Midnight Madness

So the four have already ganged-up and done their first Dunni on me:

4am.
First, Micah cried because he's unwell. He's the last of the boys to be down with fever due to a bad sore throat. (Max and Myron had their 3 days back.) He wanted the air-con on and a blanket.
Then, Myron cried because he was disturbed or for some-other-reason-I-don't-know-what.
Myra follow suit and cried for milk.
While I was giving Myron some water to drink to calm him, Max started a nightmare, woke up and asked me why wasn't I sleeping beside him as I had promised earlier.

It's actually the first time I'm dealing with this on my own.
Usually I'm fortunate enough to have Grandma to help, at least do something for the older one, or put Myron into the sarong swing so that he will go back to sleep.

So this has been an interesting challenge.

Oh, I forgot to mention that while we are back here for this two weeks, Gadget-daddy is working in Korea.

So, Myron had some water, but continued whining sleepily cos he realised his sister is crying and that I would soon have to nurse her.
Then I gave Micah his dose of paracetamol after turning the aircon back on. Told him to either go sleep at his corner furthest from the fan, or go get his own blanket from his corner.
Fed baby girl while patting Myron back to sleep.
Finally I went and lay down beside Max for a while and covered him with a make-shift blanket (a bed-sheet, cos Myron was running around without a diaper for a few minutes after his bath, and decided to poo on my floor and then climbed up the bed and sat on the blanket.)

Actually, my days are usually not as happening as this.

The more usual dramas would be:

Having to play judge, jury and executionist for the battles between the boys, and very often they would end up on some therms on their own.

Diaper changing and feeding the girl in hiding is the other thing I do. I have to do so in hiding because she is now very easily distracted, and Myron usually would make a fuss or come and fuss about her while I'm nursing her. Either way she will not feed well and later will be a grouchy baby when she's sleepy and hungry.

I am really trying to spend as much time as I can with Myron. I want to assure him that being the younger middle kid, with 2 older brothers playing by themselves and not wanting him to disrupt their Lego-building and other battles and a baby sister who occasionally needing undivided attention, Mommy and Daddy loves him so so much and we so want him in the family. So I read with him, cuddle him, occasionally sit in front of the computer with him, and hold him while he flips through the photo album on my iPhone.

So I ended up here, blogging again, as I have done before, and how I got started, because after being woken up by the kids, I can't get back to sleep...

Let's see how tomorrow works out, I mean later today.
I know I'm gonna fall asleep with feeding baby girl. just how many times and how long each time. :P

Have a good day, y'all.

Round Two...

I totally understand why people stop after having two kids.

It's exhausting.

I'm like going through the cycle for the second time, and while I'm really enjoying the babies and the boys, I totally won't press others to have more kids when they say two is enough.

Considering the needs of the kids (and kids these days are so much smarter and outspoken compared to when we were kids) and the cost of living expenses, I guess it's just about right that marginal increase of human population worldwide is on a decline.

So, back to having four kids:

I can't believe that I'm doing this for the second time round:
= having a 1+ toddler and a newborn;
= looking out for diaper bargains at the supermarket and buying at least 3 packs at a time;
= attracted to baby toys all over again;
= breastfeeding one and expressing for the other;
= breastfeeding on demand is so draining, that...
= I need midnight feeds myself, Milo the ever favourite;
= more than one baby crying in the night;
= blogging in the middle of the night;

Can't think of any more to list...
... and the little girl is calling for a feed.


It's tough, but I've no regrets.


It's now 4:47am.
Mommy's on call.

To Sleep Or Not To Sleep

Was up expressing milk for Myron at 2.55am*.
Came back to bed with the sleeping baby at about 3.30am.

Now I am still awake.

Was watching my babies sleep...
Hugged each one of them a but while I whispered,
"Mummy and Daddy love you so much."
For the littlest one on my bed, I smelled him and watched him the most.




In the midst of many thoughts... two people.
My father, whose 8th Anniversary was on 8th November,
And Matthew's 1st that was on 31 Oct.
They are still missed so much by their loved ones.

Yes, and missing Gadget-daddy.
2 weeks away is really just too long for us all.
Max mentioned today, "I wish Daddy was back, Mom."
Looking forward to his being back this weekend.

