gremlink

My World Still Revolves

2010-04-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

Around these people. [oops can't insert pix today? system error?]

I love. Therefore I am happy. I guess everything else can wait. Can fade off. I should be good. So long as I have them. So long as they feel my love. Must remember to remind them tomorrow. Again. I am happy. I love.

Gemma

2010-04-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

Born on 12 May 2009
unrotated ;p

What is it now?

2009-04-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

Once again, and for the fourth time over, I ask, "Gas or labour?"

Usually when it hurts bad enough to wake me to blog about it, it's just gas.

It's 3.43 am. Let me go check what time the same gas woke me to blog some 2.5 years ago....ah! 5 am.

Time to log off and go back to bed.

The dormant blogger awakes...

2009-04-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

only just...

Caught a cold, again! 2nd time this pregnancy. So not funny. Lasts for a week if I'm lucky. It's only the 3rd day and my eyes are crossing and I'm zoning out every second of the day. But yet I can't fall asleep. My sinuses are all swollen, I snore myself awake. It's waay gross. I'm dead tired.

35 weeks? (I think, am not sure anymore) and still going going going.

64 kg by now (it was 63 ish last week so am hazarding a guess that I've hit another round number) so should be anytime anytime.

But I have so much to do still. So little energy. HELP.

This too shall pass. I really say this too often ;p

Just for the record

2009-01-21T08:31:00.000-08:00

23 weeks on (I am trying to remember...think 23 is about right? aiyah, dunno.) and 9 kgs heavier (or is it 6? really depends on my starting point and I've deluded myself about my weight so long....I really can't remember now). Hah. [one reeking with sarcasm]

The end is too far. Too far.

My ass is too heavy. And the year of the Ox is too nigh. What am I to do?

Eat and be merry. I guess.

Yeah. That should do for now.

Lorong 23 Geylang - had to type that. Just so I won't forget where my recent 'hot' dining spot is. The memory is that bad. What memory? Huh?

The blob continues to blur....

And we are bigger...again

2008-10-29T06:05:00.000-07:00

No. 4 is created.

Zaps the life outta me. High on supplements everyday to beat the exhaustion (keeps me almost on my feet, kinda focused and erm able to converse like a being again... so that's erm, good. Better than lying prostrate the entire day.)

Am not exaggerating about lying prostrate the entire day either. Ask my parents. I think they think I'm dying but they don't say it out loud in case it comes true.

I have to remember these things. The difficulty of life when life is created. I must remember that much as I feel blessed and love these 'things' to bits, I must preserve MY life. It really really feels like I'm being zapped dry. A breathing thing lying prostrate. Not much good. Laundry undone for 4 days straight. Dishes undone. Kids playing by themselves all the time.....wondering why the autonomy?

But enough with complaints.

Gemma or Oliver. We can't wait.

Wow it's been too long

2008-05-29T21:59:00.001-07:00

since I last blogged.

But Vancouver never fails to make me.

That's the party at Kathleen's and Gary's just yesterday evening. They are the crazy trampoliners.

Sun doesn't set till 9pm in Spring. And Spring is sweet :) Literally. Until you've breathed the putrid (ok, I exaggerate a little) air back home, you won't smell the sweetness. It's light, crisp, and sweet. We like it.

If only money didn't suck, we'd be back in a jiffy. What am I saying. We left precisely because money sucked so bad there, here, I mean. We are here now. On vacation. And it's helluva great one too.

ALL our friends made time to meet with us and to cook for us - again. We love it. Home-cooked food is just sublime. It's even more sublime just knowing they care enough to find time to cook for us. So we've been 'back' 4 days and we haven't yet had to find dinner on our own save for the first day we landed when we decided to try out 'Fat Burger' across the street. Sounded enticing enough but eating out in Vancouver zaps your pocket like magic ....plus the cooks are from I dunno, the class that didn't make it? Yucks. Paper taste better.

It's past 9 now and it's getting dimmer out there. Downtown looks like a concrete jungle from up here (we're at an apartment smack right like in CBD) but it's almost quiet....like people have almost all commuted home and the city's all ready, or rather, ALready wound down.

"Why is Vancouver so nice?" ask our kids innocently. We understand them perfectly. It is indeed nice. We did so miss it. But we're here now and for now, we shall enjoy it. To its fullest.

Why?

2008-03-03T00:29:00.000-08:00

is it that two good things must always come at the same time?

So much so that you are compelled to choose? No two ways about. Yet two good things must come at once. Simultaneously. Ok, concurrently, to be accurate. Almost simultaneously. So that it makes you wonder if there is some conspiracy. Up there. A true conspiracy.

I'm already vexed as it is. A perfectionist procrastinates. That's how I assure myself. Har har. Hey but no, I must maintain that stance because that book on how to be a millionaire tells me I must, else I lose my first million already.

Then Heaven opens up and the perfectionist smiles - ok, grins this huge, unnaturally happy grin - that type that makes you who are watching wanna grin too...then Heaven opens up twice over. Now she grins no more. Baffled. Then, pissed. Coz vexed. Again!

I can't have my cake and eat it, she tells herself. Let one go. Choices like these aren't meant to vex you. You're supposed to feel super happy, flattered even. Then you choose and politely, graciously, calmly decline the other.

I pray hard. When I remember. That's bad. But I remember to pray coz I do believe! So that must be redeeming? This can't be a punishment. It's a erm...test? I can't figure it.

All I know is this. Each time it comes to this, it means something good will come to fruition - it's no longer just a bogus lead. The trick though now is to choose the true lead as opposed to the bogus lead. Shite.

I drag myself from my comfort zone each time to discover more challenges. They say you don't get more than you can manage, He doesn't do that. Oh ho ho. Fine. I'm flattered. I'll manage.

If He throws in another baby though, I'll scream. I will. You'll hear me wherever you are.

I will pray somemore right now. I'm open to whatever it ought to be, just don't bogus me. Loud and clear, just tell me.

Absolutely none

2007-12-22T03:33:00.000-08:00

No porbem! (courtesy of RyanObillybob)
His 2nd words
after mama, dardee, baba (byebye), jeje (sister), makmak (milk), arhhh! (m angry)
This guy is gonna have a bright, luminous! future.
I'm certain of it.
Everyday is a better day just watching him grow.

And the others...
are just too crazy to be true.
My hairdresser (aka cousin) tells me I have streaks in my hair already wat.
No need to dye.
Natural silver streaks.
Crazy hair from crazy kids.
No porbem!
Life's still all good.

Merry Christmas y'all!

Aarongator walks!

2007-11-16T23:35:00.001-08:00

15 Nov 2007 - Perth, WA.

He walks!

6 steps to be precise.

My baby walks.

The relentless

2007-10-15T09:42:00.000-07:00

imagination.

I am eternally thankful for generous, kind relatives, who would offer to and will actually, and have in fact, fixed my personal problem in the blink of an eye. My teeth. No, I ought to be clear - the space that was my erm 2nd? molar, is now no longer a space. In it's place is a neat, clinical-looking, screw. In lay-man's term, of course. Effectively, I believe I've been screwed. Yuppididodah.

You see, we return from Vancouver (Richmond, to be exact - yeah, that part of Hongnada) with me toothless. The root-canal gave way to an extraction. The root of the problem had been taken care of, oh ha ha. And boy was I relieved to rid it. The excruciating, jarring pain of a defective tooth, ok, over-fired nerves, is not funny. I just couldn't function. Just like hanged. And the power switch's stuck too. Type of situation. So I fired them nerves by ridding the damned tooth. Tooth be gone!

Anyway, bad English aside. You get my drift.

Then over a BBQ party, the prosthodontist tells me it's oh-easy-peasy. Just book on-line even! And it's sorted in a jiffy. So comes Wednesday just past...

He hums a tuneless tune. The expert. 2 assistants work in efficient silence suiting me up (? don't know the official terms and was too scared to ask), scrubbing me down (ok, kidding here) - but really covering me up in blue paper (lay-man speaking still) save for my face. My eyes are shielded by huge black goggles. Oherher, I chuckle nervously. Am I gonna spatter? Nope. Came the efficient, somewhat, care-free (!) reply. He continues his tune. Cheerfully, even.

My hands are knotted together and my knuckles are bleeding. But no one can see coz I'm all covered up. (phew!) But my toes are showing - was that deliberate? And the assistant peers at them intermittently throughout the procedure. I feel so shy of the blasted orange nail colour I chose for the last pedicure that I almost forgot the pain. Oops. Did I say pain?! But there was none. Only, the imagination is a relentless creature. Evil, relentless thing.

