My Girl in new school - SchoolHouse by the Gardens (Jan 2015 highlights)

For the whole year of 2014, Kai Xuan has been with Kinderland, until we decided to change her over SchoolHouse by the Gardens located just beside it. There are several reasons why we made the choice.

 

1. High turnover rate of the principal, teachers and administrative staff, despite fast replacement done. This signals to us that Kinderland could be facing some management issues that resulted in the high turnover rate.

 

2. Higher ratio of foreign teachers compared to local. Meaning - the school hires mainly non-Singapore nationalities. We were hoping for more Singaporean teachers but could only see a few.

 

3. Poor communication. We always have this issue of communication with the school regarding fee payment, events, or even reported cases of diseases such as HFMD. The flow of information seemed late and last minute for parents to react. We could not accept this.

 

4. High school fees but low quality of service. Given the amount of school fees that we paid for ($759.50) per month, we expected a high level of service from the school, but unfortunately, it was a disappointment.

 

After persistent and sincere communication of our wishes to the Principal, Ms.Angie, on our hope to transfer Kai Xuan to SchoolHouse by the Gardens, we finally got a place for her starting Jan 3, 2015. Without further delay, we paid for the deposit and miscellaneous fees, and got the uniforms. We have been to the school for a tour around, and found the environment to be pleasant, though not as spacious as Kinderland. What mattered to us most was the type of teachers and staff the staff engaged, and the passion and sincerity portrayed when we converse with them. They were so helpful and patient to attend to our enquiries. Needless to say, the teachers diligently check the communication notebook on a daily basis for any instructions of notes written by the parents. For this, we are thankful and what we need.

 

Besides, the school builds a good rapport with the parents, through face-to-face, and Facebook page.

 

 

In-door classroom activity - Hoola Hoop. Do you see a rabbit hopping?

 

N2 outdoor activity - seed planting. Kaixuan is the one on the left, handing a spade and pouring some mud into the rectangular pot.

 

Watering the plant after planting the seeds and covering them with mud.

 

1st Gloobaloo lesson on 4 Feb 2015. An enrichment programme for the development of speech and movement.

 

What are they mimicking?

 

Playing snake and ladder?

 

Or scissors-paper-stone...?

 

 

First few days of school in home attire - climbing the ladder of the slide.

 

Reaching and getting ready...

 

Sliding down!!! Wheez...!

 

Learning Chinese - match and paste, and character tracing.

 

 

Through the photos uploaded by the school onto the Facebook, we are able to see how Kai Xuan is progressing in school. Seemed like all is well and taken care of. We hope the change of school with better teachers and curriculum is positive for her learning.

 

Way to go, Kai Xuan!

 

Signing off,

Serene

www.fairyangelshop.com

 

 

 

 



The Fearful Hand Foot Mouth Disease (Final)

Finally, we have got clearance from the Doctor two days prior to air travel to Malaysia, just in time for the Chinese New Year. Otherwise, we would have forfeited the amount paid for the air tickets. Fortunately, Kai Xuan's HFMD was not as bad as we thought it would be, due to treatment received early. She had some obvious spots/ blisters on the toes and sole, but they dried up and subsided very fast. All thanks to the anti-viral medicine. It was miraculous!

 

Now, it become a practice to use hand sanitizer as and when required at home and outside. Washing hands regularly had also became a good habit to cultivate for everyone at home. Sometimes, it is only after a round of torture, that, we all learned the importance of hygiene and cleanliness.

 

So, mommies, do stand-by a handy bottle of hand sanitizer in your bag whenever you are outside. Not only can hand sanitizer be great to instantly stop mozzie itch, it can also get rid of stubborn stains on skin. Have a great day ahead!

 

Signing off,

Serene

www.fairyangelshop.com



The Fearful Hand Foot Mouth Disease (Episode 2)

It is only the second day of the battle, and my bones are aching already. After a night of sterilization of toys, bed sheets, pillow cases, table tops, play mat, sofa, I'm dead beat. Kai Xuan woke up in the middle of the night crying, choking on her own saliva and vomited. I had to stay vigil by her side till this morning to ensure that she is fine. With my bulging tummy (yes, I am expecting too), laying down on the hard mattress is a torture for me. No matter which side I turned to for better comfort, the little one inside would be protesting.

