Merry Christmas

Today is Christmas! Nicholas first one. We have a fully decorated tree, some lights on a tree and on the floor at the front porch. Trying to be as Christmasy as I can.

I've got a 10 pound rib roast in the oven, chicken noodle vegetable soup on the stove, soy sauce chicken and cinnamon rolls all on the island counter. Mom came over with some steam chinese rice cake pudding treats. My brother is coming over with some crabs and stuff in a bit. This is one of the most celebrated Christmas days since a long time.

The season brings back memories of Dad and Grandma.

So lazy

That would be me, over two months since I've blogged. A lot has happen since...as time flies by, we tend to recollect on the things that happened unfortunately my memory has failed me quite too often.

Nicholas is 10 months and 17 days! What have I done to deserve such a wonderful child. He has the sweetest smile! The little darling is giving kisses already! about 3 weeks ago or so, I asked him for a 'kiss' then i kissed him, after a few times of doing that, he learn to lean over and kiss! with his lips!! He is already turning heads over heals to his aunts with his killer kisses!

He started standing next to furniture, I'm so not in a hurry to get him walking! Love every minute of holding him close to me in my arms.

Worst day ever

Its been a tough time. On September 9, about 6PM, just when Nicholas turns 8 months! He has a febrile seizure! What happen! The night before his body temperature was up a bit..to 102.8! So I took his clothes off and gave him some ibuprofen. Called the doctor at 7AM and he said to bring him in for evaluation at 9:30, everything was fine. No ear infection, no throat infection, he seem fine, I seem like a total liar. Got home around noon. At 5:30, everything seem normal, I went out to feed the dogs, come back in the house 5 minutes later...I had him in the walker earlier and he was playing with Audrey, I don't remember what he was doing when I left the house, I don't remember....but when I came inside, he was 'relaxed' with his head resting on the seat of the walker, I tip top over to see if he was sleeping. HE WAS BLUE, eyes half open and rolled up, I could only see white through his eye lids! I rushed over and picked him up, as limp as a doll, I got worried, walked to the kitchen to get the phone as I try to wake him. Almost called 911, but his color came back and his eyes open (looking up to the right). I calm a bit, he was shaking, and I called the doctor's answering service. Dr. Tan called back a minute or two later, and we went over to his office, he was still there at 6pm!

Dr. Tan gave Nicholas two injections, one steroid and one antibiotic. And he inserted a suppository in to reduce his fever. Then we hung around there for another hour or so, got home around 9PM. Had the worst experience ever with that!

Through the night I check and check on him, non stop, even called Dr. Tan at 12:30AM! His temperature had drop..drop too low for me...96.2. He was cold. I put more clothes on him, then a blanket, he would not warm up!! I held him, he was still cold!! I was sooooo worried. Doctor reassure that he is fine, just keep checking his temperature. I stayed at 96.2 all night, all morning...finally went up to 96.8 after he woke up at 8AM.

This tops my list of worst days ever and let it be there forever. I don't want another day to top that.

funny or what

Mom: Is that water or pee on the floor sweetheart?
Audi: Its not pee mommy
Mom: What is it then?
Audi: Its water from my 'pet pet'

Today Audrey did something that was just too funny, but I don't remember what it was. I was giggling anyhow, and then she said: "I am so funny Mommy." That made it even funnier and I am still smiling over that comment alone!

Life is full of adventure

So much is happening in my life at the moment...where do I start? Ok...the latest first, YESTERDAY, August 29th, Friday, I signed Audrey up for preschool, she will start on Tuesday! My little girl is going to school!

She didn't cry. She was happy. She got along with the children. She loved it! She wants to go to school everyday!!

Audrey is 3

My baby girl is now 3, entering her toddler hood, she is full of energy and ambition. Dim sum with my grandpa, aunt Kom, unlces Jim and Young, then we hang out at grandpa's for a bit, then head off to Sam's Club to get fruits to decorate the cake. We had a little dinner party at home with close family. Bake a cake, Ellen and I decorated it. Audrey played with Daddy and brother all day. We had such a wonderful time. We went to Peter Piper and played all afternoon yesterday, she loves riding on the carousel.

passport photos again...

