Difference

AN wakes up crying since she was a baby. She still doesn't wake up happy. If not for ER sleeping beside her, she will still be sobbing on her bed when she wakes up. At least half the time. It's different at mum's place though. She's independent there, according to mum. She wakes up, brings out her writing tools and starts practising her chinese characters. ER does cry for me when he wakes up but he's also starting to exit the room to look for me when he wakes up. For the past week, I had been hearing his tiny footsteps as I did my work, turn and see the funny grin on his face. And just a while ago, he came out with eyes almost still shut, dreamily requesting: "Mama, sip (sleep)" and the moment I picked him up, he dropped back into sleep. I laid him on his bed and he's not even stirring. He's getting increasingly difficult outside home too. I excused his crankiness as a sign of sleepiness but Mr Liow pointed out that that was really an excuse. He warned ER that daddy will have to start punishing bad behaviour soon. I'm still waiting for age 2. Because once I start discipling, I'm afraid I can't control myself. Like how it is with AN. So I'm trying to relax on discipling. I really am. If I can, I want to be happy and unfazed by the worries that accompany having kids. It seems that is beyond me. I can never stop my abundance of emotions and trains of thought from activating at every piece of info I receive or behaviour I notice, or minute details to stuff I have to start or complete each day. hmmmmm...what was I trying to express? Time to continue from where I left off when ER came out just bow. Hehe.

Hi Pretty

One of the rare times AN willingly poses for a shot properly instead of giving monkey faces.

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

Nonchalance is...

Someone was writing, seated on the sofa, and lost a pen.

AN, the little helper, started looking around for it. The one who lost it didn't bother much and told AN that it's ok because she has "lots of other pens".

AN continued anyway. I see my girl searching, I helped. The one who lost the pen, walked away to make coffee.

AN thought it could be under the sofa because we looked under the cushions and it wasn't there.

I peeked under and saw a shadow, stretched and touched it. It was not very far in and easily retrievable.

I got it out and AN excitedly ran to return the pen, asking: "Guess where we found it? It was under the sofa", she wasn't rewarded with a word of thanks. Instead, she was told: "Don't need to look for it actually. I hv many pens."

I don't care how many pens you have. My house is not a hotel. You may have many pens but I have only 2 kids. I don't need to have them comfortably resting on the sofa and unexpectedly, the pen sticks out and pokes either one of them in the eye. You didn't even care if it was on the sofa and walked away after you realised the pen was gone.

I also am not keen to have ER play with a stray pen that he finds under the sofa while I make him his meals, the one that you couldn't be bothered to look for and pick up.

So convenient to brush it off with nonchalance and words like "forget it. I have lots of pen.", like one usually does in a hotel, except that this hotel is maintained by a mum with 2 young children who happen to live in it too.

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

Teaching Values

Each time we watch National Geographic or talk about people in poor countries (topic first got discussed in her school), I'd remind AN to think about how she can help them. We can donate, or when she's old enough and wants to volunteer, she is welcome to do so.

Besides school work and habits, I'm trying to help her develope world vision. There are many many others who lack what we have in abundance. Even in Singapore.

AN feels sorry for the little children we see on tv and that's when we get the opportunity to teach her to share and be giving.

But when I'm not around, MIL's reply will be: "See they so poor thing. You must save up all your money. Cannot anyhow spend."

I take it that she's instilling the virtue of thriftiness but I'd rush out to add that if we share what we have, people with less will live a better life.

Just a while ago, AN toldMIL about giving her friends gifts and MIL told her: "Don't keep giving things to others. Keep them for yourself."

I am resting in the room but hears every word.

I'm teaching my children to be giving and share. There she is, encouraging AN to hug her possessions tightly. It is natural for kids to not share what they like and that's why we teach about sharing is it not?

And she wonders why the younger niece is so stingy. Upbringing!

I sms Mr Liow to help me affirm AN that she was right to be giving. Shortly after, I heard him telling AN it's good to share.

Then he replied me saying that he spoke to her before he received my message.

I'm glad he shares the same value and felt the same urge to correct the values taught.

For that, I'm extremely thankful.

Thanks dear.

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

Weekend Burnt :(

I'm having fever now. And it's saturday.

Wierd thing is, I feel unwell but fever isn't too high. And I feel nauseous. Not a sign of morning sickness, I hope? Lol!

It was ER who told me I was having a fever yesterday. He was riding on me and when his legs touched my exposed waist, he stopped and bent over to me, saying: "hot hot" while touching his face.

