http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/ The largest Pakistani Bulletin board and portal en Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:29:53 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.paklinks.com/gs/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/ http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/65462-8-weeks-old.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:14:33 GMT Wow time flies like you won't believe!!!! I am supposed to be back at work on 11/20/09 as of now, unless my baree walee approves my vacation days (not sure what other time i can take 3 & 1/2 weeks!!!). Khair I am going thru like this depressive mood I guess.....just pray everything works out and Allah watches over my little parri. Here are few pics of the little munchkin and her bhai.












Anyways she is getting super duper hyper now and very active, finallly giving back beautiful little smiles and wants us to talk to her so she can coo...it is sooo adorable Mashallah. Gosh she is 2 months now! Her bhai is getting better as well. Just trying to make the best of the maternity leave I still have. Hope everyone is well.

In other news had some bad luck with furniture shopping...argh!! Picked out a leather sofa we liked, espresso color, but when it came it wasn't what we saw. Sooo in the process of trying to get them to give us a refund so we can just go to stupid Ashley and get a sofa there!!! :(

We did pick out paint colors this weekend, earthtones. A dark shade which is like a grayish-brown...stone color......and a light to neutralize it. The darker of the shades isn't really dark when we picked it out BUT it came out darker on the walls, the actual paint....hmm different from the swatch...oh well what can we do now. Tomorrow or friday night go back to finish the rest of the walls in living/dining space. I do like it though.....

ooh and need a dining table tooo....arghhh!!! I am leaning towards a hardwood table colored a dark brown color and I really like the leather look chairs or the wood chairs w/padded leather seats. It's way out of budget right now...BUT i plan to get rid of the fake countertops and get granite countertops ...maybe in another year when we save up some money ....i reallly fell in love with granite after my amma got it in her kitchen.

Anyways need to figure out what to do with baby's room. I think I decided not to go bogus painting it all sorts of pink/purple etc shades. Will lleave the walls neutral and get her a cute bed set ( leaning towards this teal/brown combo i saw at babies r us or this other one that has geometric shapes in shades of pink/brown/cream)...and cute decorations. I already have the crib, she has enough closet space for now....so not sure if i should waste money right away on cabinets/tables etc.....hmm

ok enuff of that! I need to go to sleep now.

Toodles!! AH :) ]]> Afro-Sheen http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/65462-8-weeks-old.html http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/62761-just-another-day.html Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:29:06 GMT So now Umaiza will be 4 weeks old Friday and about a month this weekend, Mashallah. She is doing pretty good, getting better with the feeding etc....just have to figure out what to do about her being up most of the night!!! I think soon we have to develop some kind of a routine for her,... So now Umaiza will be 4 weeks old Friday and about a month this weekend, Mashallah. She is doing pretty good, getting better with the feeding etc....just have to figure out what to do about her being up most of the night!!!

I think soon we have to develop some kind of a routine for her, desperately need it with 2 kids and eventually going back to work. aRGHH!!! Just enjoying my time now.

Also need to get moving on the whole shopping ordeal with furnishing the new house Inshallah. Expected move time is within 2-3 weeks, let's see. Sooo much to do, sooo much to pack...so much to buy...it's quite a bit overwhelming. We figure we will buy the pure essentials and move in and then slowly get all the other things we need and settle down.

I am not much of a shopper and really have trouble deciding on something. Like as many furniture stores we have visited, we SHOULD have settled on a sofa set by now....but i cant decide. Maybe I was too pregnant when I was looking and easily annoyed :) hehe so now hope to pick a set.

Oh yeah...umm need to pick out paint colors for the living room and also bedroom etc....hmm. Soooooooo many color options that my head hurts when I go to like Home Depot. Then we need to decide whether we want 2 colors, one of them being accent wall....or a neutral color all around...hmm....

