Lil Shauna is Home!

We fetched her from the hospital last evening. She weighs a healthy 2010g. That marks the start of my (real) motherhood. Lil Shauna & I went to my mum's place to spend the rest of my confinement. Daddy Lim stayed for the 1st breastfeed session at 9pm before heading home to a big bed and a peaceful sleep. On the contrary, I was jittery all night.


Lil Shauna slept well after her feed. I tried sleeping too, but not very successful. I would stir at the smallest noise that she made and kept tossing and turning in bed. Soon, it was 1am and I tried waking her up for her next feed but she was not too cooperative. She only suckle for 20 mins and gave in to the Zzz monster. I gave up too, comforting myself that she's probably still full from the last feed. I finally drifted off to dreamland.

My mum was sleeping beside me. Her presence didnt comfort me. In fact, she's a bigger gan cheong spider than me. At 4am, she jumped when Lil Shauna cough (yes, a mere cough) and I jumped out of sleep as well. Aiyo! Just nice, Lil Shauna woke up for her next feed. I spent an hour breastfeeding her and changing her soiled nappy. She really poo poo alot. Then I tried coaxing her back to sleep. It was peaceful again until I was waken by engorgement at 8am. Since the little princess was sleeping peacefully, I went ahead to express. Right after I expressed, she woke up screaming for milk. -.o" Wat perfect timing. Looks like I will be spending the rest of my confinement doing the same thing over and over again. Haiz.

There will be no pix for awhile until Daddy Lim brings me the camera cable. Sorrie.
I think I have too much breast milk for Lil Shauna. When we fetch her yday, the nurse returned us a whole bag of frozen breast milk that I had expressed but Lil Shauna was unable to consume. They were pretty amazed at the amount of milk that I have. Hahaha.. Good, I hoped I can stock up to put Lil Shauna exclusively on breast milk up to 6 months. I am a cow..

Mummy Lim

Lil Shauna's Homecoming

Daddy Lim received a call from the nursery this morning. They called to inform that Lil Shauna can br discharged at noon today! I have a medical appointment at NUH at 11am and Daddy Lim has a medical appointment at AH at 11am too. Although we half guessed that she's coming home soon, the fact still very much shocked me. While in the car to NUH, I was rattling off the list of things yet to be done. I still feel very unprepared. I am going to be a real mummy soon.

As Daddy Lim still have to go back to office after his appointment and I am sure that I cannot handle the baby on my own, we'll be picking her up in the evening. The nurses are fine with the arrangement but reminded that we'll incur an additional day's charge. We have yet to pay a single cent to date and have no idea how much cost we have incurred. But since I and Lil Shauna are paying subsidised rate, I think the bill is reasonable and a large part can be covered by medisave.

So, that leaves me an afternoon to pack bag, run around alittle and get ready to welcome Shauna home. Okie, got to go, update later ya. I hope Lil Shauna will be as well-behaved as Daddy Lim deem her to be and leave me some time to update the blog. Hehe..

Mummy Lim

Lil Shauna's Bash

The stupid computer is still down. We are unable to retrieve Shauna's folder, all the fotos are gone! Luckily, we have yet to delete the fotos from the camera. So I spent an hour in the middle of the night (while expressing) to create a new folder and to reorganise the fotos and burnt them into a CD. I m glad that I did, cos the stupid computer logged me on as a temporary user (again)this morning and I lost the newly created Shauna's folder!!! Luckily, I can still use the internet. Else, I would probably smash the computer and demand a new one from Daddy Lim. Alternatively, he can wake up in the middle of the night and keep me accompany while I express milk. Hehehe. Oh, Daddy Lim is not gg to India today. There is not enuff time for his visa application. Haha.

Lil Shauna is 1960g yday. Aiyo, we were a little disappointed cos she was piling on alot of weight just 2 days ago, but oni a mere 12g increase yday. We are hoping to bring her home over the weekend, not sure if it is still possible. By coming Sunday, she would have spent 3 weeks in the hospital & I lost 3 weeks of bonding time. That leaves me only 7 weeks of maternity leave to learn how to take care of her (I m taking 10 weeks straight and staggering the last 2 weeks). However, we believe that it is all in God's hand. If she has come home earlier, I probably wun be able to handle her.

