The Achmadis

Iya nih... weekend ini berasanya lazy banget. He..he.. Tapi maksudnya tuh lazy yang bener2 dinikmati gitu.
Disini kan udah mulai mau winter nih, jadi kalo pagi walaupun udah jam setengah 8 tetep aja masih gelap. Rasanya kalo di Indo sih sama dengan jam setengah 6 pagi. Nah loh! Bayangin deh, tiap hari tuh bangun susah banget. Abis pas bangun masih gelap jadi berasa masih subuh, padahal udah setengah 8. Nah, Sabtu kemaren tuh kita puas2in diem di tempat tidur semaunya. Akhirnya kita baru keluar dari tempat tidur jam setengah 9. Nikmatnya... :P He..he..
Sabtu kemaren kita sekeluarga pergi ke Palmerston North. Emang udah rencana sih dari 2 hari sebelumnya. Rencananya sih pengen ke The Plaza, shopping mall gitu, pengen nyari tas baru yang agak gede biar muat semua nappynya anak2. He..he.. Lagian tas yang sekarang udah uzur banget. Hi..hi.. :D Bayangin aja umurnya udah12 taun! Terus kita juga pengen liat2 ke Baby Factory.
Sekitar jam 12 kita nyampe di Palmy, berhubung laper dan memang jamnya makan siang, akhirnya kita belok dulu ke Valentines. Hmm... yummy! Valentines itu tuh restoran all you can eat yang menunya macem2. Jadi ada hot buffet, cold buffet, segala macem seafood, aneka soup, cracker, keju, salad, dan... yang paling topnya adalah dessert! Yup! Dessert-nya satu stall sendiri, banyak macemnya. Ada chocolate mousse, ice cream, buah, agar2, macem2 kue, macem2 puding, pokonya kenyang banget deh... :P Keluar dari situ ternyata udah jam 2 siang! He..he.. :P *Dasar maruk ya...? ;D*
Setelah itu kita ke The Plaza. Tapi ternyata tempat parkirnya penuuuh banget. Sampe muter2 beberapa kali tetep aja ngga dapet tempat parkir. Akhirnya ngga jadi deh, dari situ kita langsung pulang. Lagian Danu ada janji ketemuan ma client jam 3an gitu di Wanganui. Setelah nyampe di Wanganui akhirnya baru berasa capenya. *Padahal makan doang ya? He..he.. :P* Akhirnya tepar deh di rumah.
Minggunya sih banyakan diem di rumah. Soalnya dingin banget! Enakan diem deket perapian sambil nonton DVD. He..he.. Tapi sempet juga sih jalan2 bentar ke Victoria Avenue dan sesudahnya ke Trafalgar Square buat belanja grocery. Tapi selain itu sih, kita diem di rumah aja. Snuggled with my lovely hubby near the fire, while the children are taking their nap. He..he.. :P What a lazy weekend! :D

Nicolas and cheeky William, playing on Mum and Dad's bed.

Nicolas, William, and... Dena :P

The boys, dan sedikit bagian dari Daddy. He..he.. :P

Dad and Nic.

Mum and Nic.

William at Valentines

6 May 2005
*Dough
Lots of sampling of the play dough today.
*Water Activities
Always a favourite.
*Carpentry/Construction
Has a swing with the hammer and tries to use the saw.
*Books & Storytelling
Laughed and clapped along to "Five Little Ducks".
*Manipulative/Puzzles/Games
Spider puzzle was a favourite.
*Sand play
Loves the big yellow truck. Sits in it and gets push around.
*Mat Time participation/experiences
William loves mat time. Always participate.
*Work sheet/scrapbook focus
Finished the colour orange/karaka.
*Learning and Development outcomes recorded
Exploration - trying everything out.

10 & 13 May 2005
*Art & Craft Activities
Enjoyed sticking string to card board - making worms.
*Dough
Feed dough to the dolls.
*Music/Dance & Movement
Sang the "ABC" song to me at lunch today.
*Water Activities
William loves water. I have to watch he doesn't get to cold in this weather.
*Carpentry/Construction
Had a great time hammering nails into foam. This is an easy way for little people to nail.
*Books & Storytelling
Has his "down time" reading. I have to read to him at least once a day.
*Painting/Finger-painting
Lots of different painting areas this week.
*Sand play
More play with the large yellow truck - a real favourite with William.
*Mat Time participation/experiences
Loves "Incy Wincy Spider" and other action songs. Well done.
*Others
We had a hedgehog visit today - William kept his distance but was eager to look.
*Work sheet/scrapbook focus
Starting work on the colour green/kakariki.

