Breastfeeding selfie, NIP and bla bla

It was funny how selfie photo of a young mother breastfeeding her child went viral with very un-islamic comments about her.  It was even funnier that hateful comments were also made by fellow mommy netizen and un-married girls, bashing her selfie act commenting all the nasty stuff. I guess us Malaysian have nothing better to say to her than calling her act haram and embarrassing.  But what's sad about it was how some people started to condemn the ladies for nursing in public or NIP they call it. That's how shallow we are, relating the non-related stuff and beginning the hate war among us.

Anyway, my comments onwards aren't gonna be about Islam and its rules because I am no ustazah to do so.  I will write as a mother, a woman myself.

Yes, when you put Islam into context, there was nothing halal about the photo. I am guessing this includes any selfie act, breastfeeding or not... Men, when they want to fantasize, a selfie of your eyes are able to make them think of all the naughty stuff beyond it. That's just man being man.  The young mother probably did some provocation herself, that, I knew nothing about as I won't bother searching further comments by her.

But I found it pitiful that many of us can't forgive her as an excited young mother, in full support of breastfeeding and advocates NIP, someone who may have forgotten the Islamic guideline and maybe need to be reminded but proud to be breastfeeding nevertheless.  Knowing how challenging breastfeeding your child is, and how unsure I was about NIP at times, the ability to do both without giving the heck what people think is a victory for some.  So some mothers decided to share their joy, and selfie was one of it.  It was the same with mothers who share photo of their breastpump, frozen milk stocks, etc.  It was all self-pride and victory.

I don't condone the breastfeeding selfie act.  I wouldn't do it myself.  But give her a break, the lady went through 9 months of pregnancy, labour pain, and trust me breastfeeding itself is sooo sooo painful, so give her a break.  If you have something to say to her, or any mother, message her privately.  Let's be nice to each other shall we.

Anyway if you wanna ban breastfeeding selfie because it invites 'zina', let's ban any sort of selfie including duck face selfie.  Let's ban Dilwale, and all that crappy Malay dramas that get too intimate sometimes.  All of them, if you realise, invites zina too... Ok don't bash me, am just saying hehehe.

So let's forgive all and hope that nothing likes this happens ever again.

As for NIP, please don't get me started already.  If you have been to baby nursing or changing room at malls in Malaysia you would know.  Most of them are poorly maintained, small and smelly, misused and sometimes have male guests inside despite the sign 'no men allowed' on the door.  I had had my own episode screaming at a couple in Ikea, when my daughter was screaming for milk but I was embarrased to feed her in the nursing room because someone's husband was in there.  My own experience at one hospital, post- birth and attempted to breastfeed my twins in the baby ward while having male visitors stared despite all covered up, maybe perverted male visitors, maybe just curiosity altogether.  I would never know. But us, Malaysian, where breastfeeding was common in the old days, still have our men all excited seing a lady feeding her child using her breast!!! And she didn't have any of her body parts exposed while at it.  Ever wondered why?

My advise to you if you are against NIP and wants us ladies to feed in the loo, why don't you try and do that first.  See if you have any appetite doing so. Then post up a selfie of yourself while at it and then advocate others to do the same.  If that is acceptable by you and majority of Malaysian, then maybe you can push for the ladies to breastfeed our child in the toilet.  We might consider it, or might just consider calling you an a**.  Oopss forgive my language, I wouldn't wanna be one of them who calls each other nasty names.

Lets change the way we think shall we. Make this world a better place for everyone, start small by accepting small stuff. But if you choose not to accept, choose to look away.  It won't harm you.

Dah buat hernia repair

Dah buat ponn hernia repair untuk Adrina Amani on 19/3 yang lepas.  Saat yang mendebarkan dan banyak marah- marah at the same time doa doa doa.  Why marah- marah, dok marahkan hospital ler.... kan dah berapa kali tertangguh ni.  2 kali ditangguhkan hospital dan a few times by us jugak ler sebab Adrina selalu tak sihat.

Kitorang buat dekat HUKM.  Kalau di Malaysia ni,, hospital government yang boleh buat hernia repair ni adalah HKL dan HUKM  (Semi).  Private adalah KPJ Ampang Puteri, Gleaneagles Ampang dan UM Specialist Center adalah center terbaru yang I tau boleh buat.  Kalau di HKL and HUKM ni nak tunggu turn tu faham- faham la yer... If u tangguh sebulan, lagi sebulan baru dapat lagik appointment.  Itu pon subject to your child's health.

Antara risk yang boleh berlaku untuk pembedahan ni adalah excessive bleeding (ikut doctor sangat sangat rendah) dan juga risk anaesthetic pada anak premature macam Adrina ni (sebab kena buat full anaes).  Antara nye ialah lungs dia boleh collapse semasa pembedahan.  Scary, but this was something that needed to be done.  Tak buat, ada pulak risk strangulation.  Lagi bahaya kalau buat emergency.  So kita tawakal dan buat lah.

Adrina was warded one day sebelum procedure tu (18/3) untuk monitor keadaan dia.  Anak datang sihat Alhamdulillah despite malam tu ada demam and muntah muntah kejap.  Tapi dah nama pon hospital, ada jugak penjaga/ pelawat yang batuk- batuk, she started coughing jugak.  Mujur kitorang ada bawak puff dia.  All the meds were ready to make sure she's well.  Kena puasa starting 3am and Alhamdulillah, this was also made easy for both of us.  Nak tunggu procedure at 9am, Adrina had been so wonderful.  Sampai nurses semua buat lawak cakap I dah bagi ubat tidur dekat anak hehehe.

