A renovation is a renovation..no matter big or small scale..

Hello after 2 weeks of absence! And yes because of renovation! Our kitchen tap broke (like how did it happened right? I am totally clueless too!), water was flowing all over each time we used it, and the cabinet under the kitchen sink got literally watered, and it got spoilt too. Spoilt in the sense because it is made of wood+melamine, wood in contact with water = bulging/separation and rotting. So the entire sink section had to be taken out and re-casted using concrete blocks and cement now. This is how it looks now.

Old cabinet on the left, and new sink support aka cabinet on the right.

Before, it was just like the area around the cooking hob, solid surface worktop with wood cabinet. Now its concrete with tiles. Pros and Cons?

Solid Surface VS Tiled Surface
Solid surface has a seamless surface, looks classier than tiles, can withstand the heat around the hob, wider range of pretty selections. It is generally costlier than tiles. Tiles are relatively cheaper compared to solid surface, super easy to clean, has a super wide selection to view and choose, and wouldn't lose shine (our solid surface lost shine after awhile). Disadvantage of tiles is that it looks tiled (duh), cannot withstand the heat as well around the hob (will result in tiles popping out), if wanna chop whole chicken whole duck then better be careful about the strength of chopping cos the tiles might crack if you chop like chopping the whole table away, and of cos, the grout can trap dirt and look ugly after some time (think the bathroom grout). SO, grout cleaning is one thing to take note of on a regular basis in order to maintain the looks. Or one can opt and pay a higher rate for colored grout if it matches the tile color.

Another option one can go for is to choose marble or granite (preferably) worktop. My mother went for this option in consideration of aesthetics. Granite is a better choice cos its maintenance free. Marble requires regular shining if not it will lose shine after a while and look really retro if you don't mind. China granite is by far the cheapest if I'm not wrong.

Wood Cabinet VS Concrete Cabinet
We had our cabinet and the doors in wood, so with doors there will be hinges. For us it was not a good option. Though we are not staying in view of any seas, but our area is near to the port, so there will be salt winds coming from the port. This corroded almost every stainless steel screws and hinges there are at home. And like I previously mentioned, wood under the sink, not so good. Any water splash or overflow and drips onto the wood needs to be wiped dry immediately, if not will result in rotting. So the tap was literally crying waters onto the cabinet. And also if any cold meat is left in the sink to thaw, chances are condensation drops will form on the underside of the sink, and drip on the cabinet floor as well. Now with the area done up in concrete, we need not worry about water splashing on the to cabinet, no more worries about termites, and even no worries about condensation drips cos the floor of the cabinet is now tiled as well! Just wipe dry the area will do.

I'm not sure about it, but I think it might be possible to request to do partitions in the concrete cabinet. But it might be fixed tho, they might just cast a thing slab across. We did not request for it, but its working fine for us anyway. For wood cabinet, well we all know partitions are guaranteed. In adjustable heights too! For wood cabinet it will look classier as well thanks to the pretty melamine/laminate (the more expensive option) that clothes it.

With our current cabinet, we are having aluminium sliding doors. So its great for us as aluminium doesn't get corroded by the salt winds.

*~*~*~*

Actually after everything finished, I was kind of thinking, in the future when we do reno for the whole house, I might just go retro for the kitchen. Adorning the cabinets with mosaic tiles at some areas. Love for mosaic tiles anyone?

So for anyone out there thinking of redo-ing your kitchen, consider using concrete for the sink area. Another plus point is that when choosing wood cabinet, you often have to 'queue' for your turn to renovate. This is because almost 90% of carpentry workers are contract from Malaysia, and it is often difficult to do reno at the end of the year because the workers schedule are all packed. But concrete workers usually are with the reno companies, so it is easier to plan reno schedule and can start almost immediately. We could have started 3 days after the lady came over to view our situation, but had to delay awhile for hubs to work out his schedule so that someone can be at home while the reno is ongoing (I have to hide in the room with the baby). And doing carpentry works take more time than casting concrete. Our sink support aka the cabinet was casted on the first day, and by the second day its fixed up with the tiles. Fast huh. By the third day all is dried up, with the aluminium taking door measurements and the plumber coming in to connect the pipes and all and we can use the sink already. On the fifth day our aluminium doors are up and works completed.

Like I mentioned, a renovation is a renovation, no matter big or small scale. Because the cleaning up works is the same!! Especially when there is a baby in the house. JCH was being really good despite cooping him up in the room all day long. No play yard, no walker time..basically he's not allowed out beyond our room's door! After the workers leave, SIL and I will be cleaning the house up. Thank goodness she's at home with me. Wiping the dusts and debris off, cleaning the reno area (so minimum dusts get blown into the living area later), mopping the floor for 3 times each day so that its no longer dusty after that, and wiping anywhere else that JCH will come in contact with. Its only the night time, when everyone's home for dinner, that JCH gets to come out and roam the living room area. Imagine the work we need to do! Handling a baby at the same time, and getting ourselves cleaned up afterwards. Not to mention ironing the clothes dry. The dirty laundry still needs to get washed up, and any laundry that doesn't quite dry up will get ironed dry. Oh the days and nights.

 Waking up to find a play pen squeezed in the room for him

 Let me out~~~

On the third day of reno, when the workers come in a little later. JCH having a little morning fun at the sofa.

And then, JCH's cot gave way on Wednesday night. It didn't totally break up. In the middle of the night, I got awokened by a "thud" sound and JCH cried. Checked around the cot and saw that the base went lower at one corner, the corner that was loose for a period of time. Long story but that corner of the cot base was showing signs of giving way for a period of time. Next morning told hubs we really need to throw the cot away. And then, we had to repack the entire room to fit a safe corner for JCH to sleep and have his little moments of fun in the room. Tiring max. More cleaning.

The loose corner

His current sleeping area, taking up to the computer table. Shucks I need to fix the bumper. Packing not quite finished as he can reach really far in now. *sigh*

I began typing this post with the lil' bub playing around my feet. Halfway into the post he signaled to me he wants to sleep. And now finishing up the post, the bub has been asleep for the last 10-15min already. Now, time for me to wash up all his porridge cooking stuff sitting in the kitchen sink.

Christmas is coming~Have you prepared your Advent calender? ;)

Sharing the secret (and yummy) recipes not up on Starbucks' main menu!

Meant to type the post on BM vs FM, but time flies while I was checking out FB updates from all over. So, I just have to share this before sleep time.

Starbucks' Secret Drinks!

Why secret? Because they are not on the main drinks' menu. Why not? Because, they are created by the very fun loving, creative, inquisitive, experimental blahblahblah baristas working in Starbucks for the very siao-onz and mad regular customers! These drinks are for real, its only a matter of whether certain ingredients/base drinks is/are available, as some tend to be seasonal. I've just ordered a Butterbeer Frap and its yummy! I would say its more for those people who loves milk chocolate rather than dark chocolate. Yes, there is a distinct difference between the taste palates of these two groups of chocolate lovers.

Right now, recipes requiring toffee nut syrups are available for sampling. BUT! I just overheard one of the baristas mentioning that they are out of cinnamon syrup. So, check with the outlet's barista, probably its only the outlet I've just visited that's out of cinnamon syrup. They are always friendly. And be nice when asking for these special concoctions because these are essentially customized drinks! They would not know how to put up a Red Velvet Frap or Banana Split Frap just by names. Save the recipes in your mobile and show it to them. That's what I did when I requested for Butterbeer Frap, just show the recipe to the barista!

Alrighty then, enjoy experimenting these new flavors!

Insomnia

Seems like insomnia is not really a thing of the past. It is still continuing!

These days, it has been quite difficult to get JCH to sleep at his bedtime. Somehow, he is just super wide awake. So, what happens is that, with all the bottles/cloths/bibs/wipe up bucket unwashed, hubs and I will sleep before JCH sleeps! Only then he will get to sleep a little while after hubs and I are knocked out. He doesn't like crawl or turn. I think he just wants to make sure like he is not missing out on anything fun with dad and mom? But at night time, we try to keep things toned down after I had read of such mentality that babies might have which would lead to them unwilling to sleep.