17 & 20 May 2005
*Dramatic Play/Family
Is role modelling the big brother and role plays the little baby with the bigger boys.
*Water Activities
If there is water, there is William - he always finds it.
*Manipulative/Puzzles/Games
Spiders, bugs and crawley things are being investigated with the puzzles.
*Sand play
William is really exploring this medium - digging, burying and transporting.
*Wheeled ride on vehicles
William loves his trucks - the bigger the better - also 4 W drive is a favourite.
*Mat Time participation/experiences
Lots of singing and action songs. Five Little Ducks was popular this week.
*Others
William shared his 2nd birthday with us. Thank you for a wonderful feast.
*Work sheet/scrapbook focus
More work on green - finding green, cutting out (Denise) and glueing.
*Learning and Development outcomes recorded
Belonging - William shared his milestone with us.

24 & 27 May 2005
*Dramatic Play/Family
Our new dolls buggies are a great hit and William races around the centre pushing a doll in the buggy.
*Junk Construction
Big boxes were great for hiding in and playing Jack n the Box.
*Blocks/Construction/etc
Build a tower, knock it down, build it again - this will keep William occupied for ages.
*Painting/Finger-painting
Lots of little brushes and different textured paper today.
*Manipulative/Puzzles/Games
William enjoys his puzzles and always makes a good attempt at them.
*Climbing/Balancing/Sliding activities
Is becoming really confident with his climbing - heights no problem.
*Wheeled ride on vehicles
Loves having Nathan push him around on the big orange jeep.
*Mat Time participation/experiences
Great dance and actions to "5 Little Ducks". William loves this song.

Yup, finally William is two! The age that everybody refer as terrible two. Is he terrible already? Well... not really. He's been a really good boy actually, :) and I hope he'll never be terrible :P

Jadi ceritanya gini nih. Kita ngerayain ulang taunnya 2 kali. Well, sebenernya sih 3 kali. Jadi yang pertama itu di gereja. Ini sih cuma ngebagiin permen2 gitu aja sih buat anak2nya. Terus yang kedua di rumah. Gue hias ruang makan sama banner "happy birthday" dan "Bob the Builder". Emang sengaja sih taun ini temanya pengen Bob the Builder. Jadi malem itu kita makan pake piring Bob, minumnya di gelas Bob, balon2nya gambar Bob, pokonya semuanya Bob deh, sampe napkin juga gambarnya Bob. Malem itu kita sekeluarga makan mie goreng sama baso kuah. Iya, baso! Akhirnya ada juga yang jualan baso di Wanganui! Seneng banget deh, he..he.. :P Dan Will juga suka banget basonya. Dia makan banyak sendiri. Setelah selesai makan, kita makan kue ulang taun sama es krim. Yum..yum.. Kuenya sih ngga fancy. Gue cuma bikin butter cake terus atasnya dikasih white icing dan ditaburin hundred and thousand. Begitu liat kuenya Will langsung teriak, "Happy...happy...". Tapi sebelnya Will cuma mau makan icingnya doang! Will banget ngga sih? :P He..he.. Setelah itu dia buka kado ulang taunnya. Taun ini dia dapet scooter mini yang ada lagunya. Dia sih masih agak cuek sama scooter-nya, tapi dia suka banget lagunya. Dia pasti joget2 sendiri kalo denger lagunya.
Terus yang terakhir ulang taunnya di Kiddicare. Untuk yang ini sih cuma pesen kue dan bagi2 permen doang. Kuenya pesen kue bentuk Bob the Builder. Saking bagusnya jadi sayang mau dipotong juga. He..he.. :P
Kesimpulannya, Will keliatan seneng banget waktu ulang tahunnya dirayain. Taun lalu sih ngga keliatan karena mungkin dianya masih kekecilan untuk ngerti kali ya? Well, yang jelas kalo anak seneng pastinya orang tuaunya ikut seneng juga, iya ngga? :)

Happy...happy...happy... :P

Happy birthday to you... Yeaaaaah...

William blowing his candles.

Can I have more cake and ice cream, please?

