He is 5!

5 years & 2 days old.....

Somehow, Ethan turning 5 seems to be a big milestone for me. When he was a baby, I just like to imagine how he would be when he is 5. When he is 5, I'm in my mid 30s. When he is 5, perhaps we will have another baby (yeah, baby is coming). When he is 5, how will he look, talk and behave? I got all the answers now and I think it's a great achievement for us to have survived and cherished our lives in raising Ethan for the last 5 years. The first year was the toughest, I would say, having to cope with a baby who often falls sick and without extra help from our family. Thank God, things eventually got better and we were never happier before. We are truly blessed to have him in our lives.

This year, he celebrated his birthday at school on Thursday (19 May) and with my family on Saturday (21 May). His actual birthday was actually on a Sunday. We prepared party packs for his friends and ordered a double chocolate cake. He has chosen an edible image of superman (while I preferred Madagascar) for the cake and seemed to be very satisfied with it. His friends admired it too. We got all the party packs ready on Wednesday night. Ethan was happy to help with the packing and cutting the thank you cards. I bought colour papers and printed some simple thank you cards for his friends. Since the cake has an image of a superman, I googled for some superman pictures for the card and Ethan picked the one he likes. I think we finished everything at around 11p.m. that night.

Cutting the card. He cried when I didn't let him do it at first
worried that he might ruin the card.
Well, it's his birthday, should let him take part.


Sealed the plastic bag with the card.


All ready for the birthday.


The birthday boy with his superman's cake.

When Ethan woke up the next morning, he wanted to bring the party packs to school. I told him mummy and daddy will bring that to school with his cake later on. He was unhappy and shed some crocodile tears. He is one great drama king. I know, my son is the 'kan cheong' type, very eager to distribute them to his friends. After some coaxing, he was ok. When we reached his school later that evening, he was very happy to see us, beaming from ear to ear. His friends sang happy birthday to him and one of them asked him make a wish. He refused to because I think he doesn't know how to make one...haha!! I helped to cut and distribute the cake to his friends and teachers. We then got Ethan to give the party packs to the kids. It was a simple celebration but he was very happy. That's all that matters.

On Saturday, we celebrated his birthday at Spaghetti Grill at MidValley. I have ordered orange poppy seed cupcakes from FamilyFirst and collected them the night before. When I opened up the box, Ethan was happy to see Tom&Jerry and I was very satisfied with the look of the cake too. The nice aroma of the butter just made me salivating. So tempted to eat one that very moment. Ethan likes the cake and he ate the edible image too. Weird huh. To me, the image tasted like a paper. On the restaurant, I'm ok with the food and like their pizza too but hubby was not too happy with the food. He said Chili's and Hard Rock are better.

Orange poppy seed cupcakes.

His trademark pose.

Mmmm...can't wait to eat the cake.

As for his present, we bought a white/black board with easel for Ethan. Hubby wanted to buy a bag for him because the current one was quite worn out. I thought of white board and have been searching for one with easel because I know he likes drawing. He has been using a small white board all this while and it is already dented. Sometimes I teach him maths with the white board and he enjoys it. I don't like the typical classroom type white board and finally found this at Toys"R"Us. When he first opened up the box, he said "For baby ar? Then me leh? Not good la". He thought it was for babies because of the picture on the cover that shows a small boy drawing on the board. I said it's a white board and you can draw on it...blah blah blah.....then he was happy again. He opened up the present on Thursday after coming back from school and played with it for about 3 hours that evening. It showed money well spent. Sometimes, he just played with a new toy for 30 minutes and chucked them away.

His favourite new toy.

Piano Class

Ethan is 4 years, 10 months, 3 weeks & 2 days old.....

We have sent Ethan for piano class starting November last year and so far he's still attending it every very week for 30 minutes. There are so many types of enrichment classes out there but I would like him to pick up some skills and put less pressure on academic stuff.