It felt like a pizza-cutter going back and forth over my gums, then into my bones, then deeper still...till I muttered (no, you can only mutter with your lips together, I guttered) OW. Ok, he says, in a sing-song manner, no more, no more. I almost fell to my knees with gratitude. Then he used what felt like a jack-hammer! Then what felt like a spanner to tighten it in place! I'm sure I fainted and came to several times - and only coz I was drowning from my own blood gushing down my throat.

But he said there was barely blood. Merely 1-2 ccs. I, (and I believe me) felt bone and blood spatter all over my mouth and throat. I must've swallowed 1-2 litres of it. He only used an 11.5mm screw on me. He guessed that I had a low threshold for long things. Or was it the OW that did me in? What am I saying? That 11.5mm screw was 3mm from my huge jaw nerve (he told me the name but I was still so frozen with fear it didn't register) - that's way too close for comfort! But apparently not. It's a very comfortable distance away he beams in a satisfied manner. Then he holds out a mirror and asks me to check it out. So as not to be rude I opened my mouth to the mirror but clenched my eyes shut. Then I peeped. And there wasn't a huge gaping hole greeting me in the reflection. Nor blood stained teeth and bone bits everywhere. Just a neat silver screw in the space.

So now my space is filled. He doesn't want to see me till next year. Why am I disappointed? Just coz he's a real sweetie actually. He worked real quick to fit my childish schedule (by that I mean a schedule filled with children related chores) and hummed to calm me down (I think, else he's just a happy prosthodontist!) and used only a short screw on me. Stuff like that.

Now I'm thinking silly things like will my body reject the screw? Will the metal detector give me more hell than usual? As it is, I never go past immigration unscathed coz something in me/on me? always triggers the alarm. What if my gums over-heal and engulf the screw? I check it hourly now - coz the last I checked, it was covered in plaque (or so I think) but I refuse to brush it lest the brittles get stuck in the groove and I jerk the entire screw out AIIIEEE!!!! Sorry, involuntary scream. But if I don't brush properly, what if the bacteria festers in that region and that space explodes in pus and blood and I lose more blood in the process.......

Shite. Relentless. Just shut up. Prayers do a billion things. I'll just pray. How will he put the fake tooth on? The implant's pretty implanted (embedded, I mean) - what if he tears my gums whilst trying to screw on the fake tooth? But I'll leave that thought for next year. He doesn't wanna see me till next year anyways. Phew. I have some nights to dream up more horrors till then. Night night.

Terri our terrapin died today. Am so sad. Don't know how to tell my Man. Was in tears. My Belle, who was still awake, comforted me by promising to "buy you a new one, called Roonie, sweetie, I promise, don't cry....". My sweetheart.

Ramblings of

2007-09-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

I step out of the elevator, onto the wrong floor, and am instantly insulted by a woman, "You, Japanese Foo?". Then I realised how odd her dressing seemed, rather Japanese-like herself? Because of the odd stripes splashed across in an odd fashion in the oddest angles? The whole get-up was odd - like HairyD in her casual gear. Very, erm, stunning. Yeah, like it sends shock-waves through your body upon sight then makes you break out in guffaws? Something like that.

No, I answer her. No Foo. Gonna get hair-cut, but no Foo, thank Yoo. My pronunciation must have been perfect. She smiled understandingly and finally stepped aside to let me pass.

I launched into the hair salon (late as usual - and braised myself for the usual explosion of excuses comprising predominantly of blames on the husband? work miracles everytime!) The new receptionist sprints after me and confronts me with a slip of paper, panting "Your Nem? M'am?"

My nem-esis?! Unbelievable. Why would she need to know that? My mind races...then halts. Stupid. I yell at myself in the usual monologuing manner. Gah. I spit into my own mouth (and no, no one dives in). My Nem is Gwen, that's G.W. - but wait! She completes the spelling perfectly. I like her again. No more grudges.

Oh, and before this hair appointment thing, we were at Go Go Bambini's. It's fantabulous if you have a bunch of money to throw away and time to spare. Also, it helps if your children are the bouncing offa the wall types. So, we troupe along there for some bouncey business - to get the angst out of their systems and to blow the budget just coz it may be cheaper than therapy?

Immediately I spot a man. We used to date? No. I stand corrected. I dated his friend and he dated....HairyD? Or was it Stace? No, Lynda Tan Teng Muan? My memory's so bad. Anyway, immediately, I call HairyD who confirms emphatically that it is indeed him who still sports those trademark eye-bags. I tell HairyD I will play a trick. She squeals (as she usually does when she's excited with my plan), and I cackle back in response (as is usual too when an evil plan as such is hatched).

I send my Man to execute the deed and I run along behind him to watch...

But the plan gets foiled. My Belle climbs too high and cries for help. The man with the eye-bags helps her and upon seeing me running with my Man, flashes me a WIDE grin and explains in this extremely long fashion how she got up there, how she called for help, how he got to her, how he carried her down, how she.....and so on. And all I could think of was - plan foiled. I nod in pretend comprehension, then vaguely thanked him for his kind deed, all the while cursing about - plan foiled. Shucks.

Childish games. For childish people. I like. Shall have to play pranks on some others instead then.

Like the time, just a couple of months ago, the husband tweaked a short balding man's ear and ran off. He turned around and glared at me - almost eye to eye (and I'm not the tallest dame of them all) and I just didn't know what to say. I couldn't laugh. It was too rude. But the urge was so great coz he looked so bald and stunned by the plucked ear - you get my drift. Finally I managed to mutter the husband's name and pointed accusingly in the direction of... no one. That idiot was hiding. I waited, WE waited patiently, for the accused to reappear. Luckily, the balding guy acknowledged being friends with the accused else we would be in some soup. That kind of childish tricks. I like. But I prefer on other people, not on me.

I really should go to bed. I need 8 hours of sleep else I function like a demented woman. Else I'd ramble on, just like this.

Done Redang

2007-09-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

But only on the surface. So I think I oughta do it again just so I adequately douse my curiosity of what lies beneath. And of what's happening at the other beach where I'm told "chillen, no allow." Saw people picking up gear to go diving and all....yearned to join them. Then remembered that I can't remember how to gear up anymore. Gaaah. Don't think our dive instructor would even re-instruct us - at least not me and my buddy (Stacie). What did he expect teenage girls not to giggle?! continuously?! cackle wickedly?! He must've been crazy. Oh I almost forgot. We weren't that age then, hm. So. Short of re-instruction, guess we'd just hafta erm, view underwater pictures taken by others. Sheesh. At least I got the husband to dive deep enough (sans oxygen tank) to catch this:-

Hey. It's a good sized sea turtle and it's undeniable shadow. I think it's way cool.
But not half as cool as my goo goo goggled Man giving the thumbs up!

Kathleen, my altermama

2007-08-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

"Hi,

Need company? Would love to join you for coffee and donuts. .....

....Maybe Damian will really like the fact that his son did the lion dance to MC Hammer! Nobody will talk about his son doing a Chinese dance to Rap/HipHop will they. I know the posh friends you have out there will LOVE it.

Okay dear, it is almost 11am and I have to get my arse in gear. For what? Hmmm, don't know really. Something boring like cleaning, vacuuming, doing errands. ......

The pic of me is after the garage sale and a few glasses of wine. I really enjoyed it. Really wish you were a part of it. The gals are a great bunch.

School starts next week so I'll be prepping the kids this week early bedtime, staying home to chill a bit and oh, have to get some school gear. Ahh, their too young to know what they really want so I'll just leave it.

Okay, I suppose I should go now.

Have fun in the sun. .....

xxxooo Kathleen"

I miss ya, girl! It still amazes me how we hooked up. We're definitely a unique match! ;p I'd say, MC Hammer. Why didn't I think of that?! You're my hero!

The way it was

2007-08-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

He took us to playgrounds, many playgrounds, different playgrounds. Different times of the day.
I looked forward to the trips. They were relaxing. Time moved slowly, quietly. Sometimes, it was still. So still. Peaceful. He'd be sitting there, just waiting and watching. Or reading the papers. We'd be playing with sand, the swings, the see-saws, the climbing structures...or we'd be doing nothing. Just watching, waiting, thinking, dreaming...anything we'd wanted to do. Then, it'd be time. We'd pack up, clean up, in an organised manner because that's how he'd taught us. We got into the car and drove home, quietly in an orderly manner.

He took me to the playground at evening times. The sun's down and no one's around. It's dark save for the fluorescent street lamps. We walk quietly. His littlest finger extended so I can hold on to him. I listen as he talked, if he talked. He spoke quietly, surely, firmly, if he spoke. I'm on the slide, atop the slide. We play hide and seek. It's dark all around the parameters of the playground. There is no one else but us. It's quiet save for the crickets and frogs. I'm afraid but I remain calm. I can't see him but I 'm not supposed to panic. Because I know he's around. He will not leave me, I just cannot see him from where I am. Because I know that if I panic, I can't think. We practice this. Every other night. Don't panic, don't cry. Think. Look around. Think. Then act. Always remain calm. Crying will not help.

