we've had a string of birthdays recently...so there's been plenty of cake to eat! haha...

Anyway....can't believe it, but it's gonna be almost a year since my car glided off the road and hit the divider. Till today, I thank God for protecting us, specially after I read of the high rate of deaths and accidents which occur during rainy seasons!

I've another testimony to share here. Last thursday I was at church late coz I was at a musician's practice. Drove home close to 11pm and felt that my car was kinda wobly but didn't give much thought to it. just wanted to get home.

the next morning, rushed, got ready coz it was my turn to send the kids to school. SO I packed the kids in the car at bout 7:50am and went over to pick up my bro's kid. On the way to my bro's place, I passed by my bro's neighbour who was on her morning walk. I honked, she waved.

Arrived at my bro's house, picked Lyd up and drove off to school which is half hour away.
As I drove out my neighbourhood and was about to approach the highway, my handphone rang.
I picked it up, though I don't usually do when I'm driving.

Anyway, it was Crl, my bro's neighbour! She said "You know, there's something wrong, your tire is totally flat! totally flat!!! I heard a strange noise as you passed me, and I checked with my husband, and yes your tyre is flat! So I rushed home, grabbed my handphone and called you!"

I thank God for Crl, coz she ran home just to call me. And the timing was excellent, coz it reached me, just before I hit the highway. I was able to pull up to the side and got down to inspect my car. Yeah, the tyre wasn't just a little flat, it was TOTALLY flat, running on the rim!

I thank God for protecting us yet once again. coz I would've sped..and with that tyre, it would have been dangerous!

So the kids and I waited and my sis in law came to get the children while I made a U and drove home very slowly.

Yeap...God is good. I thank God for His protection...

Meet the TEachers

it's been just so busy since semester started, so busy I now long for a break. Handling kids and work is tiring... but we're coping.

Anyway, I had a few "meet the teachers" meeting recently. Some reports on Nel...

Kindergarten teacher: Nel is a very loving girl. However, she is very very strong willed. If she likes something, she does it with her whole heart, if she doesn't like it, she refuses with her whole heart too. She's also very sensitive, and a very intelligent girl. She has occasionally lost her temper.

(Yeah...I know my Nel, strong headed. On several occasions when in a crowd/class, she has refused to do certain things. WHen I question her privately, her reasons are mainly because she's afraid she won't do it well enough, or that other kids are watching her or would laugh at her... These are usually the main reasons when she refuses to do something. How do I help her get over these feelings?)

Sunday School Teacher: Nel is sometimes strong willed. Today, she refused to come to the front and refused to put her hands up when asked to do so. Is there something wrong at home? has something gone terribly wrong? Perhaps something has entered her!

(my gosh!!!! that last statement got me fuming for a while. A teacher shouldn't be "suspertitious" but find out first why the child acted that way! When I asked Nel at home,
she replied "I didn't want to go to the front, coz I was afraid the teacher would ask me to do something embrassing and all the kids would be looking at me." "I didn't put up my hands because look, all my buttons are popping and coming off, if I put my hands up, my whole dress would be undone."
I looked at her dress, and yup, the whole upper half had come undone. Simple reason...and the teacher read it so dramatically! hrrrmph!)

Ballet teacher: Nel is a very creative and intelligent child. Only sometimes moody. When moody she doesn't respond to commands as other children do. She chooses to create her own dance and moves. However, that shows me she is intelligent with a mind of her own. She just needs to cooperate more. When in a good mood, her dance work is really beautiful. :)

(well, I've been talking to her about this, and yesterday's class the teacher commented that she had improved so much. Yipee. )

So you see my Nel....strong willed, moody, loving, intelligent..at times stubborn, sensitive. I find myself constantly talking to her, reasoning with her.... but most of all, I've come to realise that she needs A LOT of reassurance...

She often says to me "mum, the most important thing to me in the whole world is being with you and dad."

