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Thursday, May 24, 2007

Slowed down

I've written one post for this blog and one for Ethan's but haven't publish them yet because I can't seem to upload the photos. I've tried for a few days but to no avail.

I'm not sure if this problem is related to my internet connections. I just found out today that we have gone over our download limit for this month, so the connection will be slowed down to a dial-up speed, half of my broadband speed. It's just the way internet are offered here in Australia. Unlike Malaysia's Streamyx with unlimited download. Sometimes I find the terms they use here are quite redundant. They say 'unlimited download', then in the fine prints they say 'after 12gb of download the speed will be slowed down to 256kbps'.

I'm actually with a quite good provider already, AAPT, because this is the best deal that I found compared to other big communications provider. We're paying A$41.00 per month for 12gb download at 512kbps. Also came with a free modem. 12gb has been enough for us before but I was told we're 4gb over the limit this month. We have to wait until the 1st of June before we get back our original speed. So everything is going to be slowed down until next month. Sorry I won't be doing a lot of visiting to other blogs until then.

Monday, May 21, 2007

Hate it when this happens

Okay, this is really frustrating. I just wrote a whole long post, just missing the ending, that is to link the video. If you're using blogger you should know they have this new thing where they automatically save our drafts. So before I close the window it says down there that it's saved already, I can't click on the button anymore. And I have done it before, nothing wrong. But now...AAARRRRGGH!!!!!!!!! I've been meaning to write that post for so long already but now it's gone, goNE, GONE! *curse* This really puts me off.

It's not just blog. Sometimes in emails also like that. I wrote a whole long mail and then click 'send'. The next thing I see is 'Internet Explorer cannot find the site'. The difference is emails doesn't automatically save our drafts. So blogger gave me that assurance, which I'm not going to trust again.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

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Wednesday, May 16, 2007

About my husband's annoyance

Just want to add something here to my 5 ways my husband annoys me post. No, I did not find more flaws to add in here.

I didn't expect him to read that post, I wrote the post after that one and then he saw the title. He was like "What is this 5 ways annoy?". I told him I let him read after I finish doing everything. He fell asleep before I finished that night but I got him to read it a couple days later.

Okay, I know I can write like 100 ways and he still won't be mad at me. That night when he read the 5, he was laughing all the way (because he knows they're true). I also told him the little ones that I didn't put up and he laughed at those too. He even corrected me on the #4 impatient one, so I'm going to put up the correction here in honour of his good sportmanship (thanks for the word sis!).

Instead of "Baby, hang jor" (hang already);
he'd say, "Baby, why like this? Is it hang already?"

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Mini Hawke

Haha, got tagged by someone other than sis, this time by sweetpea. And since it's still quite new, I want to do this fast so I can tag others. I never get to tag anyone before because by the time the tag reaches me everyone I know has done it already.

The origin of Ethan is Hebrew. We're not Jewish, we have our religion but we're not religious. I don't know the history of the name but it means firm and strong. I didn't think of the name as what I wanted my child to be but when he arrived prematurely I thought this name really suits him. Got his name from the actor, Ethan Hawke. He's cute (but recently I find his teeth not very attractive) and the only Ethan I know. Turns out Ethan is one of the most popular baby names.

Another name considered was Justin. E for Eddie/Ethan and J for JoAnn/Justin. Didn't think of girls names at first because I've always wanted my first to be a boy. I was the one who thought of the names. But right after his birth the midwife asked us what's his name and Eddie's the one who said it. I was lying on the bed thinking, actually I wanted to have a few more choices but okay.

No Chinese name for him since we're Chinese illiterate. I wanted an 'invisible' Chinese name for him (cause mine is, my mum was pretty cool). I asked MIL for ideas. Then she said what for give Chinese name if you just want to call him Ethan? So what she did was just translate Ethan to Chinese, I also didn't learn to write. Then later I saw this TVB series and heard one that I really like, 'Tin Long' (in Cantonese). MIL told me it means fine weather. But we didn't use it anyway.

Instructions :

**Start Copy**

Proposition: What is the meaning of your kid’s name?

Requirements: write about what or how or why you giving the name to your kids.

Quantity: FIVE PEOPLE.

Tag Mode:
1st - You leave their blog and post link and add to the list below.
2nd - Let the blogger you want to tag know they been tagged by comment in their blog or etc.


1) Msaufong - Meaning Of SQ & Kiki’s name
2) Miche - My ACB
3) Sweetpea - My Little Fire
4) LiL'deviL - Mini Hawke

I would like to tag (my first time tagging others, this is fun!)

binky
Mrs. Wallace
RamblingMoo

My sis had already been tagged so I only have three to tag, sorry! Don't even know if Mrs. Wallace wants to be tagged, I don't see any tags on her blog.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

First antenatal check

21 September 2005
I forgot how many weeks pregnant I was when I went for my first check up. But it was quite late, round about the third month. I regret I never keep a copy of my health checks record. Actually I requested one weeks after I left the hospital after giving birth but they never manage to give it to me.

