Give Thanks!

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us"

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us"

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us"

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us"

Give thanks

Merry Christmas 2013!

Merry Christmas to one and all! It's been an eventful year and the year is coming to an end. Before the end of Christmas, I just want to tell my love that I really do not have any things that I want for a present. All I want for Christmas, is you! And it's true! 

You are the best gift God has given to me. You know I heart practical things. Right now, I really do want to minimize the things that I have so that I can make space for Rachael's things. So the most practical things that you have given me is your love, attention and effort put in all the little things that is big to me. Below is a non exhaustive list of things that I really appreciate you for: 

1) Loving me unconditionally.

2) Putting my interest before yourself in everything e.g. Staying in Aljunied even though you have to wake up very early to travel to the west and then rush back to have dinner with me back in the east. 

3) Scratching my back for me whenever I requested for one. 

4) Massaging for me when I really need a massage. If you had not massaged me during the days when my rib cage was in pain, I wouldn't have recovered so fast. 

5) Praying for me when I'm not feeling well and when I'm in pain. 

6) Spending lots of money and time to make the car and bedroom comfortable for Rachael and me. 

7) Accompanying me to every gynae visit.

8) Willing to sacrifice your personal time for me and Rachael.  

9) Always loving me even when I'm not lovable. 

10) Paying for my food and giving me "allowance" when I'm dry financially.

Too many to list... 

All and all, I just want to say that you have already spent a bomb on me, materially and practically. So there's no other presents that I need except YOU. 

I LOVE YOU, KEN YEOH!

Candlelight Service 2013

We had our Candlelight Service 2013 last Saturday! Finally had a chance to take pictures with hubby and friends. Can't really remember why hubby wasn't around with me last year. Only remembered mum, Joreen, Chloe and Charis took pictures with me. Anyway, here are the photos for this year! 

What a beautiful day it was to be with loved ones. Thank God for all of them! 

Pain got worse on Friday

Yes.. By the title, you will know that my pain got worse... It spreaded from just the rib cage area to my shoulder and back. All happened after I made my way to school and parkway for lunch. I guess it's either my heavy backpack or the car seat. I guessed it's the car seat that gave me a wrong posture and caused me to be in excruciating pain thereafter. 

When I got home, I had difficulty lying down on bed. The pain was sharp and feels like muscle spasm on and off. I cried when I called the gynae's clinic to ask for advice because it was too painful to bear. 

So I rested at home the whole of Friday. Thank God I'm feeling much better now. Last night, I had a coughing spell before sleeping. The itch wouldn't go away unless I cough it out and it's so painful to cough. I'm really gonna stop eating chicken, eggs and prawns for the time being. Got to stop my irritating cough! 

Praying for total healing!!

Painful lower right rib area

After Anilia's wedding last Sunday, I've been feeling a nagging pain at my lower right rib area. At first, I thought it was caused by my very tight bra. But the pain lasted for the whole week and hurts whenever I coughed. 

I read up on the web and there are some who said that such pain could be caused by the growing of the baby pushing the organs against the rib cage. Even the gynae said it might be because of that mentioned above or because of my cough. 

So well, there's no remedy to the pain. I just had the bear with it. The ultimatum came when we were celebrating Wendy's birthday a few hours before. I coughed, and I "heard" and feel my rib cracked! At that instant, I experienced a sharp, excruciating pain at the same spot. Till now, I'm blogging because I can't sleep well at all. Every turn and movement causes pain. 

I guess there's nothing I can do except to bear with the pain and move slowly, waiting for the pain to go off on its own, praying for that relief to come soon. I need a miracle!!! 

Test for gestational diabetes...

Intended to wake up at 7.15am. In the end, I was awakened by hubby's messages at 6plus and couldn't sleep because I was so excited that he's gotten permission to accompany me to the hospital! But of course, it's at the expense of one Saturday burnt next year. There's no free meal in govt sector. 

Anyway, I was really happy. Not a bit worried. Somehow, there's peace in my heart. I guessed, that's the peace of God. 