He was ok with it in the beginning and sort of enjoyed it but lately, he's been telling us every time before going out from home that he doesn't want to go. We of course insisted that he goes and if he really doesn't want to go anymore, we asked him to tell the teacher himself. He didn't dare to do it and went ahead with the class. When I observed him in the class, he seemed to be paying attention. So after class, I asked him again if he still wants to attend, I got a 'yes' one time and a 'no' the other time. I guess for the time being, we'll just continue with it until he knows what he really wants. If he's really not interested, we will not force him and will try to find other enrichment programme. I'm thinking of swimming lessons but he's so 'kiasi', so I really don't know if he'll survive the first class or not.

Pic taken during the first class

The 1st Trimester

15 weeks & 3 days preggie.....
Ethan is 4 years, 9 months, 2 weeks and 1 day old.....

We have been planning for a baby since last year and found out about the good news in January. Everyone was happy about it including Ethan. The morning sickness (or rather evening sickness) was bad but not as bad as the first pregnancy with Ethan. I can safely say that it is over now (finger-crossed). Both hubby and Ethan have been very understanding and supportive. Hubby will entertain Ethan and does most of the chores when I needed to rest. Ethan once asked me "Mummy, why you don't want to play with me?". I told him "Baby wants to sleep" and he said "Ohh" and left the room. From then on, I just have to tell him baby wants this or baby wants that, he will let me do whatever I want without fussing. I think he deserves a big present from the baby when the time comes.

About one month before I found about the pregnancy, I discovered that I have (hyperactive) thyroid. I was on medication prescribed by my GP and then my gynae referred me to a specialist for more detailed check-up/follow-up. I have to go back for check-up every 2-3 weeks. It will involve blood test to check my thyroid hormone levels and a consultation with the Endocrynologist on my condition and the dosage of PTU to take. When I first saw the specialist, I was on 6 pills a day and the dosage has been reduced to 1 pill a day now. The specialist told me that as my pregnancy progresses, my condition will improve by itself (in most cases, it do) but there will be a relapse after delivery. Whatever it is, I still have to go for check-up every 3 weeks now. Earlier on, I asked the specialist, what will be worse case scenario if the thyroid remains active? I was told high chances of miscarriage. Now that it is under control, I can put my worries aside and hope the baby is going to be healthy and normal.

Work wise, it has definitely slow down a little bit. I'm only trying to meet the deadlines of the utmost important thing. Two days before I found out I'm pregnant, I went to propose to my boss about a conference in Canada. He approved it and sent a memo up to the CEO for approval. It was then approved and I was really in a dilemma as to go or not because I was still in the early stage. After a week of consideration and a big NO NO from my gynae, I told my boss about my pregnancy and I shouldn't be travelling long-haul especially. He was very understanding and was ok with it but I still feel guilty for having to pull out and let my colleague went on her own.

Canada was out but I went to Hong Kong with my family when I was 12 weeks pregnant. Luckily, my gynae gave me a green light. Not that I will cancel the trip anyway but I will enjoy the trip more with his approval. It was really a good trip. Next is Guangzhou, a 7-day/6-night business trip that I can't say no again. Will be flying off in 2 weeks time.

My next check-up with gynae is this Friday and if we're lucky, we should be able to know the gender then. Awwwww......so excited.

He is sleeping on his own

4 years, 6 months, 1 week and 4 days old.....

For the first time in his life, he slept in his own bed in his own room last night. Yay!!!!! Hope he will not change his mind after today. We have been planning to move him to his own room for a few months. To do that we have to clear up the room (which was designated for him but has been used as a guest cum store room) and install a wardrobe in our room. We ordered a wardrobe, which will be installed mid of this month. Before the installation, we have to do some wiring in our room and got it done yesterday. Our room was all messed up and had to clean in up after work. After some discussion, we decided to move his bed to the his room and decorate it later. In the mean time, he will sleep with us on the mattress.

