Little man helping

We had dumplings yesterday, made by Grace's mom who's here for the coming wedding of Stanley and Grace. Yums. Sorry, too delicious to take any photos.

Today, we shelled the husks of ginko nuts and Jon was fascinated by what we're doing. Especially when grandma and Ah Ling, our helper, went cracking at the nuts. After watching for a while, he decided to help out too. He would pick some nuts and passed to grandma for her to crack them.

Then it was a matter of time before he decided he would have a go at cracking them. He just tapped on the nuts with the pliers. He dare not hit too hard, which was a good thing, coz I am sure he would have hurt his fingers.We spent an hour or so cracking about 1.5kgs of nuts. I was supposed to make him take his nap. But with all the cracking and peeling, I was sure he would not sleep. Thankfully, grandma did the honours, while I continued peeling at the nuts. True enough, Jon just drank his milk in the sarong and babbled away at his duckie, most prob telling it about his nuts experience!

Grace's mom then went to boil the nuts to help remove the skin, and after a short break, we proceeded to poke out the seed with the help of a toothpick. It was like removing giant black or white heads!!! Not an easy job....this whole preparation of gingko nuts!

Watching telly and helping with the gingko nuts

After a short 30mins nap, Jon woke up and was again playing with the nuts. I would passed him a nut with the toothpick in it, after the seed has been removed, and he would take the toothpick out of the nut, and put the nut inside a container. I would then take the toothpick and attack another nut, all the time working with a few toothpicks, as the process will be slightly delayed at Jon's end.

Slowly removing the toothpick

I'm done, next nut please.

We're going to make barley and ginko nuts soup tom...YUMS!

Random facts of Jon

Scrapping is great therapy to get my mind off the recent incident.

Did this LO for a challenge by Ann Marie at Made With Love. The requirements are:

1. To use on FULL sheet of 12x12 die-cut paper

2. To use at least ONE of EACH of the following: patterned paper with floral motifs and floral embellishments.

3. At least 2 photos on your layout.

Had fun making the LO. This photo of Jon was taken when he was 15months old and he had just been given a baby pomelo we picked from our garden. He carried it around the whole day and it was already at night.

A close up of floral folder. I love using the plastic vintage flowers with the fabric flowers, anchoring them with a brad. At the top right hand side of the folder, I stuck on Maya Road's sheer owl as a tab to open the folder.

Inside the folder are a hidden photo and journaling.

A close up of some of the journaling.

What a scare (part II) - a personal testimony

We had actually gone house hunting on Sun late afternoon when Jon got his hives at a house we viewed. Yesterday, Jon had rashes that came and went in bouts. After he takes his meds, the rashes would go away in half an hour. Then another half hour later, another bout of rashes will appear at another part of his body. So he went looking like Justice Bao to Gorbachev. After we applied the steroids cream, the rashes will subside, but another batch will appear. But it was too soon to give him meds or apply the steroids cream.

So this morning, we called Jon's pediatrician again. Since it was worse than Sun, doc told us to bring Jon to see him. But when we're about to leave home, the rashes were lesser. Nonetheless, we made our way. Doc said since the meds didn't work over 2+days, he gave us Clarityne in liquid form for Jon to take over two weeks, to suppress the allergy for the long term. He said he hoped it would not be the case of another child patient who had to be on meds from 3+ years old to five years. In his case, the allergy subsided when he was five and returned when he turned 7.

After the doc, we ran errands like going to different banks to bank in the company's cheques, and bought bread for tom morning. Then Simon drove me home. I gave Jon some water and he was already slightly cranky coz it was past his morning nap time. MIL put him into the sarong, and as we chat, the phone rang, it was for her. So I rocked Jon to sleep.

Suddenly he cried, and wanted out of the sarong. I tried to make him stay inside but to no avail. So I let him out thinking I will put him back again. Still he persisted in crying, which was strange coz normally he would be happy to be out of the sarong. He cried till he turned red. I called out to MIL. She also came coz she said it's different from his usual crying.

