A Fab Feb

We've emerged from Jeopardy January and things are looking up. 

Vera's well and back to school. So is Daen. 

My helper Beth on home leave for two weeks. So we're keeping our fingers crossed no one falls sick during this time. 

It's been a great workout for me playing maid of the house again; it's my 2-week slimming program. Housework and wakeful nights work wonders on the waistline. 

Vera's birthday is coming up as well. I can't believe she's turning FOUR. 

FOUR is an inauspicious word for the Cantonese: it sounds like 'Die'. 

We're ignoring that and going ahead to celebrate Vera going against the odds and being such a survivor. 

Initially we (or me mostly) weren't in the mood to celebrate her birthday, but I think after January, we could do with a bit of joy yah?

Here's hoping for a fab Feb for you all as well!

It's Hard To Have A Happy Start to the Year

It's hard to have a Happy New Year.

Here's why. 

January is one of the worst months to start the new year. If I had a choice, I'd start the year with August, or September. Those are usually quiet, uneventful and relatively peaceful months. 

January is Major Anxiety Month. At least it's been for the last few years. 

January is when I had to deal with news of Vera 'having problems' in my tummy. 

January is when Vera fell sick, very sick with Pneumonia coming to 2, and I was making hospital rounds while very pregnant with Daen. 

January is when Vera fell sick again coming to 3 and did time again in hospital.

This January, as history would have it, is living up to its reputation.

I have been plagued by a persistent cough since December.

Daen was infected with Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease after his first week, and first time, in Childcare. We've just spent one week dealing with it. 

Just when I was mentioning how lucky it was that Vera didn't pick it up from him (we had them strictly separated until he was fully well), she is sick. She vomitted four times after milk. Runny nose, fever. Please, just don't let it be HFMD.

As of now, it's back to separating them again. And a return to suctioning and lack of sleep.

There are two flu seasons: December - February. May - July. We're at the height of the former now. 

And to top it all off, in January there's 'Happy My Birthday', 'Happy Our Wedding Anniversary', and 'Happy Lunar New Year'. 

January's tough I tell ya.

Water Water Everywhere

The best part about living in Singapore is that, because it's such a small island, you can get a whiff of the sea anytime, in no time.

Today, we checked out Woodlands Waterfront, a seafront to the north, overlooking the Straits of Johor, Malaysia. Another morning outing with Daen since Vera's asleep.

Instead of the rain that we've been having the past month, the weather was perfect and the boy had so much fun he knocked out on the way back.

Happy 2012 Everyone!

My mummy thought I'd never be able to sit like this, but what d'ya know? I'm full of surprises. It's taken me a long time, but hey, that's me. Wondering what else I'll be able to do in 2012? Stay tuned!