Wiggly Piglet’s Playpen

We’ve tried many different methods to put Mckayla to sleep. She’s been falling asleep with Chinese nursery rhyme CD or the Chinese audio stories. But the problem is that she would come out the room when the music/story ends and request for a different one. She started listening to Israel Kamakawiwo (‘IZ”)’s “Over the Rainbow” and has been enjoying it very much while we’re in the car. Since the song “Panini Puakia” is the following song she’s also been listening to it and calling it the “Hawaiian Song”. The other night, when Ted asked Mckayla to pick one CD, she asked for “uncle singing” (that’s how she refers IZ) and “rainbow song”. So, Ted put the song on replay and left the room. It worked like magic! She stayed in there the whole time and didn’t come out at all. And all we had to do was go in her room before we go to bed and turn off the music. The last few nights, she’s been alternating between “rainbow song” and “Hawaiian song”. They have worked wonders and hope she’ll continue to enjoy IZ’s music.

While I was out walking with Mckayla this morning, we stopped by the neighbor’s front yard to check out the blooming daffodils. Mckyala squatted next to me and told me how pretty the flowers were. She also told me we can only look at the flowers but can not touch them. Then, I pointed out the school of ants on the ground not too far from us. She screamed “ants!” and immediately grabbed my hand to run away from them. Then, we continued our walk and saw a big dog walking down the street with his owner. She pointed at the dog and started pulling me towards him so we can go say hi. I was a bit confused, she’s not afraid of the big dog but was afraid of the little ants on the ground? I asked Mckayla, why she was scared of the ants. Her response, “Ants are dirty”.

I was home alone with Mckayla this morning. This was the first day without Mckayla’s Nanny. Ted had gone to work in the city and my Mom was out to her painting class. We played in the house for a bit, Mckayla served me several rounds of tea, cheese, and sausages. Then, we headed out for a stroll in the neighborhood. We stopped by the neighbors to check out the flowers in the front yard, saw a bird taking bath in the puddle, and said hi to a big dog and his owner. Mckayla did really well, and held my hands and walked all by herself without asking me to lift her up. While we were walking, I noticed it unusually quiet in my belly. He’s been very active, and especially after I’ve eaten. We continued our walk for a bit longer and came back to the backyard so Mckayla can play on the swings and slide. While she was playing by herself, I sat down to do the kick counts. There was no activities at all and it got me a little worried. We came back in side and I quickly made lunch for Mckayla. While she was eating, I did my kick count again. Still, there was no activities at all after one hour. I drank a glass of orange juice and quickly ate my own lunch. By then, Mckayla was done with her lunch already. So we moved to the living room so she can play with her toys. I laid on the floor next to her to do my kick counts again. After forty five minutes, still no activities at all. I called the Advice Nurse line and was transferred to Labor and Delivery at the hospital. I answered their questions and was told to come in the hospital. My Mom had just came in while I was on the phone with nurse. We quickly packed up the car and headed to the hospital. At the same time, Ted was driving down from the city to meet me at the hospital. My Mom dropped me off at the hospital because Mckayla had fallen asleep in the car on the drive there. They checked me in and attached the monitor on my belly. I was relieved when I heard the baby’s heart beat. Then, shortly after that, I felt him kicking and moving around again. Ted had arrived shortly after that. We waited in the observation room with the monitor attached to my belly. Then, OB resident came in with an ultrasound machine. She checked babies heart, lungs, and fluid level. Everything seemed to be fine. And he’s actively practicing his breathing which was also a good indicator that he wasn’t in distress. Cervix was 1.5 cm dilated, but wasn’t enough for them to check me in yet. Not in active labor yet, but hopefully he’ll be out in the next couple days.

Mckayla started to count pass ten recently. She can count from one to twenty now, but still misses a few numbers here and there after ten. Right now she can count to twenty only in Chinese, which is much easier than English. We’ll have to work on English once she masters the Chinese numbers.