Ups and Downs of 2012 First Quarter

There has been quite some ups and downs in my life for 2012 and, funnily, we have only enter into month 3 of the calendar. Still a loooong way to go to say that I think I would like to think that only the better would be taking their respective places in the months to come for the year.

So to begin more on a positive note, the ups of my life so far in these three months is that we got to see really progresive results with Jaden.

He has been showing signs of improving and having that hunger to learn more in him these two three months. I am glad I have been pushing myself, although sometimes I tend to feel like resting, I know I can res later in life when he gets out of his 'tunnel'. Right now we are only at about step 2 and there are so many more steps to climb in order to achieve to where we want to be for him.

His screaming, his rejections towards the supplements at times when he is acting up and my persistent forceful ways to make him eat his supplements are really paying off well, so far. I understand that there will be times when he will be quite a non-respondent and that is when I have to decipher what is it that is not working and find new diets maybe, add new supplements or take some out and replace with others, add in a few therapies maybe to make his learning more fun to keep him wanting to learn more... and there are times when I must accept the regression humbly and say, this is just temporary because I am going to do the best I can to help him progress from there. Its ok to fall, because we will get up back on our feet and stagger on till we hit the finishing line together.

We are now adding in more new programs in his therapy. We are now starting to teach him to match things by understanding what the object it. That, we are moving on form matching the same things, more variety, requires more thinking and digging inside his little wonderful brain of his.

and then, there is also the preparation, to ensure that he shall have a smooth transition into playschool-kindy, although he might be placed in a class that are much younger than his peers but that does not matter. As long as that one day comes and I get to see him be in school, learning just like any other children should be, I think I will be a beaming proud happy mother. As long as he is willing to learn.

We have now successfully introduced the potty to him and he understands that it is alright to pee in the potty. Therefore, in just about 3-4 days, he has learnt to hold his pee and only let go when we bring him to the potty. Our next step is to teach him how to pull his pants down in time so he does not wet his pants when he stands next to the potty and needs to go. At least the understanding is there, I am sure we will get there somehow.

He has also shown signs of accepting the idea to poop in the potty and that one day, he actually sat quietly and poop in the potty and clapped his hands and smiled when he finished his business. I have never been a happier mother that day looking at that brown pulp looking back at me from the potty, albeit the smell that followed though.

I like one quote that most mothers would say when doing biomed, and that is, one step forward, two steps backward. We are all doing a tango. If you are going through what I am going through, then you would totally really understand this statement and see some humor to it. Really, when you think you have his yeast issues under control and hes performing so well, and then suddenly the stimming appears! OH NO! WHYYYYY you would scream but then again, yeast? Its nothing that bad compared to Gut Issues or brain nerves or what they call methylation. Yes, I am doing stuff I never dreamt I would get involved in, especially when it comes to all these scientific medical stuff. Thankfully these are still in language form which I can read and read till I understand. If these all comes in numbers, oh boy, I would be really put up the white flag for I am never one that is good with numbers. Never.

Tantrums are aplenty these days. I wonder if its due to me not disciplining him that often like last time and he forgets the taste of my cane or he is just testing me out again. Well, one thing for sure, this is something I will never let him off easily because I really believe in the saying, "Melentur buluh biarlah dari rebungnya"

Thats the update so far.. other than me introducing foods like green curry and kurma into his diet. :)

Happy Birthday my big baby

Only God will know how hard it was for me to try to keep his Surprise Birthday Dinner a real surprise for him this year after what I prepared for him the previous year.


I gathered his friends again, the usual gang that he mostly hung out with and also, people that I know and have dropped by the house before.


I started off with sending everyone the obligatory mail of asking if everybody is free on the 19th, since its a working day and these people are mostly busy with attending events or closing magazines.


Positive replies start pouring in and I started making the necessary arrangements for a dinner place, and cracking my head to think of somewhere he has never try before and wanted it to be something special as well, which goes the same for the birthday cake.


It was then, I remembered reading about this dinner concept that is quite a hit in town now, underground dining. I quickly called the owner/cook up and made my reservations because it seems that his diner is packed almost daily and reservations has to be made weeks/month in advance. I was lucky to get a place.


Then, it was the cake.. I have to admit that I remembered Hubby commenting on how good the red velvet cake was at Beatrice Looi's cafe -Hummingbird Cafe @ Bangsar Telawi.


