Merry Early Xmas!!

I had a massive scare today! My friend Becky (who is also pregnant) had a HUGE complication after delivering her baby boy - she started hemorrhaging and lost so much blood that she had to be transferred to another hospital for a blood transfusion. It made me realise that birth can sometimes be a risky thing!! Thank God she is stable now in the Intensive Care Unit, and she has a healthy boy, Owen Michael Shaw, awaiting her when she recovers :) CONGRATS to Becky & Dave!!!

Meanwhile, some pics of me & my sis enjoying our time before the baby arrives:

AND... our Early Xmas Party!!! Here are the kiddies & Noodlely in her Santa outfit with her new haircut :)

Playing the white elephant game - it's Secret Santa with a twist where you can steal gifts off each other:

The whole gang enjoying our potluck dinner & hanging around. Me & Becky comparing tummies~!!

Can't wait for our real Xmas Day in hospital with Nugget! Hope I get good pressies hahaha ~~ ;p

OK I just want to take a moment now to say a big THANK YOU for all the encouraging emails and messages I have recieved from friends here and back home. I feel so blessed to have all of you in my life...

Here's my study wall all dedicated to family, husband and friends :) Not completed yet, obviously - it will be finished when Nugget joins us in the world ♥

(btw my mum took those pics on the right 1 month after having me! Hope I bounce back that quickly as well...)

Tomorrow I'm being admitted into hospital and the next day I will meet my little one - I am so excited and can't wait to see and hold him!! Will ask Steve to post up a short birth announcement on this blog when he's ready, but will probably not have time to blog again myself for a long time. Thanks so much to everyone for reading and commenting all these years - there have been so many times when I have wanted to stop but didn't because of you guys. Awww... *tear*

Take care everyone, and Merry Xmas. Mucho luv to you all ~!!!

Gracie xxxxoooo

Oh good boy, Nugget!

So if you haven't heard the good news already here it is again - my placenta has moved yippee!! Here's what happened: 3 weeks ago at my last scan I was still a total previa and the dr told me there is very little chance of it budging at all given the time we have left and the fact that total previas dont usually move. ANYWAY, I'm such a doctor slut, I have been going to multiple obs cos I cant make up my mind about which hospital to use - so I went to a new dr the other day and he told me that my placenta is "low lying" (still low but the least riskiest) I was like - HUH. No way. That would mean that it has moved up 4 stages in 3 weeks --- as if. So I went BACK to my original dr who didn't believe it either until she did a scan and then she was so surprised she didnt talk for a minute! She said that I'm really lucky and with any more luck it might move another 2cm which could potentially make it safe for me to deliver naturally!!!

THANK YOU GOD for listening to our prayers, you really perform miracles in our lives!!! We prayed so so hard for this, and all out friends have too - the power of prayer people, never underestimate it!

I have to use all my self control right now not to run around everywhere RAHH!! I want to be normal again, but its still not in the safe zone so I have to keep doing what I've been doing cos obviously it's working. We'll find out in another 3-4 weeks the final position and then I will have to make a decision on delivery based on that. I'm freaking out now, cos if it is safe I dont know if I'm mentally or physically prepared for a natural birth anymore. I wanted one so bad, but then I gave up on the idea and to get myself back into that frame of mind, prepare my body physically, educate myself and do classes - will be way too late...!! WHAT TO DOOOOOO...

Whatever it will be, I am just thankful and ever grateful to God and little Nugs for helping me out by shifting that uncooperative placenta. I just know Nugs is gonna be a smart kid, he's already doing his part to make life easier for me :D

So update - lately I've been getting these sharp stabbing pains in my vagina and sometimes in my bottom. It really hurts, like someone is digging a knife in there! I thought it was Braxton Hicks but that's not meant to be painful, so I think Nugs has conveniently found his way around my innards and is probably stepping on a nerve booo :( ... I'm also not really getting more than 5hrs sleep a night, and I feel tired alllll the time. The usual constant peeing, leg cramps, back pain, weight gain, skin irritation, etc is escalating and right now I just feel like a fatigued cuddly ball that waddles around like a duck. Noodle loves it :)