Dah masuk operation theatre pon I sempat lagi main- main dengan dia.  We played with the TV and the surgeon siap turun kan screen nak bagi Adrina tengok camera.  Such a nice guy, Dr Syaril kot kalau tak silap nama dia.  If I'm not mistaken kalau di HUKM, it'll either Dr Majmin or Dr Syaril yang akan perform the procedure.  They allowed me to accompany her until the anaes took effect.  She was a strong baby, she fought it real hard!!!! After she fell asleep, a lady doc asked me to kiss her.  Masa tu lah mata Mommy masuk habuk dengan banyak hehehe.

Waited outside with husband.  Asked husband to recite Yassin, and I zikir the whole time.  Tunggu, expected to finish 10.15am.  10.20am belom ada panggil dada dah mula berdebar... 10.25 suddenly diorang wheeled her out from OT to recovery and they called me.  She was already awake, asking for milk!  Lapar!  Orang lain I tengok chill jer mabuk mabuk ubat lagi.  Adrina dok nangis nangis nangis, I was trying to calm her and she just kept waking up.  Tapi masa tu sangat- sangat syukur semua selamat :) Syukur syukur.

Apa dia procedure yang dijalankan tu?  Kalau menurut doctor, HUKM is the only center yang buat laparoscopic hernia procedure ni, yang lain- lain open surgery.  I tak pasti if he was referring to the private center jugak.  Lupa tanya la... Tapi the difference between open and laparoscopic ni dia cakap, recovery is faster with laparoscopic.  Tapi % of recurrence lebih rendah dengan open surgery.  Beza antara 2% dan 5% open dan laparoscopic respectively.  Wallahualam.  Diorg tebuk 3 lubang dekat perut (1 pusat, dan 2 d kiri kanan perut).  Yang pusat tu untuk camera lah.  Hernia budak kecik ni ada di both sides so diorang dah jahit both sides.. Harapan ialah, tiada recurrence.  Next question I forgot to ask was - how do I check for recurrence?  Hehehe Mommy... Mommy...

Recovery went well.  Malam pertama tu, ada berdarah sikit sebab kena kopek dengan kakak- kakak.  After that it was all OK.  A week after berdarah and berair sikit sebab dia sendiri kopek.  Masuk malam kedua dia dah bole bangun main... Terlompat- lompat terkinja-kinja tak macam sakit... Heran sungguh.  I dulu masa remove galld bladder punye la 2 minggu sakit weh nak angkat body.

Ramai pelik, eh Adrina girl kan? Camno bole dapat angin pasang/ hernia ni?  Sebab dia girl, premature girl... usus dia tak kuat sebab tu bole bocor. and prem babies kan kalo you all perasan suka meneran? Hemm sebab tu lah tu bole bocor kot.

Ok dah panjang lebar sangat ni.  Sanggup tak tengok gambar... Jommm.

Lactose Intolerance dan alergic pada soy pulak?

Gosh I must tell you, with Adrina it is always the milk issue.  With, of course among other things macam eczema, sensitive airways dan sebagainya... But back to milk, kalau ada read my previous posts here tentang changing her milk, from breastmilk to an AR milk due to reflux.  Alhamdulillah nearing umur setahun, masalah reflux dia dah selesai.  As in, one day dia just stop muntah- muntah altogether.  How fun is that.

So lepas tukar ke susu biasa, she was fine for a while, drinking susu yang sama macam Zehra.  Tiba- tiba one day tu dia kena rota virus (again).  Sejak kena diarrhea and muntah- muntah from the rota virus tu, kerap sangat dia diarrhea.  So bila check dengan Paed, dia suruh I stop kan sementara cow's milk.  Memang kitorang at the time dah start bagi dia Similac LF (Cow's Milk tapi lactose-free).  Hemm dasar anak omak yer.  I also lactose intolerance.

EH so caner cerita alergic soy milk ni timbul?  Kitorang discover bila hubby @ AhBob tersalah beli.  Similac dengan Isomil kan from the same manufacturer, Abbot.  It uses similar (almost) font dan warna merah hampir hampir serupa (between Similac LF dan Isomil which is soy-based).  Kalau tak Similac ni ala-2 kuning gold kaler dia.  Anyway, kita discover tu pon dah lambat.  Adrina warded masa tu, and malam yang hubby dah terbeli isomil tu, memang dia yang prepare susu sampai la esoknya dia ambik turn jaga Adrina kat hospital.  Malam tu I balik kerja, memang shocked tengok seluruh muka dia, badan dia penuh red spots.  Hey its so scary sampai doc performed blood test untuk dengue berkali- kali k!  Bila doc tanya, alergic ape-ape, I didn't know sebab I tak perasan lagi susu tu ialah Isomil, instead of Similac.  Yarabbiii... Esok pagi nye bila turn I jaga, baru I tengok.  Oh no.  Soy-based.  Terfikir, soy = high in protein.  My first daughter alergic pada telur sebab protein.  Twins alergic ayam pon sebab tak ready untuk process protein... Its the milk!  Eh I terfikir menda tu pon dah nak petang sangat kot... Time tu doc dah tak round dah.  Kami pon dah discaj, tak dan I mention kat doc.  So last week bila pegi follow-up I mention kat doc, doc cakap. yes, it could be.

Yes, it is logic.  I pon ada baca sikit- sikit pasal protein alergy in babies ni.  I mean, yes despite nak masuk umur 1 year lagi seminggu macam tu masa tu, diorang internally baru 10 months.  I suspect, being premature that they are, ada benda yang I kena delay kan sikit untuk introduce.  So you see, now albeit turning 1 year old, I belum lagi bagi diorang makan macam- macam.  Diorang, too different dari kakak dulu...

