We finally made it to the Zoo and actually enjoyed the outing!
The event was organised by the Novena Neighbourhood committee( which my dad is involved in hence the trip... )
I didn't feel like going initially, but on second thoughts I felt Annika should have a chance at going to the zoo ( Madison has been several times during her first year when we had the FOZ membership ).
So we did! It didn't help that it was BLAZING HOT, but the kids took it well... we got and we were lucky the crowds were just starting to arrive. Took a mandatory group picture, then we were off!
I managed to hustle everyone straight to the Rainforest Kidz world without stopping at every exhibit along the way. Which was good too.. took us 20 minutes just to get there. The crowd was starting to build up. The kids changed into their swim stuff, and we took them into the waterplay area.
Annika was the first into the water area. She had fun. She's quite fearless by nature and gamely went down the waterslides, walked through the fountains etc.
Elizabeth was next. She was a little more timid but she still gamely went down the slides first with me, then she got the courage and started going by herself.
Madison was THE WORST! She refused to get into the water ( which is like 10cm deep! ) refused to get close to the water fountains etc! In the end, I kind of made her go down the water slide with me. Desensitization therapy. I think it's the combination of insufficient outdoor time coupled with too much "i" time. Iphone, Ipad. The grandfather likes to give it to them when they ask for it. Sigh.
That was on Sunday. Saturday was a pretty usual day. Madison didn't have tennis so she stayed over with the grandparents Friday night. I was working in the morning and was pretty busy. Chris took Annika for a swim in the morning. We went out for lunch and then went over to novena after Annika's nap.
Saturday evening EVERYONE went out for some event or other. We asked Madison where she wanted to go and she said "Sentosa". ( I was planning more on Botanic Gardens and was dressed as such.. oops ). At first I thought, why not park at Vivocity, walk across the boardwalk, grab dinner and take the monorail back?
Right. Luckily there was NO parking at Vivocity, so we were forced to pay for EXORBITANT parking at Resorts World Sentosa. Why luckily? Because after the girls wandered around the bayfront they BOTH wanted to be carried. And we didn't bring a stroller.
It was pretty fun though. We walked around the grounds just outside Universal Studio, took some photos and went to Candylicious ( which was just psychedelic but the girls LOVED it). We ended up having dinner at Coffee Bean. It was the nearest place we could duck into to grab a quick dinner with a toddler and a preschooler in tow.
This weekend Warni is on leave. Hm... time for swim date with friends?
Monday, September 26, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Post Hong Kong blues
I'm not sure what's happening but the rest of this week post Hong Kong seems really tiring.
Annika is actually sleeping better since we got home and physically she is recovering from her illness. Yet everyday when I wake up it feels like I got hit by a truck. So tired! Of course it doesn't help that I think I'm also coming down with whatever everyone had so maybe it's the cold/headflu type thing?
I'm not sure why Annika refuses to eat when I try to feed her. Seems to do ok when Warni does it. Anyhow.. I'm quite traumatized by her 4 day fast in Hong Kong and so yesterday when Warni had to go to the embassy for the morning I was stressed again. And yup.. she refused breakfast and her morning milk for me. I really had no more will to fight her so I just left it until the afternoon when Warni came back. Her passport will be expiring soon and we needed to renew it for the trip to Melbourne.
I really don't think I can do this mothering thing full time. I love spending time with the kids and of course they are the loves of my life but I CANNOT do this feeding/crying/whining kid thing. It makes me grumpy and stressed and that in turn affects the way I treat them. So I think it's not all that bad that I let someone else do that. Of course I feel inept being like that but I can't really help it.
In other news... Geok has delivered ! A new baby girl, Victoria Low Hui Wen born on 13th September 2011. Her birth weight was 3.18kg. Really cute! We visited her in hospital right and Madison was thrilled to see the new baby. She should be coming home today so I think we're all excited. I think Elizabeth has not been sleeping well though. She usually sleeps with Geok so it's been a sleepless few nights for my parents the past few days.
Annika is actually sleeping better since we got home and physically she is recovering from her illness. Yet everyday when I wake up it feels like I got hit by a truck. So tired! Of course it doesn't help that I think I'm also coming down with whatever everyone had so maybe it's the cold/headflu type thing?
