Camwhoring!

It's a beautiful Saturday morning... The lighting is great. So I reckon maybe it's best to take some photos of me with my enormous belly, in my most pregnant figure :) Baby Stefan can see this too, next time..

Went to see OB yesterday. He said I can deliver anytime now. If that's not happening until March 9, then I will undergo labor induction. God bless.

Week 39 : What Pregnancy Taught Me

First and foremost, thanks be to God for this wonderful, miraculous journey. For over 9 months now, all sorts of feelings are still raining cats and dogs on me. And I discovered that having a life in my womb has been different than I could have ever initially expected.. in so many ways.

My Body...

Above photo: Week 33

During the first trimester, I was really, really excited to be pregnant. Couldn't believe the fact that I could still use my pre-pregnancy outfit during the first 3 months. I felt myself blossoming during the second trimester and bought some new stretchable cotton dresses and inner-wears. Now after 9 months, as much as I am still excited being pregnant, I can't lie and tell you that I was all jollied up about all the changes in my body that are inevitably coming.. There have certainly been times (particularly the last couple of weeks) where seeing my shape change was difficult. I kept thinking on things I must do after delivery to get rid of the extra double-chin I developed and my engorged thighs, just to name a few. But now as I am sitting here counting days with a giant belly resting on my edematous lap, a glow in my cheeks, and the new-found strength in my wobbly legs, I can proudly say that I am totally in love with my pregnant body. I realized that pregnancy has given me a level of body confidence that I never knew I could have. Baby's aura!

My Workouts...

Above: Me & hubby strolling along Sentosa Boardwalk (Week 24).

While getting fit and working hard to lose weight in the past made me feel great inside and out, these days I consider a thirty minute walk to be an awesome physical accomplishment each day. A year ago I wouldn’t have even considered that to be an exercise. And while I’m really looking forward to getting back into my running shoes soon enough, it has also been a nice lesson to me that workouts don’t all have to be back-breaking and intense. It can be just as effective to slow down sometimes.

My Symptoms...

From what I read, early pregnancy symptoms are many! Maybe it is all over-hyped, or maybe I just got lucky – who knows. But my symptoms during the first trimester was almost close to none, and I am most definitely grateful for it. Second trimester was just as great, I worked as usual at the MP Vet Centre until week 30. And then third trimester said hello... :)

Week 38 & 39 Swollen feet (pitting edema) and swollen legs (water retention).

While I had my fair share of the above and finding it so hard to sleep due to backaches, beyond that I have really felt great through this whole pregnancy.

Cravings? No particular food actually... Well okay, I did ask for some nice, authentic dish once in a while though. Big thank you for those who made the effort to have them prepared for me!

My Relationship...

Above photo: Week 20

For the past two months until now up to end of confinement, I am and will still be staying in Sabah while my husband works at Singapore. We only meet once a month and it's been rather an emotional ride for me. Despite the distance, I make no secret of the fact that my husband and I are incredibly close. Being pregnant has enhanced the way I see him now. He’s no longer just my husband and my partner. He’s going to be the father to my kids, and something about that makes me all mushy and teary every time it crossed my mind.

I am really looking forward to seeing him hold his son for the first time...

My Confidence...

The biggest lesson I learn from pregnancy is to stay strong and believe in myself. I have asked a lot, read books, magazines, and websites, and have educated myself as best as possible. A year ago I was not sure I would have felt ready or responsible enough to be able to give enough care for another life. But with just approximately ONE WEEK left, I can confidently say that I am most definitely ready to be a mom.

Now watch my primgravida belly moves! :)

GOD BLESS!

Week 36

By the end of this week, Baby Stefan will be full term!

Here's some of my belly shots taken yesterday morning before hubby went back to Singapore for work...

My belly!

Daddy talking to his son inside :)

Us!

We will meet again in approximately two weeks to a month time -- that is, after Stefan decides when he wants to enter the world :)

Pray for us!

