Missing in Action

Have been missing in action because I have been feeling more tired and probably busier with all the shifting around. Since Dec, we started to bring one of the boys home every night, just to get the hang of it and so we can be more prepared when I start working next year! I am not sure mentally I am ready because I foresee myself worrying things at home. Will my folks be able to manage the boys? From my observation, seems like my mama has to be the one doing the more solid tasks like bathing, cleaning up after poo, putting baby to sleep in sarong, preparing food for the kids and family... really a lot to do. Wonder will my papa be able to step up and do more?

Anyway, last weekend was really a spoilt one, with me and Evans down with fever. Very frustrated with my papa on some level. I thought we caught it from him after he cut short his BKK holiday cos of his worsening flu. And he refused to wear face mask. Ended up I caught the flu then Evans followed up with a fever, then the fever found me. It got as high as 39.1 and I couldn't even eat the fever medicine. Could only towel myself and drink lots of water but I was too drowsy to go fetch myself water. Only relied on the cups which hubby brought to me. Earlier had planned to revisit Saltwater Cafe on Sat and we had to cancel it. Thankfully my mom came and helped us fill in since I was down. Spent most Saturday on the bed. She came at 4 plus and stayed till the end of the day. These few days she has done a lot.... doing things which I used to be doing like feeding and bathing baby. Hubby also stepped up and finally regained the rapport with baby and he could feed him again!!!! Plus point of being sick when help is available. I am also concerned for my mama's health. Didn't want her to overwork but I must recover fast!! If only my nose could stop running and I could have better sleep!

Now I wouldn't say Evans is fully well but at least he is not that drowsy and grouchy kid. Eden got a little coughing going on and it comes with the phlegm! I am quite scared so pumping my best so that he has enough liquid gold with the antibodies to fight against the bugs!

Turning 5 months

Eden turned 5 months last Saturday 5 Nov, coincided with my company's family day. A little disappointed that I could not bring Eden along because he was still coughing very badly and his nasal congestion was making him fussy at times. It was a strong bug that bothered him for more than 2 weeks. Even now he still coughs on and off with some phlegm lingering inside. Now I kinda caught the bug with a runny nose.

At 5 months, Eden was much more playful and expressive. He "tells" people where to go by kicking towards a certain direction when we carry him. It looks like he is swimming towards the place. Very funny. He really likes to go into my parents ' room where Evans sleeps every night. He also expresses great interest when we approach the main door. Every child loves to go out and play!

Another new thing is he tends to mimic us eating by moving his mouth and tongue. He is definitely observing more and learning how to eat. Sigh he sure learnt to eat some medicines for past weeks. Even now he is still on Zyrtec for nasal decongestant. I broke the record of bringing him to the PD like 3 times within a month because of his cough. But in my last visit, dr wasn't keen to give any more new medication because he was too young. I understood and at least got a peace of mind, knowing that now we just let the body recover on its own.

Hopefully he can be clear of the flu bug before we head off to HK sothat my parents can have an easier time taking care of him while I am not around. Of course I also hope hubby can also recover soon. And me, just hang in there. Curb the runny nose and cough.... let me enjoy my well deserved holiday.... pleeeaaasseee!!!!!!

Anyway sharing some shots of Eden and of my Family Day.

Coughing and Sleepless Nights

At 4am Eden started coughing. It almost seemed like he couldn't stop the coughing. Think his little body was trying to purge the phlegm or mucus or whatever but he just couldn't. I felt really helpless as all I could do was to pat his back and apply vapour rub. I carried him so as to make him feel better. When he was lying down, he seemed to be choking on his thick phlegm.

I patted him a lot, carried him back and forth the kitchen in case he puked. I was hoping he would tire out soon so that I could start pumping milk. Felt a little full and bloated.

Ultimately mama came to the rescue. She offered to look after Eden while I pumped. She tried to pat him to sleep but Eden was still feeling congested with the mucus so she carried and rocked him. Finally he did fall back to sleep. It was 5plus am already.

Eden woken up at 9plus am for his 1st milk. Could see he was exhausted. Usually he would drink at 7plus am.

Since the coughing started a week ago, we did not have satisfactory sleeps. I am yearning for a better sleep for baby, and of course me. If he is well, I will be well.

