back to daycare...

Bryan's fever finally subsided on Monday. One whole week of sleepless nights and days for Mommy and Grandma. We were so worried that we visited the uni hospital on Sunday evening. The doctor was also worried on hearing about the long persistent high temperature - since last Tuesday evening. So she did a saliva test, an urine test and a blood test just to make sure everything was fine.
The hospital was so crowded! So many kids were ill... so we weren't the only sleep-deprived parents out here. It's usually like this: changing of seasons, temperature fluctuates like your shares prices! A week ago it was still 1 to 2 degrees, but last Sunday was so humid and warm that the thermometer recorded a reading of 16.5! How not to fall sick???!!!! Some nights in summer might not even be as warm!
Kristin is cutting her first tooth. So still no hope of decent sleep for me. She's recovering from her cough... I have been thinking of giving her a bottle of formula at night in the hope of better sleep. On the other hand, I can't bear to give up breastfeeding so soon. Big dilemma now... coz introducing formula will definitely lower breastmilk supply.
What else can Kristin do now? She can: Crawl backwards, clap her hands to music, sort of wave bye-bye, babble, scream when her toys are snatched away, complain when her brother comes too near her, shake her head when she doesn't like something. She likes to go out, even if it's to the balcony for some fresh air! She has shown signs of separation anxiety way ahead of her brother when he was her age.

at the playground

It's Kristin's second try at the swing. She did a lot better than Kor-kor. I think Bryan is bit afraid of heights.
Mom and I have been taking the kids out to a playground nearby. About 20 minutes walk from our place. We usually get the kids to nap first and then leave around 4 plus in the afternoon.

stomach flu...

Please pray with us! It all started with Bryan. He's down with stomach flu and now it has been passed around to Mommy and Kristin. And Grandma is beginning to feel unwell. Bryan isn't getting any better either. Poor boy, he's not been eating much. We've got to go back to the paediatrician tomorrow.

exhausted...

Just got back from our Stuttgart/Munich weekend. Alan was there on business, while Mom and I took the kids out for a change. At least they were happy to be out of the house and staying in a hotel has always been a great adventure to Bryan.
It's been a tiring journey back home.
Poor Kristin was feeling uncomfortable along the way. Actually she's only complaining that her stool is getting a bit harder. Well, it's not the type of soft, watery stool from breastmilk only. So she needs to get used to the new feeling in her diaper.
Bryan had a rough time too. But I told him he asked for it coz he insisted in finishing his sweets. So Daddy gave the sugar a good churn on our way home along the Autobahn when he saw the "no-speed-limit" sign. And guess what Mommy got when we arrived home?
Kristin went poo-poo twice and shortly thereafter... Bryan threw up his dinner!
Well, that's a Mommy's job - no over-time pay, while Daddy's so exhausted from driving that he fell fast asleep on the couch!
No time to unpack yet! Watch this space for more travel stories with the kids!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Dinner: Beef rice, steamed to-fu and fresh salad.
No cake but three big candles! Only symbolic ;)
And Bryan sang the birthday song in English, Chinese and German. Encore!
It's a quiet birthday celebration for Alan. Just us!
He's got a busy week ahead.

small talk in the kitchen

"Hello, Mom! What are you doing? "
"I'm slicing the meat."
"Are you cutting it?"
"Yes, I am."
"How about a tea-pot?"
"What's with the...?"
Mom has not even completed her question and Bryan came over with his little tea-pot and poured some imaginary fluid over my beef slices!
"Hmmm, I'm sure the meat will taste very nice!"
A broad grin on Bryan's face! :)

unpredictable weather

It's raining in Frankfurt, rather warm and humid. But it's snowing in Berlin and Hamburg. Luckily, Alan has come back from Berlin.
The rising water levels in some rivers pose threats to some of the cities in the south western part of Germany. Hmmmh, if I don't remember wrongly, weather was pretty bad 10 years ago too. But probably not as bad. There was quite alot of snow and flood in February. I was in Kassel then, not as low-lying as Frankfurt. Anyway, there is no alarm here in Frankfurt.

some peace... much needed!

