Pop Culture

** Disclaimer: I’m not promoting this Harry Potter book. **

The new Harry Potter book, The Half Blood Prince, is out barely 24 hours and it sold over 2 millions copies. Man, I just don’t understand what makes something so sought after. Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Wars, are some shows/books which commands extremely high number of viewers/readers. I’m never a fan of any of these. I haven’t even finish watching Lord of the Rings part I. Yes I know, I’m not kidding (I hear you ask). Somehow, the more popular something gets the more I’m repelled by it. I’m not afraid of being the odd one out. Having said that, I’ve nothing against all these. It’s just that I’m not attracted to them at all. That’s why it’s beyond my understanding how they can be so popular.

Sometimes, trends can happen in churches too. Christ came to do things differently and not follow trends but yet accomplished His mission.

Random Thoughts on 2 Girls and the Week

This has been a crazy week for me. Not only did I do a lot of running around because of the birth & registration of NN2, the reno works for our new home, and re-admission of NN2 due to jaundice on Friday, but need to go back and forth during meal time because the hospital (more like a medical centre) where NN2 was re-admitted don't provide meals for SL.

Nevertheless, I give thanks to all prayers uttered and Him who has watched over SL's blood pressure and baby NN2's jaundice. As of noon, doctor said that the jaundice level is down but still need to stay another day to make sure that she is safe to be discharged. Other than that, the doc said that NN2 is doing good and looks extremely active for a "pre-mature" baby. On the 3rd day, she has already turned her head to check out her environment when she was back home before the re-admission. I must also say that NN2 is different from NN at least for the crying part because NN2 cries a lot 8-(.

On the other hand, NN really deserves tons of credit for not showing any jealousy over mum's attention to NN2. The very first time she saw mum with NN2 was tough but was still under control. Subsequently, she was totally fine. Of course, I try to give more attention to NN after all NN2 needs more care from SL at this moment in time. In addition, these months of preparation we've put NN through seemed to reap results now. At 2 years 10 months, she shows a lot of maturity and understanding that mum needs to give more attention and care to the baby. She is already being a "protective" elder sister to her little baby sister 8-).

I was even more proud of NN when she prayed a short prayer for NN2 because she was crying profusely. I think she prayed something like "...God please make Natasha stop crying...". Both of us were just stunned and thank God. This week has been the longest time NN has gone with me without SL at home. I felt the bond between me and NN has been a lot stronger now considering that she has been pretty "sticky" to mum previously.

God has indeed given us 2 beautiful kids and now it is our turn to nurture, guide and bring them up to the best of our abilities in His ways.

7-11 Baby Checked In...

"7-11 baby Natasha Ng checked in @ 4.30pm...".

This is the message I shouted out through SMS to some of our friends and relatives. Certainly, it's a great relief to SL who have suffered tremendously from bloatedness the past 3 months. To make matters worst, she had high blood pressure for 1 week and we didn't even know about it until she went for her final check-up yesterday. That's when the doc decided to get the baby out as soon as possible. In fact, she is still having high blood pressure at the time this is being published. The doc placed her under observation in the labour ward for one night.

We managed to have a short conversation with the doc right after the delivery. It's interesting to know how things we say affect other people, people whom you might not expect. The doc told us that she turned down an offer from a particular hospital because she needed to be full-time there. Her decision came after hearing SL's desire to be a full-time homemaker during one of her regular check-ups. The doc said that she is a housewife for the most part of the day and only after 5pm, she'll start work at her clinic.

Don't you think NN2 bear a lot of resemblance to NN. Check out their pix! Guess which one is NN2

During the final pushes before NN2 came out, I felt so helpless because SL was in such excruciating pain (much more pain due to induction) and there's not a single thing I can do to help her. I was so overwhelmed by emotions when SL "begged" the doc for something to ease the pain. The cries of our 2nd daughter slowly eased both our pains. Kudos to the doc because of such great support and encouragement shown. She was there the entire time from the start of contractions until the baby came out. We need more doctors who are genuinely caring towards their patient rather than some out to make a few bucks and call it the day.

I once hear this from a TV show and it very true. "When you don't have kids, you don't dream of having any but when you have kids, you can leave without them".

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

Praise Him All Creatures Here Below

Praise Him Above Ye Heavenly Host

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen!

Early Birthday

Yes, 13th July 2005 will be the birth of NN2 (at least for now). How’d we know (I hear you say)? Well, we’re no psychics. SLs doc told us that it is a good idea to induce because SL is really suffering terribly from bloatedness and numbness on both arms.

There is some worry about this induction thing but I guess for ease of planning purposes it is good for us. Otherwise, if SL were to go into labour in the middle of the night, I would need to bring NN with me to the hospital. At least with some planning, arrangements can be made with the nanny during the daytime.

Nevertheless, I just pray that this induction thing will not pose any complications, though it is a simple procedure.

Crunch Time

Feels like this 2 months will be crunch time as we’ve 4 events (SL’s delivery & confinement, take care of reno coordination of our new home, move to new home, look for tenant to rent existing apartment) so called happening simultaneously. I pray that I’ll still be sane at the end of this 2 months. As always, we’re grateful to SL’s mum who will be coming to help out for a month during SL’s confinement.

That is why I had to take a 2 months break from service in the worship team to take care of these events. Pray that all will be sufficiently taken care of.