Basically, we have to get into our bed with him, turn on his lullaby music, snuggle. And he will start crawling all over, attempting his standing feat all over, get a little more exhausted and willing to lie down quietly. Being tired as we are, we'll just drift to sleep effortlessly with the lil' one snuggling in between and he will drift to sleep following. Then, I will awake around 12plus or 1plus morning time and start washing up all the things. So, that was what just happened. After that, here I am, wide awake, not able to get back to sleep no matter what. It's like a deja vu sometimes. During pregnancy this pattern of waking up at 1plus morning happens so super often. Next I know, I will still be wide awake at 3plus, may be sleeping around 5am.

When JCH was a lot younger, as in when he was still really small and waking up at every 3hrs interval through the night, it was ok with me to have interrupted sleep. Because I would be able to catch up on lost sleep time in the day when he have his 2hrs nap. Now with a 9.5mths old little monkey, nap time for me would mean a lot of things not getting done. He is already having longer waking hours, during which have to plan his playtime and read to him. And during his long nap session in the afternoon, is the time when I have to do the things that I can't do when he is awake. So, no nap time. Or rather, I try to avoid till really cannot maintain an awake mind, then hubs will return to a super duper messy room. Now, the room is in perpetual messy state, and then it will be super duper messy.

Couple the abovementioned condition with JCH's separation anxiety, I can totally imagine the mess in the house of some of my friends with babies older than JCH when their babies had separation anxiety too. It is a challenge to get anything done (especially cooking and laundry) with the baby needing your physical presence. But at the same time, he has got to get used to not being able to see mommy sometimes.

Quite thankfully, JCH had like 2 play dates last week, when I could have a brief respite as he mingles with the other babies and my friends and/or hubs can take over a little while.

One was a pretty last minute fixed up, when a friend had to take urgent leave to rest up after her girl just didn't sleep well through the night. We just met up at another friend's place (another SAHM), put the babies together on a single sized mattress, and its a mess of babies' bodies all over the mattress!!

 

They would just squirm and roll all over the place, crashing into each other sometimes. With them not knowing what are dangerous acts, we just gotta keep looking out so that they don't poke each other in the eyes or pull the hair blahblahblah. The youngest still couldn't sit for long and can't crawl well yet. The other two gorgor and jiejie are just all over the place, trying to grab each other's biting toy and their mommies' water bottles. They say the grass is greener on the other side eh? It was quite hilarious and relaxing in general. They babies entertain each other or themselves, while mommies could chitchat and just do supervising, at the same time they are actually play-learning! It is a plus considering all three babies here are the first children of the families. Wished such play dates could happen more for JCH. Somehow he would get a little distracted and forget to cry for me, though he still wanted to keep me in sight. But of cos I can stay in his sight, I didn't have anything else to do other than stay around the area (except for toilet time) with my friends! XD

 

Another was at a friend's daughter's first year birthday party. It was really good that they have a play yard at home too! So babies and young tods are just put into the play yard with some toys and balloons and they start playing!

 

It was funny all the same. Especially with JCH meeting twins for the first time. He was absolutely baffled, can see it from his signature blank look when he was trying to figure things out. Putting babies together and watching them play is just a very funny time! You would see them interacting cautiously at first, checking each other out, and then later clash of the baby titans as they start reaching out for each other and they start talking too!

Lately JCH has not only been having separation anxiety, but also stranger anxiety according to a friend who is a doctor doing his rotation at paediatrics currently. JCH is wary of strangers (something we have observed), and he is not doing very well in unfamiliar environment with strangers. He would get spooked out and want to look for me and be carried. Its super evident when we went for my friends' housewarming, he just cried and stop, and cried and stop, continuous cycle. Until I carry him (daddy wouldn't do~), and he will still be giving that wary look to other adults and cry if they start playing with him. Even at the birthday party too, he did cry but a lot lesser compared to the house warming. Somehow, he handles his stranger anxiety better in the day. Or was it because he sees so many babies around it made him feel safe?

It's the same even at my mom's place, a place he is familiar with, in the evening time. Somehow, the trigger time is evening, when the sun is setting. He would fuss and cry. But on reaching home, he is back to normal, playing, smiling, laughing. Although he would still cry for me.

The elders would keep saying, "see how your baby treats you now, you will know this is how you treated your mother when you were this young". But my mom says I was very guai wor (meaning obedient). Hmms..

Anyhows, think am finally getting a bit sleepy. Better capitalize on it and try to get back to sleep.

Last picture before sleeping, the Haenim play yard that I didn't post previously aka JCH's castle! Yet to name the castle, still thinking of a name.

The prince getting busy in his own castle!

Tah tah~

 

Post note: Will be giving my two-cents worth on breastmilk and formula milk. Have been witnessing some situations about BM vs FM recently.



Getting excited for Christmas!!

Am back at my mom's place for today, kind of like rest n relax for a moment. While the little monkey sleeps, i surfed IKEA's app and saw that they have the CHRISTMAS section up! But there were only few items. Nonetheless, enough to get me excited over Christmas!! Love love Christmas! Other than the fact that it is the day when Christ was born, i love how the atmosphere would feel so dramatically different from normal days, thanks to the mad effort in commercializing this day to pump up the consumer spendings.

And already i'm thinking whether we should be setting up a tree at home. With JCH being still so small at the moment, i doubt he would really appreciate the tree. But some deco in the house would definitely make the season feel more prominent. And i remembered, the Canon Creative Park Christmas Collection!! Love that Canon has such a section that allows the general public to print and do paper deco, they even recommend the type of paper to use for best effect!! So, this year's Christmas will be decorated with templates from Canon Creative Park mostly. Until next year, when JCH is nearer to 2yo, probably then we will consider getting a tree for the season.

Still, i am going to visit IKEA soon to soak in the season atmosphere!! Not forgetting Orchard road too! Probably snap some pictures of JCH with the many Christmas deco they have along the road. Ah the fun! Plan plan!

*yawns* May be i should nap too. JCH has been sleep-crawling last night n 2 nights before. Making him tired and me tired.

It has been quite a journey [random post]

Flashback.

Christmas Eve 2011, we got happily married. Went into 2012 with a new status, new planning.

April 2012, I was serving my notice after resigning from ex-co.

May 2012, went for honeymoon. Came back mid-month and started job with a new company.

June 2012, the night before my thyroid aspiration was due, did a pregnancy test, went to the nearest GP clinic for double confirm. JCH was with me, forming. We were ecstatic. And then later I was worried. Spoke to my then superior about it. She decided to go ahead and confirm my status earlier as a formal employee. I was really thankful, though I know that by MOM law they couldn't sack me off just because of my pregnancy. I tried to work, but it was difficult for me back then. Fatigue was bad. I think made worse that I couldn't eat proper meals. Nope I didn't have morning sickness. I was just not eating. And then there's the night time sleeplessness. I wasn't working well and it's not good for me either.

Mid-way through second trimester, I had bad fever. First temperature taking was 39deg C at KKH. Subsequently subsided and given a 2 weeks hospitalization leave. That was when I was discussing with hubby possibility of me resigning from work totally. We couldn't find a nanny to take care of JCH when he will be born in 2013. My health wasn't doing well. I wasn't resting well. I couldn't work or help my superior. Back to work after ending 2weeks of HL, told my superior I needed to talk to her. Turns out that she wanted to talk to me about the same issue.

December comes and I'm free as a bird. Work has ended for me at the moment. Focus was just to rest well, eat better (which thankfully I was eating better after the entire fever episode), and prepare for JCH's arrival. We had our first wedding anniversary and second New Year celebrations as a wedded couple.

