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Monday 26 November 2007

Update on the Lil' Boy

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and kind thoughts & wishes when I blogged about Bryan being ill. Nothing like fellow mummies and daddies who understand what a parent goes through!

Anyway, the good news is that Bryan didn't throw up today after his meals. The bad news is that he is still having a mild diarhoea - twice today, both times after his porridge. We're going to monitor him for one more day i.e. the re-hydration salt solution, Smecta, plain porridge and no-milk regime. I'd pray that he will be well tomorrow so that I can start giving him half-strength milk, at least. He kept pointing at his bottles - poor boy! Guess he misses his milk very much. As it is, he has been on soy milk since 9mths old as he developed CMPA after a bout of stomach flu. Weird right? Even then, paed says cannot drink. So tonight, I made the salt in some warm bottle and he wallop also. Think he knows got nothing else to drink.

I Wished I Had a Sister...

You know, as I grow older I wished that I had an older sister - someone I can confide in and share thoughts with. I used to do those alot with my mum and still do to a certain extent. But of late, I don't want to trouble her with all my problems and make her worry about me. So how? I keep them inside lor...or I blog :)

Just like today. There was supposed to be some good news. But the recipient reacted non-chalantly, like the "Oh, is it?" kind of response. I was disappointed and hurt but what to do, I cannot control other people's reactions right. If I had a sister, at least I can tell someone about how I am feeling now. Thank goodness for you all, my fellow bloggers!! *MUAKS*

Sunday 25 November 2007

Tag: Age I Would Like to Go Back To

Received this tag from Slavery Bliss.

**************Start copy***************

Instructions:

Title: The Age That I Wish To Go Back To

Requirement: Write about the one age that you wish to go back to and why?

I would like to go back to my uni days in Melbourne because I feel like I studied too hard and enjoyed myself too little. I spent my days, including holidays, mugging. Although I earned good results, I don't think in my opinion that it really mattered at the end of the day since all of us graduated with the same degree. I didn't use the opportunity to travel around and see more things. What a waste!

The Age that they Wish to Go Back to:

Amidrin wish to go back to age 22 to correct back some mistakes in life.

Lemonjude wish to go back to age 6 to enjoy kid’s life.

L’abeille wish to go back to any year but never return to age 28.Sweetpea wish to go back to, actually, just thinking about 17.

Lovelymommy wishes to go back to age 21.

Laundryamah wishes to go back to the eve of my wedding day.

mommyof2angels wishes to be daddy's girl again.

Babybooned wishes to go back to the age of 18.

Slavemom wishes to go back to the age of 15, after the SRP exams.

Bryan's Mama wishes to go back to uni days.

I'm not tagging anyone cos I've seen this one go around already.

In and Out

Poor boy suffered the same fate as his mother - vomitting and diarhoea. It started off with diarhoea in the morning just before his bath. Then after the morning milk, he threw up in bed and to VT's dismay, all over him as well. Up came bath #2. As the bed was then all wet and gross, we decided to take him to 1Utama instead. At least he fell asleep for almost 2 hours while we had lunch.

I called our paed and asked him whether I should take Bryan off milk - confirmed yes. Apparently, the virus is around as he has been seeing quite a number of children with the same symptoms. Many had to be admitted into the hospital for drips! Yipes!! I was so worried, especially after remember what happened to poor Ethan.

When he woke up, he had another round of diarhoea so we decided to head home. I fed him some plain porridge with Smecta but that came back up as soon as it went down. So it was like this the whole day - feed, throw up, clean-up, diarhoea, wash bum-bum.

Tonight, I gingerly fed him some porridge. How can he sustain without his milk? He took half of it and thankfully, this time it stayed down and no more runs. We tried to give him as much of the re-hydration salt solution as possible (even to the extent of mixing it with Ribena to disguise the taste) but he probably took only 5ozs the whole day in between sips of plain water.

I'm going to be praying very hard tonight that Bryan's tummy just got a wee bit upset and nothing more serious. In tota for today, he vomitted 4 times and had 5 runs!

