random

happy rachel...

samseng kenneth...

rachel....

his new crocs... original, ok....

ah pek kenneth

Spending.....saving...

This post was triggered by hubby's comment this morning...

He was putting on his socks and shoes. And his only 2 pairs of good socks were in the laundry. So, he was putting on socks which only costs me RM3 per pair... and he was grumbling "My kids wear Ted Baker clothes, and my socks are not even proper shaped socks. They are just 2 slaps of cloth sewed together..."

hehehehehehe.......

It's like this for quite some time now. Every cent that we spend is recorded in hubby's faithful iPhone. We do stinge quite a bit...I must admit... having this mindset that we have gotta save for rainy days.... whether it comes to eating out (which we seldom do, as it costs extra), or buying clothes for ourselves (which we nearly NEVER do...)....... his haircuts cost only RM5 each.... we make our own coffee instead of going to Costa or Starbucks..... (which we computed that we save RM8 per cup of latte we make on our own)...... hubby still wears the free belt that came with the not-so-expensive pants he bought when he was back in M'sia.....

However, with our kids, hubby and I do not hesitate much when it comes to spending. Rachel's wardrobe is bigger than mine and hubby's combined... Kenneth has more branded clothes than hubby.... Their toys occupy our living room and the study room....

It's amazing how having kids changes one's life:) and spending......

But believe me, I have no complaints about how hubby spends carefully....as it is after all, for the kids future.....

though I would love a cuppa from Starbucks once in a while....... hehehehehehe...

and I would definitely go look for better socks for hubby this weekend.....

Rachel's favourite parent

She has proclaimed out loud that her favourite is daddy now....sob sob for mummy....but in a way, i am glad that they are really close, and with me being strict with her, I guess she does need to "trust" one of us enough to be chummy and not keep any secrets from.....(well, it was hubby who claims that that is important....to his convenience...bleh!!!!)

Anyhow......


They do look alike in some ways....

It's all worth it

when I see this......

Not my normal blog

It is very seldom I write blogs like this. Most of the time, this blog is just about my kids, their development and the activities that they and we do....

But this particular blog I am writing is to express frustration pent up within me for quite some time ...

I was not a SAHM all the time. Actually, I worked most of the time, and only takes the year off right after I deliver. This way, I could breastfeed my kid successfully, and also to spend the first precious year with him/her. So, in a way, I could say that I have always had an income of my own. But then, when I am a SAHM during that particular time right after my kid(s) are born, I do sometimes feel bad that I am not bringing in income to the household. Although, I must say I do work harder as a SAHM compared to when I have a job.

The question here is... how do you substantiate the worth of sleepness nights when your kid is sick.... how much do you get for slaving over the stove to make healthy meals for your family, instead of dialing for pizza delivery.... how much is it worth your giving up your social life or job to take care of your family full time....especially for those without house help... With all this, do you deserve to claim 20% of your hubby's income? 30%? 60%? 100%???? or 110%????

Hubby has been really supportive in my giving up my job. Not only because of the newest addition to the family, also because we had to relocate to another foreign country. And he has been really supportive about us having a good life together here... and believe me, he has not given me any reason to be frustrated enough to write such a blog.... all said, he has been great....

But what is all this pent-up frustration that I have. Well, recently, a relative made a comment, saying that I have no say in this particular financial decision that hubby made. Reason is, the money is his, and not mine. Good God. When I heard that, furious is a mild word to describe how I felt!!!

First of all, I do bring in dough to the household when I am working. Secondly, even if I am a SAHM most of the time, it's not like we SAHMs idle around the house doing nothing and just spend our hubby's money!!!!! And also, the income my hubby brings in is as much mine as well as his....It's a joint effort. Without us taking care of the household, without us SAHM taking care of the kids and giving a peace of mind for the hubbies to work, do you think they can be as efficient as they are at work????

And most importantly, this is none of his/her business to make such comment!!!!!



HMMMMMpppphhhhhFFFFFF!!!!!!!

