No more dog...

Fluffy is gone...Our house dog. On 25th June 2010 (Fri). We are the cause of him going to heaven. At 8 yrs old, he can do anything you tell him to. Though he does things to annoy us like going onto our beds, smells our butts all the time, pee and poo everywhere.
Will miss his scratching noise, itchy groaning and the crazy moments he has when he sees us after a long day.
To our smelly dog, the kids do miss you. Rest in peace.

Impromtu....Sch

"When Ashlynn grows BIG, papa will bring me to sch and I will say bye bye to mummy"
This was one of the random statements that Ashlynn can say in a day. Does it mean she is ready?
7th June 2010 (Mon), a visit to the school to explain why the girl Ashlynn Wong who's name has been on the registar has not turned up yet. It became, her 1st 1h+ away from familiar faces and in school. Totally happy, with her bear Sally. It was unplanned, the teacher asked if she wanted to stay. I tempted her for a swimbut she said she was staying on.
Gosh, I went away with mixed feelings. I'm so proud Ashlynn did not fuss but she is all grown up. I miss my big bom bom.
Consolation, sch will only begin for her in Sep. Till then..;P

Long awaited family portrait

After weeks of anticipation.....we got to do our family portrait with Gabriel. Thanx to him we all had great fun. A few teasers....

http://www.gabrielmendes.net/?p=2653

Happiness...

What is happiness to you? To me, its when I bring a smile to my love ones and to new found love ones.
Got 2 calls made to me in the last 2 weeks which sent a shriver down my spine. How can a person make unfair remarks and still go to bed smiling? Why do people purposely want to doubt another person's truth? What do they gain when they tear a person up?
Mum says the world is made exciting when such people exist. I have my family and true friends who know the truth. It may have made me sad to hear such remarks, but God gives me strength and he knows the truth. He helps me overcome the sudden sadness and tells me not to worry and still be on my mission. To bring smiles to all I care.

Andrelle route to 1

A yr of a baby's life is eating sleeping and playing. For Andrelle, she's either at home, at granny's, at the park, at the pool. We have seldom taken her on shopping trips, eat outs etc. Coz we do not want to mess up her eating and sleeping timings.

So far she has been on porridge and milk diet. Giant bowl of porridge for lunch and dinner, in it is lots of veg, varying between the different meats each day. She's been eating well. But the little gal knows how delicious salt can be so during our dinner she walks ard the table waiting for 'adult food'. She gets a nimble and makes a 'ummmm' soundas she walks away smiling. Really cute.

She can say lots of words now, from calling her sis, papa, dog, mum mum(food) etc.. she responds to music by dancing in circles, clapping hands.

She's very different from Ashlynn, very responsive, more strong headed and extremely smiley. That's the personality for now till we discover more gradually.

She's turning 1, and having her in our life has been a joy. Ashlynn has a fight mate, cry mate and most of all a sister. Thank u god for that.

At 11mths, me after facial with her if she goes for facial.

Sad...bondless

I'm back from our 16 day long road trip with Ashlynn. It was great fun but we missed Andrelle. Leaving her in Sg was a tough choice and most importantly hving to risk the fact that she might not wan to suckle when I get back.
Fri at midnite, I could not wait to get her on my boobs. The closeness, I yield for it from my baby. She took a few minutes but she remembered me. I was so so relieved.
Sat she had boobie as well as bottle.
Sun she had boobie as well as bottle.
Mon the same.
Tue she snapped........no more boobie,only bottle.
The next few days running up to now I've been trying, but she has refused.
The last time she went on strike was when she was 8+mths, I brought her to boobie watch at Parent Craft at Thomson Med. It worked. So I thought it this time round I bring her to a neighbour's place to boobie watch. Low and behold, my fren Vanessa tried to breastfeed her. Andrelle was close to suckling when she looked into Vanessa's face. Ooops...wrong mum and she wailed. However, Athena who is Van's 13mth gal was happy to suckle on my boobs.
I brought Andrelle again to Parentcraft in the afternoon. But she's happy being a busybody to the other babies. Poking at their small feet, smiling at the nurses instead of tasting ME.
I'm sad, I miss the closeness.
I ask myself truthfully why do I still want to breastfeed her. Reasons: 1) Convenience 2)Ashlynn will start school and suckling tells the body to make more milk so that will be ample supply for both my gals.
Am I ready to let go, I'm not. I'm going to Parentcraft again tmr. If not successful, I'm still going to keep up my 'pumping' regiment of 5 times a day. Pray and wish me luck.

Andrelle at 10mths, Ashlynn at 30mths

Andrelle grew 2 lower incisors at 9mths, so now at 10mths she has using it to bite on stuff. She is able to stand and walk at least 3 steps unassisted. Can wave and clap.