So I do what I do best, everything done through the net and phone, make a few calls here and there, and everything was set, nicely planned.


Now, how do I get Hubby not to be suspicious because he knows me too well, and was anticipating some secrets to get kantoi-ed.


So, to avoid his suspicions and let it go to rest once and for all, we staged a SURPRISE 12am Birthday call at my place where the guys came and sang to him at our door and had the cake-cutting/candle-blowing thingy. SURPRISE!!! 


Thankfully he bought the whole staged idea and totally let his guard down. So, the next day, he asked where to go for dinner, and I said its up to him to choose and he invited the same list of people to dinner at New Paris. At least he thought he was organizing it and in the afternoon, I took Jaden out on a run with me, claiming I had to pass my stuff to a friend to help me bring back to Penang first as he is leaving the first thing in the morning the next day.


Told him to get Eddy to fetch him to the dinner place while I shall go in my own car. 


and there he was, so happy, looking forward to his deep-fried pork legs, in his t-shirt and shorts and slippers, he was send to where we all gathered.. 

You can imagine the surprise on his face.. well, lets just say I really did it this time.

Food, service was great.. company was awesome and well, whats not to like about a birthday celebration when you get to have two cakes too. In fact, I think Jaden had more fun blowing the candles and hearing everybody sing the Birthday song.


The cake I got him? 

1) Rainbow cake for the 12am candle-blowing session
2) Red Velvet Cheesecake for the birthday dinner


*sigh* 

and then, he was allowed to join the boys for a couple of DOTA gaming sessions while Jaden and I headed home first. Planning and running around with a 4 year old in tow is a tough tiring job, especially when you are stuck amidst the after-working hour/CNY rushing home traffic jam. Its crazy ...


These planning gets tougher each year because I try to come out with something unique but maybe, just maybe I shall take a rest next year and let him plan his own for real this time round. =p

St. Regis experience

It was an experience never to forget. At least for me. It was truly top service that after I have stayed there, it has spoiled all the market for the other hotels, unless I have another opportunity to come across to such luxurious service once again. For now, the best hotel experience goes to St. Regis Singapore for me.

Each floor have their own personal butler and boy, that was awesome. 

We touchdown in Changi Airport at about 6pm,  and the after-working-hour jam, we got to our hotel at about 7pm. 

and that was the beginning of the never-to-forget-once-in-a-lifetime experience. From doorman to bellboy to reception desk to butlers and concierge. *sigh* Thinking back about last three days is enough to put a smile back onto my face.

Hubby was down for a business meeting and I thought since he already had accommodation and they were like one of the best rated hotels, why not bring Jaden down together and have Jaden do a re-test on his IgG and also, to let Dr Erwin reassess him from the last 1.5 years ago when Dr last saw Jaden. I also needed Dr Erwin to show me how to perform the MB12 shot on my little boy's butt.

So, after some discussion with Hubby and a green light ahead to go book the flights, I rushed over to Kelana Jaya Immigration Department to have my passport done on the day we were rushing off to Melaka for another 3days2nights getaway. Main intention of the Melaka trip was of course to have a Chinese New Year meal with my mother-in-law too and to take Jaden to experience Melaka for the little one has never been to Melaka before. It has always been up north to my hometown, so down a little central & south we took the little boy.

OK, back to the Singapore trip ... :)

Security was rather tight as they needed my information too at the reception desk so that if I do require anything, then they do not have to keep calling Hubby for permission. Then they have someone send us up to our room, and the very moment I stepped into the room, it took my breath away. It was elegantly designed and with all the buttons, switches so high-tech, I did not even know where to slot my room card in until the bell boy showed me. *shy* heated mirrors? how cool is that? heated mirrors.. I am so suaku I tell you. I even slipped into the dry bathtub to surf some channels while waiting for Jaden to wake up from his nap, which he fell asleep in the cab on the way to the hotel.

Quickly, I messaged PC that she has to come up to my room the next day to see it all for herself .. when a knock took place at the door and that is when, I discovered that you can ask your butler to do almost anything. Legit of course. but still ... 

We have two butlers. One in the morning and one in the evening, Alva and Shermann. They are both good in their own way but somehow I think Shermann is much more efficient than Alva because he never lets me wait and he is much more mindful of what to clear from the room the instant he sets into the room. For Alva, she is a great smiling girl but she has to be told every single thing to get it done, like taking empty trays out from the room and such but I have to give credit to her for helping me run a warm bubble bath for Jaden in the afternoon. She does meet my needs only a little bit slower than Shermann. 