These are only some of the memories. They've been flooding back to me recently. They just fill the recesses of my resting mind. So I write.

Imprints

2007-07-24T07:12:00.001-07:00

that'll never leave my heart.

I lost my other heavy-duty memory card.
Am in a state of panic.
Haven't slept well for 2 weeks now.
Keep dreaming about where it ought to be.
It's nowhere.
My pictures may be lost forever.
Argh.

Laughter's therapy

2007-07-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

for the constipated stay-at-home mom. The one's who's been deprived of normal, adult conversation the entire day, most days, seems like forever...

The one who has forgotten to care for herself the way she used to care for herself so the opposite sex would possibly look twice in admiration. The one who can now type with one hand as efficiently as with two, reply to emails in a jiffy albeit all in small letters, pick up the phone to give instructions to some lame (read "mentally challenged") banker and breast-feed infant simultaneously, message a dozen girlfriends whilst fixing a healthy, vegetable-full meal for the munsters, etc.

The one who has forgotten to use the bathroom when nature calls just coz there are so many other more important things to do like fixing a puzzle with the toddler or discussing the temperament of some prehistoric creature with the preschooler or just gurgling with the bouncey bouncer (aka aarongator). Yikes. I am off point again.

It's true (Smoot), you do become like her eventually. No matter how you mask it. You are HER, in the end. Just look at what I've just done. Gone on. Not on point whatsoever, whatsoever. So way off even. (repetition in just so many words is the other crime!)

So, we get some couple time tonight for a steak meal out (woo hoo!) and I immediately sight a Phuket holiday contest for the entire family just coz you eat there and have a receipt number. So we zoom in. What right do we have not to try for the free trip, right? The children will never forgive. We eat out without them, and to add injury to insult, we don't eat at the right place to join the right contests. So, we decided we'd better do it right. See. I have gone on yet again. Relentless. Bah!

I'll get to it right here - the waiter came with a tray of drinks and said,

"Who is having the cock?"

There. I did it! I can do it. I am ON point.

It was downhill from there. Everything and nothing was funny from there. Who is having the minx gree? The garrik stick? (mixed grill and garlic steak) Can you please open (using 2 fingers to gesture the opening motion) the potato so I can put the sour crim? Very naughty.

Oh man. I was tempted to ask - Oly one sie?

And the husband found guts tonight. He ordered a refill. God help him. Think he's stuck in the toilet right as I type.

The life of me

2007-07-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

almost got sucked out the other night.

Now I know better than to walk in unannounced. Absolutely not a pretty sight. In fact, it's unequivocally the most horrifying experience. Ever. Second to walking in on - oh never mind. Just ever.

Modus op now is to think twice whether I really need to go that way, then take a deep breath, march LOUDLY towards the area, flick on ALL the light switches, pause 3 seconds (loong seconds), before approaching anywhere within the area. Yeah. Sounds like the only plan.

Critters. Gross tropical critters. To be specific, lizards and roaches. Ugh. Second grossest to none. They fly. I swear. I saw it with my own eyes. Yup, my own.

Flew right across from the sink to the washer. Then flew from the washer to the cabinets across it. Damn scary. Like a horror flick on Friday the 13th. Worse, like Halloween come early.

F'coz I screamed. The husband doesn't believe me. He who's never seen a flying lizard dares berate my fear. They do! They do! PLUS, wait for this. They eat roaches. I swear.

So then the next night I announce my arrival LOUDLY, flick on all switches, clear my throat loudly, before approaching the area. No lizards in sight. So it works, like magic. But the roaches aren't so clever. They stay put in position. Frozen. Like if they dint move, I wouldn't see them. Not so clever.

4 whole seconds of relentless Baygon later, it still pretends to play not there. Then is flutters a lil, scuttles a lil...and falls to the ground. This time, really frozen. Dead. Baygon's the best!

So I leave it there. It ain't gonna run me into a sweat no more. So I leave it there. For 3 days, to be precise.

3 days later, I recount to the husband the horrors of tropical living and gestured pointedly to the offending....GONE! GONE! Like magic. Yeah. Really.

To be clear - NObody in this house cleans this house but me. Nobody lifts a finger. No. Body. Nil. Nana. Noope. Uh-uh. But it's gone!

Lizards eat roaches. They do. I knowed it from deep in my heart. I do. I knowed. What else do they eat? Now am scareder than ever. Horrible quitters. Is what my kids call 'em. Coo-it-ters. Cwock-cwoach. What a mouthful. Yet, lizards eat 'em. I knowed. Help.

Jubba

2007-07-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

That's all that comes to mind. Whatever that means. I think it's my new nickname for the Aarongator.

I started off this blog in a daze...and am still in a daze 2 years down the line.

This time, I think it's the lack of sleep. Wait. It's the same reason from before.

Ah. I haven't slept through the night in 4.5 years (and still counting). Coz someone decided to be a good Catholic. Only kidding. The real reason is it's an addiction. You can't live with them nor without them. You just have to feed the addiction to feel the high.

Yeah. That figures the daze.

In brief, life is good. Family's good. God is great.

These days, everyone else is at least a millionaire by now speculating in real property. We're the minority.

But we have a home. And it's sure as hell warm.

I think my priorities are in place. I think I'm closer to Heaven than most people'd like to think. Not popular, but definitely trekking it right.

Random pictures for fun. See my pieces of Heaven.

Aarongator crawls

2007-07-02T23:16:00.000-07:00

As of 1st July!

My Belle spelt her name as of June - completely undrilled and of her own volition.
The wonders of those grey cells.

My Man writes small letters beautifully - just a week into school!
The wonders of work-books! Yikes!
He loves school btw.
Which is a great relief to me.
One burden off my back.
Am super happy.

Am reading "How to win a Nobel Prize. For stay-at-home-moms."
Realised it's written by a fellow Bench & Bar ladies' soccer player Shamini Flint.
Admire people who find time in their child-rearing schedule to write.
As it is, am happy can find time to read.

So now it hits me

2007-06-25T08:21:00.001-07:00

How I miss Vancouver and the people who were so part of our lives there.
I saw her almost everyday last summer. Then I saw her almost every other day after summer. She's the fashionista of Richmond - who else could there be? And I hung onto every fashion tip she dropped. We did hot goss. Our kids enjoyed each other. Her husband realised he'd found a soul (read "geek") mate in mine. Everything was hunkydory. Then I asked the husband if we'd make it to the winter olympics 2010 and he'd said, "Er....maybe...not?". And we didn't. Now it hits me. You guys were a God-send. Bless you. Here's how I miss how she talks to me:-

"Gwen,

I have to tell you the funniest thing that happened this morning. I keep telling Kaitlyn that she has "holes" in her face that make her cute. They are her dimples. She says to me today, "Mommy, I get my holes from Daddy. You don't have holes, you just have lines", as she traces her fingers down the sides of my mouth. She asks, "Why do you have lines?" and I respond, "because you guys make me smile and laugh all day long".

LOL,

Anne"

Then

2007-06-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

She was a chubby chubs.
Chinese restauranteurs called her "Lin Ngao" (lotus root).

He'd fit in the husband's sock.
Now he's a buffalo bundle.

He would melt any lady's heart.
He still does.

Oh, and by the way, the other's Morgan.
He's a-swinging and a-a-(did I already say it?)-available.
Call me and YOU too could be shortlisted.
My Man's waitlist is full, sorry.

Good Golly Gee!

2007-06-12T23:07:00.000-07:00

My baby's growing up on me!
He broke his first tooth today.
Called the husband at Taka to break the exciting news over lunch and he freaked out thinking I meant that my Man had fallen on his face and cracked 'un.
No, I chatter on full-steam, it's Aarongator, his bottom teeth have broken out!
Am I speaking baby jargon these days?
Language that only I and my children can understand to the exclusion of all others?
Hm...worrying...
Oh but I have better things to concentrate on.
These days, am waiting for the pomegranate to crawl forwards.
As I'm typing this, he crawls backwards and gets majorly frustrated that he gets further away from his toys than when he started.
It's like watching an aeroplane trying to take off without it's engines on.
His first words are also very telling.
All vowels.
Aiieeeeeee.
Now everyone knows I scream like a banshee.
He has broken out in sweat and is complaining real loud now.
Almost all vowels too.
Aiyehhhh!
Shall go rescue the bundle off the floor now.

News in brief on the homefront 1

2007-06-03T08:43:00.000-07:00

The Aarongator, now known as "teddy bear" by grandma, aka "ju-zai" by the other grandma, tests the water at the club with cousin, Bubba.
He also wears less clothes than everyone else coz he's not completely adjusted to the heat and humidity.

