Silly me

I hurt my neck when I sneezed this morning…how silly can that be?

I was chatting with Jimmy on MSN and suddenly I felt this sneeze that was coming..I wanted to pinch my nose but I was typing a message for Jimmy, and I think because of the confusion sent by the brain, my hands did not know which to do and I ended up trying to control my sneeze…and that’s the most wrong thing to do..

Ended up with a badly strained neck, which the pain extended to the upper spine area, down to my right shoulder and numbness on my right hand. When I walked to the clinic from my office, I nearly wanted to break down and cry, it was so pain can?!

The doctor gave a funny smile when I told her about the sneeze & pain and when she pressed her hands on my neck, she said “wow, it’s quite bad!”

I was given 2 days MC, and the medication is super drowsy… I can sleep like a pig even under very noisy construction work

Faster recover…it’s a pain in the neck!

The 5 must-have in case your kid is sick at home

With a new baby or a kid at home, what’s the 5 must-have for a mother in case your kid is sick?  I swear by these :

• Ear Thermometer

Invest in a good one. Or at least a decent one. You will never know when you need it and when you need it, YOU REALLY NEED IT. Personally will recommend a ear thermometer instead of those which you need to stick into the kid’s mouth or armpit.  Most kids will be too active for you to do that!  There are a few brands to chose from, check out Safety 1st Hospital’s Choice Accu Light Ear Thermometer .

• Medicine issued by doctors

I’m a kia-su mum! I have extra cough syrup, fever syrup, running nose syrup in my fridge for emergency cases.  I am not encouraging mothers to feed your kids medicine unnecessarily. But these medicine act as a back-up plan.  For example, if kid is running a fever of 38 degrees in the middle of the night with no other symptoms, instead of rushing to the 24-hour clinic or hospital, you can try the medicine and sponging method.  Or that sometimes kids are prone to having running nose due to weather changes, and it’s very mild but still adding discomfort to the child, you can feed the running nose medicine.  Take note that all these medicine are issued by doctors, and not self medication which you buy off the shelves from pharmacies. And that if the problem still persist or sickness became more serious, please bring the kid to the doctor.

• Fever Cool Plaster

These come in handy when kid has a fever, though I don’t think that it is as effective as sponging. But these can relieve you for awhile instead of those constant sponging and get you some rest. Usually I will use this when the kid is sleeping and I too need some rest. And this plaster will stick on the forehead and will seldom drop off, unlike the sponging method. Something off the topic, if you chose to sponge your child, please use tap water.  It’s cool enough to start of the sponging. You do not need to use ice water, and it might cause headache to the child due to the sudden coldness.

• Decongestant Capsules

These are oil that come in capsules form and it helps to clear blocked noses and congestion.  I will squeeze the oil into a handkerchief and tied it at the cot during the night.  It helps the kid to have a better sleep during the time she has a blocked nose. There are a few brands in the market and it is easily available in pharmacies such as Guardian. I am using this brand called “Karvol”. I simply love this!

•  Biscuits

You must be wondering what does biscuits have to do when a kid is sick? Well, these help me alot when it’s time to feed the kid medicine!  Find out what you kid loves.  It could be that favourite puff or that favourite animal biscuits. I will usually show Dawn her favourite puffs (which is Gerber Finger Foods Puffs, 3 Strawberry and Apple Puffs and 3 Banana Puffs(6 per Pack)) and tell her that she has to take the medicine first before having her little biscuit. It simply helps.

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Hope this bit of information is useful for those new mothers or mothers-to-be

When the kid is running a temperature

Because I was sick, my little one became sick too.  Oh well, we sleep together, how to avoid spreading the least bit of virus to her?

So poor Dawn started with a fever on Monday afternoon.  We brought her to the doctor and had to trick her into taking the medicine with her favourite biscuits.  However, her fever still went up and down through Tuesday. 

