Month: September 2008

Getting A Jogging Stroller For Baby C

Baby C hates it when she’s put on her highchair (which once belonged to her 2 sisters). She will arch her back, scream and struggle each time she’s put on the highchair 🙁 I think the highchair with a plastic padding seat must have made her feel really hot.  She loves her stroller though and each time she’s placed on the stroller, she’ll doze off by herself without much fuss. I’m thinking of getting a new stroller for Baby C as I intend to put the old stroller inside the house. This way, I can buckle her up in the stroller and put it next to the dining table so that I can have a peaceful meal without having to carry her when I eat. I have always wanted to get a jogging stroller or an all terrain stroller so that I can bring her along with me when I go jogging in the morning.

There are many types and brands of jogging strollers. I’ve seen several jogging strollers at Mothercare and a few other baby shops here but have not found one that meets my budget and needs. Most of the jogging strollers available here are very costly as they are imported. I saw several jogging strollers at shopwiki.com today and they cost way cheaper than the ones sold here. I am really tempted to buy one but I am sure the shipping charges will cost me a bomb. I wonder if there is a place for me to buy a second-hand jogging stroller here as they cost much cheaper than a brand new one.

No. of times viewed = 460

Diaper-Weaning Sherilyn

In the midst of my very busy schedule with Baby C, I tried to tackle another task 3 days ago, and that is to wean Sherilyn off diapers during her afternoon nap.  The first day, it was accident-free.  I woke her up an hour into her nap and brought the potty to the living room where she naps. Sherilyn is a little more difficult to tackle than Alycia. With Alycia, I did not have to exert much pressure or coaxing to bring her to the potty. With Sherilyn, I had to pull her up from the mattress and practically carry her to the potty, which was reaaaaally strenuous on my already battered back.

The second day, I also woke Sher up to pee 1 hour after she had gone into her nap. However, she still peed in her pants later. When she woke up, she was too embarrassed or scared to let me know that she had peed in her pants. She got up from the mattress, walked round the house and 15 minutes later, announced coyly and nonchalantly “mummy, my shirt is wet“. Haiyah…. I really wanted to scream coz I was busy with Baby C and my maid was busy in the kitchen. But I kept my cool and did not scold her. The bedsheet and bolster were soaked with pee. Thankfully the pee did not permeate the mattress as I had placed a large piece of plastic sheet underneath.

The third day, Sherilyn demanded to sleep in mah mah’s bedroom upstairs. I had to be downstairs to watch over Baby, so I put a diaper on Sher, so my training went off-course.

On the fourth day, which is today, Sher requested to sleep on my gym mat, which is all the more better coz even if she had a pee accident, it would be easier to clean up the mess.  I woke her up to pee an hour after she had gone into her nap and she peed big time in the potty. I thought she had emptied her bladder with such a huge volume of pee but nope, half an hour later, she peed in her pants, aargghh!

Phew, it’s really tiring for me. Hopefully in no time, Sherilyn will be totally off diapers just like Alycia.
 
Still in a dreaming state and eyes half opened.

Sherilyn was really tickled pink with the car-shaped hard-boiled egg and fish-shaped hard-boiled egg that I made them for breakfast today.

No. of times viewed = 426

Another UTI Attack Or Vaginal Yeast Infection?

I woke up at 5:45am today, skipped jogging and got ready to go to SJMC. I had to be really early as it’s first come first served basis. I was the first patient to see Dr Indon but waited for an hour for her to come in. My guess was right. Dr Indon ordered another urine test to be done by way of inserting the catheter into baby’s urethra.


The catheter

Baby C waiting for Dr Indon to come into the Procedures Room to insert the catheter into her urethra.

This time, it was really traumatic for baby. The first two wasn’t that bad but I guess this time, baby’s old enough to remember the procedures and she cried big time even before the catheter was inserted. We were unlucky this time. There wasn’t enough urine in baby’s bladder and Dr Indon asked me to feed her water. So I bought 2 syringes from the hospital (I dropped one on the floor in my haste to feed her water) and squirted the water into baby’s mouth.  She cried so hard that she choked a few times.  She was wailing away really badly and was really traumatized, so much that she puked all over herself and on the bed.  My maid screamed when baby puked LOL!   Still, there wasn’t enough urine after we waited for about 15 minutes (which seemed like ages) and the catheter came out prematurely….. bummer…. double whammy!!  I then cleaned up baby as she had  vomit all over her body.  Dr Indon had to write a note to the lab to inform the lab assistant to go ahead with the 2 urine tests though the urine collected wasn’t enough.

