Our Family

Thanks for the concern many had shown me during those times when I had felt 'uncomfortable'. For known reasons, I had been unable to reveal the actual reason why I had been feeling ill but apart from my family members, most whom are close to me had more or less made a correct guess and for the benefit of those who still do not know... Renee's going to have a sibling! :)

This pregnancy's detected very early(I even told hubby to buy another 'more known brand''s home test kit to test again, lolz) and the symptoms set in immediately and for the 1st week following my home-test, I had been resting and resting and although Renee had suspected that I'm hving a baby(she said "cos aunty Cindy was also like that the last time", hahaha), but, to prevent her from spilling the beans, we had to tell her that I was just feeling unwell, as much as we'd like to share the joy with her(since she's been longing for a sibling).  Not being told the truth, her patience soon began to wear thin... However, this wonderful secret cannot be contained for long from her and when we brought her along to the 2nd prenatal check-up at the gynae's, she couldn't stop grinning and clapped so loudly when she 1st heard the baby's heartbeat over the ultra-sound scanning machine, lolz. She was sooooo excited and kept saying "you're going to have a baby, you're going to have a baby...!" very loudly whilst we were waiting at the clinic's lobby, :D.

Thereafter, though we've instructed her not to leak out the secret when she's at grandma's, we were prepared that she wouldn't be able to contain her joy and true enough, the very next Saturday she was there, she revealed it to my sisters whom luckily, had already knew/guessed so, :).

The symptoms of this pregnancy are really much stronger and for the 1st 2 1/2months(after my pregnancy's confirmed), I had been literally resting on bed most of the time and what made it worse was that I was also feeling rather weepy, lolz and I tear-ed almost every night whilst watching Renee sleeping, feeling guilty for not being able to give more care/time to her, even though she has not made a single complaint at all...

The 1st thing I checked with my gynae was - if it's due to my age that I'm feeling so terrible but he re-assured me time and again that it's not and in fact, many younger women(in their early 20s) are the ones who felt such strong symptoms. He added that it is actually good news although the concerned mother-to-be would be 'suffering' as it meant that the pregnancy's strong(so, for those whom are also expecting and are experiencing the same, don't be alarmed, just take good care of yourself , try to rest/eat and take your pre-natal supplements).

Apart from the constant discomfort and vomitting, I only lost abit of weight on the 1st week and already, that got me worrying but once I was given the medication to help curb(not of tremendous help but it still did control abit) the vomitting, I had been able to gain weight steadily - although my weight prior to this pregnancy was already 'big' to begin with but I don't think this should be the main concern especially when we're pregnant and want the baby to grow healthily.

As I hvn't been able to send and pick Renee up from most of her classes(papa's the one who's been rushing here and there during this period), I have not taken up the long waited slot with Berries for her Chinese lessons, :( and we're now beginning to re-consider putting her back to a school next year(ne's requested to go to a childcare, oh man!) but that, for now, still can't be the 1st thing on my list as some of you had already known, we would be relocating, as to where, we've yet to finalise!(that's why I'm unable to work on this matter...), and in the meantime, I'll try to provide updates whenever I can... :)

Phobia?

Renee woke up ard 3:30am this morning looking for me. She had requested to sleep with me but I rejected. She came down from her bed again not long later and said she want to go pass urine(this is what she's learnt in the school. very good).

This morning, when changing her, she told me that she doesn't want to go to school and I thought perhaps she woke up last night fearing this? - She was afraid that I won't be picking her up again hahaha.
Daddy came home after sending her to school and told me that she was still crying when they arrived at the school.

When I went to pick her up last Friday, I saw her queing at the classroom door waiting for class release, looking around for me with a concern look on her face and when she saw me, she kept jumping and waved happily hahaha. Even, the administrator also told me "she has been crying the last few days" hahaha.

Today, whilst waiting for her, I saw the hygiene control people changing the floor rugs, rubbish bins(not just its contents, but also the bins) and their hands holding the disinfectant sprays. I'm glad that the school is really taking serious steps as recommended by the MOH to prevent HMFD.

Renee told me that, again, some of her classmates did not attend school today. This virus is indeed stronger as per the PD we saw 2wks ago and I'm glad that I've insisted on sending Renee to a pre-school and not a childcare centre. Reason is very simple - although many may argue that this is a common phrase young children will have to go through when they begin pre-school(some may even have been falling sick w/out or prior to attending school) but I strongly believe the control of any virus spread would be much lessen especially when the parents have no choice but to continue sending their sick children to the CCC since most are unable to take last minute leave or even longer leave to tend to their kids and that defeat the purpose as it'll take a few days at least for them to be fully recovered. And usually the CCCs, unless they are the good strict ones, will not insist on the child being brought home. Not blaming the parents, it's just a matter of reality and being lucky enough to be given the choice to select, I'm glad I've made full advantage of it, although it would mean a little more 'work' on our side - to send & pick our child from a school that's further away from home.

