19.4mm | 8wks 4days | 26 Jan 2009

We can see the baby's form!! God is amazing isn't He??!! From what looks like a little bean a week ago, to our beautiful growing baby now.

Because of the taxi accident, Dr Ho got us to come back again a week after the accident to have another scan just to be sure. And because of that, we get to see our baby again! :)

Both Calvin and I were kind of shocked (in a very good way), that the baby has grown so much. We weren't expecting to be able to see the baby's form, well actually we really didn't know what to expect at each scan. So when we saw that our baby is now 19.4mm, with a strong heartbeat and that we can see our baby's head, body and little limbs, our hearts just melted. That feeling is just so indescribable.

Today is by far the "worst hit" day in terms of the morning sickness symptoms. I was puking my guts out the whole morning and it really did feel like the guts were coming out. I went to Dr Ho feeling really crappy and even he could tell. He gave me some nausea pills and I also asked if he could give me some gastric medication as I've been experiencing gastric pains in the middle of the night.

After the consultation, I just crashed into the sofa at his waiting area and as Calvin went to make payments, I took out the scan and look at my baby again. The second I looked at it, tears flowed down my cheeks uncontrollably... I'm so thankful for God's protection and I'm so awed by His love and His creation. Look at our baby... so well protected, so deeply loved... I couldn't help but feel so emotional. Now I can understand what the mommies in the world feel when they look at their babies. Just one look, and your life is filled with joy. Nothing else matters.

The EDD is 26 Jan 2009 for now... and that's the first day of CNY!

Here's our visual version, beautifully and flawlessly painted by Esther Lim and Joeel Lee!

We had always wanted to have a cross at home but had no idea where to buy it from or if we'd ever find anything we really like. So, getting it custom-made would be the solution. And who else to go to, but your most trusted, talented artist friends. So a few months back, we decided to check if they would like to do a painting for our humble home.

They were all for the idea and came over to take measurements and discussed extensively how we should be doing it. Then came the illustrations. All we needed was just 1 change and we fell in love with the next illustration that came.

Today, Calvin managed to engage his colleague's uncle's help in transporting the huge painting from Esther's place to ours. Calvin' cousin Dexter also readily agreed to lend his strength and sweat to carry it up 7 storeys to our flat. Thanks Dex, greatly appreciate it!!

Now, the beautiful painting sits at the end of our corridor, greeting us everytime we come home. We love it!!!

But I think we need to change the lighting at the corridor. The white lights really doesn't do any justice to this beautiful piece of work. We need some warm spot lights shining on it to bring out its beauty even more.

When?? Soon, I really hope.

I worked late last night and took a cab home. It was about 10.30pm when it happened. It happened along CTE, just before the Braddell exit. The cab I was in was screeching frantically to a halt. I was startled when I popped my head over the back of the front passenger seat to see my cab closing in very quickly into the cab in front. Within seconds, it rammed into the stationary cab in front.

I was already in anticipation of the crash because of what I saw. The impact threw me ahead slightly, and I believe the shock has been largely cushioned by my anticipation. I rarely belt up in a cab but I've been reminding myself to do so recently. So I did last night. Thank God for that!!

Of course, the first thought that came to mind was, "Is my baby ok??!!" I called Calvin immediately. Both of us trusted God's divine protection. Our baby, God's beloved baby, is very well protected!

Very soon after, a white Toyota pulled up in front of the crash and these 2 guys enthusiastically checked on us, the passengers in both cabs. They even offered to send us to the hospital. In the end, looking at the trail of vehicles forming up behind us in a jam, I decided to take up their offer to send me home, since it's only minutes away.

Calvin waited for me downstairs. We hugged and we thanked God that no one is hurt and that I'm home. Then, we decided to go to the outpatient clinic at Mt Alvernia to have me checked. Xifen came to send us there. Thank you so much my dear friend! The check went ok and doc said the baby should be fine and if I'm concerned I should go to my gynae the next morning to have a scan. So we left with some panadol and cream to apply on my chest area as there's a slight strain due to the impact.

Part 2 of this eventful night was about to happen. We went for prata along Thomson Road after my check. At about 1.20am, just before we get into the car to head home, Calvin's phone rang! The next thing I knew, he kissed me goodbye and he's off in a cab on his way back to work. God's protection is put to work on overtime. This time, protecting my baby's father while he's at work. No. Actually God is protecting us 24 hours a day. There is no overtime. I thank God for His amazing protection!

As much as I needed Calvin to be around especially after the accident, I knew I had to be steady so that he doesn't have to worry about me and focus on his work. I went home, prayed for his safety and went to sleep. Calvin came home slightly after 7am. It was possibly one of his "shortest" ops. I thank God again for bringing my husband home safely.

We decided to make a last min appointment with Dr Ho and we got one at 12.15pm. Dr Ho is really nice about it, he was calm, steady and he assured us that the baby is fine. The heartbeat is steady, and everything looks fine. But he wanted to be sure and so asked us to see him again a week later for another scan.

So much happened in just one night. And because of this, I missed my neighbour (or rather ex-neighbour) Natasha's wedding. Sorry neighbour... for not being able to be there to celebrate your big day.

Father God, we thank You for Your protection. We thank You for giving Your angels charge over us, to safekeep us. We thank You for Your unconditional love. Under Your wings we will always abide. This household loves You, because You first loved us. Thank You Father!

