Weekend - Muar

On 22nd November 2008, we travelled to Bukit Gambir, Muar to attend a cousin's wedding. My cousin. Her father is my mom's elder brother. the only elder living brother. My family and my youngest aunt's family rented a van (with the driver) and we pushed off at 9.30am, arriving at 12.45pm. Had lunch (food was excellent but it was too hot to enjoy seconds and thirds, but the "tapau'ed" ones were good enough. The reception was held at a local balairaya (community hall) next to the surau (small prayer house). We spent time catching up with the rest of the relatives, aunts, uncles and cousins at the surau, after Zuhr and Asr (jama' and qasar) prayers.

We pushed off back to KL at 2.30pm, arriving at 5.30pm and it was raining heavily in KL.

The kids were sleeping most of the time. Zara and Millie were behaving well. Zara was the centre of attraction with my relatives.

Approcahing The End of 2008

The year is nearing the end... I shall be 38 years old before the year-end. Looking back... has 2008 been a good year?

I am counting my blessings... despite the trouble, the stresses, the burdens.... 2008 has been a year full of wonderful news, achievements, fulfilled hopes and prayers.....

To name just a few, which are the highlights:

1. I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl;

2. I received a promotion with a considerably handsome increment;

3. Haakem's improvement in his marks at school;

4. Millie weaned from the breasts;

5. My best buddy Jan re-joined the department;

6. I found many old friends and made new friends through Facebook;

7. I lost a few pounds (in weight that is);

8. I finished reading more than 15 books;

9. I bought myself a Nikon digital camera;

10. I managed to pay off my dues (despite being the single income earner) including a significant amount off my credit card balance.



I AM BLESSED!!!

Haakem's Surprise Party

The last time we celebrated Haakem's birthday was in 2006 but even that was not a proper party. I bought a Sceret Recipe's cake and brought it to my aunt's house where there was a makan-makan do and Haakem blew the candles with my sister Angel whose birthday is also in November.

Last year, it was just a family dinner outside.

This year, I decided to throw him a surprise birthday party at school. The last we had that while he was attending year 2 at Kindergarten.

I made last minutes preparation. I took the afternoon off on Thursday 6th, heading straight to Jusco to get his present and goodies for the goodies bags and headed down to the supermarket to get the foodstuff and packaging materials. I arrived home and was relieved to see him napping that I smuggled everything into my room and hid them under the bed while the wet foodstuff went straight into the fridge.

After isya' prayer, I locked myself in the room, filling the goodie bags with carton milk, raisins, smarties, some sweets, balloons and toys. Only 20 of them as there are only 19 kids in his class, him included. An extra one for Millie, of course. Mak Yah cooked and prepared the coconut milk jelly.

Before bed, I soaked the dried mihun (vermicelli noodles), 5 packets of them totalling 2kgs.

At 7.00am, I kissed Haakem goodbye and saw him off to school, wishing him a happy birthday. I called his Guru Penolong Kanan to inform her of the surprise party and she was thrilled.

After Haakem was off, I started preparing the fried chicken drummets and fried Singapore Beehoon. I finished packing (in individual containers for the kids - noodles and drummets) and in a large container for the teachers (noodles and cut jelly).

After taking my shower and hubby helping to load the stuff into the car, we took Millie with us and drove to my office to collect the pre-ordered birthday cake (moist chocolate) and headed to Haakem's school.

They have just finished their 10.30am break, so while the kids were still assemblying before coming back to the classroom, we brought the stuff upstairs with the help of Haakem's GPK.

Enough said, my 9 year old son had tears in his eyes when he saw us, with the goodies.....

he was thrilled beyond words!!

His classmates were happy and food was completely gone in an hour's time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAAKEM. Semoga jadi anak yang solleh dan berjaya dalam hidup dunia dan akhirat... Ameen!!!

The Kidz

Zara is doing well... she must be more than 5kg now, at 3 months ++. Slacking behind Millie during her first 2 months of growth, she's catching up rapidly, consuming around 15-21oz of expressed breastmilk during the day and more throughout the nights....

