Crystal Lotus Restaurant was our first stop during our Hong Kong Disneyland stay.  I felt like I was in a Mulan film.

This is the entrance to the restaurant.

Oh, this bar/seating area is situated right before that entrance I just showed you.

And they have this “digital fish pond” too! Cool, huh?

This is the dining area upon entering. And then when you walk further and turn right/left….

This is what you see.

The place was bigger than what I expected, and with a much grander feel because of the very high ceiling and the chandeliers (they’re bigger than how they look in this photo!).

Spacious and cozy!

Hee-hee! It says, “lunch”! 

Braised Seafood Soup with Crab Roe

I don’t normally finish soup that’s served to save space in my tummy for the rest of the food. BUT for this one, I couldn’t stop myself— I just had to finish it and pray that I won’t get full that easily!

Roasted Suckling Pig with Cucumber and Sweetened Paste in Steamed Piggy Mask Buns

….I found this particularly cute. It’s the Three Little Pigs about to be eaten by one hungry wolf! Look, there are the two little pigs….

….and the other little pig that’s already cooked. hehe (This is just my interpretation)

Disney Dim sum Platter

Three Little Pigs Barbecue Pork Bun and Little Green Men Pork and Vegetable Bun

Cute noh??

Mickey’s Seafood Glutinous Pancake

I’m so happy the kids didn’t have the heart to eat Mickey! I took the burden off them! *wink*

Wok-fried Chicken and Longan with Sweet Sour Sauce

This was perfect! The chicken was still crispy on the outside, yet oh so juicy and tasty inside. And how the sauce coated the chicken…..like I said, perfect!

Wok-fried Shrimps and Disney Root Vegetables

Oh, by “Disney root vegetables” they meant  full of not-so-hidden Mickeys and Mickey gloves!

And the most delicious fried rice I’ve had ever…

Baked Tasmanian Crab Meat Fried-Rice in Whole Crab Shell!

Chilled “Mickey’s” Red Bean Honey Pudding and Chilled Mickey’s Green Tea Jelly

The Green Tea Jelly was a personal favorite of mine. Good thing I convinced the kids that green tea is for grown-ups.

Refreshing Jasmine Tea

I hope you enjoyed looking at the pictures as much as I did eating the real thing…but nah, I highly doubt it! It’s really goooood…. The next time you are in Hong Kong Disneyland, have lunch here!

Crystal Lotus Restaurant is located inside the Disneyland Resort Hotel.

For the past few days, I’ve been having a hard time in deciding what food I want to eat. I know this sounds so unlike me, but really–  it’s been hard for me. I don’t know what I want to eat until the moment that I am already super hungry that my stomach starts to turn all acidic and it starts cramping with so much pain. Ugh. I don’t like the feeling. I never thought the day would come that I’d have to force myself to eat…Although, I must say….I still do a pretty good job in forcing myself. Hehe!

Anyway, since the impossible has become possible, and I do have to make an effort to want to eat, I’ve been spending some time going through food sites, food photos, cookbooks….just to find what my tastebuds would agree with. So, for this week, expect my posts to be all food-related. I also realized that I haven’t published any of my food posts from our last Hong Kong trip too, so now would be a good time to finally do that.

Today, I checked for what I am NOT allowed to eat in preparation for the buffet I will go to once I break free from house arrest. I’ve been planning to go to a buffet even before I found out about my pregnancy, so I really want to be able to go already! (Okay, forget what I said about having to force myself to eat….it doesn’t apply to the thought of being in an all-you-can-eat buffet!) Sadly, most of what I love having at buffets are forbidden for the time being! Tsk. Tsk. Tsk....

Here’s the list that I got from the American Pregnancy Association:

Raw Meat: Uncooked seafood and rare or undercooked beef or poultry should be avoided because of the risk of contamination with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella.

Deli Meat: Deli meats have been known to be contaminated with listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby leading to infection or blood poisoning, which may be life-threatening. If you are pregnant and you are considering eating deli meats, make certain that you reheat the meat until it is steaming .

Fish with Mercury: Fish that contain high levels of mercury should be avoided. Mercury consumed during pregnancy has been linked to developmental delays and brain damage. A sample of these types of fish include: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. Canned, chunk light tuna generally has a lower amount of mercury than other tuna, but still should only be eaten in moderation. Certain types of fish used in sushi should also be avoided due to high levels of mercury. Please see Mercury in Fish for specific types of fish and further information on how to calculate mercury levels.

Smoked Seafood -Refrigerated, smoked seafood often labeled as lox, nova style, kippered, or jerky should be avoided because it could be contaminated with Listeria. (These are safe to eat when they are in an ingredient in a meal that has been cooked, like a casserole.) This type of fish is often found in the deli section of your grocery store. Canned or shelf-safe smoked seafood is usually OK to eat.

