October 25, 2010

Going Back to Work Soon

Time flies, I wish I have more time staying at home, bring Chloe to Gymbo Classes, do some grocery shopping, knit more items for my little ones, bake cakes, cooks etc etc... But the fact is I AM GOING BACK TO WORK NEXT WEEK! 

Since I have the same caretaker, so I am not so worried about Baby Clarisse as I know very well that my maid is doing a good job so far. She will be able to manage it with the help of my mum's maid. I know it sounded really bad that my children are taken care by MAIDS and not MUMMY. Both starts with the letter "M" but it has a great differences between MAID and MOM. Still, MUMMY has to go back to work to get more $$$ back home (& myself) and also MUMMY got to go to work to help out GRANDPA and GRANDMA. *sigh* 

Feeling a little guilty now because the moment I start going back to work, I will packed with my own activity. For instance I have to spend my evening (after work) for my body treatment that I had signed up and also the Yoga classes, which means I will reach home at about 9pm. Sob Sob Sob...too much to do and too little time to spend. Gosh!!!! Especially when I am such a greedy mum. :)

So sad~~~, going back to work! :(

October 18, 2010

Nursery School

I am planning to send Chloe to half day pre-school for exposure. Not much of expectation, just want her to spend some times to get to know more friends, get used to new environment rather staying home watch tv and play toys alone (or with maids). Further to that, if I can send Chloe away from home for half a day, my maid can pay more attention to Baby Clarisse while Chloe is away. By the time, Chloe is home from school, Chloe should be tired and will nap for an hour or so. 

So, I start googling about preschool and nursery, and enquired a few of them. Gosh... The shocking fees are making me think twice about sending Chloe to school. These fees are like University's Fees, and these pre-school that I enquired are not the super famous ones yet. Basically, we are looking at RM 7K a year for those neighborhood style, and RM 12K for those "Intermediate" style, and RM 24K for those International Branded School. I haven't found out the FAMOUS BRANDED INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL's fees yet, I cannot imagine and I don't think I am going to spend so much for such a young age. *phew*

I am looking for a small playgroup, and I prefer it the neighborhood style kind of nursery whereby the ratio of 1 teacher to maximum of 6 children. But I have heard many out there without qualifications, and do not really guide your children properly. My husband worry about the security the most, we do not want strangers that might hurt our children in school. Recommendation required. 

I was trying to find out more information from parents' blogs but so far I have not found any pre-school related blog. Need to go ask around.. :p It is really not easy parenting at this ERA, everything is about $$$.  :( 

October 11, 2010

Roseola Infantum

"Roseola Infantum" is a term that I learned from Dr. Loo today. Parenting is indeed a never ending learning journey for us. There are always something new to learn from our children, from their growing development, from their illness, from their behavior, so on and so forth. 

Roseola is a viral illness commonly affecting children from age 6 months up to 3 years old. It is in the form of rashes occur on the child's body, neck and face after several days of high fever.*phew* It is also indicating the end of the high fever or viral illness. 

A moment ago, my sister noticed some red dots on Chloe's face. Then, she proceeded to check on her body, the same kind of red spots found on her body too. Initially, we thought that it could be measles or it could be chicken pox.  Without further hesitation, we rushed to Dr. Loo's Clinic since it is already 4.30pm, which means MOST clinics will be closed in half an hours time. There is not enough time for me to make it to Dr. Patrick, Chloe's Pediatric, so we have decided to head to Dr. Loo's Clinic which is 5-10minutes away from home. 

As we entered the consultation room, I began : "Doctor, my daughter was having high fever last few days, and I found some rashes on her body and face." I quickly lifted up Chloe's T-shirt, Dr. Loo immediate shoo us off (in a good intention) and said : "Go Home, go home. This is not measles nor chicken pox. Don't worry. Go home and you don't need any medication. Go home and google about the term "Roseola Infantum". This is a sign to mark an end to her high fever last few days. Go Home Go Home! "

My mum and I walked out of the consultation room with a relieved heart. *Phew* Dr. Loo didn't even charge us any consultation fees, the nurse told us " No Charge, You may go now. " 

I understand that Dr. Loo was not being rude. Perhaps he thinks that it is not advisable for babies or toddlers to stay in the clinic too long. Hubby and I agrees that Clinics and Hospitals are the most contaminated place as there are various illness which might be contagious, especially those air borne type of virus. 

