Cold Relief

I came up with these little treats that really works like heaven when I am having my queasy moments.

These lovely looking hearts are actually mini ice cubes made from Ribena :)  I just pop one or two whenever I feel like some relief.  

Mmm... I think I may just try this with plum juice later this week :)

A Musical Treat

We attended a friend's piano recital over the weekend.  It was a simple yet pleasurable concert and it featured four talented pianists on two grand pianos.

Here is my artistic take of programme sheet against the stage as backdrop... hahaha 

Here are the performers looking smart in black.

The audience were all taken by surprise by a little dance treat in the middle of the serious recital.  It was hilarious.

Here is the badly taken shot of the comical moment.

And of course we can't end the evening without a kodak moment with the hero on the keyboards.

Here are the gals.

And here are the guys.

10 things I miss much during pregnancy

In no order of preference:

1. Iced Teh Si (but i am on the verge of giving in to this very soon...I know)

2. Tennis 

3. High Heels

4. Sashimi

5. Cheesecakes

6. Red Wine

7. Riesling

8. Lychee Martini

9. Cocktails

10. Doing everything without feeling nausea and tired

2nd trimester woes

Many have told me that the 2nd trimester would be much better and the queasiness will slowly fade away and so I hang on to that promising hope.

However as I am walk into my 13th week, not only there is no sign of that improvement, I have been feeling more nausea and tired than ever... (HELP!).  On a feel-horrible scale of 10, these two days were an 8.

I could at least manage an occasional home-cooked dinner, a short trip out for meal and just needed to nap for an hour or so previously.  This week so far has taken a worse turn. Not only could I not make myself step out of the house, I spent more time sleeping than being awake - once I am done with this I have to go lie down again :(

It is like having a perpetual hangover...

Halo Little One

Went for my much anticipated gynae checkup yesterday and it turned out to be one of those > one-hour-long wait.

However, the wait was all worth it!

Somehow I was expecting the scan this time round to show a slightly larger version of what I saw the last time round - all curled up, shrimp-like and resting shyly.

Instead, I was surprised to see my little one so much awake - almost 4 times longer, floating upside down, stretching out one leg followed by the other, and trying to reach out to the toes with the hands!

"Oh look! Moving so much!"

"Yes, see your baby is waving to you"

"Haha yah, the baby seems so happy and carefree swimming in there."

"Until it is time for his/her PSLE. Hahaha."

Sometimes, my gynae has this sudden outburst of simple humour :) 

QED Salmon

I have never cooked salmon before.  At least not that I can recall.  So last week was the first attempt.

Turned out pretty tasty and wasn't as overcooked as I always imagined home-cooked salmon to be.

This is a really simple recipe for amateurs like myself.

• Marinate salmon with generous amount of light soya sauce, teriyaki sauce and some maple syrup (optional).  I guess honey may just do the same trick.
• Leave to marinate in fridge over night if possible, or at least a few hours.
• Cook the salmon in a lightly oiled grill pan in medium heat.  Salmon is a fatty fish so go easy on the oil.
• Sprinkle some pepper & oregano when cooking on each side. Cooking time depends on how thick the salmon is.  Mine above took about five minutes each side.
• In the meantime, pour the remaining marinate into a sauce pan and heat it up.  In goes some butter for thickening and some ground pepper for seasoning.
• Drizzle the sauce over the salmon to serve.

Quite easily done!

Confusing Doctor's Advice

I have fallen ill twice since my pregnancy.

First time was a gastric flu attack during the CNY week. 

I went to Doctor A and he reassured me that the medicine he prescribed me, including antibiotics, were definitely safe for expecting mothers.  I obediently took the medicine and recovered soon after.

Second time was just two days ago when I came down with a terrible flu and runny nose.

I went to Doctor B.  Unlike my experience with Doctor A, I had quite an unsettling conversation with Doctor B below.

"Oh your throat is in a mess. Now here is the problem."

" uh huh?"

"Most expecting mothers will want to avoid antibiotics, though it has not been scientifically proven that it may be harmful to the baby. So it is up to you if you want antibiotics."

"Aren't there antibiotics that are safe for expecting mums?"

"Oh no antibiotics (or did he say drugs) are 100% safe for pregnancy.  You see, there are four categories A,B,C,D.  A - being totally safe. B - relatively safe without any proven risks. C- use with caution and only when necessary. D - Definite No No for pregnancy.  So the antibiotics will fall into Category B."

"So if I go without antibiotics, I will just take a longer time to recover right?"

"Oh not really, if you go without antibiotics, you may get worse.  And when that happens, I would need to prescribe you an even stronger antibiotics, which is worse."

"Huh? So what do you advise?"

"I would take it if I were you so that I don't have to end up taking stronger antibiotics but it is really up to you."

"Well, ok then."

"Btw, can I continue with the iron, calcium and DHA supplements that my gynae prescribed me while taking these medicine?"

"Maybe stop the iron for now.  Btw, these supplements also belong to Category B."

I went home took only one dose of the antibiotics and stopped since.  I know it is something I HAVE to complete but after running through this conversation over and over again in my mind, I just didn't feel like continuing anymore.

Sometimes the same facts, when delivered through different people or different messages, can actually bring about different reactions and outcomes. I kept asking myself which Doctor did the right thing.

And I am still not quite recovered yet.

Satisfying Dim Sum Buffet

Over the weekend, I had a splendid dim sum buffet at Pine Court, Meritus Mandarin with friends. Something I haven't done in a long time.  The restaurant looked quite swank and spacious.

We were delighted that besides the a la carte selections, there was a sumptuous spread at the side which included the unexpected Peking duck, pig trotters in vinegar, huge sauteed prawns, deserts, fruits and many others.

The a la carte selection was also of great quality and came with the options of some main courses and double boiled soups.  

In general, a great experience except for two disappointments:

1. They were quite slow in serving our orders - but that was forgiven quickly given the good selection of the side spread that kept us busy.

2. There wasn't any egg tarts! - no dim sum is considered complete without egg tart :(

Here are some interesting prawn dumplings with a beautiful faded purple on their skin.  They tasted as promising as they looked.

What do you get when you take too long to snap? .... Fogged-out "siew mai"! 

Here are the same "siew mai" again without any special effects :)

All of a sudden while we were hungrily digging in, a plate of complimentary "yu sheng" came and we were like "but CNY is over already?!?". Oh heck, we "lou hei" anyway like it was CNY all over again.  The next table (non-locals I believe) stared at us in bewilderment.

Halfway through our feast, we couldn't help but took a photo of our bags because it was rare of us to be out with such colourful bags at the same time!

Simple act to bring on smiles

The security guard at the back gate usually sits there in the merciless afternoon heat, looking bored and wiping off his perspiration with his hanky.

This afternoon, I was curious at this unusual sight of him behind all these colourful balloons.

"Hello uncle! What's with all these balloons? Is there some party?"

"Oh, just blowing up some balloons for fun and when the kids return home after school or come downstairs and play later, I can give them mah."

"Wah, so nice of you"

"Ok lah, oh inside the balloons also got balloons leh"

"Oh is it?"

I took a closer look and yes, there is a balloon inside each balloon... *scratch my head*

I am sure a simple act like this will bring on big smiles on the children. 

Snip Snip

I finally did it!  

I chopped off my mane.

Since I am not allowed to perm, colour or do any chemical treatment in the months to come, I can't possibly let it grow wild.

Moments before parting with my long curls ... *sob sob*

and ... TA DA!