Continue wishing for speedy recovery Eden! Xxxooooxoxoxoooxxx

Terrible Cough

Last night was a terrible episode. After the last feed, I put Eden in the sarong to sleep . He was already asleep but a nasty cough woke him and caused him to puke all the milk. It was projectile vomiting and I was so worried. He was coughing non-stop. He was stained with his vomit and the sarong and beansprout pillow were not spared too. I had to shout for help literally because all were in the rooms, sleeping. Luckily my mom heard my plea and she quickly helped to clear up the mess. Frankly I was a bit helpless, didn't know where to start rescuing the situation.

Eden was probably ignorant of what had happened as he quietly sat on my lap. He could still smile when my mama talked to him. In my head I couldn't stop worrying.

I tried patting him to sleep on the bed. Not easy and I was losing my patience. Surrendered coaxing him and left him on the bed to watch him soothe himself. I know he is unwell. I should be understanding. I guess I am just tired.

As I have expected, the night wasn't easy as Eden kept tossing and making noises. He was probably feeling choked with the phlegm and all, so kept trying to find a comfy position to sleep. So I helped to switch him from facing left and right side. It helped for awhile but the process just continued. Really feel bad seeing a 4 month old like that. So scared to hear him cough...

This morning after first feed, he coughed out a huge lump of what seemed to be phlegm. And I truly hope it was. At least get some of the nastiness out.

Now he is still sleeping in the new sarong... later will need to start his antibiotics.

Down with Exhaustion

What a week it has been. Starting from Evans having stomach flu, it hasn't been too rosy. 2 nights of vomiting which dirtied his mattress sheet, bolster, blanket, etc, and mama got hit by the virus after day 2 of his vomiting, last Friday was bad for me.

I thought Evans should be ok as he still seemed active but as the night came, he would start to look tired even though he did nap in the afternoon.

My heart went down when my mama came into the room at 1.15am Thursday to look for spare clothes for Evans, saying he just puked. I rushed out to see the poor boy standing in the kitchen in vomit-stained pjs, and my papa cleaning up the mess and changing out the sheet in their bedroom. I must say my parents were very systematic and did whatever to settle for the rest of the night pretty quickly. Ended up Evans slept between my parents but ultimately I saw my papa sleeping on the playmat next to the bed. Thankfully for them, Evans could go back to sleep very soon.

My heart sank when the same thing happened the next 1 plus am but this time my parents did not wake me. I found out when I came out to prepare for my pump, seeing my papa sleeping on the sofa and Evans on the bed with mama. Felt sad and concerned.

Friday morning mama caught the virus and saw doctor. She was down with the stomach flu. She was in bed the whole time so I tried to do my best to fill in but the cooking and the laundry had to be left aside. I tried to settle the 2 kiddos but the lil one wasn't quite cooperative so I didn't accomplish much. I had to ask my bro, papa and hubby to try be back earlier so that I could take a breather, at least to bathe. Sigh, felt very bad to see my mama like this. Guess what in the end I felt shivery after bath and realised I had a slight fever. Not the stomach flu but more of exhaustion and having to perspire so much without a chance to shower earlier. Might have caught a cold.

Let my papa and hubby manage the baby most times from Friday night through the weekend. I needed the rest so that I can continue to manage this coming week!

Thankfully I am much better now but am back to my-life-revolves-around-the-baby.

Another Missed Excursion

A replay of the episode when Evans has to miss a school outing cos he was not feeling well. Last time he had to miss the Changi Beach excursion due to diarrhoea,  today he has to miss the excursion to Tampines Giant due to stomach flu, similar to the last episode.

He was disappointed and so am I!  I know he has been looking forward to this day. Yesterday after school he complained about stomachache and then he couldn't eat lunch. He threw up his school's meal instead. I was thinking "oh not again.... he is going to miss the outing?!" Mama suspected he couldn't take the cabbage and carrot porridge, especially when it was rainy. Not too sure. He had a nap yesterday and woke up pretty well. Even though we didn't give him any dairy, he still complained about tummy pain on and off. My heart dropped when he vomitted at 1plus am today. His puke was on everywhere.... mattress, PJ, blanket... My parents got to spend some time cleaning up after him. But I think they are pretty organised and systematic. Cleared the mess quite fast. So ended up Evans slept with them on the bed. This time I was thinking there is a chance that he will miss the Giant trip. *sad*

At 720am Evans woke up smiley and expressed he was good to go Giant! I really hate to spoil it so I was also a lil hopeful that he was ok to go, though my mama was not comfortable. Frankly I didn't want him to miss this not cos we paid  $10 for this but more of the trip will cover topics on fruitsand vegetables, with money concept. It would be interesting for Evans! 

