Finally out for fun again

It's been a long while since the last post. Yes, the kids haven't been well but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Keziah is finally settling into the childcare arrangements and the kids are more or less recovered aside from some occasional cough and sniffles. Mommy now deligently gives Keziah her basic supplements of vitamin C, codliver oil and multivits (only when she wants it) as well as Flumicil and Benedryl to keep the phelgm and cough at bay.

Counting back, we haven't been out for fun for quite awhile as a result. Today, it was great that Auntie Nat was game for us to join them in a swim after Mommy made some suggestions of bringing the kids out together after their visit last week to our new place at Toa Payoh. Going out together with some kids seemed alot more fun and we are certainly grateful for the wonderful help with the kids and for volunteering to pick us up. Seriously if it's just Daddy and Mommy taking them for a swim, it might have been alot more stressful since Abel is still so young. We all went to Bukit Batok Civil Service Club and really the pool there was so kid friendly and excellent facilities.

Oh yes, this is also Abel's maiden dip in the pool. The water might have been a bit too cold for his liking and he was actually fussing once he went in. His lips were shivering. However, after a short time, he was fine and broke up in smiles as Mommy took him for a little swim and walk in the waters.




Keziah was definitely very comfortable in the waters and having great fun along with Cheryl jie jie and Uncle Chris. Just look at the kids (and their Daddies) in action.




Many thanks to Auntie Nat for taking so many pictures of our family. Silly Mommy has forgotten to put the memory card back into the camera when she packed it into the bag! Mommy felt so bad that she didn't capture any family pics for the Lians.


How quickly the two gals click! After the swim and wash up, they were running around and imitating each other in play. Sweet hugs for each other...Oh yes, and they were holding hands like two good sisters...


After that, we met up with Auntie Shirley, Uncle Edwin and Little Heidi for dinner. Guess where this cozy place is?


Yummy food and a good time for the Daddies and Mommies to catch up while the kids run wild..



Pictures are all compliments from Auntie Nat!

How alike are the two even in their sleep!

Dinner gathering with relatives

Relatives came down from HK to visit and this was the first time there was such a big gathering. Dinner was at East Coast Park and we had 4 full tables of people.

Abel nearing 7 months

On 3 July he's doing push ups...

Bum bum in the sky....
On 30 July, he's sitting up to play his learning table..

Getting to go on his knees too..."You looking at me?"
Oopsie...lost balance...

On 5 Aug, he managed to pull himself up onto his 2 feet by grabbing onto the cot..

How his little feet has grown...

Inhaler....so young?

Keziah's cough has been really persistent. It's been 2 weeks since the last time she came down with it and she's almost completing her medication. However, her cough and phelgm didn't seem any better. Mommy took her to the doctor again just to make sure she's on the right track. The doctor must be in a foul mood and Mommy was practically reprimanded for Keziah's condition. In fact, he even recommended keeping her away from school for 2 weeks as to him, it's just a vicious cycle whereby when Keziah's recovering since there was a day or two she was better before she started to cough badly at night again and threw up, and yet again hit by another virus again. Since it's more of a night cough, he suspected it was some form of allergy. But to what? We've been living in the same environment. Maybe we have to change her mattress and keep away her soft toys for now.

This time, she was given two inhalers, one a preventor and one to open up her airway to breathe and clear out the phelgm.
Ventolin inhaler to open up her airway.

This child mask for administering the medication.

How to do it....Looks as if she's having asthma which we hope not. Now it's simply being deligent in giving her the medication and hope it clears up quickly. Next week, we have to go back to review at the doctor again.

Thankful she wasn't very resistant to this form of medication and of course, she got other oral medication to go along. As the inhaler had to be given 4 times a day, the school will have to do it twice. Hopefully, they can manage to get the right dosage in the right manner to her.

