Hoya Again

I was just wondering how I should spend Nana's $400 Wellness Benefits provided by the company's insurance and she immediately told me that she needed new glasses. Her frame is slanted and the lenses scratched. Why? Bcos she 吃球饼 during her netball and despite the multiple reminders to wear her old glasses during netball, she never remember. 

Their last eye check was in April 2022 when Zaky got his new glasses. His lenses were also badly scratched but at least his glasses lasted for 2 years. Nana last changed her glasses in April 2021. The only comfort is that Hoya had protected their eyes and their eyesight didn't further deteriorate. 

Eye check is an anxious affair for everyone bcos mummy will be very upset and will scold people if their eyesight deteriorates. Heng ah, no need to scold people again this time. 

Nana was busy choosing her frame. She is always in this big round black frame. This is her current look. 

The final 2 pairs that she shortlisted.

Looks the same right? Hahaha. 

Let's just be happy that her eyesight maintains. Bye to $500. 

Mummy Lim

Blind... Cannot Avoid

Lil Shauna's eyesight is greatly disparate between her both eyes. The last we checked in February 2021, 1 year after we switched to the Hoya lenses, her left was at 450 while her right was at 200 (it was L 375 and R 200 in February 2020). The Hoya lenses were doing their job for her right eye but not the left. The optician said that she probably has lazy eyes. He asked that she tried patching her right eye for 30 mins a day to train up her left eye muscle and to come back for review a month later. 

I didn't think that Lil Shauna would be disciplined. On the 1st day, I had reminded her. Then, to my pleasant surprise, she had set her alarm and consistently patched up her right eye for most evenings. I was hoping for good results. 

It had been 1.5 month since she started patching and it is time for review. On the way to the optical shop, Zaky started telling me that he thinks his eyesight has worsen too bcos his vision is blurred despite his glasses. This is the 2nd time that he has told me. Don't like that lah, their poor mother cannot take it. 

The verdict... still need to change glasses. Sob. There is a slight improvement on her left eye to 425 but that is still a 50 degrees difference from her current len. Cannot siam le. Interestingly, the optician said that her right eye can see just as clearly at 175 and suggested that we reduce to 175 since Hoya is myopic control lenses. Her asti went up (from duno what) to R 75, L 150. The optician advised Lil Shauna to watch her posture. 

We eventually decided to keep her right at 200 bcos the lenses are super expensive and I cannot take it if she comes back a few months later to tell me that she cannot see. We are $500 poorer! We bought 2 pairs at $470 each in February 2020. 

Busy choosing her big, black, round frame. All look the same to me. 

Other than the new glasses, we had to top up her contact lenses. Total damage (inclusive of glasses) - $665. I am so glad that I can claim $400 from my company insurance.

Now, how about Zaky? His eyesight suddenly improved after I clean his lenses at the optical shop. Zzzzzzz.... Seriously? The optician checked his eyes and assured that they didn't deteriorate. I can never understand how they can continue wearing their glasses and not clean them even when they are like stained and fingerprints filled. Zaky said that he cannot tell. Really? Anyway, I am just super glad that his eyesights didn't worsen. 

Mummy Lim

Growing

Lil Shauna looked rounder after the school holidays.  She is definitely well fed. Other than the proper meals, she had access to endless supply of snacks by Popo. Haiz. She definitely takes after me. Her limbs are skinny but that tummy... ooooo.... what is she hiding in there? Aiya, why didn't she take over the better genes?

I was hoping that it would help now that school has started. It hasn't, not when Popo offered her 2 mini ice cream after dinner and duno what else before school. Zzzzz.

Before bed, we were trying out attire for ice skating this Saturday, something that would cover the protective gear that we are going to invest in. We tried a few pairs of leggings that she hadn't wore for some time and she complained that I was trying to suffocate her thighs. Zzzz. We tried a few dresses over a finally-comfortable legging and the dresses suddenly grew shorter but the real issue was around the waist. She seriously looked like a bah chang. There wasnt space for even an ant to crawl through. Eventually, we settled for this. She hates both the dress and legging but has no other option without looking ridiculous (like some pom pom skirt and a tight top that show off her tummy) and chubby. The dark color must have helped.

It must be time for shopping. Just 2 weeks back, I bought her 4 much bigger and looser tops to replace those tiny ones that totally show off her tummy. Looks like we need new dresses too. 衣服本来刚刚好....

She must stop those snacking.

