William's health progress

Some friends have been asking me about how William is and I feel so bad for not updating it here in my blog but very touched with all who expressed concern. After he's been discharged on 16th February, we brought him for his follow up check up with the same paediatrician two days later as scheduled. He still had his cough then, but we wanted to have a detailed account of all his diagnosis and test results for his phlegm. I was told the bacteria name from the phlegm they sucked out, but the doctor said it was not entirely coorelated as it was only from his upper respiratory.

He was given a dose of the nebuliser again. We took a copy of all the results ie phlegm result, allergy test, X-ray and blood test result. William was advice to come back in a week's time. But we were determined that that was our last visit.

We brought him to his new paediatrician, located in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, and recommended by a close friend. This doctor is gentle, and was very thorough. He didin't give us very strong medication for a quick fix, neither did he tell us to let the child self-heal. William was prescribed the same medication as the first doctor, oral ventolin and polaramine, and before he left the clinic he was given the nebuliser again.

That was last Thursday 19th February. The next day I brought him back for another dose of the nebuliser. On Tuesday 24th February, I brought William for another check up as he still had cough. Another round of nebuliser. In the evening, he woke up from his nap and developed very high fever. I started him on his antibiotics which the doctor has prescribed earlier as precaution. After the paracetamol, his fever did not subside and the poor baby was fretful. Upon advice from the doctor over the phone, I gave him suppository. That night, he slept well without recurrence of the fever.

Yesterday I brought him for a check up again. His cough has improved and we got the good news that he only need a couple more days of ventolin and poloramine. However in the afternoon, his cough worsen and his flu came back.

Sigh. I hope it's nothing serious. It's one month of having the flu and cough now.

Thanks to all who pray and wish him well. We truly appreciate it.

A new family member, Tom

Last weekend while we were back in Seremban, a young tortoise was found in Popo GongGong's garden and Popo caught it and kept it in a container as a gift to Victoria. Vic loved tortoises as she enjoys playing with the bigger tortoise (who is almost as old as Mummy) in Tai Gong's house, and one of her favourite story is The Hare and The Tortoise.

The newcomer was named, Tom. Tom the Tortoise. We shifted him to the old container used for the fishes, because the diameter seemed a little bigger, and keep him outside on top of the shoe rack. Yesterday afternoon, we let Tom walk around the porch, and this little fella, is unlike his older species in Tai Gong's house, seems braver and more adventurous. He went underneath the car and we watched him in case he was attempting his escape. Kakak caught him at the other side.

Hubby is thinking of letting Tom take a dive and practice his swimming skills with the fishes. I'm not sure if the fishes will welcome Tom. But for us, Tom is definitely our new family member!

Brushing Teeth

I remembered slightly more than a year ago when we started Victoria on a strict regime of brushing her teeth morning and night. We bought her many colourful toothbrushes, from Colgate's Pokemon range to Chicco's toothbrush. The toothpaste were from Chicco, and she had a choice of banana and raspberry flavour. Our friend didnt like to brush teeth. She'd sometimes find reasons like not liking the toothpaste flavour and wanting mango flavour (because it's one of her favourite fruits), and we had to search baby shops locally and even during our trip to Singapore for that, but unfortunately the brands don't sell mango flavour, so we ended up with tropical fruit flavour... that's the closest we can get.

Victoria was stubborn and did not like to brush her teeth, especially in the mornings. We tried compliments, we tried bribery (that she can eat sweets after she brush her teeth), we tried comparison (that even her older friend Jemmi, Popo and Gong Gong... etc all brush teeth), we tried a little fear (that if she doesn't, she may get broken teeth or worse, loose her teeth like Gong Gong. Or if the germs make her gums painful, we may have to bring her to see the dentist). Sigh, not all methods are the best, but we were out of wits.

I remembered the stress, the trauma (for her) as we had to resort to scoldings and force, the tears (as she relented and was outpowered), and the regrets (for it was such an unpleasant experience for us all). We would spend at least 15 minutes just to "counsel" her into brushing her teeth, which would normally end up with the scoldings.