Tapi korang jangan mistaken plak... Milk or soy alergy ni 2 benda yang berbeza.  Milk alergy ni berlaku bila anak you alergy pada milk protein yang ada dalam susu tu.  Bila immune badan nampak jer milk protein ni, dia akan cuba fight sebab dia ingat kan ni musuh.  Hence, the red spots la ya.  Lactose intolerance on the other hand, adalah inability untuk ko digest sugar lactose (gula dalam susu kalo tak silap I).  Lac intolerance ni sangat incommon bagi infant, tapi boleh berlaku.  Dulu ada satu Doc explain kat aku, ko nak digest lactose ni ko perlukan sejenis enzyme ni.  Kalo ko takde enzyme ni, memang takleh.  Perut ko pon memang takkan get used to it.  Akan baik ke tak situation ni, I rasa untuk infant, depends.  It can go away later on.  Tapi kalau dah 'remaja terlebih' macam I ni ha... Hemm memang permanent condition dah ni.  Bila pregnant and breastfeeding la sengsara weiii.  Eh kalau nak more info, sila la renangi lautan google hehehe.

I cuma share keadaan I sekarang jerla.  I pon kalau tak tanye Paed terchenta, memang renangi google jer.  So boleh la faham sikit- sikit.  Kesimpulan citer ni macam ni, anak I tak alergic pada milk cow, but instead tidak tahan laktosa.  Tapi juga tidak berupaya memproses protein dalam soy milk... Jadinya, solution sementara kami adalah bagi dia Cow's milk tanpa laktosa.  Boleh gitu... Yer.. gitu.. gitu

Mak mak kite... kite kite..

Ewah.  Topik.  Takla mak- mak kite sangat.  Pasal kite kite juge :p


Kadang- kadang termangu jugak bila dengar orang bagi solid dekat anak sejak dalam pantang lagi.  Terfikir, kenapa la manusia ni buat macam ni.  Iyelah, orang tua ni kadang- kadang dia rasa dia dah succesfully besarkan anak (termasuk kite) sejak dulu, dia rasa dia betul.  Asal anak nangis je, cepat- cepat conclude anak tu lapo sangat, tak cukup susu ibu.  Kena bagi formula.  Ni takpe lagi.  Bagi formula kat anak does not make you a bad mom, yer.  Tapi bila kena campur nestum dalam formula tu seawal anak dalam pantang lagi, yes.  Emm bersyukurlah if you're one of those yang dah bagi nestumm dekat anak sejak dalam pantang, and nothing happens to your baby.  Orang tua, will always be orang tua.  You can't change that.  Kita yang bijak pandai, boleh membaca ni?  Takkan tak boleh nak baca tambah pengetahuan sikit?

Kita kena tahu, kalau bagi formula dan botol seawal kelahiran, susu ibu memang tak leh nak establish.  Kena tahu jugak, beso mana perut anak awak tu yang sampai tak puas susu ibu (atau formula) tu?  Tah- tah anak tu kembung, panas, nak kena peluk dengan ibu.  Pastu, anak awak tu boleh ke hadam nestum tu?  Fikir tak?  Jap g menda tu keras, tersekat dekat usus anak, camana?  Dia memang Allah dah ciptakan, hanya boleh hadam susu ibu sampai umur 6 bulan.

I sendiri dah alami pressure- pressure ni semua masa anak sulong.  Bila anak second ni mudah sikit, sebab premature so orang tak masuk campur.  Masa Ayesha,   balik jer rumah mak mertua terus tanya taknak bagi nestum ke?  Anak jiran sebelah sinun, sejak dalam pantang mak dia dah bagi nestum, kata nye.  I jawab je dengan ilmu yang ada, kenapa anak takleh makan nestum seawal usia belum masuk 2 bulan ni.  With my own mom, in fact, memang sangat stress sebab malam mula- mula balik dah conclude anak I lapar, kena bagi formula, sebab mak nye takde susu.  Inverted nipple.  Masa mak mertua pon sama, 'eh, susu badan je? Budak- budak ni dulu minum Dumex tu elok je membesar'.  Ewah.  Mak mak kite ni kan.  Diorang ni kadang- kadang ngalahkan doctor.  Tapi takpelah kan, walaupon ade angin- angin panas kat situ, Ayesha dah beso dah pon hehehe.

Masa dengan taska pon sama.  Babysitter desak masa Ayesha 5 bulan.  Dia cakap Ayesha lapo dah ni, nak makan.  Bila orang lain makan, pecap pecappp mulut nye.  Ewah iyer.  Tau.  Kat rumah pon macam tu.  So, bawak Ayesha jumpa Paed masa umur 5 1/2 dan complaint dekat Paed.  Paed cakap babysitter malas nak panaskan susu badan ler tu.  Yer jugak kan.  Hehehe.  Budak yang dah makan sure tak menyusu kerap?  It is for the same reasons yang orang dulu- dulu cepat- cepat conclude anak tak kenyang minum susu badan!  Susu badan ni cepat hadam, so budak akan jap jap uwekkk lapo. uwekkkk nangis lapo.  Tengah malam uwekk lagi.  Iyer.  Sebab perut dah kosong, susu dah diproses.  Kita ada ilmu ni.  Orang tua, tidak.  So jadi tanggungjawab kita lah nak jelaskan kat diorang?  Kadang- kadang nenek- nenek ni sibuk nak bagi formula lagi satu sebab, sebab diorang yang sibuk nak bonding.  Hehehe.  Nak participate menyusukan anak tu.  So mak mak yang tak kuat nak pertahankan susuan badan, memang akan kalah :)

Camana ek nak tau anak kite ni dah ready ambik solid (made into puree).  Antaranye:
1) Kalau anak dah boleh duduk tegak / kepala dah tegak.
2) Dah boleh co- ordinate mata, tangan, mulut so bila tengok makanan, dia boleh pegang makanan tu untuk suap ke mulut.
3) Boleh telan makanan yang disuap.  Anak yang belum ready, dia akan tolak semula makanan tu keluar dengan lidah.  

