You will suffer with 'em but you can't live without 'em?
Guessed who? The maids!
We are so used to having them around that it's quite impossible to manage without them.
When I got married I got my first maid probably 2 months after marriage. I wanted to try doing it myself but juggling between work and home was hard.
Remember helping me out with my nanny hunt?

So I ended up choosing Ofelia as a nanny for my precious Ahmed. She has been great to him and he adored her back. When it came to Ofelia I didn't worry. He was always in good hands.
Last October, Ofelia rushed running from her room in the third floor crying and weeping. I could barely understand what she was saying. My heart fell on the floor scared that something was seriously wrong. Ahmed came running and clanged to my legs wondering what was happening.

uaeyah: Ofelia what's wrong? What's the matter?
Ofelia: mumbling
I carried Ahmed in my arms and asked again: tell me what's wrong
Ofelia: My husband died…

There was nothing much to it then. I sympathized. I can only imagine how terrible this feeling could be.
I called up my employee who works as a travel coordinator to book her on the first coming flight.
He told me there was a flight available but all the economy class seats were fully booked. I asked him to book her on Business. I just wanted her to get there as soon as possible to be with her two children and to finalize the funeral arrangements.
Her return tickets were booked for early 2008.
I kept in touch with her and called every week to make sure that things are going smoothly.
At that period I had a hard time coping. Ahmed missed her. I was half way through my pregnancy and was getting heavier by the day.
I borrowed a maid from my brother. Madeline took over Ofelia's role for the period she was away. She too was great with Ahmed.
It was early January 2008 and Ofelia came back. I was ecstatic.

a month after her arrival
I went to drive Ahmed to his nursery. On our way back home
Ofelia: Madam..
uaeyah: Yes Ofelia
Ofelia: Madam- I think I am pregnant…
Braking, tires screeching!
uaeyah: what?
Ofelia: I think I am pregnant..
uaeyah: what are you talking about? Did you just come back from your husband's funeral?
Ofelia: Oh madam I forgot to tell you, my husband didn't die. He just had a very serious accident.
uaeyah: your husband is alive? You're pregnant?

Ok I was happy he was alive but I was really pissed off she lied. I mean for God's sake I called her every week and she didn't bother telling me he was alive.

Ofelia: yes he is alive. Madam what do I do with my pregnancy. Maybe you can take me to a hospital for abortion.
uaeyah: NO! are you mad? Are you sure you are pregnant? Are you positive.

I rushed home and gave her the pregnancy test. She took it and it was positive! (oh man!)
Why ya rabeeh! Why!
I was overwhelmed with all this so I asked her to give me a couple of days. I told her I needed to send her back. That it was illegal for her to be in the country bearing a baby.
Over the following days, I used to hear strange noises in the room upstairs. There was a lot of thuds and things falling off. I was worried but didn't say anything then.
She came back to me in a week and took another pregnancy test telling me she wasn't pregnant.
I know what I saw and thought maybe she faked the test and ran it under tap water.
Took her to the hospital for blood test and it came in negative. Phew!

After one week
Ofelia: my father died..
uaeyah (having doubts): I am sorry to hear that.
Ofelia: I want to go back to see him one last time..
uaeyah: Ofelia you just came back
Ofelia: Madam only 2 weeks and I'll come back
uaeyah: Ofelia I don't have anyone to look after Ahmed. Just give me time to arrange for a replacement.

the following day
Ahmed crying: Mama why you naughty?
uaeyah: why habeeby? What's wrong?
Ahmed: Mama you make Ofelia cry. Mama Haram. You naughty.
*in total shock*
That was it! How dare she turn him against me!

So I let her just go. She cried in front of him and I didn't want him around that negative atmosphere.

She left for 2 weeks. That was in February and it's May and she isn't back yet! I have all kind of immigration issues that I have to deal with since she left with the cancellation of her visa.

Anyways,
I got two muslim replacements and I am much happier. I hope this doesn't go foul.

Again we suffer with 'em and we can't live without 'em.

Share your stories of maids. I know I have many! LOL

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My babies are both sick. Since Ahmed joined the nursery he started getting sick on an average of once every two months. It's always the same thing- fever and sore throat. And it's always the same remedy, Amoxicillin and Coughing Syrup. His immune is really affected cuz of all the antibiotics. He loses so much weight and it becomes a struggle trying to get him back into his normal weight.
So he is sick again and Yazi isn't feeling well. I took Ahmed to the docs today to hear the same yada yada yada...
Dropped him off at home then went to see my own doc. I've completed my 40 days after delivery and it's my follow up appointment.
She says everything is well but she was quite disappointed that I haven't lost that much weight. I confess it isn't as easy as I made it sound in the previous post.
I get hungry all the time. I need to eat more often instead of the three usual meals.

Onken makes the best yoghurt in the whole world. It's creamy, heavy, utterly delicious that I am officially declaring every calorie in it so worth it. If you love yoghurt please try this! you won't be sorry...

