Sick

Both kids are down for the past week.

Zethan started coughing one morning and it sure escalate to very phlegmy cough. On the 2nd day decided not to take chance but to administer Bambec and Mucoslovan lest the phlegm worsen and deposit into the lungs. Bronchitis is definitely a nightmare. The thing about his cough is that it is usually very bad at night amid sleep, awaken by continuous coughs for that one episode and he will be fine. The next day it became morning coughs when he woke and just before going to bed.

Zelyn felt feverish last sunday morning but I decide to let her body fight against the bug since it is a low grade fever with temperature hanging around 37.9 degrees. However by the 2nd day, her fever fluctuate between 38 - 38.5 degrees so paracetamol is given. Not much improvement and she is exceptionally whiney, refused to be put down, demanded to be koala all day. By nightfall, her temperature shot up to 39 degrees and brufen gota stepped in to do the work. Midnight is really bad, rise to 39.5 and sponging her did not helped either so had to be fed with paracetamol again. I was really paranoid and dare not go to bed till 5am in the morning. On the 3rd day the fever is still yo-yoing thus we felt that she had better be seen by the PD.

Since Zelyn need a trip to the PD, we fixed appointment for both kids to be seen as it would be good to get a check done to ensure his lungs are clear.

Based on verbal symptoms told to her and some basic examination, PD is very precise with her diagnosis ~ Rosella. Zelyn's throat is very red which explained the progressive milk rejection. We discussed about her feeding patterns and PD was rather pleased with the improvement prior to this fever episode. It was advised to continue the multi vits especially now that she is unwell, not feeding well thus might lacked the required vitamins. She is very helpful by clearing my doubts about the feeding intervals of paractemol and brufen even to the extent of listing them on a piece of paper for safe keep. Which is on top of the given table of standard temperature reading and the respective treatment recommended.

As for Zethan, I am even more amazed by her as she can guessed right on for his coughing episodes! She asked if it occur usually at night, in his sleep, before sleep?!! His nose is a little wet though we see no runny nose, throat is alright and lungs are clear. Asked PD for her opinion on elderberry extract as it appear that when Zethan is on it, his flu and cough lessen and recovered much faster. She is all for it and suggest we could start him again as it is much advised to go for natural supplement rather then medication from her. It might be good to go for elderberry with vitamin C as it is essential for building up immunity.

Seriously speaking, with her precise, confident diagnosis and her assurance, I have no regrets switching PD. Called it fated to be but after 1 particular consultation and diagnosis, I was completely sold. Frankly I am going to stick with her for as long as I don't know when.

p/s ~ pardon me for the messy blog at this moment which is really getting on my nerve but I can't seem to get rid of irritating advertisement blocking my tool bar which is obstructing all the functions including spell check, alignment and uploading of photos! Anybody can offer the solution, appreciate if you could please enlighten me!

Mama Day

It take one to become a mama to understand and appreciate their very own mama.

Sharing some thoughts here on the journey of mama-hood. I was very blessed to be given the opportunity of being a SAHM which is a 24/7 occupation to the kids, no medical leaves, no annual leaves, no lunch break shopping. Most of the time if not all the time, kids are on the top of priority list and our lives evolved around them. Their interest always come first, no doubt about it.

It seem like a terminal disease but it's just so tough to divert the attention back to myself especially that of shopping. I stepped out of the house determined to spend a little on myself but after 10mins in the stores, it's always back to shopping for kiddie stuffs. I could hardly spent $30 on a piece of top for myself or at least consider like 3 times while spending on the kids means without battling an eyelid?! Sound oh very familiar huh?

The mind is constantly with the kids though physically I am out. Guess it's going to be real challenging when I imprint my footprint back in the working world. Trying to keep up with the fast pace while on a balancing act of missing the kids at home. I need to regain my sanity and abolish the nagging feeling of being outcast.

Anyway we did not plan for any sort of celebration for Mother's day but decide to dine out at the last minute. A simple dinner with the whole family, that's all. The little girl decide to nap when dinner was served thus no photo with her, only a few taken when we reached home.

10 Months

2 more months to the big ONE.....nothing done on the birthday preparation especially now that we are facing venue problem. Until that is sorted out and firmed, all other plans hold pending but yes we will be having a party for her.

I was really concerned with her stagnant weight since about 4 months back so we decide to see Dr. Dorothy about it. At the same time to get both children's health assessment done. All was well and Zethan had his 2nd dose of MMR administered and we decide to go for MMRV instead for protection against Varicella (chicken pox). I expressed my concern to her that the last jab Zethan had was when he's 2 years old and I did not prepare him in advance for the jab. Dorothy assured that most of the children take it really well so she do not foresee any issue. She used a cold pack to numb the bum for a good 1-2 minutes before administering the vaccine. My brave little man did very well, not even a whimper.