January, one more month till JCH was due in Feb. My last visit to gyne was on 18-Jan (around that date) for one last testing for any bacteria along the birth canal and whether I would need to be put on antibiotics for that. Next visit was scheduled 25-Jan for the test report and checking on JCH's progress and positioning. We were very excited and really looking forward to finally meeting our baby. But was hoping JCH would come out like before 10-Feb, before my gyne flies off to London to spend CNY with his pretty girls and wifey. There will be other gyne around to take over of cos, but we just wasn't that comfortable with it. Afterall, it has already been a 9mths visit and interaction with this current gyne right?

One day before my visit was due, we got the early morning alarm from JCH. Mucus plug out, water bag burst. This alarm woke hubby up VERY EFFECTIVELY. Got showered and pack in the final things (luckily I have been kiasu enough to keep packing on and off in Decemeber) and we rushed off to the hospital. I remember it was a Thursday, because it was my gyne's half day off! We reached hospital around 10plus in the morning, he was down to check on me before noon in his usual office wear and cutesie bow tie. And in the afternoon and evening time when he came in to check on me again, he was in his exercise outfit! We were like "WOW didn't know he is that well-toned!". It was a long wait because the little boy didn't make his appearance until 7plus in the evening! Took his own time literally, had to be induced so that we wouldn't end up going for c-sect option. I have nothing against c-sect, just that I don't want to have a c-sect at my first birthing. VBAC is possible but is dependent on alot of factors.

Fast forward to now.

He was one month old, then two months, then four months, six months, and now nine months. He could breath, and cry, feed, poop, pee, fart, smile, sleep, wake, whirls his hands and feet around involuntarily, to now controlled movement, then he could chuckle, to now his wide range of speech sounds, went on to swimming, then could hold his neck steady, prop himself up during tummy time, had his first puree, turn himself around, crawl, took his first porridge, stand, take his little steps and dancing (erractic feet movement that doesn't constitute walking are termed as dancing! ha!), and sprouting those 2 little milk pearlies.

He is growing so fast. It doesn't seem like I had just given birth to him back in January, it just seems like he was born a long time back! Its funny, like I felt that he is growing too fast, but yet time like just doesn't register to me as having passed by that fast (9mths only?!)!

Soon we will be heading into our second wedding anniversary with JCH right by our sides, followed by his first birthday a few weeks later, and for these 2 years we have been spending with different lifestyles, expectations and thankfulness. Come 2014 (yes I am already looking forward to 2014!) there will be lifestyle change again. Just so very thankful for everything; the fact that I could actually be SAHM, take care of JCH personally, spending all these precious moments together as a family, all the friends supporting me, the new friends I've met, and so much more.

Not sure what motivated me to write this post, probably because it is the end part of the year already, sort of a reflection may be. To also remind myself of the goods that I have in my life, some of which are envied by others, while I envy some of the goods that they have too. Good as all these words may sound, there have been downs as well. This is life afterall. But the downs shall be left unsaid, except if I have previously blogged about it. May be because this week has been a little low for me. It happens when there is only a single breadwinner in the family I guess and there is nothing much I can do at the moment about the situation. I needed something to perk me up I guess, especially when even my comfort tea couldn't work its magic like it does normally.

Anyhows, it is still a good time to start your own reflection of your year. Focus on the good and be thankful. Look forward to 2014 and your expectations for it. Remind yourself of where you could improve on from the lessons learnt in 2013 so 2014 can be better.

From now, I will be pretty busy. There will be a minor renovation going on as our kitchen sink is damaged, so is the cabinet below it. Plus I have started on his first year celebration deco project for about one month already, preparing the things needed. Why so rush? BECAUSE THE MONKEY'S BIRTHDAY IS ONE WEEK BEFORE CHINESE NEW YEAR! And I'm trying not to spend if I can replicate the deco myself. So much cheaper to draw yourself, and the rewards is much more too. All these has to be finished by Decemeber. So after I'm done with his birthday stuff, it is time to prepare the CNY things. Right after his birthday party, all the things will be taken down, house rearranged and prepared for CNY. What a rush! And then there is Christmas preparation also! Oh BEE-ziness!

I will share more on his birthday at the appropriate time! :D So excited for it! The little monkey is turning one!

Another Joolz post! *sheepish grin*

It took me 2 weeks to finish up this post!! Just couldn't get my hands on the computer for long. The little 9mth old monkey is ALL OVER THE PLACE!! He is so good at his new found mobility - flycrawling across the bed, "driving" around the house in his walker, and today crawling on the floor - that he has kept me really busy and tired. Plus, WE ARE ALL PLAYING PLANTS VS ZOMBIES ONCE AGAIN!! Haha, so there goes my computer time while JCH is napping at the times when I'm not napping with him.. PLANTS VS ZOMBIES. How apt for Halloween October. :P

Why another post on Joolz when I've just done one previously? This is to rant about one of their newly released product: the Joolz Summer Seat!! Yes finally got my hands on it during the 4-6Oct Baby Market Baby Fair.

It is not one entire stroller seat, its just a fabric. So one can purchase the Summer Seat fabric, and replace the usual stroller seat fabric with this. It is so easy to put on and take off and the regular stroller seat fabric can be then kept and stored. So far, this is the only mesh seat I've seen in the stroller market here and it is really useful for the hot weather in SG! It doesn't mean that baby gets chilled in cold weather. How cold can our weather get? XD

When I first saw this product, I had no idea it was just a fabric. Was at Taka one day and thought I could pop by the Joolz area to ask the Mr. Salesman aka always there Kumar. And at the end of the conversation (hubs and I brought JCH out in Ergobaby that day, we always bring JCH out in Ergobaby whenever we head to Taka part of Orchard), my understanding is that it might not fit some older Joolz model. So its like a seat right? Never mind I told myself, during the 4Oct-6Oct Baby Market Baby Fair I will just bring my stroller there and check things out. Met Martin (Kumar apparently there and hyper busy with parents..I think Martin's like the boss?) and he took out a box about the size of A5 paper, and I kept asking whether it will fit my oldie Joolz. He kindly got one of the staff to fix on for me while I made payment. And wala! I could only laugh at my own worry and stupidity in that sense. Boy am I so happy that Joolz's booth was RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE of the baby fair! Parents who went will know what I mean.

So! Armed with the new stroller seat fabric, I took JCH out the very next day. He knew the seat was different, giving that perplexed look as he always do when he comes in contact with new things, but was soon enjoying it. The Summer Seat is definitely working. How can we (hubs and me) be so sure? JCH's back doesn't feel as warm as it previously did when we carry him up. And his head is not showing beads of perspiration at the back of his head. Hubs said it will definitely work as the logic is same to a Deuter mesh bag he had. I did also (during safe parts of the route that takes us to the MRT station), place my hand next to JCH while he was facing me, and felt the winds coming through the mesh. So super pleased with this buy. <3 <3 <3 Because of the mesh fabric, JCH actually starts looking THROUGH the seat sometimes ignoring me! Hmph!

 Took Joolz to Hyatt with us for wedding dinner.

 

Out and about on a cool day.

Now that he can sit up on the Joolz, it is real enjoying to see him taking in the surroundings like a super pro baby kaypoh! When he does this, he is actually LOOKING around and not SNIFFING people's butts okay! So happy with this stroller like seriously. He gets better visual contact with people and interaction with him is so much better. This better quality interaction with JCH at this moment is crucial (to me) because he is at a stage of heightened awareness and maximum curiosity. Also he is displaying stranger anxiety now, so allowing him better visual contact and physical interaction with me and people around somehow eases that as he takes the cue from me better. He always looks to me for the "okay and safe" cue. So I guess somehow it boosts his confidence and friendliness a little? I guess. :P

And while browsing around, came upon this video from Rock-a-buy-baby who did a really wonderful review of Joolz stroller. It has everything down clearly that won me over in Oct/Nov 2012.

 

 

After all these if you are moved to test the Joolz out, MARK DOWN ON YOUR CALENDERS NOW! Joolz is going to be at the upcoming Parenthood Fair 2013 (Booth C25) which will be held at Expo Hall 5B, 8-10 Nov, 11am-9pm.

