Chapter Text
It had become their routine to go to Costco once a month to buy some grocery items they love. Meg and James usually do this on a Friday evening or Sunday morning. But on that Sunday morning Meg wasn’t enthusiastic. She woke at 7:00 am the usual but lied down on the couch in the living room half an hour later. Until James found her sleeping peacefully again.
“There you are. My slumber queen as if she had not slept for full eight hours last night.” She did not make any reaction. He moved closer to her face and whispered the same thing he had said earlier.
“Hmmm…let me sleep some more.” “Oh wow, this is new! Okay, I’ll prepare breakfast. What would you like to have?” “Whatever. I don’t feel like eating.” “Hmmm…this is really something new.”
He pushed the remote of the roller blinds in the living room to raise the black out. “Babe, put it back please.” She complained, her voice very faint. She usually liked to see sunrise and sunset but this time she felt as if the morning sun is blinding her. He thought she might be really feeling under the weather. Migraine perhaps. “Okay, babe. Go back to sleep. Breakfast will be ready whenever you feel like eating.”
No response again. James and Grace ended up having breakfast together. “Is Mama sick?” Grace asked.
“Looks like it. We probably have to see a doctor later."
"That’s not good, dad. Can I go with you?"
"We’ll see.” She woke again at 11 am. She missed breakfast and declared that she didn’t feel like eating lunch too.
The next weekend...
She woke up early and scoured the pantry for food. She doesn't usually do this, but for some reason she always seem to be craving for something. She doesn't seem to get satisfied with every single thing she eats. There always seems to be something missing that her palate is looking for. Couple that with sensitivity to smell, especially to cooking oil or any oil for that matter. She had stopped using the face oil that she used to love as part of her evening skin regimen.
A few minutes later, James found her still combing through the pantry. He pulled her from behind towards him and two kisses landed on her lips.
"Morning, babe. What are you looking for? What would you like for breakfast?"
James had been the weekend breakfast guy since they got married. It has been part of their routine. Breakfast is simple enough for him that he figured he could do it really well.
"I'm looking for something to eat. Like a prelude to breakfast."
"Hmmm...that's strange."
"Babe, do you think you can find a foie gras anywhere on the mainland? I want to eat foie gras right now."
Note: Foie gras is French specialty food product made of the liver of a duck or goose. Very expensive.
He chuckled.
"Are you serious? It's not impossible to find one on the mainland. Maybe the Marriott or Shangri-la would have them, but it has to be pre-ordered days or even weeks ahead."
He saw was her signature pout. He chuckled some more. Sensitive and empathetic he is, it did not occur to him that the food craving may be a sign of something big. He directed her to the kitchen instead.
"Come here, let's prepare breakfast together."
She followed a few minutes later. By this time, James had already heated up a pan and had poured a teaspoon of cooking oil onto it ready to crack some eggs. Instead of standing next to him, she proceeded to the bathroom. She suddenly felt nauseated and dizzy at the faint smell of cooking oil. James heard the retching sound of her wife trying to vomit something but nothing seemed to come out. He followed her, feeling worried.
"Hey, are you okay?" She did not respond. She continued to vomit. Only water came out. After five minutes, she felt so weak she could only afford to sit on the floor. That's when James carried him to the living room and laid her on the couch. She looked pale and weak.
"I'll get a hot compress to put on your tummy." He was a thousand times worried and could feel anxiety building up on his chest. In his confusion, he forgot exactly where among the dozens of cabinet doors in the kitchen the hot compress was kept.
"Let's go to the hospital," he declared. "I'm worried about you. I can't bear to see you like this."
"Babe, it's okay. I'll be fine.
James called her mother-in-law and let him know what was going on.
"Ohhhh..." her mother said. It was a voice of excitement rather than disconcertment.
"Eomma, do you know what is going on?" he asked one more time. "Should I be worried?"
"No, if I were you I shouldn't. I'm not a doctor and I can't say for sure but I feel like she may be expecting."