Millie is completely weaned from the breasts but begged for them sometimes. She's talking alot, screaming alot, crying alot, laughing alot and playing alot. A lot of antics, this little lady.

Haakem is playing his cards right. I gave him a surprise birthday party at the school on his birthday, the day after his final exam. He's got the results as well. Alhamdulillah, all my nagging, coaching and his consistent revision/exercise pay. His marks improved tremendously, obtaining the highest in 5 subjects (BM1, BM2, Science, English and Agama) and only 1 point lower than the highest for Maths. His overall percentage is also satisfactory. I promise myself to coach him even better for his Level 2, year 2009. Insya Allah, with hubby around, I can spend more time for Haakem while hubby tend to Millie and Zara.

November Updates - Continued

The kids were down with cold some 2 weeks ago, starting with Millie who spread the germs to Zara through wet smooches all over her face...... Haakem had stuffy nose too.... and after medication some 7 days later, all were well except for Millie. Well, she refused her medication. I didn't want to stress it out so i just gave her panadol for kids and vit.c supplements etc. Zara completed her 1st and 2nd month imunisation. Hubby wasn't well with recurring fevers and toncilitis..... I have been praying that Allah keep me well. If I collapse, the whole system would collapse!!! Alhamdulillah I stayed strong and healthy throughout despite all the heavy rains I had to endure on my way back from work (walking from the bus stop to the house). God is great!!
Hubby shall be finishing his contract by end of November and shall return to KL for good (I hope) and we've been searching for jobs for him. Some promises but nothing's confirmed. he has been commuting at 2 weeks interval instead of one, so that he can finish the programme. I have been running errands on my own and getting better at them now.
Bibik has promised to stay on for a bit longer until we have some confirmation on the new maid. I am still praying that she would change her mind and come back to serve us after a month break. We need to discuss with her husband on this. The husband sounds like a nice and reasonable person. Although he is also staying and working in KL, apart from occassional phone calls, he has never disturbed his wife or us, rather. he never asked to meet etc., unlike many other husbands of maids, I've heard of. He even asked for my permission first before calling his wife.

Life Goes On..... (November Updates)

24 hours is just not enough. but I have managed, so far. Thanks to my support system especially my aunt, bibik, my best friends (u know who u are), colleagues from office and cyber friends, heheheh... and of course GOD!!!
My babies are doing well, growing up, with their antics!!
I am well into my second month of "resuming" work after my confinement period. So far I have managed it well, thanks to the understanding between me and my boss that I shall not be going for outstation duties at least until end of the year. I have my colleagues to thank too for their willingness (I hope) to go instead. After all, I did a lot of travelling on outstation duties (day trips and overnights) even at 8 months pregnant.
My days start at 5.30am usually, with changing Zara's and Millie's diapers, feeding Zara, performing my Subuh prayer, preparing Haakem for school & seeing him off, preparing Zara's milk portions, finishing the laundry, breakfast, feeding Zara again, getting ready for work, leaving the house between 8.10 to 8.25am, walking to the bus stop, waiting for the rapid bus no. B113 on an early morning or the U32/U31 on a late morning, arriving at the office between 8.45 on an early morning and 9.10 on a late morning. At the office, it is work as usual, meetings, discussions, drafting and reviewing of documents, checking junior staff's works etc. I would stop for milk expressing 3 times 10 minutes each a day, once around 11.00 am, another around 2.00pm and another around 4.oopm. I would leave the office at 5.00pm sharp as much as I can. Arriving home before 6pm (usually by 5.40pm) to take my shower, perform prayers and expressing milk before having my dinner and feeding Zara. For the record, Millie has been weaned from the breasts since Monday 10th November 2008 (Period of 2 years.
After Maghrib prayer, I would spend time with the older kids, catching up on Haakem's school activities, listening to Millie's complaints and whining. while watching/listening to the TV, I would put the laundry in the machine. After Isya' prayer, it's resting time while feeding Zara and having my foot massaged by Bibik sometimes. By 11.00pm, it's bed time for the kids and laundry time for Mama.
Zara wakes up once or twice for feeds but sometimes she sleeps through until Subuh.
To be Continued......