In His Time

All this while I thought me being at home would make Belle do anything including wanting to go to school everyday knowing that I will be home for her when she returned. Sad to say that that is not true. I hope she don’t really mean it.

Below is our conversation last last night.

Belle: Mommy, tomorrow have school or not?
Me : Yes.
Belle: I don’t want to go to school.
Me: If you don’t want to go to school, Mommy will go to work.
Belle: Ok. Mommy you go to work lar, then I don’t have to go to school.
Me: But who is going to take care of you?
Belle: Kakak (the maid)

You see lar, you see lar. That’s my Belle!

I went to buy a new thermos coz Barnabas dropped the existing one and it broke. Belle tagged along. She saw some animal toys and wanted them badly coz it is small and cute. That’s what she said.

You see lar, just a few hours ago she said she can play with her old toys.

I told her that I don’t have money because I don’t work anymore. Her replies…

But the animals are soooo cute.

If you buy the toy, I will love you.
If you don’t buy the toy, I won’t love you.

I still did not buy any toy for her. No means N.O.

Almost.

I am home now (1.22pm) instead of in the office. Yes! Today I start a new chapter in my life.

I still go to work but in the morning only. For how long, I do not know. Maybe until end of this year.

In the car just now…

Belle: Mommy, do you have work today?

Belle: It’s okay. I have a lot of toys at home. I can play with them.

I am so glad to hear that. Mommy is more important than new toys.

Belle has been crying before she goes to bed and wakes up abruptly in the morning worrying about her homework.

Before bedtime…
“Mommy, tomorrow have school or not?
“Mommy, I finished my homework or not?”

The moment she wakes up…
She coughs, she gags and she cries.
“Mommy, I not yet finish my homework.”
“Mommy, I didn’t do correctly. Teacher will scold or not?”
“Mommy, today have school or not?”

Everyday, I make sure she finishes her homework before she goes to bed. Sometimes there are Chinese characters which she has to trace the dot. She worries that her teacher will scold her if she did not trace it nicely. Yup, sometimes it goes a lil’ bit out of the line but I did not correct her. 5 yo only what, teacher won’t expect a perfect handwriting.

Hubby said Belle is a perfectionist. She is stressing herself and me too by being one!

Yesterday morning, I told her principal about the whole scenario. Asking his help to find out whether there is any teacher who likes to scold her student or Belle got scolded before.

The moment she starts to be mobile, we noticed that Belle will try her very best to avoid mistakes. Hubby remembers one time where she fell from the chair at the dining room For a few days, she avoid walking at that area or even climbing on the chair.

I think I mentioned it a few time in this blog that if Belle did sometime wrong, I only need to scold or warn her once not to repeat it again and she won’t. Disciplining Belle is a piece of cake.

In the afternoon when I went to fetch Belle from school, her principal told me that there are only 2 boys in her class that got scolded often for not doing their homework. Maybe Belle worried that the same will happen to her if she did not finish her homework.

Now I am trying to figure out how to de-stress Belle in this matter.

Any idea anyone? Please.

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Having a child that is very active, (mine is still consider as Very Active, not Hyper. If not, I think I sure go crazy one ) you cannot survive without medical equipment at home unless the hospital or clinic is just next door to you.

When we were in church last Sunday, I noticed that other children has flawless set of legs. Mine, especially Clarissa is covered with cut and scratches. I wish my children will have beautiful and flawless legs but that also means that they will be confined in door 24 hours a day.

I am a kampong girl, I wonder where are all the scratches gone too.

I threw Clarissa panty again just now at Shell Station toilet!

Since the maid come, she has been poo-pooing in her panty. The maid, of course won’t scold her when she did that. She will tell her gently that it is not nice to do that. Clarissa will just nodded, smile and repeat it again everyday!

With me, I will either cane her once then warn her with the cane. Remember, I don’t spare the rod. With her, since talking does not help, she will have to learn the hard way.

Just now, on the way to Makhota Parade, we smell something smelly. After checking Barnabas, not him; I took a peep at Clarissa’s, she poo-poo in her panty!!!

I told her that we will stop to throw her away. I told Belle that things that are smelly, we throw away. What shall we do with Clarissa then, since she is smelly? I was expecting Belle to say “throw away” but she did not. “Bathe her.” is her answer.

Haiya…say lar, throw away.

****

We are another step nearer to Genting. Bought a sweater for Belle at Reject Shop for RM15 only. Old Navy made in Cambodia.

