Hello?  Anybody out there still reading this blog?  Paiseh, I'd taken a 6 months break from blogging as I was extremely busy with baby Jireh and Edna, and due to our move from Townsville to Bunbury, Western Australia (2 hrs south of Perth).  Anybody ever moved inter-state with infant and preschooler in tow?  It's extremely exhausting and hectic.  Yet by God's grace, Joel and I did it and are surviving to tell the tale.  Well, I am still sleep- and time- deprived, so no long stories to share here, just short photo updates by the month:

July 2009

We left Townsville in early July and at the same time arrived in Bunbury (2hrs south of Perth) in the heart of winter.  It was bitter cold in Bunbury then - daytime temp would be 10-15degC while nights would drop to a few degrees (once or twice it hit 0C although it didn't snow).  I didn't have my car, and the outdoor conditions were too harsh (rain and wind speeds up to 100kmh at times), so we were pretty much stuck in the house except when Joel brought us out for groceries and shopping for essentials (only had 4 suitcases of things with us so had to buy the rest in Bunbury).

Jireh - almost 4mths old

August 2009

Went to recce a beach-side suburb that we were considering for a more permanent rental home.  Found it a tad too far from the town centre, but eventually we decided to stay there, renting a house about 1km away from the beach.  Isn't it great to be able to cross the road from your house and step into the beach?  Well, fortunate (and rich) residents here can literally do that!

The same day, we visited Koombana Bay in the town centre (like tourists siah), and chanced upon a rowing competition.

This is the Bunbury Tower (an office building probably about 13 storeys high) and the tallest building in Bunbury:

This is the only cinema here:

This is the arts theatre-cum-entertainment centre-cum-concert centre... :

Busselton

One of the best things about staying in Bunbury is its proximity to Perth city (and Singapore!), as well as the region where the wineries and sights attract tourists worldwide.  We could literally take road trips to places like Margaret River, Busselton etc and back home within a day.  On one weekend, we drove to Busselton and had brunch at one of the beach cafes:

These are die-hard surfers - we are aghast that they are entering the waters at 15degC climate (water temp is surely less than this!):

Edna clicking away with her new kiddy camera that is a real working camera:

Pemberton

On another daytrip we drove to Pemberton because Joel had an urge to climb a tree.  Yes, just one tree in particular.  This town is noted for the tall and straight Karri trees (which to me look like rubber trees), and one particular tree has been earmarked for climbing - the Gloucester Tree - all 61metres of it.

How could a father leave all this cuteness below to climb up a tree???

No words can describe the gratitude both Joel and I feel about our mothers who flew into Townsville to help us out after Jireh's birth.  From gardening, doing the endless laundry, cleaning, the endless cooking, caring for Edna and Jireh, to caring for me (brewing confinement soups, herbs, dishes), they showed us just how sacrificial and unconditional is their love for us.  We could never have coped without them.  We are so eternally grateful to them.   

So here's wishing you both a very Happy Mother's Day!

Love from Joel, Evelyn, Edna and Jireh

Jireh is the name of our 2nd precious girl, born on 31 Mar 2009 at Mater Women and Children Hospital in Townsville, Queensland Australia, at 6pm (that's 4pm S'pore time). 

We are so blessed by the Lord that the delivery was conducted smoothly and we have a healthy baby girl, although events didn't pan out as we expected.  Which just goes to show that man can plan but it's the Lord's will that prevails.  We had planned an elective caesar on 2 April (Thursday) which is usually a week before the EDD (10 April).  We had planned for Joel's mom and my mom both to arrive together on 1 April.  We also did a major clean-up of our house on the weekend before, on Sat 28 March.  We worked and worked from late morning till afternoon - 6 hours in total.  Then we showered and treated ourselves to a nice, leisurely dinner outside.  That was Saturday. 

On Sunday as I was preparing to go to bed, I felt jabbing pains in my abdomen.  We discussed and thought "must be just muscle cramps, not a big deal".  I went to bed and the pain stopped at 2am.  I also prayed to God that we don't have to deliver the next day cos our moms had not arrived yet.  The next evening (Monday) I went for my routine pre-delivery appointment with my obstetrician in the evening, by which time the cramps had returned.  My OB sent me immediately to the hospital to check the frequency of the cramps and baby's heartrate.  Sensing no sign of labour, I was sent home, relieved that baby is not arriving earlier than planned cos our moms had not arrived yet.  Late that night, I thought I should pack my hospital bag, just in case.  Yes, that's how prepared I was.  (No, that just proved how BUSY and EXHAUSTED I was!)

The next morning, Tuesday 31 Mar, the OB's clinic called to check on me.  Yes, I was still having cramps.  Yes, they are getting more painful.  Yes, they seem to be coming closer together.  Oh, and Yes I happen to be eating my breakfast at 10am.  "STOP eating and go to the hospital for another check!"  I was told by the mid-wife.  I MSN Joel and he said he'd come back home from work immediately.  Then we drove to the hospital at 11am.  By then I was gasping during the contractions that were about 10minutes apart.  Still, I'd hoped we'd not deliver that day cos I still have some housework not completed and our moms had not arrived yet!!!  Who's going to look after Edna when I'm in delivery and post-delivery?! 