He didn't even let her carry him and as much as she tried to hold him, for fear he may knock into something and hurt himself, he screamed and cried, and writhed. Something was not right. His feet were cold, he wouldn't stop crying, and he was twisting in MIL's arms. I telephoned Simon and asked him to pray. I went back to the study and prayed over Jon. His cries were softer, but he still wouldn't stop crying.

I prayed that anything unclean be cast out of Jon. and I also said if it was from the house we saw, I wouldn't want the house anymore. Yes, it was nicely maintained and slightly above our budget. But we would save a lot on doing up the place. But in this case, if something in there didn't agree with us being the new owners, then so be it.

I cried and prayed and tried to hold Jon. he was all red in the face, and didn't want MIL or me to carry him. I gave him his fav markers, and soft toys, but nothing comforted him. Then at a couple of times, he was so tired from crying, he just laid down and continue crying. Then he would lie on his front, but still the crying continued. Then he began scratching very hard on his head. I tried to soothe him but no use.

I was going to call my small group Leader, when Simon also called for me to do the same. When I left the room to use the phone, Jon cried even louder. MIL said he knocked his head a couple of time against the shelves and the sarong frame. I told my SGL that Jon would have came into contact with something in the house we viewed and asked that she come to pray for Jon. My SGL said she could come over immediately. So I went back and prayed over Jon. MIL went out to make some calls.

Jon cried a little softer and he looked at me with such sad eyes, as if asking me to help him remove this discomfort. but when the door bell rang and I went to answer it, and at the same time, MIL came over to help me with Jon, he just fell forward and hit the wall! Sally, my SGL came in. We began praying, and Jon's cried went softer. After a few mins of praying, we started singing, Jon's cries went even louder, and he twisted in my MIL's arms. I asked to carry him, but MIL was afraid that Jon might kick my abdomen.

This went on for a while, till I asked Jon to let me carry him. We went back into the study and Sally and I prayed. Simon came back from the office and joined in the prayers and singing. We took a quick break and I told Sally what had happened over these couple of days. Then I told her the altar we saw in the house and the name of the idol. Sally prayed and asked for Jesus to cast out the idol, and told the idol that it has no power of Jon coz he is a child of God. Jon stopped crying immediately!

He sat up, and he played with the marker and cup that he was holding. Sally said hello to him, and he showed a tinge of shyness just like he would when he sees her at church. He smiled, and carried on playing. His redness subsided and his skin was back to its fairness. He also stood up and walked a few steps to lean against the curtain, his fav position.

After a few more mins, we ascertained that Jon was all right, and Sally left. Simon and I brought Jon to the living room and he spoke to us in his usually cheerful voice. We played Bob the Builder DVD and I went to heat up his porridge. Jon went on his usual self and brought out more markers to play. He ate his lunch, and then we have him a dose of the new meds. Then I brought him to the sarong, and he smiled at me. I tucked him in with his new duckie toy, and he fell asleep in two mins.

I had always thought that if there's an idol in the house, it's OK to ask the seller to remove it before we move in. And we could always ask our pastor to conduct a blessing ceremony. This afternoon, we're supposed to bring MIL to see the house. we wanted to bring her there on Mon, but Simon had to drive his bro to the airport after work, and by the time he came back it would be time to bathe and feed the kids. So we postponed the viewing till to day.

I had prayed asking God for His guidance in buying the house. If it was not meant to be, like another potential buyer who went to view the house yesterday could have said yes to the sale, the owner wouldn't offer a lower price, any reason at all, I would accept it and not harp about the house (coz it was quite nice). I also told Simon that although Jon broke out in hives, let's not be superstitious and not bring MIL to view the place. After all, we have God as our protector. But if MIL with her years of experience in buying houses were to share with us her views, and the house may need more work, then we should not go ahead with the purchase. Guess this is the answer - NO.