I think I've also found my hospital FINALLY. Its the best women's one in Seoul - expensive but I think worth it, with an excellent international clinic and their own cord banking system, private suites, etc. I was kinda sold on the wireless internet in the rooms, and the large couches for your family to sit and sleep in. If I get the big room, I'll be able to have at least 2ppl stay with me at night if I want which is nice. The hospital system is still Korean (husband not allowed in the surgery, very little time with baby if you can't breastfeed), but I think I am strong enough to handle that. PLUS I found this Japanese place that does breast massage and I'm gonna start visiting them before I'm due so that it can help with the milk production - I dont wanna have trouble breastfeeding!! Steve wasn't breastfed at all and he has a million digestive problems and it really sucks balls, whereas I have none even though I did bad "things" and abused laxatives plus every other f**ed-up thing you could do to your body when I was young. I eat crap all the time and never get sick, and even when everyone else gets a tummy bug from something I'm always the only one that's fine - I like to think its because my mum was so diligent with my breastfeeding. THANKS MUM. Plus... I spent so much money on that breastpump I bought it better go to good use!

Here's Nugs at 30 weeks - the one on the left looks a bit like bride of Chucky lol. We missed the window of opportunity to do a 3D scan when you can see the baby's face, now he's too big and I can't do it. Never mind, not much longer to go now!

Btw, they have changed my actual due date to Xmas Day which means I'm actually more than 31weeks, but the problem is that c-sections for placenta problems have to be performed 2 weeks early - which would make Nugs a SAGGITARIUS! NOOOO!!!! I wont go into my Saggitarius complex right now, but let's just say its keeping me up at night and I would do anything NOT to have a Sag baby. Plz plz plz let me know able to have the operation on the 22nd - first day of Capricorn would be fab, even if it does mean that he will never really have a proper bday. We'll make sure he gets an extra big bday/Xmas present every year :D

Here's me @ Mui Mui restaurant with Grace Park... fab mussels, ho-hum pasta

... and at this French crepe place for dessert that was really cute but had sucky crepes and shitty service. My hair is a fake pony hehe, I took my extensions out and now I have no hair :(

Noodlely has also been very helpful lately! She's been trying out all the gifts people have given us and giving them a test run first. Here she is testing out the activity mat & brake suspension on the Bumbo wheels:

I've just been told that the newest edition of 10 Mag just came out with my face on the cover! Haven't seen it yet, hoping for minimal water retention and swelling in the face. Will post up the pictures next~~!!

xxoo

Chuseok break @ the W

As a consolation prize for not being able to go on our original babymoon, we took Noodle to the W Hotel in Seoul instead. It was so exciting for her - she's never been allowed in a hotel before!

On the way there, a flash flood hit Seoul and lasted about as long as we were driving for. Bizarre. It was a pretty freaky ride, see this video of what the street was like.

Noodlely - safe and warm in Daddy's arms :)

Checking in - had to wait cos our room wasn't ready?? Maybe no one wanted to check out because of the rain... BTW Steve is getting tubbier and losing his 6 pack hehe. I told him that if I've already gained 12kgs then he better keep up, and he's been trying - what a good boy haha...

Getting some (pretend) sun? At least I got one wear the maternity swimsuit that I had to ship all the way from the US and pay agency fees + ridiculous shipping + duty tax for. What I waste that it never got to see the Santorini sun.

I'm starting to get kankles!!

Dinnertime! Finally got one wear out of my Abyss by Abby kaftan:

My fave pic - 1) cos I dont look preggas and 2) cos I love Noodlely ♥

Early dinner @ french restaurant Clock 16 at the top of the Sheraton. We were the first there and it was so lovely, but the rain had ruined the view - it just looked like a patch of misty white outside.

My lamb shank was so sooo divine! Quite possibly the best I've ever had. YUMMMMERS!!

Dessert - I ordered the cherry flambe thingy that they cook in front of you. It looks a bit fug and the caramelised sugary part was actually too chewy for me, but I guess the novelty's in the display by the waiter guy.