Everytime I think of how much there is to do, my brain just lets out a big fart, I procrastinate and I end up wanting to do nothing!!!!! However soon I musttt go for it and just go with MY gut feeling as im probably not gonna listen to the hubby's opinion anyways...hehe

Ohhhhh and what really tops the cake is that after searching & searching I fell in love with this awesome Black Samsung fridge, double door. What I liked was the fridge had a seperate drawer with its own temperature control....me likes.....plus it looked sleek and we got a really good price. BUTTT.......the stupid fridge did not fit. We measured 36 inches width of space...and fridge was 35 inches wide...so they said........but it barely fit and the door couldnt open right......i was pissed...but yeah we had to send it back with delivery guy! :( Back to the drawing board on that as well....and for some reason hubby thinks the French door refrigerators are nice....me no likes having to bend down all the time to get frozen stuff.....if I have to...then I want to go all out and get this really cool Samsung fridge that has 2 seperate drawers on the bottom, and you can interchange them with temperature controls to make both a freezer or just one a freezer and an extra fridge space draw....neat!!! ]]> Afro-Sheen http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/62761-just-another-day.html http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/62070-my-little-munchkina.html Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:56:29 GMT Boy does time fly!! Umaiza is now 17 days old Mashallah, and slowly getting a little more active. For the most part she has been a pretty good baby. At this point she sleeps through most of the day and wakes up for feedings and just to be held :) My jaani choti sari.....pics below. I am... Boy does time fly!! Umaiza is now 17 days old Mashallah, and slowly getting a little more active. For the most part she has been a pretty good baby. At this point she sleeps through most of the day and wakes up for feedings and just to be held :) My jaani choti sari.....pics below.

I am feeling much better than before, will still take time to heal, but feeling TONS better - no more pain killers. Yeay!!!!

The 1st week she didn't gain any weight so doc was mildly concerned and wanted to observe her after another week. Alhumdulllah she put on a little weight and is doing well and also feeding well. I am trying to breast-feed, but not very successful yet, hopefuly soon!!!!

Somehow she keeps me occupied through the day, and then I TRY to sleep when she does but doesn't work out. First week hubby stayed home and took care of us, last week my mom stayed home and helped me out. This week I am on my own.....arghhhH!!!!!!!

Hubby offered to stay another week with me but nope I want him to save his 1 week vacation that's left for November. I really want to plan a short trip somewhere around then. By then I should be doing pretty darn good. If worst comes to worst, even London to visit family would be nice and OUT of jersey. Hmmm although CA or FL would be better :)

Alright I am off to the wailing cries.
Hope everyone is doing well. :)

















]]> Afro-Sheen http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/62070-my-little-munchkina.html http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/61651-baby-girl-born-09-11-2009.html Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:13:23 GMT Baby Girl born September 11, 2009, at 6:52 AM. 8 pounds, 20 inches.




We named her Umaiza. :)

She came earlier than expected, as my c-section was scheduled for the 14th. I didn't know it but I was having contractions for a bit and they got very strong on Thursday (09/10) night. The pain got so bad that I could not walk, sit/stand/lay down nothing. It started out as a sharp pain in my left side, but I just assumed baby was in a bad position. Anyways after being kept on monitors and junk for like 8-9 hours, finally the idiots did the c-section and Umaiza was born. They were initially trying to stop the contractions for whatever reason. I think the doctor just didnt want to come to the hospital in the middle of the night!!!!!! I had no chance at natural delivery, as the baby was in a transverse to sideways position.

More details & pics to come later. Right now just recovering from the surgery, and they had to make a bigger incision than normal as they werent able to take the baby out easily with the normal bikini cut......i will try to get more answers today at my doc visit....argh!! Yeah so I have like almost a waist to waist incision....wanna hurt somebody!!!!

Anyways Alhumdulillah baby was born healthy and fine so I am thankful for that. My son is doing ok so far, bouts of love and jelousy for his sis but he will be fine in due time Inshallah.

:) ]]> Afro-Sheen http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/61651-baby-girl-born-09-11-2009.html http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/60522-waiting-game.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:13:54 GMT Well I have been home since last Wednesday. I got several doc appointments out of the way, including sonogram. Umm yeah so the baby is STILL in transverse position....according to doc "unstable" becasue baby keeps shifting between transverse & vertex positions. My luck, this is like a 1 out of 1500 thing...but anyways. I have been scheduled for a c-section on Monday Sept. 14th 2009 Inshallah.

That is fine, I will get through it, I already had a c-section so I know what I can expect to feel..etc. The good thing is I am pretty much set & have all the essentials on hand, except for 1 thing which I BETTER get this weekend.

Otherwise been resting, but also going cooky and feel restless. Last week I went out to 3 different restaurants to eat & feel like such a cow!!!! Oooh did I mention the Chocolate Truffle Tower Cake at Cheesecake Factory....chocolatey heaven!!!!

