Baby KIKO Warehouse Clearance, 20-23 Nov 2013

Hi folks!

 

Sharing this in case you're looking for some baby products ;)

 

Cheers!

 

MasterChef Australia Season 5

Hi folks!

Are you a fan of cooking show? If you do, you would have heard about MasterChef Australia!

The show is now running on the Season 5.

Now, do you know we can view this show on Astro Ch709on Weekdays at 7pm and 11pm only on Lifetime™ .

MasterChefAustralia Season 5 promises a delicious new chapter in the life of the world’s most loved cooking show.

For the first time in MasterChef Australia history, the competition jumps straight into the Top 22 stage, with some of the best amateur cooks from across the country mixing it up in a high-pressure test of know-how and nerve in Melbourne, the city of culinary capital of Australia.

A girls versus boys challenge at the iconic MCG kicks off a thrilling new year of challenges, with a Barossa valley boot camp and Italian week among the themed events on the table.

This year’s weekly MasterClass is filmed before a live audience, giving the public a first-hand insight into the culinary handiwork of returning judges Gary, George and Matt.

What I like about the reality show is the contestants are made up of ordinary food loving people like anyone of us. There's an Arabic-Australian housewife, Samira El Khafir; 35-year-old former town planner and even professional cyclist Emma Dean from Victoria!

So, now, don't underestimate the great cook/chef in you. Do you have any cooking tips or habits you practice? That might well be a great tips to share with everyone!

I inherited this cooking tip from my mother-in-law who won praises from her picky eaters hubby and son of her most delicious fried rice. Simple dish yet what's the secret behind. I learnt that by stirring salt on the dry wok heat the wok to the right temperature so that the rice will be well-cooked.

Now, do you have any cooking tips to share? Then share your very own special cooking tip  on the Lifetime Malaysia Facebook page (each tip shared on the Lifetime Malaysia Facebook will have to be tagged #MCATipOff).

What are you waiting for? Go over and share your tips now!

Cheers!

What do you find worth spending on?

Hi Folks!

What do you find worth spending on? I believe the spending habits or priorities vary for different individuals or even families.

One day KY asked me, "Is Uncle S very rich? (Uncle S is my brother-in-law)", "I asked her why she asked so?" and guess what she said? "Because Zoey (her cousin) said she has sat on airplane for 7 times!"

Whereas each time KY asked when we could sit on airplane, our reply is always wait till we save enough money. So they've been asking us how much money to save? And therefore I guess somehow they must have made conclusion in their mind that to be able to travel on plane must be very rich.

I don't come from rich family. In fact, I've been working since standard five during school holidays to earn some extra money to spend on books, newspapers and magazines I loved reading. All throughout college, I've been working part-time as tutors, in bakery shop, etc. Thus, it forms kind of conservative mindset on me about money. I should always clear my credit card bills on time, not to own any personal loans unnecessarily or no if I could (this exclude hire purchase loan and house loan to which it's not quite possible to own a car or a house if I don't get a loan :D), to save if I ever need to spend on something not under the monthly expense list.

As for my hubby, he comes from a single income family who lives in a city. Although they aren't considered well-to-do, but they are never lacking. And he has this attitude that money is to be earned and spent (can't rely on savings). If he wished to buy something, he'll earn the money to get it (by working overtime, etc).

So, you can say we two have a very different mindset when it comes to family expenditure and budgeting.

For example, I am one who loves to travel. I feel travelling broadens my horizons and experience. It worth the money spent. For DH, he felt travelling exhaust the funds both monetary and annual leave. Thus we hardly travel unless it's family gathering or friends gathering. Thanks to both these two groups who love travelling as well, we do still get to travel.

And for DH, investing in gadgets worth but not me. Haha..so you get the point? To me as long as the phone serve its function the other convenience are not a necessity but just a plus point. And I don't have the desire to own the latest gadgets in the market nor do I have the needs to own any luxury bags or clothing.

Thus, things people don't mind spending varies. What are the things you find worth spending? For me, it's on healthy food, for kids, and recently things that can save me time, thus I can have more time to spend with the kids. Hehe..see if my purchase work out..then I will share more about it.

So what you find it worthwhile to spend on? Care to share?

 

Cheers!

Medklinn Nov-Dec 2013 Promotion

Hi folks!

This is one of the gadget that we as a parents would be thinking of getting. After ZS got admitted for viral infection/croup, he has troubled sleeping at night due to cough. And I found this promotion while searching for some remedy.. It seems working..will test few more times and share with you all :) cheers!

