Gabriel's Journal

Bicycle As The Fourth Birthday Present

2009-06-19T15:42:00.008+08:00

For his fourth birthday, we thought of giving Gabriel a powerful and fast bicycle. If you find it difficult to find a kid's bicycle that is long-lasting and has quality build, here are some tips to help you.

Avoid hypermarkets where they stock only bicycles with plastic molded wheels which break easily.
Specialty toy stores (e.g. the blue one with a giraffe...) usually stock very limited choices and are overpriced.
Look for bicycles with inflated rubber tyres and metal-spoked wheels because these provide a more durable and comfortable ride.
Brakes are vital to your child's safety. Do not compromise on this and go for models with both front and rear rubber brakes. Check that the brake pads are not rubbing the wheel rims by giving the wheels a spin.
Best choice of bicycles can be found in proper bicycle shops because they have the range of choices and suitable experience to guide you.

After a few hours of cruising industrial zones and whining kids in the car, I found an old-school bicycle dealer shop manned by an elderly man. The shop does more repairs than selling new bicycles, but I still found a splendid model, factory fitted with rear cargo box, front basket and mud guards. The down-to-earth man even slapped on a charming ringer designed to gain instant attention.

It was RM160 well spent, more value for money than other places where you may have to pay at least RM250 for the same features.

If you are in the Jalan Klang Lama area, check out this guy's shop:

57-79, Jalan Hujan Abu 8, Taman Overseas Union, Kuala Lumpur

When Gabriel saw his bike for the first time, his eyes grew so wide you could fit his Bagukan ball inside. Then again, I'm sure the Ben 10 Alien Force cake from Secret Recipe and Ben 10 themed party packs helped a lot as well. :)

Technorati Tags: birthday, present, bicycle, fourth birthday, ben 10, taman overseas union

Five Travel Tips for People with Toddlers

2007-10-01T18:40:00.001+08:00

Over the past two years, we have travelled with Gabriel locally and overseas. So far, he has travelled on the following modes of transport:

car
bus
boat
train
airplane
bicycle (didn't go far!)

Here are some tips we've learnt from our experiences that may help you prepare your little one for those trips.

1. Bring along the parent or caretaker your toddler is most attached to. Don't think that they don't know or feel anything when their loved one is not around after a while. If you don't heed this advice, be prepared for some far-reaching negative effects after the trip. Children do remember such events and may change their behaviour towards their loved one after they re-unite.

2. Travel by air before your toddler turns two years old. Most airlines offer 25% to 75% off the adult fare for toddlers less than two years old. However, this also means they will get a seat. You can overcome that by choosing partially-full flights or requesting that the airline seat you at the exit or partition rows. This way, your toddler can get an available seat or have more space to move and rest, respectively.

3. Use a lightweight stroller. Get a stroller that weighs no more than your toddler and one that can recline so that he/she can nap on the go. It can be hand-carried into the airplane cabin. If you're heading to places with temperate climate, don't forget to bring a portable fan with soft blades!

4. Pack light snacks and lots of water. Young ones tend to get bored much quicker when they are confined to a seat. Calm your toddler by providing snacks like plain biscuits. Water is vital as they, like the rest of us, dehydrate more when travelling. It is also a good way to clear the ears during altitude changes, like in an airplane.

5. Pray for your toddler's safety and blessing and tell him/her that he/she is going on a trip. You've done all the preparation and precaution you can ever think of, now leave the rest to your Higher Being. Even though they are young and may not have started talking, it's good to tell them what is going on and they may recall the trip when they grow bigger.

Technorati Tags: tips, travel tip, toddler travel

What To Do When Your Child Is Choking

2007-06-25T13:25:00.000+08:00

Over the weekend, there was a nine month old baby girl who choked to death when she was:

alone in the living room
attempted to eat a half inch sized fruit found on the floor

She did not survive by the time she was rushed to the hospital.

It is very important to be always on guard with newborns and babies as they can get into trouble very quickly, sometimes taking just less than a minute to die from some hazard. In Malaysia, there have been cases of young children drowning in rivers and buckets, choked on small objects and equipment such as foldable chairs and tables.

Caretakers and parents must assess whether the child can chew and if not, whether the food item is small enough to be swallowed without choking. Bones in fish and meat must be taken out beforehand, no matter how small or soft they are. In the above case, it shows that proper baby-proofing of the house needs to be done to ensure that there are no dangerous objects accessible.

Below are some links to procedures that you can perform when your baby is choking. I'll summarize it as follows.

Observe your child for specific symptoms and react accordingly. If your child is not able to cry or cough, you may need to help remove the object in his or her mouth. If your child is coughing, encourage him or her to cough the object out. If you are going to help your child by giving back blows, be prepared to call for help within two minutes.
Give back blows on the back area between your child's shoulder blades while you position him or her such that his or her throat is pointing downwards. If your child becomes unconscious, you may have to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR.

I've created a procedure chart (PDF document) that you can download, print and paste it in the rooms your child usually plays and eats in. Remember to write down your local emergency numbers at the top.

Links:

BabyCenter.com - Infant First Aid for Choking and CPR: An Illustrated Guide (Babies Under 1 Year Old)
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/general/9298.html>

BabyCenter.com - First-Aid for Choking and CPR: An Illustrated Guide (Toddlers)
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/general/11241.html>

BabyCenter.com - First-Aid for Choking and CPR: An Illustrated Guide (Preschoolers)
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/general/72329.html>

BabyCenter.com - First-Aid for Choking and CPR: An Illustrated Guide (Grade-schoolers)
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/general/72434.html>

Technorati Tags: safety, safety tips, child care, choke, cpr, choked to death, procedure, caridopulmonary resuscitation, first-aid

Children Watching Television Risk Health Problems

2007-02-21T13:56:00.000+08:00

Psychologist Aric Sigman has published a study in the science journal Biologist that warns that children who watch television too much can suffer more harm than previously thought. It found that the popular activity inhibits production of the hormone melatonin, which affects the immune system, sleep cycle and commencement of puberty.

