It's been a couple of months since the girls had their ears pierced. We thought their ears have healed properly and never knew that it can get infected after they've healed. Anyway, it started with Kierra. She started having pus in the pierced earhole. Mommy diligently started putting the lotion again but it didn't improve for more than a month. That was in October.
Then Kieona's started acting up too. We brought them back to B'Dazzle - the place they had their ears pierced for a check and were told to continue applying the lotion. My, that didn't help although Mommy did it at least twice a day.
I thought about it and even though they advised against taking out the earrings, we decided enough was enough. It was causing too much grief and pain in the kids. We looked around for those earrings that are made in a continuous loop. It was a humongous task, and only after scouring many goldsmith did we find one that is exactly what Mommy was looking for - like hers. They were pretty expensive, but even if it costs more I suspect we would have paid anyway.
The big task began and the day we had the earrings changed was a day deep in pain for the girls. Removing the old earrings wasn't difficult, although it must hurt for Kierra too since the pus had her ear studs stuck fast to her skin. We used the maid's method of applying oil while putting on the new earrings. Both girls cried and Kierra was kicking furiously. Mommy managed to get Kieona's done, but with Kierra kicking and no one able to provide comfort I soon gave up. Thank goodness Daddy wasn't squirmish and persisted to put them on for her.
My, such kicking and screaming but they finally went through. There was some blood shed but it's been two weeks now, and we believe it is finally healing.
For people whose kids are having their ears pierced, one word of advice. You may want to get similar earrings like the ones we bought, as they allow the skin to breath since water can get logged and cause problems if the kids are wearing ear studs. I'll be posting some photos of the loop earrings when I get the chance.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Humble Green Beans Cure for Coughs
It was a pleasant surprise. Mommy craved for green bean soup soon after the other day we had green bean soup at Thomson Plaza. I actually felt that I was going to catch the kids' flu bug with so little sleep and so much running around but got better with that single bowl of green bean soup.
Why not let the kids have them I thought, since I remembered my maternal grandma always saying that it is "cooling" in nature. The girls have been coughing so badly and I thought it couldn't get any worse. Plus, since I was craving it.....
We just boiled some green beans (costs us like only S$0.80 only) in a pot of water with a few pandan leaves for taste, some mini sago pearls for fun and some rock sugar. Can't use normal sugar as I heard it's heaty. So anyway, I braced myself for some protests by the kids as the last time I tried, Kieona hated green beans and refused any. (Can't blame her since I'm really not a green beans fan too.)
The sago helped a little and they both took some (without the beans as usual) and yesterday night, the cough seems to just disappear. Even Daddy felt the effects. He had been coughing badly (though not as bad in his sleep as the girls) and I didn't hear any resemblance of any coughs yesterday. They only coughed a little when they lay down and it wasn't incesant, like all the nights before. It remained so until morning when they woke up. Miracle, isn't it?
Today, they polished up the green beans soup before their nap and again no cough when they lay down to nap and none in between either. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for their speedy recovery. Yay!!!!
Why not let the kids have them I thought, since I remembered my maternal grandma always saying that it is "cooling" in nature. The girls have been coughing so badly and I thought it couldn't get any worse. Plus, since I was craving it.....
We just boiled some green beans (costs us like only S$0.80 only) in a pot of water with a few pandan leaves for taste, some mini sago pearls for fun and some rock sugar. Can't use normal sugar as I heard it's heaty. So anyway, I braced myself for some protests by the kids as the last time I tried, Kieona hated green beans and refused any. (Can't blame her since I'm really not a green beans fan too.)
The sago helped a little and they both took some (without the beans as usual) and yesterday night, the cough seems to just disappear. Even Daddy felt the effects. He had been coughing badly (though not as bad in his sleep as the girls) and I didn't hear any resemblance of any coughs yesterday. They only coughed a little when they lay down and it wasn't incesant, like all the nights before. It remained so until morning when they woke up. Miracle, isn't it?
