jkLives!

Pilgrimage

jkl918 — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:14:17 +0000

Brrr....

I checked that my last trip to US was in Oct 2010. More than a year ago since I stocked up on pills & vitamins for my sideline pharmaceutical business and clothes & shoes & bags for my fashion boutique. Hahahahaha. Believe it or not, some of my previous purchases are still unused (but that has never stopped the “shop like you are never coming back” mindset, has it?)

And so, here I am, on my way back after a 1 week pilgrimage to Milpitas/Fremont, where each day was filled with long hours of meetings (hey, i DID get some work done *wink*), followed by marathon shopping expeditions and food starvation till 9pm (the sacrifices one must make). Slept an average of 5 hrs a day (not much different from my daily life routine back home, just different type of “chores” )

And so, here i am, @SFO airport, using the free 45-min limit WiFi access, after checking in 2 bags (1 big + 1 small) worth of goodies and proud purchases from my 5-day shopping spree, waiting for the flight back in time for CNY eve. Pretty successful outing, i must say

The Poppy Seed that never was…

jkl918 — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:36:23 +0000

We ended 2011 and the year of the Rabbit on a bitter note.

In early Dec, I detected a “familiar” hormonal change although the dates etc did not line up (it really didn’t seem possible), and by mid-Dec decided to get some peace of mind by performing the hCG urine test. This would be the (what?) 4th stick of the year?! I only did the test once this time. We hadn’t even had THE TALK yet, and there it was, another (+). We contemplated a few things, including job, home, and abortion, but decided we would wait till we were safely past the 1st trimester, and not count our dragons before they are hatched. Which turned out to be a wise (but no less painful) thing…

On Dec 31st, the 2nd miscarriage happened. The sudden tummy ache was less than the 1st time, and the huge gush of blood happened only 1.5 days later. The physical pain – it was one of the more painful menstrual attacks. But the emotional anguish is definitely deep – 2 in a row, both also when we were away from home and taking a trip with the kids; something must be wrong.

On Jan 9th, after kL’s gentle prodding, I took half day off work and patiently waited in front of Room2.9 for Dr Eric. He couldn’t perform a pap smear as the menstruation flow was still heavy, but I managed to take a blood test. The next afternoon, he called, with bad news – my hCG blood level was still high at 281 (normal is below 100), meaning i was still “pregnant”. This meant I had to return for a thorough cleaning. What did that mean? He brushed it off as a simple procedure at first, but as I asked and talked to the nurses when I made my return appointment, it became increasingly frightening and my gut feeling told me that this was getting too big to be brave and boldly going off to do it independently. So i requested kL to accompany me on Thurs morning Jan 12. And thankfully i did, because i had to fast from midnight, got my cervix dilated, wheeled into the OT (for the 3rd time in my life), got strapped to the bed, put on GA and passed out for at least 15 mins. According to Dr Eric (when he came to check later) he removed lumps of blood. I was ok to leave if i felt fine (not dizzy) and gave me 2 days MC. i told him i was flying off to the US on Saturday, and he said that’s perfectly fine. Ah-huh. Wasn’t sure whether this was covered by my medical insurance plan, so i paid the RM1K fee first. Yup for a “simple” procedure and half day care. How about the melancholy and “void” that I felt after the cleansing?? How do I put a price on that?

kL and I were pretty quiet and reserved during the drive back. After a decade of being a couple, we have experienced many things together, but this may very well be our biggest secret (and most harrowing) yet.

No more talk of a dragon baby for now. It feels almost impossible and too painful to contemplate.

A Tale of 2 Monkeys

jkl918 — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:15:39 +0000

Here! hold my used lollipop while I attempt monkeying like ko-ko.

looking forlornly as big bro 'abandons' to play with newfound friend

Just wait till i am bigger, then i won't be left out!

Heh Heh

Kids learn fast!

jkl918 — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:10:00 +0000

Whenever i show signs of forgetting and letting my guard down, the kids provide me an instant reminder of how much they absorb, observe and imitate.

Watching (and observing the moves) the Xmas show at Gurney

G2 the crooner - 1 karaoke session is all it takes

This parent must always be on her toes and continue to learn – that kids are amazing sponges!!

HoHoHo!!!

jkl918 — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:15:36 +0000

Merry Christmas

The joy of the holidays!

21 months of hair

jkl918 — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:38:19 +0000

0 month: Received slack for not shaving bald (Mummy, not me).

2.5 months: All pointy-haired

4 months: the mohawk continues

6 months: Successfully flattened

9 months: sideburns

11.5 months: Boyish cut

12 months: The little pixie

15 months: Still faithful to the same style

19 months: Timeless style

21 months: Why change a style that works

24 months: Time for a bob, or at least, a coconut tree?

A Family First

jkl918 — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:14:19 +0000

Godpa suggested a karaoke session to allow FB to belt out his golden oldies repertoire. So it was a family first when the 244 clan and kL’s dad entered Red Box @ Gurney to KARAOKE . FB was more obliging and less scaredy cat, and could manage a few of his favourite songs with minimal urging and backup from us. G2 attempted a few “wo-wo yay-yay”s and danced.

Definitely a first! Not sure when we will go again though.

Ko-ko sings but Mei-mei can sing and eat watermelon at the same time!

Melodious @ Red Box

FB milestone: Cavities

jkl918 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:31:19 +0000

Took the kids to the govt clinic today for checkup. The tiny featherweight FB remains a stagnant 15kg, but has surpassed the 100cm mark. The tiger cub sure feels heavier than 8.5kg, but that’s what the scales say. Since the dental nurses were also in attendance, FB had his teeth reviewed (G2 refused to open her mouth, so no check). His 2 back teeth (top and bottom right) had black marks and shows impending sign of cavity. Inevitable I suppose. Some excavation and zinc oxide application is proposed (this is about as fancy-termed as I remember). We can get the service every Thurs afternoon at the govt clinic or Ah Mah will brave it. Still deciding what to do. The one consolation is that the yellowish marks on his teeth are just stains (according to the nurse and Ah Mah).

My son, at 4 years and 3 quarters, gets his first cavities. Sigh.

Clarification on Expiry Date

jkl918 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:19:37 +0000

After reading the previous posting on my biological clock’s tick-tocking, i received an ‘accusatory’ call: “Never knew you felt so strongly.” (Not sure whether any fainting or shortness of breath occurred before then )

So now i feel the need to clarify (prob to myself more than anybody else). i wouldn’t mind being pregnant (been lucky in pregnancy twice) and then skip the last month of pregnancy, and also fast forward the first 6 months postnatal. i don’t like the worry of birth defects, etc but i remember the joy of cradling and touching those tiny fingers and toes. i haven’t slept >6 hours continuously in yonks but i enjoy the peaceful contented look of the little one in slumber.

We’re already in this parenting pool (or should i say Bermuda triangle), so what’s another one? Let the man be the worry-wart on practical things like finances etc. My concerns are more on time management, equally dividing attention for all, and trying to stay sane in the toughest and most challenging of times (i’m sure there will be many).

We have agreed to discuss it more.

Expiry date

jkl918 — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:43:51 +0000

I just checked. We have the next 4 months till the imaginary barrier we have set closes shut and I vow to close my fertility gates for good. Ever since the S’pore trip, we have not brought up the subject of No3. I think kL has come to his senses and decided that a 3rd clingy kid will be 1 too many, emotionally, physically and financially.

I’m still all for a 3rd pregnancy. Perhaps even twins (one boy and one girl). How insane is that?! Hahaha… (when kL reads this, he will surely faint). I’m sure i will have NO ONE’s support for such an idea. Not even my own.