The fever hit the baby again and it was quite bad this time. She was behaving unusually quiet while we took a taxi from Genting to Mines Resort. She would usually want to stand or move around in the car, but on that Monday, she was very “obedient” and even fell asleep on the father’s lap.

After checking into the hotel, I tried to feed her lunch, but she didn’t take much. She looked drowsy and was feeling feverish and fell asleep very soon. I wasn’t very worried because another tooth was pushing out of her lower gum; she probably was only running a low grade fever due to teething. But as I was about to take my shower, James was calling out to me, telling me the kid’s body felt like a boiling kettle. Indeed, she was hot. We sent her down to the hotel’s clinic immediately. Her temperature was already 39.7C. The doctor advised us to send her to a paediatrician because the fever was rather high and she didn’t have any prescription for infants.

Luckily the nearest paediatrician was on about 10 mins away by taxi. I was feeling really worried and guilty then. I blamed myself for not dressing her warm enough in Genting, she probably caught a cold. I blamed myself for not picking up her distress earlier. Her feet and hands were icy cold and she was moaning in her sleep, I should have detected these signs. Well, the doctor immediately gave her a suppository to lower her temperature because it was already 40.3C. She was crying so pathetically when we stripped her, poor baby. Later on, the doctor checked her mouth and throat, they were very red and swollen, she must have caught some bug somewhere. The father was the culprit again; he was having flu and probably passed it to her.

The paed seemed a bit reluctant to prescribed antibiotic, but said the baby needed it because her fever was too high. As far as I would like to keep her away from antibiotic, the high temperature told me to listen to the doctor. I would gave her anything to bring down her temperature. The baby was also prescribed some more suppositories, just in case she ran into high fever again in the middle of the night. I kept sponging her head after returning to the hotel. The medicines must be quite potent, her fever lowered and she recovered the next day. Thank goodness I didn’t have to insert another suppository; inserting one into the baby’s rectum seems to be a very daunting task.

One thing reasurring about that pead is that the clinic operates long hours, from 8.30am to 10pm, with no closing/resting hours in between. No wonder the doctor told us to bring the baby back anytime if neccessary, maybe he just lives around the corner. Next time, I must be better prepared on holiday trips outside Singapore. Must be well equipped with thermometer, medicines, byebye fever sheet. And also, must qurantine the father whenever he is sick.

Again, we returned by the night train, but all tickets for the sleeper was taken. We could only get seating tickets on the extra train to Singapore; else we have to stay one more day. I was already quite bored in KL, and the baby had finished all her baby cereal. Since the ticket lady assured us the first class seat is comfortable and can recline, I decided to try the seating train back.

The seat was indeed much bigger and more spacious then the normal seat. Even the floor was carpeted. But the air con was freezing cold, and the stupid hand rest between the two seats cannot be lifted. Five months ago, I had no problem nursing the baby on the train, but now she has grown much bigger, the hand rest was really getting in the way for a nursing mom.

I thought I could get some sleep while carrying the baby. It turned out to be quite impossible. I couldn’t cradle her because of the hand rest. If I hold her parallel to my body, my legs would be so uncomfortable it became numb very soon. Luckily the carriage was quite empty; we managed to turn around the seats in front and rested my legs on it. Finally got to close my eyes for a while at around 3pm.

I am not going to take the seating night train again. The sleeper is definitely much more comfortable.

We are finally back this morning. Tired, but very glad to be back home. I have only known of the devastating tsunami tragic when I reached the Mines Resort at KL, after gaining access to news channel like the BBC World and the local newspaper.

It was most heart wrenching reading about how a father only managed to save his wife and his one year old baby, while loosing another five children when the tidal wave hit them during their pinic at a Penang beach. Another father told the miracle story of his 20 days old baby saved by the floating mattress she was on. Then there was this teary eye Hong Kong woman sobbing in guilt because she almost made her two girls back home orphans by taking a holiday in Phuket. She and the husband was found drifting in sea for about six hours and were almost drowned.

So many sad stories, so many children became orphans. I have also learnt that one of the tuition teachers who taught me was also unaccounted for in Phuket. I have suggested taking a beach resort holiday at Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Langka or Langkawi. I am thankful that we chose the much more boring Genting and KL in the end. Praying for more miracles.

We arrived in Genting without any unwanted hiccups. The baby was extremely cooperative, she didn’t poo on her way and she didn’t cry for food either. I only nursed her when she got a bit restless and she seemed satisfied. And I also managed to get my Ramly burger, but it didn’t seemed to be as tasty anymore.

I had a terrible shocked when I stepped into the First World Hotel, there were people everywhere. As we made our way to Resort Hotel, there were more people jostling to get around. At the Resort Hotel lobby, the whole floor area is packed with hotel guest waiting to check into their rooms. We had to get a number and wait for our turn to check in! We returned an hour later after lunch and it wasn’t our turn yet! Gosh, I think checking in here is as tedious as waiting to see the doctors in SGH specialist clinics.
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We will be leaving tomorrow morning at 6.30am. We are not taking the night train like we did the last time, I am going to miss the comfy sleeper and endure the supposed “gold class” seat which I am not going to pin too much hope on.

We will be taking a coach straight up to Genting. My concern now is what to do if the baby poo during the bus ride. The stinko smell is going to suffocate everyone on the bus. I have done some scenario planning. I will ripped off her diaper at the fastest speed possible, with James holding on the her and immobilising her, then quickly gives her bums a few wet wipes, dump the soiled diaper into a Ziploc bag and seal in the smell. Seems to be a workable plan. Actually, I am hoping she doesn’t poo at all. I am also thinking about her meal. I wonder if I am able to fix her cereal on the bus and feed it to her successfully without creating a mess. It was so much easier during the last trip when she could just survive drinking milk.