Sigman suggests it is this lower levels of melatonin that cause girls to reach puberty much earlier and increase in average weight than in the past.

Other effects of watching television that Sigman found include possible cause of autism, possible cause of permanent eyesight damage, possible factor in obesity, and risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Infants and toddlers suffer from irregular sleep patterns and therefore higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Sigman is urging the British government to make this issue a top health priority and banning young children from watching television but introducing it progressively and under control. He blamed the current trends - average 6-year-old British child has watched 1 year of television and more than half of 3-year-old children have a television set in their bedrooms - on the lack of parental responsibility.

Sigman is the author of the book "Remotely Controlled: How Television Is Damaging Our Lives".

Links:

PhysOrg.com - Television poses risk to childrens' health: study
<URL:http://physorg.com/news91104374.html>

Wikipedia - Melatonin
<URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin>

Technorati Tags: health, television, watching television, health risks, melatonin

Gabriel In My Nokia N70

2007-01-11T05:12:00.000+08:00

Some photos taken between July to September 2006 of my little clever boy.

13 July 2006: Favourite vehicle - car.

14 July 2006: Distracted by flashy graphics and sound on the TV.

19 August 2006: Itchy/curious fingers at the hardware shop.

27 August 2006: Got to sit here everytime we start off.

23 September 2006: Testing the stability of the sign.

Gabriel frequently amazes us with his keen senses, memory and developmental skills.

He is able to join in singing songs by saying the last word of a stanza. This week when we were singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", he sang "what you are"! Other times he would be humming to the tune or trying to mimick the words, but this was the clearest he has ever sang.

When mummy took Gabriel out for a walk around our home, he saw a signboard put up on a lamp post. It was an advertisement for the satellite pay channels. Mummy initially couldn't believe it when he shouted "Astro"! We know that no one has told him about it even though he watches a little bit per week. Possibly he has been listening to the word spoken in commercial breaks.

So you see, don't under-estimate the perceptive power and learning potential of babies and toddlers. We are thoroughly convinced that my son, like his peers, are at the age when their brains are absorbing and processing data at an unprecedented rate. The Shichida Method and Glenn Doman's institute support this important characteristic of our little ones.

Technorati Tags: gabriel, photos, development, new skill, sing, sing songs, twinkle twinkle little star, learning potential, perceptive power, shichida method, glenn doman

Most Child Car Seats Fail New Crash Tests

2007-01-09T02:00:00.000+08:00

New tests done by ConsumerReports.org, the website of the Consumers Union of United States, show that nine out of twelve car seats for babies, toddlers, and young children performed very poorly. The crash tests were done at 35 mph frontal and 38 mph side crashes, in addition to the mandatory federal government 30 mph or 48.3 km/h frontal crash for cars. Only two were recommended in the end.

These two that passed all new tests are:

The others tested resulted in the products being twisted violently or lifted completely off their bases. The tests also showed that car seats sold in Europe performed better than those sold in the U.S. Car seats with the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system, a mandatory feature, performed worse than those using just vehicle safety belts.

The seats were fitted with a 30 pound test dummy, which was covered with impact sensors to gauge the amount of injury caused to the children passengers. In the frontal crash test, seven seats separated from their bases or caused serious injuries. In the standard 30 mph test, all passed except Evenflo Discovery, which ConsumerReports.org urged a market recall of the model. This model was also involved in a NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) investigation 3 years ago but did not pursue the matter further.

Eight models failed the 38 mph side impact test.

These car seats failed all the new tests conducted by ConsumerReports.org in late 2006:

The Consumers Union found that car seats, with or without LATCH, fail in crash protection if they are not properly fitted into the car and secured snugly. LATCH seems to work better if their bases were attached to floorboard anchor points. The common and worrying trend of parents is that they are not well informed on how to install the seat using LATCH, or choose to use the safety belt instead.

At the end of the ConsumerReports.org report, it recommends the following to keep your children safe when in the car:

Choose your car seat carefully, preferably according to the models it recommends and avoid those it reported to have failed its tests.
Use the car safety belt to secure the child car seat, even if the LATCH system is used.
Register your car seat so that the manufacturer can contact you if your model has problems or is being recalled.

Here are some more tips that I've learnt from browsing through the web, especially from NHTSA's website:

The statistically safest location of the child car seat is at the rear center seat.
Ensure that the safety belts and harness of the car seat are not frayed and twisted and should be snug when your child is seated.
Place the car seat in the rear-facing position if your child is less than 12 months old. If your child is more than 12 months old AND weighs more than 20 pounds or 9.1 kilograms.
Child car seats must not be placed in a seat where there is an impact airbag from the front or side.
Children who exceed the car seat manufacturers' weight limit or whose top of the head is higher than the top of the seat should use a booster seat instead. This is typically between the ages of four and six.
When a child reaches six years of age, a backless booster seat should be used.

Gabriel is using the Safety1st Comfort Ride convertible car seat, released as one of the first LATCH-equipped models. Bought in early 2005, it is quite stable and easy to maintain. He sits well and can fall asleep in it. Hopefully, it can protect him in any situation, in addition to God's blessing on him.

