To the Dentist

We saw a cavity in one of Lil Isaac's molar a few months back. We know that he has to visit the dentist but he wasn't even 2 then and we delayed. Lil Shauna's last visit to the dentist at United Square, where she had a hole filled up, was also more than 6 months ago. We thought her teeth looks fine though.

The cavity in Lil Isaac's molar keeps getting bigger and we were worried that it would soon be too late to save the tooth. Thus, we finally bought them to the dentist. Lil isaac's very first visit. We were very worried that Lil Isaac would freak out and had been reminding him that we were going to the dentist, that it is not scary and he is a brave boy. It all turned out well, very, very well.

The treatment room is very kid friendly. There are big cartoon characters paste onto the wall, the kids get to watch cartoon during treatment and they have princessy and princey sunglasses to wear, to shield their little eyes from the dentist light. Lil Shauna had her teeth checked 1st so that didi could observe how it would be. To our surprise, she has 2 cavities in her molars, one on top and one below. The dentist didn't want to traumatize her and only filled up one of them. So we still owe another trip to the dentist.

We were worried that Lil Isaac would scream and cried and we would need to be back again. Surprisingly, Lil Isaac performed amazingly well. I have to give credits to the dentist. He is really patient and explained every procedure to the kid before he proceeded and made everything looks like toy. Lil Isaac got to press the buttons to operate the "magic chair". Feel this gadget and that. He was really comfortable and opened his mouth wide for the dentist with all of us cheering him on in the background.

He only had one cavity. The dentist attempted to fill it up and Lil Isaac was very cooperative. Lil Shauna was very interested and kept squeezing in between the dentist and the nurse while the dentist treated the cavity. Interestingly, they allowed her. None of such happened during my childhood visits to the dentist. I still remembered my visit to the very fierce and straight faced school dentist. The only thing that i remembered her saying to me was "open, open bigger". I am so proud of my kids. They inherited none of my irrational fear for dentist visits.

The total damage was about $200, which I remembered to be cheaper than Lil Shauna's last visit. We will definitely come back to this clinic. The dentist is nice, the clinic is in JCube, the charges are reasonable, the dentist took time to explain and more importantly, the dentist had a way with the kids. Other than the cavities that he fixed, he also showed us the tooth in each kid that was weakening, reminding us to clean their teeth more thoroughly before cavity forms. He also addressed Lil Shauna's jaw issue. Her lower jaw barges out more than her upper jaw. He said that it is a jaw growth issue and advised us to visit the orthodontist, who may be able to fix the problem and this has to be done when she is still young and growing.

We are going back soon. Lil Shauna needs to have the other cavity fixed and we will bring her to the orthodontist. Now that the kids are settled, I think it will soon be my turn. My last visit to the dentist was when I was pregnant with Lil Isaac. I bet I have some cavity to fill too. I was telling Daddy Lim that dental clinic should invest in similar gadgets for adult patients too. I think I would enjoy visiting the dentist more if I get to watch "Running Man" while receiving treatment. Haha.

Mummy Lim

宝宝

We used to call Lil Shauna "宝宝". In fact, we call her that until Lil Isaac came along and she was promoted to "姐姐".

One night during bedtime, for no particular reason, I called her "宝宝" again and Daddy Lim told Lil Isaac that he is therefore "小宝宝".

Last night, Lil Isaac told Daddy Lim that he is "big big 宝宝"! Hoho. So logical. So now, Daddy Lim is "big fat" and "big big 宝宝"!

Mummy Lim

All the Same Color?

This is the playdoh set that we have at home. Strangely, the playdoh are all in the same color.

Mummy Lim

We are Kiasu

Things are gaining heat since school started. The enrichment classes have resumed and I am worried that Lil Shauna is getting a little taxed.

On top of her usual music class on Wednesday evening from 8 to 9pm, her swimming class on Saturday afternoon, we have added on Chinese class on Saturday morning. I have also signed her up for her school's Chinese enrichment, thinking that it would be good to keep her occupied on weekday afternoon but it was a wrong choice. The school's Chinese enrichment happens to fall on Wednesday and she complained about being tired last Wednesday during music class and could barely concentrate. Poor girl.

Then, she got promoted for her phonics class and her class is now on Thursday evening, from 7.30pm to 9pm. She also has a new teacher, who doesnt seem as friendly as teacher Rebecca. Daddy Lim sent her to class yday and told me that Lil Shauna cried in class towards the end. She said that she was tired. We are not sure if she was that tired to have to cry or she is scared of her teacher. I am so glad that I had her promoted at the same time as Felicia. I cannot imagine how she would have react if she was alone. Well, even if she's really tired, I couldn't blame her. It is my fault to put 3 different enrichment classes on 2 days. To have 2 consecutive days of classes to 9pm, I think I would be tired too.