Our = My children and Me

My children will only sleep if I sleep with them. I must lie down beside them. If I move or get up before they fall asleep, they will get up too.

Most of the time, I will fall asleep with them, only to wake up the next morning.

In a week, I think I only sleep in MY room once. That also if hubby wakes me up.

So, what’s the point of shifting them out when I ended up sleeping with them too? So that their daddy can have the whole king size bed to himself? Hubby nodded when I said the same to him!!!

Even though I am living in 7 rooms’ house. There are only 2 rooms available for us to use. Even that, the room that my children are sleeping now, does not belong to them. Each room has an owner. We can only sleep in the room but not personalize it. So I can forget about painting their room pink or decorating the wall. Due to this, many times I thought about moving out and getting our own home. A house to call our own. A room for my girls and my son which they can do anything with it except break it down.

We still have BBQ. Leaf BBQ. Anyone want to try some?

Empty compound. If not this spot is the car park. Now, it has become Clarissa’s playground again.

He still play sand. CNY or no CNY. He was putting sand in my camera casing!!!

Finally, the hammock is finally all mine.

Oh ya, before we did all of the above, we were having so much fun jumping on our mini trampoline. I didn’t take any photo of it because I was busy jumping with them too. You know, EXERCISE! A must after CNY.

Before the CNY celebration end in less than 2 hours time, let me blog about this year CNY for my children to look back in years to come.

Before the clock strike 12, the children had fun playing firecrackers and the adult with their fireworks.

Dressed up in their best CNY clothes, ready to go collect Angpows.

We only went visitation on the 1st and 2nd day of CNY and to the beach on the 3rd day to meet a few blogger mommies; Chinnee, Jess, Joanne and Leah. And we only went from 11am to 3pm…only 4 hours. After that we cannot stand it anymore. One after another start to feel sick because my children has not recover from their runny nose and cough.

Anyway, they had more fun at home playing outdoor with their cousins.

We had BBQ on the 1st night too.

The dogs are very happy too. We have enough dog supplies for the whole week. BONES, unlimited BONES!

Oh ya, we only visit my maternal grandfather last Sunday when everyone is feeling slightly better. Normally we would visit him on the 2nd day of CNY.

After they got tired playing outdoor, they hoard over my laptop.

And this is how we spent our Chap Goh Mei; dining at Pizza Hut.

That’s the end of our 2008 CNY.

One of my cousin sisters is studying accountancy in one of the local universities. I am so proud of her. Even though her parents never step foot in college or university, they are able to raise a smart child.

I guess hard life caused our parents to give us more encouragement to excel in our studies. They will always say, “Please study hard if you do not want to be like us financially.” My mom used to remind me to study hard if I do not want to end up in the kitchen.

Besides studying, she always read accounting jobs blog to find suitable accounting jobs once she graduates. She sure knows how to plan for her future.

All my three children have different style when sleeping. Not their sleeping position but how they sleep with me.

Belle always wants me to sleep beside her until today. She would ask me to cuddle her tight before she dozes off. When she really wants to sleep already, she will turn away from me and sleep. It’s like “Mommy, please let me go. I have enough of your cuddling and smell already. I want to sleep now.” Just like her daddy!

Clarissa does not want my cuddling. Sometimes she would request me to sleep beside her but no touching, please. Most of the time, she would sleep by herself on her own bed with her bantal busuk.

Barnabas; I love the way he sleeps with me. I am his bolster. His arm and his leg envelopes me; almost. And he will make sure I cuddle him too by taking my arm and place it on his body. If I move my arm away, he will take it back and put it back. When he is fast asleep, he won’t be cuddling me anymore but he will snuggle close to me. I’m loving it. I prefer to sleep with him than with his daddy. Hehehe.

I was surfing thru the Genting Highland website. Planning to go for a short holiday next month. It will be the first time for my girls. Barnabas? Well, sorry son, you will have to stay with Mama this time around. I don’t think we can manage all three.

Belle was beside me eager to know what’s at the Genting Theme Park. I was looking the min height limit and asking hubby…

“Dear, our children got 4 feet or not?”

No answer.

“Dear, our children got 4 feet or not?”

“No. Two feet only!” Belle exclaimed.

I laughed till I shed tears.

I think it is every girls dream to be a beautician because basically all girls want to be beautiful and love to be praised for their beauty. They also love to make other girls, sometimes boys beautiful too!

Yesterday, on the way back from my mom with my son, I noticed that one of his fingers is being painted with pink nail polish! It must be Belle or Clarissa. These 2 girls of mine love playing with my cosmetic.

Before they reach their tertiary education, I think I better survey cosmetology schools in case they want to study in that line. At least I would know how much to save for their education fund.

This morning the maid alarmed me that Barnabas has rashes on his leg, thigh and hands and he is scratching away. Being more kampong person compared to me, she knew the cause of it. She told me that the rashes are caused by contact with the ulat bulu. We just woke up from the same bed and I don’t see any ulat bulu around. Clarissa also slept on the same bed as us, no rashes on her.

The maid told me that due to the hot, dry and windy weather, the bulu might fly around and landed on him. Poor boy. So I quickly send him to my mom’s and she told me to use hair to rub on the rashes. So I took his hand and rub it on his hair. “What about his leg??? Cannot reach lar.” I told my mom. “Use you hair lar!” she replied. “Oh ya tak ya, eh!”

After rubbing my hair all over his body, my mom told me to rub some ointment on them, Zambuk. Don’t ask me how the hair will heal; I just follow. By lunch time, not a single sign of rash anymore. Praise God for that.

When I went home, the maid asked about my son and told me that she also got it when she was cleaning the room and changing the bedsheet and pillow case.

How can I be sure that there is no bulu left behind? I wish I have that giant vacuum cleaner that could suck all the dust and whatever bulus from the room. Anyone have them? Can courier down to me ah?

Do you think I need to get life insurance quote for my children ah? In case it could be life threatening.

i wanna start posting about cny but flickr page cannot load!!!!! arggghhh!!!

it’s saturday and i am so free now.

once i go home, not free anymore coz will have to guide belle to finish her homework. 2 days ponteng school = lotsa homework.

thank God she is getting used to it so, not much whining and excuses.

****

oh ya, last night i read about “Who is God?” she pointed to the word “God” and asked me…

“mommy, is this word “GOD”? i nodded. she continued, “it looks like “DOG”. she giggles.

****

barnabas is having a temperature now. he had it yesterday evening and then at night. after giving paracetamol syrup, he’s fine. this morning, he is warm again. i don’t worry so much coz he is still very active. belle and clarissa is recovering. slowly but surely.

****

i felt that i have another baby at home. she wakes up, asked me to look for her pillow, talk to me, followed me to shee-shee, back to bed, sucks her finger trying to fall asleep but couldn’t, decided that milk could help, “mommy, i want milk.”

i should have make milk for her when she wakes up right? if i do that, i can assure you that she won’t drink it. she will only drink her milk if she request for it!

****

it’s saturday. ok ok, you shud know by now that today is saturday. my girls are at home and i can guarantee that they are at the sand pit now and will be there till i return in the afternoon still in their pajamas!!!

****

i am feeling so fat now. i look fat too. hubby should have allowed me buy the treadmill when i have lotsa income from paid post. now, i just see my fat accumulated lar.

Before the maid came we were planning that once she is here we would start swimming again. The children would have to stay behind with the maid while we swim. They are too young to tag along.

Now after the maid is here, for almost 4 months already we have not step foot at the swimming pool. Reason being, the public swimming pool is quite far from our house.

Another option is to join the hotel’s swimming club. Maybe with Sports Credit Card Offers, we could get discount on the membership fee. I better give them a call. If not, no swimming until I became a huge fat lady.

Getting Clarissa ready for school is a breeze now. She will wake up happily and even walk to the car without being asked. No more crying, no more whining. She is healed. hahahaha

My problem now is with Belle. She is infected. She gives all kind of excuses just to stay at home to play and play and play. Syiok already from the long CNY holiday.

Yesterday one the way back home from my mom’s, I saw she touches her forehead. To check whether she is having a temperature lar tu. She is fine now. So, no temperature, how? Must find other excuse right? “Mommy, I am scared.” She said that repeatedly. After being asked a few times what is she scared off. She said that she is scared to go to school. Duh!!!! Why are you scared? I just scared. Not a good excuse.

This morning, she complaints that her stomach is hot. Eat and drink so much, tummy hot lar, I give you diet pills kang! So, I ignored her. Just another lame excuse. I get the maid to carry her to the car but she screamed and struggled. I have to resort to threaten her with the cane. Obligingly, she walked to the car by herself. I brought the cane along with me.

I wonder when she will be healed!

And I was so excited to know that the kindy will have a CNY Celebration tonight. Which means, I can dump them there and I can go pat-toh with dear hubby.

When I send my girls to school this morning, I was wondering why most of the children are wearing their best clothes and not their school uniform. Thank God my children are in their new clothes because that was an incentive to get them to school this morning.

When I went to fetch them, I saw Clarissa was eating pudding and the teacher told me that they were having a party today. She also did not ask me whether my girls will attend tonight’s CNY Celebration. Funny. Maybe I BlurMommy again!!!

True enough, when I take a look at their Message Book again. The CNY Celebration is from 9am to 11.30am on Feb 14, 2008. Not PM! mwahahahaha.

****

Haiya, I should grab those Amazon coupons and buy a nice Valentine’s gift for hubby. Next year lar.

Have you started digging into the Angpows that your children collected? We have. Since we only went visiting on the 1st and 2nd day of Chinese New Year, the amount that we received is not much but praise God, it was more than last year.

I think Belle is looking for gold coin. Mana tau, someone who bought gold coins from Monex, accidentally packed the wrong coins.

Children nowadays are so blessed. They don’t see coins in their Angpow packet anymore. This year the minimum that they received is RM2 because we didn’t visit one of the relatives that give RM1 every year without fail.

During my days, I used to get 20 cents to RM1 per Angpow. If we get more than RM1, we will be jumping for joy. If we were to give the same among to today’s children, I think they would return it back to you or curse you!

Today!

Finally he starts talking and repeats what we say.

His favorite word now besides “Mak” is “NO”. I’d rather he just shakes his head than say, “No, No.” It hurts being rejected and disobeyed verbally.

To get my attention in the midst of his chatty sister, he will call me “Mom” instead of “Ma”. I love hearing that.

Just now after bathing, his sisters said, “Let’s go out.” He said, “Out, out, out.” This is the first time I hear him repeats any of us.

Well, before “No”. His other word besides “Mak” is “Mo doh dok” (mo = mahu duduk) = I want to sit. “Mo doh dok” does not only refer to sitting but also putting down things.

Well, it seems that his very first few words are Baba Nyonya (Malay) words. He is truly a Baba Boy.

Other than speaking, I don’t keep track of his other development! I was so worried that he can’t speak!

After a week of holiday, my Belle syiok already play all day and don’t wanna go to school. So happy when I told her that she is having fever and don’t have to go to school!

In the morning, at home…

“Mommy, why I don’t need to go to school?”

“Because you are having fever, your body is hot.”

“When my body is hot, I don’t need to go to school?” to reconfirm what I said.

“Yes.”

When fetching her from my mom’s…

“Mommy, you touch my body hot or not?”

“Yes, a lil’ bit.”

“Tomorrow I don’t need to go to school???”

“We will see how tomorrow. You will be feeling better.”

“I don’t want to feel better. I don’t go want to school.”

In the car, on the way home…

Belle gag.

“Mommy, if vomit, cannot go to school?”

“Only if you vomit many times.”

“I will vomit many times, Mommy.”

Now, Belle is feeling alright but Clarissa is having a temperature.

I wonder whether we would need liver cleanse to stay more healthy.

This is what it looks like but actually she is having fever now. Tried waking her up this morning for school, she did not move an inch! When I touched her, she was flaming hot. So I just let her sleep and decided to take half day off to look after her.

Clarissa went to kindy all by herself for the first time today. I hope she is doing fine now. No Jie Jie Belle to look after her there.

For children, I prefer to let them out of the room when they are having fever. They recover faster when they play and sweat it out.

Belle is having fever not because of the food and drinks that she took but because of not enough rest. Since the eve of CNY until yesterday, she only nap twice. She slept real late, after midnight, woke up 9-10 hours after that and played the whole day. Finally her body gave way and demanded rest from her!

Oh ya, she is asking me whether she can have a cat furniture! What??? I am not going to rear any cat in this house. Enough of cat poops history already.

Eldest brother in law brought home bags of sand for the tent base because the ground is covered with stones. He poured some under the swing; the place where Clarissa fell. Since that day, that place is their home, day and night!

Night ~ Barnabas playing sand with his cousins at night in his pyjamas! I have to give him a quick shower and a change before bed.

Morning ~ The moment they opened their eyes, they charged to the sand pit!

Noon ~ After they had their lunch, to the sand again!

Drinking milk while watching his Jie-Jies playing. In case they steal his sand!

The last family going back to their home today and no more sand for them all day. Only after 5.30pm.

That reminds me that I need to get the life insurance quotes for that family. Toodles….