After moving his bed, he said he wanted to sleep in his own room. Me and hubby were like "Yeah right". The first few times we told him that he will be sleeping in his own room, he cried. Several times after that, he didn't cry but got mad every time the topic was brought up. So, how are we supposed to believe him when he just said 'OK'. Nevermind, we proceeded to move his pillows and blanket there and prepared to move them back to our room again.

I went to sleep first and hubby made milk for him. I dozed off and when hubby went to bed later, I asked him where is Ethan. He said sleeping in his own room. Phew!!! It just happened like that. Unbelievable. I expected more dramas.

He did woke up two times last night and went to look for us. Not because that he's scared but he had diarrhoea. I just called the school and he's ok so far.

Hope he will continue to like his room. "Finger-crossed"

Hospitalised

4 years, 5 months, 2 weeks & 3 days old.....

It happened two weeks ago and I found out recently from some Mummies' blogs that quite many kids were admitted for high fever.

24 October 2010 (Sunday)
Nothing special happened on that day. We went to church in the morning and Ethan attended Sunday school. After church, we went for lunch and did some grocery shopping. Around 8p.m. that night, hubby realised that his body was warm. Checked his temperature and it was in the range of 38-39C. Gave him paracetamol and kept on sponging him and checked his temperature like every 5 minutes. After a while, the temperature went down to between 37-38C but shot up again to around 39C before 12 p.m. Gave him another round of medication and continued to sponge him until his temperature went down to around 38C. I think I slept at around 1p.m. and woke up every 1 hour to check his temperature.

25 October (Monday)
At 3 a.m. in the morning, his temperature shot up to 39C++ again. It was less than 4 hour after the last medication, so I inserted suppository (voren). He was ok after that until 8.am. and started to develop fever again. I gave him paracetamol again and this time, he complained about the pain in his mouth. I quickly check his mouth and saw ulcers and red spots. I checked his hands and legs but didn't see any spots. In my heart, I suspected it's HFMD because of the ulcers.

Before I saw the ulcers, I thought it was normal fever. We have arranged that hubby will bring Ethan to the clinic and I will go to work. I was very reluctant to leave him at home but thought that I have to go to work for some stupid reason. I thought I want to avoid from taking EL because the boss is very...very sensitive about his staff taking EL/MC especially when he is not around. He was on 3 weeks holiday and that was the very first day of his leave. When I saw that ulcers, I knew I had to call in and take EL.

We brought him to the clinic and the paed confirmed that it was HFMD after some physical examination. Because it is a viral infection, antibiotic is of no help and thus not prescribed. He was given Brufen (Ibuprofen), E-zyme for his throat/ulcers and an oral medication to numb his mouth before meal. I was warned that the fever will come on and off for 3-4 days.

As predicted, his fever didn't subside the whole day even after medication. It shot up to more than 39C again in the afternoon and another dose of suppository was given. He was ok after that until the temperature shot up to 39C again at 9p.m. Gave him Brufen again and sponged him but the temperature didn't go down at all. I check his temp like every 5 minutes and every time I checked, it went up. When the reading was 40C, I panicked. Never before in his life, the fever was so high. I quickly inserted another voren but the reading was still going up until it reached 40.6C.

At that point, we decided to bring him to the hospital. When we reached there, the temp went down a little bit but the doctor said it's still high and asked us to take off all his clothing and sponge him. We were given the choice to monitor him at home or admit him. We decided to admit him because it will be safer that way. He was put on drip but surprisingly he didn't cry when they poke his hand. I was so prepared for the scene where he will protest and cry like mad. Maybe he was too tired.

At the A&E

26 October 2010 (Tuesday)
The paed came in the morning to check on Ethan. He said that the blood test showed it was bacterial infection and not viral infection, i.e. not HFMD. So, antibiotic is needed. IF........IF the paed (whom we saw on Monday) had a different diagnosis, and if antibiotic was prescribed, MAYBE Ethan will not have to be admitted.