Lets just say Shermann has got everything done right spot on, and even went all the way out during the evening when I was out having dinner with PC to make the bed again, after Jaden messed it up and lets just say, he prepared the room the way it should be, curtains drawn, bathrobe and bath mat placed where it should, water at the side of the bed, remote on the bed for easy access and chocolates for both Hubby and me. The sweetest gesture of all was a personal note to us, hoping that we have a pleasant experience with them and that we should not hesitate to  call for them if we need them at any hour. How sweet can all that get? My room gets done about twice a day.. =) =)

and not to mention, even the doorman knows Hubby and addresses him as Mr Yap each time they see him walk in and out of the door. Nice but sometimes you wonder, where did they hide the hidden camera? LOL Just kidding. 

We really have a great St. Regis experience, at least for me, who made the most out of it. 

I was quite sad to leave but well, holidays do have to come to an end so we can all come back to reality and here I am, in my reality world now, waiting for my chicken to be stewed nicely for Jaden and back to the grind, hoping that this year, after three great holidays with Jaden and Hubby, everything will turn out positive for our family. 

For me, I am personally wishing that Jaden will have more progression towards recovery and that Hubby's work will always be abundantly good and best of health for all my loved ones. 

It has been a great Chinese New Year for me this year. Thank you Hubby for making it all possible. 

Last 2011 Singapore trip

xoxo

Congratulations Mrs Ham

Dear Joy,

We have known each other for about 10 years now and it all began with the most cheesy cliche pickup line of, "Have I seen you somewhere before?"

Yes, you probably would have, the bus rides that brought us closer.

How we observed that there will always be this man who will always sit at the very same spot in the bus, how we sat far away from your little brother who is now not so little anymore and of course, the sardine-packed moments where the bus driver tries to be funny and is very generous with his jam-brakes. 

It had been a real joy knowing you, having you in my life.

The days of stringing along helium balloons on your birthday at pasar malam, very much an envy to the children. Celebrating your very first college birthday at the LICT student lounge.  

We have had our fair share of drama and you are always there to save me. Yes, you have always mostly been my savior. From Bangsar toilets, puking in front of people's house and our many visits to different police stations to running away from receiving flowers. That was one epic moment for both of us, our immediate response to a simple, "HELLO" we heard right outside your gate. 

Our favourite lunch and meal in college days were the RM1 puri and fries dipped in mayo from Bombay. Us, trying our best to scrimp so we can have enough for our assignments. 

How from four original aunties -Sonia Faith you and I to more aunties, that well, became one of us too. I think it must be a success on our part to turn that pessimistic woman into somebody optimistic, well, at least she is when she is with us or else, we should have just pushed her under that train track that very night. 

The joy of us, 8 squeezing into a car and going to club the night away. 

I believed that there are times I might have really disappointed you but I am glad we worked things out in the end. 

I am sorry I laughed at you when I heard you sprained your ankles just by going down those three steps.

I am sorry I asked you to hurry across the busy Sunway FAT MAIN ROAD when, erm.. you had a bad ankle.

I appreciate how you took me in at your place and vice versa. That too, had stories on their own -creepy ones and also funny ones, shared together with Z and Lu. 

They say how friendship will slowly cease, sizzle out after we leave for the working world but no, you and I remain the same, despite how far we are apart from each other. 

I have never got to meet your previous boyfriends but that does not matter because the very boyfriend you showed to me, when I was in labor, is now your loving husband.

You are like a sister from another mother to me. You have always been there for me for all my important moments of my life and I hope I can be there for you too because I just want to. No reasons. I love you and will always do. (thats what I always tell you, eh?)

I appreciated it that you came to both my wedding dinner and the ROM, which was crazily early in the morning when you have got to rush to work right after that, how you came and stayed with me while I was in labor and massaging my legs that I could not feel at all, which was just plain funny. How you got to hear Jaden's very first cry when he came into this world and you were even there for me after my surgery, when I was all alone in the hospital. 

I am truly happy for both you and Marc, that you both took the next step into the next chapter in life. Marc has never ever looked happier in any other times when he said I do and signed those life contract papers.

Thank you for allowing me into your life, for letting me be able to be part of your big day moment and I pray that I get to be there to help massage your legs back one day. Next year, perhaps?