We havent decide on the full-month bash date. All bcos her popo cannot make up her mind. Tsk, tsk.. Remember that she insisted that the bash must be held within one-month from Lil Shauna's date of birth? Tat would mean 7 Jun 08 as we wanted to hold it on a Saturday. However, I m supposed to be still doing my confinement then, and she found it too early too (5 days from the actual one-month). So, she's contemplating 14 Jun 08 now. I mean, it cannot be the case where there's a whole spread of good food and poor me has to hide in the kitchen to eat confinement food mah. So, our dear popo cannot make up her mind and wanted to check with this other auntie who oso held her bb's full-month bash 2 days later than the actual 1 month. Haiz, she's just trying to comfort herself. I have been telling her all this while that it doesnt matter to hold the bash later than the actual one-month and she just cannot stomach it. Yet, she will be happy to hold it later after checking with this other lady. As if she's not the only precedent case, maybe then her gods cannot fault her (alone) since others are doing it as well. Faint. Well, if it makes popo happy, Lil Shauna will be happy to obey as well. Afterall, Daddy Lim still insist that Lil Shauna is the most well-behave and obedient baby around. -.o"







This is our sleeping beauty and Daddy Lim enjoying his new-found daddy status.












Sometimes, I am really amaze at how this little cutie pie is able to change her daddy from some "act-cool" hunk into a SNAG instantly. Just look at the way Daddy Lim holds her. Hahaha, Daddy Lim is going to kill me. ;p
Mummy Lim

Going to be Real Parents soon

The computer has gone crazy. I took more than 30mins trying to switch it on, constantly pressing the restart button. It finally comes alive but on duno wat profile and Shauna's folder is gone! So no fotos for now, until Daddy Lim manages to resolve the problem. Sorrie.

Lil Shauna is growing! She's 1948g yday, another big jump of 41g! Hopefully she will sustain her growth and we can probably expect her back this weekend! Then I will really start the rest of my confinement. -.o" I will be shifting to my bro's place and probably come home only at the end of the confinement month (which is only 1+week left). Haiz, the tot does put me off alittle. Not that I dun like my bro's place, just that I am already so used to the freedom despite doing confinement. Now, I can express milk as and when and in anyplace that I so like, I shower and wash my hair when I see the need to and even manage to sneak out to shopping mall or cinema (hehehe, bad mummy). The internet is my faithful companion while expressing, especially in the middle of the night. If I am at my bro's place, I can picture my mum's constant nagging (though she meant well) and me hiding in the room expressing. Haiz. I mean, I cant be half naked in my bro's computer room mah. ;p Still, I have tahan for Lil Shauna's sake. Actually, it is more so the fact that I dun think I can handle her on my own. ;p

Yday, it dawned on me that I am going to be a real mummy soon. For the past 2+weeks, the only mummy thing that I do is to express milk regularly and to visit her for a short while everyday. When she's back home, I have to do real mummy's things like breast/ bottle feed her, thaw expressed BM, change her, take care of her, bathe her, etc. Oh gosh, I had been praying that God will prepare me, but I feel the least prepared. I have always wanted her to come home soon, but the fact that she is really coming home soon has turned me into a gan cheong spider. Hmm.. I hope practice makes perfect.

Then, there is the full-month bash to think about. We didnt work on it as we have no idea when Lil Shauna is coming back. Now that it is soon, we dun have much time left.. We have to come out with the guest list, order buffet, invite the guest, etc. Faint, so many things to do. Oh, it oso reminds me of a conversation that I had with my mum. She's overly concerned about some Chinese tradition and insisted that the bash must be held before Lil Shauna reaches one-month old. I was telling her that since we are not inviting our extended family, we can hack the tradition. Afterall, Daddy Lim's family are Christians and they probably wouldnt mind not sticking to the tradition. Moreover, Daddy Lim, myself & Lil Shauna are believers too and we dun care as well. ;p Still, if possible, we would want to follow Mummy's instruction and make her happy. Oh gosh, how little time we have left.

Daddy Lim oso dropped me a bomb this morning. He just received an email from boss for a trip to India tomorrow. -.o" No details yet. Aiyo.. So many things happening at the same time. Not sure if he will really kena the trip or someone else will take over.

Okie, got to go, need to pack my bag, fold clothes, search for buffet and finished the rest of my VCDs before Lil Shauna comes home, hehe.

