It's amazing how quickly she forgets the trauma she went through...
Letitia was playing "Doctor" with Mathena tonight and M was happily being the patient. She got probbed, jabbed and push around...kinda like real hospital-life, really!
Both kids doing well and back to enjoying our messy house.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Monday, May 23, 2005
We survived a "valley"
Just wanted to let you know what's happening with us.
Sunday (22nd) afternoon around 1.40pm, Mathena woke up with a seizure due to a high temperature (Febrile convulsion) see:
http://www.chw.edu.au/parents/factsheets/febrilej.htm
and
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/febrileconvulsion.htm
and was rushed off to hospital. We were quite scared by the event and called for an ambulance. The Drs carried out various tests on her (blood, CT scan, and even a lumbar puncture). We were in hospital till 10pm when it all finished.
Little Mathena is such a strong little fighter that doing the tests proved to be quite a challenge. Even a couple of doses of sedatives plus the most experience of Drs couldn't subdue her. The most difficult of all was the lumbar puncture - 2 different Drs had a total of 4 failed attempts because Mathena was such a "(strong) wriggly worm". The purpose of the test was to rule out the possibility of meningitis (About Meningitis). However, we found out that due to the bruising caused by the struggles, the sample contained some blood and could not be used.
Having said that, the head pediatrician was quite confident that the risks of Mathena having meningitis were very, very low. She woke up Monday morning happy as Larry and showed no signs of being "sicker". Apart from that all other tests came back favourable.
By late Sunday night and after all the ordeal of tests and pain and tears, we were admitted into the children's ward at 10.30pm and I was offered a recliner chair by Mathena's cot. As you can imagine, not much sleep was possible for sensitive grown-ups but exhausted Mathena fell asleep from about 10pm onwards and did not wake till 6am the next day with a gentle and soft "ma-ma". She did stirred several times during the night and climbed to look for me then stumble back to her sleep position with all the wires and drips tangling. I was up every hour to check on her drip, her temperature as well as the "strings attached".
She looked pretty "heartbreaking"...as her little body was put through some painful and rigorous necessary tests. She had to be sedated for a CT scan yet she played and moved about drowsily for her brain scan. She had not eaten since 12 noon that day. Having her right arm all bandaged/braced up in preparation for more blood test/medications made her very irritated with it and of course looked quite pitiful.
Mathena is a strong and gutsy little kid. I do have to admit I fell to smitherins the entire process and could not hold my composure even with Alex there. Even subconsciously, she was happy just for me to hold her and her crying/whimpering will stop. She was not well...had took a little too long to recover from her seizure after all the "jerky movements" stopped, her own system did not kick into action till about two hours later. Hence the Drs took NO RISK and did all they could to make sure that there were no further damage.
Since then, we are safely back at home and Mathena is mostly back to her normal self. We had the OK to go home (Monday 5.30pm) by the Drs after a day of observation at the hospital. Mathena was pretty much her cheeky self.
We found nice and excellent staff during the entire A & E/Pediatric hospital process and even met a few asian Doctors. We needed help(neighbours to babysit Letitia) and support(people who offered a shoulder and a warm meal) and they all came at the right time etc.
All the test returned well...M is now safely asleep on her own bed after a whole day of struggling (will not be left in the hospital cot on her own and wanted to be carried), I am happy that she was more than willing to quickly settle into her cot! My back would not have lasted another night.
Thanks for all your prayers and kindness and support and offers...for those who knew. For those who didn't we are sorry that we could not contact you as we've been flat out juggling the kids, waiting for test results and procedures...on top of the ban of using mobile phones in hospitals etc.
Keep praying for us, M is to be kept in close observation...I will have to monitor her and her temperature very closely. The next is an EEG to check the electronic pulses are doing well in her brains in a couple of weeks. But we hold strong and loves M to bits. I have never been soooo blessed to have Mathena in my arms. I thank GOD for helping us through all this...
May Ai/ Sarah
Again, we have a few appointments to hold to, and we want to get the 2 girls back to normality at home...so, please refrain from calling as it'll mean that I have have to put aside Mathena (she's prone to be extra clingy). Feel free to email and especially to pray for us. Life is very precious,....we've learnt it especially NOW!
