The First Day

Ok, I'd survived the first day alone with Brandon yesterday. Pretty uneventful, I am pleased to report. He is on a 3-hour feeding schedule and sleeps pretty much in between, which gives me time to express BM, have my meals, watch "24" and nap. Brandon is still taking EBM during the day and formula at night.

Poor VT, who is responsible for the night-shifts, has not been as lucky. Apprently last night, Brandon was up from 12am-3am. Possible that he slept too much during the day. So today, I'll try to interact with Brandon a bit more. I can tell that his awake time is getting longer - unlike the first week where he literally slept, ate and poo-ed.

Only 20 more days to go. At least after the confinement period, I can kill boredom by taking him to empty shopping malls and also my folks' place for some relief.

Twist To The Story

Just as I was about to have another diarrhoea moment about my confinement lady, this morning she told me that she started having sore throat and a cold. I think she is also not too happy working for me. As I got her through an agency, I called them up and immediately asked for my package to be converted to a food delivery package. I could have opted for a replacement nanny, but didn't because they said it would take up to 7 days because July is a "peak" month and I think I can cope without a stranger in a house. I'd promptly sent the CL off to the LRT station this afternoon.

So here I am - all alone with Brandon now. I won't b*tch about the previous CL since she's now gone. As a result, I may not have as much time as I thought I would (still hope that I can watch the 2 seasons of "24", which VT bought for me) but fingers crossed, I would be able to cope with the baby AND still go blog-hopping. It's a bit nerve-wrecking to think that I have to care 24/7 for this helpless little boy. Thank goodness I have Chanel (supermum!) for support. Anyway, watch out for me in your blog soon :)

P/S: By the way, I've almost stopped breastfeeding. Panjang cerita....but mainly due to my laziness. It's a shame but I won't beat myself up on this one.

I Have a New Life!

Brandon Lim Yu Han was safely born on Saturday, 19 July 2008 at 7:40am. His stats:

Weight: 2.63kg (I know, tiny!!)
Length: 48cm
Head circumference: 33cm

Thanks to all for your congratulatory messages. Sorry this took a while to post as my internet connection kaput-ed as VT was trying to set up wifi at home. I was on a verge of tears the past week without access to the net. Also haven't had the time to download the photos as yet..... ok, that was a lie. I do have the time but I don't know how to (don't forget that I'm an IT-idiot) so I have to wait for VT to do it.

Anyway, I have so many things I want to blog about - labour story, all about Brandon, my confinement lady (!), but gotta dash now for a visit with the ob-gyn. So see you later, alligator!

And Another Update

Bryan
About 95% of the membrane has fallen off - either while he was tossing around in bed or during the day when he's bumping himself against the couch. The new skin is red and sensitive to touch (I think!) but don't think it's painful. His next follow-up appointment with Dr Isa is on Thursday. Let's pray that the doctor has good things to say about the progress. And fingers crossed, we can give him a bath soon!

We brought him to The Gardens yesterday, seeing that it's a weekday hence safe to bring him out (we fear an infection from crowded areas) and his expression was priceless. He was running about and shouting "Wow" or "Yay" alternatively. I bet Bryan was really happy to be out after being cooped up in the house for so many days. Mummy & Daddy were grateful for the distraction as well.

Mummy
As luck has it, I had a sore throat last Thursday, which developed into fever, cough & cold over the weekend. My PILs were on holiday in Thailand the same weekend so it meant I couldn't park Bryan at their place to recuperate. I've been steadily taking Benadryl and Piriton. At least they help me sleep better at night.

I'd also just returned from a routine check-up at the ob-gyn. Zero dilation. The ob-gyn has ordered me back next Monday and if situation remains the same, I would need to be induced as the level of amniotic fluid is decreasing slowly. I'm now praying that the little one will show himself soon so that I don't need to be induced. Anyone experienced something similar before? Maybe the little one is waiting for Mummy to get well so that she has the energy to heave and push? :)

An Update

Firstly, thank you sooooooo very much for all the support, love, kindness and courage that everyone has given us. I have not met 90% of you all and yet, the level of concern shown outweights many others whom I'm known all my life. PLUS not not mention other bloggers whom I've never spoken to before. THANK YOU!!!

We brought Bryan back to DSH for a check-up yesterday with the plastic surgeon, Dr Isa Omar. His wound is recovering well and the membrane has dried up. It's starting to itch and I've cautioned Bryan not to scratch it. He did it once and it was painful so after that, he stopped doing it. There's a cream to apply but I don't know how much it would help though I'm also reluctant to give him any more oral medication which will cause him to be drowsy. The poor boy was already sufficiently high on morphine over the weekend.

Some new skin has started to show itself - it looks very raw and red. It's a challenge also trying to keep him clean since he's always perspiring from running around. We keep having to mop him down since we can't bathe him and letting him wear the biggest singlet we can find (and use rubber bands to hold it up - at least it's cooling). The good news is that Bryan is back to his usual playful self and his appetite is back to normal as well.

When I wake up everyday and I see Bryan looking at me (he's usually the one who wakes me up by probbing my eye), I thank God for all His Blessings and for giving this hopeless mother a second chance. Sometimes, you sweat the small stuff (in my case, about Bryan being hyper-active & not napping during the day) that you lose sight of what is most important in our lives. God has grounded my two feet.

Terrible, Terrible Accident

I'd always thought that the next time I would be admitted to Damansara Specialist Hospital would be when I deliver.

Last Saturday, I was admitted - only that it was with Bryan. While preparing his dinner, I didn't notice him walking into the kitchen and pulling a bowl of hot soup off the kitchen counter. I shall not give a blow-by-blow account of what happened because up till today, both VT and I keep wishing that we will wake up from this nightmare. Somehow, I myself do not want recall what happened nor keep any memories from this incident.

The past 4 days have been taxing for all of us - and Bryan especially so who is still traumatised. He underwent a surgery the same night to affix some membrane onto the burnt areas (below the lips, chin, chest and left arm), which will help to keep the area sterile until fresh skin grows back. We stayed in DSH from Saturday till Tuesday. We're back home and hoping to put some routine and normalcy back into Bryan's life.

To all parents out there - please do not be negligent or even take your eyes off your child for a split second, no matter what the circumstances. We are a living proof that your life can be altered in just a few precious seconds.

Needless to say, I think I'll be out of the blogsphere for a while - at least until #2 is born.