We waited for 1.5 hours for the results to be out.  There were still 80 WBC (white blood cells) and bacteria in baby’s urine.  But Dr Indon wasn’t quite sure how to treat baby coz I told her that after applying the anti-yeast infection cream on baby’s private part, the foul-smelling urine was gone this morning.  She wasn’t sure if it was a UTI or a vaginal yeast infection and she does not want to jab baby with potent antibiotics unnecessarily.  So she told us to wait until the urine culture report comes out on Tuesday next week before the next course of action is to be taken.  If there’s a heavy growth of bacteria in baby’s urine, baby would have to endure 3 super painful intra-muscular antibiotics (Rocephine) jab again:(

I can only pray that it’s not a UTI and that the WBC and bacteria would be gone in the next urine test to be done next week.  Hubby has burnt a BIG hole in his pocket. The medical bill incurred at SJMC last week and today cost hubby almost RM400, which would have cost us less than RM100 if done at HUKM. But hubby is not complaining at all and says that he is willing to pay so long as baby gets the best treatment. I hope I can see light, bright light at the end of the tunnel soon.

No. of times viewed = 1423

Another UTI!

I am so so down today coz the urine test today showed that there are lots of WBC (white blood cells) in Baby C’s urine, which means that there is possibly another UTI attack. 

Ever since Baby C had UTI 3 months ago, I have a habit of smelling her soiled diaper each time I change the diaper. When I changed her diaper in the wee hours today, her urine/diaper smelled foul and the smell is similar to the pee of someone who had just eaten petai (stinky beans) the night before.  I was worried sick and couldn’t sleep well. This morning, her diaper looked dark yellowish and the foul smell was still there.  I immediately took her urine, which took me the whole morning to painstakingly collect, drop by drop.  Hubby then brought the urine to the hospital only to be told that the urine wasn’t enough to do both the FEME urine test and culture test, aargh…. I really wanted to cry!

I thought I had done everything to keep the UTI at bay from changing her diaper after every pee to washing her bum after every poo, feeding her with probiotics, cranberry juice and what not but still these are not enough to keep the bacteria from attacking my poor baby. I just hope that this is only a false positive for UTI  as this happened 2 weeks ago.  My paed told me today that the foul smelling and dark colored pee could just be a vaginal yeast infection as this had happened to baby 2 months ago.   I’m bringing baby to see Dr. Indon tomorrow and I just have a feeling that she will order another urine test done with the urine collected via a cathether inserted into baby’s urethra again!  If it’s truly another breakthrough UTI, my poor baby has to endure another 3 rounds of very painful intra-muscular antibiotics jab, which she just had 2 weeks ago.  Sigh…… when will our nightmare ever end?  Perhaps the only solution now is via surgery?  I hope not.

No. of times viewed = 200

Potty-Training Baby C

I started potty-training Baby C 2 days ago. Not that I want to wean her off diapers at such a young age, it’s just that I’m trying my best to prevent another UTI (urinary tract infection) from attacking my baby.

In a child with Kidney Reflux (KR), the urine backflows to the kidney, then flows back down to the bladder. Bacteria will then feast on the stale urine in the bladder. So if I make Baby C pee all her urine out, there will not be any stale urine in the bladder for the bacteria to feast on.  Also, without a urine-soaked diaper, bacteria will not be able to go up her urethra.

It really ain’t easy to make Baby C pee. She hates it when I remove her diaper and carry her with her legs apart. She hates it even more that I let her sit on the potty. Sometimes, she wouldn’t pee on the potty and will only pee the minute I put on a fresh diaper, aargh! Oh gawd, my backache is creeping up again coz it’s quite strenuous on my back carrying her.


“shee shee baby, please wee wee….. shee shee……”

On the advise of Dr Indon, I am keeping Baby C’s diaper area super clean.  I discard her diaper after just one pee and after she poo poos each time, I wash her bum.  It’s really inconvenient and takes up a lot of time, but if this can prevent a UTI, I have no complaints.  I have to put aside the cloth diapers for the time being as it’s just not practical to wash over 10 CDs each day (and I don’t even have more than 10 CDs).  Also, the antibiotics that she’s taking is making her poo poo 3-4 times a day and it’s not practical to wear CD if she poo poos too often.  The current rainy season is making the inserts hard to dry as well.  Hubby has to burn a bigger hole in his pocket by buying more disposable diapers as Baby C uses  between 10-12 diapers a day. 

In between potty-training Baby C, I still managed to whip up a yummy dish for lunch yesterday.  It’s very easy and fast to prepare and my kids love it!

No. of times viewed = 235

Computer Consulting Services

I mentioned in one of my earlier posts in my other blog that I am really tempted to jump into the online store bandwagon and set up my own online store. Ever since my blog was slammed from a PR 4 to a big fat zilch, I have been getting really scarce offers from advertisers. My earnings have also been reduced drastically and I am just not used to seeing the miserable amount sitting in my Paypal account now. If I have the time to put my money-making plan into action, I am still undecided if I should just purchase a shopping cart software or engage the professional computer services of such companies as Langtech Corporation and the like.

