2nd dose of 5 in 1

Nat has gotten her 2nd dose of 5 in 1 and rotavirus oral vaccine today. The 5 in 1 is supposed to protect babies against Pertussis (whooping cough) , diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), tetanus and polio.

She was real brave this time round, didn't cry and even played with Dr. Toh prior to getting the vaccination. We could tell she is fast developing her social skills and I suppose the shift to grandma's really did help expose her to more human contact thus enlarging her social circle. Am so proud of her as she was even engaging in gibberish baby conversation with the nurse whilst I was waiting to make payment for the rotavirus oral vaccine, which cost me a whooping $94 bucks after DBS cardholder discount- Ouch! But at least it's taken orally, so no added injections for Nat and if it does what it's suppose to do, Nat would be protected from the life-threatening diarrhea (gastroenteritis).

Nat has had her usual measurements taken. She has gained 600gms and grown to 64cm in height which places her in the 75th percentile. Her head circumference is 42cm, which is large for infants, but Doc mentioned that there is no cause for concern. She'll just have more neurons than others... does this mean she'll be smarter? only time can tell.

For future reference, appended below is info re the 5 in 1 vaccination.

What is diphtheria?
It’s an illness caused by bacteria (germs) that infect the nose, throat or skin. It causes serious problems with breathing. It can also attack the heart, nerves and kidneys. About 1 out of every 10 people who get diphtheria will die from it. Babies who get it are even more likely to die.

What is tetanus?
Also called lockjaw, it is caused by a toxin (poison) that can be found in dirt and dust.
When tetanus gets into an open cut, the poison can spread to the spinal cord through the bloodstream by traveling up nerves from the muscle. Muscles may lock in one place or go into spasms (get very tight).

The first muscles affected are the ones in the jaw. A person with tetanus may not be able to swallow or open his or her mouth. This is why it is called lockjaw. If tetanus gets to the muscles that help a person breathe, it can cause death very quickly.

Children who survive tetanus may have long-lasting problems with speech, memory and thinking. Even if a child has it once, he can still get it again. The tetanus vaccine protects both adults and children.

What is pertussis?
Also called whooping cough, pertussis is caused by germs that get into the throat and lungs.
Children may cough so long and so hard that they can’t breathe.

Babies with whooping cough may have fits (seizures) and go into a coma. About 1 in 400 infants with pertussis dies because of pneumonia or brain damage.

Older children who get whooping cough will have 1 to 2 weeks of severe coughing spells. In total, the disease can last from 6 to 12 weeks.

What is polio?
It’s an infection caused by a virus called poliovirus. Symptoms can include fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches and pains, drowsiness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and constipation. It can also make children very tired and cause stiffness in the neck and back.
Some people with polio don’t feel sick at all.

About 1 in every 100 people who get the virus will get the severe form of the disease, which causes paralysis (not able to move arms or legs) for the rest of their lives. Some people die from polio.

What is Hib disease?
Hib stands for Haemophilus Influenzae type b. Despite its name, it has nothing to do with the flu.
Hib is a bacterium (germ) that starts in the nose or throat and can infect almost any other part of the body, such as the lungs, heart, joints, bones and skin.

It can cause a very serious disease called meningitis when it infects the fluid and covering of the brain and spinal cord. Without treatment, all children with Hib meningitis die. Even with treatment, about 1 in 20 children with Hib meningitis will die. About 1 in 3 children who live will have brain damage.

Drinking from Magcup

Now that she is 4 months old, Nat never fails to amaze us each day! Here's her first attempt at holding and drinking from the Magcup! She has perfected the skill in just minutes. I didn't even have to tempt her with milk! Somehow drinking water from the Magcup on her own just makes the water more delicious! It's amazing how she could insert the teats without assistance after some attempts. However, her hand seems to taste much better than the teats cause after a while you could see that she has lost interest in her cup and concerntrated on suckling her hand instead.

Been told that once she mastered her grasping, throwing will not be too far behind! =D

Can't wait to see that happening darling!