We reached the hospital early at around 8.10am. I was told to collect some urine samples then started my first drawing of blood at 8.30am. The nurse looks so much like Shun Ai!!! Sweet looking, gentle and nice. It wasn't painful at all! After that, I was given a bottle of orange syrup to finish before leaving the room. It's not as bad as what others had said. Just tasted like very concentrated orange syrup. Then I was told to collect second urine sample at 9.20am, did second drawing of blood at 9.30am. Third urine sample was at 10.20am and blood at 10.30am. 

After fasting since 12 midnight the day before, it's the first time I actually have problem collecting urine. There's not much water left in me. I really had difficulty getting those water out of me. 

Also, after all the tests are done, I registered mysef at gynae's clinic, took blood pressure and weight. All's normal for me. Then we went for breakfast. Finished a bowl of mushroom soup and half a curry puff from Delifrance. After food, we went back to gynae's clinic. Stood around waiting for our turn because it's so crowded and there's no seats for us. I was told to do urine test again!!! Really no water came... So I gulped down some water. Didn't expect myself to suddenly feel giddy and nauseas. I went to the toilet but couldn't close the door in time to puke all my breakfast out. Feel bad for dirtying the toilet and making the aunty work so hard.

After that, I felt much better. Found a seat to sit down and wait for my turn. Hubby and I were really glad to hear that the report came back negative, which means, I'm not down with gestational diabetes. We did ultrasound scan for Rachael and heard her solid heart beat again. Everything is well with her, except that she's slightly bigger than the size she should be in. (I guessed it must have been the durians that I ate previously...)

Anyway, everything went well. Thank God for the peace and protection over Rachael and my health. Thank God for good reports! Thank God for such a wonderful hubby! Thank God for everything!   

Rachael Yeoh Rui Chyi

We are in week 24! I can feel Rachael moving more these few days and I'm suspecting that she's going through a growth spurt now... Cos for the past few weeks, I've just been eating my normal big portion of 3 meals a day. However, these few days, I've been feeling hungry after 4-5h even after eating rice! Well, I hope that also mean that I'm digesting better now. 

Anyway, I was explaining to friends on FB about how we get Rachael's name. I guess it will be good to document down everything here too. 

We started with Raphael. Raphael is an angel of healing. Hubby said we always hear about healing but never really experience it for ourselves. So Raphael will be God's gift on healing for us. 

Then to match Raphael, we thought of Rachael. Rachael was the wife of Jacob in the Bible. She's very beautiful and this her name means beautiful. 

Using the sound of Rachael, we decided to call her 睿绮. 睿 means wisdom and 绮 means beautiful. We hope that she will be wise and beautiful. 

Not just that, hubby suggested that her name be spelt as Rachael Yeoh Rui Chyi because Rachael has 7 alphabets, Yeoh+Rui has 7 alphabets and Rui+Chyi has 7 alphabets too!!! 7 is a number of perfection. Jesus=777!! So there we have our beloved's name. Rachael Yeoh Rui Chyi, 姚睿绮!

Looking forward to see my beautiful. :)

God makes everything beautiful in His time!

I was just chatting with Shun Ai over whatsapp and she asked me about baby's name. So I told her my baby's name is Rachael with A after the H. And I explained that initially we thought of Raphael if we have a baby boy. And since Raphael has A after the H, Rachael will have A after H too. 

Then I told her why we chose Raphael. Raphael means the angel of healing and Rachael means beautiful. So I jokingly said I didn't get my healing but I got beautiful! 

She said she felt goosebumps after I said that and I got my revelation... 

Although I'm still falling sick, have not experienced my healing yet, but God makes all things beautiful in His time! He gave me all things BEAUTIFUL. My Rachael is beautiful!!! Thank You, Jesus! 

Feeling lousy...

Felt lousy about myself after talking to a colleague yesterday. She told me when she had her first child, she was still washing the toilet on the day of delivery. Now that she's carrying the second child, she still went grocery shopping on her own during lunch break yesterday. (The supermarket wasn't nearby at all.) She said it's normal to have pain at the lower abdominal area and she didn't get any cough or flu when she was pregnant. 