As for my Jo, she's imaginative as ever and strong willed. today in a conversation with and older girl ... E (7 yrs old) : Jo let's keep the toys, I Never loose my toys."
Jo (just turned 3): Oh really E? I loose my toys everyday.. *makes a sad face* what do I do?"

hehehehe.... anyway...gotta go. Working in the noon.....

tday I had the afternoon off. That was nice, as I hardly get Saturdays off. Since it was a cool afternoon, me and the girls went out to sit on the swing. Naturally the girls took off their shoes and went barefooted. Later, while gettin off the swing, Nel picked Jo's shoes for her. Little Jo put on her shoes with a smile and said in the sweetest voice, "Thanks Nel, thanks for giving me my shoes, that's so awesome. "

I told that to my hubby later and we had to giggle about it. hahaha...it's a word we hardly use around here, but she must have picked it up from the tv. :)

Anyway, that was followed by some gardening and catching worms for an upcoming fishing trip.

As for me, I've been busy working, and the kids have been up to mischief as I work. Today I came up to find oily finger prints over my computer screen. The things you find in a house with kids! let's see what I've found in the past...

mouldy rotting cheese under sofa
poop in the bathtub
rotting banana in the kitchen playset
toothbrush in the toilet bowl
empty shampoo bottles all emptied down the toilet bowl again
pepper and salt in my drink
and the list goes on............................

In fact, just last week, while reading, I noticed that there seemed to be an endless stream of ants going in and out of my handbag. I emptied it but nothing unusual came out. Then I checked the tiny side pocket, and lo and behold, I found Jo's half eaten lollipop from a week ago. It was covered with dead black ants, and needless to say, that pocket was filled with ants!! ewwww.....
i killed them all! and showed the lolli to my children. I said "See, lollis attract ants! That's what you get in your mouth when you eat lollis." I thought that would deter them from liking sweets for the rest of their lives. Alas, I was wrong. The very next day I walked into a shop and guess what Jo asked for? a Purple lollipop. Purple remains her favourite color.

ok, the night is here.... time to head to bed, but not before preparing a little for next week's lecture. taaa all.

I've been busy busy. Semester has started and I've been given a new course to teach. That means a lot of reading and research to do and notes to prepare. WOrking part time is not easy. Sometimes I think full time would've have been easier. WHen I was working full time I had the office to myself to do all my work without distractions.

Now I work part time, i barely get by reading a page before one of my kids come disturbing. So I find myself either resorting to the television as a baby sitter, or I find myself working very late into the nights after the kids are in bed. It's not good for my darkening eye bags and achy shoulders.

My schedule is different every day. Sometimes I've forgotten classes totally and parent and kid appear at my doorstep to find me in rags and hair looking like a crow's nest. haha....and sometimes I've scheduled 2-3 classes together without realising it. Then when all these students appear at my doorstep, I ask them why they're at my house. I must be going nuts.

Being a full time mum would be nice, but reality states that I should work to help with household income. CAn't place the entire burden on hubby alone. COst of living is getting incredibly high.

Yesterday after a full day's work (kids and work work), hubby called to ask if I'd join some friends for a bowling game. Though I was feeling so extremely tired....I decided to just go. I did ok on the scores and it was pretty fun.

We got back at almost 11:30pm. Considering I woke up about 5am, you'd know how tired I was. PUt my super duper wakey kids to bed... then went brushed my teeth and washed my own face.

Mechanically I put on my face moisturizer ...and after a while realised it was extra creamy, and smelled different. I looked at the bottle and knew why then. On the bottle it read, "Hair Nourishing cream. Will promote hair growth." Rewashed my face and put on the right moisturizer.

Well, I woke up this morning and checked my face, no, no extra facial growth. thank goodness.
ok... the day awaits, I must go. it's gonna be a heck of a long day. (there's extra classes for my speech students coz concert is this saturday.)
taaaaa..........................

continued from last post..

today Nel came back and said excitedly "mum, I did well in my Chinese spelling test. Some of my friends didn't even know the words. And mum, do you know why I did well? because this morning, daddy woke up early and taught me those words. My daddy can teach Chinese so well! " She said it, like a daughter so proud of her dad's ability. that little effort of my hubby to spend that bit of time with Nel meant the world to her.

