun to pack my hospital bag!

Once the decision was made to go for the surgery that very evening at 8pm, Pi and I rushed home to pack the hospital bag before making our way to the hospital full of fear of the unknown, at the same time, anticipation at finally being able to see Lucas in flesh and blood (literally!).

The rest, at least to me, is something that I'd rather forget (I mean the pain in the aftermath of the surgery, of course) but remains deeply etched in my mind. Here's a brief recap of the sequence of events:

- 5.30pm: Set off for Mt A and fetched Pi's mum on the way
- 6pm: Reached Mt A, checked into the delivery ward
- 6+pm: Nurses came back to prep me for the surgery - inserting the urine tube, shaving down there, whatnots; all this time, I just recalled how hungry I was, having not eaten or drank anything since 2pm that day
- 7+pm: Nurses came to wheel me into the delivery room, Pi was asked to wait for me outside
- 7.30pm: Saw the doc at the delivery room, who assured me that Lucas would be out by 8pm; last thing I knew was being knocked out after the anaesthetist said "have a good sleep"
- 8.45pm: Came to consciousness after what seemed to be a really weird dream; first thing that took over me was the pain from the c-sec wound
- 8.45+pm: Nurses wheeled me back to my room (lucky number 333), saw Pi on the way, in my groggy state I only remembered how happy I was to finally see him again; overcame by the most terrible pain I have ever encountered in my life when the nurses transferred me to my bed
- 9+pm: The family came by to visit me; I remembered clamoring to meet baby Lucas all the while but was told that he was under observation for 6 hours in the NICU and that I would only be able to see him from 2am
- Rest of the night: Waited up and keep bugging the nurses to let me see baby Lucas
- 4.30am: Finally got my first glance of baby Lucas; first thought in my mind - a miracle must have happened, I couldn't believe that this little thing came from my tummy!

I also tried latching on Lucas for the first time early the next morning, and nothing could describe how it felt having him suckle for 20 minutes. Such is the joy and wonders of motherhood!

Unfortunately, baby Lucas had to return to the NICU the same day, where he stayed for the next 10 days, as being a preemie, he had problems digesting his FM. I was discharged on Oct 31, and Pi and I visited him daily at the NICU until he finally was able to come home with us on Nov 5.

And so the challenges of parenthood began, but that is another story...

Hits and misses

I'm beginning to feel more and more like a walking gunny sack these days, carrying what feels like a sack of rice in front and waddling along like a penguin. And then there are all these stretchies mysteriously appearing out of nowhere and multiplying as quickly as you can say "1, 2, 3". Oh, and not forgetting the bloated feet, making me really look and feel like a penguin even more!

What I know I will miss though - the intimate two-way communication with lil' Lucas, which goes beyond words. I will definitely miss his little (ok, sometimes more violent than that) kicks, rhythmic hiccups, somersaults, whatnots. These are his little ways of telling me and his daddy that he's alive and (literally) kicking. In fact, his tiny movements have become so much a part of my life that I'd sometimes wake up paranoid in the middle of the night when I don't feel him for a while. I guess the lil' one needs his zzzz time as well. :)

Cravings

The other day, I suddenly had a craving for one of my fav Mummy dishes - "hairy cucumber" (loosely translated as I don't know the proper English name for it, but it looks like a cucumber just that it's more hairy on the outside) fried with egg and tang hoon.

The problem is, I don't know how to cook it, and the eating places outside don't sell it (some 'cai fan' stalls sell the version without the egg and the tang hoon). So out of desperation and as suggested by Pi, I called Mummy long-distance to get the recipe from her.

Next up was the search around various supermarkets for the elusive cucumber. Firstly, I have no inkling what it is supposed to look like (Mummy said to look for something that resembles a cucumber but with hair on the skin), secondly, I have no idea as well what it's called in English (as you know, most supermarkets label their vegetables in English). I even resorted to taking a "suspected" cucumber to the staff and asking them whether this is "hairy cucumber" in Chinese (unfortunately, the answer is No although the staff were greatly amused).

Anyways, after a few futile searches in the supermarkets, I turned my attention to the wet markets. Imagine my delight when the first vegetable stall I went to at the Pek Kio Wet Market actually had many of these for sale! So I was all set and ready to satisfy my long-awaited craving over the weekend.

It was actually quite an easy dish to cook - of course, thanks to Mummy's idiot proof instructions. And here's the results, ta da!


It looked nice, smelled nice and tasted exactly the same as Mummy's! Another craving satisfied. :)

A short holiday, sort of..

