The Babies First Christmas

Joshua made it back to Christmas in the family and thats the biggest consolation for all of us. Felin and I was ill after contracting Joshua's virus and were physically very tired and wasn't quite in the mood to celebrate anything. We just wanted to rest actually.

However, we were really happy to receive gifts from the neighbours which became their first Christmas gift because we don't have time to prepare anything for them.

 The drinking cup from neighbour that can teach the kids to drink using straw.

They also have their first proper haircut today. My mum's neighbour came over to help them cut hair.

Our cell group leader Angeline also came and bring over their big present. We missed the Cell Group Christmas lunch on 24th Dec.

To end the festive season, we also had a family dinner at Sister's place on boxing day where mum cooked all the good nice food. Joshua remained at home with Josiah entertaining all of us.

Don't have really nice photo but this is probably the best I can find in poor lighting condition.

Ann told us that Josiah was quiet when Joshua was not around and when Joshua came back from hospital, he was really happy and became very chatty. The brother have never been seperated for so long and no wonder they are not used to be alone.

A joyous weekend turned into an Emergency

We went to Malaysia over the weekend to celebrate Christmas with Felin's family. It is our yearly affair where we will prepare nice food, games and writing our Christmas wishing card for everyone. It was a joyous occasion and its Josiah and Joshua first time celebrating Christmas. We dressed them up nicely into Santa's red and white attire and they are certainly adorable on it. The party was held in our place over the past 6 years and this year was in Felin's sister new house in Mount Austin.

During the weekend, we realised that both boys were able to climb stairs very well and could coordinate their walking movement when we hold them to walk. In Singapore, they don't have chance to climb stairs.

Joshua came back to in-law's house with a fever of 39.2 Degree and we initially though its probably due to teething issue and did not pay too much attention on it as he was still very active. MIL insisted that Joshua go to see the doctor and the doctor's diagnosis is throat infection and was given paracetamol and antibiotics. The next day, we still go ahead with going back Singapore as his fever seems to subside in the morning.

While crossing the causeway, my helper who was sitting behind kept telling me that Joshua was cold and hence I told her to cover him with more clothings and I lowered my car's air-con. It was a sunny afternoon and I was wondering why he was feeling cold. Out of a sudden, Joshua went into an uncontrolled shiver and Ann was shouting at us from behind asking us what to do. She kept shouting "Joshua Joshua..." and it was panic in the car as it seems like a "Live and Death" situation. I wasn't too sure what to do as my car was still moving in a slow causeway traffic. Felin immediately went down the car and ran up to the customs to ask if we can have priority clearance. I was monitoring Joshua by asking Ann lots of questions. She told me that Joshua eyes remains opened and can still react to her and I was relieved to hear that. A few custom officers rushed down after 10 minutes and asked if we need an ambulance. We rejected the Ambulance and asked them to clear the way for us and they tried to do so for us. Thank God that the causeway traffic wasn't too bad on a Monday afternoon.

After the custom's clearance, we immediately rushed to NUH. I thought that NUH is nearer than KK and KTPH is probably not too good for Children A&E. I was kan Chiong and forgotten my way to NUH and made a wrong turn which resulted in a longer journey. Felin kept telling me to drive faster as Joshua seems very sick and Josiah, seems to know that situation and was crying behind non stop.

Joshua was eventually warded and I sent Ann and Josiah back and activated my parent's help. I was later told that he was diagnosed to have Herpangina and was transferred to the Isolation Ward.

 

He was warded because doctors suspected that he had a seizure while in the car and they were considering to do further test on him. Luckily we need not go through all those Neuro tests. We spent a good 5 days in hospitals with first 2 nights sponging him for high fever which peaked at 40.5 on day 1 and 40.0 on Day 2.  There was quite a bit of vomitting over that 2 days and the vomit was really "HOT". He was shacked out over that 2 days already and he was getting bored in the hospital isolated ward.