Mummy Lim

On Her Own

Other than Wednesdays where we would pick Lil Shauna straight from school, Daddy Lim or I have to be home by 7.10pm each weekday to pick Lil Shauna from the school bus. Sometimes, it would be a bad rush, arriving at the pick up point minutes before she does.

It doesn't help that the bus arrives early at times and the bus driver doesn't care if the parent or guardian is here for the child, driving off the moment the last kid steps off. The parent/ maid of the other kids have been super nice, helping me to watch over Lil Shauna on 2 occasions that I was a minute behind the bus.

The pick up point is actually 1 block away from our house and there is a nice walk path leading to our block. I am quite sure she can handle that little walk in the event that we really couldn't make it. She too is confident of doing so.

Yday, she happily accepted to walk home on her own while I followed from a distance. She even took the lift herself while I boarded the next.

There was nothing exciting about it - that walk is that short and safe. The next time we really couldn't make it on time, I am quite sure she can make her way home safely.

Mummy Lim

Busy Day

We are back from Genting and I don't want to be back. I will blog about our enjoyable trip after I sorted out the pix.

Daddy Lim and I were on leave today. Lil Isaac woke up bright and early when his parents were dead tired. We lazed around before heading to JP for BK bfast. Then, we went to the Camden Medical Center in Orchard to visit the orthodontist. As advised by the dentist who last seen Lil Shauna, we fixed an appointment to see how we can treat her "bite" problem - her lower jaw protrudes further than her upper jaw.

The orthodontist barely saw her for 5 mins and shared that Lil Shauna definitely needs treatment but she's too young for the treatment now. She will have to wait for her milk teeth to be replaced, especially the 4 front upper teeth. Otherwise, the problem may re-occur when her adult teeth come out.

Lil Shauna's lower jaw is growing fine, but her upper jaw is growing slower than her lower jaw, which is supposed to be easier to treat than when the condition reverses. The treatment is basically braces on the upper teeth and a face mask to guide the upper jaw to grow faster than the lower jaw. The mask will be put on every night and the treatment will take between 6 to 9 months depending on how discipline we are in observing wearing the face mask. The face mask actually looks scary and we are glad that it is not now. The orthodontist also said that Lil Shauna's condition is not the most severe and still can be treated without a surgery. Ok, we will be back in another few years' time. We are poorer by $85 for that few mins of consultation and the advice to come back 4 years down the road. Win already.

After the dental visit, we headed to MS and Suntec. Mummy had an appointment and Daddy Lim had to man 2 kids with Popo for over an hour. Lil Isaac napped and Daddy Lim survived very well.

Then we came back to JP and caught a movie. Lil Shauna has been bugging Daddy Lim to watch the Oz, despite telling her that there are witches in the show. She went for the Oz movie since she was so insistent. Lil Isaac went for his first movie of his life - The Croods.

Lil Isaac managed to sit still for a big part of the show but I dont think he quite understand the show. I enjoyed the show very much. Lil Shauna was happily relating the storyline after the show. I supposed she sort of enjoys too. I think Daddy Lim will now bring Lil Shauna for more movies, he loves watching movies and we had plenty before the kids come along.

The day didnt end well. The kids were tired and there were plenty of tantrums. Mr Cane had to make his appearance though nobody got caned. The only saving grace is that the tired kids slept early. It is my bedtime too. Good night.

Mummy Lim

Tough!

I just helped Lil Shauna with her phonics homework before bed. She was supposed to write 4 words each with the short vowel sound. She took at least 30 mins but didnt complain. I think she quite like phonics as compared to music. She would have screamed bloody murder if I made her practice more than 10 mins on the keyboard.

Then we learnt to spell "who". She has mastered 9 out of the 10 words in her spelling list. Actually, I have taught her 7 of the 10 sight words previously. She could recognize them during story time but couldn't spell them. She takes a while to recollect them now. I wonder how she will fare during spelling on Friday.

It is so tough to be a kid now. Even I feel like surrendering. We were supposed to practice music tonight but I supposed phonics homework is more important. Hopefully she will practice willingly tomorrow. As I said, if things get a little too tough, then music will be the first to go. No point pulling hair over enrichment classes. Phew.

Mummy Lim

Little Fingers

Just a few months ago, I took ages to help Lil Shauna to wear her gloves before skating. It was so hard to make the 10 little fingers go into their designated slots. I often ended up with squeezy slots (2 fingers attempting to squeeze into one) and empty slots with no fingers. Lol.

A few days ago, we were trying gloves at Winter Wear and she could wear her right glove easily on her own. Left glove only require minimum assistance from us.