 

That's all for now. Until I get the standing board. Hehehe.



Life is a full circle

It's been 3 weeks plus since grandma was admitted to hospital. She was in ICU for 2 weeks, during which her behavior was severely erratic. She spoke in very clear, precise and accurate Mandarin to us, was in excellent spirits, could see the clock on the wall and kept reminding us that it's time to go home, telling us things that were like her last words, kept talking and not wanting to sleep when we were in her room to accompany her, said she saw my dad visiting her when actually my dad only touch down in SG the next evening, said she saw my uncle's wife when actually she was (and still is I guess, nobody really knows her status now) in Thailand.  All these despite her vital stats not looking well. Doctor saw that her condition stabilizing and not deteriorating, transferred her from ICU ward to High Dependency ward, and told her children that if her condition continue stabilizing, they would transfer her out to general ward.

This is definitely not good news. Out at general ward, the doctor and nurses would not be on high monitoring her condition. I've seen patients being wheeled out of ICU in stable condition, only to be wheeled back to ICU a few days later worse than ever, if not same bad as when they first entered ICU.

She's been in general ward for 1 week already. Her spirits not as good as when she was in ICU, and she has reverted to speaking in Hokkien. And it is clear. Doctor has told the adults that their mother is having organ failure now. What they can do now, is to continue giving her the basic treatment and whatever medication she needs. Like if she's uncomfortable and having pain, they will continue giving her painkillers. If she's having problem at the heart for example, they will assess and give her the necessary medications to help improve the condition or slow the deterioration. But if she have another infection, as agreed by the children, they will no longer put her on life support. What is left of her now, is only 30-40% of organ functioning. She's is plainly put, dying away. As her organs fail, she will feel pain and discomfort. My brother told me that she told the doctor to put her down because of her sufferings. It is painful to hear that she is dying away bit by bit, and she is suffering as it goes. She is telling my mom that she wants to go home, she wants to pass on now when she is still looking good. My mom laughed at her, still can think about looking good. Grandma has clear awareness. We are all aware her time is coming, but when?

We are born into this world. We will then go through life on this world in a certain manner. Similarly, when we get old for those who do, we will get sickly and eventually pass on. Life is a cycle. I get it, and I know there comes a day when my grandma has to leave us. But I wasn't quite prepared to hear or see her wasting away bit by bit and she is very well aware of it and expressing the pains. This is the excruciating part of it. Painful for anyone to bear.

Since her transfer to general ward, I haven't been able to go visit her frequent. JCH and I both got a bit sick at some point in time. Plus I don't have anywhere to park JCH with someone to look after him while I go to grandma's bedside. Bringing JCH to stay in the general ward for prolonged time is something I try to avoid. He is still afterall a 8mth old baby. Now that grandma is in general ward, the caregivers have to rotate their timing so that someone in the family is with her by her side 24/7. Just managed to visit her on the first day that she got transferred to general ward. She was too exhausted to talk and keep awake from all the shifting. Plus they took off the oxygen supply from her. Went to visit her yesterday. They put on the oxygen supply for her, she's still on tube feeding, sleeping when I was there, only waking up when I was leaving with hubby and JCH. Had a brief talk with her, is she uncomfortable anywhere, is she eating the hospital porridge well, telling her I will make some baby porridge for her to eat instead bcos hospital porridge is too bland, told her to rest well and that I will visit again and left.

I guess, the only thing that I can do now, is to visit her, let her see JCH's growth by sending pictures and videos to my mom and brother so they can show grandma, and make baby porridge for her after her doctor gives us the green light.

She is ready to leave, she is contented to have seen us all, told us her last words for us, told my mom her list of last words for my mom to carry out, she is at peace to go. I just pray that her sufferings can be shortened.

I will take care of JCH as she told me to. Hubby will take care of us as he promised my grandma.

Thank you for all prayers

Thank you dear friends, for all your prayers. Thank you good Lord, for your mercy and grace.

My grandma was rushed to hospital on Tuesday (17sep) after dinner, when she could neither sit or lay down due to excruciating pains in her abdomen. She was wheeled to ICU after doctor's assessment. Prior to this, she had been suffering from severe discomfort from time to time, most often after meals, which according to my mom was supposedly "an old person's ailment" - she was feel severe chills so bad her body ached, but would usually recover from the chills after covering herself with blanket and perspiring while she lays covered with blanket.

On Wednesday, she was in stable conditions. By wee hours of Thursday, her ability to breath was declining, so was her blood pressure. By dawn, doctor instructed to put her on full breathing aid. A check revealed she was bleeding in the stomach, plus another check (i'm not sure what's the timeline for this check, but both findings were made known to me on Thursday morning, when my mom called me to tell me to rush down to the hospital for a possible last time with grandma) saw that she had a gallstone block entirely the bile duct, and toxins had already accummulated in her pancreas. That was when we were all aware that her stomach issue had in fact been chronic pancreatitis, coupled with the bleeding souce in her stomach, i remember hearing "blood poisoning". She was in septic shock leading to breathing failure.

An urgent op was carried out to stop her stomach bleeding, drain the toxins and remove gallstone. A simple but high risk op, given that her blood pressure was dangerously low, she's over 85, and that they were doing the op guided by x-ray, they had no idea how much she has bled out internally. It was to be a half hour to 45min wait, but it took 1hr 30min before we finally see her wheeled out of the OT.

Post op, doctor told us they managed to stopped her bleeding, and planted a tube to bypass the gallstone to drain the toxins, which hopefully will be passed out by her own body. They were unable to extract the gallstone (root cause of all these complications) because her white blood cell count was so low, they are worried there's not enough to clot leading her to bleed out during op, and the gallstone is quite large in size.

From Thursday up till today, though still in critical condition in ICU, she has been showing progress in recovery and also in responding to us each day. First was stabilized vitals, then she's recovering partial voluntary breathing so doctor had her oxygen pipe downsized, sedative dose was lessened (they had to sedate her bcos she fought to remove the oxygen pipe initially), developed mild fever yesterday (a sign that her body is recovering the ability to fight the pancreas infection), and today recovering her blood pressure. We were told that if she continues with her current rate of recovery, the oxygen pipe can be expected to be removed in days to come.

Though its been only a span of 4 days since my first hospital visitation, it felt like i've been going there for months. Needless to mention what it must have felt for my mom and her siblings.

Though i've been through the loss of FIL, seen it all, been through it, it is not seeing her in tubes and not moving that makes me want to cry, it is when i speak to her, seeing how she struggles to get up or repositions herself due to the discomfort, and seeing her cry through the closed lids, it made me choke.

Though she is recovering at a good rate, i dare not hold my hopes too high, and fall too hard later. A lesson i've learnt.

Since the first hit with FIL years ago, i have been running a particular scene in my mind over and over, inception maybe, to be ready for the day when my grandma have to leave this world. I cannot bear to see her going, but it is inevitable. So i just keep prepping myself to hold up with the heartache and all. But when the possibility of such a day is here, no amount of mental prep previously done can do. It perhaps had hold me together and avoided emotional breakdown. Which i really needed because i had to attend to JCH. And thanks to the support and small messages from friends who knows because i had to cancel appointments. Thanks to LOF for supporting through prayers. Thank God for healing my grandma.

Please my dear friends, spend more time loving and visiting your old folks. Too much of their lives had already passed them by. Cherish the remaining times they have with you. Love them while you can. Also please take note of their health. To them, pain below the chest and above the butt = stomach ache. This i believe is why my grandma wasn't diagnosed promptly with her gallstone issue and led to other complications affecting her organs. Take note of your own health too. Read on pancreatitis. It is so unknown but can be so fatal.

