3 out of 5 admitted!

It's a long story, but I make it short.

Despite trying hard to get kids away from crowded places (due to the dreaded flu). Bea1, Bea3 and Adel had running noses on Sunday and fever on Monday. Temperature ranges from 37.5 to 35.8 C. I was not overly concerned.

But after sahur the next day, I could hear Bea1 wheezing when I pressed my ear to her chest. Off to the emergency in a hospital right away.

X-rays showed all 3 had pneumonia and they had to be admitted. They didn't really look sickly, and got all excite about the hospital stay "roll eyes".

I was worried sick at first but the doc said it was not that dreaded flu but they must stay for a while as they could have lung infection. Rounds of drips and nebulisers followed.

The doc asked if Bea1 was ever asthmatic as her condition is the worst among the 3. I was not really sure how to answer that.

A bit of history...Bea1 as a baby had severe skin rashes. As she grows, rashes gone but she always has dry skin and depends on the likes of SebaMed and QV for skin care. I knew about tests for allergy but I never took it seriously as think Bea1's case was not serious. Except for certain fish, we allow her to eat anything.

But she must has some early morning sneezing (that could be due to dust mites) especially when it is cold. But it goes away shortly after she gets dressed and she is ok the whole day.

She had pneumonia once when she was 3 years old and admitted for 3 days. I was stupid to give a low dosage of paracetamol (a lot younger and less experienced mom that was worried about overdose), the fever didn't go away and she got it after about two weeks. After that she is just a healthy kid, and the last time she had a fever was a year ago.

I was surprised on how fast it develops into pneumonia this time. The doc said she must have shown symptons such as coughs and flu before that but seriously I didn't see that. She went to school as usual.

We have the family history, so the doc said she will decide if Bea3 has that too in these few days. Both Bea3 and Atef were discharged yesterday but Bea1 had to stay a couple of days more. Really hate the thought that my baby is asthmatic. Will that mean there will be no ice cream for her? Will she depend on medication for a long time? What have or have not done? I have a lot of questions but no time to do research yet, hate to ask the doc yet as she already asked me to wait.

The last few days were spent at the ward. Both of us had to take emergency leave and hubby spends the nights here. When Adel napped, I left to see Bea2 and Atef at the babysitter. I then returned with Bea2 to have buka puasa with huby here. After that, we left, fetched Atef and returned to a quiet home.

As a mom, of course I want the kids to be healthy but I just could not help it...part of me is asking if the hospitalisation is necessery especially to the youngest two. They no longer have fever even on Wednesday.

Anyway, Alhamdulillah it is not that flu. I'm with Bea1 now as hubby went out for the Friday prayer. The two kids, I'm sure are giving the babysitter a hard time. They had been too spoiled by the nurses in the hospital;).

One thing that I dread to see now is my own face. It must look horrible with the lack of sleep and care...but seeing the kids ok surely puts a smile on it, always.

Will get back with pics!

My two-year-old Adel

After 3 girls in a row, I began to wonder if hubby's XY (those that supposed to make boys) swimmers could really compete with the XX. Adel cleared all doubt;). Even when he was a small baby, a lot of people commented that upon first look they knew he was a boy. A kembang mama would say "Oh yes, he is!".

But by having 3 sisters, he could not escape from things like this

and he has no say on the choice of colour for his new stroller.

By his first birthday, people started to ask "All four girls?", "Such a cute baby, how old is SHE?".

We knew he needed a haircut badly. Both papa and mama were with him at the barber's, but he just held on to dear mama throughout!

He loves balls. He began kicking even before he walked. He pushed a ball near somewhere he could hold on to, got up and kicked it. Now he begins to show interests on cars.

He started to show signs that he was ready for solid food at 4 months old but mama must wait for him to turn 6 months. And due to a trip to Danau Toba, it was further delayed a few more days(for mama's convenience of course ;)). This is his first solid food experience. Poor baby, he had waited for too long.

He is such an affectionate boy. He would hold my head with both hands, and press my lips into his cheecks with all his might whenever he needs hugs and smooches.

Before Atef is around, he slept with his hand around my neck.

He makes me think my hands are magical, from soothing the pain when he bumps his head to getting the toys that he wants from Bea3 to scratching itchy feet.
He asks questions now "Apa tu?", "Buat apa?" over and over.

Though he is not as clingy to nen-nen as the sisters, he still helps himself to it now and then. And when he does, he would gaze intently into my eyes.

And he never shows jealousy towards new baby bro, not just yet;).

He turned 2 two weeks ago but papa was away, so celebration was postponed. On the day that he was supposed to cut the cake, he scratched some skin off his big toe at the bedroom door. He needed to rest, according to the doc. So cake-cutting was further delayed and rest, he did.