Well, anyway, we will see how it goes. I am looking forward to some authentic Ramly burger on way. Wonder if it is available during day time.

We are going to Genting Highland and then to Mines resort tomorrow. I am so excited about it. I was excited yesterday because I have reasons to go shopping for some impractical new clothes for the baby. Now I am still excited because I can’t wait to let her put on those new clothes.

I know Genting’s climate is not that cooling anymore with the crazy numbers of casino goers and holiday makers packed up there, especially during holiday super peak season, but I suppose it would feel somewhat like being in an aircon room. I have been eyeing on those long sleeves, oh so sweet and demure looking girlie dress sets from Mothercare since Yauyau was swimming inside me. Only the stupid weather of our sunny island prevented me from getting them.

Though we will only be in Genting for two and a half days, I don’t care, must go and get them. Oh dear, Mothercare is having a very attractive sale, how I wished our trip is a thirty days trip to Japan, then I could just grabbed any pieces that I set my eyes on.

Merry Christmas everybody.

James and I watched Super Size Me about a month ago. Although the “stuffed me fat with McDonalds” process was not as exaggerating as I have imagined, nevertheless, we went through a few days of detox programme consisting of mainly plain water, fruits, vegetables, wholemeal bread and healthy home cook dinner.

I don’t eat fast food often, only once or twice a month, most of the times KFC or pizza, thought I love McSpicy from McDonalds. After watching the show, I decided that under no circumstances I am going to introduce fast food or any other junk food to the kid in future. Ok, that probably won’t work, I shall delay the introduction as long as I could and limit the intake vigilantly.

It was also very wrong of me to think that most Singapore parents are health conscious when it comes to their kids. The McDonalds and KFC across the street are always pack with families dumping burgers, fries and soft drinks into their mouth. I hope they don’t do it often. I still remember my overweight students panting breathlessly and sweating like nobody’s business after their Trim and Fit programme (aka TAF, really tough for them), they were those who drank soft drinks and ate fried chicken wings all the time.

Anyway, back to the main story. I was at Jacqueline’s daughter, Ashley’s first birthday party last Sunday with my baby. There was this very adorable looking girl, about 2 years old, eating beehoon and cleaning the meat off a chicken wing. My first impression was that she must be a very good eater being able to take adult food. Then, one Aunty started to distribute potato chips, and the girl happily ate them one after another. The parents looked on as happily as the girl. I was around, and Yauyau was offered a piece too. Phew! Luckily she got only one tooth so I didn’t need to invent any excuses to decline the good intention. And Dory, luckily you didn’t left your Ryan with that Aunty; else he would be savoring chips too.

Then Ashley was offered one. The parents were busy entertaining other guest, so she happily took the chip and went munching away. You should look at the thick layer of orange coloured powdery seasoning coating the chip. How many kids would resist that kind of taste! When Jac discovered what had happened, it was too late, Ashley almost finished the treat. Upon seeing Jac getting so worked up over a tiny piece of chip, the Aunty quickly commented that it won’t kill the baby. Then she pointed to the other girl and praised her parents for letting her eat everything, chicken wing, chocolate, soft drinks, fried noodles, sweet, chips, anything the adults take. The ultimate wisdom was “must let the children eat everything, especially the sweet and the salty food, so that the sugar and the salt will go into the bones and strengthen their bones!” Reason? “Last time parents where got restrict this restrict that, the children everything also eat what, all so healthy.”

Allo auntie, I really don’t know where you get those ideas from. When I was a kid, I ate everything, but junk food weren’t available to me readily, so my everything consists of mainly fresh food and plain water. Sugar and salt don’t strengthen the bones like what you thought. Overload the kid’s body with them, plus the artificial colouring, preservative, MSG, chemicals and other load of shit, you are paving the road for the organs to go on strike one day. We parents should be cultivating healthier eating habits to the kids. I really wonder why some parents would want to dump rubbish into their children on a regular basis. I know occasional treat won’t hurt, but with so many varieties out there, a new junky treat a day means a new trashy food into their system everyday forever.

She must have thought she is a dog lately. She has been playing doggie since the day I scratched her. Always biting on an object, especially the rubber foam thing, and move around the house, as if fetching an item for me.

She digs her head into the bed or under the pillows and looks like she wants to do a head stand. Maybe I made her watched too much gymnastic with me during the Olympic Games and she aspires to be one. Also looks like she is trying to do a break dancing head spin. Whatever, I am fine with it, as long as she doesn’t break her neck.

After seeing the adults using the phone for 10 months, she wants to act adult and uses the phone too. However, she always places the speaking end of the handset on her ear and says “ahhoo” into the air. I hope the cable won’t strangle her.

I got her a walking stick from Felicia. For $12, I thought it is a steal. But I find this upright walker a bit too lightweight, and the wheels are slightly loose and unstable. Hence, the kid isn’t able to push it forward slowly in a straight path. However, the buttons on the front play a lot of music and the blinky lights simply fascinates Yauyau.

I have tried the one from Little Tikes at Dory’s place; it has much bigger, heavier and stable wheels. I can feel the weight stabilizing the “walking” baby. The higher price really meant a better product.

I am feeling very sick today. Nausea, gassiness, headache, aching body and fainting spell. Absolutely no appetite for any food and no strength to entertain the baby. Luckily I could easily call for reinforcement, and got Indar to come over immediately to look after the kid while I get myself on total bed rest. I thought I would be better by evening time, but I am still feely queasy now. The people at home were speculating that I am having morning sickness, and were rather excited about it. No, I don’t think so, though the sick feeling is exactly the same like what I felt when I was having morning sickness last year.

Got to get more rest now. I have great plans for shopping and exibition trip this week, must get well by tomorrow.