His body temperature felt low and I thought HE was feverish again (it happens that after his temperature drops whenever he's unwell, it shoots up soon after).

I took his temperature and thank God he's fine..I pretended to be sick and took my temperature, only to realise I was 38°c.

He had been trying to tell me that I felt "hot" when he touched me.

That was cute.

When I told him I'm sick, he went "aww..." and patted me lightly.

So sweet. AN was the same at this age.

How I wish they do not grow up....

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

ER at 19 months

Was cleaning the house when I noticed ER had socks on. Have no idea when he put them on but that was cute. We put those on during "u-phoria" sessions by the way. And he's simulating a massage session.

ER says "Love you" and "jie jie".

Recovered

AN is back in school today after 2 days at home.

She was fine yesterday but it would be better to keep her home for one more day, just to ensure she's recovered.

The whole of yesterday, she was looking forward to getting to make a lapbook because she saw me searching for information about the rainforest and printing them. But they are for her project. I'm going to start lapbooking with her soon. She has never stopped looking forward to making them again.

ER too is fine now. His fever came the day before and left by morning yesterday. He still has watery mucus but shows no signs of discomfort otherwise.

I wonder what hit them but most importantly, I'm soooooo thankful it's over, for now.

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

Big Girl

I love how AN helps with ER when he wakes up. She goes into the room to talk to him and even remembers to switch the aircon off before leading him out.

I love how she offers her: "Mummy you go do your things, I'll watch over him."

She's growing up. I love my girl and I hope she knows it.

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

Update

Brought AN to doctor. No signs of any infection, just fever and a little cough. Now relying on fever med to relieve discomfort.

Miss Sue called saying there had been 6 absentees today, out of which 4 were cases of tonsillitis. She asked me to monitor AN. According to Dr, AN is fine but I'll be watchful.

And guess what? ER is also having fever now. 38°c..... Nothing much except a little runny nose, again.

Did I just say they recovered few days ago?

Or did I say they NEVER recover?

It's hard to stay positive.....where in the world do all these viruses come from????

Location : 403A Fernvale Ln,

High Fever

AN was ok when she went to school in the morning yesterday. She looked fine when I fetched her from school. Then after her nap, she looked tired still. She was lethargic the whole evening and by 8 pm, the moment we reached home, she said she was tired.

It wasn't her usual behaviour, so I thought I should just check her temperature and true enough, she was running a high fever of 39.4°c.

The kids have recovered (finally!). AN had been well for a week and ER for almost a week too. She didn't appear unwell or complain of pain anywhere.

So, fever, where have you come from and what's your reason for visiting this time?

She's staying home today. In her half awake state, she touched my arm and reminded me to inform her teacher that she's having a high fever. I think she's secretly happy.

Just hope this fever successfully burns away whatever that's attempting to harm her.

And today is a good day to finally start working on her project! She wants to do one on Desert for her Layers and Landforms of Earth. I'll probably get up earlier to search the web for info, picture s and craft ideas.

Her first project at K1.

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

AN is 5! Part 2

April happens to be Mr Liow's brother in law and younger niece's birthday month as well, so his sister suggested a dinner together on Saturday. It was a last minute decision and we would have 2 baby bashes in the afternoon, so we couldnt bring AN over earlier.

MIL asked me what our plans were for the day when she realised we would also be having other parties to attend. I senses frustration and she proved it by rolling her eyes and walking away after commenting: "You guys always don't plan things properly."

Hello! The baby bashes were confirmed weeks before. His sister only suggested a dinner together few days ago. What did u mean by "bad planning"? What is wrong with us going for baby bashes before dinner together? Dinner happens in the evening right??

What was she upset about?

Can't be bothered.

Anyway, we brought her and the kids over after the baby bashes. AN had been looking forward to meet her cousins. She longs to see them all the time. Ryona had grown up to be a lovely teenager and watchful big sister! Much as I wish AN remains little for as long as possible, I wish too, that she will grow up to be a confident, open and kind person. Most importantly, God-fearing.

Mr.Liow and I then went to get the cake. He had been aching for 2 days since the volleyball match on Thursday evening and we went to get a massage before making our way over to the restaurant. It didn't help much, ache was still there.

