Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The Purpose of Memoirs of Dr Cabokia

Memoirs of Dr Cabokia was born on Wednesday, July 19, 2006. It was previously known as Memoirs of Doctor Cabokia.

Finally, after months of procrastination, I upgraded my template. I upgraded Jordan’s blog first because it has fewer components. I thought that it will be troublesome to upgrade but to my surprise it was really simple. I saved a copy of the old template first in Word. Then, I selected a new template. Then, I added the new components. Finally, I copied the additional HTML code part by part from the previous template, and added them to the new template. Today, I upgraded 2 templates – mine and Seng Chor’s. Woohoo!

According to “The birth of Blog”, an article in theSun on Monday, 14 April 2008, a geek called Peter Merholz gave birth to the word “blog” nine years ago. Believe it or not - It seems that the word blog derived from the phrase “boring as a log”. Whatever it means, my blog has a purpose.

My passion for journaling has mooted the creation for this blog. At that time, I have just completed my PhD and I have time to spare for blogging. My desire was to share both my joy and heartaches as I journeyed through my PhD and as a mother to a baby who is now a handsome toddler. This blog is also one of the ways I could reach out to the younger generation, who I interact with day after day. Most of all, I want to share how God has blessed me and what I’ve learnt in life, and to channel that blessings and experiences to all that I know and love.

Ultimately, the purpose of Memoirs of Dr Cabokia is to
GLORIFY GOD
!

When baby cries…

Each time a toddler hollers, should a new parent immediately attend to him or just ignore the crying?

By Rachel Goodchild

NOBODY likes to listen to a baby crying. And there is nothing more worrying for a new mom or dad when this happens and they don’t know why. As a new parent, you will find everybody has their way of dealing with a crying baby, and if you listen to everybody, you will end up doing nothing.

The reality is that babies cry, and there are a lot of reasons for their crying. When babies are newborn, they have no other way of communicating to you. If they have a need, they cry. You will learn mainly through trial and error in these early days, the different sounds of your baby crying and what that means.

But when you first hear your baby crying, you might want to panic, but do stay calm and remember they are getting your attention in the only way they can. It might be their diaper needs to be changed, and that will be easy to spot and then to rectify. Or it might be they are hungry. Again, try feeding them, and see if that stops the crying.

It might be they are either too hot or too cold, or even that they just want a good cuddle. Babies love attention, but there are times when too much attention will make them start crying again.

It is fine balancing act at these times to know what to do.

There will be times when your baby has colic and this will cause them to cry, but the crying tends to be high pitched, which might alert you to the problem. They might also raise their legs and become very red in the face. Another clue, to tell you the crying is from colic, is that it can happen at the same time day after day.

But what other causes for a crying baby, and how do you know what to do when everything you have tried has failed? Babies seem to know when a parent is anxious, and they will keep crying even though the problem has been dealt with. It is never easy, but you should try and relax when your baby starts to cry. Instead of thinking about the noise they are making, think about how they are talking to you, and they want you to meet their needs.

As your baby gets older, you will soon recognize the differences in their crying. You will know when they are just after attention, or even they are bored. This is the time to put a few toys in easy reach of them, so they can play quietly in their crib.

Your baby is also learning all the time they are crying. They know what your reaction is likely to be, and when they get older, they will try and manipulate the situation.

At this stage, when they want attention, they want it this minute. Two minutes is too long, and if you start to give in to them at this stage, you will find that those cries quickly turn to tantrums. You also need to remember you are the parent in this family, and you as the adult will make the decision.

the art of parenting
theSun
Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Don’t Tell Lies

Parents should help their teen tell the truth at all times – but only by walking the talk and by being a role model themselves.

By Rachel Goodchild

Your child is now growing up fast, and has reached those teen years. You have heard all the stories about what teens get involved in, or you might even remember your teen years. The question is, how do you get your teen to tell the truth?

To really answer the question, you need to stop and see what your child has learnt these past years. During all these years your child will be learning by what they see, not just by what you tell them.

Think back for a moment, to those times when your children asked you difficult question, and you didn’t want to answer and brushed them off saying: “I will tell you later”. Later came and went but the answer was not forthcoming. Or the time when you were busy, and they wanted you to help them, but you told them, ok, when you’ve finished your job. Then, when the job is finished, you were now too tired to help them as promised. Or that other time, when you promised to take them on that special trip and something happened and the trip didn’t take place.

Do you see what has happened during these years? Your child has learnt that you can say one thing, and mean something totally different. They have also learnt that your word means nothing.

Children learn their lessons by example, and even though you tell them to be truthful, if they are seeing something totally different, they will be thinking, “Why? Why should I have to tell the truth, when my parents and other adult relatives don’t.”

It might be a case of you telling them not to smoke, and the dangers of smoking but you continue to smoke in front of them. They will be wondering if it is that bad, then, why you are still doing it?

When you are encouraging your teen to tell the truth, you find it starts in their early years of development. A child might be disappointed if you can’t keep a promise, but they will often not forget it. If your child knows that mom and dad keep their promises, and that whatever they say will happen, you will find children less likely to lie to you when they are a teenager.

If you find that you can’t keep a promise, or if you do something wrong, then sit your child down, and explain it to them. You might be surprised by their reaction. But, you will also find that as a teen, they will be able to look back at that situation, and think it’s OK, I can talk to my parents about what I did, because they won’t judge me, but they will help and encourage me.

The best advice to give any parent is to start to tell your child the truth from the beginning. Let them not only hear you talking the talk, but also see you walking the walk. Be the example you want them to follow, otherwise you might find your teen is stretching the truth, to cover what they have done.

the art of parenting
theSun
Tuesday, January 15, 2008

I miss him tremendously…

Seng Chor and I will be leaving for Redang late tomorrow afternoon. Without telling me, Seng Chor placed Jordan at the babysitter tonight. I almost cried when he told me this after work. I won’t be able to hug and kiss him before I leave tomorrow. I will miss his bugging at night. No one asking for “Green apple” or “Strawberry” vitamin. No one requesting to watch, “Thomas”. No more mess tonight.

I couldn’t resist it. I called him at the babysitter and talked to him. This was the first time I talked to him on the phone. He has a sweet and gentle voice. He called, “Mummy” many times. Then, I explained to him that, “Daddy and Mummy will be going to Redang”. I also told him that we will see him on Monday. Whether he understands or not is not important. The important thing is that I have communicated that with him. It may sound funny but I felt that I should tell him that we will be going away.

Today, I bought him a Mini Cooper toy car. He has a red coloured Mini Cooper toy car which my sis gave him for Christmas. The one I bought is dark green and much smaller. I won’t be able to give it to him until Monday.

