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Baby preparations during third trimester.

I will be going to be 38 weeks tomorrow! I have been having weekly checkups with my gynae since my 36 weeks.

We had chinese new year celebrations during the trimester and I had a total of 8 Yusheng tossing. Although it was not advisable to eat this festive dish for pregnant women, I ate only the vegetables only. Maybe I'm having a bunny inside me, Yusheng was especially yummy this year!

We had our photo shoot to commemorate my pregnancy. I felt good with my bump.

I started to get itchy tummy. At around 34 weeks, I complained to my gynae and he prescribed my with some medication. My tummy had a few scratch marks and felt better about 5 days after applying medication.

We also started preparing for our baby's arrival. Getting her room ready, washing up her stuff and packing the hospital bag. I'm very grateful that i got a lot of things pass down from my friends. Visited baby fairs and bought some baby stuff.

My baby is growing very well but my gynae told me that hopefully she will not be too big when full term comes. As I'm very petite, I might have dificulty delivering, if my baby is too big. Thus, my gynae advise me not to drink milk.

Now, its anytime.... Looking forward to meet our little girl!

Eventful 2nd trimester

The pregnancy sickness started to subside after 14 weeks and my energy was slowly returning.

2nd trimester is a much better period for me. Although I do not have any cravings, I have food that i dislike such as ham, hotdogs. They r mainly processed food, well, thats fine!

One of the 1st things during my 2nd trimester was our babymoon trip to Hong Kong! We bought the air tix b4 I knew I'm pregnant, luckily, it happened during my 2nd trimester. We travel with my best friend and her hubby. They were very patient and understanding with me during the trip. I could not could walk as fast like b4 and needed more rest stops. In overall, we enjoyed our trip.

I felt my baby's 1st movements shortly after the trip. I was unsure whether it was bloatness of my stomach or was the movement. I tried to poke it and there was response. For the 1st time i was really physically feeling my little one in me.

Then, it was my 20weeks FA detailed scan for my baby! This time the radiographer checked for the fetus growth and development. We managed to find out our little precious is a girl too!

My feet started to get swollen at 5 months. Many people told me that it was too early to get swollen feet at 5 months. Suspecting might be water retention, I propped my feet with a pillow. My swollen feet subsided.

It was a festive season during 2nd trimester. Xmas and New Year's day. We were invited to 2 xmas parties. It was a gr8 time too meet up with my friends. Also toward the end, preparation for Chinese new year.

My birthday falls in Dec and had small celebrations with my friends and family too.

It was quite a busy 2nd trimester for me.

1st trimester

It had not been easy for me and my hubby during my 1st trimester.

I had spotting for 3 weeks and I had been advised to bed rest for about a month. My appetite was not good and had pregnancy sickness.

I worried quite a lot for little baby because of my past. However I also try to stay optimistic. I am very hopeful to my weekly gynae visits. My baby's heartbeat was detected about 7 weeks.

I could only eat very little only. Bread was the best food for me during that period. For rice and porridge, I could only eat a few mouthfuls and would feel very full. At least, I could eat the whole serving of bread with cheese. Nausea, puked every night and I felt no energy at all. The progesterone medication make it worse. I really slept a lot during that period of time.

Luckily, I had my sis-in-law with me during that time. She was very patient and understanding to me. My weekly gynae appointment were accompanied by her. The biggest achievement which she has done was she prepared dinner every night! I'm really grateful to her.

Back at work, my colleagues were very understanding. I get tired very easily at work and I fell ill with fever during my 2nd week return to work. I went to bed as early as 7.30pm and was able sleep through the night.

There were no outings and shopping for both my hubby and I. I stayed at home and fall asleep very easily. I lost quite a lot weight.

During our 12 weeks NT scan, baby was detected normal. As long as my baby grow healthy and normal, my hubby and I will be very happy and satisfied.

Testing positve

Missed menses for a week liao. So I had decided to do a little urine test using a home pregnancy kit (unknown brand) which I had bought online.

test done on 15-Aug-10
2 lines = Positive!!!

Really happy and excited about it. However, I was still unsure about the accuracy of this test kit. So, I bought a branded test kit from a pharmacy to test again.

Test done on 17-Aug-10

It stated : Pregnant 2-3

Which meant I'm pregnant for 4 to 5weeks based on my last menstrual date! I showed my hubby the results. He was happy and excited too.

But due to our past experience, we had decided to keep this as a secret as long as possible until end of my 1st trimester. We wanted everything to to go as smooth as possible.

Good bye Xiao Cute. U will always remembered in our hearts.

My hubby and and I got know this very special someone when it was 4 weeks old. We don't know what is its gender. It was someone who we had looked forward to see in 9 months time.

William gave it a name while its inside me and its called 蔡小Cute (Chua Xiao Cute). We would call, talk to and sing to Xiao Cute everyday. Our bonding got closer everyday.

However, mummy got spotting every few weeks and had visited the gynae quite a couple of times. Every time she spots, she was told by the gynae to bed stay. Wanting to Xiao Cute to grow well, mummy rested as much as she can and tried to think of every positive things she could.

Every visit to gynae gave mummy many hopes and worries.

• As Xiao Cute was too small at 4 weeks, it can't be seen through normal scan. The gynae told mummy the possibility of etopic pregnancy, which mean that the embryo was implanted outside the uterus.
• On the next visit, the sac could be seen and mummy was very happy that Xiao Cute was growing in the correct place.
• On the 3rd visit, Xiao Cute could not be seen even though the sac was bigger. Mummy was told by the gynae that Xiao Cute was growing very slowly and this was not a good sign.
• Daddy was around on the 4th visit, Xiao Cute was 3 mm (much slower growth than expected) and its heartbeat could be seen but the heartbeat was very irregular. Gynae told us such cases, the foetus have only 50% survival. We had to mentally prepare ourselves.
• The subsequent visit which was 2 weeks later (14-Apr-10), Xiao Cute was not growing at all (only 3.5mm) and its heartbeat could not be seen anymore. Xiao Cute could not survive.

When our gynae broke this piece of bad news to us, we did not know how to respond. We were devasated and it was like losing a part of us. We grieved and cried a lot. Although we did not see and touch Xiao Cute in person. I could understand the feelings of parents who lost their children.

We had to arranged for a surgery to remove Xiao Cute yesterday. The medicine to be taken on the night before the surgery, was a really painful process. My womb cramped a lot and I bled a lot. I know that Xiao Cute would be leaving my body.

By now, Xiao Cute would be around 10 weeks. I wanted thank it for giving me a chance to be in me and the every special moment we had together. Although you are not around anymore, you will always in our hearts and we will love you always.

Family trip to Melbourne 10-Feb-10 to 17-Feb-10

It was the chinese new holiday and William's family had decided to go for a holiday since everyone dun have to work during this period.

We had taken a night flight from Singapore and reach Melbourne the next morning.

Went on the great ocean self drive trip and we stayed 2 nights at Apollo Bay.

This is Apollo Bay.

We also visited the Cape Otway lighthouse along the Great Ocrean Rd.

This is the famous 12 apostle (which counted only 8 left) along the Ocean Road.

The 1st day of CNY happen to be Valentine's Day. William got a surprise rose for me and I brought is rose back to SG. This was the 1st time I hear fire crackers popping! Really loud! There was quite a big group of chinese community in Melbourne.

We also visited the Philip Island where the main highlight is the panguin parade but we can't take pics there. There are also other attractions like Koala conservation centre and Churchill Island.

We are tryong to take a photo with a Koala!

Queen Victoria Market

My furry souveniors to join my sheep from NZ.

Its our 1st year anniversary!

It has been one year since we been through our nuptial ceremony. Time flies!

I think we will not be having much celebration today but more of a family outing today. Going for a concert by some veteran singers (i dunno who they are but my mom in law likes them).

Anyway, I want to appreciate my hubby for taking care of me well, supporting and spending as much time as he could with me (he spend most of his time working and studying). Plus waking up early without fail on weekdays (which he dun have to because his working hours is later) to make breakfast and sending me to work.

So I have made is little certificate award for him! The best husband award!

Con te partirò by Andea Bocelli

This is one of the song which will remind me of our honeymoon holiday. Lovely memories of our trip kept coming back whenever I hear this song.

Thanks to Vincent the punter who had sang this song during our punting ride along Avon river. This had our honeymoon even unforgettable,memorable and romantic.

The wedding of Matthew and Jennifer

It was my "kor" Jennifer's wedding last Saturday. For us, Matthew and Jennifer's wedding was the 1st wedding dinner since our wedding.

I'm very happy for them and sweet memories of our wedding rolled back in our minds during the banquet.

I was too busy watch the newly weds that I had forgotton to take some pics during the banquet and even got a chance to throw a few pieces of rose petals too! It was my 1st time to throw the petals!

May their marriage stays happy and blissful always!

Our twosome life

Sorry that I have not been blogging for quite sometime. Ok, I shall do some about it. Write our our new life ba.

We have been living in our own for about 7.5 months now. From different upbringing and family background, we have to accommodate and let each other understand our mindset and habits.

William had been a fantastic husband. He makes breakfast and drives me to work every morning, even though he does not have wake up so early.

As he need to work 6 days a week, I would try to cover most of the housework for the week so that we would have more time for each other.

He likes to eat home cooked food, however I don't really like to prepare meals. However, we do get tried of eating outside food sometimes. So I still cook in the end. Now he had starting going for night classes, I don't need to cook as frequent for now. :)

I think my parents missed me quite a lot and we don't stay near. We try to visit them at least fortnightly. I don't really see my mother in law as much. (I'm not a very good daughter in law right?)

Plus my little 5 month old hammy, Udon. My little cute happy furry.

So far so gr8 for now, I do enjoy my twosome life. Erm... Plus Udon, maybe considered threesome? Hope that he does too!

Udon arrives our home!

William doesn't like to have pets at home. After pleading him to allow me keep a hamster, we finally brought this little 3 weeks old satin short-haired cream banded syrian home today. Gender still unknown.

I have decided to name it Udon. It was very frightened when I first met it. Maybe, its was its 1st time being all alone leaving its mommy and siblings. Don't be afraid Udon, you will be taken good care of.

This is the setup of the cage that I had prepared for Udon.

It is so small that it can fit into the food bowl.

I'm allowing Udon to settle down for a day or two before I start interacting with it.

I have also created a blog for hamsters especially for Udon.
http://hamsterpals.blogspot.com

Some New Zealand useful links

After introducing so much about our New Zealand trip, I think it will be useful that I put down some links for everyone's reference.

Transport:
Singapore Airlines - www.singaporeair.com
Intercity Coachlines - www.intercity.co.nz
Transalpine train - www.tranzscenic.co.nz

New Zealand Information:
New Zealand Official site: www.newzealand.com
Christchurch I-site - www.christchurchinformation.co.nz

Accomodation:
Hotel Ibis Christchurch - www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-5983-ibis-christchurch/index.shtml
Fox Glacier Holiday Park - www.fghp.co.nz
The Lofts (Queenstown) - www.zqn.co.nz/breakfree_thelofts
YMCA Christchurch - www.ymcachch.org.nz/accommodation/

Activity Operators:
Fox Glacier Guiding - www.foxguides.co.nz
Mitre Peak Cruises - www.mitrepeak.com
Queenstown Rafting - www.queenstownrafting.co.nz
Nomad Safaris - www.nomadsafaris.co.nz
Adventure Canterbury - >www.adventurecanterbury.com
Kowhai Tours - www.kowhaitours.com

Leaving New Zealand

Its the last day of our honeymoon! Felt very sad to leave this beautiful country. How we wish that we could stay longer! We will miss this place! (I'm missing it now.......)

It was a fruitful trip and brought back many experiences we never had before. Maybe we will return again someday.

Below are some pictures of Christchurch International airport.

Inside departure lounge

Out gate to Singapore

SQ298

The customs officer and customs dog

Last few pictures of NZ from the plane.

Tasman Sea, West Coast of NZ

My sheep which make "baa.... baa..." arrivesat my home!

Hanmer Springs

This was our 2nd last day of our New Zealand trip and we shall spend our day at Hanmer Springs!

We had booked our day trip to Hanmer Spring organised by Kowhai tours. Our lovely lady guide, Valmai picked us up at our accommodation.

During our journey to and fro, we past many towns like Amberly, Waipara, massive vineyards, Weka Pass, Hurunui and Culverden.

Finally, after about 1.5 to 2 hours of travelling, we arrived at the entrance of Hanmer Spring Village.




We had some free time to do our own exploration of this beautiful, peaceful and uncrowded Hanmer Springs Village. This village was surrounded by mountains and forest.



They have this interesting double bicycle called the Cruiser. We rode for 30min around the village and managed to cover more places.

Then its time for our bbq pinic lunch! This lunch was specially made (and home made) by Valmai. The food was good and William likes the carrot salad especially! We had lunch together with our tour mates from Ireland and also ducks around our feet.

After lunch, we headed for outdoor hotsprings - Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa

The coolest pool

The hot sulphur pools (Reminds me of my work)

Horse Riding

After the farm visit, we went for horse riding. As we were first time riders, we were taught how to ride a horse. After that, we rode the horse for about an hour, follwing a path and walking along Waimakariri river.

I fell in love with horse riding!

The border collie loves William in particular!