Renee's 'trains'

These are the trains she's created this morning, with her toy blocks : )

Why lasik?

Oh no, this is what I fear! - a post leading to another(under the same topic) resulting from readers' queries... hahaha, just kidding. No worries ya, Lena, in fact, I would rather that you ask me to obtain MY answer instead of going around speculating :) heeeee

Ok, here's why :
I've started wearing spectacles since secondary school days and had switched to wearing contact lens in my early twenties. Contact lens, though more convenient than putting on spectacles, do pose some problems if worn for a long period of time - dryness, eye infections, etc...
In the past, some of my friends would suggest lasik to me when I complain about the trouble of having to put on contact lens when I'm in a hurry but not willing to take the risk, I usually brushed the idea aside.
However, since end last year, my eyes started to feel very dry, even though I've been using the 'quality' daily contact lens as claimed by many optometrists.
So, when an ex-customer told me that she had also gone for it after some hesitation, that I started to consider lasik. At first, when I brought this topic up during one family gathering, my brother and SIL strongly advised me against it, as my SIL's friend who's also an eye surgeon had told her that the 'real effects' of such surgeries will only suffice after 10 years and that really got me worried, so I put the idea aside again...
But, a few more trips within the short period and I began to feel the trouble of contact lens/spectacles wearing whilst travelling and the idea of lasik crossed my mind a couple of times.
Early this year, the same lady recommended me to a lasik clinic at paragon and taking up the suggestion, I went there for a pre-lasik assessment, with the company of my close friend, Vicky(as daddy has to work). During the session, I told the person who did the assessment of what I heard from my SIL and to my surprise, she agreed! This made me hesitated again especially when this clinic appeared to me like they're more keen in making money. So, lasik is pushed aside again...hahaha
Until I spoke to the optometrist whom I used to consult at Y.E.S. (she was the one whom checked and told me about a serious eye condition few years ago) and learnt that she had gone to work for an renowned eye surgeon when he decided to set up his own private practice. After a few discussions with her, I also realised that the continued wearing of contact lens when one's has got super dry eyes condition is as bad, I decided to give it another shot and went to them for another pre-lasik assessment.
At the clinic, sighting the surgeon's newspaper reported credits and they, using a machine that removes the least amount of tissue for every dioptre (100 degrees) of treatment(and the fact that a MP is also with the clinic) reassured me. So, plucking up my courage, I went ahead with the surgery that day(I had told the lady to book the lasik on the same day with the option of being able to back out last min, in case I freak out lolz).

It's now been more than 3 mths since I've had my lasik and I've been able to see clearly with a near perfect vision(tested 6/6 upon my 2nd which is the 1 mth-after follow up check) without the hassle of wearing spectacles/contact lens since then. Praying hard that all stay well :)

A quick update

Some of you asked why there's been no updates in the blog lately? Hehehe, that's becos we were away, since Wed(on a business trip and Renee's with her aunt Eileen) and had only just got back - the plane we were on, landed around 7:30pm.
Before we left, Li asked if we'd like them to bring Renee down to pick us up from the airport since she'd be at her place the whole of Sunday. We both find that a very good idea and so, whilst waiting for our luggage just now, I was anxiously looking out everywhere for her(them) LOLz and when I couldn't find them, her daddy made me phone Lili to re-confirm... hahaha

Once again, our appreciations to all whom readily help us to look after and/or play with Renee whenever we have to go away...Thanks!

No Updates?

Some of you had asked why there's been no updates these few days, we're fine, thanks for your concern. Just having trouble trying to log-in to the internet since last week. Connection has been extremely slow and kept breaking whilst logged-in, so i've not been able to post any updates here. Only manage to try n do so now.
Singnet had suspected that a prog is blocking our surfing the internet and no, it's not our anti-vrius nor firewall - With this incident, I'm glad I've stucked to a 'safe' blog w/out putting up personal pics online :D
The Singnet guy will come over soon and hopefully by then, we'll know the reason/'culprit' and get the connection back.
So, stay tuned ya, Thanks!

Why Playgroup?

Many people had commented seeing the positive 'results/difference' in Renee after we've signed her up with the playgroup sessions(Gifted Tots) at Growing Up Gifted(GUG) and that made me glad that I've made the sacrifices. Sacrifice? - hey, not near hor, take an hr to get there, by LRT, then MRT and the waiting/long walks? Plus, to ensure her nutrients intake(n mainly becos she doesn't appreciate 'outside' food) I've to cook and bring her food out! lolz but it's ok, cos if I'm the mother and don't do it, who would?