Anyway, Roseola marks an end to the high fever and also the rashes will take up to 3 days to disappear. 

October 9, 2010

My Darling Chloe is sick :(

Even though I was told by my doctors that my fever was not infectious, somehow I think I am the one to be blamed for this incident. Who else to blame? I was the only sick person at home last weekend! Plus, it happened twice that I passed the virus to her previously when i got sick which ended up making her sick too. The good news is that OUR BOND is too strong, but the bad news is my girl falls sick whenever I am sick. *sigh* This is not what I want to experience. It is torturing to see my darling gets sick, especially she tends to have a higher temperature compared to mine. Once the fever hits her, her temperature will always end up 40 deg C. It is rather worrying for us to feel her so hot, and it is never easy to get rid of it. 

Chloe is now admitted to the hospital, it is the best way even though it is just fever. I have a 7 weeks old Baby Clarisse at home, we cannot afford to have another baby sick. So, admission is necessary to eliminate the chance of virus attack. Also, hubby thinks that it will be easier to monitor Chloe's temperature with the nurses' assistance. I didn't want her to be admitted because I couldn't stay in the hospital with her, as I need to stay home to feed Baby Clarisse. Yes, even though I can pump out, I might not be able to cope with the milk supply. Since the day that I got sick, my milk supply has been relatively low, if I don't continue to feed and pump consistently, Baby Clarisse will not get the benefit of breastmilk, but to be fed on supplements. Supplements will be my last choice at this moment. 

I cried when I was on the way home alone, leaving hubby and darling Chloe in the hospital ward. I miss her already. I know she will be well taken care of, and it will help her to recover faster, but I just can't help missing her so much now. 

God, I pray thee for Chloe's speedy recovery, and return to her healthy and bubbly state.

October 5, 2010

Baby Clarisse sleeps better without Air-Cond?

I was complaining about Baby Clarisse waking up in the night and refuses to sleep. My mum and I found out something interesting. 

For the last few days that I was sick. In order not to pass the virus to my children, I had isolated myself in a room, and my mum took over the job of taking care of Baby Clarisse in the night. My mum slept with Clarisse in the TV room. Baby Clarisse slept on her crib while my mum slept on the sofa. The first night, Baby Clarisse slept at around 12 midnight, woke up 3am and 5am for milk, but she slept immediately after feeding. On the second night, Baby Clarrise slept at 1.30am and she managed to sleep through the night and woke up at 7am. On the Third night, my mum decided to move back to her room because it is too hot for her to sleep on the sofa without Air-Cond. Unfortunately, Baby Clarisse made a lot noise even though she was already fed. So, my mum decided to give it a try and move back to the TV room. Guess what? She slept immediately without pacifier, and did not cry for cuddling. She slept immediately after my mum moved out of the room.

I suspect that Baby Clarisse doesn't like the cold in the air-cond room and she likes to sleep under the fan. Unfortunately, Hubby and Chloe both are afraid of heat, they SWEAT in the air-cond room too. Baby Clarisse is like me prefers to sleep without Air-Cond, and love the fan.

I will try to sleep in the TV room tonight but Hubby said Baby Clarisse has to get used to the Air-Cond room somehow.

Chloe is able to sing on her own

No one can underestimates the learning power of Toddlers. They are so fast in learning and they are so quick in applying what they have learned. It is so amazing. At least I am amazed. 

Chloe is starting to talk like an adult. She is able to comprehend what we are telling her, and she is able to pick up new "vocabulary" through everyday life. I don't remember teaching her certain words, but she is able to pick up from our adult conversation and use it. She might not totally understand the meaning of the word but somehow she figures out how to "insert" the new "vocabulary" in a certain sentence. 

She is able to say one to ten, but the actual fact is she doesn't know how to count yet. Hahaha... Now, she is trying to learn Eleven, Twelves and Thirteen. 

