Okay I am getting the pre-holiday jitters finally. It’s already Thursday? And we are leaving for Gold Coast in like, less than 3 days time? I am not exaggerating here when I say we have not even packed our luggage for the trip. Some essentials that we will need for the trip, we have yet to buy too. And Tatek will be working today and tomorrow. This means I either have to try to do as much as I can during these two days, or just wait till Sunday, panic massively, and then do our very last minute packing.
Believe me, we are usually a very well-organized couple. We have our reasons for slacking a bit this time round, so hear me out now. The girls have been down with the stomach flu since last weekend, so it was just impossible for us to run errands or pack for the trip because all our time was spent on the girls, at home. For the past six days, Tatek and I have been taking turns to care for the girls. To date, we already made three trips to the pediatrician. Myreen and Mysha have sort of recovered from their stomach flu because there have been no bouts of loose bowels or vomiting this far. Fever is already gone too. So right now, our focus is on Sharleez because she is still having loose bowels, some vomiting though not as frequent already, and fever. So yeah, it has been a very exhausting week for us. We could think of nothing else because we just want the girls to be fully recovered for the trip.
Alhamdullilah, I have yet to get the bug despite my close contact with the girls. Not yet. Choyyyy! I really hope I will not get it eventually. Let me tell you, I have been especially obsessed with cleanliness ever since the stomach flu hit the girls. They say it is impossible to avoid getting it but there are ways to reduce our risk of catching the stomach flu in the first place – by making the home an unwelcome habitat for them digestive dangers/viruses/bacteria! And that’s what I have been doing – make my house as unwelcoming as possible. Haha! So what have I been busy with? Mopping the entire house with Dettol. Wipe furniture and all surfaces with Dettol. Spray sofas, beds and toilets with Dettol. Wash hands thoroughly with Dettol after every visit to the toilet alone or with girls. Keep the girls isolated in their room at least 80% of the time. Wear a face mask when handling girls’ vomit. No sharing of food or drinks.
And like what our pediatrician advised,
“Sorry to say but no hugging or kissing for the time being.”
Shan Ehan was supposed to come over on Monday but I whatsapp-ed Nurul to tell her about my girls’ condition. Although we would really love to have Shan over, I thought it was only right that I informed Nurul of the situation at home.
I even had to postpone my makeup class on Saturday because Sharleez is still sick as of now, and therefore the viruses can spread to my makeup students who will later go home and spread them to their kids. Can you see how these viruses spread easily? Urghh.
And I think that’s what you should all do too when you are suffering from a contagious illness – avoid contact with others. Be considerate enough to not visit friends or family if you are having the stomach flu, and you should also not allow your friends or family to visit you until the stomach flu is no longer contagious (this usually takes about a week or two). I was quite shocked when my family friend Sabariyah, came to visit the girls without telling us – she was putting herself at risk la this cheeky woman. Tsk tsk. Stomach flu is no joke, seriously. The virus can live for weeks on surfaces. That’s why I keep wiping the surfaces with Dettol, see? I do not mind spending all my money on Dettol, really.
Most importantly…
Be a clean freak.
Now let me go worry about the packing for my Gold Coast trip because everything else is more or less ready actually.
Thanks to ROAM of course! 
SO MASSIVELY EXCITED CAN?!
Pray for our safety to and fro, okay? Insya’allah!
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You know how sometimes you cannot help but to feel that you are not a good enough mother?
Don’t worry, I feel like that sometimes too and yes, the feeling is not very nice, right?
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. HI 5!
My twins are currently still not well – Myreen is having full-blown stomach flu with all the vomiting, very loose bowels plus a very high fever while Mysha is having a high fever. So I have to be constantly monitoring these two. Myreen especially needs all the attention because she has to make that trip to the toilet every now and then. Potty training is on halt as a result because my poor girl just cannot control her loose bowels.
So the night before, it was all up to me to manage my time to ensure that I could attend to my twins AND Studiofrost. Right after I put the girls to bed, despite my already heavy eyes, I decided to start writing on the envelopes for half of Studiofrost’s paid orders. Oh yes, 400 envelopes so far to write your pretty names and addresses on by Wednesday so that we can send them out to Singpost on Thursday! Yay! And you know why I decided to work instead of sleep despite a very long day? Because I thought I needed to multitask – I could monitor Myreen while getting some work done at the same time so that you know, if she were to vomit or do some business in her pull-up, I would be able to attend to her there and then. She did not do either of those luckily but instead, her fever decided to peak at 39.2 degree celsius. Again, luckily I was still awake so I immediately woke her up to feed her medicine before sponging her.
