Thursday, December 22, 2011

My confinement for the 6th time!

On the 23rd of November 2011, at 7.32pm, I gave birth to my 6th baby, Desheya Bisharah Binti Buna, a beautiful baby girl at 2.7kg. She was born at 36 weeks 6 days gestation week and that made her categorized under borderline preemie. My husband picked the name for her (I picked for the other 5) and her name meant Desheya: good day, Bisharah: a female narrator of Hadith.
I was 1 cm dilated when I checked with my doctor that day and he suggested me to induce labor because he knows that I don't have anybody to help me at home with the kids (he delivered all of my children except for my first born Dayana) and the baby is in a good size for her gestation age. I agreed and after 5 hours, I gave birth to Desheya, and without fail for the 6th time too, my loving husband was beside me at the whole time.
I exclusively breastfed Desheya until now, and will breastfeed her til she's 2 years old or until my breastmilk runs out - which is usually the case every time I'm pregnant with the next baby. Tomorrow is my last day of confinement, which is the 30th day! Hooray! It's not that I'm really in confinement. I don't have anybody to help me and my husband only took 1 week off. My sister help me for 4 days and my brother help me in the morning for the first week only because his wife also gave birth to a baby boy, 2 weeks before me. I was on my own. I cook, I clean, I wash, I do every housework that I usually do and still have to care for all 6 of my children.
So, I have to take extra initiative to help myself regain energy and health during my confinement days, as I have to care for myself. I eat chicken cook with kacang ma (motherwort) herb for 14 days straight to warm me up from the inside and I took Sendayu Tinggi's Amme 60 Days pills. I also take GNC's fenugreek supplement to boost my breast milk production. I used the traditional corset / bengkung to warm my stomach and I asked my regular tukang urut / massager to massage me on the 7th day and 30th day.
I bathe with 7 types of traditional jungle products (leaves and branches) which my brother bought from the open air market at Miri for 20 days. I only remember some of the names of the leaves; daun serai wangi, tepus meroyan, daun sembung. The leaves have to boil first before the water can be use for bath. After 2 weeks, I started to exercise a little bit and now, after 30 days, I lost 6 kg. I gain 9 kg during my pregnancy, so I need to lose another 3 kg (but my target is another 5 kg).

Bath herbs

Sendayu Tinggi's confinement set

I sleep with socks and for the first 2 weeks, I cover my head with a head gear and use long sleeves or jacket to cover my body from cold air that is not good for women after child birth. I'm looking forward to my post natal check up on the 5th of January so that I can proceed to make baby number 7! Hahaha.. Just kidding. But if Allah gives me another baby, I will accept it with open heart and open arms! :)
So, for those mums out there who don't have anyone to help during your confinement days, don't worry! Always wake up with positive attitude and energy and you wouldn't feel helpless and always remember to take herbs and take care of yourselves in order for you to take care of your family.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Danish Bisyari's Kindergarten's Graduation Day Performance

Yesterday, 16th October 2011, was Danish's kindergarten Graduation Day. He is still in level 1 so he didn't get anything but he was to performed a group dance of Doraemon's theme song (Chinese version). I'm so proud of him. If you notice the video, there's a part when his Doraemon's face fell down from his shirt and his friends gather around him to help him to put the face back on the shirt. That part makes tears streaming from my eyes because it shows that even though they are 5 years olds, but they have a very high spirit of friendship. Anyway, enjoy the video.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

The Virtues of Pregnancy in Islam

I went for my fortnight pregnancy check up last night and as usual, the whole gang (hubby with our 5 kids) accompanied me. I am 30 weeks pregnant now and the baby is 'still' a girl , according to the scan image. the baby is very healthy and very active! I thank Allah for that. So, after the check up, we went to Parkson at Bintang Megamall to use up our RM30 voucher that will expire on this Friday. The kids gets small toys each and Dayana (my eldest child) bought herself a laptop toy using her money rewards that she got from her fasting days. She even bought me towel flower for my upcoming birthday. Thanks, love!

After we arrived home, I asked all of them to sleep especially those elder two because it's school nights and after the smaller ones were finally asleep, I wind up, relaxing on the bed, doing some reading over the internet with my Blackberry. This 6th pregnancy is the most tired pregnancy that I ever had because beside of being pregnant, I need to take care of 5 other children ranging from 7 years old to 17 months old. How tiring is that! My body is always aching but I still have to do the usual house chores that a housewife needs to do. But thanks to the Osim and Ogawa massage machines (not the expensive 'chair') that my hubby bought, I can at least relax and massage the aching muscles on my body.

