Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day 2016

This is the first year that both kids are participating in celebrations in schools. And with different celebrations and games for different classes taking place at the same time, it was very challenging for parents - which class should we go??

Mothers' Day celebration, 6 May 2016

Since ZK had me when he was in playgroup, I figured I should go find ZY.

I found him trying to poop *.*

ZK saw me there - his class is on the same floor in the same building. And he was ok with me being with ZY though he asked me to go over later. So understanding!

ZY got hold of a mum's balloon wand

It was supposed to be dress-up day. Some parents dressed up with their kids in story characters. But I couldn't be bothered. In fact, this year, I let them wear uniform, oops..

So I was with ZY for a while until either the principal or a management staff suggested I take ZY to ZK's class. At least another parent was combining kids too. Idea! So we joined ZK for outdoor games. Or rather, just me. Coz while I was tied up with ZK literally - wobbling across the lawn with our legs tied together, ZY was roaming free.

But he participated in the next game of finding pictures that matched those on a piece of paper. In fact, he found more than ZK did!

Look, flower!

We submitted our finds

Source: Centre

Next was painting time! At first, ZY sat forlornly on my lap while ZK was getting excitedly over the stuff in front of him.

Why can't I paint too?

And then I found an extra brush! So they started painting together.

Somehow they started painting their hands *.*

After washing up, we went over to ZY's class for snacks and balloon sculpting by a fellow mum.

Stuffing his mouth!

My sword! *fighting sounds*

I checked in on ZK - happily eating and not even noticing me!

Back to find ZY trying to take over some kid's balloon

When it was time to go, ZK simply told me to go fetch him later though ZY was a little sad... My boys :)

And now, presents time!

From ZY - the hands were drawn because he was trying to make handprints while making this, said his teacher

From ZK - obviously he had lots of help!

And this was a surprise that came through the mail - from ZY

Fathers' Day celebration, 17 Jun 2016

Sito was supposed to go find ZY but it seemed that they had a combined celebration.

My three lovely boys!

Source: Centre

Then they ended up in ZY's class

Papa left ZK's present at the centre...

Source: Centre

It didn't come back in his bag... yet?

But this did - a frame they did on the spot

And the present from ZY - full of confetti strips inside!

And on Fathers' Day itself, the boys greeted Sito loud and clear - Happy Fathers' Day! - kind of early in the morning hoho!!

Lovely weekend with the kids

Well, there were tantrums but these are kids so ya, as lovely as can be!

Duckie went out with us on the bus too

We arrived at Suntec and wanted to cross over to Marina Square but went one level more and ended up at some robot kitty exhibition. We couldn't understand the exhibition *.* And there were lots of people trying to give us free gifts - in exchange for some trial cleaning service at home. Thanks but no thanks.

Then off we went to Marina Square!

ZY was so happy when he saw this!

The steps were behind a barrier but the kids went in anyway!

At some bus track with some buses...

ZK with Tayo!

Couldn't get a tyre? Get a cone!

Oh yeah, I found a tyre!

ZY wouldn't share with ZK but later, ZK also found a tyre. They were like 小霸王 at the bus tracks, refusing to let other kids touch their tyres :p

Papa and ZY sitting in Tayo!

That was supposed to be four of us but this ZK threw a tantrum and refused to go in. When I asked him later, he said that I took too many photos *.* One was enough *.* I think my four-year-old can be quite moody *.*

We had a wonderfully peaceful ramen dinner - they had their own free bowls almost all on their own!

We spent just under the $50 required to exchange for play passes but a nice lady gave us lots of play passes as we got near to the Angry Birds stage! So nice of her to redeem them and give them away :) Last week, we benefitted from another such kid act at Star Vista as well - there ARE nice people around! :)

Unfortunately, the bouncy castle was full for the day. That was disappointing but the kids had some fun at other play stations. Some la, coz they had no strength to play on their own...

Big hammer for ZY!

Big glove for ZK!

But he barely hit the thing hoho! I was no better too - I went perhaps three times as much as ZK in my first hit, which really wasn't much!

Slightly more success with the hammer! But he caught his right middle finger as he landed - lightly, fortunately.

After the meet-and-greet, ZY had a go at the big glove too with Papa's help

We sat down to wait for the Angry Birds to show up - my legs went numb in the 20 min or so, and my mind went numb from answering his endless questions on when it was happening *.* But we did have some fun monkeying around!

Hello! ... Wooooo! .... *obliterated Mama's face*

While ZK and I were sitting down, Sito and ZY were roaming the area, playing the games again... This ZY could not sit still *.*

When the Angry Birds finally came out, we were surprised to find that they got those with the meet-and-greet pass to go queue up after the introduction. Turned out that it was only a meet-and-greet, no song and dance. Ah well.

The kids were happy to touch the birds - so squishy!

Coz ZK was tired too....

Before we left, we passed the remaining play passes to another family - good to pass it on like how others had passed to us.