Week 33

I went for ultrasound last Saturday, January 21. So, here's Baby Stefan at Week 33 in my womb :)

He is now 1.97kg and gynecologist said everything is okay. Head in normal delivery position, and due date should be in approximately 6 weeks from now; which is estimated at March 6.

Praise be to God!

And I'm praying everything will stay okay and I'll be able to deliver normally. Love you, Stefan!

Confinement Period

The title said it all. No, it's not like I'm observing "The Confinement Period" now. Am only 33 weeks plus pregnant and OB just told me there'll be approximately another month to go before my baby enters the world. So yeah, that's when the confinement period begins... right till 40 days after delivery (this is what my mom and mom-in-law told me, so I guess that's Kadazandusun's after delivery treatment course).

And for this, my mom actually prepared for me a couple of things...

Traditional Chinese Medicine (note the HALAL logo) for "buang angin" and "pecah darah".

I think this is to help regulate the body temperature and blood circulation. I will be taking this a pair once a day during the confinement period.

And...

Fragrant dried leaves... They called it "tawa'oh" or something like that. This is the ancient Sabah herbal bath believed to help in cleansing and regulating the body systems. The leaves must be boiled in just enough the amount of water for two bath times each day. I will have to use this lukewarm herbal water to wet my body, then use my favorite body shower gel as usual, and then to rinse it off again with the fragrant herbal water... which also said to give 'soothing and calming' effect. My sister said my bath towel will be yellow-tinged though :)

Well, if my ancestors swore by it, by all means these preparations must have worked through the generations! No adverse effect recorded so far (according to hear-say), and as I do have ample faith on what my older generations said... then hey, why don't I use them too... After all, I do agree they only want the best for me. Having said this, being a veterinarian, of course I prefer conventional medicine and health science compared to TCM :).

Other than these two, I must also avoid windy places and cold areas. Rooms, floors, water and the air con should all be in normal room temperature. Hair-washing is totally prohibited throughout the confinement period. I must only eat 'drunken chicken soup' or 'sup ayam lihing' for the whole 40 days. This is actually chicken broth prepared with sweet rice wine in 1:1 ratio and some ginger.

Last but not least, I have to stay inside the house at all times. I reckon that's why it is called "The CONFINEMENT Period".

Healthy me, healthy baby and HAPPY HUBBY!

Sign of the Cross

St. Cyril of Jerusalem in his "Catecheses" (xiii, 36) remarks: "let us then not be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the cross our seal, made with boldness by our fingers on our brow and in every thing; over the bread we eat and the cups we drink, in our comings and in goings; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we awake; when we are travelling, and when we are at rest".

This morning was very different to me. Today was the day when my husband had to leave me for work to Singapore for one month. I've been through this before, but it felt kind of different now. I reckon it is because for over one year since we got married, I have never actually stayed away from him. And maybe also because I am 31 weeks pregnant now, so all those emotional build-ups just sink in easily. It must be that. This distance makes me realize that I do, I do and I DO want my dear husband to be with me all the time. Maybe this awkward feeling will go away once I'm settled with the new environment. Anyway he will come back in a month time, so everything will be just fine. I am actually counting the days.

Now I would just like to share what happened this morning. Something that really, really touched my heart. After packing and getting ready, my husband sat down at the side of the bed and told me that he wanted to say a prayer. So I watched him praying in silence. Finished praying, he turned towards me and said, "Let me bless you and our baby". And he placed a gentle sign of the cross with his thumb, first on my forehead, and then on my gravid womb. In return I did the same on his forehead. Then he gave me the warmest hug I have ever known. And yes, I was teary because, that, really, really touched my heart. I just feel so blessedly loved by my dear husband. And I thank God for the very wonderful moment I have just experienced, and the beautiful soul mate He gave to me.

This I will cherish for always, and will keep me strong whenever I feel lonely or down or afraid.

