My OperaDelivery memory
Sunday, March 17, 2013 4:02:18 PM
She asked ¬¬ whether I could walk to the 13th floor (my recovery room was on the 12th floor). I said I could, then i walked with her to the next floor while dad was still packing our valuable things. I and dad were given head covers and i was put on a delivery bed in the delivery room. The nurse gave me water and i kept drinking via a straw from cups to cups. Since i had to lye on my back, dad couldn’t help rubbing my back very much. The pain kept toturing me continously. Dad looked so worried, and i felt terriblly. Another nurse named Lan came to the room. They check your heart beat every 30 mins and told me to breath deeply so you could have enough oxygen. The first nurse left the room after a while, probably to get some rest. Nurse Lan sat on the chair which was about 2 meters from my bed in the room. Then she felt no use to stay while dad was there looking after me. She left the room too. I had so much pain the my eyes looked wild, my mouth kept groaning. I had the urge to push, which was so strong I couldnt hold it. I asked dad to call the nurse for me, but all the emergency buttons in the room didnt work. When dad was about to go to get the nurse, she came. Dad asked where had she been, the bell didnt work. She said she was just waiting outside, so she couldnt hear the bell in her office. However, i couldnt translate what she said to dad. Then she checked my dilation again, only 6cm. She told me i still have to wait until my ass hole opened like a flower?!
4am, she asked me whether i wanted to have an injection which stimulate my dilation. I and dad were told that I could be given epidural to have a no pain delivery. That was a lie. They told me that epidural had many side effects that I will have to suffer later on, also it will delay my contraction, blah blah. We knew that either their epidural doctor wasnt on duty or they tried to save money, cheating us when we signed the contract. Anyway, anything which could help my delivery faster now is appriciated. I asked her if i were given that injection, in how long i can deliver. She said in an hour. I managed to deliver you before 5am, because the next 2 hours was Cat time, which is not good for a snake boy. If what she said were true, I could deliver on Tiger time. I agreed for the injection. She said she had to check with me because dad was so upset last time when I was given injection without telling him. I assumed that if dad didnt get upset like that, i would probably be given injection earlier, to shorten the pain. Anyway, it wasnt too late, what i suffered were passed away. I only cared about the next procedure.
Nurse Lan gave me two needles on the two hands and connected with a bottle. I’m not sure why my both hands were needled while there was only one drip bottle. She said the drip was sugar which helped me maintain my strength for pushing baby out. Then she injected the stimulation in the bottle for it to go slowly into my body. I was given another two injections into my right thighs, which i still have no idea what they are for. Dad was upset because the doctor wasnt here. He asked the nurse to call the doctor. The nurse said he was checking other patient and should be here shorly. Then he came in a white coat, and looked so sleepy. He broke my water, and I could feel water ran from my body out of my control for the first time. He said I still had to wait until my dilation was up to 10cm. Then he sat on a chair checking up his phone.
4.30m, she said your head was still very high up, you werent ready to come out. She told me to stand up near so gravity could help you go down faster. I had to hold up pushing, which was a much more difficult task than suffering the contraction pain. She said if i push when the opening wasnt large enough, i would break my uterus and you could be stucked in danger. That freaked me out enough that i struggled harder to hold the urge to push. Sometimes when i couldnt hold it, I closed my legs tight and did a push, feeling much better after any push. But i also felt guilty because what i did may harm you. Blood dropped down from my bottom, quite a lot, look scary, but nobody cared.
5am, Tiger time had passed, i was worried that you would be born in the Cat time, which is believed to be an unlucky person for the whole life... I guessed dad didnt care that much, he just wanted me to get over the pain and see you as soon as possible. The other nurse came back, she offered me water and check your heart beat every 10 minutes. She kept telling me to take deep breath to have enough oxygien for you to breath. I was struggling with the urge to push. I asked dad to hold my legs tight so I can do some push without letting you out.