Now my wishlist has: Bonefish Grill - Bang Bang Shrimp, Thai Red Curry, and also some realllllly good Afghani kebab somewhere...all I can think of is Paterson...hmm

Umm well in terms of the house my hubby got all the work done in the tenant portion of new home, so we are all set & just seeking good tenants now. What a headache!! Also been furniture shopping. We have decided on leather, either black or some brown shade...but trying to figure the style etc...arghhh my head hurts. I think I want to go between modern/contemporary look and perhaps a nice neutral earthy tone for the walls in the living/dining. Hmm. I saw a really cute Pub Dining set this weekend in brown/black and it is Butterfly style so the extra wedge just folds into the table, I thought it was neat! OK so I am just rambling on & on now.....need to go get some food and clean up. Toodles. ]]> Afro-Sheen http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/60522-waiting-game.html http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/59945-last-day-work.html Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:41:14 GMT So today is my last day at work, and I guess I am glad now as it really is tough getting into work and sitting through the day. I had a doctor's appointment last night and doc kinda yelled me as to why I am still at work.

Anyways overall I am doing ok, a bit big in the belly but that's fine. The issue is I have NO muscle tone left in my abdomen. Also position of the baby is transverse/breech so she told me previously highly likely it will be a c-section. Since there is no improvement, she told me that I am tentatively scheduled for a C-Section on September 14th, but my due date is Sept 23rd. Precisely so I do not (hopefully) have any labor pains etc. So wish me luck guys. I expect my angel pretty soon Inshallah.

I have decided to take a chill pill & actually relax a little and not overdo it with trying to shop for last minute items. My hubby & mom reassured me that just because I am having a c-section, all the stores in the world are not gonna close. If anything is needed, they can easily pick up when needed so stop going crazy trying to get everything ready. Am I "nesting".....who knows.

This morning ammi had a serious talk with me, she is like I know you....and im gonna request that please dont go awara gardi-ing all across town now to run errands and hang out. She emphasized that doctor took me out to rest and she wants me to rest. But she knows I need to be out & about....hehe but I will try to take it easy. This week I do plan to get all my doctor appointments out of the way. Tomorrow morning I scheduled ultrasound and then 2 more visits. Yeay!!!

Please Allah let me have a safe delivery, and please bless me with a healthy baby, that's all I ask for. Please make it easy on me, and pray eventually there is super duper sibling love etc.

Ok now I can say "WOO HOOOOOOOOOOOO" ]]> Afro-Sheen http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/59945-last-day-work.html http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/59895-big-brother-concept.html Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:24:28 GMT So please give me your opinions on how much an elder sibling should be taught/prepared about arrival of a new baby sibling?

I try to tell me son that he is a big boy & will soon be a big brother etc. just to prepare him. I think I mentioned that the baby is in my belly...moreso that he can be careful cuz he tries to use my belly as a jumping point thinking its a big cushion. In any case, yesterday someone asked him so S where is the baby? he lifts up his shirt, points to his belly & says "right here, baby right here". I nearly choked on my food. Kids are so damn slick....but yeah then I got a yelling from my amma jaan that I am besharam.....won't go there. She is of the old school and very conservative...so dunno. Advice please!!!! ]]> Afro-Sheen http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/59895-big-brother-concept.html http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/59888-monday.html Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:49:13 GMT I am not sure WHY but I am still at work. Decided to see how far I can go before succumbing to the doctor's order of staying home now. But no I think Wednesday is my last day, just wanted to take care of some stuff before I go away on Disability & then maternity. I know I am nuts, but I am sure subconsciouly the manager would look at this during review time if I left reports etc undone. Whatever just a few more days left. Not like I can rest at home either. I can not sit/stand/walk/lay down for too long at a time, each of these activities causes stress and it hurts!!!! Please let time fly and have a healthy baby Inshallah.

Weekend was pretty decent, didn't get 1 single thing done though & I have a lot of things I need to do/get. Hubby was busy getting some work done on the house. Mashallah the hardwood floors have been re-done/repolished and look pretty good now. I kinda wanna live on the 2nd floor now BUT too many stairs to be carrying a baby and a toddler. Also hubby got most of the painting done for the rental floor. So now it is so fresh & clean and cozy. :)

I hope this week to go pick colors for the living area & possibly bedroom too. I dont wanna go too crazy with colors. Arghhhhh furniture shopping is a nightmare? Dunno maybe I will wait to have the baby, I can barely walk into a store and 5 mins later I am looking for a place to sit!!! :) Almost there though :) ]]> Afro-Sheen http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/59888-monday.html http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/59585-horrid-day.html Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:37:59 GMT Oh My Goodness. All praise is to Allah.
A co-worker passed away at work this afternoon, it was just horrific to witness. I really really wish I didn't have to see that or hadn't seen it happening.