Today, they polished up the green beans soup before their nap and again no cough when they lay down to nap and none in between either. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for their speedy recovery. Yay!!!!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
A Week of Flu
It's been a week since Kieona caught flu, and she's not getting any better. Kierra caught it too on Monday, a day later than Kieona with yo-yo fevers and incessant coughing throughout the day and night for both. We heard that meatpie was sick too - he was made to go home from school just 2 hours after he went there last Monday.
Yee Yee called and told us Pie was in hospital this morning (his PD's clinic), and was waiting to do his blood test, mucous test, X-ray. He had diarrhoea and had wheezing sounds. Was told he got bronchitis soon after and other test results will only be out on Monday. Meanwhile he's got to be on the neubulizer for the next 3 days. Poor Pie. Must be tough.
Our girls are really not doing much better. Today's visit to the GP found that Kieona has swollen lymph nodes and that's why the pain she complained in her neck area. It is not a suprise, since she had been coughing really hard the past few days. If anything, I thought it was getting worse. Dr Cheah said we have to monitor as it's spreading downwards and may lead to pneumonia - which seems to be getting very common for the young kids this season.
Argh!!! I just hope it doesn't get any worse. Mommy already wakes at every drop of the pin in the night, and it's been a week without much proper sleep. What a bad time too... since our retail store will be opening in 2 weeks and we've been busy preparing.
Their school mentioned in a health alert sent via email that a child caught HFMD. Don't know which is worse. Perhaps this flu was around to let the kids avoid any contact with that terrible virus. So are we lucky or not? I'm not sure.
However, I must say that I have been more than a little disappointed that the health alerts given by the center hasn't really been too proactive. I wonder since we never quite heard a beep, if any notable virus has been going around amongst the kids. The only personal contact we had was when I called the school to inform them of how my kids were faring and to find out if there were certain symptoms in other sick kids so that I could stay on my toes. Alas, didn't get any information which makes me a wee bit disappointed. Nah, don't think I'll be updating in future since it seems this is not the norm.
I had always felt that the more prudent way to deal with such "center epidemics" is to call and check with kids who have been away for 2 or more days to ask if there's anything wrong or if there are certain symptoms, so that the school could alert parents and we can take note if there is any serious virus spreading. While we have always kept our kids away to prevent any spreading of viruses to their schoolmates when they are ill, I wonder if others are doing the same, and am starting to lose my trust in that the school can enforce such behavior, or at least keep us informed of health situations, rather than keeping within MOH guidelines. Sigh!!!
Yee Yee called and told us Pie was in hospital this morning (his PD's clinic), and was waiting to do his blood test, mucous test, X-ray. He had diarrhoea and had wheezing sounds. Was told he got bronchitis soon after and other test results will only be out on Monday. Meanwhile he's got to be on the neubulizer for the next 3 days. Poor Pie. Must be tough.
Our girls are really not doing much better. Today's visit to the GP found that Kieona has swollen lymph nodes and that's why the pain she complained in her neck area. It is not a suprise, since she had been coughing really hard the past few days. If anything, I thought it was getting worse. Dr Cheah said we have to monitor as it's spreading downwards and may lead to pneumonia - which seems to be getting very common for the young kids this season.
Argh!!! I just hope it doesn't get any worse. Mommy already wakes at every drop of the pin in the night, and it's been a week without much proper sleep. What a bad time too... since our retail store will be opening in 2 weeks and we've been busy preparing.
Their school mentioned in a health alert sent via email that a child caught HFMD. Don't know which is worse. Perhaps this flu was around to let the kids avoid any contact with that terrible virus. So are we lucky or not? I'm not sure.
However, I must say that I have been more than a little disappointed that the health alerts given by the center hasn't really been too proactive. I wonder since we never quite heard a beep, if any notable virus has been going around amongst the kids. The only personal contact we had was when I called the school to inform them of how my kids were faring and to find out if there were certain symptoms in other sick kids so that I could stay on my toes. Alas, didn't get any information which makes me a wee bit disappointed. Nah, don't think I'll be updating in future since it seems this is not the norm.
