A Keyboard for Caden

I went down to the Toys R Us sale at United Square (and some other cute stuffs which daddy might called them as rubbish). Saw this keyboard (last piece) and was going for $30. I have been eyeing on similar keyboards but I wasn't sure if Caden will like it or if he is too young for it, plus it is bulky (will add more mess to the house).

But since it was only $30, I wasn't thinking that long before I bought it.

I was glad that I bought it, Caden loves it so much! He would turn on the music and dance around the whole day. He also insists that we have to follow him dancing, too.

New Doctor

It’s been more than a week since the fever started and Caden’s appetite has go down drastically. At first he was just refusing his regular porridge but would still eat things that he likes. But since 2 days ago, he started refusing every food, including avocados, yogurt, baby cereal and even fresh milk and milo which he supposedly like very much.

So, I am worried (again). When I spoke to a friend about this, she recommends me to bring him to a different doctor, just to check it out.

I actually called his regular doctor yesterday and told him about Caden’s situation and asked him if we should come by to his office tomorrow morning. But he said “no need” cos’ even though if I came down, he (the doctor) would not be able to do anything. And when I said “How about if Caden develop ulcers in his mouth again?” He told me that Caden’s body has to fight it himself, so I will just waste my time to come down to his office. He told me to give it another week or so.

Though I trusted him at first, I decided to go to this new doctor that a friend recommended anyway.

At this point, Caden’s meal intake is ZERO! He is only drinking his formula 24/7. So much food is wasted - not a single spoon is going down his throat. I have also mix his formula with Pediasure Complete which is said to have a complete balance of vitamins and minerals for fussy eaters.

We arrived at Olive Tree clinic (picture attached) at 9.30am and went into the doctor’s office at around 10am. The female doctor was very nice. Caden didn't cry when he met her, even at a close distance (he would cry hysterically when he sees his regular doctor starting from 3 meters distance).

And to my surprise, he wasn’t even crying when the doctor checked him using her stethoscope!!! – he was actually looking at the stethoscope going around on his tummy and chest area. The doctor didn’t do anything much to him, in fact she was actually talking to me the whole time and gave Caden a toy to play with and change the toy to a different one when she saw that Caden was bored with it.

My friend had told me earlier that there is these motherly charisma or something on this doctor that makes kids not to be scared so much with going to a doctor. I didn't believe it at first.

So, the diagnosis was Caden’s flu was so bad that his throat was swollen. And because it has not been treated with a medicine, it has worsen. It went to his ear (had a slight ear infections) and all his gums are swollen (plus his runny nose and a bad cough).

Sounds so SCARYY!!

The doctor gave Caden 4 medicines (so much!!) which 1 is an antibiotic - this would be Caden’s first antibiotic medicine. Listening to the doctor diagnosis, I think it’s necessary for him to have one.

I am so glad that I went for a second opinion regarding this! Now, let’s just hope that Caden’s body is reacting well with this medicines and I hope his appetite comes back soon.

The Little Gym -- with Erin

This time we invited Erin to join us in The Little Gym. Before the class start, we meet Erin at Borders nearby where Caden had fun by messing all of the books out of the shelfs. ^_^

Gym class has been so much interesting with Caden now. He could follow a few simple directions. Such as, standing like a star -- which require him to open his feet and hands out to the side. He now, would do that at home and say "sta...sta..."

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I am now in the middle of teaching him how to jump. He couldn't jump with his two feet up in the air yet. Hopefully soon!!

@ 19 Months Old

To celebrate Caden's 19 months old birthday, oma went to the zoo with us, for the first time. We went there in the afternoon, thinking of catching the Giraffe feeding show at 3.45pm, but we were too late.

Well, it's okay, we still managed to sit down and looked at the Giraffe eating the remaining of there food. It was so interesting that the zoo keeper has to put the food (which consist of green leaves) high up on some trees so that they are able to grab the food. I think, their legs are too high (compare to their necks) that their mouths wouldn't be able to touch the ground.

Well, we were at the Giraffe area pretty long. Caden was just sitting there, looking, staring, and pointing at the Giraffe.

It's more interesting to bring Caden to the zoo nowadays. He is older and understand much more of what's going on around him. Today he said "coco" for crocodile and opened his mouth wide with an "aahh" sound -- imitating crocodile's big mouth. When I asked him if he want to see crocodile, he would say "yes" , with a sign language.