ZY looked really tired by then. Rolling the heavy tyres must be rough! But we managed to make it before they fell asleep, phew! All in, it was a successful big outing that we hadn't had for a long time :)

And today, the plans were to have the kids make pizza for lunch. I cut the stuff in the morning and prepared the dough. When they fussed, I let them help me cut the honey baked ham. But they ended up tearing it in the end - not easy to cut.

ZK concentrating very hard... A rare sight!

The two seconds that he got the cut side down.

The recipe yielded eight small rounds - will post on mf eats later. Sito took some photos and/or videos of them making their own pizza - I'll have a look later tonight... But here are the outcomes!

ZY attempting to cut his pizza

He only had perhaps one slice before a meltdown when we refused to let him use the knife as a fork *.*

ZK almost finished his pizza - he dropped one slice at the end

So I had ZY's leftovers plus two more rounds while Sito had three - all with the vege that the kids didn't use much of. I saved one with chopped toppings - including the vege! - in case the kids were hungry later. And indeed, ZY was hungry when he woke!

He almost finished the entire pizza!

The pizzas were all yummy - even those with the broccoli :) - but it was quite a lot of work even with N helping to clean up. Think I might just go for frozen base the next time... Or make one huge sheet and bake a giant pizza.

Now we're waiting for Sito and ZK to come home with dinner. ZY is running around and sometimes sitting on my lap. I'm obviously still typing away. Nice weekend indeed :)

Update 13 Jun 2016

And our lovely weekend ended with a fist-sized lump of baby poo poo on the toilet floor *.*

Courtesy of ZY, who really needs to be taught some potty manners!

Midpoint update on the little monkey

We passed the halfway point, yay! Been so busy that I didn't even notice... Oops, poor monkey!

Sunday, 17 Apr 2016 - 13w2d

So one week after the red spotting incident, all that spotting business seemed to drop to nothing quite suddenly. Morning sickness also seemed to be going away - I hadn't puked for a while by now though I was still pooling saliva in the evenings and feeling bad.

Friday, 22 Apr 2016 - 14w

Felt the first pelvic ache. The one that hurts when I lift a leg. Isn't that a bit early??

Thursday, 28 Apr 2016 - 14w6d

Felt super mang zang in the middle of the night. I felt so with ZK and ZY too but earlier in the first trimester. Took out my peace and calming essential oil blend to help me sleep...

So tired from all the panting and hard beating of my poor overworked heart.

Tuesday, 3 May 2016 - 15w4d

I gained a kilo so far. Seemed like a slower weight gain than with ZK or ZY. Perhaps coz I started from a much higher base this time *.*

Anyway, monkey was so active on the scan! And he's also not shy - double-confirmed gender with his boy parts spotted!

Definitely feeling better though I still couldn't take shampoo smell!

Thursday, 5 May 2016 - 15w6d

ZK said he loves baby :) A few days later, ZY could also remember what's in my belly after sleeping on it - baby! :)

Monday, 9 May 2016 - 16w3d

Today marked a turning point - I finally felt good enough to prettify my face! Hello serum! Hello moisturiser! Hello concealer, oh concealer! Hello blusher! Hello powder! Hello eyeliner!

Sunday, 15 May 2016 - 17w2d

It was the most amazing thing because it felt so real. At 4 am-ish, I felt a small foot pushing on my belly from inside! As in, I could feel the footprint with my hand! And I thought it was a left foot... I even picked up my phone to record in my baby log!

When I woke barely two hours later, I realised, nah, that couldn't be real *.*

Wednesday, 18 May 2016 - 17w5d

But I wasn't dreaming now - I really felt monkey move at work and in bed! :)

By the next day, I was starting to recognise early kicks and punches - they are like quick taps on the pelvic floor!

Saturday, 28 May 2016 - 19w1d

And I felt monkey move when I put my hand on the right spot! This one very strong... I so want to remember foetal movements - from the early taps on the pelvic floors to little knocks on my belly to the later big and strong kicks. Ah... The thing about the last baby!

Tuesday, 7 Jun 2016 - 20w4d

I gained 2 kg in the past five weeks, oops.

Coz of ZY's fever, I brought him to the clinic with me. I didn't let him see baby though - apart from the doc, Papa should have first right :)

I did my glucose test, followed by a 50-min scan of just about every part of monkey. I felt him move the moment I lied down. So active!! Could see his curve and arch and curve and arch - the spine was very clear. He has cute moving digits too :) But he was cooperative enough, though I had to turn to my side once so that the sonographer could get a good angle.

ZY went to the playground by the time I was done. He was having fun with kiddy rides! So I went for my usual appointment first and saw monkey in 3D for the first time!

Still early but I thought he looks a bit different from his brothers

The doc said that today would be the last time he could get the whole baby in the screen - baby's growing! :)

Went downstairs for cash and headed back to the playground to find that he was just sitting in the stroller so we went up to the clinic again to wait for the end of the glucose test - second pee and second tube of blood. And then, food!