I thought to myself while sponging Myreen, “How is it that I am able to do all these for my girls ever so readily without waking the very tired Tatek up from his sleep?”
How is it that most mothers can sacrifice so much for their kids?
And then, this quote came to mind right away.
There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one”
I believe I am doing my best for my girls already, and I should be damn proud of that.
Cheers to mummyhood!
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So my firstborn turned 5 years old on 3 January 2012.
She chose a Tom & Jerry cake eventually. Brought her to the cake shop to choose and I was quite surprised she did not want a Hello Kitty cake. She was like, “Mummy, I enjoy watching Tom & Jerry so much. Let’s buy the cake for my Cat Party.”
And since it was going to be a Cat party, her goody bags had to somewhat look like cats too. Duh. So I decided DIY-ed the goody bags – bought the clear bags and printed papers from Daiso, the goodies from NTUC, and drew out the eyes, ears, nose and whiskers myself. Thank goodness Tatek was around to help me out, so we managed to get the goody bags done within hours!
Nice or not?
Can la hor!
It is just my poor girl’s luck that her birthday will always and forever fall on the first day of school every single year. Definitely no class parties for her but I am more than thankful that Teacher Suhailah managed to squeeze in a bit of celebration for Sharleez and her classmates, took pictures of the celebration for me, and even whatsapp-ed me the pictures thereafter. Thank you Teacher Suhailah so very much.
Thank you dearest Hannah & family for the gift!
So yeah, Sharleez started kindergarten last Tuesday, and it was basically a wild week filled with all sorts of emotions for me, and obviously for my girls as well. Oh yes, Mysha and Myreen started Nursery 2 last Tuesday. Hehehe and they are both in the same class still, together. Looks like they will be each other’s BFF (Best Friend Forever) again.
Their first day of school provided me with a SUPER HUGE reminder of the importance of always being in the moment with the girls. I think I an stress enough on the importance of it all. I was almost confident that I would cry on the first day of school. The day before school started, I could not sleep (just like most mummies) because I was simply too emotional. So many thoughts on my mind, and I was almost in denial that my girls have grown yet a year older. I knew that I could not longer hold on to my girls ever so tightly like before, and that it was time for me to release them slightly but surely, into the big world. The change was overwhelming that it knocked me down and took my breath away the moment I sent them to their classrooms. When I saw how Mysha and Myreen looked at me with those sad eyes, I had to control myself from crying or going over to them because I knew deep down inside that they would be fine. I mean, their teachers will not eat them up or anything, right? And their cute little friends look pretty harmless too.And relating to my past experience as a teacher, obtrusive parents will only make it tougher for the teacher and kids to settle down quickly. So I put up a brave front, said goodbye to them, and left. Of course I still needed some reassurance from Tatek, and he was like, “Don’t worry la oi, you know they will be okay what!” Urghhh. This Tatek is always so cool and composed one. How can?! I am sure you mummies can relate to this, right? We mummies are a bunch of emotional wrecks plus drama mamas, aren’t we? But we are also the chosen ones to be mummies, so let’s take pride in that.
Sometimes it is just so hard for us mummies to learn to let go but I guess we have to, bit by bit. I am always telling myself this just to make myself feel better about letting go – overprotective or authoritarian parents will most of the time, result in the kids growing up as underprepared children. It is good to be protective, but sometimes don’t you think that we overestimate the dangers in the normal world and deprive our kids of coping skills and fun? And when parents are overprotective, the kids will know that expectations are big, and may therefore feel compelled to lie or conceal their actual behavior. That’s not what we want, right? That’s not what I want, for sure. It will be tough for some of us, but we all need to somehow start somewhere if we want the best for our kids.
So dear Sharleez Nadya,
Happy Turning 5 Kakak! You told me that day that you are now already a big girl, and can do so many things on your own already. I don’t think so. INDEED YOU ARE A BIG GIRL! :S
You have been such a joy and pride. I am super thankful to have such an independent and confident young girl as my daughter. You are ever so sensitive to others’ feelings, and you are always inspiring me to be a better parent. The dua that you never fail to recite each night just tells so much about the wonderful person you are.
“Bismillahirahmanirahim.
Dear Allah, please keep me healthy and strong.
