My son is sick

Zach is sick! He's running a temperature between 37.5 to 37.6 since 4am this morning.

It was my routine to take his temperature before we leave the house every morning and today is as per our normal routine and I had to take his temperature thrice before we decided to go see his PD. I actually felt him having a fever at 4am this morning but I did not do anything about it! I felt so bad and so lazy...

Mummy, I don't feel like facing the camera

He can recognise ME! He'll give me his bright smile without fail.

Daddy, higher please!

He slept most of the time today, from 1pm to 4.30pm and then from 7.30pm till now!! My poor baby is so drowsy because of the medication.

Let's pray he will be well enough to enjoy Sentosa tomorrow! We're going to attend daddy's best friend's solemnisation @ Amara Sanctuary. We'll be staying a night there and going to Underwater World on Sunday. Yippee!

Kindermusik

A kind mummy from the Singapore Motherhood forum organised this specially for the Dec 2008 mummies!! It is a trial class at Tanglin Mall at $23 for 45minutes.

The early birds - Ashlynne, Kayson and Zach

Zach striking a conversation with Kayson

Tallest boy among the babies

Verdict: We will try to go for Gymboree trial next and see which one Zach enjoys more. I personally felt Kindermusik is kinda boring. Maybe it was too early in the morning and I am tired. So is Zach. He slept immediately after the class!!

It was our first time at Tanglin Mall and we were impressed! It could be our next haunt in future..hehe

When we reached home, he's busy playing with his toys cos mummy bought 3 more new toys for him - shall not reveal how much I have spent on toys alone for my baby.. but mummy nearly bought the whole Fisher Price collection from Kiddy Palace..haha.

Zach is teething!! That explains why his cheek was flushed last week and these few days he will cry alot at night, refusing to sleep. I touched his gum earlier and it was rough.. Yippee!! I can't wait.. he's all grown up and we are loving him more and more everyday!

Zach the Movie Director

We got Zach a high chair from Ikea. Wanted to get the $29 piece but it is not very sturdy so we got the $69 piece instead. Mummy said Zach looks like a movie director sitting in this chair.

He's in a foul mood - mummy is busy taking photo while feeding him

Wanting to get out of the chair

He was into his 2nd week of cereal. I increased his intake from 1 teaspoon to now 6 teaspoon..Zach is really a big eater. His schedule:

8.00am Milk (latch)

11.00am Milk (170ml)

2.00pm Milk (170ml)

5.00pm Milk (170ml)

9.00pm Cereal (6 teaspoon)

11.00pm Milk (180ml)

3.40am Milk (latch)

Scary huh!! He's especially impatient when mummy is feeding his cereal. The moment he swallow his first mouth, he will 'Eh eh' for his next..he will cry after I show him his empty bowl. *shake head*

After the teat incident and my feedback to the principal, the infantcare took several measures and I am truly impress with them so decided to let Zach continue to be there. He is more vocal now compared to previously. He's beginning to mumble lotsa baby language at us and we thought we heard him saying 'Ok' and 'Ma'..but then it could be our imaginations..haha

Zach and his 'school' friends - who can reach to the rattle first?

Xylene, you are fast!

First Taste of Solid!

YAY!!! Zach had his first taste of solid today.

Wearing a Stage 2 bib - too big for him.

8.30am, carried him to his bumbo while I prepared his cereal. 1 tablespoon of Heinz Organic Rice Cereal with 30ml of breastmilk. The mixture was abit watery, almost milk like texture and it taste like, my milk of course! Hahaha

He is not particularly enjoying it because after the first spoon, he showed me his tongue. And the following 2 attempts had the cereal dripping from his chin.

Mommy, what are you feeding me?

I am in a mess! Even the bib went sideways!!

You better get me out of this chair, NOW!

The overall exeperience was fun!! I will try it again tomorrow.. if it fails again, it shows that Zach is NOT ready for SOLID!

Pain of a Mother

My heart aches when I see this.

In my mind, I kept thinking what had my son gone through for the past weeks? How was he fed? Did he ever choke on his milk? how bad did he vomit each time?