Throughout the phone call just now, the babysitter taught him what to say. Towards the end, Jordan wished, “Good night, Mummy” and “Bye-bye Mummy”. I had tears in my eyes as I said, “I love you, Jordan”.

Korean Drama Series

It’s unbelievable that I still have time for drama series these days. My sister, brother and I completed 30 episodes of Lovers last weekend. We started the Marathon on Friday night – just sis and I. My brother joined us the next day and Sunday. I didn’t watch every single episode. My sister did. I was babysitting Jordan at the same time. I slept after 1 am during the 3 nights.

The Plot - Lovers
Kang Jae is a wealthy businessman and gangster and Mi Joo is a plastic surgeon. These two meet after Mi Joo mistakens Kang Jae as being her sleazy brother-in-law. Kang Jae just happens to be the boyfriend of Mi Joo's pregnant neighbor, Yoo Jin. Sae-yeon meets Mi-Joo and falls in love with her feisty attitude. Kang-Jae works for the father of Sae-Yeon who is a gangster. Mi-Joo and Kang-Jae fall in love.

Genre
DramaComedy MelodramaRomance Romantic comedy

Extracted from Lovers

More photos from here

Lovers is one of most romantic drama series I have ever watched. The main actor Lee Seo Jin (Kang-Jae) is ruggedly handsome. It was an unlikely romance between Kang-Jae and Mi-Joo (Kim Jung Eun), where their differences both driving them apart and pulling them inexorably back together. Obviously, I can’t understand Korean. Their face expressions are enough to touch my heart and cause tear to flow. I love the parts when the couple often seems to bump onto each other at the right time and the right place. It’s simply romantic.


Ruggedly Handsome Lee Seo Jin



Kim Jung Eun and Lee Seo Jin



One of Kang-Jae's bodyguards - Cool, eh?


The first Korean Drama Series that I’ve watched is “All About Eve”, and it was also introduced by my sis. I love it very much. It was super romantic, and the main actor Jang Dong Gun is super handsome. I wouldn’t mind watching all the 20 episodes again.

The Plot – All About Eve
Sun Mi Jin (Park Chae Rim) is a lovely college student who lives with her wealthy widowed father. She has a happy childhood with her sort-of-boyfriend Woo Jin (Han Jae Suk). Life changes radically for Sun Mi when her father decides to support Young Mi Huh (Kim So Yeon), a beautiful girl the same age as Sun Mi.

Young Mi suddenly becomes an orphan when her father, an alcoholic who frequently abused her, dies in an accident while working for Mr. Jin's construction company. Young Mi has grown up in poverty, but she is not a humble person. She's arrogant, greedy and full of resentment. She envies Sun Mi for all she is and has, even Woo Jin's love.

Young Mi becomes Sun Mi's rival in every aspect of her life. First, Young Mi steals Woo Jin from Sun Mi, then tries to take over her job at a very important TV network and finally puts her eyes on Sun Mi's new boyfriend, Hyong Chul (Jang Dong Gun) one of the network's top executives, whom Sun Mi met during a trip to London. But Hyong Chul's love for Sun Mi is stronger than Young Mi's estimation. Meanwhile Woo Jin suffers of a broken heart as Young Mi makes his life miserable and finally dumps him so she can chase Hyong Chul.

The climax of the plot comes when a former lover of Young Mi appears and threatens to reveal her deepest secret should she not return to him: a dark past as a prostitute. Since the mischievous gangster did not succeed in his attempts, he decides to kill Young Mi. Woo Jin dies while saving her life. However, all of Young Mi's treachery is exposed and she attempts to commit suicide, but her efforts are frustrated when she is found unconscious by a group of nuns on the shore of the Han River. When Young Mi wakes up she suffers amnesia and has lost almost all memory of her past.

The drama ends with a happy reconciliation between Young Mi and Sun Mi, who cries beside Young Mi asking forgiveness for the misunderstanding between them since they met. Finally Hyong Chul swears eternal love and proposes to Sun Mi right in the middle of a street.

Extracted from Wikipedia – All About Eve


Jang Dong Gun
More photos of Jang Dong Gun here

Monday, April 28, 2008

8th Swimming Lesson

I started swimming in December 2007. I remember making good progress after the second lesson – I could float, and move forward with and without the float. I was overjoyed. Unfortunately, I didn’t progress much after that. My performance seemed to degrade in the 3rd and 4th lessons. I began to be more fearful. In my 5th lesson, I noted in my journal that I managed 3 strokes without the float. It was a small achievement.

The 6th and 7th lessons were almost one month apart. I was struggling with my hands and legs coordination. My coach, Jason was encouraging and said that the coordination has improved- perhaps slightly. The kicks were much stronger and my body on the surface was straight. I still couldn’t coordinate the breathing.

Last Saturday was my 8th swimming lesson. I was really excited about it. After work (KBU had a Mini Open Day), I went home, packed and headed towards the club. Thank God that it didn’t rain. I didn’t know what to expect. I just followed instructions and watched the kids who were much ahead of me in their progress. I was reminded of the statement “I can do ALL things through Christ”. Yes, indeed God has helped me.

When Jason asked me to try to move towards him WITHOUT the float, I panicked. I have been holding onto the float for the past few lessons. My heart was beating really fast each time I tried. There was a mix feeling – excited and scared. To my surprise, I could do it, and each time I managed a longer distance. Jason kept on saying, “Don’t worry. I’ll be in front of you.” He was really encouraging and kept on saying, “Good.”

The next instruction seems like an impossible task for me – Move my hands. I was doubtful of my own ability. The first few attempts were disastrous. But yet, Jason said it was a good try. I managed bit by bit. First, only the right hand. Then, Jason said that I was actually ready to move the left hand. In the second, trial, I did. Woohoo! I moved right, and followed by left and I didn’t even fall into the pool. When I first moved my right hand, I felt that I was falling but then, I could focus on the kicking and continue to move. Even though I didn’t manage to ‘draw big circles’ with my hands, it was still cool.

I swam towards Seng Chor and Jordan, and both of them clapped their hands. It was another milestone in my swimming. It’s a miracle!

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Avoiding Stress with Jordan

For me to get a better sleep, the best way is for Seng Chor to take Jordan to bed first. Then, Jordan won’t bug me. Seng Chor and I agreed on this arrangement quite some time ago, and we have practiced this numerous times. Sometimes, Jordan would request me to sleep on the bed. Sometimes, I want to try to sleep early but fail most of the time due to the constant ‘bullying’ by Jordan. Last Thursday, I was really tired. After settling down Jordan with Seng Chor, I went downstairs to sleep on the sofa. I couldn’t remember what time I woke up to go upstairs – probably after midnight. Both father and son were sound asleep.