He wears not much and sleeps with appendages out cold. Funny bear.

Kyra

2007-05-14T09:26:00.000-07:00

Dammit

2007-05-10T08:22:00.000-07:00

It's hot.
There's dust-mites attacking my baby.
People shove past me all the time but now apologise after the event.
We bought an expensive car.
We are told incessantly that we need to buy a bigger house.
I'm asked a trillion times when I'm starting work.
I've hayfever everyday.
The tv's still in the box coz the deliveryman said we didn't specify in the purchase order that we wanted it set up. Oh.
We cannot order things downstairs of Ikea for things displayed upstairs. Double oh.
Am surprised everyday these days.
It's Singapore, dammit.
Wake up, dammit.

Smooth Operator

2007-04-19T00:14:00.000-07:00

never fails to charm the pants offa.

My lucky star.

My Wild Child

2007-04-19T00:04:00.000-07:00

aka Wild Woman of Borneo coz of her usually unusually wild hair...

is always game for anything.

My pride.

Smilogator

2007-04-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

will be a heart-breaker.

My Joy.

More than a handful

2007-04-10T13:47:00.000-07:00

oh yeah.

Tid-bits

2007-03-27T22:07:00.000-07:00

"So how do you get to Heaven after you die? Oh. I know....does someone pick up your skeleton and throw you up the sky?" - my Man, just speaking out loud.

"Love makes me grow." - my Man, after receiving a couple of smooches from me. Divine tune to ears I'd say!

"A pink horse. Ok! Let's do it! Let's get a pink horse. Not for big boys, for big girls, like me..." - my Belle, still trying in her sweet way to get over not being old enough to go for horse-riding classes like her big bro.

"Is he a private part?" - when I reminded my Man for the umpteenth time not to touch the aarongator (so as not to share his cold germs with his lil bro). A disconnect in communication, obviously.

Greenland

2007-03-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

It's a bout of something or other.
Whatever it is, it's giving me the runs - oh and literally as well.
Dashing to get to the bathroom on time is laughable when you're not the dasher.
And the gripes. Oh! the gripes. Uncontrollable, untimely, unmodulated pain!
Only thing I can blame is the fungi-ridden bread.
Yeah. Green as grass. But of course I didn't have my specs on.
First bite tasted erm, for lack of originality, grassy.
Yeah, like vegetable.
Then I spotted the first spot. Mega-spitout after. But already swallowed a good mouthful.
Argh.
3 days.
Dehydration sure makes one feel kinda lethargic, kinda woozy, kinda pukey.
Like when pregnant.
Just the scare alone knocked me out last night -
only to be woken by serious, unrelenting, gripes.
Wonder if an entire meadow has grown in my gut.
Why does it take so long to wipe out the greenery?
Bothered me so much I even dreamt I lost so much water weight that I could ask my sister to borrow her dresses. Chuh.
Least am still positive.

My fortune

2007-03-16T23:56:00.000-07:00

In a cookie.

To get 3 fortunes in one cookie is crazy.

But that's exactly what I got tonight.

So I took it to heart to read them carefully. They tell me that:-

1. Striving for the best will bring you the best.
2. Your life will be happy and peaceful.
3. A tantalizing new prospect will come your way.

Wow. Can't be that bad afterall then.

Am selling our wares. The swing set, the second cot, the lil tikes car, the activity table, the pool, the baby tub, and various others - they're gone. Material things don't matter, I tell my children. They holler and wail so loud it's like I'm selling and taking the very clothes off their back. But it's really ok coz material things don't matter, I repeat. Then why do these people want ours? they retort. Um. Coz they haven't realised that material things don't matter?, I explain. They grumble (read 'wail') even louder. I end up saying ok ok I buy you another later. Sigh. What a loser. But I'm too tired. This job is, without a doubt, tiring. But I've uncovered something about myself - I can actually sell things. People will actually buy off me. That's some consolation. Hm.

Unimaginable sadness

2007-03-16T00:07:00.000-07:00

It's an ache. Kinda bittersweet. Some sort of enduring longing. Unimaginable sadness. Such a mish-mash of emotions.

No, no tragedy. But it sure feels like it at times.

Did I choose wrong? Why this ache? It's been blissful whilst it lasted. A damn great holiday if I must say so.

I worry that I did them wrong. What kind of mother is not sure? I hear sympathetic refrains...am just....sad.

So when I get over it I'll say so. Am praying for guidance.

Must be blessed

2007-03-11T23:44:00.000-07:00

Aarongator

2007-03-11T03:26:00.000-07:00

and cousin, Theobubba
on 'Wong Fei-Hong' initiation day
on the afternoon of baptism

New Look

2007-02-28T08:59:00.000-08:00

New Look, like New Water, is rather fright-ning.

Some people attempt to wear damn old t-shirt to recapture days-way-gone look, w/o success.

Some people attempt to put on weight in bid to maintain cherubic-faced look, way fail.

Some people attempt to wear pink, wrong colour.

Some people forget to bring extra contact lenses, gotta wear specs. Way way mistake.

Old people, New Look.

Way fright-ning.

Ole times

2007-02-11T05:11:00.000-08:00

Thought you'd like this.

How about Wednesday, dinner?

Balek Kampong III

2007-02-11T04:39:00.000-08:00

All beaming.

He's in his element. Everyday here is the happIEST day. He has been unstoppable.

She has been rather ill since landing.

But that hasn't stopped her from enjoying herself in spurts.

You can sense the energy in this photo from one of those spurts.

The aarongator.

Wearing his brother's, then sister's, extremely worn onesie.

(just cuz mommy hasn't bought him any tropical clothes)

Regardless of what he wears, this one's super cuddly as is.

Survived it

2007-02-05T15:22:00.000-08:00

Am safely in Singapore and quite alive, thank God.

Considered staying over at Seoul for a night or two, or rather, until I recovered from the arduous first leg (10 hours plus). Then thought of the hassle of arranging a connecting flight - what a nightmare. So I junked the gorgeous idea and lugged them all 3 back into the plane for the 6.5 hour second leg.

Miraculously, the 6.5 hours passed rather quickly. All fell asleep and I even caught myself some shut-eye and a cup noodle snack. I ate nothing from the menu the entire trip, yet cup noodles never tasted as fabulous.

Baffling

2007-02-02T23:55:00.000-08:00

Mystery: How do you travel with 3 children on an 18 hour flight and manage to pack a nifty, trendy, teeny carry-on?

Impossible. Completely mind boggling. Been thinking about it the entire evening. Am still awake puzzling over it when I ought to be asleep. Flying off tomorrow morning.

I manage to squeeze everything I need in a LeSportSac - the size of a gym bag. The bulge it makes negates the trendy design of le sac. But I need those blankies (all 3) so they'd fall asleep without much ado. And I also need those books (so I can read them to sleep). And I also need that hefty pack-o-majorly-imaginative snacks - who needs hungry cranky kids? I also definitely need that motion sickness medication that comes in this not-so-small bottle - so I can drug them if all else fails. So...chuck out the passports or the diapers to lighten the load or....? See, not an option. No options really when you're travelling with 3.

The husband has flown off for business and will join us later. But this mystery wouldn't have been solved anyway even if he hadn't. My mystery. All for the sake of my sweethearts. All 3. Love them, hate the baggage. (literally) Plus this is what you get when you crave hawker food. You die die also must fly home fast. Like Now.

Last time I was home, I couldn't eat. Couldn't fathom my loss of appetite. Blamed it on the heat. Then realised at the end of the trip that the pomegranate was acoming. Hence the 'illness'.

This time, I will attack all my favourite foods with a vengence. Watch me. Nothing will stop me.

See ya later aarongator!

2007-01-26T14:37:00.000-08:00

My MIL left for home on 5 January but still misses the aarongator todate.

The Pomegranate converses real well at 2.5 months using "agoo" repeatedly (last count, he said 6 "agoos" in one sentence) to express all emotions except distress.

In distress or when unhappy, he yells out a crystal "EH!"

The Special Angel

2007-01-23T21:41:00.000-08:00

In conversation with my mother-in-law today,

"Hi, it's your grandson, Gareth. Your kid's at work, in Disneyland. How are you?"

Translated, "...Your son has gone to LA on business..."

It's remarkable how their minds work.
He was a true angel today.

Not one whinge. Absolutely blissfully sweet.

Just so you won't forget, dear, you've got mine safe in your clutches.

Twice over

2007-01-22T21:26:00.000-08:00

At precocious 1.5, she was candy and spice and everything else nice.

Oh of course she had her days. And the temper's never sweet.

But at awesome 2, it's crazy true,

they don't come packaged any other way but this way.

Tantrums galore packed tight in this tiny bod.

But my little girl will never cease to amaze me, tantrums or otherwise.

