Early Ramadan Gift

We received an early Ramadan gift a little over a week ago. I had sorta expected it (woman’s instinct I guess) but it still came as a major shock. What was the gift? A tiny, magical little ‘bean’ which will rapidly grow into Alya 2.0.

Yes kiddies, Alya’s mummy is preggers (again!). You know how they rate the effectiveness of birth control methods in percentages (e.g. IUD is 99% effective)? It seems we are the lucky 1%. It’s very much unexpected but definitely not unwanted.

I was already tracking my monthly cycle when I noticed that it’s a few days late. No worries, there was one month where I was 6 days late. Just a matter of waiting it out. Then the puzzle pieces fell into place. Alya was getting clingier and more manja by the day, I was feeling tired and there was that lil tingle deep inside my heart. I waited till 7 days before locking myself in the bathroom with a test that night. It said to allow 60 seconds for the test to fully develop but the result came in after just half the time. Double lines. I’m pregnant.

I showed it to K who whooped and started laughing. That is, until I pointed out the obvious. Alya’s only 7 months old and that would mean 2 babies before our 2nd anniversary. After that, we kinda stared into space until the nervous giggles took over, and then we’d stare into space some more. We made a pact not to tell anyone until we see my gynae, so that we have some answers to the anticipated questions.

How did it happen? I was using the IUD, which is supposed to make your uterine lining inhospitable to sperm and egg. The places near to the device would be more inhospitable, obviously, kinda like 99% of the uterus. Well, our lil bean managed to pick the perfect spot and clung on for dear life, literally, right at the top of the T-junction. Which was why Dr. Siti called us “the lucky 1%”.

Reactions to the news were varied. Some were surprised, stunned and congratulatory. My boss tersengih and asked “How ah? Did you calculate wrongly?” We just told the important people for now, feel kinda segan to handle the requisite “Bukan ke kau baru beranak?” question.

We like to think of our lil bean as a survivor, a fighter. Even with birth control in place, he/she was determined to slip past and hang on. Due in May 2007 which means big sis Alya will be just 15 months old. It’ll be a challenge with 2 babies so close together but I know we can do it. Wish us luck.

Just put it away please

Ok, so I'm guilty of wanting a last hurrah before Ramadan too.. Yes, I know.. Food would still be around and I can have it for buka.. But not without some degree of mob mentality or having to place your order early so the kitchen will cook it in time for buka..

I toddled along to TGI Fridays this afternoon, as I'd been having visions of that scrumptious mud pie dancing in my head for a week.. While waiting for our food, this lady and her daughter sat at the next table.. She looked pretty good, nice salon-highlighted hair, crisp shirt, jewelry etc..

So our food came and I was tucking into the appetizer when I inadvertantly caught sight of something that made me put my fork down.. The well-turned out lady had taken her shoes off and curled her legs under her.. So much so that she was almost sitting bersila and now the sole of her left feet is pointing at me..

I was so itching to say "Lady, I know you feel all comfy and berangin.. Hell, I do it too when I'm alone in the kitchen.. But that's the thing, you're not alone in your kitchen.. You're in a restaurant where complete strangers come to eat food.. The last thing we want to see is if you've been applying that cracked heel cream religiously (you should!) or those funky white spots on your toes.."

Of course, being me I settled on giving her (and her foot) dirty looks until she got the hint and put that nasty thing away..

Snap!

It was my usual routine, arrive home and prepped Alya for the evening (bowl of cereal, milk, fresh diaper and the cute stripey onesie her abah bought). I left her with K while I grabbed my towel to take a shower. Put away a few things lying around on my way to the bathroom. Then for the life of me, I could not remember where my towel went. I retraced my steps. It was nowhere to be found.

"Sayang, did you see my towel anywhere? Dah hilang la.. tadi ada"...

K glanced at me and replied "Yang kat pinggang you tu apa?"..

It was my towel. I walked around looking for something that was under my belly (so to speak) all along..

I think something must have snapped during Alya's delivery..