Passed 6am, The doctor checked me again, but still didnt let me push. I told him that i couldnt hold it anymore. He then agreed for me to push. I did a really strong push to release what i had been holding for hours. But nothing happened. They all looked dissapointed because my push was just waste of strength and wouldnt let you go out any further. The nice nurse guided me how to push again: legs are to kick, arms are to hold , bottom is to stick to the table and neck is to lift up. However, i couldnt do them all at the same time, no matter how many times I tried. They told me that it would be a hard delivery because i didnt know how to push, which made me very worried. But they tried to encourage me a lot by saying that all i need was just a right push, you would be out safely. And i couldnt do it. They decided to give me a hand by pushing my belly when i push, and it still didnt work. Dad kept walking around me and told me to take deep breath, he tried to calm me down. I could feel how worried he was but i couldnt talk much to him
7am, none of my pushes satisfied anybody in that room. At least, I talked to myself, the unlucky Cat time has passed. This was dragon time now, and if you were born during this time, you would not be a rich man later on, but you would be loved by everybody. However, i really had no idea how to do a right push. the nurse said that if i didnt try to push you out, a c-section might be assigned, but it would be very difficult for all of us, because they could see your head already, and you were at a very low possition, which made it hard for them to get your head out from my belly. If i didnt try hard to push you out soon, your health might be affected. There was no other way, all i need to do was just a right push. i took highest efforts to do what i was told to push
But i couldnt make a right push until 18 minutes later. You were born at 7.18am on the 3 of March, weigh 3.3kg. I was so amazed that i did it finally. I didnt feel any different when your head appeared, but i knew it because dad looked so happy to tell me that he saw you. So i tried to notice the feeling of the rest of you came out. It was so special.
The nurses told dad to cut your cord. Dad was so excited that he missed the first try, but he cut it off the second try. The nurses brought you to the changing bed nearby and dad followed them with the camera in hand. He was happy like a child. I was so tired that i didnt really need to see you straight away. The placenta came out and looked like a big red liver of a pig that grandma often brought to feed the dogs. Dad came to me to say he loved me, then he went back to you again. He was just running from me to you and back to me again and again as if he wanted to bring you to me so we could be all together. I asked him whether i got cut, because i didnt feel any pain, but i heard the doctor told nurses to be ready for cutting. He said yes. So i had to expect the next painful step, which is stitching. I knew it wasnt over yet. Nurse Lan did the stiching for me, it was so painful as if they didnt use any pain killer at all. I could feel any time the needle went through my flesh. At this time, other staff started their daily work, so there were quite a few nurses and doctors in the room. Dr. Viet has left because he had to work at other hospital. I kept screaming “au, au” to let nurse Lan know that i was in pain, but she seemed not to care at all. Other nurses stood around and gave her compliment that her skill was getting better all the time. One of them told me to be patient because they were doing good job to recover my vaginal shape. I tried to ignore the pain by talking to dad, but it really took ages to finish. I thought my cut was about 20cm long or something like that. Later i was explained that because there were 3 layers to stich, so it took a long time.
When you were dressed up well, you were put next to me to get familiar with breast feeding. Dad was told to go out because there was another woman just came to deliver. She delivered her baby was just in 15 minutes. Im so jealous with her. I was kept in the room for an hour with you, then we were wheeled on another bed to 12th floor to join dad. I was asked to stay in bed for 6 hours after delivery because i lost so much blood that i could faint if i tried to get up.
Finally, we 3 people were left in the room together. I felt so great that i went through such a hard time to have this moment. I looked at you lying on the crib next to me, so happy
I rang grandma to inform the news, she was suprised because i didnt tell her that i went to the hospital already. Actually, i and dad decided not to tell her because we didnt want to make her worry. It’s good that you were here safely, so she didnt need to go through the hard time we had to go through. She came on a bicycle to the hospital around lunch time, and brought for me 7 boiled eggs. She wanted me to eat all of them because of some religion belief, but i could only eat 2. Im sure she was very excited and happy to see you too. You have long eyelash and high nose like your dad, but your legs are crooked as mine. I thought you were really beautiful (until i saw many other baby photos on facebook a few days later) . first day you met your grandma, you did some bad poo that left stain on the new blanket and clothes, so she had to bring your dirty stuff home to wash.
For the day i stayed to recover in the hospital, the nurses looked after me and you very well. They taught me breast feeding, helped me change your diaper, calmed you down when you cried, washed my stiches, changed clothes and brought food. I felt like staying in the hospital forever.
First night, i tried to put you sleeping in the crib because it was a nice crib that we dont have at home. However, you just cried for breast feeding, so you slept on the same bed with me.