A reminder to a mom

Hi folks!

Sadly, this is a mark of how ZS suffered at the hospital at 5months old. Look at Ye blue black mark caused by the intravenous needle ..must be painful as it tooks me more than 2 weeks to not feel painful at the spot I had the needle on during my last hospital stay.

Hope this serves as a good reminder to me to enforce mouth mask for anyone handling baby if they are coughing..I rather be right than be kind in this aspect. And being respectful and and nothing offensive to inculcate good habits on myself and others than to inflict such discomfort and suffering to a poor young baby. Vigilance is more important than laments and regrets..reminder to myself as a mom..don't wait till it's too late!

Cheers and sharing one of the gadget I invested lately to reduce the cough attacks!

How did you spent your Deepavali?

Hi folks!

I spent mine in the hospital. Went to A & E around 12.35am(with full of firecrackers and celebration all around). Baby Zen was having difficulties breathing and fever due to croup. It happened very fast. On Thursday we can see he is having hoarse voice. I thought due to screaming a lot at babysitter's place(asking to be carried?/attention?) as I did not see him coughing then. On Friday night, when I picked him up, he totally lost his voice and started coughing. His dad went out and around 11pm+ I started calling him as baby Zen seems to be having difficulties not only sleeping but also breathing. As I googled about it, croup came into picture.

All the symptoms, hoarse voice, high temperature, difficulties breathing(with seal-like sound at each breathe) said we gotta send him to hospital right away. I've tried steam method but it does not help.

But it's Deepavali! Gosh, wonder where I should bring him. Text my siblings and Mommies friends at Facebook(yep, you'll be surprised there are many mommies who responded fast and give many useful advice during these needful time!), we went to ColumbiaAsia with medical card at hand(praying there's good medical officer on duty and there'll be Ped on duty despite it's Deepavali day).

When I saw the medical officer on duty is a pregnant lady(I was half relief) as this usually means she will be more "prihatin" in Malay, or more sensitve towards babies condition as I do hear stories whereby some kids are treated rather "coldly" where my nephew was given cold bath during wee hours in the morning when he had fever for over 39 degrees which might make certain kids having fits..at such extreme hot and cold temperature out of a sudden.

Then baby was given nebulizer thrice to which he screamed and cry for help. Heartbroken. Then the doctor said we have to get ready to admit him. Another ordeal I nearly tear down the door when they keep the door locked while taking Zen's blood samples and poked him to put on the intravenous needles(twice on his palm but couldn't find his veins then finally found at his feet). All throughout we were kept behind locked doors while hearing him screams and cry for good 15minutes. So so sad!!! Will never forget this ordeal my bb went through as from birth till now he never ever cry so long and so badly. He's always full of smiles. At that moment can see he's in trauma. No smiles only fears in his eyes. When he saw he nurse in blue shirt, he started crying before they even put anything on him. I start to regret bringing him to hospital at that moment. At least at home, he still able to cry and respond to us. But in the hospital it's only pleas and cries of help which went unresponded as there's nothing we able to do then. Can only watch and cry in our heart. For the first time I saw DH eyes bit reddish.

Poor baby had to suffer all these at age of 5months. I told baby in his ears, it's only baby u'll be ok after one day(even though the medical officer said might need to stay 2-3days). He was then too tired from the ordeal to respond to me. I just carried him and soothing him(breast feed him while waiting for a room/wad).

Overall I must say the nurses handled professionally. They too doted and took a liking with Zen cuteness and later when he recovered from heaving breathing and back to his cheerful self, his dimpled-smiles. We are so glad to have our cheerful baby back!

Glad that we had given priority to a single bed wad. Their reason being to avoid being exposed to virus by sharing rooms with other sick child as baby is still so young. And it's what most parents requested to it seems as single bed room allows both parents to stay overnight to take turns looking after the baby. As the older kids still needed someone to take care of, I spent the night alone with baby at the hospital. Wai finally left the hospital around 3am plus, looking visibly tired and weak.

Next morning, I SMS-Ed a list of items to bring(but he couldn't find 70% of the items at home..mommies do you faced the same scenario too? I think after this I need to do a round of orientation to show him where are things put). Thus I said never mind, you come and exchange spot with me, I'll go home to pack the things. And when he came, can see he's not feeling well, having cold. Thus, I spent the second day and night with baby alone.

