First Bite!

The above is the bitemark that Ms Piggy got from her classmate! The childcare centre teacher called me and told me about how this incident arised! The best part is Claire wanted to continue playing with this classmate!

For Mum, its "revenge" as Ms Piggy used to bite Mum when Mum refused to give into her demands. The childcare teachers are stunned to know that Claire is a biter!!! Anyway, i told the teachers that its very common among children to act in such a manner!

Some updates of Ms Piggy

Ms Piggy has been in the childcare centre for 2.5 weeks liao. Well, she is doing fine except that she will still cry when she realised that Mum or me will leave her there in the centre.

I had checked with the Principal yesterday on her status being. The Principal told me that the teachers loved to play with her as she is responsive and sometimes, the teachers will "quarrel" with her. I was surprised to know that Claire is chatty in the school but not surprised to know that she loves to disturb people!

Mum witnessed her "harassing" a classmate (a boy) and 2 other classmates of hers were laughing at her antics! There is a possibility in the future that the teachers will call & complain to me about her antics!

Also, due to the change in the new environment, her poo problem came back and one of these nights, she actually can't sleep due to being constipated. Mum had to resort to insert a soap up her butt to enable her to poo! Not to mention that, Claire insisted on Mum accompanying to her sleep but the moment, Mum came over. She refused to sleep and played!

Last nite, I told Mum to endure her cries and true enough, Ms Piggy knew that even by her demand won't be met even by crying. Not long after that, she fell asleep! This gal of mine is so smart... Really knows which buttons to push to get her demands met!

Currently, her fave person is my bro! Bro just came back from Canberra, initially she was shy and once she warmed up to him. She will ask for him! When Mum fetched her from the childcare centre, she asked Mum, "Kaofu leh?" Not to mention, super happy to see Bro coz Bro will play with her!

Ideal situation

In the ideal work situation, there is no politics, colleagues are nice and things are done in the most efficient, effective & economical way.

But it is only an ideal situation.

In the ideal family situation, the parents are loving, the children are well taken care of and there are no in laws issue.

But it is only an ideal situation.

Conclusion, i m dreaming again... *Slaps* Back to reality to test the report again!

KKH Appointment

Yesterday, PK & I took leave to bring Ms. Piggy for her KKH appointment at Clinic K. She was referred to see the Allergy PD. The appointment was at 2.10pm.

We were lucky that we dun have to wait for long and also Claire was asleep then. (At least, both parents can just sit there to wait for the doctor.) It was so kind of E (she works in KKH) to come and chat with us so that we can pass time while waiting for the doctor.

Claire was still asleep when we saw the doctor. She woke up when the Doctor examined her and she was starting to act up but Dr. Anne Goh was patient with her and spoke softly to her. Thus, Ms Piggy did not started her usual wailing when she is at the Doctor. Dr. Goh was surprised to see that Claire's skin is very good for her eczema condition and from the conversation we had with her, Dr. Goh must be thinking, "The parents are definitely too gan cheong."

Dr. Goh sent Piglet for a skin prick test first. For this skin prick test, Claire was to be tested for 14 type of allergies. Boy, how she wailed & howled during the skin prick test and the test was conducted on her back. First, the lady drawn 14 lines on her back and started pricking Claire 14 times. Its as if Claire is having her tattoo! The test results were out 15 minutes later.

We went back to Dr. Goh and this time, Dr. Goh did not think that we are gan cheong parents. From the skin prick test, Claire is allergic to housedust mites and peanuts!!! Dr. Goh ordered for another blood test (more intensive test on peanuts allergy) and skin prick test (to test for other nuts allergy).

So we went to have the 2nd round of skin prick test, this time it was conducted on Ms. Piggy's left hand. It was another struggle to pin her hand down for the test to be conducted. If you had seen the way she cried, it was so scary and heart breaking but we had no choice. After the skin prick test, we had to send her for the blood test.

While waiting for her turn for it, Mum came over and Claire was so happy to see her Popo! I bought Claire inside the room for the nurse to draw her blood. The nurse attempted to coax her to let them draw blood on her left hand but Ms. Piggy wont. She just crossed her arms and looked away from them. I told the nurses that we have to do it by force. Wow, the nurse was utterly stunned by her strength, we all have to pin both her hands down in order for them to draw the blood.

