saga continues

SAGA CONTINUES

After the third month antenatal check up for my daughter  S we returned to my parental home with a sigh of relief.While I was talking to my parents I heard S calling out for me.I could recognize the panic in her voice. That was the first of the many bleeding episodes to follow.But her doctor assured that there is nothing to worry.She continued with her studies.

After the 4th month check up at Coimbatore she was referred to her doctor in Kerala for a surgical procedure to avoid premature delivery.But that was not done because her cervical length was normal.She was advised to take  long leave and not to return to Coimbatore to resume her postgraduate studies.I was happy  to be at our home at Ernakulam because by then I was exhausted and fed up with the heat and 10 hour power cut at Coimbatore.

Our home was getting ready to receive the newcomers.My veranda overlooking the backyard garden was redone with anti slippery tiles because it was there I was planning to give oil bath for the babies.S too loved to sit there while I oil massaged her hair.My garden was replenished and it started blooming.The lawn became  greener than before.Freezer was stored with delicacies for everyday guests.My days become more hectic with cooking,cleaning,gardening,entertaining guests,multiple hospital visits for checkups,scans, foetal echo etc etc.Friends and relatives visiting us enlightened our lives otherwise confined to the home.

Ramadan started.We spent more hours in prayers than usual.My niece’s engagement was coming up soon after the Eid and we were eagerly waiting for that too.But there was a gnawing anxiety behind all those happy moments.We celebrated Eid with our parents and relatives.Sonu’s engagement was clubbed with the 7^th month check up so as to limit the travel time.Every thing went up fine.Doctor said no more outings,S  should take complete rest to avoid preterm delivery.

I was planning to do the preparations for the hospital stay and upcoming delivery soon after Ramadan.I never had time before and could not leave S alone at home while I go out.But God had other plans.I did not get time for shopping.S started getting frequent painless contractions.She was admitted in the hospital as an emergency case at 31 weeks.And on the 3^rd day of hospitalization her water broke.She had to undergo an emergency caesarean section to deliver the low birth

weight preterm babies at 31 weeks .

You want to hear how we coped with the tiny babies ?Wait for my next blog.

Memories of 2012

Started new year with a bang.Group of doctors from UAE thought of spending new year in Goa and those 3 days were fun filled and tummy filled..Soon after coming back from Goa I went off to Kerala for a get together of my classmates from Calicut Medical College.Most of our classmates came with their family,Again 2 more happy days.
From there I went to my daughter's temporary abode in Coimbatore.My daughter and son-in-law were anxiously awaiting the outcome of pregnancy test because she had 2 early losses before.The result was positive but because of our previous experiences we were afraid to reveal it even to our closest relatives.Days and nights were spent in prayers.Whatever joy we suppressed inside gave way to anxiety and tension by her doctor's comment after seeing the Beta HCG result.It was unusually high.The first sonogram at 6 weeks revealed the reason for this surge as twin pregnancy.The excitement of a twin pregnancy is always accompanied by the worries of complications that can happen in such pregnancies.As a family of doctors we were well aware of all those complications.But the faith in God and all the prayers by our dear ones to a great extend alleviated our worries.We were looking forward for a happy ending with prayers in our heart and lips.
Instead of the usual morning sickness my daughter had a huge appetite.She used to return from her hospital duty as a budding ophthalmologist asking about what is there to eat.The soon to be grand mom was only happy to serve her with all the favourite foods she desired.End result was a sudden increase in body weight and that followed a curtailing of carbohydrate in her diet.Even before getting pregnant she avoided meat,coffee,tea and chocolates and the already confused me became more confused about what to make;the diet should be nutritious,tasty and low in carbohydrates.
Without much problem the first phase of 3 months finished and she entered the second trimester ,that is the second 3 months of pregnancy. On the way to her 3 months checkup she wrote the first part of FICO exam.The journey from Coimbatore to Trissur took 6 hours instead of the usual 2- 21/2 hours.We were all became experts in slow driving by that time.She cleared that international exam for Ophthalmology amidst all those tensions and too many medications.
Doctor said everything normal and we returned to my parental home with a sigh of relief.While I was talking to my parents I heard my daughter calling out for me.I could recognize the disterss note in her voice.
                                                          
                                                                INTERVAL

Please wait for the second trimester news.   

myself

 This is my very first blog .My friends were asking me to start a blog on cookery ,But I don’t  want to limit to cookery as there are more than enough bloggers dealing with food .But  I must say cooking is my passion .

Let me introduce myself. I am Dr Shahnaz , practicing modern medicine in UAE since many years, more years than I had spent in my parental home or anywhere else . I salute this nation and its leaders for giving us identity, prosperity and security .But I am an Indian and always want to remain as an Indian .I am proud of my Indian heritage.

Saying about the Indian heritage I thought about my ancestry .I am the eldest daughter of my parents : Advocate Habeeb and  Fathima Habeeb .Their  fathers were very famous social  reformers and politicians in Kerala history .I am very proud and always conscious of my reputation as their grand daughter so I never allowed  myself to tarnish our family name.

I am married to Dr Salim , who is a very understanding  person and always supportive. God gifted me with two wonderful children and an equally wonderful son in law .Recently i became grandmother to two little angels ; yes twins..

Soon after my medical graduation I got married and once I am settled with my happy married life I never thought of continuing studies because I never wanted to be a fulltime professional .I believe a married woman’s first responsibility is  her family .My interests vary from cooking ,housekeeping ,interior decoration ,embroidery , stitching ,painting ,gardening ,reading and watching movies .so I never feel bored even if I am alone for  quite some time.

I intend to use this platform to express my views , share my experiences ,recipes , tips on embroidery and stitching etc etc.So let me start from here.