Anyway, I shall end this post by saying once again, 

Joy Lee-Ham, you are one of the most beautiful girl I know, inside out and I hope you will have a blessed marriage and well, grow old together with the man that is so in love with you.

Congratulations to you both, Mr and Mrs Marc Ham.

xoxo
Emily Loo

Proud

Jaden has been showing me signs of improvement and I am so proud of him.

Today, he showed that he is very much aware of the pretty fireworks that was going off right outside our balcony and he even asked me for more when it was over. How on earth am I suppose to conjure it up for him ? but this is a good sign as we have been bringing him out during new year's eves to see fireworks but usually it goes by unnoticed. 

His diaper was already full with pee and he came to me, took my hand and put it on his diaper and showed me that he wants to take the diaper off and pulled me to the toilet. He wants to a bath. 

He sits patiently and finish playing the magnetic fishing game.

He takes down toys from the shelves that he wants to play and he really plays with them. This is really one breakthrough to me as he was never ever interested in toy play. Do you know that it is  vital that a kid should want to play with toys? 

When we reach home, while I lock the grill door, he bends down and takes off his shoes. 

Before heading into the toilet for a bath, he knows how to pull down his pants, take them off and then diaper off. 

He attempts to want to feed himself with a spoon, although at times, he think it is faster and less work to use bare hands.

Little things like these makes me happy and proud. He may be doing what other kids could have done maybe 2 years back but I am still nevertheless the beaming proud parent when I see this coming from my son. 

He kicks the ball around, sometimes playing with his father. 

He highfives, hightens us. He claps his hands.

He tries to solve his problems by himself, and of course at times give up by just walking away in frustration.

He goes to the kitchen, pulls me there and parks his butt on the dining chair. Thats how I know he is hungry and wants to eat.

When he gets up from nap in the living room, he will help carry his pillows back into the room. 

He may not open to learn new things at first, turning his head away but once he gets it he does it with so much confidence exuding from his face, that it made me beam with so much pride. 

We (therapists and I) are going to start toilet train him and hope that we will tackle this completely by June 2012. I am going to give Jaden time to learn and pick up this on his own because I know deep down inside the head there somewhere, he is my little clever boy.

I wont be enrolling him into kindergarten in January 2012 yet as we are just starting to go into full force in his ABA program which he has been showing good progress. Don't want to alter his time and get it all screwed. He needs the hours to really learn things. 

Jaden, he might have made me want to pull my own hair out a few times but most of the time, I just want to hold him tight and tell him how much I am proud to be his mother and I love him with all my heart. 

He might be 'slow and weird' to some but he will always be the apple of my eye, my little hero, my little smartypants. 

Rice Cooker Salt-Baked Chicken

Family dinners are an important affair to me and since I have my own family now, I would want Jaden to have this type of practice too. Sadly, its not really a success because his mother turns out to be the world's lousiest cook.

Yesterday was the Winter Solstice festival and not only do the Chinese eat tang yuen (glutinous rice balls), they will also have a family dinner / family gathering. 

Since it was only 3 of us and the big one has to work, we settled for just tang yuen while the small one will have his dinner as usual but I do try to make his dish a little more special than norm.

Turns out I am one day late and well, better late than never.

I googled for some salt baked chicken and came across this blog, and found it to my cooking convenience. There are a lot of style to salt baked a chicken but well, this one blog made it so ABC for me, there is no turning back.

In my mind, if this meal turns out to be a success, then I can also cook it for the Chinese New Year reunion dinner. 

Turns out, I didn't fail nor did I score with flying colors. It was just ok. Something was missing somewhere in flavoring and I can't seem to source which ingredient did I leave out or did I not marinade it right?

Jaden seemed to like it, without whining as usual if he does not like his meals so guess I pass this test. Maybe, just maybe just more garlic and salt and ginger? Or maybe a little of his tamari sauce as marinade?

Hmm, I would still have to tweak until I get the recipe right. Just like my roast beef, I finally got it the way I want it to roast and still have that aromatic moist in it when you sink your teeth into the meat... but it took me quite a few tries to get it right. Roast pork = FAIL ! Siu Yoke = FAIL ! *sigh* 

I am still better off sticking to honey-bbqed pork ribs, roasted garlic potatoes, potato boulangere  and maybe roasted chicken chop for the small one when it comes to oven cooking.