The New Normal

Sofie up close and personal with baby sister Bella.

It's Tuesday evening, June 17, and with Aron gone once again to Papua to finish up his work assignments before the six week summer break, we are now FOUR babes living the good life in Singapore! Soon, we will be FIVE babes, with the arrival this Saturday of a special visitor from the U.S. I'll keep you in suspense a while longer until she is here. In the meantime, here's what we've been up to.

Bella's first outing on the quay.

The weekend with Aron here was very enjoyable. How perfect that it also was Father's Day weekend! He couldn't get the flights he needed to leave here Sunday, so we got to celebrate with him that special day, which included our first outing together as family with our sweet Bella. We took a taxi to the boat quay and enjoyed strolling the riverwalk in the early evening and deciding which of the inviting riverside cafes we preferred for dinner. Obviously, it was Aron's choice on Father's Day and he picked a restaurant touting Thai, Indonesian, Chinese and Indian dishes. We shared lemon chicken, nasi goreng (rice with vegetables and fried egg), and a curry chicken soup, all of which was delicious and satisfying.

My Singapore Sling.

Aron asked if I wanted a margarita. No way! I'm in Singapore! I'm having a Singapore Sling, of course! Also, very delicious. It was a perfect evening really and the first time I had seen the cityscape at dusk with all the lights reflecting off the river and the bumboats of tourists occasionally gliding by with their silent electric motors (the boats, not the tourists...). Bella was perfect as well, mostly sleeping all swaddled and tied close to her mother. Sofie was her usual chatty and squirmy self. She is starting to take notice that she is no longer a solo act.

Our view of the cityscape at dusk.

After dinner we strolled back to the bridge to catch a taxi home, but impatience led us to cross the bridge for a better vantage point. Several available taxis zoomed past us, which was curious. We were standing in front of the Parliament building with it's grand entrance and manicured lawn. At Hapny's suggestion, I walked over to the guardhouse and asked about catching a taxi. One of the three uniformed guards politely told me we would have to go to the taxi stand on the next block. So that's what we did. When we finally got a cab, the driver explained that taxis are not permitted to pick up passengers near the front of the Parliament building for security reasons. I guess we'll know next time!

Breakfast at Orchard Scotts.

I was glad that Aron had to stay over Sunday night because it meant he would be with all of us for the first time for the communal breakfast in our building. I was happy to get one of the lovely serving ladies who take of us to take our photo all together for once. As the family documentarian, I do my best to pester and cajole at various and inconvient times my family members to pose and pose again until I'm happy with the shot. They will thank me one day, I keep telling them. If nothing else, I have a strong sense of purpose here in that role and at all our family gatherings. After breakfast we said our goodbyes to Aron, who will return to Singapore a day or so before I leave on the 27th.

Mt. Alvernia Hospital and Clinic.

Hapny, Sofie and I left the building soon after him to take Bella to her first appointment with the pediatrician who had examined her in the hospital. Dr. Ong had diagnosed Bella's jaundice and ordered the extra day in hospital to receive the light therapy. His clinic was located at Mt. Alvernia Hospital, a new location for us but not too far from Novena area. We took a taxi and found our way to the clinic area and Dr. Ong's second floor suite. It was crowded with babies and toddlers, their parents, and some grandparents. We were lucky to find a seat.

Bella and her Mama wait to see the pediatrician.

Hapny got Bella properly checked in and weighed. She has gained a few ounces since birth, which was reason to smile. Sofie entertained herself with the cartoons on tv. After a short wait, Bella's number came up and we were ushered into a separate office/exam room. We weren't there long before we were shown into Dr. Ong's office/exam room.

Dr. Ong examines Bella.

This was my first encounter with him. As Hapny had told me, he was very kind and seemed thorough both in his examination and his explanation to her about Bella. She was having a bit of discharge in one eye, which he explained was probably the result of a clogged tearduct. Not an uncommon occurrence in newborns and he told her how to treat it and provided a special powder to use on the umbilical stump. Lastly, he wanted to get another blood sample to check Bella's bilirubin count. He sent us to the outpatient lab, which we found after asking directions a couple of times. That didn't take too long, but it sure made Bella unhappy when they took a vial and a half of blood from her!

Hapny exposes Bella to warm sunshine.

We were told it would take less than an hour to process and that Dr. Ong would receive the results. We could go back to his clinic at that time to get them. The wait time was a perfect opportunity for us to have lunch in the restaurant of the hospital. As we finished, Hapny's phone rang and it was Dr. Ong's office. We paid and returned to the still crowded clinic waiting room, but it didn't take long to get the results. Bella's number was well within the normal range! Still, Hapny was advised to continue exposing Bella's skin to the sunlight for 10 minutes on each side in the early morning or late afternoon. Hapny has been dutifully following this advice. The morning sun shines into our windows and she opens the window and Bella soaks in the warm rays. Later in the day Monday, I took the MRT to our Novena grocery. I had Sofie's pink backpack with the luggage wheels and extending handle, plus two strong bags in which to load as much as I could roll and carry on the train. That's the new normal for now, which is fine. I'm quite comfortable managing this on my own. I expect to make return trips to the store on Wednesday and Friday.

Cuddling Bella is my favorite pasttime.

On Tuesday, it was Hapny's turn for a check up by her obstetrician, Dr. Chan. She's doing fine, of course, and will need to return in a month. Aron will be here then to take her. Bella is due to be checked again for the bilirubin number in two weeks, and will go for a follow up check up later in July before they are due to leave Singapore for good. They will travel to Hapny's home village of Tuk-tuk on Lake Toba, Sumatra for several weeks with her parents and relatives.

Sofie gets in on this cuddly action.

I'm just grateful I've got the time with Bella now that I do....and with Sofie too, of course. I missed being with Sofie when she was first born. She was nearly 7 months old before I got to meet her. At least I can look forward to having all of them "Home" with me for Christmas. But for now, I'm just living in the moment and documenting the experience so I can enjoy and relive the memories for a long time.