Update regarding HFMD

In Gwendolyn's school, 1 new case was identified in the K1 class yesterday and no new case reported as of today! Phew. I suspect that the child from the K1 class is a sibling to the child from Gwendolyn's class. Oh well, wish them good luck, as the current strain of virus is fatal and there is no cure to it. The poor kids have to fend off the virus by their own immune system. Must be a really stressful time for their mother to take care of 2 sick child at the same time.

Latest update from the Ministry of Health on 26 March 2006
http://www.moh.gov.sg/corp/about/newsroom/pressreleases/details.do?id=36798508

Hand Foot & Mouth Disease ("HFMD")

It's not easy being a parent. I was busy with work yesterday (27 March 2006) and when I finally got out from teaching and reached my desk, I was worried like mad, as I have received an email from Gwendolyn's school that there is one Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ("HFMD") outbreak in her class. Even though the child has immediately been isolated and sent home, however, Gwendolyn has been having HFMD-like symptoms since last week: Pimple-like spots on her backside, her 1st ulcer, got bitten by her classmate when both were snatching at the same toy (nothing too serious though, not bite mark) and started runny nose since Friday. I have been skeptical at her symptoms, but she acted normal, without showing tiredness, weakness or developing a fever, I thought there was no pressing need to visit the doctor. Finally, when I got the news, immediately, I pack up from work and rushed to her school, just to see her being "isolated" at the back room, away from other children. I understand from the school's point of view that the outbreak was from her class and she is being seen as under the "higher risk" group. Being isolated is good practice for the school, as they can't keep other children away from her. As I have mentioned in the earlier postings, her "fan club members" will rush to kiss and hug her whenever she arrives and leaves, it is not good hygiene practice to leave her wandering around for other kids to prey on.

When arriving at the doctor, I was worried that the doctor will not be able to diagnose her in detail, as she hates going to the doctor, except for bringing home "soup soup" (her medicine). Doctor Darryl has been patient with her ever since started seeing her. Each time, things get better and yesterday, he commented that this is the best and easiest dignostic session ever. She was so co-operative and it's just not the normal her. Why? Darryl showed her a "clapping monkey" and then an "aeroplane carousel". He taught her to play the "aeoplane carousel" by opening her mouth to make it turn, so that he can observe her ulcer. We changed her nappy on the "clinic bed", so that he can observe her nappy rash. That was really a very smooth process and in the end, she was diagnosed to be clear from HFMD. What a relief. However, we are still required to keep a vigilant monitor on her, just in case. Only if the Ministry of Health has announced that the epidemic is over, I will still be worried...

Hand, Foot And Mouth Disease (HFMD)

Press release by the Ministry of Health, Singapore on 19 March 2006
http://www.moh.gov.sg/corp/about/newsroom/pressreleases/details.do?id=36700167

FAQs on Hand, Foot And Mouth Disease

http://www.moh.gov.sg/corp/about/faqs/illness/details.do?cid=cat_faqs_illness_hfm&id=8257620

Long Bar with May Jie Jie

This is Gwendolyn's first time to a BAR!!! Yes, you heard me right. LONG BAR at the Raffles Hotel, the birth place of the infamous drink: SINGAPORE SLING!


May Jie Jie was Mama's ex-colleague in HK. Even though they are still with the same global firm, they are located in different territories. Ever since Mama knows May Jie Jie, she was known as THE baby lover and is interested in all forms of cute babies / toddlers / kids / etc (in this case, includes: "I Tong Tong" -> this is the recent way that Gwendolyn calls herself!). Even though this is the first encounter between May Jie Jie and "I Tong Tong", they enjoyed each other's company. In the end, when they finally parted, "I Tong Tong" gave a sad look when being brought away!

What a morning!

What would you normally do after waking up from a good night's sleep? Gwendolyn will tell you what:

Practice Kissing...

Practice Smiling...

Practice split...

What a busy morning! Finishing off with a nice breakfast...hehe

I did it myself - I brought in the newspaper

Needless to say, Gwendolyn is a very neat child. Why? Who would have guessed that a child of her age would know how to initiate to bring the newspaper into the house when papa or mama opens the door? Not only just that, but she'll bring it to the coffee table, stack up all the newspapers into one neat stack and then proudly look at papa and mama to say:

I DID IT MYSELF

Pointing at herself -> implies "I did it myself"

This is the book that she's asked for!

