CONVERSATIONS WITH ESHAN..
I tot i'll share my recent conversations with Eshan the past week juz coz they're hilarious!.. :D

Me: You're soooo cute!! (to Eshan)
Eshan: I'm nooot cute!
Me: Then, what are you?
Eshan: I not baby. I big boy. I not cute. i hemsem...

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Me: Which nyai you don't like?
Eshan: The Gemuk one.. (dengan selambanya, referring to Bik Ogy)
Me: *laughing* Why??
Eshan: bcoz she say baju school tak hemsem..
Me: *slaps head laughing*

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I'm sure there was one more conversation that was hilarious but i can't remember it now.. but niways, yeah.. my son is pretty much grown up... his favourite "action" rite now is slapping his forehead and saying "Yaaa Allah!!".... yeah.. my action-packed son - very drama mama..

I'M 30!
I can't believe i've reached the big 3-0!... soooo not cool but it's inevitable!.. hahhahaa.. :p the good thing is, i think i've aged gracefully.. coz when i was younger, ppl guessed i'm older than my actual age.. but now that i'm actually older, they guessed i'm much younger than before.. hahahah.. :p (ok.. puke all you want here... :p)

anyways, i had a joint bday celebration with Siti, my cuzz whose bday is 2 days away from mine. It was a mini bday bash alrite.. imagine the shock i got when i reached Mummy's and saw a birthday banner together with balloons and those hanging thingie.. *gasp!* feels like i'm celebrating my 21st bday!.. hahahhaa... i dun even think my 21st bday was this 'big'!.. hahahhaa...

 Annnnnd..... Dearest granted my wish which was 1 yr overdue.. :D

A pair of bling-blings which i've wished for since my last bday.. :) loved it!.. and what did i get myself for my 30th bday??...

uh'huh... a "new look"... i braved myself and got the hairdresser to snip my hair off!.. when i saw the hair under the chair, my heart breaks.. but when i saw the aftermath, my face lit up!.. i loved the way it turned out but it lasted for 24hours only... hahhaha.. coz the next day when I had to blow dry it myself, obviously it din turn out the way they did it!.. :p but nonetheless, i feel fresher and most importantly, it's a "NEW look" altogether! hahahhaaa....

So what have i achieved the past 30 years?!... well, there were a few achievements that i must say i'm proud of but there's no need to brag publicly abt it too, rite?... hah!.. i'm juz contented and thankful that my life has been quite a bliss so far.. there were times when it was trying, of course but al-hamdulillah my mood and environment has never made me sink into a "black hole" before.. I'm even more thankful now than ever that i'm blessed with a job i'm beginning to thoroughly enjoy - it makes my days more whole and worthwhile.. :)

So what do i wish for on my bday?

.... Many, many more blissful years to come..

.... Many, many more $$$$$ rolling in..

.... Being a better parent to my kids..
.... One more child before i turn 32 perhaps??.. :p

I'm also currently wishing that we'll go on a road trip with the SP Gang this coming year and a family trip with perhaps another family (?) to somewhere overseas... i dunno why but suddenly i'm thinking of juz leaving on a jet plane with Dearest and the kids... but i know it's too troublesome to bring the kids esp Anousha out of town now.. gaaaaah!!... howell, we'll juz have to WAIT to fly on a jetplane then... kwang.. kwang.. kwang.. ;)

But i'm definitely seriously considering to plan for our gang's roadtrip across the highway.. i'm hoping it'll materialise for the 1wk Mar holidays!!... *fingers & toes crossed*..

HOW WAS IT LIKE?
i've got my first class last 2 Fris.. and how was it?.. wasn't as bad as i tot it'll be! kinda enjoyed it but being in class, standing in front of "young adults" still gives me the nerves!... :p but i've got loads of "talking points" with hubby when i go home!.. hahahaha.. :p

other than tat, the work's piling but i really enjoy it!.. get to meet new ppl, feel young again!.. hahahha.. :p i'm in a more "cause-worthy" situation and it's not giving me as much headache as the previous place did.. like SERIOUSLY!.. i'm still happy or is it coz i'm still in the "honeymoon" phase with this place??...

