A Strawberry Farm Outing
Since the temperature is turning warmer, Mummy and a few friends have decided to organise a drive out to a strawberry farm in Qing Pu as an outing for all the kids to pick strawberries. Check out what fun we had and the strawberries we picked... I contributed to the loot too...
Bedtime Stories...
Mummy feels that it's a lovely sight seeing the two kiddos seated attentively listening to Daddy or Mummy tell stories at bedtime... Don't you agree with her? Or at least agree that Shannon and I are so cute that you can't resist us? Hahaha...
Glimpses of Spring Finally...
We have heard people saying that this is the longest winter ever in Shanghai for the last 15 years... Indeed, it has been a long dreadful winter, especially with Shannon falling sick so often. Throughout the entire winter, the temperatures have been dipping and rising with temperature differences of 10 - 15 degrees at times. Check out the glimpses of Spring downstairs in the gardens, finally...
Glimpses of Spring - Check it out...
This weekend was greeted with temperatures of about 15 degrees celcius. So Mummy decided it was time for our little red riding hood to go out to play... I also played the role of a big brother as I attempt to push Shannon in her stroller down the streets of Chang Le Road...
Precious Moments - Shannon?
Mummy brought Shannon back to Singapore for her ENT visit. Thank goodness she is now declared perfectly alright, although we need to try to prevent her from getting a runny nose, so that it doesn't affect her ears again.
Mummy met her group of friends when back in Singapore and everyone commented that Shannon looks so fair and like a precious moments' doll... Check out whether this is true...
Another Heart Devastating Episode re: Shannon...
Jan 27, 2010:
It was simply just another routine visit to the PD @ Shanghai United for Shannon to take her jabs. However, while Mummy was chatting with Dr Bristol to update him on Shannon's recent sickness with bronchitis and UTI, Mummy also decided to ask him about the foul smelling yellow discharge from her ears. Mummy told him she had asked our PD in Singapore (at least 2 times) who discharged the case and said there was nothing wrong with her ears. Dr Bristol raised his eyebrows and decided to check Shannon's ears with his otoscope. He then confirmed that it was an ear infection and prescribed us some antibiotics.
After the episode, Mummy went back and decided to do a bit of research on ear infections on the Internet. As she read up, she realised Shannon has gotten a middle ear infection. Once antibiotics clears up the bacteria in her middle ears, the fluid can take up to 3 months to clear and during this period, she might be more susceptible to another infection, if she gets a runny nose again. The more Mummy thought about it, the more she got worried, since treatment has probably been delayed for a month. But the saving grace was the antibiotics prescribed when Shannon was sick probably did help to clear up some of the infection but not all. Given that we returned to winter Shanghai, Shannon has been having a runny nose, the infection came back.
Feb 3, 2010:
Mummy then surfed the Internet and got news that there are ENT specialists at Parkway and Fudan Children Hospital. Not trusting doctors anymore, Mummy decided to bring Shannon to visit both of them. Both gave similar diagnosis about a middle ear infection with a ruptured eyedrum. At Fudan, the ENT specialist ordered a flushing of her right ear (this was the ear with the discharge) to remove the infected ear wax and prescribed ear / nose drops and Zyrtec to help clear her runny nose. He also ordered a hearing test to be done and it turned out that Shannon's left ear failed the test. Mummy then asked if she will recover and all that the ENT specialist replied was he will try his best. Mummy almost freaked out and wanted to take the next flight back to Singapore. However, as she calmed down, she called the Parkway ENT and her own ENT in Singapore to check. Both then explained that the test results are not accurate given that the middle ear is full of fluid.
Feb 10, 2010:
It was a terrible one week waiting game. Finally Wednesday came and we went back to Fudan for a follow up. This time, both her ears failed the hearing test and Mummy simply couldn't understand. But the only explanation given to her was to be patient and let the fluid drain. Then over Chinese New Year, the temperature dipped below 0 degrees. Unfortunately, Shannon caught a runny nose and cough. During the one week holiday, we constantly tried to keep Shannon's nose clear by giving nasal decongestant and saltwater spray and pump out her mucus so that it will not aggravate her ears. Finally in one week's time, she recovered.