I am so glad to my fast respond of help from my sister, who gathered my support team in time and my parents took over caring for the older two kids and Wai could rest at home.

At this time as I am writing this ordeal(for my future reading in the future too), no mood/time to capture any snapshots, but writing these down hopefully will remind us to practice more vigilance with people handling the baby (us included), baby Zen I discharged from hospital on the second day. He's still coughing with phlegm but no more fever or seal-like sound when he breathes. Thanks to the Ped, Dr. Wong who was still on duty during Deepavali and Sunday, am so glad. To this, I reminded myself of my prayer I made that I would not say any negative words or make any negative comments/emotions to bring blessings up my child. Thanks God to all the right people, timing and condition happening at the right moment.

I was thinking about how it all happened throughout the night. People are usually dwelling on the negative side when such difficult times happeneds I felt. E.g., I was wondering is it cos the babysitter has been bringing Zen out frequently and expose him with lots of virus(as he's still a young baby whose immunity system is still building up). Or it might be from hi sister and me(who are coughing). Anyway, no matter what I reminded myself to be positive and think of what to do next. I had to remind babysitter not to bring baby out till he get better(I can't her not to bring him out totally can I? Sigh...this is the time when all working moms would felt, how we wished we could take care of our child on our own. As no one would put the child priority at top of our decision making. For others, they'll just have 101 reasons to make every other decision. Like they need to, at their convenient etc...k I better not dwell on this as I have promise not to think negatively.

Let's see how things progressed tomorrow. I need to send baby to babysitter as I need so send DH to doctor and also get the cleaner to clean the whole house to clear the dust and particles so that it does not further exaggerates the cough. Heartbroken having to send Zen to babysitter despite just being discharged and needing all the comfort he need to regain his sense of security. Will babysitter has the patience and time to give him the attention and body contact(carrying him) with no complaints when he needed it? Sigh...most babysitters or even olderlu folks will said NO! To carrying but only a mom or the parents would able to understand why they needed it at this moment of discomfort and insecure feelings they have. But I've got no choice as I can't keep the baby with me when I clean the house. And while the older kids are away, it's the best time I get the house cleaned before they are back. Seriously, I think I need to get cleaning service at least once a month as I totally do not have the luxury of time and energy for all these thorough cleaning on my own. Despite the help of DH. I think we can only cover the basics.

So yea till Zen is well soon..I better take a nap while he slept. I need to be fit as ever during this time. Can't afford to raise white flag ..cheers and would appreciate your prayers for Zen and even give your child a big hugs and take some time to be with them despises all the housework and busy stuff u have ok(like now..blog-hopping can be done later) moments with them will never return..have a blessed Holiday folks! Thanks for reading :)

Cheers!

Sent from my iPhone

Lessons learnt

Hi folks!

Do you ever experience a second "mishaps" and found yourself regretting for not take counter-measure after the first experience so that the mishap do not reoccur?

Sigh...I am truly regretful now...but what to do..I am at fault for not taking action after suffering the first round.

Today I got stucked at the staircase once more when my company's lift under maintenance(yet again!) during lunch time..which means there's absolutely no one at all I could cry for help to access the "pumping" room floor.

I waited there for 30mins.(exceeded my pumping time) for the staff to return from their lunch break before I could make a quick dash to "relieve" myself and complete my "task". Precious hour lost. Pumping schedule wrecked.

What can I say? sigh...

So, this time round I took down the staff's contact number and next pondering if I should inform the HR and get their assistance....for the next lift breakdown/repair downtime..

During the mishaps, I also met some "other" staff who yet again stubbornly advised me to use other staircases(which I have tried going round and round during the first mishaps and know it leads to nowhere, sweating...). This time round, I sticked to my first ordeal or experience and said No thank you. I've tried it and it doesn't work. Thank you.

Sigh.......sometimes during call of distress, it makes me wonder how do I react to assist others. We can only reflect upon ourselves and learn from the mistakes. It's easier to manage ourselves than to expect from others.

Cheers and I am going to note down all other pumping moms contact no. this time so that we can all help out each other during the next "mishaps" as I think I am not the only one who had difficulties accessing the "pumping" room cos by the time when I finally able to enter the floor and the room, it's unusually quiet and empty. I am sure there are moms who got stucked too...somewhere..and it's definitely not a comfortable experience if you know how "full" and uncomfortable it can be when we exceeded the pumping time...(that only a pumping mom would know!)

Cheers!