Friday, May 26, 2006
Earlier today, I told my husband I felt weird as I was not at all excited or hyper-ventilating over the impending Great Singapore Sale which starts today. Was it a good sign? or (horror! horror!) have I gotten over the got-sale-must-go-must-buy phase? I left it at that. In the afternoon, he got a phonecall from Motorola service centre informing him that the spare parts for his phone are available and he could bring down his phone to the service outlet. The service centre was at Plaza Singapura and my moodless-being was immediately being bolted. Was it a sign?? So we dutifully went down to PS and knowing service centres, there was no way the it was going to take us just 15 minutes. He had to take a q number and wait for an odd 1 to 2 hrs to be serviced. And of course it would be just enough for me to shop-hop and look-look see-see(which is obviously a bad idea when sales are all around).Went to Dorothy Perkins and lo & behold, do I see the tan-chocolate bag that I was eyeing for the longest time ON SALE?? So how? I do not think I have much of a choice as with my DBS card I got an additional 15% off on top of the already discounted rate. I got that bag for a mere $28 from its original price of $69.(yey!!) On top of that also got myself a red Nike Air-Presto sneakers at just $46 (UP $156) paid lovingly by my husband.:)So happens that the last pair was in my size. To top everything off, I added an off-white embroidered top at $18 (UP $46)to the sales collection. Now is that a Great start to the Great Singapore Sale or what?? I get to shop, I get to buy, I don't have to pay much,(some sponsored :)and I get to be driven home after that. Now all that's left is some much needed leg-pampering with my i-squeeze.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
I've heard about ugly Singaporeans, seen the odd mild cases, heard the not-so severe cases, but nothing really prepares me with I had experienced yesterday. I tell you, Singaporeans parents + free kid's show = disaster waiting to happen.So we went to IMM to catch a glimpse of the oh-so-famous Hi-5 gang making a free appearance to promote their concert this weekend. We were all raring to go, arrived at about 3, which I thought was waaaay before the program starts at 4 to get a decent place to view. But nooo...lo & behold, when we arrived, there were already what looked like thousands of kids & parent & grandparents & maids all hoping to see Nathan, Tim, Kelli & Charli. Even before the show starts, I sense trouble brewing. What was meant to be a show for kids became a frenzy madness of shoving & scurrying with adults taking up the space meant for kids. I do not understand why would a 3-mth old baby would even remember hi-5 waving when he goes back home. I also do not understand why mothers would let their kids endure hours-long sauna sessions of waiting and constant shussing of the kids wailing, threatening to leave screaming on top of their voices for a mere 15 min appearance. Yes, that was all there was. A BRIEF APPEARANCE & photograph sessions for the lucky few. I see toddlers drenched in sweat in their designer sweaters. Parents who actually screamed at other parents for trying to squeeze through the crowd so their kids could get the much a coveted view seat. Its terrible. I've seen other free kids shows like the Barney show & the Bob the Builder show at United square, but this is so far the worst. So from now on, since my husband would rather pay than put through his kids to such torture, we will go to proper shows with proper venues.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
And after researching & working for 2 nights after work, I finally managed to change my blogskin. The programming-impaired person that I am, I took quite a bit of time figuring out about the structure & layout. I think this really confirms that I am NOT programmer material. I'll just stick to what I think I do best- taking care of how things LOOK.Its been 2 weeks since my husband fell ill. I feel so helpless as there is nothing much I can do to meke him feel better. And the klutz that I am, every little thing that I do seem to trigger his asthma -my powder, my face cream, my bag, my haircream. I am so worried about taking anything out for fear of worsening his condition. Apart from worrying about himself, now we are also anxious about our posse who's due anytime. Any ring from his HP will send us in spasm especially if its a private number. He's hoping that the 'pop' will happen before June 10. He's all psyched up for the World Cup. sakit-sakit pun semangat berkobar-kobar.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
One of the fun part of having a little girl is that you get to play dress-up. You can put them up in frills or lace or sari and they won't complain. 
All of my life I love to play & style people's hair. I used to braid & plait my cousin's,friend's & auntie's hair into a ponytail, chignon or my famous "scorpion plait". Now with Amira I get to do little experiments with different hairstyles and thank god so far she hasn't once complained although occasionally she winces with remarks of "Umi,sakit..sakit" so that's my cue to go easy on the hairstyling. Although now I have to wait a little longer to 'experiment' full-swing with different hairstyles as Amira, unlike Amirul & I, do not have as much hair as yet. Though obvious ringlets are showing, there are parts of her hair at the back which I believe looks like it is not growing at all - so strange, but I still have fun all the same.
