The Immigrant Update: Babies and Blues
Thursday, March 04, 2010 Read more → Cool-Children, muslim diaries, muslim family, new zealand, Zahra-Shah In the name of God, entirely Compassionate, especially Merciful | Peace be with you
In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Peace be with you السلام عليكم
Asalaam alaikum!
Well it's been a mad, long couple of weeks, Muslimness, Facebook, Muxlim, the Masjid and even my family have noticed my absence - if you didn't notice it - in that case I missed you too and, well now you know!
A lot of things have happened on my part of the planet; I was really sick in and out of hospital, which I tell you was an experience and I will spare all the fun details.
As most of you know I am from Canada, and New Zealand like Canada is blessed with free health care, however that's only for citizens and permanent residents, of which in New Zealand I am neither.
Most of the doctors are good, a few worried I wouldn't pay my bill, and with no credit card number sent me home prematurely. On 5 different medications I am doing my best to manage the days and keep food and water down, but it's not the easiest task. The medications make me tired and sluggish and I spend most of my time in bed, like an alien has invaded my body.
So whats the big news, the update?
Oh and that alien that invaded my body is a U.F.O. Unidentified Fetal Object. Yup, me and my husband are expecting a baby alhumduillah.
At nearly 3 months pregnant I am sick as a dog, and look forward to the heavier days that will include less vomiting and possibly more bathroom breaks according to my midwife; well, I don't really want to call her my midwife, she made me feel awkward after a 20 minute discussion on how I am fair skinned, Muslim and from Canada. Yes it was awkward. And she didn't seem to listen or answer any of my concerns, being more pre-occupied with getting photocopies of my passport and how I was going to pay for her services if the government wont subsidize any of the expense.
Recent events have made me think of returning to Canada, like a salmon I am compelled to swim up stream to my place of birth. Being pregnant has made me home sick, and in my rare moments when I am not feeling ill I crave food I can't get in New Zealand.
So according to the Canadian government as outlined in an email it will only take 3-5 months to bring my husband to Canada, that along side heaps of paperwork and the money that goes along with it.
So I may be on the move again! Time will tell inshaAllah.
Even being so sick, I find hope in the things I can look forward to, and try to avoid thinking about the things I am not looking forward to. For instance the inbetween months where you don't look pregnant, you just look like you have been packing in the desserts way too often. Awesome. I look forward to finding out the gender, which is not haram (prohibited) and the baby shower my sister will throw me when I return to Canada. And no they are not haram either [read The Fiqh of pregnancy by Sheikh Yasir Birjas].
My sense of smell is like a blood hound, I smell everything, literally and everything smells offensive. In thinking about getting a job at customs I imagine me shouting: "stop that man with the yellow bag he is bringing in illegal produce, I smell apples!!! Now excuse me while I go vomit!!"
I have tried everything, all the home remedies, I even tried living off of crackers and water but still find myself bed bound and drugged up praying for this stage to pass quickly! Needless to say the smell of my husband's family's house and their food is less then flattering, this is when I am noticing our cultural difference the most and it's tough. My husband is not allowed to eat any food in our flat, he has to go cook in a common room, eat there, come home, change shower, brush, bury his clothes in the bottom of the hamper, but I can still smell him... poor guy.
In the mean time if I'm not around, I can almost guarantee I am in one of two places, my bed by the window, or hovering over a bucket, so forgive me that I am not around as often, but I will keep you guys posted.
As it stands, I feel awful, but I am doing ok. I had my first ultrasound in hospital and our baby is strong and doing well alhumduillah. Until next time, asalaam alaikum.
By The Immigrant Peace & respect ★ www.Muslimness.com
A quick note from → Zaufishan, MUSLIMNESS creator
MUSLIMNESS.COM. Savvy Muslims in Media, trendy blogs and Good News. If you too are like, totally awesome, share your ideas by contacting MUSLIMNESS. Sharing is Khayring.
