getting thinner!

I have never been one for diets...this is a well known fact!

I LOVE TO EAT....it doesn't help that my wife can cook sooo well and I travel as lot

a few of my friends have had a lot of success with a new diet....The 17 Day Diet .Broken up in 17 day cycles it's not too extreme nor is it complicated it seemed to me like your regular run of the mill carb/sugar restricted diet. Since so many of my friends have seen pretty good results I figure that it couldn't hurt to try. I figured that since I wasn't traveling until the baby came this was the perfect time. The results were in a word AMAZING...... I started out at 233lbs and I am now around 216!

I didn't think I would be able to continue this diet when I started to travel again I have since stopped this diet and joined Weight Watchers....BTW the weight has kept off!!

---Crucian

A wonderful surprise

This weekend we received a wonderful surprise..... Friday afternoon Mallu's dad called, he has called every day since little z was born, and we talked for a few minutes. But Mallu noticed that it was strange that he was calling from his cell and when he got off the phone he said "see you later."

Soon we heard a knock at the door.....you guessed it he paid us a surprise visit!

We are all very happy to spend a weekend with "Appupa" (grandpa)

Appupa meets Little z

Inch shows Appupa his robot

Appupa and Little z

In the Indian culture it is traditional to give a new baby a gold necklace

Say hello to Little Z

well you have read the birth story and we realized that we never put up a picture of the little bugger.

At 5 lbs 7.7 oz he is or smallest baby yet...and HE WAS ACTUALLY FULL TERM!!

after two weeks he has gained weight but he is still only 6.3lbs....it just goes to show you that good things DO come in little packages!!

Birth Story

My water broke Thursday, January 19 at 2:15 AM; this is something new for me... my water usually breaks after I've been in labor for a while. I was told by my midwife to come in to the birth birth center when the contractions are five minutes apart. So we waited at home, prayed, walked, did laundry etc.

Twelve hours later my contractions were still very inconsistent, they only came when I was walking and slowed down when I stopped. We decided to head to the birthing center so they can listen to the baby's heartbeat and make sure everything is alright. By 4:00 pm I had dilated only 3 cm with still inconstant contractions

I was looking forward to a natural birth at the Birth Center, not exactly how it all turned out. We tried EVERY natural way to bring on more contractions but nothing seemed to work.

When labor did not progress after 24 hours I was admitted at the hospital from the birth center and they started a Pitocin drip. The Pitocin did increase the contractions but the baby's heart rate dropped during contractions. So they stopped the Pitocin, and pumped fluids back to the womb, and tried Pitocin again. At this point his heart rate was dropping after the contractions.

WIth our midwife's advise we decided to go ahead with the C-Section, before things got more complicated. As much as I wanted another natural childbirth, we just wanted the baby to be safe.

It turned out his neck was bend (his ear was touching his shoulder) and he was stuck that way that's why my labor did not progress.

I really felt all the prayers of family and friends; I didn't "freak out" when C-section was recommend. I felt at peace and stayed calm thru the whole process.

I am praising God for a beautiful little baby boy; also for a wonderful husband who has been taking such good care of us. I feel very blessed for family that came to vista and help out and for the friends who have showered us with meals, gifts and overall being so supportive.

--Mallu Mom

Happy Birthday Inch

They always start out so small!

Eighteen years ago God gave us a HUGE responsibility....a little baby boy to take care of.

As the years have passed that baby boy has grown up into a wonderful, strong, handsome,young man who has a deep love for Christ. Inch, has changed our lives for the better, he has brought us closer to our Lord. Yes, he can be strong willed and stubborn but more often than not he is the cause of great joy and pride! We know God has great plans for you, continue to

stay close to Him and He will guide your path. We love you so very much.

Happy Birthday Inch!

Love,

your family

Inch always loved spending time with his grandmothers "Ammuma" and "Nana"

Question of a Three Year Old

For the past nine months when GMAC asks "when is the baby popping out?" we would tell her after the new year. The new year came and went and no baby. About a week later she said " Mommy I don't think he is coming out; can I just go in your tummy and hold him?"

Impatient

We were praying that our bundle of joy would arrive before "U" went back to Minor Seminary, but that was not meant to be. Yes I was a bit demanding of God, we want a baby, a healthy baby, and we want him to be born two weeks early!!

My thirty-eight week check up reviled that the baby's head is down but he is in posterior position and he not engaged in my pelvis. This is due to the fact belly is so far stretched out. I tend to get very impatient at the end of my pregnancies. Inch was born two weeks early and I think that gives me some kind of hope that it will happen with each baby. As I was walking up to receive Holy Communion last Thursday I finally said "Thy will be done."

Crucian Dad had a four day weekend, this hasn't happened in a very long time. We were all so excited... well he caught a pretty bad cold with non stop cough. Not the best time for him to be the labor coach nor to bring a baby home. This has helped me with my impatients to hold our little boy. Now I am praying for Crucian Dad to get better and the rest of us to stay healthy, and for safe delivery. Please keep us in prayer.

-Mallu

Korean Food

My best friend in high school was from Korea, I would eat Korean food with her all the time. I miss it. I usually crave it when I am pregnant. We discovered a really good Korean restaurant today. We all enjoyed the food and it was a really classy place.

Rose trying out chopsticks

GMAC really liked the soup

U liked everything, he's a "foodie" like his mom!

One of my favorites, Bibim Bap

Christmas Traditions

We've had the tradition of making a birthday cake for Jesus since Inch was two. He asked us if Jesus was going to have a birthday cake for His birthday, so the tradition got started in our family.

Rose made the frosting and decorated the Birthday Cake for Jesus. If you are wondering what's the red stuff on top of the cake, it's rasberry filling. Some of it oozed out from between the layers of cake. It was so yummy.

Brunch Christmas morning

My cousin & the kids

Estew & Appum, is a traditional dish from Kerala I make every Christmas and Easter.

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!

GMAC has been earning straw for baby Jesus' manger

for every good deed she helps to make our Lords bed more comfortable