Kecik’s Cozy Corner

Sayang the bird, originally uploaded by mistyeiz2.

Apparently all her whinging and whinning and tantrums was caused by German measles. Poor little thing…. I noticed the spots the next day after the appointment for her jabs were cancelled. At first we thought it was just some rash from her rubbing her back on the floor when she does throw a tantrum but apparently after getting 2 doctors opinions, it was German measles which explained why she was so upset. On top of that, she also had a sore throat which was also why she wasn’t taking much food but was drinking a lot of water.

So for the next couple of days, she mainly just ate mushy food. She didn’t like the stuff I cooked for her like her normal meals but was happy to eat all the not-so-healthy stuff like the baby bottled food particularly the desserts like apricot pudding, raspberry muesli, custard and gels. And she loves bread. So I just gave her those things la. For me, it didn’t matter what she ate, as long as she did get something down. Breastfeedig went on as normal although I am seriously thinking of moving her on to formula.

I think her suction is too strong and my poor nipples are suffering. I am suffering so will definitely check with the nurse to see how to go about it. I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.

On the other note, the rash has gone and Arianna is definitely on the road to recovery. I don’t know if she is 100% ok or not because she isn’t eating as much or as euthusiatically as she use to. Maybe it’s just part of growing up where they tend to eat less and become picky eaters. I don’t know….but I hope not.

And since this rubella episode, she’s learnt to throw tantrums but throwing herself away from you when you’re carrying her. I find that extremely disturbing and dangerous. Is there any way of stopping this behaviour? Other than that, my house is a total wreck these days. Feels like a cyclone blew through it and left all the debris behind. Other days, it’s like an obstacle course.

I finally realised that there is no point in trying to block her from getting from Point A to Point B because she will make a way even if there is no way. So we now keep all the doors shut but I can’t really do much about the kitchen yet. Feel bad for putting the gate up since she likes to be in there with me. But the kitchen already so small and to have this lump sitting like a Buddha right in the middle makes it hard for me to make my way around so like it or not, guess the gate will have to come up la.

Turns out that all that whinging and clingy-ness had a good reason attached to it. My poor baby girl actually had a slight fever from a virus that’s been going around due to this stupid weather. It doesn’t help much when we can experience all 4 seasons [autumn, summer, winter & spring] in one day. So she escaped getting the terrible 3’s.

Yes, I guess she could thank her lucky stars that she escaped getting 3 jabs that day due to her temperature. But there will be no escape next week when we go in again. I can already foresee how things are going to turn out! She totally freaked out when she saw Dr. Gunther and she just cried and cried while he checked her out. But the funny thing is, while she was getting checked, her curiosity got the better of her and she actually attempted to grab at his stethoscope! *lol* I thought it was hilarious because even with the tears streaming down and all, can still find the energy to grab at it. Such a funny Cheeky!

Anyway, she also has a sore throat which explains why she wasn’t interested in her foods at all and that really upset me because I’m so afraid that she’d get hungry and get a gastric or something. So I kept trying to feed her stuff. Sometimes she ate, sometimes she didn’t. But doc said that I should just give her whatever she wants like fruits or light stuff and lots of fluids which was what I was already doing. At the end of the check up, doc was quite happy with her because despite being ill and all, she was still inquisitive which was a good sign according to him and she was telling us that she was ill and not just putting on a happy face, which would be bad coz then we wouldn’t have known.

There was no medication needed just gave her a shot of baby Panadol last night and today too. Her temperature has been up and down today but she has definitely turned for the better. I can have my baby back now! I just knew she wasn’t 100% with the whinging and all, I just knew it coz for most of the time. she had always been a happy baby. I’m just glad that she’s slowly recovering. I don’t expect her to be 100% ok in 24 hours but something is certainly better than nothing.

Getting up every 2 hours last night was not fun at all! *blek*

Whinge, whinge, whinge

For the past 2 days, Arianna has been driving me up the wall with all the whinging. And this is something like just making a crying noise but not really crying and it’s really getting to me. I don’t know what’s wrong with her. Perhaps she has some sort of a 6th sense that she is going to get jabbed today or something, I don’t know but the thing I know for sure is, the minute Daddy walks in, she’s a different baby all together.

