Gardening

Over the weekend, hus brought us to flora . He intended to get a pot of rose Mary or mint which meant to keep the mosquitoes away. However, he realized that these plant needs direct sunlight which our place don't. So he changed his mind, and got a lavender instead.

Brought janelle around the flora, Let her feel, see and smell the plants.













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Teacher's Day is coming

For many years, Teacher's Day meant nothing to me.. Now Janelle started school, it seems coming back to my life.

I did up 2 cards for the teachers, really appreciate their patience towards Janelle, their never give up spirit, their care and concern to each children especially Tr Ima. She is the best teacher i see so far. She tried to balance her time with each kids and to understand their habits and routine from the caretaker. Janelle has a new classmate who keeps crying no matter mummy around or not. Tr Ima never give up and keep singing song to her, talk to her, trying very hard to calm her down. All teachers in special needs school are awesome. When come to feeding, she will spend one day each for her child she takes care. She will take note down and when come to feeding therapy, she will flag all she noticed to the therapist for each kids.

Are you expecting???

Friday, One of Janelle's classmate granny asked if i'm expecting.

Saturday, went down to sis in law salon and she says "十个看到你，都说你怀孕。”

Oh My God... Am i that bad?? Goal of the Year, to slim down my tummy.....
- i will accompany Janelle go swimming every wednesday
- zap zap off the fats
- eat less
- going for run as often as possible

early childhood development checklist

When in janelle's school, I spotted an early childhood development chart.. Stood there and read from month 1 to month 12, doing check list for janelle as of aug 28 (25mths).

Month 1 to 3 - all reached as of aug 28 (25mths)

MOVEMENT
 Raises head and cheek when lying on stomach (3 mos.)
 Supports upper body with arms when lying on stomach (3 mos.)
 Stretches legs out when lying on stomach or back (2-3 mos.)
 Opens and shuts hands (2-3 mos.)
 Pushes down on his legs when his feet are placed on firm surface (3 mos.)

VISUAL
 Watches face intently (2-3 mos.)
 Follows moving objects (2 mos.)
 Recognizes familiar objects and people at a distance (3 mos.)
 Starts using hands and eyes in coordination (3 mos.)

HEARING AND SPEECH
 Smiles at the sound of voice (2-3 mos.)
 Cooing noises; vocal play (begins at 3 mos.)
 Attends to sound (1-3 mos.)
 Startles to loud noise (1-3 mos.)

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL
 Begins to develop a social smile (1-3 mos.)
 Enjoys playing with other people and may cry when playing stops (2-3 mos.)
 Becomes more communicative and expressive with face and body (2-3 mos.)
 Imitates some movements and facial expressions

Month 5 to 7 - all reached as of aug 28 (25mths)

MOVEMENT
 Pushes up on extended arms (5 mos.)
 Pulls to sitting with no head lag (5 mos.)
 Sits with support of his hands (5-6 mos.)
 Sits unsupported for short periods (6-8 mos.)
 Supports whole weight on legs (6-7 mos.)
 Grasps feet (6 mos.)
 Transfers objects from hand to hand (6-7 mos.)
 Uses raking grasp (not pincer) (6 mos.)

VISUAL
 Looks for toy beyond tracking range (5-6 mos.)
 Tracks moving objects with ease (4-7 mos.)
 Grasps objects dangling in front of him (5-6 mos.)
 Looks for fallen toys (5-7 mos.)

LANGUAGE
 Distinguishes emotions by tone of voice (4-7 mos.)
 Responds to sound by making sounds (4-6 mos.)
 Uses voice to express joy and displeasure (4-6 mos.)
 Syllable repetition begins (5-7 mos.)

COGNITIVE
 Finds partially hidden objects (6-7 mos.)
 Explores with hands and mouth (4-7 mos.)
 Struggles to get objects that are out of reach (5-7 mos.)

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL
 Enjoys social play (4-7 mos.)
 Interested in mirror images (5-7 mos.)
 Responds to other people’s expression of emotion (4-7 mos.)