Mummy Lim

Growing Baby

Lil Shauna is growing. Thank you for all the prayers. :)
She's amazing 1907g yday, an increase of 51g! I m not sure if it is bcos the nurses made a mistake, the weighing machine is not accurate, Lil Shauna drank extra milk or watever to boost the sudden growth. We were just dancing with joy to noe that she's putting on weight fast. Hopefully, she will be home with us this weekend. seriously speaking, we are really tired with the shuffling between home & hospital. Jia you, abit more niah.

We constantly look thru her old pix (i.e. taken when she was just born) and realised that her appearance has changed a fair bit. Luckily, she has grown prettier..




When she's 1-day old.









2-day old





4-day old














7-day old







11-day old







14-day old








Taken yday, 16-day old



Mummy Lim

How Heavy Are You Today?

Lil Shauna was 1856g yday morning. She has put on 66g since Friday, i.e. a mere 22g each day. Haiz, the nurse says that average should be 25g wor. She's doing below average then. I think she poo too much. Daddy Lim joked that maybe they forgot to feed her. -.o" Faint.. At this rate that she's growing, it will take her another 7days to reach 2kg wor..

I breastfeed her yday though it was not her feeding time. Her feeding is supposed to be at 8pm and we saw her at 7.20pm. However, she started getting cranky and displayed her usual "give-me-milk-or-I-will-eat-the-cloth" behaviour. Daddy Lim cannot bear seeing his little ger go hungry and insisted that we feed her. I let her suckle for a long while, until she fell asleep. We returned her to the nurse at 8pm. Hopefully, she can down her 40ml at the 8pm feed and gain more weight.

I was less upset yday. So the nurses look friendlier too. Haha. We oso joked with them alittle. Maybe with friendly parents, they will treat Lil Shauna better? Hehe. When we were leaving, we saw a baby boy who is just as tiny as Lil Shauna. The nurse said that he too was just transferred to the nursery from the NICU, waiting to gain weight. Maybe that was Lil Shauna's neighbour when she was in NICU.. or maybe it was her boyfriend. Hehehe..

This is how she looked when she's hungry.. Give me MILK!!!

Mummy Lim

My Little Pink Book

Lil Shauna just received another gift today. It is a little pink book from Mummy L & J. Hehe, Mummy Lim was just about to start a Lil Shauna foto album. Looks like she will be pretty busy with all the art & craft stuff. :)

Thank you babes.

Mummy Lim

I m Upset...

We visited Lil Shauna in the evening. Just as I expected, things were better when she's in the NICU. At the nursery, visiting hours are stricter. Either 12nn to 2pm or 5pm to 8pm (they allowed parents to visit until 9pm though). The ratio of nurses to babies is definitely smaller, so they are probably less detail minded and less regular checks. The nursery is attached to the normal ward (mainly for mummies who just delivered), thus the nurse usually "push" the babies to the mummies' bedside. As I am no longer warded, there is not much space that we can use when visiting Lil Shauna. We were told to use the day room, which is non-aircon and there were others inside. We changed our mind (in using the day room) when we heard an uncle coughing away. Luckily, the breastfeeding room was available. In the event that it is not available, I duno where else we can use. Haiz..

We cant enter the nursery. We have to wait for the nurse to fetch Lil Shauna and bring her to us. The nurse was going for her break when we took Lil Shauna, a covering nurse forgot to bring her milk to us. -.o" Luckily we asked. We didnt stay long, just in case others wanted to use the room. When departing, I checked with the nurse on Lil Shauna's weight and she couldnt answer me!!! She told me that it is 1800+g. Of course I noe that, cos she is already 1790g on Friday. She definitely put on more than 10g over the weekend mah. The nurse went on to say that they will take her weight again after her night shower, which is supposed to be the most accurate, so we can find out tomorrow. Wat an excuse for not knowing her work!! Ok, I noe, I noe.. It is not really her fault, they just took over and I am upset.

I left with a heavy heart. When Lil Shauna is in NICU, I really believe that she's in good hands. Since she is still so little, I tot she will be better off in NICU than at home with me. However, now that the nurses at the nursery are just feeding her at 3 hours interval, changing her nappy and bathing her, I think she's better off home with me. Yet they wun discharge her, not until she's 2000g or at least 1930g. That is wat the nurse says, but I take it with a pinch of salt. Afterall, she cant even tell me how heavy Lil Shauna is. Haiz, I wonder how many more days she needs to reach the 2000g milestone.

