38th weeks and things

It’s 38^th weeks now! Baby B bisa keluar kapan aja nih! J

I don’t really know how a contraction feels, tapi yang pasti perut semakin kencang, apalagi semalam, si B terus bergerak, sepertinya dia sudah semakin tidak nyaman karena berada dalam rahim yang makin sempit baginya. Vagina mulai terasa nyeri dan nyut-nyutan.

Dan di tengah kondisi seperti ini, we have to receive a good/bad news. Why bad, for first? Aries is being let go this month. His company is at the verge of bankruptcy and they have to let go some people. But thank God, tomorrow, he’s having an interview in Daan Mogot. Why good? The company is not a healthy place anymore. The mother of the boss is interfering, and it turns out that their financial statement is not so good, they are doubted to be able to survive after March next year. Luckily, the boss will give a month salary after letting them go.

And… the friends who owe us money, haven’t shown any signs of paying us back, despite their promise to pay us before they got married, which was 2 days ago. I’ve asked them directly, still I don’t get any direct answer.

I’d be lying if I say I’m not worried, because I am! I mean we are having baby, and having one is no cheap action. I’ve tried to recite all verses I could remember about not being worried, still my heart rage. And then I saw my husband’s face. He was calm. He was joyful. He embraced the moment. And I learned to hold my tongue, to not let my worries manifest into words. I learned to be a good wife, a wife who look to the future with confidence (Proverbs 31:25, Easy To Read version).

call it a day

Sebagai seorang penerjemah dan editor lepas, saya bertemu dengan berbagai jenis klien. Ada yang baik, dalam pengertian tidak rewel dan pembayaran cukup memuaskan – gak pelit dan gak lambat; ada pula yang kebalikannya.

Beberapa bulan terakhir, sekitar bulan Juni atau Juli, saya mendapat klien baru yang katanya dikenalkan oleh seorang teman. Klien ini, saya sebut aja Ms. L, adalah orang Indonesia yang berbasis di Singapura. Kalau menelepon, terdengar jelas aksennya yang masih pelo dan sangat kental aksen Mandarinnya. Awalnya, dia meminta saya menerjemahkan sebuah buku. Saya menyanggupi untuk menyelesaikannya dalam jangka waktu kurang lebih 1,5 bulan. Ndilalah, karena sedang hamil muda, dengan segala intrik-intriknya seperti mual dan lelah yang bisa datang kapan saja, saya meminta pengunduran waktu. Ms. L ini tidak mempermasalahkan, malah memberikan saya kerjaan-kerjaan baru lagi. Lalu dia meminta saya menagih dia setiap bulan, tentu ini memberi secercah harapan, setidaknya ada fixed income nih.

40 days to go!

Our dearest Ben,

You’re 34 weeks and 3 days now. Last Wednesday we got a chance to see you again through USG screen in Dr. Radit’s office. Your head is already in the pelvis, and now you’re 2,760 grams! Bigger than average, but doc said, “Better more than less than average, right?” You’re always in advance anyway, so we’re not worried.

A little gloomy news is that there’s a bit calcification in the placenta. But again, the doc was smiling and said, “Reduce fat, eat more veggies & fruit, okay?” I searched in the Internet, mostly they affirm, it’s not dangerous, it’s not abnormal, just watch out your eating habit.

Mama’s sorry, Ben boy, for I didn’t take care of what I eat this month. I ate instant noodle maybe twice, ate KFC, and used much oil in cooking. Oh, so sorry baby…

me & the ARTs

ART di sini adalah singkatan dari Asisten Rumah Tangga.

Dan entah kenapa, sepertinya saya kurang berjodoh baik dengan urusan seperti ini.

Sejak kecil, saya memang sudah akrab dengan kehadiran seorang ART di rumah. Mereka selalu ada untuk membantu Mama, mengurus kami yang bertiga anak-anak Mama, membersihkan rumah, dll. Mama selalu memperlakukan mereka dengan baik, gak pernah kasar, bahkan kami diajar untuk membantu pekerjaan mereka; kalo bisa sendiri ya lakuin sendiri.