Why do mosquitoes bite some people more than others?

It seems that I am plagued by mosquitoes at my mum's place. In order to exterminate them thoroughly think I ought to do some research to fully understand the species and find out if there is a preferential list for blood types.

According to Wikipedia, both male and female mosquitoes are nectar feeders, but the females of many species are also capable of hematophagy (drinking blood). Females do not require blood for their own survival, but they do need supplemental substances such as protein and iron to develop eggs. Mosquitoes are crepuscular (dawn or dusk) feeders. During the heat of the day most mosquitoes rest in a cool place and wait for the evenings. Prior to and during blood feeding, they inject saliva into the bodies of their source of blood, which cause the itchiness effect.

Other sites mentioned that Scientists have identified several proteins found in mosquitoes’ antennae and heads that latch on to chemical markers, or odorants, emitted from our skin. These markers are produced by the natural processes of our bodies and, like neon signs, they let the mosquitoes’ smell center know you’re around. Flies and mosquitoes share a number of the same genes that dictate production of these odorant-binding proteins, which have specific sites that will catch or bind with certain chemicals in the air. { That's why I also attract bees on several occassions! Even got stung in the ear when I was a kid!!} Scientists also suggest that certain other characteristics also lead us to have more bites than others. Some of the top candidates are - the amount of carbon dioxide in the breath, pregnancy, body temperature, alcohol and odorant markers based on blood type and 1-octen-3-ol.

So what is 1-octen-3-ol ?
Octenol for short also known as mushroom alcohol, is a chemical that attracts biting insects. It is contained in human breath and sweat, and it was once believed that insect repellent DEET works by blocking the insects' octenol odorant receptors. Octenol is produced by several plants and fungi, including edible mushrooms. Its odor has been described as green and moldy or meaty; it is used in certain perfumes.

Which are the blood types which are more susceptible to bites?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=15311477&ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
The above study found persons with Type O blood suffered more mosquito landings because of the odorant markers they emit than any other blood type, making their juices a hot commodity for blood banks, as well as Asian Tiger or Aedes Mosquitoes, which carry West Nile Virus.

Not only were Type O’s more likely to be landed on, but the study found that for any blood type, people who secreted a chemical marker about their blood type through their skin (both blood type and secretor status are determined by genes) were bitten much more than non-secretors; 24 percent in the case of the Type O’s.

Not only did the study demonstrate that blood group O subjects attracted more Aedes albopictus than other blood groups (B, AB, and A) it has proven that it's only significantly more attractive than blood group A subjects in 64 human landing tests.

Which makes both mine and baby's blood juicier than grandmummy's and yi yi's since we are type A and O.

Better take all precautions!!

In short, why I am usually getting the bites might be due to the following reasons:-
1) My body expels more Co2 and 'mushroom alcohol'( haha might be due to my diet of fish with mushroom).
2) I may be a heat magnet... mothers who breastfeed tends to have a higher bodily temp.
3) I like to wear dark clothings - explains the optical recognition theory and most of the time I get attacked in the dark.
4) I get more bites in the garden area as it's more humid than at home.
5) Or could it be the perfume / perfumed products which I am using? Or the pheromones. i.e. a specific type of smell that I exude.
6) And last but not least my blood type!

So what are the solutions?

• Some recommend taking Vitamin B ( supposedly poisonous to mosquitos) ie eat loads of Marmite and they'll leave you alone!
• Some said eating garlic, or citrus fruits regularly would allow you to get bitten less!
• Start dirnking tonic water cause Quinine in the blood would repel them.
• Start losing weight cause fat people tends to be bitten more.
• Use deodorant to reduce chemical markers.
• Use loads of citronella oils. Start by planting these in the garden, apparently the oil could be extracted when the leaves are crushed.

