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

 

 

First Words

Before the age of one, babies would be happily talking to you in their most expressive language such as 'boo-boo', 'baa-baa', 'daa-daa', that we adults, may not be able to fully comprehend. As they reach 12 months of age, babies would have learned to say 'Pa-pa' or 'ma-ma'. Further at 18 months, they should be well able to quite understand parents' or their care givers' instructions in simple words and sentences. They may also be able to communicate to you in simple words as well, depending on how exposed they are to the daily used expressions.

Teaching toddlers to speak is not an easy feat, but can be made easy with love, patience and of course, the appropriate methods. I would not use the word 'right' in the adoption of teaching methods, as every child deserves to learn at their own pace, given their ability. My daughter is an example - she is taken care by my parents 70 to 80 percent of the time due to the working schedules of both my husband and myself. Since we are unable to often coach her to speak words, we have to rely on my parents to teach her simple daily used words, and this can be easily done by daily conversation and activities such as bath time, nap time, meal times and play time. 

You would be amazed at how fast toddlers learn. My daughter at 26 months now, though not able to articulate in full sentences, have learned a pretty good range of vocabulary.

I am expecting more words to be learned, but would allow her to do so at her own pace. As we know learning a language takes more than just exposing children to reading, they need to practice too. 

How then do my husband and myself coach our little one despite our busy work? 
Simple.

1. Whenever we take the lift, we would get her to repeat after us, the numbers displayed on the digital display. 
2. As we walk along the car park, we read out the brand names of the cars. 
3. when we access to the mail-box, we would let her have those keys and open it for us, at the same time getting her to recognise that keys are required to gain access to the mail box.

These are some examples of what can be done daily. When we have more time, we would also sit down with her to read some flash cards, identify numbers and letters. Of course, bed time stories are equally important and is encouraged that parents read to them every night. You would be amazed at how much they would have absorbed. This activity also fosters parent-child bonding.

Advice to all parents - do not feel guilty that you have little time to spend with your little one. More time does not mean quality time. It is how well you have spend that little time squeezed out from your tight schedule that matters.

I know you can do it, and would eventually get better! 

Signing off,
Fairy Angel Shop
www.fairyangelshop.com

Food For A Healthy, Happy Baby (Part 2)

The last update on Baby Food and Health was when my daughter was barely 8 months old.
Am feeling so guilty for not being to update more often on this topic.

As a full time working mother, I am not able to prepare dishes for my daughter who is now 21 months old. I have to rely on my own mother to do. It is only during the weekends that I am able to whip up something for her, but nothing fanciful. Really.

Usually, instead of the common staples such as rice or porridge, I do try to engage my daughter to try out Soup Macaroni and Pasta with ready-made Tomato sauce. Any kind of dishes that I prepare for my child, I would definitely include her favourites - Broccoli, Wolfberries, Pumpkin, Fish, and occasionally Carrots. Yes, perhaps what comes across your mind would be 'wouldn't it be boring and not nutritious enough to be having the same ingredients daily?'

Well, honestly speaking, it can be BORING. I admit. At the moment, my daughter hasn't yet has many teeth, but is still sprouting, I cannot stuff her with all the harder foods that older toddlers can chew at ease. I need more time.

Taking a closer look at Soup Macaroni, I would mix in all the favourite ingredients, with Ikan Bilis stock as soup base. Quick, easy and nutritious. Firstly, this would give the dish a savoury taste, and secondly a high calcium and protein. Broccoli, needless to say, contains Vit A, C and K, Fiber, Calcium, Potassium and Magnesium. This powerful vegetable would help kids in their vision, skin health, and boost immunity, keeping infections at bay. It also helps prevent bone loss, maintain good nervous system, and overall well-being. Other ingredients are also good for maintaining good vision, strengthening bone mass and overall health.

As for Pasta with Tomato sauce, kids may love to see some sliced or diced mushrooms, and some of their favourite toppings. Sweet and filling, they would sure love it. Preparing this dish is also quick and easy, depending on the soup base to be used. For me, Ikan Bilis is the simplest and tastiest. 

So, why not try them today. It would also be great if you can share some of your recipes with me. 

Signing off,
Fairy Angel Shop
www.fairyangelshop.com

Embracing Lives - Saving Neira

Embracing Lives

As I was browsing through the FaceBook this morning, an article for help caught my attention. It was about a 3.5 months old baby girl, whose name is 'Neira Ng', suffering from  tumors in the brain. She is undergoing another surgery today (23th Sep) to remove the remaining tumor in the center of the brain.

As a mother myself, I could not bear to see such sufferings in any children. Children is meant to be a gift from God, and they are the key to happiness and future. Regardless of the materialistic extensiveness given to a child, nothing matters more than a healthy body and mind.

I could not relate more than to have you read the article yourself.

http://saveneira.wordpress.com/2013/09/21/your-help-is-appreciated/comment-page-5/#comments

I hope and I wish gratefully and thankfully, that, after reading it, some compassionate emotions would tingle in your heart to lend a helping hand.