Ok. Should get some rest.
Taking the boys to school in a few hours' time.
Wish I have more time to go blog-hopping... :P


Goodnight.




*Myron has decided he does not want to nurse directly anymore. Every time I put him to the breast he will either turn away or bite me. Looks like we will just go until I can't produce enough milk to be expressed. So this baby might break my good record of breastfeeding beyond 12 months. *sigh*.
Now breastfeeding is extra troublesome as it involves 2 people. In his sleepy-hungry mode, he want to be held. So while drinking from his cup or waiting for more milk, Grandma has to carry him. *sigh*

All In A Baby's Day's Work

Eat




Sleep




Bath

Play




Look Innocent

Sandwiched

Why the two boys are not allowed to sleep with their baby brother:

One night, Mommy took the baby to the boys' bed because one wanted to sleep beside Myron and the other beside Mommy.

All finally asleep, so Mommy went for a quick shower.






When she came out of the bathroom 3 minutes later....


The baby was so sleepy that he didn't seem to notice he had become his brother's bolster.
:D

State Of Mind

Was writing this in an e-mail to a friend, and thought of you, my blog buddies and visitors, and thought you should be in this loop...


As you know, we will be moving to Singapore soon.
Seems like too soon... But I'm sorta not* thinking about it.

It's not that I'm that busy preparing for the move, not yet for now, but that I am trying to give more time to the three boys while I can.
I think when we are down in Singapore on our own, I'd really have a lot less time, and maybe less patience due to lack of sleep and a lot less 'me' time.

So in the day time I am either nursing Myron, or carrying him and playing with him.
Or I'd be playing with the two boys, or attending to their basic needs like getting snacks or getting them cleaned.
I also try to get them to do something 'productive' like some crafts or reading or some games that will enrich them one way or another. So all these need Mommy to be present.
Occasionally I take a snooze with Myron, when I can't keep my eyes peeled. He seems to sleep better smelling Mommy beside him. :D

In the night, when they are asleep, my Gadget-daddy is usually doing something on the computer, or we will try to catch a movie together (rent on-line from i-tunes).
Yeah, we are also trying to have a bit of "we" time before he heads down south first.

There are a few things that I am anxious about:
I am not sure if we can register the boys in time for school next year, even if it is just kindy, but it seems they are very serious about placement there.

I am also worried for Micah if he can catch up with the other kids there. Not meaning to sound "kiasu", but I know I don't want him to feel lost in class and being teased by other kids for being slow or "stupid", which of course he is not.
I know.. I know.. I am just imagining the worst.
Hahaha... but that's what I'm worried about.

Max will still be in kindy K1 so not too stressed, as it's the year they start learning to read and write etc.
Just that he might have adjustment problems about a new place and no koh-koh in the class with him.
Max is quite reserve when it comes to meeting other kids. Most of the time he is quite ok with adults.

Personally, I think I will move into D-gear.
Denial!
I already know in a time of stress my first reaction is to try to be practical and run like a robot, not daring to feel.
Because I know I will feel lost and scared of being lost (literally) and wonder if I can fix 3 meals for everyone while I still have to attend to the boys.
And to do all that and keep calm, not be in a frenzy and yelling all the time. Eeek!!

I know they will adjust faster than I, and will do fine.
Just that right now, with 2 more adults in the house, they really get a lot of things done for them, and things get done properly.
So if they were to do a bit more for themselves, as I know they would have to, I may have to cope with crazy shower time, tolerate not-so-well brushed-teeth and keep my cool while I'm uncertain if they will clean themselves properly in the toilet after a 'big' one.

The 'biggest' thing that we will have to change, I think, is that the boys will have to feed themselves.
Yes, I am talking about the 2 big boys. Right now, at home, grandpa feeds them at breakfast and Mommy feeds them at dinner.
Yes, we adults are to be blamed, because we want no mess to clean up, and we want them to eat faster and make sure the eat a substantial amount.
So when we are on our own, in a sense I know they will actually adjust, because there will be no extra hands to pamper them.

I feel like we are heading for an earthquake.
*getting goosebumps*
*nibbling my nails*



* On my mental list:
kitchen ware
dining ware
bedding
books
toys
DVDs
playpen,
clothes
bath stuff
Housekeeping - buckets, mats, washclothes,

No Hot Baby, Thankful Mommy

Myron had fever last week.

