Whatever This Post Is About...

I have so much to write about but I can’t find the energy or right mood. My post about our Genting trip is half done. So is the post about my late grandmother. I think I need pictures for that one.

So far, the only thing I can write about is work, which is so….blearghhh!! It’s gotten so hectic that even the simplest things are NOT WORKING anymore. I don’t know whether to scream or just laugh myself crazy.

Oya, my Medela Harmony breastpump is still available for sale. Someone called me and said they wanted to buy it but somehow haven’t called me back with the details. In the meantime, I had told other interested buyers that it was off the market. Sigh…I guess its back on the market. This time, whoever pays up first gets to have the item. Sorry, no more booking allowed.

Thinking of going to see Alice In Wonderland 3D this week but hubby is swamped with work until the PROJECT launch (and I’m not?..*raised eyebrows*). I might go alone if I get bored enough.

Oya, need to jot this down. Last Saturday Daria took 5 steps forward before plunking down on her chubby bum!! She’s walking!! And she’s not even 10 months yet. Bravo..bravo, little girl. You make all of us proud. Too bad your mom was too busy encouraging you to take any videos of this historical event.

Medela Harmony For Sale

I'm letting go of my Medela Harmony breast pump. While it has been a delight to use, I find that it does not suit the pace of my work.

I initially opted for a manual pump because I had issues with battery operated or electrical breast pumps. First, they hurt my breast and more often than not, my nipples feel like they are about to fall off after a pumping session. With the MH, I hardly feel any pain and it's a relaxing event.

Secondly, I hate the noise made by battery/electrical breast pump. Satu ofis bleh dengar!! With the MH, it's quiet and I can actually hear myself think.

However, since my work life is so hectic nowadays, it's becoming harder and harder for me to find the time to pump. For one thing, my letdown period takes about 5-6 minutes, then only my milk starts flowing. It can be a bit strenuous on my hands but once the milk starts coming, I'm ok.

I find I need at least 30 minutes for a good pumping session, where I can get at least 3-4 oz (I know, it's not a lot...but I'm slowly building up again.) 30 minutes of peace and quiet to pump is such a luxury nowadays that sometimes I find myself pumping only at the end of the work day. I feel that I need a battery operated or electrical breast pump so that I can keep my hands free to do some work during the time I pump.

Therefore, I relented and bought a simple Pureen breast pump. I was eyeing the Medela Single Deluxe breast pump but it costs over RM400. Arghh..if I didn't have the burst water pipe to think about, I might have bought that but nevermind.

So, in conclusion, I'm selling off my Medela Harmony for a pre-loved price of RM175 (selling price is RM269). I'll also throw in a set of unused Moms Precious Breastmilk Storage Set (6 pack) for free. COD for Bangi or Bangsar area. Postage is additional RM10. Contact me at alongsj@yahoo.com for more details.

Work Just Got A Little Easier

Yeah!!!

The trip to China has been shorten to 3 days instead of 6. Yes!!!

What a relief!! Now, I'm not so dreading the fact I have to go.

I have to remember to take my fenugreek seeds and trusty breast pump to keep my milk levels up. Fingers crossed I don't dry up.

So far the itinerary looks like from 9am until 5pm for visits, meetings, etc. So that leaves the evening and nights free to do whatever. Just sightseeing for me..no shopping. Hehehehe...we'll see.

Oya, must make sure my sim card can make international calls. Hmm..camne yerk?

1 more thing, does anybody know if we are allowed to bring expressed breast milk on board? I know the limitations on bringing liquids, etc is 100ml per container but is there any exceptions for breast milk? Especially when the baby is not coming on board? I don't want to waste any of my breast milk (plus the thought of just dumping it all down the sink makes me wanna cry..penat woo mengepam) but if it's a huge NO-NO, then I guess I have no choice. I checked the MAS online site and they only listed baby milk, sterilised water, baby juice, baby food and wet wipes as items exempt from the measures. Anyone know?

Breasts, Engagement and the Girls

I've been so busy with work, I've neglected my blog. Sob. So much has happened these past weeks that I'll just give a short recap of what I can remember.

I got mastitis...again!! Argh!! The doctor said it was most probably due to stress. I cannot help but agree. Since I returned from maternity leave, it's been full speed ahead non stop. While it has been god to be back, it has affected my health some what. Fortunately that hacking cough of mine has finally subsided. However, my milk supply has dropped drastically. Uhuk...stress, stress.

Speaking of milk supply, I've started taking fenugeek seeds as a way to increase it. So far, it;s been a slow progress but every drop counts. It's been a challenge trying to fit in pumping sessions at work but I've managed to time them so I can pump 3 times a day; once in the morning, once after lunch and once before I go back home. I carry my milk bag everywhere I go, especially if my meetings are outside of the office. I'm still targeting 6 months to breastfeed Daria, hopefully I can make it for a whole year. But let's take it one day at a time. And here's hoping the fenugeek seeds really kick in some time soon.