P/S: Sorry, had to edit and add in that I woke up on Saturday and miraculously, am ok! Thanks for all the well wishes everyone :)

Saturday 24 November 2007

Tag: World's Best Friend Week

My new blogging friend, Jo-N sent along this lovely message. Thanks, dear!





"Do you know the relationship between your 2 eyes? They blink together, move together, cry together, see things together and sleep together. Even though they never see each other, friendship should be just like that! Life is like Hell without FRIENDS. Its ‘World Best Friend Week’. Send this to your best friends to let them know you appreciate them. "


Your Love is Ur Heart,
Your heart is Ur Spouse,
Your spouse is Ur Future,
Your future is Ur Destiny,
Your destiny is Ur Ambition,
Your ambition is Ur Aspiration,
Your aspiration is Ur Motivation,
Your motivation is Ur Belief,
Your belief is Ur Peace,
Your peace is Ur Target,
Your target is Heaven,
Heaven is no fun without FRIENDS.

Thursday 22 November 2007

Warning: Gross Details Inside!

You know how at the end of my post, it goes "Another diarrhoea moment by....". Well, today this is really THE moment because I've been visiting the loo for more than 10 times since 6 AM! I dragged myself to work and at 9:30am, I went to see the doctor. He confirmed that I had food poisoning. Up till now, I cannot pin-point exactly what I ate that may have caused it, because everyone else around me is fine.

Even after 2 doses of medication, I wasn't feeling any better at work so I decided to come home. The moment I'd arrived back, I had to rush to the toilet again to throw up (lunch, which was just 2 spoonfuls of kway teow soup) and if that wasn't enough, I had to take yet another dump. Didn't even give the WC a chance to fill the water up!! LOL

I'm going to lie in bed and rest now as my knees are wobbly already. Till then, I'm wishing myself "HAPPY TOILET DAY"!

Tuesday 20 November 2007

Blog of the Month Award


Thanks, Wen for kindly giving me this award, which I am not sure whether I'm deserving of it! I told her that my blog can possibly be voted for the "Least photos on Blog" Award instead! kekeke

Never theless, I am truly honoured!

End of Long Annual Leave

Today marks the last day of my 15-day annual leave *sob*sob*. What have I done during this period?

1) Gone to Bangkok, but didn't buy anything hence no photo of goodies
2) Sprained my right ankle, but it's almost completely healed now. Just in time for me to wear those heels!
3) Be a SAHM, which of course, convinced me that it is the toughest job in the world
4) Blog and FC (if you're on it, please hook me up. I'm listed as Huang Paik Ling) like there is no tomorrow

So, once back at work I won't be able to post or visit your blogs as often - please understand yah :)

Today, I've left Bryan with my MIL so that I can clean-up the house a bit as it looks like it has been struck by a tornado. I'm also planning on doing grocery shopping for this week and catching some zzzzzzzz since Bryan woke up and stayed up for almost 2hrs in the middle of the night. He must be going through the "Let's have a chat at 4am" phase.

Sunday 18 November 2007

Tag: Proudest Moment

GiddyTigers sent me this tag a while back but didn't get around doing it till now. Well, better late than never, right? *wink*

My proudest moment is Bryan's first birthday. We were singing "Happy Birthday" when I was suddenly so over-whelmed with pride and happiness that tears started welling up in my eyes. I thought of all those times when it was so tough to just get through the day due to lack of sleep, and all the frustrations when everyone butted in with their own rubbish advice about child-caring. And there we were that day, celebrating his 1st birthday! *sniff*sniff*

I'm passing this tag to:
Sharine
Wen
Desperate Mummy
Hui Sia

That One Moment

Of late, it takes me up to one and a half hours to put Bryan to sleep, be it nap times or bed times. The process involves a lot of cajolling, pleading, scolding and threatening. On top of that, I have to sing my reportoire of 15 Barney songs each time. Bryan would be yawning and furiously rubbing his eyes prior to that, but the moment I bring him into bed, he catches his 2nd wind and goodness me, I have never seen a boy so active! He would be happily singing/talking/yelling while walking on the bed and jumping whilst holding onto the headboard.