Feb 24, 2010:
It was a painful two weeks' wait and finally we went for a third follow up. This time, the Fudan ENT ordered her right ear to be flushed and we re-did the hearing test. Her right ear passed this time. But the left ear continued to fail the hearing test. Again, we were prescribed the same nose drops and were told to be patient and come back for a follow up.
Mar 3, 2010:
All along, we have visited both ENT at Parkway and Fudan, simply to get second opinions as Mummy does not trust the doctors anymore. Mummy then heard of another ear infection case for a little boy in Shanghai that the Parkway ENT couldn't handle and has referred to a ENT specialist at Mt E in Singapore. Mummy then decided we should return to Singapore for a thorough check up even if she is ok now. So we went to Fudan to do a final check up to ensure Shannon is alright to take a flight. Both her ears were flushed and cleaned and the hearing test were re-done. This time, she passed the hearing test for both her ears and she was discharged. Advice was given to Mummy to try to prevent her from getting a runny nose, as she might now be more prone to ear infections.
It was simply just another routine visit to the PD @ Shanghai United for Shannon to take her jabs. However, while Mummy was chatting with Dr Bristol to update him on Shannon's recent sickness with bronchitis and UTI, Mummy also decided to ask him about the foul smelling yellow discharge from her ears. Mummy told him she had asked our PD in Singapore (at least 2 times) who discharged the case and said there was nothing wrong with her ears. Dr Bristol raised his eyebrows and decided to check Shannon's ears with his otoscope. He then confirmed that it was an ear infection and prescribed us some antibiotics.
After the episode, Mummy went back and decided to do a bit of research on ear infections on the Internet. As she read up, she realised Shannon has gotten a middle ear infection. Once antibiotics clears up the bacteria in her middle ears, the fluid can take up to 3 months to clear and during this period, she might be more susceptible to another infection, if she gets a runny nose again. The more Mummy thought about it, the more she got worried, since treatment has probably been delayed for a month. But the saving grace was the antibiotics prescribed when Shannon was sick probably did help to clear up some of the infection but not all. Given that we returned to winter Shanghai, Shannon has been having a runny nose, the infection came back.
Feb 3, 2010:
Mummy then surfed the Internet and got news that there are ENT specialists at Parkway and Fudan Children Hospital. Not trusting doctors anymore, Mummy decided to bring Shannon to visit both of them. Both gave similar diagnosis about a middle ear infection with a ruptured eyedrum. At Fudan, the ENT specialist ordered a flushing of her right ear (this was the ear with the discharge) to remove the infected ear wax and prescribed ear / nose drops and Zyrtec to help clear her runny nose. He also ordered a hearing test to be done and it turned out that Shannon's left ear failed the test. Mummy then asked if she will recover and all that the ENT specialist replied was he will try his best. Mummy almost freaked out and wanted to take the next flight back to Singapore. However, as she calmed down, she called the Parkway ENT and her own ENT in Singapore to check. Both then explained that the test results are not accurate given that the middle ear is full of fluid.
Feb 10, 2010:
It was a terrible one week waiting game. Finally Wednesday came and we went back to Fudan for a follow up. This time, both her ears failed the hearing test and Mummy simply couldn't understand. But the only explanation given to her was to be patient and let the fluid drain. Then over Chinese New Year, the temperature dipped below 0 degrees. Unfortunately, Shannon caught a runny nose and cough. During the one week holiday, we constantly tried to keep Shannon's nose clear by giving nasal decongestant and saltwater spray and pump out her mucus so that it will not aggravate her ears. Finally in one week's time, she recovered.
