Happy Holidays: Genting 2022 Day 1 Part 1

It had been 2 long years! The last overseas holiday was to Seoul in December 2019 and we are finally traveling again. Woohoo! Oh yes, the cruises don't really count; there are no passport stamps. Hoho. Our passports are so clean, the lockdown took place soon after we renewed our passports. 

We had decided on a short trip to mark our break, largely bcos we didn't want to fret over the navigations of the different covid travel requirements. Malaysia seems to be the easiest choice and probably thousands had already crossed the Singapore-Malaysia immigration before us, ironing out the possible immigration challenges. 

After much exploration on whether to fly/ drive in, we decided to take a bus to Genting! I think I can live with stoning on the bus for hours, especially now that the kids can self-entertain. 

The wait was a combination of excitement and anxiety. Everybody was looking forward to our 1st holiday in a long time. Then the possibility of cancellation became real when Lil Shauna came down with I-duno-what. I got reminded of the kids' must-fall-sick-before-holidays syndrome when they were much younger. Then anxiety built up, there seems to be so much work that I needed to complete before the holidays and I imagined the piled up to clear after that. I kept imagining all sorts of possible messed up, no taxi to pickup point, bus never come, forgotten stuff, cannot clear immigration. Zzzzzz... I must have lost touch with traveling.

Finally, it was D day - 1. The last few days were tough as my mood was hovering between clear-sh*tload work before vacation vs holidays mood. Hoho. I was happy to leave the office on Friday evening. My holidays have officially started. Woohoo! 

Cookie earned for himself a staycation at the Fs' place too. They have nicely agreed to babysit Cooks. 

I heard that Cooks is doing well. What's up with the puffed up cheeks?! Hoho. 

We were up this morning at 4.30am. The maxi-cab that we tried advance booking didn't work out. I didn't think that getting cabs/ grabs in the morning would be difficult but became gan cheong spider when Daddy Lim kept telling me "what ifs". In the end, we got to the pickup point early. The bus took off on time at 5.45pm sharp. 

I started wondering, can we really enjoy the long bus ride? What should I do to self entertain? Hmmmm...

It took us 1 hour to arrive and clear the immigration on both sides. Smooth, very smooth. Our bus, which wasn't full, was the only bus at the immigration. Then it was attempts to nap before bfast at one the rest places for bfast. Just buy, just buy. Zaky finally got to eat a Ramly burger after pasar malam disappeared for the last 2 years due to covid. What did the kids buy? 

They had been dreaming of this moments for weeks. 

From darkness to morning sun. 

To finding creative ways to steal naps.

The journey was fairly smooth until slow traffic in KL I finally woke up to windy roads leading up Genting. 

Finally, after 6 hours, we arrived at Genting! 

Hello holidays!

Mummy Lim

Lil Shauna is All Good

Other than the fever that almost came back on Sunday evening, Lil Shauna was pretty good. She was given MC from Monday to Wednesday and was totally enjoying life on Monday. I was fortunately able to WFH and most times, I saw her lying somewhere tik toking on her phone. Her appetite was great and energy high. Maybe I had hallucinated about what happened on Saturday. 

She went back to sleep in her room on Monday evening. My back was very thankful to her. I checked on her before I left for work on Tuesday morning. All good and uneventful. I came home late evening and Popo told me that Lil Shauna was absolutely well, snacking constantly. 

She asked to go back to school on Wednesday, claiming that she had missed so much school and her friends were waiting for her to go back. I think it is the latter. Zaky cannot understand why jiejie would want to do that. Hoho. 

It all went well. She even dated her netball mate for lunch after school and didn't come home until about 5pm. She had SISA and I tagged along, wanting to make sure that all went went. It did. She complained of headache after class, not bcos of the episode but from too much spinning. Hoho.

So, all good! I have started my bag packing for Genting. Hohoho. 

Mummy Lim

A Very Dramatic Day Part 3

We showered and were getting ready for bed when Uncle C called bcos we didn't reply to his message. He heard the news from Auntie H and was worried. He wanted to rule out Increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP, aka brain swelling) and asked us how many of the list of symptoms (in his message) was Lil Shauna displaying/ displayed. ICP is a serious condition and is life threatening. 

He was asking if NUH did any MRI and helped called his brain surgeon friend in SGH. Bcos Lil Shauna is younger that 18, if really an ICP, she needs to go to KKH. Anyway, while we all think that the possibility of an ICP is not high, I was very unsettled. Lil Shauna was way too exhausted and was already in lala land. We made everybody sleep in the same room with Lil Shauna on the mattress on the floor and me joining her on mattress. 

The plan was to monitor her. I asked how and what while she is asleep - oxygen level, heart rate and BP at 3 hourly interval. Thankfully, I have the right machines for these at home. After scaring me, Uncle C then told me that it was probably an infection and nothing much. Zzzzzz. 