At home, some thing MAJOR happened.. a crisis came up which i had to kinda help manage. I honestly din see it coming at all.. it was too sudden although i must say there were "signs" emerging oredi.. haiizzzz.... now that's settled - relieved that it's over but certainly do feel a tinge of sadness and disappointment.. to family members: i'm sure u'll get "wind" of it soon enuff!...

So what have the 2 kids been up to?

Anousha has come to terms to having to go to sch.. she no longer cries when i leave her. She can salam and give me a kiss on my way out.. :) oh!.. and she's definitely more "chatty" and playful now.. previously, she'd be clinging on to me for dear life whenever we're at the in-laws but now, she's learnt to play more with the cousins and is able to be left alone. Thank God!!.. oh!.. she's also able to point to her eyes and stick out her tongue correctly when asked. still trying to teach her where's her nose, mouth and ears before the 15th mth jab!

Eshan on the other hand do NOT want to go to sch.. he now screams when he sees himself in front of the sch. this has been going on for a few mths oredi.. i wonder how it'll be in the new sch!... i dun want Anousha to be affected when she sees her brother screaming asking to go to nyai's house!... urrrghh!!...

and i've come to a conclusion that the iPOD is an evil lil' thing!... I decided to get the iPOD Touch for my 2 boys. Firstly coz Eshan's been hoggin our phone for the Games apps and unknowingly, he'll tap on to the GPRS and use up data charges.. *boooo!* and secondly, it's a belated bday prezzie for Dearest.. with iPOD, i fulfilled his wish of owning a simple, basic hp for his use and have Apple apps to play with... so YEAY!! but ever since we bought it, the first thing Eshan asked for when we reach home is that lil' thing! and rite after he sleeps, either me or Dearest, whoever gets to it first will reach out for that damn lil' thing to play! a real evil lil' thing that iPOD is!... hurhurhur... :p

So, it's 9 days to being in my 30s!... GOSH!!!.... how time flies!!... wat have i actually accomplished the past 30 years eh?... hmmmm... time for a reflection!.. hahahhaa... *sudahlah!!* but i like what one of cuzz said to me in an sms today..

I seriously didn't think u're 30 already!! Hahaha.. most importantly YOU definintely still look and feel young! Age is justt a number! As cliche as it sounds(:

waaahahahhaa...!!... thanks ah Siti... :D hope to maintain looking and feeling young with 2 kids in tow!... gaaaaah!... :D

WHEN PARANOIA SETS IN..
After a dramatic Friday, it all finally started to settle down over the weekend.. :)

Last Wed, Anousha started having fever.. gave her the paracetemol to bring the fever down.. the next day, she was still having fever and by the end of the day, it was at 38.2deg.. so on Fri morning (3rd day), when she was radiating heat as if i've just baked her, i asked Dearest to take urgent leave to take her to the docs..

A lot of things went thru my mind.. paranoia sets in coz i just watched "Rindu Raudhah" (based on a true story) on Wed am, about an 11yr old girl who was diagnosed with leukemia after a few days of having high fever.. if u've not followed my twitter earlier, u can guess that i cried the whole hour of the show lor.. :p So imagine my heightened paranoia when that high fever hit my daughter!...

So anyways, Dearest brought her to the polyclinic but got referred to KKH instead coz her fever was at a high of 39.2deg. They were there for the whole day juz coz she couldn't pee!.. and i can't believe she din pee from 11am lor!!... but the moment i open her pampers to bathe her, she pee-d!... i think she felt uncomfortable having a plastic thingie down there!.. hahahaha....

after all that drama, thank god it's juz another viral infection.. the doc believed it was some tummy virus but luckily she only had diarrhoea for a day.. her fever plummeted rite after the visit to the hospital!.. i think the "inserted" pill did wonders!!... Now, we've got plenty of supply of orange (stronger dosage) and pink "panadol" at home for future use.. ;)

