Monthly Archives: July 2008

Hard stools, part 2

Seems like a season for sequels. Nope, I haven’t watched The Dark Knight yet….. I have watched Hellboy 2 though…

Anyway, there’s been a build up of activities that have accumulated to a juncture at which there’s been a bottleneck, inhibiting the easy flow of movements, effectively creating a plug that is causing a backlog of new activities waiting to be cleared.

Yes, it took me a good while to write that simple passage of nonsense.

On weekends, we make it a point to sleep over at my parents’, since it is the only time everyone gets to see each other.

On Saturday, we took it easy. Hot Mummee slept in, but Caitlin was up “early” as usual (for a Saturday, by our standards). So Daddee has to keep her company and occupied. My mum wanted to go buy some fresh flowers at the wet market. So the 3 of us went. Then we came home, Caitlin had her lunch. I don’t recall if she had her morning milkies or not… Before her afternoon nap Hot Mummee and I sat with her to go through some of the new words she learned from school. Evening came, and only Caitlin and I, along with my parents and the 2 brothers and respective families, went over to Dr Pixie’s for dinner. Hot Mummee and Caleb didn’t go ‘cos the little man is only just coming out of (an)other fever and cold.

There wasn’t anything unusual about it. There were fish, vege, prawns, rice, and lots of fruits. Caitlin avoided the spicy stuff, but did get stuck into the fruits, especially the papaya and the rare treat of kiwi fruit.

We had a late night. Mainly ‘cos Caleb wasn’t there, allowing myself and Caitlin to remain and play / chat / explore the house. I reckon we got home around midnight. I think I did make her some milkies, but not the usual amount.

Sunday came and she only woke close to midday. Hours later, we packed up, went home to the condo, and the kids had their afternoon nap. No surprises- Caitlin wasn’t able to sleep quickly when night came. She probably only fell asleep close to midnight.

Before that, while washing up after brushing her teeth, I asked if she’d been. She hadn’t, for that day; and I can’t remember if I washed her up on Friday or Saturday night once, after her going.

Monday came, and it was going to be an interesting one.

Since she didn’t sleep early the night before, she was all of Miss Grumpy. Still, I managed to get her to school on time and outta-sight-outta-mind for me and on my way to work.

Like breaking news feeds of a major event, I get bits and pieces of info that I had to peace together: Sitting on the toilet for 3 hours, refusing to get off, only Grandma’s threats worked, insisting on wearing her brother’s diapers for just-in-case, trip to the nearest Dr, anema, but not satisfied, no afternoon nap. Somewhere in there was Hot Mummee’s interrogation on what happened / was served at Dr Pixie’s.

Poor kid is already lacking sleep, and is so constipated that she had to endure the up-the-ass too. I think it was only a squirty but nonetheless….

I think the only thing we’d done differently since part 1 was that Caitlin has finished her tub of prunes which Grandma had bought, and had effectively stopped eating it, or anything just as fibrous.

So I went to (finally) get a bottle of Duphalac, asking Grandma to administer today after Caitlin returns from school, 10mL, for 3 days in a row. Dr Pixie actually suggested to administer in the mornings, but since she says it will “work within 4 hours”, I also do not want any untoward mishaps to befall her during her school hours in the morning.

Hopefully when I get home later, I will be greeted with a wide smile I-am-so-finally-relieved fully rested 3-going-on-4-year old happy-as-I-am child, again.

Update: I was :)

As planned, Caitlin only consumed the Duphalac after school. Apparently she had to go only in some 50min later, just after lunch, with full of greens. She got some soft plop-plops! And later, after I had reached home and having dinner, she had to go again. I don’t know which “session” the duphalac worked on, but now the plumbing is at least cleared!

Grandma and I have decided not to put her on it again tomorrow, despite Dr Pixie’s instructions of 3 days in a row. If it were just one visit then maybe. But since Caitlin has had to go twice already today I think we will refrain from further use / dosage. I did also ask Caitlin if she had any stomach discomfort. She claims she didn’t. I hope it’s the truth and not that she is being brave.

Getting on Daddee, part 2

I have 13 nieces and nephews. I can still remember seeing them wobblying their first steps, swaying to children’s music, “taking-a-knee” to see them eye to eye, using baby talk or at least simple sentences, participating in their tea parties, being asked “Is he drooling on me?” when my sister in law was carrying her sleeping boy over her shoulder.

These days, they are talking about who’s school has the hottest girls, that Shea actor guy from the Transformers and also the last Indiana Jones, plans for *university. Some are already driving too, saying “I love you” when hanging up their mobiles, paying bills.

It didn’t seem that long ago that I had wanted to see what they looked like in their first school uniforms.

It didn’t seem that long ago that I had wanted to change the channel to the X Files, resulting in my nephew running out of the room covering his ears and shouting “WAIT WAIT WAIT (till I leave the room please)!” cos he knows it’s (sometimes) a scary show. Now he speaks of his younger brother being possibly scared of The Dark Knight; possibly also being interested in the second installment of the X Files movie (though I doubt it simply cos he doesn’t know enough background of the series), and not even scared at all of the creepier Dementors from Harry Potter.

It also didn’t seem that long ago that another nephew was only starting to talk. Now doing his second year of uni, talking about investment mechanics and instruments.

It didn’t seem that long ago that I was still able to play tennis and run down a ball. I was also able to lose the weight that I was gaining simply by watching what I eat and working out more often.

These days, it’s achy joints- some due to carrying heavy loads of baby, others permanent due to wear and tear. It’s not being able to have the time to just-go to the gym at my heart’s fancy- family commitments of ferrying kids and sticking to a schedule of toddler sleep routine and baby milk feeds implies no time for self. That I am also going to be 40 in only a few years time also means that this body does not function the way it used to: Lose fat, recover quickly, damaged easily.

I also now have permanent arm rests; where some affectionately call them love handles. I do wonder why the term “handles” are used to refer to that area; only vaguely remember its application..

Oh my dear, as Caitlin would say; I am going to turn 40.

It wasn’t that long ago that I had started work for the first time. In a lot of ways I don’t think I had learned much in the way of worklife. I believe I think this way because I still think of myself as young. The downside of this has in some ways disadvantaged me in that I keep thinking to myself I have time to learn this stuff, but later; although I have slowly progressed upwards in my career and job responsibilities. Perhaps if I was more aware and alert of my age and its implications I may actually be higher up the food chain..? That, I wouldn’t know.

It wasn’t that long ago that I was just in *university. The cycle has come almost a full circle now.

Attack of the noodles!

Grandma was feeding Caitlin noodles. Grandma didn’t realise how hot the noodles was. Gave it to Caitlin, Caitlin immediately spat out, landing on her chest, and started crying.

Grandma immediately brushed it off Caitlin’s chest, comforted her, and was feeling bad…

“Sorry!! Grandma naughty! Grandma didn’t make sure the noodles was cool enough; Grandma naughty! So sorry darling!”

Caitlin, I guess felt sorry for Grandma. Still in her tears, Caitlin comforts Grandma, “No, noodles naughty! Not Grandma!”

The dread begins…

As prompted by Hissychick‘s recent comment, Caitlin’s preschooling does include homework.

  • Lots of colouring
  • Math: Colouring the corresponding number of objects and repeated writing of numbers 1-8 at this point. It’s amazing that while Caitlin handled writing number 8 quite well, her number 2 is still problematic.
  • English: Colouring the corresponding object which first letter is the repeated writing one.

    cait_colouring.jpg

  • Mandarin: Colouring the corresponding object to which the Chinese calligraphy refers and repeated writing of that word; earlier in the year practise just the strokes that make up a calligraphy word. We are up to writing number 4 now; she already knows how to say 1 – 10

Of course with all these new “words”, she also needs to remember how to read / say / pronounce it.

On top of that, she does still come home with the sporadic artworks, usually done in school.

She also has books with 3-4 sentences per page, aimed at letting the kids recognise the words…..

These days, from the back child seat, she does already exclaim whatever she can read off the billboards she spots.

“Daddee! That’s a ‘six’ and a ‘zero’!”

No, not the speed limit; only an ad for a prepaid plan!

The reason why they have puppy eyes…

Caitlin likes to watch The Little Einsteins.

In it are 4 character kids who fly (Red) Rocket that seems to have a personality of its own. Together they go on their respective episodic adventures. The whole show is based on music, using snippets of classical music such as from Mozart, Bach, etc. They use big words like allegro, and… drats, they escape me. It’s all got to do with the speed or tempo of the rhythm… Ok I’ll go Google it.

As part of its regular feature, the characters have to speed up their hand-tapping as encouragement for Rocket to fly faster, for whatever the objective was for the mission. Leo, the presumed leader of the band of kids, starts off by tapping his lap going from adagio, then tapping their tummy going faster, then shoulders going moderato, then going all the way to allegro with hands raised and legs kicking.