Who cares....really cares

Once again, both kids are down. Keziah had been coughing for awhile with loads of phelgm jammed in her throat. Eventhough, Mommy had isolated Abel at Ah Ma's place, he's down too just yesterday. Why? All coz silly Mommy took Abel back for the weekend so that he could see his paternal grandparents, thinking that they would miss him. However, he was still brought in close proximity to Keziah eventhough everyone in the house is aware that the two have to keep a distant to prevent one from catching the bug from another. Under the eyes of those in the house while Mommy was busy with some washing, Keziah stuck her water bottle into Abel's mouth. Mommy blamed herself for just being able to catch sight but not stop the act while others stand and watch. Probably, she was too fast for anyone to respond. From that day on, Mommy just had a gut feeling that Abel would catch the bug and sure he did. So sad to see him having such congested nose that he could hardly breathe, whining all the time and losing his smiley self. Yesterday, after dropping off the milk and Mommy had to make her way home, Abel was calling out when she passed him back to Ah Ma. It was as if he was calling for Mommy to be with him. So sad that Mommy had to trouble Ah Ma to take care of him, knowing that it's really tiring for her since she's no longer young. Knowing that everyone is sick, Ah Ma tries to find out from Chinese Medical Hall what could be brewed to help the recovery. That's where the soups and drinks come from.

Mommy is so sick of the kids falling sick and herself being sick too. Now, Daddy is down with the bug as well. Keziah for this week had been really difficult and kept waking up at night to cry, only wanting to be carried to sleep. Mommy and Daddy hardly had any sleep. Mommy is just so tired and so is Daddy eventhough we do not live on our own. Not everyone has eyes to see and ears to hear this pain that we are going through, neither will talk become action for some. Or probably it's a way of love that Mommy do not understand. AFter all, the kids are ours and how we want to look after them is our duty. Blame it on Mommy for having put Keziah in childcare. Some are just there to play and not take care or only willing to offer half a care which makes life more miserable. Mommy is just so tired, so tired, so tired. Probably, it's God's way of telling Mommy it's time to take a step out from work to stay with the kids no matter how bright and fast her career track should be.

Laundry is piling up and it's really finding a night to wash them and hang them out. Everything is in a mess once Mommy starts work. Still thankful though that Ta ta helps to fold the laundry after they are collected in. Why don't get a maid? Hmmm....what to say?

All Mommy wants is just 1h of nap in the day if not two for Daddy and herself and for the kids to recover. It's really a pain when your kids are sick. For now, the plan is really to just keep Abel at Ah Ma's place for awhile. So that Ah Ma doesn't tires herself, Mommy will go over after Keziah is settled and goes to sleep, do the night duty, go to work and then back in the evening to spend time with Keziah and go again. Daddy will just have to be the one to drop of Keziah for next week and send Mommy to Ah Ma's place in the night. Just hope this works out as it's a change in routine for Keziah again, waking up and not finding Mommy, having Daddy instead of Mommy sending her to school.

Is Mommy talking sense? Not even sure too....the brain is too tired to function or forced to function somehow after all.

Having a child...Responsibilities

Now with 2 children and still working, life has become really tough. Wonder why? To many, lives go on as per norm even after having children as they have great family support from the extended family. Daddy and mommy could leave the children in the good hands of grandparents while they are at work. Mommy had a colleague who is a year old and now pregnant with the 3rd child. When asked how she could cope, all thanks to her mom who takes care of her 2 children. They are with grandma for the week, with Mommy popping in everyday to visit. Yes, the good thing, mommy gets more rest but the downside the children are brought up the way grandma does it rather than how mommy would like it to be. That being said, children don't remember much of their infant/toddler years till they are about 3 or more. However, seriously speaking when you are working full time, you really want some time off like such. Probably not every night, but once in awhile to get a breather.

Really having a child is a joy but it comes with great responsibility. Not to mention now that with two, it's even a greater bundle of joy and yet a greater load of responsibility to bear as parents. Sometimes, Mommy really wondered if she thought hard enough before having the little ones. It's really a dilemma. One has to have the time to take care and nurture the children. It would be great if Mommy could quit the job and nurture the little ones. This is a joy with one but could be a challenge with two not to mention three. It would definitely take time to work out a routine so that life can be more predictable with the little one. However, for now, this option is out till Mommy completes her bond unless someone is going to come out with some good bucks to buy her out. If not, make sure there is a willing soul, best a member of the extended family, to take care of the little ones, with priority given to the welfare of the little ones. Yes, that means sacrifice of their time and money which they could probably earn during this time. If their priority is the latter, probably consider twice. Living together doesn't equate to voluntary help.