I also dunno if it's coz she's sick the past few days but she slept more than usual.. hmmmm.... so another weekend came and gone without us going out anywhere! :( i certainly hope this wkend could be much better!!... :p

And because I was home the past 2 days, i have 2 new recipes to share actually.. one for the kids and one for the adults.. but will share with you guys soon enuff, yah... stay tuned.. ;)

SELAMAT BERAYA!
Here's wishing all my Muslim brothers and sisters a happy, happy hari raya haji!... :) for those who are doing their pilgrimage, "moga2 dapat haji yang mabrur, yah.." ;)

This year, we're stuck at home coz Eshan's down with chicky pox!.. missing out on the glorious food served at the 3 houses we're supposed to have gone today.. but howell!.. good also lah.. at least i know i won't be sooo tired tml when i go to work!.. hahahaa.. :p

oh!.. but dearest bro came with the fiance to come visit us and bring food from mummy's!.. yeay!!.... and just a couple of hours ago, the mak also called to ask Dearest to go there to get food... ;) so double yeay!!.. coz Dearest is there now collecting the food.. hehehhe....

Speaking of food, it's time for another recipe sharing.. this time, it's home-cooked Beef Lasagne that is soooo simple and sedaaaap, u won't want to eat Lasagne anywhere else ever again!.. hahahaha.. :p

The picture is no where near perfect and it certainly looked eek! But trust me, it's worth a try! Hope you'll like eating and making this dish for the family as much as we've enjoyed it! ;)

Ingredients:
for the Meat Sauce

450g Minced Beef

400g Tin of tomatoes

100g Mushrooms, sliced

1 Onion, chopped

1 clove Garlic, chopped

1/2 pint (300ml) Beef Stock

25g Butter

1 packet Lasagne (normally use only 4-5 sheets)

2 tbsp Cornflour dissolved in small amt of cold water (optional)

for the White Sauce
300ml Milk
25g Butter
25g Flour
50g Cheddar Cheese, grated

Mixed Herbs / Oregano (optional)

Directions:

To prepare the Meat Sauce, melt the butter and stir in the onions and garlic till fragrant. Stir fry the minced beef until brown. Stir in the stock, tomatoes and mushrooms. Cook for about 20mins to half an hour or until thick and rich. If necessary, add 2 tbsp of cornflour dissolved in a small amount of cold water to thicken.

Grease an oven proof dish. Preheat oven at 200 deg.

To make the Bechamel (White) Sauce, melt the butter, stir in the Flour and add the Milk, stirring until thickened. Add the grated Cheese until smooth. Add the herbs.

Layer the ingredients repeatedly, starting with the Meat Sauce, then the Lasagne (soak in water first), ending with the White Sauce.

Note: I normally layer the meat sauce and Lasagne first before doing the White sauce as it tends to thicken once it's cooled.

Sprinkle with some Parmesan Cheese/Mozarella/Cheddar Cheese on top and bake in the oven at 200 deg for about 45 mins. Serve with Parmesan Cheese.

Adapted from Utterly Recipes.

A "ROVER"
I tot being a "rover" was an easy task.. but gaaaah... it ain't tat easy afterall!..

1st day of work after a wk long absence is giving me a headache.. so many things to follow-up on and since i've volunteered to be a rover, y not rite??... so anyways, there was quite a big boo-boo that happened.. and i felt for the kids.. very kesian lor... they better do something abt it since it's clearly not the kids fault!..

anyways, after today, i got more freaked out abt the tot of having to "take on" these kids on a weekly basis!  i tot i'll only start next year but apparently, i start next week!... :( everybody seems to think i'll enjoy it and it'll be fine.. but somehow, i'm not feeling the confidence!.. gaaaah!...

i'll be observing a colleague this Thurs.. so i hope after that i'll be more confident.. and i hope the kids that i'm getting are the "kuai" ones too!!.... *fingers crossed*

NOT OVER...YET!
*surprise! surprise!* Eshan's now spotting all over!.. I don't need to go to the doctor to confirm it's chicken pox!.. just use Anousha's left over - can save the dollars from seeing the doc! :p

gaaaah... when is it going to be over?!. i've been "cooped up" at home the past 3 weekends!! :( i hope the parents will be home tml.. i wanna GO OUT and SHOP!!...