Took more photos of Niki the other day and I've trimmed it down to print.

my head hurts

On Saturday, July 19th, Audrey bumped her head on the top of my head and 4 days later, it still hurts! Her head must be made of diamond! Oh, the day before, we went to Arrowhead mall, to buy some clothes for the children. Audrey saw a kiosk with jewelry, so we took a look at the earrings, and she was so excited. I asked her if she wanted her ears pierced, she said yes, I don't think she knew what that mean, so I asked if she want the earrings, she also said yes. I explain to her that the earrings will go through your ears, and she agreed. To make sure what she was getting herself into, we watched a 6 month girl get her ears pierced. The little girls daddy was holding her, and when the earring went in her left ear she cried, and cried again when they did the right ear. She continue to cry for a few minutes, we asked to see her earrings and I told Audrey that she just got her earrings put in. Audrey insisted that it was what she wanted. So! She got her selection, a little small diamond (cubic zirconium) with 14K white gold, and we sat down at the chair after I filled out the papers. Marked her ears and check to make sure it was in line with each other, and the salesman punched the earring in her left ear. She didn't cry. He was surprised, "Oh, she didn't cry." Moved on to the right ear, and she also didn't cry. Gave her a lollipop and we started back to the car. By the time we arrived she was already asleep.

I'm so proud of her, she is such a strong girl. She complains her ears hurt, so tells me not to touch it, and gets upset when I clean it, but she is ok, she lets me do it because she don't want them to be infected.

I love her.

silly baby

Nicholas has been really silly, while trying to feed him his oatmeal cereal, he opens his mouth wide so I push a bunch of it in. After I withdraw the spoon, he decides that its not going down his throat, 'buuuusss' and its all on his face, shirt, bib, arms and my face too. The little man can sure spit!

That's not the end of it either...Audrey sees how brother is having so much fun doing that, she decides to do the same, only she is not eating, so I get smother with saliva!

funny

The other day Audrey was playing with those little foam books that had puzzel pieces inside. She took out an orange square and said ....
Audi: Mommy, what color is this square?
Me: What color do you think it is?
Audi: Its 'carrot' color Mommy, did you not know that?
Me: OH, carrot color eh...its orange color baby.
Audi: OK, but its carrot color too.

Today, she saw me drinking coffee (its decaffeinated) and said....
Audi: Mommy, you're drinking coffee, here drink some (she pushes the cup to me).
Me: Thank you Sweetheart, I'll drink it in a minute.
Audi: Please drink it now, you're making me unhappy if you don't (she starts to cry)
Me: Oh baby, don't be unhappy, let me hug you and make you happy again (we embrace in a long hug).

the happiest baby

Nicholas is absolutely the happiest baby, just a simple game of peek-a-boo can send him giggling. I hear him kicking in bed this morning, went to his bedside and he starts smiling just because. Audrey gives him a 'Good Morning Brother, jo sun di di' and that sends him laughing. Its times like this that I can't resist how wonderful babies are and makes me want more...but dear, my tummy hasn't even gone back to pre-pregnancy stage yet.

I was trying to take a photo of him for his passport, he gives me a smile because I asked for it, then he starts blowing, but he isn't pushing out raspberries anymore, he is spitting 2 feet away, so my camera gets a taste of his saliva. He can't stop now, his tongue is grasp between his lips and he is blowing away like a tornado. You can even see that his tongue is vibrating and his face is all wet! He is practicing this so that he will be the best kisser ever. This one is cute, but the other is so cool too, very hard to choose...humm..umm...mmm....

time is going too fast

Alright, my baby is five months old! dear. dear. where have I been and what have I been doing in the past 5 months! I don't remember... Nicholas is getting so big, 18 pounds at five months! Audrey was 19 pounds on her first birthday. He is a much chunkier, so much more to pinch :) Little Niki is cooing and gooing like a singer in concert, he wants to carry a two way conversation with me all day long, all I have to do is nod, smile and whooo, ahhh, cooo....such intelligent words that only a baby can make sense out of.

Summer heat is hitting the house, can't play outside anymore until Autumn comes. We are going to have to be creative around the house and find activities to keep both babies busy and happy. Audrey is really giving me a taste of the troublemaker twos. She's fussing and throwing tantums over the smallest things, crying (trying) to get her way, I'm really strong on my words though, she has not won a 'cry' war too easily. I can see Niki "smile" through his eyes when he is nursing, its just too cute, I can feel how happy he is. He was holding on to my breast and squeezing, it was so funny, it looks like he was trying to get every little drop out! Not that we have a milk production problem, actually we have an abundant supply, too bad I didn't have twins.