Dinner was fine. I didn't want to bother much about somebody...she really thinks she's queen. Someone planned for a bus, bought everything needed asked even had to cook, all these for Qing Ming. All SHE had to do was call to find out what time to meet and SHE got extremely upset. SHE insisted organiser should call to inform her. It didn't matter who called who, did it? Organiser said to meet at 7.30 am in Bedok. She got very upset and started raising her voice at the other party saying that was early and SHE was coming from Sengkang. I was pretty sure the organiser was offended and true enough, the call ended. SHE started complaining about how the organiser rudely replied her: "7.30 too early. Then what time you want?"

I would have asked the same. You are going to 扫墓. From Bedok to Chua Chu Kang, it would probably be 8.30 am or later with the traffic, because lots of people would be there for the same thing. For stuff like that, it's been tradition to reach early. My own family meet before the sun comes up. Just because SHE's in Sengkang, far from meetinging point, tradition should be abolished?

Call yourself an elder.

Moving on...

AN enjoyed herself though. She got to blow the candles a second time. ER attempted to help too. So cute. He watched and learned from the day before and he clapped while attempting to sing the birthday song this time as well.

The day ended soon after because the kids were all tired.



Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

AN is 5! Part 1

Had 3 birthday celebrations for AN over the weekend.

First one was in school with her classmates. I have to thank my mum again for making it possible because she volunteered to watch over both kids so that I could go shop for goody bags and her cake. Got everything ready in time (last week was another rushed week!). Invited mum to join us for the party but mum is shy. I had a feeling she really wanted to join us at the very last minute when I went to get those goody bags from their place but I was in a rush and didn't stop to ask her a second time if she was sure she didn't want to go. :( felt terribly guilty after that.

AN helped with packing all the goody bags. She took her time to select from the goodies I got for one particular pack. I asked her why she's choosing because all the kids would be getting the same stuff (except that girls get the sticker box and boys get an aeroplane besides some other cute stuff).

She replied that she was choosing good ones for Favian. He's a good friend, she said. Lol! I helped to make a small marking on the bag so that it doesn't get passed to "non-Favian".

School celebration was interesting! The kids sat in a circle and did the montessori birthday ritual (didn't know there was such a thing because we didn't celebrate with her classmates last year). Will post a video when time allows.

The kids sang "the earth around the sun, the earth around the sun, the earth around the sun, and now Adrielle is (1, till she's 5 years old)" as AN walked around a formation. Each round she made, she would be a year older and Ms Ivy would read out what was significant in AN's life at that point (her first steps, relocation etc). The kids would then be asked to see if they remembered. Interesting coz they get to know her better! Xavier was really attentive! He could remember every detail.

After the ritual, it was the usual birthday song, cake cutting and the day resumed. AN wanted to go home with us after that (she was allowed to) but we left her in school. She was disappointed and I felt bad but we had to go shop for the 2 baby bashes on Saturday.

Mum, again, helped with both kids. Besides getting the presents, Mr Liow and I even caught the movie "Battleship"!

My mama, best!

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

Singapore Guiness Book of Record

To coincide with SHSS's Anniversary (I can't remember how old our school will be. Will check and update again later), the volleyball team has organised an event. The games will continue for 24 hours and that will be recorded in the Singapore Guiness Book of Record (girls, correct me if I'm wrong please!) Mr Liow signed up for it and we brought the kids there. Shirley was there for the 9pm match and Mr Liow's game was at 10pm. The preggie Fang was there with V too. Little V was sleepy and didn't move around much initially but soon warmed up. Boys must really love balls. Love the giggle when his mummy played with him!! I really am going to miss babies. It was a good time of catching up with the juniors. Out of the hundreds of them, I only recognised 3 girls, besides the boys in Mr Liow's team and Shirl. Not quite boys and girls anymore but let's just leave it at that because that is what I last remembered of them. hehe. AN had a good time running after Joshua and was grouchy after he left. She kept whining about having no one to play ball with her but I couldn't play with her because ER was happily walking up and down the stairs to the spectators' stand. I was no less sweaty than the players with all the non-stop action. All thanks to the little tiger. The ball kept him busy for a while, almost an hour. The big gor gors and jie jies too helped to entertain him. Kids these days are so vocal! They are very much like adults and I was quite surprised they were so friendly. I do not remember us being that way. We did not talk to strangers, did we? And I know I wouldn't dare to play with someone's baby no matter how tempted I felt when I was a teenager. I was shy. But the teenagers are now different. They played with ER, chatted with me. It was as if we knew each other. But then again, it was a reunion. Everyone in the hall must be a St.Hildian, or must have been one. Maybe an unexplainable bond? But I sure do feel old watching them. Once upon a time, I was them. I was telling a girl that by the time my kids are their age, they will be my age and probably running after their own kids if there will be another of such a big-scaled reunion. The kids did not give me much chance to watch the games. I randomly saw Shirley receive balls, saw Mr Liow spike and that was about all I saw. :( Halfway into Mr Liow's game, the kids got increasingly restless. ER made countless attempts to run into the court while the game was on. If he was not walking up and down the stairs, he would be trying to get into the game. And AN's repeated "no one to play with me" made me decide to bring them back to the car to watch a show instead. Mr Liow's game ended soon. The whole event will take place over the night till 5pm the next day. Some of the girls whose match had ended, had parents come to fetch them. I told AN that if she has to take part in events like these in future, we will go fetch her once she is done. She can call us anytime. I was thinking as a protective mum. My baby girl's eyes lighted up. She had a totally different interpretation of my sentence. She asked: "Mummy, did you say I will have my own handphone when I grow up?" -_______-" Yes, my dear. You will.