Next morning, i saw you had some red spots on your neck. When the pediatrician came to check for you, i asked her about the spots. She said you probably got them from overheat when you slept with me last night. Otherwises, you were perfectly healthy.
Dad went home to get some clothes for you because you made pooed on all the clothes we prepared for the hospital. Grandma came again and brought you some clothes too. Then you had plenty of clothes now. 9.30am, a nurse came to give you the first bath. We weren’t allowed to get in the bathroom, but we could hear you cried so loudly.
Passed 12pm, we left the hospital on a taxi. When we arrived to the lane where we lived, neighbours saw us all looked very welcome and kept asking whether you were a boy or a girl. We didnt want to many people hang around to ask about you, especially those in the house we rent. Therefore dad went upstairs with all the bags first while i waited him in the lane. When dad went down, he said grandma was already there helping us cleaning up the room. We took you to the park to wait for those people in the house pissed off. Those neighbours saw us going out to the park, they kept shaking their head to signal me that i shouldnt go out so early. I just smiled and didnt stop walking. That was the first time you went to the park with us.
The first day you were home with us was a wonderful day. You havent got your own bed yet, so you slept on the same bed with us. You fed and pooed and wee very often. And that was just a start for the days of having a baby with us. We thought you were so beautiful and we were very happy whenever we looked at you. Dad kept saying that he wanted you to grow up slowly, so we could enjoy this time with you more.
Tuesday 5th March 2013
You were 3 day old. Dad did all the chore works for us to take rest. Washing your clothes and making meals for me kept him busy all day. He seemed to be very tired because he couldnt sleep well at night since you woke up and cried for changing nappy or feeding. He was tired but he didnt complain a word because the happiness of having you overweigh his tiredness. When he wasnt doing any chore work, he took many photos of you, sent to his friends and family, then he looked forward to reply from them. He was extremelly happy if someone said you were gorgeous and lovely. Grandma comes everyday to bath for you with green tea. She reckoned that me and your dad didnt know how to take care of your belly button, so she should do it. She brought many food that she believed to be good for producing milk and recovering for me. She told me not to walk on my bare feet, always wear long clothes, stay away from wind, wear glass when going out, always put wool in my ears, not to eat spinach to preven urinate leaking, always drink and eat hot stuffs, not to use needles, look at flame or read small letters. There are so many rules to follow and i dont think i could do them well.
I went shopping and to buy some medicine prescribed by the doctor and met with a Holland friend in a coffee shop. I chatted about getting two passports for you. He was suprised that i was in labour just 3 days ago. He then told me that i should take a really good rest after birth. His wife didnt do so, and she got really sick after a few months. Now i started to worry that i have to do what my mum said, which are so frustrated...
Thursday 7th march, 2013
You are 5 day old. Your skin has been so dark, from jaundice, that i thought you didnt look like either of us. You will probably have the skin of the American president. It has been sunny and warm since you were born. Dad said you brought the sun to us. Today, we took you out to the lake for the first time. Dad put you in the yellow sling that i made and carried you through the streets. Even with the sling, he still held you with his two hands as he was scared that he would dropped you. The way he hold you in his hands was like presenting a bunch of flowers to somebody. The whole street looked at him and started talking about a foreign man with such a small baby in his hand. I was walking behind him, with some distance and i could understand when they said to each other “that must be his wife”. I was a bit shy to be noticed like that, but dad and you didnt care, just kept walking like models in a fashion show.
We sat on a chair near the lake for a while. The sky turned from grey to dark. There was an old man doing a waving hand exercise in front of us. Sometimes, there were some pupils walking by and talked about their day. Two other old ladies sitting in the nearby chair talking about their family. And we looked at you, sleeping like an angel. It was so good that we 3 people together here, in a peaceful afternoon at the lake, where I and your dad came very often since you were warm in my body.