This was my scariest 45 minutes ever.

What a scare!

Jon broke out in HIVES yesterday around 5pm! We were out when his right eye started swelling. Then spread downwards to the right cheek. Rashes appeared on the left chin area, and spread upwards to his cheek (and to the left eye by the time we saw doc).

We broughthim to the emergency ward at MCMC, coz there're no docs on Suns evenings, and that's the only 24-hr place. Luckily, Jon's pediatrician is at the same place so I can inform them to update his records later.
Went back home around 6pm and gave him the meds, and some porridge. The welts of rash subsided. and we decided not to give him meds later in the night coz he was asleep.

Today morning around 4+ am, Jon started scratching his head and neck, aiyo the rashes broke out again. Gave him meds, and he cried coz he was itching like crazy. I carried him and soothed him and let him play with lights switches (which he likes). Decided Simon needs to sleep, so I switched off the room lights and played torchlight with him. We counted the shadows of our fingers. I tell you, counting works. I almost fell asleep and stopped counting. Jon stopped fussing soon after and fell asleep!

When Jon woke up, I gave him his milk, then when we went to the kitchen, some cereal. When he fussed, I carried him. When he fussed and demanded stuff, I let him have them wherever possible.

Then when I gave him his morning bath, his thighs and calves were covered with huge patches of rashes! Grandma was anxious and said we should bring him to the doc, not to apply steroid cream so doc and see. I called his pediatrician and he said that hives would appear between 4-6pm in the evenings and from 5-8am in the mornings. So we're to give him his meds regularly, and not stop because no rashes appear. This is likely to carry over for 3-4days. If untreated, the full course will run for 8 days!

Grandma exclaimed to great grandma, "Poor Jon's beautiful face is now covered with dots of rashes!"

Cause of the hives? Could be the paint on some wood products. Aiyo! Did Jon inherited my sensitive skin? Coz I will break out in swells, usually on my eyes, if dust happens to land near my eyes. I remembered the time when I helped my friend put some things into her bridal car after the wedding ceremony in the morning. The boot was slightly dusty. Then a gush of wind blew my hair into my eye, and I used my hands to brushed the hair away. My eyes swelled and didn't subside even into the evening. And I was the emcee for her wedding dinner. I just told everyone how touched I am that she was getting married.

Poot itchy boy.

One very busy morning for Jonathan

After I saw Daddy drove off to work, it's time for my morning chores.

I brought the broom to grandma for her to wash the doggies' cage.

She's still washing so I had to wait.

I can wash the other doggies' cage now that I have seen grandma do it before.

How come the water is not coming out of the hose?

Now for some painting.

This is as high as I could go.

How about I paint the shoes too?

Now to help grandma to dry the laundry.

How does this contraption work?

I am hungry after all that work.

Now for some play.

Please note that I am a willing particpant in all the above chores. I am not a full-time child labourer. I am just discovering through play.

Teaching a child

This week, I'm staying at home to look after Jon as our helper has gone back to look for her missing son. Luckily she managed to find him and will be returning this weekend. What a Mother's day week for her...

After spending time with Jon these couple of days, I feel that I have to spend more time with him before #2 comes. After that, the little one will depend on us solely whereas Jon is more capable of doing things for himself. I am prepared that Jon will be a little jealous, and even competitive as my friend Wendy said, like being the first to take a bath, first to eat/drink milk, basically the things he was never ever interested in.

Jon is beginning to throw tantrums when he doesn't get his way, and we have to be creative in handling him, being firm when we say no, and even trading things when we think he's holding something that may be dangerous to himself. Of course we try to teach him to respect things, and to educate him on what objects are meant for, rather than giving him substitutes that will frustrate him as they won't work. All these take time and effort....there's no point in teaching a child if you want to do it the in the adult way or time, right? In the end, both adult and child will be super frus!