Ketika pindah ke Jakarta, kami tiga bersaudara tinggal serumah. Tentu dengan kehadiran seorang ART. Ada yang harian, pernah pula yang tinggal di dalam. Hingga kurang lebih 3 tahun yang lalu, ART harian kami yang terpercaya, Mbak Tinah, terpaksa mundur karena lebih memilih berbakti sepenuhnya kepada adik iparnya yang sudah banyak membantu membiayai keluarganya. Sejak saat itu, selama 2 tahun, kami tidak menggunakan ART sama sekali. Waktu itu, yang tinggal di rumah cuma saya dan adik saya. Kami berusaha membagi tugas membersihkan rumah, semampu dan selowongnya kami :p

Tentu saja, rumah sudah pasti mulai berantakan dan kurang terawat, mengingat kami sama-sama bekerja hingga sore. Tiap kali Mama datang ke Jakarta pastilah beliau mengoceh tentang keadaan rumah. Kasihan juga Mama, pasti tidak bisa tinggal tenang melihat rumah. Beliau selalu menyapu-mengepel-mencuci kalau sedang di sini.

Dan akhirnya, ketika aku mulai hamil, memasuki bulan kedua atau ketiga, Mama memberi mandat untuk mencari ART lagi. Mbak Tinah pun dikerahkan untuk mencari ART yang baru, dan sekitar akhir Juni 2011, didapatlah seorang ART baru. And here the story goes…

Curi Saja Sinyal & Pulsaku, Telkomsel!

http://www1.kompas.com/suratpembaca/read/27526

Here I posted my complaint toward the 'biggest operator in Indonesia'

TELKOMSEL

Curi Saja Sinyal dan Pulsaku, Telkomsel!

MINGGU, 6 NOVEMBER 2011 | 19:44 WIB

Per tanggal 1 November 2011, saya mengumumkan kepada keluarga, teman-teman, dan kolega bahwa saya sudah berganti operator menjadi Telkomsel, yang menurut saya waktu itu adalah the best operator in Indonesia. Apalagi setelah melakukan uji coba menggunakan kartu Simpati di BlackBerry saya yang hasilnya sangat memuaskan.
Kemudian saya menggunakan nomor baru, dan sejak itulah bencana itu dimulai. Sejak tanggal 1 hingga hari ini, 6 November, terhitung saya sudah menelepon CS 116 sebanyak 5 kali untuk pengaduan yang sama: BIS (BlackBerry Internet Service) saya yang sangat tidak stabil sejak hari pertama.
Entah tiba-tiba sinyal menjadi edge/gprs, GSM only, SOS, searching for network, atau sinyal GPRS/EDGE penuh tapi BBM lumpuh. Tanggal 4 November, saya melakukan transfer pulsa ke nomor 081287624*** sebesar Rp 8.000,- (2 x), transaksi dikatakan tidak berhasil karena sistem sibuk.
Tapi ajaibnya, pulsa saya tetap terpotong sebesar kira-kira Rp 16.700,- (Rp 700,- nya biaya transaksi), dan pulsa sampai detik ini belum kunjung masuk ke nomor tujuan. Tanggal 6 November, saya kembali menelepon CS 116 karena masalah terulang lagi, sinyal menjadi gprs. Petugas bernama Bowo, menyatakan bahwa laporan saya belum dibuka, dan ketika menerima laporan tentang pengaduan transaksi transfer pulsa yang gagal tapi terpotong, petugas ini cukup menjengkelkan.
Berkali-kali petugas keliru, saya bilang saya transfer pulsa kira-kira pukul 9 malam, dia mencatat pukul 20.00. Saya menyebutkan transfer sebesar delapan ribu rupiah, petugas menyebutkan jumlah sepuluh ribu rupiah. Sungguh saya merasa sangat menyesal beralih ke Telkomsel dengan pelayanannya yang begitu bobrok, lambat dan tidak memuaskan.

Dewi Sunarni
Tanjung Duren
DKI Jakarta

Dibaca 417 Kali

1760 grams!