William unwrapping his birthday present from Mum and Dad.

William's Kiddicare birthday cake.

Hmm... awesome cake!

Hmm... I think I can eat this by myself.

William and his little friends at Kiddicare.

Want my cordial? :P

Nicolas at 2 weeks old.

Two little mischiefs :D

Colouring book, crayons, sama lolly bag (Bob the Builder) untuk anak2 creche di gereja.

Lolly bag buat dibagiin di Kiddicare pas ulang taunnya Will.

Roses and balloon from my beloved husband :)

Balon ini ceritanya dari Will untuk Nic, tapi akhirnya balonnya ketinggalan di Auckland. He..he.. :P

Ini kejadiannya sekitar 2 hari yang lalu.
Nic lagi ada di bouncer-nya di lounge. Will lagi nonton kartun seperti biasa (pagi2 gitu). Tiba2 ngga lama Nic nangis abis dia duduknya merosot jadi posisinya ngga enak. Will yang lagi nonton dan makan permen langsung nyamperin Nic terus ngeliatin dia dengan muka kasian. Setelah itu dia keluarin permennya dari mulut dan nawarin permennya ke Nic sambil bilang, "Lolly? Lolly?" Ha..ha..ha.. :D Untungnya ngga langsung dia masukin ke mulutnya Nic. He..he.. :P
Ternyata selama ini yang gue takutin tuh ngga terjadi. Dulu gue takutnya Will bakal cemburu berat sama Nic, tapi ternyata dia asyik2 aja tuh. Malah kadang dia pengen meluk Nic. Kalo udah gitu biasanya dia minta Nic didudukin dipangkuannya dia, terus dia elus2 deh kepalanya Nic. Kocak banget. Kadang kalo dia lagi minum juice atau coke, Nic ditawarin juga. He..he.. :P Yah... mudah2an gitu terus deh, akur sampe gedenya. :P *fingers crossed*

Kartu kecil model thank you card gitu, buat dibagiin pas ulang taunnya Will.

Ini nih ceritanya cover buat colouring book yang kita bikin untuk dibagiin ke anak2 kalo Will ulang taun minggu depan

Lagi main truck hadiah natalnya.

Will lagi ngaca :)

Yeah... pulang juga deh akhirnya! :) Setelah berkelana ke Auckland segala. He..he.. :P

Di car seat siap2 mau pulang dari rumah sakit.

Nic lagi bobo :)

Nic's birth announcement sekaligus thank you card.

12 & 15 April 2005

*Dramatic Play/Family
Nurturing skills practised with the dolls and other children as mother/father figures.
*Music/Dance & Movement
Loves all sorts of music - we had Maori/waiata this week.
*Water Activities
Just a water baby if he can splash in it, sit in it or drink it he is happy.
*Carpentry/Construction
Is trying his hand at hitting in the nails - os becoming more involved.
*Special events/activities
William loved the train set - the older boys helped him set it up.
*Blocks/Construction/etc
Great use of building - tunnels for the train and towers.
*Books & Storytelling
William loves the down time when he can sit quitely with a story.
*Sand play
Is a skilled hand at sand castle making.
*Wheeled ride on vehicles
Loved the big truck - pushed it around like crazy.
*Mat Time particiaption/experiences
William always enjoys mat-time and participates well.
*Work sheet/scrapbook focus
Orange/karaka - lots of orange - including geating his!
*Learning and Development outcomes recorded
Belonging - relationships with others - peers and adults.

19 & 22 April 2005
*Dramatic Play/Family
William watches the older children and gets his cues from them them - is role modeling them.
*Music/Dance & Movement
Jack 'n' the Box and Wheels on the bus today.
*Water Activities
More using the hose to fill the troughs and make mud pies.
*Carpentry/Construction
Loves to get amongst the hammer and nails. Is learning to use the magnet to pick up nails.
*Painting/Finger-painting
Finger paint was popular today. Nice gooey, yellow fingerpaint.
*Wheeled ride on vehicles
Wirihana pushed him all around the playground, William laughing as they ran down everyone.
*Work sheet/scrapbook focus
More work on orange - William is pointing it out to me.
*Learning and Development outcomes recorded
Friendships - developing with peers.

