I Saw the OB-GYN Today

Posted on December 10, 2012 by The Giddy Tigress

I did not realize how difficult it would be to find a suitable OB-GYN here, let alone set up an appointment with one.

Well, we were first recommended to go to the nearest hospital to where we live, but I soon found out that although there were quite a number of OB-GYNs affiliated with that hospital, it was not easy finding one that was currently accepting new patients.  And then just as I was about to make an appointment with one of the OB-GYNs there, I stumbled on another medical group a little further from us to the east.  This second hospital’s website was more detailed and showed a video of the delivery suite and the rooms, and so we decided to get a doctor from there instead.

I called up one doctor and after giving the nurse all my details, I find out that the doctor was only doing gynecology now, and not doing any more obstetrics (baby stuff).  Shoot.

So then I decided to contact another OB-GYN, but then I find out that this second doctor is only treating patients with high-risk pregnancies.  In the end, we decided on a female OB-GYN.  It will be my first time ever with a female OB-GYN, but we figured it’s high time I had a check-up anyways.

Truth be told, I was also concurrently doing my homework and research for a homebirth here in Massachusetts, but I found out that home birthing coverage is not guaranteed under our medical insurance plan; we might be covered about 60-80% but it’s not guaranteed.  Any anyway, while I continue my research and findings, I still needed a checkup with a medical practitioner…if anything, we still have no idea if the baby is going to be a boy or girl.

So today was my first visit with the OB-GYN at her clinic (actually, one of the clinics she practises in).  It’s about 15 minutes from our hotel.  Check out the gorgeous chandelier at the entrance stairway…

 

I was assessed at being 27 weeks along, with “beautiful” blood pressure, and ideal fundal height (27cm at 27 weeks).  The word in quotation marks came from the doctor. 🙂

Continue reading →

Posted in Close to Heart & Home, Parenting & Motherhood, Thoughts & Scribblings | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

My First Visit to Boston, MA

Posted on December 5, 2012 by The Giddy Tigress

Our initial plan to take a drive to Boston last Saturday took a backseat due to the snow, so we went to Boston the following day instead.  It’s about a 45-minute ride from where we were staying and it was already lunch time when we arrived in Boston, and we headed to look for a parking space near Faneuil Hall Marketplace, which is where Quincy Market is.

Boston is a very picturesque city, and I really love how the buildings exuded that European New England charm.  Very pretty.

We took a walk to the marketplace, where we witnessed some enjoyable street performances and had a quick lunch at Quincy Market.

However, since it was getting dark, we didn’t venture to Chinatown as planned.  That would have to wait till our next visit. 🙂

Continue reading →

Posted in Ethan, Hannah, Relax & Celebrate, Thoughts & Scribblings | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

My Humble Black Friday Haul

Posted on November 30, 2012 by The Giddy Tigress

Is Black Friday a reason/excuse to go all-out shopping?  Most people do, anyway, but I’m trying to resist it the best I can and only get items which are really, really deal-worthy and that we really, really need.  With hubby at work, and with no car evidently, it helps in a way to curb my Black Friday spendings. 🙂

I am pleased to announced that I only made ONE purchase from the internet, and that was from iHerb.com.  They had what they called the Green Friday sale (10% off everything) and since we needed some stuff, I took advantage of that, and my goodies came in 2 days, straight to the hotel:

  1. Ecover Natural Dishwashing Liquid, Chamomile & Marigold scent: I needed to find a dishwashing liquid that potentially might NOT cause itchiness in my sensitive skin, i.e. that I am not allergic to.  Let’s hope this is the one.
  2. Earth Mama Angel Baby Organic Third Trimester Tea: Influenced in great part by Joey, I decided to try two boxes of this tea, which is supposed to strengthen the uterus in preparation for delivery.  I’ll start taking it when I hit the third trimester.
  3. Babyganics Tub Time Extra Gentle Bubble Bath & Body Wash: hey, we have a bathtub here and the kids frequently want to soak in bubbles!  Again, one of the criteria for selection was that it did not contain ingredients that would irritate my skin.
  4. NatureMade Prenatal Multi + DHA: prenatal and postnatal multivites for me.
  5. Avalon Organics Revitalizing Eye Gel, Lavender Luminosity: I ran out of eye gel, and decided to try this on a whim.  It comes in a 30g bottle (double the size of regular eye gels/creams) and smells heavenly!
  6. Dr Bronner’s Organic Hand & Body Shikakai Soap, Lavender: I’m trying this as my shower gel for now, since I don’t have any at the moment.  The lavender smell is really soothing and calming 🙂
  7. a & b: Free gifts – Compact mirror and some tablet supplements (not sure what those are for).

