I chanced upon the following products by Clarins, which came highly recommended in a forum by women who are currently in the final leg of their pregnancies or recently given birth. Admittedly, while I have definitely used some products by Clarins on and off, I have never heard of these products before since I have mostly been using Clinique products through the years.

The 2 products which caught my interest are the 'Stretch Mark Control' and 'Body Treatment Oil', that would aid in prevention of formation of stretch marks which may or may not be caused by pregnancies. From the description of the products, their end purpose seem rather simiilar, just that one is cream-based while the other is oil-based. I think I'm more inclined on the cream-based product even though the oil-based one may be more effective cos #1) I'd think the cream-based one will be cheaper #2) I don't quite fancy the oily feeling on my body and my clothes sticking to my belly... (hmmm.. I wonder if my clothes would ignite if I stand too near the stove while making dinner?? Ok, that's a bad thought!!).

To be honest, so far little bun's been extremely kind to mummy because I have **knocking hard on wood** no signs of stretch marks YET. I recall that even at around 20weeks when I was expecting Chloe, I started getting stretch marks started at both sides of my belly and it was itching like crazy, especially in the night. I am guessing it could be because I have not put on a lot of weight this time, hence my belly hasn't started stretching too much yet... Or perhaps since my belly had already been stretched before (i.e. you know how new rubber bands are like; taunt and unyeilding), it is coping better now that it has lost its elasticity (think of a used rubber band).

** Dear hubby, since you have been fretting over what to get for me for my birthday, which incidentally happens to be next week, how about this?? I am sure this will come in handy soon. Moreover, I think this is more practical than any handbags/ shoes/ wallets at this stage, don't you think? :) **

Naturally, as any good woman would do during shopping trips (albeit online ones), my eyes strayed and I came across the below product. It is a **ahemmm** 'Bust Firming Lotion' (I swear this product was listed under the section for 'pregnancy'). The description indicates that this product 'noticebly strengthens the bust with a tautening and toning action' (WOW). Hmmm... am I right in guessing that after pregnancy/breastfeeding, a woman's bust is expected to travel down south and hence this product would come in to save the day?

Well, jokes aside, I would embrace all stretch marks as long as little bun is alive and healthy, and of course the most importantly, delivered as close to full term as possible. I wouldn't mind at all if my boobs decide to travel south so long as I get to hold my baby in my arms and watch him/her grow up.

I think I could've/must've somehow twisted my right wrist though I am not really sure what I did to cause it cos I only started feeling the pain I woke up one morning. It's been bothering me for over a week now and the pain seems to be getting worse, especially in the mornings when I feel like I have got a 'locked wrist'. It is making it rather difficult for me to tie up my hair or do simple household chores like wringing a wet wash cloth or filling up the kettle.

I have been using my 'Deep Heat' rub but it doesn't seem to be working... it only gives me temporary relief and the pain returns once the ointment wears off. Yes, first I have got pain in my left foot, followed by weeks of numbness... now I have got a twisted right wrist!! I don't know and don't think this has got anything to do with my pregnancy, but when I complained to Mark about my sore wrist, his reply to me was 'Are you complaining?'. I am not complaining, just whining for a little bit of attention and some TLC from my husband, who seems to be too busy with work lately to give me some quality time. (I think even Hershey is feeling neglected by her 'alpha male').

IVIG (#5)

I just got home after my IVIG session #5... I am afraid I don't quite understand how one can feel so worn out just by lying there for over 4 hours, but yes, it does happen and it is happening to me. Feel like I have just completed a marathon... possibly a triathalon even.

They 'stole' 5 big vials of my blood today prior to the infusion and if the results of the blood work is good, then this could very well be my fifth and final IVIG!! Hip Hip Hooraaaay.... I am trying to keep my happiness in check before I allow myself to do the happy dance cos it all still depends on how the my blood test results turn out. It'd be REALLY great if this is indeed my last IVIG infusion... Frankly, the monthly bill that I have chalked up on this treatment is astronomical.