The next morning, Seng Chor told me that Jordan bugged him twice. Jordan called, “Daddy, Daddy” few times. Twice, Seng Chor replied him, “Do not disturb. Daddy wants to sleep.” After the second time, Jordan didn’t bother Seng Chor anymore and slept on his own. For the past few nights, I have pushed the sofa next to my side of the bed so that Jordan doesn’t fall off the bed. Jordan likes to sleep on my pillow.

Last night, I watched a Korean series with my sister until 1 am plus. Tonight, I decided to update my blog while Seng Chor and Jordan sleep first. There were occasions that Jordan was still wide awake when I went upstairs even after midnight. Seng Chor would be snoozing happily already. Well, then just have to practice patience with Jordan, and entertain him until he knocks off.

Seng Chor and I have planned to get Jordan a single bed soon. It will be placed next to our bed. We will train him to sleep on the single bed, and not to cross over. Hopefully, this will help 3 of us to sleep better.

It’s 12:40 am now. Seng Chor and Jordan should be sleeping by now. Time for me to zzzzzzz too.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Origami Earrings


These Origami Earrings are handmade by my church member, Charmaine. Our church is selling them to raise fund for our annual Family Camp. I bought these 3 sets. Aren't they lovely?

Crown Princess


Crane (sisters)


Blue Fan and Kimono

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Taking a step is life

By Oh Lien Chai

Life turns like a hand flipping through a page. Each page has its own life, its own part to tell that flows within the story. Like art, it takes time, thought, and most of all, effort. But like all famous pieces of art, a painting must finish, just like a story ends and so does the book close with a “happily ever after” as they say. The memory and final moments resound in the minds of those who read the story, many forgotten its path, yet few hold dear to this small treasure. The figment of appreciation fades, just like a story.

The writer sits in his living room, his face creased as he frowned in thought. Gently rising from his perch like an old soul, he ambulates towards his study. Upon resting on his low teak stool, he took up his quill and hesitated for a while. His quill was poised and ready to begin another epic journey with just a flick of a wrist, and yet strangely enough, his hand froze, dead in its tracks. Within the writer’s mind, his thoughts were a little wild. They say that’s the key to write a good story or make a piece or art, be crazy. And so, shrugging aside his doubts for writing this particular story on paper, a truth was told.

* * * * *

Razen could not have asked for a better day, the sky’s hue was particularly inspiring for some reason, yet bringing forth a sense of serenity and continuation. The birds were chirping, and it suited his mood. He was on his bed, with his companion, Seryn. She smiled as she woke only to find her love. “Good morning”. “Mornin’ to you too, my dear.

Did you sleep well?” “Well enough, to wake up to reality I’m afraid. I can’t believe we’re finally married!” she exclaimed. “You know, amidst that negative aura both our parents had when we told them, I can almost feel their blessing.” Razen said almost wistfully.

“You can’t blame them; we booked a flight to…some kind of island and a few other weird places for our honeymoon. We practically left them stunned, and now that we’re back after our trip, it’s time to grow up,” she said with a smile. Razen said nothing in reply, for he knew that that wasn’t the most responsible thing a man should do, nor should a man run away from his family. It was a crazy 3 month honeymoon. It was all ‘his’ idea after all. They first went to an exotic place in the Southeast Asia region, Pangkor Laut Island.

Beautiful was a word too small to describe the enormity and wonder that is Pangkor Laut. Aside the clear white sands, the sea’s untainted waters are a sight to behold these days, as most are polluted and dirt brown. Facility wise, it was loaded. We practically tried a few things we’ve never done before, like snorkelling and diving. It also had the usual run-of-the-mill stuff, like any sensible RM1000 a night place should have, tennis courts, five delicious restaurants, beautiful views from your room, and most importantly, prevailing breezes and clear blue skies perfect for kiting.


Our one month there was heaven. The timing couldn’t have been better. We arrived mid May and left before the mid semester break hit the shores. “Thinking of Pangkor Laut only makes me feel like going back there,” Razen said, speaking his mind. “What was that Raze?” “Nothing I’d like to share with you dear,” Razen said cheekily.

Seryn pouted, “Spoilsport!” “Aw, don’t be like that baby,” said Razen as he embraced from behind. “Don’t be mad dear,” Razen whispered gently to her left ear. Seryn smiled inwardly as she felt like she just won a little trophy. She had always enjoyed playing with her husband, and he’d always resolve most of their little arguments and disagreements with surprising sensitivity and intuitiveness. She remembered once he travelled one hour to buy her favourite food, came back, quickly purchased a rose and presented it to her. “Sigh, what was is past,” she thought. “Now is now, and I love now”. Though she secretly loved her husband’s new found tactic to their game, she was very sure that Razen knew how much she loved it. She turned and said softly, “Don’t let me go”.

“Never” he replied, equally gentle. They continued gazing at each other, taking in a full appreciation of each other’s eyes and their longing for each other. Raze never felt so happy in his life. 5 years ago, he would never had thought to settle down, but now, looking at his beautiful, understanding wife, he couldn’t let slip this one. He needed her. He never realised how fast time could fly but whenever they were spending time together, time just loses its significance and it was as if time suddenly upped it’s paced and travelled several hours at a time. He still remembered when he first saw her; he stared at her for a full 10 seconds before his friend promptly reminded him that drooling was not very attractive.

He laughed softly and suddenly, but was disturbed by a ring tone. “Hello? Oh, Morning mom! Yup, we’re coming. Yes, we’re late, we know, we know! Just give us 20 more minutes to play and we’ll be right over.” She looked knowingly at her husband as she said the last sentenced and closed her phone. He looked away, feeling slightly guilty. “Let’s go, better not keep your parents waiting. Besides, I’ll need my wits about me when dealing with your parents, and you steal all intelligence out of me.” She laughed and slapped his arm in way of revenge, just out of habit.

They got into their car and drove off towards town. “A beautiful Saturday morning,” Seryn thought. “Raze, what do you want to eat today?” “I don’t know Ryn. I kind of have appetite only for you this morning.” He looked at her and smiled. “You better not be so naught…AHHHH!” Glassed shattered, and the loud, horrible sound of metal crushing and smashing into each other couldn’t have been more sickening. The day ended with sirens coming from afar.

* * * * *

The day was bleak, as all days should be when the sky gave a dark, gloomy overcast. The hint of rain was inevitable, yet, almost fitting for the event of the day. Most attendants were sombre and melancholy, many related to both sides of the family. Only one was not crying. Only one looked pale and weary. No one said much to comfort Razen, for he himself believed he was beyond helped. The day seemed so long, and he was tired. He lost much sleep over the past nights; the recurring nightmare did little to help his slumber.


