My brave boy

I've been stuck in the hospital since Monday. Poor boy was down with fever on Sunday night, it was a scare to me. He's only six weeks old and down with fever. We brought him to the doctor the next day and he admitted him to TMC. Dcotor said it's unusual for infants less than 3 months to be down with fever. I was fearful and this made me teared.

Doctor admitted him for tests and to monitor his fever for the next 24 to 48 hours. Never did we expect to stay beyond 48hours. Jare did his urine test, blood test and the worse of all, Lumbar puncture. When the first 2 tests proved negative, the doctor asked us to decide on Lumbar puncture. A procedure to draw fluid out of his spine, testing for meningitis. We thought for it overnight, and decided to go ahead for the assurance. His daddy joked that I escaped epidural, and my boy is now taking on my behalf. What nonsense.

The day came when it was time for his procedure, I felt so heavy-hearted when he was carried him away. It really was too much to bear for my little one. In separate rooms, I knew he was crying the walls down with no one to his rescue, and me, crying out with him. Half an hour later, he came back to me soundly asleep. It must be have been a tough fight. Doctor told me, he was not easy. Well, that's of course, he's a little baby going through this with no pain relieve. I'm just glad all tests were done and those were it.

I pleaded with the doctor to discharge us. It was a 'No' because his fever has not subsided. After the final test result came, all he could confirm was viral infection, not bacteria, which is a better outcome than the latter. There's no sign of meningitis, phew! 

 

Bringing his fever down

 

My parents comforting him...

 

Lying for 6 hours straight after lumbar puncture

 

Pumping antibiotics into his blood

Today, I finally see rainbow. Jare's fever subsided 19hrs since the last paracetamol intake. We can go home! In fact, doctor wanted us to stay and wait for another test result, but we persuaded him. It's a costly week just thinking about medical bill.

Everything's just in time. We're going to Jazz's school for her birthday celebration later, and we're all ready for her mini party at home tomorrow. She's been good, visiting her didi every night and wishing him a speedy recovery. I'm just glad we're going home today! I've been so worn out and stressed. All a mother could ask for from her children is, good health. Always.

To Jare: "Thank you for being such a strong and brave boy. It's been a tough battle for you. You took victory over the needles, medications, fever and virus. I'm proud of you. I love you."

To Jazz: "Thank you for staying healthy, Mummy loves you!"

Conversations of the day

Scene 1  

Mummy: Jazz, Mummy cooked chicken porridge for you.  

Jazz: Thank you Mummy!  

 

Scene 2  

Mummy: Jazz, Mummy bought sweets for you.  

Jazz: Thank you Mummy! Aw, she's just so wonderful. Melts my heart. 

 

Scene 3 

Mummy: Why don't you bring your son to the polyclinic for vaccinations instead of going to the PD. It's cheaper.  

Daddy: Because I want to give my children the best.  

Mummy: Why don't you give your wife the best? 

Daddy: You already got the best because your husband is the best.  

Mummy: Faint!

What a high self-esteem my husband has got. But hmm, sometimes, just sometimes, he really is the best.

Grow, Grow, Growing

Jare has completed his first month milestone. I recall, he's growing at a more speedily rate than Jazz, at this age. That made his weekly photos more drastic:

At birth

2nd week

3rd week

4th week

 

Changes are so fast! And I know I won't be spending more time with Jare as much as I did with Jazz, because it's back to work after 3.5 months. Well, that's ok, we'll always find time for the things and people we love.

Jare's Full month lunch

We held Jare's Full month lunch at Chilli Padi Nonya cafe last Sunday. It was a nice and cosy place that hosted our relatives and friends well. The food and service was fabulous, my guests loved it very much. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend that place to anyone. 

 

Ordered these cupcakes from sweetest moments

 

Didn't mean to exclude Jazz, but she was sleeping. I guess it's ok to give didi some limelight.

 

I looked greedy, but I was scooping food for Jazz

After sourcing for cupcakes and seeing the many beautiful cupcakes around. I'm inspired to learn baking creative cupcakes. So that next time when people ask, I can say I made them instead of buying them. 

Although the place sounds spicy, there are non-spicy food too. I adjusted the menu a little to make it kids friendly. 

 

The auspicious red kuehs and eggs

 

Nonya kuehs. They tasted really good!

Thank you for your thoughts and gifts, they're very much appreciated. 

 

And what made everything eventful was the presence of our relatives and friends. Thank you!