Her mind is definitely her own. You can tell even by her dressing.

She's a hotch-potch of wonderful things, my Belle.

Here come the freckles

2007-01-12T00:17:00.000-08:00

With angel no.3 came the burst of freckles.

Summer's long gone but I can't seem to get rid of them

so I'm guessing that's just part of "the package".

Talking about packages.

Will be home come "red package" season.

Make time, y'all, ya?

Couldn't help it. Had to post another pic of him.

Makes me wanna smooch him blue every single time.

Sweet nothings

2006-12-31T17:22:00.000-08:00

Is all I can think of saying when I see this face.

On Christmas evening, my Belle's prayers went like this, "I thank God for Christmas! ....Why?"

I answered that by giving us Christmas, God gave us all a chance to go to Heaven.

Her response was a gleeful, "Wey-hey! No need to use the car anymore!"

Winter pasttimes

2006-12-22T14:17:00.000-08:00

Immediately after a shopping stint at the chinese grocers.

And immediately before dinner that night.

Entertainment and cooking lessons all rolled in one.

The likeness of two angels?

Memories of cooler days

2006-12-08T22:23:00.000-08:00

Oddfellas

2006-12-06T22:41:00.000-08:00

25 cm of snow in Vancouver in the middle of November.

Caught us all by surprise.

Dug out all our snow gear and wondered if visiting Whistler would be worth our while this time round since there's more snow in our yards than up in the mountains this time of year - as a matter of fact.

Getting chummy up on Whistler.

Yes, my Man's birthday wish was to do the slopes.

So whilst he did his tots ski camp, my Belle spent some quality time with the Pomegranate, my Pomegranate.

Bubba

2006-11-25T22:57:00.000-08:00

A moment of peace whilst the siblings nap.

All 3

2006-11-22T01:33:00.000-08:00

More of the Bub with siblings

2006-11-20T03:24:00.000-08:00

6 days later

2006-11-15T23:06:00.000-08:00

Looking back, I'd do it again - only just because he's such darling.
But never again here. Shoot me if I forget.
My obstetrician's bedside manners will never leave me.

As he walked into the birthing room, and in spite of the pain, I greeted him with a 'hi'. He replied with "Are you ready to push?". He asked the same question (and glared the nurse into asking the same question) no fewer than 4 times in the span of 4-5 minutes. Contractions were coming fast and furious - every minute to be precise.

When I finally caved in (from peer pressure - nurse and obstetrician combined) , I honestly hadn't fathomed that just flipping over from my foetal position and splaying myself would be that difficult! So I got the, "Look at me. LOOK. AT. ME. What you're doing, you will only break your husband's hand. If you want the pain to go away, then stop concentrating your energies in your legs blah blah blah. RELAX your legs, blah blah blah and stop the screaming. Push like you're having a big bowel movement and get the baby out. "

He barked at both the nurse and the husband. They apparently weren't holding my legs down properly.

After it all, he says calmly, "You need sutures." then walks off to get the equipment! You woulda thought they'd be prepared since they prefer not to give episiotomies. But no. And I could feel every stitch, mind you.

Anyway, I can just about walk and sit today so, that's good. Ever sat in a sitz bath for 5 days running? Ever not been able to sit at all to eat, to nurse, to drink, to read, to watch tv, just to rest? It's just ridiculous really, all this suffering when a routine epidural, a neat episiotomy and decent painkillers would have done the job nicely and rather painlessly even after the event. Pfft.

The ass is aching again so gotta go.

Born on 9 Nov 2006

2006-11-15T00:15:00.000-08:00

DID IT.
6 pushes in 6 minutes flat.

All's well.

No, they refused me epidural.

So have been battered, sore and in frustrating discomfort the past 4 days.

Am in high spirits today and can safely say I love him to bits already.

All mine. All ours. The best Christmas gift ever, I think.

Riled

2006-11-01T22:45:00.000-08:00

Some boy took my son down in the park today and scratched his face. It was apparently completely unprovoked.

The teacher said she gave him many hugs to calm him down.

My Man said he was so angry, the teacher asked him to punch her instead.

I was a picture of the perfectly calm being. Very unmotherly-like. Alsolutely civil and understanding. Almost a saint. Of course I insisted the boy's parents be alerted to it and that it never recurs. But it was a very controlled conversation with my then, very vulnerable son in my arms.

Back home, my husband got an earful. Of how I would get my hands on that brat and wring his neck, and smash his face in the mud, and stomp on those vicious tiny hands so bad they'd bleed....

My husband could think of doing worse...but that's just us fantasising.

My Man understands the situation as "Perhaps he has a nasty big brother at home who does nasty things to him and so he's an angry boy. And angry boys act naughty in school. I think he's just unhappy. Your scratch will heal, look, it's already scabby. You're tough. It's all ok."

Right under this calm veneer is a riled woman. So riled I'd take him out of that school in a split second, sue the pants outta those lousy teachers, put the boy behind bars (his parents and for that matter, his entire chope clan included), burn their only house to cinders, nothing less....and much more. But that's just me. That's just insane.

It's so hard to raise good, kind, loving, happy children. If he ever reads this, he too would grow up to be just like me? Nothing extremely wrong with that, I guess....is there? I honestly have no idea. Why aren't we taught anything useful, like correct parenting, in school? Other than calculate how much we ought to spend per diaper, what good is mathematics? I dunno.....

But right now, it feels better that I've let it out - albeit viciously, twice over. Feels much better.

Ok, ye who shall try and rile me further, hold your horses. My hormonal make-up is turbulent. Anything and everything will cause a spark. I know, I know, I already know. It's so hard as it is.

64.9kg

2006-10-29T22:24:00.000-08:00

And still counting down....

The apparent 'ligament expansion' pains can be unbearably annoying. Can bearly turn at nights without much grimacing and getting out of bed to attend to fussy wakers (my Belle has taken to night wakes again...molars breaking? Bad dreams from over-activity? I really dunno.) is extremely painful.

I not only look like a whale, I feel like one outta water.

Now the comments I draw are along the lines of "You due anytime now huh? (chuckle chuckle)"

Wonder about the chuckles though. Does looking pained really draw such mirth? Where's the empathy, the sympathy?

How about some "You poor thing. I wish you a painless delivery like right tonight."

How fat does one gotta grow before it's time. Man.

Am 63 kg

2006-10-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

Could it be gas?
Or just nerves?

Been telling the doc I eat well.
Think pepperoni pizza doesn't exactly fit the bill.

Said I was 139 lbs as of Thursday.
In my lingo, that's about anytime now.

Maybe it's just a bad stomach.
I could never tell.
I still can't.

Always, though, it wakes me at the sleepiest hour.
Keeps me guessing for an hour or so.

Husband always acts the same.
"Er......so.....wassup...what....now? you sure? " is what I get each and every time.

First time round, he asked for another 5 minutes in bed.
I obliged.
Coz of course I wasn't sure.

I mean, hell, how can you be sure?
Then the pain hits mega proportions - by which time I'm no longer talking.
So better get him ready now then when I stop talking.

Of course I'm not sure.

Second time round, he took a shower.
Then grumbled when he got out coz I still wasn't sure.

This time, he took a shower at 4am.
He's now fast asleep.

It could really just be gas.
It felt like gas the last 2 times.

Typing seems to ease the gas.
Maybe soon I can go back to bed and sleep the gas off.

It's 35 weeks though.
Apparently, too early.

It's 5 am in the morning.
My sleepiest hour...

From the lips of babes

2006-10-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

"Why do girls have so much meat and boys, just a little?"
When asked what he meant by "meat" exactly, he replied, "That thing that dinosaurs eat, mommy, MEAT." (emphasis made like I'm daft)
So of course I ask (ahem undefensively) if he thought I had "so much" meat?
"No, mommy (chuckle chuckle), you're just having a baby....that's all (charming smile)" patting my belly fondly.
Aaaaahhhh. The pleasures of raising the perfect gentleman.

"Uh-oh....MOMMY! Mommy's spoon is on FIRE!"
is what my Belle exclaimed this morning when she saw my teaspoon in my steaming cuppa. That was a sure waker-upper. And yes, it sure looked like it was hot hot hot!

Transfers

2006-10-17T20:58:00.000-07:00

My parents have returned home and so we're alone again...and kinda lonesome since they've been with us and really helped us out for months and the kids really miss them. Tell-tale signs:_

My Belle, "Gwamma, take aeroplane, fly far far away....gwampa, take aeroplane, fly far far away...gwampa, naughty, go far away home...." but she doesn't exactly know where "home" is and when pressed, she answers, "hmmmm...Helsinki?" coz that's the only faraway place she knows coz daddy goes there to work quite often. You shoulda heard her cry when they walked through the departure gates - "awww! gwamma, gwampa, come too!" (translated "I wanna go with you!") Swear it would have made any grown man howl too.