I think how we came to this stage was the mistake we made in not starting her early in oral hygiene, by diligently brushing her gums, cleaning her tongue and brushing her teeth when her pearly whites start appearing. We thought it was still early, and only started when she had more teeth. Moreover, we only saw her on weekends. This time around, with William, we bought the finger brush for his gums and teeth even before he was born, and admittedly I've done this only occassionally.

Victoria now has no problem brushing her teeth, and does so without much delay. From the time she has her face wiped, she takes less than 10 minutes to clean her teeth, urine and change her clothes, and she's out of the room to have her breakfast. At night, the maid helps her with the cleaning up, and Victoria cooperates. Sometimes playful, but still, it's now a joy to brush teeth. She even reminds Daddy and myself to brush our teeth.

She changes her toothbrush almost every 3-4 months, as recommended by dentists, and gets to pick her toothbrush. At this time, it's Mickey Mouse.

The best welcome home

Late yesterday evening, William was finally discharged from hospital, after staying 3 nights, and 3 days. It was unexpected, because yesterday morning there was a turn of event, when the doctor who have hinted to us that he may be discharged, got the chance to hear William's cough (which was worrying us). He then ordered physiotherapy and suction for William, on top of the 4hour ventolin gas. His phlegm was to be sent to the lab for testing.

The physio and suction was naturally painful. It was heartwrenching for us to see him cry so loud (right till the lifts I can still hear him as I left him to pick Victoria from school, and daddy stayed with him). Hubby has been truly great, doing the night shifts and spending the mornings caring for William in the hospital.

Victoria was sleeping when I got the news at 4pm that William could be discharged. I was overjoyed. I left the house, leaving Victoria with the maid. When we got home at 7pm, the little girl was immediately at the door, calling for William and running out to welcome him. She immediately asked to carry and hug him when William entered the house.

She's woken up early and had finished her dinner. So I let her feed William. However, he wasn't in the mood, I guess too exhausted. So Victoria passed the bowl of porridge back to me, saying, "Mummy I think you feed. It's too messy. William keep putting his hand in the mouth... porridge is everywhere!" True enough, even when I fed him he didn't take much. We ended up with a few landmines on the floor. So, I decided to just clean him up and bring him to the room.

After his oral medication and milk at 9pm, I took him to the room to put him to sleep. He was still playful, so I used my old trick that never failed me (ps: I discovered this by accident).

The trick was to take my hp, call someone for a chat and put the conversation on loudspeaker. In no time, he just layed on my thighs and quieten down. A few more minutes, voila! His eyes are closed.

Mission accomplished.

We love you boy boy, and Victoria jie jie's excitement to have you home reflects just a part of our bigger excitement. We continue to pray for your healing, and that there will be no side effects in the long time.

Caught in the act!

At one point of time, Vic just can't stop digging her nose. She has these bad habits like digging her nose, biting or peeling her nails and putting her fingers in her mouth.

After many advice, she's stopped doing this gold-digging business. But I caught her again 2 weeks ago. She asked me last time, "There is mmmm mmm inside. How to take it out?" Good question. Well, I can't tell her that we adults dig our nose too, because then she will wonder why we can and why can't she. So, I told her to just blow it out, or betterstill... ignore it.

Watcha doin?

Shy

William in hospital

Last night at around 130am, hubby and I drove William to Pantai Hospital A&E to be admitted. His cough was not getting better after seeing his paed on Friday morning. Our trip back to Seremban for the weekend was therefore cancelled as the doctor wanted to see him again on the next day. I was told to give him ventolin syrup every 4hours.

His cough persisted. Hubby was outstation and after he got back that night, we decided not to wait till morning to bring him to the hospital. Deep down, we both feared the same would happen when he had bronchiolitis.

So, at the A&E, the medical officer put him on the nebuliser, first for ventolin and the second I dunno what. The single rooms in the ward was all full, and we had to take the four-bedded which was empty to pass the night whilst they put us on waiting list for the single room. Hubby spent the night and morning with him. William's treatment was 4 hourly ventolin on the nebuliser.