Last but not least, if things really don't work out, it would be infant/childcare. This is definitely getting popular here in Singapore. Even the papers reported that there is an increasing demand for infantcare centres. Looks like life now in Singapore is getting tough with a single income. However, a word of caution, your kid will fall sick very easily, like what Mommy is going through now with Keziah. It's to the doctor every other week. When she's down, the little brother gets it as well. That's a real pain, both of the heart and of the pocket. Mommy was counting and we would have spent nearly $800 or more on medical bills on the two kids over the past month. Keziah would probably have been in school for 3 out of 5 days a week. Sometimes, she really questions herself whether money is well spent as it seems for now she's paying money to have Keziah fall sick, and paying more just to see a doctor. Yes, Keziah is definitely learning from school. At least now, she communicates in more or less complete statements, expresses herself better and surprisingly, less reserve before strangers or should we say overly friendly that we worry that she would just follow anyone that comes her way and even overcome her fear of seeing her PD whom she previously would cry the roof down the moment she stepped into his room without him even examining her.

So consider carefully before you have a child. What is it that you want in life?

Mommy now just wants to get over and done with for next week for work is madness now with an conference next week. This weekend Mommy will have to work as well. Little Abel has to start on formula for Mommy can't be sure she could find time and space to express milk and probably would have to bear the painful engorgement which will kill the supply. Keziah was just about to recover and yet hit again by another bulk of bugs. She is now seriously coughing with deep phelgm and sore throat that are irritating her sleep. Not surprisingly, she had been very happy on days she didn't have to go to school and even said "I'm still sick. No school." while she happily throttled off to play in the house. To avoid the spread of bugs, Abel is temporarily staying over at Ah Ma's place for the night and probably for next week too, if need be, in view of Mommy's schedule if Ah Ma could cope with the little one. Mommy will still need to drop off milk at Ah Ma's place in the night after putting Keziah to sleep. At least, Mommy could manage Keziah better rather than having hands tied with two struggling ones when she rushes home from work as there is an assumption that Mommy is independent enough. Mommy always look forward to Daddy's return everyday when she gets some decent help. These days Mommy is really like a mad woman in the house, constantly forgetting things, such as even bringing milk and medication for Abel in the morning. Thanks to Ah Gong who could drop by to pick up the staff for Abel. However, guess everyone thinks that Mommy's coping great coz she looks great at work as her colleagues commented "radiant and back in shape". Nobody believes that she was back in shape in just that one month all thanks to nursing sick children and herself and sleepless nights. All the clothes she bought in May coz she she wasn't losing weight are now far too lose to even wear as hipsters.

Abel at 6 mths and Keziah at 2yrs 3 mths

Milestones Abel achieved just a little before 6 months..
He's on his fours and definitely making his away around quickly.

He's sitting up on his own too, started sitting on one side and then now he's able to manage to prop himself up.

He's doing his push ups, all ready for NS..haha...

Just look at him sitting up and reading his book....

Well actually messing around and probably the book is better in the mouth than in the hands...


Keziah started her new music class at Seimpi Music School on 5 July. We have heard so much about and decided to give her a change. She was actually very excited to attend the class. However, being an inquisitive 2 year old, she was more interested in the keyboards that were in the room than really doing what the teacher said. There were only 5 children in the class and it's definitely a better student ratio and more spacious than the one she attended previously. It's so interesting that the students get to engage in many different activities in the session: percussion play to beat and rhythm, finger puppet play, storytelling about the note values, flash cards on note values and beats, learning about the 7 letters on the piano keys (actually Mommy didn't realised it's simply A to G as she had always learnt it by rote) using ice cream sticks with the letters to match those to the keys in their keyboard activity book.

This is Keziah and her teacher, Siew Pei. Just look at her wandering around while the class sang to "Where is thumb king?" using the finger puppet provided. Somehow the other little children could sit down and listen to the teacher, while Keziah either wandered on her own or refused to respond when asked of eventhough now she could speak rather well in complete statements. Wonder if that's because she's younger than the rest.


After class, we went for tea at Coffee Club at Raffles City. How alike are the father and daughter in their grins!

Father, daughter and son....Cheeky Keziah pulling her brother's ear...

