Elizabeth Helen

Announcing....

We got to the hospital and had an unexpected surprise when they told us there were no single rooms available.  Had we been in a double, Ben and the baby couldn't have roomed in with me. Not to mention just sharing space and a bathroom with a stranger. The sweet nun (it's a catholic hospital) saw the little devil in me...  So, thankfully, that resolved itself by noon the first day when there were discharges and we were able to get into a single room.

It was so wonderful to see her for the first time.  We couldn't believe she was finally here.  We've been worried about so many things and it was such a relief to have her safely here.  She is lovely!!  She doesn't look much like Samara did when she was born.  Samara was more "Bikman" and Lizzie is more ''Richins".

This was taken just a couple minutes after she was born.  She wasn't messy at all and her head was perfect, because she was breech and hadn't spent any time in the birth canal.  Her one leg was up by her head but they are both normal curled-up baby legs now.  I didn't cry when I was born and neither did she, until they started wiping her up.  My dad always told me how they were so worried because I wasn't crying.  The doctor said that he could pinch me and make me cry if they wanted him to.  We were both relieved to hear her cry!  

It was a good experience delivering here.  There were some great nurses, but the care is definitely less thorough than what we were used to.   I had a more adverse reaction to the anesethia than I did with with Samara.  I was really loopy all day and couldn't keep anything down.  Thankfully, that passed by the next day and it's already much easier to get around.  When I got out of bed, I could immediately stand upright.  It was several days before I could do that after Samara.  Communicating with the hospital staff was very comical.  Above is the national drink of Singapore, Milo.  Milo is like a drug in the maternity ward--that is all they wanted me to drink for the first 24 hours (even at the exclusion of things like broth and juice).  It didn't matter how many times we declined the offer of some "delicious hot Milo", we received two warm mugs several times a day.  You think they would get the hint when, after checking back on us an hour later, they found the two mugs untouched.  Nope.  Also, with Samara's birth, I lived on ice water--the hospital gave me (and every new mother) an enormous one liter mug that they'd regularly fill with ice water.  But here?  Nope.  'Ice' is a four-lettered word in Singlish.  Water is ONLY served luke warm to hot.    They refer to c-sections as caesars so that didn't do anything to help my hunger! 

The hardest thing about being in the hospital was being away from Samara.  She came to visit us every day and we missed her terribly.  We could tell she wasn't quite sure what to make of everything and kept asking, "Does she like me?" She been very helpful and sweet with the baby.  She's been eyeing a little doctor's kit at the toy store for months and was very excited to receive it as a gift from Lizzie.  Samara reached her limit of being apart from us during our last day at the hospital, .  She did not want to go back home with our friend when it was time to leave.  Ben took her out in the hall to talk to her and she said, "But Papa I don't want to go back home.  Families are supposed to be together".  It broke our hearts and we were very glad that we could check out early in the morning to come home.  After we got the baby to sleep last night around midnight, Samara woke up a couple times with nightmares about us being away.

One of our biggest concerns has been that Lizzie would have hip dysplasia like Samara did.  Hip dysplasia is much more common in breech babies.  The pediatrician's tests were normal and she was able to order an ultrasound that we did in the hospital on Friday.  The results of that also came back normal!  We are so thrilled.  We'll have her checked again in a month or two to make sure she doesn't develop it.  It's much easier to treat with the harness (like Samara had to wear) early on than with more invasive procedures later on. 

We are overcome with gratitude for sweet little Lizzie and the miracle of life.  We feel very very blessed to have two wonderful daughters.

July 21st

is the day Elizabeth will make her debut.  Despite our best efforts, she's insistent on making her entry into the world bottom first so we scheduled the delivery for next Wednesday.  We are very excited and can't wait to meet, snuggle, and love her!

Thankfully, only weekends and auspicious dates (there were several in July) carry a 30% surcharge at the hospital.  And my doctor reassured me that there wouldn't be any surcharges from his end for scheduling it.  The surcharge is to discourage locals from choosing elective c-sections solely to have their child on a "lucky"day.  Why someone would voluntarily be butchered if they didn't need to be is beyond me!

  But I think that 21-7-10 or 7-21-10 is the luckiest day in July.  Presently, we are family of three and Samara is three years old so three must be our lucky number.  7X3=21 and 7+3=10  So, 7-21-10 it is!  Elizabeth being born that day is going to bring prosperity and fortune to our family for generations.