I may have been worried that I am not gaining much weight, but I just realized that this is a 'blessing in disguise' in some way cos the cost of each IVIG dosage is dependent on my weight, i.e. the more weight I put on, the more medication is required, hence the higher the cost. Since the amount of weight I put on thus far isn't much, the cost of each infusion had remained fairly much the same from start.

The checkup didn't go as well as I'd have wanted it to. Over the course of the week, the length of my cervix had shortened by over 1cm. While 1cm may seem insignificant, it represents 24%. Just a week ago, it was around 4.3cm.. this week it only measure in at around 3.3cm. Ideally, anything over 2.5cm is still acceptable, but since little bun is still quite a long way off from being full term, I'd really have preferred if the length remained above 4cm for as long as possible (usually if the cervix gets too short, it is an indication of pre-term labour).

Dr Anu didn't seem overly worried at this stage but said that we'd have to continue to closely monitor the length for any signs of further (God forbid!!) shortening. The length of the cervix may 'fluctuate' during pregnancy, so there's still hope that it'd maintain at the current lenth or hopefully lengthen until little bun reaches full term.

I have been reading up on this topic (naturally!!) and seems like the only thing which may help is bedrest This is more of a common sense thing than a medical thing cos lying down alleviates gravitational pressure from the cervix. While I have not reached the 'critical' stage and the doctor hasn't ordered strict bedrest for me, I am determined to spend the whole of next week in bed as much as possible. Hopefully when time comes for the scan next Friday, the length will maintain/improve.

That said, little bun's development is thankfully still on track. I got a lovely scanned picture of his/her left profile and in my own very biased opinion, my baby is so cute!!! From the picture, I can confirm now that little bun definitely has Mark's nose, this was concurred by Dr Anu and her nurse (it's a good thing cos Mark's nose has a higher bridge than mine).

For now, I am still working hard to keep the faith and pray for the best. Please, please, please let things go smoothly.

Finally Dr Anu is back from her vacation!!! I can't wait for my appointment with her (and little bun) later... somehow I feel comforted in knowing that she's back and will be 'looking after' me and little bun again. **whew**

I am due for my 5th dosage of IVIG next Tuesday... it almost slipped my mind, if not for the SMS reminder from the hospital this morning. Can't believe that a month had passed since my last IVIG... I guess it is a good thing that time is passing quickly and without incident, there's nothing more I can possibly ask for. My 6th and final IVIG will be in late August and after that, I think little bun will pass the 'safety hurdle' that both Dr Anu and I are aiming for.

It'd be good to finally be able to breathe a small sigh of relief at that stage, but I don't think I will be able to rest easy until I am holding a healthy and brawling little bun in my arms.

Where flowers bloom so does hope...

I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the flowers blooming from my barely alive potted palm!! We bought this plant when we first moved in 3 years ago. At that time, the plant , a yellow palm, was robust looking and over 2 metres tall. Through the years, it's been reduced to only half its height and most of the leaves have been 'fried' by the direct sunlight that shines onto the balcony of my master-bedroom every morning.

Although I have been dutifully watering it daily, its condition hasn't improved much, but neither has it deteriorated... hence I didn't have any excuse to dump it since it was still surviving. What a pleasant surprise it gave me the other morning when I saw the small, purple-hued blooms! (Actually I didn't even know that these type of plants can have flowers...) The blooms have been there for over a week already and it cheers me up everytime I look out my bedroom.. the pretty speckle of purple nestling amongst the greens (and browns).

I have never had much success with plants.. I didn't inherited my mom's green fingers unfortunately. This tiny blossom is my first 'success' ever. Hope that it is a good sign of the things to come.

"Where flowers bloom so does hope"

We finally broke THE news to my parents on Mark's birthday. It was unplanned... I received an SMS from my mom in the morning asking if I was alright and why haven't I gone home for such a long time. I felt bad for making her worry and for having kept something so important from them. After discussing with Mark, we decided to pop over to my parents place to break the news to them because we have run out of excuses and my little bump is becoming rather obvious.

