Amniocentesis

I have been pondering back and forth if I should do the Amnio test which is scheduled for in 2 weeks' time. I've had a sleepless night last night weighing the pros and cons and thinking about all the 'what ifs'. My gynae told me that the risk of a miscarriage resulting from the Amnio is the same as the risk of giving birth to a Down Syndrome baby. It's really a 'between the devil and the deep blue sea' decision for me and I just can't make this decision.

It would be good if I get to hear real life stories and experiences from mothers who had gone through an Amnio and I'd appreciate anyone sharing their stories with me.

The Question and Answer Tag

Have been tagged by this supermom who has gone all out to help SAHMs like me by giving us new avenues to earn more revenue.

I am not really sure how the tag goes but I assume I have to answer the question that has been posed to me and then in return, I am to create a new question and tag other people.

This was the question posed to supermom, Elina :
Why human turns greedy when they see money?
Easy peasy. Money is essential to our everyday life. It may start as a NEED but the more money you have, the more comfortable your life will be. That's the general perception. Bear in mind I did not say the more $$$ you have, the happier you are. Anyway, who does not want to bask in luxuries? I guess that's how greed comes in, the root of all evil.

Her question to me is :
Why do some people enjoy being a busybody?
And this is my answer to her question : Because these Nosey Parkers are simply curious and I guess they are just too free and have nothing better to do. Tell me, if you're busy with your own internal affairs, would you have time to poke your nose into other people's affairs?

My question will be :
Why do some people love to see other people's failure and then gloat about their own success?
Answer :


and I'm gonna pass the tag baton on to:

1. Chin Nee
2. Leena
3. Mamapumpkin

New Header

Notice my new header? I thought of changing the header so that this blog and my new blog would have a different header. I must thank my pretty designer for this beautiful header. She's been a great help to me and has always been a very good online friend to me.

Me Appearing on TV?

Last night, I was invited by a blogging mom to appear on TV3. TV3 would like to interview mothers who blog for money and she was invited by someone from TV3 who is a reader of her blog. I was like "what, me appearing on tv? No way, my pregnancy hormones have made me look awful now. I don't look appealing and I have zits on my face. Aiyoh.... no way" Anyway, Alycia will still be in school at that time, unless she skips school for one day, which I don't really fancy the idea. So, I've let another opportunity for me to be the star of the moment slip by me again!

Thanks anyway for thinking of me, you know who you are :)

Dilated Kidney

I consulted Dr Patrick of Fetal Medicine and Gynaecology Centre today upon recommendation by my gynae to consult a fetal specialist. After a thorough ultrasound scan and some calculations, I was told that my chances of having a 'Down' baby is low, i.e. risk is about 1 in 300. Apart from the dilated kidney, everything else looked normal. The baby has a nasal bone and the back of the neck wasn't thick. Heart and brain looked normal. It was such a relief to hear that.

Dr Patrick said that in most cases, the dilated kidney would resolve by itself either in utero or after delivery. Close monitoring of the baby's kidney is important throughout the pregnancy. The worst case scenario would be the baby having kidney reflux and only in rare cases would the kidney be damaged. So he had left the option of doing an Amnio test to hubby and I. We have decided to go for the test to get some peace of mind which is scheduled for in around 2 weeks' time, i.e. at 16 weeks of gestation. A normal waiting period for the results to be out is 2 weeks and costs RM1,800, of which the amniotic fluid would be sent to Singapore. An express one would be done locally in KL and costs RM2,300, of which we have opted for.

Alycia and Sherilyn were very expensive babies and looks like this baby too would be very expensive. Well, as long as the baby's fine and healthy, money is secondary and I shall continue to pray that this baby will be absolutely healthy and perfect.

And oh yes, my first gynae has told me the gender of the baby and I've seen it too on Tuesday. Today Dr Patrick told me that it is still not clearly visible yet. Well, to me girl or boy is not a concern anymore. It never was a concern to me. It is already a big gift from God if the baby is born healthy without any defects.

Great Christmas Gift Ideas For That Special Man

Christmas will be here in slightly more than 2 months. Whew, time really flies! It seems like it was only yesterday that I was shopping for last year’s Christmas gifts and decorating the Christmas tree. I have no problems with gift ideas for women or kids but I’m always stuck for ideas when it comes to shopping for my dad, hubby and brothers. I got them men’s cologne last year and this year, I think I’ll get them something that’s really practical. I know my brothers would find ties practical and useful, that’s something they can use everyday and they will never find an extra tie too many.

For dad and hubby, I may get them some formal shirts or some cufflinks or maybe some casual shirts. I know Van Heusen has a line of good quality non-iron formal shirts. My dad will surely love those non-iron shirts as I know he just hates ironing his shirts. It would be a great idea if I bought him those non-iron formal shirts as they are now on sale at £25 each if I purchase 3 or more. I think these would be one of the best Christmas gifts for my dad as he needs not have to iron his shirts anymore.

