Myra Alayna : En route to shimmering 3 years old

Some for the memories.
Alhamdulillah.

Feb 14, after savouring Red Velvet Cupcake

Special characters of #myraalayna.

Myra still speaks baby language mixed with very pelat English and some Malay words. One needs to actually listen so close and try hard to make sense of her talking to really understand her.
Likes to brushing hair and dolling up by vanity mirror.
Has her own taste of dressing. Mostly pink and hello kitty.
Loves yogurt, milk with honey, and cut fruits.
Likes to dance Baby Shark and Little Fingers.
Loves to mimick mummy during prayer.

2y6m : successfully completed the 38 pieces of a Scholastic puzzle by herself with me (she wanted me to hand her the puzzle pieces and watching her)
2y7m : out of sudden successfully describe colour on once Dana's rainbow dress now hers. (pink, red, yellow, blue, green, purple, white, black, orange)
2y8m : out of sudden counting 1-10 and naming shapes (circle, triangle, heart, star, pentagon, square), and naming some letters at random.
Current obsession naming animals.

Today (2y10m) : out of sudden reciting A-Z in perfect order. (Speechless! Like since when you know all in order?)

A very confident and "shy shy cat" (curious and cheeky) little moon princess who would prove her achievements once mastering it as a whole.

And now on, next, my mission would be, observing her really real talking. (status : pending) MasyaAllah.. Cheers for Myra! Bless you little one!

Morocco, the land of exciting adventure!

Bienvenue, marhaban bikum ala Maghribi!

Ahlan wa sahlan! Greetings to those who still follows my almost abandoned blog. I am currently living in Morocco, and it has been 2 years since my last update.

Never in my life have I ever thought we would live in Africa, but here we now, breathing Atlantic air with a very unpredictable yet interesting four season’s atmosphere.

Yes, we are now living in Morocco, the land of the setting sun, to be exact in its capital city, Rabat. Located 120km away from Casablanca, and about 400km away from Ceuta, Spain, the closest gateway from Africa to European land.

https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Rabat/346006

Rabat is the administrative capital of Morocco, and also one of the Imperial Cities including Fez, Marrakesh and Meknes. The Medina of Rabat is listed as one of the World Heritage Site, where most of handicraft and paintings around Morocco can be acquired. One could say that among all the beautiful town in Morocco, Rabat is the central of everything, with some bits of preview of what lies on every other town. The city itself is always being as some kind of zen place to refresh the brain, or getting some sneak peek before fully struck again with the contrast of enchanting beauty in another town.

Before we move to Rabat, I find it difficult to get more in-depth infos other than the incredible potential of tourism of Morocco. But after almost 2 years living here, life is quite fun in its own eccentric way.

Personally as a mother and also housewife, whose always preparing meals and caring the household, to do groceries in Rabat or any place in Morocco is never too challenging. Perhaps the most challenge I had to face is the difference in language. Moroccans mostly speak in Arabic Darija, a local Arab language that has been infused with some Berber and French influence. Some of them is very fluent in French, and Spanish. And nowadays, almost young people in Morocco, especially those who serve the government or working with International Agencies in Rabat do speak English. If you find that you may had to live in Morocco, its never too late to at least getting some basic courses in French or Arabic, or perhaps some Spanish as it would be most beneficial to sort of surviving living with the locals.

We are currently living in Hay Riad, one of the small growing town a bit farther from the heart of Rabat. We do our groceries in Acima and Marjane, the two most visited supermarket in Morocco. Here they also have plenty of Carrefour, with some selection of products from Europes. Sometimes we do our groceries in Aswak Assalam, depends on the closest location we were when doing family outing as well as buying groceries. Cost of living in Morocco one could say if you live like a local, the cost of living could be moderate. But for Asians, with the need to get some products of Asian, it could be quite expensive.

About healthcare, Rabat has quite a few reputable private clinics with good medical practitioners around. They also has quite a number of dialysis centre and some good dental centre. For emergencies, the government hospital in Rabat is mostly accommodating, and the only problem for us as the expats are the big crowds of local looking for treatments every day, and the busy schedule of the local doctors, and language barriers with the local staffs.

Well that’s all for now. A la prochaine!