I went to bed at 12mn and I started wondering if I should stay awake until 2am for the 1st monitoring session. I was equally exhausted and decided to check at 1am and scheduled the next one for 4am. The stats were fine both times. Lil Shauna was very cooperative. 

It was a restless night for me; I woke up to her every movement. Each time she stirred, I woke up and was thankful that I had checked that she was OK. When Zaky went to the toilet, I woke up too to make sure that he didn't step on jiejie. I was again up when Daddy Lim woke up to prep for their rollerblading classes. 

The boys left and we took the bed. We woke up at 9ish and I was very glad to hear that Lil Shauna was feeling better (in fact normal). She was definitely with more energy that the previous day.

The day went well. She was able to eat normally and went out with us. Throughout the day, I was fussing over her, constantly checking that she was feeling OK.

She did complain of headaches on several occasions. The worse was in the evening; we suspected that the fever was coming back. Fortunately, panadol saved the day and she felt better thereafter. The only thing was her missing the BBQ session that was organised by the LV cyclists that I once joined. She was so looking forward to roasting marshmallows. Hoho. 

Last night's sleeping arrangement was Lil Shauna on Zaky's bed while I squeezed with Zaky on the mattress on the floor. My back!

This cannot go on for long. I asked Zaky if it was squeezy last night and he said yes and commented that he saw me sleeping on the floor. Hahaha. 

I am just glad that Lil Shauna is OK and looking forward for things to return to the norm.

Mummy Lim

A Very Dramatic Day Part 2

Lil Shauna was leaning on the lift wall the whole time and looking tired. I got out of the lift, then heard Daddy Lim called for me. I turned around and saw Lil Shauna sitting on the lift floor. I decided to send her home while Daddy Lim and Zaky continued to wait at B1.

She managed to stand up when asked. I was hugging her and was asking her what happened. She then complained that she cannot see, like everything is blurry kind of cannot see. Then everything happened in a split second. While I was still hugging her (luckily I was), I left her body weight slumming onto me. It was when I heard her phone slammed onto the floor that I realised that she had lost consciousness. When I looked at her, I thought I saw that her eyes were opened (or half opened). 

We reached the 10th floor shortly and I tried dragging her out of the lift, thinking that I had a better chance in getting help outside than inside the lift. Her body was stiff but with all the dragging, I couldn't tell if she was jerking, like in a seizure. It was a bad situation. I was sitting on the floor outside the lift, with Lil Shauna half leaning on me. Her one foot was blocking the lift door, one slipper and hp still in the lift. I tried hard yelling for Popo for help, who heard the commotion but totally ignored me, thinking that it was some child play. 

Thankfully, Lil Shauna regained consciousness. She was out for like less than a min. I made her sit properly, grabbed her slipper and hp and called Daddy Lim to quickly come back up. I knew we had to get her to the A&E and decided to call 995 to check if an ambulance was the appropriate choice or for us to send her on our own. The operator arranged for an ambulance and asked us to call again if Lil Shauna blacked out again. While waiting, I asked if Lil Shauna knew what happened. She said that she fell asleep. She was so pale and her lips were purplish.

Daddy Lim and Zaky came back up. The 2 of us then carried Lil Shauna back home to rest on the sofa. She started describing how she had tunneling vision, her vision turned yellow/ brownish before she blacked out. She said she had ringing in the ears after the episode. These sounded like familiar symptoms that I get when I felt like fainting. Lil Shauna started perspiring profusely, just like how I was the last time. 

The ambulance came in less than 10 mins. They did a finger prick and ECG and then sent her to NUH. I again got the honor to ride the ambulance ride. The ride was swift but the stay at NUH was the opposite. 

Lil Shauna was very tired. I think it was the fever, lack of food and fainting experience. Bcos it is covid, her fever made everything complicated. After the initial BP and temperature taking, we were told that she needed to be isolated. At the isolated holding ward, she was given the clearance to go to the treatment/ waiting ward. Actually, I dont know where we were heading bcos we were stopped. They refused to accept her bcos of the fever unless she was cleared by a senior doctor (which she was not) and we were sent back to the isolation holding ward. 

Back there, we were then sent to another holding ward when they checked and found a bed. We arrived only to be told that there was no bed. Zzzzzzz. She could sit in a wheelchair and wait. I refused. Lil Shauna was so tired, drifting in and out of sleep and I cannot see how she can sit in a wheelchair for who knows how long. All I know is that it would be a super long wait and that all the doctors and nurses that we had met thus far were very black faced and fierce. Sob.

We were eventually sent back to the isolation holding ward. The same isolation ward nurse came and this time, nicely explained that they didn't want her at the isolation ward if possible as the patients there may have some nasty infectious diseases. Since we wanted a bed, it appeared that going back was the only option and I took that. Even the ambulance staff were rolling eyes at the whole episode. 

