Jaundice...go away from my nephew!

Today I woke up early as usual but headed straight to shower.  I did not brew Bill's hot drink as I usually do.  I wanted to be at Putra Avenue early.  Using the Sg Buloh road, it took me about 45 minutes to reach there.  There I was, and there's my tiny tot, Luqman sleeping on his Mak Tok's large bed.  I woke him up with kisses, but didn't seem to yield to my disturbing him. I gazed at him...such a beautiful baby.  I'm love-strucked by this little one.

Mak Tok woke him up and bathed him.  My...he's such a strong little boy, when my mom put him in his long-bath, he was standing on his feet and walking!  We just giggled looking at his scene.  The reason I am here, at Putra Avenue is that I have to drive Mak and Luqman to Pusat Kesihatan (Poliklinik Kerajaan) in Puchong.  Owh gosh...there were a POOL of people from all ages there.  I started to have this headache having so many people around me and with that noise everywhere. I held Luqman in my arms while waiting for his turn to take some blood sample to be tested to determine the jaundice level.  They took his blood from his foot, Mak said.  I couldn't bear looking at that being done to him, so I let Mak carry him inside.  Later when that was done, I took the blood drawn from his tiny foot to the lab and waited for the result.  It has gone down from 14.9mg to 14.2 but I wasn't satisfied.  Then we waited for his turn to be consulted by the doctor.  I held him again...Luqman is such a good boy, he just slept from the moment he was brought inside the car until his blood sample was drawn and till we brought him to the doctor.  But he was perspiring, I think his head felt a bit warm.  Temperature, I suppose? I remember to ask the doctor to check on his temperature. Just a little bit more than the usual, but doctor said he's okay.

Sitting at the Government Polyclinic, holding my little nephew in my arms, I feel "sympathy" for him.  Why does he have to be in the middle of the noisy crowd to have his blood drawn for analysis, and then to wait to be consulted by a doctor.  Sweat trickling down his head and neck...ishhh...but he was such a good boy! He didn't throw tantrums at the clinic.

Home, after almost 2 hours, I laid on the bed with him next to me, staring at his adorable face, eyelids still glued.  Silently I thought...how could I not love this baby lying next to me?  Hahaha...gosh...so this is how it feels to have a baby eh?  Learned a few things today, and I now understand even better on a mother-baby bond.

Luqman, Mama Long pray for you to get well pronto.  Then we'll play again...get well little one! I love you SOOOO much!!  See you again this weekend.

Keep Walking My Days

My baby nephew is 3days new by today.  His daddy has not decided yet on how long his baby's name will be.  I am so mesmerized these few days, despite some disturbing thoughts.  I managed to push away those negative thoughts.  I didn't want the joy to be jeopardized by unwanted things.

My daily routine is rather deflected these few days.  I have been following my parents to the hospital for a couple of days already.  An enormous time is spent on the road, and lethargy sips into our bodies.  I know Ayah & Mak are very tired going here and there these few days, but as parents and now grandparents; they'll do anything.  Understood.  I feel the same way actually.

I snapped some photos of my nephew but I like this one very much, coz I am in red and I look so big and he's so little! Hehehe....

Kenangan2 dengan Luqman - 1 day old.

I also love some photos of my parents taken with Baby Luqman...they look so joyful and enthusiastic.  Ye la kan... happy sebab dapat cucu sulung.

He's just soooo adorable! Aduhai...I think I can melt if he can talk and ask me for anything.  Nasib baik la he's so infant and can't do all that just yet.

I feel so happy for everyone, especially Mak & Ayah.  I can feel the "happy aura" they're carrying along with them these few days.  Luqman has yet to meet his Papa Boy and Uncle Bill, and yet to meet all his uncles and aunties and grandparents from his mummy's side of the family.  Soon, Insya'Allah.

Looking at my parents, I am just happy that they're happy.  I can't give them a grandchild...but it's okay...now they have one from my brother...and another one on the way later at year end.  For as long as they're happy, that's the most important thing for me.  As for myself, I'll be that proud Mama Long of the eldest nephew.  Soon, there will be another one.  In the years to come... more in number.  I am contented.  No more questions...what I feel is my right to feel.  No one is to question how I really feel. All I can say now is that I AM HAPPY with the way things are.  As is. Period.  *smile*

Finally...! I got a NEPHEW and I am now a MAMA LONG :-)

