Canberra Graduation

Day 1 - Mon, 24 July 2006
We arrived in Sydney early morning and went to pick-up the car from the Thrifty @ the airport. They upgraded us and gave us a SUV (Mitsubishi Airtrek, in Auz, its called Outlander). Baby must be bringing us good luck. Oh ya, forgot to add that Raveena (UC Lecturer) has asked me if I would like to be a tutor for local Masters students on a part-time basis. I've said yes! And am very excited as have been thinking of going into training/lecturing if given an opportunity.

While i slept shiok-ly in the car (jet-lag as I didn't sleep on the plane), hb drove all the way to Canberra, stopping for a leak or fresh air occassionally. We arrived at Canberra in the afternoon and went to Westfield Shopping Mall at Balconnen where we had a small lunch and did a little 'jalan-ing' around. Surprisingly, we bumped into Felix and his wifey and we decided to have dinner together with Mag that evening.

We then drove to the motel to check-in and meet up with Mag whose room is just next to ours. A very simple place... nothing fancy but good enough for 2 night's stay.

Dinner was really good and we had Chinese! Really authentic unlike many I've tasted while overseas.

Aarghhh.. weather is cold and wet.. been raining.. I hope tomorrow will clear up. Pray...

Day 2 - Tue, 25 July 2006
Got up early for Mac brekkie with Mag & Bern... slept like a log last night. Really exhausted. Today looks promising... weather seems to have cleared up and the cool, crisp & fresh morning air gave me an instant rejuvenation shot.

After brekkie, we went to a small neighbourhood mall near the motel for more jalan-ing. Bought a nursing bra, 3 maternity tops and a pack of rompers and Pooh Bear Sockies for myself and baby. Am I buying things too early? Hence, the conservative numbers!

Ever since I got pregnant, I've got a feeling I am expecting a boy, so... I'm going with these, aren't they cute? What do you think? Any bets? Is my nose showing yet that I am carrying a boy?

After leaving the mall, we headed back to have a short rest before leaving for the Parliament House to take pictures and rent the gowns.



The Ceremony
We arrived relatively early but that's good so we need not rush, in fact mag and myself was not the 1st in line to pick up the gown. Another student, receiving his 2nd PhD was there before us - a nice grandfatherly man. Wished I had the money to do my PhD too but guess not now... have to spend the time and money on our new project - BABY!
Look! A rainbow! A sign of good things coming our way!



HB & me @ Parliament Hse
Me & Mag in our grad gowns

Me, Felix (our lecturer) & Mag
HB, Bern and Aaron are all geared up and ready at the 1st available row to take pix, video, etc. Our men are really good, we, girls just need to strut and smile!

As I sat waiting in anticipation to receive my Masters degree, many things came rushing to my head. I remember the 1st tutorial, the 1st exams, the crazy deadlines, juggling work, family and studies, etc, etc. I really wondered how I could have coped especially the last leg where I had to deal with morning sickness and studies. I really can't believe I did it finally and thinking back, well, it wasn't that bad. Luckily I had a good study partner, Mag. As these moments come flooding, I also could feel my emotions choking me and I felt some tears. Must be those pregnancy hormones!


I'm really glad to have come to Canberra for my graduation as it gave my hard work and perserverance a sweet closure. The ceremony was also very lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed. Wished mom, dad, Jenny and the girls were here too.



Waiting patiently and eagerly for our turns to receive our degree



Day 3 - Wed, 24 July 2006
After a long and exhausting but happy/satisfying day yesterday, we still had to wake up early to drive back to Sydney as we need to return the car by noon. So we set off with Bern & Mag to go to UC Campus for some pix taking and quick walk-about. The campus looks pretty old... but guess most Auz Uni are like that... a far cry from our NUS/NTU? Hmm..

Map of UC with Mag






With Mag inside & outside Faculty. Gosh! My face really spells 'preggy' in pix!









After reaching Sydney, we checked into Hilton and it's such a luxury compared to the Canberra one! Plush pillows and comfy bed and tip-top bathroom ... so shiok!!! Wah tonight I will sleep really well.


