Isaac in school with his favourite friend!

Pictures as of 14th May 2010... Yeah, my mum's birthday! Which was why I managed to catch the kids at the playground coz I went to pick Isaac early that day - we wanted to leave early so that we'd reach my sis' place earlier... special day, so must make special effort, right? :p
Recently, like only last week, I think. I managed to finally ask my mum how come my birthday is 2 days earlier than hers. I mean, like how come, since I came out via ceasarean (I was sitting upright in her tummy - you upside down fools! ;p) - how come she didn't arrange for me to be born on her birthday?

Apparently, there were no more timeslots for the surgery on the 14th of May! The nearest date was 12th May... and so 12th May it was. I'd wanted to have a May baby myself. But hubbs and I didn't make it (ooops, literally!;p ) in time for a May baby. We had two January babies instead! Hahaha well, perhaps the next one then...
So anyway, this post is about my August baby - Isaac. I love to take pictures of Isaac in school. See him "in action" hahaha and he always is in action. very active in school, the teachers tell me. Above, he's climbing the ladder with Kevin behind him.
Isaac's grown quite a lot since he started childcare in March this year. I know so from how he fits in his school uniform. When we first bought it, it was more than a tad oversized. But we figured he'd grow into it since he would likely spend a good 3 years in it. But recently, I was pointing out to hubbs that they weren't as oversized as they used to be.
Hmmm then again, perhaps those aren't his clothes?! :p I had bought clothing labels to be ironed on to his clothes but kept forgetting to put them on. Then one day when I got Isaac to pee before we went home, I saw he was wearing another person's pants - it wasn't even his classmate's coz I didn't recognise the name. (Goodness! Have you been getting into other people's pants, Isaac?!) FAINT. Anyway, that put an end to my procrastination - quickly ironed on those labels :p
Teacher Foong Ling tells me that most of the teachers in school really like Isaac. Which I kinda/sorta noticed - coz every morning when we go to school, he'd be greeted by all the teachers by name - even though they don't teach him. They'd go like "Hi Isaac!" or "Good morning, Isaac Tan!" and the Vice Principal in school even calls Isaac by his full name hahaha...
Apparently, he has this way of charming his way into all the teacher's hearts... with his smiles and cheeky ways. Like...

One time I was 'complaining' to T Foong Ling about how Isaac always whines and whines... and she said that he doesn't do so in school. I was like !?!? then how come he does so at home? She says he knows that it "doesn't work" on the teachers - so he tries another way... Isaac'd smile at the teacher, and grin and smile and work his charm till the teacher gives in to whatever he wants (or compromise at least - I can imagine!).
T Foong Ling also told me that she noticed one thing unique about Isaac is that he plays very well with the girls in class. The other boys usually play amongst the boys only, but Isaac plays with both the boys and the girls. The girls would even say "Come, Isaac." and they wanna hold his hand. So, everyday, Isaac can have his choice of whose hand he wants to hold that day :)

But at home, when I ask him whose hand he has held that day in school, Isaac tends to name me one of the boys. Qiuyi, or Marcel, or Arash. Hmmm... so young already know how to keep from me that he's holding hands with girls?! :p
Isaac loves to play with all his friends. He mentions most of the kids in class, when I talk to him about school, at home. So when I first asked Isaac who his favourite friend was, I really had no idea whether he had one, or who it was going to be. And his reply was "Dinesha". I was thinking to myself - huh? who is Dinesha? Must be a new classmate - saw quite a few new indian girls in school lately.
It was quite awhile later, after much effort in trying to find out who is Dinesha, when T FL told me "Huh? There's no Dinesha - Alycia, issit? Isaac is best friends with Alycia." hahahhahaahaa silly Isaac. Apparently, it was Alycia he was referring to!

