Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Its a Girl! :-)

Name : Dah*lia an-Na*jla Sham*shul Fitri
Sex : Girl
Date of birth : 22nd December 2008 (24 Zulhijjah 1429H)
Time of birth : 2151 hrs (or 9.51 pm)
Weight : 3.10 kg

Hospital : Ampan*g Puter*i Specialist Hospital
Obstetrician : Datuk Dr. As*har Abdull*ah
Pediatrician : Dr. Hali*za Mohd Shaf*ie


A little huraian.....

DAH*LIA. The dah*lia is the national flower of Mex*ico and it is there that it was first discovered growing wild by the Europeans. A member of the Compositae (daisy-like) family, it was grown and improved by a Swedish Botanist, Andreas Dahl, and named after him.

It was brought to Gre*at Bri*tain late in the 18th century and today it is a summer flower grown in all countries where the climate is mild. But it will blacken overnight in the first frost of autumn.

The original wild Mexica*n dahlias had yellow centres and red petals, but now varieties are grown in many different shades of red, yellow and purple.

Pale pink & yellow dahlia
(Pix : taken from
here)


They vary considerably in shape and size, and their names generally give some idea of their appearance.

They include the large show and fancy dahlias, with many petals marked in several colours; single dahlias with one row of petals; cactus dahlias with pointed, starry flowers; peony dahlias which, with their large petals, look rather like the rend and pink flowers called peonies; and the dainty pompom dahlias, with round heads consisting of beautifully arranged, close-fitting petals.
Purple dahlia.
(Pix taken from here)


Dahlias grow from thick, underground stems called tubers and after the flowers have finished blooming in autumn, the tubers should be lifted and stored in a dry place, ready to be planted in the garden again the following May.
(Source : Children's Brita*nnica Vol. 6; Encycl*opedia Brita*nnica International, Ltd London. 1981)

NAJLA means yang mempunyai mata yang jelita.

Sungguhpun bukan local flower, but our daughter's name is based on a beautiful flower.... :-)

P/S : We would like to thank everyone for your wishes, visits and gifts....they meant a lot to us...Thank you!

Friday, December 26, 2008

The day our lives changed...

WARNING : Blognovella ahead.


Hello World! The moment our lives change.

Date : 22nd Dec. 2008 (24 Z
ulhijjah 1429H)
Time : 2151 (9.51 pm)
Mode of delivery : Kiwi vacuum
Location : Am*pang Put*eri Specia*list Hos*pital
Obstetrician : Datuk Dr. As*har Abdulla*h

Alhamdulilah....no other word best describe what i feel then and right now...a single word no other than 'Alhamdullilah'....

Alhamdullilah semuanya selamat dan berjalan lancar.
Alhamdullilah we have a healthy (albeit slightly jaundiced but sikit jer) & beautiful baby girl.
Alhamdullilah we have all the love and support from our family and friends.
Alhamdullilah our lives are more enriched and happy with this latest addition.
Alhamdullilah for everything - no matter how small or big.

22nd Dec is almost like any other day. the only difference was that we both know that i have to be in the hospital after brekkie....

yes, i admit that i was nervous, but still managed to buat lawak and ketawa. in fact, we took our time to go to AP, bangun lambat sikit, walked around the block in Taman TA*R and makan brekkie.

I wasn't really in the mood to berjalan. Dah la panas, and me being such a couch potato, soooo malas nak berjalan. But Fitri was so bersemangat (and garang :-P)..he said : "kalau nak senang bersalin, kena berjalan juga".

after the walk and brekkie, dengan mengambil masa sendiri, we got ourselves ready...masa ni nervousness was still under control...

sampai je di AP, we 'checked in' and after waiting for a while, we were taken to the room. the company's entitlement is for the 4 bedded room, tapi memandangkan pada hari itu semua bilik penuh, i had to be in the 5 bedded room..which i don't mind coz ada org sikit nak 'meneman'.

eventho its the maternity ward, apparently ada a couple of non-maternity related patients with me..sorang sakit saraf and the bed beside me, gall bladder stone yang cronic (she has been there for10 days).

once settled in, the nurse monitored the baby's heartbeat and my contractions.