Please, do continue praying for my grandma's recovery. And also for the wellbeing of my family members: my brothers, cousins, mom and her siblings who visit everyday. Even for me, by visiting one hour max a day (skipped Sat's visitation for Meilin's farewell as she's going to be in UK for the next 2yrs at least), i'm feeling tired. Emotionally tired i guess. Physically maybe, having to brave the sun pushing JCH to take the train to the hospital. Thankfully JCH has been quite coorperative. Feel so sorry that i have not been able to read to him or play much with him for these few days.

Take care. Good night.

Haenim Playzone!

We've collected the play yard from Kiddy Palace! Its a standard set, plus 2 extension wall pieces, and is without music. They are out of the music play yard and don't have news of when the new shipment would come in. We took away 2 connectors due to space constrain and tied the middle gate pieces together, and its a decent playing area for JCH now!

FYI parents who would consider buying this, Kiddy Palace offers it in:

- Colors: Beige/green and Blue/red
- With or without music (in both the above colors)
- Extension: Wall extension and Door extension

Of cos their play yard set doesn't include the abc playmat (playmat from Toys R Us @ $50).

It is possible to order by calling and to arrange for self-collection or delivery (free with purchases amounting $250 and above). We bought ours for $139+$(49.90*2). So do the math, i'm lazy now. XP Always check with them for their current prices. We did self-collect and its a hassle. Bleah.

The play yard is quite sturdy on its own when connected together. Plus the suction pads at the bottom of the pieces (2 suction pads per piece), the play yard doesn't move around. Afterall, this isn't fixed to a wall so don't expect it to support an adult or even child leaning fully on it.

Hope this helps any parents out there looking to buy.

Pictures will follow tomorrow.

hello there dusts and cobwebs!

Its been a long time since the last entry, like 2 to 3wks already? And the main reason for my lack of post: RUNNING MAN!! For the past nights, hubby and I have been playing catch up on this variety show, sometimes 3 episodes per night. So, totally not in the mood to type post. Each time I watch and try to type something, by the time I reach like the end of first sentence, my mind is all on the show already, forgetting what I had intended to type immediately. So highly addictive. The addiction is further fuelled when we bought the mini HDMI wire to connect our tablet to the TV in the living room. Watching in the room is difficult for us, we can't laugh because it will wake JCH up.

Initially, I had the stamina to watch through the night. As the days passed, plus the drowsy medicine that I have to take, it soon became that I would nap in the afternoon with JCH, and then play catch up with the cleaning up and show watching at night. There's like hyper a lot of cleaning to do for this moment. Because of the rearranging of cabinets items and spaces throughout the house prior to this period of Running Man, I could move chunks of equipment from our cramped up room to spaces in the living room and kitchen. *and then now I'm singing to Spice Girls on Class95..ok back focus back!* Almost all are equipment used for preparation of JCH's food and his toys. So, wiping down of cabinets, arranging and rearranging of cabinets. Plus we disposed some old furnitures and bought new ones so that a space could be freed up for JCH's play yard. So you know what comes with new furnitures. Washing and house cleaning.

THEN, there's buying of more toys for JCH! And no, those are not like, impulse buying, they are all planned buys. See, JCH started out with really minimum toys for him to fiddle and occupy his attention. And story books too, I've just started buying when he passed 7mths. When there are new acquisition (of JCH's equipment), there follows a regime of thorough washing down and sterilizing process before JCH can lay his hands on the toys. More washing! Plus JCH is getting more cereals and porridge now, more more more washing. Anyone who cooks knows that the preparation process is the most tedious process, and I'm having double the tedious things going on as I bulk prepare the ingredients for cooking. Why? I hope that JCH will be able to enjoy variety in his eating process, and not only have sweet potatoes for like one week. =X I would be pissed if that happened to me. Hahaha.

At the end of all the busy-ness, endless washing, I felt like its all worth me spinning around, and having my days and nights reversed. He's now taking homemade (white rice) cereal spiced up by carrots, apples, nectarines and (coming up) brown rice, barley, green bean cereals in addition to the commercial yoghurt cereal (I have no idea how to prepare yoghurt cereal.. >.<), homemade (jasmine rice) porridge with carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, ikan bilis, egg yolks, (coming up) radish, chicken and asparagus, and not forgetting bananacado puree. Oatmeal in the pipeline. Also seeing how he has grown now (in terms of size, motor development, mind development): putting on healthy weight, showing good appetite in semi-solids, taking good naps and good night sleeps, having very keen interest to interact with people, singing along when being sung to, watching Pororo, interest in being read to and fixated at the books, seems like learning to use his hands to feel our faces and materials, very keen interest in eating almost anything too, and continuous effect in trying to crawl. No matter how tired out I feel, down, lonely, sick, every night I get lifted up by looking at his sleeping face. Also these days he's been really sweet. When on his tummy, he will turn and smile in my direction when I talk to him, and turn towards me (he is super proficient in turning now) till he knocks into me, and just lies on me any how and flash that smile. He does this to his dad too.

Alright, time to sleep now. Gonna update tomorrow onwards with pictures. Have like a lot of photos in my phone now, but didn't upload anywhere. Just been too occupied with JCH, especially now his attention needs to be filled in with activities to excite that small little growing mind.

Looking forward to the arrival of the play yard, and it will be time to put up the finishes that will help to keep the baby mind entertained while mommy gets busy either with stuff, or rest. XD Oh and busy with looking for new recipes for this growing eater! Nomnomnomnom!

Was back at my mom's place today, just so I can buy the food jar for JCH's porridge. Now, we can go out and JCH will still be able to have his porridge!

I think this model is relatively new, can't seem to find pictures online (or I just didn't input the right search words). So went out and open up the bag to take the pictures. In consideration that it can get difficult to open the lid of the food jar after hot food is locked inside, Tiger has this two holes that you can use a toothpick to just poke any one of the holes to release some pressure within the jar before unscrewing the cap. This will make opening the food jar easier and less muscling around. Tangs@Vivo City is selling this for $101.00 (if I remember correctly, its including the bag and spoon as well), while Kimable was selling it for $99.00. Last when I was visiting Tangs and Kimable, both places' sales have told me that to keep baby food warm, this type of stainless steel jar is the best. Those with added plastic compartments are thermal LUNCH BOXES, and are good for adult food and when one has to separate the veggies from the meat and gravy and the rice. Anyway, I figured that if I really have to separate food using this jar, it is pretty easy to head off to either Daiso or hardware shops and buy stainless steel bowls that can fit into this food jar right? Using stainless steel containers sounds better than plastic, even though they paste that the plastic containers can withstand heat, are BPA free and all.

And no, I didn't choose to buy from Kimable just to save that $2.00. I have purposefully went back to Kimable because it was located within a Capitaland shopping mall and I can use the vouchers that we were blessed with during JCH's full month celebration before it expires. It just happens that its nearby my mom's place.

Of the many food jars around in the market, Zojirushi and Tiger are ranked high for their heat retaining properties. Well, I am about to test Tiger for it tomorrow! And will post the result! Got the largest available so that as JCH's appetite grows, the jar will be able to accommodate the volume of food I need to bring around. Within the bag itself, there's room to put a chopstick set with/without cover, I've put a Ikea feeding bowl inside, a sponge for cleaning up and a small bottle of detergent for washing. Meanwhile for those looking for some feedbacks on thermal food jars, can refer to Bento with Love for one.

And to share a collage from this afternoon's moustache pacifier episode.

Good night!

The season of flu, stomach flu, and mooncake munching!

Just had durians straight from Malaysia for brunch, how much more yummilicious and nutritious can a brunch get! Hahas! Am back at my mom's place for today and so happened she went to Malaysia yesterday for her treatment with some friends, and on their way back, they tabaoed durians out too!! Slurpslurp!

Following the exit of the stomach flu bug from our family, i have been reading about some of my friends' families getting hit by the nasty stomach flu bug. I think, even stomach flu has a season and it is now. Please take good care all, simply because it is not only heart wrenching to see your children and babies suffering from the bug, but also very trying and tiring for mommies. Somehow, in this round of the stomach flu season, i have observed a trend: everyone in the family can get hit by the bug - babies, children, dads etc - but mommies are always free from the bug. Seems like we mommies are somewhat immune towards the bug.