Friday, May 19, 2006
The common comment I get from people for as long as I can remember was "Eh, u look tall from far, but actually u r not that tall,leh." I am happy with my height. Not waay too tall at 1.66m, and not too short too.(thanks to my genes I think). Another comment I get in school days was " waaah..u so skinny lah". So back then, I was very conscious about my weight. I felt I was too thin. So I worked in the gym (past tense mind you, used to, not now though) to pump up my small thighs so it would'nt look like chicken legs. Although generally happy with my built I also wished that I could at least gain a wee bit more weight - never mind the rage about skinny models or how the anorexic-look is in. I would love to be more fleshy. People say be careful what you wish for or it might just come true.Then I got married, then I give birth. The first week after birth was something I was totally not prepared for. I actually looked 'fleshy'. I liked it for a while but I was totally not expecting to jump from a size S to L. Inexperienced that I was, I did not know that you can gain THAT MUCH weight after giving birth.Then I thought - oh no, what if I stayed this way. As I had a c-section, I can't get the masseuse to massage and bind my tummy area. Then I thought, what the heck, I gave birth to a beautiful boy, my husband is not complaining, so I don't think much about it after that. I went back to work after 2 mths and miraculously the fleshy bits all around started to shed off - maybe its the work-stress, or it could still be my miracle metabolic rate at work again. I got back into my old clothes in less than 2 mths but my tummy was not as taut as it used to be. Many have commented on how lucky I am to be able to maintain my single-days size after 2 kids. But trust me after 2 kids, there are bound to be parts of your body that have seen better days - like stretch marks on your tummy.
So my dear husband, although still never complaining, got me a U-zap. I think he just wanted to make me happy after I told him how I wished I could get the 'zap-zap' thingy. My days of daily sit-ups and aerobics and yoga are long gone. So now I'll just be contented with my zap-zap workout-although hard to see if its got any affects just yet. I'll keep you posted...
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Last weekend, as all other Mother's Day, we had our 'Annual Mother's Day Dinner' at Al-Azhar, Bt Timah. This year my husband & I played host after several years of the post being held by my dear brother.(that explains the venue huh?) The food was nice, the place was packed as usual and out dinner-outing turned out good.(I think its also just another excuse to eat out,saving my mom from cooking dinner and messing up the kitchen).After dinner, we 'chill-out'(che-bah!) at my brother's uber-cool-almost-done-up bachelor pad.Speaking of which I now have the honour of home-sitting for 10-days as my brother hob-nob in Washington.-weekend poolside BBQ anyone?
And after 2 weeks of coughing and phlegm-ing, I'm feeling 90% good-to-go, the kids are well and we now look forward to the June holidays soon...
Sunday, May 14, 2006
A mom's love is Allah's love in action.
She looks with her heart and feels with her eyes.
A mom is the bank where her children deposit all their worries & hurts.
A mom is the cement that keeps her family together and her love lasts a lifetime.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Its gonna be a long weekend ahead..again...don't you think this year have truckloads of long weekends? I guess it would be good if you are one of those who would not mind joining the 5-hr jam across the causeway for a chance to get away from the city, otherwise, like me you would really welcome the much needed R&R time. All is well in the homefront. Amirul is better(not like he's so sick to begin with). Amira is well although she's a little warm in the evening today. My flu is slowly easing away, leaving a little bit of phlegm for me to dwell on. My husband have been patiently taking care of all of us throughout this "sickly" week. So this long weekend is something I much look forward to.
Last weekend, the last single girlfriend of ours finally got hitched. Being the sick woman that I was, I missed the whole wedding, but my dear friend Haliza managed to snap something. That will do for now until we get to see her whole wedding collection album. Congratulations Faz & Zali! I heard they are now honeymooning in Switzerland.(Lucky you!)I bet I won't be the first one to tell them to get on the "parents'-bandwagon" soon.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Amirul has (suspected)HFMD-hand foot and mouth disease-thats what the dr can confirm now. I don't know where he got it from. He got it last year too, but we did not detect it umtil Amira got infected. So this time round we are more aware. He develop fever last Saturday, was better on Sunday when we brought him to the dr- the dr checked for HFMD but did not detect any symptoms, and today his teachers saw some spots on his hands and ask us to fetch him back just to play safe. He will be out of school for about 5 days(again).He only have some minor ulcers in his mouth and the spots are on top of his hands and not in his palms like the common cases. Now we have to be careful about Amira next. As a good mother and citizen I shall post some facts about HFMD to all the young mothers out there, because trust me, u always feel like you will be the last to be affected by it.
