One of the few perinatologist appointments for which Somnath couldnt be in town and I had driven to the hospital by myself. A routine examination, a quick chat with the perinatologist who told me things were ok and the babies were doing well. As I dressed up after the appointment and bent down to pick up my jeans, I felt something that a muscle pull in my back. Couldnt straighten up and hobbled back to the reception. As I left the clinic, found it difficult to take steps. Walked back and asked them if they had any medications for a pull. I was told that I would need to see my OBGYN. Now given my OBGYN needs to be booked atleast 3 wks in advance, I shrugged and thought it would get better on its own. Drove back home somehow and thought I will lie down for a while. Somnath flew in that night and when I tried to go downstairs to open the door, I was in excruciating pain. I had dumped my bravado and already called my OBGYN office twice. I was asked to take Tylenol and apply a hot compress. On my 2nd call, I was given a physical therapist's number and asked to contact him only to find that his office was closed that day. After spending a sleepless night, I was able to reach the PT's office at 8am the next morning - I have never waited for 8AM as much as I did that day. Magic hands - a look at my gait, a few poses that he had me do, a gentle push with his palm and I immediately felt better. He told me that it was common during pregnancy and more so for a twin pregnancy for ribs to get dislocated. Learning #1. A year and half later I would be plagued by another rib dislocation and two episodes of pelvic bone dislocations in a span of 10 days but that is another story :) Barring this episode and increasing heartburn, my pregnancy sailed through smoothly. I was waiting for my growing belly to be visible and once it did, there was no stopping it :) The heartburn posed a challenge to the 40lbs that I was supposed to put on. The one time in my life when I was being coaxed to eat ice-creams and other goodies rich in protein and that is when it was most difficult for me to think about eating. But I felt good despite all this - the little ones growing inside me, my eagerness to see them and enjoying the impending motherhood. A good feeling that cannot be described in words. A colleague to this day says..you never complained...and I think - I never had a reason to complain :) It was something that I will always cherish - a time of my own with my two little ones and getting to know them.
Chiang Mai Dec 18th, 2023 - A walk through a paradise of flowers, an immersive Thai culinary journey and the Sunday Night Market
We had a wonderful buffet breakfast at The Grand Napat and were ready to start the day. Somnath had booked a half day Thai cooking class and a van pickup from our hotel at 3pm. That meant we had the morning and early afternoon for sight-seeing. I had read about the beautiful flower gardens in Mueang Kaeo, Chiang Mai and even though the main flower season is in February, there were a couple of farms that still had flowers. What is the big deal with the Flower farms? The entry fee includes different props like wide brimmed hats, colorful umbrellas, baskets with artificial flowers and a couple of other things. The fields also have additional props that can be used while posing like a white piano, a swing, an English Red Telephone Booth! We saw many ladies dressed in beautiful dresses and lots of patient husbands with their best cameras clicking thousands of pictures. It is a photographer's as well as model's paradise. It was really tough to choose which farm to go to. Some revi...