Ryan's concert photos

This is a long overdue post showing some of the photos of Ryan's concert.

This is a photo of Ryan and his dance partner - Tanisha. See the red line on the floor? It indicates the position they are supposed to be in so that they do not get into each other's way. And the 3 year olds really stuck to it!

This is a photo of the entire 2, 3 and 4 year olds doing their Mandarin stunt. It was lovely to see all the little ones trying to mimic the Mandarin lyrics when I think none of them really understood the meaning!

This is another photo showing Ryan bringing us some gifts they had made in school. Each child came out with gifts to their parents - to thank them for the love showered. Isn't that wonderful?

I am looking forward to next year's concert already.

Triple Test and More

Last week, I took a blood test to do something called the triple test. The main aim was to see if I was in high risk for any Down Syndrome or neural defects.

The doctor then called me on Tuesday and told me that I was tested negative for neural defects, but was a high risk for Down Syndrome. The probability was high at 1 in 50. I was stunned and close to tears. I was shocked as I had not expected this.

An amnio test was scheduled on Friday (which is today) and so I went with hubby. The whole procedure took abut 30 mins including making sure the baby is ok before and after the procedure. The horror of seeing a 1.5feet needle being stuck into the stomach was too much, even for me. My legs melted, luckily I was lying down and not standing.

The needle went through the placenta and some blood was drawn out before the fluid came. They collected 2 test tubes of it and will be studied in the lab to determine if the baby is fine.

While the doctor said that all looked well on the scan, I am still worried. I think it is only normal, but I have faith that God has a reason for whatever he presents us.

The doctor said he has seen so many fetus problems that he said "so long as the child is born with 2 eyes, 1 nose, 1 mouth, perfect limbs, that is what matters, don't ask for brilliance, intelligence etc. Having a child born healthy is already a miracle in itself."

So, here is to the next 2 weeks - hope that the results will show I have a healthy baby.

You got baby in your stomach?

This was the question which Ryan asked his teacher.
His teacher is a real darling, and a little on the plump side.
She did not mind him and gave him the following answer ...

"Yes, I have children in my stomach. If they do not listen to me, I will swallow them and they remain inside."

I think Ryan had a shock and now he firmly shakes his head when I ask if his teacher has a baby in her stomach ; )

My Little Defender

I am very fortunate to have a little defender at home for me : )

From young, Ryan has always been on my side, no matter whether I am in the right or not. To him, mummy is always right.

There was once his daddy was playing with me on the bed and pretended to hit me with the bolster. We thought it would be a funny scene for Ryan, but he burst out crying!! We had to immediately stop and pacify him.

Recently, it has evolved to verbal defence. Everything I say will be THE RULE/ THE WORD. Anything that is said against me will be A SIN and he will scream MURDER!! Some examples ...

His daddy: Aiyo, this blouse/ pants not good la, if you don't believe me, ask your son.
Me: Ryan, daddy said I am not pretty, what do you think?
Ryan: Yes, you are pretty. (To his daddy): Why you say mummy not pretty??
His daddy: Yes la, see, so ugly.
Ryan (screaming away): NOooooo, mummy is pretty.

Teacher: Wow, who made that for you?
Ryan: My mother
Teacher: Is it good?
Ryan: Yes, my mother made for me, delicious!
(and so, I am pressured to deliver his expectations)

Sometimes he sees his daddy hugging me and he will say "Hey, what are you doing? Don't hurt my mummy!" Only after we reassure him that his daddy is not hurting me, will he say "OK".

But, if he is the one that is saying something against me, THAT is the rule then.
The other day I bought a nice (I thought) blouse from MNG. I was in the transition stage and thought that looked good for me. He looked at me and said "Eee .. mummy you look so old, so ugly" and that became the rule because no matter how many times I wore that blouse on different times at different days, it was still ugly to him ... it is now hung in my cupboard and destined to remain hidden till some good soul takes it away. He is still saying that it is ulgy and makes me old.

And they say guys are not sensitive to these things ....

Moody Ryan

The other day, Ryan's teacher told me that Ryan has been rather moody these days. He will burst out crying at the slightest irritation or when he has to share with the other kids. He was also sulking in class.

The teacher asked if we had talked about the baby and how Ryan felt about it. I personally do not think that it is the baby, but rather how we have been treating Ryan at home. Don't get me wrong, we did not abuse him or anything, just that we have been trying to get him into some routine and make him stick to it. Things like changing, drinking milk and brushing teeth before going to bed. Lately he has been protesting going to bed and will usually cry and cry.

In the morning, it is drinking milk, changing, brushing teeth and going to school. There will be a huge protest on the brushing teeth part and he will start screaming. I figured that it may have been the preotesting and having his way that has upset him.