For dinner, Hb and me walked to Darling Harbour where we dined at this really nice & cozy restaurant, Meat & Wine Co. I had the yummy-licious Beef & Prawn BBQ Skewer. Just thinking about it and I can salivate. Hb as usual - conservative choice, he had Pork Chop. After dinner we had a slow stroll back to the hotel. The night was nice and cool so it was such a nice walk.

Yummy Food!



Day 4, Last Day - Thu, 25 July 2006

Finally, the day has come when we are heading back! I missed Enzo so much! Hilton Hotel Lobby is so nice right? Can't resist taking a pix of this huge fresh and dried floral arrangement ... if only you could smell its sweet floral frangrance!



Waiting at lobby for airport pick-up

Check-up before flying

Wow! Time really flies! I am now in my 12th week already! Baby, we have crossed an important milestone together ya? You must continue to remain strong and grow well and healthy in mummy's tum tum ok?

Everything is going fine for baby and me and Dr Gordon has also gave the 'go-ahead' for my travel.

Baby is now 6cm in length and from the scan machine, my EDD seems to have been brought forward to 23/1/07 and registers me as 13 weeks preggy!! So happy baby is growing well!

We will be leaving on Sunday night (23/7/06) and arrive Sydney early monday morning and willl drive up to Canberra. My graduation will be on 25/7/06, Tuesday in the evening at Parliament House. I'm so excited ... will be meeting Mag there. We have booked the same Motel to stay in.

Stay tuned for updates when I return!

Papa's 1st Soft Toy for Baby

Hb bought a little Golden Retriever puppy soft toy for baby today when he came home.

Baby can play with this first until he is bigger to wrestle with Enzo. I think Hb is training baby to be an animal lover so that he can be a vet in the making later? Keke! Isn't the puppy cute?

Canberra, Here I (we?) come!

The much awaited results are out and I've passed my exams and shall be graduating this July, so Canberra here I come!

More surprisingly, I managed to do even better this semester than the last although I was trying my best to complete and cope while battling morning sickness!

Maybe it is you, my baby who has blessed mummy with more intelligence and strength to overcome all these! In fact, I'm so happy and surprised that I managed to get 2 High Distinctions out of 3 modules for this semester - frankly, I thought I might even fail! Overall, I'm giving myself a pat on the shoulder - I think I have done well - my final results are :

• 2 Credits
• 2 Distinctions
• 2 High Distinctions

Can you see me smiling from ear to ear now !! :)

Thank you my dear hubby and baby for being there for me in the last year, particulary the last few months when work and study for my Master's was ABSOLUTELY CRAZY (weeks for baby) ! :)

Our Baby has a hearbeat!

Went for my 2nd check-up today and baby has grown so much in just 3 weeks!! He has a strong heartbeat now and he is about 26mm in length. Hb acted very cool when he heard the gallops leh...

Aiya, papa, why you always so cool one?? Wonder how you will react when you hold baby in your arms the first time after delivery?? hehe!

Congratulatory Cards!

One of the sweetest thing HB did aft Dr Gordon confirmed my pregnancy on 3/6/06 was to stick a "Best Wishes" hand-written/home-made card for me. He surprised me by pasting it in the Living room mirror so I would see it when I got up aft my nap that day.

Claire & Sarah were my usual die-hard fans who constantly gave me their works of art! I love these handmade cards!

Aunty Kay also sent me a card and a DVD all the way from Auz, THANK U VERY MUCH AUNTY KAY, muaks from me and baby!

Here's all the stuff :-

Yipee! My EXAMS are finally over!!

As I struggle to finish my last paper, I can't help but feel so relieved and light - like am dancing in the air!!! FINALLY, I DID IT !!! I can finally PUT MY LEGS UP - literally!!! haha!

