20 More Days

Last entry I was still talking about packing up my bag for the hospital...I almost had Sophie 5 days ago.

Well, I went in for my 36 weeks and 3 days ultrasound, and they found out that baby is on the smaller side and my amniotic fluids are on the lower side. The overseeing doctor there was going to have me do an amniocentesis procedure to test if Sophie's lunges are developed enough for an induction that night.

I was freaking out not knowing what to think at that moment as I was not at all prepared to go into labor so soon. I called Tim at work sounding like I was about to break down. He quickly left what he was doing and rushed to the hospital to join me.

Long story short. We were one signature away from having Sophie that night. Thanks to Tim who suggested that I called a good friend of ours from church who's a doctor specializing in OB/Gyn. Tim also stood by me and helped me refuse to sign for an go-ahead for the amniocentesis.

Afterward, I was sent to the Labor and Delivery floor for a Non Stress Test. My own OB/Gyn came to see me during that time and talked to Tim and I for a bit. The NST came out looking really good. Sophie was moving and active. Induction wasn't a necessity at the moment according to my doctor. We were sent home that night safe and sound (despite the thunder and lightning that happened right when we were driving home, which intensified the drama a bit).

Since then, I was suppose to go in the hospital for a Non Stress Test everyday for a week until I could get another ultrasound. However, I've only done one other one on Monday, and the result was still exceptionally great. They didn't even bother making me go in anymore.

Today I am having an ultrasound. We'll see how everything goes. The good things we could take from this scare are that:
-My bag is packed! So I am ready to go anytime!
-Our hearts are definitely more prepared now than ever before to see Sophie soon.
-We learned to say "no"!!! And it did wonders!
-Sophie's termed this week (full 37 weeks and 2 days), so her lunges are definitely fine even if she came out today.
Last but not least:
-GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!

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I made some decorations for Sophie's little corner (more to come). We didn't get the condo that we put an offer in (see previous entry). So for now, she doesn't have her own room yet, but I hope she'll find her little corner cozy and soothing.

On the other note, I really hope the ultrasound technician saw it right, and that the baby inside is indeed a girl. Or else I'd feel so disappointed if all these girlie, pinkish things go to waste. Also we'd have to think of another name for...him...
So fingers crossed!!!

25 Days

Two days ago, when I was talking to one of my piano students' mom, she reminded me that I should start packing for the hospital. I guess I haven't really done anything in preparation for labor. I've just assumed that Sophie is going to arrive late. Why? I don't really know. I even told my mom to fly here 2 days after the due date so that she wouldn't have to sleep in the living room at our one bedroom place longer than she'd have to.
One thing I keep forgetting is that February is a short month, and March will come earlier than I think.

Today is an exciting day. We've put down our first offer for a condo in the city yesterday afternoon. Today at 6:00 PM we are going to hear back from the seller whether they'll accept our offer or not. Tim and I are pretty excited about it, but at the same time we know that there's a chance we won't get the place because of the high demands for city condos in Boston. We also know that everything is in God's hand. He will give us what's best. So if this condo is not it, then may He grant us the patience and peace for our continuing journey of house hunting.

Wish us luck...!

Oh, and today I will get to see Sophie again through ultrasound in the afternoon. Can't wait. ^^

35 Days

35 days and counting down to Sophie's birth. Time seems to fly in this stage of pregnancy. For now, I must go see my OB/Gyn every week until due date. Tim and I went to birthing class last Saturday from 8:30 to 3:00. It was tiring, but we learned many valuable information about the birthing process (natural and c-section), the hospital facility and staff...

We're also hunting for houses around the area recently. For now, we're living in a one bedroom apartment, which our expanding family will soon outgrow. No luck so far though. Some houses we want to see have already accepted offers before we have a chance to view them. We thought there must be less people looking for houses in the snowy winter, and therefore leaving us with more options to choose from. We were wrong. 80% or more of the houses we like are already under contract. House hunting is definitely stressful, and it also comes with many disappointments. I know that God is in control, and He will prepare something suitable for us. However, being a human, it's just hard sometimes to obey and be patient. I hope I won't get desperate and settle for something random. No matter what, purchasing a house is a very big decision. Patience is a must! May God grant me just that.

50 Days

Sophie is due in another 50 days according to my pregnancy calendar.
She is pretty active these days getting so big and all. Sometimes I suspect that she might be dancing in there, especially after meals or when I play piano for her. One day Tim put his ear on my belly and he could hear her heart beating so clearly. It was amazing! I'll get to see her again in a week when I go for my 34 week ultrasound. I wonder what she looks like now.
My parents and Tim's parents are getting super excited too. My mom is preparing all these Chinese herbs and dried fruits for me to have during the month after labor. In Chinese, we called it 做月子 where, for the whole month after labor, the new mother has to stick with a specific kind of diet in order to speed up recovery, enhance milk production, and replenish nutrients back to the body from what it has lost for the baby. Maybe that's why Asian women age slower? I am not sure, but this process is really important for the Chinese, and it apparently works wonders.
For Tim's parents, they purchased lots of baby clothes for Sophie from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan, and are sending them to us soon.
As our little family expands, so is the love within the bigger family. We feel truly blessed by our parents and their love for us and this new member who's about to join. ^^
On the same note, we feel really blessed by our church community, our home away from home. The support and encouragement we get from these lovely brothers and sisters in Christ is like food to our soul. Sophie even has a doctor, a close church friend of ours, already waiting for her once she comes out. God prepared everything for us so perfectly, we cannot ask for more. Thanks be to God!