Chloe says : One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen...YEAH (She usually claps to applause herself for completing a task that we told her to do)

She is able to sing ABC Songs, she can recognize alphabets are ABC but she doesn't know which is A, Which is B or Which is C. As long as she sees Alphabets or Numbers, She would call them ABC. But, Hooray to Chloe because Mama really didn't expect you to be able to sing ABC Song in such a perfect manner. Hooray~ Good Job. To me, she has done a very good job but to be a little picky (hahaha..) she tends to make mistake at the "L M N" portion. Maybe this verse has the faster tempo that's why she couldn't catch it properly. But with my sister's guidance, she SOMETIMES able to sing it right. 

My Darling Chloe is good in music and singing. She loves to sing! She can sing so many songs by herself now. She loves Barney's I love you Song, She loves This Old Man, She loves Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars... I am so proud of my Chloe. 

However, after so many praises, I must also point out the naughty side of Chloe. She already knows how to throw tantrum, and asks for what she wants. If she didn't get what she wants, she will start to shout and kick and cry. I don't encourage ANYONE to give in to her, I definitely won't. But sometimes, my maids would just give in because they wants her to stop crying. Chloe is not listening to me anymore, when she says she doesn't want it, she will rejects it totally. I tried to use Yakult to bribe her, I tried to smack her, I tried to sweet talk to her but it doesn't work at all. It is getting more and more difficult to control her as she is developing her own personality gradually and she is developing her own thinking which helps her in making choices of what she likes and dislikes. 

I need to LEARN how to cope with their development and LEARN how to guide them well. How can I lose to her? Where to learn? How to learn? Quickly google it now. :P

October 4, 2010

Mystery Solved

Just came home from the Clinic, and finally Dr Loo managed to explain my query. 

I was having this breast pain, apparently after Dr. Loo examined, he told me that my breast is infected and it is called Mastitis. Bacteria might have entered through cracked nipples. Mastitis resulted painful breast, swollen and redness in breast, fever and flu like symptoms. So, I am NOT infected with viral fever la. *sigh* Somemore, the GP in Gleneagle's Emergency told me that I might have dengue, should carry out a blood test. He didn't even examine properly. Dr Loo assured me that it is not dengue as I do not have any aches or feeling lethargic, no rashes found, no vomiting or diarrhea.

Dr. Loo recommended that I should finish my course of Augmentin but dosage should be 3 times a day and take Panadol when necessary. Both of these are safe for breastfeeding. Dr. Loo told me that Telfast is NOT recommended for breastfeeding which was prescribed by GE's GP. Gosh..... He recommended if required I should just take Dexchloramine as this is safe for breastfeeding which was prescribed by a pharmacist at Taman Desa. *sigh* How's the qualifications benchmark as a GP in Gleneagles. Sorry, not that I want to complain much. But, the blur GP who examined me at Gleneagle, he told me to stop breastfeeding and give supplement to my baby because the antibiotic will pass to my baby through my breastmilk. Then, I asked him, isn't there any medications that are safe for breastfeeding. Then he only replied, of course there are. ???? I was totally confused. I was at Gleneagle's Emergency even though it was only fever because 1) No Clinic is opened on Sunday at my area. 2) I want to make sure prescribed medications and Antibiotic are safe for breastfeeding mum. 

But anyway, Dr. Loo told me is okay to continue to latch on the breast that is not infected, and he encouraged me to continue breastfeeding. The infection should be disappeared by Wednesday. It is common to have fever and flu like symptons. Dr. Loo also told me that this is not infectious as I have no cough or sore throat. By the way, just to complain once again, the GP's at GE told me that I had Sore Throat. Just in one day, my sore throat disappeared? I don't really feel any soreness or pain, I am not too sure about the sore throat diagnosis by the GP at GE. Arghhh....

But at least, he managed to prescribe the SUITABLE ANTIBIOTIC and PAINKILLER. Hahaha... I feel so relieved now, not dengue, not viral infection which means I can just sleep with them and even latch on Baby Clarisse. The Fever is not infectious!!! Hooray~ ~ ! Bad News is I still have fever and Mastitis. The good news is I can take care of my babies myself from today onwards. I am going back to work in two weeks times. Time really flies and it is horrible to have this feeling of leaving my babies at home while I go to work. No doubts, my maids are doing a good job, and they manage babies well. But, I wish I can be the one who stay home and take care of my children myself. In fact, I must admit, taking care of your own children is a tougher job than office job. :) Hooray to those Stay Home Mummies! You have done a good job!