"You dah ada contraction..."
"Huh? really? tak rasa..."
"Tak kuat sangat lagi"

Seriously i didn't feel my contractions! even masa tu Fitri and i was still laughing and joking about it...

4 pm - A nurse came in and induced my labor...gila la bila dia masukkan the ubat under there....i was already squarming sebab first time masukkan her hari is to check the depth, and then baru the ubat...

"Selalunya first child kena masuk ubat lebih dari sekali (tak ke cuak bila u dengar that...?) ...u jangan bergerak dari katil selama sejam ya?"

"Lepas sejam akan ada another nurse to check your condition...minta any epidural ke sebagainya?"

I answered : "Mmg nak epidural"

She said : "Ok, nnt bila dah dilate about 4 cm, kita pakai epidural..kalau dilation lagi besar, epidural dah tak berkesan.."

Me about an hour after induction.

Tunggu punya tunggu, takde nurse yg datang pun after an hour...masa tu Imin (Fitri's younger bro) came and lepak w us...

I was already experiencing contractions every 20 mins....then shorten to 15..then to about 10....masa ni seriously dah tak tahan sakit...

Second baby's heartbeat monitoring with contractions every 10-15 mins

When tak tahan already, they check my dilation and it was already 4 cm. Then, laxatives were given for obvious reason. One of the nurse sia temankan i dalam the toilet coz takut i teran and baby keluar ke apa....

i kept apologising (dan malu) coz she had to witness me buang air... :-)

then, she had to keluar and get the wheelchair...

dah la sakit due to contraction, then kena membuang..aiyoh!

fitri papah i back to my bed and since the contraction was bad, i decided to berdiri and berpegang pada kerusi. it was better then me lying on the bad w the contraction (i tried but sakit yang amt berbanding i berdiri).

After a while, finally the wheelchair came...

8 pm - wheeled into the labor room. (Labour Room 1)

In the Labor Room...

Ivy line was done (me being penakut towards pain and tak suka needles, rasa sangat sakit when its done)...

All these while Fitri was by my bedside, trying to calm me...i told the nurse there about wanting the epidural...

Sementara menunggu, i was given the gas, entonox, to sedut everytime i feel pain. seriously masa tu high!

I boleh buat lawak and said mengantuk lagi even during the pain!!

After a while, sekali lagi my dilation were checked and it was already 6 cm!

"Epidural?" i asked...
"Tak sempat Puan, dilation dah besar"

Masa tu mmg rasa nak hempuk je the nurses and anaesthesiologist yg tak sampai-sampai tu..! tapi nasib baik tgh high...kalau tak mmg dah kena maki...(actually dalam hati mmg dah maki pun..)

dah la mmg takut nak bersalin, and tetiba u were caught off-guard...takde pain relief..(for me, Entonox doesn't help...i see it as a mere distraction/psyclogy ploy and for u to get high-legally).

I had trouble breathing...my breathing exercises mmg tak pakai. i tend to hold my breath and mengerang...which the nurses tak galakkan sebab takut i teran...

at about 9 pm, i could hear a baby cry from the next room....masa tu terasa cam berani sikit...not just fitri was there helping me breathe, but a sense of tak sabar my baby would come and then the pain would end...

masa tu juga my water broke..(yes, i contraction dulu baru air pecah..some ppl terbalik).

soon enough, Dr came in and after given the updates from the nurses, he mentioned about getting the vacuum ready...

mmg dah tak ingat apa dah masa ni...all i could remember was the rasa kena tarik and me had to push beberapa kali...

when the baby came out, dia tak menangis pun.....Dr said dia tertelan her waste and they need to clear her airways...

"Abi, baby OK?" (i asked sambil still high form the etonox)
"She's OK...." Fitri said trying to soothe me..

after what seemed like eternity, finally the baby menangis...

Fitri then iqamah kan the baby..

one of the nurse asked if she could bring the baby ke luar to show to our family before masukkan ke dalam incubator..

after given the green light, Fitri went outside to call them..while waiting for him to come back, the nurse letakkan the baby dekat my dada...

it was love at first sight....

"Assalamualaikum Dahlia.." i said sambil mengusap her pipi and hair...

"Wah! dah ada nama" one of the nurses said...i just smiled..

then, they took her to show to our family who has been waiting patiently since earlier in the evening...

after the placenta is out, then the cleaning and then the sticthing...since i tore, lama sikitlah the jahitan tu...*phobia jap*...

