Paulina really likes watermelon and believes the baby inside likes it too. Everytime she eats watermelon, he would kick feriously and move around. Being an engineer, I was very skeptical. So I just continue to observe. Later, she found out the baby also like shave ice with tapioca, red bean and grass jelly. Mmmm. Mmmm. Goood... Baby also like berry smoothies and other shakes. The past few days have been warmer than usual so Paulina is drinking ice water. The moment the water goes down, the baby would kick feriously again. Ah-Ha! Are you sure the baby likes watermelon, shave ice, and smoothies? It seems the baby is reacting to the cold rush inside the body and might be shivering or kicking because is suddenly got very cold... You decide for yourself.
4.28.2008
Baby likes watermelon
Paulina really likes watermelon and believes the baby inside likes it too. Everytime she eats watermelon, he would kick feriously and move around. Being an engineer, I was very skeptical. So I just continue to observe. Later, she found out the baby also like shave ice with tapioca, red bean and grass jelly. Mmmm. Mmmm. Goood... Baby also like berry smoothies and other shakes. The past few days have been warmer than usual so Paulina is drinking ice water. The moment the water goes down, the baby would kick feriously again. Ah-Ha! Are you sure the baby likes watermelon, shave ice, and smoothies? It seems the baby is reacting to the cold rush inside the body and might be shivering or kicking because is suddenly got very cold... You decide for yourself.
4.25.2008
Make my life a prayer to you - Matt Redman
Given my state of complacency regarding my faith and service to God, this song encourages me not to be too comfortable. Like the song, I want to make my life a prayer to God and shine the light he gave. To thank God for being patient even though our eyes are on ourselves instead of on him. It also touches upon salvation and reminds us of the sacrifice that Jesus did for us that we too often do not tell the world.
http://www.xanga.com/trinhray/653977448/make-my-life-a-prayer-to-you---matt-redman.html
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Make my life a prayer to you - Matt Redman
Make my life a prayer to You
No empty words, no white lies
No token prayers, no compromise
I want to shine the light You gave
Through Your Son You sent to save us
From ourselves and our despair
It comforts me to know You're really there
Well, I want to thank You now for being patient with me
Oh, it's so hard to see when my eyes are on me
I guess I'll have to trust and just believe what You say
Oh, You're coming again, coming to take me away
I want to die and let You give Your life to me that I might live
And share the hope You gave the me
The love that set me free
I want to tell the world out there
You're not something or fairy tale
That I've made up inside my head
You're God the Son, You've risen from the dead
I want to die and let You give Your life to me that I might live
And share the hope You gave to me
I want to share the love that set me free
Make my life a prayer to you - Matt RedmanBaby Names
This is a tough one. Now that Paulina is in her third trimester, many of our friends stop asking if the baby is a boy or girl. They start asking what name we have chosen for this baby boy. I did a survey recently with our friends, distant and close. Some believe the name should be an intimate decision between the parents but I like getting input from others. Paulina didn't like the idea so as a loving husband, I did it behind her back, hehehe. Men are so ignorant and inconsiderate, I am no exception. Well, the response we got back was overwhelming. Many liked the idea of having the opportunity to be part of this name picking process, a few were surprised at the request. We have narrowed it down to Tristan-marc, Elliot, Isaac, and Zachary. The results? People were pretty much split between Tristan-marc and Isaac. Majority of our friends were of asian descent so Isaac is not as common as the rest of the United States. We like the sound of Tristan-marc but are worried that some may think it is a girl's name and the "trist" has a meaning of tears... sad. A tragic romance of Tristan and Isolde similar to Romeo and Juliet reveals the sad nature of the name. Who would name their son "Romeo"? Tough name to live up to. Elliot pronounces to the world that the Lord is my God. Isaac has a definition of "laughter" but was a more passive character in the bible. Zachary proclaims that God is remembered. In the end, we might not pick any of these names but the struggle must end with a decision the boy has to live with for the rest of his life.
4.18.2008
Ultrasounds
Here are the 10th and 20th week ultrasounds. The small one that looks like a teddy bear or space alien is the tenth week ultrasound. Paulina keep saying that the baby has my lips. You know the jaw dropping look a person gets when they are shocked by some strange event. Well, according to my wife, I have that look all the time. The second ultrasound shows the side view of the baby with the mouth open and protruding forward, so I guess this is from me. My older brother who is very funny and sarcastic use to say, "Hey, are you trying to catch some flies?" With my mouth open, it does resemble a venus fly-trap plant. I don't know why but my dentist says it could be my jaw bone structure but it will cost $20k to correct it so I think it is fine. Just need to learn to keep my mouth close as much as possible.