Gosh! I felt so weak and lousy then. :( And I realised how much I depended on my hubby on everything that I do... I can't remember where I kept my things, can't open and close my bed compartment without help, not comfortable to travel on public transport without my hubby. I feel tired after being at work for half a day. (And my colleague seemed completely alert and fresh at the end of the day!) 

I wish I can be stronger. I wish I have no cough and pain. I wish I can enjoy this pregnancy more. I wish I can remember things better. I wish I'm not so tired every day. I wish... 

Wishes aside, my right butt felt pain again and the pain didn't go off. Was limping as I walked. So I missed my staff retreat and year end lunch. Was so looking forward to see the pandas but now I'm just lying on the bed. And the cough, makes my left tummy so painful each time I cough that I desperately wants the cough to stop! 

I need the healing and deliverance of God! May He take away all the pain, sicknesses, discomfort and lousy feelings  from my body and my life! I want a happy pregnancy for my dearest Rachael! I pray for all these in Jesus' most precious name! Amen! 

Pain pain, go away!

I thought I could finally enjoy my pregnancy. But pain struck again on Friday. Here's how it felt like on Friday... 

The lower abdominal felt some cramping and pain. Then it turned rock hard. What I read on google clearly described this as the uterus growing bigger for the growing baby. Seemed like the pain will keep emerging and might get worse towards the 3rd trimester. 

Other than this growing uterus pain, I'm feeling Rachael moving and possibly punching or kicking me. Good one, Rachael! Maybe we should sign you up for self defense when you grow up because daddy is afraid you will be bullied by others-namely, guys. Well, I guess with your punching and kicking skills now plus our athletic genes, you will definitely pick up the martial art without much difficulty! 

Jokes aside, I really hope I won't experience anymore pain. I feel that I can't function normally. They are not enjoyable at all. God, please deliver me from all pain and have mercy on me! In Jesus' precious name I pray, all pain be gone! Amen! 

Our new member of Yeoh's family is Rachael!!

We just did our detailed scan yesterday and confirmed that I'm carrying Rachael! She is really one active girl that loves to hide in a corner all curled up. Right now while I'm typing, I feel her probably punching or kicking me. 

We reached Thomson Medical at 1.30pm for our appointment yesterday. Went into the room for about 45min to scan our baby. We saw her spinal cords and bones so clearly, but she just hid facing down all the time, refusing to let us see her face and her vital parts. So we were told that we had to wait for her to change her position. Meanwhile, I had to walk around in the hope that she will turn her body upwards. 

We waited for another 45min before the nurse called us again for round 2. Still she's in her comfort zone. So hubby and I tapped my tummy and kept talking to her. Finally, she moved and turned a little. We took another 45min before she was willing to reveal to us that she's a girl. I'm so thankful to see that her bone structures and everything looks fine and beautiful and she is growing well! Thank God! 

After the scan, we went for gynae's consultation and was told everything is good for baby except that Rachael has a slightly bigger than normal abdomen. This might mean that I have gestational diabetes. So I was told to cut down on sweet stuff and starch and was scheduled to do a test in one month's time. So well, one more thing to pray about this season. 

All and all, it was really a great experience to be pregnant. It's just so amazing and exciting to see and feel my baby growing in me. I'm so excited to see my baby Rachael next March. But I also wish this 2nd trimester will not fly past too fast, cos I still wanna feel her move in me. :)

Half way there - 20 weeks!

The mummies in forum said that my fibroids degenerating pain will last 10-14 days. I'm glad they were right. I stopped taking painkillers last Saturday and went back to work on Tuesday (Monday was Deepavali school holiday). The four days at work made me so tired that I always concussed when I get back home from work. I'm just so glad that it's Saturday again! And...

Today marks the first day of 20 weeks into pregnancy! I've finally reached the halfway mark! 