Month 8 to 12


MOVEMENT
 Gets to sitting position without assistance (8-10 mos.)
 Crawls forward on belly
 Assumes hand and knee position
 Creeps on hands and knees
 Gets from sitting to crawling or prone (lying on stomach) position (10-12 mos.)
 Pulls self up to standing position
 Walks holding on to furniture
X Stands momentarily without support
X May walk two or three steps without support

HAND AND FINGER SKILLS
X Uses pincer grasp (grasp using thumb and index finger) (7-10 mos.)
X Bangs two one-inch cubes together
X Puts objects into container (10-12 mos.)
 Takes objects out of container (10-12 mos.)
X Pokes with index finger
X Tries to imitate scribbling

COGNITIVE
X Explores objects in many different ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping) (8-10 mos.)
 Finds hidden objects easily (10-12 mos.)
X Looks at correct picture when image is named
X Imitates gestures (9-12 mos.)

LANGUAGE MILESTONES
 Responds to simple verbal requests
 Responds to “no”
 Makes simple gestures such as shaking head for no
 Babbles with inflection (8-10 mos.)

OBSERVED
X Babbles “dada” and “mama” (8-10 mos.)
X Says “dada” and “mama” for specific person (11-12 mos.)
X Uses exclamations such as “oh-oh”

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL
 Shy or anxious with strangers (8-12 mos.)
 Cries when mother or father leaves (8-12 mos.)
X Enjoys imitating people in his play (10-12 mos.)
 Shows specific preferences for certain people and toys (8-12 mos.)
 Prefers mother and/or regular care provider over all others (8-12 mos.)
 Repeats sounds or gestures for attention (10-12 mos.)
 Finger-feeds himself (8-12 mos.)
 Extends arm or leg to help when being dressed

Month 13 - 24

 walking (13-16 mos.)
 Carries large toy or several toys while walking (12-15 mos.)
 Begins to run stiffly (16-18 mos.)
 Walks into ball (18-24 mos.)
 Climbs onto and down from furniture unsupported (16-24 mos.)
 Walks up and down stairs holding on to support (18-24 mos.)

HAND AND FINGER SKILLS
 Scribbles spontaneously (14-16 mos.)
 Turns over container to pour out contents (12-18 mos.)
 Builds tower of four blocks or more (20-24 mos.)

LANGUAGE
 Points to object or picture when it’s named for them (18-24 mos.)
 Recognizes names of familiar people, objects, and body parts (18-24 mos.)
 Says several single words (15-18 mos.)
 Uses two-word sentences (18-24 mos.)
 Follows simple, one-step instructions (14-18 mos.)
 Repeats words overheard in conversations (16-18 mos.)

COGNITIVE
 Finds objects even when hidden under 2 or 3 covers
 Begins to sort shapes and colors (20-24 mos.)
 Begins make-believe play (20-24 mos.)

SOCIAL
 Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children (18-24 mos.)
 Increasingly enthusiastic about company or other children (20-24 mos.)
 Demonstrates increasing independence (18-24 mos.)
 Begins to show defiant behavior (18-24 mos.)
 Episodes of separation anxiety increase toward midyear, then fade

Looks like Janelle's development is at Month 8 to 12... and her weak point is on fingers skills (fine motor skill), observed and cognitive. Need to be more forcus here...

Evening walk at the SengKang Park

Took janelle to the park for a walk after long hours at my working desk while daddy went jogging.

Brought some bread there too to feed fishes and tortoises. Asked janelle to throw the bread into the pool for the fishes, she looked at it and put it into her mouth. Haaa













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Peace over?

hus called me 5 mins ago, telling me that mil is coming over to give training to the maid... i'm very angry.. she is coming and distrub my life again..and is my training not good enough that need mil to come? I questioned hus and he cant answer.. he is just another person creating more jobs for me.. Do you think i'm that free to entertain your mom.. Oh God.

Rice dumplings

After 30years, finally I learnt how to make rice dumplings from my mom..

Not bad hor..






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Just a feeling...

如果我说我一点都不自卑菁萱的condition，那是偏人的。

I have been trying my best to stay positive and accept Janelle. But at times I cant stop myself to have feeling like envy when see a child clever, angry when janelle cant do things as i told, dont know how to answer ppl when they ask me how old is janelle as their next sentence will be "wow, 2 yrs old still dont know how to walk and talk?".