4.17.2008
State Declared Disabled Person
My wife will be declared "disable" a few weeks before and many weeks after the delivery of the baby. I don't really agree with the term but it does have it's benefits.
The past few weeks, we learned about the whole state disability insurance (SDI-EDD). Friends and family gave us detail accounts of what they did, when they took time off, when they returned to work, how much they got paid and from whom. After talking to our HR department, Paulina might be entitled to a total of nine months off (partially paid the first 16 weeks, not paid remainder) . Praise the Lord, who answered our prayers when we were really concerned about childcare the first six months. The timing cannot be anymore perfect, the timing of the exam, the delivery date, Paulina's sister summer vacation from medical school to come back and help us. Truly Amazing!!! I will probably take a few weeks off too but the mortgage will get a bit heavy if I take too long of a leave.
The past few weeks, we learned about the whole state disability insurance (SDI-EDD). Friends and family gave us detail accounts of what they did, when they took time off, when they returned to work, how much they got paid and from whom. After talking to our HR department, Paulina might be entitled to a total of nine months off (partially paid the first 16 weeks, not paid remainder) . Praise the Lord, who answered our prayers when we were really concerned about childcare the first six months. The timing cannot be anymore perfect, the timing of the exam, the delivery date, Paulina's sister summer vacation from medical school to come back and help us. Truly Amazing!!! I will probably take a few weeks off too but the mortgage will get a bit heavy if I take too long of a leave.
After the exam
The weekend after the exam, I was able to clean the house, do laundry, wash and vacuum the car and clean up the backyard. Due to the exam, I stopped exercising for four months so my body would not ache or sore and allow my brain to use up more resources that otherwise might be exhausted with exercise. Guess that's why the really nerdy and talented engineers are not very physically fit. I gained ten pounds since January. Now is the time to work it off, especially before the baby comes. I need be to as physically fit as possible to carry the baby, change diapers, midnight feedings, and caring for the state declared disable person (my wife).
Engineer Exam
The Electrical Engineer State License Exam went okay. Not too confident about passing, the results will come out in about three months or early August. Eight hours of this exam went by pretty fast and I was not as nervous as the week before. I got to the exam site around 6:15AM and asked around for the location of the electrical test. Good thing because many people that came later blindly lined up with the civil engineers and was re-directed later. The change and commotion would have probably ruin my day and make me too unsettled to think straight in the morning. There is an hour lunch break at noon and I was able to leave the exam site around 5:30PM. Due to the poor circulation of the exam room, I started having headaches around 3PM. Hope, the headaches didn't affect my problem solving ability and reading the questions correctly. The exam site was at San Mateo Expo so I had to drive back to the East Bay in traffic. It took me a little over an hour to get home and would probably had taken longer if I hadn't taken a local detour since traffic was almost a stand still on highway 92 and I-880 north in Hayward.
Pregnant ladies - What is TOOT?
My wife is about 30 weeks pregnant or 10 more weeks till delivery of the baby and she has all kinds of pains and discomforts. She showed me the cartoon below and I understand most of the symptoms except "TOOT". What kind of pain or discomfort is "toot"? Dictionary.com defines it as 1) horn type sound 2) period of drunken binge 3) toilet 4) paper bag 5) loud noise 6) to stand out 7) to peep 8) to seek for customers
Not looking up the dictionary, my first response was farting. That word is strategically place near the rear of the cartoon lady and seems to be describing a sound. After reading the possible definitions, I still don't know what it has to do with the symptoms of being pregnant. Do you have any insights?
Not looking up the dictionary, my first response was farting. That word is strategically place near the rear of the cartoon lady and seems to be describing a sound. After reading the possible definitions, I still don't know what it has to do with the symptoms of being pregnant. Do you have any insights?
4.07.2008
Stomping bladder
Paulina is walking more and more slowly now compared to previous months. This is partly due to the tummy weight and tiredness. But the main reason for her slower pace is due to the baby's movements caused by walking too fast. The sensation is described as having the baby stomping on her bladder causing her to feel like she really needs to pee. So naturally, she goes to the restroom after a walk and nothing comes out. One of the most frustrating things is to want to go pee and not be able to. Usually this sensation is relieved by sitting still and relaxing. I feel sorry for her but what can I do about it? Back massage provides some comfort.