PS: It was not Caden's new cap. It was oma's tennis cap. Yup it fits Caden and he seems to enjoy wearing it! ^_^

Dodo and I

Caden is getting more attached with dodo (that’s what he calls the dog now). He would look for it the moment he woke up. Play with it almost the entire day. Put the dog on his bike and ride with him or let the dog sit on it while he pushes him around.

When I play Lego or teach him some numbers, dodo has to be beside him, too…as a learning partner perhaps.. ^_^

Dodo goes everywhere…to the kitchen, to the bed-room, to the living room, dining room, etc. And being so young and not really understand the meaning of gentle yet, he shakes dodo quite a bit every time he play him…

I can only wonder if dodo is a real dog….

…hm…let’s just not go into that…

For now, what I know is that, Caden is happily playing with dodo everyday

@ 4am

This is the worst flu so far for Caden. Started with a fever (which he never had before) then a thick mucus runs on his nose and a wet cough with a lot of phlegm.

The flame on his throat is bothering him so much that he woke up a few times at night because of it. Yesterday night, he even vomited out some of his food because he was unable to spit the flame out himself.

For the past 2 days, after he woke up for the .... times at around 4am (he had woke up so much that I lost count of it), he ended up fully awake and only get back to sleep one hour after.

Those are some of the pictures he was playing and dancing at 4am. ^_^

Caden is seen here with sleeveless shirt and shorts because we has been sleeping without air-con since Monday night. I do that sometimes (especially when he is sick). It really helps with his breathing, as the mucus tends to clog up worst when we use air-con, and he usually recovers faster, as the air is circulating all the time.

I do hope he will recover soon!!

When Dr. Rafiuly found a HFMD case

hehehe...

fever

I dropped Caden yesterday morning with suster to his English class as I had to do some errands while he was at school.

I came to fetch him a few minutes earlier and took the photo above right before the class was dismissed. When Caden saw me, he quickly ran to me and gave me a hug. It was then that I felt that his head area felt a little bit warmer than usual. “Maybe it was only my feeling,” I thought. But when I asked suster about it, she confirmed it.

I was worried as it could be the terrible HFMD disease that has been going around and infecting more than 8000 children so far. But I decided to keep Caden at home for today and see how he is progressing. Anyway, he did have doctor appointment this morning and I intended to come even though if his fever has subsides.

At the doctor office, although Caden has no more fever, I took the precaution to tell the nurse that I was afraid Caden had gotten HFMD as his fever aroused right after he came home from school. (I was afraid that he might infected other kids there if he really got one….although I do hope he was nott!!!).

Then we were being isolated to an empty room and were told to wait there until Dr. Siva came.

Dr. Siva said it was not HFMD! Fuihhh….It was some kind of flu virus. His throat was a bit reddish and he would develop coughing soon.

I was just so glad that it was not HFMD!

This Sunday...

The Emperor's New Clothes

We watched The Emperor's New Clothes today! It was packed with kids from different ages. The show was great, they make it in such a way that it has lots of interactions with the kids, which is great to catch the younger kids attention. [They asked questions and asked auditions to do things for them].
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Caden was stunned by the loud voices that the older children made when they were asked a question. For example, saying a loud YES in unison when asked if the emperor has no clothes on.

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In the end, once in a while, Caden would stand on his chair and looked at the kids at the back (as we were sitting on the second row from the front) and said 'cici' (cie cie) and 'koko' (ke ke) a lot.

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I believe Caden had fun and we had fun, too. It was our first outing as a family to a show... errrr...actually it was our first outing ever ....just the three of us!! -- with no suster!

on a 'real' motorcycle

He was apprently afraid of this one. Refused to hold onto the handles and insisted that oma has to be beside him all the time.

Maybe this one is a little bit too big for him now!

a big boy bike

I wanted to buy him a small motorcycle from Fisher Price, just like the one at his school, but I couldn’t find the exact one here in Singapore. Caden has been so obsessed with motorcycle lately, he always signs for motorcycle every time we find one at the car park and on the street. So I thought I want to buy one for him.

Then I realized that I want to buy him a bike, too. Since we have a big park downstairs, I think it’s a good idea for him to learn how to ride a bike.

We went to Toys R Us today. The moment Caden saw this bike, he was hooked. And he thought this was a motorcycle…hehe… He refused to go down from it and keep signing motor all the time.
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I was surprised to know that the seat is low enough for him so that his feet able to touch the pedals (I thought this kind of bike is for 3 years old and above). Then I realized that it's a good idea to buy this bike and act as if it is some kind of motorcycle, rather than buy a motorcycle then buy another bike later on. We would have to space to put it.