I still remember T FL's exact words, she said "Ah yes, Alycia is Isaac's new best friend." And my reply was "Oh really? Who was his previous best friend?" and T FL stunned a split second, then shrugged and said "Nobody. He was... looking." Not sure why, but this conversation left a deep impression on me. hahaha...
So anyway, this was only shortly after Isaac started childcare, like less than a month - when he already found a 'best friend'. Furthermore, we started childcare on the March holiday week - and Alycia was away for the whole week (family went on holiday) and the week after (sick!). So Isaac and Alycia actually became firm friends very quickly indeed.
"How come huh?" I asked T FL, I was curious as to why Alycia, and not the others. And she replied that perhaps it was coz Alycia and Isaac are the two in class whose speech is most developed. The rest of the kids couldn't really speak as much as these two could yet. As a result, Isaac and Alycia enjoyed talking to each other quite a bit. During snack time and lunch, the pair of them would be chattering non-stop to one another.
It also appears, that everyday Isaac would make a fuss during class time, usually coz that day he wasn't assigned to a seat beside Alycia and so he's trying to get to sit beside Alycia. One day, one of the teachers (can't recall if it was T FL or Laoshi) told me that Isaac fought with Xinrui one day. And when I asked why - it was coz he was trying to sit in Xinrui's seat - which was beside Alycia.

Another day, the teacher said, "Oh Isaac today didn't fight over seats with anyone - coz Alycia didn't come school today." hahahaha sigh, my Isaac, my Isaac.
But Alycia's really very sweet, isn't she? Pretty little one (my Isaac got taste :p). In the mornings, when we get to the centre, Alycia is usually already there. Some mornings, Isaac would be quite cranky and start whining or crying, refusing to let me go. And Alycia would always come over, place her hand on Isaac's shoulder, and try to comfort him. So sweet, yah.

I even think Alycia and Isaac look kinda alike, don't you think? Like, they look like... "the same pattern" kind. They even speak kinda similar sort of. hahaha...

pix taken as of 14th May 2010
Isaac @ 2 years 9 months plus
The kids all turn 3 years in 2010

Oh! I forgot to say. Alycia is officially Isaac's favourite friend. When I ask this question, he replies "Alycia!" at least 80% of the time. The rest of the time, he mentions another classmate at random, and usually launches into saying almost all his classmates names - naming them ALL as his favourite friends. It's really great hearing that he likes all his friends :) one of the best things about sending him to childcare has been this :)

Just recently, when I asked him who was his Favourite Friend, he replied: "Marcel! ... and Alycia! and Qiuyi and Macy and Xinrui and Jiaying and Arash and Kevin and Teacher Lina and Teacher Foong Ling!!!"

P.S. Jean, Alycia's birthday same as yours - 28th June!!! :)

Isaac's favourite teacher is...

Remember how I was telling you that Isaac had learnt the meaning of the word "favourite"? This was the post I made in May about his favourite food. At that time, I meant to quickly follow up with two more "favourite" posts - Isaac's favourite friend and his favourite teacher. In a blink of an eye, it's now July...

Isaac has two main teachers: Teacher Lina and Teacher Foong Ling. He loves them both. Teacher Lina takes the class in the morning up to nap time, whereas Teacher Foong Ling takes the class in the afternoon. Something like that.

I first found out who Isaac's favourite teacher was one evening as I was driving us both home after school/work. Isaac gets cranky after school, primarily coz he's tired after a long day. So he was getting cranky (as usual), when, just to distract him, I asked him who was his favourite friend, who's his favourite teacher etc.

The first time I asked him "Isaac, who's your favourite teacher?" He paused awhile, thinking, "Ummm..." and replied "Teacher Foong Ling!" I was surprised, coz I thought he would reply Teacher Lina since Teacher Lina technically spent more time with the class. Subsequently, everytime I asked him the question, 90% of the time, he would reply "Teacher Foong Ling!" without hesitation.

I wrote the following account of one morning... in... I dunno when, sometime in May 2010 perhaps. On that morning, I quickly typed it out after I reached office, but never got the chance to post it...

It was a regular weekday morning as we made our way from home to school/work. Isaac was a bit cranky this morning, for some unknown reason. Just cranky. Maybe didn't sleep well *shrug*. As I turned into Pasir Panjang Road…he went...

Isaac: Mummy, I don’t want laoshi… *mumble*mumble*

Me: What? What did you say? I turned down the volume of the radio

Isaac: I don’t want laoshi… I want *mumble*mumble*

Me: Why? Laoshi is very nice what…

Isaac: No, I don’t want Laoshi…

Me: Why you don’t want Laoshi?

*slience*

Me: Then who did you say you want?