The paed wanted to check on Ethan's mouth but he just woke up (it was 7.30 a.m. and we slept at 1.30a.m.) so he was a bit blur and not sure how to stick his tongue out properly. I was upset that the paed didn't slow talk him but used his force instead to open Ethan's mouth with the stick tingy and caused Ethan to vomit and cried so badly. My heart ached so much looking at him in that condition. After that, Ethan said to me he doesn't want the boy doctor, he wants the girl doctor.

Heart ache when I saw the ulcers. I managed to coax him
to open his mouth wide enough to take a pic.

Went to the playroom with the IV attached.


Played with one hand

27 October 2010 (Wednesday)
The paed tried to check his mouth/throat again the next morning. He cried the moment the doctor took out the torch light and the little wooden stick. I was hugging him and tried to persuade him to open his mouth. At the same time this doctor forced him with the stick AGAIN and somehow Ethan's mouth was bleeding. Ethan was inconsolable and reluctant to open his mouth even a tiny bit. The doctor said he didn't used much force and shouldn't have hurt him. @#^$^%&^&*

He was off the drip in the morning but the fever returned one hour after that. Due to this, the doctor said he's not stable yet and need to stay for another day for observation.

Watching tv almost all day long. When he gets bored,
he played with the bed, adjusting it up and down.

28 October 2010 (Thursday)
No fever for the past 24 hours and he was allowed to go home that afternoon. After 3 nights stay at the hospital, my silly boy said he's still hot (while touching his forehead) and therefore cannot go to school and has to stay at the hospital wor. Anyway, he only returned to school the following Monday.

Important notes:

1. The nurse at the hospital told me that Brufen/Ibuprofen (oral medication) and Voren (suppository) are the same type of medicine. So, if Brufen does not work, so is Voren. We should give paracetamol and voren instead.
2. Ulcers + high fever do not necessarily mean HFMD. It could be bacterial infection and antibiotic should be given.
   

Sunday School (Updated with photos)

4 years, 4 months & 6 days old.....

We have started going to church again since the last two weeks (started on 19 September 2010). Actually, me and hubby have been talking about it for a few months but never made it because of the timing. I know, it shouldn't be an excuse. The service at the church we used to attend starts at 8.30 a.m. It means that we have to wake up at 7.30a.m. on a Sunday morning. It never happened until one day when I was talking a man on the phone about work. I knew him from work but didn't know that he was a Christian. I called him about work and soon the conversation shifted to family, raising kids, etc. Then he said that we should guide our children properly so that they would turn out well and not ended up as criminals or something bad. He asked me if I'm a Christian, I said yes. Then he asked if I go to church, I said 'no'.....shame on me. He said I should bring my son to church and attend Sunday school so that he will learn about God and a person who fears God will be a better person in life....'ting ting ting'....those words really hit me hard.

Instead of watching cartoon at home on a Sunday morning, now we bring Ethan to church. We found out about another Church with a service at 10.30 a.m. Perfect!! The first time we were there, Ethan stayed with us and he was restless but overall he behaved rather well. The second time, I asked around and we were encouraged to send Ethan to the Sunday school, which starts and ends at the same time as the mass. I was a bit worried that Ethan cannot adjust to the new environment but they told me that he will join the age 3-5 group so I was a bit relieved. When the session starts, all the kids will join in. There are around 20 of them and Ethan refused to let me go. I stayed with him until the break-up session. I think by then he was familiarised with the new environment and he saw only kids about his age in the same room. I asked him if I can join Daddy and he said ok. Phew! The room is separated by glass doors from the mass, so he can see me clearly. They also did some colouring after that.

Overall, he was happy after attending the Sunday school and he said he wants to go again and again and again :-) I told him he has to go to school 5 times, then go to Ah Po's (grandmother's) house 1 time and go to church 1 time. As usual, he asked "WHY?" I told him the Church is only opened on Sunday. He said "Oooh"

The glass doors that separate the Sunday school and the mass.
We always seat at the last row so that Ethan can see us.

Eating some snacks after the craft session.