Goofy

I drew this on the ipad. Nice?

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

I.HATE.YOU

Something ends, something else starts.

The Cough and Sniff-sniff Report

AN

Recovering. Not totally well but almost, except for little coughs here and there. And she loves medicine now, so being ill is no biggie because she can rely on the medicine to give some relief.

ER

I'm SUPER DUPER THANKFUL this time, it isn't bronchitis! And even though his sleep had been very disturbed by the cough and his blocked airways, he caught some sleep. And he doesn't throw up with each cough. Very different from whenever he suffers from Bronchitis! Dr said it's a cold virus he caught. This time, it didn't evolve into the 'B' monster overnight! And because my little flipper enjoys sleeping on the body pillow (which is there beside the baby cot as a bumper to prevent him from knocking his head when he sleeps), he flips himself and settles his whole upper body onto it unknowingly. This elevates him and he sleeps better. Yeah! That means I no longer have to sit up whole night carrying him at an angle so that he sleeps better. I can get some rest too. And he's less resistant towards having medicines now! Hurray! He turns his head and moves away still, but all he has to do is taste what's on the spoon and he'll open his mouth for it. So cool! AN hated medicines till she was 4 and I know why. Medicine in Singapore for kids tastes like liquid candies. I find it a blessing when they enjoy medicines. For once, no fights, no pukes, no mess...so stress-less..

Mr Liow and I

I'm having the cough, he's having the runny nose. This time is frankly better than the episode. For us, it has just started, so I can't really tell. For the kids, especially the younger one, thank God!

Mr Liow is going for the Singapore Guinness Book of Record for the Most Number of Volleyball Matches in 24 hours to be set by SHSS. I wish I can be there to support him but it's a Thursday and AN has school the next day..

I really am tempted to tag along and let the kids get a feel of it. And to reminisce a little.. Hehe. But then, if we do go, we'll probably be distraction.

Just pray he gets well in time though.

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

Huge Disappointment

You hear of a new job shift. Then your colleagues come tell you they heard it too. The boss from the other side comes asking you when you will go over. Even ex-colleague who left said they heard.

You are mentally prepared for the shift. And you even work your holiday plans around the expected schedule of the new place.

For months, you waited while the bosses give u clear, verbal confirmation of the new posting.

While you waited, they selected you for assignments that are only tasked to high flyers and you excel. Because you did, they prefer you to handle more of such jobs. Very time consuming and stressful duties which not anyone can handle, let alone shine. You did and everyone thought well of you!

Because you were rumoured to be leaving earlier (if the boss from the other side expects you there, how can that be a rumour?), a few others planned to leave too, because workload gets heavier with one less colleague.

All of a sudden, one of your boss tells you: "you are not moving. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

The fall from disappointment.....that's not quite an easy thing to bear.

What makes it a little worse is, they will be sending over, someone else, someone the 'top-most' in the management clashes with in the area of work capabilities.

It appears from the whole saga that the 'top-most' wants to hang onto you because he has no other workers with your capabilities to handle approaching major events should you leave, even if it's at the expense of your promotion. He grades you exceptionally well for your efforts but isn't going to care that this move of retaining you will affect your promotion.

If that is not selfish, then I must be missing something in between.