Isaac: I want Teacher Foong Ling…

Me: Oh. Hmmm… But Teacher Foong Ling only comes in the afternoon, you know that…

Isaac: No… I want Teacher Foong Ling…

Me: She only comes in the afternoon, dear.

Isaac: No… I want Teacher Foong Ling…

Me: In the afternoon, you’d see her, ok?

Isaac: No… I want Teacher Foong Ling…

Me: Hmmm… Laoshi is also nice, right?

Isaac: No… I don’t want Laoshi, I want Teacher Foong Ling…

Me: Oh. I looked at him. Why? You miss Teacher Foong Ling?

Isaac looks at me and nods…

Me: But you just saw her yesterday…

Isaac: I want Teacher Foong Ling…

By that time, we reached the childcare centre… Isaac looked me in the eye and said “Mummy, I want Teacher Foong Ling…” “Okay…” I said. What else could I say? I didn’t suggest Teacher Lina, coz Teacher Lina was on leave yesterday, and I didn’t know if she was on leave or on mc today. Better not make empty promises till I check out the situation that day.

Laoshi was there but Teacher Lina wasn’t. The kids were all in the play area.

Isaac screamed:”I don’t want Laoshi! I don’t want Laoshi!”. He ran back to the classroom area where there was the wooden teddy bear set of kiddy table and stools outside. He sat down there and said “I sit here and wait!”

“huh? Wait for what? Wait for who? You want to go Music Room and wait?” I said as I saw the kids being herded into the music room.

“No! I wait here.” He said, as he sat himself down on a stool.

“What are you waiting for?” I said, exasperated, coz I was running late for a 9am meeting.

“I sit here and wait for Teacher Foong Ling.”

“Oh… I see… Well you’re gonna have to wait for a long time… coz Teacher Foong Ling only coming in the afternoon…”

“I WANT TEACHER FOONG LING” he said and started bawling…

I hugged him, and carried him up... I walked toward the music room as that was where everyone was... suddenly I heard...

Hmmm... I dunno what I "suddenly heard" that morning. But I do remember how embarrassed Laoshi was. She was embarrassed that Isaac didn't "want" her - she explained to me that that was coz she didn't spent much time with the class in the past two weeks, as she was assigned to take another class.

I told her, it's okay, it's just one of Isaac's cranky moods when he only wants the thing he wants, and nothing else. Coz I had interacted with Laoshi before and she IS very very nice. Isaac was also okay with her before, so it's not Laoshi lah, it's Isaac.

For everyday, almost a week after that morning's Teacher Foong Ling episode, the conversation in the car went like that...

Day One after Episode: I want Teacher Foong Ling!
Isaac: Mummy, Laoshi is very nice, right?
Me: Yes, Laoshi is very nice.
Isaac: I want Laoshi.
Me: *surprised* Oh okay! Good!
Me: *worried* okay, let's hope she is in school already, ok?
Isaac: *mumble*mumble*
Me: What? What did you say, Isaac?
Isaac: Teacher Foong Ling come in afternoon.
Me: *raise*eyebrow* Yes, that's right, Teacher Foong Ling only comes in the afternoon.

Isaac nods and looks out of the window. When we reach the centre, he sees Laoshi and willingly goes to her. He didn't cry for the entire journey.

Day Two after Episode: I want Teacher Foong Ling!
Isaac: Mummy, I want Laoshi.
Me: Oh okay! Good, good...
Isaac: Laoshi is very nice?
Me: Yes, Laoshi is very nice.
Isaac: *mumble*mumble*
Me: *turning down radio* What did you say, Isaac?
Isaac: Because Teacher Foong Ling come in afternoon.
Me: Er, that's right, Teacher Foong Ling only comes in the afternoon. *pause* You know that, right?
Isaac: Yes.

He is silent till we reach the centre. Again, he sees Laoshi and willingly goes to her. He didn't cry for the entire journey.

Day Three after Episode: I want Teacher Foong Ling!
Isaac: Mummy, is Laoshi in school already?
Me: Er, I think so. She is usually in school when we get there, right?
Isaac: *nods*
Me: Yeah, so I think she will be there.
Isaac: Laoshi is very nice, right?
Me: Yes, Laoshi is very nice.
Isaac: I want Laoshi.
Me: Okay, that's nice.
Isaac: Because must wait for Teacher Foong Ling.
Me: Yes, you have to wait for Teacher Foong Ling... She only comes in the afternoon. *pause*
Isaac: Yes. Must wait. I wait for Teacher Foong Ling.
Me: Okaaay...

