Chiangmai Trip 2017

It's my first time to visit Chiangmai, after 14 years living in Thailand, ha! After 2 kids, finally I was able to visit the famous province.

My impression? Not so impressive, well, in fairness I am a beach person...I prefer the salty waters than mountain, so I was not rushing to get there.

However, what impress me most are the fruits, cheap fruits can be found everywhere and they have avocados other fruits that are rarely seen in Bangkok. Also, the garden and landscapes are just as awesome.

So it wasn't bad at all, since it's a break from my city life.

Off to Chiangmai with the family. At Don Muang airport after passing the baggage scanner.

Selfie with my son while riding the Air Asia bus going to the plane

Hello Chiangmai! Landed at Chiangmai airport

While waiting for check in at Holiday Inn Chiangmai

They allowed us to use the gym and swimming pool while waiting for the room to be cleaned.

 Day 1, we went to Doi Suthep temple to trek the steps and be able to reach the famous temple.

Steps going to Doi Suthep temple

Marching on even with weak knees. lol!

Reached the top and now exhausted. By the way, look at the jackfruit tree, so many fruits!

Doi Suthep temple (30 Baht entrance fee for foreigners)

Ah, the famous Chedi, with the little monkeys 

Look at the Hmong lady with the baby at the back. A working mom with babywearing skills.

And the baby is all covered up, ready to take the trail home

Little Hmong girl, waiting for foreigners who will have a picture with her for a fee

People are climbing on foot going to the temples in celebration of Visakabucha day (a Buddhist holiday)

 Before we went back to Holiday Inn for the day, we found a fruit market, and the prices are cheaper than Bangkok prices.

Avocado at 60 baht a kilo

Mangoes, anyone?

Oh, minions might have had a feast with all these bananas!

 Day 2. We had a feast with the variety of food served in the hotel buffet breakfast.

Sean enjoying his fruit loops cereals

Ah, we love it here!

Even baby Stephen loves his little playground while mom and dad are having breakfast

A dip in the pool after breakfast

 After an hour, we drove to Royal Flora Rajapruek, somewhere in Hangdong district.

At the entrance of Royal Flora

Beautiful tree

Houses and landscapes of other countries

Time for a family picture

Japanese style home/landscape

Taking a rest under the bamboo trees

Beautiful mom

 Royal Flora is very close to Chiangmai Night Safari and we booked ticket entrance for that tour as well but we had to wait for the time as our entrance is at 6:30 pm.

After going out from Royal Flora, we had a hearty lunch in a shed. We ate somtam and other Thai food.

Cool eh?

Menu is not too expensive

Thai food at its best

Luckily, my cousin lives nearby, so we stayed at her apartment while waiting for the time to get into the Night Safari.

At 5:30, we went to Chiangmai Night Safari...

To feed the animals, you have to buy food at 30 Baht a basket.

Taking photos with the parrot

At Chiangmai Night Safari 

 I was not able to take a lot of photos as most are shows, I took videos in our HD camera instead.

Day 3. We stayed in the hotel until our time for check out then proceeded to Chiangmai Central Festival before we went to the airport bound for Bangkok at 7:30 pm.

At Waroros market, where souvenirs can be bought

At Central Festival Chiangmai

Wearing his dad's new Oakley shades

I'm a mountain pirate. lol!

With mama la at the mall

We had a grand time at Chiangmai, especially in Holiday Inn. I recommend it for the price and the service.

JUST FOR UPDATE

JULY 2016 was the month I last posted in this blog, and today is the 8th of February 2017.

Oh how time flies... and oh, how busy I am nowadays!

Too many businesses to attend to, juggling between being a mom and an office girl! Not to mention our online selling and online remittance business.

Whew!

How thankful I am when Friday sunset comes, I get to BREATHE!

 I get to REST from worldly cares!

I so appreciate the SABBATH rest that I experience.

Recap for the past 6 months....

1. My baby Stephen is turning 7 months this 13 of February 2017.

2. Power Line celebrated Chinese New Year 2017 and baby Stephen and mom got a lot of red cards.

3. We have been venturing in Alada soap business since the end of December 2016, started as 6 partners and now we are 10. (and did I say that the income is great?!?!)

4. My mom and dad who takes care of my children went home last December 31 and came back yesterday. (thank you God for parents!)

5. Checked my Google adsense, and it has 71$ income..huh! (after 10 years lol)

On Baby Stephen's Jaundice

Same old story. I am an O+ and baby Stephen is A+... just like with Sean as a newborn.

Baby Stephen was diagnosed on his 2nd day with neonatal jaundice because our blood types were incompatible. Just on his 2nd day where usually it takes 3 or 4 days to diagnose jaundice. So it was a little severe on his part.