Update: 19 January 2007

CR has withdrawn their recent safety report pending further side-impact collision tests of the involved seats. This comes after CR received concerns raised by the NHTSA on the methods the tests were conducted in. The speed of the side-impact collisions may be inaccurate.

ConsumerReports.org - Consumer Reports withdraws infant car seat report
<URL:http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cu-press-room/pressroom/2007/2/0702_eng0702ccs.htm>

Related links:

MSNBC - In crashes, infant car seats 'failed disastrously'
<URL:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16473196/>

ConsumerReports.org - Safety alert: What if this were your child?
<URL:http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/child-car-booster-seats/car-seats-2-07/overview/0207_seats_ov.htm>

ConsumerReports.org - A seat sold abroad outperforms U.S. models
<URL:http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/child-car-booster-seats/car-seats-2-07/european-models/0207_seats_euro.htm>

NHTSA - Child Passenger Safety Program
<URL:http://www.nhtsa.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.9f8c7d6359e0e9bbbf30811060008a0c/>

Technorati Tags: car seat, child car seat, baby car seat, infant car seat, consumer reports, consumers union, crash test, latch, safety belt, child passenger, booster seat

New Photos Uploaded

2007-01-03T13:00:00.000+08:00

Uploaded Gabriel's photos taken using the Pentax S40 during events that occurred in the past few weeks. See them here:

<URL:http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2114937338>

Some of the events are:

DUMC church
Uncle's birthday party
1Utama shopping
McDonald's breakfast
Sunway Lagoon family day
Aquaria KLCC underwater aquarium

We happened to pass by a baby photo stall at IOI Mall over the new year and took shots of him in a sailor suit, tux suit, and a Tigger suit. So cute! I'll post them here when they are ready, watch for them.

Technorati Tags: gabriel, photos, events

Sunway Lagoon Trip

2006-12-29T12:41:00.000+08:00

Here are some photos from our recent Sunway Lagoon trip..............

Mummy and Gab

Posing like a model ;p

Daddy busy on the phone

Gab is ready to take on the waves!!!

Touching the sandy beach for the second time......

Technorati Tags: gabriel, sunway lagoon, swimming, bodysuit, photos

Words.....Glorious Words!

2006-12-29T12:28:00.000+08:00

Just to recap Gab's vocabulary so far (I may have missed some here and there because there are just so many new things that he is learning and doing at the same time)

Some words that he likes to say:
- Mummy
- Daddy
- Kakak (Ah Rin) - our maid's name which is accurately known as Karin
- Popo
- Kong Kong
- Ma Ma
- Yeh Yeh
- Mum Mum
- Sam Yee
- Tai Yee
- Renee
- Tasha
- ball
- dog
- Amen
- Baby Boy (this is what he likes to refer to himself; a nick I have been using on him since he was a baby)
- happy
- umbrella (once he wanted to go out for a walk but it was raining, after telling him that it was raining, he reminded me to use um-bre-lla ;p)
- newspaper
- giraffe
- elephant (el-phant)
- shoes
- socks
- car (this is one of his favourite word)
- truck
- milk (this is one of his favourite word)
- susu (this is one of his favourite word)
- duduk
- beat
- sayang
- airplane (this is one of his favourite word)
- moon
- helicopter (copter to him)
- Bob (as in Bob the builder)
- Dizzy (as in Bob the builder)
- star
- clap
- bread
- apple (this is one of his favourite word)
- coconut
- peach
- corn
- Elmo
- Bunny
- Bear
- sleep
- guava
- Tweety
- wait
- out or Kai Kai
- Roomba
- hair
- bus
- Poo poo
- papaya
- share
- no (or oh no!!! - super drama)
- brinjal
- bathe
- close

Technorati Tags: gabriel, vocabulary, words, speak

Bukit Tinggi - One Year Later

2006-12-15T19:20:00.000+08:00

Sleeping like he did on the way there!

And nothing has changed as well here....

Looking so handsome, my little boy.

"Ok, Ok I will strike a pose for you, mummy"

"Oh.....I must get this to open"

"This is what I call paradise....BALLS!!!"

Pureen Prince

2006-12-13T16:55:00.000+08:00

We have just collected Gab's prize hamper from Pureen after a long 6 months.
Here are some of his photo with the hamper.

Technorati Tags: pureen, contest, prize, hamper

Gabriel Placed Second in Baby Photo Competition!

2006-12-02T13:41:00.000+08:00

The media has also affirmed the photogenic qualities of our Gabriel boy! The June 2006 issue of Parenthood Malaysia magazine ran a "Stars of Pureen" photo competition and Gabriel won second place.

We are so proud of you, son. Daddy's going to pick up the RM200 hamper soon. Keep smiling and be happy!

Technorati Tags: photo competition, photogenic, parenthood, competition, june 2006

Funny Thing

2006-11-23T18:32:00.000+08:00

It's been very very very long since I last updated on Gab's milestones. It is not because he had none but on the contrary he have too many that it is becoming very hard for me to keep track. Talking, singing, dancing and running around seems to be his favourite past time nowadays.

But he did one very funny thing the other day, he actually initiated 'play and seek' game with me. I really have no idea when he learn this from since we never did that except for peekaboo. He will call to me and then slowly move backwards to behind the chair, and when I call out 'Where is Gabriel?', he will come running to me laughing. This he did almost 10 - 15 times.

Brushing Teeth for Babies and Toddlers

2006-10-30T14:32:00.000+08:00

Babies and toddlers drink lots of milk during their first few years. Even without solid or "adult" food, milk serves as one of the primary food sources for them. The frequency and amount to give them varies between parents. Our method is "on demand" - when Gab asks for it.