Yday, I was helping her with her skating glove and I got her fingers into the right slots in one attempt. Hehehe, the little milestones that the kids achieved. So little yet so significant.

Mummy Lim

Book Worm

We wanted to read daily to the kids. We want to visit the library every week to loan new books. However, we are humans and humans are lazy. It gets even more challenging now that the little tiger is older and wants to “read” too but loses interest quickly and is disturbing more than listening. Well, we still try. Though less frequent than desired or as compared to the past, we are surprised to see the progress than Lil Shauna is making.

I am still adding on to the list of sight words that I am teaching Lil Shauna but at a slower pace. Most of them are 2 or 3-letter words. She may sometimes take a few repetitions on different occasions but is remembering most of them. This I am glad but am more excited to realize that she can pronounce 3-letter words through phonics! I felt that our investments are showing results. Hehe.

She could hear the first, middle and last sound most of the time now. A while ago, she couldn’t blend the sounds to make out any of the 3-letter word but could spell by sounding the first, middle and last sound. She isn’t fantastic with her alphabets yet and still makes mistakes in her writing but she is only 4 and we could live with that for now. A few months back, I started asking her to blend and read 3-letter words. She needed some help at first and recently, she could blend and read quite a few 3-letter words. Daddy Lim was very impressed when she first did that a number of nights ago while we were at the story books. I am so proud of my little princess.

I have to agree that I am a kiasu mummy in the making. Lil Shauna is taking on phonics, music and swimming classes now and I will be adding on Chinese and Maths classes next year. I don’t need her to be ahead of her peers (but I wouldn’t mind if she is lah). I just need her to be ready for primary school and not have to chase after her peers then.

Lil Shauna is picking up momentum with her music classes and I am enjoying seeing her play simple pieces with one hand in the class. The term is coming to an end and I have received the bill for the next. I thought that I should ask for her opinion on continuing the class and was very confident that she would want to continue. She seems to be enjoying the class as much as me. To my surprise, she didn’t want to but I still want! Itchy backside mummy. Don’t care, I will override her views this time round and sign her up for another term. If she really doesn’t want to continue then, I will consider dropping. Hehe.

Mummy Lim

Interesting Things that Lil Shauna Says

Not very logical but…

ML: Baby, I love you.
LS: I love you too.
ML: I love you three.
LS: I love you four.
ML: I love you five.
LS: I love the tree, the chair, the flower… and everything. Bcos God also loves everything.

+++++++++
We were discussing about throwing tantrums.

LS: It is not a good thing to throw tantrum.
ML: Yah, only naughty kids throw tantrums, so jiejie cannot throw tantrum.
LS: Yah, if you throw tantrum, you must say sorry to God.
ML: Oh… Then did you say sorry to God when you throw a tantrum?
LS: Yes. When I throw tantrum, I will say sorry to God very softly. *shy*

I love all the things that Lil Shauna learns in her church school.

++++++++++
I brought Lil Shauna a new pink jumper suit. It is something different from her usual dressing style and she was really happy when she wore it on Sunday. So, she told me:

“Mummy, I am prettier than you today.”

Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

Read

Lil Shauna still can't read. We have been lazy too and didn't read to her as often as we should. She is still learning her sight words but definitely at a slower pace since we are not reading daily.

Since she can't read, she formed her own story and pretended to read. This is her with a really thick story book, full of words and pretending to read. She actually "read" out loud. Too funny.

Mummy Lim

Mystery Solved

So it was indeed part of school work. Something about postman or postage. Every kid in Lil Shauna's class will receive a "Love Letter" from a friend and every kid wrote a letter for a friend. Lil Shauna knew that she was going to receive a letter from Mingming and she wrote (actually more like "drew") a letter to Vista.

Popo said that Lil Shauna was really excited when she reached Centris from school and asked to go home to open the mailbox. I guessed the kids were reminded at school that they would be receiving their letters.

She rushed to the mailbox when she alighted from Tiguan and was excited to go home when told that the letter was already at home.

She tore opened the envelop excitedly but her excitement only lasted that long. She saw the letter/ picture and replied that it was from Mingming when we asked her. Then she was distracted by something else and the letter was left on the dinning table.

Ok, so much for her very first Love Letter. Poor Mingming.

Mummy Lim

Love Letter?!

Daddy Lim sent me an image. It was a letter addressed to "主恩". It got us really curious as not many uses her Chinese name. Moreover, her name and our address was hand-written.

