What my 10 year old feels about her infusion

I came across this whilst I was spring cleaning. Brings a tear to my eye. But I guess that's what she's truly feels about what she has to go thru every 2 months and how she copes with it.

Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015

Another year done and dusted.

Practically everyone I knew who was living overseas came by to Singapore last year.

It all started early in the year with my old school-mate who lives in the Isle of Man, then another classmate who migrated to Sydney was back here for Chinese New Year.

This was followed by a former colleague who lives in London, and was back to celebrate her 50th birthday.

2014 was also the year I met up with a number of blogger friends from Malaysia, Perth and Australia. And my BBFF (Best Blogger Friend Forever) too came back from Spokane for a couple of days to attend to family matters and I was blessed to have been able to meet up with her, despite her very busy schedule.

We also spent copious amounts of time with our local friends over good food and wine.

Last year my oldest completed her A levels.

On the medical front, my littlest started her long term treatment to strengthen her bones. We havent seen much progress despite one year of medical infusions but are praying for the best. On the parental front, both parents and parent-in-laws took turns with their medical ailments which kept me busy with medical appointments. 2014 was also the year I almost lost an organ due to a misdiagnosis!! Thank God, I didnt.

What will 2015 hold for me?

The man of the house will be launching his fund in a couple of days - so wishing him and his partner the best!

My oldest will be venturing overseas to further her studies, but that will be sometime in September.

My son will be doing his O levels, so I guess it will be a year of stress plus lots of nagging.

My youngest will still be continuing her long term medical treatment.

And on the personal front, I am moving to a teaching position in church, away from the administrative work I have been doing for the last 3 years. (I wonder if my Killer look is still effective to keep disruptive children in their place?)

And I am  also praying for everyone to be blessed with good health!!

And hopefully 2015 will have lots of good food and meet-ups too!!

In summary, 2014 will be remembered as the year of Meet-Ups and Good Food for me. What was it for you?

World Kindness Day

Today is World Kindness Day, and I am using this post to share the kindness that has touched D during this year.

Today also marks the end of another school year!

I do not usually send gifts to teachers at the end of the school year, but this year, I felt the need to. I felt obliged to thank the teachers, for their kindness, especially for helping D out during the year. Well, if you don't recall, she had a very strict and stern teacher who turned out to be one with a heart of gold  - (read http://secretdiaryofasahm.blogspot.sg/2014/01/tough-exterior-soft-heart.html.) She not only helped D out, she arranged for the other teachers to help D out too, on the days when she could not. In addition, she also arranged for D to have a special lift pass (the lift in the school is only for the use of teachers and visitors), which enabled D to use the lift when necessary. Her kindness astounds me!! A Big THANK YOU to Mrs T from the bottom of my heart.

Well, I sent in token gifts to the teachers with a card thanking them, and I received a reply from D's form teacher. She informed me that there were a few classmates who have been helping D out in school as well. This was something new to me, as D has never mentioned it to me at all.

When questioned, D said that a few of the girls helped her out with her bag when they had to bring it along when they were required to move around the school. Not something that happens much but occasionally. These were girls whom I seldom hear D talk about. I asked D if these girls knew about her medical condition, and she replied that she hadn't personally told  these girls at all. She has only shared about her medical condition with a few close friends. And these girls, were not from her Primary 1 class, who knows about her condition as the teacher then had told them about it. These girls are not the biggest girls (in size) in class, but definitely those with the biggest hearts. To these girls a BIG Thank you too!! For your kindness, which surpasses my expectations.

We frequently read about horrible events on social media, but be assured, the world is still full of many people with BIG hearts.

Remember it may be only a small deed for you, but you never know how big it is to the recipient.

Try a little kindness ... and pay it forward!

Empty Nester Birthday Celebrations

You know how we always celebrate our children's birthdays?
So what happens when you have an empty nest and your child's birthday rolls around?

Well, I'm going to be in that position next year when my oldest goes away for her uni education.

We had a dry run of that situation this year with a friend of ours. She's here with her husband while her daughters are living in Australia, both in uni. 

She couldn't take leave to travel there to celebrate with her child. Neither could her child come over as the uni term was still on.

So being foodies, she decided that we still had to celebrate her daughter's (M) birthday. 

She invited a few good friends over, prepped dinner, I baked a cake and we had a dinner to celebrate M's birthday. 

Of course we didn't forget M during the celebrations. With the phone in hand, and on video mode, we sang happy birthday, sent M birthday greetings, cut the cake, had a good time and then sent the video over to M! 

We had a good time! And I'm sure M was glad we remembered her and celebrated her big day!

So, I foresee this is what I will have to do when my oldest goes away. Of course, it's nothing like being there with her to celebrate her day. But, I guess, we can't we too choosy when we don't have other choices. It sure beats sitting at home and moaning not being able to celebrate the birthday together. 

One year later

My now-not-so-little one has completed one full year of pamidronate infusions. This brave warrior has had the cannula inserted half a dozen times without squirm nor tears.

Mum is so proud of you D!!

Her BMD has improved, but not sufficient for her to go off it yet. As such, she will still be continuing with these infusions. Fortunately, apart from the severe abdominal pains she gets after her infusions, she has not suffered any other side effects to her kidney, liver or bladder. We have also finally managed to time her oral meds after her infusions so that her pains are managed. 

It appears to be a very slow process to increasing bone density. But shoulder on we will, To stronger bones! 

Best remedy for Childhood Constipation (Satire)

By George! I think I have found the best remedy for constipation in school-going children!

It involves no pills, no prunes, no fruits, no juice. In fact, nothing to be consumed at all!!!
Seems like to good to be true but it works ALL the time for D.

Just give them ...


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HOMEWORK!!!




Try it and let me know if it works for your child too!!

Announcing that it's bedtime may work as well ;)

Back seat driver

MUM, you beat the lights!!

Me: No, I did not!! I crossed the junction before the lights turned red.

But Mum, you are supposed to slow down when you see the lights turn amber, NOT speed up.

Me: I still cleared the junction before the lights turned red.

Sigh!

And that sigh didnt come from me. I have been told to tell her: "You will understand all these when you are older."

And I should have been the one sighing. All this from one who doesnt even have a driving license!