Timbre with Bai-Kah

I think Lil Shauna must have sprained her ankle like 3x since she started netball in Sec 1. She just sprained her ankle in June during training. The sprain took like weeks to heal. Just when it was getting better, she went back to training, landed awkwardly (again) and sprained the same ankle again. She said that Coach was upset with her, I would too, especially when the zone competition is coming up in July. 

This sprain seems worse than the initial one bcos the swelling is bigger. She even skipped school on Friday when she woke up in great pain and claimed that she cannot walk. We had no choice but to bring her to TCM on Friday evening and the nearest one from where we had dinner in JP was MaGuang, atas TCM. 

Gone were the days where the Chinese Sinseh would do the crack, crack, crack, bone settling. The previous time that she sprained and Daddy Lim brought her to a different TCM, it was medicinal wrap. This time, the Sinseh recommended acupuncture plus medicinal wrap if Lil Shauna could tolerate the former. She cannot..  Zzzzz... 

Surprisingly, Zaky was very nice to her and offered to be her clutches as she limped to the car.

On Saturday morning, the swelling didn't seem to go down and Lil Shauna was still whining in pain. I was worried that it was some fracture or hairline crack and had intended to bring her for an x-ray if things didn't improve. By late morning, she said that the pain was more tolerable and even went for her Youth gathering. Win le. 

Daddy Lim picked her up for our family dinner date at Timbre, a reservation that we had made months back. The last round, the reservation was too early at 6.15pm and Zaky kept bugging to leave after he had finished dinner and before we even caught the band. 

This time, the reservation was at 7.30pm. Daddy Lim parked at the nearest possible carpark but still a walk away. Zaky offered to piggyback jiejie but for like only a few meters. Then jiejie slowly limped to the restaurant. 

Zaky survived until the band started playing at 8.30pm and we watched the 1st set. 

Yay! Family dinner date accomplished. 

We didn't catch the 2nd set bcos Zaky had used up all his patience le. Then it was another slow walk back to the car. This time, Daddy Lim piggyback the girl. 

Gone were the days that our princess is a little bit; she is obviously very big now. Daddy Lim also didn't survive very far before dropping her and had her limping her way back to the car. Ya, I not so silly and didn't attempt/ offer to piggyback her. Hoho.

Zaky attempted his spiderman pose that he loves when he was a tiny (skinny) boy. 

Ya, he needed a much bigger post now. Lol. 

This morning, Lil Shauna confirmed that the pain is better. Looks like what she needed is time now. 

Mummy Lim

The Dental Adventure Part 2

The day still has to come. I had gone to the dentist (again) for part 1 of the many procedures to be done, 

As per the dentist's advice, I should quickly fix the top upper cracked molar via crowning while crowning is still a viable option. This is the 1st crown of my life and I was not looking forward to it.

The dentist started by explaining what needed to be done. Actually I asked bcos I was a gan cheong spider and the unknown was killing me. He went on to take his time comparing and choosing the right color for the crown. I really don't care even if it is black color. I only wanted to finish this quickly and get off the dentist chair.

I was told that I would get a jab before the grinding. The tooth needs to be grinded to reduce its size so that the crown can be fitted on it. The grinding would be the most uncomfortable part of the procedure and would take about 15 mins. It was a very long and miserable 15 mins of my life.

The dentist was very nice and gentle but the grinding remained super uncomfortable. There was no pain due to the jab but the sound, the smell and the sensation. Sob. Bcos it was the last upper molar, the dentist had very little "workspace" and had to remind me a couple of times to open my mouth bigger. 

My mouth can only open so big and i can only remain at that posture for that long. Fatigue made worse by anxiety is real. Before long, he had to resort to a mouth prop, which essentially works like a jack that was slotted into my right end of the jaw to prevent my mouth from closing. It did lessen the fatigue but I thought it increased my anxiety. Maybe it was that lost of "control" of my mouth. I don't know anymore. At some points, I thought I would drown in my own saliva bcos I "forgot" how to breathe through my nose. It was basically an ordeal. I started shivering from the cold and the ordeal.