I asked Daddy Lim to open the envelop to see who is it from, which he gladly obliged. I bet his curiosity was killing him too. It turned out to be a drawing from "智民". Hmmm... Is this the same "Mingming" from Lil Shauna's class? The same Mingming whom she declares to be her best friend and sometimes "boyfriend". Sometimes only as our little princess can get a little fickle minded at times. Jeeezzz, how did he get our address? And who helped him? Hmmm.. Is this part of school work?

Daddy Lim laughed and said that we have opened Lil Shauna's very first love letter, so much for her privacy. Guessed what he did? Well, he put the letter back and sealed the envelop. He has intended to pass the re-sealed letter to Lil Shauna tonight and pretend that he didn't do what he did. Faint.

Mummy Lim

Terrible Fours

We screwed up the kids’ routine as a result of the holiday and the leave that we took before and after the holidays. It didn’t help with Lil Shauna’s frequent tantrum throwing. Ah yee sent me an article after seeing one of Lil Shauna’s meltdowns. It is about the Terrible Fours. Lil Shauna didn’t have much of a Terrible Two as she was very advance in her speech then and was able to articulate her needs pretty well. She is really shy and didn’t behave like a monkey when she was three. Things are however very different at four. She yells, cries, demands and throws a fit when things are not going her way. It is very frustrating both for her and us. It is very tiring alternating between coaxing, threatening and disciplining. Sometimes it works and we arrest a potential tantrum. Other times, we get a nuclear meltdown, she behaved like a spoilt brat and Mr Cane has to make his appearance.

The article says that kids at four are very vocal, smart, defiant and are constantly testing the boundaries. I cannot agree more to that. It teaches a few tricks, most of them about setting boundaries, negotiating and striking an agreement with the kid, reward sticker system, understanding that the cane or time out is behind certain behaviors. I am thinking of starting some reward system. I hope it will work.

Just as we are grappling with her behavior issues and Popo gets to enjoy a few hours of peace with Lil Shauna in school every weekday, we have a Lil Shauna who excitedly chirped that Monday was the last day of school. We asked her why and she said that her teacher told her so. Upon verifying, we found that she is going for an excursion on Tuesday, the big kids are going on Wednesday and there is therefore no school. Today and tomorrow are Meet-the-Parents sessions and the kids are excluded. Thus Monday was really the last day of school. It also means the start of Popo’s nightmare. Imagine keeping 5 kids in the same house and the 3 older girls are constantly bouncing with energy. For times like that, I take comfort that I am a FTWM. Anybody know of any school holiday program that will keep the kids out of the house?

Mummy Lim

Growing Up

My little girl is growing up.

Incident 1

When Lil Shauna is much younger, she will tell us that she has a tail, just like her soft toy Mike the Mickey. When asked where her tail is, she would gamely point to the invisible tail on her backside. It was so cute.

Few nights ago, we were playing pretend with her soft toys including Mike and Lil Shauna mischievously tied a ring to Mike’s tail. We haven’t asked Lil Shauna about her “tail” for a long time. We asked her and she told us that she has no tail. We reminded her that she would tell us about her tail when she was little. She paused. So we suggested that maybe her tail has dropped off now that she has grown up. She thought about it and replied, “yes, no more glue already”. J

Incident 2

Lil Shauna is very into make-up now. She loves to put on blusher, glitter and lip gloss and will frequently request to do so before we go out during the weekends, sometimes even to her phonics class.

Last Sunday, Teacher Rebecca was sharing how Lil Shauna will chat with Gracie (her friend) about the make-up that she has! Teacher Rebecca was teasing that Lil Shauna can go on about make-up the entire lesson if she’s not stop. Errrr… *nervous laugh*

Mummy Lim

Reading

Lil Shauna loves to read… Well, more so that she loves to listen to somebody read to her. This was highlighted in her school’s progress report as well.

We have been visiting the library frequently, about once every 1 or 2 weeks. She has her own library card and we have to restrict the number of books that she wants to borrow everytime. Not only are the books heavy, she often demands that we read all the books in one sitting, usually before bed.

I love the library, we get to loan a huge variety of books, they don’t take up storage space at home and we too are entertained by the stories. It definitely beats having to tell her the same bedtime stories over again and again.

I don’t think Lil Shauna has superb memory. She sometimes takes many repetitions before she remembers something that we tell her. However, we are constantly amazed at how she can remember the stories that we read to her. Just a few days ago, I was alone with the kids and Lil Shauna was “reading” aloud as I had to entertain the tiger. She basically recites the story from memory by looking at the pictures and I was surprised that it was almost word for word for the first half of the book! I almost believe that she could read.