It was for two nights that I rubbed rice dough on him and gave him the gel pad on his head.

I find the rice-dough rub to be really effective. A friend says she usually get her kids to soak in a tub of water to help relief the warmth from the body, but I think that's just too troublesome... especially in the middle of the night. So I do the other troublesome thing, rub the body with rice dough. :D

I am just so glad he is all well now... Err... except for his drippy nose that can't seem to stop.

At least it's clear, not green.

So I am thankful.

A Mother's Watch

Myron has a temperature.

It's not high enough to register as fever on the digital thermometer, but he is pretty warm to the touch. 37.4 was his highest reading. Grandma said he has had a fright*, but it could also be that he is just teething.

Between midnight and 4am he was moaning in his sleep quite a bit, requiring Mommy to either nurse him, or pick him up to pat him, if he refused to nurse.



4am.
Max woke up.
I think he was dreaming of transformers, because that's what he started talking about.

Apart from that, he also busied himself with buttoning and unbuttoning his pajama shirt. He sure picked a swell time for some fine-motor skill practise.



5am.
Myron had had one more feed and his temperature had obviously come down a little (obvious to the touch, sparing the sleeping baby a beep at his ear).

Max kept asking if it's morning yet and wants to start playing with his toys.

Mommy's now sitting at the computer, but keeps telling him to lie down in bed and make himself sleep, but he is still whispering to himself, quoting bits and pieces of the script from a show (I think it's Transformers).

Now, if I am to get back to sleep, I am quite certain I will find it really hard to wake up in time to get the boys ready for school...

Myron "making noise" in his sleep again...
Gotta go check on him.

Btw,
This is Myron's new teether...


And here's Myron in action:


Have a good day.


* It's a common Asian belief to say that a child who had had a fright/ traumatised to develop fever as well as nightmares, resulting in restless sleep and loss of appetite.

Lovely Surprises.

Today Micah came up with a jasmine from our backyard and shouted, "happy Mother's day!"



Daddy said, "I like that, guys. You guys celebrate Mothers' day everyday."

Max did the same thing later when he found the same flower, took it from where I had placed it by my bed, and also gave it to me declaring "happy Valentine's day!"

At any time, whenever they get hold of some flowers, real or fake, they will always come up to me and say, "Happy valentine's day!" or "Happy Birthday!" or "Happy Mother's day!"

Once, while grandma was clearing some of her mini fan palm, the boys gathered up a bunch and ran up to me and yelled, "happy Valentine's day!", in the middle of January. That was a real surprise. Real pleasure.




So from my two boys, I have received more flowers in the last 2 years than I have in all the years I've been with Gadget-daddy. Guess they are making up for all the flowers I'd missed, eh? *wink*

These boys are like mommy, we love surprises and we love to surprise.

Many times, when we have gone out without the boys, or with just one of them, the one at home will usually hide behind the curtain and jump out yelling, "surprise" when we step into the house. They are so funny.

It's so great to be your Mommy, you guys.
I love the way your hearts are so big and so free to love.
You are so wonderful!

Can't Juggle Three...

I can't juggle three balls, my boys already knew.
Mommy can only do two and even that she can't keep it up for more than a minute. Sometimes less than 10 seconds.

Similarly, it looks like she can't handle three boys.


Well, it's really the age gap.

The first 2 are a year and half apart, so they are basically in the same age range. They both do all the same things, except the first one has his skill a little more refined, while the other is coming along slowly but surely.

Myron is just a gap away.
And the gap right now seems to be a pretty big one.
All this little cutie does is feed, sleep and poop.
Actually, he is starting to demand a bit more attention, and specifically, attention from Mommy.

Myron is refusing being fed by grandma still, and his persistence gets stronger everyday. I am sure if it were not for the fact that there's this terrible A(H1N1) bug going around, plus news of hand-foot-mouth in the area near the boys' school, Grandma would have brought the baby out with us everyday.


And so they battle everyday when it comes to feeding time. According to Grandma, he refuses to sleep sometimes too, forcing her to carry him and try to entertain him for the 4 hours Mommy is out with the two koh-kohs.

So Mommy has been accused to having "abandoned" the baby on days when she takes the boys out extra long, i.e. dropping by Ah Ma's house after school.

Oh, but how could a Mommy forget a cutie with a face like this?