Please keep us safe.
Please make Mummy and Daddy happy.
Make Adik happy.
Make everyone happy.
Make me cycle well, make me swim well, make me learn well.
Amin insya’allah.”
Insya’allah, God will keep this family of ours safe always.
No matter how big you think you already are, please always allow me to tuck you into bed. Hahaha!
I am so glad you enjoyed the little Cat party on your birthday, and the wonderful gifts from everyone who loves you. It was so heartwarming to see everyone present during your party. Even your Mama E changed her flight just to be there for you. Nana and Dada as usual, prepared a wonderful spread for you, the birthday girl. It was nasi lemak with lots of side dishes like cocktail sausages, fishcakes, otah, crabmeat, Mexican drumlets, and fishballs. You are indeed blessed, but I just hope that when you are bigger and more independent, you will always remember how much you are loved, and that you will have your family no matter what happens. Always be there for your family too because family matters.
You told me this as we were watching Deliver Me few days back.
“Mummy, is giving birth painful? When I am bigger , am already a mummy and can take the pain, I want to give birth from the v/a/g/i/n/a, and be just like you.”
Let me tell you this, I think you will be a wonderful mummy when your time comes one fine day. I just have that strong feeling, Sharleez Nadya.
But for now..
Enjoy being 5!
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Are you married?
Some questions for you to ponder, firstly.
- Do you think you and your spouse have somewhat lost that loving feeling?
- Is there now a big wall of silence in between you both?
- Do you want to make the marriage work but don’t know how to?
- Do you want to communicate with your spouse but find it so difficult to mouth out your thoughts?
- Or do you somehow suspect that your spouse is loving you less because he/she is loving someone else more behind your back? Is your spouse denying it?
- Or is it just you who is being so overly suspicious of your spouse’s every move just because he/she is not giving you enough attention?
Do you want to fall in love with each other all over again & make the marriage work? First thing you need to do is to tear down that wall of barrier, I say. How to?
BY GOING FOR COUPLES’ RETREAT CINTA NAN SATU.
This Couples’ Retreat is organized especially for Muslim couples who have been married for 10 years or less. You will both take a coach bus to Pulai Spring Resort & Spa in Johor Bahru and spend the weekend together from 4 February to 5 February 2012. And believe it or not, you just need to pay SGD155 per couple!
Have you seen Pulai Spring Resort & Spa, my friend?
WOW.
Looks like a 5-star resort right? And SGD155 for 2D1N stay with your spouse? I must say it is a deal not to be missed! Pulau Spring Resort & Spa is an award winning world-class resort with 5-star facilities! Click HERE to find more about Pulai Spring Resort Spa.
Ok stop.
At this point of time, I know that some of you must already be thinking of your kids. Who to babysit them, right? Well ,don’t worry. If you really cannot find anyone to babysit your kids, you can bring them along for the Couples’ Retreat. Extra charges apply, of course. Aiyah, then defeats the whole purpose of going for a Couples’ Retreat when the kids are tagging along, right? Not necessarily. You see, there will be programmes planned for kids (3 to 10 years old) during the Retreat. So your kids will be with you at Pulau Spring Resort & Spa, but not exactly be with you at the same time, get it? You and your spouse will still get to do fun romantic activities together without having to worry about your kids. This is such a wonderful arrangement because I know there are some parents like me out there who are still a bit skeptical about leaving the kids behind. I would have signed up for this Couples’ Retreat too if not for my Gold Coast trip which falls on the same day.
Put it this way, if you treasure your marriage, you will know that you will need some time alone with each other every now and then to restore the spark of love in your marriage. Sometimes, you focus too much of your time and energy on your children and the stresses of the busy world to even realize each other’s existence. By the time you are done with work and your daily responsibilities, you will be too tired for each other. The marriage feels tired too. Do not let it carry on. Do something about it!
Marriage is a work in progress, at the end of the day.
And won’t you just look at the Children’s Pool? My Nadyas will definitely love this!
And the Kids’ Playroom!
How convenient, there is even a room for prayers!