Tanda- tanda seperti mengunyah tangan, minta makanan pada adults, kerap bangun malam, mintak susu lebih, bukan tanda- tanda anak dah ready nak makan yer, mak mak....

Harap- harap mak mak muda ni rajin- rajin la membaca tambah ilmu.  Google.  Tanya pada yang pakar.  Mintak jangan lah berharap semata- mata apa yang mak - mak kite ni suruh atau ajar.  Pantang larang, tindakan orang tua- tua ni sebab diorang dulu takde exposure atau informasi pasal menda- menda ni semua.  So jom jadi parents yang lebih bertanggungjawab dan find out, ok atau tidak tindakan kita tu.

Keek: Zehra's Revenge

Dec 3, 2013 | Twin babies #fight #revenge - Zehra balas dendam pada Adrina. This time, she won. by dianamolok on Keek.com

Hahaha. If you follow my post on facebook, you would know that Adrina is this big bully who wins all the time. This time, Zeha wins. I am just sharing my excitement guys, bear with me.

Zehra Vs Adrina and the headband

Now, I believe I should've captured this moment as video instead of still photo.  I got too excited.  LOL.  Adrina does this all the time... Toys, headband, milk bottle, you name it.  If she has interest in it, she'll grab it from her twin, Zehra.  Zehra, is the 'manja' type.  She cries.  She fought back, but cries when she lost.  

Please excuse the photo quality :)

My Sweet Girl

Wearing Mommy's shoes, at Mommy's work cubicle

She was asking, "Shantek tak shoes asha ni Mommy (Are my shoes pretty, Mommy?)

My three years old, is a lot of thing.  Talkative, cheerful, playful, a responsible elder sister (not all the time), very reserved personality with those she barely knew, the apple of my eyes.  The girl who brought tears to my eyes the first time I looked at her, and still bring tears whenever she's being cute (or NOT and I get too angry to scream at her, hehehe). 

 

You grow up too soon, sweetheart.  You no longer have that sweet baby scent.  But Mommy still kiss u endlessly.  You are the only one who sleeps with Mommy, even your sisters sleep in their own bed. 

 

The song, 'My Girl' suddenly pops up,

 

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
When it's cold outside I've got the month of May
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)

I've got so much honey the bees envy me
I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)

Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Ooh

I don't need no money, fortune, or fame
I've got all the riches baby one man mother can claim
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
With my girl

I've even got the month of May
With my girl

On solid food

As mentioned in my previous post, I started feeding the twins with porridge and puree.

Why is it that I have this suspicious feeling that kiddos HATE porridge?  I mean, porridge is porridge.  Its plain.  I haven't added anything to the porridge yet.  No salt, chicken or fish or even veggies yet.  My first daughter was alergic to many things so this is the main reason I am slowly introducing other stuff as well.

Ahh you know what they definitely LOVE?  Pumpkin puree.  Steamed, mashed and added a wee bit of breastmilk from my occasional pumping to empty the breast.  Formula does it too.  Ok I am not a monster for feeding my babies formula. I somehow feel you think that hahaha.  What do you hear when you feed them this?

More Mommy more.  Ok like they can say anything yet.   But I can tell.  Hahahah.

So no porridge and more fun stuff, huh. 

Hard

My second princess, the elder twin, Zehra Amani is hospitalised again. My life is so out of order. Work, my other kids, husband, myself.  I am not sure what kind of test this is or if I can take it anymore, but it sure as hell aches.  This is too hard.  I can be strong.  But how strong.

All I can do is pray that lil princess be fine and healthy again. Such small progress since evening,  but am sure the strong girl will be better in no time.

We are suppose to do an echo test for her soon to rule out any issue with the heart.  She was born prematurely so this is important.   We really hope this test turns out negative.  Need your prayers too, friends. 

And you... nasty pneumonia.   I forbid you from seeing my princess again.  Can you believe, this happens after spending RM740 on jabs.  Ah well. 

P/S: I miss my Ayesha and Adrina at home. And my.... darling *grin*

Away

That's why.... Mommy always tell you to...

 

#Pesanan khidmat masyarakat ini dibawakan oleh, Mommy D

Our Getaway (Not)

The girls are hospitalised AGAIN...

Sick that they are...

I managed to capture the best of them *grin*

This time their lungs were (AGAIN) infected due to prolonged coughing, flu and fever (on and off).  Took me a while to bring them back to KPJ, due to busy schedule (selfish) and in consideration that maybe just one of them warded, where would I then be. 

O' Allah,
# Cure them from their ilness,
# I would rather endure the pain, for them,
# Grant them the best of health for now, and for the future,
# Give me the strength to care for my three princess, and be the best mother and example to them.
# You are, the most capable and all powerful.

It has been 3 days, I have a feeling we will be here for a while...

Being Well - Informed

I posted a link on my FB yesterday, shared by a friend, on how when you 'berpantang' (confined) in Kampung,  whenever your baby cries, the elderly quickly tells you that your baby is hungry and didn't get enough breastmilk, and must be fed formula.  Trust me.  I've had my own experience on formula feeding vs breastfeeding with my own child. 

The thing is, us parents, with the wide spectrum of information readily available, and if not readily available they will be, if you dig further, have we done enough to become a well- informed parents?

I am talking not just about breastfeeding.  I am talking about ridiculous traditions, and how they think we should follow the elderly before us just because they have raised 20 children and thought they were successful at it. 

My advise to all the parents (especially new) and myself as well, read, ask.  Find out what you must.  You'll be surprised of how much you (don't) know. 