I dont feel comfortable when someone keep looking at Janelle... dont ask me why...

Thank You!!!

Janelle received a handmade lovely card from her teachers and classmates. Because Janelle didnt go to school on monday (her birthday), i didnt prepare party bag for the children. In order to thanks them, on friday i bought kids biscults and made a thank you card for them.

When everything was prepared nicely, daddy going to bring her to school, while mummy stay home for a meeting. Our car breakdown again.. the battery dies off... this time round, hus called honda helpline and get the technician to come down and check. We paid $150 to change a new batt + mobile service. it just a $20+ different as compared that we change it at honda service as there there will be a labour fee and this save our trouble to go down to the service center. Meanwhile, hus took taxi to send Janelle to school.

I wonder if this Janelle is too pantang to celebrate her birthday... anything to do to her birthday with outsiders, there will be something happened.

Any way, I would like to take this opp to thank you all for the emails, facebook birthday wishes and gifts for Janelle. This is specially for you:

iphone4

Compass point Hello! shop called me and says iphone come in stock yesterday, and i can pick up today..

iphone4!!! Here I come....


Note to all who bought iphone4:

If you purchase an iPhone 4 before September 30, 2010, you are eligible to receive an iPhone 4 Bumper or a select third-party case from Apple at no charge.

check it out at http://www.apple.com/sg/iphone/case-program/

Working Parents....

Children nowadays really lack a parent-involved childhood. One whereby their parents are part of it. Sad yet so real. One day a teacher asked one of her kids, a bright and adorable 10 year old whats the best gift his daddy and mummy has given him.

Boy: Oh w...ell, Mrs Khoo, Do you mean things they bought or got other meanings?
Tr: What do you think?
Boy: Mum works very hard to give me a comfortable life. Because she earns money, I can concentrate on studying and not go to work when I am just 10 years old. Dad brings us for holidays every year. We went to LA last year and this year we are heading to Switzerland. Does that count as a gift?
Tr: Wow! You are a very fortunate boy.
Boy: But I will be very very happy if they can come pick me up from school and bring me to KFC for lunch one day. Only once in a while. They are very busy with work you know.

Parent's nightmare

I guess parent's nightmare is child having fever.

What to do during fever:

1. sponging is a must, to prevent overheated. No ice sponging as this will closed up the pores and not able to let the heat inside to come out, just running tap water will do. Janelle hates sponging, she will throw my towels away.. so i will tab water to her forehead instead.. this will also help to prevent overheated.

2. feed medicine every 4/6 hourly, no matter she is awake or asleep.. no matter day and night.. this will prevent the fever to come back again. especially in the night, where fever will usually come back.

my definition,:

• if the fever is around 38, i will sponge her only and only give medicine only if the fever remains at 38 and never subside.
• in btw 38 to 38.50.. sponging + medicine every 6 hrs
• above 38.50.. sponging + medicine every 4 hrs.. if never subside, i will give bufen
• 39 will go to hospital

3. Give lots of water

4. make sure she poo.

• i remembered last time when she had fever, it lasted for 4 days and these 4 days she never poo, once the bullet was given and she pooed alot.. the fever subside.
• So this time also, today is 2nd day.. i give oatmeal + juice this morning, and she managed to pooed alot too... and fever subsided

I had never introduced pillow to Janelle since she is born till now. But yesterday night, she looked for something high raise.. and fall asleep on the boaster which i used it to prevent her knocks on the wall. After reading some childcare book, then realised that because of her flu, she need to be slightly up-raised to feel more comfortable. Silly mummy then quickly look for her pillow which i bought 2 years ago, and let her sleep on pillow..

Not easy to take care of sick child... mummy and daddy took turn to wake up in the night to take Janelle temperature. Just to make sure that fever dont come back.. *Sleepy*

Janelle 2nd Birthday

I arranged with Janelle teacher to celebrate her 2nd birthday in school with her classmates. Planned to get party hats, toys and snacks to bring into school in the afternoon and let her have fun with her classmates and teachers. But who knows, Janelle was down with Fever, Flu and cough.

A Simple celebration, mummy got her fav cake to celebrated it with just daddy and mummy.. together with helper.

Guess what!!!