During the retreat, there will be lots of activities planned just for you and your. Attractive prizes like LCD TV, DVD player, Netbook Computer and camera await you too! And if you are lucky, you might just one of the prizes! So you see, you will be getting far more than what you will be paying for! Couples retreats are such a wonderful escape from everything, even if it’s just for a while. While you are on the marriage retreat, you may rediscover things about each other that were long forgotten over the years of marriage. You may discover that you do love each other very much and that the problems you face in your marriage are really just small issues. Communication is key in any relationship, and it is important to say what you need and listen to whatever that your spouse has to say too. You will definitely learn various types of ways to work make the marriage work. And because there will other couples as well, it will be a fun learning experience together. No need to be paisey even!
By attending the Couples’ Retreat, you will
- Re-visit your love for one another & assess how your relationship has brought you to where you are now,
- Develop a shared vision of the future of your marriage,
- Re-explore the joy and happiness you once knew by thinking about your mutual interests and value systems
- Turn the problems you are facing currently into assets that will strengthen your marriage.
- Examine why the intimacy and closeness are no longer present in your relationship & think of creative ways you can bring these qualities back into the marriage,
- Think of ways you can build upon to stay connected with each other.
But most importantly, you will get to spend quality time with one another!
For more details on COUPLES’ RETREAT CINTA NAN SATU, please refer to the following. Click on the picture for a larger view.
Do not hesitate to contact Ms. Haslinda at 91276163 or prowise2005@gmail.com for enquiries or bookings.
Remember to do so by 31 January 2012 because as usual-FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.
So you ask me what’s next after the retreat? Can things go back to normal for sure?
Insya’allah they can. You need just one thing though – conscious effort. That’s what it usually takes for your marriage to stay afloat.
I like to think that thanks to conscious effort, I am still happily to my wonderful husband. I do hope our wonderful marriage will last till eternity. 
And I hope yours will too. Insya’allah.
“In every marriage more than a week old, there are grounds for divorce. The trick is to find, and continue to find, grounds for marriage.”
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It’s confession time.
I have been reminiscing a lot recently, mostly about my girls when they were still babies.
JUST LOOK AT THE BIG EYED MYSHA! Argghhhhhhhh.
AND THE SMALL EYED MYREEN! Double Arghhhhhh!
AND THE I-DONT-WANT-TO-HEAR-A-THING SHARLEEZ! Triple ARGHHHHHHHHH!
I miss having a tiny baby in my arm, or haha one baby in each arm. I miss that sweet baby smell. I miss those warm, tiny hands holding mine. I miss their toothless smiles. I miss folding tiny baby clothes and giggling at how small they are. I miss all those wonderful firsts – first smile, first word, first crawl, first giggle, first steps, and…
MY FIRST SQUIRT OF BREAST MILK.
I will never forget this picture because besides the fact that my left eye was swollen, the twins’ arrival really changed everything and made me realize what motherhood is *REALLY* about.
Just look at how happy Sharleez was to be the big sister to not one but two baby girls! Awwwww.
And oh my goodness, I miss breastfeeding so much. Nothing can be more amazing than to be able to nourish another human being and connecting them in so many ways while doing so. Sharleez was breastfed longer than Mysha and Myreen and it was partly because she was a singleton. Believe me, I tried my very best to go longer with my twins. Even tried the football hold, crisscross position, and parallel position too! What other methods did I not try? But gosh, when both twins wanted to be fed at the same time all the time, I decided to partially breastfeed them. They were babies then, what did they know about taking turns and waiting to be fed? With Sharleez, I could have gone longer too had I not been pregnant with Myreen and Mysha. When I was still teaching back then, I remember always feeling very excited each time the school bell rang because it meant I could finally go home to Sharleez and surrender my err..boobs to her? The moment I reached the house gate, I would see Sharleez crawling/walking/running to the gate. The joy in her face was beyond words. I would immediately carry her to the room, lie down on the bed with her, and breastfeed her for as long as she wanted.
Want to know my secret to good breastfeeding?
First way to increase your milk supply is to ensure that you eat well and get enough nutrients, and one good way of doing so is just by drinking ANMUM Lacta Milk Powder.
Anmum Lacta is the only milk specially formulated for breastfeeding mums in Singapore and contains DHA. DHA is naturally found in breastmilk. Anmum Lacta also contains Gangliosides, Sialic Acid and DHA. Gangliosides are complex fat components found in brain tissues. And the best thing of it all, Anmum Lacta is low on calories but excellent on taste. So you do not have to worry too much about gaining more weight by drinking Anmum Lacta.
Sometimes, breastfeeding mums find it hard to find time for themselves, what more to eat properly and take in the right amounts of nutrients for themselves and their child? Therefore, drinking two glasses of Anmum daily really helps. I tried it and just like Anmum Materna, it is neither too thick, too sweet, too creamy, or too rich. Try it yourself to believe me!