Finally, finally, finally. The grinding was completed. I don't know how long it took but felt like an entity. Then it was the mold taking part that was supposed to be the easy part. I can't tell anymore. It felt equally hard. The dentist had to stuff some solution soaked string into the tooth to sanitise the poor tooth. That solution tasted sour and smelled like vomit. I wonder if I would vomit on the chair....

In that 10 mins that the vomit smelling solution was applied and mold taking, I actually got a temporary plastic crown made. I was very impressed. The dentist then had to grind the plastic mold (and luckily not my tooth anymore) to make it fit. My patience was so thin at that point and it was pure will power to make myself sit still and obey instructions. 

I was so glad to be told that I was done. Yay! I could do backflip in celebration. The crown would be ready in 2 weeks and I would have to be back to replace the temporary crown. That sounds eas(ier) and I hope that it really is. I still have the 2 old fillings to be replaced and the old cracked top right molar to do a root canal. I almost died just doing a crown; I am not sure if I can survive a root canal. Maybe I should just remove it when the pain comes back. T.T

I need to slowly summon my courage. I have 2 weeks to rest my poor heart. I should stay away from muruku and all hard food to protect my other teeth and my dignity.

Mummy Lim

Goodbye Cooks

Today, we bid goodbye to our 1st real pet - Cookie Lim Daogei.

I unfortunately do not have a handsome photo of him in my phone currently. 

In his short lifespan of 1 year, 8 months, he had brought us a lot of joy. We found him utterly affectionate and always hungry for snacks. 

Daddy Lim woke me up at 6am this morning to tell me that Cookie didn't look right. He was lying in his sand box and not moving much. I woke the kids, wanting them to say their last goodbye before they headed for school. In that half an hour, we saw him panting as we held him dearly. We said our goodbyes and prayed for him; for God to take him to a better place soon if he was suffering. Daddy Lim then took over while the kids went to prep for school. In that few moments, Cookie moved on. 

The kids and I cried loads. It wasn't easy to say goodbye to our 1st real pet. 

Popo subsequently told me that Cooks was already behaving funny last night. He wasn't running his wheel as usual but was lying motionlessly in the sandbox when she was heading for bed. I like to think that Cookie, being as dear as he is, had waited for us to say our last goodbyes. I hope we have given as much love and joy as he had given us. 

Did he show signs? I don't know. There were times that we thought he lost weight, then he looked normal. There were times that I thought he had lost appetite but he was greedy thereafter. I am actually glad that he didn't. I thought that it is easier for all of us this way. 

We love you Cooks! Go run your wheel and eat your mealworm in heaven. We will see you again one day. 

Mummy Lim

Back to "Normalcy"

I am quite sure the kids would agree if I say that this June school holidays seems to pass faster than the previous ones. Maybe it is bcos we spent a week in Genting and I spent another week for business travel. Suddenly, the kids are going back to school. 

Secondary school has lost its charms. Lil Shauna isn't as enthusiastic as before to return to school. Zaky never like school anyway. Hohoho. Nevertheless, the inevitable will happen. 

The morning routine is now back in place and I thankfully still remember how to tie French braids. 

I am now working from the office 2 to 3 days a week and have the flexibility to plan my schedule. I was working from home on Monday bcos I was too lazy to commute and wanted to "recover" from the business travel. The house was exceptionally quiet. 

This morning, it was back to the office and the once familiar commute to office. I think everybody has gone back/ is going back to work. The train was crowded and the Raffles MRT station was 人山人海. 

Fighting! And let's start planning and keeping our eyes on the next holiday. Hohoho. 

Mummy Lim

1st Business Trip and Flight 2022

Yesh! I have completed my 1st business trip with my current Company and it had been 2.5 years since I joined. This is also my 1st flight since Dec 2019, all bcos of Covid. 

The flight was at 8am on Monday and I was up at 4ish. Still 天黑黑ish... 