Their daddy was telling them bible story last night. He mentioned the word, “Woman”. Belle asked, “Daddy, what is WOMAN?” Daddy told her that a woman is a girl that has grown up. “What is GROWN UP, daddy?” she asked. Daddy explained that a grown up is someone who has grew older.

Then I asked, “Belle, what is a woman?”

This is her answer…

A woman is an old girl who is very old and ugly and looks like a monster.

I wonder where the “ugly” and “monster” came from. Could it me her mommy??? Maybe I turned into an ugly monster to her when I am angry!

If she is referring to me, I sure need help from the plastic surgeon in Palm Beach to transform this old girl to young girl.

Hmmm…I shall ask her tonight about the “ugly” and “monster” part. I am not so bad looking right? Hehe. If I am an ugly monster then she is the mini ugly monster!

Is it me or there is already a change in perception about baldness. I watched the movie “Hitman” and the main actor is bald. A few of the other actors in the movie are also bald. And mind you, they look good even when they are bald. I am reminded of the star actor Van Diesel in the movie “Triple X” who looks damn hunky especially with his bald head. No, don’t get the impression that I am the “bald” fetish (if there is such a word to describe it) kind of girl. It is just that these actors look good in their baldness and suits the roles they are acting.

I wonder how my hubby would look like if he is really bald. I have seen him with really short hair but not bald. If you ask me whether I want him with hair or bald, I definitely wants him with hair on his head. Baldness is still being viewed in a negative way in this corner of the world. I am sure the perception will change in due time but as for now, I would still do my best to help my hubby prevent baldness if it occurs. The hair will still be the physical crown on his head.

I am reminded of my moral and family obligation as a daughter and daughter-in-law. My parent and mother-in-law are getting older each day. The time will come when they are no longer physically capable of taking care of themselves. That would be the time when I have to care for them. Most people would recommend that the older folks be sent to the Old Folks Home. However I think that is not a good option. The better option is for the children to look after the old aged parents.

I have seen my parents look after my grandparents. Yes, it is tough. Yes, it can be very tiring. Yes, it is a sacrifice but hey, didn’t our parents sacrificed tremendously to raise us up. I would not want to be dumped in the Old Folks Home when I am old and aged and I am sure my parents would not want to be treated that way too. Now it is time for me to learn on how to care for aged parents. There are many good articles and books written on that. There are also palliative care reviews that I can check out for my own knowledge. It is better to be prepared now rather than not knowing what to do when the time comes.

On Feb 3, my one and only brother celebrated his 30th birthday. I couldn’t believe it that he is actually 30 already. I still remember the naughty lil boy that got all of us caned because he didn’t want to admit that he stole my dad’s coins. The boy that was mistaken as a girl because he has the same hair style like us, the girls. Hehehe. Now is my son’s turn.

I still remember the day where my younger sister and him knock each other right on the face and got his brother’s nose bleed. Recently he did mention that sometimes he has problem breathing then only we discovered that his nose bridge is crooked. As we are not well off, we just let it be since it is not life threatening.

Maybe when he has enough money, I would recommend him to go for rhinoplasty to fix the bridge. I read about rhinoplasty San Diego, the procedure is quite simple, only if they have it here.

My husband told me that I do have sensitive skin. He observed that I get bruises mark easily. And the “blue-black” bruises stays for a few days before it disappears. If my husband were to get knocked on his body accidentally, there would be barely any marks on his body but if happens to me, the blue black bruises will definitely be there.

Sometimes, it would appear that I am being physically abused. Hahaha…my husband is a loving guy and would never abuse me. It is just that my skin is the sensitive type. And because of that, I have to find and use sensitive skin care products. Not every care products is suitable for sensitive skin.

Oh ya, having sensitive skin is not all bad at all. I love the time when my husband would caress me. Just a little touch and the sensations are thrilling. Not only I get to use special care products, I also get special touch from my hubby. It’s a wonderful life.

I used to frown a lot until someone told me to stop it unless I don’t mind looking like an old women at a young age. Frowning can expedite the forming of wrinkles. So if you have ant-wrinkles cream, don’t forget to target your forehead, not only at the side of your eyes.

If you can’t help but to frown; there is a remedy for you. Firstly you have to be rich or at least has some money set aside for beauty investment. Hehe. That money will be spent to get a forehead lift. A forehead is recommended for people whose eyebrows have fallen with time and whose forehead has deep wrinkles.

If you are ready, check out New York, NY Forehead Lifts. Read about all you need to know about the procedures and also photos of those who have done it before. Then go ahead, surprise me with your 10 years younger look.