Seeing that these are not something which I will compromise on, I thought that som effort is needed to coax him into doing these things willlingly.

The past few days has been good after spending some time talking to him BEFORE the occasion happens. Perhaps it is working for him. The teacher said that he has slightly improved, but still too early. Sigh, this parenting work is tough man.

I had briefly thought about getting him to a phycologist to help figure him out .... then I got this stare from hubby which shut the entire idea off.

Ok ok, I am overeacting, but this is my child ma.

My spending spree

Yesterday was the first day of a 3-day special in Isetan.
And I could not resist going back there despite my visit during lunch.

It always begins with a catalogue arriving at your door step. And then you browse through and then you decide ... nothing to buy la.
But then you also remember the dates and you do not throw away the catalogue.
And so, the card swiping begins.

I actually was looking forward to the card swiping yesterday. It has been a long time since I felt so enrgetic that I can take on the challenge of walking and walking with my bump along. The pregnancy has left me feeling rather lethargic, but yesterday was great.

I ended up with bottles for Ryan and the baby, a pair of shoes for Ryan, groceries, casual maternity for me, some new gym clothes (the old ones could not fit me anymore), toys for Ryan, diapers and milk powder.

Poor hubby was not on my list. But I think he will not mind la, I'll just make up for it by giving him good food : )

And now, I still lack a pair of shoes for myself, the ones I have are too high to support me anymore.

Time flies

I just realised that I have not been updating my blog for almost a month now!
Phew! How time flies!!

At the moment, I am at home and going to pack some clothes for a short department trip to PD today and tomorrow. Yay!! No need to go to work!

We are going to some place called Eagle Ranch, no idea where that is, but sounds like fun I think. We are going for some outdoor activity and hopefully, I am able t participate in most of it.

I will update with some pictures soon.

How to take out the baby?

Ryan is very excited about the a of.
However, he has been fickle about whether he wanted to have a boy or a girl.
At first he wanted a girl because he likes it.
2 days ago, he said he wanted a boy because he wants to play football with him.

Out of the blue, he asked me one night "How to take out the baby?"
I had explained that the doctor will have to cut my stomach out to take out the baby.
His response "Use the kitchen knife ah?" To which I explained that it was a hospital knife. He then asked "Then got a lot of blood lor?"

So, the question about getting the baby out is done.
I am waitting for the day he asks about how the baby got in in the first place.

Ryan's concert

Last week, Ryan had a concert in his school for the parents.
Due to space constraints, the concert was broken into 2 days - Wednesday for the 2, 3, & 4 year olds' parents and Friday for the 5 & 6 year olds' parents.

We went on Wednesday and I was so excited that the night before I could not sleep properly. Hubby said I am crazy to be overly excited about something like this.

Anyway, the morning came and we arrived early in school. The kids were all upstairs and there was a commotion everytime a kid arrived. It was like saying "ok, another one in, there is only another missing 5" ... there was an earlier accident on the highway and so, some kids were late.

Finally at about 9.15am, the ocnert began with the 2 & 3 year olds singing and dancing. Little Ryan held an Indian girl's hand out on the dance floor and proceeded with the routine. I have heard the song for so many weeks now but could not beat the pride I have while I see him dance and lead the little girl. Each of the couples were given a space marked with red tape so that they know where to stand and at what distance. Can you imagein? A 2/ 3 year old can actually learn that and adhere to it? Hubby was filming away and waved to Ryan. I was afraid that he would rushed over ... but he did not and completed the dance with a bow and everything.

They also had an act of singing 2 Chinese songs complete with action and dance steps too. Again, I was afraid that Ryan would cry, but surprisingly, he did well. Even after the routine was completed, he stood his ground and walked out of the hall with his friends, in order.

When I first sent Ryan to school, the teacher showed me the video from last year's concert. It was incredible how small little kids can be so adhering, and I must admit I have some doubts too. But then when little Ryan and his friends proved it, it was pure joy for me.

After all the presentations, the little ones took turns to give the parents some gifts which they had made in class and was supposedly TOP SECRET - they did not tell us about it at all! The parents then made their way to the tea outside and the little ones then had a little party amongst themselves too.

Ryan and his gang repeated the entire show on Friday for the older kids' parents and he was excited about it later that day when I went to fetch him. There was a whole bag of goodies that the teachers gave them. Among it was a coin box - such an appropriate reminder of the fees we have to save for the kindy!! But I must say that it was worth it : )

I am pregnant : )

Yup, in my 8th week now.

Feeling tired all the time, but still able to hack through the day.

Little Ryan is very excited and is convince that he will have a baby sister. We will know come January 2009.