Today, they transfered us to our single room.

His room, C529

They did an X Ray and blood test on him. He is diagnosed with wheezy bronchitis. His blood test results are on the high side, but still normal. Thank God. We still await the result on the microplasma bacteria, and hope it's not a high level.

Today William was jovial when Popo, Victoria and Kakak visited him. He hardly slept last night and cried when he was on the nebuliser, but during the day time he didn't cry. Probably because he liked the young smiley nurse who attended to him. : )

Checking out the points near his cot.

Lemme out!


At night, hubby brought a surprise Valentine's dinner for both us comprising of KFC, masala tosai (in remembrance of our first valentine's at an indian restaurant), homecooked chinese food, Haagen Daz 4 flavour ice cream, Ferrero Rocher chocs and a decorative flower. It wasn't much, but truly a sweet gesture. William slept early and allowed us some precious 1 hour to chat (it's been sometime since we get this luxury because of his work and the many lou-sang dinners he's obligated to attend, and the kids' routine).

Happy Valentine's. We pray William's condition is not serious, and he will get the green light to discharge as soon as possible.

A weekend in Sitiawan and Ipoh

Every year we would make our pilgrimage back to Ipoh and Sitiawan as part of the CNY pai nian to visit my paternal grandma (ah chor) and my maternal grandpa (tai gong). This year however, we almost broke our record because we stayed a day longer in Singapore and came back tired. Hubby had to work the following week.

But on Friday 6th February he managed to get half the day off, and we made our trip back after I picked Victoria directly from school and hubby from work. We had our tapau-ed lunch in the car on the way up north.

First stop was Sitiawan. Ahma, as I call her, was already waiting for us. We spent a good 1.5hours chatting with her, and William got to know his Ah Chor a little bit better, whilst Victoria was still reserved and wanted to spend her time in the garden.

Playing on Ah Chor's bed

Ah Chor was ill for a while last year, and had to move her bed to the living room. She is a strong willed woman, and I'd say, she's strong in her Christian faith too. Praise God she is now more mobile and independent, although she still has a local house-help.

We asked her if she wanted to run any errands or buy any grocery. Or if she'd like to join us for the famous James' ais kacang. She decline us in all. So after saying goodbye, we went to look for the local ais kacang man who's gained his famed for his yummy dessert and his smart black and white bow-tie attired. Unfortunately, he wasn't open that day, so we patronised one of his "impersonators".

Yummy Sitiawan ais kacang, rich with kidney beans and just the right amount of coconut milk and brown sugar.

William, with his happy 4-toothed smile! He is soooo kissable!

We spent two nights in Ipoh, and during this visit, Victoria saw some monkeys in Menglembu (thanks to 5th Grandaunt who drove her all the way there) and bought some Valentine motif panties (to add to her recently purchased Cow motif panties collection), some hair clips and another pyjamas. We had the famous ipoh chee cheong fun with deep fried pork skin curry, and hong kong chee cheong fun (Victoria's favourite breakfast in Ipoh) and not forgetting the delicious sumptuous home cooked food at Tai Gong's house.

Sometime I miss the good ol' times during CNY visit to my grandparents, before I married. There were so many of us, as all the relatives make the way back to the patriach or matriach's house. The younger ones or the boys would bunk on the mattresses on the living room floor and everyone would be eating everywhere during meal times. Those days we could play fire crackers which was still legal, and there were fun times catching up with cousins whom I hardly see. Now, it's quiet when we go back with the kids because everyone's done their visiting, but then again, we get to spend more quality time with Tai Gong, Ah Chor and the Ipoh relatives. And we get more attention back! : )

Unwell again

The kids have been having runny nose for the past two weeks which have developed into cough with lotsa phlegm. On Thaipusam Monday 8th Feb, hubby and I brought them to the A&E of Pantai Hospital because Victoria's cough was very bad. After her episode of pneumonia in December and William's bronchiolitis in October, we are very fearful when the kids show almost similar symptoms. The medical officer on duty prescribed some prospan cough syrup, paracetamol, polaramine, arythromycine antibiotics and another liquid syrup to stop the runny nose for Victoria.