Ashlynn can get on your nerves at times with all the "wat are u doing qns?" etc....but she such fun when u hv a conversation with her.

Today we leave for Melbourne for 16days. Without bb, so sad but at least she gets to bond with her grandparents without hving to be tortured by Ashlynn. To a great trip!!! A pic of Andrelle and my new helper. She's been of great help so far.

Steps....

Quick update!!! Andrelle by 9mths can stand without support and been holding our hands to walk. at 9 1/2mths she took her 1st 3 steps without help. Yippee.....she's going to walk ard on her own soon. So there's more running ard!!! Photos after CNY. Too busy now.

Stories..

Every woman has a different birth story that we so openly share, same too for how we got hitched etc. Stories make us or do we make the stories? Its a chicken and egg question, why bother asking. Its great memories anyway.

Centre...

Thanx to my sis my blog is finally centralised.... Well done!!! Time to fine tune the pic to make it clearer.

Cough cough

The trip to Penang was ultimate...3 adults and 2 kiddos....soon 2 adults were consumed by the flu followed by the kids. 1 adult standing. Total madness. An experience. Penang is foodie paradise, will return someday again.
Sickness zaps a person's energy and temper away. Hub and me have been extremely short tempered with each other. I can explode at him for anything and everything. And he can be Mr Charcoal Face. I break down easily especially when I cant seem to find the energy to care for the 2 kids. I hate myself so much. I MUST get well.

Stitches...

Happy New 2010. We started off the yr with half a day in KK hospital. Ashlynn attained 4 stitches under her chin. All thanx to hub's stupidity. She was climbing this umbrella shaped pole at the pool. Hub tickled her feet and pop the chin hit the base.
I was in the shower when I heard the cries. I was gone only for 2mins. My heart ached so badly while she was held down in the op theatre. Doc apparently could see how I was affected, instructed me politely to wait outside. Hub was helping to talk through her during the 5-10min op. I was crying with her wails outside.
Man!!!! What can say....I am still fuming.

7 1/2mth update

A quick shot before I rush off to work.

At 71/2mths she can stand with support. And at times without support for 30sec at least.

Cries for help or when her stuff gets taken away from her by Ashlynn.

Makes funny roaring noises or sounds. Dun remember Ashlynn making any noises.

Crawls to us if given any opportunity and not a big fan of the maid. And we know why coz the maid has been so rough on her.

Super smiley and laughs with her sister when not being tortured.

But they have really different personalities. Gosh...I cant imagine what personalities do they have.

** She knows how to wave when we are leaving hm for work. Will upload video soon.

Love notes...digital

Hub drops me notes....honestly I'm always pleasantly surprised when I read them.

Bath Times

Bath times get more fun when you have a partner...Hmm...the same applies to adults.....Cheeky Smile ;P

Lights turned down...

When they lights are turned down and the babies including the GIANT(Hub) one is asleep...I would try and sneak in alittle time on the virtual world. Lately I've been trying to find a nice bag online to pamper myself for my upcoming hatch day. No luck as yet. Any suggestions?
Asia Pacific Blog Awards recently took place and I tagged a few blogs that are actually pretty fun to read. These are on top of my daily fun reads in my favourites. I'm inspired and I need to find time to revamp my blog space. Fatty if u are reading.....pls help soon!!!

These are the blogs:
www.planningwithkids.com

www.fashionation.wordpress.com

www.ladymelbourne.blogspot.com

www.eatshowandtell.com

16th Oct 2009

Amazing how fast a child develops. Each day I wake up to something different. Andrelle has been trying to crawl this entire 5mth. 1st gliding on her tummy reaching out for things. Today she can crawl on her knees, stand when we hold her fingers and sit and look at you. Life is so unbelieveable. Thanx God

Summary of happenings...

Its been awhile...I've been really bz.....or perhaps lazy.....no I should say occupied. These are all excuse. Actually I broke a my left little toe at midnite on the 1st of Aug. How timely! I've repeated the story as to why I broke it like a chicken bone, all cause I put my babies' zz before the dog. So go guess why.... I was sad, I was in a clutch and I did not want to short change my kids...apart from bathing them, I still breastfed, carried them with a clutch on one side. That's the stuborn me.

Andrelle is 5 1/2 mths and she has started to crawl, can sit up, giggles and smile to all the 'amusing' things we do in front of her. I was feeding her today and I realised she's grown so long her legs are happily tangling off my thighs. I need to have a pic of her toes and her fingers soon.

Ashlynn has been talking more and more, she's developing the jealous feelings and is more aware of people giving love to her little sister. She'll start to whine and act like her sis to get attention.

