Up and awake

It's now 3.33am and I'm still up, unable to get to sleep.

I'm mainly perturbed by the Government's choice of implementation date for whatever they announced during the Rally.

In the days leading up to the National Day Rally, there were rife talks about:

• the inclusion of fathers for child-minding (thus leading us to believe and anticipate that the number of days for paternity leave to increase)
• and about better perks such that more young couples want to give birth earlier (so we therefore hope for better baby bonus schemes, better tax reliefs, longer maternity leave)

On the day of the rally, GG and I turned up the volume of the tv (coz the kids were making a hell of a noise) and stood almost rooted in front of it, waiting for PM Lee to announce the PERKS.

When he mentioned that maternity leave was going to be increased from the current 12 weeks to 16 weeks, I literally jumped in elation and GG high-fived me! After which PM Lee talked about his days as a young father where he had to change nappies and stick safety pins into his babies without hurting any thus far, I turned around confidently and told GG 'he's gonna increase the number of paternity leave.'

Alas! We were left high and dry...

In the news report later, it was mentioned that the govt spoke to a 'group of women' and they felt that they would prefer to have the leave to themselves than to their spouses! Hey! Why didn't I get to speak to the PM?? I never hoped for the govt to increase the paternity leave to a whole month. What about increasing it to at least a week?? The current 3 days is really insufficient. In my case where I'm going for a surgery to deliver the baby, 3 days is really miserly. Each time we pick a surgery date, it has to be near a weekend so that GG can have more time to help me move around and for the baby...

This is of course not the most upsetting piece of news...

The extension of the maternity leave news is...

After the rally, I went on to the forum and knew many mummies would definitely be discussing this. To which I found out that the implementation date is to be set from 1 Jan 09 onwards. Then why announce this now, only to dampen the spirits of those who are currently pregnant and giving birth soon?

I do agree that the govt needs to set a cut off date. They implemented this earlier after the Aug 2004 rally. Then why the change now?

The worst hits are the first time mums delivering this year... In my case, after some calculation, I can at least enjoy 16 tax-free years. That's a mighty lot of savings.

Mummies on the forum are gathering names for a petition to change the implementation date. I seriously wonder if the govt will give in at all. However, after much deliberation, I decided to go ahead and do my tiny bit. If it does work, well and good. Should it fail, we can all only take it in our stride.

Like a mummy on the forum said 'The real gem is the one in our tummy now.'

Please wait till 18 Sept...

I had my third CTG scan today at the clinic.

The first time I did the CTG scan was sometime in May, when I had a bit of spotting... Doctor thought I was having contractions. So was put on CTG.

The second time was in June when my blood pressure raised up so mightily high. And the third time today coz I had faint, pinkish blood stains as well as this localized pain at the lower tummy.

Well, it didn't show contractions. But doctor sim mentioned that she had a patient who went in to see her with minor blood stains too and when checking the patient, the bleeding had stopped and there was also no signs of contractions. However, she erred on the side of caution and gave her jabs to mature the baby's lungs coz baby was only 30 weeks old and weighed in at only 1.5kg. Three days later, the patient's water bag burst and she had no choice but to deliver the baby... Luckily she took the injection to mature baby's lungs. Though baby had to be put in NICU, it could breathe well without the breathing appartus. Just that baby needed to be at a certain weight before it could be discharged.

So, I took one jab today... I have to return to the clinic tomorrow for a second jab to complete the dosage. And I'm on ventolin for the next ten days to prevent any contractions from happening. My friend messaged me and said that my pregnancy is so eventful... I guess. But I'd rather it not be because it is worrying and also costly. Just when I need to really really saveeeee...

On a brighter note, at least I won't have to be warded for any observation and placenta is fine. No signs of bleeding.

Dear Cadence, please don't come out just yet alright?? Stay nice and warm inside me and grow FAT!

By the way, she's gained 200g in a span of ONE week and I have gained 1kg in 1 week... scary!!! Think I'll stop the durian diet...

Pregnancy woes

I'm gonna have to make a trip down to the gynae right now. I saw some faint pink blood stains yesterday and had really bad pains on the lower right side of tummy. Blood pressure is worringly high - 163/108 today! My friends are concerned that it is placenta abruption... a pregnancy complication that can prove fatal to both mother and baby. Seriously speaking, after the firstborn, I do not read up on any of these anymore coz I think I have that 'ah, I already know it' kinda attitude. WHICH IS VERY WRONG!!!

Recently, I've been reduced to camping outside the toilet in the night. I drink ONE cup of water and I have to visit the toilet 4 times in the night. It disturbs my sleep very much. Firstly, I have trouble getting out of bed because of the nagging pain at the pelvis area. Secondly, tummy feels soooo heavy I literally have to hold it and walk. I really wish GG was the one pregnant instead...