Hence Ted doesn’t really believe me when I tell him that she’s been very whingey and that I had a tough time trying to cheer her up. I feel bad that I try to take mer mind off the whinging by giving her food. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. But I am so darn thankful for that Baby Bright DVD we bought in Kulim for that is truly my Saviour in times of desperation, and when I want to take a bath.

So far, it’s done a great job in keeping her occupied long enough for me to take a bath, quickly check on lunch and for the moment, to even write out this post. In fact, just yesterday it also gave me a chance to chat with my long time best friend online which was such a blessing coz I miss her heaps.

For now, she is paying 101% attention to the tv but once the show is over, it’s back to the whinging I’m sure. Even trying to play anything with her doesn’t quite work as her attention span is shorter than a bee’s. The only consolation I have is that looking forward, it will stop sooner or later but till the  tide is through, aiyo…..my patience is being tested time and time again. Sometimes I surprise myself that I can actually control myself from not getting too upset as I know that I sometimes have a super short fuse.

And when I’ve had enough, I just zone her out and leave her to cry/whinge a bit till I get myself back in order. I don’t want to end up like one those mums who snap and throw their kids over the balcony or shake them out of anger, you know? It does happen coz you’re just so frustrated and angry, you don’t know what you’re doing. I just thank God that I haven’t reached that stage yet because scarily, I think I am quite capable of it and that is such a scary thought.

In my previous post, I mentioned about Arianna and her blue black marks from all the crawling. I was thinking of getting her knee pads but the price….can pengsan!! So I did something I have never done before. I googled up how to make your own baby knee pads and voila!

How to make free knee pads

So instead of spending AUD25 for ONE pair of knee pads, now I don’t need to spend anything at all since I have thread and all on hand. Just need to dig up Ted’s old holey socks which he has many of because just like my Dad, he’s got this habit of using clothings like singlets and socks and undies till the moth also can’t have a proper meal! He pretty much wears these things until I get rid of them. If I don’t then he will continue wearing it until kingdom come.

That said, I’ll be finally trying my hand at making something useful and being more productive with my time as Ted is of the opinion that I spend too much time on Scrabulous, which is quite true, sad to say. If it all comes together ok, I’ll definitely post a pix of it! Have Arianna pose in it too….hehehe, being frugal is GOOD.

After all, money don’t grow on trees you know!

When I first found out about knee pads for babies, I thought that idea was just too much. I mean, why would a baby need knee pads for? Today, I know why and am seriously considering getting a pair for Arianna.

Despite not even trying any attempts to stand other that waving her bum in the air some of the time, Arianna has been crawling like there is no tomorrow and I really am amazed at the speed this kid can go! I really pity her because when I undress her to get her ready for her bath, both her knees are always red from all the crawling and most recently, at least for the past week or so, there are blue black marks just below her knees. The one on her left leg has gone but not the one on her right. I don’t know what she knocked as she makes her way around the house but I’m sure it must have hurt and somehow, it just doesn’t bother her at all.

I can’t say that it isn’t worrying me because it has been some time now so I’ll bring it up to the doc when she goes in to get her 12 mth jab. Ted whines about how hard the floor is when he tries to get on all fours and chase her and I can’t help but agree. Somehow, this doesn’t bother Arianna one bit. I guess she knows that hard floor or not, this is the only way she can move about and get from one room to another. The whole house is like an obstacle course!

If I block one side to get her from going to the kitchen, she will some how find a small gap and push her way through. If she can’t get through, she cries and makes sure I move the ‘mountain’. Otherwise, if she is in a more an exploring mood, she’s actually go around to the other side where the gap is bigger. I prety much have given up blocking up the places I don’t want her to go, because to Arianna, where there is a will, there is a way. So, all the doors to the rooms and bathrooms are permanently shut while she is awake and if I’m in the bedroom doing the sheets then I shut the door with both of us in so she doesn’t go wandering off.