I just hope for an easier week minus the sagas (eg. racial crank calls, sick kids, make up classes for sick kids, hospital emergency etc)
Sunday (22nd) afternoon around 1.40pm, Mathena woke up with a seizure due to a high temperature (Febrile convulsion) see:
http://www.chw.edu.au/parents/factsheets/febrilej.htm
and
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/febrileconvulsion.htm
and was rushed off to hospital. We were quite scared by the event and called for an ambulance. The Drs carried out various tests on her (blood, CT scan, and even a lumbar puncture). We were in hospital till 10pm when it all finished.
Little Mathena is such a strong little fighter that doing the tests proved to be quite a challenge. Even a couple of doses of sedatives plus the most experience of Drs couldn't subdue her. The most difficult of all was the lumbar puncture - 2 different Drs had a total of 4 failed attempts because Mathena was such a "(strong) wriggly worm". The purpose of the test was to rule out the possibility of meningitis (About Meningitis). However, we found out that due to the bruising caused by the struggles, the sample contained some blood and could not be used.
Having said that, the head pediatrician was quite confident that the risks of Mathena having meningitis were very, very low. She woke up Monday morning happy as Larry and showed no signs of being "sicker". Apart from that all other tests came back favourable.
By late Sunday night and after all the ordeal of tests and pain and tears, we were admitted into the children's ward at 10.30pm and I was offered a recliner chair by Mathena's cot. As you can imagine, not much sleep was possible for sensitive grown-ups but exhausted Mathena fell asleep from about 10pm onwards and did not wake till 6am the next day with a gentle and soft "ma-ma". She did stirred several times during the night and climbed to look for me then stumble back to her sleep position with all the wires and drips tangling. I was up every hour to check on her drip, her temperature as well as the "strings attached".
She looked pretty "heartbreaking"...as her little body was put through some painful and rigorous necessary tests. She had to be sedated for a CT scan yet she played and moved about drowsily for her brain scan. She had not eaten since 12 noon that day. Having her right arm all bandaged/braced up in preparation for more blood test/medications made her very irritated with it and of course looked quite pitiful.
Mathena is a strong and gutsy little kid. I do have to admit I fell to smitherins the entire process and could not hold my composure even with Alex there. Even subconsciously, she was happy just for me to hold her and her crying/whimpering will stop. She was not well...had took a little too long to recover from her seizure after all the "jerky movements" stopped, her own system did not kick into action till about two hours later. Hence the Drs took NO RISK and did all they could to make sure that there were no further damage.
Since then, we are safely back at home and Mathena is mostly back to her normal self. We had the OK to go home (Monday 5.30pm) by the Drs after a day of observation at the hospital. Mathena was pretty much her cheeky self.
We found nice and excellent staff during the entire A & E/Pediatric hospital process and even met a few asian Doctors. We needed help(neighbours to babysit Letitia) and support(people who offered a shoulder and a warm meal) and they all came at the right time etc.
All the test returned well...M is now safely asleep on her own bed after a whole day of struggling (will not be left in the hospital cot on her own and wanted to be carried), I am happy that she was more than willing to quickly settle into her cot! My back would not have lasted another night.
Thanks for all your prayers and kindness and support and offers...for those who knew. For those who didn't we are sorry that we could not contact you as we've been flat out juggling the kids, waiting for test results and procedures...on top of the ban of using mobile phones in hospitals etc.
Keep praying for us, M is to be kept in close observation...I will have to monitor her and her temperature very closely. The next is an EEG to check the electronic pulses are doing well in her brains in a couple of weeks. But we hold strong and loves M to bits. I have never been soooo blessed to have Mathena in my arms. I thank GOD for helping us through all this...
May Ai/ Sarah
Again, we have a few appointments to hold to, and we want to get the 2 girls back to normality at home...so, please refrain from calling as it'll mean that I have have to put aside Mathena (she's prone to be extra clingy). Feel free to email and especially to pray for us. Life is very precious,....we've learnt it especially NOW!
I just hope for an easier week minus the sagas (eg. racial crank calls, sick kids, make up classes for sick kids, hospital emergency etc)
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Thirty Somethings
Okay, okay....I am now officially "thirty-sumthing"!
Not an interesting number in all shape and form but
another milestone...
At this very point, I have two little girls adoring me
no matter how dirty or grumpy I am. A point to make,
one of them still loves me after 4 years and the other
might not know any better. I know for sure that I have
several family members that thinks of me and loves me
enough to call and wish me "HB" and I also know that
my husband has a HUGE headache around this time every
year trying to please me in the most economical way
possible.