We took her on a vacation to Phuket and it was bonding time for just the 3 of us. Ashlynn loved the water as usually. She wouldnt want to leave the pool....ok I'm thinking of our next vacation destination already. Any suggestions??

Mine fav shot fm our little water fun at Botanics. Hub's women!!!

Sick...

Ashlynn caught the virus fm me. Diahorrea I had...vomitting I did not. But she DID! 7 times in 2h, and she has definately lost her weight, energy. Totally restless after all the puking. Poor little thing. But I is slowly recovering after 2 days of rest. There was an epidemic in Singapore actually, and we were part of the statistics, including hub.

I got a picture of Ashlynn, she could get up jus lay on the floor. And that was after her usual nap. Gosh...she hardly ever kept still only when ill.

Am I lonesome tonite..........

I've been juggling work and family since Andrelle turned 2 1/2mths. I went back to teach twice a week and I must say sometimes it can be a challenge.
I stocked up on milk and praise the lord, I have more milk this time. I was going to the hosp to collect or at times beg for empty glass bottles to store the breast milk. I got I think close to 500 bottles of frozen milk store in the fridge. Hub calls me a cow. I'm glad in a sense that I am one. Ashlynn has been taking expressed breast milk as well. And I was blessed to be able to provide for Allison's adoptive daughter. Haha...I'm a 'milk mum' to baby Dawn. Gave her 150 bottles and I can see she's growing fast which is a good sign.
My friends ask what do I do to get so much milk. Gosh...its hard work at times. Basically feed the baby properly, and express your breasts fully. Hub has been very supportive as well. He helps with bringing the milk to the fridge for storage and washing the funnels. Tonite YY's not around. He's down with alittle flu so he decided we should continue to stay over at my mum's place while he goes home alone.
I'm lonesome tonite, miss hub alot but the MILKing must go onnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.......

Flip

Ashlynn flipped on the day she turned 4 mths....Andrelle did a flip at 3mths. I never witnessed it this time coz I was working. Felt really lousy when my maid told me the news...Gosh...I was not there. Anyway that could be an accidental attempt by Andrelle. I console myself. Anyway since then she has been trying again and again. I witnessed it last wk. I was estatic. She's a flipper at 3mths and has been trying especially in the wee hours of 2.30AM!!!! Sleep TIME!!

A religion

I went to Sunday school when I was a kid.I finally recalled I made a bookmark that says "Anyones who calls the name of the Lord shall be saved" Roman 10:13. I only rem this verse but I always wondered saved fm the sea saved fm where??
20th June '09 We were saved, and baptized at hm by a pastor fm Taiwan. It was an emotional moment, really happy YY and me now have someone common and great that we belong to besides our family. We hv been going to a few churches and still choosing.Not yet decided but we wan to be part of a bigger family. Be of service.

Necklaces made by my sister

Always wondered where and how my little sister could come up with so many designs for her necklaces. She has been making jewellery and selling it for 3 years already. Really admire her skills in twisting the wires, manipulating the tiny beads and handling her pilers. Often, she would start her workshop late into the night and sometimes she would even sleep on the table. But i supposed she's really enjoying what she has been doing because her works are often praised and she's really happy to see her necklaces being bought. All the best fatty!

Do visit her website at http://www.amenfel.blogspot.com !!

Confinement

Interestingly, the body shuts down all forms of heaty food after 30 days. We chinese must be confined for 30 days or some 40 days, during this time take lots of nutrious food. I obediently ate whatever good food that was prepared and continued with it till the 32nd day....Gosh I lost my voice and I was in HEAT!!! My body automatically shut down. Why???????????????

Birth storriessssssssss

My 1st birth story: I took the day off school so that we could collect the keys to our new place. The date 22nd Augest 2007. I could feel Ashlynn's head way low at my pelvic. Infact I was getting tired more easily. Afternoon, I needed my nap. I spoke to the 'the inner being', asking her for some time for my much needed rest. After 2h, I awoken to tummy aches. Not too bad, I could use the toilet and of coz there was stuff to clear.

As a 1st time mum you will not know what contractions are, the secret is they come in almost similar time intervals. I called the hosp, the nurse told me I could come in or wait alittle while. Just in time for dinner, I had my food in between terrible contractions. Hub got home in time too and we could pack extra food. Who knows how long it would take. My youngest bro-in-law commented that we seemed to be going for a picnic. HAHA....greedy us.

7.30pm to the ward, 9.30pm epidural taken coz it was too tiring to go with the pain. 2am fully dilated...3.47am Out came Ashlynn. So much of pushing.

2nd birth story: I learnt alot from my 1st and was expecting the 2nd to be similar. The act of pushing the bb out has been going through my brain time and again. But this time round I didnt need to be a labour.

