Stretched ... beyond unimaginable limits

For those who think I am enjoying life at home, you are so so so wrong ...

After V was cooped up at home for 2 weeks with her cough and was better, she was sent back to childcare while we struggled at home with #2 and the nebulizer. Today we had to bring #2 back for a review, and I decided to bring V along, because her cough wasn't getting better and she was still vomitting her dinner/ last feed at night. On Tue night, when the helper was struggling with #2, I was helping out with the household chores, doing the laundry and washing the kitchen floor. The hubby shouted for help and I ran into bedroom, only to see V vomitting on the bed. Poor girl, she had vomit on her legs and her arms, but she wasn't crying her eyes out, so it made things easier. We said goodbye to yet another box of tissue, and moped up the vomit with her soiled blankie. We then swopped with the helper, hubby took care of #2, the helper cleaned up the bed (change sheets and pillow cases) while I cleaned up V. I decided then, something is not right with V's cough, despite the end of the antibiotics and the use of the medication.

So for the review today, V is wheezing, and whatever virus she has (could have gotten from #2) is now in her lungs, and she has to take a brand new set of medicine, including another type of antibiotics. I was so ... tired ... but I just hope whatever she has now, will be cleared up with the new batch of medicine. We have to keep an eye on #2, even though he's good now, because now he has green poop!

I've been surviving on 3 hours of sleep for the past 2 nights, not because I am busy playing computer games, but I simply can't sleep. I was wide awake from 2 to 5am last night (started pumping at 1am) and despite the relaxation CD, I was just listening out to the baby monitor for any cries from #2. I'm still wide awake now, and hopefully the hot cocoa will help me to sleep better.

So ... V is stuck with us yet another day at home and I really hope she doesn't get bored to tears (and please, I really cannot take another round of "It's Barney!" *argh*).

It's Barney Time and more

1. V was stuck at home for 2 weeks due to her cough - we literally watch her Barney DVDs (sent by my sis from US) multiple times, so much so she can tell what's the next scene and sing part of the songs. In fact, she can sing about 5 songs from the Barney CD in the car and only she is allowed to sing, she has banned us from joining in. At bedtime, she wants us to sing the "Barney song" which is the one that goes "I love you, you love we, we're a happy family ...." Yes, I am SICK of Barney, so when she went back to school this week, I was pouncing on the chance to watch all the recorded shows (thankfully there's the hub station)! In case you are wondering, I am surviving on a diet of 1) Naruto 2) Leverage 3) CSI (LV & NY) and 4) House (Seasons 3 & 5)

However, I must admit there is a positive thing about Barney. I always tell V "be careful" when she is doing notti things like climbing up the chairs or standing on stools. The DVD that we watched happen to have a section on "be careful" and I pounced on it to reinforce the idea of being careful. So sometimes when I tell her to be careful and she ignores me, I will just repeat the message "remember Barney says you have to be careful too?" She will turn and just smile at me but I think the message got through.

2. #2 is recovering, but he has to use the nebulizer to take his medication. Hopefully he recovers soon. He is coughing out lots of phlegm now and his breathing is still patchy at times when the mucus is stuck at the back of this throat. His breathing scares me at times, so if he makes a noise, I will go and check on him. He is quite funny now, he stares at us as if he recognises us. The other day, he was giggling to himself while sleeping on my lap. Yes, he's been smiling too, mostly in contentment after feeding or a nice bath. He did coo once or twice but not much of that. His hair is growing fast too!!!

3. Broke - after paying for the confinement nanny, the chinese herbs, etc etc, my poor dog Rascal has to go for an op too - that set me back another 1.5K so yes, I am broke. Not to mention all the PD bills and Pampers we had to buy because #2 had very bad diaper rash.

4. I'm addicted to Post Oats with Strawberry - i didn't like the honeyed ones because it had coconut in it and I hate that. I am waiting to try Oats with Almond next. Well, I was told it helps with the milk supply, let down and lost of weight, so I wanted to try it. Someone said 400 to 500ml of milk is possible at 1 go so I am just persisting to see if my reservoir could hold that much milk too :P So, on with the oats!

Random Thoughts/ Musings

1. Sleeping

My hubby had been very surprised by my sleeping habits since we had #1. Basically, from a heavy duty sleeper who requires a MINIMUM of 8 hours of sleep plus a minimum of 30 minutes of light dozing in bed before I finally wake up, it was an eye opener to him that I could survive on 4 hours of sleep daily when I had to pump.

Now, our sleeping habits are totally reversed. He's the heavy duty sleeper (however, he can survive on less than 8 hours of sleep, just that once he's sleeping, he's totally knocked out) and I'm the light sleeper. I get awaken even by lightning (yup, NOT thunder), and the slightest turn or cough by #1 sets me on "eyes wide open" mode. Now that I'm pumping for #2 at night at 4 hours interval (not direct latch - hear me out!), it gives me a little more than 6 hours of interrupted sleep. Basically I finish feeding at 9 to 10pm, I will get to sleep by 11:30pm (after 30 minutes of sleep inducing music and provided #1 doesn't wake up from her sleep for cuddling), then I will wake up at 1:30am to pump. It takes 30 minutes to finish pumping, but I will take another 2 hours to fall asleep (listening to the snore symphony isn't exactly going to induce me to sleep) and then I'll wake up again at 5am to pump or direct latch, if the timing coincides with the feed time. By 7am I'm wide awake (if I get to fall asleep by 6am) as hubby has to go to work and #1 has to wake up for milk feed and going to CC. Afternoon I get to nap another 1 hour or so. Direct latching at night gives me less than 4 hours of sleep, since he will wake every 2 to 3 hours for a feed, and it takes 30 mins for a feed, and another 1 hour to fall asleep. With this pump/ latch arrangement, I feel slightly better, since I have a bit more of sleep.

The upside about not being able to sleep though, I get to watch how #1 and the hubby sleeps. #1 rearranges her sleeping position every 30 minutes, and if I'm lucky, I'll get her head butts and the hubby is the unlucky one with her feet on his face/ head (not that he is aware though). Occasionally I'll watch how they slowly rearrange their sleeping positions to share a pillow or how she snuggles up to the space at the neck. Occasionally I have been surprised by #1 when she comes charging at me with her arms wide stretched (eyes closed) and then hug me to sleep. It somehow makes it slightly more worthwhile to lose some sleep!

2. Obsession with Milk

Strange thing about this time round, I'm only slightly obsessed with how much milk I have/ can pump out. As long as there's enough in the fridge for #2's 2 night feed and some extra for #1, I'm happy. I'll worry about the pump and store in fridge/ freezer when it comes to the time to go back to work. Also, I'm a PIS convert. My goodness, it's so much easier than a single electric pump. For extra $$ invested in a PIS is well worth the time and sleep saved! For me, it's money saved because I borrowed the PIS motor from a friend and I got brand new parts (including tubing) which came up to about $100 or so.

3. Eating

I've spent over $2K on chinese herbs, and since the 12th day of the confinement, I'm been having on a nightly basis (rotating): chicken with dom, chicken with martell, chicken with danggui, chicken with dong chong cao and chicken with pao shen (wild). All this is in addition to the soups I have for dinner, which includes black bean with pork ribs soup, chicken with dang gui and chicken with ginseng. Thankfully I'm not putting on a lot of weight yet - it just helps me to replenish my energy and "qi" according to the confinement lady. This time round, the cooking is much more suited to my taste buds (different CL) so I'm eating a bit more happily. At least now I am aware where I can get good chinese herbs and not being ripped off, and I am diligently trying to commit to memory some of the recipes (but given my brains, I'll forget in a day or 2). The CL also gave me some recipes which are suitable for the hubby (not everything I take is suitable for him!). The CL also made "ngoh hiang" yesterday which I was happily gobbling down ... it's a treat since a) I'm not allowed to eat outside food b) most of the confinement food is ginger/ garlic based.

4. Multi-Tasking

Yesterday, being a mummy to 2 kids gave a whole new meaning to multi-tasking. I was feeding #2 when #1 came in wailing (sleepy and hungry = super cranky) so I got the maid to scoop rice and add the pigeon instant food. She refused for anyone to feed her but me, so with one hand crading #2 head, the other hand was used to scoop rice to feed her (the poor confinement lady had to hold the bowl for me). #1's down with a cough so she's been home for the past 2 days, and this is the 3rd day running. Almost every day, she looks out from the bedroom and points to the swimming pool. It's just too bad she's been coughing badly and the weather is not favourable for her to swim (too windy or raining). Hopefully she recovers soon so I can bring her to the wading pool soon. For swimming, she has to make a date with the hubby :P She's also a bit cranky since she doesn't have playmates and frankly speaking, bored at home. But she's still very sweet, she was helping the maid to change the bedsheets earlier and helping me to do small tasks.

I'm not sure if I could love 2 kids equally, but #1 definitely is more loved as of now. We will see how #2 fares when he turns 2 in 2 years time!

Pictures of the latest addition -Ian

He ain't heavy, he's my brother ...

We had expected some fits or outburst of jealousy from Vanessa, especially since she did not see us or Valentino for the few days we were in hospital. Surprisingly, her reaction was very benign, and her first reaction upon seeing her baby brother was "Sayang didi" and she stroke his head.

For the past 2 weeks, Vanessa has been very good - she will kiss and sayang him, and she doesn't get jealous when I had to feed him. In fact, she is now used to me disappearing from the bed in the middle of the night, and in my absence, she will just snuggle up to the hubby (much to his delight I guess). She also told the hubby "don't disturb mummy" when he walked in to asked me some stuff while I was feeding Valentino.

I guess I was apprehensive about "introducing" the baby to Vanessa, since she was used to him being in my "tummy". She was quite loving while he was inside, kissing and hugging my tummy - but we had no idea how she would react once the "competition" is introduced. Plus the fact she's now 2 plus, she's supposedly in her terrible 2s, so I was wondering if it would be a lethal combination. All the worrying came to naught, since Vanessa is such a sweet natured girl, and so loving towards her little brother.

I can only say, Thank you Lord.