Then after an hour or so, he starts crying because he probably realises that he is now over-tired. I'm relieved when that happens because it means he will usually konk out in the next 5mins. But by then, mummy's patience is dental floss-thin already. If there is one moment where I swear of not having more children, this would be it.

What a strange boy.

New Label: RandR

I've created a new label called "RandR". Nope, it does not stand for "Rest & Relax", but "Raves & Rants" LOL :) Why did I create this label? Well, I find that a lot of times I don't have anyone to rave & rant to. So talk to the computer lor....especially when the computer listens and doesn't talk back!

My inagural R&R is about some people I know whom are so utterly manja and spoilt. Can go overseas alone but cannot take taxi from the airport, must have someone to fetch. I've be taking cabs myself since I started working, which was 21 years old! Then other things also must need company, until other people have to take leave/time off to accomodate.

It's not my place to comment too much lah, but I feel so geram!!! If it's my child, surely kena whack from me. Wouldn't you as a parent, teach your child to be independent so that he/she will be confident? I concluded that some parents in fact want their children to rely on them so that they feel that they are still useful.

Are you/would you be one of them?

Saturday 17 November 2007

Tak Jadi Pigi

We didn't end up going to Penang afterall.

On the morning of departure, first I missed a step while carrying Bryan down the stairs and twisted my ankle. I must had been still very sleepy as Bryan woke up many times the previous night, crying. Which turned out to be because he has an ear infection and a fever, as a result. Dr Kwan advised us against travelling for the next 48 hours so we took heed of his advice.

The whole of yestesday was spent at home, entertaining and consoling a very cranky toddler. Luckily for me, after just one dose of paracetamol Bryan was back to his usual self - jumping around and smiling. Today, he's completely back to his usual self so that is a real blessing.

Initially, VT thought that he caught the bug from my niece, who just recovered from a similar ailment but Dr Kwan confirmed that it is not contagious.

Anyway, looks like my meeting with Sharine & En En kena postpone, sorry girls!

Thursday 15 November 2007

Away Again

VT and I are bringing my in-laws (or "out" laws keke) to Penang for a short trip - together with Bryan lah, of course. I am quite nervous as it's our first time stuck in a car with Bryan for more than 1.5hrs (furthest trip so far was to PD). Fingers crossed!

We leave tomorrow mid-morning and back on Sunday. I'm looking forward to meeting Sharine & En En. Too bad Alice & Darrius will be in KL that weekend.

I'd been spending a lot of time packing the little boy's stuff - wah, like moving house only!!!! So I apologise if I've not dropped by your blog for a while. I'll definitely do so next week.

See you later, aligators!

Wednesday 14 November 2007

I Am Back!

Sawadeeka/krap!

Ok, that's all I know for the 3D/2N trip to Bangkok. Even then I picked that up from Thai restaurants in KL ha ha. First thing first - how was the trip?

Well, I was not impressed with the city and the shopping despite all the raving reviews that I've received. Chatuchak reminded me of Petaling Street, MBK of Sg Wang and Siam Paragon of KLCC. Traffic was horrendous and I was surprised that the laymen didn't understand English. What I liked about Bangkok?

FOOD - you have to give your hats off to them. I had tom yum every meal.
Dirt cheap massages/spa & pedicures! I feel like our local shops are ripping me off now.


And then, there was LINKIN PARK LIVE IN CONCERT!! That was THE deal-clincher for this trip. We didn't know about the concert until the first night when we were there when I was reading a tourist brochure. We went to extreme trouble to get to this concert:

1) Call Ticket Master to find out whether there were any tickets left
2) Found out where the closest Ticket Master outlet is (turned out they had one at the Central Plaza near Silom)
3) Rushed there the next morning to secure tickets
4) Walked the entire mall looking for the tiny booth, which is in a music store
5) Booked a cabbie for 5 hours as the event was held in some faraway venue, away from Bangkok city centre

But really, it was all worth it despite the concert starting only at 9:40pm and us, 2 Malaysian gals, suffering two hours of an opening act by a Thai singer. We head-banged for an hour plus and left Bangkok, somewhat satisfied.