Last week, Paulina started to feel the false contractions called Braxton Hicks. This is when the tummy tightens up for about a minute then slowly relax. Normally, Paulina's tummy is already pretty firm but when she experience a Braxton Hicks contraction, her tummy is very, very hard. You try flexing your stomach muscles for about a minute just to get a sense of how she feels. Maybe I am out of shape but when I flex my ab muscles, it is nowhere as hard as her tummy and I am exhausted after 30 seconds. Paulina is very good at reminding me that is hard to be a women and men have it too easy.
- PaPa Trinh
Last week, Paulina started to feel the false contractions called Braxton Hicks. This is when the tummy tightens up for about a minute then slowly relax. Normally, Paulina's tummy is already pretty firm but when she experience a Braxton Hicks contraction, her tummy is very, very hard. You try flexing your stomach muscles for about a minute just to get a sense of how she feels. Maybe I am out of shape but when I flex my ab muscles, it is nowhere as hard as her tummy and I am exhausted after 30 seconds. Paulina is very good at reminding me that is hard to be a women and men have it too easy.
- PaPa Trinh
4.04.2008
My Promises
This image was taken the morning of our wedding. My sister drafted a letter written with english letters but when read sounds like cantonese. This made is difficult to read but fun for those who are listening to hear the slight weird pronunciation of chinese words.
The letter list out a bunch of promises I am suppose to fulfill if I were to marry Paulina. One of them include picking up the kids and taking care of them. Hope I am able to fulfill these promises by being a willing husband and dad.
The letter list out a bunch of promises I am suppose to fulfill if I were to marry Paulina. One of them include picking up the kids and taking care of them. Hope I am able to fulfill these promises by being a willing husband and dad.
- PaPa Trinh
The beginning...
On April 4, 2008 - Raymond & Paulina sets out to record the details of raising their kids, hence little-Trinhs...
Paulina is now about 28 weeks pregnant. Her current symptoms are heavy tummy, spontaneous tiredness, variety of moods, heavy breathing, swollen limbs and everywhere else. She goes to bed around 9PM and awakes at 6AM. Her worries are picking a name, deciding on what to eat the next hour, labor pains, work schedule/day care and having a hyper child.
Raymond seems to have no worries at all, ignorant of all the stresses that comes from being a father. Except, maybe the occasional mood swings the wife is hurling. He massages then gets tired. Tries to help her decide on baby stuff but really have no preference therefore causing her to be even more upset for not caring. The wife reads everything she can find on baby stuff while he reads some and discard others.
We have a routine called, "Baby lotion time!" where Raymond helps apply cocoa butter lotion on Paulina to help with itchy skin and hopefully reduce stretch marks. It seems to be quite enjoyable for both parties as we yell out in a high pitch tone, "Baby lotion time!!!"
Baby boy (no name yet) is constantly rolling and kicking. He kicks when there is food coming in and kicks when fluids are coming out. (Eating and peeing) He tends to be more active at night. One time at the doctor's office, it took fifteen minutes to hear a heartbeat because he was rolling around so much.
Having an active boy is good news considering our fears in the first trimester where Paulina's HCG hormone levels were fluctuating hinting a possible miscarriage. Praise God for this active boy and keep him active. We pray that we know how to properly train him to use his energy in the right direction.
- PaPa Trinh
Paulina is now about 28 weeks pregnant. Her current symptoms are heavy tummy, spontaneous tiredness, variety of moods, heavy breathing, swollen limbs and everywhere else. She goes to bed around 9PM and awakes at 6AM. Her worries are picking a name, deciding on what to eat the next hour, labor pains, work schedule/day care and having a hyper child.
Raymond seems to have no worries at all, ignorant of all the stresses that comes from being a father. Except, maybe the occasional mood swings the wife is hurling. He massages then gets tired. Tries to help her decide on baby stuff but really have no preference therefore causing her to be even more upset for not caring. The wife reads everything she can find on baby stuff while he reads some and discard others.
We have a routine called, "Baby lotion time!" where Raymond helps apply cocoa butter lotion on Paulina to help with itchy skin and hopefully reduce stretch marks. It seems to be quite enjoyable for both parties as we yell out in a high pitch tone, "Baby lotion time!!!"
Baby boy (no name yet) is constantly rolling and kicking. He kicks when there is food coming in and kicks when fluids are coming out. (Eating and peeing) He tends to be more active at night. One time at the doctor's office, it took fifteen minutes to hear a heartbeat because he was rolling around so much.
Having an active boy is good news considering our fears in the first trimester where Paulina's HCG hormone levels were fluctuating hinting a possible miscarriage. Praise God for this active boy and keep him active. We pray that we know how to properly train him to use his energy in the right direction.
- PaPa Trinh
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