It was a long wait.  I am officially an aunty to my first-born nephew. YES!!!!  Mama Long, okay? Today, at 10.46pm, my first sister-in-law gave birth to a baby boy.  He's my parents first grandchild, my first nephew, my brother's first-born.  I got over-excited this morning when my mom called to inform me that my sister-in-law has been admitted to the hospital.  Wow, the day finally arrived when I will hear the cries of a baby in our family, after Bill's, 26 years ago.  Wow... I said to myself, I am a Mama Long...but not just yet, wait till he makes his grand entrance, then it'll be official.  Paid a visit to Noreen in the afternoon, but she hasn't got contractions yet.  She wasn't even admitted to the ward yet.  Mak, Ayah and myself made our way to many places after the short visit, hoping that she'd be giving birth real soon.  But NOOOO..... he just didn't wanna come out yet!  Lama nya???  Baby's daddy, my dear brother is keeping us updated with the latest happenings.  I had to go man the gym this evening, so I just did what I had to do, and anxiously waiting for the call from Aman.  Abis gym, tak gak dapat phone call or message.  Bila laaa anak sedara aku nak kuar nih? Patience is killing me already, and instantly I am reminded of how much worse it would be for my sister-in-law.  FINALLY, at slightly past 11pm, Aman's mass message reached my BlackBerry, telling that the baby has been born.  Alhamdulillah...syukur.  My heart was jumping out of joy, I could feel my smile drawing across my cheek and my face blushing red out of happiness and relief that both mother and baby are fine.

Muhammad Noor Luqman Shah.  Yes, that's the name of the baby.  So LONG? Ni kalau isi borang, sure tak cukup ruang nak tulis namanya.  Apa2 lah Aman...as long as the baby is fine and so is your wife.  I wish I could see the baby right now, but I will just have to wait until tomorrow.  Baby dilahirkan malam...just like his daddy dulu.  So, as of now, there is no photo of the baby yet.  Will have to wait for tomorrow.... Can't wait.  Nevertheless, I still have to, anyway.

So...baby, I'll pay you a visit tomorrow.  Welcome to the world, baby.  We'll get to know each other soon.  Heartiest congratulations to my brother and his wife.  Syukur Alhamdulillah....

I can sleep in peace tonight.... (I wonder if I could sleep with the rate of joy I am feeling right now).

Weekend Again...

It's Saturday again. In a while I will be heading to Putra Avenue to help mak to cook soto ayam.  Sister-in-law craved for soto ayam with pegedil when I cooked meehoon soup last week.  She's so close to her due date, a couple of days to be exact. I am VERY excited. I"ll post some photos of our family gathering later.  Meanwhile, there are things to do and I don't know where to start.  Whatever it is I will have to wait for Bill to leave for office and then start my chores.  It's becoming a mundane thing for me already....but at least I am enjoying it.

I miss my Kemek....hmmm...takpe takpe, kakak datang jap lagi eh Kemek?

A Great Sunday

Ouch...my heels really need a good massage. Last night I was home alone, so I had time to plan my day today.  I started my day with cleaning the apartment, a daily routine. Then I started making the almond chocolate chip cookies as per requested by my 2nd sister-in-law.  Oh yeah, this year I'm selling my chocolate chip cookies.  I make the cookies, she sells them.

The toasted almond chocolate chip cookies

Yesterday before returning to Kasturi Idaman, I invited my whole family to have tea at my place.  I said I'd cook meehoon sup and bake a cake. Bought the items needed to bake the cake, and as for the meehoon soup, mom said she'll bring the stuff to the apartment. Thinking they'd reach here for hi-tea, I baked a cake.  I wanted to bake a vanilla-chocolate horizontal layer cake, but I forgot I'm supposed to bake it layer by layer.  So instead of having that so-called layer cake, it turned out to be a marbled cake.  Nasib baik sedap.  Hehehe...phew...and it's soft too, despite the crack in the center and the crust by the sides which I purposefully let them set in.  I know mom likes the crispy cake crust, so I baked the cake longer than I should.

My marble cake...see that dark chocolate outlining the brown
part of the cake?I dusted cocoa powder on top of each layer
and it created an outline for the marble. Quite nice, actually.
 It tastes good too, because I used Hershey's cocoa powder.
I would strongly suggest Hershey's cocoa powder for baking
or drinking (hot chocolate).

I cleaned up the kitchen after finishing my baking session, and headed for shower quickly so that I could rest before the whole family arrive.  I waited for a couple of hours, they still have not reached here...so I called mom... masya'Allah... semua syok tido lak petang tadi rupa2nya.  I gak yang tak tido2 walau pun mengantok!  Eventually they arrived at about 6 pm. I started cooking my noodle soup while my sisters-in-law packed the cookies samples.