He was discovered at his desk, someone thought he was sleeping and tried to wake him up. He didn't respond so they called paramedics etc. They arrived quickly, but no success with CPR, recussitation. Not sure what it is but he was also given Adrenaline with no luck. THis was goin gon for 15-20 minutes. It was just disturbing to see. It didn't look good. They urged us to go away and will let us know what happens. Anyways even when they were taking him out on the stretcher, they were still trying to revive him, seems like they were pressing very hard on his chest or heart, not sure but no luck.
Later we found out he flat lined and passed away.

I feel horrible. He was such a sweet man, and I used to sit with him when I 1st started working in this company. He was always so kind and generous, esp to me always offering me help/food snacks...etc...whatever. Later in my career as I switched Titles I still worked with him on projects as he was a team lead in underwriting. Anyways may his soul rest in peace.

It was crazy at work, just everyone has been crying and sad to see him go. Also I think we are all shaken up having witnessed him dying.

It is just a reminder that Allah can take anyone - anytime. I hope to become better at my namaz etc while I am still here. ]]> Afro-Sheen http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/59585-horrid-day.html http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/59515-arms-wide-open.html Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:45:26 GMT Just heard this song after a while and I wonder how many ways it can be interpreted.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RZXaoaK8NI well i just heard...the news today...it seems my life...is gonna change....etc... Just heard this song after a while and I wonder how many ways it can be interpreted....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RZXaoaK8NI

well i just heard...the news today...it seems my life...is gonna change....etc... ]]> Afro-Sheen http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/59515-arms-wide-open.html http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/59470-08-12-09-finalized.html Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:37:34 GMT This is just a reminder for myself:

We have been house hunting for several months now & finally found a property we like. Let me clarify, a property we like, can afford, and got approved on. :) Let me tell you, it was a very hectic & crazy process, esp. during pregnancy. Also it was a Short-Sale so there was a lot of drama. Alhumdulillah we are 1st time homeowners now as Wednesday, 08/12 was our closing date. :)

I remember we really started looking when in beginning of pregnancy, and I threw up at every location we went to see. Isn't that strange! In any case I believe we got a pretty good deal. After careful thought, we went for a 2 family home, which one will be a rental. Pray it goes good for us.

Well it is a 2 family home, just 5 years old so in pretty good condition, everything is new. Perfect for us & 2 kids. The only work needed was to get the hard-wood floors re-polished as the owner had dogs, cats etc and let them scratch the 2nd floor up. Otherwise minor cosmetic work, painting, cleaning etc. The yard is pretty decent. Not huge but just enough for us to hang out or for the kids to play. I used to want a huuuge yard, but after my brother got a home with a humongous grassy yard, I realized it's not all that great. It takes him hours just to cut the grass, clean it up, weed...etc. And where he lives he can't let it go, because then the neighbors start to complain.

Khair Alhumdulillah I am very very thankful to Allah. My hubby believes baby is bringing it's barkath...dunno forgot the word he used. I definitely think we got a good deal. Now I don't even want to think about packing, buying furniture, etc.....I have NO energy for it and don't trust the hubby to pick out furniture. He already knows I pick out everything within the house, whether he likes it or not...hehe. ]]> Afro-Sheen http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/59470-08-12-09-finalized.html http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/59078-almost-34-weeks-i-forget.html Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:48:10 GMT I am almost there!!!! Yeah Baby! As much as I complain about the aches & pains of pregnancy, it is now starting to kick in that...holy cow I am going to have a newborn on hand very soon!!! Ackkk!! What do I do....hehe a tad bit nervous & excited all in the same. It is hard to explain, I am happy but also worrisome at the same time. Like will I be a good mother to 2 kids, will I love them equally, how will I manage taking care of them both? Will S love his new sibling, will he be jealous. Of course he will at least a little, but to appease it and make him love his sibling. :)

My hubby and family keeps telling me it will be OK and everything will fall into place but I can not help being a worry wart. Oh I just got the cutest blanket for the baby, as well as some other necessities. Still have no idea about the crib bedding set i want to go with.