Sunday 10th march, 2013
Dad has a class in the morning, and about one and half hour in the afternoon. My friend Regis, Estelle and their baby Colin wanted to see us today. So we tried to get them come to our house during lunch time. When dad came back from work, he was so exhausted that he thought it would be better to meet with them in a restaurant for lunch. So we told them to come to High land coffee in Hanoi tower. Of course you were with me, and that was the first time you went to a coffee shop. You always seem to enjoy going out. Your eyes open big and you look happy when we took you out. But soon you will sleep, probably because of being too joyful. My friends were late because their 8 month baby was a bit annoying when they started going. Dad has to leave for the next class at 1.30pm, so he didnt have much time with them. When dad left, we moved to Kuku bar in Cam Chi street for lunch. You were really naughty there. You cried a lot for changing nappy and fedding that made my lunch interrupted. Estelle shared with me a lot of her experience as a mommy. They are really being helpful to us eventhough i dont have much time to be good to them. They bought you 3 clothes and a toy, which were beautiful. I dont know what to do for return to them.
We chatted many things until 3.30pm, i took a taxi to grandma’s house. Dad also finished his class and he came to grandma at the same time. When i arrived, your uncle was already at the lane end to pick you up. He and his wife and his daughter were about to move to his in-law’s house to leave us the room. They wanted us to go back and live with grandma. That was the first time he met you and i met his daughter. First time you met your grandpa. Herquietly waited until everybody had held you to ask for holding you in his hands. He held you the way your dad hold you, like holding a bunch of flower, and got freaked out when you started crying. He told us to stay and dont go back to the rent house. I just didnt say anything because i know dad didnt like. I was such a bad daughter to ignore my dad like that.
When you were there, my brother and his wife was very enthusiam to take care of you, which made both me and your dad feel uncomfortable. They changed your nappy and fed you as if they were experts and we didnt know anything. Anyway, i could understand that they were just trying to be nice, but dad didnt seem to think the same. Grandma bathed you there today. Dad really felt annoyed because everybody took care of you and ignored him.
I asked dad to go home earlier as he was on a motorbike and i wanted to go by taxi. Grandma gave me more of the pork-leg Chao, which was believe to stimulate milk production. I dropped my phone in the toilet sink. I tried to dry it up with a hair dryer, but it still didnt work. I was very upset as this phone was new and there were so many pictures of you that i havent coppied to my computer. And of course, it was an expensive phone too. I prayed for it to work again, but the second try still didnt work. When i went home with you on a taxi, i looked at you sleeping in my hand all the way. For the first time, i realized that what i am having now was a fortune, and the damage phone couldnt bother me anymore. Having you is all i need. You are so precious to me that everything else is just not important. And everybody loves you. Im wondering whether it is because you were born in the Dragon time, or just because you are still small and of course people love you...
Fortunately, the phone worked again after a few times trying to dry again. Grandma put a red mark by lipstick on your forehead. She told me that the red mark would protect you from spiritual ghoshes who wanted to scare you. Dad didnt like the idea of supertituous, but i think grandma just wanted the good thing to you, and it was such an interesting thing to know.
Monday 11th march, 2013
We went to SOS hospital for my health check, which was a requirement for my migration visa to australia.
4am, she asked me whether i wanted to have an injection which stimulate my dilation. I and dad were told that I could be given epidural to have a no pain delivery. That was a lie. They told me that epidural had many side effects that I will have to suffer later on, also it will delay my contraction, blah blah. We knew that either their epidural doctor wasnt on duty or they tried to save money, cheating us when we signed the contract. Anyway, anything which could help my delivery faster now is appriciated. I asked her if i were given that injection, in how long i can deliver. She said in an hour. I managed to deliver you before 5am, because the next 2 hours was Cat time, which is not good for a snake boy. If what she said were true, I could deliver on Tiger time. I agreed for the injection. She said she had to check with me because dad was so upset last time when I was given injection without telling him. I assumed that if dad didnt get upset like that, i would probably be given injection earlier, to shorten the pain. Anyway, it wasnt too late, what i suffered were passed away. I only cared about the next procedure.
Nurse Lan gave me two needles on the two hands and connected with a bottle. I’m not sure why my both hands were needled while there was only one drip bottle. She said the drip was sugar which helped me maintain my strength for pushing baby out. Then she injected the stimulation in the bottle for it to go slowly into my body. I was given another two injections into my right thighs, which i still have no idea what they are for. Dad was upset because the doctor wasnt here. He asked the nurse to call the doctor. The nurse said he was checking other patient and should be here shorly. Then he came in a white coat, and looked so sleepy. He broke my water, and I could feel water ran from my body out of my control for the first time. He said I still had to wait until my dilation was up to 10cm. Then he sat on a chair checking up his phone.
