Utah

28th Nov

We're finally here, after the long flight and transits.

As I'm typing here, Baby En is sleeping behind me on the soft, comfortable couch, even though she wanted to watch Elmo and the VCD is still playing away. Guess she must be really tired, as her sleep time is in a mess now. Could be the weather too. It's like an air-conditioned room though the heater is on.
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29th Nov

Woke up at 7am to do video call with family. Somehow the speaker didn't seem to be working on their side. Anyway it's a great feeling to be able to see them.

Think we're all getting a little sick. K is having his cough again. Baby En a little too. I'm having a blocked nose now. Not sure if it's due to the tiredness or the weather. Hope it's not the latter, else I'll be having it for the next few months.

Over here, it looks like a town. There's hardly any tall buildings around. The weather is really cold and dry, even though it's not at it's lowest yet. On the whole, everything seems nice. Our apartment is self-contained and very nice and cosy. We have a play ground here though I'm not even sure if we'd ever use it. That applies for the outdoor pool too. Basically it's like a condominium with a clubhouse.

We went to Wal-Mart last night. It's open 24hrs. Guess how much we spent? Over USD$200! We got a booster seat. Figured it's more worthwhile as it can be packed into smaller size when we leave for home. K got a local lousy hp for cheap local calls.

Baby En loves it here.

Will include pics in my next update.

Last Minute Changes

We'll be flying to Utah with Daddy tomorrow morning!

It was a last minute decision as a check with NW this morning revealed that they had economy tickets available now. Thus, we did the top-up of $1.2k plus. Next came the frantic packing, informing of family, friends, change of currency, banking etc etc. My house is still in a mess!

Amidst the chaos, this sudden sense of lost crept in. I started missing everyone and everything even before I flew, especially my Dear Fur Fur (perhaps part of it due to guilt, as I always feel that I'd neglected her since the arrival of Baby En). Gosh! I miss you Mummy, Papa, Bee Bee and all my dear gfrens (u know who u are)!

Take care!

HFMD

"Mummy, I got ulcers." True enough, 2 of them on each side of her tongue. "Itchy (referring to her feet)." GOSH! Blister-like rashes on both her feet. First thing that came to my mind was - HFMD!! I checked her hands but there was only one blister. No fever. Nonetheless, I rushed her to the doc.

The verdict - Positive. As treatment is symptomatic, there's really nothing much we can do except to let her immune system work it out. How unfortunate that it had to strike (1st time) just 2 weeks before we fly!

Luckily:-
1. It was mild. There wasn't any fever and the ulcers were not wide-spread. (By the time we got home from the clinic, the rashes had spread to both her palms and around her pelvic area. Good thing is, till now, there's no other signs that it's worsening).

2. It would have been worse if she contracted it later as recovery period is approximately 1 - 2 weeks. Phew!

I'm wishing that she'll be fully recovered from all her illnesses by the time we need to leave, otherwise it'll be a very uncomfortable trip for her. That translates to "It will be HELL for Mummy." Sigh......

P/s: She was first diagnosed with the disease yesterday morning.

坏小孩语录

1。小鬼做错事被我骂了两句，结果她说：“I want to call your HUSBAND”。然后她便打电话告状。

2。谈到妈妈生日快到了，便向她要礼物，她回答：“我很小，我还小，不可以买礼物。”

3。正要喂她喝咳嗽药水。小鬼要自己拿量药水的小杯子，说道：“It's MINE! I want to take myself. U pour inside. U don't take ha. Be a good girl.”

4。阿嫲问她：“U broke piggy(coin bank)?”
小鬼答：“I did not break piggy.”
阿嫲：“Then who broke piggy?”
小鬼：“It's En En.”

5。在车里，小鬼喃喃自语：“Teacher Yeow Gek, Mummy. Teacher Yeow Gek, Mummy..... Miss Chong, Daddy. Miss Chong, Daddy........”
爸爸多嘴道：“Yes.”
小鬼应：“Are u Miss Chong?”

Belles of AJPS - Thank You!

