Meet Zara's Brother

Meet my handsome GodSon, Mizan

I'm quite certain the moment you read the title, the first thought that comes in mind is a picture of a fetus via ultrasound. Sorry to disappoint you but this isn't the case. As you all know, Zara is an exclusively Breastfed baby. She will not accept any form of milk unless it is from her mother. Not only that, now that she's older, she will only drink straight from the tap. So, the moment I reach home, she will go full throttle. In order to maintain my supply, I will still have to pump milk during office hours. My frozen ebm stock was filling up the freezer and we just didn't know what to do with it. Coincidentally, my best friend was looking for a Fairy Dairy Godmother. She didn't need much as long as there are some for her son. After discussing with hubster, we decided to give the stock to her and keep on supplying.

Memoir Affair 2008

You see, in Islam, being a Dairy Godparent is a very important role to take. A huge responsibility that Dairy GodSibblings are not allowed to be married. However, aside from the restrictions, there's also the brighter side where by the act creates a bond that we become family. We thought long and hard before making our decision. Somehow we believe this is the best way it is and think that we just brought our relationship from best friends to a whole new level as family. At the moment, we are slowly trying to educate our children and bring them up as siblings. I know there are precautions that will have to be taken into considerations but I believe that anything that comes from a good cause there will be more good coming from it, InsyaAllah.. 

With Mizan at Chawan, Bangsar last Saturday

p/s: I've got to be the Chic-est Fairy GodMother, right? Just need to look for a wand with a subtle bling. Chanel Maybe? LOL!

Follow Up on My Previous Post

It worked! After taking 1000mg Calcium Supplements a day, I can really feel my stock filling up! If only I was told about it earlier. So, if you are nursing and started having your menstrual cycle, do take calcium supplements to ensure that your supply isn't affected! Thank God for Ostematrix! Now my baby is happy with her drug and falls deeply asleep after a warm drink straight from the tap!

A Happy Baby makes A Happy Mommy! 

Calcium Requirement Especially for A Nursing Mother while havingMenstruation

Recently, my doctor cousin, Ezyana posted on facebook on how she has to start taking the 2g daily calcium requirement considering that she's taking the effect of falling a little more than what she expected. However, she puts the blame on age and the possibility that she is not getting sufficient calcium from her diet. The fact that she is breastfeeding may also play apart in the contribution.

Little did I know, I too overlook on how much calcium I need especially when I'm breastfeeding and have recently started my menstrual cycle back. I did almost everything right like drinking a lot of water, eating sufficient amount of calories, pump milk and also feed my baby as often as possible. For some reason, my supply was still dropping. So, I did what everyone from this era of techonology will do; ask Uncle Google. Guess what I found out? 

"The drop in milk supply that is associated with your period can be associated with a drop in blood calcium levels which occurs in the middle of your cycle, around the time you ovulate. To combat this, you can take calcium/ magnesium supplement. 

If you decide to try this, you should start taking the supplement when you ovukate until the third day of your period. (If you dont know when you ovulate, it's generally about two weeks before you're due for your period. you can also just take it for the whole month). The supplement should be 1000(mg) calcium /500 g magnesium. Make sure that you buy the combination calcium/magnesium supplement, as that much calcium should never be taken alone."

Source: exclusivepumping.com

Thank god I dont have to look so far because I always stock Shaklee's Ostematrix and use it as a replacement for paracetemol. Now, all i have to do is take it religiously. Wish me luck! 

Making a list and Checking it... A gazzilion times?!! Ok... Iexaggerated..

No... It has nothing to do with Santa and Christmas.

Well, as some of you might have known, my birthday is just around the corner. Turning 23 for the 2nd time around, age is just a number to me. I may be married with a kid but I'm living my life to the fullest. I have a good feeling for the upcoming year. Going back to school in January (even tho it's just part time), makes me feel as if i have bigger plans ahead and I can't stop feeling even more thankful for the gifts Allah SWT has presented to me.

Challenges? Well i dont think we should dwell in it very much. Sure, next year is also going to be tough with the current economy crisis and what not but look how far we've come. We made it before so why can't we go through it again, right? Just endure it gracefully. Am sure we will think of something because for every problem, there's always solution. As a wise man (Tok Ali) once told me, "What's the problem?" There's only solutions. 

