3 Syllabus

ER had been attempting 3 syllabus words lately.

"throw away"

"hee ti tock" (hickory dickey dock)

"sit down here"

"mummy eat"

And the likes that I had meant to record for memory's sake but then later forgot (the irony of it. hehe.)

Not Helping

All the unconstructive comments and outdated suggestions that do not work in modern days. And she confidently assummes she knows better because she had "been through it before."

It's NOT the same at all! It's like saying my brother in law is caucasian and that makes me one.

And of all times, comments shoot during kids' tantrums and a single rough patch in our planning ahead. Already we are disappointed enough. Is it not obvious??

Her situation awareness is non existence. And her concern is still over herself after all, even though it's really nothing much to do with her.

Just because she doesn't like it, she has to repeatedly remind me. It didn't matter than Mr Liow and I had gone through detailed discussions that led us where we got. And a decision that we both are excited about.

JUST BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T LIKE IT!

And she still behaves like the world should rotate the direction she points.

Everything has it's place and time.

YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! And you don't even know that.....

But to give credit where it's due, she pushed away an appointment to help with the kids. Maybe that gives her more voting rights.

A leopard never change its spots. She still so dictative like long ago..

Fast Growing

AN helped mist the mushrooms this afternoon at 4pm and there weren't so many mushrooms.

4 hours later, they are this tall!

By tomorrow morning, we should have full boom oyster mushrooms!

Ignorant Women

When others make a mistake, it's an oversight.

When a homemaker makes a mistake, it's ignorance.

It's more convenient to tell her in the face without discussing further: "ok lor. You are right lor.", even if you do not think so. And you can't be bothered to prove her wrong. What a waste of time talking to the ignorant woman.

Women who stay home start to depreciate in value. Like old cars. Not antique cars but OLD and useless lao pok cars.

The world thinks nothing of homemakers. What do they know besides things that happen under the roof over their heads, right? And they are always over sensitive too.

More Mushroom, and a Fungus

Yeah! More fun too!

AN Created This

I'm impressed!

She traced a picture of this angry bird sticker on a piece of plastic because otherwise it'll stick to paper.

And then she transferred it onto paper.

From there, she coloured the angry birds and....

Ta-dah!

Art Time

Them enjoying art time

How Do Babies Grow in Mummy's Tummy?

Here it comes, the big question: How did babies come about?

I told her that we kissed, and then she started forming. Then she grew and grew, so large my stomach couldn't contain her, so she came out.

She was confused, of course, and asked: "Did you kiss many times, and keep kissing? And then I started growing inside you?"

I gave an answer that was misleading but received as a child: "Yes. Must kiss until you came." And I tried to avoid more questions by changing the topic.

I was caught off guard and was not ready to explain in details. But this question tells me it's time I start preparing a decent and logical answer for her soon.

Motherhood is a thankless job

Ok, some mums have perfect kids. Some have perfect tolerance. I have neither.

AN asked for things which I obliged. Given an inch, she demands for a yard. Why is it so hard for her to stick within a boundary? I know, she's only 5.

Next year, I'll be giving excuses like "she's only 6", and the year after "she's only 7".

You know, I'm prophetic! I think most mums are.

I can foresee things happening if she's allowed to do certain things and as much as I hate for that to happen, my predictions come true.

I hate to tell her "I told you so!". I remind her with "do you remember why I said no earlier?"

It happens. And then it happens, again. Never learn.

Argh!

Night Re-training

3rd night off training pants.

This time, I woke her at 2am for just one trip to the restroom and prayed that she will stay dry throughout. I was sleepless and was tempted to carry her out to pee by 5am. I held back the urge and yup, my girl is down to one toilet trip last night.

I'll see how it goes and adjust the toilet visits accordingly. For all we know, the "accidents" that came without warning might have also silently left.

My mum wonders why I 'sleep' so much. How do I convince her the only time I get to snooze is when the kids do not need me, and that doesn't happen often enough, yet.