"Nanti bila baby dah ready, try to breastfeed ok?" Dr said kindly...

after the he left, the nurse checked my uterus, takut ada placenta tertinggal ke apa...she called the Dr and after a 2nd checkup, everything OK...panik makcik!

lepas tu lak, as i nak kena pakai maternity pad, the nurse tetiba cakap :

"Kenapa your uterus sebelah besar?" (tgk my perut sebelah kembang ok!?!)

i pun panik a bitlah sebab takut ada complication lak....

"Takpe-takpe, u try buang air kencing...i think your bladder is pushing the uterus"..she then took the bedpan...

memula ingat nak kencing sambil baring, but since takle, Fitri and the nurse helped me sit and membuang la..

ane my tummy dah tak besar sebelah anymore! *lega*

kena duduk di LR for about an hour plus before i was wheeled to my bed...it was a lovely sight when we keluar the LR...

everyone was there, both our parents and most of our siblings....

masuk-masuk je bilik, tak sampai 5 minit, baby dibawa masuk...


Our first picture together


lots of "ooohs, aahhhas" were heard...

a nurse helped me to nurse the baby.....my first time nursing.....and its a wonderful feeling!

after a while, everyone left except fitri...

walaupun sebenarnya tak dibenarkan, tetapi memandangkan a couple of husbands stayed by their wife's bed, fitri pun temankan i that nite...

we didn't sleep at all coz the baby kept waking up due to kesejukan...kesian fitri coz he came unprepared nak stay over...kena tahan kesejukan...

the pain, the hardship was definitely worthwhile......

i'm grateful that i have my family esp Fitri to help and support me tru it all....alhamdullilah...

Friday, December 19, 2008

Wish only...

First and foremost, this is only a wishlist. Truthfully, i really-really appreciate all your wishes tapi kalau nak bagi hadiah, saya menerima dgn tangan terbuka dan sangat-sangat berterima kasih... :-)

after much requests, here's a few items yang i boleh terfikir rite now....seriously i have no idea and anything (or nothing) pun boleh je sebenarnya.

kalau nak bagi hadiah special for si mommy pun ok je...hahahahahhaha...

anyway... :-)


Lamaze Dreams-in-Sight Mobile (given by Bee & Shiela)

Ear thermometer



Baby monitor

Avent's breastmilk/food container

Fridge-to-go (sponsored by Jojo)


Baby gym/toys

















Baby Art Print/1st Year Kit

what do you think?

I obtained this from NST Online . Do tell me your opinion about it....
Journalists are bad news when it's time to wed
KUALA LUMPUR: Want to get married in Malaysia? Don't become a journalist.

A recent survey found that media professionals, along with those in advertising, public relations and marketing, are considered the "last resort" when it comes to spousal candidates.

The survey, by market research and consultant group Synovate Sdn Bhd, also included entertainers, actors and musicians at the bottom of the heap.

The company interviewed more than 1,000 men and women, between the ages 15 and 64, from all income levels for the survey, which sought to "uncover attitudes and perceptions of Malaysians towards professions, careers and jobs".

Educators, including teachers and professors, seem to have it good in the love department with 36 per cent approval from respondents, followed by doctors and nurses (29 per cent).

Synovate marketing and communications manager Varian Ignatius said the survey indicated that Malaysians "are somewhat careful" when it comes to selecting a life partner, placing a premium on trustworthiness and good moral values.

The findings also show that 75 per cent of Malaysians admitted that the profession of their potential and future partner is important.

"They also admitted that the most important characteristics that make a profession admirable are those that help people with their health and education."

Varian said similar surveys carried out in other countries found that doctors and nurses were most sought after as marriage partners in France, the United States and Brazil, while 37 per cent of respondents in China preferred teachers and professors.

On salary scales, the survey revealed that some 33 per cent of Malaysians believed that corporate figures such as chief executive officers, top business executives, bankers and accountants were paid too much for their work.

Inversely, 44 per cent of the respondents felt that people with trade skills, such as plumbers, carpenters, builders and mechanics, do not earn enough.

"Malaysians tend to view trade work as hard work which is physically demanding and time-consuming. They believe that such demands require higher monetary rewards."