I had always felt that the more prudent way to deal with such "center epidemics" is to call and check with kids who have been away for 2 or more days to ask if there's anything wrong or if there are certain symptoms, so that the school could alert parents and we can take note if there is any serious virus spreading. While we have always kept our kids away to prevent any spreading of viruses to their schoolmates when they are ill, I wonder if others are doing the same, and am starting to lose my trust in that the school can enforce such behavior, or at least keep us informed of health situations, rather than keeping within MOH guidelines. Sigh!!!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Others Strengths vs Our Weaknesses
The weekend was a little heated, not by the weather but a conversation that we found ourselves in. It makes one wonder - does it help someone if you keep comparing and make yourself feel bad by pitting your weaknesses against others' strengths?
Just on Sunday, a relative told us that a friend's grandchild who is Kieona's age could recite Chinese Tang poems. Naturally, Mommy went "Oh, isn't the child smart?" The person went on to discuss about teaching a young child languages and all, and that we "must" read and make Kieona recite the Chinese Tang poems so that she knows. Mommy wanted to just end the conversation as I didn't see it getting anywhere, but then this person brought it up to Daddy's attention and that's where it got a little out of hand.
Because of the insistence, Daddy actually felt compelled to protect his children like all parents will. So he brought up the fact that Kieona was able to swim for short distances and get out of the water to breathe by herself. Then Mommy felt compelled to add that she is able to read some Chinese characters and play a simple tune on the electone. The person went, "Are you sure?" Then as Kieona and Kierra were scribbling in one corner and it was brought to his attention that Kieona can write her own name as well as Kierra's, he went "Really? Let me see.", took up the paper and went "where? Is it correct?".
As Chinese, we talk about modesty but we felt it really need not go beyond putting down our own strengths just to let others look better. For example if we really have to compare, does the same child who can recite Chinese Tang poems swim? Can he play the electone or recognize the Chinese characters? We were then lectured that a young kid should not learn to write characters. While we do agree that languages start with listening and speaking, must we stop a child from writing if this is what she is interested in and learns best? It certainly didn't make a lot of sense to us. When all these didn't get through, it was implied that we have to teach our kids. I certainly don't think he is in the position to comment, since there really is no need for us to justify what and how we teach our kids. We recognize that all kids are different and all families different, so we have generally preferred to kept our mouths shut where the topic of how people bring up their kids is broached.
Although the conversation was ended abruptly, the damage has already been done. Kieona actually went home and while I was trying out her electone pieces, she ran into the room and came out with her Chinese folder. She wanted to show me the Chinese poems she learnt in the Chinese class but she ended up sobbing, telling me "everything also I don't know". It broke my heart. I explained I love her for being her and furthermore she already knows a lot of things and we're really proud of her achievements. I thought nothing more of that, until she started sobbing again while having her teeth brushed that night. Then she told me that she is not good and cannot learn everything.
Hearing that makes Mommy feel so lousy and heartbroken. I just hugged and kissed her, and tell her it all didn't matter. As long as she keeps trying, her achievements are the only yardsticks she should ever measure herself against. There is no point getting upset by comparing our weaknesses against someone else's strengths. We should be proud of our own achievements and be acknowledge that everyone has different strengths.
Lessons learnt:
(1) Never pit your weaknesses against someone strengths. You will never feel good.
(2) Only give your comments if you can help someone, and save your comments if you have nothing positive to contribute. You may affect someone's (a young child) self-esteem.
(3) Never let what you hear affect you. Try to manage the noise.
(4) Believe in yourself. You are really better than you think.
(5) Love knows no boundaries. This episode makes Mommy more aware than we will love our children the way they are, even if they are not geniuses.
(6) All parents care for their children, but there is a difference between encouragement and recognizing their strengths, instead of focusing on their weaknesses.