Winter Is Upon Us

It has been raining all day today. The sun hid its face behind the thick, gray clouds in the sky. My mood is, a little bit of melancholy and a lot of tiredness. As I am entering the 3rd trimester of my pregnancy, the tiredness aspect came back from the 1st trimester. I could seriously sleep 10 hours a day and still feel like I need rest.

Today I barely woke up for church. Somehow, I managed to keep myself awake during service by taking lots of notes. Right after the service was over, I turned to Tim and asked if we could go home right away and not stay for lunch. My whole body felt like shutting down. Every bone in my body felt loose, and all the muscles started being sore. I LONGED for a nap right there right then.

Wow, I thought to myself, this next 3 months is going to be very interesting. I will probably try to get all the sleep I can get now before Sophie comes into the world. But as I look at her through an ultrasonography at week 26, my heart is filled with joy and gratefulness. She's my baby girl, a gift from God.

So cruel Boston winter, you just bring it on!

Challenge

I worked in downtown crossing in Boston now, and daily I see homeless people holding their cups on the street. My instinct tells me to avoid eye contact and look away so I do not engage in a conversation or feel the urge to take money out of my wallet. Yes, it's selfish and heartless, but I justified it as a norm. Recently, I begin to notice the same reaction from the beggars, and often times they do not say a word to me. As they stand in the cold, they fear the rejection of the people the see daily, and holding the cup is the perhaps the last thing they want to do. In a city where people mind their own business, I have been consume with the idea that my life is about me. About my own community and fellowship, and ignoring is ok. In today's church devotion, it reminded me that these are the people Christ came and die for, and they are my brothers and sisters awaitin for he same redemption and healing. The least I can do is give a smile, but yet the self protection instinct does not even allow room in my heart to give that. It's a shame I call myself a Christian, because the selfish me cannot love.
I'm wearing a nice Hugo Boss suit sipping away at my Starbucks typing this, as I wait for my interview with Citi group in 20 mins. The joke is really on me, as I feel so empty. I live in a world full of success and wealth, and that strive has become the norm. Selfishness is the norm. And I do nothing to contribute to the whole purpose of my existence. Jesus did not come to be CEO, and I live claiming his grace and love, while turning away daily from opportunities to love and touch lives, to validate the existence of hurting individuals, brother and sisters, people whom Jesus loved so dearly that he came as one of them, to die and redeem.
Create in me a pure heart O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Forgive me once more.

Our Very First Live Tree for Christmas

We're so excited to display our very first live Christmas tree this year!
We got what is called Douglas Fir. It is 7 feet tall, and it is supposedly the best smelling kind out there according to the man who helped us tie the tree onto the car.
We spent the whole evening on Saturday decorating it. The joy of having something so large and living (and smells great) inside the house creates this indescribably cozy atmosphere.
Maybe it's because it is our very first real tree ever, that we're super hyped up about it. Thank God for the abundance of life and the little joyous moments like these we have in our home.

Cheers!

24 weeks

Tim was handling my camera during Emi's wedding. It was hard to wear a big SLR on the neck that dangled on my belly every step I take.

I really like these two shots. He's getting good. What do you think?

Tummy Growing

I am happy to tell you that I am pregnant! God has blessed Tim and I with a girl. She just passed 24 weeks.
I had a hard time telling people the good news earlier on because I was afraid that it'd be the same as last time. The first 12 weeks was very nerve-wracking for both Tim and I. At the 12 week ultrasound, we were so nervous we could pee our pants. Is the baby alive? Will there be a heartbeat? What if it's like last time... ?
God's been teaching us a lot through this pregnancy. We also found a great church community during this process. Our small group has 4 medical doctors and many young children as well as a couple who's also expecting. God taught us to trust Him, even though sometimes we're extremely doubtful. God showed us that He's merciful and kind, and that He does give us many blessings.

On the weekend before Thanksgiving, Tim and I took a trip to California where we attended our friend Emi's wedding in Costa Mesa (pictures to come soon!); we also got to see many friends and spent time with my family in Northern California. It may be our last long distant vacation before the baby arrives. We treasured every moment of it. I got a lot of tummy rub this trip, and many people felt the baby kick too. So awesome! Way to go baby!
Seeing my stomach drastically growing within the past week really assured me that the baby is indeed growing. We all can't wait to meet her in March, which is coming in a blink of an eye. Everyone in my family is going to upgrade (my mom and dad to grandma and grandpa, my grandma to great-grandma, etc.), since this baby is the first in the family.

I am grateful, extremely grateful for this gift of life. If my miscarriage from last year taught me anything, it'd be that God is the creator of life, not Tim or me. Thanks be to God on this Thanksgiving weekend!

TD Bank

This is what Tim and I were on Halloween. TD Bank ATM machines for [T]im and [D]ali.
I made the costumes out of felts. They took me a whole afternoon and evening. It was worth it though. We had a costume party with our church, and our costumes got honorable mention. I even made our own money to go with our own ATM machines.