4.30m, she said your head was still very high up, you werent ready to come out. She told me to stand up near so gravity could help you go down faster. I had to hold up pushing, which was a much more difficult task than suffering the contraction pain. She said if i push when the opening wasnt large enough, i would break my uterus and you could be stucked in danger. That freaked me out enough that i struggled harder to hold the urge to push. Sometimes when i couldnt hold it, I closed my legs tight and did a push, feeling much better after any push. But i also felt guilty because what i did may harm you. Blood dropped down from my bottom, quite a lot, look scary, but nobody cared.
5am, Tiger time had passed, i was worried that you would be born in the Cat time, which is believed to be an unlucky person for the whole life... I guessed dad didnt care that much, he just wanted me to get over the pain and see you as soon as possible. The other nurse came back, she offered me water and check your heart beat every 10 minutes. She kept telling me to take deep breath to have enough oxygien for you to breath. I was struggling with the urge to push. I asked dad to hold my legs tight so I can do some push without letting you out.
Passed 6am, The doctor checked me again, but still didnt let me push. I told him that i couldnt hold it anymore. He then agreed for me to push. I did a really strong push to release what i had been holding for hours. But nothing happened. They all looked dissapointed because my push was just waste of strength and wouldnt let you go out any further. The nice nurse guided me how to push again: legs are to kick, arms are to hold , bottom is to stick to the table and neck is to lift up. However, i couldnt do them all at the same time, no matter how many times I tried. They told me that it would be a hard delivery because i didnt know how to push, which made me very worried. But they tried to encourage me a lot by saying that all i need was just a right push, you would be out safely. And i couldnt do it. They decided to give me a hand by pushing my belly when i push, and it still didnt work. Dad kept walking around me and told me to take deep breath, he tried to calm me down. I could feel how worried he was but i couldnt talk much to him
7am, none of my pushes satisfied anybody in that room. At least, I talked to myself, the unlucky Cat time has passed. This was dragon time now, and if you were born during this time, you would not be a rich man later on, but you would be loved by everybody. However, i really had no idea how to do a right push. the nurse said that if i didnt try to push you out, a c-section might be assigned, but it would be very difficult for all of us, because they could see your head already, and you were at a very low possition, which made it hard for them to get your head out from my belly. If i didnt try hard to push you out soon, your health might be affected. There was no other way, all i need to do was just a right push. i took highest efforts to do what i was told to push
But i couldnt make a right push until 18 minutes later. You were born at 7.18am on the 3 of March, weigh 3.3kg. I was so amazed that i did it finally. I didnt feel any different when your head appeared, but i knew it because dad looked so happy to tell me that he saw you. So i tried to notice the feeling of the rest of you came out. It was so special.
The nurses told dad to cut your cord. Dad was so excited that he missed the first try, but he cut it off the second try. The nurses brought you to the changing bed nearby and dad followed them with the camera in hand. He was happy like a child. I was so tired that i didnt really need to see you straight away. The placenta came out and looked like a big red liver of a pig that grandma often brought to feed the dogs. Dad came to me to say he loved me, then he went back to you again. He was just running from me to you and back to me again and again as if he wanted to bring you to me so we could be all together. I asked him whether i got cut, because i didnt feel any pain, but i heard the doctor told nurses to be ready for cutting. He said yes. So i had to expect the next painful step, which is stitching. I knew it wasnt over yet. Nurse Lan did the stiching for me, it was so painful as if they didnt use any pain killer at all. I could feel any time the needle went through my flesh. At this time, other staff started their daily work, so there were quite a few nurses and doctors in the room. Dr. Viet has left because he had to work at other hospital. I kept screaming “au, au” to let nurse Lan know that i was in pain, but she seemed not to care at all. Other nurses stood around and gave her compliment that her skill was getting better all the time. One of them told me to be patient because they were doing good job to recover my vaginal shape. I tried to ignore the pain by talking to dad, but it really took ages to finish. I thought my cut was about 20cm long or something like that. Later i was explained that because there were 3 layers to stich, so it took a long time.
