Kicking Back

 At the end of the day, it is necessary to unwind, to let go. You are, after all, a human. We are, after all, a cyclical creature. We are, after all, finite. There is always much to be done, and yet there's always a larger point of view to observe that all of this is miniscule and insignificant.

There is something to be noted when thinking of a looming dissertation deadline is something that actually relaxes you. Pondering it, I came to a conclusion that at a certain time, there is just nothing left to do but give enough time for your actions to run it course. It fits nicely with "surrendering to the will of God", a definition of Islam that I just recently noticed in a new light.

It has been a lot for little ol' me :) Lucky I have good friends to help me along the way. 

Enter Scoliosis

The family is facing this now. Scoliosis. I thought I’ve heard this before, but I didn’t pay any attention on account of all the cancer surrounding the family lately.

Scoliosis is a sideway curve. Apparently it hits teenagers. I found this site, the writer has scoliosis. It’s a good site, she describe her treatment, she also did some research on trivial matters such as celebrities with scoliosis (Alyssa Soebandono). I was shocked when my wife explained it to me, but further reading, there are some treatments. Also, her condition does not need further treatment just yet. We just need to monitor it further down the road.

Dentist Trip

It was excruciating. He had 3 cavities. Actually 4, but 1 needed to be treated first. I had to sit in the chair with him.
Overall I think the little guy was brave. We're coming back next Monday.

What's Wrong With Being Obsessed?

What's wrong with being obsessed? What's wrong about taking some things personal that you would dedicate most of your waking hours for it? What's wrong with making something your baby, something that you'd print your name on, something that you think would better others and is worthy enough to leave behind?
Find what you love and go after it. Relentlessly.

Exiled from your last defense post

Your own blood made you travel far just to to tell you that you're not a part of her life. I don't know how to handle that situation.
When you lose your family, you turn on your job, or what's left of it. When there's nothing left there, it really is a small world. You'd grasp any friendly gesture left. Whatever goes.
Two lost souls meet together, nature still have some compassion left. Boy leads girls confidently, not knowing what's in front. Don't worry, he says, everything will be fine. Girl believes anything as long as they're together. That's what love should be.

Sudah 3 tahun ya, Nak?

Fotonya waktu masih kecil

Sudah lama rasanya tidak menulis tentang Little Indira, rasanya aku terlalu banyak memborbardir akun Facebookku dengan foto-fotonya, aku sudah tidak ingat kapan aku memasang fotoku sendiri sebagai profil. Pasti foto dia.

1 month old

Kupikir-pikir, kasihan juga Mamanya, jangan-jangan merasa dicuekin karena aku sibuk.
Mungkin kalau ditanya aku akan banyak mengeluh karena dia nakal, lambat bicara, belum juga hafal alfabet, masih minta digendong. Tapi sebenarnya aku bangga padanya, bangga sekali. Bangga karena apa yang dapat dilakukannya, bangga pada inisiatifnya, bangga hanya karena ia masih berdiri dan berlari-lari sesukanya. Rasanya apapun yang dilakukannya, kentut sekalipun, reaksi pertamaku adalah bangga. Sudah lepas masanya aku selalu takut, takut dia kekurangan darah, kekurangan makan, kurang beratnya, tidak cukup tinggi, belum pandai berdiri. Sekarang aku sudah sering membiarkannya pergi semaunya, berinteraksi dengan sebanyak mungkin orang, tabrakan dengan orang asing di mal. Sudah masanya untuknya menapak kaki dan mulai menorehkan namanya di dunia ini.
Sekarang adalah waktunya aku mulai khawatir. Khawatir, bukan takut. Mungkin beda istilah, tapi sebenarnya tidak jauh berbeda. Kalau takut itu waktu dia masih kecil, kebanyakannya berhubungan dengan fungsi fisiknya sebagai manusia, yang kalau tidak dipenuhinya, aku merasa takut ia akan cacat. Sekarang khawatir, usianya sedikit lebih besar, tapi tetap saja sebenarnya belum bisa ditinggal sendiri. Belum bisa tidur sendiri, belum bisa mandi sendiri, belum bisa buang air sendiri.

1,5 yo

2,5 yo

Mungkin dia bisa memberi pengumuman kalau ia ingin buang air, tapi proses pembuangan itu tetap membutuhkan asistensi, dan benda kecil lucu yang mengganjal pantatnya di toilet.

Potty seat, Thou are so useful.
Bisa nyungsep pantat anakku kalau tidak ada dikau.

Rasanya, sebagai orang tua, khawatir itu adalah resiko pekerjaan sekaligus hak yang bisa kunikmati karena menjadi orang tua. Kadang khawatir itu adalah beban, tapi kadang itu terasa sebagai reward.

How to kill time

Occasionally you will find yourself waiting for something or someone. I find that that shouldn't stop e rest of your activities. Some of my best works are done in between meetings or when I'm enjoying quiet evenings. I can also superseed my duedates and work in a less stressing environment (I'm don't like working at the last minutes).

