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

insect bites

An extract from babycentre...

Can an insect bite or sting cause an infection?

A bite or sting can become infected as a result of bacteria introduced when the insect bit your child or within a few days if your child scratches it too much. Check for a growing area of redness around the bite, a firm bump where she was stung, or a temperature. If you suspect your child has an infection, contact your GP, who may suggest a course of antibiotics.

If a tick bites your child, watch out for signs of Lyme disease, which is a serious bacterial infection. If a rash or a ring forms around the bite and starts to spread, take your child to a doctor (CKS 2007).

Although it's extremely rare, children can get encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and other conditions from viruses carried by insects (CKS 2007). If your child seems confused or sleepy or develops a temperature or stiff neck, be on the safe side and take her to your nearest accident and emergency department.

Should babies watch TV?

Hmm... we know that the Health Promotion Board encourages kids to play outdoors and take visual breaks from near work to combat myopia. Scientific studies also shown that near work is associated with myopia i.e. if your kid reads 2 or more books per week, he/she is 2 times more likely to develop myopia.

Question 1: Should babies watch TV?
Question 2: Would they get myopia from TV watching?
Question 3: Would the harmful rays from TV affect their eyes?

Let me share my training in this Blog

Answer for Q1: Babies should watch TV. TV is an attractive stimulus for babies. Colour, motion, facial recognition and audio cues helps to develop the neural connections between the eye and the brain and within the brain.

Answer for Q2: Babies are highly unlikely to get myopia from TV. Babies' eyes are usually hyperopic to begin with. As the eyes grow longer and bigger, the amount of hyperopia (long-sightness) reduces till they achieve perfect eyesight (emmetropia). If the eye grows longer than it should for its focussing power, you get myopia. This process takes several years. In addition, TV watching is not strictly speaking a near task. A near task is defined as reading something within one metre. Most TV sets are placed more than 1 metre away from our eyes.

Answer for Q3: There are no harmful rays coming out of our TVs! There is no need to install 'special filters' or spend extra money on EMI spectacle lenses. The radiation coming out of TV sets is Infra-red rays and they are generally harmful. All 'hot' items emit Infra-red and they are almost everywhere. The only way that Infra-red rays can harm the eyes is when the heat gets so high that our eyes are BBQ-ed! That of course does not happen unless you are trapped in a burning room.

natalie watching hi5@3 months old (26/05/09)

Favourite TV shows - Thomas & friends, Bob the builder, Dino the gift dragon

Genre -3D Animation

Her Favourite things..

Nat is now able to exhibit an obvious recognition of her mummy! The bond between us is getting stronger to the extent that she specifically wants me to carry her each time she cries. (Though I feel elated knowing the fact that I am Nat's favourite, but I don't think over reliance would do her any good and might potentially be an issue once I start work). Chris would say this is first mover's advantage, as I've been the food source since the very beginning and with the maternity leave that was 'bestowed' to only the mums, I am the one who has the privileges of spending the most time with her. I think he is just jealous!=p Work harder daddy I'm sure dada might be her first words since you've been repeating it religiously to her each day =).

At 3 months 3 days old, I must say Nat has developed into such a friendly baby. She proactively smiles and returns the smile to anyone who smiles at her. She gets excited and waves when we look her straight in the eye to talk to her. Her eye-hand coordination has improved tremendously as she begins to understand the concept of play. Amazed with her new found motor skills, she frequently places her salty, smelly mittens into her mouth and enjoys a good suckle. When bored, she'll blow bubbles with her saliva to self-entertain.

We are cultivating the reading habit early. As a start she is attracted to cheery, colourful boardbooks with simple details. Her favourite book is a counting book by Claire Henley - 'In my little blue bed', which counts the no. of toys the little baby has brought along with him to bed. Daddy and I have both concluded that her favourite colours are yellow and bright green cause she coos and waves frantically each time we flip to a page of that colour. Black and white books produced by 'The Children's Project'is also great for pre-speech learning suitable for newborns and above. It introduces simple shapes using black and white contrasts and different materials like tracing, crinkly and shiny paper. Check out www.socialbaby.com to find out more.

It's amazing how quickly babies develop! Am so glad I played a major role!

( Written when Nat is 3 mths 3 days old)

Gina Ford method + modification

At 2 months 3weeks, we are now able to fit in a more stable sleeping and playing routine for little natalie.

To maximise her learning and ensure a sustainable sleeping habit, I've modified the Gina Ford method to specialise to her daily needs. Her day starts at 630/7am where she'll wake for her first feed. She'll go back to sleep again after having her nappy changed and wakes up at 1000/1030am for a bath. By 1030/11am she'll be placed under the play gym which would occupy her for 15 -30mins before crying for attention. She'll jiggle to the tune of nursery rhymes till 12noon and nap for about 2 hours. I'll usually do my grocery shopping at about this time. She could stay awake from 2 pm onwards and by 530pm we'll prepare her for bath. Once cleaned and dressed, Nat would be fed and we'll try to put her to sleep by 7pm. She may wake at 8pm to poo and dependent on her mood or how excitable she is after a change of nappy or when daddy's home, (So far there there are fewer occassions where she manage to sleep till 1030pm)she may stay awake till 10pm for her final feed. At this stage, she'll only wake up in the night if she has wind in her stomach.

Anyone with tips on maintaining baby's sleeping pattern from 7pm to 7am or keeping the little one occupied with little fuss, do share it with me!