He looked up, trying to imagine what he should have been doing today. “A day with Ryn…” he said with a sigh. He clutched he arm, felt the sting as his arm was still badly cut and broken. The doctor told him he was lucky, only a few deep cuts to his leg, arms. His left arm in particular was broken, and required months to heal. The minister started his preaching, sermon or whatever he was suppose to say. He couldn’t care less. He left first, just after the minister finished, wanting to avoid any conversation at all.

He looked up again as he stood in the garden of his house. The look of horror his wife had before she died flashed before his mind. He braved a step. Then another. But his mind was long gone. His heart bereft of something precious. As he began to stride, he knew each step was pointless, for he was lost, frozen and fallen. He knew his steps from here onward did not move forward.

* * * * *

The writer stopped his wrist. As tears stained the clear white paper, the ink began to smudge and dirty its immaculate surface. It was done. He had braved his fears. He stood up to grab some tissue to wipe his tears and stopped as he saw a couple of photo frames on the mantelpiece. He picked one that had his wife kissing him. He sighed deeply, for it took him 30 years to get over her and in those 30 years, he suffered silently, each moment dreadful, painful. “30 long years, and I’ve been a fool” he thought to himself.

He realised now that his grief has been foolish, unnecessary. Avoidance and fear of facing his past had locked common sense away. But now he had found the key, “more like, written the key,” he thought. He glanced once more at the pictures, then, towards his ink smudged papers where “the key” was. He laughed suddenly. He had forgotten the most important part of the story. He picked up his quill again and scribbled, Life turns like a hand flipping through a page. Each page has its own life, its own part to tell that flows within the story. Like art, it takes time, thought, and most of all, effort. But like all famous pieces of art, a painting must finish, just like a story ends and so does the book close with a “happily ever after” as they say.

And so, I lived happily ever after.


(Submitted to the MPH Young Writers 2006 contest)

Sunburn, Genting, and Patience with Jordan

Good news
After missing my swimming lessons for 3 weeks, I finally got to swim last Saturday. Seng Chor and I arrived at the club at 8 am. Jordan was at the babysitter. We waited for the rest of the divers until almost 8:30 am. While 4 of them including the instructor dived and ‘rescued’ each other on the other side of the pool, I swam. I started swimming about 9 am, and showered at around 2 pm. In between, I had breaks including lunch.

Bad News
I got sunburn on my back. I applied sun block on my face, hands and legs but I forgot about my back. My back and shoulders were rather painful the next day. It’s better now. Seng Chor got sunburn on his head because he has shaved his head. Hehehe!

Another Bad News
Even though I was swimming for about half a day, I still didn’t improve much. Sigh. I can float. I still use the float to move forward. My hands and legs are not coordinating. I tried but the moment I started to move my hands, my legs seemed to kick less, and I would sink. The breathing part is poor too. It’s worse because of my runny nose and blocked nose. I feel like giving up, and moreover, I don’t need to know swimming to learn diving. On the other hand, I am also thinking of getting a personal instructor to help me. This month, I am able to attend only one lesson. Hopefully, it doesn’t rain this Saturday evening. Well, just see whether I can progress further after this round.

Genting
After showering at the club, we picked Jordan from the babysitter. Then, we went home to pack. It was almost 5 pm before we left Genting to join the rest of the Teoh family members.

It was a good reunion. I haven’t seen one of the cousins from Johor for a few years. There were altogether 28 of us:

1) Seng Chor
2) Cabokia
3) Jordan
4) Pa-in-law
5) Ma-in-law
6) Huey Pin (sister-in-law)
7) Danny (Huey Pin’s hubby)
8) Jeffrey (Huey Pin’s son)
9) Li San (sister-in-law)
10) Tua Pek (Eldest uncle)
11) Tua Um
12) Kang Wei (cousin)
13) Tua Ko (Eldest aunt)
14) Ling Ling (cousin)
15) Ling Ling’s husband
16) Sa ko (Third aunt)
17) Uncle Wong
18) Christine Wong (cousin)
19) Fatty (Christine W’s hubby)
20) Nicholas (Christine’s son)
21) Tony (cousin)
22) Uncle Tong
23) Ming Wei (cousin)
24) Ming Wei’s girlfriend
25) Xian Chek (youngest uncle)
26) Xian Sim
27) Li Yuan (cousin)
28) Li Chen (cousin)

Disappointments
I was a bit disappointed that we didn’t take Jordan to the Theme Park. He had 3 indoor rides – that’s it. Hopefully, we can spend more time as a family next time.

I felt rather stressful actually. Before the trip, I kept telling myself to enjoy my time with Jordan. I know that I would have to take care of him full-time in Genting. I need lots and lots of patience. Unfortunately, I lost my temper with him on Saturday night when he refused to sleep. I think I smacked him almost 10 times during the period of 1 and a half hours. Smacked, cried, then up he went again. I was so tired after the swimming and my back was aching. It was so frustrating indeed. Finally, probably about midnight, he finally quiet down, and lied down on the bed.

Screaming Monday
It was before 10:30 pm when I asked him to go upstairs. Everyone was already upstairs. I switched off the lights in the living room. He refused to go up. I scolded him. He almost reached the room, when he wanted to go downstairs again. I scolded him loudly, and dragged him to the room, and put him inside the cot as a punishment. Then, immediately I went downstairs, leaving him with Seng Chor. I needed to cool down. I tidied up his toys. He was still crying when I went up – it was about 5 minutes. He threw all the toys out from the cot, sat at a corner. He didn’t want me to touch me. I said sorry to him few times and tried to carry him. Eventually, he allowed me to carry him. I almost cried too. After awhile, he calmed down.

Super patient Tuesday
Last night, I was super patient with him after screaming at him quiet badly on Monday night. About 10 pm, I took him upstairs. He washed up, drank his milk and watched Thomas for awhile. We turned off the lights at around 10:30 pm. He didn’t want to sleep yet. He was gathering all his pillows, bolsters and napkins together. Each time something dropped, he would ask me to pick it up. He didn’t allow me to sleep at the side, and kept asking me to move. There was anger inside of me boiling. I tried to reason with him. I told him nicely to sleep and lie down. It didn’t work. I ignored him. It didn’t work as well because he kept asking me to move and pick up things for me. He also kept asking me to roll up the napkins. It was supposed to be his ‘trains’. He would say, “Mummy fix Thomas”, “Mummy fix Percy”, “Mummy fix Toby”, “Mummy fix Rheneas”. It was non stop until almost midnight. I almost smacked him. Seng Chor woke up a few times to scold him, but Jordan just ignored him, or replied, “Don’t want”. Eventually, he grew tired, I guess and he lied down quietly, and slept.

Throughout the 2 hours, I was really helpless. I didn’t know what to do. Smack? Scold? Reason with him? I know that I shouldn’t smack him or scold him. Reasoning doesn’t seem to work. Ignoring him also didn’t work. All I did was complying with all his demands with extreme patience until he knocked out. This is not the first incident. It has happened many times, and probably many more to come. Any good advice?