For me, here are some of key information a parent (s) need to be equipped with.  There are more, and I shall be adding to the list when I think of them:

Feeding

# How big a newborn tummy is?  How much milk is enough? 

# Does breast size really determine how much milk you produce? (NO!)


# Is feeding newborn with water OK?  Do we know that breastfed babies don't need water, because breast milk is 90 % water?

# How does baby swallow air during feeding?

# How frequent should a newborn feed?

# What food you should take, what to be avoided.

Air/ Gas/ Colic

# Why burp your baby?

# What do you do if baby won't burp?

# What causes hiccup in babies?  Can water really stop hiccup?

# What causes baby to cry long hours?  Does jampi serapah really helps?  In my case with Kakak, I was asked to put a broom under her crib.  This was, kononnya a method to keep the satan away.  How ridiculous is that?

# Do you know what colic is?  What is the treatment?

Sleep

# How much sleep a newborn need?

# What sleeping position is safe for babies?

# Is it safe to bring your baby to sleep with you?

# What is the difference between a cot (crib) and playpen?  


Introduction of Solid

# When do you start feeding your baby solid?

# How do you start?

# How do you know if your baby is alergic to a certain food group.


Jaundice

# What is jaundice?  What causes jaundice?

# Is it dangerous?

# What is the treatment?

# Risk if left untreated? Or risk in late detection?

Immunisation, Vaccines

#  What are the compulsory/ optional jabs?

# The frequency of jabs?

# Why do you immunize your children?

# What if you do not immunize your children?

# Is there any side effects of vaccines? 

# What are your rights on vaccination in Malaysia?

# Where can you take your baby for vaccinations?

Fever & Sickness

# What is low grade, high grade, elevated fever?

# How should you monitor your baby's fever or sickness?

# Treatment?

# How well  can you tell your baby's condition?

# What medication is allowed for baby?  and for breastfeeding mommy?

Ahhhhh.  There's just too many!!! Think raising a child is easy?  Think again.  At the same time, yes don't be too hard on yourself... Take time to enjoy the presence of your newborn :-).  However you must not take information lightly.  You wouldn't want to regret your decision later on, trust me.

Teething Already?

I was, I must say, pretty shocked that the twins are already teething.  I thought I should be tracking their development as 3 months and a half, not 5.  I swear to God when I saw my babies drooling so bad, fussy, crying for comfort, they were also eating their hands like a piece of drummet (yumms), I didn't think that they were teething.

Yummmehhhh.

Well, well.  Guess what, they were.

Here I go again, I thought... You should read my previous teething entries with Kakak (Ayesha).  There were lodsa tears involved *grin*.  Well to be fair, I was a first time mother.  Ha Ha Ha.  What I forgot to mention in the previous posts, was Dentinox.  The teething gel.  The miracle drug.  Prescribed by Kakak's Paed to help soothe her gum.  When I lost the Dentinox, thennn only I went to the local pharmacy to get the same and was given Oral Aid because they didn't have Dentinox.

So this time around, the moment I recognised their signs as teething, and felt their (slightly) sharp gum, I asked Ah Bob to purchase Dentinox at the Multicare Pharmacy.  Told him that if they don't have Dentinox, Oral Aid would work too... and he did get Dentinox. 

Forgot how expensive it was, RM20.90 for one tiny tube. 

Did it work?  Yeppp.

Is it as bad as Kakak's?  Nope.  God is great.  He gave me two, two nicer babies.  Sorry Kakak, didn't mean it in a bad way.  The Amani Juniors (the girls are all named amani, remember?) were not (as) fussy. 

The little girl needs comforting.  Instead of picking her up, Mommy pick up the camera and snap snap.  Ooops.

Syawal and Ayesha

According to the Hijri calendar (Islamic date), Ayesha was born on the 7 Syawal 1431 Hijriah.  It was 16 September 2010 in Gregorian calendar.  How could I have forgotten, the Syawal I gave birth to my daughter :-)

At the moment photo was taken, she was asking me, 'Mommy, tak faham tu ape? (Mom, what does 'I don't understand' means?)

# It was the Syawal I didn't fit in anything nice to wear.
# It was the Syawal I felt extremely FAT.
# Everybody woke up that 1st Syawal to see if I was still pregnant.
# Then Abah told me I will deliver only 3 to 4 days later.
# I was in Kaftan most of the time.
# Seated most of the time, due to REALLY swollen ankle.
# Can hardly breathe, let alone eat to survive the days.  Many had said that I should eat a lot before my confinement.  But I didn't.  I just can't.
 # I didn't go back to my inlaws that Syawal because the doctor said it is not safe for me to travel anymore.  Doctor predicted I will deliver much earlier, the baby seemed 'distressed' due to lack of amniotic fluid.
# The only shopping we did that Raya was for her...
# I would go to sleep dreading I will give birth in my sleep.  Ha ha ha. Seriously.
# Mom would check on me everytime I go 'ahhh' or 'uuu' or 'ahaaaa'.  Or any sound I make hehehe.
# She will make sure someone is always with me that Raya, because Hubby went back to his parents' during the 3rd Syawal.
# I watched Resident Evil with my brothers and sisters on 5 Syawal (Midnight).
# I went bowling on 6 Syawal (Night)...
# Came home feeling funny.  Vomitting, diarrhea, until 3 am on 7 Syawal...

My baju raya la konon :p

My swollen ankle, 1 Syawal... hehehe

Hours later...

# I gave birth to my princess.

1 day old.. Well, yeahh she cried a lot during the early days.

Time

Top: 2 months ++ of age. Bottom: 5 months of age.

 

 

Time... was the answer to everything :-)  How two little girls grew into two beautiful, chubby girls.  We went for their 3 months jab last night and Zehra weighs 5.8 kg, and Adrina at 6.1 kg.  Yepp, now Adik comel (left) weighs more than Kak Zehra manja (right).  Zehra has trouble drinking, sometimes she would just sleep for hours and refuses milk.  Though I am thankful her suction is now much much better.  