My Man, "Will they (g'ma and g'pa) come back again soon?" When asked what he meant by 'soon', he replied, "Hmm, in 5 weeks?" (his favourite number now is 5). And when I tell him matter of factly that it's really ok coz por-por (my mom-in-law - who prefers to be called por por) is here now, he replies, "Is this my last chance?" like after por por leaves, he's stuck with the devil and the deep blue sea :) Yes, dear, so enjoy it whilst it lasts!

62 kg

2006-10-03T22:01:00.000-07:00

... is freakin' heavy and 63's usually when I pop. I feel it's almost time. I have 3 different EDDs to contend with.18th, 23rd and 25th Nov.The joy (pain) of having 3 different doctors check you out.Place your bets now.

My Belle's very conversational these days. "Who farted?" held the prize for the loudest refrain thus far. NEVER take your kids out to the mall on a gassy day. Sure beats the hell outta stage fright. Yeah, think I turned 2 shades whiter. Yet, regardless of pallor, until someone actually provided her with an answer, she wasn't gonna let up - with every repeated refrain raised a decibel. "Mommy did." I finally hissed at her. She replied, "Awful. Icky." I ought to be bursting with irrepressible pride at this mastery of language but I felt more ostrich-like than peacock.

My Man's the same way.

I thought perhaps the gentle, persuasive, sympathy, empathy way would sway him, ya know, "Hon, you'd hurt her feelings. That's not nice to say out loud. She's old and may be upset."Futile.

He looked at her in wonderment....I thought he was digesting every morsel of what I'd said...learning emphathy with every line I muttered....hell no. Loud as a trumpet just as she approached the bench for her towel right next to him he bellows, "But she IS SOOOO BIG, SOOO FFAAT. [emphasis all his] LOOK mommy, she can't even walk, mommy, LOOOK!"
I just blanked out.

Just zonked out.

Just glazed my eyes over and pretended I was dead but somehow sitting upright next to this monster of a loud-hailer.

I had nothing to say.

If only I coulda run. 62 kgs is too heavy to run. I'd start, then slip and fall....but maybe that would have deflected the embarassment. Saved the situation. Why dint I start to run...

Pumpkin month

2006-10-02T09:35:00.000-07:00

Frolicking with pumpkins.

Halloween's round the corner and so's my Belle's birthday.

Kiddy birthday parties get so complicated these days.

However, am biting the bullet this time and making it happen just for her with games, theme cake, goody bags and of course....gulp....a house full of wild kiddies....

and there'll be one for him too when end November's here.

Crossing my fingers I don't burn out!

Humour

2006-09-28T23:31:00.000-07:00

A relative mass mailed this. At this point in time, this just seems darn funny. Maybe it's not a hormonal thing. Maybe it's just me.

"Dear Lord,

I pray for Wisdom to understand my man;
Love to forgive him;
And Patience for his moods.

Because, Lord, if I pray for Strength,
I'll beat him to death.

AMEN"

Also, by way of update, my obstetrician said to me during our usual 3 minute meet-up, "Ah! You're right on target! All's great! You're 32 weeks pregnant and you measure 32 cms from here to here (gesturing from under my breast-bone to just above my pubic bone)!!".

He then flashed me this satisfied smile. I brought my husband this time - as witness. I ain't kiddin', dear, I tell him everytime - he's supposed to be my obstetrician! He just uses this measuring tape I swear! What saved me from laughing out loud this and every other time was pure and simple suffocation. I can't lie on my back anymore - the weight of this 32 cm thing in my belly region somehow compresses my chest cavity so much - it's really just a vacuum. Sucks the breath outta me.

He also instructed me to do a tour of the hospital like NOW before I go into labour. One of those 'must do' stuff, he said. To orientate myself before I get disoriented with pain. Ha ha.

Oh, and don't call me and don't come to hospital till your contractions are 3 minutes apart, he said. And EVEN IF your water breaks, don't call me, just go straight to hospital and the nurses will know what to do. Really, you don't say. Thank God for that brief moment of asphyxiation.... else my manners woulda shown themselves, surely.

Honestly. The second I realise I'm in labour - I'm gonna get my ass in that hospital bed (kick someone else out if you're short-bedded, I don't care) and I'm gonna holler and howl till the epidural's administered. No 2 ways about it, Hosea. Who do they really think they're dealing with? Good grief.

Bloody ABC

2006-09-21T21:13:00.000-07:00

Played the new season's Grey's anatomy backwards!
The 2nd episode of the new season got played before the 1st!
I can't believe them.
I watched the new episode backwards. Sigh. It's annoying.

Whilst I'm at it. I'm gonna annoy the rest of ya.
Grey lost her panties during the hospital prom. Alison found them in Derek's tux. But just coz they played it backwards, I saw the panties pinned up on the hospital board before I found out how it got there in the first place.

Dreams are made of these

2006-09-19T21:04:00.000-07:00

My Belle learning to ice-skate

My Man feeling cool with his 'kung-fu' weapon (aka tree branch)

No.3 wriggling ever so gleefully every night

(darn! I can't sleep!)

In case tomorrow never comes

2006-09-16T21:09:00.000-07:00

If I knew it would be the last time

That I'd see you fall asleep,

I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord,

your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door,

I would give you a hug and kiss

and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,

I would video tape each action and word,

so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute to stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day,

well I'm sure you'll have so many more,

so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow to make up for an oversight,

and we always get a second chance to make everything just right.

There will always be another day to say "I love you,"

And certainly there's another chance to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get,

I'd like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike,

And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do ALL it today?

For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss

and you were too busy to grant someone,

what turned out to be their one last wish

So hold your loved ones close today, and whisper in their ear,

Tell them how much you love them and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry," "Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."

And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today.

The important things

2006-09-11T00:46:00.000-07:00

My Main Man

My Angels

Quotable quotes:-

My Belle in a sleepy daze before she dozed off - "Am a dragoon - moooooo...."

[translated "I'm a dragon. Grrrrr."]

My famished Man - "I wanna eat chickentucky."

[translated "Kentucky Fried Chicken"]

We took him to Church's instead and in a conspiring whisper he said, "I dun think this is chickentucky mommy...." as Daddy queued up.

Luckily, he didn't mind it too much and chomped down 2 drumsticks anyway.

Mini Mes

2006-09-05T11:03:00.000-07:00

My Belle's biggest word todate is "ballerina" pronounced "bah-ler-ree-nah!" and her frustrated refrain is often "oh man!"

My Man asked why Pinnochio didn't break any bones when he fell off the tree.

"But he's made of wood MOMMY! What do you meeean?!" when I absent-mindedly replied that perhaps he didn't fall from a height.

I reminded him that milk helps - gives you strong bones so you can fall from higher without breaking things (baad mama!) conveniently ignoring the Pinnochio scenario.

He chuckled, "So milk's like glue? From the mouth to the bones to fix 'em."

More of Victoria

2006-08-28T19:58:00.000-07:00

Oriental kids in an English garden (the B&B we put up at)

That pear tree next to them produces the sweetest organic pears ever!
Self-timed family pic at Oak Bay.

Sunny days

2006-08-23T19:37:00.000-07:00

At Oak Bay, Victoria.
As a chamber-maid in the London Heritage Farm.

Food for thought

2006-08-20T20:54:00.000-07:00

There's my blackberry short-cake...

and my Dad in the background thinking I must be quite insane to photograph a pie thing.

And my mooncakes.

The jam just sits in the jars so....couldn't bear to sneak a snap at them in the fridge.

My family will really start to freak out if I did.

Summer pasttimes

2006-08-11T13:03:00.000-07:00

Berry picking at the farm.

My Man fell asleep in the car by the time we got there but my Belle was raring to go and understood exactly to pick only the black ones as the red ones weren't ripe yet.

Our blackberry confiture is yumilous!

Maybe we'll start a confectionary soon :)

Babes in bath.

And mommy gets to relax whilst they shampoo each other now!

What a relief.

I got referred

2006-08-03T19:38:00.000-07:00

To a gynaecologist - FINALLY!

He knew nothing, this man of a physician.

Each time I see him - which is not often, like once every 3 weeks, he tells me what week I'm in (duh, so medical), tells me I'm putting on weight (genius!), then tells me baby's kicking an awful lot (as opposed to my stomache growling? ha.).

Then I ask him about spina bifida and whether my initial scan showed enough for him to conclude that I am excluded from that risk. No, he said. Your initial scan didn't and couldn't show it - too early. Then, shouldn't I be sent for another scan before it's too late? If detected early, there's the option of foetal surgery available to alleviate the brain damage that it could cause (at 24 weeks to be exact is ideal).