Anyways, this wkend is not so much of a worry.. it's the coming hari raya haji.. how eh??.. dun think we should go out visiting but very kesian rite?.. the boy has to be left behind??.. aiyaya.... why din the pox come out when he's having hfmd last week?!.... this is super frustrating!!

ANOUSHA TO SCHOOL

After almost 3wks of absence from school, we sent her back to school yesterday.. Upon reaching / seeing the building, she started wailing... When she saw the teacher, she cried but still stretched out her hands knowingly..

In the afternoon, upon seeing my arrival, she cried!... the teachers and i have deduced that it's her tears of joy!... hahahhaa.... but at least now, the teachers told me that she doesn't cry that much and that she's began to play with the toys.. i now wonder what she must've been doing those first few wks i left her in school..

But anyways, since i walked there instead of driving, i let her walked home too.. she looked soooo cute with her slippers and bag!!.. i din bring the camera when i fetch her so as soon as i reached home, i ran for the camera to take her picture!!..

in sch, she dun seem to want to drink her milk - not sure if it's coz she merajuk (or throwing tantrum that she's being "thrown" into sch).. but she does eat a lot.. i still laughed remembering what the teacher said on her 1st day at school..

"Anousha didn't drink any milk today but she ate lots of briyani!"

hahahahhaa.... my girl loves food lah.. wat can i say??... speaking of food, sharing another recipe.. Fried Wanton. I can't remember where i got this recipe from.. must be off some magazine coz i had it written on a pce of paper.. actually tried making this during my maternity leave.. it was delish!... TRY IT!!

Ingredients:

500g medium prawns, shelled and deveined
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2tsp spring onions, finely chopped
1/4 tsp ginger, finely minced

for the Marinade:
1tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp ground pepper
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

Minced prawns and add all ingredients.

Season with all marinade ingredients until well incorporated. Place in fridge and allow to marinade for at least 30mins.

Scoop 1/2 tsp to 1tsp of filling into 1 piece of wanton wrapper. Wet circumference of wanton wrapper and filling.

Seal wanton wrapper by twisting it just above filling. Repeat wrapping until all filling is used up.

Fry wanton until golden brown. Makes 35 to 40 pieces.

MANGOMISU

I'll be posting newly found, tried and tested recipes on this blog from now on.. it's easier to manage than to post at 2 different avenues..

 

It's also been a while since i last posted any new recipes... not tat i tried much more.. but there are certainly some recipes worth mentioning!!... :) for instance, one of my favourite - Mangomisu.. it's actually Tiramisu but mango-flavoured.. aaaaah... the mere mention of it has made me drooooool...

first saw it on a magazine cover of "Delicious".. it was sooo awe-inspiring that i JUST HAD TO TRY IT!!... hahahhaa.. it was very easy actually - fuss-free and no bake!.. but ooops!.. not for the pregnant or kids below 2 yrs old yah... and tat's y i've to stop making this for awhile coz Anousha will surely give me that sad, pitiful look if i dun give her at least a bite!... :p

But of coz my picture does injustice to the original picture.. but as long as it tastes good.. who cares?!.. :p

Ingredients:

500g mascarpone cheese

600ml thickened cream

1/3 cup (50g) icing sugar

2 egg yolks

1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped

Juice of 3 large oranges*

300g sponge finger biscuits

3 mangoes, flesh sliced 1cm thick

Directions:

Line the base of a 22cm springform cake pan with plastic wrap or baking paper.

Place the cheese, cream, icing sugar, egg yolks and vanilla seeds in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on high speed until thick and well combined.

Dip half the sponge fingers into the orange juice and layer in the base of the cake pan. Spread with 1/3 of the cheese mixture and top with 1/3 of the mango slices. Repeat process, top with cheese mixture, reserving the mango slices to serve.

Cover cake and chill for 2hrs or until firm.

* Original recipe called for liquer with an orange flavour but i can't remember what it's called.