For I have taken the step to render my little help, why don't you too?

Signing off,

Fairy Angel Shop

www.fairyangelshop.com

Ways To Ease Colic

An extract from http://www.mummysg.com/forums/content/20-ways-ease-colic.html 

Published on 20-11-2010 08:31 PM

Parents may wonder what colic is all about. It can be described as the uncontrollable crying of a baby for hours with no known reason.

You may suspect your baby has it if the crying continues for several days. Colic tends to peak around 6 weeks then improves significantly between 3 and 4 months.

It is quite frustrating for both mommy and baby. Sad thing if mommy cannot bond well with baby because of this reason. Hopefully these tips will help to ease colic discomfort and bring back sanity to you.

1. Get anti colic remedy.
There are several brands in the market that offers relief of colic. It can be diluted in the milk or given directly to the baby. Whichever you choose, it all really depends on your luck to ease colicky baby. Seek a pediatrician for advice on this would be wise.

2. Offer the slowest flow of teat to avoid gulping milk.
For new moms, you may be surprised by the number of brands offer different shapes and sizes of teat. dont’t get distracted by the model it brings, but make sure your baby won’t gulp milk every feeding. You may need to try a few types before settle down to one.

3. Offer the milk in smaller amount frequently.
dont’t worry if your baby keeps asking for more milk. Give some time for the little tummy to digest the milk.

4. Change soiled diaper or cloth before feeding.
If you change diaper after feeding, you have to lift baby’s leg above her stomach that may encourage reflux that is something can cause colic.

5. Feed the baby in an upright position.
This is to encourage milk to begin exiting the stomach during the feed which helps to minimize colic.

6. Always try to burp the baby in the middle and after feeding.
By doing this, you can help baby burp the air up before they are collected too much that causes gas in the stomach.

7. Hold the baby in an upright position for about half an hour after feeding.
Well, you may be too tired to wait for that long after feed. But try as long as you can to avoid baby spitting up the milk.

Food For A Healthy, Happy Baby

An extract from http://www.mummysg.com/forums/content/211-food-healthy-happy-baby.html 

Published on 15-11-2012 03:00 PM

It is vital for a baby to have an assorted diet once he can eat solid food. At an early age, the baby will learn how to eat food with different textures and flavors as well as gain the essential nutrients that are crucial for the his growth and development.



Here are some ideas on what you can serve your baby during its first year:

4-6 Months:
Pureed food is ideal for your baby’s digestion. It is important that your baby has fruits and vegetables. Ripe bananas, avocados, and papayas are some fruits you can start with. Pureed cooked pears, apples, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and carrots are also good choices. Green vegetables like peas, zucchini, green beans, and cauliflowers are rich in vital nutrients. The simple tastes are enough so you need not add spices or seasonings.



6-7 Months:
By the time the baby reaches six months, it starts to eat three meals a day. It is also the time you can feed your baby different kinds of food for as long as its texture is smooth and silky. The important minerals that a baby needs at this age are calcium and iron.

For breakfast, cereals with low salt and sugar are fine. It is okay to serve baby cereal as well as kids’ cereal and instant oats. Just serve it with milk.

Lunch and dinner should contain 25g of meat or protein. Minced or pureed meat is an excellent way to start. Add chopped vegetables to complete its requirement of certain nutrients. A good substitute for red meat is red lentils. Be sure that the skin of the potatoes and sweet potatoes are peeled to make it easier for the baby to chew and digest them.

7-9 Months:
By this time, the baby’s food can just be mashed or semi-pureed since the tongue and muscles in its mouth are stronger.

Cereals with low sugar and salt as well as cooked semi-pureed food are still ideal meals for breakfast. Once your baby turns eight months, you may prepare buttered whole meal toast.

For lunch and dinner, you can feed your baby mashed instead of pureed vegetables. Grains like rice, quinoa, and couscous are a good addition to the meal. To add more texture, minced meat may be added as well as grated fruits like pears and apples. Dessert may be yogurt, custard, cooked fruit, or rice pudding.

9-12 Months:
You can feed your baby finger food by now. Chopped foods with lots of color are a good way to make it look attractive. By now your baby might be used to eating the kinds of food that the rest of the family eats.

For breakfast, you can serve muesli or porridge with milk. You may also add fresh fruits to yogurt. Cream cheese goes well with toasted whole meal toast.

For lunch and dinner, you may now serve your baby as much as 50g of meat that is chopped into small pieces. Just mix them with vegetables. Pasta, so long as it can be easily chewed, is a good alternative to rice.


If you would like to offer your baby snacks, freshly cut fruits and vegetables, cheese cubes, and muffins with fruit filling are good choices.

You can come up with different meals for your baby that taste delicious and are healthy. Just look around your kitchen and be creative.