While tis the season of stomach virus, it is also the season of mooncake munching!! With Takashimaya's Mooncake Fair 2013 underway (15Aug to 15Sep), Vivo City's Mooncake Fair 2013 just started yesterday (27Aug to 19Sep), and many credit cards and hotels promos already running, be sure to spot the little snack in all colors, flavors, shapes, sizes, and packing everywhere you go. Mind you, this is a very big business (mooncake selling). Its not just the selling of the pastry itself, it is also the selling of its packaging and brand names. People are buying in part due to the pretty packaging that the pastry comes in. Plus the massive orders sold to not only consumers, but also corporate clients who prints their company names on the boxes. Especially in certain industries, where it is normal to see boxes and boxes of mooncakes sent to the upline companies as a mark of greetings and respect.

So enjoy the mooncake munching and stay bug-free!

*credits: best-singapore-guide.com*

Here's JCH enjoying his new moustache paci from my brother, while we enjoy the mooncakes and durians! Haha! If anyone's interested in such quirky pacifiers, this was bought from a small, quaint Japanese shop at Vivo City, located on Level 1 opposite Gong Cha. I'm making a trip there to buy one more funky paci if i can find one, because this paci is meant for 0-6 mths old! JCH needs a bigger paci. Haha!

*oohh..mommy when did i grow a moustache so thick??*

Of Joolz and World Breastfeeding Week

(MAJOR SHARING ON THE JOOLZ EXPERIENCE)

 

 

Finally got to this post! And I feel I have to do this post because though there are Joolz users in SG, I can't find anyone doing any post on using this stroller! From last year till like now, not even when I google. So yes, I'm having a Joolz stroller in the house!! Bought it second hand but its in good condition so..yipee!! Why the excitement? Because its THE stroller I wanted to get even before JCH was born. Be warned, this is going to be a long post!

 

After doing extensive research on strollers (back in 2012 Nov/Dec), I find that Joolz is the ideal one for me because:

1. It is one of the 2 strollers (the other being Stokke) that puts baby higher up, and this to me means shopping-bag-banging accidents is hugely minimized. I have seen so many near misses in shopping malls that I get so scared of any one of the near-misses happening to my baby.
2. Serves the same primary function as Stokke (i.e. baby higher up), but is cheaper.
3. It allows baby to face inwards or outwards.
4. It has a really cool slick look about it, plus the many varied materials to choose from especially denim! (fortunately for me, I managed to get the preloved Joolz in denim!)
5. Upon collapsing, it is self-standing.
6. Being a travel system, means if we are going to have a car in the future, I am able to put the car seat onto the chassis just by using the maxi-cosi adapters! (included in the purchase by seller..yes!)

DISCLAIMER: Have nothing against Stokke, it is a good stroller, but Joolz has won my heart long time ago!

 

Eventually, we didn't get the Joolz even though I was head over heels for it. At that time, we had concerns that it is expensive compared to conventional strollers, whether I can manoeuvre it without help and that it is a stroller only for those with driving. We got a light weight Aprica Karoon Plus stroller in the end. It is a great stroller as well due to its weight, the fact that it has a cover-all-the-way sunshade and the great manoeuvrings it can offer. We do not drive, and almost 99% of the times when I travel out with JCH using the stroller, I have to walk to use the train. Over time, I started to miss Joolz more and more when AKP wasn't enough. At first I thought, ah I was just missing Joolz because it looks so much cooler, in fashion, and baby can be higher. When I got my hands on the preloved Joolz, I started to realize, hey no, Joolz is really a lot better for the reasons below:

 

(all points below are not made up, they are the differences that I felt Joolz brought for me after using it for the past month)

1. My baby is higher now. This translate to no bending forward (better for my back) or squatting down just to reach for my baby to comfort him when he needs it, and also better interaction especially when I put him facing me. This also means I can avoid unpleasant situations on the trains when some pervert uncles (whether purposefully or out of no choice because the train is too crowded) slot themselves so close and just between me and the AKP (I had to align the AKP so baby is facing me 90deg so as to not block traffic by having baby facing me direct, so imagine a "L" shape, with me at one end, baby at the other and uncle at the corner), such that when I have to bend over to give JCH his pacifier, I can almost kiss his d**k. Now with JCH higher, he is at my eye level. No more bending over and no more pervert uncles.
2. It is a higher and wider stroller, so people pretty much siam the stroller now. I had enough of people brushing the AKP, or worse banging by the sides, just to squeeze by me and the stroller. As if they didn't see the stroller, or thinks there's no baby in the stroller. Think I'm just super suay to keep getting bullied this manner and JCH often gets startled awake when it happens, and he cries and I have to rush to a corner, squat down and comfort him back to sleep. Now, people just MOVE AWAY.
3. Because it is heavier, it also means it is studier. Coupled with the 4-wheel suspension, whenever it gets pushed over the dots on the floor meant for the blind, the impact is less severe and it doesn't feel like a car being driven over a road riddled with potholes. There is a section of the road which I have to pass that is not flat straight, its slanted with one side higher. With JCH getting heavier and heavier, it gets increasingly difficult to drive AKP over that path. So initially I thought, I am so screwed now, having to drive a 12kg stroller over that lopsided road when I could barely manage a 4.6kg stroller (with a 8kg baby sitting in it) over it. To my super-duper surprise, it is so much easier to drive over that section of the road! I think it is because of the suspension system. I can even do it single-handedly without feeling the stroller going downhill towards the road.
4. Whenever I needed to brake the stroller in the train, its just one step away, compared to previously when I had to step left and right.
5. I can have the handle bar adjusted closer to myself, so I wouldn't have to hunch over anymore, not even when I rest myself on the handle bar!
6. I can feel free to hang shopping baskets whenever I go grocery shopping at the supermarkets without having to worry about the stroller toppling over, because it is heavy enough to counteract! But of cos, don't think you can mount a mountainload of grocery la!
7. Removal of the fabric for washing or plain old sunning is so much easier now - just by a zip! With the sunshade that's removable as well, I can pretty much sun almost every inch of the stroller seat, inside and out.
8. After pushing in the safety catch, it is possible to fold down the stroller with one hand.
9. This preloved Joolz was acquired because JCH seems to be growing a bit big for the AKP. It allowed him wider shoulder allowance, and definitely a lot of room to grow tall. Joolz has the longest stroller seat in the market when the leg rest is pulled all the way down! Plus I have a matching bassinet at home, a great help from Miss YM and Mr ST.
10. Did I mention I love the cool leather handle bar and guard bar? Also the aluminium chassis? Though I love the black chassis more.

After this one month of using Joolz, I am ready to say a statement: it is not a stroller meant only for families who drive. I didn't have to worry about lifting this heavy stroller at all, simply because I didn't have to. I am real lucky that my location now is of walkable distance (around 10-15min exercise) to a train station. When I take cab, just fold it down and signal for taxi uncle to assist in putting it in the trunk. They usually help without being asked to. But of cos, remember to thank them for helping. It is a hefty 12kg baby afterall! When we're home after being out, just park the Joolz at a corner. I would wash the wheels sometimes, because the Joolz doubles as a push-chair for JCH at home sometimes.

 

And it seems like endless possibilities for this stroller. They have now come up with a summer seat, and their very own standing board for that older sibling to stand on! I am so going to buy that standing board. But first, some enquiries to clear with the company. Afterall, this is a preloved set, and I'm not sure if the standing board will fit this older chassis.

 

All in all, we have come a big round my love! I believe more good times will come for you, me and JCH.

 

Okok, this ends my raving about Joolz. I really do hope that anyone considering to buy it, please do not get pushed away by its weight factor. My logic is: if I have to buy a conventional stroller and it weighs in at 8-10kg, costs $900++, I would rather buy this travel system for $1000++. AKP is still in use at the moment, when hubs is out with me and we need to travel by bus, or when I bring it with me to my mom's place for visit. :) Of cos, another essential item that works to complement travelling with a folded stroller would be a good baby carrier. Mine is an Ergobaby, and no, there is no need for me to share much about it, it is well documented all around.