Genting Trip and Paris (Photos)


Highlands Hotel Room



Dinner at Genting Restaurant



Dinner at New Paris Restaurant, SS2

Monday, April 21, 2008

"Rescue Diver" at KGNS


Last Saturday (19 April 2008), Seng Chor and his friends had the practical session for the Rescue Diver certification at the Golf Club (KGNS - Kelab Golf Negara Subang). He has learned so many skills. Hopefully, he can share some in his blog. I find it really cool. I learned bits and pieces as I took breaks from my swimming to watch them. I was swimming in the other end of the pool - 1.2 m, whereas their end is 3.1 m deep.

They need to do more practical work in Redang and take the exam in May. I will be joining them again in Redang - 1 May to 4 May 2008. That’s when Seng Chor will become a certified Rescue Diver. It will be just the beginning of diving for me.

Ladies Discipleship Cell – “Popiah Nite”

The Ladies Discipleship Cell (LDC) in my church meets every fortnight on a Thursday, 8 pm. We are currently doing the Bible study “Believing God” by Beth Moore.

“Originating from a concept introduced in Isaiah 43:10, Believing God examines what it means to believe God rather than only believe in Him. We study the lives of Abraham and others from Hebrews 11 as examples of people who believed God. This study parallels a personal journey Beth took in coming to understand what it means to believe God.”

Last Thursday, 17 April 2008, the ladies (14 altogether) met at Chooi Kuan’s home for dinner cum review. We had popiah for main course and peach crumble (by Helen) for dessert. I can’t remember how many popiah I ate – either 3 or 4, but small ones. The fillings included lettuce, raddish, fried egg, french beans, taugeh, prawn, Chinese sausage, fried onion, prawn, shrimp, fried bean curd, cucumber, and sauce (chilli or sweet sauce). I may have left out some of the ingredients.

It was awesome. All the ladies thoroughly enjoyed it. We even have fun comparing the sizes of the popiahs we made. Some look so huge that it’s unbelievable that our dear friend could eat it. The last one she had actually torn and she had to add another popiah skin to cover it. Amazing! I counted, she ate 4! Guess who?

How to make the popiah:
i) Spread the popiah skin with some sauce. I don’t take chili sauce, so I just spread it with sweet sauce. Initially, I put too much and it was too salty. If you prefer salty, then you can add more.
ii) Next, place the lettuce on one side.
iii) Then, add a bit of everything on top of the lettuce.
iv) Lastly, which is the most difficult part, roll the popiah, cover up the edges, and pray that the skin will not tear.

I enjoyed the peach crumble a lot – I had three slices! Helen is simply superb with her dessert. She is an excellent cook, and has organized various cooking lessons before – as part of the church programme.

I enjoyed the fellowship. We shared about what we have learned and our struggles with the Bible study. For me, initially, I struggled in joining the LDC. For the first three sessions, I just went because I felt that I had to go not because I wanted to. Soon, I realized that I was focusing too much on my own problems rather than on God. After that I began to open up more. I was really encouraged by the passion that some of the ladies have with the study. Some even looked forward to see what clothes Beth would be wearing and whether her hair would be tied up or down. Amusing, eh? The ladies are really having lots of fun. I also struggled with the homework. I didn’t attempt all the questions. Some questions were difficult to understand. I left most of the ‘thinking’ questions blank. Sometimes I just have nothing to write, and most of the time, it’s just plain laziness. Now, I am beginning to feel some of the excitement that the ladies experienced with the study. I didn’t start off well but, with God’s strength, I hope to finish it well.

Overall, it was a good review. All the ladies are keen to move on, and commit to the LDC. We will be meeting again on 8 May 2008 with the session “Believing that I can do all things through Christ”. Each session begins with a video (about 1 hour), and followed by 5 days of homework. The homework is not easy indeed – lots of thinking and digesting. A sample homework is found here. I will definitely share what I’ve learned. It was definitely an enriching experience. I look forward to the next session.


Popiah Nite

Friday, April 18, 2008

Upside to temper tantrums

Aggression is part of growing up and should not always be considered negative, says the Professional Association of Paediatricians in Munich.

Temper tantrums help children learn self-determination and test their boundaries.

“It’s important for children to learn how to manage this without hurting anyone or damaging property,” says Thomas Fendel, a paediatrician.

At first, children can only express their rage physically, by grabbing a toy from another child, for example, “It’s only when they turn three years that they realize there are other options such as verbal attacks,” says Fendel.

Parents should tolerate a certain degree of anger. They can show understanding when a child is angry about losing a toy. But they should help the child develop strategies for conflict management.

In extreme circumstances when a child feels neglected, aggression can be an expression of the child’s feeling of helplessness, according to the association.

Yet, it could also be an indicator of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

If months go by and a child regularly resorts to physical or verbal attacks, parents should take the child to a doctor.

“You have to find out whether a therapeutic treatment is recommendable,” says Fendel. – dpa


(theSun, Tuesday, October 9, 2007)

Listen to the ache

For parents, a baby’s cry is painful to the ears but it may also be hurting in the infant’s ears.

By Rachel Goodchild


IT can be overwhelming for new parents to try to diagnose signs and symptoms of illness in their child. Common illnesses such as ear infections and fevers can become mysterious as you wonder exactly which symptoms your child is displaying. Is his/her ear hurting? Is he/she teething? Or is it a sore throat?

Here are some ways to tell whether it is an ear infection.

An older child can tell a parent if his or her ear is hurting. A baby, however, does not have this luxury. It’s up to you, the parent, to observe your baby for the following signs and symptoms, and seek a doctor’s care if necessary

>> Flu symptoms
If your baby has recently had a cold, accompanied by a cough or runny nose, he/she may have also developed an ear infection. This symptom, along with one or more of the following, can be reason to visit your doctor.

>> Tugging at ear
Some babies tug at their ears when they are tired or sleepy. For others, this can be a sign of an ear infection. If your baby does not normally tug at his/her ears, and suddenly begins to, an ear infection may be present.

>> Fussiness
Constant, persistent fussiness is a sign that your baby is uncomfortable. If accompanied by other symptoms, your baby may have an ear infection.

>> Fever
If your baby runs a high fever, some sort of infection is probably present. Consult your doctor to see if your baby has an ear infection.

Unfortunately for parents, most ear infection symptoms are general and also similar to signs of other problems, such as teething.

It can be difficult as a parent to determine if your baby is teething, has an ear infection, or is simply fussy.

For this reason, if you notice anything abnormal, it is wise to seek your doctor’s opinion. He or she can perform a simple exam, and see if the ear canal is red and swollen.