I'm not sure why Annika refuses to eat when I try to feed her. Seems to do ok when Warni does it. Anyhow.. I'm quite traumatized by her 4 day fast in Hong Kong and so yesterday when Warni had to go to the embassy for the morning I was stressed again. And yup.. she refused breakfast and her morning milk for me. I really had no more will to fight her so I just left it until the afternoon when Warni came back. Her passport will be expiring soon and we needed to renew it for the trip to Melbourne.
I really don't think I can do this mothering thing full time. I love spending time with the kids and of course they are the loves of my life but I CANNOT do this feeding/crying/whining kid thing. It makes me grumpy and stressed and that in turn affects the way I treat them. So I think it's not all that bad that I let someone else do that. Of course I feel inept being like that but I can't really help it.
In other news... Geok has delivered ! A new baby girl, Victoria Low Hui Wen born on 13th September 2011. Her birth weight was 3.18kg. Really cute! We visited her in hospital right and Madison was thrilled to see the new baby. She should be coming home today so I think we're all excited. I think Elizabeth has not been sleeping well though. She usually sleeps with Geok so it's been a sleepless few nights for my parents the past few days.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Hong Kong trip 2011
OMG... I think I would call it a challenging trip.
Before we left, on Wednesday night, I had this deep dread that I couldn't explain. I call it my "ESP", and it's usually accurate.
Anyway... Madison had been sick for the week and STILL coughing, my MIL had caught the bug from her and COUGHING EVERYWHERE. Before we left Annika was still doing ok.
We caught the 6am flight on Jetstar, which meant we had to be up at 330AM and out of the house at 4am to get to the airport. The kids didn't stay asleep so they were pretty tired by the time we got on the plane.
FIRST EVENT:
LEFT a bag on the overhead compartment ON the plane!! Of course I realize this when we left the train that took us to the city. So Chris had to take the train BACK to the airport while the rest of us went ahead to the serviced apartment to check in. After we checked in, settled in they still hadn't retrieved the bag so I made some pasta for the kids' lunch. By the time he came back it was past 3pm.
SECOND EVENT:
When Annika woke from her nap ( Day 1), she had a raging fever. AND she was CRANKY. ARGH.
The first night I stayed home with her while the others went out to dinner with the relatives at the Peak.
THIRD EVENT:
Annika was sick the entire trip. But on top of that she also managed to get her entire right hand stuck in the lift door. It was a nightmare. We were all screaming and panicking. It was a miracle Chris got her hand out and she escaped with bruised and swollen fingers without broken bones or ripped nails. Of course she was screaming and crying the rest of the afternoon. We dosed her with ibuprofen and let her sleep after that.
The entire 4 days that Annika was in Hong Kong she refused to eat. I was at my wits' end. Anyway... she survived on breastmilk the entire time we were in Hong Kong.
FOURTH EVENT:
After 4 days of high fevers, she started to develop the characteristic croupy cough. OF COURSE the vial of dexamethasone that I brought just for her BROKE. Great. And we ran out of paracetamol suppositories. We threw the towel in and took her to Cannosia Private hospital, just a 5 minute walk from our apartment.
The hospital was small but service was prompt and efficient.It was great that we were the only patients there at the time so we were seen immediately. Such a relief to have another medical professional see your child and reassure you. And get the treatment that you want. She got her shot ( and was thus traumatized yet another time! ) and we picked up the supps.
THE REST OF THE TRIP:
Friday we went to Ocean Park. From forums that I had read we were expecting crowds and unruly people but there were NONE! Why? The cable car was undergoing a scheduled maintenance! How did we NOT know about this?! The cable car was the reason why we were at Ocean Park to start with!
Regardless, I think Madison had fun at the park. She even went on a ride down the Raging River! It was a pity we weren't able to stay longer... Annika was still febrile and unwell.
On Saturday, we attended a dinner hosted by Chris' aunt at the China club, a private dining club obviously for the elite in Hong Kong. For some reason dinner starts really late (closer to 9 ) in Hong kong. Madison did really well with the late nights, Annika not so well. Understandably she was grouchy and whiney by 930 but Chris managed to rock her to sleep. She slept in the stroller till we finished, which was close to 11Pm.
Sunday was the actual wedding. Annika went to the hospital in the morning, then we spent the rest of the morning at the neighbouring Hong Kong Botanical Gardens and zoo. At midday we went to the Conrad for the tea ceremony, and once again Annika was grouchy and tired. Once again Chris had to rock her to sleep. We survived the ceremony. We were supposed to take the chartered bus to Stanley for the church wedding but decided against it. 2 grumpy tired whiney kids at a quiet church ceremony?? No thanks. We would probably be spending the entire ceremony outside!