And he doesn't seem to understand all these complications that I have. Just messaged him that I have to go see the doctor coz of bleeding and there's no reply as yet. Oh well, perhaps he is out to lunch or in class... Sometimes I wish he was the 'gan jiong spider' kind instead of being so cool and calm... I've never seen him in a frenzy... Well, perhaps if I tell him his new car has a long, deep scratch! That'll surely make him worried!

I'm so losing out to the mistress...

A little about Cadence

I think Cadence is going to be the tiniest of all my babies. I'm not sure if this has to do with my very little weight gain for this pregnancy. Before I got pregnant, I was 48.5kg. At the gynae's yesterday, I was 55kg. And it has been like this for the past month...

At 32 weeks, she weighs 1.8kg. This means that every week, she has only been putting on 100g. I am going to deliver in 5 weeks time and if her weight gain is constant, this means that by the time I deliver her, she'll only be 2.3kg!!!!! So tiny!!!

I hope she won't have to go to NICU or something. How can I up her weight???

Selfish idiots!

It's strange how blogging can be addictive, especially since I know that I've got friends reading and actually leaving me a comment. Oh! How I thrive on attention!!!! hehehehehhe!

Yesterday, was my scheduled appointment for gynae checkup. My appointment time was 1130am but I kinda got out of bed late and coupled with the fact that I'm nursing this chronic backpain, I decided against my 'miserly mode' to take a cab. How I regret it...

At 1121, I was across my flat waiting for a cab. Under the unrelenting, blazing, hot sun. I thought it would be rather easy to get a cab without me walking to the cab stand. On hindsight, that would have been a better idea...

Anyway, I waited for a good 30mins before I got a cab. All the cabs were hired and those not hired, were changing shifts!!! What the heck were they doing changing shifts at that time?? I was sooooooooooo cross from having to stand in the scorching sun to get a cab that I literally screamed out loud and teared.

Worst thing was there were these TWO AUNTIES who hijacked my cab!!!! They stood in front of me and within minutes, got a cab! One of them even had the audacity to turn around look at me when the cab drove past! And all I could do was to give my evilest glare and open my eyes to their widest. Then I silently cursed them. HOW CAN THEY STEAL A CAB FROM A HEAVILY PREGNANT WOMAN????????? That was when I teared...

So five minutes past my appointment time, I called my gynae's clinic to inform the nurses that I was gonna be late. I was afraid of making a wasted trip coz my doctor had a scheduled c sec. The nurses could detect the hint of despair in my voice and calmed me down and said it'd be alright if I was late. Thankfully.

The next time anyone dares to steal a cab from me again, I'm gonna point the middle finger! I SO MEAN IT!!!

I texted GG later on to tell him about my horrible ordeal and he said that they were probably putting up changing shifts sign coz they were heading for lunch. Couldn't they pick me up then go for lunch??????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have lunch in town lah!!!!!! Argh.

*Anyway, I was so upset yesterday so I thought they shouldn't even lunch at all!!! But I've become reasonable again today.

'Papa wanna parking E ah'

I forgot to mention that Jared's favourite letter is 'E'.

Sometimes I wonder why he likes/loves (like he puts it himself) certain things.

Of late, whenever we're on the way out after dinner for a walk at Causeway Point, Woodlands Mart, Woodgrove or the Mrt station, Jared will inevitably ask the quintessential question: 'Papa, you parking which level ah?' To which his father will tell him that he is either at deck A, B or C (depending on the time he's back) and Jared will whine and tell his father: 'E got space. Papa, you parking E ah?'

And then the two continues with their crazy argument. Jared on why GG should park at E because it has lots of lots and that E is 'nice'. And GG about why he should park at A, B or C so that we all don't have to climb up so many flights of stairs and he can save petrol! Argh, the two!

Last week, when GG parked at deck D, Jared kicked up a huge fuss and whined and kicked in the car. GG yelled at him for being ridiculous and that it's crazy we have to be bossed around by him. Since then, Jared has changed tactics. Whenever we reach the carpark, he'll ask GG nicely, 'Papa, where you wanna park?'

Because most times we reach home so late, we park at E. Much to the delight of the boy, who gets off the car, then goes to the wall and touches the letter 'E'.

So strange.

I hope he doesn't like to have the letter 'E' splashed all over his report card in the future... I'd be one unhappy mum. ;(

@%#$%@#

ARGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

THE STUPID PARAGRAHING IS NOT WORKING AGAINNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'I love you, mummy'

Two nights ago, for the first time, Jared voluntarily uttered 'I love you, mummy!'. I was touched beyond words.