When you were dressed up well, you were put next to me to get familiar with breast feeding. Dad was told to go out because there was another woman just came to deliver. She delivered her baby was just in 15 minutes. Im so jealous with her. I was kept in the room for an hour with you, then we were wheeled on another bed to 12th floor to join dad. I was asked to stay in bed for 6 hours after delivery because i lost so much blood that i could faint if i tried to get up.
Finally, we 3 people were left in the room together. I felt so great that i went through such a hard time to have this moment. I looked at you lying on the crib next to me, so happy
I rang grandma to inform the news, she was suprised because i didnt tell her that i went to the hospital already. Actually, i and dad decided not to tell her because we didnt want to make her worry. It’s good that you were here safely, so she didnt need to go through the hard time we had to go through. She came on a bicycle to the hospital around lunch time, and brought for me 7 boiled eggs. She wanted me to eat all of them because of some religion belief, but i could only eat 2. Im sure she was very excited and happy to see you too. You have long eyelash and high nose like your dad, but your legs are crooked as mine. I thought you were really beautiful (until i saw many other baby photos on facebook a few days later) . first day you met your grandma, you did some bad poo that left stain on the new blanket and clothes, so she had to bring your dirty stuff home to wash.
For the day i stayed to recover in the hospital, the nurses looked after me and you very well. They taught me breast feeding, helped me change your diaper, calmed you down when you cried, washed my stiches, changed clothes and brought food. I felt like staying in the hospital forever.
First night, i tried to put you sleeping in the crib because it was a nice crib that we dont have at home. However, you just cried for breast feeding, so you slept on the same bed with me.
Next morning, i saw you had some red spots on your neck. When the pediatrician came to check for you, i asked her about the spots. She said you probably got them from overheat when you slept with me last night. Otherwises, you were perfectly healthy.
Dad went home to get some clothes for you because you made pooed on all the clothes we prepared for the hospital. Grandma came again and brought you some clothes too. Then you had plenty of clothes now. 9.30am, a nurse came to give you the first bath. We weren’t allowed to get in the bathroom, but we could hear you cried so loudly.
Passed 12pm, we left the hospital on a taxi. When we arrived to the lane where we lived, neighbours saw us all looked very welcome and kept asking whether you were a boy or a girl. We didnt want to many people hang around to ask about you, especially those in the house we rent. Therefore dad went upstairs with all the bags first while i waited him in the lane. When dad went down, he said grandma was already there helping us cleaning up the room. We took you to the park to wait for those people in the house pissed off. Those neighbours saw us going out to the park, they kept shaking their head to signal me that i shouldnt go out so early. I just smiled and didnt stop walking. That was the first time you went to the park with us.
The first day you were home with us was a wonderful day. You havent got your own bed yet, so you slept on the same bed with us. You fed and pooed and wee very often. And that was just a start for the days of having a baby with us. We thought you were so beautiful and we were very happy whenever we looked at you. Dad kept saying that he wanted you to grow up slowly, so we could enjoy this time with you more.
Tuesday 5th March 2013
You were 3 day old. Dad did all the chore works for us to take rest. Washing your clothes and making meals for me kept him busy all day. He seemed to be very tired because he couldnt sleep well at night since you woke up and cried for changing nappy or feeding. He was tired but he didnt complain a word because the happiness of having you overweigh his tiredness. When he wasnt doing any chore work, he took many photos of you, sent to his friends and family, then he looked forward to reply from them. He was extremelly happy if someone said you were gorgeous and lovely. Grandma comes everyday to bath for you with green tea. She reckoned that me and your dad didnt know how to take care of your belly button, so she should do it. She brought many food that she believed to be good for producing milk and recovering for me. She told me not to walk on my bare feet, always wear long clothes, stay away from wind, wear glass when going out, always put wool in my ears, not to eat spinach to preven urinate leaking, always drink and eat hot stuffs, not to use needles, look at flame or read small letters. There are so many rules to follow and i dont think i could do them well.
I went shopping and to buy some medicine prescribed by the doctor and met with a Holland friend in a coffee shop. I chatted about getting two passports for you. He was suprised that i was in labour just 3 days ago. He then told me that i should take a really good rest after birth. His wife didnt do so, and she got really sick after a few months. Now i started to worry that i have to do what my mum said, which are so frustrated...