And of course, in order to have a good supply of breast milk, you need to breastfeed regularly. The initial stage of breastfeeding is not easy, what with the sore breasts, lack of milk, and yeah latching on difficulties, but the only way to increase supply of breast milk is to keep up with the demand. Basic Economics. Even if you are not with your baby, you still have to PUMP! So it’s either breastfeed every 2 hours or pump every 2 hours. No MCs. No off days. No public holidays. If truth be told, when I was still teaching back then, I almost went berserk in school every day trying to find time to express my breast milk. So on days when I had two to three periods free, I would spend one full period pumping. On days when I had only one free period, I would still use that period to pump. It did not matter that I did not get to sit down to take a breather because as long as I got to express, I was already one happy bunny. So my point is, no matter how busy you can get at work or anywhere else, when you are a breastfeeding mum, you have got to make time to express your milk. If I could do it, so can you!
You want to know how much breastfeeding my girls meant to me?
Here’s an excerpt from my old blog again.
And mind you, I was not fully breastfeeding my twins but I could still be that affected. See, even though M&Ms were not fully breastfed, I took great pride in whatever latching on period I had with them. The expressed milk meant so much more to me than Tiffany & Co. even. Why, my expressed milk contained the perfect combination of gems like protein, vitamins and of course Gangliosides, Sialic Acid and DHA.
So breastfeeding mummies, keep on breastfeeding for as long as you can. And get as much nutrients you can because always remember that your baby drinks whatever you take in.
The following email is from CT Farhana who drank Anmum Lacta while breastfeeding.
Mummies, if you are still contemplating whether or not to breastfeed your baby, perhaps you might want to read the following too.
7 REASONS WHY BREASTFEEDING IS BEST FOR BABIES:
1. Breastfeeding boosts your baby’s immune system
Studies show that babies who have been breastfed exclusively have better functioning immune systems and have added protection against allergies, asthma, Crohn’s disease, eczema, heart disease, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lymphoma, respiratory infections, and Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Breastmilk contains antibodies and gives an infant immunity to illnesses that the mother is immune to. Also, if a baby is exposed to a germ, he/she will transfer it back to the mother while nursing. The mother’s body will then manufacture antibodies to that particular germ and transfer them back to the baby at the next feeding.
2. Breastfeeding is good for your baby’s brain
Breastfed babies tend to have higher IQs than babies fed with infant formula. An 18-year study of over 1,000 children showed that kids who were breastfed achieved more academically than kids who were formula-fed as babies. Interestingly, breastfed babies spend more time in what is called the “quiet alert” state, which is most conducive for learning.
3. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of obesity
Breast milk contains high levels of adiponectin, a protein which affects how the body processes fat. Low levels of adiponectin have been associated with coronary artery disease, insulin resistance, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. The risk of obesity appears to be lowered the longer a child is breastfed.
4. Breastfeeding helps babies develop emotionally
Babies need to be held. The physical act of nursing is one of the most comforting things for a newborn. Leaving a baby alone with a bottle does not make him/her feel safe or secure. Breastfeeding also stimulates the release of the hormone, oxytocin, which facilitates maternal behavior and bonding between mothers and their newborns.
5. Breastfeeding reduces the mother’s risk of cancer and other diseases
Breastfeeding women were shown to have a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers and osteoporosis later in life.
6. Breastfeeding helps mothers lose weight faster
Mothers who breastfeed return to their pre-pregnancy weight faster. A woman needs about 500 calories daily to produce milk and breastfeed – the equivalent of a 5-mile jog. Breastfeeding also stimulates contractions in the uterus that help it go back to its normal, pre-pregnancy size faster and reduce lower body fat.
7. Breastfeeding helps save time and money
Mothers don’t have to prepare bottles and infant formula because breast milk is always fresh and ready to go. The economy has been tough and mothers can save some money because they don’t need to buy infant formula. Breastfed babies also tend to require fewer visits to the doctor and therefore,decreased medical expenses.
So do give breastfeeding a try at least, my fellow mummies.
For the greatest journey you will ever take, trust only Anmum.
And it’s definitely double the joy too when both you and your baby are healthy!
As for me, it was double the joy to be able to breastfeed my twins Mysha and Myreen, even if it was for a short period only.
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