Saturday 10 November 2007

Happy Blogging Wish

Dear Kerry sent another happy wish my way. Thanks very much, dear!

Here's wishing everyone out there "Happy Blogging". We all know just how addictive blogging can be :)


Friday 9 November 2007

I Don't Feel Like Me

I have not been myself the past 3 days. I've not been blogging nor have I been on Facebook. All I did was wrap "wantans" and hack like an old lady. Yes, I've fallen ill again - this time with quite a bad case of cough & cold. The timing couldn't be worse of course, with the bangkok trip impending. Today is the first day I'm actually feeling better.

Thank goodness as today is also the first day this week when I'm a SAHM. I don't know how you permanent SAHM do it, but I'm totally out of my wits! In between having Bryan sticking onto me, I have to rush for the nearest tissue box. I was thinking of dishing him to my in-laws but they had made plans till noon time today. So I ended up spending the whole day, one hand stopping Bryan from sticking his teeny little fingers into the electrical plugs, and the other doing some other form of plugging of my own!

I had only managed to pack (for my trip, and Bryan's bag as he will be spending the day with my parents tomorrow as VT is working) when dear VT came back close to 8pm. And that's saying that he will be back early!

Now, with VT tucking Bryan off to sleep, I'm off to make a fresh batch of yogurt, pay for the hotel reservation for my trip to Penang next weekend and settle down to sleep.

Tell me, how do you SAHM cope with the kids when you're down & out???

Tuesday 6 November 2007

Many First's

After some minor hiccups, Yee Keng who is Bryan's Godma & my long time friend from uni who also coincidentally shares the same surname, and myself are headed to Bangkok this weekend for some serious girly fun! We went to Reliance this afternoon but was told that they need at least 10 working days to arrange for flights & accomodation. BLEHHHHHHHHH!!

YK and I came back to my place, propped ourselves in front the computer and sorted everything out in less than 20mins. Who needs travel agents anymore when I have the world at my fingertips (also having a credit card helps greatly!). So we're leaving on Saturday morning and returning on Monday night. We've booked ourselves into a chic, boutique hotel called "The Davis". I've also made arrangments to have dinner with my colleague on Sat night. Looks like we're all set! I'm feeling excited because it will be my first trip to Bangkok (I know, you can gasped in amazement). I am feeling a tad guilty for leaving both the men of my life behind. But I think I need this trip to refresh myself.

Hence, this trip will mark many 1st times for me:
- 1st time to Bangkok/Thailand
- 1st time to LCCT
- 1st time travelling on Air Asia
- 1st time on holiday without VT & Bryan
- 1st time travelling with just another friend

A Tribute To My Mum & Dad (and Brothers!)

I would like to take this opportunity (got a bit more time to reminisce and to be soppy) to pay a special tribute to my parents. I am who I am today because of them. I have learnt a lot from them and I hope to be as good a parent to Bryan (and hopefully, more future children) as they are to me and my 2 older brothers.



To My Dad:

1) Who taught me to appreciate all things in life and how I should work hard to earn for what I want. Since I was young, Dad insisted that I earned the things I wanted, be it by passing school/music exams or working to get my first mobile phone & car, eventhough he could get them for me. For that, I appreciate what I have because it wasn't "free".

2) Who taught me good English. He would patiently sit down with me during highschool and teach me proper English. I will never forget the difference between "lend" and "borrow".

3) Who never thought twice before helping me out - be it at school (I was crap at art but Dad was good at drawing dogs!) or at work (he advised me on how to deal with colleagues).

4) Who ALWAYS emphasised the importance of being an honest person. He is always able to sleep well at night, knowing that he has nothing to hide. I want to be like him.

5) Who taught me the "Golden Mean" rule - to practise moderation in everything in life.

6) Who exposed me to art & culture from a very young age. We attended musicals and visited art galleries/museums together as a family. He reminds me that there is more to life than your monetary possessions.

7) Who is a great cook.