It went on like that for about a week I think... everyday, roughly the same conversation. It's like he's trying to control his emotions. I thought it was very... matured, of him. After that week or so, he stopped talking like that, and wasn't so hung up on it. But after that whole episode, I really know who his favourite teacher is ;p

Often, I would ask him, "Why is Teacher Foong Ling your favourite teacher?" But he could never really answer me - but I think that's coz he doesn't really know how to explain himself yet. My guess is... coz Teacher Foong Ling teaches him all sorts of interesting things... like... about germs and stuff. Well Teacher Lina also teaches him stuff - which is why he likes Teacher Lina too. Just that I think he likes Teacher Foong Ling a bit more than he does Teacher Lina, even though he likes Teacher Lina very much as well.

I think it's just "fate" or "karma" or what we say in chinese "ren2 yuan2". Just one of those things you know, like you can "clique" better with someone, compared to others. Well, that's the only reason I can think of, coz generally, all the teachers at the centre are all pretty nice. Teachers that Isaac would voluntarily mention on his own are Teachers: Foong Ling, Lina, Laoshi and Teacher Mira. It was Isaac who taught me Teacher Mira's name, coz he mentioned her often enough for me to go find out which teacher was Teacher Mira.

Alas, Teacher Mira who used to take the Toddler class, has left the centre some weeks back. And today... is Teacher Foong Ling's last day in school. She is moving on to try a different sector of the education field. We're happy for her that she is trying on something new which is a form of career progression. But at the same time, I'm kinda sad that she won't be teaching Isaac anymore. I'm sure Isaac will miss her very much, and I'm not looking forward to dealing with those tantrums when they arise.

Nevertheless, we wish Teacher Foong Ling all the best, and we thank her for being such a great teacher to Isaac, and making such an impression on him. She has the honour of being Isaac's First Favourite Teacher.

I have no doubt that Isaac will have many more favourite teachers to come in his long education path ahead of him. It's probably in our family's karma - both hubbs and myself each have our own favourite teachers whom we still keep in contact with, till this day. At our wedding, I had my favourite teachers from secondary school, junior college and university present to share in our happiness. Isaac's Godmother is a teacher, my best friends are teachers, the cousins I am closest to are teachers, and ... yes, I even married a teacher! :)

Teaching is such a noble profession! :) Kudos to all teachers, everywhere!

And... thank you Teacher Foong Ling! You're Isaac's 1st Favourite Teacher! :) We'd miss you!!!

Brush teeth, brush teeth

These pix are dated more than 2 months ago on 16th May 2010. At that time of these pix, Isaac allowed us to brush his teeth for him - like in these pix. The shortly after, he didn't - he would refuse to allow us to brush his teeth.

The funny thing is, just recently, he allowed us to do so again! So, his phase of not allowing us to brush his teeth, lasted about 2 months :) hahahaha... now, we can brush his teeth for him again :p Of course, we allow him to brush himself first. Then we take over and brush some more... We actually insist he allows us to help him brush, coz he can't do it properly himself and his teeth end up very yellow... yucky poo! pix taken on 16th May 2010

Isaac @ 2 years and 9 months plus

One up you uh!

We have more milestones to report! Asher at 6 months and a week plus old, can start crawling already. hehehe... actually, even during the week that he was sick, when he was better and out of hospital, we could see that he was starting to crawl already.

pix above taken on 15th May 2010
Asher & Shawna @ 4 months plus

But now, he's really starting to crawl. He can leopard-crawl style pull himself forward while at the same time use his legs to propel himself forward as well. Just slightly. Shawna hasn't begun in this aspect yet. But both of them are very proficient in moving about - by way of flipping and turning and flipping and turning. They're really amazing in how they can move themselves all over the place like that.
When I was telling my mum recently about these milestones - Asher crawling while Shawna has been sitting up and her teeth emerging first - she commented "Wah, they trying to one up each other huh! Very smart, they champion different areas!"