I'm glad with the re-training though. Credits to my brave girl who dares to try.

Our Last Mushroom

Seeing mushroom sprouting from the side of the sawdust, yet trapped under the plastic wrapper, I cut the wrapper open.

That marked the end of our mushroom harvesting, from this batch.

sob.

No plastic wrapper to keep the moisture in, and that means mushroom will not grow.

Sorry baby. I killed your harvest. I'll get new ones. This time, mummy will listen to you. hehe.

Staying Dry Again

AN decided to go off training pants the night before and promised she would try her best to stay dry. I was worried but showed my support and trust that she could (she did, for so long, before the accidents start happening again).

I couldn't sleep at ease the whole night and kept waking up to feel her. We're back to 2 toilet trips (1.30am and 4am) again.

She was dry 2 nights ago. And she remained dry last night. No training pants.

I wonder if she released her bladder subconsciously, knowing she had training pants on. For the past 2 nights, no training pants. So again subconsciously, she did not let go.

We'll see if she continues to stay dry.

Good attempts, my girl!

My Children Hate Food

Someone told me boys eat better. Mine does not.

I thought AN eating better now marks the end of my feeding horror. Wrong again.

Now it's ER's turn to torment me.

He either spits or pukes milk , spits out his food after keeping them warm in his mouth (if he even takes in any). He actually eats like AN! What are the odds that one gets both kids with bad eating habits? No, he's worse. He doesn't even sit still for meals.

Mr Liow thinks ER eats better than AN. I only see him evolving into her. He hasn't reached that worst stage yet. And it's already bad enough.

Some mums review that pediasure is addictive and their kids ask for it constantly.

Mine? Mine only spits them out. AN only started liking the chocolate one after her eating habits improved. Like, at 4 years old...

Now, will ER? 3 more years?

Music Appreciation at home

AN dancing and singing to her new sing from Book 3. ER imitates her.

Kindersports: fixing puzzle

AN had her Sports Day last Saturday.

It was hot and she kept saying that she needed to go home.

She was good sport though, regardless of her constant complaints about the weather being super hot and burning.

Playing With ER

Learning Phonics

ER likes singing to this song. And I enjoy watching him sing. Hehe.

Panting baby due to bronchitis

This its how ER pants when his airways get inflamed.

25 Things to do with a Wiggly Toddler Boy (other than get frustrated)

ER is increasingly demanding. Signs of the big TWO! And yes, he's never stopped moving. Even in his sleep, he flips so much he falls off the mattress sometimes (if you guys see my pictures about their sleeping positions, you'll notice the only way to land on the floor is if he flips down to where our feet are).

Quite exasperating, definitely tiring. AN was milder. Active too, but not as busy as ER!

Taken from: http://couragezone.com/blog/?p=155

1. Put him in an empty bath tub, give him water colors and let him go.

2. Put rice in a cake pan and let him pour from cup to cup.

3. Put him outside everyday regardless of weather.

4. Give him a small spray bottle of water and a rag. Set him loose on the fridge front, bathroom tile, linoleum, etc.

5. Make homemade play dough; give him a rolling pin.

6. When reading aloud, ask him many questions. Get him pointing, naming, giggling over each picture.

7. Have him run and tag the front door, run back and give you a high five, and repeat. And repeat. And repeat.

8. Find an empty box we can fit in; stay in the room with him to ensure safety- but get that book you’ve wanted to read for a while, because he’ll be busy for a while.

9. Teach him how to build a fort with the cushions.

10. Let him spread the PB and J.

11. Play with him for at least 10 minutes at a game he loves. This will satisfy much of the need for attention that leads to naughtiness.

