How to End the School Term in Style

First, order a delicious lava cake.

Eat like there is no tomorrow bcos school holiday starts! Woohoo!

Mummy Lim

Baby Root Canal

As decided, Zaky will get a root canal and I have the "honor" to bring him for the appointment.

The only appointment that can fit into our busy schedule was yday at 11.30am. The plan was for Zaky to skip school and I would take half day pm leave. Lil Shauna has the option to skip student care (SC) but she decided to proceed. She mentioned that she is in some competition for some star award with another boy in SC and she is determined to win it.

Zaky was thrilled to learn that he doesn't have to go to school. Yday morning, he nevertheless woke up at the same time automatically but his intent was merely to move from his bed to ours and continue his slumber. Within minutes, I can hear his snores.

The half day leave plan failed. A colleague had to go on urgent pm leave and I ended up asking for time off instead. I activated code Popo for help though at the expense of some noises.

I got a cab at 11.15am to rush down to meet Popo and Zaky at Jcube. While in the cab, Popo called me to say that the clinic said that the apptm was made for tomorrow and not today. It is true that I was deciding between today and tomorrow when I called to make the apptm with a somewhat disinterested staff then. I cant tell for sure it if was my pea mind or the staff's mistake but it didnt matter. The end point can only be Zaky getting the dental attention that he needed it at that exact slot. I did wonder if I should plead or be a nasty customer to get my way.

Things eventually worked out but our apptm had to be shifted to 12noon. The staff were all super nice and I couldn't bear to be a nasty customer. Lol. Zaky obviously hadn't much idea what was in stored for him and was still happily playing cup flip while waiting for his apptm.

The dentist explained that it was the same badly declayed tooth that was infected and not the one next to it. The antibiotics did help to calm the infection but the gum swelling was still visible. After the same explanation (as Daddy Lim) on the risks associated with the root canal or extraction, we proceeded with the root canal. The dentist called it the "nerves treatment".

Bcos of Zaky's age, the dentist gave him a jab to make the treatment more tolerable. The boy didn't want an extraction but didn't know that the root canal requires jab as well. We did tell him before the procedure start. He asked if it would be painful and the answer is always the same - just like an ant bite, just that he would need to figure out how big the ant is. There was eventually some crying but he was largely manageable and tolerated the jab well.

There was a lot of drilling and cleaning. I would basically freeze up on the dentist chair but the boy is a pro already after so many trips. He asked the dentist on what she was going to do, knew exactly which button to press to fill his cup with water and raised his hand when he wanted the dentist to pause. There were times that there were discomfort despite the jab and mummy had to hold his hand in a half bend posture. My poor back!

The procedure was completed in about an hour. The dentist mentioned that it was a little complex case; he could still feel some sensitivity after the jab. As a result, she gave him a temporary filling and cover. He had to come back a second time to get it treated again before she gave him a permanent fliling and cover.

Finally, before we were let out, she did an incision on the swelling gum to extract the pus. Zzzzz.. Fortunately, there was no pain for the boy since the area was already numbed. Incision just sound scary.

The next apptm will be the following Saturday and it would be Daddy Lim's turn. I have already warned Daddy Lim that Zaky would require a jab again. Good luck ah. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

Red Tip

It had been 2 weeks since Zaky’s grading test – his test results would be revealed. He was apprehensive, hovering between confident and worried bcos he screwed up his back-hook kick. Just in case, I launched into the “it’s Ok, try again” prep talk right while walking him to his TKD class.

Did he get a belt change? Of course! He even gestured to remind me to take pictures when he saw me standing outside and waiting.

Like the previous, he was called up.

He was made to take off his old belt in exchange for the new one.

Before Master gave him the new belt.

Feeling all proud.

He is always as motivated for his TKD. He enthusiastically shared that he had learnt the 1st 5 steps of his red tip pattern and was eager to demonstrate. The school is asking for participants for the demonstration team too. The student has to be at least blue belt and above. Zaky already has his hands and legs in the air. I will find out more.

Mummy Lim

Avenger Station - Science Center

Lil Shauna didn't have ice skating class; the rink was closed for some ice hockey competition. In fact, she will be not have class for the next 2 weeks. The ice hockey competition is still on the next weekend and I am out of Singapore for the following. It had been a while to not have class on Saturday morning while we are in Singapore. Lil Shauna is totally loving it and doing cartwheels. Lol.

The kids murder me when we have to stay at home. In order to make sure that I don't turn them into murderers, yours truly decided to bring them to the Science Center. The special exhibitions are the Avenger Station and Up Close & Personal with the Butterflies. Now guess, which one will I choose? I have an unspoken feud with the butterflies.

The Avenger Station is seriously expensive; we paid $63 for entry. Can you see the kids? We also have to download a free app to "maximise the experience".