Instead, Chris and I took the MTR to Causeway bay in search of FOOD! We had travelled all this distance to at least eat some street food! Both kids were napping in their strollers so it was the perfect time to go. We actually managed to find a famous wontan noodle shop ( Mak's Noodles ) and got to eat their soup AND dry noodles as well as their congee. It was delicious. Didn't matter that both kids were up and squirming away so we had to eat really quickly.
We also got to try their dessert drinks-- sago, red bean and mango in a cup ( mine ) and Chris had some version of a mango drink in his.
Sunday night was the wedding banquet at the Conrad. Their banquets go on for way too long. Drinks started at 6pm, followed by the first cake cutting at 630pm. After that the guests were mingling till 8pm when they started seating people. They then had the entrance of the wedding couple, speeches and ANOTHER cake cutting. Dinner was served at 9Pm. Both kids were bone tired. We waited for a few dishes to try, then called it quits and caught a taxi back to the apartment.
Was I ever so glad to go home on Monday... Pa came and picked us up from the airport.
FINAL EVENT:
LEFT THE BLOODY STROLLERS at the baggage carousel!!ARGH!! That took another hour or so to sort out. Thank goodness Pa came and so the kids and I got to go home first for Annika's FIRST proper meal in 4 days...
I don't think I'm EVER going to bring my kids to Hong Kong again. If I ever go back it'll be to shop and eat and it will be sans kids. Hong Kong is fairly similar to Singapore although the shopping is probably interesting at the streetside. Not kid friendly AT ALL.
The final conclusion: I think I will have to bring Warni along to Melbourne for our annual trip. And I don't think Annika is quite ready for a ski trip JUST yet.
Before we left, on Wednesday night, I had this deep dread that I couldn't explain. I call it my "ESP", and it's usually accurate.
Anyway... Madison had been sick for the week and STILL coughing, my MIL had caught the bug from her and COUGHING EVERYWHERE. Before we left Annika was still doing ok.
We caught the 6am flight on Jetstar, which meant we had to be up at 330AM and out of the house at 4am to get to the airport. The kids didn't stay asleep so they were pretty tired by the time we got on the plane.
FIRST EVENT:
LEFT a bag on the overhead compartment ON the plane!! Of course I realize this when we left the train that took us to the city. So Chris had to take the train BACK to the airport while the rest of us went ahead to the serviced apartment to check in. After we checked in, settled in they still hadn't retrieved the bag so I made some pasta for the kids' lunch. By the time he came back it was past 3pm.
SECOND EVENT:
When Annika woke from her nap ( Day 1), she had a raging fever. AND she was CRANKY. ARGH.
The first night I stayed home with her while the others went out to dinner with the relatives at the Peak.
THIRD EVENT:
Annika was sick the entire trip. But on top of that she also managed to get her entire right hand stuck in the lift door. It was a nightmare. We were all screaming and panicking. It was a miracle Chris got her hand out and she escaped with bruised and swollen fingers without broken bones or ripped nails. Of course she was screaming and crying the rest of the afternoon. We dosed her with ibuprofen and let her sleep after that.
The entire 4 days that Annika was in Hong Kong she refused to eat. I was at my wits' end. Anyway... she survived on breastmilk the entire time we were in Hong Kong.
FOURTH EVENT:
After 4 days of high fevers, she started to develop the characteristic croupy cough. OF COURSE the vial of dexamethasone that I brought just for her BROKE. Great. And we ran out of paracetamol suppositories. We threw the towel in and took her to Cannosia Private hospital, just a 5 minute walk from our apartment.
The hospital was small but service was prompt and efficient.It was great that we were the only patients there at the time so we were seen immediately. Such a relief to have another medical professional see your child and reassure you. And get the treatment that you want. She got her shot ( and was thus traumatized yet another time! ) and we picked up the supps.
THE REST OF THE TRIP:
Friday we went to Ocean Park. From forums that I had read we were expecting crowds and unruly people but there were NONE! Why? The cable car was undergoing a scheduled maintenance! How did we NOT know about this?! The cable car was the reason why we were at Ocean Park to start with!
Regardless, I think Madison had fun at the park. She even went on a ride down the Raging River! It was a pity we weren't able to stay longer... Annika was still febrile and unwell.
