Ethan's Baby Shower

Mom's cell group friends, with the 'shower' dishes


Me and my high-school friends


Cool term 'baby shower' being used here ;p I wanted to blog about last Sat's makan session but was wondering what term to use, thought of just calling it baby Ethan's thanksgiving. Thanks to Huai Bin who is a step faster than me to blog about this (www.sixthseal.com) :)

In Foochow culture (that's 50% of my ethnic - another 50% Teochew), unlike most other Chinese ethnics, they don't celebrate baby's fullmoon. Rather they will invite friends and relatives over to their places for makan, and this is usually held within the first month, some as early as the first 2 weeks. The main dish served is misua with chicken soup, eggs, followed by some other extra dishes.

Most guests who came (friends and relatives) are my parents and grandpa's invitees. For me, I just asked my high-school friends who're in Sibu to come together for Sat lunch. It was great to see them again, as normally this kind of gathering only occurs once a year during Chinese New Year, and yea, I have to admit I feel kinda old as most have not settled down.

Everyone felt happy though tired that day. Baby Ethan is a blessing to us :)

Here are some of his pics taken this morning of my sleeping child, I think he has grown a lil rounder, hehe

10 days old

Baby Ethan is 10 days old today. He's been sleeping and feeding well, I've managed to breastfeed him successfully (yay, another milestone for me as a new mother ;p), though tiring nevertheless it's rewarding. Each day I'm learning new skills on how to take care of my precious one, changing his nappy when he poo/urine, understanding his needs when he cries, feeling contented each time I manage to resolve his cry. Every 2-3 hours he'll cry of hunger, shortly after each feed, he'll poo or urine. Compared to feeding him with milk powder the first few days, breastmilk is better in a way it helps him to digest faster and poo/urine more, according to paediatrician it also helps to flush out his jaundice.

Baby Ethan got a bit of jaundice, thus was hospitalised for 2 nights for the phototherapy treatment last week. His condition has been improving since, and we'll send him for another blood test later today to check the jaundice level. Let's hope that he'll be alright as jaundice is quite a common thingy esp among Chinese babies.

Papa Len was here over the last weekend, he simply missed his son (and me too, I hope, hehe) so much that he decided last minute to fly over, taking advantage of Mon's public holiday (wesak day).


Like father, like son


Len & Len Jr

More recent pics of baby Ethan (any chance his features will change to look at least 10% like me? haha)


Our lil angel





I'm in my 2nd week of confinement (2 more weeks to go..tsk tsk). Been eating heaty stuffs, taking 5 meals a day, frantically sweating away after each meal. I've lost 9kg after giving birth, and additional 2kg past few days (guess it's due to sleepless nights and breastfeeding). Currently my weight is 65kg, so 7kg more to shed. Been confined in my bedroom together with baby Ethan, banned from going downstairs. Time seems to pass so slowly I've even lost count today is Friday.

Well, have a great weekend everyone! Don't forget to catch the movie 'Indiana Jones' cos someone here is wondering when she'll be able to go for movies again...

A Proud Father,Hubby

13th May 2008,11.05pm - My child is born and Ethan Teoh Yong Shen is his name. It was the happiest moment of my life to witness the miracle of GOD! My heart beat fast as I saw him come out. His eyes were open and he cried. The doctor cut his umbilical cord and attached the cord blood to the cryocord bag. The doc's handwork was pretty fast but he never offered me to cut the umbilical cord..what man..maybe he knew how I felt at that moment by looking at my face...hehe. So he handed Ethan to two of the mid wives. I watched him from a distance maybe 3-4 meters away. As I stood there a question popped in my mind whether is this really real?? My world was silent for awhile as my eyes just focus on Ethan.
I just couldn't believe that there is now an additional member in my family! :)
The mid wife's laughter caught my attention again...
1st one cleaned Ethan's body and the other one attached tube into Ethan's nose and mouth. I got a shock when the 2nd mid wife did her job! The tube was pushed into Ethan's nose and mouth. My heart shouted " Wei,what are you doing ah?" Anyway I just kept silent as I watched the mid wives carry out their duties. After completing their duties they called me to see Ethan nearer. Ethan was wrapped in a towel with his eyes open wondering where he is now.I called his name and he seemed to recognize it, wondering the voice came from. I touched him and later I decided to carry him. As I held him in my arms my heart just felt the warmth, I was overjoyed!