Just be patient a little longer, darling.
Soon, soon, when the weather is a little better and the world seems a little less threatening. We will spend endless days together, and your brothers will be showing you off to every one they meet too!

I can already imagine the things we would do, darling, Myron, while your brothers have to be in school. Yes, we would be having fun!!
:D

Drama: Mommy To The Rescue

In the bed room, Gadget-daddy was already snoring from a very busy 3-day trip to Singapore. Mom was nursing the baby who keeps opening his eyes whenever Mommy talks, despite being terribly sleepy. Micah and Max were playing on the floor with a bit of a racket.

Micah: Mom, I have two problems. Can you help me?

Mom: What is it?

Micah: One, I lost a tyre for my car, the white one*. Two, I lost the car I built, the one Tua Ku (big uncle from your mom's side) gave me for my birthday last time.

Mom: Well, ok... but I have three problems.

Micah: Well, what is it?

Mom: One, I need to get Myron to sleep. Two, I need to take my dinner. And three, I have to solve your two problems.

Micah: OH. Ok, Mom. I will go try look for my car first.

Mom done nursing Myron and moves him to a more comfortable spot after burping him. I found the lost tyre under Myron (how did it get there you wonder).

Mom: Micah, here I found the lost tyre to your car.

Micah: Oh, Thanks, Mom.

Mom goes downstairs to check through two toy boxes, but no trace of what was wanted. She sits down to eat her dinner. It's already 10pm.
Micah got Max and Grandpa to look through all the possible spots upstairs for the constructed car. But they could not find it.
Mom had a flash of revelation.

Mom: Micah, did you look in the blue box?

Micah: I did already, Mom. It's not there.

Mom goes upstairs, her right hand peppered with rice and sambal (it was nasi lemak for dinner). She sees the blue box emptied out in the playroom and she headed there, but knew she was looking for the wanted car in the guest room, flicked on the light and fished the toy from a basket of toys behind a mattress that was leaning against the wall.

It was almost as if she was the one who had kept the car, but it was actually Micah who had hidden it from his brother a few weeks ago. Mom had seen it a couple of weeks back when she was looking for something else in that room.

Mom: Here, Micah. I found it.

Micah: Thanks, mom. Now all my problems are solved.

Micah goes downstairs, looks trough a manual and declares:
Mom, I have a problem again. I don't know how to build this harvester.

Mom: Tomorrow, Micah. I'm getting ready for bed now. You are not going to school** tomorrow, so you have the whole morning to do it.

Micah: But, Mom, I have to do this now. I have no time tomorrow. I have so much work to do tomorrow.

Mom (bewildered): So much work? What work do you have to do?

Micah: I have to sweep and mop the floor...

Mom: "Sweep and mop the floor"?!! What floor?

Micah: Errm.. I mean I have a lot of work to do. I have to ride my new scooter (Birthday present from Tua-Ee, big aunty on Mom's side), and check all my toys....

Mom (suppressing her giggles): Micah, there will be time for you to do all your work tomorrow. I'm going up now. I need to send Max to school tomorrow. Good night.


Micah goes off to bug Grandpa while Mom goes up to get a very sleepy Max ready for bed. Eventually Micah comes up to bed.
It was almost twelve by then.


---- Lights Out ----


* The car was a birthday present from his very special friend who had moved to another country. The present arrived earlier today by mail, much to the thrill of everyone at home.

**We were at the doctor's today because Micah has been coughing the last two days. He was diagnosed with a lung infection, with mucus in his lungs. Now he is on 3 different medication and will probably stay home the rest of the week.

Sink, No Sync

This weekend, we are all out of sync and sinking.
Gadget-Daddy left for Singapore on Friday, leaving our weekend in some subtle kind of chaos.

Out of Sync.
It all started with a text message from my older sister in Singapore on Friday morning.
We had planned for this trip for more than 2 weeks and they boys had been really excited. Up to the very last minute, my younger sister and I were putting together a party pack for the 4 kids to celebrate Xue Han's birthday. I had also stayed up to 2 am on Thursday night packing stuff and filling the immigration card. We were all so so ready to go.
Friday morning, got the boys up for breakfast and changed and suddenly I saw the message from my sis saying her daughter has fever and cough. "You might want to reconsider bringing your kids."