I read about pregnancy and I came across this interesting article of the virtues of pregnancy in Islam. I would like to share this with all the readers out there as an information, or even as an eye opener for those wives who doesn't want to be pregnant! Believe me, in this modern days, some women are busy upgrading their career and doesn't want to have a child. But who knows, maybe after reading this, these women will have a change in their hearts. Insya Allah.

SOURCE: http://www.shariahprogram.ca/women-islam/virtues-of-pregnancy.shtml

THE VIRTUES OF PREGNANCY

· When a woman is pregnant with a child, all the angels will make Istighfar (repentance) on her behalf. Allah SWT will, for each day of her pregnancy, write for her 1000 good deeds and erase from her 1000 bad deeds.

· When a pregnant woman starts to feel the pain from contractions, Allah SWT will write in her records as someone who is doing jihad (spiritual or physical struggle) in His path.

· When a woman becomes pregnant by her husband and he is pleased with her, she obtains the reward of a person engaging in fasting for Allah SWT and a person spending the night in ibaadah (worship).

· A woman from the time of pregnancy until childbirth and weaning the baby, is like the Mujahid (someone fighting in the path of Allah, swa) who is stationed on the frontiers of the Islamic land. If she dies during this period, she dies the death of a shahid (martyr).

· Two raka'at salaat performed by a pregnant woman is better than 80 raka'at salaat performed by a non-pregnant woman.

· A woman who is pregnant gets the reward of fasting during the day and of doing ibaadah (worship) during the nights.

· A woman who gives birth gets the reward of 70 years of salaat (prayer) and fasting. For each vein that feels pain, Allah SWT gives her the reward of one accepted hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah).

· If the woman dies within 40 days of giving birth, she will die as a shahid (matyr).
(Hadith)......."A woman that dies in her virginity or during her pregnancy or at the time of birth or thereafter (in nifaas) will attain the rank of a martyr"
Nabi(salalaallahu alayhi wassallam) is reported to have also said ".......When her labour pains commence, the inhabitants of the earth and the sky are unaware of the stores of comfort that are prepared for her. When she delivers and breast feeds her child, then she will be granted a reword for every gulp of milk, if she had to remain awake during the night for the sake of the child, she will receive the reword of emancipating seventy slaves in the path of Allah Ta'ala. O Salaamat! Do you know who these women are? They are pious, upright, with a delicate nature yet obedient to their husbands and not ungrateful to them"

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Another story of a CRUEL MOM!

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Mother, 25, whom nobody knew was pregnant gave birth to twin boys on parents' toilet, smothered them and hid them in laundry basket

By RACHEL QUIGLEY

Last updated at 2:55 PM on 16th September 2011

Lindsey Lowe, from Tennessee, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of her newborn twin boys

A young mother charged with murder has told police she hid her pregnancy, gave birth to twin sons at her family's home and killed the infants by smothering their cries so her parents wouldn't hear them.

Police in the affluent Nashville suburb of Hendersonville arrested Lindsey Lowe, 25, on Wednesday after her father discovered one baby's body in a laundry basket.

According to a police affidavit, the young mother said she didn't tell her family she was pregnant, but believes she got pregnant in January and never visited a doctor.

Police said on Thursday they were trying to identify the father of the twins.

When they interviewed Lowe, she told them she went into labour on Monday evening while on the toilet at her parent's home. She said the first baby fell into the toilet and began to cry.

'Lowe stated that the baby was crying and Lowe did not want her parents to hear and find out about the child,' police wrote in the affidavit. 'Lowe stated that she put her hand over the child's mouth and she stated that she kept it there until the child was dead, which was a couple of minutes.'

A few minutes later, the affidavit says, she gave birth to the second child, who also fell in the toilet. She again put her hand over the baby's mouth and held it there until the baby died, which she said took less time than the first child. She put both babies in the laundry basket and covered them up with blankets.

Scroll down for video

Lowe's father called police yesterday after finding a deceased infant in his daughter's room

Lt Scott Ryan said: 'A child was found deceased in a part of the bedroom that you wouldn't normally find a child and that was suspicious in and of itself'

Lowe said she never checked the sex of the child. Police said both boys appeared to be full term and weighing about 5 or 6 pounds.

The 25-year-old, who works at a paediatric dentist's office, was charged with first-degree murder and remained in jail Thursday with no bond. Police said she is undergoing a medical evaluation.

More...

Police Lt Scott Ryan said on Thursday that he didn't know how she hid the pregnancy, just saying that she didn't tell anyone. He would not say whether Lowe was helping them to identify the father.