No, he says. A normal scan is no good. A CT scan is, though, but the radiation of a CT scan is too harmful to a feotus. Oh. So suffering spina bifida throughout his life (IF he survives it at all) is a lesser harm, hm. In fact, he says confidently, your baby could be suffering from a whole hosts of things we could never tell...who'd know until he's born?

You get my drift.

Needless to say, I made sure his confidence faltered big time after making that bold, stupid statement.

So now I get to see a real doctor. I'm still optimistic that SOMEone in this British Columbia place may know what he's doing/saying.

Old news

2006-07-31T23:44:00.000-07:00

"Why are you keeping him in so long?" grumbles my Man.

This is in response to, "No, no, hon, baby won't be coming out till later...MUCh later."

Which was elicited by a very excited, "Is baby coming out today?"

And it all started with a mundane, "Mommy's going to the doctor's today, k?"

Each time I go for a check-up

(what?! [exclaimed in the same incredulous tone my Man delivers everytime he feels incredulously annoyed by something like Mommy chatting him up when he's deep in play] it's hardly a check-up, more a check-in to report [what?! the size of my fatter belly?] coz the doc checks nothing other than my blood pressure, which I tell ya is rising each time I pay him a purposeless visit. Ok, fine, enough complaints already.)

...back to THE point....

Each time I go for a check-up, my Man eagerly asks if I will bring home the baby NOW.

And each time I tell him not yet, he looks puzzled, which gradually turns to slight annoyance and of late, a huge grumble - about why I have to keep the baby in so long.

Tonight, after the usual story and prayers, he told me that maybe there isn't a cutie baby in my belly afterall.

"Maybe, mommy, it's just a huge, wiggly WORM!"

His way of telling me that maybe I've been lying to him all this while.

Passage of time.

What is that to a child?

Nothing's fun if it isn't here and now.

These are indeed interesting creatures.

Beach day

2006-07-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

Just hung out at the Kits beach to soak in some sun although the breeze was freezing!

Nevertheless, the kids loved it.

My Belle sunning with er....dunno who at the Kits beach.

Daddy was lying next to me so... I think it's some Caucasian guy whose date never turned up.

She has this knack of imitating others which is rather hilarious.

The Miracle of Mothering

2006-07-27T12:43:00.000-07:00

"Your children are not your children, they are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself. They come through you, but not from you. And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you."

Kahlil Gibran

"Life's aspirations come in the guise of children."

Rabindranath Tagore

I absolutely adore these quotes. I especially adore the book I found them in - Modern mothering. By Tian Dayton. I try to read all sorts of parenting books to get a grip when I feel myself veering towards the schizo side of things with the daily grind. And they all try to teach stuff. This book doesn't. It's absolutely refreshing. It's extremely inspiring - for me, it is.

Summer 2006 is here at last!

2006-07-21T21:29:00.000-07:00

Me, Mom and a sis with a cute bum.

My bump is really 5 months' worth and not from overeating :)

My Belle and My Main Man at Deer Lake, row-boating.

My Man at summer swim-camp. What a star!

Memories...

2006-07-14T20:11:00.000-07:00

My Man as ring-bearer at my sister's wedding.

He was all of a tender 2 then.

My Belle in her Daddy's arms...at a tender 2 months.

We were in Vancouver searching for a suitable place to live before "uprooting" ourselves from the comforts of home.

My babies at 2.5 years and 6 months old.

Happily settled in Vancouver and just hanging out with Mommy :)

Jigsaw & Pop Pop

2006-07-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

Those are the names my kids gave themselves today.

One was playing with puzzles (my Man) and the other, Pop-up Pirate (ma Belle).

They only ate their dinner after I called them by those names.

Our new member has also been named.

Italy, you've never been luckier.

Incroyable!

2006-07-10T21:56:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok, I just feel frenchie these days. But that's besides the point.

Su-Lynn has 3 kids!

Which means we haven't met up or chatted for at least 9 months if not more!

I mean, look at him. He's hardly squeaky new-born. Man.

WOman, the things you've been up to - without consulting the fellowship!

And Alison's been jetting around being the dutiful & loyal being that she's always been.

Only this time it's coz her husband's been posted away from her.

Life's surprises.

Amazing. And we all survived and live to tell.

And we all miss Gus.

Hello, Gus. Check us out.

Can tell you're smiling right this moment.

Au revoir Gawdma

2006-07-07T10:41:00.000-07:00

My sis left for home early this morning.

The kids asked for her all morning even though they were explained the consequence of their hugs and kisses last night.

With the utmost of sincerity, they gave her their wettest kisses and tightest hugs,

then promptly forgot that that was bye-bye for then.

But like always, they're toughies and will accept just chatting with her over the phone again.

Gawdma, call.

A bath-shot from my sis' digi-cam.

Bathing has never been more fun than when Gawdma's watching....and getting really wet from all that splashing!

Summer snow

2006-07-04T22:11:00.000-07:00

How odd is that?

Fun in the sun AND snow, last Sunday - Whistler on a 27 degs celsius afternoon.

Speed-boating last Saturday at Howe Sound, West Vancouver .

Old pals

2006-06-28T21:45:00.000-07:00

Some of you might remember him?

He's done with Hong Kong and off to soul-search now...

I say he should just cook us more meals and throw us more birthday parties ;p

My precious 20 mth old

2006-06-24T00:41:00.000-07:00

"Mommy, wet me!" whilst pointing at the garden hose was the first sentence she made.

Funny how these things make my day. That was last week.

She has been stringing together more words and forming more charming sentences since then. Am proud. Am charmed.

The belly

2006-06-19T22:27:00.000-07:00

There's my belly from a tall person's perspective!

Pictures can be so deceiving :)

Just learnt of this 3D scan thing which you can get on DVD if you pay $100+.

Thinking about doing it but it's so vividly clear that am hesitating...

Would you pay for it?

www.ucbaby.ca

Do you see what I see?

2006-06-19T00:57:00.000-07:00

A Star, a Star....

considering he/she put up with 45 minutes of ultra-scan

(!! If my baby goes deaf - please remind me who to sue) and still managed a smile for us.

This is my 3rd angel.

I love him/her already.

My World...

2006-06-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

of sunshine smiles and cheeky grins.

His cheeks like playdough, compels me to pinch.

My Man has a zillion brilliant ideas a day.

[like wearing mittens (in the middle of Summer) so he won't soil his fingers from a meal!]

I love him to bits, I really must say.

of colourful expressions and songs...You haven't heard a nightingale till you've heard this 'un.My Belle is a delight through and through.I love her to bits, it's true.

Sad but true

2006-06-14T23:58:00.000-07:00

Bratz and Belles is officially off-line.

During my terrible trimester premiere, I let it lapse. Now some terrible somebody has used the name - what a shame.

But it's ok. I've been meaning to update the colour scheme and scheme of things in any case.

Watch out for the NEXT B&B!

Nothing has changed save for the fact that Bratz and Belles looks nothing like it was before - on-line. So do me a favour - don't go to that site. Shun them terrible copy-cats!

Summer play

2006-06-14T16:39:00.000-07:00

At play-gym.

My Man's description of the clown (him):-

Sleigh me up. Call me a clown.

Bouncing like this.

Juggling and bouncing.

And of the princess (my Belle):-

Bring her a suit. Sleigh her up.

Muddy her up. Lay her on the grass.

Wet the dirty grass. Juggle and bounce on her head.

Hello.

2006-06-11T23:31:00.000-07:00

Hello. I'm still alive.

And by the way, I can dish up a mean hokkien mee too :) Did so for dinner today. Pity I can't figure out the chilli paste yet. Soon soon.

Today, I love my Man's, "Why do adults get to sleep late and go out at nights?" This is when I feel like an outright, "Because." just coz I've been exhausted throughout the day and don't need yet another difficult question. But I didn't. It actually made me smile just watching him pout that baby pout. I told him he'd get those privileges too when he's all grown up (yeah, together with baby-sitting duties to boot since I'm gonna have soooo many babies that Daddy'll lose count).

And my Belle's, "Uh-oh, fixh." [after she's broken something or found something broken] I also absolutelly love her rendition of "rain rain go away". It goes like this, "wain wain go aWay! wain wain...." she also adds in all of our names in her song. Grandpa and grandma are currently, "Ah-pa" and "Ah-ma".

Yup, still kicking.

Stupendous!

2006-05-25T22:09:00.000-07:00

Where do I even begin?!

They are called family physicians - these general practitioners. They apparently care for the health of the family so you can see them for everything. You in fact, should, see them for everything coz....there's no one else....if they don't refer you to the specialist....where do you find them? It's impossible.