Burung Kakak Tua

Been wanting to search for this lyrics, finally manage to find it via this link.

http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/1823/anak/kakaktua.htm

burung kakak tua
hinggap di jendela
nenek sudah tua
giginya tinggal dua

trek-jing ... trek-jing ...
trek-jing tra-la-la
trek-jing ... trek-jing ...
trek-jing tra-la-la
trek-jing ... trek-jing ...
trek-jing tra-la-la burung kakak tua

Milk storage

There isn't much storage left in grandmummy's fridge since we are returning home for dinner almost everyday. As such we've decided to purchase a brand new unit specifically for milk storage. Here's a pic of the LG Refrigerator with bottom drawer freezer - Model : GR-B399PLQ . I like it's sleek, chic exterior and it has 3 green ticks for annual energy consumption of 566kwh at estimated energy cost of s$121 per annum.

Stress! Better make sure I have my daily intake of fish soup else I won't produce enough to store!

Cradle Cap

Nattie has mild cradle cap [seborrheic dermatitis] and it appeared worse as she starts loosing her hair, exposing the underlying yellow crusty rash on her head. For the records, removing is easily done after a shampoo, massaging baby oil and a using fine comb to comb through. Apparently the cause is unknown and is harmless and disappears in most children by 6 months of age.

Since we are on the topic of rashes, because of the hot weather, Nat has also develop a slight eczema - pink scaly, dry rash near her collar bone and arm joint area. It helps when we turn on the aircon. Based on my googled results, eczema tends to run in families and in many cases is thought to be due to an allergy. Most children outgrow eczema, but for others eczema is a life-long condition. My sister and I had eczema whilst we were little. Mum said it was because the environment was too clean and so a little dust & heat would easily triggle the rash. Might have been the same in Nat's case. To prevent it from aggrevating into a serious allergy in the future, we've introduced a little dust and germs ( from Junior at least ) so she could develop her own immunity =>.

Once bitten twice shy!

Daddy fell ill over the past few days and has been quarantined! Suspect that the D24 durians must have been the culprit! What's more the super hot weather, on average of 32 degrees in the day, didn't quite help reduce the temperature either. It started with throat infection, followed by fever and flu. Fortunately the packet of N95 masks which we've bought earlier on did come in handy. He was allowed to stay within the vaccinity, but I have banned all direct contact with Nattie until proven healthy =< We can't afford to risk it again for little Natalie.

Poor Daddy, he could only visit us at Grandmummy's place and watch on as I handled her.

No cuddling for the next couple of days Daddy! Remember to take your super bitter medication for a speedy recovery!

We've shifted!

In preparation for work, we've started implementing the working schedule. Shifted majority of Nat's stuff over to Grandmummy's place. Now that she is there full time ( just in time as daddy has fallen ill over the past few days) grandmummy can finally have a feel of how best to handle her and understand her temperament.

Based on last couple of days of observation, Natalie seems to have slowly adapted to the change of environment. There are so many more new things for her to discover. Just going to the garden alone seems like a mini excursion for her. She has also gotten used to Junior's spontaneous barking. The only concerns which I have are mosquitoes. There are loads of them in the garden and inevitably the rooms. We've turned on the insect killers ( light version) round the clock near her cot. The mosquito net acted as a second barrier. So far I was the only one who has been bitten, not her. Perhaps it's her blood group. The mosquitoes seems to only attack those with A+ blood type. Fortunately Natalie, Mum and Sunarti were apparently not the 'chosen ones' as the mozzies are highly selective of their prey based on blood type!

Sunarti has also gotten her drill back and seems ok with the arrangement of her staying over at grandmummy's on weekdays and following baby back to our place on weekends. She has a new companion when it comes to bedtime - Junior - who has been banned from entering grandmummy's and baby's room. Such a wimp, can't even sleep on his own at night!

So far I have not fully left her alone for grandmummy and sunarti to handle. Foresee she might develop separation anxiety! I read that separation anxiety apex in 6 & 9 months. So far she is already displaying traits of anxiousness when she couldn't find me. She doesn't allow anyone else to put her to bed at night and is starting to reject the bottle and seems rather insistent on what she wants. Anyone has solutions which worked please do share =) ! thanks!