For my wife she's the so called champion of the "marathon" and deserved my highest respect.Though she was in terrible pain,agony and restlessness she determined herself to endure through that critical moment.I was with her all the way and there was nothing much I can do and even words of encouragement didn't seems to help in her situation.But she told me that my presence to be with her was all she wanted.
She battled the pain for many many hours and she was really really tired when the pushing of the baby moment arrived.I just don't know how to explain on her pain at that time.I know it must be God to grant her the strength to do it!At last she did it!
I have to admit that God granted women extra ordinary strength than men do.Well it's up to a person to believe it or not.
I thank God for HIS goodness and faithfulness. HIS love and mercy endures forever.
I also thank family members and friends for their continuous support in prayer for Lis and baby Ethan.

Well Lis and I have chosen the name Ethan Teoh Yong Shen for our son. It means
Ethan = endurance,strong,steadfast
Yong = glorious
Shen = victory

All glory to God!

Len

Ethan Teoh Yong Shen

Jeng jeng jeng!! Here he is, Ethan Teoh Yong Shen, born on the 13 May at 11.05pm, weigh 3.2kg. I was admitted at 8.00am and started induction at 8.30am (cervix was still thick and hadn't dilated). Didn't feel any pain for the first dosage's 4 hours limit. Doc checked my cervix at 12.30pm and it has dilated 2 cm.

Started drip on 12.30pm, mild contraction slowly began. Cervix dilation progressed real slow (only 4pm at 6pm), according to midwife it's because this is my first pregnancy, hence my cervix is thick. At 7pm, contraction became stronger, and stronger as time passed by. I kept telling myself to hang on, that it's just another couple of hours more to go before I can see my precious child. Papa Len was with me all the while, helping me to relax and reminding me to breathe correctly.

9.30pm, the pain was getting unbearable (cervix dilated to 7cm). I began to shout and cry, at certain points I almost wanted to give up. Mom came in and tried to give additional support. With both hubby and mom by my side, and with prayers from relatives and friends, and of course with God's grace, somehow I made it through that most painful moment in my life.

Baby Ethan's cry was first heard at 11.05pm with the help of vacuum delivery from doc. With limited energy left, I had to use the alternative method. It was also discovered then the cord hanging around baby's neck is also blocking one of his hands, that's why it was hard to push him out with my might.

I was soo relieved when I saw a round black thingy (without spec,at that point I was wondering what that could be - turned out to be baby's hair, haha) come out. Ethan is so hairy, not only he has much hair, but his forehead, face, shoulders are hairy too!

Guess it's pretty clear whom his features take after...his papa lor. Except for the hairy part which papa insists is from my side, hhmmmm...

The bundle of joy is here, as the journey of parenthood resumes for Len & I :)

Due Yet Still In Queue

Hmm..seeing the wordings above ' baby Ethan 2 days overdue' is making me the more anxious to see baby Ethan make his move out. I've been MIA (missing in action) the past few days, but..Ethan is not yet out. Day by day I'm crossing my fingers, waiting for any contraction symptom. I've crossed the May 1 target, passed the May 8 due date, hmm..will we make it for Mother's Day (May 11) this round? Went to see gynae yesterday, my cervix hasn't dilated, and since baby Ethan is doing well (current weight is 3.3kg) and still active on the move, doc still thinks I should go for natural delivery. If the cervix has dilated even a lil, he would have delivered for me yesterday.

I'm getting more anxious each day as I wait for our bundle of joy to arrive. Papa Len is currently back here with me, and I'm thankful for his presence and support which means much to me at this moment. By next Monday if baby isn't out, doc will have to induce for me. Still crossing my fingers, praying that God would grant me natural and pain-free labour, and the availability of resources - doc, nurses, maternity ward, delivery room, papa Len, and of course His presence.

Lord, teach me to be patient as I go through the next few days...till then, have a great weekend everyone. Hope my next blog will have a breakthrough entrance :)