Varian said the survey showed that 85 per cent of Malaysians were proud of their professions and also felt their parents' views of their jobs were important.

"It is exceedingly important to have a good job in Malaysia. It is perceived to reflect your social status and a high status improves your lot in life -- and that of your family."

Varian noted that the family institution in Malaysia was generally tight-knit, making it normal for parents' views to figure prominently throughout people's lives.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

when oh when...?

Obgyn : Datuk Dr. As*har Abdulla*h
Location : Ampan*g Pute*ri Specialist Hospy
Date of checkup : 17th Dec 2008
Weeks of pregnancy : 41 weeks (39+ if ikut ultrasound)
Body weight : 63 kg

Firstly, I'm still very much pregnant...apparently our lil' bundle of joy is still not ready to see the world... :-)

I must thank everyone who has been calling/smsing asking about my condition...belum jadi mama officially lagi...but i am still waiting, tho not so patiently this time..

Dr said that there' a lil' bit of space lagi, apparently baby tak 100% engage. and so far, the amnio fluid is still sufficient for baby, i just have to keep a close eye on the baby's daily movement...

memula Dr nak admit i semalam, but melihatkan pada situasi, he decided monday would be the best time. so peeps, kalau sebelum monday i tak bersalin, monday morning, 22nd Dec ni, sah-sah i dah kena admit AP and most likely kena induced...

i pray the baby would lahir natural birth - induced or not. *sigh*.

whateveritis, i'm now so nervous but sometimes rasa cam numb. pelik tak? takut sampai tak berperasaan?

oh, and i lost 1kg. Dr cakap baby kecil tapi berat still cecah 3kg...hehehe...and sihat, alhamdullilah...

i've been having a slight discomfort around the tummy area, esp tgh-tgh malam these days, and sakit belakang mmg tak ingat lah...nasib baik this couple of days fitri ada to comfort me...tapi esok awal pagi balik ke mela*ka semula.. :-(

hmmm...what else? oh, Sabb minta i buat baby's wishlist and i seriously tak tau apa nak listkan...nnt if ada masa i will do it, but seriously, takde pun takpe....any ideas? wishes pun dah cukup menggembirakan we all...

Monday, December 15, 2008

Journalistic interpretation?

I takde kerja and sesaja googled Papa's name...and i found this at Ber*nama's library site...it was taken from their newsletter, Berita Bernama in 1980.


NOMENCLATURE OF UNACCEPTED DEFINITIONS

Journalists -Have you arrived?

At what stage of your career can you relax and say for certain that you have arrived as a journalist? Some say when you have regular irregular heartbeats, ulcers that defy diagnosis, untimely heart attacks, high blood pressure or a conspicuous loss of conspicuous loss of hirsute endowments at the hill-top.

Use the not-accepted Baharudin rating system to test yourself. Under this system, your stories must create some kind of response or aftermath (notice that I do not use the word reprisal as it might strike terror in your dainty hearts).

If your contact rings you up the next day to say you misquoted him completely, this indicates that he took the trouble to read, your report in the papers.

If he goes so far to threaten you with a law suit, this proves beyond any reasonable doubt that your story has touched him in the heart where it matters most.

By all means, do have a few restless nights thinking over your future in journalism but try not to lose appetite over this. You wouldn't want to drag in the medical profession over such a small matter. You could however try to catch hold of ex-journalists who hove gone into the legal profession (try Rashid Ali).

If your contact actually marches into Bernama Head Office with bloodshot eyes and fumes coming out of his ears to demand a retraction of your story, it goes to show how much trouble he has taken to see you personally over your story.

If he shows up with his lawyer, leave the matter entirely in the hands of the news editor, whose past personal experience in such matters will do doubt put him in good stead to deal with the problem.

However, while waiting for both parties to work out an amicable settlement out of court, you could spend the free time typing out your resignation letter.

And, for heaven's sake, as a parting gesture, exercise some principle - do not use office stationary. As an alternative, you could have your resignation letter typed out in advance. Just leave the date to be filled in when the need arises.

Therefore, under the Baharudin rating system, you can say you have arrived when you are leaving. At least you leave with a bang.