Langtech Corporation is a well-known computer and information technology company in New Jersey founded in 1995. They provide such services as web design and programming, design and development, eCommerce, online marketing, hosting and much more. Langtech’s internet solutions team is well-known for developing cost-effective business solutions with state-of-the-art web application internet technologies. I know I can’t scrimp on important services like IT if I want to have a good head-start in a business.

No. of times viewed = 170

Infant Drops

Baby C’s appetite seems to have decreased lately.  She used to have a ravenous appetite before her first UTI (urinary tract infection) attack 3 months ago, so ravenous that when she suckles on my boops, she made really loud and embarrasing sounds. She could never get enough of my boops.  But lately, I have to force her to drink my milkie and she has not been gaining much weight over the past 1 month.  At almost 5 months, her weight is only 6.4kg.  Her birth weight was 2.75kg.  I think the antibiotics that she’s taking everyday is the culprit for suppressing her appetite.  Also, a child with Kidney Reflux has poor appetite and poor weight gain 🙁

I was really concerned and asked Dr Indon of SJMC if Baby C is underweight but she told me yesterday that her weight is average and normal.  I then asked her if it’s alright to feed Baby C infant drops to increase her appetite and she said no problem.  I had actually bought the Appeton infant drops with Lysine (Lysine helps to enhance an infant’s appetite) on Sunday but hubby and mil were quite alarmed that I am feeding this to Baby C without first seeking the dr’s go-ahead.  They wanted me to get the green light from Dr Indon.  Now that I’ve gotten the go-ahead, I’ve been feeding Baby C with this infant drop everyday and I think her appetite has increased.  I also fed Sherilyn with this infant drop when she was a few months old until she was 1 year old.

Do you feed your infant with any infant drops or multivitamins?

No. of times viewed = 3312

How Can I Survive Without The Idiot Box?

That’s the scene in my bedroom almost everynight. My 3 angels would be all soaked up watching cartoon on TV, whilst I have a quick scrub in the bathroom that’s attached to my bedroom. I’d peep in occasionally and call Baby C. When Baby C fusses, Alycia my most helpful little assistant will talk and sing to baby. In fact, Alycia would help me distract Baby C every morning and evening when I’m in the bathroom…. and the good thing is Baby C adores her 2 cheh chehs and will be quite content when her 2 cheh chehs accompany her…. at least for a max. of 15 minutes before she fusses again until she sees and smells mummy!


Baby C watching cartoon with her 2 cheh cheh.

Watching TV is also the only time (sleeping aside) Sherilyn my ever-hyper active and boisterous rascal would sit still and not give me heart-stopping moments.

Look at Sherilyn here, sucking her thumb away as she’s all engrossed watching TV.

No. of times viewed = 471

A Day’s Out Shopping

We reached Mid Valley Megamall at 10:30am today. It was hubby’s idea to leave the house early as it is a public holiday today and if we reached there after 11am, traffic would be really horrendous and it would take ages to find a space to park the car. Finding a parking space was a breeze today and we found a nice parking space within minutes.

We first had breakfast at The Toast at Gardens. Hubby seems to like this hawker-style cafe that sells such breakfast items as kaya toasts, French toasts, curry mee, chee cheong fun, western breakfast, white coffee, among others. 

After breakfast, hubby brought Alycia and Sherilyn shopping at Metro Jaya while Baby C and my maid followed me. My mil went shopping alone. It was the first time I brought Baby C along with me to shop for clothes and the mall was packed with people.  I went to my favorite place to look for my clothes and my eyes quickly scanned the place for my type of attire.  I saw a few that I liked and grabbed a few tops and dresses and headed for the fitting room. While I tried on the clothes hurriedly, my maid waited outside the fitting room with Baby C. Within 20 minutes, I bought 2 dresses and a spaghetti strap top. 

The queue at all the check-out counters were very long. Whilst my maid queued up, I hurriedly shopped for other items. I also let my maid choose a t-shirt and I gave her the t-shirt as a gift. Though she has many flaws, she is nevertheless very good to Baby C.

After shopping, we had lunch at MacDonald’s as Alycia wanted to eat McD. It’s been almost a year since we last had McD. After lunch, we shopped for groceries at Jaya Jusco. I almost wanted to buy a sugar-free mooncake, with fruits fillings made in Taiwan but when the sales girl told me it cost RM6.50 each, I flipped coz the size of the mooncake was really small, almost half the size of a regular-size mooncake and I can even gobble it down in just one bite. RM6.50 for just a mouthful of mooncake? No thanks!

Baby C looked kinda ‘blur’ here as she was just about to doze off.

Luckily there were baby rooms provided at Jaya Jusco, I could nurse Baby C (twice) and changed her poopie diapers.

No. of times viewed = 221

HEALTH FREAK MOMMY