How the miracle took place? I don't know. Well, perhaps it's because of the prayer I said last night. BEfore going to bed, I prayed

"Lord, teach me to be a more patient mother...give me wisdom to guide my children when I don't know how to, teach me to have unconditional love and to love them for who they are, and not what they do."

I prayed that earnestly last night...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anyway, yeah, I popped by the library today and chanced upon this book by Tony Humphreys "Self-Esteem: The Key to Your Child's Education." I've now just managed to go through one chapter, but it really is a good book. Here, in just the first chapter I found some really good stuff...let me quote them here..

Success and failure in themselves have no effect on a child's motivation to learn, but the reactions of parents, teachers and other significant adults to success and failure can have a devastating effect.

Parents need to encourage children in their efforts to master an activity. What counts is the effort and NOT the performance.

Parents who put too much pressure on children for academic performance unwittingly damage the child's self esteem.

Parents who are overly protective/hands off, can undermine children's belief in themselves.

The Self-esteem of the child is affected by the parents' relationship with each other. The child who regularly witnesses openly hostile or silent hostility between parents can become chronically insecure.

That's about the gist of the first chapter. Now it's off to snooze land, will continue reading tomorrow. Semester begins, and thus my lecture begins next week. I will be busy busy busy again. but no complains, i thank God for this job, coz it brings in the additional income which I really need.

Last Thurs, me & Nel, my sis-i-law and Lyd went out together. Just us two mums and our two 6 year old daughters. it was like a "date" with our eldest child (bonding time.)

We caught the LRT towards town center to catch the broadway version of "Beauty and the Beast." Well, we got there half an hour before time, and decided to indulge in some New Zealand icecream first. yummy............. :)

at ten to 8, we headed for the show to check out the souvenirs and program booklet. Incredibly pricy, everything to me, was pricy....unless you're earning a lot and have nothing to do with the money, the 40Rm keychain is a really crazy price to pay.

ok, so we skipped that and went looking for our seats. Nel just enjoyed the show so much. At one point where the Beast was dying, she actually cried. She just seems a lot more emotional nowadays. When I asked if she was ok, she got embarassed, pulled on an angry face and turned away. hahaha...

Anyway the show ended at 10:30 and we had to walk quite a distance towards the LRT station... coz the shopping mall was closed, and it was drizzling...so we had to go by a longer route. WHen we got to the station, my sis saw a train and shouted "Run!! run!! catch it before it goes."

So we ran like mad people, squeezed in to that packed train and after 20 mins realised we were going in the wrong direction! arrghhh. ...... and by that time, it was already 11++pm. We got off, waited to catch another train...and finally got on the right one, which probably was the last train of the night?

Our two little girls were tired, and nodding off....and really, though there were not many people on the last train, there were quite a few unusual people. We saw a girl which Ju says was an "emo", drunkards, cross dressers...and some pretty scary lookin ones

Finally we arrived at the last stop at almost midnight. The station was closed except for a little side door. We had to go through the building to get to our car, and there wasn't a soul in sight in that large building. was really kinda spooky to me, well, not spooky......but I was worried about thugs and drug addicts...

Anyway, we got home safe at almost 12:30am. Late huh? bottom line, if it's a night show, next time we'll drive. Still all in all, our kids and us, enjoyed it so much. It was also good mum and daughter bonding time, minus the presence of the younger one. Well worth it. If you've got 2 or more kids, I recommend this, taking time out to be alone with each child. My parents were wonderful in that they helped by baby sitting the younger one.

Of late, things have been busy. Blogging seems to be last on my mine, but I just had to do an update of the children..for record's sake. haha...


Nel has been asking more questions of late... Some questions she threw at me just yesterday..


- Mum, how did you know Dad was the right/good person, good enough so you married him? and how did dad know you were the right person?


- Mum, if the devil disappeared today, would everyone suddenly change and become good?

- Mum.....I want to hear God's voice, how does one hear God's voice?

- Mum, who made God? who made the angels? Who was before God?

- Is God real? does He really listen ?