The 4 cousins, CNY 2008

So the drama began with the boys crying, still wanting to go, but cannot go without Mommy and Mommy can't go because Myron has no food source except Mommy and he cannot risk being exposed to some germs/virus because he is too young. We spent two hours talking to the boys, bargaining, etc. (plus having to deal with anxious Grandma motherhen-ing around us all). Finally, Max decided he was going to go anyway* and so we packed his clothes from our suitcase (which was already in the car boot since the night before) into a small bag and handed his passport to his father, who was, actually, totally serious about taking him along, as he believed he could handle him "by himself" (besides there being other adults around, but they are not exactly counted as they are not from our home).

So we Max went off with Gadget-daddy in the car.
Our secret back-up plan was that Max be left at my mum's house when Gadget-daddy goes to pick her up for the trip. (She was getting a lift to go down Singapore to make rice-dumpling for my sister. We had also planned this weeks before.) I will then go pick Max up from there a little later, using grandpa's car, and send Ee-ee to work too.
Of course Gadget-daddy was seriously planning to take Max, as I'd said, but my sister called from Singapore, and again said her daughter is quite sick and we'll just have to wait for 2 more weeks for the school break before we get to see them. So I called Gadget-daddy that we'd have to use the back-up plan (Plan B? C? Oh, I can't keep track).

The whole time after Gadget-daddy left the house with Max, I was getting an ear-full from Grandma about how rash and silly we were letting the little boy go with his father alone. So when I finally told her that we are going to pick Max up from my mom's, Grandma was all too eager to follow along, as if she needs to see that Max still here for herself, asap. Unfortunately for her, Grandpa had left the house for his morning jog (couldn't stand the drama enfolding at that time) without any house keys. So she had to stay home with Myron after all, and that set us back like a whole hour "behind schedule" as it took her time to change, going out to try to look for Grandpa, and then me having to express milk for Myron**.

Micah loves taking photos with baby Myron.

So I finally left with Micah to go get Max and Ee-ee and headed off to a usual hang-out mall. We headed for the pasta place, and were obviously their first customer for the day (who eats pizza/ pasta at 11am?). But the pasta was not made right (they over-cooked the sauce, but we did not complain) and then one of the boys had a toilet accident because he was too buzy playing and did not mention the need for the toilet (which was like 200m away) till it was too late. So we ended up having to buy pants because we had used grandpa's car and there are no extra clothes for them there.

Finally Ee-ee went to work and we headed home.


Sinking in pee.
I was reading Toddlerdaddy's post on potty training his four-year-old and thought, "Yes, we should be making more effort night potty-training our almost 5 who like to have a bottle of milk (another thing to wean of soon) just before bed."

So for the past four days, Micah was doing well, as he goes to bed about 9.30 pm, and then we will wake him up to go to the toilet about 12am before we end our day. Then mommy will get him to go the the toilet again about 6am after the baby feeds. We have been so proud of ourselves for the whole week. Then after Gadget-daddy left on Friday morning, that night, Mommy*** fell asleep with the boys and was woken up at 3 am by Max (who had been sleeping without diapers for about 2 months now) crying that his pants was wet. He was actually sleeping on my bed. Then I looked and saw that the other one had also wet his bed. So, exactly, like Toddlerdaddy, I had to peel off pee-clad boys in the middle of the night.

All these might have just slip from being blogged about if the same incident as last night did not JUST happen (and I had changed the sheets this morning, and will have to do so again tomorrow). After changing the boys I was lying in bed and thinking about blogging this, and thought, Oh, if only there are wires I could hook up to my brain and get the computer to jot down my thought... Then the picture of a cyborg came to mind and it was just too freaky. So I had better just do what I want to do.

Oh, Can't wait for Gadget-daddy to be home tomorrow evening.

Now I am ready to feed the baby.

* Part of the drama/problem was because we made the mistake in saying we will take the boys to school, since they are up and dressed, but you know that's just "Preposterous!" that was to them as they were suppose to go for a holiday to see their beloved cousins and not school. After all, we had told them the day before that it was the "last day of school." And Max is just the least keen kindy-goer any kid could be.