We finally did it on Saturday. After 8 years of mothering and 16 kids birthdays later, I decided that I would finally make the cakes myself.


Not much decorating skill needed to surprise a two-year old. Some determination, stuffs from ICCA and lots of love;).

Tired of excitement and dozed off!


Just like how all moms in the world think about their babies, I think Adel is the cutest...so are the other 4, definitely;)

And Alhamdulillah, the joy of being a mom is simply undescribable!

Childhood relived

I always wanted it for my kids even before I have kids. The feeling was stronger when I had Bea1 and Bea2. But firstly it was just too expensive, secondly the common ones in the market are those made of hard, colourful plastic. I prefer wooden type that resembles the real thing more.

I had fogotten about it for a while until last year I got some ideas from the net. A DIY version. Since then, I kept thinking about making it myself with whatever I have at home. BUT that involves a few trips to carpenter shops, DIY shops and some tedious and dirty painting work. Ok la I admit, I'm not much of a DIY type and hubby won't not get involved in that kind of project.

It had been postponed and on and off forgotten until I saw the catalogue of gifts for credit card point-redemption from shitty...ops I mean citibank;). There was one there, the hard plastic type. Tired of waiting, I thought I just redeem it and showed the catalogue to Bea1 and Bea2. They were so excited and Bea2 could not stop asking when they would get it.

But flip-flop mama still thought she was not really into the plastic one.

Still, I could not get it out of my mind. I just got to have one!

And yesterday, during my weekly Ikea trip I saw it and my heart just missed a beat, followed by adraneline rush and I thought I was going to get a stroke (ok, I'm exaggerating). I didn't see it on the first day of sale (17th July, it's Atef's 41st day, I must celebrate end of confinement there;)), and I didn't go to the children section during our trip on previous Friday.

I moved towards it, gazed lovingly and ran my fingers on every inch of it. My heart melted just like cold butter on some warm scones.

What followed was like the scene from "Confessions of a shopoholic" when Rebecca Bloomburg saw the green scarf for the first time.

It would hurt my wallet...I shouldn't. Then again...I have always wanted it for years. But kids don't really need it,maybe...then again Bea2 has been asking everyday. I could just DIY it, if people in the net can do it so can I. Then again...they may not have a small moody baby and the image of me sweating and most probably cursing over some stupid drill etc is not so pleasant.

BUT it is still expensive, and as a new product it's not on sale and to wait for it to be in the As Is would be too long...then again, I'm Ikea Friends member, make a total purchase of RM500 and I can pay it over 6 months, with no interest.

Finally I sighed "I'm taking it back, YES, YES, YES!"

Something struck my mind and I looked at the time "Shoot! Bea1 will finish school in 5 minutes". Alhamdulillah for the neighbour cum colleague that is always helpful, one call and she would fetch her.

I grabbed two reading lights that are on sale for Bea2 and Bea3, and some light bulbs and made my way to the warehouse. With some helps from the staff (I was not capable of pushing the trolley and Atef's stroller with only two hands;), I managed to get it to the car.

At home we loaded the rather heavy flat-packed (two boxes) on the stroller and Bea1 helped to push. I was watching Nur Kasih (I can't believe I watch this!) while watching my kids play. They looked ok without the new toy and I started to have a doubt if that was worth it.

Anyway, once the smallest 3 went to sleep, we started assembling it. Both girls looked like they would explode with anticipation. I took some time and had a break to feed Atef and asked the girls to go to bed as they were just fighting not to doze off. I got up again and finished working at 3 am *yawn*

Tada....


Tell me, which girl would not fall for this. And the moms too! It is just like a mini real thing, and the birch and white match the other furniture in our house and the kitchen too. Lovely!

Look at the induction hobs, they are battery-operated. The hobs light up when on. The girls were delighted. Something I would not have if I make it myself. Bea2 is so happy, she said now they have a proper kitchen for their masak-masak and restaurant pretend play;).

Check out the DIY/hack ideas in ikeahacker. If you don't know already, it is an awesome blog originated in Malaysia and started by a Malaysian. This is what I call "Malaysia Boleh", not some 'kuih kapit terpanjang di dunia' and such...hehe!

I'm sure girls (big and small;)) would drool on them especially those in pink. I still think some of them look even better than the piece from Ikea and I also believe Ikea designer got the ideas from there;).

Anyway, I'm glad Ikea has it for sale. It gives a lot less hassle to people like me.

And why there is no mention about the big guy in the family? He is away on a business trip to Bangkok for a week and will be back this evening and be surprised;).

Having said all the above, I admit the play kitchen is more for the mom to relive her childhood;), then again the kids love it to bits. So, it is all worth it! (Ada sikit nak sedapkan hati juga...;)). Preparation for Raya this year will be minimal, for sure.