- Mum....why is dad's legs thinner than yours? (ok this one is obvious, my hubby's always underweight, while I'm always trying to loose weight...*sigh* )



As for Jo, she's really becoming the Drama queen. She changes emotions very quickly, through ACTING! Like, when we're on the stairs, she very often stretches out her hands, acts like she's in trouble and cry out "help me mum....help meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" She does other stuff like, take a spatula, and it becomes her oar when she rows her boat (her tiny car), or if she's on a stool, the floor suddenly becomes an ocean of sharks...etc etc.

Overall, we're ok. Some days are good, some days tiring...ok will run. I know, this is such an unspired entry....well, next time will write something better.

Grooming

my sis in law has been looking for a make-up class, wanting to improve herself in terms of dressing and make up.

As I was searching through my phone for a friend's no, I saw a number which I had listed under "grooming". I must have taken that number down a long time ago, but couldn't remember where from. Thinking it must be grooming for ladies, I called the number. A rather rude guy who spoke in broken English picked the phone up.

I asked, "Do you conduct grooming classes?"

He replied impatiently "yes, yes, .."

Wondering how the heck could a rude sounding guy conduct grooming classes for ladies, I asked again " you conduct grooming classes? Actually I'm looking for make up classes, do you of.."

Before I could finish the sentence, he replied "yes, yes lar, we offer everything, send me email, sms, sms! I will send you brochure." then he hung up.

I thought, perhaps he's just the rude clerk. Later when I checked my email, I received this from him....................

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.... now I remember where I took the "grooming" number from, - from a pet store, when I once considered trying grooming my own dog!! hahaha..... So, nope, don't think I'll be passing this brochure or no. to my sis in law. hehehe...

my favourite jewelry

I am crazy about accessories, yeah, cheap kinda jewelry, preferably stones and shells. It’s nice having diff colored accessories to match with diff color clothes. However, I keep buying the same 2 colors (in diff shades), coz I’m crazy about these colors. You’d know what colors I’m talking about when you see the pics.

Well, it’s school holidays for the kids here, so I had some spare time to take pics of some of the pieces I own. They didn’t cost me much. I like my accessories unique and cheap. So I usually go bargain hunting at random small stores, and really, most of these pieces were bought for under 15RM, except for one or two which cost about 30RM, but not more than that.

I think…I should go look for more reds and purples coz I have lotsa clothes with those colors too. Oh well..gotta go.

p.s we spent the weekend up in the hills with close friends. That was really nice. Five families with a total of 11 kids. Was really enjoyable, especially for the kids! Nel also celebrated her 6th birthday up there. Happy Birthday my little Nel…you’re growing up…way too fast for me.

love turquoise colored stones...this one combined with brown stones is my favourite.

That piece with the flower is really old from early 1990's ..bought from Walmart Illinois. :) The one with the stone is quite new. Am looking for a pair of matching earrings now. well, actually I ordered a pair already, for a really cheap price, to be collected next week.

More turquoise colored jewelry. Some bought by my mum on her travels. The one which alternates between white and turquoise was bought in Sabah for just 8RM. Beautiful.

This combination of shells and beads was purchased in Sarawak for 10Rm. I love it's unique shade of green. So beautiful like a sunflower.

another turquoise piece bought by my friend from Thailand, and the green piece at the back is a choker, hand made by a native S'wakian.

More matching turquoise jewelry...the bracelet in front bought by my mum while on a trip to India.
Earrings in the background from Somerset, and that beautiful beaded bracelet in the middle bought while on an adventure trip. Was on a boat ride on a rough river near Mulu Caves. We visited the Penan long house, and the ladies made such beautiful jewelry. It's priceless. Bought it for only 4Rm.

this pendant was bought from an Indian preservation center in New Mexico. One of my favourites too.

A favourite bought in the 80's, one of the rare pink pieces i have. Made of shells....

we had a lovely weekend at the beach...my family and my bro's. The apartment was nice. It was a double storey apartment with three rooms. Anyway, we were mostly in the sun....and the weather was beautiful...cloudy, cool and windy.

The first day the waves were rather strong...so the children spent most of their time building sandcastles.. while I had a good swim, well, dip, in the ocean.