Gosh, to think I’m only in the crawling stage!! *pengsan*

I don’t really consider myself a good cook but I can definitely whip up a completely proper meal when the need arises, which happens to be everyday. For most of my meals, I don’t really follow any recipes as these dishes are what I grew up with.

But sometimes, it’s time to cook up a storm with proper recipes and I get so inspired and encouraged when I see the outcome. It has also helped that my collection of recipe books has jumped in leaps and bounds thanks to my mother in law. 

With all the crazy and unpredictable accidents that are happening on the roads these days, one can’t be too careful and not insure the family car. Ted is a very safe driver and although he is careful on the roads, it’s the other drivers who can be very reckless.

Not only in accordance with the law, getting car insurance for our family car has always been top priority along with other insurances as well. I always keep in mind that one should always be safe than sorry.

About a few days before our anniversary and Arianna’s 1st birthday, Ted started teasing me about being pregnant. I don’t know what got into him but he’s been at it non-stop. So I told him that although I’m off by a few days, the carnage [That's what he calls my period.] will come because I have been feeling achy and the skin around my face has been peeling a fair bit so it’s just a matter of time. Then came 12/8 and still no sign of my red flag and so I told him that although I am very sure that I am not pregnant, because it was our anniversary, let’s try a pregnancy test and who knows, we might strike jackpot and so, I took it.

Who would have thought that 3 minutes could take and feel so long?? But nup, as excited and sure as Ted was, just because he was right the first time, it was a negative. And here is where I felt, for the first time, a rush of mixed emotions just coursing through me. It was more than just an emotional roller coaster ride. I really wasn’t sure if I would be sad because I wasn’t pregnant or sad because I was. Part of me did feel a twinge of disappointment that I wasn’t pregnant but a bigger part of me felt relieved. To say that I am not ready for #2 is not completely true and to say that I am looking forward to a second pregnancy is also not true. Hence the emotional roller coaster ride.

I guess on one hand, I didn’t want him to be right again. I wanted me to be the one to tell him, ‘Hey, I’m pregnant!’ but apparently, Ted is more observant than I am about my body. *lol* He is adamant that the pregnancy kit is wrong and that he is very sure I am. So I told him that if he was so sure, to go get a new set so we can try again. He hasn’t got around to getting them for me so I’m still riding on this roller coaster, not knowing what the heck is going on.

That said, on 12/8 I did find myself feeling a little nauseous in the car on the way to MIL’s to celebrate Arianna’s official birthday. Although uncommon for me to feel sick in the car, it does happen occasionally. And I kept finding myself munching a lot more too. So I really am not sure if perhaps I am until I really go to the doctor. But for now, I’m just waiting till 9/9 and perhaps then, I’ll be sure whether or not we can be expecting another bub.

A lot has been on my mind because of the possibility of another baby on the way ie. are we ready for another baby financially, mentally, physically? And it’s these thoughts that make me not sure if we could handle another baby or not. However, these are the human aspects of the whole issue. Divinely, we both agree that if God thinks we are ready and able to take care and look after another one of His divine creation, then it will happen whether we want it or not. And ultimately, when it does happen, I will definitely accept it with open arms, after all, even a foetus knows if he/she is a wanted baby or not.

Almost a year on and I’ve still not lost the weight that I had intended too after Arianna came along. Although I am not binge eating, I know that I have piled on a couple of extra pounds which need not be there in the first place. And I also know that exercise is the only way out but…I’m lazy. There I admitted it.

I’ve got a long list of excuses for not exercising but I think Ted finally found something that I can’t say no to - exercise bikes. In fact, I personally think that I won’t say no myself! And if I set this up in front of the TV, I can certainly see me cycling away!

Talking to my sister the other day and catching up on what’s been going on in her life, she mentioned to me that she will be attending a couple of interviews in the coming weeks and was currently in the midst of deciding what to wear for these interviews.

Being one who was in charged of interviews while I was still working, I told her that her footwear was just as important as her attire and suggested that she check out Dansko because of their wide range of womens shoes. And I think she settled for a Dansko Tara - Black Nappa Leather which I thought was an excellent choice.