Lt Ryan said women with unwanted pregnancies have several options, including a safe haven law that allows newborns to be dropped off at places like hospitals and police stations.

'No matter how bleak the outlook may be for you, let someone help you out,' Ryan said.

The 25-year-old graduated from Western Kentucky University with a degree in interior design in 2008, according to a university spokesman.

There was no answer at Lowe's two-story brick home in an upscale cul-de-sac in Hendersonville in Middle Tennessee.

But another young mother said she could not believe what had happened at their usually quiet neighbourhood.

She told News Channel 5: 'You never would have thought that would happen two houses down.'

Another neighbour said: 'I wanted to throw up. I was seriously nauseated to my stomach, I have a baby, I love her. I'd do anything for her.

'To know that somebody couldn't take the time to love a child and would do something like that just tears me apart.'

The father, who reportedly did not know his daughter was pregnant, found a newborn baby in her bedroom, apparently hidden and lifeless.

Lt Ryan told Channel 5: 'Will always remember this day and the events. It's very sad our heart goes out to the mother the rest of her family and to those children who didn't have a chance at life.'

Totally Inhuman! Mother surfed internet while 12 years old son kills his 2 years old brother

This is just too horrific! What kind of mother is this woman? Read it for yourself and judge it!

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Mother 'surfed internet for Pippa, the Beckhams and more for four hours as her two-year-old son lay beaten and dying'

Boy's brother Cristian Fernandez, 12, charged as an adult over the murder
Mother Biannela Susana charged with manslaughter

By PAUL THOMPSON

Last updated at 5:28 PM on 16th September 2011

A mother spent hours surfing the internet while her two-year-old son lay dying after being beaten savagely by his 12-year-old half-brother, prosecutors claim.

Biannela Susana waited almost four hours before seeking medical help for her son David Galarriago after he had been beaten unconscious.

The 25-year-old looked at sites about Pippa Middleton and David and Victoria Beckham, was on email and did online banking as her son lay critically injured.

Biannela Susana is charged with manslaughter and Christian Fernandez murder for the death of her son David, 2. She spent four hours surfing the web after Christian allegedly beat David before seeking medical help

Prosecutors said she was aware of the injuries to her son as she looked at medical sites to try and get information about child concussions.

She also spent time on the Wikipedia page for 'coma'.

Prosecutors said by the time her son was rushed to hospital it was too late to save him due to severity of his injuries.

Cristian Fernandez, 12, could become America's youngest ever 'lifer' after being charged as an adult over the murder of his brother at their home in Jacksonville, Florida, last June.

Fernandez is accused of slamming his brother's head into a book shelf causing the toddler to die from blunt force trauma.

The youngster was branded a danger to the public when prosecutors brought the first degree murder charge. He had broken his brother's leg in a previous assault and had a history of violence.

As her son lay unconscious, Susana googled for music videos and information about celebrities like the Beckhams and Pippa Middleton

She also searched for information on concussions and what to do 'when someone gets knocked out'

Announcing the adult murder charge against the 12-year-old State Attorney Angela Corey said;' 'It's one where you go, at what point do you step in, so you prevent another murder, and that's how we felt in this case.

'If we don't intervene now and do the tough thing. We have to protect the public from this young man.'

A 200-page report by investigators has revealed how the boys' mother spent four hours on the internet while her son lay dying.

As well as looking at celebrity sites, Susana also watched YouTube and went to a music download website and looked at songs off of an album called 'My Destiny.'

Police said Susana had logged on to the computer at 10.54 and her last search was after 3pm, after which she finally called for medical help

If Cristian is convicted he could become America's youngest ever 'lifer' after being charged as an adult over the murder

A forensic examination of her laptop computer showed that she googled the phrase 'when someone gets knocked out' at 10.54am. She went to a site about concussion 11 times during a 20 minute period.

As well as viewing celebrity sites she also did some online banking before looking up the website for St Luke's Hospital where he son would be taken.

Police said Susana had logged on to the computer at 10.54 and her last search was after 3pm.

Doctors have said her son might have survived had he been taken to hospital soon after being knocked unconscious.

His injuries were so severe when he was admitted to St Luke's Hospital that he was flown by helicopter to Shands Jacksonville hospital's trauma unit where he died two days later without regaining consciousness.