Fish Exposed to Industrial Pollutants: Avoid fish from contaminated lakes and rivers that may be exposed to high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls. This is primarily for those who fish in local lakes and streams. These fish include: bluefish, striped bass, salmon, pike, trout, and walleye. Contact the local health department or Environmental Protection Agency to determine which fish are safe to eat in your area. Remember, this is regarding fish caught in local waters and not fish from your local grocery store.

Raw Shellfish: The majority of seafood-borne illness is caused by undercooked shellfish, which include oysters, clams, and mussels. Cooking helps prevent some types of infection, but it does not prevent the algae-related infections that are associated with red tides. Raw shellfish pose a concern for everybody, and they should be avoided altogether during pregnancy.

Raw Eggs: Raw eggs or any foods that contain raw eggs should be avoided because of the potential exposure to salmonella. Some homemade Caesar dressings, mayonnaise, homemade ice cream or custards, and Hollandaise sauces may be made with raw eggs.

If the recipe is cooked at some point, this will reduce the exposure to salmonella. Commercially manufactured ice cream, dressings, and eggnog are made with pasteurized eggs and do not increase the risk of salmonella. Restaurants should be using pasteurized eggs in any recipe that is made with raw eggs, such as Hollandaise sauce or dressings.

Soft Cheeses: Imported soft cheeses may contain bacteria called Listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby leading to infection or blood poisoning, which can be life-threatening. You would need to avoid soft cheeses such as: Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, Feta, Gorgonzola and Mexican style cheeses that include queso blanco and queso fresco, unless they clearly state that they are made from pasteurized milk. All soft non-imported cheeses made with pasteurized milk are safe to eat.

Un pasteurized Milk: Un pasteurized milk may contain a bacteria called listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby leading to infection or blood poisoning, which can be life-threatening. Make sure that any milk you drink is pasteurized.

Pate: Refrigerated pate or meat spreads should be avoided because they may contain the bacteria listeria. Canned pate, or shelf-safe meat spreads can be eaten.

Caffeine: Although most studies show that caffeine intake in moderation is OK, there are others that show that caffeine intake may be related to miscarriages. Avoid caffeine during the first trimester to reduce the likelihood of a miscarriage. As a general rule, caffeine should be limited to fewer than 200 mg per day during pregnancy. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it helps eliminate fluids from the body. This can result in water and calcium loss. It is important that you are drinking plenty of water, juice, and milk rather than caffeinated beverages. Some research shows that large amounts of caffeine are associated with miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and withdrawal symptoms in infants. The safest thing is to refrain from consuming caffeine.

Alcohol: There is NO amount of alcohol that is known to be safe during pregnancy, and therefore alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can interfere with the healthy development of the baby. Depending on the amount, timing, and pattern of use, alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or other developmental disorders. If you consumed alcohol before you knew you were pregnant, stop drinking now. You should continue to avoid alcohol during breastfeeding. Exposure of alcohol to an infant poses harmful risks, and alcohol does reach the baby during breastfeeding.

Unwashed Vegetables: Yes, vegetables are safe to eat, so you still need to eat them. However, it is essential to make sure they are washed to avoid potential exposure to toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis may contaminate the soil where the vegetables were grown.

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So you see, except for the alcohol, I am affected! I am not allowed to have what I always want to have!

It’s a good thing a friend texted me today, and reminded me of one key word to help me with everything that my body is experiencing at this time: patience.

True. Anything that’s worth it, is worth waiting for, fighting for, praying for, and sacrificing for.

Of course, I don’t mean to say that not eating what I want to eat is considered “sacrifice” already (although sometimes it feels that way)— far from it! There are real sacrifices that a lot of moms have to make and to bring it down to the level of food is not right. I just want to keep things light at this time though. I really am experiencing so much pain in my stomach that it’s so hard to think, and even holding a book up to read takes so much effort. All I want to do is lie down and try to find a position that is comfortable…and that alone is a feat!

So now as I am writing this, I do pray for all the other pregnant moms out there. I pray that you will have so much joy and rest as you go through your pregnancy. I pray you will have the strength that you need as you carry the baby in your womb and at the same time take care of your household. I pray against any kind of pain and discomfort. I pray that you will be able to sleep well and function well, and that supernatural comfort will be upon you. I pray for the joy of the Lord to be your strength as you wait on Him to bring that baby into wholeness.

Thank you Lord for what you are doing. Thank you that you have prepared our bodies for such a nine-month-long event as this!

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photo: www.timelifequotes.com

“I got it from her, then she grabbed it from me!”, stated one of the Sy sisters.

Do you notice the craftiness of this statement?

