Multiparenting Cayen & Cayson

It was start of July - the month where water will now cost 30% more. So when I passed by the pantry , I made sam talk with the pantry auntie as she was having the water run on full blast.  Me: Auntie you know right, the water price has increased by 30% already, Auntie: is it ? Oh , but I must use a lot of water one. Me: why?  Auntie: Cox I washed the cups using Jif , so must wash until very clean :  Me: Jif? The one I used to scrub the basin ?? And wash the toilet floors? Auntie: yea , the Jif . Then I can remove all the coffee cup stains? Me: why can't you use Mama lemon ? Jif is used for washing cups ?? (* oh my god * ) Auntie: Yeah, only Jif can remove the stain , so I mix some inside. Don't worry, I have been doing this for ten over years  . Anyway, the procurement system can only buy certain things.  Me: (Gasp!) But I think it's too strong? Since people use it to wash the basin ?  Auntie: Anyway, don't worry, that's why I use ...

Took leave today to accompany him for his first vaccination at polyclinic (I switched from PD and GP as I found that the polyclinic checks are quite comprehensive , if not better) and best of all, many shots are actually free . He headed out of the house in great spirits, like a typical outing day. However, his jolly good mood quickly turned when he realised that he was in compromised positions.  Firstly, he didn't like the nurse measuring the circumference of his head. And it didn't help that nurse was trying to be super precise. After we finally measured he circumference - his was above average , the next feat was to get the injections done.  Unfortunately for him, to avoid high fever, the MMR and chickenpox shots cannot be combined at this stage (can be done for booster shots). Hence, it means that he will have one jab on the right and one jab on the left arm.  Imagine how difficult it was to hold him down and tug his arm into mine so that the nurse can get the jab in....

 2 weeks ago, we were just heading out to shop. Suddenly , I felt great pain in my ankle and it was so pained I couldn't really walk. So instead of shopping, I went to see the TCM at Plaza Sing. Unfortunately my usual doctor wasn't there so I went to see a replacement doctor.  She said that it's post pregnancy related and that I had taken too much "cooling" things . I should have taken more of more things like ginger etc. It seemed to make sense as I was drinking a lot of cooling water and herbal tea the last two weeks due to late nights. So she wrapped my ankle with a medicine pack and sent me back with some oral medicine too.  However, after two weeks, the pain remains. So I went to the other TCM near my house for a second look. Her diagnosis is that I have had a sprain. So now I am doing acupuncture and she's also doing a medicine wrap as well. Let's hope things get better from here.  Healing tips thereafter : walk less, lift the legs up for better circ...

Having kids mean having to cope with a lot of surprises along the way. In the last 4.5 years, I have seen my share of various ailments (myself or friends') & want to share some of the experiences. In general, I suggest to bring kids to see doctors whenever they are not well as doctors know best. Nonetheless, during sudden situations, I think it's also important to know what we are dealing with so I am sharing what I have googled along the way to educate myself (my first way out is always to see PD or GP by the way). Do note that I am not a doctor and the following is for reference only. 1.Spitting up / vomiting milk When a baby who is feeding suddenly vomits milk, quick hold the baby vertically up. Don't let the baby continue to lie flat in case he/she chokes. Spitting small amount of milk  is common in young babies but if vomit is projectile and happens once a day or more, please go see doctor. See article for more details on spitting up and reflux 2. Nosebleed...

Since birth of Cayson, I've been falling sick almost every month. I even got a serious eye infection. It could be due to lack of sleep or a weakened body post the c-section. The ultimatum came in the form of a week long flu that started on first day of Chinese New Year, simply due to exposure to cold winds in my house on the eve. In that long dreary week, I basked in self pity - I could not carry baby due to fear of passing the virus.  I did not even have energy to break baby for a walk after dinner. I was so sick of being sick.  Then, I decided that something has to change. I got to take charge of my health because bad health means that one cannot enjoy anything in life, not even the company of your loved ones. And viruses can also spread to your family and kids too.  As such, I started reading extensively about what I can do to reinvent my diet and lifestyle, and also what I can do to improve the family's immunity using TCM principles overlay with western n...

I've been getting queries on how I lost my weight so fast , and look even slimmer than before Cayson. Well , here's the not-so-secret secret.  1. Don't put on so much weight in the pregnancy to start with  1) For someone who's average weight before pregnancy, average weight gain is about 12-14kg. (Don't take number for what it is because you can afford more if you are underweight to start with). For my first baby Cayen, I put on 20+ kg, about 50% of my original weight. For the next four years, there was this remnant 5kg that I cannot shed so weight stayed at 58kg.   2) For Cayson, I watched my diet and put on only 14kg or so. Now after 7 months, I'm at 52kg. So actually I also lost 20kg after childbirth, same as first time. But as I didn't put on so many kgs, the nett weight is a lot lower.  Note that you should eat sufficiently and healthily during pregnancy , but case in point is that I overate in my first, thinking that I should be able to shed the weight...

Cayen doesn't like milk . While we try to give him 500ml per day, he ends up having only 300+ml per day. The last we measured his height, it was only 10% precentile though his weight was 50% precentile. Hence, I decided to buy this supplement for him as a backup for days that his intake is only 300ml+. I opened the  Childlife Liquid Calcium  bottle today and was a tat surprised to see that it is a thick creamy looking syrup that is orange flavour. I decided to dilute it a bit before feeding baby, around 1:1 proportion. Good thing is that he loves it! Now at least I need not worry anymore that he is not having enough calcium though my priority would be to have him eat more high calcium natural foods. Btw, if you are first time customer, receive $10 off 1st order of $40 & up, or $5 off on smaller orders, when using code:  HQT301. 

I have received some questions on some of the products and its intended usage. So here's a quick summary on what they are per my research.  (By the way, i am no doctor. This is based on what I gathered from Dr Google..haha):  1. What is Propolis?  Propolis  is a resinous mixture that  honey bees  collect from tree buds, sap flows, or other botanical sources. It is used as a sealant for unwanted open spaces in the  hive . Propolis is used for small gaps, while larger spaces are usually filled with  beeswax . According to this   site ,  Propolis has a long history of medicinal use,   dating   back to 350 B.C., the time of Aristotle. Greeks have used propolis for abscesses; Assyrians have used it for healing wounds and tumors; and Egyptians have used it for mummification. It still has many medicinal uses today, although its effectiveness has only been shown for a couple of them. Propolis seems to have activity ...