What is Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD)? HFMD is an illness caused by intestinal viruses, commonest being Coxsackie virus and Enterovirus 71. A person with HFMD usually presents with the following symptoms:
*Fever for 2-3 days
*Sore throat
*Rash (flat or raised red spots, some with blisters) on palms of hands, soles of feet, or buttocks
*Mouth ulcers
*Poor appetite
*Vomiting and diarrhoea
*Tiredness and weakness ("feeling sick")
How is HFMD transmitted?
HFMD is spread from person to person by direct contact with the nasal discharge, saliva, faeces and fluid from the rash of an infected person and indirectly by contaminated articles.
A person is most contagious during the first week of the illness.
What is the incubation period of HFMD?
The incubation period of HFMD is 3 to 5 days (with a range from 2 days to 2 weeks).
Does HFMD affect only children?
No. Both adults and children can be affected but young children, particularly those under the age of 5 are most susceptible.
What is the treatment for HFMD?
HFMD is usually mild and self-limiting. No specific treatment is available, however, treatment can be given to relieve the symptoms of the disease.
There is no vaccine for the prevention or treatment of HFMD.
Is HFMD associated with fatalities?
Most cases of HFMD are mild. Occasionally, serious complications involving the nervous system (encephalitis) and heart (myocarditis) can occur.
What should parents do if their child has HFMD?
Most cases of HFMD are mild. Occasionally, serious complications involving the nervous system (encephalitis) and heart (myocarditis) can occur.
What should parents do if their child has HFMD?
Parents are advised to consult a doctor early if their child has symptoms of HFMD.
They should also be alert to any change in their child's normal behaviour, eg irritation and sleepiness. Should they refuse to eat or drink, have persistent vomiting or drowsiness, parents should bring their child immediately to the A&E Departments of either NUH or KKH, whichever is closer to their home.
Children infected with HFMD should:
* Stay at home and avoid contact with other children until they have recovered;
* Remain away from school until their fever has subsided and they must be certified free from HFMD infection by a registered medical practitioner prior to returning to school.
Are there any precautions that parents can take to prevent transmission of HFMD?
Children should be kept away from crowded public places (schools, preschools, play groups, markets, swimming pools, public transport etc.) if they show signs of infection. Family members are advised to adopt the following good personal and environmental hygiene practices:
* Wash hands with soap and running water before eating and after going to the toilet
* Cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
* Maintain good air circulation
* Clean thoroughly the premises and toys or appliances that are handled by the infected child or are contaminated by his/her nasal or oral secretions with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution. Sodium hypochorite is the active ingredient in most household bleaches.
(If your bleach contains 5.25% of sodium hypochlorite, you need to dilute one part of your bleach in ten parts of water to get 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution.)
* Do not share eating utensils
Can HFMD be spread via the swimming pools?
HFMD is contact-transmissible disease and is not water-borne.
Public swimming pools are regulated by National Environment Agency and have to meet strict conditions to maintain environmental hygiene and sanitation standards. There is also a dilution effect that would make it unlikely for transmission to occur through water in a swimming pool.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
So we're back from our much-awaited vacation. Overall I think everyone had a good time. The only setback is that I came back with fever & flu. The weather in Langkawi was not exactly sunny-cheery all day long. On the first day, it was drizzling. The flight crew have already warned us that the weather there have been rainy for the past few days. The next few days have been one that alternates between rain & sunny weather. I don't know why, but I think as a mother of 2 small kids, a vacation is not rally a 'vacation' as you have to work doubly hard to manage the kids & the preparations involved, the only difference is that I get to do it in a much nicer & relaxing environment. I even wake up at 6+ everyday - so much for holiday huh?The hotel we stayed in was nice. We got great seaview and the room is very spacious. It is situated in a jungle, so the very relaxing & calming atmosphere really took us away from the hustle & bustle of our daily city life. Langkawi's pace of life is slow. It is not crowded (or maybe because its not a busy weekend)people are not in a hurry to go anywhere or rush for anything. The shopping malls are relatively quiet too. We had great shopping trips in Kuah town and their major shopping centres. Though its not comparable to Orchard road, the idea of cheap-stuff shopping is still very exciting & satisfying. I wish though that I have my isqueeze with me coz even though our rented mpv was a boon, the walk along the town really took its toll on my 'dainty' legs. We did not do much sight-seeing stuff except for the Cable car ride & the visit to Makam Mahsuri. We did not buy much stuff for ourselves but loads for our family members. I guess for me the trip was a gift in itself or maybe because each time I see something, I tell myself that a better bargain can be found back home.
So we're now back home, Amirul has got lots of stories to tell to his friends, hubby is happy to get online again and me, will just look forward to another holiday.
(check out the pictures on my shutterfly link!)
PS: thanks to our Mami & Mamu for their transport services & Yan for his cheauffer services.