Now, the stress will come - am I going to make it? Can I graduate this semester? Frankly, I can't do another semester, I MUST PASS!! I don't care if I don't do well - I just want to pass. It's been a tiring, stressful and stretching year. I'm glad I pushed on and I'm even more glad I have a good study partner, Magdalene! We work well together, egging each other on ...

Now am looking forward to results, graduating in Canberra and going for the next check-up on 27/6/06 to see our precious! Can't wait to see him ... wished I had the scan at home so I can check on him everyday! I wonder if hb is as excited and kan-cheong as I am?

New Queen of the Ng Household

I am now officially the Queen of our home... hb has not allowed me to do anything but to eat and sleep - literally! Actually, I'm so glad that he's so sweet as I've never been more tired in my life! It's worst than staying up for 24 hours to finish assignments.

When the sleepy bug hits you ... you are just gone, your eyes will not listen to any reason as it closes its lids on you. I can't believe how much I can sleep! Naps in the afternoon yet I can sleep more at night. By 10pm each night, I'm in dreamland .... *yawn*

Breaking the news to hubby

Hb will be back early so going to pick him up from airport. How shall I tell him? Hmm, wait till we get home then break the news to him.. don want to do it in the car. From the 15 mins that I met hb to the drive back seemed like an eternity and I can hardly contain my excitement and laughter... but I did it!

Once home, hb went to the kitchen to get a drink and I shoved the test kit into his hands. He didn't even know what that was! I kept asking him to just 'look lah!' . After a few seconds, he asked if I was pregnant and I said, 'yah'. He was very shocked but very happy.

Still, he said we should listen to Jen and get a more reliable test kit. At 10am, walked down to mall's pharmacy and bought Clearblue. We both waited in anticipation but realised that after 15 mins, the kit is faulty! Darn!! Went to pharmacy to get another replacement. This time used another brand that requires you to collect and drop urine droplets into the kit. As the urine passed through the window, the significant pink line appeared immediately without needing us to wait for a few minutes. It's 11.15 am ... wah, we really have an affinity with 11.15s?

Called Jen who suggested I'd see a gynae to confirm. Quickly called Charmaine to get Dr Gordon's no. and his nurse asked me to be there by 12.30pm. Hb insisted to drive me there although he just got back from a long flight.

In Dr Gordon's room, I hopped onto the examination bed and Dr Gordon said if we were to see a round pouch with a ring around it, means I am preggie. Held my breath and almost immediately Dr Gordon located our 'seed of love' and congratulated me. I am 6 weeks & 5 days today and our baby will be due 23/1/07! I was very happy but still light-headed from the shock.

Hb was waiting in the car downstairs. As I got in the car, he didn't say much... guess he must have known or could see it from my face! We drove home, me to rest but the euphoria was just too great to allow me to sleep so ended up telling family and friends the good news. Even hb was too excited to sleep and quickly spread the good news to his family and friends.

Scan above shows the little ring ... can u see it? somewhere at the lower right with 2 little pluses

How it all began ...

02/06/2006 is a very special and unexpected day for me. Brought the girls out for shopping as Claire's birthday is round the corner. My period is late and I put all that down to accumulated stress from work, assignments and the looming exams! Decided to buy a pregnancy test kit since it was on sale at Watson's.

As usual, fell asleep on the sofa once I hit home in the evening... have been wondering why I've been so tired recently... must be that darn time of the month again and the lack of sleep trying to finish up all my assignments.

When I finally roused at 11pm, decided to have a shower before hitting the sacks again. This was when I decided to try the kit as I have no patience to wait till next morning... and guess what? There were 2 lines... I'm pregnant! What a shocker! It was 11.15pm and I quickly called Jenny who was also shocked out of her socks and asked me to buy a more reputable kit the next day to confirm.

I was also petrified as I just gobbled the remaining half of the honey pineapple a couple of hours ago.. lucky Enzo helped me with half or it. Hugh suggested I drink some warm water to 'dissipate' acidicty effect if I was worried! So, I drank a whole flask and ended up not sleeping but waking to go to the loo the whole night.

HB will be back tomorrow early morning... how shall I break this special news to him?