Life is good...except we miss Daddy, and Daddy misses his babies. We are going to visit Daddy next month! yeah!

New hair do for Niki

So I gave him a cut...umm more like a shave...almost all of his hair, you can see an outline in black, thats about it! its almost all gone. He is sooo cute no matter what his hair is like, I love this boy!



Last night, we were doing international wecam conference with the grandparents in HK and Macau, Audrey starts dancing and Nikki giggles at every little move she makes, is just too cute.

4 months already

Nicholas is already four months! He smiles at the sight of a face, he smiles at the sight of his toys, he is just all smiles. A couple of weeks ago he started giggling...like a month ago almost, Audrey was playing patty cakes with him and he started laughing really loud, non stop for at least 5 minutes, I was a bit shock then started laughing myself. It was such a beautiful sight...my grandpa was there to witness it too, absolutely unforgettable.

Today we made sponge cake after dinner, it was soooooo good, fluffiest one ever made by me or tasted by me. Its very moist too, considering that I only started cake baking last month, this is pretty good!

Nicholas has sensitive skin, he had a big poop and it came out of the diaper and onto his belly, now his belly is all red and bumpy. Going to take some time to heal, his face and neck also has 'rashy' red areas, his neck ever bled a little the other night after his bath, I must had rubbed it too hard with the towel.

I'm so happy

Nicholas is 3 and half months, good dear, he is growing like a sprout. Fifteen and half pounds at 26 inches...I am so proud of him! He laughs and smiles all day long, such a happy baby. I am very proud of him. He is just wonderful, I love him so much.

Audrey is perfect, she is very helpful and thoughtful. She wants to be the best big sister to Niki, she wants to be the sweetest Mommy's helper. She has been learning so much, she imitates my actions, she repeats what she hears, its so critical to make sure she is around the right people to get the best influences. She has learned 4 poems in Chinese. She can repeat three of them all by herself with no help. She only needs a hear it once or twice and would be able to remember it. Her smile, her every move, her actions, its all so sweet and elegant, there is no word to describe how wonderful she is to me. I love her so very much.

I am so lucky to have Audrey and Nicholas, I couldn't be happier, they are the best, absolutely the most wonderful babies. I am HAPPY! VERY HAPPY.

Parenting at its toughest

Its been quite a rough ride for us here the last month. Audrey had an unexplained high fever a few weeks ago, up to 105 at one point. Lingering around 102-103 degrees for 6 days, her fever finally subsided with the help of antibiotics, what or where the infection was, its a mystery but the antibiotics worked. After Audrey's fever issue passed, little Nicholas got conjunctivitis, AKA pink eyes! And I got it from him, along with it I got shingles! Nicholas is well now, his eyes are beautiful, dark brown/black on white, never thought I'd be so happy to see 'white.' However my eyes are still pink and my shingles are itching and hurting...excruciating pain! I realize how painful 'excruciating' is now! I just hope the shingles go away fast, please don't let it last a month.

Thank goodness Audrey is behaving, she realizes that I am ill so she is being very good. She even comes over to kiss me when I ask her not too. She wants to comfort me so she needs to kiss me, she even told me "Mama don't be scare, Mui Mui is here." This little girl of mines is so wonderful. I love her so much.

How Sweet

Nicholas is now two months and 1.5 weeks, he is such a beautiful baby and adorable. It took a good 7 weeks or his diaper area to clear up and look healthy and pain free. His poop is still a bit runny but it only happens once or twice a day and its a 'BIG' business when it does happen, I'm so proud of him, he is growing so wonderfully. Yet I am so wondering how he was 2 months ago when he was a newborn in my arms. At 13.5 pounds, he is not a bit like he was at birth, especially with the haircut, he looks so 'toddler' instead of 'infant.' It brings tears to my eyes and a smile in my heart at the same time to see how Niki and Audi are growing. I love them both and William soooo much that I can't find words to describe it. William has been such a great husband and daddy, I'm so happy to have him in my life.