As for William, she told me to continue with the mucosolvan to disolve the phlegm and polaramine for the flu.

They kinda got better after that. But on Wednesday I thought we better bring them to see our normal paed to have some reassurance. He told us to stop the medication if not necessary as he encouraged self-healing. So I followed his advice. Victoria improved, afterall she has finished her 3 days antibiotics. But William deteriorated with very bad cough. He couldn't sleep well.

Today I brought him to see the paed again. He diagnosed him with mild bronchiolitis.

Poor boy. They put him on the nebuliser in the clinic. I took home ventolin syrup. I hope he gets better, tomorrow we have another appointment. Hopefully he is properly diagnosed so he can get better this weekend.

God, please heal these little children.

Playful at dinnertime, although unwell.

Teething biscuits

We bought these teething biscuits for William. Since we have been adviced to be very careful with his diet (come to think of it, we wish we had known better during Victoria's time), I managed to source for these biscuits which are egg-free and diary-free, from an advert.

Pureen Baby Biscuits, made from Italy.

Jie Jie can't wait to feed me.

He didn't quite like it at first try. See Vic's face... she must be thinking, "What's wrong with you? I loved mine when I was a baby, and how I wish I can have a bite too!"

The remains of his biscuits (oh dear, now only I realise how his hair stands up from this pic)

First Lion Dance in Malaysia

After asking and looking for lion dance in Singapore during our CNY holiday, and failed to see any live performance (Yeh Yeh even drove all of us including Victoria out at night in search of a lion dance), Victoria finally got her chance to see a real lion dance this morning, courtesy of Daddy's dealers in Mutiara Damansara. We woke early, to be there on time at 830am, but the lions and drummers only arrived 845am.

William came along too, but didn't exactly see the lion dance as he was sleepy and halfway through, dropped off to sleep while drinking his milk. Victoria... well, she was busy running here and there, sometimes yelling, trying to avoid the lions, and being scared and at some points I had to carry her. We even went out of the showroom to watch the lions. At one point, I thought the lions were going to the reception area, but then they suddenly made a turn and headed towards our corner... just after I told Victoria that they won't come near us. Aiya! Victoria must have thought that the lions were after her.

It was truly an experience for her. Last year she wasn't afraid, at least not THIS afraid. I think she's like me, when I was around her age. I shared with her that Mummy was once afraid of lion dance as well, and I hid behind the curtains behind the door when the lions were outside our house. I actually thought, at that time, that the lions will eat me if I go near them.

After seeing the lion dance, we asked her if she was happy. She said yes, but she doesn't want to see anymore lion dance.

Making cookies again... Round 3

After a few months (which seemed like a loonnggg time) of not making cookies, yesterday hubby and Victoria got down to making some cookies, this time with improvised recipe. They added bananas, carrots, raisins besides the usual chocolate chips and preserved cherries.

Here are some pictures:

Preparations

Gluten free, egg free, wheat free, diary free, MSG free, soy free. Yeh Yeh bought two packets of these from Cold Storage in Singapore, since we couldn't find it in Malaysia.

Cutting the dough


Cutting the carrots into small pieces

Baking in the oven
Yummy cocoa cookies!

Chinese New Year in Singapore

As with previous years eversince I married, we've been celebrating CNY in Singapore where my mom in law's mother and 6 sisters stay. The two differences this year are that we drove down ourselves, and with TWO kids in tow. The maid stayed back with my parents, and for once, we have to DIY everything ourselves, from packing, to unloading, to feeding and caring for the kids and entertaining and pacifying them. But I love it. For a while, it's a welcomed change. : )

We had dinner with Popo and GongGong on 28th Jan, which is the "Nin Yia Bat" (2 days before CNY) and it was a lovely homecooked dinner. Victoria wore her cheongsam for the first time.