Your Daddy loves us so much, my baby Stefan. May he always be blessed by God too, every hour and every second of every day.

Have you ever really loved a woman?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v7rDQEF9Rc

Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman
To really love a woman
To understand her

You gotta know her deep inside
Hear every thought

See every dream
And give her wings when she wants to fly
Then when you find yourself lyin' helpless in her arms
You know you really love a woman

When you love a woman you tell her
that she's really wanted
When you love a woman you tell her that she's the one
She needs somebody to tell her
that it's gonna last forever
So tell me have you ever really
really really ever loved a woman?

To really love a woman
Let her hold you
till you know how she needs to be touched
You've gotta breathe her - really taste her
Till you can feel her in your blood
And when you can see your unborn children in her eyes
Ya know you really love a woman

When you love a woman
you tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman you tell her that she's the one
She needs somebody to tell her
that you'll always be together
So tell me have you ever really
really really ever loved a woman?

You got to give her some faith - hold her tight
A little tenderness - gotta treat her right
She will be there for you, takin' good care of you
You really gotta love your woman...

According to Bryan Adams.

I really, really, REALLY like this song. As a matter of fact, I posted it in my Facebook profile. In the hope that a particular someone might read it, or at least have a glance at it...

I just think that a special someone has got to have an important role in someone's life... A special place in that someone's heart, a special 'treatment'... And then because that particular someone is so special in a person's heart, he or she should be the first person who should know of the other one's doings in particular... Well, I could be wrong. But that's basically what I have in mind.

And I guess I deserve that special treatment too...

I ran!

And finished half marathon 21km...


THRICE!!! :) Hehe

1) 22 November 2009, Sandakan Sepilok Nature Half Marathon Run 2009 - 3 hours and 6 minutes

2) 2 May 2010, Borneo International Marathon 2010 - 2 hours and 56 minutes (Pic 2, yellow vest)

3) 27 June 2010, Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2010 - 2 hours and 46 minutes (Pic 1, with my handsome fiance)

I'm happy with my uphill achievements :)

I plan to do better though...

Next, Penang Bridge!

Tiger & Tompong

Meet Tiger and Tompong... :) Tiger is a 10 years old male orangutan and Tompong is a 8-year-old female. If you look at the drawing, they are both doing their favourite pastime; mating attempts, as they both are still juveniles and are quite young to engage in such a subadult/adulthood activity. Male orangutans, in average, reach puberty in the age of 13-15 years old, while the females are sexually active when they reach 11-13 years of age, in average; much earlier than the males... Almost similar to humans I must say. Another interesting fact is, they mate the whole year round (just as humans do), and the gestation period or pregnancy takes in approximate eight and a half months.

Ok, I'll share more about the orangutans bit by bit in my upcoming posts. About this painting, I started doing it way earlier in September 2009, but I was so occupied with other things and could not find 'the mood' to finish it then. I continued doing it again on 10th March 2010 as I wanted to give it as a token of appreciation to the director of my department. I finished it on the morning of the same day and handed it to him and thank God he liked it! His only comment was, "What is his hand doing there?" haha! Just look at the painting and you will understand what he meant...

Yes, I love this painting :) Size 2' x 4'. I call it "Juveniles". By the way, "Tiger" is also the name of Sepilok's favourite beer :) And, "Tompong" is the name of our Sabahan local alcoholic drink... Isn't it ironic? Don't you think?

Catholic Engaged Encounter, Penang

March 5-7, 2010

I and my fiance were all the time anticipating the moment when we would finally attend to this pre-wedding course; 'the weekend' as they called it.

We did not know what to expect. What seemed to be important to us was only the certificate to fulfill one of the criteria for us to be able to get married in the Catholic Church.

The first day was already so overwhelming. We were greeted by lovely people (presenting couples and also the team in charge). In the icebreaking session, we were asked to introduce ourselves by telling others the most attractive thing about our partners :). I did not know what to say, as to me my fiance was attractive all over! So I said the most attractive part of him is that he is very loving... he sure is. He said I'm most attractive because I'm kind... That touched the inner side of me.