Right now, when I or he remembers, he will pat my growing belly and say hello to his mei mei. and sometimes, he will blow a kiss. Really cute.

Yesterday as I cooked dinner, Jon looked for me. While grandma and aunty tried to keep him in the living room, I realised all he wanted was to be with me. So even though the kitchen was hot, I brought him with me, showed him the no-touch zones, and brought a chair for him to sit and watch me prepare ingredients or wash up. He was watching really intently. So a child really has the inborn tendency to learn and follow! Without us trying to teach them in the first place!

Today, we took a ride in his bike outside the house. and we tried to find the chirping birds, the dog outside. We took time to watch for ants, touched different plants to feel the different textures of the leaves. And this boy took the broom to sweep the car porch! as he had seen his grandma and uncle did over the weekend. I tell you, he walked so much, perspired so much too. But he was not tired of carrying or sweeping with the broom nor did he want me to carry the broom!

I tried to get him into the house but to no avail. MIL had told me before that when he perspires too much, all his pores will open up and he may catch a chill. I didn't want that to happen, yet I want him to discover and learn about the garden and the world outside. Finally he was a little panting and I also told him I needed to go to the toilet. He put the broom back in its place and followed me. What a morning!
Did managed to get some time in between these couple of days to scrap. Wheels for fun! I agree with the quote on Cosmo Cricket borders "If it's not fun, you're not doing it right." Teaching or playing with a kid has to be fun! Otherwise why bother?

Back in Singapore over the Labour Day weekend

Simon and I went back to Singapore for about 3 days over the Labour Day weekend. He met up with a supplier and we also caught up with some friends. Didn't meet that many people, coz it was a very tight schedule and we had errands to run.

Jon had a slight cold and cough just the day we're leaving and we brought him to the doc, riding on cousin Mabel's appointment with the doc (she was due for a jab). After work, we went home and quickly showered. Jon was wondering why we didn't play with him and cried, "Mama!" so loudly. When we brought the luggages down, he gave a puzzled look. I was wondering how we can say goodbye without him making too big a fuss. In the end, aunty Grace carried him to say goodbye and he thought we're going out for an errand or to work. Turns out my tap flowed so freely and my heart was aching so much as I said bye and told Jon to be a good boy!

We managed to meet up with a few friends. But Simon and I had to split up half the times so we can catch up with our own friends. I had a great time with my family and friends and the food was great. It was a pity I couldn't meet some of my college friends whom I have not met for like 19 years!. they happened to meet over a pinic on Sat!

Pastor Daniel and Denisa introduced us to Buono, a lovely Italian joint in the heartland of Serangoon @ Lichfield. No corkage for BYO!
Meeting the Chens at Kuriya

Me, Liyen and Sock at Tsui's place for tea. Aren't we glowing?

Together with cousins and Baby Heidi at Thomas' new office at Soho

I also went to Made with Love and managed to enjoy their Easter discounts and bought quite a bit of girly stash for my #2. I also met a new friend, Pooi, who gave me valuable advice on my purchases.

Thanks, Wens, Chwee, Ann, Rachel, Tsui, Tom and Cat for all those cute clothes, new and oh-so-new hand me downs! I collected three bags worth and could share with other moms-to-be, Li Yen and my sis-in-law! When we got back, Simon went through all the clothes (he didn't have chance to see coz I quickly packed them once I got back to the Inn).

Stella and Maxine, I would have loved to gotten girl clothes from you. But I had so many for new borns or up to 6months. I figured I have enough since babies grow so fast in their initial months. But I will surely look for you when baby gets older and I come back to Singapore to show her off. But I think it'll be logistical nightmare with super energetic toddler Jon and a small one. So, I am praying hard that ValuAir will fly direct from Miri to Singapore SOON!

Check out my facebook for more photos, especially the food. During my last trip, I was so food deprived that I took so many photos of food, and even forgotten to take photos of friends! LOL!