Ok, some asked, why signed her up at such early age? Some may say it's KS but somehow, if you asked around, u will find that most of today's mothers will agree that, early learning is now inevitable, especially in this modern generation. However, on this note, it is in my opinion that we should not put un-necessary stress on our kid(s)and anything before the age of 2 is abit too young I feel. It's important for them to have fun at this age and too much of proper 'learning' too early might have adverse effect later.
That is why, though it is somehow considered late to some, we've only signed her up when she's 28 mths old - many of her classmates were from the Gifted Babes class and some had even started as early as from less than 1 yr old but I've learnt from their parents that not all are there just becos the parents are being KS - I shall not elaborate their reasons here.

Now, the main reason we let her attend playgroup sessions is that at this learning/brain still developing age, they have this insatiable energy and it's hard to keep up at times, so, to make her happy, I've to keep bringing her out and also to help her 'get in touch with the world' :) Ok ok, I'm also one who cant stay at home for long - boring rite and since I've given up most of my work to care for her, bringing her out has become a form of 'excercise' for both of us :D
However, how often can I bring her out? It'll soon be boring again cos there're just these few places that I can bring her to. One day, I was reading a friend's blog and I saw how much her girl has achieved from the childcare centre and I thought, why don't I sign her up for some 'learn through play' kinda playgroup so that she can have her high level of energy WELL spent and without the pressure of actual learning. So, I went on a long search for a suitable centre and 1 Sat, after viewing some places, realised that I was on the wrong track - those around housing area are mostly childcare centres and nearby ones don't appeal to me cos of their teacher/child ratio and the 'lack of quality'.
No no, It's not about enrolling our child into a so-called posh school, as there're many others which are more costly but being fussy in this area, I hope to enrol her with a school with a better quality - but better qualified teachers are paid higher, so we'll have to be prepared to pay higher fees.
(In fact, our part-time cleaner who works in childcare centres, she saw Renee's artworks and commented that they're more 'creative' as compared to those done at where she's worked in, so here's one difference already)

Another round of search persued and finally, I've shortlisted Gymboree(more on fun) and GUG(art&craft, fun activities, songs...). Though her daddy was quite reluctant at first but hearing that it's a parent-accompanied programme(and since I'm willing to bring her all the way there) and it'll be fun for her, he decided on GUG.

I guess going to the playgroup sessions does really help, cos being there with her, I can see that she really enjoys doing the artworks & singing and most of these artworks are something which most of us wont allow at home, for fear of the mess/dirt they'd create hahaha. Furthermore, we won't know where to start and what to 'create'... Best of all, though she's quite an independant girl, she's very sticky to me, so these sessions also allowed me to train her to be less sticky, which will be very very 'useful' when it's time for her to attend nursery or when we have our 2nd child(that's IF we have lah, just for example only cos many mommies who are pregnant now told me that they don't want their precious 1st born to feel like they're being dumped at the schools on the arrival of the 2nd baby...- Hey look, I also benefit in learning something from accompanying her to the sessions lolz)

And couple of months ago, just as we've both kinda settled-in comfortably with this school, her daddy, whom has probably seen the improvement in her, felt that perhaps it's time for her to go to a place where there's more learning since by the time she turns 3 next year, we will still have to 'upgrade' her to the non-parent accompanied prog (actually, she's supposed to be upgraded when she turned 2 1/2yo as per GUG's prog guide but I delayed as she's only just started then. And when we resumed after the 1 mth break, I was told that there's no vacancy and she'll hv to join next year, which was also fine with me 'cos I'd prefer her to continue with this parent accompanied programme till she's at least 3). And though I'm quite hesitant(on the 'more learning part'), her daddy's the one paying :D So now, headache again cos WHERE?! arrrggghhh...

Be patient... :)

Many has requested for her pics to be up, sorry to disappoint but that'll defeat the purpose of creating a 'safe' blog in the first place rite? :D
So, for the benefit of those, I am trying to upload some of her voice/song singing recordings and I've finally downloaded my mobile phone's pc suite prog and transferred the files over but I don't know why the sounds/videos just can't be 'opened'! Am still trying to figure out why, so, please, give me some time(or better still, tell me what's wrong or how to go about it lolz)

Why this blog and, now...?

Actually, after having viewed so many kiddies' blogs, there had been times when I was sooooo tempted to create one for our darling daughter but yet, hving heard so much about the abuse of children's pics extracted online even, I was advised by many not to and thus, none was created(cos I thought it'll be kinda boring to put up a kiddy blog without showcasing all the cutie cutie pictures :P)

And now, even if I wanted to, after having held back for so long, it is already quite impossible for me to create one especially when I'm not one who keeps diary hahaha.

Conclusion : since I've been occasionally updating those(who cares abt her) on her artworks done at her playschool's(GUG), I thought : 'why not create a blog to showcase her artworks!' - In this case, whoever interested can still be kept updated on her 'artworks' and best still, get to view them any time!(even her earlier works :D)