So how was the expensive exhibition? I think it would be more suited for adults or Avenagers frenetics, which we aren't either.

There were some interactive stations to entertain the kids.

Otherwise, it was basically a lot of information to read. We didn't even get to use the app much. Nobody was keen to listen to what super hero did and how they became one.

The was free screening of the Avenger movie but the kids weren't too keen. I think they were most entertained by the last interactive game to try being Iron Man.

They patiently queued for their turn.

Finally, I am Iron Man!

We completed the exhibition in less than 2 hours and headed back to Science Center. The kids appeared to enjoy Science Center more, I should have tried harder to convince them and save my pocket.

We couldn't stay long bcos it was Maths class. The kids only agree to leave bcos mummy promised to head back after Maths class.

And that was what we did. At 4pm, we went back to the Science Center, leaving Daddy Lim to wait outside bcos we didn't want to pay for his entry. Haha. We spend another 1.5 hr in the Center and the kids had a lot of fun.

They also tried the free craft stations.

The verdict? Science Center alone would have been good enough and there wasn't the need for the extras. Nevertheless, it was a day of good fun.. ok, expensive fun.

Mummy Lim

The Adventure of.... Being Zaky's Mummy

The 1st prerequisite - to have a strong heart. In the span of 1 month, he has 2 complaints from his teacher. I am quite sure that my skin has thickened by a lot over the years. My son put me through solid training.

Other than the misadventures in school, he had been recently complaining about this toothache that bugged him at the top left end. I didn't see any black spots when I inspected the area. I was hoping that it wasn't the same molar that was badly decayed about 6 months back. The dentist warned that the nerves were exposed and there was a risk of infection even though she had patched it up. In the event that an infection sets in, he has to do either a root canal or to extract the tooth. For the latter, he has to put in a retainer to retain the space until such a time that the new molar grows. Bummer.

I was hoping that the pain will go away if i ignore it hard enough. It didnt. In fact, his complaint was quite bad recently and Daddy Lim took leave to send him to the dentist today. Daddy Lim said that it wasnt the same tooth but the one next to it. Whichever the tooth, the point is that the nerves are infected, the gum is swollen and Zaky either has to get a root canal or remove the molar and get a retainer. Arrrggghh. We had originally decided on extraction and wanted to start the procedure today only to be told that the gum swelling has to be brought down 1st. He was given antibiotics and the swelling should go away in a week.

In the end, his teeth were cleaned and another hole filled up. The damaged for today - $300+. Zzzzzzzz. We have like filled thousands of holes ever since he started to have teeth.

The dentist also commented about the last molar being too little and the retainer that would be tied to the moral might end up cutting into his gum. So it might seem that a root canal is a better choice. A root canal will set us back by another $500+. It is not the $$ that hurts me but a root canal will take at least several hours to complete. I cannot imagine the agony to have to accompany him. Sob, I want to cry at the thought. I am also fearful of dentist visits even if I am not the one on the dentist chair. I feel more stressful than the kids whenever I bring them to the dentist.

I was so upset the whole afternoon and evening. It is one of those situations that is so frustrating bcos there is nobody to blame. I really feel like whacking his backside for not brushing his teeth properly. Have you seen somebody who can finish brushing in 3 seconds? You must visit us to witness this amazing feat. I also want to yell at Popo for loading him with tons of sweets and chocolates. Who feed their offspring with sweets, chocolates and treats after every meal and a few times a day in addition? Tickets to tour the Lim weird family are on sales. Arrrggghhh... I can bite off a chicken's head.

Eventually, Daddy Lim thinks that a root canal is a better option. I am "scheduled" to take leave next week to send him for part 1 of the root canal procedure and it will take at least 1 hour. I think I need to pray hard for strength. Hopefully the dentist don't have to attend to a fainting parent.

Daddy Lim bought the kids electric toothbrush after the dentist visit. Will it help the kids to take better care of their pearlies? I really hope so.

God is so merciful to only grant us 1 Zaky and a sweet girl to balance it up. My heart however strong, can only manage 1. This is crazy.

Mummy Lim

Second Official Complaint

Zaky's Chinese Teacher messaged me and lodged a 2nd official complaint... he was in a spitting war with a classmate and ended up hitting his classmate. The last episode when I sat him down, I told him that he must not get into a fight even if somebody starts the fight or provocates him. Apparently, his big ears aren't good for listening.

His reason? His classmate spat at him 1st, so he spat back and it continued and so he punched his friend. What kind of logic is that?!

Gadget is banned for the whole week. He did make some noise but knows that he is the wrong. For the rest of the evening, he asked for paper to make craft and played stacking blocks. His behavior was super good.

I told him that gadget will be banned for 2 weeks if I hear another complaint from his teacher. Faint, 2 complaints within 1 month.