These are a few of my favourite things

Those who knows Gwendolyn, knows that her favourite security toy (ooooops...sorry, I should say "friend", who's been with her through thick and thin) is "Huh Huh Huh", a.k.a. "Dog Dog"

Her favourite activity friend (activities include: nappy changing, dressing up in the morning, wearing shoes, etc) is Ernie, the finger-muppet. Even though he has no lower body, but Gwendolyn still makes him "walk" up the staircase with her in school.

Her favourite performing stage, where she "dance" and "perform" most of the time. It is a Holly Place, where she'll be ghastly disturbed if "invaded" by Papa, especially...haha


Last, but not the least to mention...every child's favourite: BARNEY...

Joel's birthday party

Joel ("DiDi"), Gwendolyn's cousin had his 1st birthday party last Saturday, 18 March 2006. Many people were at the party, mostly relatives and closed friends of Aunt Karine and Uncle Kelvin. Gwendolyn fell asleep when we were on our way to the party and conveniently slept in Didi's baby cot! She had a hefty 3-hour nap and by the time she woke up, she was shocked to see so many people crowded in the house, all hounding to see her infamous eyelashes! Since she was not totally awake from her nap, she shyed away in mummy's arms and waited to warm up by playing her favourite party toy (the "flap flap").


Cake-cutting...yeah yeah...who does DiDi look like? Aunt Karine or Uncle Kelvin...you'll be the judge!

Photo of me with Aunt Karine and Uncle Kelvin. Please compare with Didi's photo at the beginning of this posting...(I still look "blur blur" from my nap)

I did it myself - I spread peanut butter on my own bread

Barney likes peanut butter and jam sandwich, so does Gwendolyn! Last weekend, she asked me to buy peanut butter from the supermarket (I am not sure how she got in contact with peanut butter, maybe in school? But she was so certain that she liked it, so I agreed to buy.) and this morning, when I placed the bread and peanut butter on the dining table, she was already shouting for "bread bread". I told her to finish with her bottle of milk before eating any bread. After taking my morning shower, I went out to see that she was already eating bread and cheese! She insisted on holding the knife and spread the peanut butter by herself.



After she's satisfactorily completed her task, she proudly looked at mama and pointed at herself! I DID IT MYSELF AGAIN!

I did it myself - Carry my own can of milk!

To prove that she is really strong and be able to do things by herself, Gwendolyn has again, tested her physical strength...she carried her 1.8kg can of "nei nei" (a.k.a. milk), from grandma's flat, all the way to the car! She knows that the can is hers and she wants to take ownership and charge of her personal belongings, she insisted on carrying the can all by herself!


In the end, after boarding the car and landed on the car seat, she was so satisfied that she gave a firm nod to mama and pointed at herself - I DID IT MYSELF!

Gwendolyn's new hat!

Today is the first day of the March school holidays, but Gwendolyn is still back at school for some "holiday activities", which I believe, is no different from her normal school "play days"!! As she needs a hat for outdoor play everyday and she's been wearing a "baby" hat for the whole term (pls note that the hat was her "1st month" present, so you can imagine how small it was. Finally, we brought her to Taka on Sunday and managed to find one shocking red that she luv...guess what? Once it was on her head and she's seen herself in the mirror, she REFUSED to remove it...how vain...every now and then, she'll touch her head to make sure that it's still there...and whenever we walk pass a mirror, she'll observe herself carefully in the mirror! Oh dear, that's not my trait...since I hardly look into the mirror myself! Could it be from her father???

Btw, I've accidentally irritated our Princess this morning. Why? Cause she slept until 7:50am and still have no sign of waking up for school. As usual, I have to switch off her air-con, pull up the blinds and open the windows, so that the natural "environmental noise" will tickle her senses and wake her up. However, she was irritated by the fact that she was not doing all these and started crying without opening her eyes! Then what did mummy do? Closed the windows and pull down the roller blinds again, so that my princess can "re-perform" by "herself" and prove her INDEPENDENCE! No wonder...out of so many Barney books, she chose "I Did It Myself" yesterday!!! But something that papa and I didn't understand: she insisted on buying a "football" book...anyone got the cue here? At least papa and mama are not sure WHY~~~~~~~

Finally

Finally I've found my way here...an easier blog to play with...Thanks Jen!