Adapted from: Dec09-Jan10 issue of Delicious magazine

I'M INFECTED..
I'm officially infected with HFMD!.. this is sooo embarrassing.. to be taking long MC on my first month of work!.. gaaaah!... '

according to the doc, it's very rare in adults coz our immune system should be able fight off the virus (well, my immune system has been pretty weak after delivering 2 kids!) and that i'm only his 2nd case.. but as far as i know, i'm the 3rd case of adults i know infected with HFMD..

luckily, mine is mild.. my mouth has ulcers and i've got blisters on my fingers and toes.. bleagh!!... can't talk or eat properly but at least i can still eat lah.. oh!.. and the parents dunno coz they'll freak out and not let me near Anousha!.. :p

and i can't afford that to happen coz i terribly miss her oredi.. we've brought her home yesterday and the 2 kids were extremely happy to be reunited!.. hahahaa.. soooo heart-warming.. ;) I figured since i'm not salivating (aka drooling like Eshan did) and will swear off sharing my food with her, hopefully she'll not be infected!... *fingers crossed!* for all you know she may have hfmd - mixed in with the poxes, one will never know.. hahahahaa... :p

caught up on my lack of sleep the past weeks and slept for half the day today!!... refreshed!!.. now off to pick up the kids.. cheerios!!

PAINFUL..
Took half day leave yest to take care of Eshan.. and it's confirm that he's got HFMD. There were no spots looking like chicken pox anywhere on his body. Even the HFMD rashes were no where in sight on his hands/feet. but i saw them appearing in the evening.. apalah nasib.. one got Chicken pox.. while the other has HFMD!

it's soooo, sooooo heart-wrenching to see him cry out in pain.. and it must be damn excruciating coz when it gets unbearable, he'll ask for the medicine (which he hate!).. i had to put on a brave front for him but crumbled when he sleeps.. :( i would trade my life to be in his shoes and spare him the pain.. really. And the blardy rashes keep coming up coz from being at his tongue and cheeks, it accumulated to the back of his mouth and lips.. he asked for food but he can't eat them coz it's too painful to chew and swallow..

god forbid this to happen to Anousha or to any other kids.. i still remembered an ex-colleague comment when SHE had chicken pox "feels like a thousand razor blades scratching the throat/mouth".. thousand ouches!!... if she, an adult felt tat way, wat more a kid? so, pls dear parents.. exercise social responsibility pls.. be hygienic and keep your sick child away from public till he/she is fully recovered, can??...

and bcoz i dun want this to spread to Anousha, i had to make a stern stand to separate both siblings.. so, she was at mummy's the whole day yest w/o seeing us.. poor thing.. i could only make it to mummy's at abt 11-ish pm coz it was sch-day for Dearest.. had to wait for him to come back, wash up and all before i can leave.. apparently, Anousha was up till 10.30ish; waiting for me coz she kept calling for "ma" and "abang".. ev'time they say mama's home, she would go to the door to look out for me.. haiizzzz... it's making me tear juz imagining her face now..

Only God knows what they're going thru and i pray with all my might for..

..Eshan to recover real soon and be his normal self..

..Anousha to be able to play with her brother and join us at home..

..Both me and Dearest to have the strength and immunity to go through this and not be sick while caring for them..



Amiiinn....

TAKING TURNS..
So.. after twittering abt Eshan showing no signs of spotting, he returned home last nite with a fever!.. kwang.. kwang.. kwang..

It's prolly his turn next.. I also just read cuzz msg on FB to tell me that she's recovering from another round of chix pox even though she's gotten a full-blown one as a child!... aisey!!... how like tat?!...

both me and Dearest have gotten our fair share of pox as a child.. as with my readings, if it happens again during our adulthood, it's shingles and as contagious!... my main worry is i dun want to be scarred lor!.. :( damn it!!...

anyways, Anousha's not scratching.. thank god!.. she only seemed to be scratching her head.. but i dun see much pox on her head.. but she refuses to let me apply the lotion on her.. i have to apply it on her while she's sleeping.. her face is also a no-go.. coz she'll wake up when she feels the lotion on her face.. haaaiizzz....

but like they say, let them get it now.. the scars would be gone faster and we dun have to worry abt them getting it later when they're having PSLE or Os.. hmmmm....