The children had a whole room to themselves, and thus once back in the apartment, they decided to lock the room door to give themselves some privacy from the adults. Finally after too long a silence, I knocked on the door and threatened to blow the door down if they did not open. They opened the door, and I saw them, biscuit crumbs all over the face. They were having a picnic in there. Cans of biscuits opened and stacked up on plastic bags turned into mats! hahaha...

in marched the mums, (me and my sis in law) who made them pick up every biscuit, return them to the cans, and clean the floor which was really covered with all sorts of crumbs!

Night was exciting... all tucked up in the same bed, I talked to them a little...before lights went out.

Day 2 started with a hearty breakfast of nasi lemak, sausages and noodles before more time in the sun. The tide was low and the water was far out, making it fantastic for catching crabs, and so we did. Anyway, some random pics...

Louis playin in the sand

Jo tryin to build a castle

Sunset at Port Dickson

ONe of the small crabs we caught. We let them all go again, back to the sea.

the photo

Many years ago.... to be precise, Spring time almost 10 years ago, I received an email from a person called Ted while I was still in the US putting the final touches to my Masters thesis.

Ted in that email asked if I still remembered him? I thought about the numerous times I'd met him, yet never really talked. I remembered him as the person who came up to talk to my brother once after we'd performed for a friend's wedding.....the man I saw from a distance when a best friend visited his brother who happened to be Ted's housemate (Ted smiled at me ).... I remembered him as the man who I met at camp. On that last day at camp, during farewell lunch..somehow all seats were fully occupied except for one at my table. Ted came and sat there and we finally talked, but just for about 4 minutes. Then I had to leave. Later I flew back to the States.

Anyway, back to that spring time 10 years ago, the email came as a surprise coz I never expected an email from him. He wrote to tell of how he'd been trying to trace me and get my contact when he bumped into my friend and got my email. Well...after a few emails back and forth, he asked for a photo of me. I thought, why not? he seemed like a nice guy and sent him this one.


Our relationship didn't happen. I went on to meet someone else and he too met someone else. I stopped writing him emails after a while, coz I just couldn't trust someone whom I'd just talked to for 5 mins over lunch.

However, when I came back, I volunteered in an orphanage and coincidentally, Ted was a volunteer there too. Need i say more? I just couldn't avoid him...so we got married. :)
Recently, while cleaning, I came across this photo I sent him.

He told me "Do you know, when I received this photo...I thought you were a wild sort of girl? Probably not my kind.."

Do you know why he thought that? well, first of all, he's kinda old fashioned type, logical, straight forward, kind and honest. Well, anyway....he thought I was wild because the photo........

ok, I've decided not to tell why. Maybe you could guess? look at the photo and guess why would Ted think me wild? hahaha... seriously I don't have my eyebrow or nose pierced, no tatoo...

oh well, gotta go. Take care all.

My moronic dog who spoilt my day

so the hand-foot and mouth disease has finally gone. yahoooo...........................

but truth be told, I'm drained out, and a little down in the dumps. it's from the lack of sleep. Somehow, Jo's still been waking up at least 3-4 times a night even though the ulcers have subsided. Yesterday, I was just getting so cranky and feeling so down we decided to all go for a walk.

So the children and I and Camel (our dog) headed for a walk. Nel decided to hold Camel's leash. While walking, Nel saw a coconut tree and started counting the coconuts on the tree. At that moment, she forgot Camel. Camel saw his chance of escape, and dashed as fast as his legs could carry him. And mind you, Camel who jumps like a pogo stick is also a very very fast runner.

Nel ran after him, which spurred that wicked little dog to run even faster. I screamed "STOPPPPPPPPP" so loud the neighbours came out to look. Of course, nobody helped me catch Camel. So there went my peaceful walk. I walked fast, furiously, calling very loudly after Camel, and my idiotic dog, having caught the scent of another dog's pee, was fast on it's track. He didn't give a hoot to my call.

Then the rascal went further down the road and took a turn. AT that moment, I looked at my children trailing behind....and thought, "Camel or the kids? Camel or the kids?"

Darn, of course, it would have to be kids first. So I walked back to the kids, muttering curses under my breath. I lifted JO with one arm, and in my anger uttered certain words to Nel which I regret till now.