First off, 100% of them are uncomfortable with babies. No, correction, not even. Toddlers. They'll "examine" them (by this they mean, probe them a little with the stethoscope and force a grin to make the kid feel more at ease) but ask for the usual immunisations and you get a blank. No kidding. One lady had to consult her "book" and promptly lugged the volume to the consultation room. She flipped so vehemently I almost peed in my pants. I don't know why I still let her continue after what seemed like an eternity before she exhaled and gushed, "Ok. I think she needs this [pointing at a couple of lines in her book]. I don't usually administer jabs coz I don't want the kids to hate me....but...."

Thankfully, my Belle survived. At the next appointed date, we took her to the same doctor for a follow-up booster jab. She looked puzzled, apologised, then went to consult her book yet again. Anyone who knows me even an insy bit would be able to visualise my face by now.

Now that we've moved, I've done some homework and sourced out (I thought) more competent physicians.

There's just too much to tell. He doesn't do kids either. He doesn't want them to be afraid of him and not allow him to examine them in future. So I've had to call a dozen other numbers and visit a dozen other websites to get her the immunisation she needs at this age. How industrious are mothers in Canada? Do they limit the number of children they have so their appointment books don't look as ridiculous as mine?! In order to shuttle them kids for all the usual screenings and jabs, schedule my husband in for his dental check-up (general, mind you), schedule myself for prenatal check-ups and lab-tests, I've been mind-boggled at how normal women do it? Or do they not bother till everyone falls desperately ill? I can't make sense of it.

Today, my prenatal check-up finally materialised. Last week, they made the mistake of not alloting me enough time for my appointment. No apologies given. I just had to come back a week later - oh and mind you the doctor's fully booked till next week so I really had no choice in the matter.

Today, he spent all of 15 minutes asking about the sky and the moon but not once about how I felt about the pregnancy. How is my health? Do I feel well, happy, good about the pregnancy? None of that. He made me verify the date of my last period 3 times. I'm gonna hazard a guess that he's never had one before. He looked seriously shocked when I shrugged and mumbled, "Thereabouts." What. Has EDD suddenly become rocket science? Has "estimated" become definitive overnight? Oh. Must have missed that one, TOO.

But this tops it all. I'm asked to bend over the examination table. I'm thinking nothing else will surprise me anymore at this stage. Pervert. No, he explains, I need a vaginal swaB. Are you sure you don't have any sexual diseases? For the 3rd time I shook my head. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding this man here. I ate edamame last night - er, so do I have some sexual disease now? Whatever. I feel like an animal. He says to try to relax. He swaBs. Then. He. Gulp. Hands me the swaB and says, "Here you go." For posterity?! I flatly refused. Uh-uh, no need. Thanks. I believe me. No sexual diseases. No need for living proof. No, he smiles condescendingly, send it to the lab.

Now I'm culture courier as well? Can it wait till erm tomorrow? I really don't wanna do it. No, he says firmly, the culture is fresh, send it there now else we gotta do another. Pervert. Fine, I'll do it. Have you ever tucked your own swaB in your handbag and scurried to the labs before? How invigorating to try something so unusual, so exciting....get there too late and (1) the culture's no good, (2) the lab will shut (at 4pm! do people work here?), and (3) I'll have to be reswaBBed. I run like a mad woman for the bus. The cab would cost me $10. Free medical services but run the errands at your own transportation cost.

Now I'm culture courier as well.

I was minded to end here but...have to tell this too:- I spent an hour at the dentist's the other day and got ONE row of teeth cleaned - not by a dentist, he came by to say hi at the end of the session and gave me a free toothbrush. Souvenir, he said. I have to return next week to get my upper row cleaned. I tell them I get everything cleaned in 15 minutes flat in Singapore, by a dentist. They laugh. Typical of dentists, they chuckle. I'm tired.

Then tonight, my mom tells me I've just put in a stupid entry.

Yesterday I bought her salted self-raising flour so all her pineapple tarts taste unusually savoury. I guess she's just getting back tonight.

Then...

2006-05-18T20:03:00.000-07:00

Chanced upon this pic just. Even in her spindly state (no more), she had those super alert eyes and determined fists.

Kids

2006-05-15T00:09:00.000-07:00

Don't these pics just make you feel like having more? They do that to me....even in my state.

They love it when we do this, so here goes:-

Presenting [drum roll] Queen Jasmine (6 yrs) , Princess Cinderella (4 yrs) , Prince Wong Fei Hong (3.5 yrs) and Princess Pocahontas (1.5 yrs)!

LA adventure!

2006-05-12T09:25:00.000-07:00

We took Disneyland by storm!

My Man and Maddie having it on!

Maddie, Eleanor and my Man on the trampoline -
all dressed up in Disney gear.

The 2nd cousins. Seriously.
[from left: my Belle (1.5 yrs), Maddie (4 yrs), my Man (3.5 yrs) & Ellie (6 yrs)]

Family

2006-05-01T14:53:00.000-07:00

is best.

Don't know what I'll do without them... and rice cakes.

One cures the heart. The other holds my nausea at bay. Life's little treasures!

More home trip II pics - go figure disorganised captions

2006-04-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

Who dares tease Hope?
Lyn-dah, mama of 2

Cheryl, erm, the virgin mother. Not in that way but in a newbie way.

The EX-perts. The CBL rejectors, save for one patient suffering soul...

The 3 musketeers.

Hotch potch of home trip II pics

2006-04-21T15:02:00.000-07:00

Like doing time

2006-04-12T14:08:00.000-07:00

I haven't been more sick. Pay back time? Maybe. My first was a breeze and I mean it. I'd never felt more invigorated and alive. Like I was glowing the entire time. There was no suffering of any sort whatsoever. And viola! what a bouncy bundle of sunshine he turned out to be too!

My second was a tad painful. She turned out to be a beautiful girl so I figured that was the cost of having a precious baby girl.

Painful is an understatement for this one. I loathe to wake up. I loathe to sleep (coz I can't!). I'm sooo nauseous, soooo generally unwell, dizzy, grumpy (I'm dying to type "pissy" though. There, did it.) and sooo lethargic ALL the time that I feel I'm seriously doing time this time.

If this is another girl, she'd better be one helluva chick!

Ok. Lousy joke. I'm bad. This is a blessing. How can I even complain?

But this is it, I believe. My body's winding down. I can't have more than this. Not that it's within my control completely of course. But, please (ask and ye shall receive, right?), help me through this and double please, help me through the 1.5 years of sleepless nights, and triple please, help me manage 3 bravely and sanely, and quad please, erm...perhaps no more after this?

I mustered enough energy to do this entry and now I feel drained. I wouldn't joke on my last ounce of energy.

Like Magic

2006-04-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

Our troop is growing. My heart pounded, albeit less loudly than for the 2 earlier birds, when "reveal" disclosed the truth. I even made my sister buy the test kit for me in the hope she'd buy an expired one or absolutely complicated one so no one could decipher the results. I imagined that my creative streak revived purely from simple coincidence - that my parents' Perth home needed more paintings on the walls....Even when my Man announced, unprovoked, one fine sunny day in Perth that "I think I need a bwother!", I balked all of half a second before brushing it off as childish folly.

But I was off-colour for like 3 weeks prior and couldn't stuff my face with local delight as planned so I was getting a tad peeved at my poor performance after having spent a bomb on return flights.

The scan this morning confirmed what "reveal" told. I'm so happy. Now. It's super scary but who could ask for anything different? My main Man's still scared shit. But he'll be over it soon - I mean, after I've delivered and he's been kept up too many nights in a row to remember his name or how many children he's fathered :).

Our troop's growing through the blessing of God :)

Who could ask for any different?

Boobboobsaurus

2006-04-01T01:14:00.000-08:00

Met up withMelissa and Jordan just. It was comfy, nice - anything but calm though with 3 kids messing about. When Jordan burst out crying in protest to Kyra's and Gareth's playful taunts, Melissa explained that her baby's only a "Grumpysaurus" and that it's alright. Of course that prompted more playful tickling taunts coz "His mommy says it's ok!". Needless to say, I denied approval on that basis. Not that that meant refraint on their part. Sometimes, I think my children are daft. Smart kids listen to their mothers. Or do they? I only get more confused.

Anyway, on the MRT, Melissa asked what type of dinosaur she'd be if Jordan's a Grumpysaurus. Nursing her bub in full view of Gareth guaranteed her this sweet nickname! Ask and ye shall receive! ;p

My heartthrob

2006-02-28T23:26:00.000-08:00

I will never forget the first few days after the birth of my Belle. She cried out to be carried and as I reached for her I spied my Man's eyes - intense with emotion describable only as betrayal. They brimmed with tears threatening to overflow but he bravely held them back by avoiding my gaze....

I just need him to know that no matter what, he'll always be my special angel. My lion-hearted special angel :) That huge chunk of my heart which you stole so long ago, sweetie....it's yours forever.