Feb 24, 2010:
It was a painful two weeks' wait and finally we went for a third follow up. This time, the Fudan ENT ordered her right ear to be flushed and we re-did the hearing test. Her right ear passed this time. But the left ear continued to fail the hearing test. Again, we were prescribed the same nose drops and were told to be patient and come back for a follow up.
Mar 3, 2010:
All along, we have visited both ENT at Parkway and Fudan, simply to get second opinions as Mummy does not trust the doctors anymore. Mummy then heard of another ear infection case for a little boy in Shanghai that the Parkway ENT couldn't handle and has referred to a ENT specialist at Mt E in Singapore. Mummy then decided we should return to Singapore for a thorough check up even if she is ok now. So we went to Fudan to do a final check up to ensure Shannon is alright to take a flight. Both her ears were flushed and cleaned and the hearing test were re-done. This time, she passed the hearing test for both her ears and she was discharged. Advice was given to Mummy to try to prevent her from getting a runny nose, as she might now be more prone to ear infections.
March 10, 2010
Here we are, finally back in Singapore (of course, I didn't go along). Mummy thought it was too much of a hassle to bring everyone home to Singapore, so she left me behind in Shanghai with 婆婆. I woke up early this morning, looking for Mei Mei, only to have 婆婆 tell me Mummy has brought her out. I refused to go to school since I didn't see Mei Mei. Luckily, 婆婆 managed to coax me.
So we finally visited our Singapore ENT which checked Shannon's ears and said she is perfectly fine.
I Miss Mei Mei...
I woke up this morning, only to find Mei Mei missing in the house. Mummy has left on a flight last night back to Singapore to bring Mei Mei to go back to Singapore to see our ENT specialist. I searched frantically for her in the house this morning, only to have 婆婆 tell me Mummy had brought her out. I refused to change and go to school... It was really strange having Mei Mei with me all this while and today I woke up and she isn't here... Mummy was surprised to hear I didn't even look for Daddy or Mummy, just Mei Mei...
Matt's Achievements So Far...
Mummy's Thoughts:
I have been keeping tabs of Matt's achievements so far and I realised that he seems to know a lot more now, after a mere 4 months at Happy Kids. These are some of the songs Matt can sing now:
I have been keeping tabs of Matt's achievements so far and I realised that he seems to know a lot more now, after a mere 4 months at Happy Kids. These are some of the songs Matt can sing now:
- 三只老虎
- 客人来
- 一闪一闪亮晶晶
- ABC song
- Thomas the train (most of it already)
- Twinkle twinkle little star
- Head and shoulders, Knees and Toes
On several separate occasions, Matt has made certain astonishing comments that I find it so hard to believe:
- 婆婆 gave Matt an empty KFC burger box and has yet to distribute some food for him, Matt actually asked her: What do I eat?
- Shannon has been taking medicines and crying. Matt consoles her by saying: Mei Mei, don't cry, Gor Gor is here.
- When he returns from school, he goes to Mei Mei and tell her: Gor Gor is home
- There was also this morning he saw me wearing a dress and he touched my legs. He actually told me: Wear pants... Hahaha, the silly boy thought I forgot to wear pants that morning.
We also attended Happy Kids' Parents Day yesterday evening and there were good comments made about Matt like he is always very keen to join in all activities, he doesn't fight with other kids for stuff and is always very willing to share, he is developing very well in terms of learning stuff.
It's consoling seeing how Matt is growing up every day. It brings smiles to me, especially since I have been so troubled with Shannon falling sick so often. He helps bring some rainbow into my stressful life now. Come to mention about Shannon, she has also reached another milestone. She is now able to sit relatively well on her own for a while. She has definitely regained her cheerfulness and talkativeness as she babbles and mumbles a lot. I truly hope to see her healthy and not fall sick anymore...
Excuse Me, No Smoking Here...
The "No Smoking" Law has finally been passed in Shanghai with effect from March 1, 2010, in most public places like restaurants etc, in anticipation of the Expo that will start in May. Mummy's absolutely thrilled by this law since cigarette smoke affects Shannon's ears and increase risks of ear infection.