I instinctively got a bit irritated - it's my recent (well, the past 6 months that is) pet peeve that I hate it when other people (as in everyone else but me and hubbs ;p) compare Asher's against Shawna's milestones.

pix above taken on 19th May 2010
Asher & Shawna @ 4 months plus

I mean, sure, it's very natural to compare. To see who's done what first? Who's heavier than who? Who's taller than who? Who has more hair? It's endless. Cousins or kids of friends born in the same year inadvertently get compared to one another, what more TWINS, right?

So yes, I think it's unavoidable that they'd be compared against each other. That's normal. What I don't like, is when it is implied that one is worse off than the other, or one is not as good, etc. Ya know, comments like "Wah, this one is the winner! That one no good."

To me, they're just different, that's all. As different as you are compared to me. We're all unique. We all each have our own speed of learning and growing. But that's not to say we're not normal.

Frankly, when the babies were first born, we - inexperienced in having two babies at one time - were also constantly comparing them against one another - mainly in milk consumption and weight gain, actually. Coz Shawna was drinking lesser than Asher, and consequently weighed lighter as well.

It was the paediatricians that kept reminding us: "They are both growing well and in the normal weight range for babies their age. It's only because Shawna is being compared against Asher, that she seems lighter and smaller. But actually, if Shawna had been brought in (to see the doctor) on her own, she would be considered perfectly normal weight for a baby girl."

I constantly have to remind myself of that - that we're very blessed that both Asher & Shawna are developing well and good and in the normal range for all milestones as can be compared to singletons.

So, anyway, coming back to my mum's comment, about how they seem to be "one-upping" each other... well, that just goes to show that my point!!! They're both doing well, with each doing slightly better in different areas :) hahahhaa...

My clever boy and clever girl lah :) Good babies! So blessed we are!

Both at once!

Yes, this is my show-off picture - me carrying both babies at the same time! I can! I can!!! :) They're my babies! MINE! MINE! :D

pix taken on 10th May 2010
Asher & Shawna @ 4 months

Isabelle & Rebecca

This above is Isaac & Isabelle. Becca's below. Look at how big the girls are, already!?
Isabelle's in Kindergarten 1, with Natalie in Nursery 1 - in the same school. So Isabelle gets to play big sister and take care of Natalie on the school bus, and in school.
And here's big cheh cheh Rebecca. In Primary 1 this year, Becca's been enjoying school. She's in gymnastics as a CCA since school started this year and she's apparently doing very well. Well enough, that they're putting her in the school team!!! Wooohooo!!!
Recently, Becca's picked up badminton as well, and also doing very welll... such that.... YES! They're putting her in the school badminton team as well!!! woooohooooo!!!! way to go, girl!!!! :)
Ah look! My mum with all her grandkids. All 6 of them. The government telling my mum to stop-at-2 thirty years ago didn't stop her from being a grandma of 6 kids at age 60. kekeke...
It was certainly tough work coordinating a decent picture with all 6 kids! or 4!!! ;p

pix taken on 8th May 2010
Asher & Shawna @ 4 months
Isaac & Natalie @ 2 years plus (both turn 3 in 2010)
Isabelle turns 4 on 24th May 2010
Rebecca turns 7 on 12th November 2010

My Isaac loves me!

My Isaac loves me!!! Yes he does!!! kekeke... well, call me paranoid, but since he was young, I'd always wondered if he loves me. Hubbs says "Of course he does, don't be silly..."

Now that Isaac can speak, I always ask him "Do you love me, Isaac?" And he'd say "Yes, Mummy. I love you!" hehehee... but then again, I taught him to say that... so... is it counted? hmmmm... paranoid mummy... pix taken on 2nd May 2010

Isaac @ four days to 2 years & 9 months

But... actions speak louder than words, right?! hehehehe... this was what happened recently...

Asher & Shawna are both teething... thus, they have taken to biting and pulling (i.e. hold down a bite and pull) my nipple while they drink. While it is painful now, it would be more painful when they have teeth. Thus, I have to tell them not to do it...

Me: "Asher! Don't bite Mummy! Cannot bite!"
Isaac: *horrified*look* "Mummy, Asher bite you?!" - said Isaac in a grave tone.
Me: *nod*seriously* "Yes, he did. He bite me."
Isaac frowns. Has his arms akimbo, looks at Asher, and says in a serious and stern tone "Asher, you cannot bite Mummy. It is very painful, you know? Very pain. Cannot, ok?"
Then, Isaac looks at me and say "Cannot bite you, right? So pain!"