Hey, if you’re lost for great gift ideas for your man, your dad or boss this Christmas, do check out van-heusen.co.uk. They have a good range of men apparel and accessories at affordable prices too.

Food Review : Banquet

On Sunday we were at Bangsar Village again for lunch as Alycia has been pestering daddy to bring her to eat spaghetti. We wanted to go back to Marco's Pizza but then daddy decided to try something new. So we went round upstairs to survey the restaurants. There were quite a number of classy restaurant on the top floors and daddy chosed a restaurant named Banquet.



Banquet serves western food and local food and we noticed that the majority of the patrons ordered local food. These are what we ordered :


Spaghetti Oleo with red snapper fish - satisfactory.


Fragrant fried rice - very tasty.


Lamb shank with chick peas and vege. The lamb was very well cooked and very tender - very tasty.


Local fruit rojak - I find the sauce a little too sweet. Nothing to shout about.


Mushroom soup - satisfactory.


My maid and I had Mee Jawa - nothing to shout about, just a plate of expensive but run-of-the-mill mee jawa with tofu, some sliced eggs and fried Indonesian crackers. I prefer the ones sold at hawker stalls and I will never order this dish again if I ever return to this restaurant.

The place is classy and we were given good service. But would we go back there again? Quite unlikely unless we have no other choices.

Get Out of Your Debt With Free Debt Advice

If you are constantly finding yourself struggling financially to pull through every month and have difficulty managing your finances, well help is at hand at DebtAdviceTrust.org, a non-profit organization registered in the UK.

At DebtAdviceTrust.org, you can get free impartial debt advice, debt help and debt solutions to end your financial woes. It’s never easy to manage paying a home mortgage loan, hire purchase for your vehicle(s), expenses for the kids and family, insurances, the occasional vacations and treats for you and the family and the list just keeps expanding. If you’re not wise and careful enough with your spending, you may get yourself entangled in deep financial crisis. So don’t wait any further. Get yourself out of your financial woes and start your life anew with a clear and wise financial plan with professional debt advice from DebtAdviceTrust.org.

Pamper and Protect Your Skin With Good Products

I’ve not bought myself a range of good quality skincare products for almost 2 years, that is ever since I quit work to be a SAHM. Thinking that I could save some money by buying cheaper range of skincare products, I was wrong. My thriftiness has taken a toll on my skin. I now have dry skin, zits on my forehead and even crow’s feet at the corner of my eyes when I laugh! I look awful. I better get myself a real good brand of skincare products and beauty products before my skin wrinkles beyond repair. I'm only 34 and I don't want to look like a haggard and frumpy old woman.

I should also get hubby to invest in some good skincare products for men too. It doesn’t make any difference whether you are a man or a woman, our skin just needs the right nutrition and care to stay healthy and supple. Which brand is good? I’m not really sure. Let me do my survey at beautyexpert.co.uk. This website carries a complete range of skincare products and the professionals there even give expert advice on what beauty products suit your skin best.

It's Not The Toothbrush, She Wants Daddy!

One morning last week, as usual Alycia refused to brush her teeth before going to school. Daddy didn't like the idea of Alycia going to school with a stinky mouth and insisted that she brushed her teeth. So he brushed Alycia's teeth and Alycia was grinning from cheek to cheek and didn't puke. It was indeed a rare occasion that daddy brushed her teeth and she was very happy. Now I know that maybe it wasn't the toothbrush after all that made her puke every morning. Maybe all she wanted was just some attention.

Daddy's The Best Playmate!

Know why the gals love daddy more than mummy? That's because daddy spoils them rotten, their wishes are always daddy's command and daddy plays with them almost every night - hide and seek and camping!

It's daddy's bright idea to place this bedsheet over the baby cot, so it looks like a makeshift tent!


And it's daddy's idea that we play pretend cooking in our tent.

Alycia's Too Spoilt By Daddy

When daddy picked Alycia up from school one day last week, he asked her what she'd like to have for lunch. Of course, Alycia gladly said chicken rice, which was her favorite food and off daddy went to the nearby coffee shop to buy her chicken rice, knowing that there's lunch prepared at home. Just then, I called daddy and reminded him that I had cooked fried glass noodles for the gals. Daddy then had to tell Alycia that she can't have chicken rice as mummy had cooked fried noodles. When daddy brought Alycia home, she refused to alight from the car and started bawling. My maid had to drag her out from the car. When Alycia came into the house, she was scolding me, as if blaming me for thwarting daddy's plan with her. She was crying and screaming for a good 15 minutes until daddy brought her out to the chicken rice shop and bought her a packet of chicken rice!

When daddy's back, I told him that he is spoiling Alycia rotten this way. Whilst daddy is always the good guy who always accedes to the gals' wimps and fancies, I am always seen as the bad guy and the disciplinarian. I reckon that this is one of the reasons why Alycia has been behaving so negatively towards me lately. Well, I think the incident yesterday had sort of 'woken' up daddy and made him realize that he just can't continue spoiling Alycia, else she can really turn into a wayward child in no time. I can't imagine what Alycia will turn into if I were still working and she's left in the care of a babysitter or a childcare centre.



Alycia enjoying every spoonfull of her chicken rice.


The glass noodles that were not touched.... what a waste!

Who Says Big Is Not Beautiful?

When I first started out to work, I had a supervisor who was very popular in the organization. She was outspoken, confident, sociable and she had good taste in women’s fashion and was always dressed up very well from head to top. Her finger and toe nails were always immaculately painted and her hair was carefully coiffured. She had many male admirers and anyone who have heard of her but have not met her before would have thought that she’s slim and beautiful. The fact is she wasn’t exactly beautiful and instead was rather plump but she somewhat exuded charm because of the way she carried herself and she just knew how to select the right clothing and accessories to suit her body shape.

So you don’t really have to be slim and have an hour glass figure to be attractive. Choosing the right plus size clothing plays an important role to accentuate your ‘plus points’ and camouflage your excess. If you’re looking for some fashionable and comfortable plus size clothing, do check out Elvi.co.uk. This online women’s fashion store carries a wide and nice line in plus size women’s clothing for all occasions. I always believe that a woman, regardless of her age should always dress up well to look good and feel good about herself.

Birds' Nest

That's birds' nest double boiled with 'pau sum' (a type of ginseng) and rock sugar. I love birds' nest and the only time I get to savour this expensive and exotic delicacy is when I'm pregnant. For both my pregnancies, I ate a lot of birds' nest. Whenever my mil was around, she would soak the nests and then painstakingly spend 2 days cleaning the birds' nest by using a tweezer to pick up dirt and feathers that are stuck to nests. Then, she would double boil the nests to perfection. However, when she's overseas, hubby would buy the instant ones from Lo Hong Ka, which I don't really fancy as they are tasteless when compared to the good quality ones that have been selected, cleaned and double boiled.

Last week, hubby bought 6 pieces of orangy colored wild birds' nest from Eu Yang Sang and got the owner of the shop to double boil the birds' nest. I've eaten 3 times and I have another 3 more rounds to go. They smell really good, like the aroma of cooked eggs. I was told that good quality birds' nest would emit the smell of cooked eggs when they are boiled. I was really touched by hubby's concern, well, I think he's more concerned of the baby! When I asked how much the birds' nest cost, my jaw almost dropped. The 6 tiny pieces of birds' nest cost a whopping RM600!!

Should I Get An Online Degree Too?

For many years, my cousin who has always wanted to get a degree in IT but lacked the wherewithal to do it is finally taking her BSc in Information Technology from Columbia Southern University, an online university that gives her the flexibility to study at her own pace. After work each day, she spends her evenings attending online tutorials at home from her computer. During weekends, she’s glued to her computer, completing her assignments and attending online web lectures. There’s even a Student Service Representative assigned to help her on an individualized basis throughout her online program. I’m really amazed with this online university. Perhaps I should also join her and get myself a degree in IT since I’ve developed a strong interest in IT ever since I started out blogging early this year. It’s never too late to gain additional knowledge and I always believe that knowledge widens one’s horizons.

Please Wait For Me Daddy...

This is the scene at our house every morning. When daddy is about to get out from the house to bring Alycia to school, Sherilyn will plead "daddy, please wait for me, please wait for me. I want to go school" so that she can follow them in the short car ride to school. The other day, Alycia was really late for school. It was already close to 9am and class starts at 8:30am but daddy couldn't leave as Sherilyn was doing her poopie business in her potty and she clung on tightly to daddy's leg, refusing to let go of him. What a touching scene!

Our Monday

Despite a rough start for Alycia and us this morning, the rest of the day was nevertheless quite fruitful. After her major temper tantrum in the morning followed by a real good lesson from daddy and mummy, Alycia turned out rather angelic for the rest of today. She did lots of coloring and letter tracing today and was very obedient. Sherilyn also did some letter tracing and she has made some really good improvements in her pencil grip and today, she wrote the letter 'J' really well - straight and got the order of the strokes correct. Just a moment ago, she traced the number '15'. After guiding her hand to write the number, she could remember the order of the strokes and traced the number perfectly well. I'm so proud of her progress.

The gals also had a swell time at a new playground near our house in the evening. The play equipment were new and the slides were almost 1.5-storey high. My 2 samseng gals even had the guts to climb up the iron ladder bars to the top (together with daddy) and went down the winding slides. Every step that they took as they climbed up sent cold shivers down my spine and whilst they had a great time with daddy, I watched nervously on the ground, with my heart pounding away as they climbed each step up the iron bars to the 1.5-storey high slides.