Wah, akhirnya sempet juga nih nge-update. He..he.. :P
So, ini cerita berdasarkan sudut pandang gue.
Kamis malem tanggal 28 April tuh gue dah ngga bisa tidur. Ngga tau kenapa. Terus perut juga kerasa sakit2 dikit gitu, tapi sakitnya yang sharp gitu, bukan kaya kontraksi. Danu sempet bilang, "Kayanya malem ini deh ngelahirin." Gue jawab, "Ah, kayanya sih ngga mungkin." Saat itu gue udah mempertimbangkan diinduksi gel hari Selasa depan soalnya. Tapi memang mungkin Nic pengen lahir alami kali ya? Makanya dia milih nongol duluan. :)
Akhirnya jam 1 pagi gue tidur juga karena ngantuk, tapi pas jam 3 kebangun karena tiba2 pengen ke toilet for empty my bowel. Aneh banget kan? Tiba2 subuh2 pengen ke toilet kaya gitu. Setelah itu gue ngga bisa tidur lagi, soalnya tiap tiduran pasti sakit yang sharp banget itu. Akhirnya gue malah SMS-an sama Donna. Saat itu sih gue udah nyangka kalo mau ngelahirin, abis setelah itu bolak-balik ke toilet sampe 3 kali! Akhirnya jam 4an gitu gue ngebangunin Danu. Terus akhirnya Danu telp midwife-nya dan setelah itu dia mulai ngitungin kontraksinya. Pertamanya sih paling cuma setengah menit gitu dan jaraknya tiap 10 menitan. Lama2 jaraknya jadi tiap 5 menit dan lamanya 1 menit gitu. Akhirnya Danu telp midwife-nya dan dia dateng jam 6 gitu deh kalo ngga salah. Setelah itu dia meriksa gue. Saat itu gue bilang sama dia, "I'll be really grateful if it's already 5cm dilated." Sambil bercanda gitu sih, soalnya dulu waktu Will pas udah bukaan 5 rasanya udah ngga tahan banget, tapi yang ini sih gue masih bisa nyengir2 dan bercanda gitu. Terus setelah dia meriksa dia bilang kalo udah bukaan 6. Hah??!! Tapi gue seneng banget dong, soalnya ngga sakit2 amat kaya waktu Will. He..he.. :P Akhirnya Danu ngebangunin Will dan dia pergi nge-drop Will di rumahnya Amber. Sementara itu gue pergi sama midwife ke rumah sakit. Ngga lama kemudian Danu dateng. Saat itu gue masih bisa ngobrol dan bercanda2 gitu. Tapi setelah jam 9 udah mulai berasa ngga kuat kalo kontraksinya dateng. Akhirnya Danu nanya mau pake gas ato engga? Ya udah, gue bilang iya aja. Setelah itu rada lumayan. Emang bener2 deh, gas is a really a good stuff for contraction. Ha..ha..ha.. :D Jam 10an kontraksinya udah mulai kenceng, tiap 2 menit sekali gitu. Akhirnya gue minta masuk spa pool. Nah, ini nih yang sakitnya paling edan. Kayanya sih udah masuk transisi gitu, jadi Nic udah mulai crowning. Gila deh, rasanya kaya kebakar gitu. Dulu sih waktu Will rasa kaya gitu tuh pas ngeluarin kepala sama bahunya dia. Jadi gue pikir udah mau keluar kan, eh taunya kontraksinya ngilang. Bete deh. Begitu terus beberapa kali sampe akhirnya beneran lahir juga jam 10.59. Setelah itu rasanya lega banget deh. Mungkin Nic kaya gitu soalnya dia lebih gede dari Will kali ya?
Nah, cerita selanjutnya sih sama aja sama yang udah diceritain Danu dibawah.

Masih bisa nyengir disela-sela kontraksi. Udah bukaan 7.

Yang ini udah bukaan 8, udah pake gas buat pain relief-nya. Waktu difoto kontraksinya lagi beraksi nih :P He..he..

Nic waktu baru aja lahir.

My boys.

Nic, back in Wanganui, all safe and sound ... and very hungry!! :)

Auckland City Skyscape - view from Ronald McDonald House

These events followed just after I posted the previous blog ...