Mummy Lim

Guns and Roses

A few months back, Daddy Lim excitedly told me that Guns and Roses (G&R) is coming to Singapore. Ahhh... who again?  He was excited to catch the concert and I graciously asked him to do so with his like-minded friends. I don't think I would be keen to throw good money away to a spend hours watching people head banging to totally unfamiliar music. He took my offer, found 2 other friends to go bang head together.

I could tell that he was excited though he had been complainI g about how expensive the tickets were and he paid so much to be outdoor, how lousy the transportation was, how everything else cost extra money. Yday, he was so eager to set off to the concert after sending us home. Lol.

While he was away, I watched TV with the kids. Then, we had a movie night, complete with pillows on the couch and even snack. We played a board game too, which unfortunately led to some tantrums and Zaky then asked to go to bed. With one kid down, Lil Shauna was given ipad time and she was of course very well occupied and didn't go to bed until 11pm.

The kids were very much manageable. Daddy Lim must have had a good time too. He posted on fb.

This morning, he said that he thoroughly immersed in the concert atmosphere, excitedly telling me about the lights, the crowd, the head banging people. He was also telling me about who and who of G&R, who? I have no idea. Lol. The crowd was generally our age. Must be, which young people will know G&R? Lol.

I have never been to any concert and wanted to go for one too. I like Jay Chou. Hehe. Next time, whoever wants to go Jay's concert jio me ok?

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating 76: Sharpened Skates

We have never sharpened Lil Shauna's skates since we bought it a year back. We were told that it was long overdue before Skate Bangkok but it was crazy to attempt to sharpen her skates before a competition. Anyway, she didn't complain about losing gripe and was just happy skating in them.

Skate Bangkok came and go. We procrastinate a little and finally brought her skates to Coach Sally's shop only to be told that she had millions of skates queuing up and asked us to bring Lil Shauna's skate a week later. We procrastinate a little bit more and a week became a few weeks. When we finally brought it back, we were told that the machine was sent for serving and wouldn't be back until a month later. Zzzzzz...

The machine must be on a long sabbatical leave bcos it had been over a month and it still hasn't come home. I asked QE for help, the physio student who helped in the off ice a while back and was given Uncle Jimmy's contact. Finally, after so many moons, we finally got her skates sharpened. Yes, they were in terrible state. I could imagine Uncle Jimmy skating his head when Daddy Lim brought them to him for sharpening. Daddy Lim told Uncle Jimmy that Lil Shauna was a beginner and he gave her more "stability". I am not quite sure what that meant but suspect that she would had a hard time skating with her sharpened skates. I can tell the future....

We turned up on the ice earlier than usual bcos we needed to run in her skates. The moment she hit the ice, she said that her skates feel so different and she cannot move. She looked normal to me on the ice but I think she needed to push a lot harder.

Teacher Raymond heard that her skates were just sharpened and told her that she must keep skating before class to run in the skates. Though she complained big time to me (of course, she cant talk to Teacher Raymond until now) that she cannot move fast, cannot spin properly, she obediently stayed on the ice. For me, it was one of those "don't expect too much bcos something is not right" sessions. See no evil, hear no evil, I even left the rink to buy coffee. Haha.

The lesson wasn't too bad. Newly sharpened skates isn't an excuse for Teacher Raymond. She did the usual scatch spin forward and backward and was taught the entry to backward spin. Teacher Raymond also made her do sit spins - her far from optimal posture sit spins. Her ka no strength; I think she needs to eat more chicken feet and frog leg.

After class, Lil Shauna said that the class was good despite the skates. She said that Teacher Raymond told her that her loop jump is a little bit more to a full circle.

Did she continue to skate after lesson? Of course not! It would be a pain after every sharpening, to think that Uncle Jimmy said that the skates had to be sharpened after every 45 hours. Good luck. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

Mother and Daughter Goal

101 - to wear similar outfit.

I have been waiting for a long time; for her to grow old enough.

Finally... and jumper is so in now. I had never own a jumper and had been waiting to wear one. Hehehe.

Not only matching outfit; we completed it with exact same shoes.

$15 a pair from Rubi. She finally grew big enough to wear the smallest adult size. Yeah!

Daddy Lim says that we are Twindle Dee and Twindle Dum.

Mummy Lim

When All Gadgets Break Loose

We enforced no gadget nights for a few weekdays night. We all survived very well including the adults. I tried very hard to not touch my phone and I think Daddy Lim put in the same effort too. On some nights, we played boardgame, then we fixed some toys on others. The kids didn't have much free time on weekday nights anyway.

I wasn't that evil to totally ban gadget. The kids were given the choice to choose 2 out of the 5 weekday nights for gadget uses (and we had to give them the ipad today due to unforeseen circumstances too).

The moment when it was declared as "gadget day", all gadgets broke loose.

I had to be thankful that we didn't have much time before bedtime came along. We will try our very best.

Mummy Lim