Back to the little girl. Dorothy said it is perfectly normal for babies their age to be stagnant in weight gain and the norm being 500g ever 3-4 months thus no cause for alarm. She is currently 8.1kg and 68cm in height. We discussed about her milk feeds and she agreed that it is a little low at average 600ml when they should be taking a normal range of 800ml. The only concern she have was the lacking of nutrients so she suggested multi vitamin which is just as well cos I was about to ask her for one. Trust me the multi vitamin is really stinko, luckily Zelyn is not rejecting it and appear to be enjoying it. Dorothy diagnose that she had a very small stomach and her digestion system is very slow. She suggest for us to start porridge for her as it is not as filling and compact as opposed to cereals and the fluid in the porridge will prevent dehydration since her next feed is usually dragged to longer interval.

We did not start her on porridge immediately but only a week after she turned 10 months old (6th May). She enjoyed it lots! Another smart fella who know good stuff since the porridge is double boiled with lean pork for a good min 1hr. In addition to the porridge, we added vegetable purees such as peas, Xiao bai cai, butternut squash.

Adding on to the list of food she tried: -

- Peas (4 April)
- Sugar Pears (16 April)
- XBC (27 April)

She is getting very vocal these days, calling out to us, lots of shouting and screaming. When asking for snacks, she go mumm mumm mumm nonstop. Have been trying to teach her pointing to Eyes, Ears, Mouth and Nose but she had yet to master any! All she could do is clap her hands, wave bye bye and sign for milk milk.

Constantly crawling all around, pulled herself to stand at any opportunity available and walking around everywhere with the help of the couch as support. She is still rejecting carseat which is a major headache and I have exhausted all means and failed. Because of her new found freedom, it is tough to get her inside the high chair too and even buckled up, she will try to lean to the side and we feared one day she is going to topple over. This chilli padi is such a handful, exactly the opposite from the korkor. She is such a daredevil, trying to attempt all kind of stunts, not afraid of the dark.

The pearlies still stand at 2 counts although the last few days she had been really whiny and throwing tantrum all the time that we suspect more pearlies are sprouting yet feel nothing. Her milk intake fluctuate drastically so while we feel the multi vit is helping but not a lot due to the fluctuation. It's always 2 steps forward and 3 steps backward again. On good days she can down 180ml per feed every 3 hourly which usually last only max 5 days before the milk strike kicked in, less than 120ml every 4-5 hourly.

School Bus

Zethan started his new adventure of riding the school bus to and from school on 9th May 2013. It is going to be a very new experience for him since I am the one driving him to school or walking to school when he is still at PCF.

He was so hyped and excited since the beginning of the week since I thought it would be good to prepare him in advance thus spoke to him about it. So excited he is that he began asking "mummy, why are I still taking private car", a term adopted from school. I had to explain that he will be taking school bus eventually when the day arrives. I was uncertain if he understood that it will be a long term arrangement and not a one off event.

I am totally worry free on the first day as I am very sure he will enjoyed it big time. However for assurance purposes and to get him accustomed to the new change, I followed him on the bus to and from school. He was all smiles while waiting at the void deck for the bus. As we are 5minutes early, he asked for hundred times "where is the school bus? Is it coming?"

It was a very short journey to school, we boarded the school bus at 10.45am and reached home in less than 10 minutes. I was really impressed at how systematic it is for the various buses to drop the children in order before they wait back in queue to pick up the morning session children. Afternoon session wasn't due to start till 11.45am thus he was 45 minutes early. The afternoon session will wait at the assembly area while the morning class vacate the classroom at 11.15am. Subsequently when the teacher is ready, they will lead the afternoon class back to the classroom and engaged them with activities while waiting for assembly.

As this is the first time for Zethan and being over excited once he alight from the school bus, he ran all the way to his classroom when it is still occupied. Well, can't blame him for that since all this while upon reaching school, it's heading straight to the classroom. I knew about the above arrangement only at this very moment so had to explain to him why he need to join his friends at the assembly area to wait. He looked confused for a moment but was quick to regain his usual self.

The dismissal part was equally systematic with the assistant auntie inside the school compound and lining the respective children ready for the bus. No fear of missing out on any child since both the form teacher and auntie will checked to ensure that the child get on the right bus. Once the respective bus drive to the entrance, the auntie will assist the children up the bus alongside with the help of the teachers. The younger children will be seated nearer to the front and the older children towards the rear. For those children especially the younger ones, auntie will help them to buckle up. The journey back home was slightly a little longer but still we managed to reach home at 3.05pm (dismissal at 2.45pm), faster and earlier than before.

While we were strolling home, Zethan started telling me he enjoyed riding on the school bus. He continued to tell me that tomorrow I do not have to follow him on the bus, he can take the school bus himself. Gosh, my little man is all grown up, ready to gain his 'independence'. He even asked why did he had to take private transport previously, never take school earlier and expressed that he like the school bus more than mummy's car!