Rachel and Kenneth

These days, Kenneth is extra sticky. Even if I am just 3 metres away from him, he will make a lot of noise. And then since hubby wants his dinner the minute he comes home, I need to juggle the kids and cooking. So, out comes the unused kitchen utensils, and they will play on the kitchen floor while I cook.....

It's quite obvious Rachel loves her lil brother. and vice versa. She helps a great deal with the boy. she helps fetch things for me while I breastfeed, she plays with him, she feeds him water when I have my hands full...etc.... But the two of them have this love to "fight for each other's toys". When he's playing with something, she wants to play with the same toy. When she is zooming around the house with her toy car, he wants HER toy car... It's difficult sometimes for me to hold back and let them fight over the same toy. Most of the time, I naturally just ask Rachel to let Kenneth have whatever they are fighting over. But then, I know I should not do that all the time. Kenneth should learn how to share and let go as well.

She still loves posing. And whether it's a sippy cup or a normal cup, Kenneth can hold and tip the cup and drink quite well. I have started trying him out on formula. He does not like it. So, if I fill the cups with water, he loves it. But if it's formula, he refuses to drink. I guess weaning him off my breasts is not an option yet....

He still loves to play with the phone. Two front teeth has started sprouting. YOu can see them on his lower gums. The doctor said his fever last week might be due to him teething as well. I shudder at the thought of him biting me with those teeth during feeding time...

They love this game their daddy plays with them...."sitting in the train". It's a way to contain Kenneth as well....when I need to go grab a quick shower. Daddy does this to make his bb-sitting time easier....

Sick....

It's a mother's nightmare.. when the whole family is sick.

Well, it all started when my dearest hubby went to the cinema to watch 2012 (at least the movie was good)....and came back with germs and all.... He got sick, and spread it to me and the kids.... and then he got well, and got sick again!!!!! (yes, hubby still goes to the cinema, although I can't go!!!! )

I think poor Kenneth is the one who took the biggest hit with this germ spread. At first, he had flu. I insisted on taking him to the doc this time, instead of just letting the virus run its course, like the last time. The doctor prescribed antihistamine, and no antibiotics. Then, a few days later, the dreaded fever starts.... panadol did not do its trick this time. I got worried about swine flu. So, off we went to the doc again.... the doctor was cool. He said if we wanted to check, he could write us a note and get Kenneth to be tested at the government hospitals for swine flu. However, he does not recommend tamiflu, even if it's tested positive. And he thinks Kenneth is ok. Not too serious. Just treat it as a normal viral flu. But this time round, Kenneth was put on antibiotics, as his throat is red... Well, I hope Kenneth will recover soon....

And to make things worse, I sprained my back, and have a dreadful cough. Without sufficient sleep, and with a sick child and a sick hubby, and still having to do all the housework and cooking.....aiyai ya yai yahhhhh..... how I wish I do have some house help now!!!!! It's really back breaking for me.

ohhhhh......also, you should see how pleasantly surprised hubby was when the doc did not charge us the 2nd time round for Kenneth!!!! Hubby went like "Free????? sure????" ..... well, little pleasures in life ......

Also, the weather has turned from really hot to suddenly, really cold. I have never in my life imagined that I could experience winter in Middle East....How ignorant I was last time.... and hubby just had a long 5-day weekend coz of the Haj holiday. He couldn't wait to go back to work today!!!!! Coz the kids were already giving him a headache.

Just a week ago, when I was disciplining Rachel, he softly stepped in and asked me to be more reasonable and less strict on his darling girl. After this 5 days with his darling girl, I think he knows why I scream and shout at the kids like how I do...... Give him another 2 days, and he will willingly go back to work FOR FREE!!!!! Hmmmmpppphhhh....who says a SAHM has the best of life, I need to slap that person left and right.......literally slap some sense into that someone..... I seriously think a housewife (or home maker if I put it nicely), especially one without any house help has the world's most difficult and under-appreciated job!!!!!

Messy house

It's an everyday occurrence.....can't avoid it when you have kids!!!!!

