Pooh lessons (Note: Crude words used in this post…)

No wonder people say that learning is a lifelong journey.

My learning curve as a parent is a steep one the last 3+ weeks. And my teacher or rather trainer, is none other than…

Baby Julien

Lesson #1: Pooh, pee and fart (PPnF) can happen simultaneously.

Lesson #2: Baby can PPnF more than once at a setting.

I was changing Julien’s diapers. Hearing horror stories about how babies can ‘shoot’ during diaper-change, I placed a tissue over his little one while changing. True enough, the tissue became wet during the change! I was thinking to myself what a smart mother I am. :) After he finished peeing and so i thought, I threw the wet tissue away and continued changing.

Lo and behold, just seconds later, weeeeeeeeee!!! Another stream of pee sprayed into the air thank God not in my face!

Same for his pooh, Julien loves to pooh and pooh AGAIN just when I slip the clean diapers under his butt.

This brings me to the next lesson learnt…

Lesson #3: ALWAYS take precautions.

Lesson #4: Never underestimate the POWER of the PPnF.

One fateful night, Julien poohed as usual after his feed. This time he poohed MORE than usual. I was quite confident that he would have no more residue pooh.

And while I was lifting his legs to clean his butt, WHEEEEEEEE! He poohed again! And this time, the pooh came out together with a fart and the stream of pooh literally flew!

Pooh + Fart = Power Pooh

What a bomb! The pooh hit Julien’s bedsheet, cot, my legs ewww! and even the sofa, which was located almost a metre away from the cot!!!

The poor father almost fainted when he saw the pooh plastered on his beloved sofa… He ended up washing the sofa covers…

My oh my… it’s really no easy task to handle a 3 week old baby. We are still learning…

Off to Amsterdam and back!

It was a Saturday, 2 weeks after Julien was born and the hubby had to leave for Amsterdam for a 3-day conference. :(

Thank God the many routines (feed –> change diapers –> sleep –> eat –> EBM) made time fly past so quickly. Of cos technology really helped bridge the distance. We were messaging through our Blackberries so often!

Wednesday afternoon soon arrived and the hubby reached SG… with lotsa good stuffs!

40 delightful stalks of tulips fresh from Holland! :)

It even came with ‘preservatives’ to keep the flowers longer.

Candies, chocos, biscuits aplenty!

Magnets for our around-the-world collection!

And goodies for moi!

No matter what, the best gift is…. the hubby himself! I am so glad he’s back! :)

Post-natal Massage

This UFO (Unidentified Fat Object) is not some fragile cargo. It’s not a plastic container either. 

It’s me. My stomach. Being wrapped… and wrapped… and wrapped. 

Like most preggies, weight loss especially getting back a flattened tummy is one of our utmost personal concerns after we give birth. And so I booked this Indo-Chinese massage lady recommended by many of my female colleagues to help me massage away the wind and yes, the fats.

At the end of each 1-hour session, there would be this torturous yet must-do last step. In fact, I feel rather like a sadist, enjoying the pain inflicted on my body… But for the sake of a FLATTER if not flattened tummy, I must and I will go through this!

So for 8 days, the massage lady applies a thick layer of lotion consisting of ginger, lemon grass and oil (this lotion is good for getting rid of wind), wraps it over with a red, curtain-like textured cloth that’s about like 1.5m? long, and fastens it with a blue elastic piece with Velcro strap and lastly wraps with clear wrap. Think HOT + SWEATY + sometimes ITCHY…. and I bear with it for 8 days, about 12 hours each day. *Congrats to myself!*

At the end of the 8 massage sessions, I must say there are some results. My tummy had indeed grown smaller but not completely flattened. I encourage myself that it’s only 2+ weeks since my delivery. Yes, 2 weeks has passed only… and besides a tummy to flatten, there’s also SIX more kilos to lose. DUN GIVE UP JERB!!!

My Confinement Food

Unlike our Western counterparts, and right now I am envying them cos after delivery they start eating their normal WESTERN food, we Asians believe in eating well and eating right during the one month confinement period straight after our delivery.

Specific ingredients are used in the diets of these mothers in order to build up their healths, prevent future ailments such as premature aging and rheumatism as well as to boost their milk production.

My mother-in-law (MIL) is quite well-versed in such confinement food recipes. I see fish, pork, ginger, sesame oil, wolfberries or gouzi used in almost all my meals. Here are some food that I have been eating.

*Note: Confinement foods should be eaten by the women undergoing confinement only and not for the rest of the family. It’s believed to be too ‘heaty’ for a normal person. My MIL commented that if she shared food with me, she will suffer from stroke! :p

Many of the youth don’t know this but we are not supposed to drink plain water for this one month! Plain water causes water retention and ‘wind’ in our stomachs!