After 1 hour, we finally settled down at the isolation ward. I know that what's ahead was a lot of waiting. After maybe 15 mins, the nurses pricked her finger and took her ECG again. Hmmm... apparently there is no effective communication from the time we boarded the ambulance. Then it was a very long wait. Lil Shauna was drifting in and out of sleep. Luckily she had a bed.

2.5 hours after we arrived at NUH, Lil Shauna was finally seen by a doctor. She asked questions, made some checkups and think that she probably fainted than seizure as seizure has no telling signs prior. I was suspecting dengue but she had none of the rashes that are typical with dengue. As for the next steps, the doctor had to discuss with the senior doctor before she can advise. 

It was back to more waiting but miraculously, without any intervention, Lil Shauna's energy was coming back. She asked for her phone and started messaging and watching netflix. I decided to buy some food, hoping that she would be able to eat some. 

She did and finally commented that she felt hungry. This was like music to my ears. She had asked for something sweet and I got her sugared donut balls with hazelnut chocolate filling. So super sweet lor and she happily down 2 balls and shared my wrap. 

The doctor came back to draw her blood to check for dengue and blood count and did an ART. The blood test results would take an hour. 

The ART turned out -ve. Another nurse came to take her BP lying down and standing up. While on the lower side, her BP was normal. It was finally almost 11pm that the doctor came back with news that all the tests were cleared. So what exactly happened? Nobody knows and she looked well enough for further tests to be needed. It is probably some viral infection and she could faint for various reasons, like random sugar level drop, lack of food, whatever. 

Lil Shauna was dying to go home to rest. With covid, the doctor seems to be eager to send people home if no further medical attention is needed. Daddy Lim was already on standby to pick us. 

Bcos we forgot her slippers and I am still very worried about her being too weak, she had a luxurious wheelchair ride to the pickup area. Finally..  going home.

Mummy Lim

A Very Dramatic Day Part 1

It all started at 1am Saturday morning. I was awoken by Lil Shauna at the doorway, telling me miserably that she had "fell down". I thought she had rolled off/ fell from her bunk bed and asked if she had hurt herself. She then said that she had vomited. I panic a little, thinking that she had hurt her head/ concussion thus vomited. She clarified that she didn't fall, she simply threw up. 

Only when I went to her room, I was totally awoken by the sight. She vomited, a lot.....from her bunk bed onto the floor. The vomit then splashed everywhere with the impact. OK, tmi, I shall cut the description. I spent the next hour, wiping vomit, wiping floor and wall with floor cleaner and dettol. By the time Popo witnessed the crime scene, majority had been cleared up. So I had her complaining in the background non-stop and my blood boiling by the seconds. 

I was finally done at 2am. Lil Shauna was sent to sleep with Daddy Lim, who sleepily asked if she was OK. #thatiswhycelebrateMother'sday Her room, though cleaned, stunk so badly. Then I had Popo who insisted that she must wipe the floor, wall and door once more but with wet wipes and water. I must have some miraculously powerful water at home. I don't care anymore. 

I tried going to bed at 2am but was wide awake. It wasn't 3am that I went back to lala land. I was jolted awake at 5.37am for the 6am WWF ride. In a record time of 9 mins, I managed to get out of the house, cycled like mad and reached the start off point on time. 

I arrived home to a very lethargic Lil Shauna who was feverish. She complained of a tummy ache and I had assumed that she had a stomach-flu. She was tested -ve on the ART. She spent the afternoon lying in various locations and very low in energy. She didn't bother to even use her phone; she must be feeling really bad. 

While she rested at home, I brought Zaky to JP for lunch and arcade. She had initially wanted to tag along but changed her mind the last min bcos she was too tired. 

We bought home mushroom soup from soup spoon but Lil Shauna had zero appetite. She reluctantly took 5 spoonfuls before flopping on the sofa for the rest of the afternoon. 

In the evening, we wanted to go out for dinner. Lil Shauna wanted to tag along. I had thought that it would be good for her to get some fresh air. We got ready, got into the lift and the most traumatic lift ride of our life time. 

Mummy Lim

Happy Birthday with a Cake

Lil Shauna finally got her cake for her bday. On her actual day, we had ice cream after dinner and couldn't find any more space. Deserts go to the heart but our heart has also become so full. Hoho. 

My brother's family came on Monday for dinner. Lil Shauna finally got her cake. We actually baked a burnt cheesecake with a supposedly fail proof recipe from a colleague. The burnt cheesecake tasted fantastic when he baked it for us. I am not sure what would turn out in our hands even when it is supposed to be fail proof. Haha. 

I thought our end product looked decent but am not sure about the taste side and decided that it would be safer to buy Lil Shauna a birthday cake. 