On Saturday, we attended a dinner hosted by Chris' aunt at the China club, a private dining club obviously for the elite in Hong Kong. For some reason dinner starts really late (closer to 9 ) in Hong kong. Madison did really well with the late nights, Annika not so well. Understandably she was grouchy and whiney by 930 but Chris managed to rock her to sleep. She slept in the stroller till we finished, which was close to 11Pm.
Sunday was the actual wedding. Annika went to the hospital in the morning, then we spent the rest of the morning at the neighbouring Hong Kong Botanical Gardens and zoo. At midday we went to the Conrad for the tea ceremony, and once again Annika was grouchy and tired. Once again Chris had to rock her to sleep. We survived the ceremony. We were supposed to take the chartered bus to Stanley for the church wedding but decided against it. 2 grumpy tired whiney kids at a quiet church ceremony?? No thanks. We would probably be spending the entire ceremony outside!
Instead, Chris and I took the MTR to Causeway bay in search of FOOD! We had travelled all this distance to at least eat some street food! Both kids were napping in their strollers so it was the perfect time to go. We actually managed to find a famous wontan noodle shop ( Mak's Noodles ) and got to eat their soup AND dry noodles as well as their congee. It was delicious. Didn't matter that both kids were up and squirming away so we had to eat really quickly.
We also got to try their dessert drinks-- sago, red bean and mango in a cup ( mine ) and Chris had some version of a mango drink in his.
Sunday night was the wedding banquet at the Conrad. Their banquets go on for way too long. Drinks started at 6pm, followed by the first cake cutting at 630pm. After that the guests were mingling till 8pm when they started seating people. They then had the entrance of the wedding couple, speeches and ANOTHER cake cutting. Dinner was served at 9Pm. Both kids were bone tired. We waited for a few dishes to try, then called it quits and caught a taxi back to the apartment.
Was I ever so glad to go home on Monday... Pa came and picked us up from the airport.
FINAL EVENT:
LEFT THE BLOODY STROLLERS at the baggage carousel!!ARGH!! That took another hour or so to sort out. Thank goodness Pa came and so the kids and I got to go home first for Annika's FIRST proper meal in 4 days...
I don't think I'm EVER going to bring my kids to Hong Kong again. If I ever go back it'll be to shop and eat and it will be sans kids. Hong Kong is fairly similar to Singapore although the shopping is probably interesting at the streetside. Not kid friendly AT ALL.
The final conclusion: I think I will have to bring Warni along to Melbourne for our annual trip. And I don't think Annika is quite ready for a ski trip JUST yet.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Holiday plans..
We are booked to go to Hong Kong this weekend for a cousin's wedding.
On Friday last week, I had this sneaking suspicion that I had to keep Madison out of school this week so that she'd be WELL for the trip.
OF COURSE. Saturday she comes down with croup AGAIN. She didn't seem too bad on Saturday but then the high fevers and barking cough started up really badly on Sunday. By Sunday night she wasn't sleeping and was crying, coughing and puking. That did it. I drove back to the clinic and picked up the dexamethasone. Gave her a shot with around 7.5mg of it.
Now my next problem. To keep Annika WELL! No way am I going to take a 4.5hour flight and suffer the next 4 nights in a foreign place with a grumpy, coughing, stridorous toddler.
So for the past 2 days we've been TRYING really hard to keep them apart, albeit easier said than done. Of course it doesn't help that my mother in law comes down with a cold either. It's a losing battle. Sigh.
1 more sleep till our trip. My breath is bated. Maybe I'll come down with it with all this stress!
On Friday last week, I had this sneaking suspicion that I had to keep Madison out of school this week so that she'd be WELL for the trip.
OF COURSE. Saturday she comes down with croup AGAIN. She didn't seem too bad on Saturday but then the high fevers and barking cough started up really badly on Sunday. By Sunday night she wasn't sleeping and was crying, coughing and puking. That did it. I drove back to the clinic and picked up the dexamethasone. Gave her a shot with around 7.5mg of it.
Now my next problem. To keep Annika WELL! No way am I going to take a 4.5hour flight and suffer the next 4 nights in a foreign place with a grumpy, coughing, stridorous toddler.
So for the past 2 days we've been TRYING really hard to keep them apart, albeit easier said than done. Of course it doesn't help that my mother in law comes down with a cold either. It's a losing battle. Sigh.
1 more sleep till our trip. My breath is bated. Maybe I'll come down with it with all this stress!
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