Ever since young, whenever GG and I leave my mum's place, we will kiss him and Nat goodnight, say 'I love you', hug and say 'see you tomorrow'. This has become a routine every night. And we the parents are always the ones who initiate the 'I love you'. So when he said it voluntarily the other night, GG and I were besides ourselves. My little baby Jared has really grown up!

I didn't actually think he knew the meaning of 'I love you'. But when I told him to say the same thing to his uncle (who absolutely dotes on him), he said 'I don't want'. So I guess he does know what it means. How heartwarming isn't it???

But I think this is highly dependent on his mood. Because last night, he didn't say it... But he did come to kiss me and say goodnight first before I did it. Then when I tried to kiss him back, he said 'NO! You don't kiss me. I kissed you already.' Bugger!

The accidental mum

I am currently 31weeks and 5days pregnant with my third accident baby. There you have it. Three accident babies.

Not a single regret do I have.

Let me introduce my children here.


This is my first born:
Jared Nicholas Goh

Birthday: 1 Sept 2005

He is very shy and takes quite a while to warm up to people.

I'll upload a nicer pic of him from GG's new camera (courtesy of moi for his birthday this year). In the picture above, he is looking at MUSHROOMS. His favourite food. Since I'm on his favourites, let me list it here.



Favourite person: His father

Favourite colour: Black (very strange why a kid likes black...)

Favourite number: 7 (Same as his father)

Favourite food: Mushrooms (we're practically on a mushroom diet at home, thanks to his wai po)

Favourite character: Thomas the Tank Engine (will upload a picture of his entire collection)

Favourite toy: His die cast cars (Black coloured ones...)

Favourite activity: Watching 'Thomas and friends', playing with his trains and cars.

Current favourite phrase: 'Papa wanna parking E ah' (This deserves a separate post all by itself)_

My second child is a princess.

Birthday: 12 Dec 2006

I call her the Tantrum Princess:
Natalie Claire Goh

She's quite sam seng and suku. Can cry this minute and laugh the next... Her father says she's got a screw loose somewhere. But she's also a lot less shy and very very friendly and sociable.

Favourite person: Her father

Favourite food: JUNK FOOD, much to everyone's exasperation because during proper
meal times, she spits like crazy!

Favourite phrase: 'Bu yao', 'don't want' and 'Hi'

Favourite character/toy: Anything Elmo.

Favourite pastime: Watching elmo's world.

Favourite personal belonging: Her smelly bolster. It's in the picture above.

When she's not throwing a fit, she's super adorable and such a doll. But when she doesn't get her way... she screams, kicks and throws herself backwards!!! Can't stand her doing that. And her tears!!! My goodness. What a bucket load of tears she has whenever she cries.

My third baby is also a girl. I'm naming her Cadence Faith Goh. I'm often wondering if she'll turn out to look like Natalie. :)

Is this blogger working??

I was up last night coz I simply couldn't get to sleep. So I blogged... and then, when I clicked on 'publish post', it went blank. I spent a fair amount of time on it and it just went blank... NICE!

And the stupid paragraphing is STILL NOT WORKING!!!!!!!!!!!!

What timing!!!

No matter what I do, I just can't change the timing of my post!!!!!!!! So anyone reading this, I did not post at 3 something AM. I'm typing this now at 12:19AM and until I find out how to solve this silly problem, I'm gonna have to write down the time of my posts. Ridiculous.

Since this is my first attempt at blogging, I really am super into it. I just wanna type and type. So what if it is frivolous and almost nonsensical. I'll surely do better in time to come. Pictures, slides, quotes, recipes perhaps? Hehehe. For now, it'll just be me rambling on...

Gotta go check on my chicken soup now.

PS: I've since come back to edit this post like 10 times because I couldn't get it to show paragraphing!!!!!!!!, then I couldn't get it to show the correct timing so have decided to get rid of timing once and for all. Oh my! Blogging is such a pain. But I'm rather enjoying this. :)

Finally...

It has literally taken me this long: TWO YEARS.

Friends whom I chat frequently with on msn have their blogs and whenever I read theirs, I'm filled with inspiration to do likewise. Post pictures of my adorable children, places I visited, about the mundane things I do at home and such. Everytime after I read Kei and Jaime's blog, I think to myself: 'Ah, I shall start my own blog too!' Each time, I am filled with such enthusiasm and fervour. Alas! The ever procrastinating me just never got down to it. So today marks the day where I've taken another great leap in doing what I've always said I will and NOT procrastinating anymore. *pat on the back*

Wait till I tell my husband about my blog. I wonder if he'll show any interest in reading this.