** If you're wondering why I did not just strap Myron in a carseat, which we do have, and bring him along, Well, it would have given grandma another bout of high blood pressure as she is always worried about babies crying and then they might vomit and then choke in their vomit. Plus, it poses too much a danger as it might also distract the driver and cause an accident. Plus we have the other 2 kids in the car... *sigh* I am not worried, really, but I know she will be at her wits end thinking of me alone with 3 boys in the car on my way back. I listen to the old folks too much. If I had insisted on leaving with Myron, I know she would have chosen to come along and leave poor grandpa standing for hours at the front of our gate.


*** Besides the fact that we had had a dramatic morning that started at 7am, and that I did not sleep till 2.30 am the night before, I never realised how much I have been pushing my body to work for me around my 4 guys. So the only reason I usually stay up till 12am is because then I can have some time with Gadget-daddy, usually involving some adult conversations, like reporting what the boys did the whole day from my side, and some ranting from either/both sides. Occasionally we watch a bit of a movie and I am also, quite often, required to go rummage and whip something out of the kitchen.

Mother's Day

A belated post:
Mother's Day was a week ago.

The boys brought this back for me from school as gifts for Mother's day.


They painted the pot themselves. The teachers supplied the plants.
I really love these pots.

Thank you, my darlings.


As for the family event:
We went our for dinner at Madam Kuan's in Midvalley.
The dinner honoured 3 moms:
myself, my mom and Mom-in-law.

Gadget-daddy made us all happy with delicious fish-head curry and so much food we had to pack some home. The fried chicken wings were mouth-watering too.
(Sorry, no photo to show as I was too buzy feeding my 2 older boys and scooping food for my mom and m-i-l who was carrying Myron in a sling.)

Hope all you mums had a good Mother's day.

Bottles' A-Busted

Myron is putting up a battle.
A battle with his grandma.
Actually, a battle with the bottles.



I take the 2 older ones to school every morning, Tuesday to Friday, and leave Myron with my mil. I leave him at home to give him a bit more time from exposure to the pollution in a bustling part of our city. I also leave him at home because I want to train him to drink from the bottle (I express) but it is slowly showing to be a plan heading towards failure.

The baby is complaining more and more each time he is given the bottle. Today, after two weeks of fighting with the bottle, mil was desperate. Myron was actually fed with a syringe.

The reason for this practise is because Max was fully breastfed at the breast for 3 years. He now refuses any kind of milk other than a u.h.t. chocolate milk. Of course we are concern for his lack of intake of calcium and other nutrients in milk, although he is eating well. Anyway, my intent was to have Myron continue drinking milk after I wean him.

We shall see how this all turns out eventually.

Micah and Max
with some of their classmates.

Some Excuses and Some Updates

Hey, Judy.
Your SMS made me realise how long I have not posted.
Thanks.

It's a tough time getting on with blogging these days because:
1. the connection is so slow it's exasperating;

2. I am tired by the end of the day and usually fall asleep while getting the two older boys into bed and have to snuggle in bed with them, resulting in Mommy falling asleep with them, if not before them;

3. Nursing Myron in a lying position induces slumber;

4. Breastfeeding is so draining I feel tired and in need of protein in-take almost all the time - I even think of having a rack of ribs in the middle of the night;

5. Gadget-daddy is doing some podcast and is hogging the room, and we are all too tired to do anything else after that but climb into bed.


Anyway..

Myron's been growing well.
In fact, to a certain point I feel he is growing too fast.
Thank you all for your prayers, thoughts and well-wishes.

We have not gone back to the doctors for further check-up, but he is now pink and no more yellow. The last we check, Myron is 5kg and about 57cm.

He has outgrown this pajamas.

He now engages you with his coos and gurgles and makes all kinds of facial expressions. Maybe it's just gas (so some scientists say), but he sure warms our hearts as he smiles a lot.



And he is constantly cuddled and kissed by his brothers, especially Micah.


This baby is just so lovely to cuddle.

Cry Baby, Cry Mommy

We finally got another series of blood test done for Myron.
His prolonged jaundice is more serious than we thought.
He will be heading back for more photo therapy.

Today at the hospital poor little Myron cried his lungs out when the doctor had to prick him twice and drained 3 tiny test tubes of blood for a series of tests.
Gadget-daddy was in the room, but busy with with on his computer (or just pretending to be?), so Mommy helped the nurse sooth the baby while he cried like for the longest time.
When they pricked him the second time, Mommy walked to Gadget-daddy. His turn was up. Now he patted Myron to try to calm him while the doctor drew blood from his tiny hand.