Living in Vientiane : If you plan to go for holiday

Hi again.. finally I completed one year of living in Vientiane plus one month in 2017. For those who plan to visit Vientiane especially from Malaysia it would be best if you could drop some email to our Embassy to notify your coming and the hotel you would be staying so that the Embassy stays in the know. Don't worry about privacy as the Embassy wouldn't sukahati or absentmindedly raid your stay without any good reason.

For a quick info, Vientiane is the capital of Laos and Luang Prabang is their old capital. Some local said Luang Prabang was the home of their king long time ago but because of some royal dispute, now Laos is govern by a President.

Vientiane is not a big city but nonetheless it is accomodating. The fresh local vegetables is available everywhere especially those who enjoys Asian culinary. From lemongrass to ginger, with exception of fresh turmeric, you can get a good price at local wet market. I would recommend the newcomers of Vientiane to visit Tong Khang Kam market or Morning Market, as that is one of the biggest and oldest wet market as I was told by the Embassy local staff.

If you desire some night outing for music, Vientiane has its own Hard Rock Cafe. And plus plenty of night club with local live band around. The price is quite cheap and the servers are friendly. Perhaps one note to remember, during some local celebration, it might be wise to avoid going out late at night because of the bad traffic especially at the town centre.

About the choices of eating out restaurant, there's plenty you can list down to choose. For people who is quite particular of the halal food, Vientiane has some halal Indian restaurant that you can try. There is also one Malaysian's restaurant and the chef is super friendly he will be happy to serve you halal food.

Perhaps if you plan to come to Vientiane, to live there or work there, I would suggest you to join this facebook group "Vientiane Social". The members are very supportive and some of them even have a special group for social gathering somewhere in Vientiane.

So now comes to the end. Good bye Vientiane! We are finally leaving for good. Until the next post.

Arrival of Myra Alayna. Part 3

Upon receiving the news, I was like.. seriously? Today?

Immediately I was told to sit on a wheelchair while one of the male nurse push me to the prep room. To enter the prep room, somehow because of the miscommunication, they did not let my husband to join into the prep room. And how my husband was really determine to be exactly sure where they will be taking me before he let me go.

Turn out that actually they want him to go to a different room to change clothes while they prepping me for the csection. Ahaha..

There were two nurses that were helping me. They shaved the pubic hair, (i never had that kind of experience before), and then one of them give me some laxatives through rectal and I can say here it was sooo terrible! I cried!

Huhu.. later my husband arrived and after some moment of loves and hugs.. I was wheeled to the operating theatre. My husband will join later when they already ready with me.

I was given some spinal and epidural and they were soo uncomfortable. I remember I had about 8 shots along the backbone, and I was told to crouch with my large belly, I almost choked and couldn't breathe. After the eighth shot finally I was feeling warmth all over the back, but my whole body was shivering. It was very cold yet warm at the same time. One of the nurses put some warm blanket on my body so it was comfortable but I couldnt move my hand and my body.

Then I hear the familiar voice, my doc, Ms Watcharada has arrived. She asked whether I was fine, if my body is prepped enough, and suddenly I hear my husband voice. He was just next to me.

I remember asking him "has it begin?"
And my husband respond was.. "yeah they already cut through. And you wouldnt want to know the stuff"

It took them quite a time to get into the womb. I remember seeing a clock and it has begin around 12 noon. And after about 30 minutes they still trying to get to the womb. My doc said the scar was so thick and deep so she had to do it carefully.

After a while suddenly the water broke and I remember the suction of the water. Plus one of the nurse pushing my belly from top of my abdomen to get the baby out. But somehow I felt they were doing it in a hurry. I prayed nothing bad happened and after some minutes I think it was about 5 minutes of pushing my top abdomen they managed to get the baby out. The baby was not crying but I after some suction (I heard the sound), then I hear the cries! Alhamdulillah.. then they asked my husband to join the paed team for the baby while my doc finished the necessary with me.

After some kisses I was left alone with my doc, and two nurse and one anaethetist. I remember I was asleep some of the moment during the cleaning and stitching. My gynae said there were to many adhesion in my scar and she adviced me to do better family planning next time. Huhuhu..

After a while, when she finished, I was wheeled to the observation room. I remember looking back at the operating table, really bad with lots of reds all over the top. Huhuhu..