On the road to recovery (part 2)

Looking back, I suspect the trip to the mall on Saturday may have caused the viral infection. We had breakfast on 08 Jun at Delifrance which was surprisingly overcrowded at 0900 as the entire restaurant was almost full. She does seem a little unwell after that and we dismissed it as her being sleepy.




Must make a mental note not to bring baby to crowded places on weekends. Didn't realise her small body is still so highly susceptible to viral infiltration.

Celebration at Global Kitchen

Finally had some time to ourselves tonight. Though Chris came home early we only managed to settle Natalie at 8pm. By the time we reached Global Kitchen at Pan Pacific, it was already 830pm. I must say the buffet spread is actually not too bad. Tea lovers would love it there as they have a wide array of tea selection from organic to fruits to thr usual favourites...You could make them by the pot or those who like to savour various selections suggest you brew them by the cup. Here's a pic of the 'Celebration tea'. It's got a musky green tea flavour with a tinge of rose which is perfect!

The silly us thought we could catch a late night movie at Marina Square... not knowing that the theatres closes at 10pm on a Monday nite. We ended up bowling which was even better! At least I don't have feel too guilty about attacking the buffet spread with a vengence.

After that we went to the arcade and lucky me managed to get a prized mickey from the UFO catcher on my second attempt! haha... cost me only 2 bucks !

Of course all the above is not possible without grandmummy's help!

And last but not least I almost forgot to mention that Chris bought me a Coach - Lavender Madison Sabrina which I have been eyeing for a while! Thanks Dear !!! Muck!

On the road to recovery

Baby's still sick..been 4 days already. Fever has subsided but because of the weather her body temperature is skewed to the higher end ie 37.4/37.5 during mid day. Had to constantly monitor, breastfeed and provide her with additional fluids in order to lower her body temperature. Been doing this round the clock and am feeling rather exhausted as I had to resume late night feeding every 2/3 hours. We've given her fluids made from chrysanthemum with 'jinying' flower & barley. Wasn't too keen on using chinese medication earlier on but was reassured by my mum and staff at Eu Yan Seng that couple of spoons would not harm the baby and could reduce her body temperature. Called the nurses at raffles and they too agreed that it will do no harm. Been feeding her the chrysanthemum drink and paracetamol for the past few days. Her fever dissipated on the 3rd day. However the nagging cough has developed into a slight flu as well. She was prescribed nasal decongestant, but I didnt quite want to use it unless there is an absolute need ie when she starts breathing with her mouth. Her flu is not too serious at the moment, keeping my fingers crossed. Hopefully we wont have to use it as it'll bring her further discomfort. Hearing her cough in the middle of the night is more than sufficient to make our hearts ache.

Out of desperation to cure Nat quickly, I've done some googling last night and amongst the many suggestions such as feeding tumeric powder and water mixtures, chewing peppercorns and drinking ginger based fluids, I've found a really effective & assumingly safe remedy for cough -> Vicks vaporub. I consider it safe as it's a non-oral medication and worked with the meer application on little feet of babies.

Got chris to popby the nearest 7eleven to get a small bottle, tried and it helped!

Nattie has fallen ill!

This is the second time Nat has fallen ill! Poor little thing ! Her immune system is still immature and not as effective in fighting off infections. Our heart aches as her tiny body struggles to fight off the viral fever caused by upper respiratory tract infection.

She has been coughing since 08 June evening and we discovered the fever only at about 10pm. From then on it's round the clock monitoring. I had to set the alarm to wake myself up every 1 hour to check her temperature. Am worried that her slight fever may escalate in the night and develop into something worse like meningitis, other pneumoccocal diseases or chronic bronchitis or that she may go into a febrile seizure due to sudden change in bodily temp!!?? What's more Pneumonia can have symptoms similar to that of acute bronchitis which can include a high fever, shaking chills, and shortness of breath. There are so many irremissible possibilities. Chris said I'm paranoid and was just making myself nervous with all the fever related information backed up at the back of my brains...I'd rather be well equipped & extra kiasu than be sorry & regret feeling helpless.