12. Bubbles!

13. Boys tend to be tactile learners; stacking cups and plastic containers in an accessible cabinet can be fun.

14. Fill the kitchen sink with soapy foam; get out a big ladle and some cups and let him go at it. Let him “do dishes.”

15. If you have a play house, let him throw a safe ball out of it.

16. Find an old spoon and let him dig in dirt.

17. Music facilitates learning like no other activity. Make up silly songs to everything- be silly and tease your children with music.

18. When he is feeling mean and you are feeling mean, tickle him.

19. Don’t be afraid to repeat activities often; if he is getting restless, immediately choose a “go-to.”

20. Let the little guy “help” you in all of your tasks until he discovers his blocks or trains again. You’ll be teaching him valuable skills. This one can be hard because we want to get things done, but the boy will be grown soon and might now want to help anymore. This may be one of the most special times of your lives.

21. Play a favorite dance song of yours; let loose and dance around. Your boy will either laugh or join in; both are fun.

22. Use your pull up bar low on the door frame- and let him swing.

23. Find markers and a notebook; let him go to.

24. Assess his needs- is he hungry, tired, wet, overstimulated, bored, or lonely?  Help him fulfill that need.

25. Replace every negative thought immediately with a positive one. Instead of, “My kids drive me crazy” think on purpose “This is a phase; Jonny really is a good kid” or “My kids must be bored. What can I do to help them?”

See an article on this here.

http://powerofmoms.com/2009/04/thought-replacement-therapy/

So Funny

I was closing the day with a prayer together with the kids. AN was listening and ER was fiddling with everything. Then he walked over to kiss me on my lips so I couldn't speak. I tried pulling him away so that I could continue because AN was waiting.

The little boy was amused by my resistance to his kisses and didn't want to let go. AN, seeing us 'struggling' with each other, started praying:

"Dear Lord Jesus, Mummy and Ethan are kissing now. Please wait for them to finish and then Mummy will continue. Thank you for your patience. Amen."

Lololol!

Throwing Up

ER throws up food, just like AN. My kids survive on air and they live on. I'm amazed...

Some days, like today, he wants to eat NOTHING.

He drank 100mls this morning, spat out his lunch every other spoonful (I don't suppose he even swallowed anything) and refused yoghurt. Fine, it's been months since he had yoghurt so he probably doesn't like it anymore.

I made him 120mls of milk which he took less than 40mls before he threw up more than he drank.

I give up. Some days are just bad.

I Know I Can Count On You

Before this, AN got punished for pushing ER on her dolly stroller, into the wall. He wasn't hurt and didn't even know what happened.

After a while, life was back to normal.

She had asked to visit the toilet 3 times in the hour that she was in the room, supposedly to sleep. Guess she didn't like waking up wet lately.

She got thirsty but dared not asked her daddy to get water for yet. She had been waiting for me to help but I had been stuck to the little boy and still is. -___-". Finally overcomed by thirst, she asked me to message daddy.

"If daddy says I cannot drink more water, then later you help me ok? I'm very thirsty, but I don't want to pee in my training pants."

I called daddy and daddy got out to get her a cup of water.

Her 'thank you' goes like this: "Mummy, thank you! I know I can count on you."

Wow...that sounded... wise. I asked her where that phrase came from.

She calmly replied: "Team Umizoomi".

Oh, I see.

Things they learn on TV. Heng those were positive phrases she learnt!

"Anyhow Give Citizenship"

She was born in Malaysia and got Singaporean Citizenship later on.

But everytime she sees the swearing in ceremony for new citizens, she gets upset.

Why huh?

She assumes the government "anyhow award citizenship and P.R."

A close Indonesian friend of ours who has double Masters and worked as an Engineer in Motorola then, didn't get his P.R. till many many years later.

A technician's PRC wife had to return to China to get her passport chopped and come back every few months because similarly, she wasn't granted citizenship till much much later.

I don't know about now. Maybe the government does "anyhow" award citizenship. SHE got her citizenship without a degree, not as a Skilled Worker, didn't serve N.S. Also don't know how she became Singaporean (To begin with, I'm not interested. If I do find out, it's for the sake of an argument)

In fact, she seems to have forgotten where she started from.