Been a long long while since I last updated this blog. Besides the busier than usual work schedule and the extra doses of office politics, I was actually wondering whether I should (or should not) start blogging about my preggie process.

It has not been an easy journey, but I have actually survived 22 weeks, and counting... Despite all the "sacrifices" I have had to make, it's really worth it and I'm enjoying the whole process, although I really can't wait to meet lil' Lucas face-to-face!

So, well, overseas holidays were one of those small indulgences that I have had to give up, cos my gynae put a strict ban on any overseas travel for the whole 9 months. Holidays - long or short - have always been one of the must-haves for me, in order for me to stay sane and take a brief respite from work. Well, it's no longer a must-have now; I have cancelled (literally, yes, cos the tickets and hotel were all booked) the trip to Melbourne that I was really looking forward to, to catch up with Mum and the two cute lil' Js, a work trip to Japan that I was anticipating too, cos Japan was (and still is) one of those countries I really, really wanted to visit, and totally stopped planning for any other overseas jaunts for the rest of the year.

So anyway, I was fretting over how to celebrate my birthday (my last one alone with Pi), and thought of booking a chalet where the whole family can come together. Alas, the bigger chalets were fully booked months in advance. And then I thought, why not escape to a beach resort and make it like a "true" holiday - except it'll be in Singapore? And so I booked a 3D2N escapade to a resort on Sentosa (technically still part of Singapore, but away from Singapore - how nice!).

It was a decision I'm glad I made. Pi and I really enjoyed ourselves just idling away, sleeping in, and splashing about in the very nice swimming pool. Ok, maybe the crowds outside the resort were less than ideal, but otherwise, we really felt like we were away on a holiday - without the jetting/travelling fuss! We're already even thinking of bring lil' Lucas back here for a swim when he's a few months old. ;)

When you can live forever, what do you live for?

After all the hype and rave reviews about the show end of last year, I finally found out for myself what it was all about.

Yes, I'm talking about the ultra big hit, Twilight, the movie based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer.

I watched it without much expectation - I was bored and had watched almost all the other movies on SIA's in-flight entertainment system en-route from Shanghai back to Singapore - and boy, was I blown away!

It's a simple love story, but touches my heart deeply. It speaks of true love, and what you would give to protect that someone you love, especially after you have waited for that special someone all your life (or many lives, in Edward's case).

Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen was suave and charming. Though not commonly regarded as handsome at first sight (that was one of the reasons I put off watching the movie - I was thinking to myself, who is this male lead?), I was sold at his applaudable performance and his excellent portrayal of Edward Cullen. I mean, this guy single-handedly brought Edward Cullen - and the whole show - to life, and he is now my No. 1 idol of all times.

And so started my collecting frenzy of all things Twilight. I'm reading the book right now (there are so much more details in the book that are not portrayed in the movie), and Pi has got me my very own Edward Cullen figure! That I'm really eagerly anticipating, thanks Pi!

And of course, on top of it all, I am so thankful that I have found my very own Edward Cullen in real life - someone who will go to great lengths to protect me and make me happy. You know who you are, and I can never say it enough, but once again, thanks Pi!

Ok, I'm going all mushy and lovey-dovey again, but it seems like ages ago when I was all obsessed with romance novels and dreamt of meeting my very own Prince Charming who would sweep me off my feet. That's the stuff teenage dreams were made of. Although I'm no longer a teenager (for a long while now), this epic love story really touched my heart and made me once again thankful for everything that I've got.

Amidst a time when divorces and break-ups are as common as bread and cheese, it is truly not easy to meet that someone whom you know is the one person you want to spend the rest of your life with, and it is even harder to let that magical feeling last.

Love can be so simple, instead of complicated, if all you truly wish for is to be happy and for that special someone to be happy as well.

Love is in the air

Ok, for all my single friends out there, I'm sorry if this hit the wrong spot with you.

V-day just came and went. Unlike my younger days, I'm no longer as hyped up over this "special" day - I mean, if you're in love, everyday is special; you don't have to wait for one particular day to splurge on overly-priced roses and dinners to show your love for the other party. For me, I'm just so grateful (and constantly amazed!) at how loving Pi and I remain despite being together for nearly 7 years and tying the knot for more than half of that. :)

For the Ong Fam, V-day is also a day of double celebrations, for it is my Dad's birthday. A true Valentine he is, to be born on that day of all days.