Today

The doc called me yesterday to say that I had no gestational diabetes - and I proceeded to have three bah zangs :p Today, he called again to say the scans were fine though they flagged out the distance of the placenta from the cervix - 4.5 cm when more than 5 cm is ideal. But he assured me that it was absolutely fine - 4.5 cm is far enough and the placenta will only grow further away.

So glad that all is well! Now I just have to watch myself turn into a whale :)

Just now while sitting here with ZK, I felt something strange - reminded me of Braxton Hicks! So fast?! Shall monitor and see how...

ZY's second febrile fit

I have been telecommuting most days as (1) Mum is on holiday so I have to fetch the kids myself; (2) Sito happens to be on reservist during the same two weeks; and (3) current temporary office isn't the most conducive.

But today, I had to go to HQ after going through some weekend emails this morning. And less than an hour into the discussion, I got a call from ZK's teacher. I wondered if ZK had a fall or something but it turned out the ZY had a seizure!

Got more details on the cab to school. He had stopped fitting but was lethargic. The fits lasted perhaps two minutes. At first I thought it was ok cos it was a short fit as described by the doc the last time and we had the medicine at home. But I realised he wasn't having a fever so I called 995 to ask and they despatched an ambulance to school. So worried he's developing epilepsy or something...

Then I called Sito to tell him. And then I called N to check if she thought he was feverish in the morning - no - and to ask her about her watch. Coz this morning I happened to be with ZK and saw her check her watch for the time - the light flashed lightning blue for a few times. At breakfast, I was just telling her not to do that again in case it should cause a fit. And gosh! So I found out that it was a new watch with a different light; the last one was warm blue light. Told her she could never use that again.

I got there just as they set up the stretcher. Saw the most pitiful sight of my baby - I found him lying in recovery position on a mattress, covered by his dry towel. I was very shocked to find him shivering! I didn't recall Mum saying he shivered the last time!

I followed the paramedic's instructions to carry him up to the stretcher and off we went to NUH. The poor boy felt warm and tested more than 39 deg. He had a fever!! Instant relief... The paramedic also sponged him and gave him some additional oxygen. But his hands were cold and he was still shivering. I was lying down on the stretcher awkwardly but eventually managed to hold his hands. Then he stopped shivering as much. But he was moaning so pitifully with his eyes closed :(

By the time we got inside, he had stopped shivering and was more awake. He was able to respond to my "are you better?" with his usual "ya". As he turned his attention to the TV, I called the school for more details for the doctor and spoke with the teacher who was there when it happened.

So ZY was fine in the morning, usual lessons and outdoor time. No fever. He was playing some toys at the table when his eyes closed. She thought he was tired as he tended to close his eyes when tired, but then the fits started - eyes rolling back and fists clenching. It took one to two minutes to stop. She caught him so he didn't fall but another teacher had to help call me.

While waiting for the doc, ZY charmed the nurses with his cute pose while watching TV

They put a pee bag on him and a suppository for the fever shortly after that. And the doctor didn't manage to listen to his lungs coz he started crying and wanted to "go there". He simply refused to let me sit. So I carried him for a while. So tiring but my baby so poor thing... We saw a few babies and watched them cry etc *.* before eventually finding a comfortable position where he let me sit while he watched babies.

Then he fell asleep.

A kind nurse brought him some bread and porridge when I asked earlier whether there was a stroller so that I could take him out to buy food. But now, no lunch until he woke. He slept for over two hours, during which I had lunch and did some work. He also stirred but did not wake at all the loud stretcher sounds as they brought kids in and out.

ZY finally woke when I was checking his pee bag. The thing had come off! Lots of pee on the diaper, little pee in the bag. But it did the trick and he was clear of bacteria infection. So we got to go home after his late lunch of bread with butter and jam, which he helped to spread.

Bear bear eat, Yang Yang eat

The nurse who checked us out helped me to look after him while I got the medicine - so nice! And then we went to get a cab but I wandered off in the wrong direction but the helpful staff outside the foodcourt helped me get a cab from there anyway. And ZY was very kind to Mama too - he stood around barefooted while waiting for the cab.

Showered him when we got home and sat down to play toys. Sito got back shortly and we went through the details. It's one thing to guard against febrile fits when he's having a fever, and quite another when the fever is not detected until the fit happens!! Now that we know that he is prone to fits, better be more careful...

Seven

So we turned seven :)

Sito is on reservist but it was a more relaxing day than the previous so we went out for a simple steamboat buffet dinner.

Do we look stuffed?

And it was apt that this morning, work brought me back to ROM, where we exchanged our vows. I was observing a marriage preparation class and was reminded of Sito's love language. We discussed this over dinner - both of us had only vague memories of that but we were pretty accurate with our top two:

Sito: Words of affirmation and quality time (tie)
mf: Quality time and touch (tie)

(Oh yes, I still have our scores from our marriage preparation class!)