However, for my husband, this is the time of the year when he will have headaches. Why? First, let me tell you about my husband. He is not exactly a hopelessly romantic kind of person regardless how much he loves sappy music and My Lovely Girl, he really doesn't know how to buy me gifts. Ok, fine... I maybe the one to blame because I'm very fussy. I really don't get it. I give him hints all the time but he always seem clueless. After being with him for almost 7 years now, I just have to let it go. Birthday month is the time when I make demands for all the things I want. Hence, the headaches calculating how much he will have to fork out. Haha!

So, this morning in the car, 

Hubster: I really don't know what you want (for your birthday) because you keep showing me different things.

Me: In that case, why don't you get me all of them? * smiling gleefully...* besides, you owe me like anniversary present, a handbag and jewelleries that you promised... 

Hubster: Jap ekk... I forgot where I put my money printing machine... LoL! Just tell me la specifically the items you want. 

Me: ok. I nak kasut ni...tapi i nak kasut converse/keds for casual use... Maybe you should get me this shoe instead cause it's more expensive then I'll buy that one myself since I can afford it. Hmm... And maybe..

Hubster: Cepat la picit leher I... 

😅

Stress sgt lettew... Haha!!! I only get this treatment once a year, so please do not judge me. I'm not really materialistic. If you really know me and how much i'm in dire need of new clothes, shoes etc (most of them are worn out or too big), you would prolly understand. Whenever I am about to make a purchase, i keep procastinating and end up not buying. Like during my trip to Australia, believe it or not, i only bought myself 4 pair of pants (3 pairs of exercise pants 10AUD each and 1 pair of jeans from sportsgirl that cost 20AUD which was on Sale) throughout the whole trip! But I'm still a girl who loves all the pretty things. #ilovemyhusband like a lot! Everyday! 😁

At the moment, I'm making a list and cross checking things between what I really want and need. I am also setting aside what i'm due to get like a new phone. If any of you are so kind and thinking of getting me a present, I would very much appreciate stationeries for me to use in school next year. LoL! 

Now, let me get back to my list... Have a great day!

To all mommies-to-be who are having a tough time...

A few of my friends asked me if there's an easy way of dealing with the sickness during pregnancy. Honestly, there isn't any easy way of dealing with it. If you are getting sickness, it is a good sign. I didn't have mine initially because I wasn't producing enough hormones. As a result, the walls of my uterus wasn't forming that well that I had a case of bleeding. Only after taking the hormone pills that the sickness kick in. No it wasn't morning nor afternoon, it was all day sickness. To make things even more interesting, during my 1 week of bed-rest period, my husband had a knee surgery to reconstruct his ligament and remove a portion of his meniscus. 

Since hubster was recovering from a major knee surgery and we were moving to our first and new home, I had to be the strong one and so was Zara or Lil Chica as I call her when she was in my womb. We assisted hubster as he regain his physical well being.

Financially, it was pretty tight. Not only that we have to pay for the medical fees (the hormone pills weren't cheap) but we also had to bear physio therapy sessions 3 times a week (RM120 per session). There are 4 weeks a month so you do the math. When we heard about Hypnobirth class, we had a discussion about our financial status and whether we can afford it. However, I strongly believe that every challenge is a blessing in disguise and a child is the best gift of life there is. If you think that it is for the best for your child, no matter how hard things are, you will be able to find everything you need (especially when God, in our case Allah SWT will always give us what we need instead of what we want). 

There were also a few incidents that spiritually affected me like how my sister in law had a macerated childbirth. Read all about it here: Eryll Ezara binti Ezuan. Everyone was in a grieving period for months. It was a very tough period even for us as we weren't sure how things will turn out. Every now and then, we will panic should Lil Chica move less.  

Alhamdulillah, we made it through. I know that some would say that it is easy for me to say considering that both hubster and I come from a middle class family. If you read my previous post, Never thought I'ld say this but I want to be a Fisherman! (or Woman). Things weren't handed to us on a silver platter. Now, when I was asked how do I manage to have so much energy and still have an ambition to do more, I'ld say that my experience and the challenges I faced prepped me for my life today.

If you are going through a tough time, the best way of dealing with it is to endure it. If it is the hormones, it is a good sign. It is understandable if you are moody, grumpy etc. After all, you can't control it. Nothing comes easy but sooner or later, it will pass and the reward is going to be far more priceless. I see it every time I look at my little girl laughing cheekily at me. God is always fair. Have faith and be strong. You'll be surprise with the strength you have. After all, you are a woman.