The doctor suggested "fasting" the baby off breast milk to see if that was the cause of the jaundice.
He warned us it would be difficult.
He gave some nice-looking pre-mixed formula in a bottle (look like for space travel!!) to supplement. more like for a replacement and then bring Myron back on Wednesday for more tests. Mommy has to be in another room, or the baby would smell me and refuse the milk.
He warned us it would be difficult.
He warned us that the baby will cry, and at the end, the Mommy will cry too.

He was right.
We actually tried only once.
After a long day of emotional stress for Mommy and baby, it was all we could take.
I took him back to nurse him in the room and tears just came down like someone had pressed the "on" button.

I called the doctor later and told him he was right.
We will bring the baby in for photo therapy tomorrow.
No need to wait till Wednesday.
*sigh*

Mommy Fix-It

In the midst of shuttling to and from the hospital Micah had a problem:
Max had a truck to carry his cars in but Micah's truck was a flat-bed truck.

Mommy fixed it by using a plastic case from a biscuit pack.

Now both the boys want the fixed truck because it can carry more cars... But eventually they are happy with what they have.

What Confinement?

Thank you all for your well wishes.
You cheered me up after an emotional morning.

Myron's bilirubin level went down just a tiny bit after 20 hours of photo therapy.

The hospital called this morning as we were on our way there to inform us that he has to stay on another day. Sigh... so much for packing his clothes and a towel in the bag.

I know... I know...
It's just a phase. It'll be over soon and we'll never have to worry about this jaundice thing again.

It's just that right now it's just missing my little cutie.
I wish we could rent a machine home instead, but I suppose it's best this way.
After all, he is under the care of well trained nurses*...

So maybe it's somewhat good. Get me to go out of the house three times a day.
Hahaha... Some confinement this is.
At least I am still getting the good food and my herbal bath once a day.
I try to lie down whenever I can... more like taking a nap in the afternoon.
I'd really like to go walking at the mall or catch a movie, but I can already hear my mil and my mom scolding (brain-washed me),
"Walk the mall? You had surgery remember?"
"Catch a movie? Catch a cold-ah!"
"Rest more. You'll get backache-ah!"

Tonight, Gadget-daddy and I will visit him a little later.
He should have milk to last till 9pm.
We will go in later so that Mommy will have more milk to express for over the night.
... Oh, and bring home some sweet baby smell to give us sweet dreams of Myron tonight.





* Just now, I had just spoken to one of them, a very nice lady.
She had been a nurse for 15 years at the current hospital and was trained in England from when she was 19. She is now a mother of 3 and her youngest child is 25 years old. I enjoyed chatting with her, exchanging stories about our children and managing our home with the kids.
She also said I didn't seem like one going through a confinement.
Well, with three kids, and the baby in the hospital, "What confinement?"

Heart to Heart

It's a little colder in our room tonight.

We have less of one heart beating... a little one.

We sent Myron in today for a blood test and he was admitted in for photo therapy. We hope one day would be sufficient for him to be well enough to come home.


Today Mommy made three trips to the hospital to express milk for him.
3X 2X3oz is actually not enough to meet his needs, although it's considered a lot, from what the nurses are telling me. Still, they will have to supplement his needs with formula milk.

The last trip we made to the hospital was about 8.30pm. We brought the two boys along to see their baby. Already the whole day today they have missed Mommy and Myron, but they know we are at the hospital. They have understood that Myron needs some treatment at the hospital to make him better.

When we got home, there was a moment when Max asked about Myron and I said he is at the hospital tonight.

Mommy: I miss my baby.
Max: But it's ok. He'll come home soon.
Mommy: But why is it so long*?
Max (smiling and nodding): It's not so long. It's just tomorrow.



After this short snippet, he got huge hugs from Mommy and Daddy for being such a sweety.
This boy knows how to warm your heart.


* Mommy was using this whining line back on Max. He always complains that everything takes too long, i.e. brushing teeth, taking bath, school time = time away from Mommy.

Quote: Life on Ledgers

It is not true that we love our children more than our parents.
It's just that with our kids we run up the account of them not ever being able to pay us back,
and with our folks, we are ever in debt.

-Moomykin