After dinner, we went to the Legend of Flower show at the casino. It was kinda the same old, but for once I was really intrigued when the Taekwondo guys came on. Have decided that Nugget must learn martial arts cos it looks cool and I want him to be like Jaden Smith in the Karate Kid. Froggie went to the casino afterwards but they dont let pregnant women in...why?? Never mind, Noodley and I snuggled up and got room service and had heaps of fun :D

Next day - breakfast and a short stroll around the gardens. Look how ready she was for the walk! Ahh... so sweet.

Little Nugget slippers @ the gift shop:

I got a "Mother-to-be" massage @ the Away Spa in the hotel, but it was totally not what I was expecting. I thought it would be all soft and tender, but it was like full lymphatic drainage man! They must think all us pregnant women have too much water retention and need a good push to our systems :( I was in pain afterwards and since I'm not even allowed to go in the hot tubs all I could do was dip my feet in - sad.

Dinnertime again! This was the dress I bought that TOTALLY didn't fit me. I was so depressed that I called Xtine on skype and showed how I couldn't do the zip up, and then she told me to make it into a backless dress and it worked!!! It used to be high up on the back with a lace insert (like the front) but now it's backless with panels to hold up the sides. What a genius.

Oh, but first - drinks at Woobar, the best bar in Korea in my opinion. For more of what the bar looks like, see these pics from our last visit.

Froggie was laughing at how much the drinks and wings were, but that was before we got to the next place...

The ice sushi bar @ Namu restaurant, where nigiri is $25 a piece and sake cocktails are $45 each. LOL!

The rest of our dinner @ Namu. I didn't get to try the fois gras tempura :( Seriously, I've been deprived of so much this pregnancy - my freedom, a positive experience, a natural birth, and esp food. I've made a list of all the stuff I want brought to me in hospital after Nugget's born - among them raw oysters, smoked salmon, soft cheese, caviar, pate, Cab Sav & Starbucks. THX.

The silly man went to the casino AGAIN afterwards. But this time he still wasn't back by 3am and I knew he was chasing cos he came back at 10.30pm the night (because he won). HOW RIGHT I WAS hahaha... apparently he was down heaps in the first hour and spent the rest of the night getting it back. Apparently he was Matt Damon at the beginning of that poker movie? Don't get it, whatever.

My room service dessert & Miley Cyrus' "Last Song" playing on the ipad hehe:

Daddy come home, why are u losing money...?

We stayed til the afternoon the next day, but I was so tired from waiting for the addicted gambler the night before, all I did was eat breakfast and go back to sleep.

That's it, my last (pretend) holiday before Nugget arrives! After that, we've decided that we cannot be like every other couple that just gives up their lives and stays at home - so we'll leave him with grandparents while we travel the world. Teehee...

xxoo

Kevin & Mel in Korea

Ok. Sooooo super behind now I don't even know where to start. I'll just pick highlights and move on.

Kevin (Steve's best man) & Mel, the newly engaged couple came to visit us in Seoul, after travelling all around the States and SE Asia. Korea always seems to be either the first or last stop for everyone. Wonder if the fact that we're here has anything to do with it? :p

I didn't join for everything, being on partial bed rest and all. But you all know how I can't resist food, so I picked the restaurants that were worth participating in, ate, and then went home while they continued partying.

Hanwoori Korean shabu shabu noodles. This place on the top of Lotte Department is really good quality and delish. When you finish everything, they cook congee with the left over soup. Yummers...

Nice BBQ place near our place - we discovered that this place is really good for lunch a while ago. It's not too full of business people and they do specials at lunchtime on the weekends. Goodie!!

Some other places they went to that I missed out on. They did the DMZ tour too, which I really recommend for people next time they come (give up the shopping just for one day plz!!) Last time when my sister did it she picked up these 2 Irish guys on the tour and then went out on a secret date with them the next day w/o telling me, and then said she only did it cos one of them looked like Ashton Kutcher. Hmm...

The traditional restaurant in Insadong that we went to on Mel's bday:

And then cake & desserts @ the Grand Hyatt. Lovely view!

Noodley realllly likes playing on the piano. It's so exciting for her! Must run in the genes :P

Oooooh Nugget got more pressies! Ralph Lauren beanie, booties, onesie, and towelling gown. Thanks guys!!