There were sharing by presenting couples on their experiences in living their married lives. They touched on many topics, most of which we did not talk about during our courtship. We were asked to spend time together and discuss on important aspects that are considered vital in our future married life. We also planned for our future together; money, children, sexual relationship, priorities etc.

The sessions were all very interesting indeed and most of them brought tears to my eyes, they made me realize how important 'togetherness' is and how love plays the vital role in our couple relationship, in particular our married life. How important it is to live the romance, think more of 'US' rather than 'ME' and to accept each other's flaws and still be in love.

We learned that to love is a decision, not just mere euphoria. It is a decision to love our partner. It is life-giving. We learn to say things out to each other, not to be afraid to tell it to each other's face, and forgive each other. I particularly like one of the rules of argument, which is 'hold hands while arguing'. Boy, that sounded so new to me... Can we do that next time? I don't know... but I sure hope so!

But above all, we learned that God must always be the hearth of our relationship. There must be no third person, the only third 'person' allowed and must be there all the time is God. Marriage is a Sacrament, a life-long vow and is really SACRED.

We also had prayer session where we had our first couple prayer together. It was so surreal. We wrote our betrothal pledge to each other, and I received the best love letter ever from my loving fiance... a letter that I will keep and cherish for a lifetime...

CEE teaches us to love more and give more everyday to our relationship. It ended with lots of smiles and the air was so filled with Love... I knew at once that my love for my fiance becomes stronger now and I know that we are now"US".

To my fiance, you are God's gift to me, the answer to my prayers. My burning bush, thank you for choosing to love me despite my flaws and temperaments... I choose to love you too... May God help and bless "US".

Will you remember me?

We took a group photo yesterday morning, how nice of them to arrange it before I leave.

I am so going to miss them. The orangutans, the staff, the calm, green and untouched scenery of a 43 squared kilometre Virgin Jungle Reserve... The hornbill calls and the male orangutan 1km loud mating call at 6am every morning... They are so dear to my heart.

The volunteers' chatters and laughs, the orangutans' gruntings and squealings... I am going to miss them all!

Newbie

I'm a blogger now. There, I said it. Had the intention of setting up a blog for so long, but never actually had the guts to start... until this very moment. The beginning is the most important part of everything, so here goes... my story of the day:-

Okay, so I'm leaving the job I really love... being a vet at the most established orangutan rehab centre in the world. Is this a right choice, I do not know. But, I do believe it is going to be a fresh new start at the new place... new animals... hmmm. Help me God.

It's been truly a marvelous experience working there, I shall cherish every moment of it. Am actually proud of what I have done so far... some people wait a lifetime to taste even a moment of the experience I have had. But really, when it's time to go, IT'S TIME to go... and let go. Cool.

But you know what? Wildlife is in my blood and that's why I will be back some day... For the wild animals in Sabah, I'm your VET and we shall meet again one day :)

Take a look at photos above & links below, I will miss the orangutan... but only for a while, because I'll make a comeback someday, somehow. You'll see.

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20091208183233/Article/index_html

http://star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2009/12/8/tvnradio/5232997&sec=tvnradio

http://books.google.com/books?id=n47eDtsiLsIC&pg=PA160&lpg=PA160&dq=dr.+cecilia+boklin&source=bl&ots=8TZXRoX2PM&sig=0-4uo8Bm0IlHTnQ03WIdcP1tRp4&hl=en&ei=NkiNS_HbFYa5rAf-95mWAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CCgQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=dr.%20cecilia%20boklin&f=false

http://assets.wwfmalaysia.inga.bluegecko.net/downloads/greenheart_sept08.pdf (page 3)

http://www.asianewsnet.net/epaper/pdf/AsiaNews%20Dec%2018-24%202009%20PDF.pdf (page 32 & 33)