Anyway I am one happy (fat) Mommy.  Tells you how much I am in love with life :p

P/S: Still find it weird that even though they now have more fats, socks and baby shoes are still very loose.  Are these normal with prem babies?

Raising twins

The reason for this entry, actually, was due to a guy who went 'aaaaawwwwww, anak twins' when we went shopping last weekend.  Hubby's response was, 'tengok memang best, bang.'  He laughed awkwardly loud afterwards.  It is, the truth.

Many had asked, how did we manage the twins without a maid.  Susah, tak?  With a toddler who hasn't failed to get on my nerve every opportunity she has, (and I love her nevertheless hahahaha).

My first photo with all 3 princess.  Tengok lah my eldest, sedia untuk berlari (CRY).

Ermmm kalau nak kira memang lah tak mudah.  There had been episodes of yelling at each other (me and hubby) and yelling at my eldest.  Episodes of tears, sleepless night, restless days.  Housework lagi, memang bukan something yang mudah.  The thing is, Mommy's maturity grows as the twins grows.  So it became really hard for the hubby to deal with my emotions, at first, but I think now he knows how to handle me (my tantrum).  

Everyday, after work, I kena layan 3 jenis perangai, 3 jenis tangisan from the kids.  Kiri, kanan, atas lap, semua penuh dengan anak- anak yang seek attention.  Am I blessed or am I blessed.  Something I definitely hadn't dream of when I was young(er).  It will be much easier with a maid, no I don't deny that.  At least a maid can look after the house chores, and I, the kids.  For me, that'll work IF and only IF, I am a stay-at-home mommy.  The thing is, I work 8:30 to 5:30, plus minus travelling I will be out for at least 10 hours during the day.  The thought of leaving my twins (only the twins because Kakak Ayesha is already comfortable with taska) with a stranger, alone with a stranger, kills me.  I need someone who is emotionally prepared and stable, who is used to looking after more than 1 baby.  The best option is of course, the daycare.  

Another thing with maid is, well, with me is, that I am a control freak (I admit that as my weakness).  I failed to control the previous maid due to Mak punya pesan to treat her as 'sister' kononnya, and dah sah- sah la akhirnya makan diri.  So no, I am not open to the option right now.

So this is how it's gonna be for the rest of it, until I do not know when.  Kejap je sebenarnye sampai anak dah pass the baby stage.  Yang susah sikit nak jaga tu, masa baby.  The twins, you can have them hungry both at the same time, atau bergilir- gilir, serius memang depends dekat mood diorang.  Sekarang ni Mommy dah macam terer gile la nak comfort diorang kalau lapar secara serentak, terpaksa bawak masuk car seat, letak both of them dalam tu dalam keadaan separuh tegak, and bottle-feed them there.  Of course, all safety aspects considered there's no doubt about that.  

Kadang- kadang, to keep them calm, balik dari kerja tu terus mandikan diorang, walaupon dah tau dah, diorang baru dimandikan kat day care dalam pukul 4:30 macam tu.  While I mandikan sorang, the other would be sleeping or crying endlessly and I just have to live with that.  Ohh, good thing now Kakak macam dah pandai pujuk adik.... 'Adik diam ek, jangan nangis, Mommy sibuk tu...' Sweet like candy. 

Bila nakkan attention serentak, Mommy baringkan diorang kat tilam and talk with them.  Gugu gaga, with the babies and toddler, of course.  Hehehee.  Like I said in my previous post, it's like having triplet.  Boleh baca kat sini.  This is the fun part, there's lots of smiling and laughing from all my angels.

Midnight milk and diaper change pulak, handled by both hubby and I.  I will wake him up when both the twins are awake for milk.  Dia akan jaga sorang.... Bila bangun bergilir, sometimes I jaga sendiri je, or bila dah tak larat sangat I will wake hubby up for the next feed.  Kadang- kadang dah biasa dengan penat nye.  Kadang- kadang, menangis jugak penat.  I am just human.  Basically hubby helps tak kira masa.  Midnight feeding and diaper change, waktu jalan- jalan, bila Mommy nak masak and prepare the food.  He also helps with house chores.  That's lovely of him.  He said to me before, that he would rather help me with all these than having a stranger (maid) around.  I guess having a stranger in the house makes him uncomfortable. 

Ohhh but I must tell you the best part of having twins!  No no no.  Not the part where people look in admiration, sambil berkata 'aaaaaawwwwww twinsssssss', and started asking details about your life.  It is the dressing part.  Lebih- lebih lagi sebab my twins ni girls, and mothers with girls would know how much fun it is to style your little one!  The dresses, the shoes, the headband, the hair, the handbag and clutches.  I, personally suka pakaikan diorang baju serupa.  Sebab I suka tengok.  Full stop.  Hahaha.  I think they look adorable in matching outfit!  Despite their different look, and unquestionably different personalities, yes, I put them in matching outfit.  Nanti, bila 3 anak dara dah sama size, bole tak nak bagi pakai sama jugak.  Though I know, susah, especially sebab my Kakak Ayesha dah pandai pilih baju sendiri.  She definitely has her own preference. 

E'eh macam terpanjang pulak entry ni.  Lenguh jari jemari aiiii menaip.  Hehehe.  Nanti maybe I will add more as I am sure there will be many more stories on raising my twins!  Till then, have a great Ramadan.

Budak- budak twins

Picture of bib was taken a while ago (May).  Cute, kan?  Beli kat Precious Baby, Metro Point Kajang for RM9. Very useful, sebab besar and my girls especially Adrina vomits a lot.  At least takde la budak- budak kena tukar baju sentiasa kan.