By BAHAR*UDIN LA*TIF, who jokes about his future.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

My Papa is a celebrity today! :-P

My colleague, Ham*zah Abdul Ham*id, wrote this article for today's Kosm*o! Ahad..


RENCANA UTAMA

Khabar dari tebing runtuhan

Pemandangan hijau yang dibanggakan selama ini sudah bertukar menjadi pandangan bumbung-bumbung rumah dan kondominium yang semakin rancak dibangunkan.


SOBREY mengharapkan semua pihak bertindak secara proaktif.


'MAAF, kami umpama pelarian," pelawa tuan rumah sambil mengemas letak atur beg-beg berisi pakaian dan dokumen penting di laluan masuk. Sebelum bertanya lanjut tentang barang-barang tersebut, topik perbualan sengaja dimulakan dengan imbasan kisah lalu.

Ingatannya kuat pada pandangan bukit yang tenang dan hijau. Dia juga masih ingat pada kunjungan saudara-mara dan teman taulan yang memuji betapa bertuah si tuan rumah dapat memiliki kediaman menghadap keindahan alam semula jadi.

Bagi Sobrey Jaafar, 59, keputusan untuk melabur sejumlah kira-kira RM200,000 untuk sebuah rumah teres di Wangsa Ukay, Bukit Antarabangsa, 20 tahun lalu, adalah impian yang dibina bersama keluarganya. Pelaburan yang semahunya dibiar menjadi milik mereka selama boleh.

"Kami berpindah dari Taman TAR, Ampang Jaya kerana mahukan persekitaran yang lebih tenteram dan selamat selain menghargai budaya yang terbit daripada kejiranan di kalangan golongan profesional.

"Penduduk di sini mewakili kelompok masyarakat moden. Kemudahan asas penduduk seperti bekalan air, elektrik dan keperluan lain juga memuaskan lantaran diuruskan dengan baik," terangnya yang memberitahu nilai asetnya itu tahun lalu sudah mencecah harga sekurang-kurangnya setengah juta ringgit.


PANDANGAN ngeri dari tempat punca runtuhan di Jalan Wangsa 9, Wangsa Ukay. Kediaman Sobrey sekeluarga hanya kira-kira 200 meter dari tebing ini.


Kata Sobrey, dahulu rumah itu tidak perlu dipasang sistem hawa dingin, kerana udara sudah cukup nyaman dan dingin pada waktu malam. Apakah lagi yang diingati?

"Harmoni. Itulah yang kami paling ingat," celah isterinya, Nazlee Ismail, yang merujuk kepada kemesraan hubungan antara jiran tanpa mengira bangsa dan agama.

"Dulu kami memang sengaja memilih pandangan yang menghadap bukit bukau berbanding hartanah yang menghadap kota raya Kuala Lumpur. Tapi, lihat sekarang ke luar sana," katanya lantas membuang pandangan melepasi halaman rumahnya.

"Pemandangan hijau yang kami banggakan itu kini menjadi pandangan bumbung-bumbung rumah dan kondominium yang semakin rancak dibangunkan saban tahun," sambung bapa kepada dua orang anak ini.


RUNTUHAN kecil di laluan Jalan Wangsa 1 ini juga antara petanda yang perlukan penyelenggaraan profesional.


Pembangunan konkrit itu lama-kelamaan menghakis kenangan yang mereka kumpulkan sejak mendudukinya pada tahun 1988. Di sebalik nada tenang pasangan suami isteri ini, masih dapat ditangkap sekilas bibit khuatir mengenai rentetan kejadian tanah runtuh pada dinihari 6 Disember lalu.

"Kami tidak merasakan apa-apa semasa tanah itu runtuh. Sebaliknya mendapat tahu pada siangnya apabila menerima panggilan saudara yang tinggal di kawasan bawah bukit. Ketika itu, helikopter sudah berlegar-legar di ruang udara," imbas Sobrey.

Tragedi yang mengorbankan lima nyawa itu seolah-olah menjelaskan keanehan yang dilihat dengan matanya sendiri pada dua hari sebelumnya. Sobrey teringat pada kawanan beruk dan monyet yang tiba-tiba muncul berkeliaran merapati kawasan perumahannya, seperti hendak lari dari kawasan hutan di lereng bukit itu.