All the basic stuffs for first check ups -> filling in forms, taking measurements, blood and urine sample. Was given a 'Pregnancy hand-held record' which I'm told to carry with me all the time just in case there's an accident, a baby diary which I never keep up-to-date, and the first Bounty Bag for mums-to-be which contains lots of goodies like magazines, samples and brochures.

I was given a few choices of antenatal and birthing care and asked to choose one, but I didn't know anything at that time so I just asked the midwife to help me choose. She said she will put me on a waiting list on something but I didn't know what then. It was actually the Midwifery Group Practice (MGP), which is 'a midwife-led model of maternity care that offers continuity of midwifery carer to women and their families throughout pregnancy, birth and the early weeks at home with a new baby'. With this, I will be cared by a group of same midwives. This was a new service with certain restrictions and with limited places. There are other types of antenatal care but the one I eventually took was hospital care where I saw midwives at the hospital clinic. I was seeing the same midwife until my last visit because she was pregnant too and began her maternity leave already. I only knew that MGP was the better choice when it was too late. The hospital actually called me before to inform me that I was going up on the waiting list but me being stupid and told them I don't mind the type of care that I get, so I guessed they kick me out of the list.

Before I left I was to make an appointment for my next visit and ultrasound on my 20th week. I already planned to take a visit back to KL at the end of the month for about two months so I would skip one check up but the midwife said it was fine. So my next check up will be on my 20th week gestation together with the ultrasound.

Saturday, May 12, 2007

5 ways my husband annoys me

Second tag also from sis, a few days ago actually. It's kinda difficult to do this tag not because I'm afraid that Eddie might read it but it's hard to find flaws in him. He's a good husband + good papa. I've been thinking for a few days and might be able to come up with some. Maybe as I write I'll be able to fill all up 10. Here goes...

1. He must wake up as late as he can, even on his day off. So I'd be the one to get up to feed breakfast to Ethan. He always say that I can wake him up earlier if I want him to do stuffs, but I'd prefer that he wake up earlier by himself voluntarily and offer help.

2. He doesn't take breakfast. If he does, it's instant noodle. He just loves instant noodles a lot and will use every opportunity to eat them. This really annoys me because everytime he cooks that as breakfast I'll be nagging him as if I'm his mother. The worse thing is that he'll just keep quiet and ignores me (like I'm his mother).

3. He's quite picky in what he eats and he doesn't like western food. He's a typical 'Cinapek' and worships rice. He's not the adventurous type, hard to get him to try new food. Once he found something he likes, that's the only thing he will order from that place. Everytime when we go out for lunch he would ask me what to have for lunch, then I would say this place (that I know he would prefer not to go) and he would give me the shocking "Har?!" sound, like "Must we?". With him it's always laksa or beef noodle for lunch, rice for dinner.

4. He's impatient. He doesn't like it when I take my time to shop. With him, he can just go into a shop, sees what he wants and grab it, no need to try. With me, go into many shops, pick many things, try on, choose colour, maybe buy one. Most of the time I ended up buying nothing because he started to get impatient and I don't like to be pressured. But I hardly shop for myself these days, only for Ethan. Another example is he can't wait for the computer to finish loading after it's turned on to start opening programs. Of course then it will take longer time to load and then he'll say to me, "Baby, hang jor" (hang already).

5. He must sleep late, like after midnight, and he must watch a show before he sleeps, it's like his sleeping pill. He's saying that he loses a lot of time if he sleeps early. The thing is, he doesn't want to wake up early.

Okay, that's it. Can't think of anymore. There are other little things but they don't annoy me as much for me to put them up here. I would put smoking up there but he quits already finally. That is also because he wanted Foxtel (satellite tv) and since our expenses are quite high I asked him to choose between that and cigarettes. Our expenses are still high, but at least he's healthier by a lot now. He pretty much is a great guy and I don't really have much complain about him. I'm so lucky to have found him. If he's reading this, "Baby, I love you!"

Friday, May 11, 2007

It's all good now

I was so busy with Ethan that I didn't have the chance to go online last week. Also because busy choosing videos and photos to burn into a dvd for my family. So many videos and I chose different ones for everyone, that's why took a lot of time. I've sent them out, but only one with the videos (lucky sis, because most expensive to mail to her)...hehehe...will take my time and burn the rest later.

Thanks for all your concern. Ethan is beginning to eat again. He's also eating banana and grapes which he rejected before. I even made some new food for him and he's taking those too. I will blog the recipe later, they're easy and yummy.

On the other hand, he's learned a new trick which no one will appreciate, scream. When he doesn't get what he wants or when I put him to sleep, he will perform his new trick. It's funny when he smiles after that but it's beginning to annoy me especially when putting him to bed. Used to be easy to put him to sleep. But now... *sigh* He's starting to show tantrum, which I don't know how to control. I got the Toddler Taming book by Dr Green but haven't got the chance to open it yet. Also got the What to Expect in the Toddler Years as a gift from two very close friends. If anyone read those book, please point to me anything good in there that I can use. Thanks!