Turned out Andrelle has been breeched since week 28 and nothing that Doc did would change her position. I was stuborn, I was not willing to go under the knife. I tried everything...you name it I would have tried. Even going to church demanding I was looking for God. I was nuts.

The day, 21st April 09 (Tue) 9am. One last attempt by doc to turn her but the uterus hardens. Doc says there's a reason why she refuses to turn so lets not force it. C-sect! Gosh its reality. Breech birth was not for me, I'm not risking her life coz I'm not a good pusher. Was hoping to pop on the 23rd April... atleast one date the same for both kids. Makes it easier for hub to rem. But doc gets to use the op theatre on Wed so too bad....22nd April shall be her birthday.

22nd April'09(Wed): 6.30am admitted, dressed up and by 8.30am on the chopping board.... The bb paedi asked me how I was when he entered the theatre. I replied: I'm being cut up. What can I say rite??!! With epidural I was fully awake. 8.43am Andrelle says hi to the world.

Growing well on breastmilk at 3 weeks.

My gals....

Our 1st shot....not a glam shot but Ashlynn and me were super happy to pose.

Hello to the world

Due to the bb being breech, I had to be cut open on the 22nd April'09. So welcoming Andrelle Wong Yu Xuan to the world. She's a whooping 3.555kg, 49cm at birth. She's got super long limbs, which explains why she kept them folded up to her face obstructing her ability to turn head down. More on my birth story soon.

A letter to Ashlynn and bb Andrelle

Dear kids of mine,

thank you for quickly promoting my status to be a mother of two. Honestly, I will miss the threesome time I have with only Ashlynn but at the same time Daddy has reassured that it would soon be double the fun of coz sometimes double the trouble. However, God has this amazing trick of making us forget the troubles you girls would cause as time goes by.

Ashlynn, when I was 1st preg with you I told my students I was going to go through the au natural way of birth. No medicine nothing. But when the time came, it was alittle tiring going with the contractions. So it was epidural. And you came out through the birth canal after a short while.

Andrelle, you will come out to see the world and meet your elder sister tmr morning. You have a strong mind of your own. Like the meaning of your name, gosh you would not turn head down since Feb. Mummy's love ones, and friends have prayed but no avail. I think you have your reasons and we shall only know when mummy goes under the knife tmr morning. Though this time its going to be assisted, and you have made mummy worried and anxious. I'm going to tell you I had the most enjoyable 2nd pregnancy. My complexion was good, I could actively take care of Ashlynn and daddy and my overall weight gain was slow and steady.

Ashlynn you too have been anxious about Andrelle, hugging mummy's tummy every now and then, dancing to a giant balloon, playing your toy piano for 'mei mei'. I hope you both will grow up close and love each other. I await the 1st shot I can get of both of you in my arms.

Our last wkend as a family of 3 before going on to 4.

Gynae's 2nd attempt

Doc made attempt to turn the bb during my last visit in wk 38. Her butt was shifted out of my pelvic and she was in this terrible position that made me feel so choked in the tummy. I have been more uncomfortable and pain than now. Pubic bone hurts big time and I cant thing of the reason why, she is turning but I really have no idea how she is positioned inside. On one hand I wish she pops soon on the other I want her in there longer giving her more time to spin. I know she will try her best. Given her weight gain the last 2 weeks. She has out'weigh' Ashlynn to be 3.3kg and still ballooning.
This episode has brought some of my friends closer to be through their rational practical encouragements. Friends whom I last spoke to years ago have been giving me moral support. Besides hub and my family, these friends have been an amazing bunch of people. Even if I have to go under the knife I would be prepared. Although I wonder what made her not turn around this time, was it all the squats, climbs etc I had to make because I had to care for Ashlynn?? I really doubt it. Next checkup is Tue and then we will know what the final decision will be. fingers crossed and in prayer.

In control

I've been worried since the last time I went for my checkup at my gynae. The baby inside is still head up...meaning breech. She decided to somersault after our family trip to down under. Doc jokingly mentioned that she wants to go down under too. Gosh.... I am not looking forward to another episotomy but the idea of a c-section is not comforting. I feel I am no more in control over matters. Just have to leave it to fate and faith. Hub drove me to Lighthouse church yesterday afternoon. I wanted a revenue to vent my worries etc, the church was modern not the old ie kind that I used to go when I was alittle girl. It was empty and went a lday popped out of the ofiice to offer help, asking us who we were looking for, I openly said "God". Then we were invited into an office where this nice uncle gave us a brief intro of the church. He said prayers for us before we left. But I hadnt sat down on the pews and say my prayers yet, that was the key aim. Anyway, that was so much anxiety and worry in my brain I just told this complete stranger uncle that the baby was breech and I was here to seek prayers. In tears, mind u....what a cry baby. I'm leaving it to god now.........believe in him.