The one that nearly got away (updated)

It had been 4 frustrating months. The wait was fraught with anticipation and hope. Then, it finally happened.

It started with a fluttering sensation in the tummy area, something like being touched by butterfly wings. Then, it started to get uncomfortable, felt like gas, but it was not. Perhaps it was hunger, still it was not.

After a full day at work, I stole some time to visit him, my handsome OBGYN. From Paramount Garden in Sea Park to his clinic at Taman Tun took all of 20 min. That was when your existence was confirmed and another long wait started, i.e for you to make an appearance!

4 weeks after that, there was still no sign of a heartbeat . The kind doctor wanted to terminate, `Try again', he said, `you're still young'. And I thought, `No way!' I said,` We'll wait another week. Or two.' If I had listened to him that day, we would never have gotten to know one another!

As if on cue, there goes the racing heartbeat almost popping out of the scan monitor during the next visit!

At the end of the first trimester, because of you, I was given a long bed rest, threatening to drop out way, way before time! Injections and visits to Dr Idris put that threat to rest.

I hardly had trouble once you got settled in. Save for the intense kicking I got whenever I stood by the sink (I got away from washing a lot of dirty dishes because of that!), everything was smooth sailing, no morning sickness, no blues, fit as a fiddle! I never forget the old wives advise Veronica, my office mate gave, she said `You must drink orange juice and soya bean to give her fair skin, carrot juice to give her good eyes and good skin, papaya if you don't want to constipate' Looking at you now, I guess she knew what she was talking about! (Thank you Veron!, wherever you are, may God bless you)

So that was my daily menu for nine months! Two oranges squeezed fresh, 1 glass of soya bean, 1 glass of milky carrot drink and one slice of papaya daily! Boy, could I eat and drink! Not forgetting one McD sundae from the drive in at Ampang Park at about 11.30pm everynight!

At 34 weeks, my BP started to escalate. Despite a doctor's appointment every two days and a series of sick leave which I failed to take up (remember, I was fit as a fiddle!), it shot up uncontrollably. Dr Idris threatened to have me arrested for endangering your life. (Did you know that Doctors are allowed to do that? Yes, they can! Serious!)

At 38 weeks, 2 weeks ahead of schedule I was asked to check in. The Doctor was worried that I had failed to respond to medication.

`13 January, bright and early', the Doctor said, `we'll have to get her out'. Once he left for the night, I had my dinner and talked to my room-mate, a policewoman who was humongous with twins! At just about midnight 12 January, my water bag broke, still no pain, in fact there wasn't any until about 4.30am. And by 6.25 am, I became a mother and you, kiddo! became my sunshine!

You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine,
You make me happy,
When skies are grey.

You never know dear
How much I love you
Please don't take
My sunshine away

Your `favoritest' song when you were a baby. Actually it was the only song with notes my voice could reach. Didn't matter to you then. Now when I sing, you tell me , MUM, pls don't murder the song....

My first question to the attending nurse was, How many fingers and toes does she have? (I should have asked, how many mouths!)

(Sorry, Ma malas nak cari pic, so I had to use one walaupun kakak enter frame, lagipun you told me, you don't like pic yang lawa-lawa!)

The venue : Klinik OBGYN Dr Idris, Taman Tun Dr Ismail
The date : 13 January 1990
The baby : YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AYANG! LOVE YOU LOTS!