"Bukan tidak pernah melihat kelibat monyet dan beruk di sini, tetapi saya hairan bilangannya lebih banyak daripada biasa. Mungkin itu suatu petanda," katanya.

Mungkin ketika ramai menghulur belas dan berduka dengan nasib mangsa di kalangan penghuni 14 buah banglo yang ranap di tapak runtuhan, kita terlupa pada keluh-kesah penghuni rumah di atas bukit Wangsa Ukay ini. Kehidupan mereka, secara falsafah dan fizikalnya, berada di tebing curam.


PENGHUNI di deretan rumah di Jalan Wangsa 9, di belakang kediaman Sobrey sudah diarahkan untuk berpindah demi keselamatan mereka.


Kediaman Sobrey misalnya, walaupun bukan dalam 'zon merah' yang diarahkan untuk mengosongkan premis, kedudukannya adalah kira-kira 200 meter dari punca runtuhan. Deretan rumah di Jalan Wangsa 9, iaitu betul-betul di belakang rumahnya sudah pun dikosongkan.

"Kami diberitahu bahawa deretan rumah di Jalan Wangsa 7 ini tidak terjejas. Struktur tanah kami masih kukuh dengan batu. Moga ia kekal begitu," ujar pesara ini yang telah meninggalkan portfolio besar dalam agensi berita negara, Bernama.

Sobrey yang pernah bertugas membuat liputan tragedi kondominium Highland Towers yang tumbang pada tahun 1993, walau bagaimanapun mengakui bahawa kejadian seumpama itu bukan asing di Bukit Antarabangsa.

Kes-kes runtuhan kecil, katanya, sudah beberapa kali berlaku. Cuma runtuhan tanah Sabtu lalu, menggusarkan dia sekeluarga.

"Itulah yang dikesalkan. Setiap kali terjadi perkara seperti ini, arahan menghentikan projek di kawasan bukit dikeluarkan kerajaan. Namun, larangan itu dilupakan juga akhirnya," luah bapa kepada dua anak ini.

Menurutnya, ada tiga sebab mengapa tragedi ini berlaku. Pertama adalah kelemahan penyelenggaraan. Kedua adalah kekurangan pengurusan teknikal, manakala yang ketiga adalah sikap 'tidak apa'.


BEG-BEG berisi barangan keperluan dan dokumen penting sudah siap diletakkan di muka pintu.


Dia melahirkan kemusykilannya terhadap pihak yang meluluskan projek-projek di sekitar kawasan Bukit Antarabangsa yang tidak serius untuk merujuk kepada pakar penyelenggaraan cerun bukit.

Bagi yang mampu berfikir dengan waras, memang letih kalau hal seperti ini berakhir dengan drama menuding jari, bercakap soal sifat tamak manusia dan keengganan pihak-pihak tertentu mematuhi peraturan yang ditetapkan kerajaan. Pokok pangkalnya adalah penguatkuasaan.

"Lagi satu, konsep pengurusan krisis kita sering kali silap. Ia sepatutnya dilaksanakan untuk menghindarkan krisis daripada berlaku. Bukannya bertindak sesudah sesuatu krisis atau bencana sudah terjadi," tegasnya yang mahukan semua pihak lebih proaktif menangani isu tersebut.

Bukan berfikir negatif atau tidak menghormati perasaan Sobrey sekeluarga. Namun, soalan ini akhirnya telah disuakan juga kepadanya - adakah sudah bersedia untuk meninggalkan rumah itu seandainya keadaan tidak menyebelahi mereka nanti?

"Bukan soal mahu pindah atau tidak. Kita ikut apa yang perlu dibuat. Di mana-mana pun kita percaya pada ketentuan Tuhan. Di bukit boleh berlaku tanah runtuh, di kawasan rendah pula boleh terjadi bencana banjir, dan di kawasan rata juga boleh dilanda puting beliung. Iklim dan cuaca juga sudah tidak dapat diduga.

"Kalau diikutkan hati, kami masih mahu terus tinggal di sini. Walau bagaimanapun, beg-beg sudah di depan pintu itu. Jika berlaku apa-apa, kami akan capai dan pergi," ujarnya yang akan terus terkenangkan betapa kejiranan itu dua dekad lalu begitu damai dan menghijau.