"You mean, expecting like pregnant expecting?" He chuckled again, faintly, but excitement is brewing on his tone.
"I hope so, James. I hope so. I have a good feeling."
Now he is laughing...crazily, happily laughing. "Eomma, I'll hang up now. I'll call the pharmacy to order a testing kit to be delivered here. I'll let you know shortly."
James wasn't insensitive at all. It's just that he is clueless for these are all new to him. He wasn't privy to this kind of situation when Grace's mother was expecting. He did not know what was going on until it was time for her to deliver. They were disconnected at that time. They only reconnected when it was time for her take custody of Grace.
He went back to Meg who is now half asleep on the couch. He went online to order one set each of three brands of pregnancy test kits. The statistics have to be sound, he thought, hence the three different brands.
Two hours later, and after Meg had eaten only five spoonful of oatmeal, the kits had arrived.
"Babe, you got this. Eomma said this is nothing to worry about. Her advise is for you to take a HPT." HPT = home pregnancy test
She just nodded. Not that she was trying hard to conceive, but she had been off the birth control for a few months now. It wouldn't surprise her at all if it turns out positive. However, what she is feeling right now is just agonizing.
Two hours and a bit later....
BFP: Big fat positive (baby's on board!)
He embraced Meg, almost teary eyed. Meg was sobbing faintly too.
"I love you. I love you so much. And did I say you are so beautiful," was all he could say. "I love you too, babe," she replied.
He lowered his head to his belly and whispered, "Hey baby, I hope you can hear me. Please be gentle with Mommy. Don't give her much of a hard time."
Pregnancy is a profound event. It is a beautiful time in life. But it is also one that comes with a lot of self-consciousness and frustration. For one, Meg is hangry by now. Hangry = hungry and angry. It is an Incredible Hulk level of hangriness at this point. She imagined she only needed a 5-10 minute window in which she would be fed.
"YES! YES!" He was dancing, prancing around the living room carrying the kit bearing the two solid pink lines. All three kits yielded the same result. Then he remembered the hangry wifey.
"I'll get you food right now. I will pull all strings I can to get foie gras in as short time as possible. Promise. In the meantime, would dim sum, perhaps, work>"
She smiled. She nodded. She knew it is not an empty promise. In the meantime, James made several phone calls to check on that French specialty. Alas after five phone calls, one five-start hotel said they had some extra after an event from yesterday. James was so relived. Foie gras craving satisfied.
He texted his mom and dad who are now in South Korea, her mom and dad, bff Veniel, his sister, and Cecilia. He can't wait to announce the great news: "Baby's on board. Maybe she's three weeks on the way." He had thought about a "baby announcement" party of sorts but he thought they better do that when Meg feels better. Perhaps, after the first trimester.
Word spread so fast. On that day, both he and Meg must have received 100 messages of congratulations.
A little less than an hour after the reveal, Grace woke up and joined them. She must have woken to James's thunderous laughter.
"Sweetie, you'll be a big sister soon. Please be gentle with Mama. She's very sensitive right now."
Grace's eyes grew 10X bigger and wider, like she was in disbelief and could not figure out exactly what "being gentle with Mama" truly meant.
"Wow, Daddy, that is so great! I can't wait to be a big sister. I can have a real teddy bear soon!"
Both James and Meg laughed when they heard her say the teddy bear.
*************
Meg does not want James second guessing about how she's feeling. She does not want her pregnant state to be a source of misunderstanding. So, she made a short list of funny but realistic, Meg's "state of being pregnant" tips for James.
Tip #1: Food is second only to oxygen when it comes to being pregnant. When I declare I am hungry, feed me as quickly as possible. You wouldn’t like me when I’m hangry.
Tip #2: Certain smells make me wretch. I am sensitive to the smell of oil right now, even if it is a fragrant oil. Get oil out of my nose until further notice.
Tip #3: I will experience morning sickness, mood swings, and weird cravings. Please be MORE patient.