The next morning, we left early at 7am after a light breakfast. Victoria had her fried rice on the way. The weather was clear and good, and the kids were awake and quietly excited.

We arrived Tuas for breakfast at 1030am. Traffic was good, even at the immigrations. After checking in at the Riverview Hotel, we had late lunch tapaued from the food centre nearby by my FIL. There were not many choices left at that time and day, but it was definitely a delicious charsiew siew yoke (BBQ and roast pork) with sour pork vege soup. The sellers were almost out of stock of their rice, and the third stall where FIL bought the soup was only willing to sell us 4 packets of rice.

In the evening, we had our reunion dinner at 6th Ee (aunt)'s condo, together with TaiPo and 7th Ee's family.

1st Day
The first day of CNY we prepared ourselves in the hotel room, then had the normal "pai nian" with my in laws before making our way to TaiPo's place. Victoria was her cheongsam for the second time and William in his little red "Monster Club" shirt from Pumpkin Patch since I couldn't find a suitable chinawear for him at his size.





2nd Day
We took along our induction cooker this year to boil porridge for William, instead of relying on relatives, like we used to when Victoria was an infant. So, we brought along the ingredients of rice, carrots and long beans, with cereals as backup. I tried cooking porridge in the house once before this trip, and was prepared for the high heat (the lowest is still too high for the small pot) so we used a bigger pot, and kept watch on the porridge. Just as it was nearing cooked, I smelt some burnt smell. Yikes!! Immediately I checked the porridge and realised that, despite all the mixing and making sure the ingredients didn't stick, there were some beans and carrots which stucked to the base of the pot and got burnt. The rest, although still looked good didn't taste good. So I threw it all away. What a waste. But thank God for the cereals.



We checked out of Riverview Hotel today.

We had lunch at 5th Ee's place. Then we went to Robinsons in town before checking in to Grand Hyatt along Orchard Road. (We had complimentary rooms, which they then upgraded us to the Junior Suite complimentary too... wow... I love these Singaporeans!! OK, seriously, thanks to my hubby too who charmed them into doing so, hehe!)

The King Sized Bed

The entrance to the bathing area, consisting of a bath tub, wash area, shower and sink.
The view from the living room

Part of the living room

Work area in the living room
Bath tub... pity I didn't have time to use it... only Hubby did ; )

Victoria and Daddy went for a swim at the nice Hyatt pool after we got back from Robinsons. I dunno to swim, but looking at the pool and the facilities sure made me wanna get in there and get wet. William got his swimming trunks wet but didn't like the cold water.

Run run!!
Enjoying ourselves



The waterfall along the way to the poolside



3rd Day
Hubby walked out with William in the morning to buy us all breakfast. Victoria had her tosei (yeast free) and bacon and we had carls' jr. It was a yummy and filling breakfast.

I had these while waiting for Hubby and William's return.
Enjoying her apple while looking at the view outside

Lunch was hosted by 7th Ee at her place. After which, we left to rest at the hotel because William was tired. Mummy and Victoria walked next door to CK Tangs to do some brief shopping before going back to the hotel for her bath. There wasn't much time to rest, and we had to go for dinner, which we planned at Wisma Atria. We decided to walk there, but somehow the walk along the underpass was long and tiring with all the escalators. During dinner, Victoria knocked out. She just leaned on me and closed her eyes. So we put her on William's stroller and I carried William.

The stroll back to the hotter was nice, and the weather was a little windy. Although tired, I really treasured these times.

4th Day
No visiting, and we spent the morning packing, and loading things in the car after William bathed. Again, the boys went out to buy breakfast for us whilst I sterialise William's bottle and cooked his porridge. Victoria had her favourite tosei again because she's requested for it, and the bacon, while we had something different from Carl's Jr.

We initially intended to go to Ngee Ann City but ended up in Vivo City after deciding to check out early. We didn't have much time in Vivo City to shop as lunch already took 1.5hours, and we had to leave by 3pm to arrive Seremban in time for "reunion" dinner with Popo Gong Gong and Yi Yi Yi Cheong.

This is how we left the room....

Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone!