This afternoon, we went to NUH as Dylan has a review appointment with Dr Lee.
We took the opportunity to register his birth at NUH.
It's now confirmed and official. Didi is called Lee Yu Zhe Dylan (李宇哲).
Day by day we watch them grow....
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Thursday, August 26, 2010
VSD
We were to be discharged on 20 Aug, Friday. But the world crashed on me just as I thought I was going home happily with my newborn.
The doctor came into my room to inform me that they heard a heart murmur when checking on Dylan. They would require to do a ultrasound to determine the cause. Dr Lee informed that it's most likely a hole in the heart or VSD which will close up eventually.
The ultrasound scan found 2 holes one of which is normal and will close up by itself; the other is a 5mm hole which the cardiologist felt optimistic that it will also close by itself. All the doctors including Dr Anna reassured us that there is nothing major that we should worry about but still I feel the world crashed on me. As I hold Dylan in my arms, tears just rolled down uncontrollably.
Dr Lee advised that we should make sure that he's feeding well so that his growth will help to strengthen the heart muscles and hopefully help to close up the hole.
To learn more about VSD, refer to http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/heart/vsd.html
The doctor came into my room to inform me that they heard a heart murmur when checking on Dylan. They would require to do a ultrasound to determine the cause. Dr Lee informed that it's most likely a hole in the heart or VSD which will close up eventually.
The ultrasound scan found 2 holes one of which is normal and will close up by itself; the other is a 5mm hole which the cardiologist felt optimistic that it will also close by itself. All the doctors including Dr Anna reassured us that there is nothing major that we should worry about but still I feel the world crashed on me. As I hold Dylan in my arms, tears just rolled down uncontrollably.
Dr Lee advised that we should make sure that he's feeding well so that his growth will help to strengthen the heart muscles and hopefully help to close up the hole.
To learn more about VSD, refer to http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/heart/vsd.html
The arrival of Dylan
I remember I noted down the entire process of giving birth to Tessa. So I shall do the same for Dylan.
After the false alarm on National Day, I've been telling myself to minify the contraction pains I feel. But in the early morning of 18 August, at around 3am, the pains are coming on too strong to ignore. At around 4am, I decided to time the frequencies and duration of the contractions. It turned out that I'm having a contraction of around 1 minute every 6 to 8 minutes. I was contemplating if I should wake up Hubby. He was so sound asleep. I thought for a long time. I realized that it's better to head to the hospital early if not we'll be caught in the morning peak hour traffic later.
So I woke Hubby up. Sleepily he asked how often was the interval. Upon hearing that it was 6-7 minutes, he almost jumped out of bed. What followed was a crazy hurry to wake Mom and Tessa, and had everyone ready to leave for Clementi. Tessa was surprisingly very wide awake and chirpy.
On the way to Clementi, the contractions remained relatively regular and strong. I called the emergency hotline to inform them that we are on our way. At Clementi we bought ourselves some Mac breakfast before heading to NUH.
We reached NUH A&E at around 5.40am. We were brought to Ward 22 and registered at 6am. We were given Suite 10. Hubby had told me beforehand that I can ask for epidural and this time round he won't ask any questions. So without further ado, I told the nurse that I opt for epidural when asked what kind of pain relief I want.
The houseman on duty came to check my dilation; and informed that I am 6-7cm dilated. He called to inform Dr Anna. Dr Anna asked to speak to Hubby. She told him that looking at my situation, it was already too late to call for the anaesthetist. I can only rely on the gas (entonox).
The nurse consoled me that this will save us some money. I told her Hubby is the one who's extremely happy, not me. The nurse advised that to gain maximum benefit I need to start breathing the gas as soon as I feel a contraction start. This means the maximum action is being achieved at the height of the contraction. At first, I didn't dare to use the gas too much and tried to endure the pain. But as the pain intensifies, I had to put the mask on longer. The pain is excruciating and the gas did little to relieve it.
The midwife came in every now and then to check on me. She advised that I should alert her if I felt the urge to push the baby out. By this time, the pain was almost unbearable and I did feel the urge to push. So I signaled to Hubby to call the nurse (by this time it was so painful that I can't speak as I perpetually had the gas mask on). The nurse came and checked my dilation and said that I'm still 6-7cm dilated, so not yet.
By this time, Dr Anna had arrived at the hospital. She reassured me that she'd be around. After Dr Anna left, the pain intensified and what ensued just happened naturally. Pain came, I pushed as if removing my bowels. This went on for some time before the nurse came back to check on me. Removing the sheets covering me, she exclaimed that she can see the baby's head. Then frantic broke out in the delivery suite as they frantically called for Dr Anna who nearly went into a casaerean operation. During all the panic, I was like half conscious, wondering if I'm going to faint or die from the pain. I just did what my body tells me, breathes in the gas when the contraction came and then push. Dr Anna arrived just in time to deliver the baby. I could clearly feel his warm body slipping out from me at 8:31am. Then still quite conscious, I noted that the nurse is going to give me a jab to deliver the placenta. I followed Dr Anna's instructions and was slowing regaining my composure.
At last I was all stitched up and ready to breastfeed my boy for the first time. After breastfeeding, we waited to be transferred back to the normal ward. Finally we were in Ward 96 bed 9 at around 10 plus.
This time round though exhausted the after effects are more bearable. I felt more energetic than the last time I gave birth to Tessa. The recovery was also more speedy. So there were really merits in not using epidural.
That's how my little boy arrives on 18 August 2010 at 8.31am, weighing 3.405kg, measuring 52cm tall and head circumference of 34cm.
After the false alarm on National Day, I've been telling myself to minify the contraction pains I feel. But in the early morning of 18 August, at around 3am, the pains are coming on too strong to ignore. At around 4am, I decided to time the frequencies and duration of the contractions. It turned out that I'm having a contraction of around 1 minute every 6 to 8 minutes. I was contemplating if I should wake up Hubby. He was so sound asleep. I thought for a long time. I realized that it's better to head to the hospital early if not we'll be caught in the morning peak hour traffic later.
So I woke Hubby up. Sleepily he asked how often was the interval. Upon hearing that it was 6-7 minutes, he almost jumped out of bed. What followed was a crazy hurry to wake Mom and Tessa, and had everyone ready to leave for Clementi. Tessa was surprisingly very wide awake and chirpy.
On the way to Clementi, the contractions remained relatively regular and strong. I called the emergency hotline to inform them that we are on our way. At Clementi we bought ourselves some Mac breakfast before heading to NUH.
We reached NUH A&E at around 5.40am. We were brought to Ward 22 and registered at 6am. We were given Suite 10. Hubby had told me beforehand that I can ask for epidural and this time round he won't ask any questions. So without further ado, I told the nurse that I opt for epidural when asked what kind of pain relief I want.
The houseman on duty came to check my dilation; and informed that I am 6-7cm dilated. He called to inform Dr Anna. Dr Anna asked to speak to Hubby. She told him that looking at my situation, it was already too late to call for the anaesthetist. I can only rely on the gas (entonox).
The nurse consoled me that this will save us some money. I told her Hubby is the one who's extremely happy, not me. The nurse advised that to gain maximum benefit I need to start breathing the gas as soon as I feel a contraction start. This means the maximum action is being achieved at the height of the contraction. At first, I didn't dare to use the gas too much and tried to endure the pain. But as the pain intensifies, I had to put the mask on longer. The pain is excruciating and the gas did little to relieve it.
The midwife came in every now and then to check on me. She advised that I should alert her if I felt the urge to push the baby out. By this time, the pain was almost unbearable and I did feel the urge to push. So I signaled to Hubby to call the nurse (by this time it was so painful that I can't speak as I perpetually had the gas mask on). The nurse came and checked my dilation and said that I'm still 6-7cm dilated, so not yet.
By this time, Dr Anna had arrived at the hospital. She reassured me that she'd be around. After Dr Anna left, the pain intensified and what ensued just happened naturally. Pain came, I pushed as if removing my bowels. This went on for some time before the nurse came back to check on me. Removing the sheets covering me, she exclaimed that she can see the baby's head. Then frantic broke out in the delivery suite as they frantically called for Dr Anna who nearly went into a casaerean operation. During all the panic, I was like half conscious, wondering if I'm going to faint or die from the pain. I just did what my body tells me, breathes in the gas when the contraction came and then push. Dr Anna arrived just in time to deliver the baby. I could clearly feel his warm body slipping out from me at 8:31am. Then still quite conscious, I noted that the nurse is going to give me a jab to deliver the placenta. I followed Dr Anna's instructions and was slowing regaining my composure.
At last I was all stitched up and ready to breastfeed my boy for the first time. After breastfeeding, we waited to be transferred back to the normal ward. Finally we were in Ward 96 bed 9 at around 10 plus.
This time round though exhausted the after effects are more bearable. I felt more energetic than the last time I gave birth to Tessa. The recovery was also more speedy. So there were really merits in not using epidural.
That's how my little boy arrives on 18 August 2010 at 8.31am, weighing 3.405kg, measuring 52cm tall and head circumference of 34cm.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Conversations with our little lady
Mommy: Tessa, do you want to go Lao Ma's place?
Tessa: No, maybe some other time.
Mommy: .....
********************************
Ah Mah: Tessa, you pretty or didi pretty?
Tessa: didi pretty.
Ah Mah: So Tessa not pretty la?
Tessa: Tessa also pretty. Tessa and didi same same.
********************************
Tessa: Didi, come sing with me!
Dylan: ......
Tessa: (rapping) 妹妹背着洋娃娃 走到花园来看花 娃娃哭着叫妈妈 树上小鸟笑哈哈。
Dylan: ......
Tessa: Didi, you want juice?
Dylan: ......
Tessa: You can have just one sip. Not too much.
Tessa: No, maybe some other time.
Mommy: .....
********************************
Ah Mah: Tessa, you pretty or didi pretty?
Tessa: didi pretty.
Ah Mah: So Tessa not pretty la?
Tessa: Tessa also pretty. Tessa and didi same same.
********************************
Tessa: Didi, come sing with me!
Dylan: ......
Tessa: (rapping) 妹妹背着洋娃娃 走到花园来看花 娃娃哭着叫妈妈 树上小鸟笑哈哈。
Dylan: ......
Tessa: Didi, you want juice?
Dylan: ......
Tessa: You can have just one sip. Not too much.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Happy Birthday Daddy & Didi!
He has arrived.
The little boy decided to share the same birthday as his daddy.
Dylan Lee
18 August 2010
08:31AM
Weight: 3.405kg
Height: 52cm
Head circumference: 34cm
Tessa adores her little brother. The feeling is so perfect!
The little boy decided to share the same birthday as his daddy.
Dylan Lee
18 August 2010
08:31AM
Weight: 3.405kg
Height: 52cm
Head circumference: 34cm
Tessa adores her little brother. The feeling is so perfect!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Waiting for the little man in my life
Waiting.
Although I'm not sure if I have been waiting all my life for him, but I am so looking forward to meeting him and holding him in my arms. I can't wait to kiss and smell him.
Anxious and nervous.
Will it be today?
Although I'm not sure if I have been waiting all my life for him, but I am so looking forward to meeting him and holding him in my arms. I can't wait to kiss and smell him.
Anxious and nervous.
Will it be today?
Friday, August 13, 2010
War declared
On Friday the 13th, we declared a war against the formidable P - pacifier.
As a drastic measure to defeat the nasty enemy, Ah Mah had to resort to tampering the P with medicated oil. And so our little princess declared that all her Ps are 辣辣 and thus shall be destroyed.
Happily, I hid all of them.
The little one is suffering from withdrawal symptoms. But she somehow remembered that she is the one who gave the order to throw her 'tutus' away, so she did not kick up a big fuss crying for them. However she has been having difficulty sleeping.
I know it is tough. But you can do it Baby. Soon it'll pass. Without it, now you look pretty ALL the time. You can sing, read stories and chit chat freely with Mommy now.
Just hang in there my darling.
As a drastic measure to defeat the nasty enemy, Ah Mah had to resort to tampering the P with medicated oil. And so our little princess declared that all her Ps are 辣辣 and thus shall be destroyed.
Happily, I hid all of them.
The little one is suffering from withdrawal symptoms. But she somehow remembered that she is the one who gave the order to throw her 'tutus' away, so she did not kick up a big fuss crying for them. However she has been having difficulty sleeping.
I know it is tough. But you can do it Baby. Soon it'll pass. Without it, now you look pretty ALL the time. You can sing, read stories and chit chat freely with Mommy now.
Just hang in there my darling.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Guess who is this?
I just found time to download all the photos from our numerous memory cards and found this.
The apron was meant for her art sessions in school.
The apron was meant for her art sessions in school.
I am so glad that both hubby and I love to take photos, which is why we had invested in our Canon EOS 500D. We really wish we can record every moment, every memory of our kids' growing up - all the fun and sweetest moments we share as a family.
"Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever... it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything." ~ Aaron Siskind
Family Dinner
We had a family dinner last Saturday. Thanks to George Yeye, it was a super sumptuous dinner at Szechuan Court. Also thanks to Didi who had not arrived and so Mommy got to enjoy the dinner as well.
Yeye even bought Meimei and me some delicious chocolate cake from Cedele. Yummy!
I had alot of fun playing and taking photos with Meimei. Don't we look adorable and super pretty together?
Yeye even bought Meimei and me some delicious chocolate cake from Cedele. Yummy!
I had alot of fun playing and taking photos with Meimei. Don't we look adorable and super pretty together?
Tessa's new love interest
Tessa now has a new love interest - Hi 5. I think she's too bored with Barney as she can almost memorize every episode that she owned.
So now she's very much into Hi-5. She'll sing and dance together with them.
"1, 2, 3, 4.. Hi 5!"
Their opening song and dance sequence will always ends with their self introduction "Hi, I'm XXX", and they will end off by saying, ".... and together, we are Hi 5!"
Tessa: "Hi, I'm Tessa!" And I'll add for her Dad, "Hi, I'm Daddy! And together we are... Fat 2!" Tessa is very tickled by this.
Today, she was watching Hi 5 again. And when it comes to this part, she said, "Hi, I'm Tessa. My Daddy is working." (Daddy is on reservist night duty)
Tonight, she was watching Hi 5 on Youtube on my iPhone and was dancing along to this song. I was humming and singing along.
She went, "Mommy don't sing! You don't sing! I sing and dance!"
So now she's very much into Hi-5. She'll sing and dance together with them.
"1, 2, 3, 4.. Hi 5!"
Their opening song and dance sequence will always ends with their self introduction "Hi, I'm XXX", and they will end off by saying, ".... and together, we are Hi 5!"
Tessa: "Hi, I'm Tessa!" And I'll add for her Dad, "Hi, I'm Daddy! And together we are... Fat 2!" Tessa is very tickled by this.
Today, she was watching Hi 5 again. And when it comes to this part, she said, "Hi, I'm Tessa. My Daddy is working." (Daddy is on reservist night duty)
Tonight, she was watching Hi 5 on Youtube on my iPhone and was dancing along to this song. I was humming and singing along.
She went, "Mommy don't sing! You don't sing! I sing and dance!"
Monday, August 9, 2010
I love Singapore
One night, I had just fed Tessa and was eating my dinner. The little one loitered around the kitchen and suddenly broke into this chant:
I love Yeye. I love Singapore!
I love Mahmah. I love Singapore!
I love Mommy. I love Singapore!
I love Daddy.I love Singapore!
I love Didi. I love Singapore!
I love Meimei. I love Singapore!
I love Lao-ma. I love Singapore!
I love Barney. I love Singapore!
So patriotic!
Then one morning, she was on the bus going to breakfast with her grandparents when she broke into the birthday song for Singapore loudly. The passengers onboard were all very tickled by her.
Just now she was watching the NDP eagerly, reminding everyone that she was there at the Padang watching the parade and performance. She was busy marching, saluting and dancing along, waving her flag vigorously.
We all had an eventful national day.
Happy birthday, Singapore!
I love Yeye. I love Singapore!
I love Mahmah. I love Singapore!
I love Mommy. I love Singapore!
I love Daddy.I love Singapore!
I love Didi. I love Singapore!
I love Meimei. I love Singapore!
I love Lao-ma. I love Singapore!
I love Barney. I love Singapore!
So patriotic!
Then one morning, she was on the bus going to breakfast with her grandparents when she broke into the birthday song for Singapore loudly. The passengers onboard were all very tickled by her.
Just now she was watching the NDP eagerly, reminding everyone that she was there at the Padang watching the parade and performance. She was busy marching, saluting and dancing along, waving her flag vigorously.
We all had an eventful national day.
Happy birthday, Singapore!
False alarm
It started last night at around 10pm. I started to feel closer and more intense contractions. At nearly midnight, we decided that we should pack and head for the hospital to play safe.
And so off we go. I was sent off to the delivery suite and was given the exact same room where I gave birth to Tessa.
After a few hours of pain going on and off, Dr Anna declared this morning that didi is not ready to arrive. So we were sent home.
Quite a night! But the contractions were too strong to ignore. I really thought didi would be a national day baby.
In any case I read up and realized false labour can feel like the real thing.
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/falselabor.html
And so off we go. I was sent off to the delivery suite and was given the exact same room where I gave birth to Tessa.
After a few hours of pain going on and off, Dr Anna declared this morning that didi is not ready to arrive. So we were sent home.
Quite a night! But the contractions were too strong to ignore. I really thought didi would be a national day baby.
In any case I read up and realized false labour can feel like the real thing.
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/falselabor.html
Friday, August 6, 2010
Happy Anniversary Daddy & Mommy
Yesterday was Daddy and Mommy's wedding anniversary.
Unfortunately Daddy and Mommy were not able to meet each other because Daddy had reservist night duty.