I'm just so excited that the detailed scan is coming soon and I will be able to see and know more about my baby's growth and well-being. (And that happens to be the last day of school for the pupils. Means no more lessons or relief!) Will update again once I know baby's gender and anything else that's exciting. Looking forward!!!

Chapter B

B is for Baby! 

We are pregnant! Yes! All according to our plans and all falling into place. 

17 July 2013

I had been feeling kinda tired for the past few days. Somehow, it felt like normal menstrual symptoms but yet it's different. Well, so I took the pregnancy kit to check! 

A very faint line was shown. So I asked a few good friends for their opinion. I was really worried because I was teaching all my P1s skipping then and was afraid that skipping will cause harm if I'm pregnant. So I went to the gynae for a check up the next day. 

Took a blood test and gynae confirmed that I'm pregnant! Praise God!!

From then on, I started a journey of being on hospitalization leave because the first trimester is a crucial period. My fibroids are considered a threat to my baby. 

So what did I do while I'm on leave for 2 months? I've been sleeping, taking care of my nieces and that's about it. Time just flew past like that. 

Took the first baby scan on 1 Aug with hubby by my side. Baby is still such a small little bean. 

And then I started my morning sickness. Really thankful to God that I only threw up my food 6 times till now. Totally mild, compared to others. God is good to me! 

Then on 9 Sep we took another scan and was amazed by how fast the baby's heart beat is! He/She is beating at 187 beats per minute!!

Wow! We are truly amazed by God's wonderful creation. 

So I thought, after my first trimester is over, I should be feeling great and energetic like what most people said. But I was down with bad heartburn that caused me not to be able to sleep at night. So I cut down on food intake during dinner time and only drank milo or milk if I'm hungry before I sleep. 

Took another scan on 2 Oct and found our baby to be a very active one. He/She turned here and there when the gynae was doing the scan. 

So after the Sep holidays, I finally felt well enough to go back to work. Went back for two weeks happily and now I'm back with two weeks mc because of fibroids degenerating. 

I was in such great pain that I couldn't lie down, sit or stand properly without feeling the pain in my tummy and my back. Cried so many times within these two weeks. 

27 October 2013

Felt my baby moved in my womb for the first time! It was so painful! Confirmed with my mum that it's my baby that's stretching within! I was amazed when I called baby to stretch and I felt my womb went out of shape. Amazed yet again by the wondrous works of God. 

Through it all, I understand the discomfort and pain that a mother goes through. I teared at the slightest thing that happened. 

It's really not easy being a mum (and dad). The mum goes through all the pain, discomfort and emotional roller-coaster. The dad goes through a transition period of lifestyle changes and learning to deal with an all emotional wife. Treasure your parents!

Without God and the friends He has placed in our lives, it would be an even tougher journey for us! Thank You, Jesus! I'm still believing for my total healing! 

I'm looking forward to seeing my baby again on 12 Nov for my detailed scan. Praying continually for a strong, healthy and growing baby! 

Two New Chapters of My Life - Chapter W

Wow! It's been two years since I last blogged. Since the last post, many things had happened, good and bad, ups and downs. I wish to record down the good things that had happened these two years and thank God for being with me all these while. 

6 Oct 2012

Finally got married to my beloved husband, Ken. Though we've not been together for long, we've been friends for the longest time. I thank God for a man who loves me for who I am and cherishes me even when I seemed ridiculous at times. I'm always thankful that I can be myself - no make ups, no dress ups. Just a simple me. Although I do try to make an effort to dress better. 

Anyway, I must thank God for that wonderful day cos everything went on smoothly. Thank God for my wonderful and beautiful sisters who made everything beautiful for me. 

And not forgetting the fun-loving brothers who made the day fun and smooth too! 

Thank God for the wonderful peace that He had given me on that day. I have sweaty palms. It's dripping wet whenever I'm nervous. But that day, my palms wasn't wet at all! It has to be God!! 

 

And so, I'm officially part of the Yeoh's family from then on. 

This marks the beginning of one new chapter of my life in 2012.