I had obviously lost touch. Only when I stepped into T1, did I remember that I didn't do online checkin. Fortunately, the airport wasn't too crowded and I cleared the immigration quickly. 

Woohoo! Shopping!

Once upon a time, I stocked up my comestic and skin care products whenever I travel. After 2 over years, I suddenly realised that I have so many items that I needed to stock up. T.T

Well, I got my primer and sunblock this round. Slowly, slowly stock up and to many overseas trips and airport shopping in the future! 

The flight was full and I got the middle seat. I don't mind the middle seat but I did suddenly realise how small airplane seats are. I barely have enough space for my legs and saw this big size ang mo in front of me. I was comfortable until the lady passenger on my left started fidgeting and checking her bag. While doing so, she kept infringing into my air space and then, she stole my arm rest! Arm rest belongs to the middle seat, ok!

I got food, the travel agent had booked us flight meal.

Nothing fancy but I was very excited for my 1st in-flight meal after so long. Hoho. I think adding on a coffee would have been perfect but the flight was too short to order anything else.

We landed on time. The famous Jakatar traffic had been very merciful to us throughout the whole trip and there were't excessive jams. We got to our hotel in 30 mins, freshen up, had lunch before starting our work week in Indonesia. The hotel room was HUGH! The toilet is even bigger than our kids' room back home. 

Oh yes, got bathtub but I didn't use. I no fancy bathtub.

Our hotel was connected to a big shopping mall that was empty most of the time. There were plenty of food options but I didn't eat extravagantly during the trip as I was snacking constantly to keep my energy up and ended up too full at most meal times. I was very excited with Auntie Annes though.

I also did arrange to meet up an ex-colleague whom I have not met for years. It was fun catching up and trying to recall who and who and who. 

Did I keep up with my exercise regime? Oh yes, I was waking up every morning at about 5.30am to hit the gym. It was mostly empty and opens at 6am, working out perfectly for me. 

Gym, shower, quick bfast before heading to the office. 

We headed home on Friday morning as the afternoon/ night flight was full. Why didn't my colleague arranged for Thursday night flight ah? I also blur. 

The journey to the airport was smooth and along the way, we saw cyclist on crazy Jakarta roads. They are very brave. Come, I clap for you.

Hello Scoot! Yes, my first business flight was given to Scoot bcos SQ was full. 

This time, I was seated at the very last row and realised that the seat cannot decline. Zzzzz. I got in-flight meal again and it was yam rice this time. Quite yummy. 

I touched down at 12.30pm and started my 1st call that was mostly listening to information. I was on the call from touch down to clearing immigration, to buying Daddy Lim's shoulder monkey, to the grab ride home. Then it was another 6 back to back calls. I must be crazy to plan my calendar that way and even crazier that I actually managed to keep up. 

Towards the last call, I was physically exhausted but really proud of keeping up. Hoho. Yay to my 1st business trip in a long time. 

Mummy Lim

A Super Exhausting Sleepover

We talked about a boys-only sleepover. Once upon a time, it was nightmare trying to plan for the girls' sleepover bcos they were so busy socially. This time, it was equally difficult for the boys bcos they are so busy with tuitions during the June holiday. 

After shifting and accommodating, we planned for Thursday to Friday. Why weekdays right? Bcos it was to proceed or cancel as there was no perfect date. Of course the boys went ahead. 

Zaky had tuition until 7.30pm and it was already 8ish when we arrived at Auntie J's house in the faraway land. I heard Zaky missed supper, that was gobbled up by the other boys. 

Auntie J so kindly suggested that she could cook him delicious maggi mee. Eerrrr... no need. Zaky wasn't hungry and he has plenty of reserves. 

I heard that the boys were playing Nitendo switch until 1am. Very strong.

Despite the late night, they were up at 7am. Auntie J made them delicious cheese omelette. It doesn't matter if one is half asleep, one must eat 1st. 

Zaky said that the boys originally planned for an early morning swim. I wouldn't be keen too with the morning cold pool water. 

They ended up with more gaming before an early movie.

