The day you were born

(Liana Matasik Karini)

Today is my birthday. In the 36 years of my life, I have lots of beautiful things including giving birth to my 3 adorable babies which I want to recall it all back today, the memory of the day my babies were born.

I was accompanying my kids sleeping last night and I was thinking what made me scolding them that day. I can’t remember it exactly so my mind was trying to remember the day they were born. I can remember it but some parts I have to think very hard before I can regain all the memories. My memories are getting worse everyday. That’s why I want to write down this memory before I need extra effort just to remember the day my babies born.

My beloved son, my handsome hero, Willem,

One day before you were born, mommy, daddy, papa and mama (the way you call my parents, your grandparents) were going sight seeing in a mall. Then mommy wanted to eat pizza but we have to go to other shopping mall cause there wasn’t any in the first mall. So that night, mommy did quite a lot of walking.

Then around 5 a.m. in the next day, mommy woke daddy up cause I felt my water broke. We went to hospital by taxi. We haven’t had any car that time. It was 11 days before your estimate due date.

It was a government hospital, here in Johor Bahru. It was recommended by our neighbors as they told us that everywhere was the same and the most important was very much cheaper (at that time I don’t know how cheap it is).

And… (for me) it wasn’t such a pleasant and comfortable place to give birth of my baby. Well, what do you expect for less than Rp 100,000? I’m not trying to insult anyone nor anything. I’m just telling about my own experience in my point of view. Anyway, my dream to be accompanied by your daddy during the pain and delivery was also crushed. No man allowed to enter the delivery room as inside was more than 10 screaming in pain big tummy ladies only separated by curtains. The nurses also not a soft type, a bit rude and sarcastic. I remember I was scolded when I told the nurse I wanted to pass urine, she told me why not do it earlier before enter the delivery room? Then I decided to keep quite all the way (just held my pain in silent) to avoid being scolded or pick a fight with them. I just kept telling you, let’s do this son, we can do this together, let’s do it fast. And I never stop praying that God would give me strength and I can get over this very soon.

Then…it was 05.10 on 20th of April 2005. After 24 hours, I heard you crying. The nurse put you in my chest and let me clean you with a towel or something. Oh dear God, it was the ultimate happiness I ever had. I have the most beautiful creature in my arms even with the stinky liquid all over your body. Your weight is 3.21kg, you are a perfect and healthy baby. Btw, my first impression was hehehe I have a Chinese baby…

Your daddy named you Willem. It was taken from the name of the late pastor that married your daddy and mommy. Your daddy promised to himself that if he had a first son, he would name him Willem. Then your aunty Carol in Kuching went to temple to ask for your Chinese name and so that’s how you got your name Willem Wong Sheng Ming. The meaning of your Chinese name? Better asks your daddy…

My beloved daughter, my beautiful angel, Chelsea,

Three months after having your brother, you started to grow in my womb. It was a beautiful surprise from God as mommy and daddy still thanking God for giving a baby boy after the bad result of mommy’s hormones and weak womb. That night, mommy and daddy were holding hands again thanking God for the double blessing.

One day before you were born, mommy, daddy, and uncle Onga went to Singapore to pick up aunty Lee Ching. The immigration stopped us as she saw mommy’s big tummy. It is the regulation that pregnant women of 7 months onward couldn’t enter Singapore. We begged and told them that mommy only 7 months pregnant while actually it was only 2 days before your estimate due date (hey…mommy didn’t say lying is good but it was just what happened, all right?). The immigration officer finally gave mommy permit to enter Singapore for only 1 day.

As mommy suspected something since morning, mommy told daddy to go straight to hospital after picked aunty Lee Ching up. We reached hospital around 2 p.m. This time is a private hospital (in Johor Bahru not Singapore) as mommy really want your daddy to be around. And yes, you can expect a lot when you pay 50 times more expensive than the first hospital.