So with that 12 kgs in my arm and another one crying behind me, we continued our search for Camel. TUrned the corner and saw that scent maniac still sniffing the sidewalk and pillars. He sneaked looks at us from the corner of the eye, less we catch him and cut short his freedom.

I was almost to him when he ran again all the way to the next turn, nearing a busy road where cars were zooming by. I thought, he's either gonna die, or get lost, can't keep up with this chase. Finally, prayed a little....and then decided to squat. I sat there, called him....and to my relief, he decided he loved his master (me) more than whatever dog who's scent had attracted him. phew....

we walked home.... Nel ahead, wounded from my words. Bad mother i am......

Finally I decided I had to undo my words...had to let pride go. I sat down under the tree, and called Nel to my side. Reluctantly she came. We talked about the meaning of Responsibility, a new word for her. and blah blah blah.....and i kinda apologized. In the end, I gave her one more chance to handle CAmel's leash.

At that moment, the coy neighbour's cat, the one that loves to irritate Camel decided to come by. Of course, that dumb dog succumbed to the lure of the cat and barked like a moron, while trying to break loose from his leash. When will he ever learn not to give in, for his barking surely gives pleasure to that cat who was smiling wickedly. Well, Nel passed the test this time, for she held on to that leash with all her might and told Camel to keep quiet and sit down.

All in all.....it's so tough after sleepless nights and tiring days to keep cool. It's so easy to get angry and say things that hurt. It's so easy to hurt those you love most.... God forgive me when I become the mother I do not want to be. Well.....ok....time to go. I'm hoping for better sleep tonight.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

update... Nel had a long fish bone lodged at the very back of her throat, the dumb GP said "no bone, can't see a bone." Found myself on that traffic road to Aunt Pauline's clinic again in OUG. That terrific doctor....she got that bone out. She's just a FANTASTIC doctor.

Nel's paintint of a fish

Nel's painting of herself. See the spots on the mouth? she said those are the ulcers which were in her mouth when she had the HFM.

Kenny G

the kids still have it, Nel has not been to school for 4 days now. Knowing the schooling system here which gives kids 2-3 homework each day, there will be TONNES of homework for her to do once she's back in kindy. *sigh*

She's got ulcers on her lips still, and as for Jo, she's much better. Her statement yesterday was "mum, i've got blood on my tongue!" but today she said "i'm ok already mummy." but on looking into her mouth, there were still some small ulcers at the back. We're all tired of being cooped up at home and patience is running low.


Anyway, 2 weeks ago before this whole HFM thing started, hubby had bought me a surprise ticket to Kenny G's concert in Gentings. The last time he was in Malaysia some time in 1990, I was there too. :) Back then he was very popular and lotsa people were crazy about him. Now...he's so so.

Still hubby's idea of a surprise night out was REALLy nice. :) Well the drive took about an hour and half. The concert was enjoyable. I told hubby how Kenny G liked walking in from the back of the auditorium, and true enough, he did that, surprising and thrilling the audience to bits and pieces! haha... Anyway, can't believe how crowded Genting is, even on a fri night. People have too much money to throw away? (for my friends abroad, Genting is a highland famous for it's Casinos and Theme parks)

Well, photos are in hubby's phone. I've not downloaded them yet. However, we did queue up like crazy people (hundreds were in line!!!) to get his autograph. and here's the proof...hehe....



For today...I'm gonna attempt making home made ice-cream. Will let you all know how it turned out. Blessings..

Day 4 HFMD

Isn't this getting boring? HFMD again? haha....

oh well....it's day four. The fever has subsided, and that makes things much better. THey are able to play as normal and are back to the love/fight relationship.

As for eating...Nel has taken the opportunity to ask for her favourite ice creams and jelly. (junk food.) Other than that, still no real solid food...coz her mouth is still filled with ulcers. She finds watery porridge ok, and her other favourite at this time is warm mushroom soup with some macaroni. She finds that manageable.

As for Jo.... she's still pretty much on milk and ice cream with about 5 mouths of porridge yesterday which I had to "force" her to eat.

I don't know why they call it Hand Foot and Mouth...coz by yesterday the spots started showin up on Nel's body. They look like blisters on her body. they are mainly on her fingers, toes, thighs, and butt. So they should call it Hand Legs/Butt and Mouth disease.

gotta go...