Since most baby milk contains lactose, or milk sugar, these sugars may have an effect on babies' gums and teeth. Doctors have suggested good dental health in young children begin are the early age when they are just babies, before they even have teeth. The basic foundation of the gums must be in good shape for the teeth to grow. Thus, it is a very beneficial practice to allow babies and toddlers to brush their teeth.

In short, the benefits of early teeth/gum brushing for babies and toddlers:

Puts in place a life-long habit and importance of brushing teeth
Exercises the gums and promotes proper teeth development
Removes sugars and food solids which cause teeth decay
Encourages self-confidence and bonding by learning to brush own teeth

For babies who have yet to show any teeth, you can use either a wet soft cloth or fingertip brush to wipe and massage their gums.

Toddlers love to learn to perform physical tasks themselves, brushing teeth is one of the most suitable things they can learn to do. Make it a habit for them to brush when they wake up and before they sleep, especially after their night bottle. Give them a designated stool to sit on while they brush. Of course, it is best that you lead by example and show them how it is done by brushing together.

Please purchase proper toddler toothbrushes with small and soft bristles. Our boy loves to hold his own brush and imitate our brushing movements. Although toothpaste is generally unnecessary, you can use toothpaste specially for children below two years. These do not contain fluoride, which can cause fluorosis (more info) if too much is swallowed. Even if your toddler has not yet learnt how to spit, it is a good idea to start teaching them from young instead of always swallowing.

We use this brand of toothpaste, FirstTEETH, which is does not foam, has a pleasant taste and is safe to swallow. The downside with such toothpaste is that it is several times more expensive than regular brands.

Good dental health is very similar to overall development and health. The first few years are very crucial and possibly determine one's health for the rest of his or her life.

BabyCenter "How to care for your baby's gums and emerging teeth"
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babyills/babytooth/126.html>

Technorati Tags: baby, toddler, brush, teeth, brush teeth, brushing teeth, toothpaste, toothbrush, gums, milk sugar, fluoride, dental health, firstteeth

Three Year Old Boy Brutally Abused To Death in Malaysia

2006-10-11T12:58:00.000+08:00

Lau Jun Wei

A tragic story of a young boy abused by his caretakers in Johor Baru, Malaysia. Click here to read more.

Technorati Tags: boy, child, abuse, child abuse, jun wei, lau jun wei, malaysia, johor baru, taman universiti, jalan kebudayaan, muar, child act, child welfare, child protective services, apathy, murder, internal bleeding, child protection

More Medicine!

2006-09-19T14:34:00.000+08:00

Since Monday, we are using the following medicine for two weeks:

Terbutaline
Ketotifen
Iliadin

The first two are in syrup form, and the last one is metered nasal drops.

Terbutaline is a beta2 adrenergic receptor agonist drug from a group known as bronchodilators that stimulate nerves in parts of the body. In this case, the drug will open up the bronchial tubes and muscles of the lungs, thereby providing relief for cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath. It can treat cases of asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, among others. Possible side effects include: allergic reaction, chest pains, headache, and insomnia. Terbutaline was approved by the FDA in 1974.

<URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terbutaline>

Ketotifen is a type of antiasthma medicine and prophylactic agent which can reduce the frequency, severity and/or duration of asthma symptoms and attacks in children. It is not a bronchodilator and thus is not suitable for acute asthmatic cases. This medicine works best if taken on a regular basis, and improvement may be evident in the first few weeks, reaching significant benefits after ten. Withdrawal of medicine should be done in gradual reduction of doses. Possible side effects include: weight gain, increased appetite, chills, cough, headache and nausea. Ketotifen was approved by the FDA in 1999.

<URL:http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b2.pharmaceutical/b2.1.monographs/CPS-%20Monographs/CPS-%20(General%20Monographs-%20Z)/ZADITEN.html>

Iliadin's active ingredient is oxymetazoline hydrochloride. As a topical decongestant, its sympathomimetic property constricts the blood vessels of the nose and sinuses via activation of alpha1 adrenergic receptors, causing reduced production of mucous. It can help moisturize nasal passages due to air conditioning, air pollutants, hay fever and colds. Overuse, usually more than three days, may cause rebound congestion or addiction, so observe for such symptoms.

<URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliadin>

When your child has certain health problems such as respiratory, try to eliminate possible causes of infection and isolate them so that the real cause can be determined. In our case, we are avoiding the babysitter's place with two other pretty sick (heheh) kids and turning off the air sterilizer / ionizer for at least a week. Hopefully, we'll see Gab recover fully and then we'll turn things back on one by one.

Has anyone heard of air ionizers causing negative effects such as respiratory problems? We are suspicious of their benefits even though we frequently clean the room.

To me, some of the most important things a child should have from their parents is nourishment of the body and avoidance of viruses and diseases. Choose your doctor carefully and stick to the doctor's advice. Every child is different, so try not to compare but be prudent in your judgement of your own child's conditions and needs.

Western medicine usually have instructions and advice for use. When doctors prescribe such medicine for our babies and toddlers, some of us go berserk. We see that the labels say "tested and recommended for use for children two years and older", but our children are younger! For some of these medicine, do not be alarmed. Doctors have been prescribing them in their common practice and health pharmacies are not able to test on younger children. Again, use discretion to decide.