How fair is this, that the reward for your excellence is more thankless high profile duties that will get you nowhere? With good superiors, assignments like those would have pushed you far ahead. It's no wonder the whole department has shrunk so much in 2 years. With an "only result"-oriented 'top most', most see no reason continuing. Because the reward for job well done, is more work. To get out of there, you have to not meet his expectation.

How warped.

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

I hate you

You called me crazy when it used to anger u then when randall called your mum the same thing. You shouted it into my face looking right into my eye. And twice u shouted at me to "shut up" pointing right at my nose.

If not for the kids, I will leave the house, probably out of the window. Easiest way out. For them, I will remain alive. Because my love for you, my respect, my all that used to remain, die that very moment.

I hate you. For the first time, I hate you.

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

Old Man

AN leant that caterpillars fed on leaves and birds eat up caterpillars in class. She then returned home to give us a lesson on this food chain.

Then she decided the bird she drew could be improvised.

"Mummy, look at the old man!", she proudly declared.

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

ER Down

See? This never ends...

ER coughed so hard he threw up this morning. And he's coughing so violently now I'm sure he'll throw up at least once tonight. The following nights will get increasingly worse.

He's been eating well enough lately but my kids tend to fall sick each time they.start to look healthier. It's a trend.

With this impending outburst, he's going to start losing weight again.

AN too. Especially coz no dairy.

Will see how long this will last. I'm in a symphony now with one coughing after the other and times, both in synchronization.

2 months already.

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

Getting Out of Trouble

ER was halfway through his milk when he got out of his seat and walked off. I fiercely requested he make his way back and that shocked him (I am less fierce with him than I am with AN. Not yet.)

He turned back to me and was almost in tears. He went on to grab an elmo toy before saying: "mama, ahmo" and hurried back with it.

Lol!

I laughed and said ok because he went off only to fetch elmo and returned. He then smiled that cheeky smile.

Soon, he started walking off again. I called his name and this time, he smiled and pointed to a piece of paper, grabbed it and passed it to me before sitting down.

And then he got out to get something else.

Before I know it, he was walking around, something that I'm training him to stop doing when he's eating. He walks around during meals and it's not right.

And this boy seemed to have gathered from the first situation that he's more likely to get off the hook if he has a reason for leaving the seat. So he got to walk around for a bit before I realised it!

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

Slight Bronchitis

Sugar going out of stock? Or was there a big sale? Lol! Anyway.. AN saw a doctor last evening. She has slight throat inflammation and a little mucus. According to doctor, she coughs more during sleep because the mucus goes backwards when she lies down and that causes her throat to itch.

And she has slight bronchitis. This word "Bronchitis" emerged in our lives only after ER was born. He ends up with bronchitis each time he starts coughing, at least 80% of the time. AN at this age, first mention. Her persistent cough when we came back from Tucson in June till about August 2010 almost resulted in Pneumonia. It was bad enough to find out she had lung infection. Children coughed and dripped mucus quite a fair bit there because of allergies. Dr Bean in Tucson (being the nicest and most concerned PD) didn't think much of her, so we didn't, too. It really was common and rather harmless.

So, she's happily waiting for medicine time again. Please, when will they ever recover?

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

AN, Cough

She had been coughing for a week after being sick for almost 3 weeks and recovered for, say, a couple of days. The cough was persistent on some days, fine on others. ER too, same thing.

Her teacher said she had been coughing whole of today and gave her a mask (she loves masks, and doctor visits, and she asks to have medicine as if they were sweets! Why was it so hard to medicate her when she was younger?)

She's at mum's place and insists on coming back home.

I hope she's fine.

We spend on Dr visits like other parents spend on enrichment classes.... With such constant exposure in medical, will the kids grow up to be doctors?

:(

Bringing her to doctor again this evening I guess.. 

Location : 403 Fernvale Ln,

Innocence

Miss Elvia is teaching the children "sharp" for the first time and after a short lesson on it, she asked the children which note "fa sharp" is.

After getting several wrong answers, she drew an arrow across from the red "sharp" on the left, right to where the correct note is on the right.

Aaron, one of AN's classmate, got the idea and confidently gave his answer.

Teacher was glad someone got it right but Aaron went on to explain his answer: "because you drew an arrow and pointed to it!"

After having a good laugh (and all the parents did, including Aaron's mum), Miss Elvia explained that she wasn't pointing to the answer. She wanted them to see better with the arrow to support her explaination that note "fa sharp" sits on that same line as the "sharp" indicated beside the f clef.

How innocent children are! So cute (^_____^)