14.1mm | 7wks 6days | 23 Jan 2009

God's special gift has grown! We were really excited about today's checkup. We were excited to see how our baby has grown. When we saw the heartbeat, our own heartbeat skipped many beats faster! This is really amazing!

From the scan, our baby is almost 8weeks now and the EDD is 23 Jan 2009. But we've heard this is really a very rough estimation. The EDD will only be more accurately forecasted at a later stage.

I can't explain the feeling I had when I saw the baby's heartbeat and saw for myself the baby's growth. I'm full of gratitude that the baby's growing healthily and steadily.

After the checkup, we went for a tour around the hospital. Mt Alvernia has renovated 2 of their wards and they looked really nice and cosy. We pray for a renovated ward when it's our time to deliver. hehe.. We're at ease with the hospital environment and more importantly, we're really comfortable with Dr Ho. So, we've decided that we're not going for anymore hospital tours and that we're sticking with Dr Ho.

Next appointment: 12 July. One more month before we see our baby again. Can't wait!! :p

Yes! Finally!!

When we first got our place, we've had at least 3 different groups of friends offering to buy us a mahjong table and a mahjong set. But we turned them all down... In the end, it resulted in us not having a set until now.

My cousin Mark brought along his sturdy portable mahjong table to my aunt's place during CNY and we really liked it. He gave us the address of the shop since then but we've never gotten down to doing it. Last week, when Calvin was on leave, he made up his mind to get this done!

So, all you mahjong kakis.. you have another place for mahjong sessions now!!

Hands getting itchy... :p

Calvin's on duty today... have had him around on weekends for the last 3 months and now that he's back to work, he's gonna be working 3 weekends in the entire month of June! :(

I really didn't know what to eat, but I'm perpetually hungry... Calvin's mom bought us some ingredients and there was a piece of Batang fish in the freezer. Was planning to steam it, but one look at it, I knew I had to fry it! It reminds me of what I ate when I was young!

Since it was a small piece of fish, and I didn't really want to mess up the kitchen with oily feeling... I decided to fry it in a little pot (what we normally cook instant noodles in).. Good choice! haha no mess at all after all the frying.

Drizzled some light soy sauce on it.. just like how my parents and my granny would have it... YUMZ! Next time, I'll fry it with some shredded ginger. My granny always did it that way.. and it's very good!

Calvin has never really been a fan of soups. Me, on the other hand, being a Cantonese, grew up on having soup for dinner every single night! I have been asking Calvin to go shop for a slow cooker for a long time, so I can make soups before I go out for work and then come home to a boiling pot of hot soup for dinner. But we procrastinated...

On Thursday, Calvin decided to buy a slow cooker from NTUC Xtra. And he also bought ingredients to make a yummy pot of beef stew for me!

The beef stew is really yummy and it's sooooo easy to make! We invited Calvin's eldest sis, Selina over for dinner to share the good stuff.. she too loved it.

Well done baby! I don't mind having it again soon!! hehe...

I've been blessed with yummy homecooked dinner every single night this week. Calvin painstakingly thought about what nutritious meals to prepare to whet my appetite every day.

Monday: Sliced Beef with Kailan soup
Tuesday: Steamed Salmon + Blanched Xiao Bai Cai
Today: ABC Soup (YUMZ)

He even had the menu for the rest of the week planned out... How thoughtful!! Everyday he'd ask me if there's anything in particular I feel like eating and if it's different from what he has planned, he will make changes accordingly! How sweet!!!

I have been feeling hungry every other hour for the past week. But the frustrating thing is, I absolutely have no appetite. I still have to eat because if I don't, I'll feel even worse - nauseated and giddy until food gets past my not-in-perfect-working-order tastebuds into the stomach. But I'm one blessed happy woman!

Calvin had timed his cooking such that hot steamy food will be waiting for me at the dining table when I come home from work. Realised I've been so famished the last 2 days that I didn't take any photos of what he cooked.

Here's where he brewed the pot of soup with love... (^__^)

And here's what's waiting for me at the dining table... (^___^)

Calvin's on leave this whole week.. He had taken leave to rest before going back to work after his course. As he was mopping the floor yesterday, it struck him again how perfect God's timing is. We only got pregnant at the end of his stressful, time-consuming and energy-sapping course. If it had been any earlier, handling the pregnancy will be more challenging for both of us.

Now, instead of having a restful week of leave, he has to focus his energy on taking care of his pregnant wife.

He took care of ALL the household chores so that I don't have to lift a finger.

He went to the supermarket to stock up a variety of food at home so that I won't have to be hungry at any time.

He bought lots of fruits and vegetables so that I can have lots of fibre intake.

He bought a variety of fish and meat so that he can cook whatever I feel like eating whenever.

He cooked simple meals because I barely have any appetite and he ate the same simple meals with me.

He made milk and brought it to my bed when I woke up so that it can curb the nausea after one whole night of sleep without food.

He brought folic acid to my bed too so that I won't forget to have my daily dose for the development of our baby.

He packed a goodie bag with snacks and milk powder for me to bring to work so that I won't be hungry in office.

He... is the greatest blessing from God. He... is the man I'm so blissfully married to. He... loves me so. (^__^)