On Wednesday one-ish morning, Dawn vomited in her sleep. It really threw me into a state of shock because that was the least expected.  And I am grateful that I got up in time to check on her instead of having her choked on her own vomit.  Despite the shock, I managed to clean her and the bed up, fed her medicine and pat her back to sleep.

Half an hour later, Dawn vomited again.  And I knew that something might be very wrong.  I had to ask my mom for help.  I felt really really bad to disturb my mom from her rest, but I was in my wits ends and was also afraid that something really bad has happened to Dawn. 

We bought Dawn to KK Hospital. Despite her vomiting and temperature, she was still asked to wait for almost 2 hours before the doctor attended to her.  My Goodness, I really cannot understand why A&E in hospitals need to wait for so long?  And trust me, the number of patients during our visit was not alot, but we just cannot understand the long wait. 

Furthermore, despite having to pay the consultation fee of $75, I have to do the sponging myself,  feed Dawn glucose water myself and monitor her myself.  And I wasn’t even given a satisfied answer as to why Dawn is having a fever. And they are dealing with the “possible dehydration” issue when the doctor herself told me that there’s no dehydration because Dawn is having very wet eyes. What’s all these about??

Fortunately, Dawn’s fever started to subside.  But because I was still very worried about her vomiting in her sleep, I ended up waking every hour on Wednesday night.  I guess that’s how most moms will feel, issn’t?

Through all these, I learnt from my mom that when babies are running a fever, it’s best that they stop their solid food because their digestive system might not be functioning 100%.  If kids vomit, it’s better to keep feeding them clear liquid so as to keep them hydrated.  In this case, milk is to be avoided till the kid shows no more sign of vomiting.

Deadly Virus

The deadly virus is everywhere.

I described it as deadly because I felt so “energy-less” for the past few weeks because of this virus in me.  The cough the doesn’t seem to go away.  The blocked nose that doesn’t seem to start breathing.  The air-congested ears that didn’t allow me to hear anything.

The asthma pills left me with trembling hands.  The cough syrup left me drowsy.  The flu tablets left me thinking whether I am still alive.  That’s how bad it was.

It’s really a sucky feeling to be sick.

Things happening

It’s another week again..Can’t believe it! Half of 2007 is passing right under my nose.

Busy with work…not sure whether I am drowning myself with work…I guess I am..kept telling boss “OK” for things she proposed for me to do….was still feeling welcome for more work…but yesterday and today suddenly felt a string of fustrations..couldn’t smile like I used to in office..hmm..better not make myself sulk at work..got to SMILE n WORK! What’s more tedious than the heartache that was drowning me for those months? Life is easier with smiles…

Went to the lawyer’s office today…I have got so many documents to go through! Baka!

I think I might be falling sick..which I hope not! Had headache for almost the whole day already! And suddenly throat became very itchy and kept coughing. H was pretty concerned and raised his tone to asked me to consult doctor..hmmm…

Must recover by Friday!

Someone made me to target that I should recover from my terrible cough by this coming Friday.

I asked for a reward to motivate me. I know, I know..it’s for my own good, I shouldn’t be asking for a reward for something which is for my own good, right? But of cos…the usual cheeky me..

I wish I get my reward! It’s something which will make me happy I am easily satisfied. Just bring me to a place which I will be happy. No, I won’t tell you where it will be

Sick!

Argh! I hate it when the flu bug comes. The blocked & running nose, the irritating sore throat, the stubbon phlegm and the ever-lasting fever & headaches made my day like hell.Had to rush to a 24-hour clinic at 2am in the morning because of fever. Worried that I passed the virus to little Dawn, I have no other choice but to spend on the midnight-charged cabs. Fortunately, my company wavies us from paying the extra charges for 24 clinics. It’s $50 for a walk-in consultation after midnight!

My fever was up and down for the past 2 days. Went back to my regular doctor on Sat morning and he did wonders (again!). Fever subsided that very day. 24-hour clinic doctor sucks! Inexperienced! Bleah!

Got heart-warming smses & calls from H, asking how am I and telling me to rest more. Such friends are hard to come by, issn’t? =)