I am working out everyday and the good news is I lost weight and inches in different parts except (here comes the bad news) except.. from my tummy. So now the illusion is I gained more weight cuz my belly really shows after losing the weight from all over.
I guess it just means I need to work on my sit-ups more.



I went to my college after years of my graduation for our first alumnae meeting. The turnout was disappointing. I was hoping to see many of peers but none except one showed up.
I don't understand why no one bothered showing up. I mean you lose touch with people after graduation, you'd hope that an event like this would bring us back together.
It was great seeing my teachers again. I loved it. I rarely keep touch with them but it was nice just sitting there remember the old days. I loved college. I enjoyed being a geek. I loved getting As on my projects. I loved being the president of the student council. I loved everything.

I've been home for 6 weeks now and I am loving it. I've redecorated many parts of the house which I was never able to do because of work. I've completed work on my bedroom, the nursery, the tv room and the kitchen. Next project is the storage room. It's a total mess.







I am also working on creating my Yazi's record book. I will reveal it once I've completed some sections of it. It's still in the working.
Ahmed had a beautiful record book where I captured all the weeks of my pregnancy. I didn't do anything for my little girl. It's about time.

{ Mariooma
Alf mabrook on your graduation. I am very proud of you. I knew you could do it. Thank God after all the hours of lecturing you did it.
}

A spider Ahmed made in school.. i mean nursery.. so cute!

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You'd think things would get better. Well you thought wrong.
I've tried all your advices and they have provided temporary solutions but it didn't sustain.
My family thought I was exaggerating especially after reading my previous post; my brother came over last night and noticed Ahmed's reactions to everything. It's very hard. He tried distracting him by telling him they'll go to the park but he totally refused because he wanted to stay with me.
I tried involving him in the process of changing diapers and helping with things around the house but it's a no-no.
The other issue is, I am very short tempered these days. I guess it’s the lack of sleep. I just can't take him being spoiled all day. I am still hoping he will get out of it. Jealousy isn't cool!

There are days where things are just bearable and I think they'll get better but they don't. Staying at home all day isn't helpful either.
I am bored to death.
I spend most of my mornings sleeping because Yazi stays up all night. I am trying to fix her sleeping to fit a more reasonable one and I think it's getting better.

New Movies and Series

I've watched TV and now I am watching all the reruns that I've watched before. I ordered many movies off Amazon but I just don't feel like watching TV anymore.

So what happens when you are uaeyah, you are bored to death, and you're stuck at home with lots of free time?
The combination of so much tv (episodes of clean house and the biggest loser) starts acting up. You start cleaning and working out.

I found clothes with their tags- funny thing is: I bought them years ago! and never wore 'em!

Oh My God! I drove the maids crazy in the past couple of days. I donated more than half of my wardrobe to charity. I threw out many cosmetics cuz they've been sitting there like forever!
I redecorated my dressing room. Got rid of some shoes and cleaned up. It's spring cleaning a tad late.

So now that I am done with the cleaning; I am busy getting myself back in shape. With Ahmed I didn't really care. It took me almost 14 months to do something about it.
Now, I am not willing to let myself go like that. I've started working out this week. I've been doing a lot of stretches with Cindy Crawford.

Yup! lots of reading too!

I've been to the spa for slimming massages (not sure if they work, but at least they're comfy).
I can't really do anything about my food. It will affect the milk supply. I eat very healthily so I am not going to change much. I'll probably just increase my green and fruits intake. Stop having rice and pasta for awhile.

I need to lose about 15 kilos. My doc says I need to lose only 7. 15 will take me back to size small (36). I feel fortunate though- with Ahmed I worked on losing 35 kilos in 3 months! It was a no-nonsense programme that I created for myself. After the miscarriage, I needed to pick myself up and I wasn't very happy with my figure. I worked out for 4 hours a day (two hours of cardiovascular, an hour of resistance training and the remaining hour was for stretching).
I only ate veggies and proteins.
I lost a lot of hair but after getting back in shape it was just an amazing feeling. My cousins thought I had liposuction. The reactions I got were just aaaah.. so worth all of the work.
Some last saw me when I was a size 48 and all of the sudden I was a 36. I am so motivated to do it again. I am seriously working it out. My doc is amazing by challenging me. Everyone around me says it's too early but she says I can totally start working it and I should do it right away.

Got this for someone.. I will let her try it out and we'll check the results.. I can't take pills.. doing it au natural!

My advice to everyone who had a baby, if you had a normal no complications delivery then don't wait for months to start working out. Just do it. I am talking of experience here. You will just be building up the weight and it will be even harder to lose. I am not saying obsess about it- just don't let yourself go. Keep a realistic deadline, eat healthy, workout, and with the right will you will be able to go back to your pre-pregnancy size.

{ Devil Cat, Dalo3ah, & Aso
Thank you for your SMS's.. love you XOXO
}

{ Supporters and Advisors
Thank you for your input and advice.
}

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