Anyway, the main objective is to bring her fever down. Temperature fluctuated between 38.2 to 38.8 within the night . Paracetamol helped to bring down the temp but once the medicinal effect wore out her temperature started to climb again!! By 0530 on 09 Jun, it got as high as 39 degrees! Her cough didn't improve either! I decided we should rush her to KK immediately. Woke Sunarti up to help with preparation and we set off together with my mum as well. Managed to reach the hospital only at 0630 as Chris missed the first expressway exit after being distracted by sick whimpering Nattie. There was a short queue and soon Nattie was attended to by a nurse who took her body temperature using a thermometer placed under her axilla ( was surprised they didnt use the ear thermometer...wouldn't the temperature be inaccurate?). Her temp was 38.2. Initial heartbeat reading was 182/min. Kinda on the high side.

She was brought to room 11 where I suspect an MO examined her. He checked her breathing and fumbled with her pulse. He was unable to get an accurate reading using a portable heart monitor with attachable clip at the toe. Changed to another equipment which has a elastoplast like attachment - again no reading. Finally he used the most fundamental method ie watch and pulse reading. Sigh I watch on with agony as he displayed his incompetency time and again! Fortunately due to his inexperience and inability to commit to a firm diagnosis as Nattie is only 3 months old he consulted the only paediatrician on shift. She came over rechecked her breathing and reassured us that the baby seems to suffer from the common cold. There was no accumulation of water in her lungs which is good and told us to continue to monitor her fever. She prescribed paracetamol and nasal decongestant. I was relieved to hear that all this is curable.

My mum helped and stayed over the next few days. We took turns to soothe the crying baby. Am so glad I am a lactating mum and that Nattie is able to latch on immediately when she is born. Else I really am not sure where she's gonna find the extra antibodies to help fight off the infection.

FYI on Febrile seizures
Occasionally, a child with a fever will have a seizure. This is called a febrile seizure, and it demands immediate attention from a doctor. The seizures do not seem to be related to the height of the fever, or to the rapidity with which it rises, but a small number of children seem to be predisposed to attacks.

According to BBC news on infant fever, about 50% of the children who suffer one febrile seizure will go on to have another one. About 33% will have a third one.

• While waiting for a doctor to arrive, it is important to follow basic instructions:
  Keep the child upright and make sure they are breathing well
  Stay with the child and talk reassuringly
  Watch for changes in breathing, and make sure that the airways are kept open
  Clear the area to prevent injury
  Do not restrain as this can cause additional injury
  Try placing a soft pillow or blanket under the child's head
  Loosen clothing to prevent injury and ease discomfort
  If vomiting occurs, turn the head to the side so there is no risk of his choking on inhaled vomit

We are going bald!

Both Nat and I have started to lose our hair! Being one of those parents who decides not to shave their baby girl's har due to aesthetic reasons, she now has a little bald patch at the side of her head. I've also found loads of my hair 'littered' all over the house. Done some googling and this it what I found.

Babies often lose their hair during the first six months of life. This kind of hair loss is called telogen effluvium, which is due to changing hormone levels.

Basically hair growth has two stages -- a growing stage and a resting phase. In newborns, all of the hair follicles enter the resting period at the same time. During the resting stage, the hair remains in the follicle until the new hair starts coming in. ' About 5 to 15 percent of hair on the scalp is usually in the resting phase at any one time, but stress, fever, or a hormonal change can cause a large number of hairs to stop growing all at once. The shedding begins when the growth stage starts up again, about three months later. A baby's hormone levels drop right after birth, which can cause this to happen. (New moms often lose large amounts of hair for the same reason.)'
(http://www.hairlosstreatmentremedy.com/baldness/baby-hair-loss.asp)

The bald patches may also be a result of baby sleeping in the same position, or rubbing her head against the mattress. Solution is to alternate her head positions. One suggestion was to put her down with her head at alternate ends of the crib on alternate nights. The baby will naturally turn her head to the side to look out of the crib, and she'll therefore be resting on a different part of her head every night.