Redang, 8-11 August 2010

The three of us went to Redang with my sister's family for a short break. It's always good to be away from work and KL once in a while to recharge and refresh ourselves. It was my third time there but the first for both hubby and Ethan. At first I thought 3 nights are more than enough since there are nothing much we can do there other than swimming. How wrong was I. Wish I could stay longer.

Practically, what we did everyday was eat, swim and sleep. Ethan was of course couldn't be happier when we told him that we are going to the hotel. To him, hotel means swimming pool with a slide and he has been asking everyday (practically) to go to the hotel ever since we brought him to the Palace of the Golden Horses for a 2-night stay, like 6 months ago. Everyday, when I pick him up from school, he will say "Mummy, I want to go to hotel." The frequency was daily and went down slowly to once a week 3-4 months later. Luckily, he didn't ask for hotel again after the Redang trip. Probably he was so scared with the sea now.

I enjoyed the beautiful beach and the crystal clear water but not under the blazing hot sun. I will definitely not soak in the hot sun like the 'mat salleh'. I saw a few of them turned golden brown. When I was younger, I like the sea a lot. Now, sun = pigmentation....therefore I avoid it as much as possible.

The first day we arrived, we went straight to the beach after dumping our luggage in the room. It was still hot at around 5p.m. but we couldn't be bothered. Yeah, not even me. I brought Ethan to the sea and he was a bit scared with the waves. After warming up, he was better and can enjoy playing with the waves but still he preferred to play with the sand.

The second day, we went out for snorkelling. He was a bit tensed during the boat ride and he said "Mummy, come I hold your hand, later you fall down." Then, when we arrived at the snorkelling spot, he refused to go down. I asked hubby to go first while I waited with Ethan on the boat hoping that he will be ok after seeing everybody in the sea. Actually, hubby was not feeling well but I think no one would want to miss the chance. So, off he went. After hubby came up, I brought Ethan down. He held on to me very tightly until I couldn't breath. The moment I push away from the boat, he started to shout "THE BOAT....THE BOAT". Everyone in the vicinity could hear him and I was so 'paiseh' so I quickly brought him up the boat. After that, no amount of talking could make him touch the water. He even said that he's scared that the fishes will bite him. At one point, he was so angry that I talked to him non-stop about going down again, he scratched my hand. Ok, so I stop talking and took turn with hubby to snorkel. We left the place after 1 hour. Ethan was the happiest person the moment I said we're going back to the hotel.

Since the snorkelling trip, he refused to go to the beach anymore. Everytime I brought him to the sea, he swill scream "HELP ME". He preferred to play sand and swim in the pool. Overall, it was a very relaxing trip and I hope we can go back there every 2 years.

1st day's Photos:

The flight was delayed for 1 hour. So glad that it took off.

Time for landing

Paid for RM5/pax for the conservation programme.

Welcoming drinks at the reception.

Dumped everything in the room and headed straight to the beach.

2nd day's photos:

We had a little visitor at the balcony.


Waited at the deck for the snorkelling trip.


View from the deck.


Choosing their mask.


Looking tense when we arrived at the snorkelling spot.


Cloudy day and I like it.


He sat there for more than half an hour looking like this after a short dip.


The colourful fishes we saw from the boat.


Finally, he can smile when we headed back to the hotel.


Approaching the hotel.


Crystal clear water.


White sandy beach.


Ethan loves to play with the sand.


Had a blasting good time.


Another sand playing session.

3rd day's photos:

Took this pic while hiding under the shade. Sis went kayaking
with family and Ethan was playing sand, again.


Snacking in between swimming sessions.


Lovely beach.


Fish everywhere.


A sunset view.


Feeding the fishes. The feed is sold at the diving centre.


Didn't get to ride this. Just posing.

4 day's photos:

Chilling out in the room.

Last dip in the tub. No time to swim in the pool.


Attacked by the sand flies.


The big wooden swing.


A tanned look. Waiting for the lunch before leaving the hotel.


Waiting for our flight home. It was very hot & humid.


Bye Bye Redang.


Some scenery shots: