40 degrees

Isaac was suddenly hit with fever on thursday night all the way through to saturday. When his fever shot up to 40 degrees celcius on Saturday despite regularly given suppository every 4-6 hours to bring the fever down, and when he started lookin lethargic (if you know Isaac, he very seldom look lethargic!!), YL panicked and insisted that we bring him to the 24 hour Children's Clinic at KK Hospital.

We were quite impressed by the service in the Hospital. Although it was Saturday night (At about 9.30pm) and there were quite a few patients, there was hardly a wait. Isaac was given a pre-check by a nurse (bloodpressure, fever temperature, verbal check on medical history). When she found that he had a raging fever, she quickly gave us cold water and sponge to sponge him down. Thereafter, we went to the registration counter to pay the lump sum $65 consultation fee (which includes any test and medication...quite a good deal!).

He was then swiftly seen by a really nice pediatrician, who was very gentle and tried to set us at ease. Isaac saw a big tub of sweets on her table and was very 'buah pai seh' and grabbed it and looked at her gleefully. The Ped gave him a check through and concluded that it was probably a viral fever. To be on the safe side, she ordered for a urine test just to make sure that it wasn't a urinary tract infection.

[From top left clockwise]: Isaac having his bloodpressure taken; Feverish Isaac looking a bit 'blur blur'; Isaac momentarily going back to his old cheerful self and trying to jump up and down (!) ; Isaac looking around curiously at the other ill children...

It was quite amusing for us to see how the nurse tried to attach a small children's urine bag on Isaac to collect urine for the test. Though she was swift in her action and the process painless, Isaac was nevertheless quite alarmed when we put him on a hospital bed for the nurse to attach the urine bag. It didn't help that the bed next to him was another boy that was screaming and crying at the top of his voice. Poor Isaac was visibly shaken and tried to hug tightly on his mummy like a koala bear.

Isaac was quick to urine in the bag. We were wondering how much urine was required, but the nurse said that whatever he had provided was sufficient. Then we waited around for about an hour for the urine test result, as a fretful Isaac laid tired and frightened on his mummy, whimpering and trying to sleep... It didn't help that his daddy was still trying to sponge him to bring the fever down, and he obviously didn't like his forehead wet whilst trying to get some rest!

Praise God that at 11pm, the urine test came out negative, and the Ped reassured us that things should look better soon. She advised us to keep sponging him with water to bring the temperature down. Thanks to yl's earlier sponging, Isaac's fever had already come down significantly to 38-ish degree...The Ped was ready to let us go, but yl was very kam chiong and continued to ask her lots of questions. He even took every pamphlet available on children's illness! The Ped joked that he is a 'new age daddy'....super involved with his child! ;)

We finally got back home at 12pm after collecting Isaac's medication, etc. By then, all 3 of us were super Zzzzzzzzzzzonked out!

That night, Isaac continued to be fretful in his sleep and we think that it was because he got rather traumatised by the crying kids in the children clinic. Poor chap! Thankfully, his fever has subsided since Sunday and his temperature is now back to normal! :)

Thirty Something

Yummy blueberry yogurt birthday cake from 'The Patissier' at Ann Siang Street (courtesy of AK! Cheers!). Can u guess the age?

Apart from our immediate family members' birthdays, at this age, we're sometimes just so caught up with our own stuffs that it is really not easy to remember our friends' birthdays...I am super guilty of this myself! So, I was really touched to have received sms birthday greetings from 18 different friends/couples today...and some from overseas! Thanks loads! ;)

Fruitful restday!

Felt immensely proud of myself today. Took leave from work, but still woke up at 6.30am in the morning. Saw Isaac off to my parents-in-law's place, and then had light breakfast. Thereafter, we drove 'across the street' to East Coast Parkway and jogged for a good half hour! This is the first time that I have properly jogged since 4 years ago!! Ok, didn't really jogged all the way, but brisked walk mid-way. YL said that for someone who hasn't jogged for so long, I actually did quite well and ran at a decent speed. I was humble and gave partial credit to my spanking Nike Air running shoes that is not only lightweight but looks great!! ;)

Took some photos on my phone's cam whilst we were there...

Photos were shot after the run...The 2nd image came out like some chalk drawing art....cool! And check out the sandcastle on the beach...I think some pro built them!

Thereafter, we proceeded to Bedok Interchange hawker centre for a plate of yummy fried carrot cake (with prawns and sotong!!) washed down with yummy teh terik! Went back home to bathe, change and then proceeded to the library to pick up a few books on Tokyo. Yes, we've decided to make a trip there to chill out, come mid Sep!! Yippy!

Then picked up Isaac and went to Man Fu Yuan Restaurant at Hotel Intercontinental to have dim sum and celebrate birthday with Parents, and Bro... Yumelicious!

