sore arm

We went for Umar's first immunisation on Saturday evening in Pasir Gudang. The doctor didn't chart his growth, but we did a check on his weight.

He weighs 4.3kg, on his 60th day. No wonder my arm is sore this morning. I guess from carrying him around the house, for his time being awake is a bit longer now.

Other obvious signs: puffy cheeks, double chin (hiding his neck), rounder butt cheeks (used to be flat as a chopping board), and his head is filling the beanie hat now.

We are happy for this. Alhamdulillah.

Umar is a week old today

I guess I'm like any other young parents with their new babies.

What I observe is that when you ask these young parents (usually for their first and second child) 'How old is your baby now?', they would almost invariably give you the answer in term of days (some with hours).
2 weeks and 3 days.
4 months and 15 days.
9 days and 4 hours.

Perhaps I am still a young parent...

Anyway, I am recollecting my skills in handling Umar. I'm glad that I found myself able to handle his fragile body - change nappies, his (now) baggy clothings, and bottle feed him.

One thing I'm still struggling to keep up with: sleep deprivation.

Above all, we are truly grateful for he is a no-fuss baby. Alhamdulillah for this blessing, and numerous others, so far within this 6 days and 22 hours.

Announcing the Arrival of Umar Bin Akmal Hizam

Alhamdulillah, praise and gratitude to Allah swt for His unending blessings bestowed upon us.

About 12 hours ago, at 11:26 am our latest addition to the family has arrived.
Our dear Umar was born via cesarean section, weighing 2.1 kg at Puteri Specialist Hospital, Johor Bahru.

He appeared to be in a surprisingly healthy and normal state, despite being brought in earlier than scheduled. Well, we plan but Allah's plan is greater. Naza is now recovering and resting in the hospital.

I'm a bit tired now, but my heart is filled with happiness. And so I found myself typing out these words for the world to know.

We had pictures of Umar taken by the hospital personnel (thanks very much!), right from his entry to this world, out from the comfort of his mommy's womb. Will be uploaded soon, insyaAllah.

Please welcome, Umar Bin Akmal Hizam.
Let us pray that he grows to be a good Muslim. Ameen.

begitulah acuannya

Seronok sekarang ni perhatikan perangai anak-anak.
Banyak yang sama macam mak dan ayah diorang.
Tapi bila tang perangai yang tak berapa bagus tu, jadi risau jugak :P
Masa tu kena lah muhasabah diri.

Agaknya itulah satu lagi rahmat Allah bagi kat ibubapa melalui anak-anak.

Semoga kita semua terus berusaha untuk menjadi manusia terbaik, insyaAllah.

spelling contest finalist

Yesterday, as I was plotting the route for tonight's night ride (and daydreaming about this coming Sunday's bike hash in Plentong), I received a call from Ms. Chiu.

She informed me that Marsya is one of the ten finalists for the spelling contest.
Wow! Yay! Way to go, girl!
Seems that all her effort (and my nagging about her handwriting, plus sacrificing my Sunday ride) came into fruition. At least half way for now. I don't know how many students took part last Sunday, but I guess it was surely more than 50. An achievement so far.
I pray that she'll win the contest.

I, as a father, am really proud with my daughter.
But I, as a rider, was perturbed. There goes my bike hash this Sunday.

Never mind, there'll always be another one. Err... the bike hash, I mean.
I'm sending Marsya with the family to her spelling contest in Danga City Mall this Sunday, insyaAllah.
As a consolation, I'll be doing a night ride tonight.
All the best to Marsya.

Special thanks to Adam for helping her practice the 100 words list. You guys make a great team.

being thankful

Muslims would say alhamdulillah to show that they are being thankful to Allah. Whereas the Arabic meaning of alhamdulillah is 'all praise to Allah', it conveys thankfulness while at the same time praising Him for the things bestowed upon the person uttering it.

Being thankful can be viewed as an aspect of positive thinking.
My wife doesn't cook for me, but she mops the floor (and take care of the kids and I, drives herself to work, help me support the family, etc.). Alhamdulillah, I am thankful for that.
My kids are hyperactive and most of the times uncontrollable - they are creative and goes out of the box. Alhamdulillah, and I am sure they would grow and be good people some day.
My work doesn't pay as much, but there are lots of valuable knowledge that i could pick up everywhere. Alhamdulillah, I know that in life, knowledge pays much better than salary.
Looking at myself, I am thankful that I'm blissfully normal.
Alhamdulillah.

I attended a teambuilding course with MESB a few years ago at Rompin, Pahang. the instructor is a psychiatrist, and he talked to us about being thankful and the effect of it to our brain (endocrine system).

The opposite of being thankful is self-pity. Avoid this. It is as sure as being negative. Much worse, it makes you feel miserable. And if it is a habit, your life would go to a downward spiral into a state where no one else can help you - being miserable all your life, all the time.
Examples of self-pity: of course i cannot afford a car, my salary is too small. My salary is too small because the company i'm working for is stingy. And it can go on and on and on.
Not too difficult to find the negative side of things, really.

Being thankful would trigger the release of endorphin. The effect is a high feeling (as taking morphine). At least, the physical element of morphine and endorphin is the same.
Other ways to trigger endorphin release is by exercising - just when we are breaking sweat. That's why some people would feel uneasy if they don't get their dose (not exercising). For some, they crave to exercise. Same thing to me, either way.
However, endorphin release through exercising gives only temporary effect.
To have a longer lasting effect of this feel good hormone is to simply be thankful.
It's quite easy really to do it, once we start practicing to be grateful of what we already have.

From Al Quran Kareem, Surah Ibrahim Verse 7:

And remember! your Lord caused to be declared (publicly): "If ye are grateful, I will add more (favours) unto you But if ye show ingratitude, truly My punishment is terrible indeed."

So let's be thankful (grateful), for Allah will add more favours to us insyaAllah.
Have a constant dose of endorphin.

happy birthday?

okay, my birthday is a long way to go.
i just want to say that i don't really celebrate my birthday.
my wife and kids do. so, i celebrate theirs - with the usual stuff: cake and presents.

i just can't see the logic of celebrating how you are one year older today. not that i'm avoiding the subject of getting older. it is just so irrational.

however, i do propose celebrating the day of your birth with your parents - especially your mother. the day is for them, not for you.
it is more logical - we are saying how grateful we are to them.
that very day xx years ago our mothers were in excruciating pain for hours, putting their lives on the line to give birth to us. our fathers were anxious (if not panic) in the labour room, while letting their hands being crunch so hard they were bruised by the lady in labour.
i'm a father, i know this.

well, i did once send through internet delivery a cake and a message to Ibu and Ayah a few years ago. i don't know how they reacted. but i know they felt appreciated. that's exactly what i meant to convey to them.

imagine if you're a parents with 5 kids.
wow! five cakes (and presents) in a year (six if you count in anniversary celebration as well).