After maghrib we had our dinner.  Wahhh....betul2 punya makan kami semua.  Semua bertambah2 sampai 2-3 kali.  I am honored for the first time we had the family get-together at my place. Alhamdulillah...meehoon sup yang I masak punya banyak tu tak la berbaki banyak sangat.  My mom tapau for our maid yang tinggal di rumah. 

Today's dinner menu - meehoon soup.  Ini gambar dari
my sister-in-law's bowl.  Hihihi...

Semua makan dengan berselera...almaklum lah... bukan mudah nak dapat berkumpul satu family begini.  Next time berkumpul, entah2 dah bertambah seorang lagi ahli keluarga kami.  My first sister-in-law is due REAL soon.  I am sooo excited!  Ni cuba tengok gambar2 yang I snapped...semua asyik mengadap makanan...

Both my preggy sisters-in-law.  Sweet moms-to-be  :-)

My youngest brother, Bill...always smiling...

My 2nd brother & wife

Sup, cili kicap, ayam carik.... macam meehoon soto pula...
sayangnya takde pegedil.  Yang takde dalam gambar,
daun sup, daun bawang, daun ketumbar, bawang goreng.
 Lapar balik bila mengingatkan makanan2 tadi....

My 1st brother & wife

Adikku Bill yang sedang asyik mahsyuk makan

My beloved parents...

We had a great family moment.  I am so tired after a very long day of baking and cooking....but I am VERY happy.  My Sunday this week ended quite well and I shall remember this day as one of my best ever.  Tomorrow a new week starts, and I am starting mine with the extraction of my 2nd wisdom tooth. But what the heck, I don't wanna spoil my day, I'll just think about the horror of extracting my tooth as I go through it tomorrow.  Have a great new week, everybody!

My not so good day

I woke up this morning with a backache and headache and the chest pain followed suit.  Apa hal laaa dengan aku hari ni? Macam2 sakit la pulak...beralih2 lak tu.  After brewing Bill's hot chocolate, I laid on the sofa and watched TV...and I dozed off, waking up to only find that it is already noon.  Such a deep sleep, aku rasa kalau bunyi drilling or orang pecah tembok baru tersedar kot. Hilang kisah nak menonton TV.  Terlepas lagi favorite series aku. Sigh....

Lapar perut...I wanted to cook, but laziness overruled me. I ended up buying lunch.  Just as I parked my car, it rained in buckets.  Nasib baik before going out tadi I closed all windows. I ate the food I bought - nasi putih dengan lauk asam pedas ikan pari and sayur bendi goreng.  Erghh....sayur bendi separuh daripadanya dah kerasa macam kayu. Eating all alone, in front of the TV, with the sound of rain outside... PATHETIC tul aku rasa. Macam hidup sebatang kara pulak...dulu waktu belajar, lalui juga saat2 macam ni, tapi takde la rasa as lonely as this afternoon.

As I  was finishing my lunch, the rain subsided. I continued doing my thing... which I don't know what the heck I did today, actually. And it rained again, cats and dogs.  I just showered again, for the 4th time today, then went online.  All the achings came back - chest pain gone (Alhamdulillah, for once I thought it was a cardiac pain!), the migraine came, and the acute pain on my left leg bit again. I sat silently on my bed, facing the window, looking out at the heavy rain. I snapped a few photos of the rain...

View on the left side of my room's window

View of the right hand side from my room's window

Looking at the rain made my heart cries... here I am, all alone, and having my body aching all over.  What a great day huh?  At a time like this, when I feel sick, I just want to be alone...but I want my loved ones to simply ask, "are you okay?" but that didn't happen.  I just feel this pain of boredom and loneliness right there at one point in my heart.  I told myself to just let it go...I don't have to feel this way.  But sadly, I am.

I dived on my bed again, trying to Facebook but I ended up dozing off again.  Don't know what the hell is wrong with myself today....  I woke up later in the afternoon and right away headed to the gym.  I forced myself to exercise despite the aching legs.  The workout helped to ease the tension a little.  I am trying to sustain the less-stressed state of being till I reached home again.  My migraine revisited. Darn...!  Aku malas nak melayan semua ni, harap2 tertido balik sebentar lagi.  Dalam hati ni kata, "NO ONE CARES ABOUT ME!"

I just don't know what is wrong with me today! Maybe nobody cares, anyway...Oh, my dear eyes.... please get heavy on the lids and fall asleep again.  I don't want to succumb to this emotions.