Many times, an antibiotic is prescribed. However, more and more doctors are waiting longer periods of time before doing it so. This allows the body a chance to fight the infection on its own. Either way, be sure to consult with your doctor if you suspect your baby’s ear is infected, so that together, you can begin to make him or her more comfortable.


(the art of parenting, theSun, Tuesday, October 9, 2007, pg. 26)

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Painful Bite

When babies start teething, some parent will just have to grin and bear the toddler’s general irritability.

TEETHING can be a tiring process for babies and parents alike. As your baby begins to cut teeth, his/her gums and mouth are sensitive. This leads to pain, fussiness, and general irritability.

Some babies cut teeth without a whimper, while others are truly unpleasant to be around as they cry, fuss, and gnaw on everything in sight.

Teething can begin as early as four months, or as late as a year. It really is an individual process, so don’t stress if your baby is “early” or “late” to teeth.

Keep an eye on your baby’s front lower jaw – these are usually the first teeth to come in. The upper front teeth are soon to follow.

Soon that gummy grin you love will be replaced by a mouthful of pearly white teeth – but, oh, the struggle to get there!

To aid the teething process, and help save your sanity, try the following tips:

>> Cool Chew
A popsicle, frozen damp washcloth, or chilled teething ring can all be helpful for soothing sore teeth and gums. If your baby is eating solid foods, you can also try such treats as frozen bagels, chicken nuggets, or frozen fruit. Babies love to gum the frozen goodies, and the chilled food helps to ease the pain associated with teething.

>> Hard Toys
Your baby will also love to chew on hard toys such as wooden blocks. Offer him/her several alternatives, and allow the child to pick his/her favourite.

>> Apply Pressure
If your baby will allow it, try massaging his/her gums gently with your finger or a damp cloth. The pressure will help ease the pain of teething. If your baby is extremely fussy, this technique may not be possible!

>> Cloth Bib
Most teething babies are drool machines! Constantly having a damp chin and neck can lead to “drool rash”. Use a cloth bib to absorb the dampness and help keep baby dry and comfortable.

If these don’t appear to offer some relief, consult your doctor about using an over-the-counter pain medication or anesthetic. These can help aid the discomfort of teething, if used according to directions.

Homoeopathic teething tablets are also available, which soothe and calm baby while providing pain relief.

Any or all of these options can be useful to include in your teething kit.

Most importantly, remember that this is a phase, and will soon be over. This will help you to keep your perspective on those difficult days.

(the art of parenting, theSun, Tuesday, 2 October 2007)

I miss blogging

From the number of postings in my blog for the past few days, you can probably guess how much I miss blogging. Yup, I miss blogging a lot. In the past, I have blogged about the joy of blogging. It was written in the early stages of my blogging passion in 2006.

Since August 2007, I have been really busy with my lectures. For this academic year, I teach 3 modules – Software Design and Implementation 1 (C++), Computational Intelligence (Neural Network, Genetic Algorithm, Fuzzy Logic, Bayesian) and Java Programming.

This is the first time I am teaching the first portion of the C++ module for the Year 1. In the past, I teach only the second half. So, I had to prepare all the slides. Previously, I used Overhead Projector (OHP). But now, everything is on PowerPoint, and I use the Multimedia Projector for all my lectures.

Computational Intelligence module is in the Final Year. Being a Final Year module, it is not easy to teach. It was previously known as Soft Computing which I taught last year. This year, new topics were added. So, I need to read more. This includes research papers. It reminded me of the research papers that I had to read for my PhD which is rather stressful. Thankfully, all the slides were already prepared by the partner University. I still need to supplement the materials to improve student’s understanding.

I spent most of the time preparing for the Java module which is taught in the Foundation programme. I even had to take my work home and prepare slides and solution to the exercises. I have not been taking work home for a long time. It wasn’t easy with Jordan bugging me every now and then. Most of the time, I had to prepare after he has gone to bed. I typed out almost all the sample programs in the textbook. I tried to get the Instructor’s Manual but failed. Anyway, it was a wonderful opportunity for me to brush up my Java skills again. The next round will be much easier.

The end of the academic year is approaching soon. The Year 1 students will be having their exams on the first week May. I have completed the revision with them. They are now struggling with the assignment. I have 3 more topics to cover in Computational Intelligence. I have completed all the topics in Java. Now, its assignment completion time and revision all the way until end of April. Phew!

After April, marking starts!!! I also need to compile all the results and prepare reports. Of course, in between, I will continue to pursue some of the things that I have neglected – especially my blogs (with an ‘s’). I am actually maintaining 5 blogs. Hahaha!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Jordan’s Education

I started reading this book, “When the Soul Listens” by Jan Johnson last year. I have just finished reading Chapter 10, and still got five more chapters to go. There are lots of things that I can share from the book. For now, I would like to share from Chapter 8 – Asking God Questions.

Let me share from this section…pages 104 – 106…

Why We Don’t Ask

If you’re like most people, you don’t plan to leave God out by not inquiring. For various reasons, you just forget.

I already know. You assume you know the answer – especially if it concerns something at which you’re skilled. King Saul was, after all, a tall, dynamic military leader. Sending out scouts might have seemed more strategic, than asking God for direction.

I have a strong opinion about this. Let’s say your spouse wants to visit someone on vacation, but you’re sure you don’t want to do this. You give an automatic answer without inquiring of the Lord. So often when I inquired of God about something such as this, the result has been that I’ve either had a change of heart or I sympathize with my spouse and come up with an idea that satisfies both of us. The process of inquiring is important because it helps us see the other person’s heart.

I like one-size-fits-all answers. The answer or solution found last time becomes a formula; every dilemma has the same answer. For example, Saul went ahead and made the sacrifice; it seemed obvious that attacking first was a good strategy because the Philistines were encamped. That was the military formula. Today, we resort to our own formulas – doing things as they’ve always been done, doing what’s advised in the current bestseller – when we could be inquiring after God for His ideas.

Sometimes we circumvent God because we’ve become so policy-oriented it doesn’t occur to us to stay open to God’s guidance. At a retreat, some leaders asked me what I thought their church’s policy should be about having baby showers for unwed pregnant women. So far, they had done nothing because giving a shower might indicate approval of premarital sex. Yet they felt bad about neglecting these young women.