When we were younger, we always celebrated his birthday in advance (poor Dad!), for the special day was usually reserved for that special someone. But as we grew older and got our own families, we knew how important it was to make your parents feel loved and appreciated, even if they did not ask for it (being the conservative Chinese they were brought up to be, never showing their love and emotions on the surface).

So this V-day, Pi and I surprised Daddy with a hazelnut ice-cream cake from Swensen's, followed by lunch at a Chinese restaurant nearby. Although Dad did not say it, his beaming face told me how much he appreciated everything.

Then, it was kind of a non-affair. Pi, being the true blue romantic that he is, surprised me with roses in the morning (he wanted to do it at 12.01am on the day itself but being the pig that I was, I was already fast asleep, hehe). It always beats me how he manages to smuggle such a big bunch of roses into the house, when we spend almost every waking moment together, but I suppose that's the magic of it. ;) I reciprocated with a love balloon that I begged the Swensen's staff to give me (yes, I know, so much for sincerity, but Pi knows my love for him deep in my heart).

And then we just spent the day snuggled up in bed, enjoying the idleness of the weekends and each other's company.

Of families and celebrations

It's been a hectic last week for me, hence my "disappearance" from the blog.

I've been sick all week - drats to that flu bug that started with a sore throat on Sat and progressed to a full-blown flu with blocked nose, cough and all. I think the bug is travelling around the office too - with many of my colleagues also feeling under the weather.

It didn't help that last week was earnings week, which meant that I had no respite from work. I was literally working my ass off arranging one media interview after another, at the same time having performance reviews for my staff and preparing for a global launch. It's times like this that I really wonder why I'm the only one in the office doing real work - and at a lower pay than some of my peers, no less! I'm really not in an envious position, as glamorous as the title may sound.

Ok, enough about work.

I did find time for some quality family bonding over the weekend. Sat was Nana's 1st birthday party (in advance of the actual day, which falls on a Monday), and my brother had rented a holiday chalet (more like a bungalow actually) over the weekend. The Ong Fam stayed over for the night, and I had fun playing with the two gals. The only part I didn't enjoy was the unearthly hour of 10am (ok, it was not that early :P) that we all had to wake up the next day, but breakfast with the Fam at Ah Kun saved the day - boy, that morning cup of kopi-o is really a lifesaver.

After a short nap in the afternoon to make up for our lack of sleep, Pi and I met his mum and brother (and his gf) for some crabbing time! Yes, I'm talking about my favourite Mellben crab bee hoon and chilli crab *yum* and flu or no flu, it's not going to deter me from them! Pi's brother gave us a treat to thank us for treating him so well (*blush*).

My only grouse was that the crabs that day were not at their best - they weren't really big and the meat was not that full. But it was still really delicious! Between the 5 of us, we polished off 3 crabs, 10 fried mantous and a plate of sambal veggie in no time at all.

You know you're with family (and true friends) when you can drop all pretences and dive in to good crab with both hands - finger licking and all (the same goes for KFC, by the way. I told Pi that I used to order nuggets at KFC cos I didn't want to attack the chicken with both hands, lest he thought I was not ladylike, but now that he's "fallen into the trap" - haha - there was no need for me to pretend anymore).

At the end of the day, we went back with full tummies and I, with full contentment that I had spent yet another fulfilling weekend with family.

One for the road - the Ong Fam:

Happy Niu Year!

I'm back!

And wishing all my dearest friends and family, a Happy New Year ahead and good health and happiness for all!

Ok ok, I know I'm kinda late, but I've been enjoying myself just hibernating at home, doing nothing much and catching all the movie reruns on TV that I just couldn't drag myself to the comp and type in this entry sooner.

Well, better late than nothing, right? So, once again, Happy Niu Year to all! :)

It's been a relatively quiet holiday, and time really flies when you're having fun. Before I could blink my eyes, my 6 days of holidays are over! (And it really doesn't help that the next PH is in April!)

But not before I gorged myself silly. Or at least, I tried to, but my tummy could only take so much (makes me wonder where all the fat comes from...).

On CNY eve, Pi and I had a really scrumptious lunch (with the Ong Fam) and dinner (with the Lim Fam).

There were repeats of some "must-have" dishes - like the roast duck, yusheng, abalone - but the food was so yummy that we didn't mind at all.


We actually had a total of three (3!) whole roast ducks - one for lunch, one for dinner, and one which Pi and I finished on Days 1 and 2 of the new year (yes, such gluttons we are!). I've never been a big fan of roast duck (I prefer the braised one), but I must say, they are indeed quite yummy!


And two big platters of yusheng from Sakae - I simply loved the generous helping of salmon sashimi and the crispy "kok kok" as we call it.