After posting the blog, I recieved a call from Erika at 5 pm, that Nic had some heart problems and had to be flown to Auckland Hospital that evening. The symptoms was his skin is blue, due to lack of oxygen in the blood. The early diagnosis from the doctor in Wanganui said it might be that the arteri to the lung went back to the lung, and the arteri to the body went back to the body, not picking up O2 from the lungs. What kept Nic well during this time is the amount of Haemoglobin in babies blood carrying O2 and a valve between these arteries providing minimum transfer of blood. Nic had to be flown to Auckland becuase they had the proper instruments to make a better diagnosis and scan, and possibly an operation.

The Neonatal ward of Wellington Hospital, the closest hospital to Wanganui, was close due to a rare deadly lung infection which already took the lives of 3 premature babies and many other were infected. The whole ward was closed and quarrantined. So Auckland Hospital was our only choise. A medical team from Wellington was assemblied and was sent by plane to Wanganui to deliver Nic and Erika, their departure time was 8.30 pm. Families and close friends were notified at once, asking their support and prayer.

When Will and I arrived at the hospital, we decided that we will all go to Auckland as well, as the burden would be to much for Erika to handle on her own and we didn't want to leave Will alone for 5-7 days, as they predicted for treatment. So, once the plan was settled, I booked the next plane to Auckland, which departed from Palmerston North (1 hour drive from Wanganui).

The plane departed at 10pm and arrived in Auckland at 11 pm, and we jumped on the first taxi I saw to Auckland Hospital. This is my second time I've been to Auckland, and I didn't have a clue where is where. Once I arrived, I asked whether Erika and Nic has arrived, and the people at PICU (Pedeatrician Intensive Care Unit) said that they haven't arrived yet, and have no idea what's delaying them. They provided a family room for us to rest and would notify us once Erika and Nic came.

I was awoken at 2am, saying that Erika and Nic arrived. Nic was immediately checked and connected to machines that monitored his blood pressure, O2, heart beat, etc. When I asked what caused the delay, Erika said that when they wanted to transfer Nic, his blood pressure dropped, so they had to wait untill he was stabilised.

The nurses there were very friendly, and they gave us a room to rest, where normally Will and I would have to find our own accomodation. The doctors were planning to have a ECHO scan (well, it sounds like it), a special scan for the heart and some x-rays to make the next move.

Later on that morning, we were informed that the previous diagnosis was wrong, and the real reason was the narrow blood vessel to the body, a premature valve in the heart and a weak mussle on the left side of the heart. All these are ussually found in a premature baby and it is caused due to the change of blood circulation when the baby was in the womb, and when the baby is self supported by his own breath. While the baby is in the womb, the blood supply is from the mother and the circulation goes through the umbilical cord. Once he is born, there are some vessels that are closed, and others that are opened for the first time. Although most babies goes to this change quite good and immediate, some babies takes more time than others. So, Nic must be one that took his time ... again!

Praise God for the great news!! No surgery, no more extreme drama, although we were still concerned for his health and recovery. But after a few days, the doctors were able to take O2 and antibiotics of slowly and finally he was off the hook, just a monitor for blood pressure, O2 and heart beat. Nic was gaining his strength again, as he started to nurse regularly.

6 days in Auckland Hospital!! The hospital is big, 10 stories to the old building, and others were a 6-9 stories, and there were many, many wings attached, creating a clustered medical complex. The first day we didn't go outside of the building, everything was there, cafeteria, indoor playground, and besides, we didn't feel going anywhere. The following days were getting more stressful for us and Will, so we decided to go and see what's outside. Will enjoyed his bus ride around Central Auckland, shouting "Bus! Bus!" and "Truck! Truck!" over and over. He even made some new friends there who were visiting their brothers.

Attached to the hospital is an area called Ronal McDonald House. This area is designated for families who live outside of Auckland visiting families. The waiting list is long, but fortunately there was a room emply for us to stay. This place is built on charity and donations, separate from McDonald's restaurant chain, and we are truely grateful for this House.

Finally on Wednesday afternoon, we were informed that Nic has recovered well enough to go back home the following morning at 8.30 am. I booked the earliest flight to Palmerston North (as I left the car there) and should arrive in Wanganui almost the same time Erika and Nic arrived.

So now we're all back home. Erika and Nic still has to stay one night in the hospital tonight, and there will be some check-ups for the next weeks.

It was a relief for everybody that everything went well, and prooves that He will never give us burden more than we can handle, and with continuous prayer He will answer.



This verse was given by our Pastor:

II Corinthians 1: 3-4
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.