So I have been drinking some dates & longan water… It consists of black, red and another type of dates, dried longan (the kind used for confinement and not for dessert) and a couple of other Chinese herbs.

The other drink my MIL made was the Black Bean Drink. Just black beans with red dates and walla!

The only other drinks I drink during confinement is my Ammum milk (for lactating mothers) and my favorite drink of each day – MILO!

Here are some foods that I eat everyday and will continue to eat for the next one month…! You can imagine my strong craving for Macdonalds’, Sushi, char kway teow…

Pig’s Stomach and Pork Porridge with lots of sesame oil.

My MIL bought more pig’s stomach and cooked soup as well.. with some potatoes. Delicious!

Mee sua soup with pork, pork liver and vege.

Black Chicken Soup, unsalted.

Some of the herbs used in boiling this Black Chicken Soup. My MIL said there’s this herb used called Bei Qi and that’s why normal people cannot take the soup. Too heaty!

‘Expensive’/ High class Cai Xin

Fish…. Supposedly VERY good for milk production.

My favorite cod fish. My MIL cooks almost one portion for me everyday… She normally cooks it with ginger but for this particular day, she skipped it because Julien had jaundice.

Some other fish…. MIL says not all fish can be eaten during confinement.

Sesame Oil Chicken… Delicious too!

Sesame Oil Pork with Pig’s Kidney.

I don’t like Pig’s Kidney!

And my MIL said I can have red bean soup dessert during my confinement. Yippee!

Red Bean Soup with Lotus Seed. My MIL makes this restaurant style! Sedap!

My MIL promised me to let me try her Zhu1 Jiao3 Chu4 or Pig Trotters with Vinegar soon!

I have heard of some confinement food that are deep-fried but my MIL steams, stir-fries, boils my food. So I think my confinement food is considered very healthy. Hopefully, I can lose my remaining excess kilos soon!

Can’t wait for AFTER 1.5 months!

Postpartum feelings

Now that I have entered into motherhood, I must say it’s something that I didn’t fully fathom beforehand. Not because I was not prepared. I’ve read internet articles, subscribed to websites, talked to fellow mommy friends… but like what we always say – It’s not the head knowledge that counts, but it’s the big word coming up experience.

I did read about postpartum blues or postnatal depression and that different mothers have varying degrees of such depression.

No, I do not have depression but I do feel kinda blue especially in the 1st week after the delivery.

1. Exhaustion. I felt tired from the 19-hour long labour that had happened. And honestly, my work and ministry are still on my mind. Maybe I should forget about all these for awhile… at least for now BUT I can’t help it! I also feel tired whenever Julien wakes up in the middle of the night. I should have treasured my sleep much much more before he came along!

2. Pain. Yes, I realized pain doesn’t just stop when the epidural and labor is over! I experienced pain from BF-ing (soreness, blisters and engorgement!) and from the stitches I’ve got straight after delivery. I couldn’t sit properly for about about 1.5 weeks after my delivery! It’s a terrible feeling! :(

3. Heat. All these coupled with the not-so-cool weather in SG! It’s worse when my body is already subjected to ‘postnatal heat’ and I am not supposed to be exposed to too much cool wind! Aarghhh…..!

4. New routines. Change diapers, wash then sterilize pumps/bottles, express milk, feed baby, soothe crying baby. All of these seems to happen in a 3-4 hourly cycle.

Sounds abit depressing huh? But honestly, I am not feeling THAT down. I made a decision during the last few weeks of my pregnancy that I would constantly remind myself to think positively no matter what. I believe that decision helped.

I also thank God for great mommy friends like Jiahui, Wen, San etc who had went ‘the way’ before and fully empathize with me, assure me and give me great advices!

And I must say strong family support is the KEY factor for me not sinking into the deep blue sea of depression. My mother-in-law is an AMAZING woman. She is helping me with the confinement. She cooks my confinement meals and even prepares separate meals for the family. In fact, she does almost EVERYTHING and I really feel she treats me like her own daughter, putting my best interests at heart. :)

And of course, my hubby. I don’t know how I can go through this post partum period without him. He was my Ms… I mean Mr Nurse in the hospital. Caring and looking after me, after bearing with me during labor. He stays up with me as much as he can, late into the night while we look after baby together and then goes off to work in the morning. Love you dear!

And for now, things are getting better as I begin to settle down. I realized how true the song 世上只有妈妈好，有妈的孩子象个宝 is。。。So I pray that I improve as a mother, enlarge my capacity and that J family is a happy, healthy family. Also not forgetting that Julien will be an easy-to-take-care-of baby. :)

I love my Julien no matter what!