Sister A was playing with something then sister B simply “got” it (of course, sister B is the narrator, therefore the good girl, in the story here). She didn’t take it by force, she didn’t grab it, she just….”got” it. It was okay for her to get it.  Getting something doesn’t sound so aggressive or rude.

But what came next was so wrong— sister A “grabbed” it back! Oh that was wrong! It was rude, it was selfish and it was disrespectful! Sister A needs to be dealt with!

Oh so crafty….

It’s amazing how young children are already so capable of playing with words and using them in such a way that they can water down their own sin and highlight that of their “adversary”.

Of course Dennis and I didn’t buy this one bit. Sister B had to know that she wasn’t just “getting” something. She, too, was grabbing. More importantly, she had to know that she does not have the liberty to change the label of her sin just to make it sound more acceptable.

Isn’t this our default response in general though? When we sin, the natural response of our flesh is to change the label of our sin to make it seem more palatable. It is much easier to confess our sin once we have tweaked it a bit and made it sound less sinful and selfish. In a world where being politically correct is a must, we have gotten used to choosing our words and making them work for our advantage. It’s really no wonder why more and more of our children are growing up not knowing the weight of sin, or that sin is sin. More children grow up thinking that sin is relative, and the consequence of their sin is relative too. The consequence of their sin is now highly dependent on how well they “repackage” it.

As parents, we are to see beyond actions and hear beyond words. We are to look into the hearts of our children. We are to see beyond the packaging and know what is really inside.

More than that, it is also our responsibility to expose sin for what it really is— ugly, messy, harmful. It is our responsibility to show our children that there’s no way around sin— there’s no way to package it or water it down; there’s no way to minimize its consequences either. Sin is sin and that is that. Sin is ugly. And our sin simply exposes our hearts and the ugliness of our flesh.

Finally, when they see sin for what it is, it is our role to show our children the grace and love of God. When they finally learn that there’s no way they can sugar coat or relabel sin to make it any less sinful, we have to be ready to point them to Christ, who already took away all our sin, therefore allowing us to do away with the need to repackage. We have to be ready to make them understand that because of Christ, we have already been justified, freeing us from the need to having to justify ourselves and our actions. We want to make sure that we show them that because of Christ, we have a new identity—a new label, so now we can stop looking for “better” labels for our sin…because now our sins do not define us any more. Only Christ’s work on the Cross does.

I hope my children will understand this— that they are free to confess their sins for what they really are, because God already made the promise that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from ALL (our) unrighteousness”.

Being on bed rest does not have to mean being idle. In the comfort of your bed, there are tons you can do to be productive!

1. Read that book you’ve always wanted to read, but “never had time” to.  

Let’s see how many I can finish this week….

2. Read your Bible and pray (I deliberately put this on number two, not because it comes second to reading other books, but I didn’t want to sound “religious” hehe!)

Nothing is more powerful than time spent in the Word and in prayer!

3. Homeschool your kids.

Amazingly, we were able to cover more lessons today since there were no toys around….therefore, no distractions!

4. Sleep!

We often take sleep for granted. I, for one, would usually rather do something else other than sleep. Now I have no choice. Since I am not yet allowed to have my usual dose of caffeine, I really get sleepy throughout the day! It doesn’t help that the afternoon breeze here in our room makes you feel like you’re at the beach.

5. Read mails that have been left unread because of your “lack of time”.

6. Contact and connect with friends.

7. Menu plan.

This one can be tricky. It might not be so helpful when you’re already always hungry and you have these cravings….but it’s still so fun to do! Hehe

8. Write.

Write mails… write blogs….write whatever…. depending on your brain’s level of cooperation.

9. Enjoy your kids!!!

Enjoy laughing with them, exchanging thoughts and stories with them, reading to them, playing board games with them….just enjoy them! And appreciate the fact that for sure, they appreciate the undivided attention and time they’re getting from you now!

10. R-E-S-T.

That is the whole reason why they call it “bed rest“, right?  Rest recharges us, refreshes us, and prepares us for the next stretch of labor that will come next….soon….

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. (Hebrews 4:1)

Went for our first check-up today. I had some spotting last night so the doctor advised that I go to her first thing today. As it turns out, I do have some bleeding inside my uterus. She said that this probably means that my body is still trying to fight against the new “foreign body” that’s living in my womb, in an effort to protect me. I would have to wait it out and be on bed rest for the time being, until my next scheduled check-up next week.

That long strip on the left side (our view) is the bleed..hehe sorry I don’t know how to edit photos (shame!) 

For the meantime, I shall continue to declare that God’s hand is upon me and my womb, and that even at this moment, He is carefully crafting and putting together every cell — fearfully and wonderfully.

I praise God that with or without this bleeding, He is still God, He is very good, He is all powerful, and He is ever faithful!