... notable events : New life

He was 17 days early.  His expected due date was supposed to have been the 14th of February 2010, Valentine's day and the 1st day of the Chinese New Year and therefore a Tiger.  Instead, he decided to be a Bull and come out early.  The morning before, we had the doctor's appointments and imagine our surprise when both doctors declared that she was already in labour....  The rest of the day till the time we registered at the hospital at around 9:30pm was spent in a daze.  Niangzi even went back to her office to hand over her work to her colleagues while I went back home with the maid to prepare the baby cot and things.  A slow surreal McDonald's meal later and we were at the hospital's delivery room.

9:32pm entry into the delivery room

9:47pm registration

10:12pm waterbag is punctured

11:50pm epidural

12:34pm alls quiet and asleep

The soft barking sound of the recording machine times the contractions and baby's heartbeat as the mother slumbers.  I sit quietly in my corner reading, sipping coffee and surfing the net.  This is going to be a long night, but one that promises to be both exciting and nerve-wreaking... nothing short of life-changing.

The matron has estimated between 6-8am would be when the contractions are sufficiently strong for delivery.  The doctor is expected then.  Meanwhile, the regular barking sound and the lone nightlight are my only companions as my niangzi sleeps.  She will need her strength in 6 to 7 hours.

The room is cold, thankfully my parents came by earlier despite my protestations, bringing a thermos of hot coffee and a light jumper.  They weren't allowed in by the nurses, but everyone understood their excitement, including the night duty guard at the door whom I chatted with briefly after my parents had left.  Everyone was excited, who could blame them for being soon to be grandparents.

It had been a hectic, almost crazy couple of weeks leading up to this.  A new maid, the final weeks of my project, switching of doctors, choosing of name, working out schedules, finding out information on birth and national registrations as well as residential status for my yet unborn son.

The barking sounds from the monitoring instrument seemed to have stopped, a quick peek reassures me after seeing that the heartbeat is still constant, only the peak intensities of the contractions seems to have dropped, hence the lack of sound, but the frequency has increased.  A slight moment of worry when the monitor strapped to her swollen belly moved a little when she woke up to shift her position a little and the machine, unable to detect a heart beat, made urgent and insistent beeps.  Clicking the call button, the elderly matron soon arrived, clucking and reassuring us and deftly repositioning the monitor back where it belonged.

2:56am.  Stil another 3 to 4 hours to go.  Niangzi is sleeping again.  I try to catch naps but it is hard, what with the expectations of whats to come, and the 30min regular visits by the nurses to check on things.

I fell asleep and snored... at least that what niangzi said when we both awoke to yet another insistent beeping sound.  It is 5:42am.  I went to take a look and apparently one of the drips had finished.  I was just about to look for the call button which had slipped off the bed when a nurse walked in and chided us for not calling them.  *shrug oh well.

5:53am.  Is it time yet?  Its freaking cold, or at least I am.  Niangzi who is wide awake now says she's toasty warm under her blankets.  Well.

6:15am.  Time to wake up!  In 15 minutes, practice pushing!  Niangzi gives me that worried look.  Completely dilated.

Pushing and holding, timed with the contractions, but he refuses to come out.  The night duty nurses change shift and give way to the morning duty nurses.  "Push and hold, push and hold, push and hold."  1 hour later and still he refuses to leave his comfortable cocoon. Niangzi, collapses back in exhaustion and pain.  "Doctor is coming." the nurses say.

Doctor arrives.  "Ok give it one big push, forget about the next push and put everything into the first one." he says.  Kicking, screaming he is dragged out into this world.  Smiles all around, exhausted faces with silly grins, niangzi completely expressionless in her exhaustion and pain.

I turn papa-razzi, taking pictures of everything, the weighing scale, the baby screaming, the tired mother, cutting the umbilical cord with the scissors the nurses passes to me, like a VIP at a ribbon cutting ceremony.  "Cut the cord between my fingers but don't cut my fingers." she says.  Ok, maybe not quite like cutting ribbons.  I must have had that wild-eyed look brandishing the scissors in my hand.