Survival Tips

Hey for those who are sick and tired of what's showing on tv and the repeat telecasts on starworld /HBO etc. Check out this site
http://www.freeonlineepisodes.net

You can watch Online Episodes of your favourite TV shows, Anime, Cartoon and the latest movies and films streaming for FREE!!

They have the latest seasons of all my fav tv series such as House, M.D.;Grey's Anatomy;Nip/tuck; Bones; Two and a Half Men etc.

Quick downloads and superior quality! Saves me loads of money from buying/ renting the latest seasons.

Bad excuse for not blogging as frequently as I would like, but this is definitely addictive!

The Isetan sale

Bought this really cool egg shape looking blender cum miller at the isetan sale, which came highly recommended by a friend. Price was a steal @ $69.90 after a 50% discount and what's more it came with a FOC soya/juice blender. Best suited to process puree food in small quantity. I stood for at least 20 min at the U-like counter and asked all sorts of questions before making my purchase. The demo lady seems a little frustrated as I insisted on her demonstrating the functions using all the available foodstuff on her counter.

All other baby products were on sale including clothings from luxury brands like burberry, Dior etc were going at 50-70% off. The ladies section was in fact only half as crowded as compared to the children's dept. Fisher price products were going off the shelves in minutes. Medela / Avent / Pigeon / Nuk Nuk products are also available at discounts between 20-30%.

Though some of the items after discount were not dirt cheap, mums were all going insane over the bargain as the selection is definitely much better than GSS /year end/boxing day sale.

Demand exceeds supply

The weather these days is way too hot! Nat has been increasing her feeds to reduce her body heat. By evening my reservoir has reached its lowest ebb. Fustration kicks in as she tugs and pull to stimulate the flow. Have tried giving her water but all she could handle is 10 ml. She tends to zip her lips tight when I try to feed her anything more. Am feeling the impact of dehydration on my fingers. The skin around my cuticles are starting to peel & bleed slightly. Mum said I over washed my hands with soap. Normal hand moisturisers didn't work. Am resorting to oil oinments now. Hopefully there would be less flaking.

Anyway back to the topic on breastfeeding, I've increased my fish and water intake. Understand from an expert breastfeeder that fenugreek would help increase milk flow (Hey theresa, thanks for offering the tip). Out of desperation we've bought a bottle yesterday from GNC ( cost $29.90 a bottle). Am not sure whether it's the fish, water or fenugreek that's taking effect but it worked. The volume extracted by pump has increased! So I've decided to put this up on my blog and share it with those who are having difficulty coping with your baby's demand.

So what is fenugreek? - Fenugreek is a traditional Ayurvedic herb. They are available whole and dried, or as a dull yellow powder, ground from the roasted seeds.When grounded, they give off a spicy pungent smell, like an inferior curry powder. So what are it's uses? Fenugreek seeds are used to add flavor to curry and made into lip balm. The seeds could also be brewed as tea to help reduce fever and menstrual pains, or they could be used in an ointment to treat skin infections. Some sites even mentioned that consumption could serve as an aphrodisiac to increase libido in men. Fenugreek's leaves, which are high in iron, are used in salads. Taken internally, fenugreek is used to treat bronchitis, coughs, respiratory problems, sinus conditions and of course to increase milk supply.

Mothers generally notice an increase in production 24-72 hours after starting the herb. Once milk production is stimulated to an appropriate level you could disconti ue the herb.

Fenugreek is considered safe for nursing moms when used in moderation and is on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's GRAS list (Generally Recognized As Safe). As with most medications and herbs, various side effects have been noted. You could visit this site for more info.http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/fenugreek.html

Natalie is now 2 mths old

Natalie is 2 months old - another significant milestone attained! She has grown taller, measuring 60cm now. Judging from her growth rate, ceteris paribus, she'll probably reach 1.2m by the time she is approx 1 year old?! hmmm, isn't that the height limit for bus rides? Erm something to take note of when she arrives at her 1st birthday.

So as parents what are the top 10 things that we have discovered /learnt about Natalie at this stage?

1) She loves to talk and listen to conversations. Though she could only make baby noises, she is starting to respond and hold her gaze whilst having a conversation with you.

2) Nat doesn't like to wait and has been displaying the traits of an impatient baby. Once she cries she demands to be attended to immediately. Her cries will develop into a non-stop siren that goes 'Wooehhhhhh,O-ehhhhhhhhh,O-ehhhhhh....' for as long as her breathe could hold.Then she'll stop to gasp for air before she starts again. Stops only when she gets what she wants.

3) Like all babies, she loves to be fed, cuddled and sit on mummy's lap.

4) A natural swimmer, she enjoys a good bath ( temp approx at 36/37 deg)and tilts her head backwards as she kicks away in the water. Wobbling the water to create jacuzzi bubbles under her back never fails to bring on a smile.

5) As much as she enjoys the water, she hates being lifted out of it. There is less crying now, but once you put her on the changing mat her sirens will be activated. It helps to feed her prior to her bath but not a hundred percent guarantee that she won't burst into tears.

6) She dislikes having the bodysuits draped over her head and slotting her hands into its long sleeves.

7) She loves it when we play and exercise her hands and legs, and shake them to the tune of Hokey Pokey or Chris' game of triathlon (http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/early_childhood/nurse/hokey/)

8) She is not a typical baby who wants to be swaddled whilst she sleeps. Her preference is to sleep with her hands up, in a victorious position. Sometimes we wonder if we should have named her Victoria instead.

9) She cries when she pees but keeps quiet when she poos and is hypersensitive to wind in her stomach.

10)Nat loves to go for car rides.