Susana has been charged with aggravated manslaughter.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Golden Churn: Halal in Brunei, Haram in Malaysia PART 2 UPDATED

This is a very important post dedicated to all Muslim regarding Golden Churn. Use your 'akal that had been given by Allah before you make any decision:

Sayyadina Abdullah ibn Abbas said that "Whatever the Qur'an termed as Halal is Halal and whatever it deemed Haram is Haram and about which it remained silent, this is forgiven" (Abu Dawud Vol 2). Hence, to say that something is Haram without it being deemed as Haram is wrong. Shah Abdul Haq Dehlwi, pioneer of the science of hadith in the subcontinent, says in relation to the above hadith that: "The reason why ibn Abbas recited this was to let it be known that something can only become Haram by way of revelation and it was not permitted to make anything Haram through ones own desires"(Ash'atul Lum'aat Vol 3).

Therefore, to say that anything is Haram without there being revelation about it is incorrect in itself. Allah also says "Who has forbidden the adornment with clothes given by Allah which he has produced for His slaves and the pure foods? (7:32). This verse again reveals that no person today has the right to declare a pure item Haram. Prohibition is only proven through revelation.

SOURCE: http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/bidah/en/chap2.php

I don't understand why Malaysia still didn't acknowledge Brunei's finding in this matter though they know that Brunei is an Islamic country and Brunei is our neighbour.

SOURCE:http://www.bt.com.bn/news-national/2011/08/12/mora-all-golden-churn-products-halal

MoRA: All Golden Churn products halal

Golden Churn Creamery Butter on display at a local store in Gadong. The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) declared yesterday that the Golden Churn Creamery Butter products distributed in Brunei are halal and free from pig DNA. Picture: BT/Saifulizam

QURATUL-AIN BANDIAL
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Friday, August 12, 2011

Mixed reactions to Golden Churn butter test results

ALL Golden Churn Butter products distributed in Brunei have been deemed halal and free from pig DNA after authorities tested 17 samples of the butter in the past week, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) yesterday said.
"After evaluating the reports made by the Department of Scientific Services, Ministry of Health, BruneiDarussalam, which analysed 17 samples collected from all four districts in this country, including samples from a neighbouring country, the result of the analysis on all samples have shown that Golden Churn Pure Creamery Butter is free from pig DNA," read the statement issued yesterday.

The Islamic Religious Council made the decision yesterday during a meeting which determined that butter products from Australian manufacturer Ballantyne were safe for Muslim consumption.

The announcement came a day after MoRA bared that the Halal Food Control Division collected new samples for a new round of tests and assured the public that the results would be released immediately.

On August 7, the MoRA advised Muslims to avoid consumption of the Golden Churn Pure Creamery Butter "for the time being" due to doubts surrounding its halal status.

In Malaysia, The Star newspaper reported on Wednesday that the butter would be voluntarily recalled from the Malaysian market due to possible porcine contamination of the butter manufactured in New Zealand.

However, the Golden Churn frozen butter produced in Australia that come in 250g packets in the clear and will continue to be sold in markets throughout Malaysia, said The Star report quoting the Golden Churn manufacturer Ballantyne Foods Pty Ltd regional general manager Hemmat Nasrallah.

The Brunei Times

However, this is taken from The Star, Malaysia and from my opinion, it shows that Jakim didn't do thorough checking on the butter, but the decision was made after finding that the product came from the same factory as that distributed in Sarawak, although brought into the country by different importers. This shows that they didn't do a RETEST on the product but base on ASSUMPTION!

Published: Monday August 15, 2011 MYT 3:42:00 PM

Jakim: Golden Churn butter non-halal

KUALA LUMPUR: The Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) Monday confirmed that the Golden Churn Pure Creamery Butter sold in Malaysia is non-halal.

Its director-general Othman Mustapha said the decision was made after finding that the product came from the same factory as that distributed in Sarawak, although brought into the country by different importers.

"This was confirmed by the agent of Ballantyne Food, from New Zealand, which manufactures the product.

"Therefore, Muslims should not use the product," he said in a statement here.

On July 19, the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department had declared the product non-halal after it was found to contain pig DNA.

Othman said the company had been informed of the matter and it had agreed to withdraw the product from the shelves.

He said the decision was made after discussing the matter with the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry, the Chemistry Department, the Health Ministry's Food Safety and Quality Division, the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department and the Johor Islamic Religious Department on Aug 8.

With the product being confirmed non-halal, he advised holders and new applicants of the halal certificate who use the product to change it with other type of butter which is certified halal and to keep the purchase receipt of the new product as proof.