His first cries are recorded with my sound recorder, pictures and videos are taken, even today's Straits Times I have kept to be sealed for posterity.  The nurses count his fingers, his toes, checks his ears, clears his nose... Niangzi asks, is he ok?  I smile.

The text messages start to arrive.  "How?", "Any news yet?", "Can we come now?" anxious and newly minted grandparents text excitedly.  "Yes." was the only word I needed to text back.

Postnote: Baby born on the 29th of January A.D. 2010 (Chinese date 15th day of the 12th month in the year 4706)

The 99 names of Allah

The 99 names of Allah;

1. Allah Allah, He who has the Godhood which is the power to create the entities.
2. Ar-Rahmaan The Compassionate, The Beneficient, The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers and the blasphemers in this world and especially for the believers in the hereafter.
3. Ar-Raheem The Merciful, The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers.
4. Al-Malik The King, The Sovereign Lord, The One with the complete Dominion, the One Whose Dominion is clear from imperfection.
5. Al-Quddoos The Holy, The One who is pure from any imperfection and clear from children and adversaries.
6. As-Salaam The Source of Peace, The One who is free from every imperfection.
7. Al-Mu'min Guardian of Faith, The One who witnessed for Himself that no one is God but Him. And He witnessed for His believers that they are truthful in their belief that no one is God but Him.
8. Al-Muhaimin The Protector, The One who witnesses the saying and deeds of His creatures.
9. Al-^Azeez The Mighty, The Strong, The Defeater who is not defeated.
10. Al-Jabbaar The Compeller, The One that nothing happens in His Dominion except that which He willed.
11. Al-Mutakabbir The Majestic, The One who is clear from the attributes of the creatures and from resembling them.
12. Al-Khaaliq The Creator, The One who brings everything from non-existence to existence.
13. Al-Bari' The Evolver, The Maker, The Creator who has the Power to turn the entities.
14. Al-Musawwir The Fashioner, The One who forms His creatures in different pictures.
15. Al-Ghaffaar The Great Forgiver, The Forgiver, The One who forgives the sins of His slaves time and time again.
16. Al-Qahhaar The Subduer, The Dominant, The One who has the perfect Power and is not unable over anything.
17. Al-Wahhaab The Bestower, The One who is Generous in giving plenty without any return. He is everything that benefits whether Halal or Haram.
18. Al-Razzaaq The Sustainer, The Provider.
19. Al-Fattaah The Opener, The Reliever, The Judge, The One who opens for His slaves the closed worldy and religious matters.
20. Al-^Aleem The All-knowing, The Knowledgeable; The One nothing is absent from His knowledge.
21. Al-Qaabid The Constricter, The Retainer, The Withholder, The One who constricts the sustenance by His wisdomand expands and widens it with His Generosity and Mercy.
22. Al-Baasit The Expander, The Englarger, The One who constricts the sustenance by His wisdomand expands and widens it with His Generosity and Mercy.
23. Al-Khaafid The Abaser, The One who lowers whoever He willed by His Destruction and raises whoever He willed by His Endowment.
24. Ar-Raafi^ The Exalter, The Elevator, The One who lowers whoever He willed by His Destruction and raises whoever He willed by His Endowment.
25. Al-Mu^iz The Honorer, He gives esteem to whoever He willed, hence there is no one to degrade Him; And He degrades whoever He willed, hence there is no one to give Him esteem.
26. Al-Muthil The Dishonorer, The Humiliator, He gives esteem to whoever He willed, hence there is no one to degrade Him; And He degrades whoever He willed, hence there is no one to give Him esteem.
27. As-Samee^ The All-Hearing, The Hearer, The One who Hears all things that are heard by His Eternal Hearing without an ear, instrument or organ.
28. Al-Baseer The All-Seeing, The One who Sees all things that are seen by His Eternal Seeing without a pupil or any other instrument.