Please pray that:

1. The nurses and docs will pay extra attention to Lil Shauna (the nursery is meant for normal full term babies who are 2+kg, 3+kg, not preterm babies like Lil Shauna);

2. Lil Shauna will quickly hit the required weight to go home;

3. The breastfeeding room will always be available when we visit Lil Shauna, so that we have a place to use;

4. I will be able to cast all my anxieties to God and convert my worries to prayers;

5. God will protect Lil Shauna from germs and not let her fall sick.

Lil Shauna appeared not to realise that her surrounding has changed. She was sleeping soundly when she was brought to us and half-asleep throughout feeding. She only opened her eyes for awhile after we feed her. Oh, we kissed her for the 1st time. Since she's out of NICU, I supposed it meant that she's stronger and more resistant to our germs? Hehe.

Mummy Lim

Normal Nursery Ward

The nurse from NICU called Daddy Lim in the morning to inform that Lil Shauna has been transferred to the normal nursery ward. I wonder if that is good or bed news. I always tot that Lil Shauna will be discharged directly from NICU. Her transferring out probably mean that she is totally fine, just need to gain that 210g to reach 2kg. However, there are more nurses in the NICU and she gets more attention and more regular checks. Daddy Lim says that I worry too much. I guessed so too, but which parent wouldnt. Anyway, we will visit her at the nursery later. We really appreciate all the love, care & concern that the NICU nurses & docs have showered on Lil Shauna during these 14 days. :)

Mummy Lim

Indiana Jones

We went for Indiana Jones with C & S yday, after visiting Lil Shauna. Tot that we should indulge in some entertainment before she comes home. It had been a long time since we caught a movie. The last one was Jumper on V Day. After I became preggy, I hated the cinema. It is almost as if the seat gets smaller (or I get bigger) and the air gets thinner. I always feel sick, giddy and breathless the moment I sit down in the cinema. As such, I did not enjoy the last movie and refused to step foot into the cinema thereafter. Poor Daddy Lim. He adores gg to the movies. We used to catch some shows every week, regardless of whether they are good movies. He has to resort to watching Iron Man alone right before I popped. Sorrie bb.

Anyway, Indiana Jones is a disappointment. In my memory, Dr Jones was some super gao(2) person who solves mystery, riddles & find treasure. In this movie, he wasnt the gao(2) one but some other Professor who gone nutty midway. Aiyo, the image of my childhood hero has been tarnished! National Treasure would win over Indiana Jones anytime.. Haiz..

Oh, S commented that I looked pale. She asked if I m still plagued by bleeding gum or bleeding watever. No leh. I feel fine just a little tired with all the running around and expressing milk. Maybe it is bcos I am Thala minor, thus low in iron. Then I realised that I m super busy despite on maternity leave without the baby. This is typically how my day goes.

0630 - wakes up with Daddy Lim
0715 - Daddy Lim drives to work, I drive back
0745 - express milk + bfast
0845 - watch TV,surf net, blog, go hospital, clear work from home or office or rest
1100 - express milk
1200 - go mum's place for lunch
1300 - watch TV,surf net, blog, go hospital, clear work from home or rest
1430 - express milk
1630 - fetch Daddy Lim (depending on wat time he knocks off)
1800 - dinner at Mum's place
1900 - visit Lil Shauna
2100 - back home, shower
2200 - express milk
2300 - bedtime
middle of the night - express milk
brand new day, routine starts again.

I wonder how much busier life would be when Lil Shauna comes back home. -.o"

I was feeling alright during the show, though it takes some getting used to. Midway thru the movie, I tot I felt pain in the chest. Then I got worried bcos S said that I looked pale (me & my super wild imagination). Then I realised that it is engorgement.. -.o" One side of my left breast was super hard and painful to touch. It was throbbing with pain when left alone. Towards the end of the movie, I started leaking milk. It had been almost 8 hours since the last milk expression. Aiyo and I have no breast pad on. I never tot I would leak milk mah. Luckily, it was just a tiny bit and we live so near. So pai seh. We had to rush home to express milk. The engorgement disappeared thereafter. Heng... I was just saying the other day that I have no engorgement and I have no idea how it felt like. Now I noe.

Mummy J said that the leak milk on the breast pad will smell like Lil Shauna's poo poo at the end of the day. How comforting... Daddy Lim says that he can smell milk on me. He says that the computer room smells of milk too (I normally express in the computer room). Oh gosh, I didnt noe that my BM is so powerful. I am immuned to the smell. Lucky me and poor Daddy Lim. Hahahaa..

Mummy Lim