I've been contemplating the thoughts of giving her a shave. There is also tempting option of turning her first hairs into chinese brush memorabillia which we could pass down to her like a heirloom? haha!

Came across this store during my prenantal courses at KK. The penholder of different design is made from various materials, such as mahogany, red sandalwood, ebony, white ox horn, black ox horn, camel bone, and cloisonne. Price range from $38 to $228. KK Hospital > 100 Bukit Timah Road #01-16 Singapore 229899.　Tel:65-62973513 http://www.taimaobi.com/brush.htm

Mummy's Lullaby

Sayang...The following were the first few lullabies which I've sang when I first received you in my arms. Not surprising that it still has a calming effect on you whenever you cry.

Welcome to the Family
(My favourite hymn, learnt this in Primary One)

Welcome to the family
We're glad you've came to share your life with us
As we grow in love and may we always be to you
What god would have us
Be a family always there
To be strong and to lean on

May we learn to love each other more with each new day
May the words of love be on our lips in everything we say
May the spirit melt our hearts and teach us how to pray
that we might be
A true family

Repeat stanza 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlOc0_7FuMU

Somewhere Out There - written by James Horner, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
(Fell in love with this song when I first watched 'The American Tail' (1987) and it was one of the earliest songs whose lyrics I've not forgotten since)

Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonigh
tSomewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there

#And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

Repeat #

Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

Cartoon version : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRjb8sMjYu8

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" - music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg
(For those who can remember.. yes the kodak advert during the 80s really left a truly deep impression on me)

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

Kinda like the Jason Castro ( American Idol ) version as well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVhepGj21Bw&feature=PlayList&p=3E042098B63878F1&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=3

Daddy's Lullaby

Hi Nat, your daddy loves to sing this to you whenever you cry... And of course he sang it with the shoodoo doobee doos...=)

Ben E. King - Stand by Me

When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh now now stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me

If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me, stand by me-e, yeah
Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me, oh now now stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me
Darlin', darlin', stand by me-e, stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me

Strollers and escalators

Grandmummy came over today and we've brought Nat across to the mall for a little afternoon excursion. Used the stroller thinking that it'll be easier to manage since there are 2 of us and she could practice independence without asking to be carried all the time. Stroller was a wonderful idea! With the airconditioning and dazzling lights & strange faces, Nat was fully occupied in her little world. She fell asleep on and off whilst we whisk past shops after shops.

However, there was a slight obstacle- escalators. We've seen countless parents pushing their prams on the escalators whether it's 3 or 4 wheeled and it all seems so easy.. the balancing of baby's and stroller's weight on the moving steps. Having tried it for the first time, I must say strollers are really not built to travel on escalators whether it's uphill / downhill / with safety harness / with adult assistance. It felt like it was the first time when I learnt how to travel on the escalators - watch the speed, make sure you get on the middle of the step with your feet... Super tough! It felt like I was trying to get on the steps with roller blades. Step on slowly, glide off quick. Looking back, think I may have jeopardised baby's life doing the up climb stunt.

What happens if there isn't an elevator within the area, take for instance raffles place MRT. Don't remember seeing one that goes from the MRT concourse area to the surface ie 'green grass' patch or the underground links to office building. You would say oh you could fold the stroller, hold it and squirmy baby, and take the escalator. That, however, brings up its own set of precarious balancing. If I was using a smallish umbrella-type stroller it may be possible to do so, but not for the Maxi cosy cum Quinny transformer. And it leads me to wonder how commuters with physical disabilities managed to resurface from underground. What happens to those who can't afford their own private transport or taxis and had to commute by train?? It must have been a precarious feat which they conquer on a daily basis!! I did a little google scaring and this is what I've found:-