 

My day started at 7 a.m., when Kai Xuan woke up asking for a bottle of feed. I could not make a warm one as it would cause more discomfort to the already painful throat of hers. Then we both fell back to dreamland. The second half of the morning is taken care by my hubby, where he fed Kai Xuan with medicine. I literally woke up at 9 a.m. to see to everything - prepare porridge for Kai Xuan, change her diapers, mop the floor and wash the clothes. By 10:30 a.m., I was exhausted. Despite me like a bee buzzing around at home non-stop, I also need to keep my sight on Kai Xuan, to remind her to drink water and not to place her fingers into her mouth.

 

Luckily for now, Kai Xuan is still able to swallow plain porridge with Marmite as flavoring while she watched 'Frozen' (her favourite). After her shower, and a nice bottle of milk, she is also able to nap soundly, which she needs plenty of rest at this critical period to recover fast.

 

 

 

Other than practicing strict hygiene at home through frequent hand wash and sanitization, I needed to watch on the type of food to serve to Kai Xuan. Whatever she consumes now must not even be luke warm. All has to be at room temperature and smooth in texture. This is to avoid triggering the discomfort of the ulcers at the back of her throat. I have prepared chilled packet milk and yogurt, in case she is hungry, or to numb the throat a little before having her meals.

 

 

 

The doctor prescribed 3 medicine for Kai Xuan to combat HFMD. I really hope that she would recover fast. On top of that, we have also bought Chinese herb called 'Ling Yang Si', or 'Antelope Horn', to reduce the heat in her body. Unfortunately, I am not able to drink due to my pregnancy.

 

 

There are different grades available at Hock Hua Medicine Hall, price ranging from $3 to $30. Try not to buy those with very thin and frail-looking strands, as the effect would not be as good. I used the double-boiling method, a little jar or pot to boil in a larger pot for at least half an hour over low heat. This is to retain the nutrients and to prevent over boiling till the water dries up. The first boil would always be the most concentrated, followed by a second or a third which would be as plain as water.

 

I can only update till here for now, and I need to rest my aching bones already...

 

Signing off,

Mummy in combat with HFMD

www.fairyangelshop.com

 

 

 

 



 

 

  



The Fearful Hand Foot Mouth Disease (Episode 1)

Throughout the first three years of Kai Xuan's childhood, my family (parents and hubby) has been diligently dealing with the possible illnesses that may have hit her, regardless contracted in school or at home. From mild to severe cold and cough, to persistent viral fever at a tender age of 8 months old, I am proud to say that "Yes, we survived and is stronger than before." However, it is only until recently when Kai Xuan started her full day at the child care centre in January 2015, that her immunity finally conceded defeat to the fearsome Hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD).

 

Kai Xuan's child care center is by far, a good environment in terms of learning, social interaction, exposure, accompanied by a couple of responsible and diligent teachers. As much as the school worked their way to utmost hygiene and cleanliness, it still could not ward off the viruses of HFMD spread by infectious children, and risking a mere percentage of the viruses lurking around on toys, furniture or any unseen corners.

 

On Tuesday (10-02-15), all parents were informed via the communication booklet of the confirmed cases of HFMD, but no details were given on the group whom the children came from. Having the benefit of doubt that the children infected was not from Nursery Two (Kai Xuan's group), we continued to send her to school as usual. Next day morning, Kai Xuan was spotted with a mild fever, and we brought her home to rest. Her fever persisted till Thursday and Friday. She felt restless, tired and lack of appetite. There were no signs of ulcers in her mouth and throat, no red bumps on her hands, feet and joints at that time. Hence, we could not be sure if she has gotten HFMD.

 

On Friday (13-02-15) during dinner, Kai Xuan could not swallow any rice or water. She told me that her throat felt pain. Though I could not see any ulcers in her mouth or throat, we decided to bring her to a doctor for a thorough check. True enough, the doctor confirmed her to have come into contact with HFMD. As the incubation period is usually 2-3 days before more symptoms can be spotted, and around 10 days to fully recover, we could not help but felt worried. It is nearing CNY, and we had booked for air travel to Malaysia on the 19th, just like what we had been doing for the past few CNY.

 

Can we continue with the plan, or let hubby return home by himself without us? I am not sure. Kai Xuan would be still highly infectious, and air travel would pose imminent risk to other young passengers on board. It is only responsible for us to remain at home, not to mention wasting the money spent on the air tickets. Hubby still hopes to travel as a whole family, but is subjected to changes. We can only come to a conclusion after a review with the doctor on the 18th.

 

Signing off,

Tired mummy

www.fairyangelshop.com