Few hours before I entered the delivery room, your daddy told mommy that he preferred to wait for me outside. I was so upset and that’s why eventually he promised to accompany me. And so I waited and waited and waited, your daddy never appeared in the room as he had to take uncle Onga to airport to go back to Kuching. I told you to wait for your daddy okay dear, after your daddy came we would do it together very fast, all right? Just less than 5 minutes before you were born, the doctor came and guess what, he brought your daddy along! Two more pushes then you were born and your daddy left the room in a glimpse, made the doctor and nurses stoned. I didn’t know he was that scared! Oh well, as a matter of fact, I don’t really care, at least I have that precious 5 minutes having him with me hehehe…

You were born at 10.05 on 26th of March 2006, with your weight was only 2.98kg but you were a perfect and healthy baby. You cried so loud, a tiny prettiest creature held by a nurse who told me it’s a girl then cleaned you up. In silent, alone, I closed my eyes and thank God for having you safe and sound. When your daddy regained his guts again to come back to the room, he told me that you have my nose and big eyes and he probably won’t eat again for the rest of his life hahaha…

We can’t come to a deal for the name we should give you. Then your daddy come up with a name Chelsea after the name of his favorite football team in England. Once again aunty Carol went to temple to get your Chinese name and Chelsea Wong Kai Li is the beautiful name we gave you.

My beloved daughter, my pretty princess, Keysha,

It was almost 2 years after your sister was born, your daddy told me that he likes to have 3 kids because he likes odd number (and some other odd reasons…). After having lots of thinkings, mommy and daddy were holding hands one night and praying to our Lord. You are an instant answer of our prayer from up above.

One day before you were born, our furnitures were delivered to our house. Finally we have a proper sofa, dinning table and clothing cabinets hehehe… It’s also one day before the 1st year we moved to our own 1st new house. In the evening, we had dinner in Rumah Limas in Danga Bay, your mama’s favorite. I had a long walk that night because it’s already 1 day passed your due date but no sign of you wanted to come out.

At 5 a.m. in the next day, mommy started to feel a bit pain regularly so I woke your daddy up and we went to hospital slowly. We even stopped by to a coffee shop first to have breakfast and mommy had chicken rice. I forced myself to eat so I would have enough strength later on.

Your daddy went home to pick up your mama, your brother and sister at 12 noon. As usual, mommy was alone at hospital with nobody visit, so sad hiks… just kidding, mommy never cried just because had to do it alone. Mommy is a tough girl, you know. Anyway, it’s the consequences mommy has to take with a big heart to be far away from mommy’s family and friends to be with your adorable daddy (halah adorable pula…).

I kept telling you that we should do it fast, we could do this together and please don’t give mommy too much pain. And you did it. You were born only 45 minutes after mommy entered the delivery room. The doctor who almost went home heard my screaming until the ground floor (mommy was at the 1st floor). He ran with a family who thought heard the screaming of their relative. It was happened so fast. It was at 16.45 on 5th of August 2008, a nurse held a loud crying tiny baby with the weight only 2.81kg and said it’s a girl. Few minutes later, after you were cleaned and wrapped with a towel, a nurse let me held you. Gosh…you are such a cute tiny baby and I have big smile on my face thanking God for once again giving me a perfect and healthy baby.

Your daddy?? Hem…good question. He arrived at the hospital around half hour after you were born. I was still in the delivery room but it’s a traumatic room for him so he refused to enter the room.

Your name was given by your uncles and aunties (mami Ovin, papi and Tita) in Jakarta. They searched names in the book of babies names and meanings (for months!). Mommy and daddy like one of the two names they gave, Keysha which means pretty. Then aunty Lee Ching and aunty Carol gave you your Chinese name, Kai Xin (after a long discussion on the phone between Singapore and Kuching cause the old man in the temple has passed away). The sound of the word kai xin in Chinese means happy (which is our reason why we like it) but it’s not the real meaning in writing. So that’s how we named you Keysha Wong Kai Xin.

My dearest kids,

You are the greatest gift in my life from the Lord, so precious since you grow in my womb, the day you were born, until this moment and for the rest of my life you are always be a part of me.
I probably not the best mother but I do love you so very much with all my heart and my life.
I have lots of regrets, on top of my lists is for not be able to breastfeed you (believe me, I’ve tried my best but I’m sorry maybe it’s not hard enough), for not be able to cook a nice and healthy home meal for you, for scolding you for lot of times. I’m truly sorry.
My birthday wish is for you to have our Lord Jesus Christ lead and bless every step you make in your life, lead your heart and mind, bless you always with wisdom, love, long life and good health. Be kind, generous, humble and honest persons. And last but not least, be smart don’t be stupid, stay in school!

Luv you all,
Mommy
(on her 36th birthday 1st of June 2009)