I feedback this to his principal and infant teacher in-charge. Both were shocked at the sight of it. Who wouldn't? I've checked with colleagues whom children are moer than a year old and none of them drank milk from such big hole much to say my son is only 5month old!!! They apologised to me for not noticing it but were quick to add that it could probably be torn during washing the day before..hmm. His teacher even added that they have over 20bottles to wash a day hence it could be an oversight!! WHAT?? I was quick to say, "You don't wash 20 bottles at one go! Even if you do, you still need to pay attention which can I say you are not doing your job?" Okay, I sounded mean but who wouldn't?

Now, I am still half-hearted on what should I do next. His principal said that they will improve and asked for another chance. My fear is that the teachers could be revengeful and take it out on my son? Abit bad of me to harbour such thoughts but.. we should look at different perspective at times.

We need to consider the following options:

1. Maid - we need adult supervision which we don't have the luxury of. Installing CCTV will not help. When things happen, it will be a case of too late.
2. Babysitter - a possible option but when Zach starts crawling and climbing, accidents are bound to happen and will the babysitter inform us or will they keep quiet?
3. Infantcare - Change to another centre but such incidents will happen again. No matter how good the centre is, it will never be comparable to how I care for him.
4. Stay home mom - Me being a stay home mom? I would think by a month, I would gone crazy! I can't stay confined in a place for too long.. I need some motivation, push factor or excitement in my life. Not that Zach is not exciting enough but there should be more for me than just Zach!! Hei, working give me my sanity (at least 1%).

Ah well.. I will have to weigh each options above carefully when I have a clearer mind.

Faces of Zach

Right, lotsa people have been commenting that Zach is so much rounder compared to previous. I do not deny this statement because Zach has been drinking 180ml to 200ml of breastmilk at each feed (4 hours interval).

When I told the lactation consultant, PD and others, they were all equally shocked! He's drinking so much but his weight gain is pathetic. Oh well...decided to create a collage of Zach's photo to see if there is indeed some change.. maybe alittle bit but what do you guys think?

On a happier note, my little prince decided to flip finally! I placed him on the changing table at his infantcare and he flipped!! I turned him back and he flipped again.. now I have to remind the teachers not to leave him unattended on the changing table. The thought of him falling to the floor gives me the creeps..

Happy 5 Month Old, Zach

* Mummy is too excited and post this earlier than scheduled*

Zach turns 5 month old tomorrow! Comparing to a month ago, he has grown quite a bit, not by weight though but by his learning abilities. He smiles readily at the sight of my phone or camera cos he knows mummy is taking either photo or video of him.

He's smiling even though it is super early in the morning

He put on a mere 100g within 3 weeks but he's been drinking 180ml of breastmilk every 4hours. Dr told me not to worry as long as Zach is happy and progressing well. So..mabbe he is tall and lean like daddy and mummy.

Zach starts recognising faces and constantly wants me to be around. He will whimper and cry if my in-law carries him. He's okay if it is my parents or siblings which doesn't really makes sense cos they only see him once a month. My guess is prob the way he was carried that causes him to be uncomfortable.

He still can't flip without assistance but can sit unassisted for few minutes. Wonder will he skip the flipping process all together? He can also move around in his cot. Place him diagonally and within 5minutes he will kick and wriggle himself horizontally. Hahaha

Ignore the dirty diaper beside him. He's sitting up watching TV (what else?)

As he is entering his 5th month, it is also time for him to sleep on his own. Previously he was sharing our bed but lately he's crying to sleep alone. Each time he cry, I will carry him to his cot and he will fall asleep on his own and can sleep longer too. Can't believe that he wants to sleep alone! Hmm..maybe daddy's snoring is too loud or mummy keep waking up to check on him annoys him?

He also found his feet and his vocals. When opportunity arise, he will play with his feet and luckily have not learnt to put them in his mouth yet. He's getting very vocal too.. singing himself to sleep. Now we know when he starts singing, he is sleepy.

Look how engrossed he is at his feet

He's cute..and that's because he's our son. *wink*

Creams

Ever since Zach had his rashed during his 2nd month, I have been busy trying out different type of creams for him. Look at my collection of cream for Zach.

Some were given by PDs, bought under recommendation from other mummies and some psycho-ed by sore assistant

The latest purchase was Badger's Winter Wonder Balm and Earth Mama balm which is said to be good for his stuffy nose and cough to be applied on his chest and feet and the Earth Mama balm is for his face, body and even nappy area.