Oya, my brother got engaged last Saturday. Congratulations Angah and his fiance, Zaiti. It was a joyous occasion, quite a number of our relatives were able to follow us to Ipoh for the ceremony. We all slept at my parent's house the night before and headed off to Ipoh around 10.30am that Saturday morning. I think there were 5 cars altogether; Car 1: my dad, my mom, moi and my 2 girls (we left Daria at my mom's house with my maid). Car 2: hubby and my 2 youngest brothers. Car 3: my makteh, her 2 daughters (Dr Aina and Aqilah) and my other cousin, Ema who was representing my other aunt who couldn't come because her son had a fever. Car 4: my makngah, her 2 daughters and her youngest son. Car 5: my maksu and her family.
We targeted to arrive in Ipoh for lunch but thanks to the roadblocks that were on the road that day (ISA punya pasal), we arrived at nearly 2pm. My mom was frantic. She was already nervous about the whole "placing of the ring" part of the ceremony. The fact that we were late put her into overdrive panic mode. However, once we got there, everything went ahead without a hitch, though my mom did nearly drop the ring because her hand was shaking so much. Hahahaha, we all had a good laugh about it later.

Oya, pictures pending from my brother who was the unofficial photographer. Which means they'll be ready next year. Hmmm....

Dania had her exams (again?) and so far her result has been really good. Dina's also doing well at school. She's returned to her previous self, though she does strive for more attention once in a while. Daria is just blooming. That girl is growing up so fast, I just don't want to take my eyes off of her. I remember when she was just born, her feet were the length of my pinkie finger. Now, they're even longer than my middle finger! I can't wait to see how much she'll weigh during her 3 month check up.

Where I Just Want to Lie Down and Sleep the Pain Away

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. It's been a busy past 2 weeks; what with preparations for my brother's engagement ceremony, Daria turning 2 months old, me starting work again.

To top this off, I contracted mastitis. I can't tell you how painful it is but if I had to describe it, it would be like labor pains for the breast. It felt like someone took a razor to my breast and sliced it open then poured salt water all over it. Yeah, breastfeeding is such a joy. Especially when every suckle Daria takes, feels like she's drawing blood from the nipple. It was so bad, I had a 102 degree fever, complete with chills and aching joints. To add to the agony was the hacking cough I contracted from the girls. For 3 days it was like *cough* *cough* *cough* *silent scream and clutch breast*.

The doctor was sympathetic, seeing how she too had previously suffered from mastitis. She tried massaging my breast to let the milk out and it took every ounce of strength in me to stop myself from knocking her down. She gave me antibiotics and 2 days of MC. She told me to get plenty of rest, drink lots of water and to breastfeed/pump as often as possible to prevent more blockage in my breast. Friends have been advising me to use cabbage leaves or hot cloths to relieve the pain. I haven't tried the cabbage solution but hot cloths and hot showers have helped somewhat.

Other than that, things have been peachy. Heh!

More Pictures of Daria

Hubby and the girls (minus Daria of course) are attending a wedding in Batu Pahat today. They left around 8am this morning, hubby wanted to stop by his mom's house in Melaka before heading down to Johor. The girls left in their pajamas, having just brushed their teeth. Konon nak mandi kat rumah nenek...hahaha, busuk la nenek cium korang nanti!!


Daria is sleeping. She'll be waking up soon for her morning bath. Today she's 3 weeks old. Sometimes it feels like the days are going by sooo slowly, sometimes it feels like she's getting bigger (and heavier) by the minute. So far, we've gotten her into some kind of schedule. She knows when it's time for her bath, she'll start agitating, demanding to be breastfed and bathed.


She sleeps a lot during the day, not so much during the night. I've been trying to keep her awake more during the daytime but she's like her father; sleeps like the dead. You could pinch her cheeks, call her name, shake her leg; nothing's gonna wake her if she wants to sleep. So far we've had a few bad nights (like when she wouldn't sleep from 1am to 6 am...uwaaa!!!) but so far it's been manageable. I've been sleeping downstairs in the hall with her while hubby sleeps upstairs with his handphone beside his ear. He can't sleep without the aircon, or so he claims. Padahal balik rumah mak dia, ok je takde aircon...cet!


Confinement has been ok so far, just that I'm already bored out of my mind. I've been trying to sleep when Daria does, so not much extra activities. Breastfeeding has been both exciting and tiring at the same time. So far, we've had to mix with formula milk as there have been times that Daria just won't suckle. But overall, it's been better than the last time.


My breasts are so lopsided, it's hysterical. It's like one has been possessed by Pamela Anderson, while the other is representing....I dunno, Teri Hatcher? In fact that's what I'm gonna call them from now on; Pam and Teri. Hahahaha. Daria of course prefers Pam. Eventhough I try as often as possible to get her acquainted with Teri. Sometimes she just despises Teri. I dunno if it's because of the way I'm holding her (kekok sket pegang belah kanan) or because Teri's milk flow is a bit slow. I hope to be able to stock up some EBM before I go back to work. Which isn't for another 40 days or so, so stop thinking about work!!


Oya, the title promised pictures of my little Diva. Here she is.
Tangan dah takmo kena bedong. Kaki kena bedong sebab tido agresif, asyik tendang selimut.
With her beloved bibik, in her new clothes. Kalau tak dek orang bagi, all of Daria's clothes would be either 2nd or 3rd hand. Sian dia.
Being subjected to a photo shoot by her ibu. Heeee..
Hello, enough pictures already! Time for milk!