It's been very difficult to organise an outing with full attendance - family commitments, work schedule etc. But this time, WE ALL MADE IT!

Despite the horrendous jam (due to ASEAN summit), torrents rain, sickness, family woes, work schedule etc, we met, some even with young babies in tow.

"Heavy jam, Callous rain

Battling work foes

And family woes

Weak in body

Tired in souls

Despite all troubles

You gals came

At Aerin's we gathered

Amidst the wining and dining

We shared our stories

It's great to know

Regardless of time and space

We'll always have each other to share."

- dedicated to the lovely gals of AJPS (92/93)

This is the first time I'm trying my hands on a poem. It doesn't rhyme and might not seems that fantastic. But this is something I'll like to do for my dear friends of so many years. Even though the gathering wasn't well-planned, nonetheless we had a great time together - something we didn't have the luxury for in a long, long time.

Hope that we'll have the opportunity for such a marvelous gathering when I return.

P/s: Aoqun, pls forward me the pics u took so that I can post them here. Ths!

出国 - 散心？烦心？

到了今时、今日，没有一件事是定下来的。唯一能确定的是，肯定无法在28日起飞，经济舱已爆满！K公司发出的消息来得太迟了。

接着就是烦要订哪天的机票、票价、怎么安排接送、回程日期............明天的Visa interview不知会否出状况？？

一想到要独自一人，又提行李，又拖个小瓜，还要转两趟班机，就万般恐惧。特别是上回在Narita专机的经历，它们的候机室特别混乱，程搭不同班机的搭客都挤在一个诺大的候机室里。

原本满怀期待的白色圣诞，终于能够实现。却早已被烦琐、满布荆棘的过程一扫而空。真的不想去了........

注：几分钟前，终于确定了机票（NW的网络订票系统实在“烂”。结果还是得通过电话订票）。12月8日 - 如果证件等都通过，我们真的要走了。

坏妈妈

发现每个月生理周期起变化的那一、两个星期，脾气会变得特别急躁，完全失去忍耐的能力。

常因为一些小事情，跟孩子大喊大叫。可怕的是，情况好像越来越糟。今天一大早，又为了孩子闹情绪而发火。整个人好像疯子一样，跟她大吼，“讨厌”、“irritating”等可怕的话脱口而出。一直喊，一直喊，一直喊.....完全失去自制的能力，还出手打了她。一巴掌打了下去，她没静下来，还拿藤条在小手心抽了两下。

宝贝，对不起！

我到底发生了什么事？希望只是最近为安排到国外的事，比较烦燥而已。最好不是得了忧郁症......

Why u call me "Wei"

There was a period of time when Baby En decided it was cool calling people "Wei!". So she went around shouting "Wei!" to me. Till I told her it's rude to do that. And if anyone were to call her "Wei" in school, she should just ignore and tell them that she has a name.

It kind of improve for a while. Then, one day, while we were waiting to board the plane home at Phuket Airport, Baby En was messing around near a rubbish bin. As a reflex action, I shouted "Wei! Baby move away from the rubbish bin." Next thing I knew, she strolled up to me and said in an angry tone, "Mummy, why you called me 'Wei'". Papa laughed so loudly, but I wasn't in the bit embarrassed. In fact, I felt happy she registered my message, thus I apologise to her and took the chance to reiterate that it wasn't nice to be called "Wei".

Not too long after, DEAR DEAR DADDY became the butt of his own joke. Hahahahaha!

Feeding at 6 mths

Was looking through some pics taken in 2005 when I came across this video of Fat En during one of her initial feeding experiences. Do remember to turn on the speaker to listen to the "commentary" (courtesy of Mummy and Yi Yi on 12 Oct 2005).

乱

这阵子，生活过得有点杂乱无章。有太多东西需去处理，可是却因为少了许多info，很多必须做的事情都被迫卡在那儿。VISA、机票、保险等等等，没一样敲定。Oh my gosh!这个月28日要走了，看现在的情形，走不走得了还是个未知数。烦！