I am tempted to terminate her music class. It is getting tougher. The kids started playing with 2 hands on the keyboard and lil Shauna is definitely not musically gifted, which means plenty of practices are required. Boo, mummy has no time. She is always "tired" by the time we reced home and settled down. However, Popo is very encouraging and thinks that Lil Shauna should continue since we have been at it for such a long time.

I have made arrangement to shift her phonics class to Friday evening, 6pm. I supposed it will be a little better. At least she has a break on Thursday and her class will end earlier on Friday. However, it is still the same teacher. Teacher Rebecca does not take this level of class.

Well, we will see how things go. If Lil Shauna finds it too taxing, we will just have to drop something. Oh, did I mention that she came back with her first list of 10 sight words for spelling yday and she will be tested next week? Her first ever spelling list. I don't know to cry or to laugh.
No time, no time. Sob. I need an easier job. Errrr.. Stay at home mum isn't an easier job, right?

Mummy Lim

Disclaimer - swimming classes are requested by Lil Shauna hor.

Prayers

Lil Shauna learns how to pray in school and at church. That is why I love her school. :)

She had some nightmares some weeks ago and had been asking us to pray with her before bed. It is usually very simple prayers for good dreams and good day at work and school. Something that she could appreciate. Lil Isaac prays with us too. Very sweet.

It is not what we pray about that touches my heart but the simple gesture asking to pray every night. We sometimes forget but she doesn't and reminds us when we do. So sweet.

Some nights, we talked about God too before bed, usually on nights where Lil Isaac has already turned in but she has not. It is sometimes tough to answer her in words and ways that she can understand. Just now, she asked me why God give her bad dreams. Errrr... Nevertheless, I am glad that she is learning about God. May she grow up to be one after God's heart. Amen.

Mummy Lim

Who Would?

Tell me. Who would put their glasses on the floor when they sleep? Daddy Lim would. -.o"

We were tucking the kids to bed in their bedroom. Lil Isaac wanted me to look for his tiger in the dark, which I obediently obliged. It was dark and I walked towards the edge of the bed to solve my quest. Then, I heard and felt something snapped at my feet. T.T

Daddy Lin saw me walking towards where he put his glasses (on the floor) and didn't warn me that his glasses were there. This is the 2nd time that I stepped and broke his glasses. The 1st time was years ago and it was a pair of almost brand new expensive glasses. My heart bled then. Lesson not learnt. Haiz.

I think he is secretly pleased. He has been wanting to change his glasses since Lil Isaac smacked him in his face, which he said made his glasses looser thereafter. He has been eyeing Oakley and don't know what expensive glasses recently despite my dagger eyes. Now, I am at fault and my dagger eyes have suddenly lost all power. Sob.

I can't help but suspect that it is all a plot. He must have purposely left his glasses there and collaborated with Lil Isaac to cook up a story to make me walk in the dark and step on his glasses. It must be. Arrggghhhh.. Bad Pappy, bad Zaky.

Mummy Lim

Messed Up

Lil Isaac has started attending the full 3 hrs class for 3 days. The kids take the school bus at 10.45am and alight from it at 3.30pm. They are away for almost 5 hours a day. Lil Isaac is skipping his nap as a result of school. School messes up his schedule and he is having a hard time adjusting to it. So do we.

On the first day, he took a 5mins power nap at almost 7pm. Yday, he took at 45 mins at 5.15pm. Each time, he cried bloody murder when Popo tried to wake him. As a result of his 45mins nap, we tried unsuccessful to tuck him to bed for over an hour. We both lost patience towards the end. He finally drifted off to sleep at almost 11pm and couldn't wake up until 9ish this morning.

Today, Popo refused to let him nap for fear that history repeats itself. As expected, he was cranky at 5ish and dying for a nap. Bcos of the absence of nap, Lil Isaac fell asleep at about 9pm just now.

We don't know what is the best way out. Depriving him of nap sound so cruel. I supposed it is ok for him to nap if it is earlier in the day, but Popo says that he is usually very active upon reaching Centris from school and nap is near impossible. My kids do wake up early and morning classes are actually better for them. However, Lil Shauna has gotten used to the afternoon class and the painful memory of her not wanting to go to school is too daunting to make us change them.

Well, kids are very adaptable, aren't they? Lil Isaac will adapt soon, right? Poor tiger.

Mummy Lim

Welcome to the Family

We have a big track for the hot wheels. I think it was what Lil Isaac chosen for his bday.