To my Mum:

1) Who taught me to speak up for myself and to always ask. I will never forget that "Questions are free".

2) Who taught me that I should always speak the truth, even if it meant facing the consequences.

3) Who always forgave me when I did wrong, and loved me even more when I'd admitted my mistakes.

4) Who never caved in to my insistence to buy millions of Barbie dolls, so that I learn to play with what I have.

5) Who until today, helped me by doing marketing for me, knowing that I don't have time during the weekdays.

6) Who ALWAYS tried her best to help me in my motherhood experience in whatever way possible.

7) Who acted as a mediator and reconciler whenever I had arguments with Dad.

8) Who is also a great cook.

So, Mummy & Dad - I LOVE YOU BOTH VERY MUCH, and THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME HOW TO BE A GOOD PERSON.


And while I'm at it, I'm also appreciative of my two brothers because:

1) They never allowed me to be a spoilt brat despite being the only girl and the youngest in the family.

2) They protected me in school when I was bullied/teased because I was so darn fat.

3) They saved my skin a couple of times (no details!!).

4) They love Bryan unconditionally.

5) We can give each other crap and laugh about it.

6) We have fun together, up till today! I pray that we will always stay this way.



Monday 5 November 2007

Long Leave

I'd started my long leave today - 2 weeks to be exact. I did go into the office for half a day this morning because of a few meetings that I couldn't get out of.

So, what are my plans you may ask?

This week
Mon - Wed: Blog, Blog, Blog!
Thurs & Fri: SAHM
Sat - Mon next week: Short holiday with Bryan's godma, Jo - haven't decided where yet

Next week
Tues - Thurs: SAHM
Fri - Sun: Penang with in-laws (I'm planning on meeting up with Sharine!!)

Anyone who wants to yum cha, drop me a note here!

Old Floggies Out Partying

That is exactly what VT and I did after attending my colleague's wedding dinner last Saturday. The dinner ended relatively early (11pm) as it was held in a chinese restaurant hence they were eager to bump us out of the place. The wedding party decided to adjourn to Zeta Bar @ KL Hilton. The last time I was there was probably when they frst opened its door in 2005. What a better way to celebrate my birthday (which was on Sunday) then to party the night through, with the baby safely with the in-laws. The music was good and there was a live band as well who played the latest hits (not their own crap). I enjoy dancing very much so I don't think my feet stopped moving when we were there. VT was happily drinking away with a few other "kaki botol" while trying to get the new couple drunk as well.


(Photo courtesy of www.faces.com)

We finally got home past 3 AM, successfully dodging a police roadblock on the way home as we took another route coincidentally. Not like we would had been caught - we're responsible drivers *Ahem* I crashed out the moment my head hit the pillow.

I had initially thought that I would get to sleep in the next day as we were thinking of fetching Bryan back after he wakes up from his morning nap, hence the late night out. But at around 9am, I woke up and looked around. VT was already up and.....wait a moment.........I could hear Barmey singing!!!! I jumped out of bed immediately and ran downstairs. My boy was home already!!!!! Boy, I really missed him despite being half-asleep. But we really paid the price for staying up late as we were both very tired the entire day. I crashed out at 10pm last night.

Late Treat

I'd received this treat from Kerry - thanks!!! It took me a while to post this, hence in a way it is a "late" Halloween treat for myself. But thank you, never theless!!


Thursday 1 November 2007

From Maid to Mate

I was chatting with a colleague, who is in her 33rd week of pregnancy, over lunch today.

Her: How come you're still so tired? I thought Bryan is more than a year old now?
Me: Ya lor....but he's still waking up 2-3 times a night. Don't know why - just wake up, cry, cuddle up to me, and goes back to sleep
Her: Wah like that ah?
Me: It's ok lah....after a while, your body gets used to broken sleep
Her: I have already told *husband's name" that the baby will be sleeping with the maid from Day 1

Now, I know many mothers who opted to do the same thing as what my friend mentioned. Do their children love them less? I don't think so. Then the question I ask myself is, "Am I sacrificing too much?". Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining but this just got me thinking a bit more than usual.