So I bought it! And he ride on his new bike all the way from Toys R Us to the carpark.

Now, it’s mommy’s turn to teach him how to pedal the bike.. ups… I mean motor… brumm…brumm… ^_^

an extrovert

I considered Caden as an extrovert person, like me! He enjoys playing with his friends, enjoys the company of other people, and almost all the time, refused to play all by himself. He sometimes even asks me or other people to join his game when suster is already there to accompany him. It’s like he is saying, 'the more, the merrier.'

That’s why he loves school and Sunday school so much because he knew that there are the times where he meets his other little friends to play and have fun with.

I am reading a book called Raising Your Spirited Child, by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka. And it wrote, “Not only they (extroverts) like people, they need them. Extroverts are the happiest and the best mannered when they can be with others.”

HFMD

With 2000 cases of HFMD viruses this month, schools are being even more cautions about it. They checked every kid thoroughly (hand, feet, mouth and temperature) before every class, and do not hesitate to send suspicious kids home.

[Here is Caden being checked by the asistance teacher]

My part is to look after Caden more carefully -- not letting him put anything in his mouth, no sharing of food, and not to close to kids who look not so well.

I hope this will lessen the chance for him to get the disease.

Here is Caden's art and craft activity from last week. The teachers will update the notice board every week with the newer version of the art and craft.

Caden has doing well in school. He is willing to try to touch the glue or paint or other things, which he used to be not very comfortable touching them.

He even tried a few new snacks at school and once able to get the second servings from the teacher!! WOW!! Though hates some of it, but at least he still managed to put it in his mouth and take it out right after he knew that he don't like it -- well, at least he triedd..!!!

my small guy...

This is to show how small Caden is now, but soon... he will catch up with the bear... going as high as 3 meters high.

haha...

[at least that's maybe what Daddy wants...]

chubbier again...

Caden has lost significant of weight due to dieting for 10 days, his chubby cheeks even looks weird (not as fluffy as it used to be). But he is back!!! Everyone says he has gained back his weight. I even feel it as it gets heavier to carry him now!

=> Meal time always been a struggle still, but at least he is back to the original self and he will take at least a few spoonful of food and quite a lot of milk (formula, fresh, soya-bean, and milo).
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I am very glad!

Caden and Cranston

We meet up for an early dinner with Cranston and family at Goodwood Park Hotel. Cranston was Caden's classmate from Julia Gabriel.

The hugged each other a lot of times and they even KISS each other on the.... LIPS!!! Oh NOOO!!! ^_^

------ All the boys ------

(taken before we headed home)

We bought a DOG!

We went to Ikea Tampines before sending ii Ani to the airport today!

While Mommy bought a set of wooden children table, complete with 2 matching chairs for Caden, ....

... oma bought Caden a... DOG! A nice companion for Caden!

The dog is currently bigger than Caden but I am sure, soon, Caden will catch up!! ^_^

almost finger-less...

This was where Mommy thought that Caden will have no more right hand fingers for the rest of his life.

So the story goes like this…

Ii Ani and suster decided to take Caden to the park downstairs while mommy was away to take Daddy to the doctor (Daddy has flu for about a week).
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We have a friend coming over to play with Caden, so when I didn’t see Caden when I arrived home, I asked our maid to call them up.

I was near the kitchen door and I heard the lift door open. I went to the kitchen to get a drink then I heard Ii Ani screamed, calling my name a few times. I thought Caden fell or something not that serious, so I ignore her. [This auntie can sometimes be a little exaggerate on things]

After about ten seconds or so, she screamed again and told me that it was very serious and asked me to come as soon as possible.

Then I knew something was really wrong! I ran to the lift with my heart pumping very fast.

The lift door was only opened just enough for half of my body to look inside it and it was then I saw all of Caden’s right hand finger (minus the thumb) was stuck on the lift door.

[He put his hands on the lift door while the it was open. So his hand was forced to outwards when the door open, this resulted his four fingers to stuck on the side of the door]

I screamed like a MAD PERSON! I even called Jesus name a couple of times. Caden was crying so loud by then. I realized that I have to calm down and think of a way out of this. When I heard Ii Ani was saying that we should just pull Caden’s fingers out, I thought for a couple of seconds about it. I decided that it was the only thing to do, so I pull his fingers out (and it was apparently not that difficult and not that scary as what I thought it would be), and grabbed him unto my arms and hugged him tight.