SPOTS! SPOTS! SPOTS!
my Dearest Anousha is having chicken pox.. it was highly suspicious yesterday.. and today, i confirm it IS the chicken pox..

it has sprouted at more places.. my only hope is for her not to have it in her mouth or anywhere "down there"... it'll be horrible!!... she's not scratching (yet!).. and i hope she'll NOT scratch... based on an experienced mother (thanks mama Ros!), to avoid foods like kicap, prawns, chicken (oh! no!!), coconut drink.. some kids will also react to egg.. aisey!!...

now, i'm worried Eshan will geddit.. it's inevitable.. i know.. but i'm sooooo not looking forward to taking care of 2 sick, possibly scratchy kids ALONE over the weekend lor!... :(

we're also wondering where she cld have gotten it from coz we've not sent her to sch since tues.. and the sch only has hfmd cases so far.. i did tell the tchr abt her and she seemed shocked.. haiizzz... suay lah.. wat to do??... i think if Eshan has it, he'll freak out seeing the spots on his face, hands and legs.. i'm juz worried that it will affect the condition of his eczema..

based on readings on the net, chicken pox in infants are milder.. so i'm really hoping that's true.. get well soon sweetie pie!!... Muaaacckksss!!!...

THE PAST 1 YEAR..

My hands been itching to write on my dusty ol' blog.. i've also uploaded my delivery story for memory's sake..

Pls bear with me as my first entry for the year is pretty long!! So, where shall I start??

Eshan
- he turns 3 in Apr this yr.. we had a mini bday bash for him.. and as all his past bdays, it HAD to rain!.. i think his next party (if we ever gonna have one again!) will be indoors.. but this year, he has 2 bday "bash".. the other one is indoors held in school with his classmates.. ;) lucky boy has 2 different bday cakes!!

- he's now more vocal.. sometimes rasa mcm nak sental mulut dia dgn cili!... now, he's favourite reply to us is "I knooowwww!" or "I knoooowwww lah!" with an irritated face.. very irritating!!!

- he loveeess to take pictures!!... he asked to have his picture taken!... alamak!... he can pose lor..
- he loves to play with our PS2 and handphone now.. he's discovered the world of gaming.. and it's irritating when he doesn't know when to stop!

- even though he can sometimes be such a devil (when he dun wanna listen!) but he can be such an angel when he actually listens to you... now, when he meets us at the end of the day, he will run to us and say "I miss you today"... how my heart softens when i hear him say this... :)

- he loves his sister to bits!!... other than the normal siblings' issue i think we, as parents all face, Eshan has grown up to be a good brother.. we just hope he's like this till he's old of course!.. hahhaa... i asked him for fun if he'd like to have another sibling and his answer "I want!".. i asked him if he'd like a boy or a girl then?.. his answer "Girl!" and why? "Bcoz i like Anousha. I want another Anousha."... tat's my boy! ;)
Anousha
- her growth spurt was greater than the brother.. coming in to earth oredi heavier than the brother, she grew much more too!... she's within the range of 75percentile to 90percentile for both weight and height.


- she loveeesss food (like moi!).. i refrained feeding her solid food till 6mths.. started her off on porridge and boy! can she eat!!... i had to cook for her ever 2-3 days coz she can eat a bowl full of porridge.. even before we feed her with solids, her mouth oredi starts going off like a goldfish ev'time she sees food. her first word is "mam!" for "nak makan!"... hahahaaa... and now, we just found out that she's gonna be the chilli queen in the house!.. we accidentally fed her very spicy briyani. we only found out it was spicy when we feed Eshan, he went "ooooh!.. HOT! HOT!"... for some reason, he continued eating (prolly coz his cuzz were eating as well) and was sweating profusely and drank water after every bite..but our dear girl - steady pom pi pi - no sweat, no drink, asking for more some more!...