Abel certainly like to have some milk shake too..."Daddy, may I have some?"

"Hey Jie Jie is enjoying the drink. I would like some too...Ooooo...it's cold.. "

Yes, it's TEA TIME...

A big kiss for Daddy...our smiley boy looked on...


We met some church kids for a play date. It was cookie making time. The little ones were busy getting their hands dirty.

So was Keziah. She was more interested in putting the decorative bits on rather than to knead the dough. Mommy had to do the job and cut the shapes out for her. However, her interest was shortlived and ended Mommy did most of the cookies...

Ice cream time for all..just look at how the other older ones were eating and chatting...Keziah was simply observing..

Hmm...ice cream was really yummy ya!

Back at Work

It's been 2 days back at work for Mommy. Things were already rolling in as Mommy met her bosses and read through her emails. Basically it's one update after another since Mommy has been away for 6 months. Seems like it's going to be a real busy time, starting with hosting a regional conference 2 weeks away. Hearing from the members, it looked like there's still quite some stuff undone. Thereafter, it's work, work and more work all lined up till the end of the year. Being away for 6 months, Mommy still got arrowed in her absence for work to be completed. It's a rather scary thought knowing how busy things can get. Mommy is simply just taking a day at a time now. Somehow time has to be arranged to be with the kids. Effectiveness at work is important so hopefully Mommy doesn't have to lug work back or stay back too late.

Working with night wakings can be quite tough. It's especially so when it hits the afternoon. Mommy just felt sleepy that she had to literally prop her head up while working on the computer. The mind has to adjust to being back at work too.

Abel is still down with a rather badly congested nose and we had to sleep without aircon the past few nights. Really hope he recovers quickly so that Mommy can get better rest as he's waking more frequently at night. Everyone too can return to sleeping in the cool of the aircon. Having been so used to sleeping in an aircon room, it can be rather warm to do without.

Keziah is still as sticky as usual and still hasn't gotten out of crying in the morning before going to school. In fact, yesterday Mommy started work and it began the routine of her being picked up by Ta Ta and Nei Nei only. Apparently, she looked for Mommy when she realised she wasn't there to pick her up and even kicked up a fuss when Nei Nei showered her down for the night. The night was terrible too, with her reverting to waking up crying several times looking for Mommy. Well, on one hand, it felt so good that you are missed, but yet it's too tiresome for this to keep repeating itself. Children are just so sensitive to change, or maybe it's just our little gal!

Trying week....

It's been really tiring with both the little ones sick. Abel was down with bronchitis and had to be on the nebulizer. Keziah was once again hit by fever on Tuesday, and this time together with flu. The past week of sleepless nights have taken a tow on Mommy who also came down with the bug. Going back to school after 2 days of break from school was basically starting from square one again but thank God she slept a little better at night. Mommy hasn't had such good nights for the past 2 nights since she started childcare. Mommy still faced the separation drama of crying from the time she leaves home with Keziah and on reaching school. A quick goodbye and assurance that Mommy will be back to pick her up have become an usual routine as most said this was the best to ease off the separation anxiety rather than giving the child hope that her efforts will soften Mommy's heart. Still Keziah will cry when she sees us at pickup, crying as if she was bullied and sounded really pitiful. Guess it's gonna be awhile before she adapts to this new lifestyle.

Just as Mommy was saying that Keziah was sleeping better, she woke up and cried and repeated the nightmare of wailing, wanting to be carried to sleep. Ok, we just have to pray to learn to rest better after this crying din. Mommy knows it's tough on her too being so young and having to go to childcare but it's still a better choice for now.

Someone once asked if Mommy is going to have number 3. Looking at what is happening now, Mommy sure has second thoughts about it though. Not for the next 2-3 years at least for now. Ha ha...maybe by then Mommy would be so happy with the kids' mobility that she doesn't want to go through the whole cycle again! Now sleep is what she craves for before returning to work on Monday. Oh....it's a dreadful thought having to go through all these in preparation for the return. There's much Mommy wanted to do but looks like things have to be pushed back as settling Keziah into the childcare was more than expected.

Some pics update

Well Mommy has been too tired to update the blog with pictures eventhough we did take some nice pics over the past two weeks. Anyway, Yi Yi has kindly took some pictures and video this weekend. Here's the snapshots of how the little ones have been and developed.

