Ahhhh.... :) He loves me, right?! *grinz*

Milestones!

These pix are from 2 months ago when the twins were 4 months old... which... makes... them... SIX MONTHS OLD now!!! wooohoooo!!! They turned 6 months on 6th July 2010 - about a week ago - when we were trying to get over the virus that attacked us all.
Thankfully, we are all now much better. The twins are now breathing fine. They just both have some remnants in the form of a bad cough. Isaac is almost completely ok. I just have a slight sore throat left. Only hubbs still feels a little out of sorts - but even then, he's waaaay better than a week or two ago. Thanks everyone, for your concern! :)
So, recently, in this past week that we're recovering from the virus attack... we realised that Shawna has achieved two milestones! Firstly, she can sit on her own! :) She can actually sit on her own, without any back support or us holding her, for quite awhile - say at least 5 whole minutes, before toppling over.
Second milestone is... her teeth have erupted!!! Well, actually, I haven't seen them. But I have certainly FELT them!!! ;p Both Asher & Shawna enjoy chewing on my finger-knuckles - so recently, I have felt the sharp teeth of Shawna! :)

pix taken on 8th May 2010
Asher & Shawna @ 4 months & two days

What about Asher? He can't sit on his own yet, and I haven't felt his teeth break surface yet. But I'm sure it'd happen in the next few days. So far, they have both been reaching most milestones within days of each other :)

Superman Isaac!

pix taken on 2nd May 2010
Isaac @ four days to 2 years and 9 months

You know how kids have phases. Well, Isaac is no exception. He has many phases. So many, some pass so quickly, that the phase is over before I even get to blog about it.

Anywayz, here above is one of those phases that have passed... thankfully! At that time, Isaac, after bathing, would insist on having us tie the towel behind him like that, and he would want to zoom about like Superman.

Except that he's not even zooming around like in this picture. In fact, he'd want hubbs to pick him up and 'fly' him around! I didn't manage to catch a picture of that. But I did catch this one above - which I thought was hilarious.

Complete with red underwear. What a hoot! :)

Don't eat the giraffe please!

Last night, Isaac was eating his green grapes (He ONLY eats green grapes, he says. I dunno why also.) when he saw Shawna chewing on the ears of her soft toy giraffe...

Isaac: Shawna! Don't eat your giraffe, okay!?
Shawna ignores her well intentioned kor kor...
Isaac: It's not for eating, okay?! Eat food! Not eat giraffe!
Shawna continues chewing on her giraffe while we laugh silently...
Isaac: Papa, can you tell Shawna not to eat her giraffe, please?
hubbs: Oh okay, Shawna, please don't eat your giraffe...

pix taken on 1st May 2010
Isaac @ five days to 2 years and 9 months

Cheeky CROUPY Isaac

So what is croup?

Basically Croup or Acute Laryngotracheobronchitis (ALTB) is a viral infection of the throat (upper airway). The virus causes swelling of the voice box (larynx) and windpipe (trachea). The swelling narrows the airway and makes breathing hard.

As the upper airway (the lining of the windpipe and the voice box) becomes progressively inflamed and swollen, the child may become hoarse, with a harsh, barking cough. This loud cough, which is characteristic of croup, often sounds like the barking of a seal.

If the upper airway becomes increasingly swollen, it becomes even more difficult for a child to breathe, and you may hear a high-pitched or squeaking noise when a child inhales - this noise is called stridor.

We first came across croup... with Isaac. One night, a few months before he turned 1 year old, he was sleeping fine when he suddenly started coughing and made weird noises. It was clear that he had difficulty breathing, and so we quickly brought him to the hospital as an emergency case as it was in the wee hours of the morning.

He was put on the nebulizer, and after observation for two hours, cleared to go home. The first time this happened, we were scared stiff coz it seems like his life was in danger, he was literally having problem breathing.
After that first incident, when Isaac was more than a year old, it happened again. Also in the wee hours of the morning, we brought him to hospital emergency again. Same drill - nebulizer, observation, clear to go home. This happened again after Isaac turned two. We were beginning to think that he had 'budgeted' himself to have croup once a year!
If you're wondering if I ever written about this croupy business with Isaac - well, I didn't. The first time it happened, I was so traumatised that I just pushed the entire incident out of my head. Me, the stickler for dates and details, can't even recall when it happened.