Well, the scans showed that I was not having labour contractions but possibly Braxton Hicks.  Not wanting to risk a natural labour occuring (long story which I'll not bother to explain), we decided to conduct the caesar that very evening (we had to wait till evening cos I had to let my breakfast digest fully before surgery).  And so Jireh was born on Tuesday 31 Mar 2009.  Even though our moms had not arrived yet. 

So these are the photos of Jireh's journey into this world.

Waiting at the hospital lounge

At FULL TERM my tummy was tiny - heck, I wasn't even wearing maternity top and pants (yoga pants don't count). 

Monitoring the contractions and Jireh's heartrate

Edna's antics provided a good distraction from the painful contractions.  She had to eat her hurriedly-prepared breakfast snack in that room, out of the lunchbox.

The peaks show the contractions - major OUCH!

Delivery

Since our moms had not arrived yet, we decided that Joel would be with Edna while I went through the surgery alone.  I must admit that though my mind thought it was totally logical, my heart was racing as they pushed me into the OT.  Alone.  Without Joel.  Panic!!  Next thing I knew, he had turned up next to me in OT gear, and was I relieved!  It seemed at the last minute the hospital had offered a staff to babysit Edna so that Joel could be with me.  How wonderful are these people?!  Not only that, they even offered to take photographs and videos in the OT.  In Singapore, back when Edna was born, our OB even had to get permission for Joel to join me in the OT... how impersonal was that?

Instead of epidural, I had a spinal anaesthesia which basically had the same effect of numbing my lower body.  So I was totally conscious while being cut up behind the curtain...

Welcome to the world, precious! 

Btw, the lady holding up Jireh is my OB.  This is what she looks like:

This photo below is so precious!  I know, my first thought was - "wah, leftover hat from Christmas...?"

Seconds after this shot was taken, I started gasping for air and had severe difficulty breathing, like my lungs were collapsing.  Apparently that was a side effect of the anaesthesia, but I seemed to be badly affected.  It was only after the anaesthetist jabbed some chemicals into my body that I managed to recover. 

There.  Do over.  Delivery done.  Gestation completed.  Hooray, now I have my body back!!!  No more constipation, no more constantly having to piss, no more breathlessness, no more preggy exhaustion!!!

Rain Devastation in the North

For the past few weeks Far North Queensland has been inundated with torrential rains that resulted in massive floods.  Part of our town (Townsville) was flooded, while the nearby Ingham (2 hrs drive away) was entirely immersed in water.  As of yesterday, evacuation had been ordered for the Ingham townsfolks.  Here's a glimpse of flood conditions through the news coverage on 5 Feb 2009:

By the grace of God, our estate and surrounding areas were not flooded, and we only had to put up with the following minor inconveniences:

• Not being to go out for groceries and errands as and when we liked.  As a result we had to ensure our fridge was stocked up with up to a week's supply of food.  Edna and I had to avoid going out as driving in torrential rain is dangerous because of the slippery road conditions, floods, very poor visibility (even with headlights on in the day) and numerous potholes. 
• Apart from not being able to swim, we have to monitor and flush out water from the inground pool on a daily basis when it rained, to prevent overflowing.
• Not being able to mow our lawns with overgrown grass.
• Putting up with the awful din made by mating toads in our garden and surrounding areas.  They sound like they are croaking through a loudspeaker - imagine trying to sleep in this cacophony!
• Last week, Edna and I had to make the inevitable trip out during the rain for my prenatal appointment.  Although parking in public areas in most of Townsville is free, most of the carpark lots are unsheltered, and so Edna and I were drenched in our hooded windbreakers even after just a short walk from the car to the clinic. 

Well, we certainly aren't complaining after seeing what our neighbours in Ingham had to put up with.  In fact, we are filled with gratitude to God each day that our lives are still relatively untouched by the bad weather.  In fact, a cyclone narrowly missed Townsville last weekend and all we got was the remnant rain *phew!*

Fire Devastation in the South

Over at Victoria (South Australia), a different kind of catastrophe has been unfolding.  Temperatures had been hovering at low to mid 40 degrees Celsius for the past 2 weeks, making it their hottest period of the century.  With the heat, dry winds and drought conditions, bushfires have started burning across Victoria since mid last week.  At least 330,000 hectares of land and homes (including entire towns) have been burnt away and as at this afternoon the death toll stands at 130.  This event has been described as "Hiroshima's nuclear bombing" and the "worst natural disaster in Australia in 110 years".  This news footage offers us a glimpse of the conditions there (dated 8 Feb 2009):

As of today, the bushfires are still raging ferociously.  Let's pray for all the rescue workers, firefighters and victims involved in this tragedy.  Sad, sad, sad... Wish I could provide more update, but my mommy duty calls  ...

One of the blessings of an inground pool is that Edna gets to spend lots of time in the water which is one of her fave activities.  During the hot summer months since October, Edna and I have been able to use the pool frequently (sometimes up to 4 times a week) - me for my prenatal exercise and Edna for her play.  It's a good thing she has loved water play since she was a baby.  After observing my swimming for some time she decided to do away with her floats and headed straight for the water, oblivious to the fact that she couldn't swim.  But with some coaching from me and her Papa, she has gotten quite comfortable swimming in the water. 

Of course, there is more progress in store for her, but during this rainy season, we'll have to do a raincheck (we are facing torrential rains, floods and cyclone threats at the moment).  Our window of opportunity for swimming is reducing as before we know it, the Autumn-Winter seasons will descend upon us during which it will be too cold for dips...