What an irony.

I don't enjoy the currently overpopulated tiny island that we live in, but I believe in Live and Let Live. I am thankful for the grace and hospitality shown to us by friends in Tucson though we were "aliens". Unless any individual come across as unreasonable (anyone from any country can be unreasonable), I don't see why one has to be so offensive...

So, what makes her deserve citizenship more than these new citizens?

Desaru 16-18 June

The little boys!


All the kids, I think?


The Liows


My Girlfriends



Our Desaru Gang

Food Tasting

My brother is getting hitched, finally!

So, we had a session of food tasting, just to make sure the food.taste good. I'm sure they will.

I finally get to doll up. The last time was during... christmas?

Sleeping Posture

Almost every night after I return to the room, I see them sleeping the same way.

:)

Good Day

Today is a good day. At least by 6pm now, I've not lost my temper.

ER went for a review at Kinderclinic today. There's no need to nebulise him now. Dr Lee wants me to give Flixotide (through the exhaler) 2 pumps, twice a day for the next 2.5 months for maintenance. If he gets flu or cough during this period and gets breathless again, I can add on the ventolin puff, 2 puffs 3 times a day. If it gets bad, I'm to increase Flixotide to 2 puffs 3 times till his phlegmy condition gets better.

He was in a super mood, laughed with Dr Lee and cheekily waved goodbye as we exited the room. He even gave her a kiss. So cheeky. Lol.

The kids, for once, had been cooperative. At least till now at 6pm, they had been easy.

I didn't have to make AN go into the room for a nap, and she didn't get impatient when she came across new words in the storybook she was reading. She attempted to read them when most times, she simply brushes them off with "it's a long word. I can't read it."

ER didn't get very agitated over little things. He didn't want to eat but had milk.

The kids played and I had more fun than complaints from them about each other today.

How peaceful!

Update about ER

We saw Dr Lee on Saturday to see how the nebulising worked on him. She listened and said one side (of what? lungs?) was cleared but the other side sounded clogged up still. So we had to continue nebulising him but in different dosages this time.

Previously, it was alternating between ventolin-saline and ventolin-pulmicort, every 4 hourly but I was allowed to stretch it to 6 hourly if he wasn't in distress.

This time, it's one session of ventolin-saline and three of ventolin-pulmicort, 6 hours apart.

We have another review today. I'll nebulise him one last time before we make our way there.

crossing my fingers for good news.

Loving Hubby

I've been really short fused recently and I know it. But I can't help it. The hateful things that keep happening to test my patience, do not help.

Mr Liow dropped me an sms that day saying he knows I'm drained from taking care of the sick baby without much rest, and the older one had been really uncooperative.

This is a busy week for him. Despite that, he specially went to fetch AN home during lunch time (my mum had been sick for a week now) and helped me entertain the kids. He even took on feeding ER milk when ER refused dinner.

He's giving ER the last cup of the day while I'm shitting without a care in the toilet now. And he's announcing that the job is done!

Dear, thanks for helping out. I am so easily angered these days. No cooperation from the kiddos, from eating to obeying instructions. Thanks for taking over when I'm on the verge of another breakdown.

I could have left AN with mum because mum said she's better today. But I asked to have her home because I have problems relating to AN these few days. I can't give up the opportunity now that I have reasons to keep her home.

I know, she's my daughter. There's no need for reasons to want her home. But I am tired of trouble. I don't want mum to think she's doing a lousy job with her and is 'terminating' her.

Now, it's struggle after struggle. I hope we don't end up killing each other before the relationship improves...

Damn the hateful anger in me. Please, go away...

10 Bedwetting Facts Parents Should Know

I had no explanation when people ask me why AN still wets the bed at night even though she was toilet trained since she was 26 months old and stayed dry at night for months now. I'm a negative person. This is an indication that I failed. And this is something I don't know how to do excel in. This article reminds me that neither I, nor AN, can do anything about her wetting herself at night, except for her to outgrow it. I do feel like a failure...but I refuse to let this affect me and AN!