Day 2 HFMD

as predicted it pretty much a sleepless night. Jo woke constantly, whining each time. As it is, I'm a light sleeper ... and with last night's whining, I was a non sleeper. Awoke with slight headaches, but did not nap at all today. That just doesn't happen. Hubby on the other hand had a wonderful 2 hour nap during the day! (public holiday today..Labour day.)

Jo was cranky most of today....while Nel was feverish in the morning complaining of throat pain. I asked them both to open their mouths, and .....errrghhhhh.....tonnes of red and white spots on the upper palate, and even more in the throat area behind the tongue. In fact, the whole throat looked so swollen. No wonder the crying and whining.

Thank God, the doc had given me Cataflam Oral Drops in case the children experienced severe pain. So I gave Jo the cataflam, and wonders and wonders, she became her usual self for about 3 hours before the cranky side of her reappeared. Nel was quite ok after some fever/pain med, perhaps because she's older. Eating is hard for both of them, and they have just been surviving on milk, cold liquids and ice cream.

Jo is already skinny, and I suppose, this will take more pounds off her.

Anyway....yeah, about to put these babies to bed, and as of now, spots are beginning to appear near their lips, palms and feet. arrghhhh......

Nel is crying a little...she's asking "mum, will the blisters get more painful? it's pain mum...." I'm praying they won't get more painful.

gotta go.....

HFMD

today's just been absolutely draining.....
it started last night when Nel developed fever.... today morn, rushed her to the pediatrician, my aunt Pauline's clinic, which is a 40 mins drive through crazy traffic. I go to her, coz I don't trust any of the doctors around my place.

Well...turns out, Nel has HFMD . That poor girl had fever the whole of last night and the whole of today...with sores beginning to form on her upper palate...which will turn to painful ulcers, said the doctor. Needless to say, she's not eaten much.

Anyway, after the visit to the doctor, I dropped the kids at my dad's and drove to a meeting at the uni where I will be lecturing part time. I suppose, because my mind was so troubled by my children's health, I actually took sooooooo many wrong turns! a 40 minute drive became ONE and HALF hours! I ended up in the busy KL City .... and arrived at the meeting 40 mins late.

Later I drove by dad's to pick my children up only to find Jo crying and whining...complaining of pains everywhere, mainly on her joints and mouth. SHe was running a fever...and she was crying non stop, refusing any form of liquid or food.

Once again, I found myself on the very busy road, heading towards Aunt Pauline's clinic. By the time we reached the clinic and saw the doc, I was so tired, I thought I was just gonna cry. I know, boo hoo, cry baby. haha.... well i Was just darn tired.

So Jo is down with HFMD too..... her entire throat is swollen.... poor baby.

Really....times like this, mothering is tough....

We have to console the crying baby..

try to soothe away the pains...

carry the baby who's sick and clingy no matter how our back aches..

gently persuade them to take that little bite or drink ...

and most of all, remain strong...for a mother cannot afford to fall sick...coz she has to tend to all her little children...(and sometimes husband)....

ok.....will try to sleep now....though...it seems impossible....am not looking forward to tomorrow...but am trusting the Lord to heal them quickly...

Abstract Art by Nel

Nel's been bugging me for art lessons. Currently she goes to ballet. I suppose if her interests in art is stronger than ballet, we will switch her to art by next year. Still ballet is good....mainly for her to learn working/dancing as a group, memory of sequence (dance steps), confidence etc etc etc.

She's always doodling, and coming up with rather abstract stuff... if not that, then she's into building blocks or stories. She's always asking strange questions and has interesting thoughts which she comes up with every now and then. Anyway, she drew this today. If you can tell it's actually a face with an alien kinda nose :) and some very abstract patterns in the middle. :)

Anyway, it's a long weekend this week, and I'm looking forward to it. Will be heading out of town for an adventure. God bless and have a lovely rest of the week. :)

third child...yes or no?