And she was wailing extremely loud, Mum came into the room and she was stretching her hands out for Mum to carry as if Mum is her saviour! Mum pacified her and she was okie after that. She was so happy to wave bye bye to the nurses and she immediately dashed out of the clinic!

Her next appointment at KKH is scheduled in April 2010. I pray that there will be no more such tests. It breaks my heart to see all the needle holes on her hands & back, in total there are 22 holes. 21 due to the skin prick test and 1 for the blood test! No wonder, Dr Chan and Dr Chow did not recommend me to bring her for these tests.... but what to do when we realised that she has such a bad reaction to Peanut butter and we need to find out!

Ms. Piggy in her uniforms!

"PE" attire after their shower at the childcare centre

Yellow, the only colour that suits her to a T!

Decisions, decisions

I had been thinking about a lot of stuff recently, the stuff i thought about is the usual, my family & work.

Family, the need for moving from Redhill to Bedok seems to be more and more obvious. Claire has started her childcare life and the centre is situated a few blocks away from my parents' place. Currently, both of us are staying at my parents' place till Ms. Piggy gets used to childcare life. PK was resistant to the idea of moving to Bedok initially but i highlighted to him about the childcare arrangement and Claire's future education. He has gradually accepted it and due to "face" issues, he has not admitted to me that he is actually tired from all these travelling between Bedok & Redhill.

Myself, I m also tired of the travelling but been telling myself that it is not. As i m afraid that if i admit that it is, i might lose the strength to go on. But I m in a stage of self denial, by admitting it earlier at least, i wont find ways and means to escape from the stress of it! Now, i just have to tell myself that its a temporary situation and it will improve soon!

Work, also dependent on the family factor. I m unhappy in my current working environment as its simply stagnant. No room for growth be it in terms of promotion in duties or pay. If SS will to see this post, she will definitely say, "Hey, i had given you the opportunity but you refused to take it!" My answer, "I had given my feedback to you but with your micro-management style and insecurities, you failed to motivate me to go further. That's your failure and please dun blame it on the company structure!"

Recently, I realised why I m so angry with SS and some of my colleagues. I m happy that I knew the reason and at least, I dun have to carry this toxic feelings inside me. Now, I know that I should just do what is required of me and be open to options, be positive and I m sure better opportunities will come along. Also, at the same time, i must learn how to deal with occassional unreasonable demands/requests from SS, Anna and her gang. By knowing to better deal with them, this will enable me to have a better EQ in handling human relations.

Now, i told myself not to think too much about the future. Just do what is required of me at work, spent more time with my family and improve on the communication channels with PK and also at the same time, if there is any better career opportunities, just go for it... I m sure i will be able to get out from this moody period. That i think will be the best decision.

Childcare!

Finally, Ms Piggy has started her childcare centre life!

Last Tuesday, 1st December 2009 was her 1st day! I took half day leave to send her there and accompanied her. The principal briefed us on the SOP and also manage our expectations of the childcare centre. From this briefing, it seems that a lot of parents actually withdraw their children from NxxC childcare centre & sent them here. (Both centres are separated by just one main road!)

Claire was extremely curious about the childcare centre and she was exploring the centre by walking up and down, looking for things to play with. She literally ignored me and she was happily playing with the toys in the centre.

On the 2nd day, PK took leave to accompany her there. She was clingy to PK, she almost got into a fight with another classmate over toys, not to mention she refused to finish her lunch. She still continue her exploration with the centre by walking up & down. The only time she was ok to be sitting down is during sing song session! Mum told me that she ate a lot when she was back home!

On the 3rd & 4th day, Piglet was extremely clingy to Mum and Mum can only sneak off when she was engrossed with toys or being distracted by food. Mum noticed that there is a classmate of hers that want to make friends with Claire. Her classmate was putting her hand on Claire's shoulders and leading her to play with her!

The teachers had to put 2 chairs near to the entrance to prevent Claire from going out and Ms. Piggy was so happy to see Mum when she came to fetch her home!

Starting from today, we will let her be in the childcare centre for the full day session. Mum told me this morning that Claire was all smiles when she worn her uniform for the first time to school. Mum also mentioned that Ms. Piggy was clingy and Mum can only sneak off when she was distracted by toys. I wonder how Claire will fare today!