Guess what capture her attention for 30 mins and with this kind of And mummy had to distrub her every 5 to 10 min to relax her eyes






























It's Hi5.




Oh, I girl fall in love with watching TV. Never like to intro her to TV cos I afraid she will be like me glued to TV. When I'm working, maid introduced her to TV. and Hi5 is the program that can catch her attention for whole 30mins, sitting still on the chair or sofa.

Hmmm.. But happy, cos it's a milestone.

-- Post From My iPhone

A day of full time mom

Cleared all things that I have always want to do for Janelle but didn't managed to do it till now.

Tips for all mummies, how to prevent your child keep slipping down from chair? Is to put a non slip on the chair, so she will not will slip down from chair and can maintain a better posture.






I finally bought the play yards. Placed my order this morning, was delivered and setup this afternoon. When the delivery man delivered, my neighbour n her friend run over and say "you bought the play yards, this will be your best buy.. We never regret getting this.." both of are mummies ensuring me that it is a worth to buy item.

We get it clear up, setup n let Janelle to try. Personal I feel this is a good buy so far. :) at least when we are busy at work, we know that she is in a safe area, not worrying her touch this n that, climbing up n down. And noticed that this really giving her more opp to pratice standing up and crusing.























Today whole day had been accompany Janelle by her side.. Keeping her lips as dry n possible. Once I see her drooling, I will help her tab dry n remind her to close her lips.. After a day, yes noticed that there is a slight improvement. At times, when she feel wet, she will close her lips herself. Nice. This will need to be constant. Will try to remind her as much as I can.

Try to plump up janelle a bit more, as she weight gain wasn't good for the past 3 months, so I got her pediasure. It is recommended by a PD - one time a day. Personnally, I think my janelle is ok, so I gave her onli during breakfast time with meals that required milk eg cereal, cornflask, pancake etc. If that morning, she having bread don't need milk, then we will skip for that day.




-- Post From My iPhone

"The most important thing in illness is never to lose heart." -- Nikolai Lenin

Meet a new friends

This morning, at tuina's place, we meet this very pretty 11 years old girl who is the new patient of yishi for tuina. After a chat with her parents, realised that girl had seizure when she was 5 weeks old, and was recovered by 8 months old treated in KKH, slowly she stopped all seizure medicine by the time she reached the age of 2. No more seizure after that.. everything back to normal and she managed to score very well in her main stream school..

However, recently seizure came back.. and now she had problems with walking, she needs supports when standing and had lost her ability to talk.. *ouch..* it's very painful to see a high flyers fall. We exchange our experience with the parents... Her Daddy adviced us "Never Give Up when she is young, before everything is too late".

Understand from her daddy, they had tried many ways. from trail and error on different different drugs to special diet to treatments and tested from Australia, Japan.. But none works. Now he is trying on tuina. He is now sourcing from china.

We exchange of our contacts and will continue to stay in contacts and exchange our exprience.

God, please take away seizure from all kids.. they are just a children, they didnt nothing wrong.

She is not a baby anymore

Went to OT with Janelle yesterday.... And the OT had says something something which wake me up...

"SHE IS NOT A BABY ANYMORE... NO MORE HELP SHOULD BE PROVIDED.. ONLY BABY THAN WE GIVES HANDS TO HELP"










Yes, lesser help will be offer to her from now on.. she will need all kind of training to learn what she needs to learn..

I always hope that Janelle can walk on her own by 2.. so have been trying to do lots of things with within a short period of time.. the focus is not there... I'm going to change my strategy.. focus stay focus.. one at a time.. so now.. my focus is to improve her drooling.. and lots of mouth simulation I'm going to provide to her...

Tips provided by OT and SP
1. once see her drool, will need to tab dry and remind her to close her lips
2. give her some tasty drinks and let her feel her tongue and remind her to swallow
3. give her more opp to chew to train her mouth's mausle
4. Learning to use a straw for fluids can improve drooling.
5. reduce pacifier time

Buttercups/RCEIP Family Day

Today Janelle's School - Rainbow Centre - host a family day with Buttercups. All proceeds will go to the EIPIC fund for Rainbow Centre.