I asked, “What are these women’s names? What has each woman said about having a shower? What is known about the condition of each woman’s heart toward God?” I then named each one and asked, “If the church had a shower for ______, what would that tell her about God?” A shower from the church might embarrass one but affirm another. Did any of them need the financial rewards of a shower? Would any of them desire, in addition to a shower, to meet with one of these female leaders on a regular basis? “Find out what these woman need,” I urged them, “and then get on your knees as a leadership tem and listen to God together. Make it your goal to determine how God wants to use you in each woman’s life.” This method is blessed, so I use it. We often assume certain methods or people are blessed by God because they seem successful. Should I raise my kids a certain way? We think, Sure, it worked for him, so we don’t ask God – which might cause us to look in our children’s hearts and see if these methods are appropriate. Pastor and author Peter Lord writes:

When God has blessed others by using certain methods, we sometimes presume that we should use those same methods. We don’t realize that God blessed that way for others because that’s the way he ordered them to do things. Nowhere is this more common than in church programs. One church prays and receives an answer – a specific method of carrying out a certain order of God. They are richly blessed because God blesses what God orders. Then another church, seeing this blessing, copies the program – because they believe God is blessing the program itself. They fail to realize that what he is really blessing is obedience. And they never stop to ask him, “Father, what do you want us to do?”

When God gives seeking hearts a certain answer, it may not be His answer for you as well.

I’ve already heard God speak. Even when you’ve inquired of God previously and sensed His direction, schedules change, bodies change, locations are different, and bosses are different. It’s important to pray and seek God continually.

=============================================

Lately, I have thinking about Jordan’s education – whether I should place him in a Christian or non-Christian school/pre-school/nursery. When I first asked Seng Chor for his opinion, he firmly said non-Christian school. Reason? Big ‘fishing pond’. Yes, there’s some truth in it. I realized that we haven’t really prayed about Jordan’s education. I felt that I already know the answer and I have a strong feeling about it. From the beginning, I have been thinking about sending him to the pre-school in our vicinity. We passed the school everyday – it is at a corner, opposite the guard house. Every morning, I see parents/grandparents/guardian/maid taking the kids to the school. I have a sentimental kind of feeling for the school.

What I read from the book, reminded strongly that I should pray for Jordan’s education. I must not assume that I know the answer. Moreover, what works for others may not work for us. As I started to pray about it, I asked these questions, What character qualities do I want to build into Jordan? What are my goals for Jordan? Then, What type of school will help build those qualities? I started to recall prayers and prophecies over Jordan. Prayers for Jordan from various people have focused on this point - that he will grow up to be a man after God’s heart. It was also prophesized that he will cross cultural barriers to relate to different people. The answer for me is that the school should emphasize on character building, particularly biblical character.

Another school that came into my mind is the one in SS Gospel. Seng Chor’s nephew attends the school and I’ve heard very good feedback. The school is actually a walking distance from Jordan’s babysitter. Coincidentally, one of my colleagues who have just joined the College in February is from the church. Last week, I asked him to call the person-in-charge, who is the Principal. On the phone, she mentioned that the school emphasized on biblical character building – this is actually their strength. Wow! It’s like an answered prayer. That night, I discussed with Seng Chor. To my surprise, he agreed to place Jordan in the school. Since it is near the babysitter’s house, after school, one of the teachers could even help send Jordan to the babysitter.

My colleague has helped me to submit the Jordan’s details to the school. I am now praying that there will be a place for him. He will start only next year but we need to book the place one year in advance. I hope that we are not too late.

ISTJ vs ISFP

The acronyms:
E = Extraversion (Extrovert)
I = Introversion (Introvert)
S = Sensing
N = Intuition (Intuitive)
T = Thinking (Thinker)
F = Feeling (Feeler)
J = Judging
P = Perceiving

When I did the personality test last November 2007 at a workshop in my college the result was ISTJ. When I looked at my results, I realised that I could have been either T or F, and T or J. Each score differed by one only. The result could have swung either way.

The workshop entitled "SalesPeak!: Mastering The Fine Art of Selling Workshop" was conducted by Mr Fabian Fidelis, CEO and Principal Trainer of ProActive Training. The descriptions below were taken from his book.

ISTJ
Quiet, serious, earn success by thoroughness and dependability.
Practical, matter-of-fact, realistic, and responsible.
Decide logically what should be done and work toward it steadily, regardless of distractions.
Take pleasure in making everything orderly and organise - their work, their home, their life.
Value traditions and loyalty.

ISFP
Quiet, friendly, sensitive, and kind.
Enjoy the present moment, what's going on around them.
Like to have their own space and to work within their own time frame.
Loyal and committed to their values and to people who are important to them.
Dislike disagreements and conflicts, do not force their opinions or values on others.

I agree with both descriptions. :)

Anyway

People are often unreasonable,
illogical, and self-centered:
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you
of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you:
Be honest anyway.

What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous:
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow:
Do good anyway.

Give the world best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

- Mother Teresa -

Jordan’s First Recital of the Alphabets

It was between 9:30 – 10 pm on Tuesday, 15 April 2008. I decided to test Jordan’s memory on the alphabets. Actually, I thought that he won’t respond well. I just tried. I pointed at ‘A’, and he said loudly, “A”. Then, I did the same thing with the letter, ‘B’, and he responded with a loud, “B”. I got excited. My sister was also there. I continued with the rest of the alphabets. Now, Jordan was also getting excited. He jumped each time he said an alphabet. My sister and I cheered him all the way. I was so happy that I sent an sms to my mother after that. My mother suggested that we record down the session next time.

He was in a good mood when Seng Chor and I picked him up from the babysitter yesterday. Before he goes into the car, he would touch the orchid first. The flowers are in the garage. It’s a normal routine. He won’t leave without touching the orchid. If we forget and take him to the car, he would cry, “Orchid, orchid”. Funny boy.

As usual, in the car, he would look out the window and observe. He would say out various things he saw, and occasionally ask, “What’s this?” He is very observant. Many times, he would say objects that we didn’t even notice. Last night, he said, “Motorbike up”. He saw the motorbike going up the overhead bridge. It was dark and I couldn’t even see it clearly, but he saw.

Yesterday morning, Seng Chor took him to the Immigration Department at Subang to collect his first passport. Jordan had to be present so that he could place his right thumb print on the passport. The little thumb print looks so cute. He looks so handsome in the photo as well – really looks like a big boy.

All of us slept well last night.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

First Aid Course (Part 2)



Last Sunday, 13 April 2008, Seng Chor and I went through the second part of the First Aid Course. Seng Chor is going for his PADI Rescue Diver certification. That's why he has to take this course and sit for the test. I just join in to learn. It was interesting and informative. These are the things that I have learned:

  • CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) for adult, child and infant

  • Bandaging

  • Choking Adult and Infant

  • Spinal Injury Management

  • Splinting for Dislocations and Fractures

  • Moving a patient

I Am 75% Left Brained, 25% Right Brained




You Are 75% Left Brained, 25% Right Brained



The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.

Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.

If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.

Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.



The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.

Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.

If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.

Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

How Rare is My Personality?




Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISFP)



Your personality type is caring, peaceful, artistic, and calm.



