Today's appointment was at 3:30 p.m. After I checked in, the nurse Ms. Nati Mora did the
routine tests. I was 34 weeks along then. She told me that I should be making weekly
visits to see the doctor from now onwards. Even before I met Dr. Lurvey, she made weekly
appointments for me till the 8th of Aug '02. My due date is 10th Aug '02. Then I waited in
the exam room for Dr. Lurvey. He came in, examined me and said that I was doing very very
normal and that that baby's growth is also just right. He checked the baby's heart beat
and confirmed once again that everything is just perfect.
He went over the results of the "T.Bili" test that was done the previous month and
told me that the results are quite normal and there is nothing to worry about that.
Starting today, Dr. Lurvey asked me to count atleast 10 movements of the baby each day
at a stipulated time and if I don't notice any movement, he asked me to call
"Labor and Delivery" unit.
My next appointment is on 9th July '02 at 9 a.m. with Dr. Lurvey.
July 5, 2002
My mom is arriving from India today to take to help us out after the baby is born.
Sathish and I went to the airport at 12:30 p.m. to pick her up. All of us are delighted on
seeing each other.
July 9, 2002
Today's appointment was at 9:00 a.m. We took my mother also along with us to see
Dr. Lurvey.We first introduced her to the nurse Ms. Nati Mora and then to Dr. Lurvey.
Dr. Lurvey welcomed the grand mother and told us that he would show the baby to the grand
mother. So, he did an ultrasound scan to show my mom her grand child. At the end of the scan
Dr. Lurvey said that everything looks quiet normal and the baby's lungs have also matured
and told us to just keep hanging in there!!!
My next appointment is on 18th July '02 at 3 p.m. with Dr. Brisinger.
July 14, 2002
Today was the day of the "Seemandham" function.
The function begins with "Valaikappu - a Bangle (Valai) Ceremony (kappu)" for the pregnant
woman. The pregnant woman's mother brings
in lot of glass bangles, a pair of silver bangle
and golden bangle each for the mom-to-be. This function is done early in the morning.
The purpose of this function is to invoke protection from evil spirits for the pregnant
woman and her baby. Because pregnant women get that "glow" of health during the middle and
later parts of their pregnancy, it is thought that they are in danger from evil spirits and
and evil people because of their beauty. The bangles that are given during this ceremony are
supposed to protect the pregnant woman from that evil. The bangles are to be so beautiful
that the evil spirits look at the bangles and become enchanted by them, and therefore forget
entirely about the woman and her baby.
Here is a picture from my "Valaikappu" function held at our home in Los Angeles.
Seen in the picture are my mom, my friend Kavitha with her son Advait and ofcourse me....
This picture was taken after my mother put bangles on me. She gave me gold and
silver bangles, which she put on me. Then she gave me some colorful glass bangles,
which she put on me after the gold and silver ones. After her, Kavitha put the
rest of the glass bangles on me.
After the "Valaikappu" was over we went to Malibu temple for the main "Seemandham"
function. This function was held between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. The priest
Maruthy Sastri did an excellent job.
Here are some pictures from our "Seemandham" function.
We came back home at 1:30 p.m. after the function was over.
In the evening we had invited a couple of our friends for dinner. My mom made
excellent South Indian Food and we all had a very nice time.
It was a very long and tiring day for the three of us - my mom, Sathish and me.
July 18, 2002
Today's appointment was at 3:00 p.m. with Dr. Brisinger. The nurse was Ms. Rosa Bera.
After the routine tests were over, Dr. Brisinger came to meet us and did a scan again.
He pointed out the baby's eyes, ears, cheeks, mouth etc. to us and ofcourse we could not
make anything out of that. It was all hazy!!!!!
Then Dr. Brisinger said that the baby was approximately 6 lbs then, and that he/she would
gain some more. He then asked us to keep waiting for labor !!!!!!
My next appointment is on 26th July '02 at 3:40 p.m. with Dr. Lurvey.
This month, we have been working on buying things for our baby. We bought a couple of
dresses, booties, bath robe etc.
After searching in various places, we bought a travel system - car seat and stroller at Sears.
It is the Safety 1st Aluminite Travel System.
We also went to Babies R'Us and bought the "Baby Snoopy" bassinet and bouncer.
We had earlier selected the "Baby Snoopy" theme for our baby's furniture.
July 19, 2002
Today was my birthday. I turned 28 today. My mom presented a ring to me, as I always
have a craze for rings. In the evening, some of our friends came home with a cake.
Sathish gave me red roses.
My friend Kavitha and Murali had invited us for dinner in the evening. She had baked a cake
and had cooked an excellent dinner. After that we played carrom board in their house,
before we came back home.
July 26, 2002
Today's appointment was at 3:40 p.m. While doing the routine tests, the nurse Ms. Nati Mora
noticed the glass bangles in my hand and told me that they were really beautiful.
She liked them very much. I still had some bangles left with me. So, I decided that I
would give that to her during my next appointment. We then waited for Dr. Lurvey in the
exam room. Dr. Lurvey came in and checked the baby's heart beat. He also examined me and
mentioned that the baby's head has dropped down and is fixed and that I might go into labor
anytime. He also mentioned that I was doing very normal.
My next appointment is on 2nd Aug '02 at 9 a.m. with Dr. Lurvey - the last of my
appointments with him before the D-day.