There are games, stores that sells toys, second hand clothing, books etc and stores setup for arts and crafts. All teachers included therapists from both schools contributed their commitment to the event. I think was nice, where children gathering around for some fun with families. I bought $10 worth of coupons for the family day. At first was thinking getting of coupons as a donation, but never though we can make it to the event. Together with Janelle, Hus and helper, we dropped by to have fun as Janelle refused to take her morning nap at my mother in law place. :)

3rd Session of Housewarming

After 6 months of settling in Punggol, i decided to invite my colleagues over to our place for a small gathering, upon requests. :)

Yesterday night was the night for warming the house by my colleagues and their families for a pizza hut's dinner. This is the first time our place had so many people. The house was filled with laughters and kids running and crying here and there but was great. And the best of all, Janelle enjoyed the crowded and accompany of the children. I heard Janelle laughters through out the night when they are here...

Would love to have gathering with kids but too bad, we dont have much friends are married and with kids. Only colleagues and long lost friends bah.

The night ended early as with kids around, by the time, we clean up Janelle and put her was only 930pm. Hus, maid and myself was too busy cleaning up and just leave Janelle with her pacific and knock off herself by the time i check on her. That was so sweet, she knew mummy was tired to pat her. Love you sweetie!!

Baby Signing

"Child Development experts Dr Linda Acredolo, Ph.D, and Dr Susan Goodwyn, Ph.D., discovered Baby Signs in 1982. After two decades of research, Acredolo and Goodwyn have found that babies whose parents introduce them to Baby Signs learn to talk to sooner, have fewer tantrums, get a jump start on their intellectual development, express emotions effectively, and develop stronger bonds with their parents."

Thinking to introduce baby signs to janelle. rather having her learning some made up "signing" by us, must well introduce correct and proper signing that will benefits for her which can last a lifttime. of cos, i dont expect her to learn how to form a sentence with signing, but some simple Baby Signs like "Bye Bye", "Eat", "more", "No More" , etc...

I believe this will be fun.. found a interesting blog that can picked up signing http://babystrology.blogspot.com/. check it up if you are interested.

Wii

Was accompanying Janelle for her physio therapy in school this week. And I spotted a new set of 42" TV and Wii at the corner of the room. Tr told me that wii can be a physio therapy equipment too. They uses wii for those tapping games, dancing games and uses balancing board to train their balance. Wah... I didn't know that Wii can serve this purpose too :)



I shall introducing Wii to Janelle soon....


-- Post From My iPhone

Review: Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Moisturizing Lotion

Read a few blogs recommending - Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Moisturizing Lotion - one of the top sellers in Japan. It's labelled as 1 sold every 4 seconds in Japan!:





The review on their blog was very good. So I grab it when i saw it at Watson 2 weeks ago.. Not too expensive, is at SG$22.90. I’ve been using the lotion for about 2 weeks, day and night. It takes a long time to get it fully absorbed though before putting on moisturizer cream. It does not work as miracle as the review on their blog for me.

“My skin feels nice and moisturized even without applying moisturizer”
“reduced fine lines”

However, It is quite a good product, very hydrating compared to other products I used. It does locked the moist better. I find it too rich for me to use twice a day which cause me having outbreaks. Now stopped for a couple of days and started again but only for night as my beautician recommend me to use refining products for the day to prevent outbreak/clone oil and use hydrating products in the night. It works better for me now.

Overall Rating: good product.. very hydrating. recommend to those who always in dry places ie aircon room.

oh shit... itchy hand and lost my previous background.. sob sob..

1 Aug 2010, Sunday

Mummy was helping my niece clearing her clothes, and she saw this dress and specially kept it for Janelle.

Isit she looks cute in this dress:)




Today took Janelle to chong pang and says hi to her aunt - my Sis in laws. When they saw me, the first word was "you pregnant?" pianz, so sad.. Am I that fat???

Yes, I think so too... My arms are getting stronger each days cos gave to carry my 10kg girl here and there each day... N my tummy.. Pianz hopeless.. Since started to work from home, walking had cut down soso much.. N moving into punggol is lesser the chance for me to climb stairs as we are at lift level.. Hmm.. I really need to do something. Slimming slimming slimming...





-- Post From My iPhone