PRESENTING, MS CLAIRE CLAIRE!!!

22 April 2010

Hot & the Rainy Thursday (35 Degree Celsius)

Evening @ 1850 (Singapore Time)

Listen: 纪念 by Tanya Chua

Mood: *Wooohoo!”

First and foremost, let me welcome the newest addition to my family; Claire! Yup, on 20 April 2010, Claire was born. The wait was worth it, every bit of it.

The Chronology of events goes like this

Monday, 19 April 2010 at 1400hrs – We were at Dr Ang’s clinic for a routine check. Just 2 days ago on Saturday, we had our check already but then he say must double confirm, so got a half day leave and went for a CTG scan. Spent 1 hour hooked onto the machine and the scan turns out to be normal, everything was ok (or so we thought). We even have time to go IMM jalan jalan. Then came the initial scare, Mummy suddenly got a cramp, which evolved to a pain and then to more pain while Daddy was in between contemplating whether to go for my routine run or not…

1700hrs – Mummy don’t feel good, kept cringing and tossing around in bed… Daddy figures he shouldn’t go for the run, just in case…

1730hrs – Pain quicken but Mummy managed to take a quick bath (might be last bath for a long time) while Daddy prepare some makan (for us… since it might also take a while…). Mummy no appetite so Daddy (being the official garbage disposal) ate all up (Yup, it might take a while you know…). Anyway, Daddy showered second time in 1 hour, just because he was virtually in perspiration mode the whole while; preparing Mummy for shower, makan, wash clothes, hang clothes, just to make sure, ensure that everything gona be ok.

1800hrs – Called Dr Ang and he casually mentioned to check into the hospital at 2230hrs only. No need to rush (in his words). But hor, Mummy really in deep agony and hence, with our lack of options and in all Daddy’s wisdom, it is for the better that we go to Hospital now, rather than later, especially when Mummy can still limp to car…

1840hrs – after much difficulty, we managed to reach car. It rained like nobody business and guess what? Daddy forgot his car key… so lan lan, quickly rush back home for it.

1850hrs – finally drove off to Hospital. Stuck in rush hour, together with heavy rain, it’s a recipe for SLOW DRIVE the whole of fucking PIE… It’s ok, the ride was still smooth (by any account).

1930hrs – reach hospital, do admission, give credit card (yes, you need deposit, this is Singapore), credit card approved, signed my life-away-documents, then nurse wheel Mummy to ward. Imagine if you got no money, damn broke or shit happens, how? Welcome to Singapore! Too bad for you

2000hrs – Anyway, nurses called Dr Ang, wait in ward while the next door neighbor was celebrating her birth with the entire clan worth of people. That is why I wanted a One Bedded… Sigh… Shit happens and we are stuck with 2 (at the price of 4 bedded anyway… why? Because I am especially nice to everyone). Besides, you never know what might happen… especially so in a hospital… ANYWAY, Dr Ang finally turns up at 2230hrs (how convenient) and commented that it is still too early… Mummy cannot be dripped (epidural – since it is way too early) and so how now? Lan lan, Mummy stayed in ward while Daddy went home for a quick shut eye.

Tuesday, 20 April 2010, 0300hrs - Mummy’s SMS came in; Mummy going into labour ward soon, cannot have cellphone (some interference thingy). Wonderfully half-asleep Daddy misread it as Mummy is in Labour. Damn, Daddy was about to wake up at 0430hrs anyway, so how? Quickly showered and drove down in record time of 15 min to Hospital.

0430hrs – Saw Mummy, realized my mistake and slumped onto the cold waiting chair beside her.

0600hrs – Dr Ang drop by for his ward visit. Lament that the dilation for the whole night is too slow and recommend having the induction going. Now, Mummy is feeling feverish and unwell. A dose of Antibiotics should do the trick.

0630hrs – Slept a bit at the family waiting lounge. Unlike the labour wards, this place is slightly warmer… Only slightly…

0700hrs – Tummy growling and figure that it hasn’t been fed for the past 12 hours, so took across the bridge for breakfast (it sucks by the way). Came back feeling all oily. Pat Mummy a bit and went wandering about…

0800hrs – Had second breakfast (Sucks big time) that cost me like 10 bucks (double sucky). Why? Because Daddy got nothing better to do… It is wait and wait somemore

0830hrs – Pat Mummy again

0900hrs – Read papers, slept a bit, read paper backwards, Exploring my Nokia N97 and its wonders… battery dying after intense usage… regretful and hoping it wouldn’t die…

1130hrs – Check on Mummy, fever down, still feeling weak.

1200hrs – Went back to lounge for drinks… read papers inversely

1230hrs – decided to pat Mummy but to my horror, she is not in her ward. Panic mode, ask Mummy’s whereabouts at reception only to find out she is in delivery ward (anytime SOON!!)

1235hrs – found her, fuck the nurses for NOT telling me… I joke I joke, we needed the nurses more than they needed us, so you do the math. ANYWAY, nurse demonstrated how to do the push and let us figure out the pushing on our own (must practice)

1245hrs – Dr Ang came in, joke about doing 4 deliveries today, and something like God is kind to him, because he go bible study class recently… DUH… No one actually notice his jokes (except for me) I am neither the one in labour, or the helpers, the only Jo Bo Lan chap in the entire room, so OF COURSE I GET HIS JOKES lah

1250hrs – same thing, tell us to push, push harder, push somemore, push like you never shit in days (his exact words… funny guy)… while I am just there, going through the motion.

XXXXhrs – Suddenly Dr Ang gave the last burst, and out came Claire and onto Mummy’s lap! Woo, the whole 1 min thereafter is pretty surreal. I wasn’t expecting it to be out so soon (watch too many dramas, thought baby will need some pushing – a lot, before popping out). Nurses kept gesturing me to take the time of birth, Dr Ang passed me the scissors for the umbilical cord cut, all the while seeing Mummy smiling weakly, Claire crying, nurses running around…

1310hrs – Weigh Claire, go back room, all tidied up, blood stains here and there but basically, its cleaned. Dr Ang move on to his 2nd delivery of the day… damn efficient I tell you

1315hrs – Phone grandma, Mummy’s relations, sms friends and finally, at 1400hrs, can sigh a relieve… by then Grandma arrive in record time to, just to catch a glimpse of Claire …

The rest of the time was pretty autopilot. Friends and relatives all gather around, Hiok came, Han’s with his family (awww, handsome little Raph), Chris too. In all, we collected like hundreds of bottled Chicken essences, ginseng-ed Bird Nest, Fish essences etc etc, with some toys here and there. James came too, with his BIG ang bao, more essences and a bright little sunflower. Daniel and GF too, on the second day.

With Those, I ended my story, for today. Claire, We love you.