Subsequent times as well, I was just too disturbed by it to write about it. The ever optimist, I only want to remember happy things ;p Furthermore, with Isaac, it was usually very short episodes. Once we got him to the hospital and had him nebulised, he was fine.

pictures taken on 1 May 2010
Isaac @five days to 2 years and 9 months

However, this time, it was so eventful, that I felt the need to blog about it. I wonder what started it all. Was it Isaac's cough germs that spread to hubbs and the babies? Or was it hubbs' virus that wrecked this havoc?

We'd probably never really know. As of today, Thursday 8th July, the twins are breathing better, no more croupy sounds. But they're both still coughing very very badly. hubbs is still not completely well yet: no fever, but still has sore throat, cough, stuffy nose etc. But he'd much better than before.

As for me, my fever is gone, and now I just have a stuffy nose, cough and sore throat. Of everyone that fell sick, I have the mildest attack already, so I'm not complaining. Let's hope we'd be completely well before this week is over! :)

We're all sick! :(

This past week has been a long week for us. Let me start from the beginning...

circa June 2010

Isaac has been coughing... since... dunno when. After so much that happened this past week, I also can't recall exactly when he started coughing. It was getting quite bad coz one night he coughed till he vomited, while sleeping. He has been taking his oral medicine for quite some time without getting much better and we were still having problem getting him to use the inhaler - he's terrified of it!

But guess what... his teachers didn't have problem at all... Voila! With the help of Teacher Lina & Teacher Foong Ling, Isaac was using the inhaler. With them using the inhaler on him in school, he seems to have gotten over his fear of the inhaler, and even allowed us to use it on him at home. Consequently, he started to get better.

24 June 2010 Thursday

Last Thursday night, hubbs started having fever, the whole night.

25 June 2010 Friday

In the morning, I was trying hard to wake Isaac to have his breakfast and go to school/work when hubbs told me that he wants to bring Isaac to see doctor. I was like "Huh? But he's getting better already." But hubbs said that Isaac had been coughing for a long time, and hence wanted to bring him to see the doctor. So, on Friday, Isaac didn't go to school, and he went to see the doctor, together with his Papa. (Maybe hubbs just wanted company to go see doc ;p)

26 June 2010 Saturday

Hubbs has been running a fever up and down, continuously, since Thursday night. Isaac was still alright, no fever, just the cough. Shawna had a bit of running nose.

27 June 2010 Sunday

Hubbs was still running a fever. As the fever has been going on for so long, he decided to go down to NUH A&E to see doctor. There, he did an x-ray and a blood test. X-ray showed that his lungs were clear, aye okay. But his blood test showed that he had low platelet count - 145 - which is below the 150 lower end of the 'normal' range.

Having low platelet count meant that he was a suspected dengue case. There was apparently nothing he could do to help it either - except to rest more. We put it down to hubbs' busy schedule over his June peak period. It wasn't even soccer, coz even though hubbs had succumbed to temptation and subscribed to World Cup, he did not stay up to watch the 2.30am matches coz he didn't feel up to it.

28 June 2010 Monday

I brought Isaac in to school. Hubbs was on mc and at home. Asher started to cough very badly, and Shawna had a slight runny nose, so hubbs brought them to the paediatrician. Pd prescribed stuff for Asher, but not for Shawna.

I wanted to leave office by 4plus. But after rushing some urgent matters, it was 6.15pm by the time I got to leave. Ah well, better than my usual 7pm, I thought. Just as I was keeping my laptop, Teacher Foong Ling called - Isaac was running a fever!!! :( He was very subdued when I saw him. On the way home, he started to get cranky.

At home, Asher was beginning to sound really bad, coughing. As I was eating my dinner, could tell that Asher had difficulty breathing, and he started to sound like he has croup. We were familiar with croup... thanks to Isaac who has had no less than 3 episodes of it in the past 3 years. It was time to bring Asher to the hospital. Since Isaac was running a fever, and likely to raise hell if he didn't follow me out, he came along as well.