 

I have just found out from Mr RC's sharing that this week is WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK!!! Woooyayy~~~!! Whatever I want to say, has already been summarized by this post: http://ouradoptionfaithwalk.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/world-breastfeeding-week-salute.html . For all mamas who had breastfed before, still breastfeeding, going to breastfeed in time to come, or not breastfeeding at all: you are all great mamas! This is a topic that is so close to my heart because from the start, I haven't got enough BM for JCH. So all along, he has been partial breastfed only. It was really emotional for me at the start, but over time I have learnt to accept that whatever helps my baby to thrive works. Still, when the time came for me to totally wean him off, it was another emotional period, but shorter in duration, like a few days. I had withdrawal symptoms! And now, he is drinking FM total and feeding well (but still a messy eater) on homecooked baby porridge!

He's fed cereal in the morning, and sometimes in the afternoon if I got tired and needed to nap.

 

There you go, a healthy chubby baby showing his pose.

 

And happy 7th month old my dearest baby. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3



Been a while..end of hoohaas..

Been two weeks since last post, but i thought it felt like one month though.

On that day of my last post, brought JCH out for grocery shopping, and on the Sunday that followed we were all back at NUH Children's A&E. JCH was down with a second round of stomach virus. He was all clear for Friday and Saturday, and by Sunday morning, he was vomiting and diarrhea-ing like mad. Rushed him to A&E by late morning, and the doctor there confirmed he had a second round of stomach virus. The next 2 days that followed, he was vomiting almost every single feed, and diarrhea-ing like 3 to 5 times a day. It was so worrysome. Until Wednesday, the vomiting stopped and we went for the follow-up appointment. Doctor checked on his stomach, and told us that the stirring is not there anymore. Thank God and he was finally keeping his milk in. By Thursday his diarrhea bouts stopped altogether. It was horrible and very heartwrenching to see the little baby have milk welling out of his mouth, and having to keep clearing his butt till it was a little red. Each time he finishes drinking, he'll give me a look that seems to be asking "mommy, will i vomit if i burp now?" and it aches. And each time just before he farts he'll look at me again, like asking "mom, will there be poopoo gushing out if i let off gas?" and it aches again. Each time, can only pray that he can burp, and no milk wells out of his mouth, and he can fart, without having poopoo gush out and his butt has to get cleaned. But each time the bad happens, he'll give a shock expression and it aches even more.

We're very lucky to be living in such a time and place, where medical assistance and knowledge is always so readily available. We were given the orange Hydralyte (for hydration), Lacteol Fort powder (to increase the good bacteria in the stomach), and Dioctahedral Smectite powder (to 'consolidate' his diarrhoea so that its less watery). So, from Sunday (after we're back from NUH) to Wednesday, JCH will be fed the Hydralyte first - so that he would at least have replenished hydration (dehydration can have dire consequences with the worst being fits, as experienced by a friend's baby, trust me, you wouldn't want to go through what she went through when her baby had the fits), and then the Lactoel Fort solution - to introduce the good bacteria, speed up fighting process in the guts and speedy recovery, the Smectite powder solution to serve its purpose, followed by a 5min rest and then his milk. Thankfully, JCH has been willing to coorperate and drink in this particular sequence (self-devised, so for your reference) with minimum fuss. Feeding of the Hydralyte and the powder solutions were all done by syringe (separate syringe for each drink, so stock up on the syringes!). I guess being sick, he didn't have much of an appetite as well hence the minimum fuss. Milk feeding were given at really small amount each time. So imagine the multiple feeds ala 1st month feeding pattern. Totally bushed.

One tips to share with parents out there. I don't dispense medical advise here, so while you are welcome to read and reference, it is always a must to talk to your child's pediatrician about how you are going to administer medications. For JCH, for both Lactoel Fort and Smetite powder, they were dispensed with administration method as "2 times a day, each time half a packet" and the dispensing pharmacist told me "mix each of the powder with THIS much of water". I didn't know how much does her signed THIS much is. Plus, JCH refused to finish half a packet each time. So i asked a friend who is in the medical profession how much water to add and whether I can feed the 2 solutions throughout the day as and when JCH would take them. After discussions, this was what i did:

1. It is not advisable to pour the powders into the milk, hoping to let the baby take down the powder with the milk. Always remember that there is a reason why they said mix with water and not mix with milk. The powder might lose its intended purpose. UNLESS the baby refuses TOTALLY to take the solution. But always check with the pharmacist or pediatrician before you mix anything into the milk bottle.

2. I mixed the powders individually with about 50ml of water, plus/minus. 50ml is just an indicator.

3. The solutions were mixed and kept tight in a small milk bottle with the feeding syringe.

4 . Any left over solutions were all thrown away at the end of the day.

I find that feeding JCH the powder solutions in this manner allowed him to consume more of it. I hope this would be helpful for any parents who meet the same situation with me. Please let your doctor know you intend to feed your baby this way and listen to his recommendation. If he does not recommend what i have done, please do not follow. Always get the green light from your doctor. In my case, there's no doctor to call on a Sunday, and i just wanted JCH to take in as much of the Hydralyte and powder solutions possible. Hubs and i had discussed and with what we understand, we decided to go this course. Each baby reacts differently, so take caution.

Thank God his second episode cleared up on Thursday, and he was back in 100% play mode. Which was timely and very good, because we were due to return to my mom's and stay for the weekend - my dad is back for the weekend to visit! JCH gets to spend time with grandpa! Had a good weekend with my family. Thought i could finally catch up on some sleep, but i was so so wrong. Probably JCH wasn't used to the new mattress, which is harder than his own cot mattress, he kept waking up at night crying. Further adds on the the 1st month period feel. I was so panda-ish at the end of the stay. Afternoon naps helped save me from blanking out. Took the past two nights to regain energy, so here i am typing! Ha!

Finally after all the hoos-haas, life back to normal routine of taking care of a bubbling bub who keeps rolling and frolicking everywhere and anytime he can (totally revelling in his newfound and totally expert in his new mobility), cleaning up the mess that's been there for 2 weeks. Now back to sleep! Will update more laters.

Tasty corn kuehkueh!!

Ohh!! Saw this being shared around on FB and decided must share this as well! If any of you happen to be free tomorrow, and in the mood to try making some yummilicious kuehkueh to eat, try this!

Have fun trying! Makes a good dessert for children too when bite sized.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri & Happy National Day!!!

Woohoo long weekends!! Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to dear Muslim friends. And Happy National Day to all fellow Singaporeans and to Singapore!! No impact on me, except for the Starhub perks and..THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WINNER FOR JOOLZ SINGAPORE'S JULY COMPETITION!!! Oh~oh~oh~! Pls let it be me~I want to have the sweet baby!! If the winner isn't gonna be me, i am sure it will prove to be very useful for the parent, and comfortable and protective of the baby who's going to sit in it. Joolz is simply lovely.<3 <3 <3 Can't wait can't wait for the result!!

~>.<~

JCH is alot better today. Yesterday night he did diarrhoea, this morning also a little, but its to be expected (as forewarned by the doctor previously). Milk intake today was lesser than yesterday though. Ah, shall continue monitoring.

I don't have super memory, but i do have a wardrobe with frosted glass doors which doubles up as my writing board. Yay! Haha! So just keep writing all his milk intake and temperature on the glass, and when its done, use tissue to wipe away, continue writing new things! Green idea huh? XP So you who have got frosted glass or some glossy surface, just try a small corner with white board marker, and there you have, a canvas for writing! Especially when there are young children in the house, and you need a space either to do some teaching, or for them to draw on.