Mark left me to the task while he 'escaped' to another corner of the house (Thanks, honey!).

I think my mom had been suspecting all these while, so she wasn't overly surprised when I told her 'Ma, I'm pregnant'. Her first reaction was a grin, followed by 'Why don't you tell me only when you are due?'. Then it was followed by a torrent of questions - 'How many weeks?', 'When is the baby due?', 'Do you know the gender?', 'Are your checkups ok?', etc. The interrogation session was then followed by a list of 'Do's and Don'ts' i.e. Do drink more milk, do rest more, do eat more nutritious food, do not lift heavy things, do not walk/ go out too much, etc... Admittedly, it feels good to be fussed over! I was grilled for quite a while and I am still getting questions via SMS!!

I can't hope and pray enough that I will not disappoint my parents this time... I have already given them false hopes the past 3 times so I really hope this time will the time where they get to hold their first grandchild. It's really about time that I stop disappointing my parents and bring some much needed and long awaited joy into their lives.

I presented these 2 envelopes to Mark yesterday as part of his birthday present. I have prepared this 'present' over 3 weeks ago when the scan revealed little bun's gender. On the day before the scan, I prepared 2 cards, a light pink one with the word 'GIRL' and a pale blue one with the word 'BOY'. During the scan, I requested the sonographer not to tell me the gender, but to put the corresponding card into the black envelope (I chose black cos it is impossible to see through it and thus prevent any chance of me trying to steal a peek to confirm my guess!!). The remaining card was placed into the red envelope. I have kept these 2 envelopes in my drawer and have resisted the urge to steal a peek... pretty darn proud of myself!!

I told Mark that the choice to look or not look was entirely his. After a brief moment of contemplation, he decided to stick to his initial decision to keep it unknown for now (or until he cannot withstand the suspense any longer).

To My Darling Hubby,

Today is a very special day... it is the day that my best friend was born. My best friend who also happens to be my husband, my love and my better half. You are the only one who can make me laugh out of a bad mood, who can melt my heart with just one kiss, who stands by me through thick and thin and the one who makes me a better person. No matter what gift I give to you today, I can never match up to what was given to me in the form of you.

I hope that I will be the lucky girl who will walk hand in hand with you even after our hair turns silver. I don't know how this is even possible, but I love you more and more with every passing year. What I have in you is what every girl in the world is searching for.

Happy Birthday, Darling... May there only be joyful tears in your life from this moment on.

With Love,

Your Wifey

**************************

Your Angels in heaven want you to know that you are the best daddy they can ever hope for, and that they will be watching over you, protecting you and loving you from where they are in heaven.

Happy Birthday, Daddy Dearest...

I only got to see the top of little bun's head during the checkup yesterday when the sonographer was scanning for the length of my cervix and little bun's head was just lying right on top of my cervix. The new replacement doctor didn't do any ultrasound like what Dr Anu would usually do... she only used a fetal doppler to listen to little bun's heartbeat. So happy and relieved to hear the strong, rhythmic beating of little bun's heart.

I also took the opportunity to check with the doctor about my weight gain... I've only put on 4kg so far, and this is a whole 2.5kg lesser than when I was carrying Chloe at the same gestational period. According to the internet, I should have put on around 5.5kg-6kg. Anyway, the doctor didn't seem overly concerned and assured me that most of the weight gain will come on quickly during the last trimester. I sure hope so... I really hope that I am not depriving little bun of any nutrients during this very important stage of his/her growth. Even Mark noticed that for this pregnancy, there is hardly any signs of weight gain on the rest of my body, other than my tummy. During Chloe's time, my weight gain was very visible on my face and arms.

As little bun continues to grow , he/she is taking up more space inside me. I think my uterus is now lying partially on my bladder, which gives me an urge to pee even if I have just emptied my bladder. This is made worse especially if I am standing or walking... I lost count of the number of times I visited the washroom while I was out yesterday!!