Hey, we saw you again today. We saw your big black eye-holes. Your head and tummy were so round. Your heart beat rate was around 161. Beating pretty fast, huh. You were moving actively when the obgyn was trying to measure you. You are 1760 grams, Baby Ben! J

I only gained 2 kgs this month (5 weeks period). That’s good. And it was great you got a pretty much share from it. Hope you keep grow well, dear. See you in 2 weeks!

10 more weeks

October 26, 2011

Yesterday, Benedict was 30 weeks old. Yay! 10 more weeks to go! Can’t wait! We have reached an agreement over his middle name. We’re going to call him Benedict Guido Wijaya. Benedict (Latin) means ‘be blessed’, while Guido (Italian) means ‘to guide’. As the meaning, we hope Ben will be blessed, to guide others in reaching victory.

Well, aside of that, my husband is fond of that Guido character in Cars movie. That little car is small, but quick and dependable. And it’s cute.

Tee-hee.

Hope you’re doing great inside there, Bene! We’ll meet pretty soon! And I really pray that I can give birth to you in a normal way, that I can breastfeed you without difficulties, that you’re born healthy, normal, handsome J that we can teach you in God’s way. Love you. 

no, i can't bless this time

I hate losing things. I hate losing in common. Especially losing things to some thieves. I strongly dislike it. It felt like you’re being mischieved, mistreated, and betrayed.

This morning I lost my precious helmets. Why precious, because we simply can’t go anywhere without them. And they were not cheap. Although we already had them for more than 2 years, I still felt pang in my heart when the fact hit my reality. They were gone. Gone like the wind. Gone in a peaceful morning. Gone in our own porch!!

So this morning we went to traditional market. I didn’t lock the gates, since it’s been days since our garbage man came, and of course I didn’t want he missed our place because it was locked. Around 30 minutes later, we went home. Didn’t realize a thing, except I frowned when I saw the lock was a little bit tilted, not in my usual position. But I dismissed the thought and start preparing meal for my husband. Later on, when he was ready to leave, bang! We didn’t see the helmets anywhere. My husband had to go on bus. And I was furious. I asked my neighbor, he said he didn’t see anyone. And actually I suspected him a bit.

I felt really annoyed and angry. I know, it was my own fault, didn’t lock the gates – though I had reason for it. But still, I had given evil some open doors. I hate it to the bones!

Well, in earlier years, I was taught to give thanks, no matter what, to bless, no matter what. Maybe the person who took it needed it more. I bought that teaching long time ago. But for now, sorry, I can’t bless. What they did is just wrong, evil. I still can give thanks, but I cannot bless the thief. I want him/her/them to be punished, to be cursed. I want to see with my own eyes, even.

Am I being ruthless? Perhaps. I just can’t bless right now. They were so mean, they didn’t think about others, they were selfish and vicious! People of the Lord not only can bless, right? We can curse as well. And today, let my rare curse go on to them. Amen.

rocker baby?

Bennedict is 23 weeks, 6 days today. A very-soon-to-be 6 months baby inside!

He is quite an active baby boy. Especially in the morning and night, he will happily wake me up with his little kicks J

Unlike articles that I read, he doesn’t really respond to loud noise or bright light. Well, my husband once tried to flash my tummy with a flashlight, and Ben did give out a little protest. Naughty daddy, Ben.

20 weeks & 4 days

You’re 20 weeks and 4 days now.

You weight 480 grams. A little bit advance for a baby your age.

I relieved that it may indicate that you have been well nourished J

You were moving quite actively when the obgyn scanned you. It was so cute and heart-warming.

Our baby boy…. You are in there, living, moving, rolling, listening, and doing all things you’re able to do. Hope we will get through the term well! 

is it your first hiccuping I could sense of?