Mama said Evans was a lil warm, suspecting of a fever. But our thermometer measured normal. We were on the fence.... part of us wanted him to go enjoy, part of us wasn't comfortable as he might feel worse after the trip. In the end my mama still brought him to school after much begging. BUT he was sent back home because they spotted fever. No doubt Evans was very sad with tears. I appeased him that I would bring him to Giant during school holiday and we will learn about the fruits and vegetables with money concept!!! But I know he is still very disappointed.

Brought him to our usual PD and found that he has colic and stomach flu (again). So no dairy and light meals only. Poor boy boy got to eat some medicines for vomiting and stomachache. And we always have to feed with care as now it is not so easy to feed him if the medicine tastes yucky. He tends to puke. We don't want that!!!!! So standby the giam sng dee....

SIGH and it is contagious so can't be near Eden..... get well soon ah, Evans!!!!!!!!

HFMD, Finally

What?!!! Evans has HFMD?! I was utterly shocked and disappointed to hear this news from my mom on 10 Aug after she brought him to our GP.

Started off with a mild fever that subsided within a day, I thought it was nothing serious. It was just after his school's national day celebration at Tampines Changkat CC, I thought he looked unwell in the late afternoon. Then he complained of sore throat too, refusing to drink his milk. HFMD never came to my mind. I thought he just had a relapse of his previous flu/cough.

Why I felt disappointed because bro and I had planned to bring him out since it was his post national day holiday. Bro took time off but in the end, what a waste! And friends advised that I should quarantine myself and the baby from Evans. It was rather sad that I had to keep a distance away from Evans. I also forbade him to enter our room where didi usually sleeps. For a 5 year old, I must say Evans has been quite sensible. He does keep away from our room but he still can't help but to play around us, especially my brother. Once my bro is home, he will follow him like a leech, then sit with/on him. This is how much Evans likes him.

Other than the 2 blisters on his elbow and 1 blister on his buttock, the ulcers in the throat seem to have gone away as he could eat better. I wish he can recover soon because I haven't been able to give him a proper hug and kiss. I just felt bad to always remind him to stay away from didi. Hope he doesn't feel unloved but I really wanna minimise the probability of anyone else getting this HFMD.

Other than 10 aug morning, I think Evans regained his energy pretty fast. He is still active and chatty at home. Today is his Day 2 MC. Seems like a perfectly healthy boy too but blisters are still there. So looks like this lil boy needs to stay indoors for a few more days.

Fluimucil A and TCM Cordyceps Capsules

Sally and Ed shared with me from their experiences, this medicine has been very effective in curing cough. I did ask my GP earlier but he told me this medicine could help suppress the cough temporarily, not a total cure. Anyway, he told me no harm getting it from the pharmacy so I guess the clinic does not carry it.

 

I did not buy it anyway cos' I thought the 2nd batch of medicine should work. I also don't know if I am actually better than before. One thing for sure the cough is still there!!! At times, I can almost cough my lungs out.

 

Sally kindly brought me 2 tablets to let me try it. I am supposed to put one tablet in a cup of water and let it effervesce. Both of them told me it tasted good... ...

 

 

... ... taste GOOD?!?!?! I beg to differ. Or maybe because I did not make the drink cold. BUT it was not close to yummy at all. Tastes like some mild chemical but definitely not yummy sweet, which they claimed.

 

Nevermind, so long it works... we shall see...

 

Also, mama helped me buy this Chinese capsules, supposedly will help to relieve the cough. So I am really doing all I can to get rid of this nasty cough...

Seeing Doctor AGAIN

As I said in my earlier post, this cough of mine is really persistent. I really want to cure this once and for all. So I went to see my GP again. This time, he gave me a totally different combination of medications. Nasal Spray, Anti-biotics, Flu Medicines

But what about the cough???? Doctor Tan explained to me my problem wasn't the cough per se. It was more of the airway and air pockets being blocked with the mucus. These mucus is formed because of my allergy towards the weather change. Behind our faces, there are many air pockets, so these air pockets are blocked by the mucus. Then the mucus starts to flow into the throat, tickling it and causes the coughing. So, he thinks that the cough medicine would not help to cure, but rather temporarily suppressed it.

