~ A Big Hole In Our Pockets ~

Zul and I have 2 external HD, one was the old one and another is quite new. The old one, Seagate 160GB was kaput it has no light blinking and no sound at all.. I was so disappointed because Ammar's picture collections since the day he was born were saved on that disk and we didn't have any backup, our PC had also been reformatted due to virus attack <-- blamed it on hubby since he is the one who using it daily. 

We sent the external HD to 2 computer shops, both tried using new cable and they said nothing can be done and  no data can be recovered. Refused to loose the precious data, I googled everything on the net about data recovery and and found several company who offered the service. I chose the most reliable one based on customer testimonials, company profile, news update and blog and also their profile and sent an online quotation by giving details of my HD problem. The service was good, I received a call on the next morning giving me some explanation and they quoted me at RM750 !! Yes, that expensive! Believe me reformatting HD or repairing computer's hardware is a far cry from what a data recovery means.

After several days of discussion with hubby we decided to courier our external HD to the company which in KL for preliminary inspection. I didn't have much time to send quotation to several other company to compare prices since Ammar was admitted to hospital. In our mind, we really wanted the data to be recovered regardless how much we need to pay (still.. RM750 is a big amount of money). Several days later we got good news, the data can be 95% recovered so we gave them permission to proceed and made payment. We got the recovered data couriered in a brand new external HD.

I did some google a week later and found some data recovery companies in Penang which quite reliable and the prices start as low at RM500, don't know in my case should it be less than RM750 or not but I have no regret. The important part is I already have everything back including Ammar 1st picture. I'm gonna need some time to go through all folders to choose which one to be printed as precaution that the same thing will happen in future. Lesson learned! Rasa macam CSI pulak using this data recovery company services.

Huhu.. I still can't believe we both paid for this! I could buy another Coach handbag with this amount of money :(

Why data recovery is so expensive? Here are some info that I got while I did some research..

ADRC - No, I didn't send mine here, just surfing for info

Data Doctors - Not this one too..

~ Ramadhan in hospital ~

Ammar admitted to Metro again, last year was in Syawal but this time around in Ramadhan. Hubby admitted in the afternoon of 8th August followed by Ammar at midnight due to high fever. It was really tough for me to take care both of them, lucky enough the nurses managed to transfer Ammar into the same 2-beds room with his babah. Hubby was discharged after 2 nights but Ammar had to wait another 5 nights. Since that was the 2nd time experience, we didn't panic plus the room was quite comfortable! 

Sahur was bad, everything turned to be cold as ice because hubby bought the food at midnight and we couldn't reheat. Berbuka was so-so for the fact I couldn't feast my eyes at Bazaar everyday. First and foremost, I thank Allah for giving me strength and exception not to fall really ill in order to take care of everyone. I thank him too that everyone is recovering well including my parents & in-laws whom also got infected by the virus right after visiting the patients. Alhamdulillah..

The patients

Family affair in ward..

Kesian..

Mama pun tak puasa sebab nak makan ubat elak sakit melarat..

Tak cukup sebelah, tukar pulak tangan lain sebab swollen

Finally discharged but still staying in hospital

After work

Last day, Alhamdulillah..

~ Hello ~

August is a hectic month and somehow full of challenges.. I'm going to update in stages whatever happened in this month hopefully by tomorrow. It's too late for me to even write this short update.. See ya!

~ 2 Events In A Day ~

I'm not an important person in office, I say that because I rarely involve as a committee member in any of the events conducted. Lucky me and I prefer it that way in order for me to concentrate with my daily job as an assessor so I can leave office on time to be with family. This time around luck was not with me, I was on the registration committee both for Family Day and Malam Hasil and it was quite hectic because I could only finalize everything once attendance list was confirmed which meant on the D-Day itself. Anyhow all ended well. Not so many pictures were taken since I was mostly at the registration table and chasing Ammar everywhere!