Saturday, May 05, 2007

The day after daddy's day off

01 May 2007
Ethan woke up at about 5:30am and I fed him again but he took less than usual. Gave him another dose of Panadol and took him temp again and this time it was 38.7C. I thought that was quite high so I called the Parent Helpline and asked if he should be admitted. The lady told me that they would only advise to bring the child to ER if he's 39.5C. She told me to take his temp 45 mins after I gave him Panadol and go and have him checked up with the doctor. So I did and his temp did go down a little. Called up GP later in the morning and he was fully-booked but the receptionist was nice enough to squeeze Ethan in as I told her it was kind of an emergency.

The GP didn't really examine Ethan, as always. I don't know about other doctors around here but Brandon's doctor is really thorough. He talks about things like food and sleep, and Brandon gets measured everytime even just for immunisation. This GP doesn't seem to do much, just check his ears, listen to his lungs and tummy, and try to check his throat (difficult because Ethan will bite on the stick and refuse to open his mouth, and then he'll just scream). I wonder if I should worry and change to another GP. But I don't know which one is good. I pick this one is because it's neareast to where we live, and we can walk there. We are looking to get a private health insurance soon so that we could get a paediatrician from the hospital to look after Ethan. We are currently on public health so everything is free, so good.

Anyway, the GP's diagnosis was Ethan got hit by some virus. Told me to keep up his fluid intake since he won't have appetite and keep giving him Panadol. He also suggested to give him a warm bath to take the fever down. If he brings up his food then we will need to bring him in again. So we got home and he was like normal, playing with his toys and all, except he was still warm. He wouldn't eat much, and that includes milk as well. I was really worried that he might be hungry, so I gave him something he won't reject, yoghurt, and that's what he had for dinner that day.

Before he sleeps I gave him some milk which again, he didn't finish. He was able to sleep so I thought he should be okay. He woke up crying after a while so I tried to settle him back to sleep. He realised that he was in his cot, which he hates because it's confined, he wants me to pick him up which I didn't because I was so frustrated and tired. He cried and screams as I was trying to force him to sleep in his cot. Because he screamed so loud and hard, he started coughing and vomited his milk and yoghurt out on his one-day old bedsheet and of course all over himself. So had to take a bath again. His fever subsided after the bath. I didn't bother to put him back to sleep because that would only make me more frustrated, so I just waited for Eddie to come back.

When he came home he put Ethan to bed while I have my dinner. I was supposed to make something but Ethan was occupying me the whole night so I couldn't. I also didn't have appetite to eat by the time Eddie came home. It was a long and tiring day.

Friday, May 04, 2007

Daddy's day off

30th April 2007
Went to Harris Scarfe on Monday. They had a one-day sale, 50% discount storewide except certain stuffs which I wasn't interested in buying. Got some clothes for Ethan, a wok and a mini muffin baking tray (to make muffins for him). Ethan had lots of fun walking around. Poor Eddie and I had to hold his hands and stop him from touching everything plus trying to shop at the same time. He doesn't want to sit in his stroller and doesn't want to be picked-up. He also didn't have much sleep, he never does whenever Eddie's off.

It was a long day, we went to Coles after that. I bought a lot of ingredients to make food for Ethan. I got this Women's Weekly Fresh Food for Babies & Toddlers magazine not too long ago and found some yummy and easy recipes. I just wished I had bought this earlier. They have recipes for 6-24 month olds.

When we came home, Eddie swept and mopped the floor and cooked dinner. I changed our bedsheets, fed and bathe Ethan. He was getting ready for bed, read him stories and gave him milk. He just had a bit of milk and then started coughing and vomited his dinner out, on his clean face/hair/clothes and on our clean bedsheets. Pity him, he was terrified. So I had to bathe him again while Eddie cleaned the bed.

A little while after that Eddie felt that Ethan was a bit warm so I took his temperature, or at least I tried. We got this 'armpit' thermometer which takes forever to get his temp especially when he's moving around and trying to take it out. The temp recorded before he took it out was about 37+C so that's higher than normal. Gave him a dose of Panadol and then tried to give him some milk before he sleeps but he only took some.

I actually thought of buying the ear/forehead thermometer before as they take really fast temps. Then I thought we don't use it often so I didn't buy it, but now I'm definitely going to get one. Really saves a lot of trouble and I don't want to make him feel uneasy when he's already sick.

Will continue with the next day on my next post.

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Sleep

Been sleeping early since Ethan have been waking up early. That's why haven't been able to update my blog last week since I didn't go online at night. I started training him for one daytime nap about a month ago. I wanted him to sleep earlier forgetting the fact that he will wake up earlier. Good: able to do more things at night. Bad: early mornings!!! Well, early mornings are not that bad if I am able to wake up before he does (which is NEVER! Unless he goes back to sleep). After he had his milk in the morning, he can only 'roam' around in our bed since both Eddie and I are still trying to get as much sleep as we can. So he will climb over us trying to get down from the bed, or trying to go over the bed to play with the keyboard/mouse/lcd/water bottle/whatever that's on the pc table, or what he loves most, pull the curtain and look outside. That's not so much of a problem but the curtain is located behind the top of our bed, so imagine being sat down on your face or feet stepping on your hair...ouch! When he's had enough on the bed and starting to make lots of noises, then I'll finally wake up and take him outside.

I take such long time to write a post, now I'm way past my bedtime. Good night..zzZZZzzz...