Point taken. And I need to eat these medicines for 10 days!!!!!!! That means even when I am at Phuket, I need to eat them too! :( I am starting to wonder, can I even avoid cold drinks totally when I am there... cos it's really gonna be sooooooooooooo hot!

2nd course of medication, hope it works!!!

Boiled Coke with Ginger and Lemon

I was bothered by this very persistent cough for weeks. Started with what seemed very mild dry cough, it got worse with lots of phlegm. The night before was really bad that I had to go out of the room for 4 times in the middle of the night just to cough it all out. Applied Vicks at the nose and next minute, my nose was filled with thick mucus.

I recalled an old recipe which supposedly can 'cure' cough. So I tried it last night:

Boiled Coke with Ginger & Lemon

Ingredients

1 can of coke
1 inch of ginger
half a lemon

1. Pour the coke into the pan
2. Slice the ginger and lemon
3. Put the ginger and lemon in the coke
4. Boil for 10 min
5. Drink it while it's hot

Verdict? It tastes ok more like very hot lemon water with a hint of ginger flavour. I think I cannot really taste the coke anymore. This drink is definitely better than any cough mixture. So I drank the full big cup. Guess what, I think it kind of work because I did not cough at all last night!!! But the cough came back once I woke up this morning.

Well at least, I think this works to some extent! Highly recommended and I am sure to do this again if need be.

My favourite drink

Boil... magic potion

while waiting for the concoction to be ready... our fridge needs to be 'updated'

DRINK IT UP!

Flared Up!

For the 1st time, I really blew my top at Evans just now when I was trying to clothe him after his shower.

I really scolded him very sternly and gave him 2 tight slaps at the thighs. Ok, not really violent but I was really losing my temper in the room. I knew I was very frustrated... perspiring, unwell (kept coughing away). Yet this little boy was getting on my nerves!!! He chose to be naughty at a very wrong time that 'earned' him 2 slaps on the thighs. I wanted him to lay down, he insisted to sit up. I wanted him to sit up, he kept lying down!  I wanted him to wear his PJ, he wanted to run away. Smiling away cheekily... arghhh losing my patience.

Let him out of the room then I closed the door to chill. And he cried outside. Actually I felt really bad shortly after that. I shouldn't have scolded him like that. It was just because I was feeling very unwell... ... Sigh.

I went out and carried him.... tried to talk some sense to him, saying he was behaving badly and that I didn't like it. I don't know if he understands.

I felt very bad when I saw that his thighs were red. :(

Officially Sick

Have been on top of health for a long time, at least I cannot remember when was the last time I took MC! But this time, the cough got me and I think I better see a doc before it gets worse. Do not want to spread it to the family.

Consulted my GP, Doc Tan whom I think is good cos' he always gives detailed diagnosis which makes me understand about my problem.

He gave me 3 medicines. I really had a better sleep last night after the cough mixture. I was knocked out totally.

My medicine, my saviour, I hope!

One for cough, one for allergy and one for itchy throat. Looking at my past records, he commented I seem to get sore throat --> cough easily. So he said probably I am allergic to dust and the weather change as well. He advised that I should have full proper rest for 5 days, so no sports for me.

A Very Bad Cough

Have caught this very bad cough last week. It got worse during the night and I tried to contain the coughing by coughing into the pillow so that Evans would not be awakened by the noise. I wonder why cough gets worse during the night. :(

Received some kind advice and possible remedies from my friends and I only tried the Vicks method, i.e. to apply generous amount at the soles then wear the socks during sleep. It was said to ease night coughing. I think it sort of works since I did not wake up coughing very badly last night.

Also, I have been diligently drinking the cough mixture from the brand "Sea-Coconut", which hubby bought for me. It has a nice cooling effect after 4 teaspoons. But I think it doesn't really cure right away. So I want to follow the instructions very closely, i.e. to drink it every 3 hours with hot water. I really hope to get well soon, cos I do not want others (esp Evans) to catch it. And I also want to eat all my favourite stuff like ice cream!