And Rocket extends this rocket booster thingie out of its fuselage, defying all laws of physics and conservation of mass, and the whole thing propels forward fast and doesn’t break or compromise on its structural integrity.

We were running late tonight; got home from Grandma’s and was running behind our usual night schedule after fuming at Caitlin for dilly-dallying (not) completing her homework. It’s amazing how un-urgent kids can be and find stuff to fiddle, look at and around, scratch, stretch, position their pencils on the workbook and then not do anything…

We got home, semi-rushed to make her milk- want her to be in bed early enough so as to be awake enough for school tomorrow. I was still a little mad at her, and she knows it. Yet, she STILL dilly-dally’s with drinking her milk, sipping at it only.

Then she puts down her cup and stares at the TV.

I go over, trying to look as menacing as possible. “What are you doing?? Why aren’t you (continuing) drinking your milk??”

“I wanna fly super fezz….” with those puppy eyes I know you are still mad at me look.

“Huh? What??”

Just then I hear Leo starts uttering “Come on! Wave your arms to make our ship fly faster!“, and Caitlin raises her arms still looking at me the same.

I couldn’t hide the smile creeping in.

Mini milestone for Caleb

This gallery contains 2 photos.

So I had mentioned before that I was a little concerned about Caleb sleeping on his tummy when he was only at such a young age. Of course then the assurance that it was all ok by other mothers was, … Continue reading

Tardiness vs Practical: What example are we setting for the kids?

Here’s what’s in my car:

  • Caitlin’s shoes and slippers
  • My work shoes, by the driver’s feet, almost tucked under the seat
  • Work socks- don’t ask
  • The front passenger seat’s headrest, detached, sitting on the front seat itself
  • A tie on the front seat, within reach when I reach the office
  • A few more ties, in the storage box behind the hand (park) brake, for the rare times I bother to colour-coordinate
  • My staff ID / dog tag, in the glove box
  • My iPod FM transmitter, for listening via the car’s radio, to Dr Karl’s podcasts
  • Gym bag, in my boot
  • Gym shoes, in my boot
  • Go-out shoes, for when I, well, go out
  • A big-ish DHL box, in my boot, with my gym bag and shoes inside
  • Child seat, behind and left of the driver’s seat
  • Steering lock, by the floor under the child seat
  • The occasional toy, wrapper, used tissue near the child seat

This “attitude” of having almost the whole household in my car started since my bachelor days. Ahhh, the bachelor days….. .. when I was young, single and free to do whatever my heart (and FREE schedule allowed) fancied. On weekends, when I see my parents for meals, I even packed party clothes, all ready for a night out. Ahhh, night-outs on the prowl… And when I feel like it (meaning when I feel like it! Not when a schedule allows) I’d head on over to the gym. Ahhh, niche gyms targeting single male and FEMALE professionals ..

Outside of office hours, I leave my work shoes in the car, preferring to wear my slippers. It’s a tropical country, and I don’t quite care (anymore) what I look like with shirt, pants, slippers, wriggly toes. It’s also ‘cos it’s easier to slip on slippers, rather than socks and shoes, when I have to carry kids- bending over putting them on with one hand and baby in the other is no easy feat.

At nights, I also leave Caitlin’s schoolbag in the car for the next morning to school, only taking out her books if she required them- but usually all her homework would have been done by the time we head home from Grandma’s. Again, there’s usually my own bag to carry, plus other baby stuff of Caleb’s.

Caitlin goes home in her slippers, natrually. But on school mornings, she’d be fully dressed in her uniform and proper shoes. Daddee then makes it a point that her slippers make their way back to Grandma’s, again for her use in the evenings; and that her school shoes also make the reverse return trip with her / us for the next morning’s use.

While dropping Caitlin off at her school and when the teachers come up to receive them, they do most times get a peek into what’s in my car, especially when they open the door to help get Caitlin’s schoolbag from the front seat (where I usually sit it in the mornings). Okay, I do sometimes wonder what goes on in their heads, Gees, look at this father’s junk / tardiness- what example is he giving his kid??

The detached headrest? Caitlin likes to see where we are going when she is in her carseat!

So, defensively, this arrangement of stuff in my car, works; despite what Hot Mummee says! So there!

What’s in your car? And why are they there / not there?? :)