29. Al-Hakam The Judge, He is the Ruler and His judgment is His Word.
30. Al-^Adl The Just, The One who is entitled to do what He does.
31. Al-Lateef The Subtle One, The Gracious, The One who is kind to His slaves and endows upon them.
32. Al-Khabeer The Aware, The One who knows the truth of things.
33. Al-Haleem The Forebearing, The Clement, The One who delays the punishment for those who deserve it and then He might forgive them.
34. Al-^Azeem The Great One, The Mighty, The One deserving the attributes of Exaltment, Glory, Extolement,and Purity from all imperfection.
35. Al-Ghafoor The All-Forgiving, The Forgiving, The One who forgives a lot.
36. Ash-Shakoor The Grateful, The Appreciative, The One who gives a lot of reward for a little obedience.
37. Al-^Aliyy The Most High, The Sublime, The One who is clear from the attributes of the creatures.
38. Al-Kabeer The Most Great, The Great, The One who is greater than everything in status.
39. Al-Hafeez The Preserver, The Protector, The One who protects whatever and whoever He willed to protect.
40. Al-Muqeet The Maintainer, The Guardian, The Feeder, The Sustainer, The One who has the Power.
41. Al-Haseeb The Reckoner, The One who gives the satisfaction.
42. Aj-Jaleel The Sublime One, The Beneficent, The One who is attributed with greatness of Power and Glory of status.
43. Al-Kareem The Generous One, The Bountiful, The Gracious, The One who is attributed with greatness of Power and Glory of status.
44. Ar-Raqeeb The Watcher, The Watchful, The One that nothing is absent from Him. Hence it's meaning is related to the attribute of Knowledge.
45. Al-Mujeeb The Responsive, The Hearkener, The One who answers the one in need if he asks Him and rescues the yearner if he calls upon Him.
46. Al-Wasi^ The Vast, The All-Embracing, The Knowledgeable.
47. Al-Hakeem The Wise, The Judge of Judges, The One who is correct in His doings.
48. Al-Wadood The Loving, The One who loves His believing slaves and His believing slaves love Him. His love to His slaves is His Will to be merciful to them and praise them:Hence it's meaning is related to the attributes of the Will and Kalam (His attribute with which He orders and forbids and spoke to Muhammad and Musa -peace be upon them- . It is not a sound nor a language nor a letter.).
49. Al-Majeed The Most Glorious One, The Glorious, The One who is with perfect Power, High Status, Compassion, Generosity and Kindness.
50. Al-Ba^ith The Reserrector, The Raiser (from death), The One who resurrects His slaves after death for reward and/or punishment.
51. Ash-Shaheed The Witness, The One who nothing is absent from Him.
52. Al-Haqq The Truth, The True, The One who truly exists.
53. Al-Wakeel The Trustee, The One who gives the satisfaction and is relied upon.
54. Al-Qawiyy The Most Strong, The Strong, The One with the complete Power.
55. Al-Mateen The Firm One, The One with extreme Power which is un-interrupted and He does not get tired.
56. Al-Waliyy The Protecting Friend, The Supporter.
57. Al-Hameed The Praiseworthy, The praised One who deserves to be praised.
58. Al-Muhsee The Counter, The Reckoner, The One who the count of things are known to him.
59. Al-Mubdi' The Originator, The One who started the human being. That is, He created him.
60. Al-Mu^eed The Reproducer, The One who brings back the creatures after death.
61. Al-Muhyi The Restorer, The Giver of Life, The One who took out a living human from semen that does not have a soul. He gives life by giving the souls back to the worn out bodies on the resurrection day and He makes the hearts alive by the light of knowledge.
62. Al-Mumeet The Creator of Death, The Destroyer, The One who renders the living dead.
63. Al-Hayy The Alive, The One attributed with a life that is unlike our life and is not that of a combination of soul, flesh or blood.
64. Al-Qayyoom The Self-Subsisting, The One who remains and does not end.
65. Al-Waajid The Perceiver, The Finder, The Rich who is never poor. Al-Wajd is Richness.