Promise to post up a proper blog next time. Right now I'm flat out - have to get 2 restaurant reviews done asap for work!! It used to be so much fun going out and getting free food, now it's just a chore cos I like the cook's food better... hehe.

Laterz~! xxoo

Ange's Visit :)

I'm so behind right now... The whole placenta issue had me quite worried (and all my friends & family too) and right now we are trying desperately to find a replacement for me at work so that I can leave asap and rest at home. I'm no longer allowed to carry anything, move too much, exercise, have sex, or even drive (which I've still been doing)... ergh!! It's so sad :(

Taiwan was an absolute delight though, and I think it really did a lot for me emotionally to be with such great friends, have a baby shower, and be back in an environment that I love where I can communicate with everyone. I was soooo sad to go - but more on that later!

Remember when I mentioned Ange was doing the 7 day bag challenge when she was here? Well, she didnt quite make it - on the 7th day she just brought her own but I dont have a picture of it.

So anyway, the amended "6 bags in 6 days Challenge":

YAY! Great choices, I must admit. They all look better on her than they do on me - of course, she's still slim & gorgeous and NOT pregnant.

These are all pics from Ange's new camera. It's super cool, like a DSLR for dummies. She took heaps of touristy & food pics, but I have taken them all out and just made collages of a summary of what we did each day.

Day 1 didnt count, so Day 2 - shopping in Myeongdong:

Day 3 - Namdaemun & Dongdaemun markets, where we ate this terrible thing on the street that almost killed me. I'm sorry Ange, will never do that to you again...

Day 4 - strolling in Cheongdam & Sinsa's "garosugil" - always mine and now her favorite place too ;)

Day 5 - oops no, I retract that. Her favorite place is Hongdae's Hello Kitty cafe....

Kitty getting eaten step-by-step:

Day 5 continued - the doggy cafe and brazilian bbq for din din:

Day 6 & 7 - Ange went shopping by herself during the day while we were at work. We had chicken soup & 50c ribs at night. She was so excited hahaha:

That pic in the corner is one she took of me with my doctor right before I found out that I had placenta pervia :( After that night, I was so depressed... especially cos I found out there was no more Santorini or dessert after every meal. I still tear up just thinking about my new sunhats and holiday outfits that will never get worn...

 

At least Ange made me Red Velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing in the middle of the night, just so I could take it to work for my colleagues the next day. Awwww!!!! ♥

Look at that! How amazing is it, and it was so delicious - everyone at work thought I had bought them and didn't believe that my friend had made them!

Did I mention the doggy sling is my favorite gift? You can wear it in 3 different ways and Noodle is perfect for practising. Not that I can do that anymore, since I'm not allowed to carry anything... *dies*

I'm getting tagged in all sorts of super-duper pictures from TW on facebook atm. After I compile them all I will write up a post. From now on, I wont have anything interesting happen in my life anymore.... :*(

xxoo

The Dress Me Pretty girls reunite!

Yup, Ange is here and that means lots of shopping and eating. I went out shopping 3 full days in a row with her - I'm so proud of myself!! 5 months preggas and still did it, albeit the back pain and leg cramps.

She took heaps of photos and is on the "borrow 7 bags from Gracie in 7 days" challenge - its pretty funny, she brings a different bag each day from my collection, and they all look better on her cos I look so fatty right now. ALMOST at the point where I cant take pictures anyore - argh!!!

Other great news is that she bought me super great gifts from Sydney and lugged all the maternity wear I bought from Sydney, also my new kaftan and an ipad hooray!! The books are from Jack, im very impressed that he's actually taking this godfather duty seriously.

My diaper bags, and some new stuff. The 10yr anniversary B bag came, but I must say I'm not impressed with the colour. Apart from the lining, there is nothing special about it.

Love these the best - Baby dior bottles, pacifier and music box:

Btw here's Noodely in her new bed. I'm addicted to G-Market!!

Ange did my hair in a Carrie bun today. It's so pretty, hope I can learn to replicate it on my own later - unlikely. 

The dressing table and wall stickies are from G-Market too hehe...

xxoo