This is a rather long video clip of our little ones at church, playing with the older ones since they are one of the youngest. Some snapshots of the little ones at our new flat at Toa Payoh. Abel is really on the move now and always grabbing something to bite on while Keziah is constantly over him. She's such an affectionate sister but can be rather rough at times, not knowing how strong she is herself.

Crying Truama

Keziah was pretty good when Mommy picked her up though a little weepy. When Mommy asked her if she wanted to go back to school and see Teacher Shirmaine, she said "Yes". Mommy thought that was a good start. However, the story changed once she rested for the night. She was very clingy to Mommy too. Ta ta and Nei Nei were back from their holidays and she was excited to see them. Of course, this dragged her sleeptime even later last night. The nightmare started after she went to bed. She kept waking up almost 2hly to cry, wanting to go out of the room, didn't want to sleep and simply wanted to be carried by Mommy only. It was exhausting. Mommy hardly slept. She didn't even want Mommy to carry Abel and not to mention feeding him in the night. Guess she was overtired and insecure as well being the first time away from a familiar environment for long hours.

This morning, she was wailing away when Mommy took her to school even before we stepped out of the house. Teachers had to 'tear' her off Mommy. Yupz, Mommy knew it was rather painful but she had to learn. Really it's painful to hear the child cry so sadly and miserably. Thankfully she didn't scream and was quiet for a moment though she was constantly calling for Mommy and want to go out of the schoolgrounds. At least there is still her class teacher that is always attending to her once she reaches school. Hope that familiarity will build up. Now we can only pray she will get over this phase quickly and know that Mommy and Daddy are just leaving her there to play and learn for that few hours so that she could make new friends and have some fun.

Lots happening

It's been awhile since this blog was last updated. Mommy and Daddy have been busy making arrangements for the little ones since Ah Ma was moving house and couldn't take care of Keziah as well as making adaptation plans to settle Abel at Ah Ma's while Keziah starts off chilcare.

We went for church camp last week at YWCA. Mommy and Daddy thought they could leave the kids with the sisters from church to play while they have a time to listen to messages and fellowship. Abel was a fine angel and slept as he should. Probably he didn't know what separation anxiety is as yet but Keziah acted up. She was crying and wailing and ordering to be out of the nursery to be with Daddy and Mommy. She hardly napped at the 2 days in camp and had difficult nights being overtired. Poor Daddy and Mommy could hardly rest.

Today she started off chilcare. Mommy dropped her off at the centre. As expected, she cried and repeated the same thing at church camp. She clung onto Mommy the moment we got off the car and refused to step down into the schoolgrounds. It was only after some coaxing that she played a little. Everytime Mommy made a move to leave her further with the teachers, she would cry knowing Mommy was leaving. After awhile, Mommy had to harden her heart and tear herself from her, telling her that Mommy had to see the principal and go to work before returning to pick her up. Sorry gal, Mommy has to leave you there. Hope she will learn to outgrow this phase and settle down quickly.

More laters....

Abel's crawling at 4m 3wks

As of last Friday 30 May, Abel started to 'crawl', moving himself on the tummy, making turns and even launching forward by kicking his feet and pulling himself with his hands. In fact, he is now rather quick that he could be out of his playmat when Mommy just pops away for a few minutes. He would work himself to get at the things he wants, i.e. his toys. Even in his cot, he could turn himself 360 degrees on his tummy to grab at his blankie or bean sprout pillow or toys hanging by the side rails. However, Mommy hasn't been able to capture a good video clip of his act. Most of the time, when Mommy's ready with the camera for the show to roll, Abel has more or less finish his act or otherwise, camera shy to perform when the camera was pointed at him. Here's the best so far of his moves which were more sedated.

Cooking a Storm

Keziah has started her pretend play, sometimes even imaginery play without any props. She certainly loves cooking, be it deligently cutting away or stirring up her soups in her pots. Being home today and for the next few days, one of her favourite play is cooking with her play set. Mommy and Nei Nei have become her food tasters.

Foot in the mouth

Now everything goes into Abel's mouth, including his little feet which Mommy spotted today.