1. Reevaluate your daily plan. You can check if any was left out.
2. Observe your sorrounding. One form of learning is vicarious learning. That's when you get to learn from other people's experience.
3. Breathing. You may not notice it, but diffent forms of breathing affect you phisically and emotionally.

Train and Sand Kit Sets

I was getting something when I saw Ravi lining these up. One piece of the train set lost it's magnetic piece so he can't put them together. I tried consoling him by giving an alternative, why not make it a set of two trains? He didn't buy it. Then I saw this. He took out a sand playing kit, a set of 4, and took each piece of the train of the train set to each sand's.
Problem was, the weren't enough space for the set.
So he cried. Hey, he's just a kid.
Dad came to the rescue. Why not this formation, Son? I noticed one of the train piece was missing. I couldn't find Ravi, too.
I couldn't find him. He was busy getting something for the missing train piece. The fourth piece of the train set was getting its load :)

There you are

So, there. Everything is set. I went back to my business.
Then, I saw the pieces moved to his playing table.

Unsatisfied, he moved the sets

Turned out he still want them aligned. It's not straight, but I think that's his consolation.

Sort of straight

Well, whatever, kid. It's your toys. 

Culture shock

It has been a while since I've contemplated this. Now everything is staring me in the face. Could this be it? I'm not even going to bother thinking about it. It is, as they say, in the journey.
Let's start the *ss kicking. ;)

Spending time commuting

I don't have the necessary ability to be able to commute anymore, that's why I always have the profound respect to commuters. It's the waiting that I can't understand, but that's just me.

Here are some of the things that you can do while waiting:

1. Wall yourself with a pair of headphones. When your sorrounding is barely acceptable and you just can't wait to get there. Watch your bag, though.
2. A good read. If you like to read, you can easily be flown elsewhere. It doesn't have to be a book, it can be your favorite RSS reader or ebook reader. I don't really understand fiction, but RSS can waste hours for me. You can be reading just about anything very seriously, so it's easy to spend many time. If you're using a screen instead of a paper, be mindful or the contrast ratio.
3. Hum. No, you don't have to start a tune, dance with a suddenly sorrounding mob and run around in the rain. You can still have that in your head though, but keep your feet and those around you dry.
4. Games. You can even be entertaining to those around you.
5. Photo crazy. There's Picplz, MyTubo or Instagram. It's easier to take pictures and there are many filters to choose. Go crazy.

 

Which?

The next time you hear/read someone says something like "Sometimes.." or "Somewhere..", make sure to ask, "When?" or "Where?" and push them to be specific. It's easy to appear wise when you're vague. Probe them to be concise, "What exactly do you mean?"

Happy 3rd

My baby, my little indira is 3 years old yesterday. It has been a roller coaster ride, one that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.
Here's the little man in some of his glories 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Decided that I would relaunched the site again.

Vitamin untuk Ibu Hamil

Biasanya, ibu hamil akan dilengkapi dengan vitamin untuk mempersiapkan tubuh mereka di dalam tugasnya mengembangkan janin bayi. Ada beberapa ketentuan vitamin yang diperlukan oleh ibu hamil. Salah satunya adalah asam folik (folic acid), yang merupakan salah satu sumber vitamin B9. Menurut wiki, asam folik adalah suplemen yang harus dikonsumsi wanita dalam takaran tertentu dan oleh ibu hamil dalam takaran dua kali lipat wanita tidak hamil.
Ada banyak vitamin yang tersedia, tinggal memperhatikan isinya saja.

Contoh:

Obimin-AF tab
CONTENTS Vit A 6,000 u, vit B1 10 mg, vit B2 2.5 mg, vit B6 15 mg, vit B12 4 mcg, vit C 100 mg, vit D 400 u, niacinamide 20 mg, Ca pantothenate 7.5 mg, folic acid 1 mg, Fe fumarate 90 mg, Ca lactate 250 mg, copper 0.1 mg, iodine 0.1 mg, Na fluoride 1 mg

Obipluz Soft cap
CONTENTS Vit A 3,000 iu, vit D 200 iu, vit E 30 iu, vit B1 2 mg, vit B2 2 mg, vit B6 3 mg, vit B12 3 mcg, folic acid 1,000 mcg, Ca pantothenate 8 mg, biotin 35 mcg, nicotinamide 20 mg, vit C 100 mg, elemental Fe (as Fe sulfate) 30 mg, iodine 150 mcg, Ca carbonate 100 mg, Zn sulfate 15 mg, Mg sulfate 5 mg, manganese sulfate 1 mg, cupric sulfate 1,000 mcg, natural fish oil 500 mg, omega-3 fish oil (DHA 105 mg + EPA 20 mg) 135 mg

Kalau mual makan vitamin, ada alternatif untuk memilih vitamin yang bisa dikunyah (chewable). Biasanya ada rasa buah-buahan, contohnya: Bronson's no. 173. Gambar di samping adalah isi dari produk tersebut. Kalau bisa beli sendiri, beli sendiri aja (tetap dengan panduan dokter, tentunya). Bronson's itu harganya $ 10, untuk 120 tablet. Kita bayar $9 untuk 25 butir Obipluz dan Elkana di RS Bunda (Harga yang mereka tagih di RS Bunda tidak mahal kok, aku sudah check di asia.mimsonline.com). Menurutku Bronson's bisa nawarin murah gitu hanya untuk daerah US.