We got to KK Hospital - Children's Emergency at about 9pm plus. Asher was sounding so bad that people waiting for their turn at the Emergency were telling us to cut the queue and go first. We went immediately, and was sent right in.

Apparently, Asher's oxygen levels were affected by his croupy breathing :( The doctors quickly brought him in and put him under a hood and gave him a dose of dexamethasone. After observing him for 2 hours, Asher was still having problem breathing and hence, doctor says must admit him to hospital to stay over night.

29 June 2010 Tuesday
It was past midnight by the time we admitted Asher into the hospital ward. Isaac was just given medication for his fever, and he went home with hubbs. Poor hubbs, still sick to his bones with fever, had to send Isaac home, and grab stuff for me and bring it to hospital for me. After that he left the car at KK and took a cab home.

Asher was put on a device that would monitor his oxygen levels and heart rate. When he was admitted into hospital, his heart rate was about 160. At one point in the morning when he was crying, his heart rate went up to 213 :( Doctor examined him, and said that he'd have to stay Tuesday night as well.

At home, Shawna was still okay with a slight runny nose. So we decided to bring her to my mum's place - wanted to separate her from all the sick people at home, hoping that Shawna would not fall sick as well. Those sick at home included hubbs, Isaac and our helper.

30 June 2010 Wednesday
Asher was doing much better, and doc says we can be discharged! Yay! :) We decided to bring Asher to my mum's place. Again, to distance him from all the sick people at home.

When we got to my mum's place, and I heard Shawna's breathing :( She's obviously starting on croup as well. So I washed up, and headed back for KK Hospital, with Shawna this time round. She got a dose of dexamethasone as well, and eventually, Doc says she has to be admitted too.

So back I was in KKH's Ward 62. With Shawna, we got a window corner Bed 24, which was right beside Bed 25 which Asher was just in earlier this same day... My third night in KKH.

1 July 2010 Thursday
Yay! Doc says Shawna's fine and can go home! So we were discharged from hospital :) Asher was still with my mum. Isaac's fever has abated. My helper was better too. And though hubbs was still sick, I missed Isaac terribly, so we went straight back to Jurong West with Shawna. I thought the worst was over.

2 July 2010 Friday
At 5am, Shawna started to breathe horribly again. Sounded really bad. Hubbs and I exchanged a knowing look. And a sigh. I grabbed stuff essential for a hospital stay, and went off to KKH again with Shawna, in a cab. Hubbs hasn't been getting the rest he needed with all the driving around.

Luckily, Shawna didn't need to be admitted. After a dose of adrenaline, she was breathing fine, and we were given the okay to go home. I decided to bring her to my mum's place this time. And I would stay overnight there as well.

I really missed Isaac and loved seeing him the night before, but he missed me so much too, that he wouldn't allow me to take care of Shawna or allow me to rest at all. He just wanted me to play with him and spend time with him. But I knew if I didn't rest, I'd fall sick too.

So, I thought it was best that Shawna and I stayed with my parents for a day or two. When I got to my parents place... to my dismay... Asher was sounding horrible as well :( So back I went to KKH with Asher again.

Thankfully, after a dose of adrenaline as well, Asher did not have to be admitted too. So we went back to my parents place and stayed the night. At home, Isaac was well, but my mother-in-law was the latest to succumb to the virus.

3 July 2010 Saturday
We were closely monitoring the twins. Shawna seems to be better, but Asher was still sounding croupy when agitated. At rest, his stridor (heavy breathing when taking in air) was very obvious too. I was literally on standby - to listen out for when I had to take him in to Emergency again.

In the afternoon, I started to develop a fever myself. I didn't realise it as I thought it was just a headache. By the time I thought to take my own temperature, it was night time and I was 38.7 degree hot and my nose was flowing like a tap. My mum had also started to cough and had stuffy nose.

4 July 2010 Sunday
My mum started to develop a fever and was beginning to look very tired. My fever has been going up and down as well, stuffy nose and cough had settled in as well. We decided to shift everyone back home so that my mum could rest. Besides, my mother-in-law and helper were much better and could take care of the babies now. Thus, we all went home on Sunday.


Now, wasn't that an eventful week!?