Baby Fashion!

First of all, I would like to thank all the ‘sponsors’ for Julien’s clothings. I think with my sister-in-law’s hand-me-downs + all the various gifts, our little Prince has enough clothes to last for a year!

And here are the very cute/fashionable clothes that you’ve got for him!

Here’s a set of 3 rompers and cutie animal socks from Mothercare kindly sponsored by my colleagues!

A set of Mon-Sun socks…. See if you can spot the 2nd set of the same socks further down!

This set is from my ex-neighbours from Tampines! I was so touched that they remembered me… When I got married and was moving out, they also bought me a diamond studded cross necklace. This time they got CALVIN KLEIN from Canada for Julien! How cool!

Shoes, socks, and ‘I love Daddy’ and ‘I love Mummy’ rompers from my cell-group. I think Daddy and Mummy will be often arguing which romper Julien should be wearing! ;p

A set of very small (the only set which perfectly fits little Julien now), adorable, animal themed set of Carter’s and a pair of shoes from Evelyn + Edwin.

Another set of Carter’s from Lillian + Nic. There’s a swim wear (!), bib and romper. So touched to receive this gift from them!

And of course, the most FASHIONable gift… specially selected by my very atas and FASHIONable cousin Jeroy… BURBERRY’s romper! Note to Julien: Julien, even Dad & Mum don’t own Burberry wear! Will be keeping it under wraps until Julien’s 1st month celebration! :)

To end off, I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to all for the generous gifts! I am sure Julien will love all of them!

And here’s to end off – Picture of the day:

My little boy sleeping in his favorite pose – the ‘surrender’ mode. :)

1 Week Old Baby

Yay! Julien is 1 week old! And yes, we survived the first 7 days of coping with the responsibilities of a young life in our family. The well documented sleepless nights + feeding joys/woes + diaper changes really went clockwork in our experience. It left us kinda exhausted but thankfully, we had the support of Jared’s parents and sister who are staying with us because their home is undergoing major renovations.

Here is little Julien in full form:

The 3 day Hari Raya Puasa long weekend went past us in a flash……. Feels like the movie GroundHog Day everyday! Bathing, diapering, sterilising, breastfeeding, doing laundry and feeding/burping Julien….. the cycle repeats itself endlessly but it’s all worth it as long as our dear son is kept healthy.

See below pic…. We’re not strangling Julien….. just trying to get him to burp after a good feed. =)

In this past 1 week, we have been receiving a flurry of visitors. Thank you all for all your well wishes and we have really been overwhelmed by your generosity. A peek at what we have been blessed with by our generous friends!

1) Sharp Plasmacluster KC-840E air purifier cum humidifier courtesy of our very generous Ps Edmund + fellow ET zone leaders. This is Jared’s favourite gift, keeping Julien’s environment clean and not too drying for his skin despite the air conditioning! Huge thanks for this gift! They even bought us Harvey Norman extended warranty for $100!

2) Crib Musical Mobile from my godmum. Comes with a Beethoven melody to entertain little Julien.

3) Diapers (mainly newborn + small) – from Esther/Adrian + Aunt Jenny + Ps Lily. Useful! Adding to the bludgeoning collection of Drypers in the storeroom. Pampers and Huggies family…… SAY CHEESE!

 

4) Philips Avent Digital Steriliser – from our great buddies Edmund & Minghui + Keith & Shermin. The most utilised gift so far!

5) One of my essentials – Bird Nest with Collagen from Kai Lin! Good for skin… esp since i am expecting MORE sleepless nights!!!

6) Angpows courtesy of Juner & Kel, Joe & Em, Esther & Adrian + Wendy & Ken. We absolutely appreciate this practical gift! Thank u for your generosity!

7) Cute baby soft toy + hand-sewn retro bolster filled with green bean goodness to put on Julien’s chest! – from Francis & Cheng. I think this handmade pillow is so thoughtful! Personalised with Julien’s name too!

8) Angpow + Animal book+CD + Baby Wipes and Baby on Board car sign – from E99!

9) Nutritional Supplements! – Courtesy of Uncle Tiong & Aunt Linda. My MIL says such stuff are what she received during her confinement too :-)

10) CLOTHES GALORE! – Too many to mention in this post……… will post separately…. Our little boy is gonna be so fashionable…. And his parents are so jealous of him…. A sneak preview of one such gift. I know……. I know………….VERY ATAS (high class) right?

Promise you guys the next time I blog I’ll try not to take as long as another week….. Now off to sleep!