At the observation room, I can say the room was quite dark. Perhaps they just setting the ambiance so for all post-operative patient can continue their rest. After about an hour of observation, finally I was wheeled to the room. My husband was not in the room yet.

So I just rest with the drips on my left hand and I was introduced with the nurse that will help me for the day.

I remember my husband finally come about an hour later. It was 3pm. The nurse had told me earlier they will send the baby to me at 5pm and they will take the baby back to nursery at 7pm. They wanted the mummy to have enough rest while they took care of the baby.

Then my husband told me what has been the concern just now. Apparently there were little complication during the labour. They found out the water was stained with some meconium and baby had almost swallowed the meconium. Luckily they manage to suck it out and it did not reach the lung. But they need to observe the baby for safety reason, plus for mother to rest. And it was our best decision to go for the operation that day as if we had waited longer it might turn worse.

No matter what Myra Alayna.. after all that had happened mummy and daddy will forever love you, and so do your brother and sister. Although you were born in Thailand, and that morning your brother and sister were still in Laos, that evening when you were first given to us, your brother and sister has arrived for us to finally be together!

Thank you for the kind assistance from our Embassy driver Mr Thonxai for bringing Umair and Dana and the maid all the way from Vientiane to Udon and help with the crossing border. And also many thanks for daddy's contact for immediately secured us a big room upgraded to junior suites at Centara Hotel for your brother and sister stay while mummy and Myra at the hospital.

Arrival of Myra Alayna. Part 2

Let's continue shall we?
Finally the dread of 'having-Mr-Husband-far-from-home-in-expecting-baby' was over. My husband was safely home on Monday the 9th of May.

Children were excited sharing everything from the bread that we had made together to some pieces of leftover chocolate cake we have baked earlier. As for me I was so heavy I was barely move around and I still remember the relief I experience to finally have him around.

It was morning, and very early. I looked at the time and it was only about 3.50am. I felt weird tugging feeling sort of tiny vibration around the abdomen. Perhaps Braxton Hicks but I still remember the nagging thought I had. Again it repeated. I immediately lookup for an apps to note the sensation so I fiannly download an apps called Contraction Timer. I remember telling myself no its too early. But I remember feeling that the sensations somehow a little bit familliar.

So I just continue monitoring the series of 'contraction'. It wasn't painful. It was just a tiny bit twitching but overall it was pleasant. Baby moves perfectly. The graph shown from the apps wasn't so consistent with the normal ongoing delivery contraction so I just continue doing my own tiny research while debating with myself whether it's the time or not yet.

I remember that for a brief moment the contraction did stop. At least for about 20 minutes. And it continued again with the same mild intensity. And it's only about 6am. Still debating, I pushed myself to get up for morning prayer and bath. And then preparing my husband working suits. While my husband is getting ready for works.

I remember sitting on the edge of the bed looking at my husband getting dressed for work around 6.40am and I asked him to take me to clinic to checkup. I told him I feel something weird but I couldnt be sure it was the.sign or what. Immediately his response was, 'why you didnt wake me up at the first hour of the sign?'

So that morning after kissing the kids, and Umair has to.be absent today because we have no.transport for him, we cross border to Udon Thani. That morning was so relaxed and the.border has very few people. We crossed the border around 7.30 am. I remember my husband asked me. Are you alright? If it getting painful I will speed up. If in the border anybody stops us just pretend you are in the.middle of delivery.

We reached the hospital around 8am. I did the contraction test it was not strong so they send me to see the Dr again. Dr. Watcharada Uckara, a nice young obgyn Thai specialist.

We did the scan, baby was roughly 3.15kg. And after the vaginal exams, it was confirmed that the servix has dilated about 2cm so the csec has to be scheduled that very day. I was like, today? Seriously?

-----to be continued----

Arrival of Myra Alayna. Part 1

Assalammualaikum wrh.. hi everyone, my fellow virtual friends.

Today, marks the 11th day of confinement period for me, again, self-confinement abroad, with my little family and my maid.

This time, we are in Vientiane, Laos, which is not so far from home, and only took about less than 3 hour to reach here via Airasia flight direct from KLIA.