However today, Daddy presented Mommy with this bouquet of flowers. It was so very pretty!
Unfortunately Daddy and Mommy were not able to meet each other because Daddy had reservist night duty.
However today, Daddy presented Mommy with this bouquet of flowers. It was so very pretty!
My Daddy is Working
Last night, we were watching the 9pm show on Channel 8. In one of the scenes, a mother was telling her young daughter that her father doesn't want them anymore, he is gone forever.
And so the woman yelled, "你的爸爸不要你了！他以后都不会回来了！" And her young daughter cried pitifully with her.
Tessa looked at this scene with a serious, solemn look on her face.
Then she turned to Ah Mah and said, "我的Daddy working!"
We reassured her that yes, her daddy is working; Daddy当然不会不要她。
She thought for a while and happily returned to playing.
And so the woman yelled, "你的爸爸不要你了！他以后都不会回来了！" And her young daughter cried pitifully with her.
Tessa looked at this scene with a serious, solemn look on her face.
Then she turned to Ah Mah and said, "我的Daddy working!"
We reassured her that yes, her daddy is working; Daddy当然不会不要她。
She thought for a while and happily returned to playing.
7 Days
One night, I was sitting in the kitchen; the little one came up to me and sat down on the floor in front of me. She suddenly burst out saying: "Mommy there are 7 days - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday!"
Both of us then break into the song we learnt from Barney.
There are seven days, there are seven days, there are seven days in a week.
Sunday Monday
Tuesday Wednesday
Thursday Friday Saturday
There are seven days, there are seven days, there are seven days in a week.
(Note: Tune is Waltzing Matilda)
Both of us then break into the song we learnt from Barney.
There are seven days, there are seven days, there are seven days in a week.
Sunday Monday
Tuesday Wednesday
Thursday Friday Saturday
There are seven days, there are seven days, there are seven days in a week.
(Note: Tune is Waltzing Matilda)
Learning her alphabets
Now Tessa not only can recite and recognize her alphabets, her understanding of her alphabets are getting more sophisticated and she can even spell her name and some simple words like SHIP, CAT, BIKE.
One evening, she was suddenly in the mood of reciting her ABCs.
Tessa: A for Apple; A for Ant. B for Baby; B for Boat. C for Cookie; C for Cat.....
When it comes to "U", I am surprised that she said U for Unicorn, Upside-down and Umbrella.
It is amazing how much she has learnt from the books we read to her, from the Barney shows she watched and from the iPhone applications she has been playing.
One evening, she was suddenly in the mood of reciting her ABCs.
Tessa: A for Apple; A for Ant. B for Baby; B for Boat. C for Cookie; C for Cat.....
When it comes to "U", I am surprised that she said U for Unicorn, Upside-down and Umbrella.
It is amazing how much she has learnt from the books we read to her, from the Barney shows she watched and from the iPhone applications she has been playing.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Naughty Didi!
I just saw Dr Anna and had a slight scare. Didi is no longer in the vertex (head down) position. He is in a transverse position with his head on my right.
Dr Anna did a scan to confirm his position and then she moved his head downwards so that he's vertex. Hopefully he stayed this way. Dr Anna advised me to clear my bladder as often as possible and also to keep to a sitting position (so that your chest is very much closer to your knees) as much as possible to "lock" him in the vertex position.
Although it is possible for a breech baby to be safely born vaginally, it is almost always impossible for a transverse baby to be born vaginally. The baby is not able to fold himself in such as way as to fit a doubled up body with the shoulder coming first through the vagina.
Fortunately, from what I read, less than 20% of the babies who are transverse at 37 weeks will remain transverse when labor begins, so another option is to wait for labour to start and attempt to turn the baby. If all else fails, a caesarean is inevitable.
So please Didi, be cooperative, stay vertex OK?
Dr Anna did a scan to confirm his position and then she moved his head downwards so that he's vertex. Hopefully he stayed this way. Dr Anna advised me to clear my bladder as often as possible and also to keep to a sitting position (so that your chest is very much closer to your knees) as much as possible to "lock" him in the vertex position.
Although it is possible for a breech baby to be safely born vaginally, it is almost always impossible for a transverse baby to be born vaginally. The baby is not able to fold himself in such as way as to fit a doubled up body with the shoulder coming first through the vagina.
Fortunately, from what I read, less than 20% of the babies who are transverse at 37 weeks will remain transverse when labor begins, so another option is to wait for labour to start and attempt to turn the baby. If all else fails, a caesarean is inevitable.
So please Didi, be cooperative, stay vertex OK?
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