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/118/2/e279

Escalator-Related Injuries Among Children in the United States, 1990–2002 Jennifer McGeehan, MPHa, Brenda J. Shields, MSa, J.R. Wilkins, III, BCE, DrPHb, Amy K. Ferketich, PhDb and Gary A. Smith, MD, DrPHa

Published online August 1, 2006PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 2 August 2006, pp. e279-e285

There were an estimated 26000 escalator-related injuries among children who were 0 to 19 years of age in the United States during 1990–2002, yielding an average of 2000 of these injuries annually (rate = 2.6 per 100000 population per year). The mean age was 6.5 years at the time of injury, and 53.4% of the patients were male. When comparing cases by 5-year age groups, children who were younger than 5 years had the highest estimated number of injuries (12000), as well as the highest annual escalator-related injury rate (4.8 per 100000).

...The most common body part injured for all ages was the leg, accounting for 27.7% of all injuries. Among children who were younger than 5 years, the hand was the most common injury site (40.6%), with hand injuries frequently occurring as a result of entrapment (72.4%). A laceration was the most common type of injury, accounting for 47.4% of escalator-related injuries. Amputations and avulsions were uncommon; however, 71.4% (595 of 833) occurred among children who were younger than 5 years.

There are also recent home reports of kids whose croc shoes were stuck in gaps between escalators etc.. Perhaps Singapore's estate mgt / govt could consider putting up caution signboards to remind mothers that young children should be supervised properly and should not be transported in a stroller while riding on an escalator.





On the side....Per yesterday's post, Nat has managed to sustain the independent sleep pattern for another day! Yippee! She was fed, left in bed and fell asleep on her own. Keeping my fingers cross for tomorrow!

Random items

Am such a procrastinator nowadays ..resting on my laurels of 'oh i have so much time on my hands.. baby comes first and all 0ther things could do later..' Like what chris always says, " before you knew it your 4 months of maternity would be over by then". Indeed, it's been 3 months and 2 weeks already!! Kinda feeling a little panicky now as I've not done all of the things which I wanted to do. It's scary how time flies !!! Soon I'll be back at work ! Yikes !

For starters, I've decided to itemise the things which has to be done on my blog:-

1) get the LG service man to change the fridge's bulb and filter. Bulb was fused for 2 weeks now, though not affecting the fridge's functions, it's still better get this over and done with. This will give my helper less excuse to say 'o I didn't see that stain mdm'. DONE - 05/06/09. LG Service man will be here tomorrow between 2-5pm. ~ there goes $70 min for service charge...

2) Pack away my maternity clothes. DONE -11/06

3) Write a list of baby things to bring over to grandmummy's place. Shifted on 18 June 09. JIT as Chris fell ill the next day.

4) Go through papers for a cheap freezer unit for breastmilk storage. Checking again this Sat, not found any so far. Bought a LG freezer from courts mega sale. Good freezer storage space at a bargain! Delivering on 23 June.

5) Fax newspaper resubscription application to Sph and decide on the freebies entitled.

6) Check out the Great Singapore sale deals online - look for cheap baby gates to keep Junior( my doggie) out. 05/06/09 ~Can't seem to find anything online. Will wait for Sat's papers. Done - purchased from bb hyperstore. bought the plastic version. extremely useful as it stops junior from entering and could self lock.

7) Relist my unwanted items on the bay. DONE - 11/06

8) Buy a photo album and print baby's photos. 05/06/09~Printed the photos, sourcing for a pretty album.

9) decide on whether to buy a medela advance pump or keep the current mini electric. Decided to get the medela freestyle since it's more mobile and has dual phase expression. Willing to part with the mini electric at a discount.. anyone keen? let me know.

10) Bring helper for her half yearly health check. Done on 17 Jun.

11) Decide on the type and quantity of baby video monitors and where to place them. Fixed the internet connection on 22 jun. Still shopping for the cameras.