- she started walking at 10mths. we're like "WOW!"... so fast??!!... she dun fancy crawling so much coz she only crawled for a while.. most times, she tries to support herself to wateva there was and walk. When she's learning to walk, she wants to run!.. aiyoh!... she's still not tat steady yet.. but she prefers to walk than be carried especially when we're outdoors.. but when we're indoors, she prefers me to be there with her - either carrying her or be in the same room while she plays!...

- she's too clingy to me.. with her around, my baking sessions almost grounded to a halt!.. baking sessions (reserved for potluck sessions with my ladies) were scheduled at night when she's asleep.. i've also learnt to schedule my time during the wkends to cook for the family.. very tiring lor!!

- her 1 yr bday was during the fasting month. so no bday bash for her like we did for Eshan.. :( poor thing!!.. but mama promise that you'll have one bday bash when u're 3!!.. i hope!!... coz next yr, her bday is like 3rd day of raya if not wrong.. hopefully, by her 3rd bday, it's a gd time to celebrate her bday for her! ;) if we're planning for the 3rd one, definitely cannot deliver during fasting month!.. hahahaa... but in any case, the next one will hopefully be a Dec babe!.. :p

- she's also such a "girl"!... she loves bags!.. but this "girly" girl is also a very garang girl!.. fiercer than the brother.. she'll be angry if you try to take away her bag... hahahhaa.... fiesty one this is!
Tat's the updates on my kids for the past year (in a nutshell!).. this year, there was also a major chg to moi... after 9 years of being in an organisation that i basically "grew up" in, i made a decision to move on to somewhere nearer home..

i have to say, it was a nerve-wrecking decision.. a few things happened in the office this year - that pushed me to move on.. with no high hopes, i sent out my resume to a few companies.. and when i was actually accepted to this place, it was like a dream come true... our prayers were answered.. and i can't say "no" to this.. :) of coz, it was a pretty sad feeling leaving the previous company.. i was fresh from sch when i entered the old place. an Exec Asst. a singleton.. tat's where i got my first experiences of a lot of major events.. got married. have both my kids there and was "promoted/reappointed/redegsinated" and left as a Snr Exec..

3wks in the new place.. i've got a gd feeling.. bosses are generally open and good.. colleagues have been wonderful. staff welfare is better than previous. not sure if it's too early to say this but i'm lurving this place!! ;)

oh!.. and coz of my job chg, i'm moving Eshan to a new sch juz opp our hse.. Anousha has already started just before i join the new workplace. Eshan will follow her next year.. we're just hoping he won't make such a biggie abt having to move sch, with new teachers and making new frenz!... for now, all he knows is he's going to sch with Anousha next year.. Anousha on the other hand does NOT like it going to sch!.. gaaaah!... she cries ev'time i leave her (out of sadness) and fetch (relief and happiness overwhelms) her!... and it doesn't help that she's not going to sch regularly ever since she started all thanks to HFMD!... :p

Dearest started his 6mths (part-time) course.. hopefully finishes in Apr next year... so he's not in 3times a wk... it's soooo tiring when he's not in.. :( i've to handle bringing the 2 kids up to the hse by myself from the carpark everyday.. *booooo!!...*

Hari Raya this year was so-so although i think we spent quite a lot this raya!.. hahahaa... from baju to decor of the hse to kuih (all kuihs done by myself!)... for next yr, Dearest has declared that his and Eshan's baju will be bought from the wholesale supplier.. me and Anousha can have ours tailored.. and i shall NOT ask mummy to buy us our kain bcoz she buys too expensive kains for us!... Dearest also asked me why i need to do the kuihs when we dun really have visitors?.. i told him, this is the ONLY time of the year i get to bake and eat my own kuih raya and not factory-made ones.. when else will i slave in the kitchen baking kuih lapis and kuih tart for the family eh??... :p

anyways, this yr we're slightly more "extravagant" bcoz of Anousha's arrival to the family and coz the hse is already coming to it's 3rd raya.. need to "spruce" up the place slightly!.. hahahaha... any excuse to shop lah!... :p

so there u have it... our life the past year.. i hope to update this blog more often from now.. see you readers soon... ;)