Haircut

My baby is 7 weeks! and I just gave him his first complete hair cut! 1/4 inch shave all around, he looks sooo cute!! He looks soooo big, lost that infant look already!! Oh dear, I miss my little 7 pounder whom has turn into a 12 pounder in less than 2 months!! Gosh, times is going by sooo fast and he is growing just as fast!

Life's Wonders

Nicholas is one and half month, he is already eleven and half pounds, growing too quickly for me to grasp. He is becoming more 'infant' and losing the 'newborn' characteristics. I love him so much. A year ago he was not created yet, and today he is such an important part of life. No matter how much I enjoy each stage of parenting, I am so painfully missing how it was when he was born...that seven pound, wet, slimey, bloody and crying little person that took me two full hours to push out. Those first days were so peaceful, I was so sore from the laboring that I hardly had the opportunity to hold him and adore each little move and sound he made. Then he was put in photo therapy bed, and I was not allow to hold him unless it was feeding time. Poor baby was in that light for 4 days, but it got rid of complications before they had a chance to harm him.

After five weeks of dealing with a sore diaper rash, his little bottome is finally nice and dry. But that means his digestive track has mature and he is producing thicker stool that his butt can handle. His cries are become more infant and losing that newborn sound. Each day he grows a little and I love him more and more each passing day, but I am so sadden by the fact that my baby is growing. I want him to grow yet miss the newborn days.

I look at Audrey and see what he will be like in 29 months, all of which makes me miss the newborn stage even more. The little boy that my body took 10 months to create is now a growing that will be on his own too soon.

Baby is HERE

Oh boy...yes, its a boy! Baby arrived after the last posting!! January 9th, my beautiful son was born, he required a lot of laboring, a full 12 hours of pain with 2 hours of pushing. I woke up at about 7:30AM with the urge to poop...and I was in the bathroom alot the night before trying to pass bowel but obviously I didn't know at the time that my intestines were pretty empty, I was in fact in labor and not dealing with diarrhea.


At 8AM, I finally recognize the stomach pain as contractions and had them timed at 6 minutes apart lasting 45-60 seconds each. William woke up and we decided to go to the hospital, after getting everything ready and waking Audrey, we headed off to Good Sam and my contractions were now 4 minutes apart. When I was finally check in and on a bed, I was dilated 5cm and the contractions were under a minute apart, I swear the baby will arrive by noon. After an hour of contractions, I was dilated to 8cm, but the contractions were too strong and too stressful for the baby at 30 seconds apart. At 12:30PM, the contractions were bring the baby's heart rate down to the 50's and 60's from 150-160. I was advised to get the epidural to relax so that my cervix can relax and dilate, and adding medicine to my IV to slow the contractions down so the baby would not be stressed out. However after 4 more hours, I was in the same boat...Doctor Hebets is now talking about a cesarean operation to take the baby out, convince that the little child does not want to come vaginally because my cervix was swollen and his head was tilted up, meaning forehead was pointing toward the birth canal instead of the top of his head.


Dr. Hebets said she will come back in 30 minutes to see what condition calls for, at 4:30PM, baby was ready, chin was tilt down and cervix was at 9.5cm with a little piece on my left side still swollen...but I was allow to push the baby out when the time was right. The pushing started at 5PM and after two hours, my baby arrived. I think Dr. H announced "Its a boy" but I was too tired to really listen. She placed the baby on my chest immediately after William cut the belly cord, I was soooo relieved, baby was safe and healthy on my chest now. All my pain was forgotten.



Now thinking back to two weeks ago, I realized how fun the experience was. I had anticipated the pain, even though it was much harder this round. I try to relax myself by creating a cheery and happy atmosphere...for whom right! Well, I had an audience, Joyce (my sister), Jennie (my uncle's wife), Ellen (her daughter), William and Audrey, everyone was there and while I was in pain they were eating sandwiches and stuff. I'm like...oh, are we celebrating and partying to welcome the baby already! It was just too funny. Joyce accidental knocked the sheet covering the operating stuff, so all that was contaminated and had to be changed. Audrey took a nap, William try to video tape as much as possible, but Dr. H requested that the camera didn't film where the 'action' was and to turn it off during the delivery because of my condition, there might be complications and she would not want that to be on video.