At the registration table since 7.30am

Ammar - anak terbiar hari tuh..

The mess after the launching but a good scene for posers like us 

Managed to join Sukaneka!

My responsibility to my son even when busy..

At our table

Arrival shot - not following the theme exactly

A solo shot 

Mother and son

Love of my life!

Note: By the way these 2 events happened on 23rd July 2011

~ Angkara Pediasure ~

I had an emotional breakdown last couple of weeks which led me to my biggest fear, low supply of milk. Hubby and I brought Ammar to a pediatric appointment to follow up his low iron condition cum monthly visit. Ammar is doing okay with his iron ntake but on the other hand the doctor was quite worried about Ammar's growth due to his almost static weight gain for the past several months plus his low appetite and being a picky eater. I told him Ammar is still a fully breastfed toddler but the doctor asked me back, "Are you sure your milk is enough for him? He is growing fast and surely it is not enough for him, I suggest you give him Pediasure and you won't be worried about what other nutrients that he needs. I give you some samples and you can try them!"

They were just simple sentences but I was holding back tears in front of the doctor. Yes I was taken aback by the statement, clearly he is not a pro breastfeeding pediatrician but what surprised me more was ME. To be honest, deep down inside I had to admit that I thought he was right. I have been having several episodes of seriously low supply of milk during the past several months especially after Ammar turned one and during my menses. Still, I could provide him enough with day-to-day fresh EBM even without being able to stock up my frozen EBM.

I was so down but after a long discussion with hubby we agreed to give Pediasure a try, 1-2 bottles during the day after he finish 3 bottles of EBM. On the next day, I left Ammar with only 3 bottles and hoped that he would try Pediasure later in the late afternoon. Surprisingly Ammar was doing fine with only 3 bottles of EBM and rejected Pediasure while I struggled to pump at office with no letdown reflex. I got a total 6 oz (usually I will bring back home 10-12oz) from my 3-4 pumping sessions and the problem continues for several days. There were times when I just got only drops of milk per session, the worst record in 19 months! This formula milk has been haunting me and led to pressure, hence, giving me trouble to express milk as usual. See? How milk production is really affected by mindset! Damn!

My mom tried giving Ammar Pediasure for several days but he completely rejected the milk (we tried Anmum too but to no avail) and because of that he starting to eat more. Bravo son! Cut the story short, we stopped trying and Ammar is now okay with 3 bottles of EBM. I notice his appetite is getting better, Alhamdullilah. In some sort of way I believe God answered my prayer to prolong this breastfeeding journey that I have been on. I don't want to put high hope but I aim to reach 20th month, if succeeded then continue to 21st month and so on and on until I successfully breasfeed him for 2 years. InsyaAllah..

Note to myself: I always equip myself with a lot of reading regarding breastfeeding yet I was so naive to be sucked into this 'breast milk is not enough' myth. I know a toddler's diet shouldn't be full on milk but majorly consist of solid food but I still think my breast milk is the reason Ammar is not gaining enough weight. I also know that a breastfed toddler's growth chart is totally different from a normal toddler who is formula fed, I know almost everything and I've read tonnes of articles before but sadly I panicked by just the simplest comments from someone who does not really support breastfeeding (something common that I should expect in this journey). I should have known better, trust my gut and trust my knowledge!

Note to others: Negative comments / statements clearly had shaken my confidence in breastfeeding. Speaking from me who is already breastfeeding for 19 months, I'm sure these negative comments can crush all hope and confidence in new mommies who wished to fully breastfeed their babies. So peeps, please equip yourselves with info as much as you can, knowledge can do wonder and will help you a lot! The least you can do is read all info from the lactation experts such as Pn. Suraya and Pn Farah. Good luck in your breastfeeding journey! For me, I know I have the best and the worst experiences so far but I still have 5 more months to go!

Footnote to those who doesn't know: EBM is expressed breast milk <-- susu perah la tu :)