For dinner, we had a piece of pan-fried sirloion steak, a slice of pan-fried fish, stir-fried spinach and lotus root soup. It was just another regular weekday for us but we had accomplished quite a bit.

Appetizing Dish To Serve With Porridge

Here's an appetizing dish that goes very well when eaten with porridge. It's called 'tau kok lup' in Cantonese which literally means 'diced long beans' in English. All the ingredients in this dish are diced and toddlers will find this dish interesting and appetizing too. Be careful of choking hazard with the peanuts if you're feeding your toddler.

Ingredients :

1. Long beans, diced

2. Carrots, diced

3. Dried flower mushrooms, diced

4. Fresh prawns, diced

5. Dried preserved chinese radish, diced

6. Chicken breast, diced
7. Peanuts, roasted in the oven or fried (without using oil) in the wok and skin removed
8. A dash of sugar, salt and pepper
9. Some oyster sauce
10.Chopped shallots


Method :
1. Pan fry the shallots till fragrant.
2. Add in all the ingredients (except the roasted peanuts)
3. Add sugar, salt and pepper and a little oyster sauce
4. Fry all the ingredients till fragrant and soft (about 10-15 mins)
5. Store the peanuts separately in an air-tight container and sprinkle the peanuts on top of the dish just before serving.

Willful and Defiant Child

Eversince Alycia attended pre-school, she has started to be really agressive, stubborn and uncontrollable. To begin with, she's already a very willful child. She speaks her own mind and is very headstrong. Lately, she's started to answer back when I scold her and is always defying my instructions. If she wants something, she must have it instantly - not later, otherwise she will throw herself into a fits of rage. It's frightening to see how a girl who's barely 4 yo behaving like a teenager - rebelling and arguing with her mother all the time. I just can't believe that such a pretty and cute toddler is so full of rage when her wimps and fancies are not met immediately. Partly, she's spoilt by her daddy and he is beginning to realize it.

Last night I had promised to bring the gals out to the park to blow bubbles. This morning I told the gals that I would only bring them to the park after they read a story book. Sherilyn obediently read not one but 4 Dr Seuss books but when I asked Alycia to read, she refused. "No, I only want to play bubbles. I don't want to read" and there she went, ranting and raving for almost half an hour. She was screaming and wailing and started to say nasty words like "you're not a good mummy, you go away, stop it, stupid mummy". No amount of coaxing, sweet talking, bribe or threats worked and finally, I had to use the whip. I told her that crying and behaving badly won't get her anything and tried to reason out with her but she wouldn't budge. After the whip, she finally came to her senses and stopped crying. She then came to me as I was reading to Sherilyn and began to listen as I read to Sherilyn. When I asked her to read the book, she began to read in a muffled voice. After reading, I finally took the gals out to the park to play.

When we came back, I told hubby what had happened. He was furious and asked Alycia to apologize to me. As stubborn as she is, she would not say sorry and began to cry again. Daddy then gave her a good lecture and some light whipping. Still, she didn't want to apologize and just bawled uncontrollably. We tried to explain to her that what she did and said were very wrong and rude. I asked her if she's going to say those nasty things to me again and she nodded her head and said "yes!" That's how stubborn and defiant she can get. Probably the whip wasn't painful at all. That infuriated daddy even more and he gave her another light whip on the buttock. More bawling followed and after a while, still sobbing and shaking, Alycia ran to me and tried to hug me. I asked her again if she's going to say those nasty things to me again and AGAIN she said "yes!" Unbelievable! Daddy gave out another light whip and that was followed by more bawling. Again she ran to me to hug me and I asked her the same question "are you going to say those things to mummy again?" and this time she said "no". When I asked her to apologize, finally the golden word "sorry" poured out slowly and softly from her quivering mouth. I then gave her a hug, wiped her smutty face and she continued to have breakfast. I really do not like the idea of using the cane all the time but with my 2 girls, the cane seem to have some 'positive' effects in disciplining them. I've tried the more humane, cultured method of reasoning but sadly that just didn't work for my gals, especially Alycia. I wish I had a better and more effective way of disciplining my gals.

Alycia's Favorite Channel

Everyone would have thought that Alycia's favorite TV channels are the ones on cartoons or animals but no, she loves Astro's channel 733 on Home and Health. She loves watching programs on babies, pregnancy and birth, plastic surgery, heart transplant, health and cosmetics. She even prefers this channel to Barney or High-5, also her favorites. She finds all the programs on channel 733 so fascinating and an eye-opener to her. I can't believe that she's even hooked on documentaries on heart transplant and lap-band surgeries! Oh well, I just hope this will garner her interest in the field of medical and propel her to study medicine to be a doctor some day! Mummy must be day-dreaming here, but then again, you never know eh?