Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

Last week, I introduced the Bible character, Esther, to Anya. Basically I emphasised to her how Queen Esther helped a lot of people and how when she knew about the truth, she went and told the King about the truth.

A whole lot more values can be learned from her actually. I just shared with Anya the simplified version. For now.

Anyway.

Since we’re learning about Queen Esther, we made a crown and Anya then became ‘Queen Anya’!

What we used:
>> Green paper carton
>> Glue, scissors
>> Coloured styrofoams (the ones Anya made 2 weeks ago)

I cut out the green paper carton, put it on Anya’s head to make sure it fits before glueing the two ends and cutting the top, making it all spiky.

I then cut the styrofoams into smaller bits. They’re supposed to be the crown’s ‘jewels’, you see. Hehe.

Anya did all the glueing and pasting.

She sure was a happy little Queen.

AND, it made our learning so much fun and more easily ‘remembered’ too!

Taking advantage of my still-fresh-but-usually-not-for-long-memory, here are some useful tips and advice I got from the doctor:

On bronchiolitis:

>> A very common infection amongst young children (usually less than 2 years old)

>> Caused by viruses that affect breathing airways (small kids’ tiny airways get blocked easier)

>> It begins with a cold, leading to cough and breathlessness. Usually affects feeding and sleep

I do notice Vai somehow ate ‘less’ than usual. He woke up frequently when napping and at night too! AND wanted to be breastfed to get back to sleep. The bad news is, he still continues with this. Till now! (read: Mommy gets very little sleep at night)

Other tips:

>> It’s better to use nose drops than nasal aspirators

>> Nose drops shouldn’t be used for more than 5 days though (I was prescribed with ‘Iliadin by Merck‘)

>> Nasal aspirators, when necessary, should only be used once or twice a day because it may ‘damage’ the baby’s still delicate nasal tissue.

>> When your baby breathes and you can ‘hear’ the noise from just being ‘near’ the baby, go and see your doctor.

Hope the info helps!

… on Daddy’s studio sofa.

You know I used to think that someone must’ve spelled the word wrongly somewhere, since I’ve only heard of the term ‘Bronchitis‘ but not ‘Bronchiolitis‘.

It was only when Anya came down with it – some two years ago I think – that I found out more about this condition that affects small children’s respiratory tract.

Now.

Last night, we noticed how Vai’s breathing got a bit ‘noisy’ and how his phlegmy cough didn’t seem to get better.

And since it’s been a week, we took him to KK Hospital to get him double checked.

The verdict. The doctor told us that Vai has bronchiolitis and because he can’t breathe as comfortably as usual, his oxygen level is rather ‘low’ (not seriously low, but it’s on the borderline).

And so we spent some four hours in the hospital today.

Vai had to inhale some ‘gas’ (nebuliser, then ventolin) to open up his breathing airways. The doctor then monitored his progress periodically to see any improvements on his oxygen level.

Vai being still so young naturally REFUSED to wear (or even get near) the mask. Poor kid. Wilson and I had to really hold on to him (comforting him as much as we can as well) while he wriggled and struggled with all his might, screaming and crying throughout.

*sigh*

After three rounds and a few checks, his condition improved. Which means there’s no need for him to stay overnight at the hospital!

Oh how we thank God for this!

Vai’s now better and is still active as usual (apart from him constantly wet nostrils and occasional phlegmy coughs, one wouldn’t think he’s actually not feeling that well).

And oh, he still throws up about three times a day, on average. Although this means we have to clean up the mess all the time, we’re somewhat glad that it means the phlegm is out and Vai can at least feel a bit relieved and breathe better.

Anyway.

I’ll write more on Brochiolitis and share with you some other useful info I got from the doctor.

Soon.

Have we been living and doing things in order to please others?

We should live in the presence of God. Doing things to please Him. Doing things as if He will inspect the quality of our work later on.

This way, even in the presence of no one else, we will produce, work and give our very best.

In everything.

…

Work at everything you do with all your heart.
Work as if you were working for the Lord,
not for human masters.
Colossians 3:23

Enjoyed a cosy late Saturday afternoon by the Singapore River, watching the National Day Parade‘s rehearsal.

Helicopters. Cannons. Huge jelly-fish-like balloons. Jets. Fireworks.

Loud and deafening.

Nice weather.

Huge crowd.

The kids are down with phlegmy cough and runny nose. And it’s been going on for a week.

And I guess it’s tougher on Vai since he still doesn’t know how to blow his nose or cough on purpose to get the phlegm out of his throat.

Poor kid. I can often hear the ‘phlegm-stuck-on-the-throat-sound’ when he breathes. Must’ve felt really uncomfortable.

As for me. Well, I’ve been busier than usual.

Apart from her occasional demands for ‘unreasonable’ things, Anya’s been quite okay. It’s actually Vai who needs more tender loving care. He wakes up more often at night. He cries and wants to be carried more frequently. He throws up (the only natural way he can ‘clear’ his throat). He fusses so much too during mealtimes.

And oh, the process of removing the mucus from his nostrils requires SO much energy from both of us.

I’d be ‘locking him down’ with my arms, hands and leg (at the same time, using the nasal aspirator on him), while he kicks, screams and cries his lungs out.

Ah. I don’t blame him for feeling so scared (or for making me look like a professional wrestler). He really must’ve felt like I’m trying to suck his brain out or something.

Anyway. Really hope the kids are well again soon.

PS: Personally I prefer this type of nasal aspirator, mainly because we can control the suction ourselves. And, since the part that goes into the nose is shaped like an ‘onion’, it doesn’t go deep into the nose too (less chance of scraping the inside of the baby’s nose).