Meanwhile, at the not too far away Orchard, I was on afternoon leave and chatting up with the other 2 aunties. Hoho. We were also very well-entertained and immensely enjoying ourselves. 

The boys completed their sleepover with a swim. 

Their sleepover was indeed action packed and I also feel exhausted just hearing about what they had done. 

The boys left Auntie J's house in the late afternoon as it was time for the various tuitions. Zaky had it best bcos he had none. I got him a grab and met him at Suntec for dinner. The intention was to wait for Daddy Lim and have dinner together. Unfortunately, Zaky was super low batt and needed to eat. Then, he couldn't take the mrt anymore but grab was $50 and I didn't want to pay for it.

We decided to take a rest at a cafe while waiting for the price to come down. I wonder how did the rest of the boys survived their tuitions. 

The moment we got a seat at the cafe, Zaky made himself comfortable and was napping within mins. 

Yes, yours truly laps came in very useful. He napped for a full hour; Daddy Lim kindly came to rescue us. I managed to get some work done too. 

We adjourned to the foodcourt for Daddy Lim to have his dinner and Zaky fell asleep again. 

Then he napped somemore when he moved to the car. 

It was like a deep exhaustion that he couldn't , shake off. Once home, he showered and hopped onto the bed and slept until the next morning. Hohoho.

This sleepover is way too exhausting but all the boys agreed that they wanted to do it again and to do more 2 nights the next time. Wah! They are trying to murder the mummy who would be hosting the sleepover ah? Like Auntie J says, it would be so much easier to plan the sleepover during the December holiday bcos PSLE would be over and no more tuition. Yay!

Mummy Lim

The Dental Adventure

In February 2021, I had that cracked tooth ordeal that went on for months. The end result? I left the cracked tooth sitting with a band holding it together, after deciding that I didn't want a root canal or an extraction + implant, until such a time that I have no choice. 

A year had past and the yearly dental checkup is overdue. Oh yes, my heart cannot take 6 monthly dental checkup and doing it yearly is already an achievement in my perspective. I know that a visit is imminent when the last upper left molar started to hurt. I think it is a tooth decay. 

As my company insurance covers dental for the family, I scheduled Zaky for his dental too. Daddy Lim and Lil Shauna did theirs a few months back when Lil Shauna complained of a gum infection that eventually went away on its own. I was also hoping that my toothache will go away on its own. Fat hope.

Zaky's checkup went really well. There was no cavity and the dentist said that he did a good job brushing his teeth. Zzzzz. Zaky almost forgot to brush his teeth (like many other days) that same morning and rushed to do so right before our appointment at 11am. He was done quickly and got his teeth cleaned and polished at the clinic.

I was next and went on to explain the whole story about the cracked tooth and then the painful left upper molar, hoping that it is a decayed tooth. 

The verdict? It isn't a decay and would have been easier if it is a decay but another cracked tooth. Sob. There were some knocking, testing and 3 x-rays before the dentist advised the next course of action. 

The cracked left tooth can be rescued with a crown and this is the top priority. However, most cracked teeth would at one point cracked beyond repair and need to be extracted. Then 2 old metal fillings are to be replaced bcos these old time fillings are super hard and could actually contribute to the tooth cracking. The old cracked tooth may require an investigation by a specialist before deciding if a root canal could still work. Otherwise, it would be an extraction followed up by implant/ denture/ bridge. 

The procedures all sounded so painful but the dentist was very reassuring and claimed  that the root canal and implant are all much less painful than a tooth extraction. How come I don't trust the dentist? And why are my teeth cracking? Well, after 30 years of wear and tear, it isn't that surprising, is it? The dentist also accrued it to eating preference and habits. We all agreed that the murukus and doritos should be thrown away moving ahead. Hohoho. 

I need to mentally prepare myself for the crowning 2 weeks down the road.

Mummy Lim

Another ECP Roll

Daddy Lim and Zaky had their aggro skating lessons on Sunday morning. I had decided to tag along. Daddy Lim asked me if I would be using my "bubblegum" colored quads skates. I wish but I don't know how to brake on them and there is this huge slope leading to the skatepark. One has to 1st conquer coming down the same slope to get to the ECP paths. I cannot and I don't think I want to risk my life for that. 

