Salam Aidilfitri 2015

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

from our growing family to yours!

This year's Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration has got to be the quietest one ever. For one, I was hospitalized just a few days before and in need of bedrest. Good thing my OBGYN was kind enough to give me concession "time off" to be home for a few hours during Hari Raya. 

Not forgetting the fact that I am 36 weeks pregnant at this point (and am way too tired to do much visitations or hosting), whereas the rest of our family decided to pack up and celebrate this year's Aidilfitri overseas.

We still kept with traditions, no matter what. The four of us paid our respects to family members who are no longer with us by visiting their kubur on Raya eve.

On the 2nd day of Raya (July 18, 2015), Kevin and I had a couple of friends over for a simple and yummilicious homecooked dinner, specially prepared by my Masterchef mom, so that our kiddos can have Raya playdate while we adults caught up and ate. 

Although a number of friends were out of town and unable to make it, those who could pop by (with their kids) had a blast that evening. Then it was time for me to head back to the hospital.

Keira's Raya Playdates

When you're expecting and currently at the end of your third trimester, it's not easy to set up playdates these days with friends and their kids. 

Best way to go around that difficulty it is to link it up with other festive occasions, like Hari Raya, for example. Which is exactly what we did today... For this year's Raya Aidilfitri celebration, we had two-in-one playdates set up so that the adults can catch up while the kiddos played.

Bella and her parents arrived first, so they kicked off the playdate. Bella and Keira are about eight months apart, but they have been playing together since she was a few months old ever since their first playdate. Hence, they already share an instant bond and enjoy each other's company, as you can see from the video and photos below.

 

Kieran, Kaira and their parents arrived a little later to continue the playdate with Keira. They too share instant bonds with Keira since they meet regularly and are familiar with each other.

 

Blacked Out and Hospitalized

I blacked out at office earlier today. 

Blacking out all of a sudden at 36 weeks gestation can be a little scary and should not be taken lightly. Which is why it was a good thing a few of my colleagues were around our usually "empty" office today and one of them helped send me to the hospital after I gained consciousness.

The diagnosis - hypertension and high blood pressure, causing the black out. Apparently, I also have some contamination in my urine causing urinary tract infection.

In other words, my body is also signalling me to cut down on my work and stress levels and start taking care of myself better if I want to stick to my all-natural birth plan.

I was immediately admitted for further monitoring and tests, and pushed into one of the labor rooms - strapped to the CTG machine to check on my baby's fetal heartbeat as well as signs of contractions.