Happy 14th birthday to our Teenager!

She finally got to do the ceremonial candle blowing and cake cutting. 

We love you to the moon and back. Muaks. 

Mummy Lim

Skatepark Wins

The boys are now so looking forward to their weekly aggro classes with Coach N. They take classes with M on Saturday mornings and M's companion made skating doubly fun for Zaky. 

I was faithfully riding with the WWF gang. The route was coincidentally to the Shears bridge and I could tag, dropping off at Suntec to go look for the boys at the ECP skatepark. 

It was a freaking hot Saturday morning. I arrived slightly before the class started. While I spent the entire time under shade, I was perspiring in my cycle gear just doing nothing but watching the boys. 

Zaky said that they did a lot of grinding. I wasn't paying much attention. Haha. I did see Coach helping Daddy Lim to conquer a drop, which he hasn't attempted bcos of mental block. He said that it looked so scary and he kept imagining that he would face plant when he drops. The first one, Coach held Daddy Lim and dropped in together. Coach looked like he was 扶-ing a 老公公. Hohoho. We all cheered when he did it. Lol. 

Once conquered, Daddy Lim kept going on his own again and again for fear that he will lose it the next time. He was like a little boy, thrilled over a new toy/ skill. 

Throughout the session, I tried not to move too much so that I wouldn't create more heat energy. The only time, I stoid in the sun to help the boys filmed their royale grind bcos Auntie M, the official camerawoman, had left with M. I am so noble.

Coach was in the skatepark until late. We saw he had friends coming when we were leaving. While he was in the skatepark, he didn't stop "coaching". When the kids asked him how to do this/ that, he gladly advised and demonstrated. This school fees 很值得.

Daddy Lim had to work on Sunday but was keeping his eyes on skatepark-ing on Monday. The weather forecast said pre-dawn and morning thundery storms. He had planned to bring Zaky down in the afternoon, only to wake up to glorious weather. We ended up dragging Zaky off the bed and to ECP. 

The weather was threatening to rain in the later morning. I was glad to make it back before the rain.

Then on the way back to the skatepark, the sun was shinning brightly again. The weather is so u predicable. No wonder we can no long trust the weather forecast. 

While there is no M at the skatepark yday, Zaky was glad to have B, his classmates. B had been dropping in regularly with his skateboard, when we are at the skatepark. 

I can't wait for the lakeside skatepark to be ready. ECP is so far away and the petrol price is not coming down anytime soon. Zzzzzz.

Mummy Lim

First Big Gathering in a Long Time

Thank God that the covid situation is finally improving after 2 long years. For the 1st time after 2 years, we finally could gather in a big group bcos the group size restriction has been lifted. 

At full force, we are talking about 8 adults and 15 kids without counting the spouses and guests. With the kids getting so much physically bigger as compared to 2 years back, we agreed that a function room would be the ideal option. So, we found ourselves at Auntie J's function room. The occasion was so important that Lil Shauna has it in her calendar to make sure that she reserves her time for us. 

The function room was available at 4.30pm. Some of us arrived slightly earlier for the kids to swim. Zaky swam but Lil Shauna was just happy to chit chat with the girls.

Dinner was finally delivered at 5pm and it was a while before the kids finally felt hungry enough for dinner vs play. 

By then, Daddy Lim and Auntie S were starved and were so glad that the kids finally wanted to eat. 

The 4 biggest girls. Happy to gather around to eat even if to sit on the floor. 

Right after dinner, it was a "must visit" to the playground. 

Auntie SL miraculously managed to get all the kids to cooperate for a picture. Oh yes, J gorgor made a rare appearance.

Compared to 3 years ago, when Auntie J's family was still in US. 

This is a better illustration. We can't even have them all in 1 line bcos of the sheer number.

Apparently, the height order hasn't changed. C looks like she would be surpassing Lil Shauna soon. Lil Shauna was very much in denial and kept saying that it was C's shoes. Hahaha. Eh, Auntie S used the same reason too. 

While the kids were playing at the playground, the 2 popos (who joined us) had their own share of fun too. 

Amazingly, they were at the badminton game for a long time. 

The aunties had our chance too. 

Then the kids came back and we had games and so much laughter. 

There was a distinctive split of the group; the elder kids cut off at Seth and the younger ones had their own fun at the baby pool under Auntie R and Auntie H's watchful eyes while we entertained the older kids. 

It wasn't until 10am before we left. Auntie T sent a picture of knocked out MM. 

Daddy Lim then commented that once upon a time, our kids KO too after such tiring gatherings. Now, they only play games in the car. Haha. Oh yes, the gathering is so tiring. I am so glad that it is a long weekend. I don't think I can survive if we have such big group every gathering and do such vigorous games. Hoho.

How do not love these ladies? 

Mummy Lim