Fever has not subsided....

Poor Mama did not bond with my daughters for two nights already. I can only see them from far, and even when Chloe asks Mama to "PO PO", I can't even do it. I do not want them to catch my virus.

This time round the Virus is considered a long life one, as usually it takes me one to two days to recover totally. I am not even close to recovery on the third day. I was given Anti-biotic -ugmentin, Panadol, Telfast, Strepsil which are all safe for breastfeeding. But I didn't breastfeed Baby Clarisse direct anymore as I do not want her to be sick. Baby is having all the expressed milk, which I would think better than nothing. 

Anyway, these medications are not working well. True enough, I am not being patient enough. I am expecting to recover right after the medications. My fever subsided after the medication and a rest, but then within two hour, the chill will hit me again and my temperature will rise again. As mentioned earlier, no matter how many layers or clothes or blanket that I put on, it didn't warm me up. Just yesterday alone, Fever, Chill, Fever, Chill, Fever, Chill for 4 full cycles. I have been taking lots of fluid but I still feel extremely dehydrated. Hubby said I better get a blood test to make sure it is not dengue. That's why I am going to another clinic today again. 

My engorged breast made everything worse. Sigh.... I also found out that there is tremendous drop in milk supply. Could it be I am not eating well? Could it be my sickness which has affected the milk supply? My aim is to at least breastfeed Baby Clarisse for 6 months like Chloe. I will pray hard for speedy recover and feed her more frequently to generate back the milk supply. 

October 3, 2010

Temperature rises again the morning

Mama's temperature came down at about 3.30am - 36.7 degree C. So, I thought I must give myself some energy, I had a cup of oat before heading to bed again. After the cup of Hot Drink, the cold hit me again. I was wearing two layers of top, a long pants, socks, I even used the socks to act as a glove to cover my cold hands. I had three layers of blanket covering me, but it didn't make me sweat this time. The sweat treatment doesn't work. No Sweat but cold hands and feet plus a hot forehead. My temperature now is 39 deg C. Argh...... Why Why Why? Somemore the stupid engorgement is making me feel even worse, and making me no choice but to get up and pump it all out. 

Now is 8.30am, I am going to visit a doctor and get him prescribe a proper medicine. This will enable me to continue to supply the BF to Baby Clarisse while I am on medication. 

What is wrong with me? *sigh* help!!!!

Weak Mummy

Sigh, Mama is sick again. This is considered the third time of being sick since Baby Clarisse's birth ~ classified as being unfit to take care of my own children because I need to stay 3m away from them to make sure they don't get infected with the virus.

I was sick on my third week of confinement. Why did I get sick - fever? It could be the "heatiness" since there were too much ginger and heaty ingredients which suppose to keep me warm and so that I won't catch cold during my confinement. It could be Mama being very naughty, took shower everyday - but I don't think this is the reason because I always made sure I have the right temperature shower, and I also made sure I dry myself thoroughly and put on my clothes immediately after I had dried myself. Wait a minute, I remember that I shivered during the Postnatal Treatment that I had at the Saloon. I might have caught cold during the process of wrapping, but if this is the case, I should be sick immediately after that and not two days after? I am not too sure which is the cause of my fever but the fact is I was sick and unfit to take care of my own children. Or perhaps, Mama is in denial with her "naughty" act of not following the tradition confinement rules - SHOWER EVERYDAY & GO OUT DURING CONFINEMENT.

Followed by a flu yesterday morning after a few days of sleepless night. This is my second week after the confinement month which means I am free from the traditional confinement rules. Two days ago, I found that Chloe and Clarisse were having minor flu. Why I said minor because I only saw the flu from there nose once of twice and then it stopped by itself. At that time I was fit, and I was not sick or tired at all. Sigh, then I realised that I am generally WEAK because I ended up with a flu and  my daughters are both strong and fit. Imagine Baby & Toddler were both able to fight the virus while their Mama couldn't fight it. Anyway, I ended up with flu but I got well the next day. Perhaps not totally recovered, but I feel fit and able to perform daily activities without any issues. 