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/sleep-problems/bedwetting/10-bedwetting-facts-parents-should-know


1. The medical term for bedwetting is "enuresis," which refers to bedwetting that is not due to an abnormality of any portion of the urinary tract. Primary enuresis means the child has never been dry, whereas secondary enuresis is the term used for a child who has previously been dry but then starts wetting his bed. Bedwetting is sometimes referred to as "nocturnal enuresis" or "nightwetting." Sometimes it's called "sleep wetting," since some children may also "nap wet." Bedwetting really should be called "sleep wetting" because it occurs during sleep.

2. Fifteen percent of five-year-olds or around three to four children in a first grade class, are not dry every night. Eighty-five percent of children eventually outgrow bedwetting without treatment. In the teenage years, only two to five percent of children, or one child per class, continue to wet their bed. Bedwetting boys outnumber girls by a ratio of 4 to 1.

3. Bedwetting is not an emotional or psychological problem,nor does it reflect a dysfunctional family. It is a problem of sleeping too deeply to be aware of bladder function.

4. The genetics of bedwetting are similar to that of obesity. If both parents were bedwetters, the child has a seventy- percent chance of being a bedwetter. If only one parent was wet at night, the child will have a forty- percent chance of following his parent's nocturnal habit.

5. It helps to first understand how children usually achieve bladder control. In early infancy, bladder-emptying occurs mostly by the bladder- emptying reflex. When the bladder reaches a certain fullness and the muscle has stretched to a certain point, these muscles automatically squeeze to empty the bladder. Sometime between 18 months and 2½ years, most children have an awareness of bladder fullness, the first step toward bladder control. Next, the child becomes aware that he can consciously inhibit the bladder-emptying reflex and hold in his urine. As a result of his urine-holding efforts, his bladder stretches and its capacity increases. When the child can consciously inhibit the bladder-emptying reflex, he achieves daytime bladder control. Nighttime control occurs when the child can unconsciously inhibit the bladder-emptying reflex.

6. Think of bedwetting as a communication problem: the bladder and the brain don't communicate during sleep. The bedwetting child literally sleeps through his bladder signals. Delay in bladder control can occur if there is a delay in awareness of bladder fullness, a small bladder, or the bladder-emptying reflex continues to be strong well into later childhood.

These components of bladder maturity occur at different ages in different children. Bedwetting is simply a developmental lag in the mastering of a bodily skill. There are late walkers, late talkers, and late dry-nighters.

7. Bedwetting is a sleep problem. New insights into the cause of bedwetting validate what observant parents have long noted: "He sleeps so deeply, he doesn't even know he's wetting the bed." These deep sleepers are not aware of their bladder sensation at night, let alone how to control it. In addition to bedwetters sleeping differently, the hormonal control of urination may act differently in some children.

8. Some bedwetters may have a deficiency of ADH (anti-diuretic hormone), the hormone that is released during sleep and concentrates the urine so that the kidneys produce less of it during sleep and the bladder doesn't overfill.

9. Normally, bladder fullness works like supply and demand. The bladder fills with just enough urine at night so that it does not overfill and demand to be emptied. Bedwetters may overfill their bladder so the supply outweighs the demand, but because they are sleeping so soundly they just don't tune into their bladder fullness.

10. A small number of children have small bladders that are more easily overfilled.

Beauty and the Beast

AN finally got the princess dress that she had wanted for years. And for the whole day on Saturday, she wore it at home.

While daddy was away buying dinner, I suggested I give her a shower first.

Me: "Baby, you smell like Beast more than Belle."

AN: "I'm Belle. I'm wearing Belle's dress. You didn't smell Beast because he's not around. He's outside buying dinner."

Lol.

Daddy, AN's Beast.