Technorati Tags: medicine, drug, sick, virus, disease, infection, isolate, health problems, doctor, prescribe, young children, terbutaline, ketotifen, iliadin, adrenergic receptor, bronchodilator, asthma, bronchitis, antiasthma, prophylactic agent, oxymetazoline hydrochloride, nasal decongestant, symptoms, respiratory problems

Music For Children

2006-09-06T17:28:00.000+08:00

Music is very beneficial for all kinds of people, especially babies and little kids. Children can learn to enjoy the magic of music wherever they are: playing at home, travelling in the car, or just before they sleep on the bed. It is a good alternative to watching the TV and raises the spirits of children.

My son has started to appreciate the joys of music and is learning to sing, hum, and dance to it. He can clap his hands, tap his feet, swing or jerk his body whenever he hears his favourite tunes. Gabriel's favourite songs are: "Simplicity Is The Key" from "Lovely Family CD Vol. 1" and "If You're Happy and You Know It".

We have a CD-RW full of his music, with genres such as Christian, nursery rhymes and instrumental. I have collected them from various sources such as audio CD presents from friends, Mothercare and Anakku stores, and now from the web!

There are a few good websites where you can download MP3 songs for kids, which I've listed below. The first one has a very clear and melodious couple singing and playing the guitar.

Anakku in Malaysia carries a good range of Raimond Lap CDs, which are very attractive to babies and toddlers as a start. The tunes and instruments are catchy but soothing. Very good for night-time listening.

Don't forget, another good idea of music for your children is: sing to them! Sing to your kids whenever possible, and record them as keepsakes and years of listening. When they get older, they can even sing and record together with you.

Give the gift of music to your children today.

Kids Music Web
<URL:http://tsc.kidsmusicweb.com/>
Free Kids Music
<URL:http://freekidsmusic.com/>
Chuck Brown & The Chuckleberries
<URL:http://thechuckleberries.com/>
Walking Oliver
<URL:http://www.walkingoliver.com/>
LDS Church Music
<URL:http://www.lds.org/cm/catalogalphamp3/1,18331,4768-1,00.html>
Download.com Children's Music
<URL:http://music.download.com/2001-7994_32-0.html?tag=MDL_nav_dir&>

Raimond Lap
<URL:http://www.raimondlap.com/>

BabyCenter "Music and your toddler or preschooler (ages 1 to 3)"
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/toddler/toddlerdevelopment/6549.html>

Technorati Tags: music, song, sing, hum, dance, clap, swing, tunes, favourite songs, christian, nursery rhymes, instrumental, mothercare, anakku, download, mp3, guitar, keepsakes, gift of music, raimond lap

Miss Gab and Daddy So Much

2006-08-26T21:21:00.000+08:00

I am in Sydney for training right now and it has been a week since I left two most important people in KL. Being weekend right now makes me miss my family even more. It just dawned on me that I am so blessed with a loving husband and wonderful son. What more can I ask for.

I did take the opportunity to visit Featherdale Wildlife Sanctuary and The Rocks flea market, however I would have enjoyed the trip more if Daddy and Gab are with me. I keep thinking to myself how nice if they are here right now and we can do this and that. Featherdale is really great for kids and I can really imagine how 'crazy' Gab will go running about and chasing the animals. I gave Sydney Aquarium a miss because I rather go there with them next time.

Daddy is really great and I am very lucky to have a hands-on husband. The babysitter had her reservation that Daddy could not take care of Gab and offered to take care of him. I was also afraid that Daddy cannot handle stuffs that was usually done by me like cooking and bathing (not because he doesn't want to but because I insist on doing it ;p).

Gab is getting older and it seems that he prefers home more when it comes to sleeping. Like the few occasions when we had family gatherings at Simon's place, he sleeps very lightly and would be awaked when I carried him to the car. And not to mention his excitement when we got back from Phuket. So I really appreciates Daddy for taking care of him and alone. Not a lot of fathers do that and I am so proud of Thomas.

I am counting down the days when I will be back home again. I can't wait to be with my family again. I love you guys.

Technorati Tags: sydney, kuala lumpur, family, husband, son, featherdale wildlife sanctuary, the rocks, flea market, sydney aquarium

Mother's Love

2006-08-25T16:48:00.000+08:00

Other than God's love for us, mother's love is the best thing given to us.

Do you appreciate your mum's love? Give her a call or a hug today.

Technorati Tags: mother, love

Many Stones For A Toddler

2006-08-23T12:16:00.000+08:00

It's been very long since we updated this place with our little boy's development and news.

1. Walking - Gab has progressed from "The Mummy" style of walking, i.e. with arms stretched outward or forward, to brisk walking with arms nearly by his sides, squatting, stepping on objects on the floor with one foot, and even dancing! Since he loves going out, now he listens to us obediently when we tell him to wait or sit down by the doorway and wait for his shoes to be worn. Gab occasionally turns to back up on a wall and just stand there, very cute!

2. Dance - He can alternate tapping of his feet whenever he hears music being played, much like how a footballer practises his footing. I guess he learnt to clap, swing his torso and dance on his feet by watching children's songs on TV at the babysitter's.

3. Spoken words - "dog" being his most frequently spoken word, Gab seems to use it to describe many other non-dog objects. He learnt to speak "giraffe" and "egg" immediately after I repeat the words a few times and show the flash cards simultaneously. He can say "mama" and "OK" very well and for the right moment. My boy can make the sound of the cat when he sees the flash card.

4. Hand grab sign - Not to be confused with "milk", he repeatedly opens and closes his outstretched hand and looks at you, and this means that he wants your attention or to come to him.

5. Use fingers for small objects - Gabriel is able to use his first finger to push buttons (alarms, switches), poke and mangle food and fruits, and pick up things on the floor. Can use two fingers to pick food and feed himself.