Ii Ani, suster and the maid was stuck on the lift and being brought downstairs. Luckily our friend was there, she helped me by giving Caden a rub with an oil from Indonesia (that I happened to have one), while I keep hugging him to calm him down.

I was shaking and my voice even trembles! I was still thinking about his fingers, if we should go to hospital asap.

But we were lucky! Caden’s fingers were small enough to fit into the openings. I was shocked to see the blue fingers when I take it out from the lift, but it was only because the blood was not flowing to it for that 5 minutes incident.

He was laughing again in no time. Feeling like nothing has happen, playing with Erin, who was visiting and watching our every move all along, after only 10 minutes.

Maybe he did not remember any of it by now, but I surely remember how I thought that my baby would not have any right hand fingers for the rest of his life!!!

Lesson to learn: Don’t be inattentive, especially with boys!! You never know what could happen! They are very UNPREDICTABLE!!!

for the first time!!!

I bought this Maclaren stroller before Caden was even born, thinking that it would be very helpful for us. But in the end, very seldom we use it! A few times we brought it out, but in the end, we would have to carry Caden and the stroller would just be another big item that we have to carry, too.

Caden refused to sit in it and when we are out as a family (with daddy and/or grandparents), each of them always want to take turns to carry him. So all along, this stroller has been in our storage until this week!

I decided to walk to and from Caden's school, which just about 20 minutes walk (one way). I thought it would be a good idea to have another outdoor activity -- and not being in a closed are all the time. Plus, I think it's good for mommy to have some exercise. ^_^

Apparently, this time he was kind of excited to be on the stroller!

So we went to school, just the two of us today! After a few minutes of walking, I found thisss!!!

...his first time sleeping in stroller!

Mommy's only Doraemon...

First encounter with a Hippo...

At the Zoo. Today.

swim again!

We have been swimming again!

Yey..!!!

The weather has been nice and I promised myself to bring Caden out for a swim more often.

The BAD NEWS: Caden has forgotten his underwater swimming skills! We has been absent from swimming for quite a while! So then, I have to start all over again.

I dipped him twice in today and he wasn’t look too please when I did it to him! J

I always wonder why Caden hates to swim on his back. I have been trying to do that to him since we started swimming (at the pool or at the bathtub), but he always struggles and cried. Though still he is still struggles, he never cried anymore – maybe he is trusted me more that I will not leave him in that state for a long time --, rather he would laugh and move his upper body, trying to pull himself back up!

His ears and the back of his head couldn’t touch the water at all! ^_^

This is what happen...

...when I left Caden alone with daddy...

...for about 1 hour!

;)

First Experience: dinner at a Hawker Centre

Ii Ani, the 4 months old pregnant lady, wanted to eat Prawn Noodle at Newton Circus. So here we are, eating our early dinner at 5pm.
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Caden loved the open space that he could walk around the area after dinner.

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It was not crowded (thanks' God), I think no one wanted to have dinner that early.

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=> For those of you who is wondering, the difference between Hawker Centre and Food Court is, Hawker Centre is non-aircon (and sometimes the place are dirtier), while Food Court is airconditioned and mostly located in Malls.

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==> Caden often go to Food Court but not Hawker Centre.

Julia Gabriel w/ ii Valerie

It's ii Valerie last day of holiday, she decided to accompany Caden to his Mandarin class!

Yey...

Mommy had some free time to run errands then!

Hanging on a bar...

Caden is old enough to be in the Beasties program in The Little Gym. Though he is not 19 months old yet, but because he is a strong runner (read: no more walking), the teachers allow him to be in the older class a month earlier.

I always think that Caden has very strong arms (and legs) and I always encourage him to hold the hanging bar but he used to refused to do it.

[Caden never (so far) hit his head when fell – his hands always able to hold his body, so his head is never touch the ground]

And today, it was the first time that he wants to do it, by himself and with a help of a MALE assistant teacher to do a more advance summersault on the bar. [He used to be afraid of any male teachers]

I am so proud of him!

strong-willed Caden

Daddy and Caden at Shangri-La Hotel room

It's always a struggle to change Caden's diapers. I always try to give him a head start by saying, "ok you can play for another 5 minutes, then we should change the diapers first, before you can continue playing.".

but, it's never works so far....yet.... Hehehe...

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He is a very strong-willed child. When he knows he wants something, he has to make sure that he get it! It makes us difficult to do almost everything -- everything has to start with him whinning and crying. I am just glad that I have helpers to help me! ^_^