Otherwise feeling very achy, extremely achy on my sides to the point that sleep is a thing of the past. I finally get up and try to get comfy on the recliner but that only lasts so long. It's ok I am almost there!!!!

Also we have been in the process of looking for a home right now, Alhumdulillah we are close to making a deal, need everyone's duas. ]]> Afro-Sheen http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/59078-almost-34-weeks-i-forget.html http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/58863-surprise-shower.html Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:37:03 GMT So yesterday the office people threw me a lovely surprise baby shower & I actually had no idea about it. Normally I pick up on a hint or something and have a hunch. I walked into a desk decorated with yellow/teal/pink streamer stuff, lovely flower bouquets and some balloons. They did a breakfast for me, where everyone brought in a ton of food. I LOVE breakfast :)

Then later we had a monthly meeting and at the end of it they gave me a cute card and a generous gift certificate. Very sweet of them, one thing is I am lucky to have really good co-workers for the most part. A group of us are really like family almost. Anyways will post a few pics once someone sends them to me. Well I was supposed to go out to dinner with the team last night but coudln't because my son got sick. I hope he gets better, I may have to leave work early to go pick him up and take him to doc. He was feverish and very restless last night. Seems he may have an ear infection as he kept tugging on his left ear and whimpering....ayy my jaanu. I have like a pit in my tummy.....grrrrrr

Ya'Allah protect him from harm, Ameen. ]]> Afro-Sheen http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/58863-surprise-shower.html http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/58644-32-weeks-5-days-along.html Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:02:21 GMT I am getting closer to the finish line, but WHY does it seem so much harder now that im nearing the end. The back & ligament pain is ridiculous now! I have to get up very slow, and kinda stretch it out 1st and then walk half way normal. Oh and now I think I have been getting the Braxton Hicks contractions irregularly, how do I describe .... just odd tightening sensation that makes me stop for a minute and breathe and gently rub my tummy! Mommies is that how you felt when you were preggo?

In other news my son is sick. Not sure what happened but he was coughing a storm and yesterday got a high fever. He refused to eat anything, we offered him so many different things. Didn't even want milk. :( Gave him Tylenol, he is better today, but hopefully will be much better soon and back to his playful self. Gosh I wish parenting was easier and we didnt have to have our babies get sick on us....how togh it must be for a poor little baby. Khair.

I have my bi-weekly appointment tonight, should be fine, get back some ultrasound results, but the tech told me all is well so not concerned. Just yeah I got water retention, and I havent cut back on enough salt :(

It doesn't help that every other fool at work and outside feels they have the right to walk up to me and make snide comments about my belly and how big it is, and that im gonna pop anyday now. Thank you very much but my doc says I am doing JUST fine and that's all I am concerned about. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Hope everyone is doing good! Tis the beginning of an exhausting/hectic work week. The only good news is we have a dinner planned this Thursday night! The whole team/spouses etc are going out to some Portuguese place in Newark....yeay!! I wish it was italian so id have more food options!!!! ]]> Afro-Sheen http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/58644-32-weeks-5-days-along.html http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/58453-horrid-rain.html Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:31:43 GMT We received horrific downpours yesterday here in the Tri-State. I went out for lunch yesterday and as soon as I placed my order i hear the thunder and started pouring cats n dogs while I had no umbrella. You can only imagine a preggo lady trying to marsh as fast as she can to her car ....was... We received horrific downpours yesterday here in the Tri-State. I went out for lunch yesterday and as soon as I placed my order i hear the thunder and started pouring cats n dogs while I had no umbrella. You can only imagine a preggo lady trying to marsh as fast as she can to her car ....was totally soaked :(

Then left work at 4:30 and what normally takes me maybe 25 minutes to get home, took me a little more than 2 hours!!!! Even had a bathroom emergency, but no bathroom in sight!!! I hate waiting & waiting in traffic, esp on a bridge where I can't even get out to stretch. To make matters worst I caught a leg cramp.....grr luckily the left leg. Arghhh!!!!!

What I don't get, is that at the time rain had stopped, most streets were clear of water...so WHYYY were people still driving like snails?? I don't get it!!!! Argh at least I got home safely Alhumdulillah.

*AHEM*

Rain Rain go away, come again another dayy...
mommyyy wants to play....rain rain go awayy ]]> Afro-Sheen http://www.paklinks.com/gs/blogs/afro-sheen/58453-horrid-rain.html