Mei mei Kaelyn was sleeping peacefully on mummy's bed.
Che che Suelyn came and lie down beside mei mei.
Che che sayang mei mei...
Kaelyn's reading
This is what NICU looks like
Headbox being placed for oxygen supply
Really heartache seeing my babies like this
Each day, the nurses will take some blood sample from them to test the bilirubin level for jaundice. They must be crying when blood was taken from their feet. The worse is when the bilirubin level was high enough to warrant a treatment. Their eyes will be bound and they will be placed under the photolight. My concern was the eye binder get loose, exposing their eyes to the dangerous rays. The nurses there had to take care of so many babies that there isn’t any special attention paid to any particular babies.
For the first 3 weeks of my confinement period, I went to the hospital on a daily basis and I could just sit there for 3-4 hours just looking at my babies. They are really fragile especially during the first week. I used to hold their tiny little hands and encourage them. I always tell them that Mummy love babies, babies have to be strong and very soon Mummy will be able to bring babies home. It hurts me very much when I see them smile at me and I cannot be there with them all the time.
My poor baby...
As days passed, baby Kaelyn was the first to be cup fed. They had to train her to swallow, before giving her the bottle for sucking. I was also there to breastfeed Kaelyn while Suelyn was still unable to be breastfed. I felt bad as Kaelyn took all the good stuffs. Even my expressed colostrum was all given to Kaelyn and Suelyn had none. I wonder if this is the reason she seems smaller and more fragile now, or if she thinks Mommy doesn’t care so much for her. Not true darling, Mommy care for both her precious babies.
The Epidural
I hurt my back a couple of years ago and the pain has always been there. The thought of having a needle injected into my spinal sends shivers down my spine. I was asked to sit up, hold on to a pillow and bend forward. It was quite a long procedure. I do not know what was being done behind me and I was only told that everything is going well. I could feel liquid dripping down my body - was it blood? I was so quiet that the anesthetist, Dr. Damo asked me to say something. I said: "I am shivering". I felt hot from my buttocks onwards and find it difficult to move my feet. The nurse and doctor moved me back onto the bed. I am now numb from waist down onwards.
I finally saw my hubby in a hospital attire and I knew he was cheering me up by asking me; "How do I look?". Then, the moment came. They pushed me into the operating theater and asked my hubby to wait in the anesthetic room.
The Operating Theater
Not a good place to be. Bright lights, cling-clang sounds of the equipments and I could see 2 incubator stations labelled "TWIN I" and "TWIN II". I was relieved to see my gynae, Dr. Raman and also Dr. Kiren there. As usual, doctor asked me how am I feeling. I could not answer. I am shivering more and more and I'm unsure if it's because I was cold, scared or was it the epidural effect.
The situation was getting tense for me. I thought they were starting to operate on me and shouted: "where's my husband?" Someone told me he will be in here soon, and he finally came and sat next to me. A drape was placed in front of me - however, I could see everything through the reflection from the operating lights above me. Dr. Raman was holding a scapel on my belly and shouted "Can you feel this, Aigie?". I closed my eyes and answered "Feel what? No."
JENG JENG JENG JENG!!!
It was so noisy in the operating theater as I was told there was an extra team there because of twins. Things happened so quickly. My hubby was holding me tight as I was shivering intensely. Then doctor told my husband "Ok come... it's time." My husband stood up and as doctor pulled TWIN I out from my cut-up womb, my hubby shouted "Baby ah!!!" I heard some suction sound and then.... the cries from my TWIN I. My baby was out! I cried! OMG! I cannot describe the feeling that I had when I heard her first cry. Very quickly, TWIN II was pulled out and I immediately felt my tummy flattened.. like 'wooshh'. Then, all I heard was baby cries in the operating theatre and noise of doctors doing something with me.
Baby Suelyn
Baby Kaelyn
I was looking around but could see nothing, only sound and noise all over. Through reflections, I could see doctor pulling out something from me... maybe it's the placenta, I'm not sure. I looked away from the graphic scene. Not knowing whats happening around me, I could see hubby running here and there as he was taking pictures.
Both babies were brought to me and the first thing being shown to me was their pet-pet - to confirm that they are girls. I was allowed to kiss my babies before they are being whisked away to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
In less than 1/2 hour, the entire procedure was over. My hubby followed the girls and I was left alone in the operating theater for the final touches. Dr. Damo gave me a shot that made me relax and reduced my shivering. 3 small cysts was being removed from my uterus at the same time. I was half asleep by this time and felt really good and relaxed. Should have given me that shot earlier!!
After I was all being stitched up, I was being brought into a 'rest' area where they monitored my temperature and blood pressure before sending me back to my room. I never saw my babies that day as I was too tired and unable to get off from the bed.
An unforgettable journey. Both babies spent 3 weeks in NICU and are now back at home, both doing well. More pictures available on FB and I will blog about life in NICU once I have time.
During the October holidays, we joined CCC (China Culture Center) for a 3D2N trip to Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. The day started on 3rd Oct, where we woke up at 5am and got to the airport around 6am+. The journey to Yinchuan, the capital city of Ningxia took 1.5 hours.
We then took a boat ride across the lake where we then ‘boarded’ some donkey carts until we reached an ‘interchange’ and took another camel ride towards the ancient war tunnel.
This is the pathway towards the ancient war tunnels. It is a labyrinth like underground tunnel system where it used to be an army base during the Ming dynasty. It was amazing how they managed to built such a huge underground tunnel and we could see skeletal remains of enemies down in the underground trap.
Hubby walking out from the underground tunnel. It was nice sunny, cool day with beautiful blue sky.
After a late lunch, we headed to Inner Mongolia towards the Tengger Desert. To enter into the middle of the desert oasis, we took a jeep ride. This is truly a live roller coaster ride where the jeep drove up and down the sand dunes at high speed. It was challenging and we really need strong arms to hold on. It was so bumpy and fun during the first 15 minutes, but towards the end of the journey, I almost puke!
When we reached the hotel, we were greeted by the locals who presented us with a welcome scarf, sort of like a tradition thing.
It was about 7pm by the time we checked into our rooms and we decided to walk to the Moon Lake situated behind the hotel. This place was infested with mosquitoes at this time and the mosquitoes repellent was useless!! We couldn’t take it and ran back to the hotel. It was terrible! Anyway, I managed to snap a few pictures.
We woke up early on day 2 for breakfast and headed for a camel ride across the Tengger Desert to the Sun Lake.
Took a couple of pictures of the dessert. The view was surreal and I thought I could only see them on screen savers or computer wallpaper. Couldn’t believe I was there. What a great experience!