6. Constructive toys - I have been exposing Gabriel to constructive toys that gets his logic going, such as Lego and shape sorters. Other building blocks just won't do, Lego really has the quality and precision. He can pick up one block, position on top of another block, and tap it in.

7. Brush teeth - This activity is one of his top favourites. Whenever possible in the morning or before bedtime, he will walk to the washroom doorway, sit on a stool and wait for his toddler toothbrush. He would grab the toothbrush, put it into his mouth and mimic us brushing. This is one of the several examples of how he is actively imitating what he sees. The brushing would last for a few minutes and when it comes to rinsing his mouth, he would take a mouthful of water and swallow, dribble, and spit.

8. Real car driving - Gab has changed from standing on his feet to handle the family car wheel to sitting on the seat. Another example of him observing what the adults do and follow them.

9. Feed himself - He loves coming up to me and watch me eat. Given a spoon, he would try to pick up food from the bowl and put it into his mouth. On the first time that I ask him to feed me, he directed the spoon to my mouth very well. He has learnt not to grab at food dishes and bowls, unless it is very interesting.

10. Understands negativity - When Gabriel is about to and has done something wrong, we would scold him and often use "no". We also follow this up with showing love by praise, distraction, reasoning, and giving him alternatives. There was a case at my in laws' place where after we warned him not to touch some dangerous objects, one of his uncles repeatedly warned him and said "no" and "beat beat" too many times. He eventually turned visibly fearful and embarrassed, which we do not believe that it is healthy.

11. Playground slides - At his home playhouse, Gabriel managed to sit on top of the slide prior to going down instead of lying on his tummy to go down. By the way, Step2 is the ultimate playhouse vendor.

12. Climb stairs - He walks up and down stairs like adults, i.e. one foot for each step, but he requires an adult to hold both his arms.

13. Less preference for semi solids - Gabriel's taste buds have changed to favour solid foods such as noodles and rice instead of porridge.

14. Music - He has recently started to take a liking to playing the organ. Combined with his dancing, he is able to play music and dance at the same time!

Mummy has gone to work overseas for almost two weeks since last Sunday morning. Throughout that day Gabriel was quite normal, but he did look slightly anxious in the evening, possibly wondering why he hasn't seen Mummy the whole day and cried slightly more during his night sleep. Compared to the previous 4-day trip when both of us were not with him, I think he is doing better as I'm still around to talk, play and go out with him. I frequently explained to him that Mummy has gone away to work and will be back soon. Fortunately we use Skype for video calls and Gabriel was able to see and hear Mummy full screen. He seemed contented and assured that Mummy is still reachable.

The webcams that I bought for the calls are cheap (RM35), small and sturdy. The best part is that they have infrared capability. Maybe I can set up such cameras (especially wireless network type) as a baby monitor and surveillance points.

Mummy now knows how it feels to be leaving Gabriel behind to go overseas, and it is slightly worse than the parent staying behind. I myself also understand how helpless and burdened to be the only one to take care of him. Fortunately this time we have a maid to help out in the housework while I spend time with Gabriel, unfortunate for Mummy that her trip is the longest. Imagine having to handle two kids, or even four (like my mum)! Most likely when the next time we fly, especially for leisure, we will bring the little boy along. It doesn't matter if he will remember the trips, we want him to feel the experience of travel and family bonding, consciously or subconsciously.

In every family, it is very important to be together and to support one another.

We plan to go to Midvalley Megamall this weekend to see Winnie the Pooh and friends. I think this dude are one of the few characters that are safe for toddlers to relate to, although he does have a gender/name mismatch. Other toy/cartoon characters which I feel are OK are: Bob the Builder, Dora the Explorer, and Sesame Street. Our plan is to allow his to watch TV only from the age of two. My personal favourites are slightly more adult though, like Joe Cartoon and Itchy and Scratchy.

Note to self: more topics to describe: 1. won photo competition in magazine, 2. list of favourites (flash cards, shoes), 3. eczema and cough symptoms and remedies, 4. behaviour with maid.

Technorati Tags: gabriel, development, milestone, toddler, walk, dance, spoken words, constructive toys, toothbrush, slide, playhouse, noodle, porridge, music, skype, webcam, travel, negativity, anxious, midvalley megamall, winnie the pooh, bob the builder, dora the explorer, sesame street, joe cartoon, itchy and scratchy, maid, photo competition, safe cartoons

Milestones Update Again

2006-07-03T16:16:00.000+08:00

Just a quick update
on Gab's milestones
(I have been getting
lazier, these milestones
are accumulated over
the weeks that I did
not update the blog...
some I can't remember
the dates):

1) Walking - took his first
few steps on 23 June
(wonder if he did not get
the viral fevel, could he be
walking on his birthday,
guess we will never know)

2) Shake head to indicate 'No'

3) Able to sort out shapes using shape sorter

4) Raises both his hands and throw his head
back when we say 'Praise God'

5) First words: Ma ma, Ah (for Thomas), dog, lion, no, kay

6) Favourite food now: spaghetti, rice, tauhu

7) Going really fast on his tricycle

8) Squat

9) Clap hands (this started way back....think more than
1 month ago)

10) Wet kisses for Mummy and sometimes Daddy

11) Hugs for almost everyone

12) Point here and there (can identify some common
things by pointing when we ask him)

13) Fuss to go out every weekend - whenever he
sees mummy and daddy at home, it means he can
go out 'kai kai'

14) Love picture cards - will actually crawl towards
you, sit down and clap his hands when you are about
to flash these cards

15) Can understand simple words - stand, sit, wait,
carry, come here, bathe, sleep, change clothes,
brush teeth, drink, eat, pain, beat, no, knock, hold
(will update when I remember more)

From Baby to Toddler

2006-07-03T15:19:00.000+08:00

My Baby is Finally 1

It has really been quite a while since my last post. Let me go about my usual excuses like being very busy at work and tired at home.....hahaha but guess it is not a good excuse since Gab makes his significant transition from a baby to toddler without any updates on his blog. Sorry baby!