66. Al-Waahid The Unique, The One, The One without a partner.
67. Al-Ahad The One.
68. As-Samad The Eternal, The Independent, The Master who is relied upon in matters and reverted to in ones needs.
69. Al-Qaadir The Able, The Capable, The One attributed with Power.
70. Al-Muqtadir The Powerful, The Dominant, The One with the perfect Power that nothing is withheld from Him.
71. Al-Muqaddim The Expediter, The Promoter, The One who puts things in their right places. He makes ahead what He wills and delays what He wills.
72. Al-Mu'akh-khir The Delayer, the Retarder, The One who puts things in their right places. He makes ahead what He wills and delays what He wills.
73. Al-'Awwal The First, The One whose Existence is without a beginning.
74. Al-'Akhir The Last, The One whose Existence is without an end.
75. Az-Zaahir The Manifest, The One that nothing is above Him and nothing is underneath Him, hence He exists without a place. He, The Exalted, His Existence is obvious by proofs and He is clear from the delusions of attributes of bodies.
76. Al-Baatin The Hidden, The One that nothing is above Him and nothing is underneath Him, hence He exists without a place. He, The Exalted, His Existence is obvious by proofs and He is clear from the delusions of attributes of bodies.
77. Al-Walee The Governor, The One who owns things and manages them.
78. Al-Muta^ali The Most Exalted, The High Exalted, The One who is clear from the attributes of the creation.
79. Al-Barr The Source of All Goodness, The Righteous, The One who is kind to His creatures, who covered them with His sustenance and specified whoever He willed among them by His support, protection, and special mercy.
80. At-Tawwaab The Acceptor of Repentance, The Relenting, The One who grants repentance to whoever He willed among His creatures and accepts his repentance.
81. Al-Muntaqim The Avenger, The One who victoriously prevails over His enemies and punishes them for their sins. It may mean the One who destroys them.
82. Al-^Afuww The Pardoner, The Forgiver, The One with wide forgiveness.
83. Ar-Ra'uf The Compassionate, The One with extreme Mercy. The Mercy of Allah is His will to endow upon whoever He willed among His creatures.
84. Malik Al-Mulk The Eternal Owner of Sovereignty, The One who controls the Dominion and gives dominion to whoever He willed.
85. Thul-Jalali wal-Ikram The Lord of Majesty and Bounty, The One who deserves to be Exalted and not denied.
86. Al-Muqsit The Equitable, The One who is Just in His judgment.
87. Aj-Jaami^ The Gatherer, The One who gathers the creatures on a day that there is no doubt about, that is the Day of Judgment.
88. Al-Ghaniyy The Self-Sufficient, The One who does not need the creation.
89. Al-Mughni The Enricher, The One who satisfies the necessities of the creatures.
90. Al-Maani^ The Preventer, The Withholder.
91. Ad-Daarr The Distresser, The One who makes harm reach to whoever He willed and benefit to whoever He willed.
92. An-Nafi^ The Propitious, The One who makes harm reach to whoever He willed and benefit to whoever He willed.
93. An-Noor The Light, The One who guides.
94. Al-Haadi The Guide, The One whom with His Guidance His belivers were guided, and with His Guidance the living beings have been guided to what is beneficial for them and protected from what is harmful to them.
95. Al-Badi^ The Incomparable, The One who created the creation and formed it without any preceding example.
96. Al-Baaqi The Everlasting, The One that the state of non-existence is impossible for Him.
97. Al-Waarith The Supreme Inheritor, The Heir, The One whose Existence remains.
98. Ar-Rasheed The Guide to the Right Path, The One who guides.
99. As-Saboor The Patient, The One who does not quickly punish the sinners.

 (extracted from http://malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29617:allah-not-only-word-banned-&catid=19:newscommentaries&Itemid=100131)

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