THE SECOND DELIVERY..
Now, let's see.. i'll begin with the birth of my second baby.. Anousha Aduka.. Delivered on 1 Sep 2009 (Happy Teacher's Day!!) at 3.1kg at 00:13hrs.. (Eshan was delivered at 12:41hrs - wat's with my kids and number 12??). Btw, Anousha is pronounced as A-nuu-sha as opposed to A-nau-sha coz "nuu" sounds better and easier to pronounce.. Delivery was deliriously speedy!... Definitely more intense and much more painful trying to deliver her than with Eshan.. but with her, i dun really need to wait for long!.. we saw the Doctor at about 6.30pm-ish for a check-up since i deliberately delayed her delivery for one more wk!.. without my knowledge, the doc inserted the pill to induce contractions so i was VERY surprised when i felt the contractions within 15-30mins of seeing him!..

Doctor's order was to go to the hospital IMMEDIATELY but errrmmm..
we looked for food first (to break fast lah!)..

go home.
bathed.
pack e-bag.
eat.
pick up cuzz.
send Eshan to Mummy's.
to the hospital we go....
* In between, the doc called to check up on our whereabouts!.. hehehee...

we reached the hospital at about 22:30ish.. the staff registering us was damn blardy slow.. she also wanted to finish registering both of us first before bringing us to the labour ward.. gaaaah!!... so anyways, at the labour ward, after donning hospital's clothes, laid down and had my water bag burst, i was basically "forgotten"!.. luckily, Dearest was there keeping me company..

I did ask him "why the hell did i agree to go thru this all over again??"... the pain was unbearable.. only after i ring for assistance did they realise they still have another patient in that ward!.. gaaaah!!... asked for the gas.. in trying to bear with the pain, the stupid nurse kept asking me questions that should have been asked waaaay before my water bag was burst.. the stupidest question of all was do you want to go pooh now? like hallooooo??... my contractions are coming in strong and rapid lor!!....

anyways, because i was using the gas correctly this time round, i was "gone" momentarily while they quickly push me to the delivery suite.. the feeling of being "gone" was very surreal.. it's like i cannot feel the pain but i can feel being pushed into the delivery suite, banging things along the way, hear ppl talking... i remembered even thinking am i dead?... hahhahaa... it must be the drugs that's running thru my veins.. :p

but anyways, delivering Anousha was harder than delivering Eshan.. as she was heavier than Eshan, i really had to push her out of my supposed "small" pantat.. after this episode, i'll have to think twice abt having to deliver a big baby!... *tat is, if i want to have another one lah!!*

so out came Anousha but i cannot help the feeling of wanting to pooh!... apparently, i pooh-ed a lot while deliverin!.. kwang.. kwang.. :p blame the nurse for not pooh-ing me first lor!!... but relief washed all over me when i get to hold Anousha.. :D and just like her brother, she suckled quickly and more intensely!...


and thank god, Eshan accepted his sister immediately... very protective.. we loike! ;) al-hamdulillah too i was able to deliver Anousha normally, without epidural and one less pain-killer.. total bill? - much cheaper than Eshan's.. ;)

Oh!.. and remember the cuzz we picked up before going to the hospital? well, she delivered a baby boy about 4 hrs after i did.. so the kids shared the same bday and the mothers shared the room and gynae! ;)

Congrats Ogy & Farhan for the birth of your 1st bundle of joy!!

TWITTERING & FACEBOOKING
I know it's been eons ago since i last updated..even my writing and typing has gone rusty!!...


FYI, i've given birth to my baby girl - if u've not realised it oredi!.. hahaha... Anousha is her name. Born on 1 Sep at 00:13hrs.


thank god for Twitter - Short msgs for an impromptu moment! i've been updating my twitter pretty regularly.. so, pls feel free to check my twitter updates on the right bar.. ;) Photos of Anousha can be found in my Facebook account..


will be back to work in a week's time.. so from now till then, i'll endevour to write entries of Anousha's milestones.. *cross fingers*