Since this is my second pregnancy abroad, being self-managing myself is kinda less worrying. Only my biggest fear before embracing this land was the medical facilities which is widely reviewed in most expats page as not so reliable because of the problem in communication. The best choice would be across the Thai-Laos border, at district of Udon Thani, Thailand which takes about 80km from the heart of Vientiane.

A month before Myra's arrival, I was quite not so myself. That can be seen from my post in Facebook, which was close to none. I found myself being anxious, as this will be my third Cesarean-birth. I still remembered the pain from the after-labour. I was nervous to know what kind of medication that the hospital will be using, what are the facilities, what kind of operating room they have, will it be dark or will it be so bright, will it be cold.. will I pass out during the operation, will I be fine? will someone come to visit me at the hospital? will I be able to do phone call? and the most troubling question was, will the baby comes out in time?

And again, I was given pre-announcement from my husband that he might need to go for outstation in Luang Prabang, which is one of the southern side of Laos to assist a big meeting together with the top officers from the Ministry. I was secretly prayed that he shall not be able to go that place, mainly comes fro my maternal instinct, I have counted every scans detail I have about the baby, and I have a lot of reason to justify that the baby might be born earlier than the booking date, because of the size of the baby, and my own thinking "the limited space to move inside the womb due to thick inside scars". (please be informed that these thinking is not based on any medical fact, only my own little thinking by judging the way my baby pictured in the ultrasound scan for 3 months in a row)

Approaching the final month before the booking date, only about 3 weeks to go, my fear was confirmed. My husband was required to go to Luang Prabang. I knew he was worried sick, but he somehow managed to pull straight face. And I believed he noticed my unhappiness, although I also tried my best to pull the coolest face ever. And the night before his flight, my mask somehow broken to pieces, I cried like a baby.

When I finally manage to gather all the strength, I began to straighten all the facts. My husband shared some important contacts should I come to an emergency without him around. Some friends also texted to offer hands should I need any help or even any emergencies. Thank you dear friends. At least I knew that I have plenty of supports should anything need immediate helps.

The week my husband was not around was actually our second child birthday, and followed by Mother's Day. We filled the celebratory event by baking some cakes, and enjoy our mini party together. My girl and I baked the small cake for her birthday, and we celebrated it later at the evening after her brother returned from school. And few days later, we baked another cake to celebrate Mother's Day, only this time my kids they mixed the cake together, while I monitored them, and assisting with the oven. I even managed to bake two homemade bread loaf for dearest son's lunch pack the next day.

That week I believed the baby almost 3kg, since the last scan (three weeks ago) showed that the baby weight was already 2.6kg. And the pattern was a bit surprising to me, as three weeks before the weight was 2.6, the baby's weight estimated was 2.1kg. The baby gained more than 500g in 3 weeks gap. That fact actually made me believed the possibilities of the baby to come earlier than booking date was quite high.

--- to be continued ---

2016 : Life at Laos.

Hello again!

Finally, halfway in the new month of the new year 2016, I finally step foot in continuing the writing. As promised, here I am, happy yet still need time to settle down with family (especially with two kids and another incoming soon), we are finally manage to setting the ground in Laos. To be exact, in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. To those who is not familiar with Laos, it's a land surrounded with 5 different countries.

source : Wikipedia

And if you look closer, Vientiane is located very close to the border of Thailand. And the closest from our place is the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, which connecting Vientiane and the district of Nong Khai, Thailand. There are three other bridge that connecting Thailand to Laos, which crossing over Mekong River. 

Tomorrow, some of my families (from my husband side) will come over and visit. (yay!). Ohh, for those in Malaysia who wih to visit Vientiane, Laos, they have direct flight from KLIA to Vientiane, via Airasia! And one point to remember, that flight ONLY available three days a week. You can find out more by visiting Airasia website.

I think that's all for the introduction for now. I have quite a to-do-list to be completed today, with a promise I shall update my blog very soon. I have plenty of ideas to write, already quite a memory to be shared. Oh and yes, I have crossing the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge once. The experience at the border was quite different than the lifestyle in Vientiane. That shall come later in my next next next writing..

Until then... I wish for everyone to have a blessed life and a happy heart as always! May this year 2016 makes us even luckier than ever!

Ohh, I miss Malaysia so much! Dear beloved families, friends, relatives back there, worry not, we are just being okay and perfectly normal here. Do pray and wish for us the best of luck. Until then!