Macaroni Grill Bread

Samara announced today that it was her bed's birthday and wanted to make cookies to celebrate.  Since I am a fan of both her bed and cookies I was happy to oblige.

While I was looking up recipes, I came across one for Macaroni Grill Bread.   Their bread is a favorite of mine so I had to share it.  Yum!

When it was time to celebrate she let me know that because her bed didn't have a mouth, we'd have to eat all cookies.

The woes of delivery overseas

No Maternity Insurance for Locals--We are on a local insurance plan, so that includes us.  We knew this moving here.  And though it's disappointing, we were happy to take a hit if we were fortunate enough to have another baby.  Baby stuff (strollers, clothes, etc) easily costs three to four times what it does in the US.  I just read in the paper that last year's birth rate was at record low for Singapore.  Hello?!  No wonder.  Singapore does so many things well and have so many great policies, but let's stop and think about what's contributing to the low birth rate!  And some education please about all the methods of birth control may be helpful.  I was also reading how it's a problem that women are choosing abortion as a method of birth control over the pill because the pill can really wreak havoc on one's complexion.  A nice complexion or an abortion?  


Peeing on a Stick--I am grateful we aren't living in some backwards place without modern medical care.  But there are some strange things, like not routinely screening for gestational diabetes (except for in us fatty westerners who have HUGE babies) and strep-B.  The one thing though that I am so glad I only have to do a few more times is my protein/glusose test.  I thought getting the sample into a cup was a challenge with a growing belly but here you do it on a little stick.  Then you go back to the waiting room and stand there like a moron smelling the fresh drops of urine covering the stick while you wait for the nurse to come look at it.  It feels like an eternity.  After she looks at it then you and says, "Ok, normal.  Throw away." Then you get to toss it and wash your hands.


Language Barrier and 30% surcharge:  I'd hoped to do a VBAC this go around, but little Lizzie is being stubborn and won't move out of the breech position.  So, I'm finally accepting that and thinking of the benefits of scheduling the delivery.  I got a text yesterday that my doc wasn't going to be in Wednesday, so I called and rescheduled my appointment for Friday.  I asked some questions about scheduling the c-section because I wanted to know how it worked to schedule one.  I found out it's a 30% surcharge for the doctor, hospital, everything if I schedule it instead of waiting until I go into labor and then just having a c-section.  What the hell?  Honestly?  Is it not more convenient for them?  Is it not safer?  Makes NO sense. The woman was so hard to understand and just kept saying, "yes, horoscope birth 30% surcharge"  Me: "The doctor said I have to schedule it if she's breech.  Can you tell me what you mean by horoscope birth?" W: "No, chose birthday means horoscope extra 30%. Maybe you have baby turn.  Have natural (meaning not scheduled) birth no surcharge."  I get so sick of trying to communicate with people here.  English is supposed to be the lingua franca.  It's the language they're educated in. They are supposed to speak it well.  I'm not being some obnoxious American who thinks they should just speak English because I do.   I'm hoping the woman who answered the phone just didn't know what she is talking about.


Confinement: If I had a quarter for every time someone told me how I couldn't go out of my house for a month after the baby was born, drink cold water,  or shower I'd have enough to pay for the said surcharge in #3.  At first I was polite, even though I think not showering for a month after giving birth is ABSURD!  I mean, it was cute that the sweet little old lady who is making the blessing dress said she'd do it quickly so it would be done before the baby was born since I couldn't go out for a month after, but now it's just annoying.  I'm tired of being treated like an invalid and told to be careful every step I take!!  And some other facts for all you know-it-alls out there: getting sunburned will not harm my baby, swimming will not cause a miscarriage, and painting my toe nails will most definitely not give the baby birthmarks or discolorations!!  And do you know what else?!  We are thrilled that we will have two girls, so don't pity me for not having a boy when you ask what I am having!  And one last thing--my being outside during the lunar eclipse did NOTHING to comprise my baby's health.


People walk soooooooooo  slowly--Walking slowly is something that has always grated my nerves, but lately--oh!!!!!!!!  Why do I, at 81/2 months pregnant with a toddler in tow, still walk faster than 75% of the population?  Seriously people--kick it in gear!!


And now that I have that all off my chest, I feel much better.   Soon we will have a beautiful baby here and all of this won't matter.  Well, except I'll be scorned when people see me outside during that first month.  I wonder if they'll turn me in.  I'm off to do my headstand and pelvic exercises.  Gotta relax that uterus and help this baby turn! 