Earlier i mentioned about Starhub perks (which is specially for this National Day holidays), it allows free viewing of all channels, with the exception of Demand TV, until coming Monday noon time. So i have been catching up on my NatGeo and Discovery channels these two days. Oh how i missed watching NatGeo and Discovery!! Anyway, am homebound with a sick baby. Hopefully tomorrow he will be well enough (and if the weather is willing) to take a longer trip out with me. Did take him to the coffeeshop downstairs while i pack my breakfast/dinner to let him have some air. The wind these days has been rather cool and breezy, good for short walks.

That's about all for now. Oh and a reminder that Shu Uemura's icon products are going at lower prices in celebration of their 30th anniversary! So make use of this chance to stock up on your favorite and staple icon(s), and to earn the points for next year's redemption!

So, BPL for u?

Was watching AXN with JCH in the afternoon, and saw Starhub's advert on transferring BPL viewing from Singtel's box to theirs, and the caption for the advert was: Come Home to the Real Bros.

Seriously, BPL used to cost around $20. And then Singtel went in for the bidding and it shot up to $34.90. And now MDA passes the cross-carriage case, Singtel sets the price at nearly $60! Already I have known of friends who have either terminated their contract with mio (they subscribed in the first place just for BPL), or are going to terminate soon when the contract runs up. Thereafter whether they will resubscribe to Starhub to watch i unknown. Afterall, like hubs calculated, how many BPL matches can you and/or will you watch for the entire season? He figured it will be more worthwhile to head to a nearby Hans or pub and watch the big screen with his REAL BROS. Hahaha. It wil be kinda like how meet-ups for me goes. Guys have gossips too!! Not that he would tell me all (no need for me to know all the gossips they have), but the juicy ones will do. Hur hur hur.

Anyway, end of day cross-carriage or not, Singtel bills everyone for BPL viewership. Setting such a high price doesn't help them a single bit. Or may be, they know that with cross-carriage, more people will choose to cancel the mio box and view via Starhub's channel, so might as well earn as much as they can for this season? Price is not the definitive word now, quality is. Everyone knows that by running on cable, Starhub provides a better viewing experience.

Think for hubs, he might not subscribe to BPL. If i wanna watch the match with him, we'll just head out for dating. Not a bad option. XD

Today is a whole day of being home, as JCH rests and recovers. He's doing well, drinking nearly the same volume as he would on a normal day. Except that now instead of the stretched 3hourly feeding, I'm like feeding him every hourly or 2hours. Small quantity, multiple meals. As long as he doesn't merlions or get diarrhoea, i can deal with the feeding and washing frequency. He only took one dose of paracetamol early morning, thereafter his temperature stays in the normal range. Everything went well until just now, when he diarrhoeaed a little. But at least he has good fluid intake.

Despite not being well, he is very very alert and talkative during his waking hours!! Talked a lot to my mom when she came by to visit him. He even figured out how to turn from his tummy to his back!! Bravo boy!! Left the room to collect in all his stuff and saw him on his tummy. When i went back into the room, he was on his back, giving me the widest grin ever when i exclaimed "OH WHAT HAPPENED BABY!! WHAT DID YOU JUST DO???" Hubs got surprised by my exclamation and came in to make sure things are fine, and he too gave JCH the same reaction as i did when i told him what had happened. I turned JCH over on his tummy to see how he did it, and he slowly just turned himself over, having an expression that was like "uhh..yesyes its like this first..and this", and then shining his grin at us proudly when he's completely on his back. Very lovely moment. I know all babies do the same, but I'm so proud of ma boy!! Took a video of one of his performance but its in my Lumix. Shall find time to retrieve it.

Thank God, and thank everyone for praying for JCH. Just hope little baby will recover fully and get back his feeding schedule soon.

一波未平，一波又起 (one storm calms, and yet another arises)

Before I go into today's post content, just want to make a statement: I am a Chinese - a SINGAPOREAN Chinese. It's just that I know my Chinese better than some people I meet these days. And just this alone, qualifies me to be a China Chinese. It's odd. Hubs says I look like one too but I beg to differ. Probably I should ask my hairstylist next time "has it got something to do with this super easy to maintain hairstyle now?" Geez!

MY DEAR FRIENDS PLEASE TELL ME IF I LOOK LIKE CHINA CHINESE?!

And I told hubs after he made that comment: "Then this month you give me more allowance horh..(Why?)..Just so that I can go revamp my wardrobe duh!"

As the title states, one storm calms, and yet another arises. JCH is now down with an illness, something like food poisoning but not food poisoning. This is exactly how the doctor described things to us. "It's just that his guts are not well" Well, I can make that exact same conclusion before we even arrived at A&E.

Early morning fed JCH around 830am and we snoozed on the bed. Shifted him to the center of the bed so that I wouldn't keep falling into his crib, he suddenly coughed, gagged, and simply merlion-ed all his milk out. UNDIGESTED and even looks more than what he drank! Freaked me out so much bcos I was half asleep when that happened. He got startled himself too. Cleaned him up, took off the stained beddings for washing, check him out - he looks normal to me. Able to smile, talk at coffeeshop later, play, and sleep peacefully.

12nn came. 1230pm. Ah, 1pm. He finally woke up to drink. Fed him and he drank, and burped, continued playing, smiling and talking. But was fussy, didn't want to be laid down flat. Thought its just the vomit caused him discomfort. Didn't think that much. He felt warm when I was feeding him, but hey he always feels that way whenever he sleeps in the stroller for one hour when I pick him up. Sometimes he would sleep while I was making my way home from outside, and would just leave him to sleep in the stroller with the house fan switched on for better comfort. Until after feeding, burping and when I was gonna change his diapers, it went from warm to hot. That's when I took his temperature and saw it shooting up to 39deg. Luckily hubs happened to come home for a moment. We decided to use the cool patch on his forehead to cool his head, and monitor for a while more, thinking its just fever only. He wasn't oozy droozy. He's alert. Just fussy.

39.4deg. 38.43deg. 37.4deg. It was going down steadily until it stopped at 37.4deg at around 5pm when hubs came back early and he took JCH's temperature while I washed the bottles. He didn't feed at 4pm as he should have. Around 530pm then he's willing to drink a little. We took off the cooling patch and monitor. Around 6pm, he merlion-ed once again. When picking him up, smelt a bad foul poopoo smell. Hubs checked it out and saw from the sides he pooped. When I opened up his diapers, it was bad diarrhoea. Cleaned him, took his temperature again. It's going up again. Immediately took him to hospital, where we were told the above, JCH give a pill up his pipi to relieve his fever, and we were advised to give him a small feed to see if he could hold it in. When the nurse and doctor next came to check on JCH, his temperature went down to normal range, and he was holding in his feed well. Doctor gave the all clear to go home but told us to remain alert in monitoring for the coming days with these advice pamphlets.

 

Was told that bcos its only the first day that JCH has these symptoms, indicative that he's still in early stages of the illness, that over the next few days, his diarrhoea, vomiting and fever may persist in higher frequency, and after that will taper off as he recovers automatically. *sighs*

 

Feels quite beaten up that he's ill again. It's like, I didn't do well enough to protect him. Was told by hubs and mommy friend CG that being too clean might not be all good, bcos baby wouldn't get to build up his immune system. Now that he has this virus in him, means his body is able to produce the antibodies to act against the virus, meaning that he will have developed immunity towards this virus. Yes its true. But I still feel very beaten up over this whole spat of JCH being sick. First was thrush+nappy rash, then the flu, and now this. Also makes me ponder whether I made the right decision to wean him off so fast. And as I was pondering all these while washing up and clearing all the mess (we left in a hurry with a lot of washing half-done or undone, and a load of laundry to be hung up for drying), hubs came into the room and I told him "I smell baby's vomit everywhere.." To which hubs replied me: "I only smell vinegar in this room now.." I only used the vinegar solution to wipe down the bumbo chair and sterilizer lo. (-.-"" )

 

But for now I know for sure, gotta nurse baby back to health, and I gotta stay healthy and positive in order to do so.

 

Wish me luck.