Only about 7% of all people have your personality, including 8% of all women and 6% of all men

You are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving.

Sergeant Mohamed Abdulla Jameel

I have asked my ex-student's permission to post his name card onto my blog. I find it really cool. So, I can proudly say that I have an ex-student who is now a Sergeant in the Maldives Police Service. Hehehe!
He graduated from the course BSc (Hons) Software Engineering last year.

The Damage to My Sister's Car





The car is now in the workshop. It will probably take 1 to 2 weeks to get it repaired.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Black Saturday

Saturday, 12 April 2008 was a black Saturday.

A series of events happened last Saturday:

  1. Jordan fell from our bed – head down. He cried for a few minutes. I soothed him with the song “Rock-a-Bye Baby”. After awhile, he asked for milk and watched his Thomas and Friends VCD. There was a little bump at the back of his head. Poor boy!

  2. It was about 4:45 pm. I have packed my stuff ready for my swimming lesson. Unfortunately, it rained and I made a decision that I regretted. The rain stopped before 5:30 pm but it was too late for me to go because we were having a birthday celebration at night. I felt so sad and I cried. My heart felt really heavy at the same time.

  3. 7 pm+. We were at Roy and Selvi’s house for our Growth Group birthday celebration. My sister called – her car met with an accident in Sunway. The front left side of the car was badly damaged – light and part of the bumper were gone. She had a dance competition the next day, and it is just so unfortunate that this accident had to happen. We both cried.

  4. Two incidents happened at Roy and Selvi’s house:

    • Seng Chor dropped a bottle of cordial onto the floor because its handle suddenly fell off. Lukki had to mop the floor.

    • Seng Chor slipped and fell down as he was coming out from the toilet. He was carrying Jordan. He hurt his left leg a bit. Jordan got a shock, and he cried for me but I didn’t hear him immediately. He wouldn’t let Seng Chor get up and kept calling for me. Seng Chor got up. I couldn’t remember he came out to look for me or I eventually heard Jordan calling me. Jordan was upset with Seng Chor and tried to push him down as I went into the room. We’re just glad that Jordan didn’t knock his head again, but somehow, it left a mark in Jordan. The next day, whenever Seng Chor lies down, Jordan would call him and ask him to get up. He requested Seng Chor to carry him a few times. It’s rather rare for Jordan to ask Seng Chor to carry him. Hopefully, Jordan will get over this episode soon.

My heart felt really heavy throughout the evening and night. Selvi asked me to read Ephesians 6:10-18 on The Armor of God aloud. I did. I also read Psalm 91 and prayed for protection for my whole family. My heart was still feeling heavy when I went to bed.

The next day, I shared with my Growth Group members what happened, and that the heaviness was still there. I felt that as if something worse is going to happen. Dolly, Selvi and Sue prayed for me. What God revealed….

• His plans for me are to prosper me and not to harm me.
• Focus on God.
• Look to God and not on the circumstances.
• God is doing some sifting in me so that I can move forward with Him.
• Ask what and not why.

The following verses were also shared during the open worship, and my heart was ministered.

Psalm 42
Psalm 42:1
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.

Psalm 42:11
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

Matthew 11:28
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Praise the Lord that I feel much better this morning. My heart feels lighter. I’m proud to share that my sister won second prize in the dance competition for both solo and group. The whole family is proud of her and we will help her get through this difficult time.



    Saturday, April 12, 2008

    Preparing Formula Milk

    The first question I asked when I started to prepare formula milk for Jordan is, “How much hot water to add?” The standard answer I got was, “Add until it is warm enough.” I read somewhere that I was supposed to pour a bit of water onto my wrist and feel it. If it is not burning, then it is just right. I was not satisfied with the answer. I find it rather troublesome to always pour out a bit and feel. What I was looking for was a formula – the number of ounces of hot water for a specific feeding. I began to experiment on my own. At that time, Jordan was taking 5 oz of formula milk. So, I tried with 3 oz of normal temperature water and 2 oz of hot water, and the overall temperature was just right for the feeding. When his feeding was increased to 7 oz, I also used the same formula – 5 oz of normal temperature water and 2 oz of water. Now, at 2.4 years old, he takes 10 oz. That is, 8 oz of normal temperature water with 2 oz of hot water.

    However, I find that the formula is not appropriate for feeding less than 5 oz. If less than 5 oz, the amount of hot water should be between 1 to 1.5 oz so that it is not burning. A friend did advise me to prepare slightly hotter because sometimes the child make take a long time to finish the milk. Hence, if the temperature is just right, it will get cold fast. I didn’t really follow the advice because Jordan finished his milk at one go most of the time. So, if your child takes a long time to finish the milk, you may want to prepare the milk slightly warmer.

    I always prepare the water first before adding the milk powder. I also find it easier and faster to pour the milk into the milk dispenser first before preparing the milk. I’m glad that I found this big milk dispenser at Jaya Jusco. Most containers are not big enough to store the portion of milk powder for Jordan. The milk dispenser that I have now is just right to keep 6 big scoops of milk powder in one compartment. There are 3 compartments in the dispenser.

    Currently, Jordan takes 3 bottles of milk a day – 10 oz each time – morning, evening and night. When the time has come for his milk, he would say, “Susu” (Milk in Malay). He would wait for me on the bed, with the comforter pulled up to his neck. Once I entered the room with the milk, he would say, “Susu” again. He would ask me to shake the milk. Sometimes, he would want to shake it himself. He would then place the napkin over his neck and drink the milk. It’s a joy to see him finish the milk each time.

    Monday, April 07, 2008

    BSE 1I - May and August 2007 Intake


    Where's Lien Chai?

    Back row (Left to Right): Lien Chai, Jason, Juh Jou, Parthiban, GJ, Thiam Ling (Yellow), Pravin.
    Front Row: HaiFeng, Yi Hoong, Dr Cabokia, JingHan, Yen Ping, Merusha.

    This bunch of interesting 'monkeys' will be completing their First Year in May 2008.
    I teach them C++ programming. Most probably, I won't be teaching them again until their Final Year in October 2009.
    Two of them are from Sri Lanka, one from Brunei, one from China and the rest are Malaysians.
    I enjoy teaching the class - good class dynamic, interactive, responsive and willing to learn.

    All the best to them as they face the coming exams.
    (Tuesday, 1 April 2008)

    Thursday, April 03, 2008

    My brother Alex's 27th Birthday



    What we bought for him - Wardrobe organizer and table lamp from Ikea.

    Monday, 31 March 2008

    Wednesday, April 02, 2008

    First Aid Course



    Last night, Seng Chor and I had an opportunity to learn something about first aid. It was just an introductory programme. More lessons coming soon. I will explain the "what" and "why" later...hopefully...:)