Another week's gone by...time goes by too quickly. Starting mid year, my schedule will be doubly busy with more teaching assignments far from home . Though part of me dreads the thought of travelling and spending more time away from home, from my children, I will give thanks. One, because i know, while I'm working my children will be in good hands with my own mum. Second, because recently due to all sorts of unexpected events, my bank account has taken a sharp dip, and when I prayed about it, these job offers came. So I will give thanks. :)

Anyway .... other than that, while going through physio this week, the therapist mentioned the dreaded subject, the subject of the third child. Why is it, soooooooooooo many people are asking me to have a third child? My in laws bug me, my mum's friends bug me...almost everyone except my parents. phew, thank goodness they don't.

Do you know all my in laws have 3-4 children? do you know all my nieces and nephew in laws have also 3-4 children? On hubby's side, i'm the only one with 2.

This issue has been bugging my mind like crazy coz I'm not getting younger...and time is ticking.

Reasons why I should have no. 3 ...
1) everyone says I should try for a boy. (What is the probability of getting one????)
2) The older folks tell me when they hit 50's and 60's they look back and regretted not having more.
3) hubby wants one more
4) It might get quiet around when the children all go to school
5) perhaps out of 3, one might be willing to look after us when I am old? haha..

Reasons NOT to have no.3
1) Increased expenditure, less money to go round
2) Go through TERRIBLe pregnancy again with horrible morning sickness
3) All teaching jobs will be affected again
4) Go through the dreaded C-Section again. I hated it and the pain after!
5) Go through post partum depression again
6) Sleepless nights all over again
7) no freedom to do as I like still... meaning travel...and possibly studying again...

See...the reasons for NOT far outweighs the reasons to have. That's why I can't bring myself to it. But on the other hand....I'm beginning to coo at and admire other people's babies... I'm thinking, if I want one i have to have it now.... I just can't make up my mind.......... just can't. So I wish people would stop bugging me about this for a while.....

Anyway, after all that here's some humor found on http://www.engrish.com/ . Michi, I hope you won't mind these jokes? coz some taken from Japan. Just thought the translation of words here are funny. :) Have a good weekend everyone. :)

No thanks...err...but out of curiosity, is his urine sweet or sour?

this one makes me dizzy reading..

Perhaps this one parents should buy for daughter's boyfriends.

no thanks, i don't think slipping is good at all

ok, but how do I know if my refrigerator is anxious?

yeah...I won't.....can feed with other people's ?

More art work by JO

This is just continuation from the last post. As mentioned, Jo suddenly decided that she likes drawing. So she's been practicing doing lots of faces. Today her drawing has gotten more detailed. Check out the nose, and ears. :)

hands and legs still stem from the head. :) Her drawing now has eyebrows and ears!
These are her drawings of her Ah Kong (Grandpa) and Ah Ma (Grandma)
The little one herself with her art and telescope.
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Have a blessed weekend everyone

Art

day 2 physio. They added 2 pound weights to my exercises. The pain persists... but doctor already said it would take a few months of physio. I'm also to start regular swimming. With frequent thunderstorms and busy schedule...I don't know how I'm gonna fit that in...but will try.
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As for my kids... the crazy rainy weather which has not stopped since Jan has prevented us from going out for our regular walks in the evenings. This drives the children (and me) crazy especially if they are cooped up at home the whole day. However, they have been busy with art. I suppose, since I'm a musician and very much into art myself, my children have a natural inclination towards art and music too.

Well today, Jo took out her sketch pad and these are the pictures she drew today at age 2 years and half.

She says, this is mummy. That messy part in the middle is my tummy. and if you look carefully, she has drawn hands on the side, and two sticks for my legs. If only my legs were thin as sticks! haha....

This is her drawing of daddy.
And this her drawing of Nel. Again, a large messy tummy area, and two very curly hands on the side. haha... 2 sticks for the legs which stem from the head. haha...

THis is Nel's work of art. She's very into building blocks...and so is Jo.

Nel's drawing of turtle on the sea. She is passionate about animals, especially that of the ocean. Right now, she's into saving the whales. haha...

Nel's very colorful CHristmas tree.

Nel's half drawn house with colorful roof.
Random doodle from Nel...again more Christmas trees. (You can tell when her favourite time of the year is.)