Then there were the giving and receiving of ang baos. Although I've already given up my right to receiving some 4 years ago, but it was heartwarming to still get the mandatory one from Dad right after reunion dinner (or lunch, in this case). Then Bro surprised me with one as well (I think he's feeling guilty after all that money I spent on pampering his two daughters with gifts). And, like I told Pi, it's a tradition for a hubby to give his wifey an ang bao (at least that's what Dad did!), so he surprised me with one as well when I woke up on Day 1 (love you, Pi!) - in a very auspicious number, no less!

I've really enjoyed my new year this year; I hope you did too!

P/S: All pixs courtesy of small-O, for I did lug my camera around but was so busy eating that I'd clean forgotten about taking pixs. :P

Oh, crab!

All my friends and even family found it really hard to believe that I can whip up a mean dish of chilli crab (I don't know why?).

And by that, I mean I can go through the entire process - from choosing and slaughtering the crabs to cooking them, till they end up as a really yummy dish on the dining table. This is all thanks to my MIL who kindly took one whole afternoon to teach me this impressive feat.

For the disbelievers, I have proven them wrong one by one. So far, I have cooked the dish for my family (and received compliments from them!), my teacher aka my MIL (who gave me more tips for improvement) and, of course, my biggest fan, Pi (who always lapped up each and every drop). So you can imagine how many murders I have committed thus far.

It had been a really long time since I cooked, so when Pi and I chanced upon what they claimed were XL crabs at the Giant Hypermarket at Tampines, we bought three of the mean fellas (they weighed nearly 2kg in total, but cost us only half the price we would have normally paid to eat them at, say, a coffeeshop!).

After a hard afternoon's work at the kitchen sink and stove last Sat, here were the results (of course we had long devoured them by the time I downloaded these pixs, but they sure were a good reminder of the satisfactory meal we had):


Oh yes, there were two other humongous crab pincers that could not fit into the bowl so they landed straight into our dinner plates (not pictured).

Aren't you feeling really, really hungry now?

And yes, Kayla's mum, I promise to cook you some of this (if and) when you are back in April. ;) And I'll also try to put up some of the videos demonstrating the murders...

For the love of HLS

Shhh..., but I think I have discovered the secret to the svelte figures of HK ladies.

If you've ever been to HK, you will realise that it's kind of rare to spot a fat lady on the streets in HK. Of course, I'm not referring to the aunties and grannies; I'm talking about the young ones.

Let me share the secret with you - fruits! Yes, fruits!

Just eat it day in, day out, for all your meals.

And it's not that hard to do so, when my fav dessert chain store can be found there! I'm talking about HLS, or Hui Lau San translated literally from the Cantonese pronunciation.

The dessert chain store can be found almost everywhere in HK, and sometimes you see one on every street corner in town, like in Mongkok (where Pi and I hung around almost everyday when we were there).

HLS uses fresh fruits (their mangoes are the best! and really sweeeet!) and mixes them with all types of ingredients - think sago, jelly, glutinous rice balls, even hashima and bird's nest! It's really a must-try and must-have after meals, making you feel refreshed and fully satisfied (perfect for the hot and humid Singapore weather).

So when I had the chance to go back to HK last Dec, I ate it everyday, sometimes more than once a day. It was winter in HK in Dec; as a result, Pi (who was forced to eat HLS everyday as well) and I always found ourselves shivering when we stepped out of the shop, but what the heck! what's a bit of chill when it's HLS?

If you're not salivating by now, look at all the pixs I took of me at HLS. If you've nothing better to do than to count the pixs and realize that they don't really add up to the number of days that I was in HK, well, there were many occasions when I greedily gulped down the food before realising that I'd forgotten to take pixs. And, of course, the many many takeaways that I made do with, when we were rushing to squeeze in a bout of retail therapy before the shops closed.

Enjoy!

My reunion with my love in HK - see that look of glee on my face?



Pi going for his safest bet - Watermelon juice with honey jelly (no sago and all that weird stuff for him)


Another day, another new dessert to try... I think this was their mango with sago and pomelo ('yang zhi gan lu')


And yet another day (haha!)... this time, I discovered my favouritest (if there's such a word) dessert - EXTRA mango with sago, yum!


Here's a close-up


And the 'tian bu shuai' - or rice glutinous balls with peanut and sesame seeds


Pi again with his safest bet


And I also indulged myself in one of their more expensive desserts - bird's nest and hashima with rock sugar and red dates... sounds really nutritious, doesn't it?