It is always a period of adaption when I switch skates. I took the chance to rotate some of the wheels too. I had accidentally created an anti-rocker on my skates when I rotated the smaller wheels to my 1st and last wheel and needed to correct that.

The rocker and anti-rocker setup is usually for some rollerblading tricks. Of course I can't do tricks, I don't even dare to attempt jumping off steps. My greatest achievement so far is to be able to blade down slopes without falling. Hohoho. 

I went on my way, rollerblading along the familiar route. Probably a little too familiar and overconfident that I didn't watch out for the twigs/ leaves/ seeds as I usually would. I tripped and almost fell 4x. The 3rd time was especially bad. I tripped over I-duno-what and was really falling. At that moment, my hands instinctively reached out in anticipation of the fall. My eyes saw my hands and my brain was so amused. Everything happened so instantaneously, instinctively but not coordinated by the brain. Lol. Daddy Lim asked if I saw my life flashed across my eyes. No lah, don't have. Hoho. 

I made it to MBS this time, before deciding to turn back quickly bcos the stormy clouds were threatening.

The boys were done with their classes by the time I was back at the skatepark. Zaky was lethargic, maybe from too much BBQ food the previous night. It started drizzling not long after and we called it a day (morning).

Then, while Zaky was at his Chinese tuition in the afternoon, Daddy Lim brought Lil Shauna and I to the Kallang skatepark. Yay, 2 skateparks in a day. This time, I tried my bubblegum quads and was looking for fellow quads skaters bcos I wanted to learn how to brake. Someone told me that I should turn and then use the front brake stopper. Wah.... 高难度. I hope I managed to brake before I even fall to my death in my attempt to brake. 

I only managed 2 rounds around the track bcos it was sheer hard work on the bubblegum. I gave up after 2 rounds and switched to my rollerblades and glide freely for the next x rounds. Hoho. When can I be very good on the bubblegum ah? 

Mummy Lim

Chalet

It had been ages since we last gone to a chalet. My brother's family invited us to one, in celebration of the big F's 17th bday. Oh yes, time flies, big girl already. 

There was a cancellation of the Saturday afternoon plans and we could go to the chalet much earlier. We literally 大包小包 to the chalet via grab. 

The chalet is at Loyang and it is really very far from our house. The uncle seemed to drive forever before we finally arrived. 

The kids self-entertained and decided to go to the beach. I took the chance to rollerblade Paris Ris Park instead. 

It must have been more than 20 years since I last visited the Park. I remembered rollerblading in the same park with my secondary school classmates once. In my hazy memory, Auntie SL was part of the group. I must have been 16 (or younger then) and rollerblading was very in at that time. I bought a pair of $50 purple and black rollerblade from the Queensway shopping center but don't remember what happen to them. 

I came across this flight of stairs. 

I remembered we were here! And one of the classmates attempted to learn to jump off the steps. I didn't attempt then and wouldn't do it now. Hoho. 

The pathway at Paris Ris Park was a lot smoother than that of ECP but very much covered with twigs and leaves. So dangerous. The park was also much emptier than ECP. I skated to what appeared to be a dead end and rolled back, clocking only 6.1km. Paris Ris Park is only so small? I probably didn't find the connector to the bigger part of the park. 

The rain was threatening as well. The kids were still at the beach. I saw the rain in a far distant. We made it back dry and then the rain clouds went away. 

As such, the BBQ went on really smoothly. Once upon a time, nobody wants to BBQ. Now that the kids are older, BBQ is the fun thing and everybody (almost) wanted to BBQ. 

We didn't sleepover bcos there wasn't enough beds despite the huge chalet. The kids didn't sleepover too as LIl Shauna had made plans and Zaky was taking aggro lessons the next early morning. Again, another 路途遥远 journey home.

Happy 17th!

Mummy Lim