Then, I was trembling while expressing milk in the room just now (about 8pm), Hubby switched on the Air-Cond and I felt cold and the sensation of falling sick is once again inevitable. Of course, after I complained to Hubby, he immediately switched off the Air-Cond and switched on the fan instead. After a shiver with the blow from the Air-Cond, I also found the fan is rather cold for me too. Just like what I had expected, my temperature was 38.6 degree C. Alamak, I fall sick again after a day of flu. The flu and the fever could be related. How come Mama is so WEAK - Hubby always complained that I am a WEAK PERSON. Always fall sick and unfit. Well, this is the last thing that I want to hear WHILE I am really sick. There is no point of making such comment while I am already sick. At my end, I was worrying of not being able to take care of my children, and at his end, blaming me for being WEAK. Sigh ~ my hubby.

Anyway, after a night of WATER INTAKE and SWEAT TREATMENT, my temperature has finally came down to 37.8 degree C indicating very slight fever. Thanks to my mum for helping me to take over the night shift for Baby Clarisse, allowing me to have a full rest. I am awake now for expressing because I feel the engorgement and I am not being naughty again, staying up late blogging and not getting the rest. :)

My intention of utilizing this confinement to make myself healthy again failed. I had Herbal Soup every day, and I had the Dong Sum with Red Dates as Water every day. Then, I ate all the fattening Chicken Essense and Sesame Ginger Chicken frequently. In order to make sure better recovery, I even finished one bottle of DOM even though I hated it so much. I know I know~ One bottle is nothing since my grandma said many can finished one bottle a week. I just managed one bottle for the while month. Then, I also took enzyme that my PIL bought for me, it supposes to boost my health and speed up my recovery after birth. SO WHAT? It doesn't make me STRONG, I can't even fight the virus like my children did, and I fall sick THREE TIMES in 6 weeks. I guess I am just WEAK like what hubby always said. Sob Sob Sob. 

Well, time to rest. The engorgement is not so bad now. :)

I want to be HEALTHY and STAY FIT for my daughters. They need me! :P

October 2, 2010

Baby Clarisse - 5 weeks Old

~ SMILLING ALREADY ~
Time flies. Baby Clarisse is already 5 weeks old. She has grown 2 cm longer and 1 kilo heavier, Dr. Patrick said she is growing at a good rate. Baby Clarisse already knows how to response to us by her smile. Whenever we talk to her or play with her, she would response with her smile and excited hands waving and legs kicking hard. 

~ DAY AND NIGHT CONFUSION ~
I though we are lucky this time because Baby Clarisse's sleeping pattern is better than Chloe's. Sigh...it ended the same - as bad! Baby Clarisse sleeps a lot in the day time and wakes up in the night. Hubby and I having hard time to keep ourself awake for Baby Clarisse. She has been sleeping really late. Two weeks ago, she slept at 2.30am, then she changed her sleeping time to 3.30am, and now it became worse because she adjusted it to 5.30am sleeping time. Poor Hubby. My body is generally weak, so I got this flu from somewhere. In order not to pass the flu to the little ones, hubby has to help to take over the job last night. He is very grumpy now for not getting enough sleep. This is a tough job! I fall sick due to LACK OF SLEEP. 

~ RASHES ~
Rashes appear on Baby Clarisse's face, scalp, neck and her back too. I am not too worry about it, because it will go away naturally in the later stage. But I am trying to keep her cool by compressing wet towel on her face and neck, and apply Hazeline Snow. Dr. Patrick told me not to worry too much and he doesn't recommend any medication. So I have to just let it be - Chloe had the same problem too. 

~ FEEDING ~
I express the milk most of the time for feeding, only during the night I would wake up for breastfeeding. She was having 2oz for her 1st month, and now she is having 3oz every two hourly. It is still acceptable since the expressed milk is rather watery compared to formula. But sometimes, she would ask for milk again in less than an hour time even though she had finished with her 3oz. She drinks more compared to Chloe but she still look smaller. Chloe at this time, she had a chubby little cute look, but Clarisse is not Chubby yet despite her healthy grow in length and weight. Well, to me it doesn't really matter as long as they are healthy! :)