2 weeks have passed since Gab 1st birthday (18 June) and to tell you the truth I am still collecting the photos from Thomas and my friend, Jenn.

Yup, a big thank you for Jenn, Roger and Tammy who make time all the way from Singapore to celebrate this joyous event with us. Without whom we will only be left with memories of the party without any digital evidence (we were too busy running around to take photos or videos). We really appreciate their help and company. Love you guys!

So actually I do not have all the photos yet but will load those few that are noteworthy and the remaining you can catch it from our photos link.

Gabriel's 1st Birthday Party (June 17)
10am - Send Gab to babysitter
12pm - Have lunch with Jenn and Roger
2pm - Vacumn (thanks to Roomba), mop, decorate house with balloons and banners
4pm - Collect cake and pick Gab up
6pm - Left babysitter place without Gab as he was still sleeping. Caterers arrived to set up tables and food
7pm - Arrival of first guest (babysitter family, my elder sister and brother-in-law, Renee and *star of the day* - Gab)
8pm - Arrival of more guest, makan and drinking time begin. (We got food to occupy the hungry ones, toys and cartoon to entertain the young ones and booze to intoxicate the older ones)
9pm - Cake cutting and Gab got a taste of real 'food' ;p (a sign of toddlerhood)
10pm - Bedtime for Gab
11pm - Clean up
12am - Bedtime for mummy and daddy

Inclusive children more than 60 people attended the party (think this is the last time I am going to organize this type of party...hahahaha)

Roger, Jenn, Gab and Me

Three's a Family

The kids having fun with Gab's toys

Food Galore

TWO cakes....double happiness (courtesy from my father-in-law)

Cakes and presents display (of course the other half of important presents is in my pocket;p)

Cake cutting and photo session with the kids

Technorati Tags: gabriel, birthday, toddler, party, presents, children, cake, photos

Web Degrees of Separation

2006-06-20T16:21:00.000+08:00

How is Gabriel's Journal interconnected on the web?

<URL:http://lokety.blogspot.com/2006/06/web-degrees-of-separation.html>
<URL:http://www.jeffooi.com/2006/06/post_27.php>

Technorati Tags: gabriel, journal, web, degrees, separation

Teething

2006-06-12T13:38:00.000+08:00

Teething peaks this month! Not sure if this is normal but Gab’s teeth comes in pair. Probably will be a very auspicious sign if his parents are superstitious, however we are not…hahahha! Anyway all me and Thomas are concern with is how this teething is affecting our boy.

The timetable summarized when I see the teeth cuts through and may not necessary means the actual day that it did since Gab doesn’t really like us pry his mouth that much.

Technorati Tags: teething, teeth, baby, gabriel, mouth

Worst Time of the First Twelve Months

2006-06-09T12:05:00.000+08:00

We had planned a roadtrip to Singapore to visit my mum and brothers on the last weekend of May. It coincided with my job resignation and the Great Singapore Sale, so we can also pick up stuff in the little Republic (mainly Gabriel's supplies). What interjected our plans turned out to be the most trying and difficult five days of Gabriel's first year.

On Tuesday, the babysitter realized that Gabriel was starting to feel hot. When we picked him up, he was burning quite a bit. His temperature from then onwards fluctuated between 37 to 39 degrees Celsius every few hours. He still looked alert, but we could see that he didn't feel comfortable.

The first medical consultation we visited was a child outpatient clinic. Doctor found inflammation in the throat and diagnosed his condition as either viral infection or teething. She gave us paracetamol and cough syrup.

BTW, lousy Singapore designed and manufactured infrared thermometer is off by -0.5 to -1.0 degrees. Lessons learned: frequently normalize your thermometer against others so that you know your thermometer's working range, do not be alarmed if it seems to give you wild readings, and take a few samples multiple areas (both ears, across the entire forehead).

From Tuesday to Thursday night, we soaked Gabriel's forehead, neck, chest, back and face with a wet cloth and occasionally used a cold patch on his forehead. Every night he would trash about continuously and clutch on to his mum for comfort. It was distressing to see him suffer but yet he could not comprehend it or communicate effectively to us. We couldn't sleep well because we had to constantly tend to him or hear him complain and cry for many hours into the night.

My brother-in-law recommended the use of a high dose paracetamol that is administered through the anus and we tried one on Gabriel on Tuesday night. It was supposed to rapidly bring down his temperature but it wasn't apparent for him. If you have kids, try keeping some of these; they look like little white bullets. I've yet to figure out the brand.

On my last day of work on Wednesday I even had to take the morning half off. Gabriel was working up his fever and his appetite dropped. He stopped eating semi-solids and could only drink a quarter of his bottle. It seemed like his throat was starting to sore and he couldn't swallow normally. We have to thank my mother-in-law for bringing home-cooked food to us during this time.

The second consultation was at Sunway Medical Hospital on Thursday morning. Our resident pediatrician, Dr Tan, was off the entire week, so we settled for Dr Lim. This time, the doctor suspected a case of bacterial infection. He was reluctant to prescribe antibiotics, aware that it was not entirely beneficial to kids Gabriel's age, but did anyway. At least we established that it was not a major infection that may need emergency treatment, but dengue fever could not yet be tested for so early in this episode. Tests for dengue can only be done from the fifth day of one's fever.