He has plenty of cars and yday he chose one more super stunt tracks for a mini car. Nainai bought this as his belated Christmas present. More cars, more cars!

Mummy Lim

Day 2 in School

Today is the 2nd day of school and things went even better. I was in the office in the morning. Popo helped to send the kids onto the school bus and rushed to meet the kids in school via public bus. We had wanted the kids to be independent and all went well. Popo said that Lil Isaac didn't cry today and jiejie took fantastic care of him. My big girl.

I arrived at the school at 12ish and took over. Lil Isaac was having his snack of porridge. He probably didn't like it very much cos he didn't ask for a 2nd helping. Haha.

School was better today as both the parents and the kids are more settled. There was less crying and aimless walking. Some of the parents left their kids totally. The teachers need not raise their voices as much too. The crying and yelling boy was tamer, but was still crying and telling at times. I was quite irked and actually felt like slapping him, oops.

The porridge didn't fill Lil Isaac's tummy very much. After outdoor play, they had water break and Lil Isaac asked me for bread. Water always go with bread at home. Lol. Popo was very concern when I related the incident to her and she kept asking me if we should pack biscuits and bread for Lil Isaac to snack. Faint.

School also ended earlier today for the boy and we took the sbs bus back home. I escaped to JP to complete some work after sending Lil Isaac to Centris. I heard that he concussed again right after his milk.

I also saw jiejie in school when she went for her toilet break. She looks so pretty and grown-up. I called her "baby", she pretended not to hear me and I purposely kept calling her. Maybe I was a disgrace to her. Lol.

I heard jiejie's class is much bigger this year. Several of her classmates' parents are considering switching school for their kids. I do agree that Lil Shauna's school is not as academically driven as many. Felicia came back with spelling list on the first day of school! Lil Shauna is still telling us that she enjoys school probably bcos there are more playing than learning. Lol. I have overcome that stage. So long as Lil Shauna enjoys school, it is alright. We have been through difficult times coaxing her to school. And more importantly, I like that she is learning about God. God bless our hearts. Amen!

Mummy Lim

Day 1 of School

*Post written yday.

Happy New Year!
Today is the first day of school and I am anxious like just any parent with school going kids. Lil Isaac is starting pre-nursery today! We have been reminding him that he will be starting school with jiejie today and he always nod in agreement. Ok, that is a good start.

The morning started off fine. It was as per usual. Jiejie changed into her school uniform and allowed me to tie her hair. Didi was excited to dress up for school too. We were early for the school bus, which happened to be late. So we had to distract the kids with plenty of grass watching. Lol.

The bus ride was uneventful. It was actually pretty boring and I tot Lil Isaac looked like he would fall asleep. We finally reached the school after about 20mins of turns and loops to pick up the other kids.

Lil Isaac has improved. At least he didn't cry when he entered the holding area. It was chaotic and the school's security failed. Lil Isaac managed to sneak out of the holding area without being spotted, not even by mummy and I had a bad fright. So mummy stayed with him in the holding area and the rest of the kids were all sitting down except for him who was loitering non-stop. I nagged at him to sit down and it of course didn't help. Faint. When jiejie left for her class, Lil Isaac started crying. Oh my, I didn't know he loves his jiejie so much, as much as a pack of gummy bears. He promptly stopped crying when I offered him the gummy bears. Win.

There wasn't much "school". The teachers had a hard time trying to read stories with crying and yelling kids and others who kept walking around. Lil Isaac kept escaping out of the class to the playground. There was a crying kid in his class who yells and screams at the same time. His mum was very pissed and no amount of coax and threats helped. We heard her yelled at the kids every now and then. I thought she wasn't too considerate. If my kid behaves this way, I would probably bring him out to calm him down 1st. The kid has really good endurance and actually cried the good 2 hours of school. Ouch! The teachers had to fight with the kid and the mum so as to be heard. We all pretended as if the crying kid and yelling mum werent around. Our poor ears.

The only time that Lil Isaac would sit down is snack time. Lol. The kids were served pandan cake and ribena and he asked for a second helping. That was after a hearty bfast at home before school. My growing boy.

School ended early for the pre-nursery kids. All of them dived for the playground. I had to lure Lil Isaac away after a while with the rest of his gummy bears. Gummy bears are so useful. We took sbs bus home and it was again an uneventful ride.

School makes the boy very tired, who concussed for the next 1+ hr. I wonder if Lil Isaac can survive without his nap when he attends the full class. Else, we will end up with a cheeky monkey at bed time every night. Scary thought.

Mummy Lim