This year, I felt the guilt...I had the flowers, the
gourmet cake, the handmade and heartgiven card, the
overseas call, the cheap but meaningful gift (a pact
we made to save $$ and to encourage each other to be
romantic etc), the decorated house with streamers, the
pictures, the favourite food (KFC Hot and Spicy) as
well as the kisses and the hugs. I was reminded that
birthdays are when people appreciate you and when you
practice to be graceful. I had many "offers" to go out
for a romantic night out and babysitting etc BUT,
I might repeat this birthday again next year. My 12-hour
of waking day just wasn't enough. It was filled with
people and conversations that took over. Lesson 1,
people do not stop hurting on your birthday. Lesson 2,
car accidents happen to people care for and might even
happen to me. Lesson 3, maybe the greatest gift I
got was a chance to "pray" humbly for others,
Lesson 4, my daughter (L) expects me to be nice to her
daddy EVEN on my birthday, Lesson 5, the same daughter
expects to give me kisses and open all my presents,
and blow out all my candles each year, Lesson 6, the
true desire of having a "nothing-day" CAN NEVER BE
FULFILLED!!!
I love my life, my moments, my days and especially the
reason I am alive. I have more reason to be alive
now that I am thirty..., than when I was 16. God made
it all happen. He gave me this life, this path and
this future. I am indeed nothing if not for HIM.
I miss you all, yes, esp on my birthday...but I am
happy and contented!
P/s Alex, thank you for doing sooo much to make me
feel special. It got very close to the point of
embarrassment but thank you most of all for teaching
the little ones to love me by your example. I will try
to be a better wife, next year??
My day
6.15am Mathena decided to wake everyone
7 We all got up and dressed and headed downstairs
7.10am I was still trying to make breakfast with
Mathena physically attached to me
7.30am "Can I open your presents mom?"
Breakfast, bye-byes, rush...
8.45am Sigh, still in Pjs but who cares, it's my
birthday!!
8.46 Knock on Door (GREAT! Still in Pjs), Friend delivers
BDay cake
9am Mathena sleeps....I go, wash up, shower, do
laundry etc
9.30-
12noon ON THE PHONE with 6 different people
(Happy, sad, teary, distressed etc) while missing
my dad's call about 4 times
Noon Visit friend (had car crash)
Lunch Alex bought home KFC and enjoyed with M
1.45-
2.30pm M slept, I cleaned up, tidy and laundry
(part IIX??)
2.40pm Off to pick up L at school...
4pm Cancel Dinner plans, fried Rice instead for kids
then....
6-7pm Normal stuff with CAKE and pictures
Note By this point, all the CHAN girls were in
their bed-best (eg Pjs) so this it the TRUE me!
Hope you guys had a good day...Happy everyday to you
too!
Thursday, May 05, 2005
May 2005
Life resumes. Letitia is back into the swing of things for term 2 and in her winter uniform. Mathena is loosing more and more of her morning sleep but enjoying life to the fullest. Winter is definately around the corner and we are still with Nortel.
Wouldn't be for long anyway.... Alex is pretty sure that by the end of May, he'll get a tap on his shoulder. He's survived one interview and has clocked it as experience. It made us open our eyes to how hard it is to get work. There were online test to find out how smart (or not!) you are, interviews with technical people, interviews involving "quick problem solving skills", then another 2 more levels of interviews etc. The hardest thing is to have proof of how "inadequate" one is. How I would like to help Alex but alas am not able!
Do keep thinking of us and continue to pray that we find favour in GOD's eyes.
Till the next update. Our best thoughts and love always!
The CHANs
Wouldn't be for long anyway.... Alex is pretty sure that by the end of May, he'll get a tap on his shoulder. He's survived one interview and has clocked it as experience. It made us open our eyes to how hard it is to get work. There were online test to find out how smart (or not!) you are, interviews with technical people, interviews involving "quick problem solving skills", then another 2 more levels of interviews etc. The hardest thing is to have proof of how "inadequate" one is. How I would like to help Alex but alas am not able!
Do keep thinking of us and continue to pray that we find favour in GOD's eyes.
Till the next update. Our best thoughts and love always!
The CHANs
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