I am tired

Man, am I tired..... I am barely coping with housework and 2 kids without a maid. I wonder how people cope with 3 kids without a maid!!!! So, to all our friends who are expecting the 3rd one, or planning for a 3rd one, or already have a 3rd one.... I do salute you, and I wonder whether I will be able to have your level of energy to plan for my 3rd one!!!!!

My days start at 4.45am in the morning (after at least a night feed at 3am). Kenneth wakes up THAT early....latch on for awhile...and then he will snooze for around half an hour more, before he starts "talking" and turning in his cot. Meanwhile, I will wash and sterilize the breastpump and his spoons and plates for the day... Then, I try to snooze a bit, while he talks to himself....so loud until he wakes up his daddy who's sleeping in another room. Rachel is oblivious to all these....as long as I am still in bed with her. She has this sensor that the moment I leave the bed...she will wake up. I really wonder when I can sleep on my own bed!!!! It's backbreaking when she tosses so much in bed...and kicks me!!!!

Morning really starts at 6am, when I prepare breakfast for the bigger babies. Pump out my breast milk.... and then have some brekkie myself.

At 7.45am, Kenneth will start making noise. Latch on awhile....and will be off to lala land for an hour. And in that hour, I will be running round the house like a mad lady, trying to finish off the household chores while he is sleeping!!!!

By 10.30am every morning, I will already have a back ache.... and to think... I have another 12 more hours to go, before I can crash .....

It's 12pm now...and I am tired.....

The special someone

Mummy, what is getting married?

Errrr... it's like mummy and daddy are married. Mummy is daddy's wife, and Daddy is mummy's husband. That means we are married.

Can I get married?

Sure. When you are older, you find a special someone, then you can get married with that person.

hmmmmm. Kenneth lah!!!!

Horrible experience

.....doing medical checkup here in Kuwait for our resident IDs.

This morning, at 7am, we left the apartment for Falaheel, which is an area South of Kuwait, to do our medical checkups in order to proceed with our residency processing. We had to do it at a government clinic. Here, in Kuwait, immunisations and medical checkups cannot be done in private hospitals. Only govt clinics.

I imagined something like the govt hospitals in KL. However, my hopes were dashed when we reached the front of the clinic. It was merely a shack-like building. Far worse than the govt hospitals back home in smaller towns!!! EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE, including all foreign workers, labourers etc. does the medical at the same place. I know I should not be too snobbish about it. But when it comes to having a baby and a toddler with you, I am real particular about the healthcare that is provided.

The experience was horrible. Rachel had to get another meningitis booster and another oral polio vaccine. The place was shabby, and the people did not really speak English. Worse of all, they do not spend time explaining why this and that has to be done. When it comes to x-ray, I had to queue up like a prisoner, in orange scrubs, in a confined room with everyone else.

The only positive thing was, hubby's company appointed a govt relations officer to run us through all the procedures. So, we did not have to do much waiting. All in all, the whole procedure took us nearly 2 hours. If we would have done this on our own, it may have taken the whole day.

The next challenge for me is to brave the govt clinics again. This time, without the govt relations officer, for Kenneth's immunisation. But before this, I am going to a really expensive private hospital, for the kids' growth and development monitoring process.

Really, the govt healthcare system here is quite a disappointment. And that gets any mothers worried....

Our boxes have arrived!!!!

phew....we are relieved that the boxes arrived safely! Another colleague got taxed RM600 for an old phone and a water filter. So, we are considered lucky they did not tax us for these 8 cartons. The boxes were not opened by customs. Only the box which contained my chinese herbs, medicine and vitamins was open. I guess they wanted to check if there's any pork items in there????

Rachel was excited to see her box of books and toys. I let her unpack on her own. But halfway through, she lost interest, and resumed her running around the house.

Kenneth, Rachel and little Beru (Ken's cuddly, pressie from May yee!)

setting my expectations right

From the start when we found out that we will be relocating to Kuwait. The first thing that I exclaimed was.... "But got WAR worrrr..." hmmm...that does not make me sound too good, isn't it? Anyways, after getting over the "war" bit, with a bit of frustrated explanation from hubby... I tried to brace myself for what's coming by googling about Life in Kuwait. Surprisingly, compared to Life in Abu Dhabi, or Life in Dubai, or Life in Oman, there's not much written/posted that could help a lot.

And of course, when I tell people where we will be relocated, there were mixed comments. Some even got excited about the interesting life that I would lead, and the travelling that I can do! But mind you... I have a toddler and a baby...how much travelling or going out can I do! Hubby prepared me well...I will most likely have to stay at home most of the time! And he made sure he found a nice apartment for us, so that I would not be too miserable staying at home. Unlike our last relocation to Turkmenistan, and Edinburgh!!!!

So, I have set my expectations right. Not much excitement in life. Not much socialising. Staying home most of the time, and trying not to turn too yellow and sallow as a housewife.... Wish me luck!!!!!

*************************************************
Whilst I am writing this post, I can hear Rachel talking to herself outside in the hall. She definitely needs to go to school to mix around!!!!
This is what she's talking now... supposedly to Daddy (who is at work) ....

Rachel talking to imaginary Daddy... "why everyday need to go office one?... you sure you work one ah???"

dunno where she learn to talk like this..... scary how kids emulate our talking....

Rachel's corner.....

Making herself at home...

New home

The moment we have settled the luggages into the house, we went to scout out Rachel and Kenneth's room. The first thing Rachel said was "WHY NOT PINK ONE?????" (gosh, we have really got to stop speaking manglish to her)...and then, the 2nd thing she noticed was the light switches were all at her level!!!! So, she ran around the house saying "Mummy, I open (and I will correct her to say 'switch on') the lights for you ahhhh...." And seconds later... "Mummy, I close (switch off) the lights for you ahhhhh"

And compared to our home in KL, this place is much bigger. So, she was running up and down the hallway, exploring the different rooms. Her toys have yet to arrive, but after the 2nd day, she has already claimed a corner of the hall as hers, messing it up with the limited toys and scrap paper she has with her.

On the 2nd day itself, Rachel requested to speak to her grandparents.... Overseas calls are expensive, so we are using Yahoo Messenger for this, and later, will use SKYPE as well... How can we ever survive without internet!!!!!

Rachel talking to her grandparents on YM....

Meanwhile, it took Ken a couple of nights to get used to the place. He woke up 4 times during the first night, which was pretty unlike him. Daddy bought him a new cot from IKEA before we arrived. So, his sleeping place was well equipped. As her room was not as pink as she wanted, we went to IKEA again yesterday, to get her a new colourful pink duvet and also red handcloth and rugs for her bathroom. Also, we bought her new play table, chair, stool and a toy dog for her, and a new bathtub for Ken. They have yet to arrive. I can imagine the living hall being messed up when all things, including our other boxes arrive!!!! Will have to brace myself for that!

A sleepy story of Ken

Mummy....Puuuhhhhhleaaaase.....i beg you.....let me sleep......


What are you trying to doooooo!!!!?????? Can't you see I am trying to sleep?????


Sighhhh....I no eye see......


Alas.....some peace.....zzzzzzzzzz .....this is what I call life......

When kid no 1 is sick

Rachel is not feeling well, and then, it strikes me that now, things are all different. We won't only be concentrating on getting kid no 1 well, but we have to concentrate on making sure kid no 1 does not spread her germs to kid no 2!!!! My oh my.... things are very different now, with 2 kids.

When we were planning for kid no 2, it did not occur to me how much more work 2 kids is, compared to 1. (well, hubby did time and again tell me, but I chose to ignore him big time....) Now, not only do we have to take care of the welfare or well-being of 2 kids, we have to take care of how they feel towards one another. It's pretty tiring. I hope it will get much better, as my already short-temper cannot get anymore shorter, else there will be a cold war at home!!!!!

However, no regrets about 2 kids....but definitely gotta think about it again, if we do plan for the 3rd one!!!!

Baby Kenneth

Kenneth came via c-section on the 15th Jan 2009. Born 3.57 kg, and was 3.8kg 7 days later. So, doctor said he's doing ok.