On our 3rd day in the hospital, my obstetrician hinted that I may be able to go home that day, unfortunately due to Stephen's jaundice, we stayed for 2 more days at the hospital.

Upon discharge, I paid almost 32,000 Thai Baht total amount for both mom and son hospitalization. I am thankful that I chose a government hospital otherwise it could have been more than 50 thousand baht if in a private hospital.  Before discharge, the pediatrician talked to me and let me choose to go or to stay as baby's bilirubin is still a little above normal although lower than the previous days, so they won't put him into phototherapy for now..but it's in my discretion if I will discharge the baby or let him stay for another day. I opted discharge with the condition that in 2 days we have to go back and check his bilirubin again.

We were so happy that we were able to go home with the baby. Before going home, I had to buy a blanket and a baby suit for stephen as there is no free suit (unlike in private hospitals).

So after 2 days, we went back and had another blood test done for Stephen. Result was a little lower higher than the day of the discharge but not too high as to undergo phototherapy again. We were allowed to go home but return after 2 days again.

On the 9th day, we went back to the hospital, same procedure done...I paid another 130 baht for the blood test, had to wait for the result for almost an hour. The result was the bilirubin is getting low but hematocrit count is lower than in normal newborn babies. I was worried, scared that baby maybe anemic or has a worse case. We again were told to go back on Monday (after 3 days).

Last Monday, 12th day of baby Stephen, we returnedto the hospital and same procedure done but this time, we were discharged! Hurray for baby Stephen and glory to God's amazing healing power!!!

I was so happy and relieved. God is really wonderful!

Baby Stephen Gilbert

Today is baby Stephen's 16th day into the world... He was born in Chulalongkorn Hospital last 13 July 2016 at 12:15 pm. His birth weight was  3,255 gram and I don't know the name of his doctor as there were a few of them assisting me and I forgot the name mentioned.

Last July 13, upon schedule by the OB-GYN of Chulalongkorn hospital, I went to Nawamin building to have the C-section for baby Stephen. Scared yet braver than the 1st time (with Sean's C-section at Sukhumvit hospital), the nurses and interns prepped me for the operation.

Joevy was with me going there but that day, it took him 2 hours to find a parking space so I was like alone there the first hour during the preparation. Nawamin building is an old building compared to other buildings but then the nurses and doctors are very accommodating and friendly.

I was wheeled to the operating table, injected with anaesthesia in my lower spinal column and my lower body felt numbed. The doctors started with the operation and after 30 minutes, I heard baby Stephen's loud cry and the announcement of the doctor that he is indeed a BOY! OH BOY! LOL!

Afterwards, I was sent to the recovery room and the attending nurses talked to me, and I was talking back  with them not knowing that it may cause gas pain later on. HUHU!

Another hour and half pass by before they brought me to my room where Joevy was waiting...
Of course, I am not allowed to stand but they asked me if I can move my legs which I find it hard to do.

Nurses come and go checking on my wound, my state for the next two hours till the next day...they sponged bathed me which I thought was embarrasing on my part but then these nurses were professional on their job and I thought to myself that I couldn't do this kind of job.

That evening, Baby Stephen was brought in, just in time for my mom, sister and brother-in-law to see the newborn baby. Oh, a very handsome boy indeed! He looks exactly like Sean, just a little darker.

On My 9th Month Pregnancy

Tomorrow is my last day in the office for my 90 days maternity leave. I do appreciate Thai labor law for this privilege although I am not sure if I even have at least a month's worth salary, all I know is I will be able to receive Thirty thousand Baht for being a paying member of the Social Insurance here.

Anyways, I am happy that I am nearing the end of my pregnancy and a little worried for my delivery. You know, anxieties that are normal for a mom even if this is my 2nd baby, still you are worried if the delivery (especially by C-section) will be smooth and the baby will be 100% healthy. 

Nowadays, it is so hard to walk around, climb to our room at the 4th floor and even to lie down and sleep. Pregnancy blues, but I know all will be well... 

as in Philippians 4:6, it says:

  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

So I am clinging to God's promise as long as I kneel and ask and be thankful.

I am due on Tuesday, 12 July 2016 for my C-Section delivery in Chulalongkorn hospital here in Thailand and will be meeting my doctor on that day. You see, the special clinic in Chulalongkorn has a different doctor for check-ups and a different one on the date of delivery, so I just hope and pray that my delivery doctor will be efficient, kind and trustworthy. 

Here are rare photos of my 2nd pregnancy... my tummy is so big that sometimes I feel like it's gonna burst on its own. LOL!