How we celebrated her birthday

That day we went to Phang Nga Bay, it was also the little girl's birthday. Her eldest brother kept reminding us about it and asked if we were going to get any cake for her. I really wondered if he really wished to ensure we celebrate her birthday or he wanted to eat cake.. hmm..

Anyway, we tried to get a cake for her as just a simple ceremony celebration (birthday must have cake only is called a birthday, right?), but unfortunately, Phuket is really not our "territory", coupled with the fact that "time not enough", it was difficult to find a bakery, not to mention, a cake.

We went to Patong beach for dinner that night, and tried to look for a carpark desperately. When we find a spot, we dare not park our car in, for fear it's illegal and might be towed away, else the slot shouldn't be empty. As such, we tried to "join the troupe" to find a slot among the cars park alongside the street but to no avail. Rather frustrating. Finally, after a couple of "chickened out" attempts, we decided that "that" spot should be rather safe. A disadvantage of having a car actually.

By that time, my sandals I was having was way beyond repair. Sigh! What a time to let me down (talking about my sandals). BUT, it's also a good excuse for me to buy something home for my own. hehe..

We picked a simple "Thai" restaurant for dinner and ordered just fried rice (again!) and tomyam(again!). Was darn hungry actually, I really pitied the children.

By the time we were cured from the hunger pangs, we set off to see the crowded street which was in the festive mood. Like I said, it was "Loy Kratong" festival, you bet I still do not know what it is.

What mostly people there were doing were:
1. Making paper boats with flowers and float in out to the open sea
2. Lit some paper lantern and make your wish (I think!)

These paper lanterns came in S, M and L sizes. It works very simple. Lit up a fire below the lantern, the hot air would be trapped inside and as hot air is lighter, the lantern would just float up into the air. And voila! What a pretty sight it was, with thousands of these lanterns illuminating the night sky. I can't help gazing and admiring that beautiful sky that night.

As there were no birthday cakes and candles for little girl to blow, papa decided let's just lit one lantern up as a symbolic ceremonious birthday present for her. Sounded really good to me. So, we ended up paying 150 Baht for that L size lantern. Didn't dare to save money for a S size, as S size tends to get "burnt" down (we think)! Eew, that would be so "bad luck", I imagine.

...before it was lit up (looks like a giant condom, huh?)

... and after! I thought it was really simple and nice.

... and up into the air! I wished, on behalf of her, for everyone in the family healthy, happy and together for many, many years. And we fixed our eyes on our magical lantern as it floated higher and higher until we can't differentiate it from the rest of the gang.

The air on the beach and street was in truly festival joy. Everyone seemed to be in a delighted mood, nothing would make them upset even if they step on s**t, I think.

I gave up looking for a pair of shoes in the end, as again, the prices quoted were so ridiculous, similar to the experience in James Bond Island. We passed by this new modern shopping mall and went in to visit the loo and wash our legs as they were full with sand.

There were Xmas decorations all over the place and the children love it. Son#2 just kept asking me to take pictures for him.


And we went back to the hotel room, tucked the children to bed and both of us went out into the balcony to look at the "twinkling" sky.

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3 years before, on that day, at 12 am+, we were making love on our bed while the rest of the people were sound asleep. After it was over, I felt labor pains for like, every 20 mins. Wanted to sleep through it, thinking maybe the next day it would be better. But the pain couldn't be ignored, and I told hubby about that and wondering if I was in labor soon. (FYI, though it was my 3rd pregnancy, I still had not known yet what the signs of labor were at that time!)

Half asleep already, he murmured to me to go to sleep, we shall go and ask the doctor the next day about it.

I was half convinced that it was THE TIME, but worried that the nurses would find semen in my "private part" and then scold me for still "working out" in that critical period of time, I also tried to sleep it off to put the pain away from my mind.

Then, by 2+, the pain was increasing to such close proximity and strongly, I couldn't bear it longer and shook him awake, saying I can't wait till the next day. Have to go for Plan B. That is, hurriedly pack up the final things in my luggage and set off to the hospital. Lucky the hospital wasn't far, about 10 mins as there were almost no traffic on the road.

We reached the hospital, I can't remember if he had tried to find a parking slot or let me get off first. What I remembered was, we did not know where to go for the labor ward, funny how the place seemed so alien in that kind of trauma even though we had checked out the place a few weeks before. We then got on a lift with another person. The waterbag, already burst in the car on my way to the hospital, was still flowing, and I wanted to apologize to the other person in the lift for that. Unfortunately, the contractions were coming on strongly, and I could only grit in my teeth to hold on.

Half walking and stopping every few steps because of the contractions pain, finally we reached the labor ward. It seemed like a cross-country experience. Bugger, later I only knew, no need to walk one, got wheelchairs available at the entrances for emergencies like these.. Yikes, missed the opportunity to let hubby pampers me.

Immediately nurses were checking me inside out, and eew... I smelled "that" smell. Blushed slightly, I looked away, I didn't want to be asked if I was making love just not so long ago but I really wondered if she noticed or was I just too sensitive?

My cervix was opened 5cm that time (for those not in the know, cervix starts to open means beginning of labor already and should be in ward, not making love!). Records showed I was admitted at 3.15am and my baby daughter came out at 3.55am. It was so lightning fast that I had no painkiller, epidural whatsoever! Really natural... and cheap for my hubby.

He was also surprised, the man who was waiting outside the labor ward came before us, and hubby got to "jumped queue", he was called in before that guy to give me support (and his hand for me to bite). Whew! What a night it had been. And at about 6am, we were placed in a private room. Really worth it, I checked out the next day at 7pm, and we paid for a night's stay even though we had actually stayed for close to 2 full days. How we wished hotel also the same!

So, that was the events of labor for my 3rd baby. I thought it might be nice to put it down before I forget everything, like I already done so for my 1st baby here.

Maybe later, I would note down the details of the 2nd one too.