I am trying my best to fully breastfeed him. And will continue doing so, if I am able to. Have already started giving him the bottle, with my breastmilk every other day, to train him. Unlike Rachel, who rejected the bottle as I started using the bottle when she was 5 weeks old, Kenneth is so far NOT rejecting the bottle. So, that's good news for me.

I remember writing a post on what to and what not to do when I have the 2nd one after my experiences with Rachel. So far, I am trying my best to follow these rules.....

Unlike Rachel's time, we already knew what to call her before she arrived. As for Kenneth, we were deliberating between the names Kenneth and James. (not Barney, like what Rachel initially wanted, we are NOT going to do that to him!!!!!) Anyways, finally we are calling him Kenneth, as Rachel seemed to prefer that name!!!!

Oh yes. Hubby is so used to having a girl/daughter.... and since this is his FIRST time with a son, he still calls him "girl" or "my daughter" or "her" or "she"...... hahahaha... It's quite cute. Needs getting used to!!!

And Rachel has already told Daddy that now she already has a little brother, she would like him to give her a little sister as well.... ah welll.... for the time being, this is the ONE thing that Daddy is denying his precious daughter... ahhhh.... well..... we will see..... the power of women persuasion *wink wink*

Daddy's girl....and Daddy's the trophy darling now...

Since 2 weeks before my due date, hubby has been trying to take care of rachel as much as he can. He does everything for her, and as I was too big and clumsy to put her to bed every night, before climbing onto my own bed, hubby started doing that.

And now, with the baby to handle, Rachel is sleeping in one room with daddy, while baby and I are in the other room. It was difficult initially, to transition to this arrangement, but Rachel finally got the hang of it, and now, she's mighty sticky to daddy, as compared to me. Mixed feelings for me.... really sad and upset that I am no more her trophy darling, but really happy that she's understanding and father-daughter bonding is so much stronger now....

I guess I can't have it all!!!!!!.......

Chinese Confinement Rules.... I would like to believe they are all myths!!!!!!

Since BEFORE delivery, I have been hearing a lot of reminders about what to do and what not to do during my confinement month.

No bathing.... no washing hair until at least the 20th day.... no drinking plain water (WHAT???!?!??!?!?! some will exclaim)..... no fan, no aircond, the best is to sweat and wipe it off (YUCKS!!!! I am living in Malaysia, not the North Pole!!!!), lie down on the bed the whole day to rest (ok....some may enjoy this...)

Anyways, I know that the people who kept on reminding me of all this confinement rules meant well. But seriously, how much could I take? And also, I get depressed and stressed out fast, especially during the first few weeks post natal. Experienced it during Rachel's time, and it hindered my breastfeeding initially. So, these rules will definitely make it difficult again!!!!!

So, thank God, my mom who's more open minded came to help me for my confinement. She cooks and bathe the baby. And she understood if I needed to take a bath, AFTER 5 days of sweat in this hot Malaysian weather. And she understood that I needed to wash my hair maybe 2x a week, in this HOT Malaysian weather.....but of course, the condition is to blow dry it as soon as I step out of the bathroom!

I don't overdo it by wearing shorts or no sleeve shirt. But I would like to stay clean and dry, as I don't think the baby will like the sweat + milk + body odor combination during breastfeeding. Even Rachel at one time came to me and said "Mummy, you are smelly". That was it. That was the last straw.

And worse of all, there are so many of these rules, from so many different people, who think they are the best references!!!! If I do follow all these rules, I will be downright depressed and breastfeeding would have been really difficult....

New Addition...Rachel's new baby brother Kenneth

We have a new addition to the family. Rachel has a new baby brother.... Kenneth...
Kenneth arrived on the 15th Jan. Still very tired from the delivery, and also the interrupted sleep at night...but no matter what, I am gonna try my best to stick to breastfeeding for Kenneth as well...

Rachel is very receptive towards her brother. It is quite cute to see a tinge of jealousy once in a while. So, we are trying our best to involve her in caring of Kenneth, and no matter how tired I am, I will still try to spend as much time with her....

No matter how tired I am, seeing my 2 babies.... it's all worth it.