We are happy to read to the princess and hope that the little tiger enjoys stories as much as jiejie. We made it a point to borrow one or two books for Lil Isaac whenever we go to the library. He doesn’t have much patience and prefers to mess around with jiejie’s books then sit through his own story book. Chey.

Mummy Lim

Evidence of Growing Up

Last night, at bedtime.

ML: Baobao, time to sleep.
LS: I am not baobao, I am Shauna.
ML: You are baobao, mummy used to call you baobao.
LS: Are you xx and xx (friends that she plays with since young)? Only they call me baobao. Call my English name, I am Shauna.
ML: Ok, then your Chinese name is baobao.
LS: Nooooo... I am Zu-En.
ML: Ok, Shauna Lim Baobao.
LS: No!
ML: Ok, Baobao Lim Zu-En.
LS: No!
ML: Hahahahahaha. Ok, I am going to go to bed. Who wants to sleep with me.
LS: Me!
ML: But only my baobao can sleep with me leh.
LS: I am baobao.

Muahahahahaha.

Mummy Lim

In Denial

Jiejie is in denial. She wet our bed again last night. I set my alarm clock at midnight and had intended to wake her up for the toilet but she beats me to it. She woke me up before midnight, mumbling that it was wet. Poor bed.

This morning, I told her that she wets the bed last night but she refused to admit.

ML: Jiejie, you shh shh on mummy's bed last night leh.
LS: No, the bed is not wet.
ML: Yes, you touch here.
LS: No, not wet.
ML: It is. You smell, got shh shh smell.
LS: (sniff sniff) No, don't have!
ML: (????, also go sniff sniff) Have!!!!! So smelly lor.
LS: No!!! Don't have!!

Jieje is obviously in denial. Hohoho.

Mummy Lim

Terrible Three

Is there such a thing as Terrible Three? Bcos that seems to be exactly what Lil Shauna is going through now. Characteristics of TT are:
1. Attempts to pretend to be a baby when she can speak perfectly well;
2. Unusually high amount of unreasonable requests;
3. Constant tantrums;
4. Insistent on her way despite telling her 358x that it is not possible;
5. Refusal to compromise (usually paired with behavior described at point 4);
6. Very, very whinny;
7. Promise but refused to do what she promises; and
8. Eat the carrot and then pretend to not know that she has to work for that carrot and then refused to work for it.

Lil Shauna is simply testing my patience and she's unluckily that I don't have much to share recently. I blew my top constantly bcos she's so difficult. She's also appearing to be testing my limits, pushing my boundary.

Just like today's afternoon, it was just a simple request - tie your hair. She refused. We had to threaten her and left the house with Lil Isaac without her. One day, we must really leave her at home to let her know that we meant business. She pissed me off so much recently that I am considering buying canes. I never agree to threatening my kids with cane but she forced me into it. Haiz.

Now, there must be crying every night. I don't know why. She will just refuse to sleep and make unreasonable demands, which I of course disagree and she has to protest without success, ending the night with tantrums and crying.

She will grow out of it, right? I hope tomorrow will be better. I cannot help but find Lil Isaac so much more well behaved and purposely compared them and tell her that she's lousy. Boohoo. Bad mummy.

Mummy Lim

Learning Fast

Lil Shauna is picking up new things everyday. This is her trying to nurse her friend.


And we have been telling her bedtime stories, most of them made up. She will help by chosing the characters and what they do in these stories. On rare occasions, when she's in a good mood, she tells us bedtime stories too. Hohoho.



Mummy Lim

WHY?

I was wrong about Lil Shauna skipping the 'why' question. The 'where' and 'what happened' questions were purely warmed up sessions for us. She has now come in full force on the 'why' questions. It started somehow suddenly and she's so full of 'why's now.

But, it doesn't seem to be the case that she's seeking for answers. She seems to be asking merely for the sake of asking cos she can ask us why ...... for 5x, the same why question each time, even when our answer each time is the same. Otherwise, it is simply 'why' to whatever answers that we gave her. -.o" We couldn't decide which type of 'why' questions is more irritating but they are all killing us all the same. Arrrggghhhhh.. Ignoring didn't help cos she will keep going 'why', until we respond to her and she will come back with more 'why'. -.o"

I hope this will pass soon. Or at least for her to appreciate us for racking our brains to find answers to the 'why's lor and not just asking and asking. No fun at all.

Mummy Lim