12) Finish reading Supernanny by Jo Frost. Done - 11/06

13) Complete the Korean DVDs which I've bought to while away time. Done - 11/06

14) Open a safe deposit box. 05/06/09~DONE

Night Night

Nat was able to sleep on her own this evening! Fed her at 7pm then she played with her shadows independently in the room and fell asleep thereafter!

Way to go baby! Mummy and daddy could have our dinner at 7.30pm in peace! This is a miracle compared to a tantrum throwing, attention seeking little one who demands to be carried during dinner time. We could even go out for a short spree without having got to rush home to attend to you! Amazing... our little one is growing up!

Child's play

Playing with Natalie is so exhaustive ... I had to constantly make up stories, talk to her, sing my favourite nursery rhymes, make her laugh and assist with her exercise routine. Never been recognised as a chatterbox in my family, entertaining or more appropriately self-entertaining is really a load of hard work!

Today she learnt how to hold the rattle and create noises with it. Took me at least half an hour to teach her the skills. Not sure if she is a fast learner, but constant encouragement does help speed things up a little.

I've wanted to finish my novel today- Flora's Lot by Katie Fforde which talks about a Londoner living on highfashion having inherited an uncles antique auction house located in the country. Story goes on to explain how she overcomed the odds and survived running the business, getting adapted to country life and at the same time falling in love with her stuffy, English cousin who thought she was a dumb blonde when she first arrived. Rather than speed reading I ended up reading aloud for Natalie's benefit. Throat felt really dry after the reading session which lasted 1 hour when she finally falls asleep on my lap.



Btw here's a video of her playing with her sesame street gym station...

Happy snack high chair

Hi little Darling, Daddy bought this super pretty Chicco Happy Snack highchair for you from mothercare! We are both waiting in anticipation for you to try it out in another 3 months time when you've learnt how to sit =).

1st dose of DPT & Oral Sabin

Nat has had the following injection last Friday. DPT/DT (Diphtheria, Pertussis & TetanusPoliomyelitis) & Oral Sabin – 1st dose.

Dr Toh mentioned that some babies may develop a mild fever between 37.5 - 38.5 degrees within 24 hours aafter the injection. I was constantly checking her temp throughout the day. Temp peaked to 37.4 during mid afternoon and went down by evening. So glad there was no sign of fever over the next few days. =) Grandmummy say Nat's body constitution must be really strong! Constant feeding on the au natural breastmilk has definitely helped!

Hi Nat, grandmummy was a bit pissed with Dr Toh today cause she laid you flat on your face to see if you had the strength to push yourself up with your arms. You ended up resting the weight of your head on your nose and she was afraid it may flatten as a result. Don't worry mummy pinched your tineee nose several times after that. Don't think there is any serious damage.

New development

Today Natalie is able to clasp her hands at midwaist and turn her head (whilst seated) to meet our gaze. She enjoys her bath time even more as her limbs gain muscles and strength to kick underwater. Creating loud splashes that lands on mummy's clothes never fail to amuse her.

As a reference, I have appended the Milestone chart for babies age One to six months ( extracted from babycentre).

One month
• Lifts head• Responds to sound• Stares at faces• Follows objects• Ooohs and ahhs• Can see black-and-white patterns

Two months
• Vocalises sounds - gurgling and cooing• Follows objects• Holds head up for short periods • Smiles, laughs• Holds head at 45-degree angle• Movements become smoother

Three months
• Laughs • Holds head steady• Recognises your face and scent • Squeals, gurgles, coos• Recognises your voice • Does mini-pushups

Four months
• Holds head up steadily• Can bear weight on legs• Coos when you talk to him • Can grasp a toy• Reaches out for objects• Can roll over

Five months
• Can distinguish between bold colours• Can roll over• Amuses himself by playing with hands and feet • Turns towards new sounds• Recognises own name

Six months
• Turns towards sounds and voices• Imitates sounds, blows bubbles• Rolls in both directions • Reaches for objects and mouths them• Sits without support• Is ready for solids