Finally Kristin is down to take another nap. She was sitting all by herself playing while mommy cooked lunch! Was that not wonderful? Didn't I tell you it's easy with only one child? Big learning curve for me now: Working mom with maid in Singapore turned full-time stay home mom without maid in Germany. Usually people start practising with one baby. I choose to start with a restless pre-schooler - who has energy oozing out of each pore - and a fussy baby girl with a drama queen award. Now who ever told me that girls were easier to care for compared with boys?
Bryan is out with Opa and Oma. And Kristin could entertain herself with books and toys around her. Don't worry, I've baby-proofed the place. She was sitting on a mattress and had lots of cushions surrounding her. She was so comfortable that she didn't even complained about her poo.
How I wish every afternoon is like this. That's why it's so important to look for a pre-school for Bryan. Fortunately, my mom will be around till the end of the year to help. Please pray with me that Bryan will get a spot in either of the English-speaking kindergartens near our place - one is within walking distance, while the other is two bus-stops away plus a little walking.

no more crying, please!

Kristin's been crying alot these two days. She has unfortunately caught a cold from Bryan. Strange, I still haven't seen any signs of the first tooth. I remember Bryan already had two by this time.
Kristin is one big drama queen... toys on the floor.... wail, Kor-Kor comes up too near to be friendly... wail, toys drop onto her face... wail - by the way, that's her own fault, Mommy wipes off drool from her face... wail! Girls really do cry alot more than boys! I know Bryan wasn't that much a whiner when he bumped into something, especially when he knew he was the clumsy one.
Anyway, which baby doesn't cry alot? But Kristin is rather fussy.

another milestone or two

Bryan allowed me to teach him hold a pencil! For those of you who aren't parents, this is a major development in terms of motor skills. In the past, he used to grab writing equipment. But as of today, he can hold a thin pencil with his little fingers! Hurrah! Now it's time to begin literacy work. And just like what his paediatrician in Singapore said, he's now trying to draw circles on his own, free hand, almost completing one.

Also, he seems to be able to make mathematical concepts to numbers now - errh, I mean he can count!

buslinie 32

Believe it or not: Today's my first time riding in a bus in Frankfurt! I had to send Bryan to school without a car! Well, I'm hardly out of the house and if I do make it out, then it's usually on foot or by car. It's difficult to take two kids - two prams - around using the public transport.
It's still manageable dealing with one kid.
Bryan was exhilarated to take the bus. Kids these days find it a treat to take a bus - they just don't know how fortunate they are to be chauffeured around. They still don't appreciate the comfort and convenience of a car.
Now, I've been thinking - how nice it would have been if I only had one child to deal with now. Being alone either with Bryan or with Kristin allows me to accomplish lots of tasks. Plus, I'm also mobile enough to explore beyond the walls of our home. But that thought will usually take me even further... and I end up thinking how nice it would have been if I was still childless! Then I would be out all day painting the town red - as a tai-tai, of course!!!!
Yet, I think I wouldn't reverse time. You wouldn't too, if you saw how my children laughed today. Check out this video!

late night

it's monday... well, not anymore! Alan's still at work.
We had home group tonight. Thank God for a wonderful support group that's really not too far for us. So on days when Alan cannot make it, I'll be able to walk there on my own.

Kristin was pretty ok in the afternoon. It's the longest nap ever so far: 2.75 hours! I can feel a pat from Elizabeth Pantley on my back now! :) I've found her tips from No Cry Sleep Solution pretty useful. Really, I don't have a heart to let my children cry it out at night. So that probably has contributed to Bryan's inability to sleep through the night till now.

it's winter again!

It's all white when we woke up this morning. Bryan was so excited when he looked out the window. Immediately, he was armed with his spade and all too eager to play with the snow.

Daddy and Mommy woke up a little more refreshed this morning. Kristin has moved back to her 4-hours stretch of sleep in the night. We haven't quite figured out why she woke up every two hours for the past 6 nights. Growth spurt, soft pillows, absorbency of diaper, complete darkness or Mommy's snoring? Yap, I've been really exhausted.

back in germany...

Hey all!

This is Bryan, Alan, Cindy and Kristin keeping in touch with you folks back home!

Stay in touch!