Mummy hope this will be her last purchase of creams for Zach.. he's on full breastmilk now and his skin is improving and let's hope that it stays this way else it will be an expensive affair.

Milk milk come quickly

I am back to pumping milk! And I hate every moment of it..

Ever since I was told Zach's allergic to cow's milk and potentially soy milk, I knew I have no choice but to start pumping. All these while for the past 4 months, my milk supply is just sufficient for his daily feed but seeing that he has such allergy, I would really like to breastfeed him as long as I can hence the need to pump.

It is not helping that my work schedule is beginning to increase and I am stuck in meetings after meetings - not that it is a fruitful meeting. I always felt meetings are just a waste of time and resources! Someone should calculate the cost of each individuals in the meeting and the outcome of it, it's a loss ALL the time.

First day of pumping is pathetic. My breast is not used to it after 3 months of not pumping at all (I actually kept my pump away, sold away all my milk bag and breast pad!). The yield was pathetic, it made me wonder did Zach had enough everyday? Well, if he ain't crying it means he had enough. I tried relaxing, massaging, taking deep breath and it worked! My afternoon session will yield good result - 1 feed for Zach!

All my mummies friend was very encouraging! They shared many many many tips on how to pump, how to relax, what to do, what to think!! I am so indebted to them..There was one incident which really brought tears to my eyes.. Zach was sick and crying alot the night before till I din really get a good rest and when I don't sleep for few days in a row, my body and soul detaches itself (not literally) till I forgot to bring his milk to school!! Darn..and I only realise it when we are near the office. Hubby said let him try on soy milk again and he had the cheek to tell me he wasn't paying attention to what the PD was explaining the day before (soy milk contains cow's milk as well..hence Zach could be allergic to it as well). 2 of my friends working nearby immediately SMS me offering me their breastmilk for Zach..freshly expressed breastmilk! I am so touched I cried in office.. to think that they have baby to feed on their own yet they are selfless enough to offer Zach. Mother's love knows no boundary..

NOW: waiting to pump at 10am.. weekends will be 3-hrly pump each time and after 12am is to latch all the way. Wish me all success in increasing the milk supply!

My poor darling

** This post was sitting there for 2 days before I have time to upload the photos. Today, Zach finally laughed out loud and it made our day after he was sick for 2 weeks! **

Zach had his hair shaved off when he turns 4 months old on 5 April 2009. It was a tough decision since his birth hair was very smooth and soft! Maybe he din like it as well because he was cranky all the time, refusing to let the lady shave him.. hehe

We flew back to KL in the afternoon because Mummy is on leave for 1 week. There will be alot of 1 week holiday this year. Zach was very good throughout the flight except during landing when the pressure is different. He was not feeling well that week due to stuffy nose and mild cough. It could be the journey home that worsen his condition.. stuffy nose became runny nose, mild cough became phlegmy cough and worse is he got rashes which I don't know how it came about!

Zach running a fever

Zach's rashes in the late afternoon - it was actually redder than in this photo

Talk abt his rashes. My diet is still the same, I am still eating the same vitamins gynae prescribed, still drinking milo, eating the same type of food etc..but his rashes was very bad! We went to 2 different PD in Klang and both says he is allergic to cow's milk so either switch to soy milk or breastfeed him totally. It was easy cos I was on leave..within days, his rashes recovered and Zach's skin really glow - he looks even better than before.

Skin smooth as silk and fair as tofu! Haha

He tried on a sunglass for baby but we din buy it - too expensive

Back in SG, we tried soy milk on him and his rashes came back AGAIN! We visited another PD (not the usual one in SG) and she said that there is some cross-over (traces) of cow's milk in soy milk so better stop. Sigh..what a waste of $$.. I shouldn't be so stubborn in feeding him FM once a day.. should have given him breastmilk instead then I could have save all these trouble of not getting enough sleep, wasting $$ on FM, wasting $$ on PD and worse, heartbroken to see Zach keep scratching himself and his face got swollen.. *cry*

On a brighter side, his throat is probably much better today and he actually spoke a little - fyi, he did not utter a word last week! And he LAUGHED!!! I've uploaded the video in my Facebook..go check it out.