Sama dokter di Bunda, kita dikasih :

Obipluz
Obipluz Soft cap
MANUFACTURER:     Darya-Varia
CONTENTS Vit A 3,000 iu, vit D 200 iu, vit E 30 iu, vit B1 2 mg, vit B2 2 mg, vit B6 3 mg, vit B12 3 mcg, folic acid 1,000 mcg, Ca pantothenate 8 mg, biotin 35 mcg, nicotinamide 20 mg, vit C 100 mg, elemental Fe (as Fe sulfate) 30 mg, iodine 150 mcg, Ca carbonate 100 mg, Zn sulfate 15 mg, Mg sulfate 5 mg, manganese sulfate 1 mg, cupric sulfate 1,000 mcg, natural fish oil 500 mg, omega-3 fish oil (DHA 105 mg + EPA 20 mg) 135 mg
INDICATIONS
Vit & minerals supplement w/ essential fatty acids w/c are needed by pregnant & lactating women & also as brain nutrition.
DOSAGE
1 soft cap daily.
ADMINISTRATION: May be taken with or without food (May be taken w/ meals for better absorption.).
MIMS CLASS Antianemics/Pre & Post Natal Vitamins
ATC CLASSIFICATION V06DB
PACKING/PRESENTATIONS
Form Packing/Price Photo
Soft cap
6 x 5's (Rp40000)

Elkana
Elkana Film-coated tab
MANUFACTURER Sanbe
CONTENTS Per tab Dibasic Ca phosphate 200 mg, Ca lactate 100 mg, vit B6 20 mg, vit C 25 mg, vit D3 100 iu. Per 5 mL syr Vit A 2,400 iu, vit B1 4 mg, vit B2 1.2 mg, vit B6 1.2 mg, vit B12 4 mcg, vit C 60 mg, vit D 400 iu, nicotinamide 16 mg, Ca pantothenate 6 mg, choline 12 mg, inositol 12 mg, Ca gluconate 300 mg, Ca hypophosphite 20 mg, Na hypophosphite 20 mg, l-lysine HCl 200 mg
INDICATIONS
Vit & minerals deficiency.
DOSAGE
Adult, pregnant, lactating women & childn >6 yr 1 tbsp or 1-2 tab twice daily. Childn <6 yr 1/2-1 tsp 3 times daily.
MIMS CLASS Multivitamins/with Minerals
POISON CLASS B
ATC CLASSIFICATION A11JB
PACKING/PRESENTATIONS
Form Packing/Price Photo
Film-coated tab
10 x 10's (Rp40000)
syrup
60 mL (Rp11000)


Karena dikasih Elkana, berarti kita dikirain vit deficiency dong. :(
Dedet pipis mulu. Belum sampai kebangun seperti ibu ini.

Menjelang satu bulan, pertumbuhan bayi sangat cepat dan sangat penting. Jadi usahakan kebutuhan gizi bayi terpenuhi melalui ibunya.

Untuk ukuran dada yang tiba-tiba membesar, aku baca salah satu tips untuk mengurangi rasa tidak nyaman di babycenter.com adalah dengan memakai bra yang lebih nyaman.
Easing breast pain "I found out I was pregnant and boom — my breasts got really tender right away. So I started wearing my sports bra all the time. It really helped ease my discomfort." — Jennifer

Untuk rasa sakit di ulu hati, situs ini membahasnya, saran dari sesama ibu hamil adalah lebih banyak minum air. Berbeda dari temanku yang tidak ingin information overload, aku lebih prefer vicarious learning. Tidak ada salahnya belajar dari yang pernah mengalaminya.


Terakhir: kutipan folic acid mengenai pregnancy dari wikipedia

Pregnancy

Folic acid is very important for all women who may become pregnant. Adequate folate intake during the periconceptional period, the time just before and just after a woman becomes pregnant, helps protect against a number of congenital malformations including neural tube defects.^[8] Neural tube defects result in malformations of the spine (spina bifida), skull, and brain (anencephaly). The risk of neural tube defects is significantly reduced when supplemental folic acid is consumed in addition to a healthy diet prior to and during the first month following conception.^[9][10] Women who could become pregnant are advised to eat foods fortified with folic acid or take supplements in addition to eating folate-rich foods to reduce the risk of some serious birth defects. Taking 400 micrograms of synthetic folic acid daily from fortified foods and/or supplements has been suggested. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for folate equivalents for pregnant women is 600-800 micrograms, twice the normal RDA of 400 micrograms for women who are not pregnant.^[11]