By the way, just in case you didn’t know, you are welcome to use my discount code DUW086 on iHerb.com to get $10 off your first order of $40 or more, or $5 off your first order if it’s less than $40.  Shipping is free internationally too, for orders between $40 and $80, weighing 4lbs or less.

Well, a further note on the shopping front, we did make a quick stopover to Target on Saturday, and on Sunday, we drove to the nearest Factory Outlets Store to get some warm winter clothing (mostly) for the kids.  Hmm…let’s just say that after that trip, we might just be done shopping for clothes for a LONG while. 🙂

How was YOUR Black Friday? 🙂

Posted in Close to Heart & Home, Relax & Celebrate | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Household Tip: How to Get Rid of Burnt Marks in Stainless Steel Pots and Pans

Posted on November 28, 2012 by The Giddy Tigress

I’ve always had a problem with stainless steel pots and pans, and for some reason I’ve always had to deal with them when I am in the States.  In Malaysia, I’ve never ever gotten burnt marks and stains on my pots and pans, mainly because they aren’t stainless steel, but now in the US, since the hotel only provides us with stainless steel cookware, I’ve had to cook with them.

Just a few days ago, disaster struck (again) when I somehow left the pot too long over the burner and it resulted in a blackish-brownish burnt stain at the base of the pot.  I scrubbed and scrubbed but the burnt mark remained there, stubbornly refusing to budge.

A quick google search yielded an easy and fuss-free method to clean the stains, and since the “ingredients” used were available and cheap enough, I had to give it a shot.

You will need:

  • White vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Water
  • Mesh dish scrubber
  • …and of course, your dirty and stained stainless steel pot/pan

How to do it:

  • Pour enough vinegar into the pot/pan to just cover the burnt stains.
  • Add about twice the amount of water, enough for the solution to boil for about 20 minutes without drying up.
  • Sprinkle some baking soda into this solution.  At this point the mixture will effervesce, due to the vinegar + baking soda reaction.
  • Put the pot/pan on the stove top and bring the solution to a boil.
  • Continue boiling for about 15-20 minutes, constantly checking that the liquid does not dry up.
  • Remove from the stove and pour away the solution.  If exceptionally dirty, the solution will be brownish.
  • While keeping the pot/pan still hot, pour a liberal amount of baking soda onto the stains to cover them.
  • Carefully, without burning yourself, use the mesh dish scrubber and scrub the remainder of the stains away.
  • Rinse off with water.

My first attempt can be considered a huge success!  Look at the same stained pot I just cleaned!

There are still some minor stains which I am confident I can remove in the next few rounds of cleaning, but I am really satisfied with the results.

 

Posted in Close to Heart & Home, Parenting & Motherhood, Thoughts & Scribblings | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Our New (Temporary) Home

Posted on November 25, 2012 by The Giddy Tigress

I’m not talking about here in Massachusetts in general, but literally “here”, as in where we are staying right now.  It has been almost a week since we’ve arrived in the East Coast of the USA, and also almost a week since we stayed in this hotel.  Yup, we don’t have a fixed residence as yet, because our apartment will only be ready for us sometime in mid-December.  That’s like another three weeks in this hotel.

Thankfully, though, things aren’t as bad as they sound.  Pete managed to book us into a 2-bedroom suite, which is a welcome blessing, what with two active toddlers around.  Each room has a queen-sized bed with its own television and bathroom, complete with sink and bath tub too!

Our suite also includes a fully-equipped kitchen (well, except baking equipment that is), so I can cook too, provided I have all the groceries available.  Oh yes, we also have a refrigerator to use.

The living room area is pretty cozy as well, and one of the coolest features is that the room includes an electric fireplace! 😀

Actually I can’t complain much, because it is indeed very comfortable here.  At least, I don’t need to do any cleaning (except for dishes) for a while.  Also, the complimentary daily breakfast spread is quite yummy and nutritious, and the hotel also provides dinner Mondays through Thursdays, if you so desire.

So, not a bad deal provided we can find things to occupy ourselves with!

Posted in Close to Heart & Home, Thoughts & Scribblings | Tagged , , | 1 Comment