Mum babysat Isaac in the afternoon, and both YL and me went to Tampines Century Square to shop and catch the movie 'Click' by Adam Sandler. Movie started slow and has the usual American corny jokes in there, but as it goes on, improved immensely. Its got good morals and remind us not to rush through life... it even got both of us tearing at the end... Overall a good movie and would recommend it ...! clap clap!

Ate Sake Sushi for dinner and then went to parents' place to 'cut cake' and sing birthday song. Thereafter rushed home to be in time for cellgroup meeting...where I got to cut another cake and have another birthday song sung to me!

What a day...What a fruitful birthday!! ;)

Lazy Saturday afternoon@Starbucks

You've got your coffee and I've got my H2O!

Choice

I watched a TCS 8 show tonight, where one of the protagonist was lamenting to a friend that because she is already married and has a young son, she has found herself compromising her ambitions. Deep in her heart, she wished that she was still single and free to pursue her career goals.

I share a different view. I think I am innately someone with very traditional values. My family will always come first. It doesn't mean that I do not harbour any dreams of doing well at work and developing myself further in terms of my career. But when the two compete for my priorities, I know which one I'll eventually choose.

In fact, I had already made such a choice in the past.

Just before YL and I got married, he was offered a scholarship to do his postgrad studies overseas. The options that were laid before us were:
(a) I would stay back in Singapore to work whilst he would take up the scholarship and go overseas; or
(b) We would both go overseas together, i.e. I would have to resign from work or take No Pay Leave; or
(c) We both had to stay in Singapore and he either had to give up his PhD dreams or pursue a local research course.

I chose option (b). I was prepared to resign if necessary and follow him overseas to pursue his dreams for at least 3 years. Thankfully, things worked out well for us. God blessed me with great bosses that okayed my 3 years No Pay Leave to follow YL to London. This means that I would have a chance to go back to the organisation that I had worked for and more or less be assured of a job when I return. However, it still means that I would be behind / 'lose out' to my fellow colleagues that were in my cohort by 3 years. By the time I come back, I could be serving one of my ex-peer at work who could then be my boss.

These didn't matter. All it matters to me was that we would continue to be together, building up our relationship and home as a married couple. Thankfully, God honoured our decision. In my 2nd year in London, God blessed me with an all expenses paid, and full pay postgrad scholarship from my bosses, to allow me to pursue a Masters Course at London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)! Never had I imagined that I would do a postgrad course, nor one in an eminent university in London!


Fastforward till today.

Today, I made another choice regarding my career. I am unsure how it'll all pan out at the end of the day. All I ask is that God will watch over me and direct my paths according to His will. Whatever I do, I want to have a good testimony at work as an officer, a colleague, or a supervisor. But above all, I desire to be a good mother and a good wife at home.

(sorry for the lack of clarity in my last para...all will be clearer in time to come...)

My Family

Huge Elmo

Wow! So big! Thanks Uncle Hong Yi and Aunty Kia Hui for giving big Elmo to me!

Happiest in the morning!

National Day at Labrador Park

Our church had a fellowship outing on National Day morning at Labrador Park. The sky was still pouring at 8.30am (our meeting time), but soon cleared up within half an hour! Apart from eating yummy breakfast (some lovingly prepared by fellow church friends and others conveniently purchased from the nearby hawker centre) , we also had a fun time playing games and chatting with one another!! Both kids and adults had a wonderful time! :)

Labrador Park : An Overwhelmed Isaac

Isaac was a little overwhelmed when an overly enthusiastic friend of his (another Isaac) tried to give him a 'bear hug' and got a little too interested in his cutsey cap! But, worry not...he had fun otherwise! :)

Standing soon...

Kids grow so fast...

Celebrating Granny's birthday

Was Sze's mum's birthday on 8 Aug. We had a sumptuous feast at Dragon City Restaurant at Orchid Copthorn Hotel. Apart from mingling with his great grandma, grandparents, Uncle YH and Aunt LS, Isaac had a wonderful time looking at the many candles on the cake, too!

Listening to Papa

after a late lunch at Pregos two sundays ago...

Bruce Lee....

....NOT!
Rather, presenting you....Bruised Lim!


Little Isaac had a little accident...so now he is slightly bruised on his face.
Did he cry? Yep.
But nonetheless, he's back to his happy chappy self now.
So, no worries!
:)

Playtime with cousin Glory

They're not fighting...
...just trying to hug one another!

; )

Tired

very tired...would love to go on a holiday.... ;]

given that we're not sure whether to bring Isaac with us, we're looking at taking a weekend trip to some nearby country, and leaving Isaac with one of our parents...

currently thinking of either Cambodia or Thailand...