17 August 2011
it's your 20 weeks & 1st day in my womb.
and for the first time, I felt twitches in my lower tummy.
I read and heard that it was you who were hiccuping. How cute :)
Can't wait to feel some more.

kalibrasi kuping

Kayaknya sih istilah kalibrasi kurang tepat kali ya, tapi itu yang kelintas di pikiranku, hehe…

Jadi beberapa hari belakangan ini telinga kananku suka pengang mendadak, kayak kalo kita lagi di ketinggian di dalam pesawat atau sedang berenang kemasukan air. Berhubung sudah cukup lama gak bersihin kuping, aku gunakan juga momen ini buat bersihin kuping. Ke mana lagi kalo bukan klinik tercinta, Klinik Tomang 24 jam dekat rumah.

the privileges

It IS a privilege to get pregnant.

Gak semua orang (wanita) bisa hamil, dan sekalipun bisa, kadang gak secepat yang mereka harapkan, atau selancar yang diinginkan.

Memasuki usia kehamilan yang 16 minggu ini, saya semakin takjub dengan apa yang tengah terjadi dalam tubuh saya ini.

Ada manusia baru yang sedang diciptakan di dalamnya! What a wow!

Setiap saya menatap atau mengelus perut saya yang mulai membulat, I could never contain this idea. How could something or someone that never exists before, now is being created right inside my body? All praises to God, He is super awesome!!!

Terkadang saya alpa memperlakukan ciptaan baru ini dengan spesial. Sometimes I forget to pray for him/her, sometimes I forget to read him/her Bible, sometimes I forget to sing him/her lullaby or anything that books suggest. Terkadang saya juga kalap makan apa yang saya suka, namun dengan cepat tubuh saya meresponi dan saya pun menyesal karena kalah dengan keinginan saya.

Lost in Bali (2-5 July 2011)

Last September, a friend informed us there was a free ticket promo on AirAsia to Bali. We grabbed it right away. I was no a huge fan of Bali, no matter how much I was exposed to the beauties of it. Dunno why, maybe it was the fact that I was raised in an island myself, so I wasn't unfamiliar to beaches and stuff.
The only thing that encouraged me to go was what my husband said, "Take it as a new experience, so when strangers or foreigners ask whether you've been to Bali, you can give an accurate answer." So I was challenged.

13 weeks

So...
I've been 13 weeks pregnant.
The first past weeks weren't fun, to tell you the truth. 
I first suspected that I was pregnant when my period was supposed to come, but it hadn't show any of its usual signs. Then I waited for about two days after I missed the date to purchase a pregnancy test. It was quite early in the morning when I took the test. I dipped the pregnancy test bar in my urine, and when it changed color, silly me, I jerked out the bar! The manual told me to dip it for about 30 seconds, but I think I took it out before 30 seconds. D'oh.
Still, the color kept changing and voila, the second strip suddenly appeared. Quite vaguely, but there was it! I couldn't believe my eyes, but my husband assured me there was.
I still quite couldn't believe it until we got to the doctor.

scotty boy

Scotty McCreery won American Idol 10!! Yay!!!
Sejak pertama liat audisi dia udah kepincut sama suaranya yang dalemmm...
Sempet males liat gayanya yang agak sengak, dan beralih ngejagoin Casey Abrams.
Apa daya Casey terdepak, dan Scotty was back to my eyes.
Entah kenapa dia mulai terlihat lebih humble, kalem dan gak neko-neko.
Gayanya yang tenang di atas panggung, nyanyinya penuh penghayatan, dan tentu saja tampangnya yang manis pun merebut hati saya... dan suami, hihihi.
This young lad (17!!!) slowly brings country music to the limelight.
Entahlah apa yang ada di hatinya setiap kali ada temannya yang tereliminasi, tapi yang pasti wajahnya yang solemn tentu tampak lebih bersimpati dibandingkan, let's say Haley, yang tersenyum waktu Casey dan beberapa rekannya tereliminasi.
Scotty begitu bersahaja. He looks like a country boy! Lihat saja busananya waktu audisi, dengan kemeja dan celana jeans cut-bray, dan sepanjang penampilannya di AI, dia selalu tampak sederhana dengan tampilan andalan kemeja+jeans, plus kalung salib sederhana yang tidak pernah lepas dari lehernya.
Meskipun banyak orang yang menilai dia monoton dan membosankan, saya lebih senang menyebut dia stabil. He can sing any songs, and he pulls it effortlessly. Gak perlu tereak-tereak, menyanyi dengan tenang pun dia bisa mengaduk emosi orang.
Hati saya ikut melompat waktu Ryan Seacrest menyebutkan "Scotty McCreery", padahal saya kira dia sedang bersiap melafalkan L (Lauren Alaina).
Dan ketenangan Scotty tetap terlihat setelah dia dinobatkan sebagai Idola Amerika, tanpa ledakan ekspresi berlebihan, dia mendatangi satu per satu keluarganya, dan ketika memeluk beberapa orang tua berambut putih-gondrong, dia pun mulai menangis. Hingga di akhir lagu, ketika finally he stumbled and cried, it was all so amazing and beautiful of sight.
Congratulations, Scotty! Success for you, keep shining, yet keep hiding behind the Cross!
I'll sure own your songs!!

