Feeding time

I have never imagined a baby being so difficult in bottle-feeding her milk. When she totally refuses to drink, you can never force her! She usually drinks only 2-4 oz (yes, very little) but luckily she prefers breastfeeding. Err... then I would have to continue breastfeeding way past 9 mths now.
Also good that she loves to eat porridge. So, normally she eats twice a day for porridge, and 1 time fruit, about 3-4 times milk.

Night feed??? Hmmph, since she sleeps around 9-ish, she wakes about 4am for milk and back to bed till about 1-2 hrs gap till 7.30am, sharp awake!!

H1N1 & Breastfeeding

With the worsening situation of H1N1 in Malaysia, I am all the more determined to continue breastfeeding Amanda. It will give her the antibodies required, and I guess that is the best protection for my baby girl!

To those breastfeeding women out there, no matter how hard it may seem at the moment, the overall benefits proves over long term. "Ka- yau!!" (in Cantonese means Go! Go! Go!Continue on fervently!)

Some things can wait....

"When my little one is having a hard time, I drop everything — no dishes, no laundry, no nothin' — and just cuddle, play, read, whatever makes him happy. Sure, the house is a wreck, but the house can wait; my son can't." — Kara

I guess its really true... to be patient especially when Iz is not feeling well.
I have to let go of doing other house chores to cater to his needs, sacrifice my sleep/nap, yup, whatever to make him happy and make sure he gets well soon. Also, I need to work around the breastfeeding time to make sure I also pump out my milk on time. Yes, there are so many things to do with 2 kids around. However, staying with my in-laws makes things a bit difficult as they would think that I am doing things "half-way" and leaving mess around! In my mind, I will clear that LAATTERR.... and most of the time I won't forget about it (unless Bernard is handling it!). I will always attend to my child first... and stop worrying or fearing about what others think about me. Sometimes, I can tell them that I will clear it later, but I can't mention it all the time about little things!

I have learnt that I cannot live under other people's expectations all the time. To be a good parent, I will stand up on my own opinions, my own maternal instinct, and the greatest of all is to make sure my motive is based on LOVE. There is no manual for bringing up a child perfectly, nor a troubleshooting method for each circumstances, as every individual is unique. Just to bring up a child in a loving environment is my aim as a parent. PERFECT LOVE DRIVES OUT FEAR.

no more twitches

It was few days after amanda's birth that I noticed that her hands and legs would twitch, especially when she was drowsy and falling asleep. It would last from few seconds to 20 seconds the most (if you allow it by not adjusting to a more comfortable position).

I was so worried about it cos I haven't seen such things happening to my firstborn, Isaac or even to other people's baby. Why Amanda has it???

All I could do was to read about topics related to spasms, twitching... and even about infantile spasm (which scares me!). Consulted our local ped and he said that it should go off, latest in the 6th month. By then if it doesn't, we would need to send her to the hospital for observation! goshh... they have those wires connected to the poor baby here and there to confirm that it is not epileptic. Over the internet, there were some articles that say it happens because of lack of oxygen during delivery, resulting in the nervous system still not fully developed yet. In fact, a type of reflex called the moro reflex, whereby the baby would lift her 2 arms wide in shock, would actually help to build her nervous system. Therefore, we shouldn't be alarmed at the baby having the moro reflex and try to prevent it like constantly swaddling her or putting a rice bag on her tummy to make her "feel safe".
Interesting to find out about baby reflexes! It actually helps them!

The only solution is actually to PRAY really hard that it would go off, cos time would only tell if it is a serious problem or if it gets serious. I really thank God that now, Amanda is 3mths and it has gone off! it did! Praise God for hearing my prayers...
God is always there listening... we just need to sit down and pray....

WM guilt...

yes, i am a working mum guilty of not having enough time to take care of my kids.
i took leave (emergency one!) last friday cos i felt like taking care of Amanda as my MIL was saying that Amanda didn't really sleep during the day time and yes, my MIL looked exhausted.
ok, so it was a raining friday... i woke up late, and dragged my feet to drive to work, but when i saw the traffic jam just outside my road, i headed home again and SMS my bosses that i need to take leave!! (sshhh...)

i am feeling guilty of not having enough time to take care of my own kids cos everytime i look at my son, isaac, now 3.3yrs old, underweight and slightly underheight as well... gosh! he has been 12kg since a year or 2 years already (i can't remember as it has been a looooong time).

of course as a mother, who wants the best for her kids... hmmm... wonders what is the problem that he is not really growing as he should be (for now)??

Possible reasons:
1. He has been falling sick quite often, maybe abt 2 mths once on average, and will lose appetite
2. Don't eat much in Funcity... they say he eats slow but finishes
3. Not enough time to feed him esp for breakfast
4. Not enough sleep (go to bed at 10.30, wakeup at 7.30= 9 hrs + 1.5 hrs nap= 10.5, it should be around 12 hrs for his age worrr....)
5. got worm in stomach??

The part i feel guilty is where i have to rush to work and have no time to accompany him for breakfast!! poor fella..., i have to send him to Funcity as my MIL cant handle him....

IF i have the chance, i would just take care of him for at least a month to "pump" him up. I remembered the days where i was on leave for about 5 days and was happily eating with him nearly around the clock. He is not a big eater and will eat around the clock actually.
I just hopes he grows faster to catch up what he has been missing...

Dear God,

Please help Isaac to grow into a strong and healthy boy. Prevent him from falling sick so often. Help him to have a good and healthy habit and appetite. I just don't know what I can do, please teach me what to do...
Help me to be patient with him
and to show him love that he can understand, not what money can buy.

Only in Jesus name i pray, Amen.