Ni latest photo of the twins hehehe.  I bet both are over 5kg already, asyik lapar, lapar je kerjanye.  They'll be 5 months on 8 August nanti.  So fast, right, and 3 months their corrected age on the 10 August.

Sekarang dah pandai mengagah- agah, tersenyum- senyum.  Both of them are excited to see me after work everyday when I pick them up at day care.  Dah pandai mengada- ngada nak mommy.  They're like big girls already, seeing from their faces hehehe.  Mommy is also getting better, I can differentiate their crying from being hungry to kembung, or being bored.  Aaaaah... a handful these two.  It's amazing Mommy hasn't lost so much weight.  Yet. 

My sad Kakak

OK maybe she doesn't seem so sad in this photo, hahaha.  She put on some lipstick that's what she did this cheeky girl and then call herself "Cantik" (Pretty).

But why is it that I get the feeling that my lil angel has been feeling a little sad and left out?  More and more everyday.  I can see it in her eyes, in her cries, in her behaviour.  Everything she did to get my attention.  Muka macam, you don't love me anymore like that.

And the things she does, oh God the things she does.  Sampai terfikir, is this little angel trying to piss me off on purpose?  Macam dengki kat Mom.  Forgive me God for thinking that way.  Teringat bila I kemas rumah and she intentionally sepahkan semula.  Not cute I tell you when I have two little hungry babies on the side to deal with.  The way she went thru my stuff, my accesories, jewelleries, make up.  Ya ampunnnnn.  Mujur I ni masih bersabar and bukan jenis mak yang dera- dera anak.  Tapi marah jugak la, marah all the time, to the point that I thought I have raised an angry girl because of this.  

My sleeping angels on a beautiful Saturday morning. 

Takpalah, maybe she is just going through phases.  Am sure she'll be over it soon.  I love her as always and hope she will grow up to love her little sisters :-)

Being the Kakak

I think Ayesha has started feeling the "discomfort" of being THE Kakak. Or, maybe she had just began to understand that adik = sharing Mommy and Daddy with these two little creatures.

# This morning she cried, told me that "Adik buat Kakak" - Tertanya - tanya camne la adik yang kecik tu bole buat kakak ek?  Si Comel buat Kakak? Turn out, she was disappointed that when she asked for her morning milk, Daddy was busy feeding Adik Adrina (We also call her Comel sometimes hehehe).

# Last night, kakak ketuk kepala Adik Adrina sebab adik was being breastfed by Mommy.  Sigh.  She said, "isk adik ni sibuk aje."  Did it several times.

# There were many occasions where she would stand in a corner, in frustration, staring at both of us while we both were feeding the twins.

# Her sad sad looking face, and tears in her eyes when Mommy put adik- adik to sleep.  Most of the time, dia pun akan scream, "Kakak nak Mommy, nak Mommy..."  You know a few days ago dia siap mengigau menda ni, jerit- jerit, she just went histerical and there was no calming her.  Dia stop sendiri after a while.

# Buat benda- benda 'nakal' such as buang pacifier adik, usik barang Mommy, barang adik dalam usaha nak dapatkan attention.

# She would rather destroy her toy when she was little, then let it be passed down to the twins.  I pelik gak, camana dia boleh ada memori tentang the toys?  But she knew they were hers... Hemm pelik kan.

# Whenever the 2 of us started paying MORE attention pada the twins, she'll come and hug us, and said "Ayesha saaaaaayang Mommy.

But despite all this, I don't think lah she doesn't love her sisters.  She does.  She just prefers if we pays more attention to her kot.  Hehehe her dilemma of being the big sister.  Mine, for having to split my attention.  Entahlah, my fault kot kadang- kadang penat sangat nak layan dia... I tried my best, and I hope she doesn't feel like she'd 'lost' me.  Sabar ye sayang, Mommy loves you, sama je macam dulu :-)

My Preemie Baby Development Tracker

Ok first of all, the twins remind me of these two:

Tinkerbell and Periwinkle.  Fraternal Twin.  Image source, http://dfairies.wikia.com/wiki/Disney_Fairies_Wiki.

Heehehehe.

Ok seriously, that's not why I am writing today. 

Today's entry is more of a sticky note for me, to track the milestones of my prem babies.  Why is there even a need?  Sebab... Mommy ni one of those mommies yang suka risau, adakah anak- anak kecik Mommy ni on track?  Susah lah nak tau.  Plus, yeah, I am the type that worries a lot. 

The twins, were born at 31 weeks, right.  D.O.B was 8 March, 2013.  However their development should be monitored according to their corrected age.  What is corrected age?  Boleh baca kat sini.  Z and A, will be monitored based on my EDD, which was supposed to be 10 May, 2013.  Kiranya corrected age sekarang ialah 2 bulan lah...

Anyway kat sini I tabulate kan the info for my ease of reference.  Original source adalah kat sini.
Tapi walau macamana pun, yes, Mommy knows that development varies for babies and toddlers.  Therefore it isn't fair for Mommy to compare with others, even among the two of them pon Mommy takleh compare.  For info, development diorang berdua memang sangat sangat ketara berbeza. 

Ahh also one important note before seeing the milestones, selalu nye by age of 2 years old anak maybe dah catch up dengan rakan- rakan sebaya.  So masa tu mungkin dah kurang keperluan untuk monitor too closely. 