Outing of Four

I had my first experience of an outing of four - the man, myself and Js. It was Jare's 1st month jab last Saturday, so off we went to United square. And to make this first attempt memorable, the man left the stroller home, I had to carry Jare in my arms throughout. Jazz wasn't too much of independence yet, she likes to be carried most of the time too.

After the medical appointment, we had lunch at Bakerzin and it was pretty easy, because all Jare did was to sleep. We left him to sleep on a cushion seat we got, and that invited stares. Not sure why, or maybe he's just cute. Or were we weird to leave baby sleeping on couch? I left my stroller home eh.

 

Sleeping on Daddy's lap

While one is sleeping, the other is hyper

After lunch, was home. Shopping and any other agenda was out of mind. It was quite tough when both were sleeping with the absence of stroller. I'm just glad that the little boy managed to hold his feed till we got home. He's putting on good weight, 4.4kg at month one, slightly above average. Seems like breast milk is doing him much growth. 

Diapers changing

Jazz has been of great help at home, she would never fail to help us retrieve the things we need when help is needed. When I'm changing Jareth's diapers, I would ask her to get me a fresh piece and she would readily do so. Okay, sometimes she'll end up playing with the rest of the diapers, but most of the time, she was really of assistance. 

 

Not only does she mess with Jare's diapers, she has also been messing around with her diapers. So much so that we've decided to keep them out of her reach. She uses her diapers to put on for her 'friends.'

 

She puts on diapers for her "friends"

 

She doesn't miss the steps. She changes their diapers like how we change hers. She uses the wet wipe, the nappy cream and then wrap it up! This really made her Grandparents laughed. Now, I wonder when is she able to do so for her little brother...

"No hand"

Last weekend, we went over to Ash's house for her 2nd birthday party. It's just opposite our block, so that really made it easy for me since I was still doing confinement. Hmm, and I've been sneaking out for the past 2 weeks, mostly to pick Jazz from school and once for groceries.

Anyway, after the party, auntie A gave Jazz a party pack and some balloons. On our way back, she asked to munch on the biscuit in the goodie bag, so I opened it for her. On one hand was her goodie bag and the other was busy with her biscuit. Her Daddy then asked her to hold the balloons and she said,"no hand", with an attempt of lifting up both her hands to prove herself true. We both looked at each other and burst out into laughter. It was a copied reply from us, we use it when she needed us to help and we're occupied. Upon hearing her mention that day, I've also realised how singlish that English was.

 

I thought she was really cute though.

Happy to be out in the sun after being confined to home

Her occupied hands

Thank you Ash for the invite!

My Birthday Fever

Last week was bad for me, I ran a continuous fever of 4 days. It got me really down and emotional. I've since visited KKH and now on antibiotics.

I got much better that evening, and the usual faithful friends visited me with presents. Thank you so much! The man got me a birthday cake, but Jazz slept early that night and I so much wanted to have her with me during cake cutting. I wanted to leave it to the next day, but there's an 'evil' man who woke her up to cut the cake, that's her jiujiu. After that, he shoved the responsibility to get her to bed again. Jazz ended her night late, all at the expense of mine and the man's sleep.

My cake reads "Happy Birthday Mummy"

What an 'eventful' birthday celebration I had. I hate fever.

Coconut

I googled and found no concrete evidence of coconut and childbirth. Many said drinking coconut near delivery gives you a clean baby upon birth. In any case, I tried for both Jazz and Jare, and it really does wonders! I'm usually a non-believer of myths, superstitions or old wives tales, I'll do what is of common sense. Anyway, I just tried it. Regardless of it being a tale or myth, the most convincing part was listening to testimonies of countless mummies who have tried them successfully. I wasn't sure when my little ones were coming out, so I drank it almost everyday when I was into my 38th week. Coincidentally for Jare, he was induced the next day I drank, for Jazz, it was 2 days before, I think. Anyway, coconut is such a refreshing sweet drink, it was my pleasure to keep drinking.

Most said to drink the huge green coconut which can be easily found at hawkers, but I drank the Thai and young coconut which were easily found at supermarkets. They were cheaper and did similar wonder, or maybe coincidence if you ain't convince. Thai coconuts are easy to 'chop' open at home, young coconut with husk are harder to open, but hmm, that's when husbands come into the picture.

Here are my evidences:

That's Jazz

Typical boy's position. Had to mosiac it, he might see it when he grows up.

 

I thought Jare wasn't as clean as Jazz, but my gynae said he was very clean. Okay, it really doesn't matter much about coconuts, nurses will clean and bathe your baby after all. It's just for better picture effect at the initial moments.