2 months and so - roller coaster

Lama nian gak update ya, hihi...
Well, ada sedikit cerita selama 2 bulan lebih 'mengabdi' di bimbel alias bimbingan belajar milik seorang sahabat. Tepatnya sih punya kakaknya.
Jadi sudah kurang lebih dua kali saya ditawari untuk bantu ngajar di sana. Tapi selalu saya tolak karena pada hakekatnya saya tidak suka mengajar. Emang sih agak bertentangan dengan gelar S.Pd saya. Ya sudahlah, gak usah dibahas :D
Tapi kali ini beda. Sahabat saya ini meminta jauh-jauh hari, karena guru Bahasa Inggris mereka akan cuti melahirkan selama 3 bulan. "Jam kerjanya gak panjang kok, lumayan juga dapetnya lho," rayunya.
Dengan pertimbangan sahabat saya sedang butuh bantuan, dan saya bisa memenuhinya, akhirnya saya mengiyakan permintaan itu.

Love in Patong! (part 2)

Day 3
Yay! Hari ini kita tour ke Phi-Phi Island dan sekitarnya. Bisa dapet ini juga anugerah, karena koneksi Etha, yang somehow managed to call me - ga tau kenapa si simcard TrueMove itu, SMS ga bisa, telpon ga bisa - dan memberi satu, eh dua, tempat untuk kita di pelayaran besok. Kita dapet harga 1,100 bht - lebih murah 100 bht daripada yang dekat bandara. Kita dijemput di lobby hotel pukul 10 pagi, naek minibus gitu. Gue gak tahu seberapa lama perjalanannya, mungkin sekitar 45 menit and so buat tiba di pelabuhannya, soalnya gue ketiduran selama di mobil, hihi.

Love in Patong! (part 1)

Sehari setelah pernikahan, tepatnya 12 Desember 2010, kami langsung terbang ke Thailand, menuju Patong, Phuket!
Agak nekat sebenarnya, karena:
1. Both of us had never been to Thailand before
2. We didn't have any idea how to get to the hotel at that time (kita nyampe di Phuket Airport sekitar pukul 9an malem)
3. Kita belum pegang uang Baht 1 peser pun
4. Kita belum pernah naek AirAsia sebelumnya, hihi.

The Heavenly Gift

Whoa!
Finally!!! I'm married for 26 days now!! HAHAHAHA!
Ehm.
Okay, back to review.


11 Desember 2010.


07.30
Sedikit terlambat dari jam perjanjian (ehm, 1 jam sih sebenarnya), kita meluncur dari Tanjung Duren menuju Kalysa Bridal, Kelapa Gading. Di sana Mbak Wenny sudah menunggu, siap merias dirikuuuu....
Rias punya rias, towel sana towel sini, poles sana poles sini, 3 jam kemudian, aku selesai dipermak menjadi seorang pengantin yang cantik. Hihiy, iya dong.
Dari Kalysa, kita menuju Hotel Orchardz, Gunung Sahari. Di sana sudah menunggu keluarga bee dan keluargaku untuk prosesi jemput-menjemput.