Tip #4: I can become a hormonal monster. Please be MORE acknowledging.
Tip #5: My body will drastically change. I know this will happen but it still gives me a bit of jitters. Please be MORE considerate.
Tip #6: Most importantly, these are all worthwhile sacrifices on the path to parenthood. WE GOT THIS!
Besides pregnancy, another "family" member took a pivot. Cecilia decided to pursue a career in the education sector as an early childhood teaching assistant. James had known about her intentions months before. He agreed to take on her replacement, no other than Cecilia's younger sister, whom James had sponsored as a caregiver. Grace could not be happier. While Maria (her real name is Maria Rhodora but Grace prefers to call her Maria) is in her late thirties she used to be a preschool teacher back in their home country so it did not come as a surprise that she knows how to manage Grace so well. Grace found an older "playmate" in her. Meg was so grateful that the transition process worked in their favor since in her current condition, she did not have much bandwidth to take care of transition challenges, if ever.
Meg took a three month leave of absence from work. The business with Veniel and her sister in law has been stable, and while the Board wanted her to exert more time on the James's company, they understood her decision to step back. Work and life balance is more important. James had also scaled back on business trips so he spends more time in Vancouver with his growing family. James is almost 37 now, and had spent almost a decade on the business with unfailing hard work and dedication. The Board also understood the need to spend more time with his family.
Meg has been extra careful with her movements, and especially about what she eats. She was fortunate to have found an OB-Gyn that she likes, although James would have preferred a female one. The thing is, the assignment of specialist doctors is something beyond their control. The week after the challenging duck liver food craving, she had made an extra easy request - bak kut teh , a meat dish cooked in broth with herbs popularly served in Malaysia and Singapore. Many Southeast Asian restaurants in Vancouver serve this kind of dish. All James had to do was Google the best bak kut teh on mainland Vancouver and she got a big bowl of steaming hot bak kut teh in less than an hour, thanks to food delivery apps. The dish is not something that James particularly liked, but he is more than happy to join his wife to give her company, although she ate not even a tenth of the portion. The week after that, she had an even easier craving - assorted gimbap (tuna, vegetable, spam, beef). Her mom makes the best gimbap so she made enough for five peole. Again, she ate only five pieces, contrary to what she used to consume under the usual circumstances. And the week after that she craved for rice cakes, Philippine style. Cecilia is the pro when it comes to Filipino food so she arranged to have one big winnowing basket of assorted steamed rice cakes. Some of them had to be dipped in grated coconut. There were six varieties in the platter and again, she only ate one of each. As if the huge platter of sweets wasn't enough, she asked James to get blueberry cheesecake from the mom and pop bakery in the neighborhood. Maria jokingly said that because they have so much good food daily, she felt like she had gained 10 lbs since moving in with the Hans.
James made sure that they have a steady supply of assorted fruits, especially the Korean oranges, that she especially liked. She also enjoyed lychees and mango. But not just any mango. It has to be a special variety that one Asian store in the entire mainland only sells. And since the store does not deliver, James had to drive to the Burnaby store every Thursday and Friday when the store stocks up on good mangoes.
Meg experienced more than morning sickness. She had evening nausea too. James was worried that instead of gaining she was actually losing weight. The doctor said it's normal and that the weight gain will become visible after the first trimester.
The olfactory challenge did not start and end with the smell of oil. Soon, she started to abhor James's perfume, the brand that she had given him a few months back as part of a Father's Day present. So, James had to content himself with being unscented - no aftershave lotion, no cologne or perfume, unscented body wash, lotion, etc. Strangely enough, it's only masculine scents that she did not like. She continued to use her usual stuff, albeit sparingly. The light sensitivity waned in no time. She spends more time reading - any subject for that matter, but plenty on pregnancy, baby and parenting. James shares some of the books she has read, although he's more convinced that you could read all the best materials in the world but none comes close to experiencing it in real life. Not for pregnancy though as until now, he seems to be still going with the flow.