The milestones, to be used as a guideline (only) should be as follows,
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Age	Motor	Language	Activities	Social/Emotional
2 Months (8 weeks)	Moves hands and legs actively   Keeps hands open most of the time  Lifts head and chest when lying on tummy  Controls head a little, but may still need support  Holds objects in hands	Responds to sounds (for example, turns when hears voices and rattles)  Makes cooing noises like “aaaah” and “ooooh”  Cries when needs something	Fixes eyes on a person or object (a mobile, for example) and follows its movement  Has different cries for different needs	Makes eye contact and smiles  Recognizes and enjoys interactions with mother or primary caregiver
At 4 Months (16 Weeks)	Brings hands together, or to mouth  Lifts head and pushes on arms when on tummy  Reaches for objects  Turns or makes crawling movement when on tummy	Turns head to follow familiar voices  Laughs and squeals  Combines sounds more often (for example, “aaah-oooh”, “gaaa-gooo”)	Grasps more and reaches for objects  Brings objects to mouth  Increases activity when sees a toy	Is increasingly interactive and comfortable with parents and caregivers  Shows interest in mirrors, smiles and is playful  Is able to comfort himself
At 6 Months	Puts weight on feet when held standing up  Sits by himself  Bangs and shakes objects  Transfers objects from one hand to another  Holds 2 objects at a time, one in each hand  Rolls over from tummy to back	Responds to her name, turns and looks  Babbles, making sounds like “da”, “ga”, “ba”, “ka”	Pays attention to what toys can do (make music and light up, for example)  Looks towards object that drops out of sight	Social/Emotional  Is becoming more aware of surroundings  Notices if parents are present (or not)  Reacts differently to strangers  Expresses excitement, happiness and unhappiness
At 9 Months	Picks up small objects with thumb and finger Moves more easily (crawls, moves along furniture, walks when hand is held) Pulls to a stand	Recognizes familiar words (her name and phrases such as “time for bath” and “go bye-bye”) Babbles with combination of vowel and consonant sounds (for example, “dada”, “baba”, “mama”) Imitates sounds and movements	Explores objects carefully (turns them upside down, puts hands inside openings) Is more involved in feedings (tries to hold bottle or pick up finger foods) Resists toy being taken away	Plays peek-a-boo and claps hands with excitement May show anxiety around strangers
At 12 Months (One Year)	Stands alone  Takes first steps  Turns pages of a book few at a time  Puts small objects in container	Combines movements with sounds (reaches for an object and uses voice at same time) Pauses or stops when told not to do something Associates “mama” or “dada” with parents Uses one word again and again Hands you an object when asked	Is better able to feed herself (tries to drink from cup)  Helps with dressing	Prefers to be with parents and caregivers  Plays with other children
At 15 Months (1 1/4 Years)	Walks without help  Climbs on chairs and other furniture	Language  Uses 2 words besides “mama” and “dada”  Asks for food or drink with sounds or words  Shows what he wants by pulling, pointing or grunting	Feeds self with spoon, often insisting on feeding self	Gives kisses  Greets people with “hi”  Listens to a story
At 18 Months (1 1/2 Years)	Scribbles  Walks without help and can sometimes run  Kicks ball forward  Pulls a toy along the ground	Follows simple directions, such as “give it to daddy”  Says an increasing number of simple words (at least 5-10)  Points to nose, mouth, eyes, ears, hands and feet	Enjoys eating by himself, but is messy  Shows how objects work in “pretend” play (feeds a doll, pours tea into cup, brushes hair)	Sometimes says no when interfered with  Can separate from parent more easily, but happy when sees parent again
At 24 – 30 Months (2 – 2 1/2 Years)	Scribbles in circular motion and can draw vertical lines  Runs well, seldom falls  Walks up and down stairs alone  Stands on one foot without support  Turns single pages in a book	Talks in 2-3 word sentences  Follows 2-part instructions  Uses at least 20 words (including pronouns he, she, I)	Reads books by turning pages and looking at pictures  Opens door by turning knob  Washes and dries hands  Feeds himself with little mess	Helps with simple household tasks  Usually responds to a correction by stopping
At 2 1/2 – 3 Years	Pedals tricycle  Cuts with small scissors  Draws or copies a complete circle  Jumps in place, balances on one foot	Talks clearly (is understandable most of the time)  Understands prepositions like “in”, “on”, “under”, “beside”  Combines sentences using and, or, but	Activities of Daily Living  Is toilet trained and washes face and hands  Gets dressed with help	Gives direction to other children  Plays a role in pretend games (mom, dad, teacher)
At 3 1/2 Years	Hops briefly on one foot  Cuts paper with scissors	Identifies 4 colors correctly  Knows concept of size, shape, number  Counts 5 or more objects when asked “how many?”	Washes face without help  Dresses and undresses without help, except for shoelaces	Plays cooperatively with little conflict and supervision  Pretend play is well developed
At 4 Years	Hops on one foot repeatedly for a few seconds  Skips or makes running broad jumps  Draws recognizable pictures  Draws a person with at least 3 parts (head, eyes, nose)	Follows a series of 3 simple instructions  Reads a few letters  Speaks in full sentences and is easily understood  Makes conversation and tells stories of daily life	Buttons one or more buttons  Usually looks both ways before crossing street	Is protective toward younger children  Follows simple rules in board or card games
At 5 Years	Swings on swing by herself  Prints first name	Tells meaning of familiar words  Recognizes most letters of the alphabet	Goes to the toilet without any help	Shows leadership among other children  Plays dress-up and make-believe
At School Age	Ongoing Issues Your Child May Face As premature babies get older, some of them may face ongoing physical problems (for example, asthma or cerebral palsy). They may also face developmental challenges (for example, difficulties paying attention or lack of motor control). This may be especially true for babies who were very small at birth. Once your child reaches school age, it will be important for you to work closely with his teacher and other school staff to identify any areas of concern. They can also help you find the right resources for help. If the school does not have the resources necessary for your child, his teachers can help you find local groups or programs to help him do well in school. You are not alone – your child’s teachers and healthcare providers are dedicated to helping you meet all of his health and educational needs.

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