(7) Never put a child down. Any side-effects may not be immediate, but it definitely hurts their self-esteems. This can have a long-lasting effect.
(8) It is ok to feel proud of your own child's acheivements (and you should always be proud of your child), but it is not ok to keep boasting. Imagine how it will be used as a yardstick for someone else's child and hurt that child's self-esteem.
Just on Sunday, a relative told us that a friend's grandchild who is Kieona's age could recite Chinese Tang poems. Naturally, Mommy went "Oh, isn't the child smart?" The person went on to discuss about teaching a young child languages and all, and that we "must" read and make Kieona recite the Chinese Tang poems so that she knows. Mommy wanted to just end the conversation as I didn't see it getting anywhere, but then this person brought it up to Daddy's attention and that's where it got a little out of hand.
Because of the insistence, Daddy actually felt compelled to protect his children like all parents will. So he brought up the fact that Kieona was able to swim for short distances and get out of the water to breathe by herself. Then Mommy felt compelled to add that she is able to read some Chinese characters and play a simple tune on the electone. The person went, "Are you sure?" Then as Kieona and Kierra were scribbling in one corner and it was brought to his attention that Kieona can write her own name as well as Kierra's, he went "Really? Let me see.", took up the paper and went "where? Is it correct?".
As Chinese, we talk about modesty but we felt it really need not go beyond putting down our own strengths just to let others look better. For example if we really have to compare, does the same child who can recite Chinese Tang poems swim? Can he play the electone or recognize the Chinese characters? We were then lectured that a young kid should not learn to write characters. While we do agree that languages start with listening and speaking, must we stop a child from writing if this is what she is interested in and learns best? It certainly didn't make a lot of sense to us. When all these didn't get through, it was implied that we have to teach our kids. I certainly don't think he is in the position to comment, since there really is no need for us to justify what and how we teach our kids. We recognize that all kids are different and all families different, so we have generally preferred to kept our mouths shut where the topic of how people bring up their kids is broached.
Although the conversation was ended abruptly, the damage has already been done. Kieona actually went home and while I was trying out her electone pieces, she ran into the room and came out with her Chinese folder. She wanted to show me the Chinese poems she learnt in the Chinese class but she ended up sobbing, telling me "everything also I don't know". It broke my heart. I explained I love her for being her and furthermore she already knows a lot of things and we're really proud of her achievements. I thought nothing more of that, until she started sobbing again while having her teeth brushed that night. Then she told me that she is not good and cannot learn everything.
Hearing that makes Mommy feel so lousy and heartbroken. I just hugged and kissed her, and tell her it all didn't matter. As long as she keeps trying, her achievements are the only yardsticks she should ever measure herself against. There is no point getting upset by comparing our weaknesses against someone else's strengths. We should be proud of our own achievements and be acknowledge that everyone has different strengths.
Lessons learnt:
(1) Never pit your weaknesses against someone strengths. You will never feel good.
(2) Only give your comments if you can help someone, and save your comments if you have nothing positive to contribute. You may affect someone's (a young child) self-esteem.
(3) Never let what you hear affect you. Try to manage the noise.
(4) Believe in yourself. You are really better than you think.
(5) Love knows no boundaries. This episode makes Mommy more aware than we will love our children the way they are, even if they are not geniuses.
(6) All parents care for their children, but there is a difference between encouragement and recognizing their strengths, instead of focusing on their weaknesses.
(7) Never put a child down. Any side-effects may not be immediate, but it definitely hurts their self-esteems. This can have a long-lasting effect.
(8) It is ok to feel proud of your own child's acheivements (and you should always be proud of your child), but it is not ok to keep boasting. Imagine how it will be used as a yardstick for someone else's child and hurt that child's self-esteem.
Kierra's 1st Portfolio Shoot
Not to be outdone, Kierra had asked for a modelling portfolio too. Give her a break though, this is her first exposure....
Kieona's Portfolio Oct 2008
Our most recent photo-shoot in October 2008, after Kieona has completed her modelling course... enjoy...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