The fever came down on Day 3 and we were given a choice to discharge him but I decided that we stayed another day to observe. The decision turned out well because the virus attacked his gastro intestinal on day 3 and he started to poo watery stool every 20 to 30 minutes. He vomitted everything he ate and drank and rejected all food  and medication subsequently. He was observed and see whether IV drip was necessary. Due to the number of poo he made, his rectum started to turn raw and skin around became red. He was in pain whenever we washed him and we decided not to let him wear diaper and let natural air heal him. This was tough as we had to put a sheet over the bed and occasionally the urine or stool seep through to the bed and bedsheet had to be changed. We also can't remember how many set of clothes we had to change due to his vomit. He kept curling and turning on the bed over that 2 days and was standing on the tip of his toes whenever we washed his buttock. We never see him in such pain before and it certainly pains our heart.

Glad that he got better on evening of Day 4 and we were determined for him to be discharged for Christmas. We were really very tired and sad that our Christmas were spent in such a fashion.
Felin and I also had a bad night of vomitting on the 4th night as we were infected by Joshua. Felin recovered fast but I was down until 27th December where I vomitted, felt lethargic, no appetite for 2+ days.

On our last day when our mood were better, we did not forget to have some fun and took lots of wefies in the isolation ward. Hope we will not be back again and Josiah stay healthy with no similar virus on him...

Finally know how it sounds from the stethoscope

 

Like Father Like Son

 

We are discharged today... Yeah!!!

Christmas Wonderland

Its our precious weekend again and we really valued every bit of it. I am guilty that I spent little time with the babies during the weekdays and somehow unhappy about it. Thats the reason we value weekend so much.

This Sunday morning, we went Pasir Ris Beach for a walk thinking that the horse stable is still there which had already moved. We enjoyed the beach and greenery before coming back for their late morning nap, feed porridge and lots of playtime in the afternoon. We had a very hard time feeding Josiah. Feeding time can stretch to 45 minutes to an hour because of him or else we can finish feeding Joshua's portion in maybe just 20 minutes.

Then finally to Garden By The Bay at about 4:30pm. There is this Christmas by the Bay where the garden are all lighted up with fun fair, ice skating rink, concert, plenty of food and souvenirs stalls, etc... The babies were really good that they allowed us to have half an hour of Texas Fried Chicken dinner with minimum trouble. Joshua was sitting on the baby chair while Josiah in the stroller as not enough baby chair around. Luckily Josiah is more relaxed and laid back that he don't mind sitting in the stroller while we eat and stroll the park. As for Joshua, he made lots of noise and tried to stand up once we put him in stroller. He just want to play while Josiah just want to relax and watch people walking by in his stoller.

We really had lots of fun together as a family as we danced with the music and kept singing Christmas songs to them. Its getting difficult to take wefie with them as their attention span is quite short. Joshua kept shouting nowaday whenever he is excited and Josiah will just shout back together. Its pretty funny at times. Haiz, I will really miss their cuteness when they grow up someday down the road...

Joshua Standing with minimum support

I noticed that Joshua is able to stand with minimum support last weekend on 6th December 2015. He held on my legs to stand. He then released his hand briefly and stood skakingly for about 2 to 3 seconds before sitting down again. That short 2 to 3 seconds of standing is without support and hence I will considered him as ability to stand.

Another interesting thing to mention is the recent playtime between Joshua and Josiah. Both of them were eyeing the Giraffe toy and tried to grab from each other. Joshua lost the grabbing game and he became unhappy and went aside to do other things. Josiah sensed that Joshua wasn't happy and went near him to pass the Giraffe to Joshua but Joshua wasn't happy and pushed the toy away from Josiah as if trying to say, "Don't disturb me!" seemingly angry with Josiah. The scene was described by Felin and I find it pretty cute and I somehow think Josiah is so sweet to give in to his younger brother. He set a good example as an elder.

We are still facing problem with Josiah's feeding and he refuses to eat most of the time. I posted on facebook to rant about it and tons of feedback came in to help. All from experienced mothers. Really appreciates their advices and support.