Five Benefits of a Good Imagination

1. You save money

Samara has never had a baby doll and doesn't want one.  Her pink blanket doubles as her pretend baby.  She feeds, plays with, and is extremely protective of her.

 2.  You get to have pets without the responsibility

Sometimes she's a cat and sometimes she's a dog.  We are always a family of snails.  Her first imaginary pet was "Tiny" the dinosaur, but now it's the "nice mosquitos".  The nice mosquitos are a wonderful resource because they not only protect us from the bad kind (that bite you) but they also have a pretend map whenever we get lost.  When we don't know which way to go, we simply ask the nice mosquitos.  I wonder if I should feel bad that my poor sense of direction caused her to invent help for us.

3.  Naptime is always interesting

I always got the biggest kick out of the excuses our nieces and nephews came up with at bedtime.  Mara is no different.  I love when she insists she is not tired and then zonks out.  It's so fun to listen in at the door before she falls asleep and then to go in once she's fallen asleep to see what she's done to entertain herself until she dozes off.  She went through a phase (lower left photo) where she'd only nap on the floor.  I'm thrilled when she naps so anywhere she wants to nap is fine with me.

FYI, that is definitely NOT a bra in the top photo.  That is her BACKPACK!  Even though she has two cute backpacks, she insists this is the only one she has and begs to wear it when we go outside.  

4.  Our travels last longer 

Samara loves visiting new countries and "visits" them for months after we return from a trip.  I am amazed how much she remembers.  Currently, we live at the beach in Indonesia (I wish!!).  One day while she was playing with the little wooden dolls from her dollhouse, I heard her tell them they were going to America and had to take three airplanes to get there.  Then she said, "Ok, time to get off and go through customers (read customs) so you can get a new stamp in your passport."

5.  She keeps on us our toes

Even though we may not always love the creative uses she finds for things around the house, I'm so glad she has such a vivid imagination.  We never know what this little one is going to come up with next, but she keeps us highly entertained.  I wish her pretend money and grocery store (she always goes to when we are missing ingredients for dinner) were real.  But I'm glad her nice mosquitos aren't...

Happy Father's Day!

Just over a month and we'll have another sweet baby girl to adore and to snuggle.  Papa Ben can't wait.  We're so grateful he is our dad and husband!  

There are many things we love and appreciate about him.  Samara summed up well, one of those things that make Ben such a great dad, when she asked me a few weeks ago, "Mimo, why does papa always like to watch all the kid shows with me even though he's really tall (translation:  he's a grown up)?"  

She's also been wondering when "kid-day"is since we had mother's day and now father's day.  Isn't every day kid's day?  So, to all you papas and kids out there, have a wonderful day tomorrow!

Cousin Jeanne comes to visit

I love my cousin Jeanne!  She's a sister and a best friend all in one fabulous package.  She and her husband Trac came for a visit in May.  Trac went home a week before her and her extra week happened to overlap Ben's being in Sweden for a conference.  We had a wonderful time together and managed to pack every day full of sightseeing and activities, which made for some swollen ankles for me!  Samara has amazing endurance from being dragged all over the world and nothing seemed to wear her out. 

Jeanne and I share a common love for photography, so we made sure we did not miss any photo opportunities.  Samara thought it was hilarious that the flower is taking a picture.  Samara's pretend camera was always out too.  At the zoo, Jeanne and Trac were both snapping away so she was too.  Then she asked, "guys, what are we even taking a picture of?"

A visit to the Chinese Gardens

We've only seen these Aldabra or Galapagos giant tortoises once before at the zoo.  We are usually only there in the mornings, but since we were there all day, we got to feed them in the afternoon.  They were huge.  Males can weigh up to 250kg and females up to 160kg.  This guy was 40 years old and they live to be about 80.  The oldest one lived to be 255 years.  They were so interesting but it did make me a little nervous that toes would get stepped on.

I love having visitors because we always end up finding a new place to see.   We'd never been to Mt Faber, the tallest point in Singapore at a whopping 105 meters above sea level.  We hiked down to these awesome tree-top walkways.  We'd been to those when we first moved here because our temporary apartment was right by there.  It was a great little hike...

...with matching toenails, of course.  Is there any other way to hike?

The arts festival was going on and this was a fire garden they had set up to commence the festival.  It was quite a display.

  During Jeanne's last weekend here we headed to Bintan to cheer on some friends in a triatholon and enjoy the beach--the perfect way to end a fabulous trip.  We miss you cousin Jeanne!!