Penat tapi Happy

I'm kind of tired, actually. As early as 8 am today, I started my household chores. I vacuumed and mopped the whole apartment. I want to keep our crib spick and span. Semalam my room's wall lamp kaputt sebelah. Aku memanjat nak menukar bulb nya. Ya Allah...tingginya electrician pasang wall light akuuuuu.  Gayat aku memanjat tangga nak menukar bulb.  Dah la bulb tu halus...ish ish... nak mengharapkan Bill tukarkan? Entah hari bila la yang dia boleh tolong.  Aku gak kena panjat tangga tu sendiri...menggigil lutut. :-)  Itu cerita semalam. Hari ni  aku bangun awal pagi dan pasang lampu tu, yang sebelah pulak blow. Arrrghhh!!!! Kena panjat lagi?? Dengan menggigil aku panjat gak la juga.  Keeping the apartment clean isn't an easy job, and since I took the full responsibility of the apartment, I have to do everything on my own. I'm not complaining, just expressing how much I understand even more since I live here with Bill.  This is the best part, although I have to manage the apartment on my own, I get to do it at my convenient time. No one to nag or push me, I just have to know when I should carry out the chores. Some call me lady of leisure...but they don't know what I do the whole day. If I were to tell anyone, they'd say I lead a leisure life.  Well, maybe they're right, considering I don't have to adhere to the office hours...but being a "house"lady, there are so much things to do.  Be one and you'll know what I mean...unless you're the kind who doesn't do household chores. :-)

I spent two hours cleaning, half and hour cooking lunch for myself, half and hour doing the laundry and hanging them, I did that while watching the TV...and later in the afternoon I baked a cake. I felt tired, but feeling content. I did everything at my own will, so I enjoyed every single chore. I love my life!

Love...Love...? Love...!

To love...

Is when you care 'bout someone

Think of him every now and then

Wondering if he's thinking of you too

His voice, an elixir to perish all your pain

To be loved...

Feeling uplifted when he shows care and concern

Knowing he's there for you most of the time

To give you the strength you really need

And make you walk your day in a breeze

To be in love...

Is when you crave for his presence 

Exuberance seeping into your soul

Just feel your love for him

He feels it too...

Love is in the air

Breathe your love...

Feel your love...

Touch your love...

Love your love.

Old Friend's Visit

Last Friday, July 1st 2011, my old friend whom I've already accepted as a sister, paid me a visit at Kasturi Idaman.  We finally set a date to meet and she made her way to Kelana Jaya LRT station and I fetched her there.  She came with her son, Syamil...and a glimpse on her son's face, reminds me of how old I am now.  They entered  the car and greeted me.  I asked my sister how old Syamil is. Five years old? That's about how long we haven't met each other.  The baby boy I saw five years ago is now a toddler.  He talks a lot too!  Hehehe...

We tried to catch up with what has been lost over the five years, but time is never enough, I guess.  I cooked lunch and we ate together.  It was fun to see Syamil ate his lunch. He's a boy, and we haven't had children in the house for 20 over years. Naughtiness of a toddler his age isn't something familiar to me anymore.  But hey, I'm going to be an aunty to two nephews this year. OMG! Guess I have to get used to kids ey? I just can't imagine how it's going to be like when my nephews are born...what kind of aunty am I going to be?

Anyway, the time my pet sister and I had to catch up with each other was just not enough.  It was already time for me to send them back to the train station.  I hope we could meet up again and hobnob.  It's really good to meet again...her little boy is cute! Hehehe....and I like him actually, although "Mak Long" (ntah camner dia panggil Mak Long lak, supposed to be Mama Long) is kind of "garang" towards little Syamil.  To my pet sister, jangan ambil hati yer...I love your son.

May we meet again when we have the chance.  Syukur Alhamdulillah, Allah made our paths cross again.

Another New Week

There's so much to share, I just haven't got the time to do so...or rather...lazy to write? I breezed thru last week successfully...it was a quick one.  These days, time flies past unnoticeably superfast!  I failed to write as I used to, and it's a heartbreak for me.  I keep asking myself, why I can't write anymore.  Each time I started a few words, I either got bored or doze off.  By the way, last week was such a sleepy week.  I laughed at a gym friend who told me that last 2 weeks she was always sleepy, I think I've contracted it now.

Today, in a while I'm heading to my parents' again.  Mom and I are going to do groceries together.  I love shopping for groceries but I hate carrying those heavy plastic bags, considering I'm now living in an apartment and not a landed house.  In a way, I miss living with my parents although I like living on my own.

I was really tired towards the end of last week. With so much things at hand, I could barely open my eyes even at early night, and my body felt like a wreck. Anyway, despite the lethargy, I was happy to have spent the weekend with my family and the week ended nicely with a call to my dearest one. So, all in all, I had a great week.  Today is the beginning of a new week, and I hope it'll end well too.  Insya'Allah...