They are also required to carry out a ritual cleansing process by using clay soil and water, known as 'samak', and it has to be witnessed by the Islamic Religious Department in the respective states, he added. - Bernama

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Bingka Durian Diva

I was craving for durian very badly so I bought 6 of them for RM50 at E-Mart Market. Most of the durian were overcooked so today I decided to make Bingka Durian for the first time in my life. After googling here and there, I decided to come out with my very own version of Bingka Durian for iftar (breaking fast). The result was AMAZING! All of my kids loves the bingka! I'm so proud of my version of Bingka Durian. Hope you enjoy baking it and devouring it! Yummy!

Bingka Durian Diva

Flesh from one whole durian
8 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 3/4 cup coconut milk
1 3/4 cup flour
150 gm melted butter
2 tsp yellow coloring

1. Blend durian flesh, eggs and sugar together until smooth and silkiy.
2. Pour into a mixing bowl. Then add in coconut milk, water, flour and melted butter. Whisk until it's mixed well.
3. Add in coloring and mix it again until the color blend in with the mixture.
4. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees celsius for 1 hour or so.
5. Wait until it's cool before cutting it into pieces.
6. Yummy!

Golden Churn Creamery Butter: Halal in Brunei Haram in Malaysia?

I've been researching about this Golden Churn haram issue since it was reported haram by JAIS. But, why does Brunei's KHEU announced it as halal? Is there any political agenda in Malaysia behind this?

Please read here for more info. As for me, I don't know what to say. I'm very speechless about this issue.
And this is taken from the Brunei Times:

MoRA: Golden Churn keeps its halal status in Sultanate

Blocks of Golden Churn butter on display in a supermarket in Brunei. Local authorities have maintained the brand's halal status. Picture: BT/Rudolf Portillo

QURATUL-AIN BANDIAL AND FITRISHAHMINAN
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Saturday, August 6, 2011

GOLDEN Churn Creamery Butter will maintain its halal status in Brunei despite Malaysian authorities' plan to withdraw the Australian product's halal certification after a batch tested positive for traces of pig DNA.

A senior religious officer from the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Halal Food Control Division (HFCD) told The Brunei Times yesterday that the test conducted by the ministry on the product last month yielded negative results.

"We sent samples for testing to Makmal Scientific under the Ministry of Health last month. The results turned out negative, so for the moment Golden Churn is still considered halal," said Hj Ali Hassan HjAhmad.

The HFCD officer said halal testing on food products was carried out on a regular basis and these tests adhere to the strictest standards to ensure the safety of food for the general public.

"We also test the products when there had been concerns raised such as the pig DNA claims last month," he added.

The butter product has come under scrutiny by the governments of Brunei and Malaysia after various test results showed conflicting findings. Some batches had tested positive for the pig DNA while others were found negative.

Ad East Marketing, Brunei's sole distributor of Golden Churn Butter, is also adamant that the product ishalal and safe to be consumed by Muslims in the Sultanate.

A source from the company, who only wanted to be named Helen, said they would continue to distribute the product despite the decision from Malaysian authorities.

"I am confident with our local authorities here. Since we are in Brunei, our decisions are based on what we have discovered in Brunei, so we will stick with the announcement," she said. "They can't (the local authorities) be wrong, it's an independent scientific analysis done here in Brunei."

Helen acknowledged that some sectors of the public could be caught in between the conflicting findings with Sarawak being "a close neighbour".

In response, Ad East Marketing has started to give out copies of Brunei HFCD's statement published in a local news report last month to retailers to assure them the product is safe for Muslims.

Helen added that purchase orders from retailers and clients have not been affected.

"I am glad that our local authorities have done the test in Brunei and people will be assured by the local findings," she said.

According to a recent report in Malaysian daily The Star, Assistant Minister in the Sarawak Chief Minister's Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman said Malaysia's Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism would revoke the halal certification logo of Golden Churn Creamery Butter.

"The confusion over the matter is now resolved with the decision made by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) in a meeting on Tuesday that the butter is not halal," he said.

Jakim had initially declared the butter to be halal in early July, according to a report in The Borneo Post, but subsequent tests in a Sarawak laboratory detected traces of pig DNA.

"We cannot pick and choose the samples and the decision is that overall, it is banned for the Muslims," said Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman.

Ballantyne, maker of Golden Churn, said in statement dated August 1 that "there are false claims about our Golden Churn Certified Halal Butter brand originating from West Malaysia".

"I can reassure all our valued customers and consumers that both Ballantyne factories in Australia and New Zealand are certified halal by halal certification authorities for all our butter brands we produce and distribute," said Executive Chairman Andrew Ballantyne.

The golden foil-wrapped butter carries the halal logo and has been certified by the Islamic Coordinating Council of Victoria. The Brunei Times