Baby Nicholas Eugene Lee (after 4 and half days of narrowing this name down, I like Stephen too) was born at 7 pounds and 3.8 ounces, at 18.5 inches tall, head circumference was 14.65 inches and chest was 13 inches. I have one nice chunk of baby here. But he was tested 'coombs' positive so had to be put under photo therapy to treat his jaundice before it arrived, thank goodness to Dr. Shah for being so attentive to the matter and kept him there for the weekend. Nicholas came home on Sunday afternoon. On Monday we saw Dr. Tan, and he said Nicholas looks good to him, we had a follow up this past Monday and his jaundice is clear and I should not worry about it. He gained one pound from last Monday, at 8 and half pounds now! We do have to go for a one month check up to see how things are going.



Nicholas is basically eating, sleeping and pooping alot, I guess thats how breastfed babies are made. If he is happy and healthy, I have nothing to complain, I can and will do anything for him, he is so amazing and so beautiful. I love you Nicholas.

OOOHHHH baby is on the way!

Ok...today's check up, I am 70% effaced at station -2 with 4cm dilated! Whooppeee...the pressure is on! and I literally mean it, do I feel that pressure. Its been a heavy load on me, I am going to guess that this little one in me is at least 8 pounds! I feel like a big hippo at 38 weeks and one day.

Let's see, at 36 weeks and 3 days, I was dilated at 1cm, 50% effaced and at station -3. At 37 weeks and 3 days, I went to 3cm dilated, 70% effaced and at station -2. I am so excited to see how much longer I will be pregnant! and so much more excited to see what my little baby looks like! YEAH!

The Loving and Waiting

Audrey has been such a loving daughter, I cannot give enough credit to this child for everything she has done for me. At the mere age of 2, she is extremely loving and caring. She will come and hug me for no reason and give me the sweetest kiss. She's learned to give good bye hugs and kisses. She's so well mannered with the sweetest gestures to go along with each move. I totally am in love. I will miss these days of having her by side one on one. I remember how worry I was when I found out she was a girl when I was pregnant with her, being Chinese, its always a boy that the family members want...I wasn't sure how my family would feel about a girl. After I held her in my arms for the very first time, I was brought to a new level of love that I had never know I had inside me. It's this little girl that has given me a new perspective in life and a new meaning of love, unconditional. My heart has grown a new chapter for her.

Now that I am waiting for the arrival of our new baby, I cannot stop thinking about Audrey and how our roles will grow again. She will be such a wonderful sister...to a little sister or brother. Although I do not know the gender this time around, I know that I will not be disappointment either way. Audrey will be such a good role model to follow, her little sibling will be just as wonderful as she has been. Life will definitely be different and I will miss these moments that Audie and I share alone.

Happy New Year! 2008

Yeah...2008 is here! Wow...another year just breezed by, where has the time gone!

January~trip to Hong Kong
April~created a new baby
June~found out there's a baby inside me!
August~terrible twos begin for my angel
September~first view of baby in 3D ultrasound
November~DVD session with 3D ultrasound, baby already looks like daddy!
December~getting so ready for baby

Ok...Happy New Year!! First thing I notice...I rubbed my belly a little, the underside that I cannot see because I just had a big bowl of soup for my midnight meal...and I felt some uneven skin....take a mirror and tilt my body a bit...oh NO!! STRETCH MARKS!! 20 days til my due date and I find a few marks on the left side and a 'batch' on the right side...can't see it without the mirror...wonder when these marks appear! They're kinda of pinkish/redish....not too big and not in any order, just a random batch with a streak here and a peck there. I guess my belly is really pushing the skin to its limits this time!!

My back is feeling the weight...pelvis and feet too! I gain almost 30 pounds now!! OH dear...when is this weight going to come off!! 5 more days and William will be here, then he can watch Audrey so I can take a break from cleaning and picking up toys! I just squeezed and my belly has no room to expand, sooo painful! Audrey was a breeze to carry and deliver AND take care of! Though this time around my body has 'aged' a bit and belly seems bigger, but lets hope the baby will be just as good and easy to take care of! Everyone seems to tell me that one easy baby is follow by one difficult one! hmmm...20 days and I'll know!

Ok, time to go empty my bladder again!!