Thursday 7th march, 2013
You are 5 day old. Your skin has been so dark, from jaundice, that i thought you didnt look like either of us. You will probably have the skin of the American president. It has been sunny and warm since you were born. Dad said you brought the sun to us. Today, we took you out to the lake for the first time. Dad put you in the yellow sling that i made and carried you through the streets. Even with the sling, he still held you with his two hands as he was scared that he would dropped you. The way he hold you in his hands was like presenting a bunch of flowers to somebody. The whole street looked at him and started talking about a foreign man with such a small baby in his hand. I was walking behind him, with some distance and i could understand when they said to each other “that must be his wife”. I was a bit shy to be noticed like that, but dad and you didnt care, just kept walking like models in a fashion show.
We sat on a chair near the lake for a while. The sky turned from grey to dark. There was an old man doing a waving hand exercise in front of us. Sometimes, there were some pupils walking by and talked about their day. Two other old ladies sitting in the nearby chair talking about their family. And we looked at you, sleeping like an angel. It was so good that we 3 people together here, in a peaceful afternoon at the lake, where I and your dad came very often since you were warm in my body.
Sunday 10th march, 2013
Dad has a class in the morning, and about one and half hour in the afternoon. My friend Regis, Estelle and their baby Colin wanted to see us today. So we tried to get them come to our house during lunch time. When dad came back from work, he was so exhausted that he thought it would be better to meet with them in a restaurant for lunch. So we told them to come to High land coffee in Hanoi tower. Of course you were with me, and that was the first time you went to a coffee shop. You always seem to enjoy going out. Your eyes open big and you look happy when we took you out. But soon you will sleep, probably because of being too joyful. My friends were late because their 8 month baby was a bit annoying when they started going. Dad has to leave for the next class at 1.30pm, so he didnt have much time with them. When dad left, we moved to Kuku bar in Cam Chi street for lunch. You were really naughty there. You cried a lot for changing nappy and fedding that made my lunch interrupted. Estelle shared with me a lot of her experience as a mommy. They are really being helpful to us eventhough i dont have much time to be good to them. They bought you 3 clothes and a toy, which were beautiful. I dont know what to do for return to them.
We chatted many things until 3.30pm, i took a taxi to grandma’s house. Dad also finished his class and he came to grandma at the same time. When i arrived, your uncle was already at the lane end to pick you up. He and his wife and his daughter were about to move to his in-law’s house to leave us the room. They wanted us to go back and live with grandma. That was the first time he met you and i met his daughter. First time you met your grandpa. Herquietly waited until everybody had held you to ask for holding you in his hands. He held you the way your dad hold you, like holding a bunch of flower, and got freaked out when you started crying. He told us to stay and dont go back to the rent house. I just didnt say anything because i know dad didnt like. I was such a bad daughter to ignore my dad like that.
When you were there, my brother and his wife was very enthusiam to take care of you, which made both me and your dad feel uncomfortable. They changed your nappy and fed you as if they were experts and we didnt know anything. Anyway, i could understand that they were just trying to be nice, but dad didnt seem to think the same. Grandma bathed you there today. Dad really felt annoyed because everybody took care of you and ignored him.
I asked dad to go home earlier as he was on a motorbike and i wanted to go by taxi. Grandma gave me more of the pork-leg Chao, which was believe to stimulate milk production. I dropped my phone in the toilet sink. I tried to dry it up with a hair dryer, but it still didnt work. I was very upset as this phone was new and there were so many pictures of you that i havent coppied to my computer. And of course, it was an expensive phone too. I prayed for it to work again, but the second try still didnt work. When i went home with you on a taxi, i looked at you sleeping in my hand all the way. For the first time, i realized that what i am having now was a fortune, and the damage phone couldnt bother me anymore. Having you is all i need. You are so precious to me that everything else is just not important. And everybody loves you. Im wondering whether it is because you were born in the Dragon time, or just because you are still small and of course people love you...
Fortunately, the phone worked again after a few times trying to dry again. Grandma put a red mark by lipstick on your forehead. She told me that the red mark would protect you from spiritual ghoshes who wanted to scare you. Dad didnt like the idea of supertituous, but i think grandma just wanted the good thing to you, and it was such an interesting thing to know.
Monday 11th march, 2013
We went to SOS hospital for my health check, which was a requirement for my migration visa to australia.