The medication prescribed, other than paracetamol, is Cefaclor / Distaclor.

Gabriel started to turn for the better on Friday morning. All this time that he was feverish, he was still able to babble and sort of show us his discomfort. At this time, his fever dropped to low 37s but for a few hours during noon he was crying non-stop as if he was hurting seriously. Eventually, we couldn't stand it anymore and I started packing stuff to visit Sunway again, hoping to get alternative treatment and/or medication at all costs.

This is when the twist happened.

Once I commenced packing and jumping about, my son's crying subsided and watched my movements intently from his mother's bear hug. We didn't realize it until I was about done, he reached out his hands and wanted me to carry him. For three days we were house-bound, and Gabriel was fussing that we haven't taken him out! Outrageous! ;)

Since our planned Thursday morning trip with some other family members were cancelled, we had no place to go except for my mother-in-law's. Gabriel was looking quite OK in her house and we were contemplating if we could still go down to Singapore. By this time, we have had a couple of confused family members with our plans.

Our good-and-bad call to Singapore started the second round of frustration and waiting. We packed our bags ad hoc on Friday night and started our journey at 2100hrs. This is the ultimate Big Bad Kuala Lumpur - Singapore Journey:

Seremban Jam 1 (Before Seremban Exits)
Seremban Jam 2 (After Seremban Exits)
Low Fuel Level (1.5 litres left) before exit to Second Link, Johor, had to divert to Causeway, Johor Bahru
Causeway Jam (Singapore customs at 0300hrs on a Friday night!!!)

I'm very sure the customs deliberately slowed our process to discourage Singapore cars from travelling to Johor and spend away their precious dollars. I hope their actions will be brought to justice in the near future (don't let me find you in KL).

We finally reached home at nearly 0500hrs. My son pooed along the Causeway (I left a smelly thought of the Singapore customs for them) and had to sleep mostly in his mum's arms. Tired, dirty and grossly frustrated, we slept on my mum's ionizer mattress for a few hours.

Saturday morning came, but we were in no condition to visit the zoo or shop in Orchard Road. I had forgotten to bring the cough syrup, so I went to look for it at the local pharmacies. Don't forget the Chinese deer horn powder medicine that cost S$30!

When I came back, Gabriel started to show rashes over his chest, back, and arms. Worried that it was measles or worse, we went to the closest point to Orchard Road for our third and final consultation: KK Hospital.

This is where the good part of going to Singapore apply. It was a public holiday on Sunday (someone's birthday in Malaysia) and there were no consultation doctors available back in KL (it would have to be an on-call case). At KKH, we paid S$75 flat for consultation, blood test, and pharmacy. Lots of kids were screaming and bumming around at the Accident and Emergency department. In the end, Dr Wong told us that the blood test determined that it was a viral infection (possibly Roseola - see link at end of this post) and not dengue. She said that the rashes were caused either by the antibiotics that Dr Lim kindly prescribed or a post-symptom of the infection.

Relieved but very exhausted from carrying, worrying and soothing Gabriel, we were prescribed some cream for his sore throat and more fever syrup. We could then have our Singapore lunch at 1630hrs at home.

Side note: Gabriel's memory or concept of persistence is prevalent lately. Getting his blood was a harrowing experience; he was screaming from being held down for too long while the nurse was drawing blood from his fingertip. While we waited for the test result, he fell asleep. When he woke up, he realized he was still in the same consultation room with screaming children and frantic nurses and he remembered and wailed! Poor fella was traumatized by KKH and company.

We finally had a proper Singapore dinner outside at a nearby favourite Japanese restaurant, Tamako. Highly recommended for its casual feel and good quality noodles and sashimi. It's located along Casuarina Road, Upper Thomson area.

Gabriel only lasted for twenty minutes at the little family restaurant before the worst night of the episode started.

We rushed home and tried to calm Gabriel down. He tumbled and screamed very badly around mum on the bed for two solid hours. It was stressful and depressing to see him suffer like that, but there was nothing else we could do. He couldn't take his fluids and must have found the rashes painful. We prayed earnestly for his recovery, asking for God's grace and protection to be on this little boy. Temperature wasn't a problem at this time.

Sunday morning broke and Gabriel started to really recover finally. His rashes reached his thighs and face, but he seemed to be in a better mood. He came out from the room and for the first time in this trip, talked to people and cruised slowly around the living room. Alas, it was already time in the afternoon to prepare for the trip back to KL. After buying our supplies in Yishun, we packed everything and everyone for the Ultimate Journey. Only this time, the jams and stupidity were in reverse order.

Gabriel slept through most of Monday, but his milk intake increased. The rashes moved downwards and by Wednesday most of it were gone. He started taking his cereal and porridge, but his weight loss has yet to recuperate fully.

We still do not know the cause of his fever and rashes. It could have been teething or viral infection. In any case, this is an experience that I think most parents will have to go through, I'm afraid. We were considered fortunate that both of us had the time to take care of him, at the costs of consultation money, a good shopping trip, and a large family bonding opportunity.

Lessons learnt: be mentally and physically prepared, ensure you have enough working leave, and seek more than one pediatrician advice.

Well... we did bond - my parents freaked out watching us and the rest of two families were alerted. And I'm very proud of my boy for being strong and pulled through.

Technorati Tags: gabriel, singapore, trip, fever, dengue, viral infection, paracetamol,
antibiotics, infection, baby, sick, tamako, hospital, sunway, temperature, thermometer,
roseola, cefaclor, distaclor