Wednesday Morning Playtime

It was tough falling sick and caring for a toddler all alone since hubby had a business trip overseas.

Yes, I cried.

I started feeling feverish on Sunday evening itself, what more with the flu I was also suffering from. 

I took Panadol and Clarinase so it would not get worse, considering that hubby wasn't around and I was running solo.

On Monday, I felt even more sluggish, weak, with body aches all over, especially my back.

By evening, I felt extremely weak and retired early, having to leave my toddler all alone to watch cartoons on her iPad.

I had difficulty breathing as my nose was heavily congested and I was coughing like mad.

I applied Yu Yee oil on my nose and tears started streaming, not because I was crying but because it kinda stung at the beginning.

I felt bad for my toddler since I couldn't focus on her at all. 

I mustered whatever strength I had to prepare her meals, give her baths and change her diapers. 

Most of the time, I just felt like lying on the sofa and do nothing.

It was a test alright, of perseverance. 

I would lie if I said I didn't lose my cool. 

I did and I'm not proud of it.

We were holed up at home for a couple of days as I just couldn't even find myself to bring my toddler to the playground.

On Wednesday morning, I felt better and brought her down to the pool and playground. 

She was extremely excited! 

It was good to finally breathe some fresh air!

We dipped in the pool.

She then requested to go to the playground. 

Whilst playing, I took her pictures. 

She then asked me to climb one of the obstacles and took my mobile phone and house keys from me. 

I was amazed that she considered those little things so that it would be easy for me to make that climb.

She started snapping my picture away, like how I took hers. :)

She was mesmerized by the flowers and was eager to point out the flowers to me.

We went into the pool again. 

After 1 and a half hours, she put on her robe and slippers, gave me mine, held my hand and started walking. 

"Let's go, Ummi."

I just followed her lead. 

She walked all the way to the lobby, an indication that she was done for the day. 

Once inside our house, she took off her robe and swimsuit, neatly piled it in one corner and ran to the bathroom, waiting for me to open the door. 

I let her play in her tub, making sure the water was warm enough for her.

Once she was all ready, she requested for her formula. 

The rest of the day, I spent cleaning the house. 

Wiped the fans, the windows, swept the floor and mopped. 

Bathrooms would need to be cleaned another day. 

By the end of it, I was exhausted. 

I wonder, how many people would actually start cleaning their homes once they recovered from fever?

I always end up spring cleaning the house each time I recover from fever. 

Weird, isn't it?

Early Morning Sunday!

Dragged ourselves out of bed at 5.30am as hubby had a flight to catch early in the morning.

I woke up dear little toddler around 6am to change her soiled diaper. 

We drove all the way to KL Sentral to drop off hubby who would be gone for a week. 

I've been to KL Sentral a few times, but never took the time to really take in the view of the surrounding buildings. 

Here I am, parked at the 'Departures' entrance whilst waiting for hubby to check-in, took a few photos of the buildings. 

Quite impressive, I must say. 

But I can't help feeling that the KL Sentral compound is becoming more and more congested! 

ALOFT HOTEL

PLAZA SENTRAL

SOOKA SENTRAL

After saying our byes to Daddy, we headed home and I was in search of a good cuppa.

Since Starbucks Lingkaran Karak was closer to home, we dropped into the outlet.

No patrons were around except for us (goody!). 

The baristas were seen cleaning up the area and were friendly as usual.

Our toddler managed to sit still throughout the entire time, hogging the sandwich and iPad whilst Ummi was busy Whatsapping Daddy and enjoying my Latte :)

During these times, on a beautiful Sunday morning, we surely miss Daddy ... A LOT!

Toddler's Fever in October (Part 2)

Day 3 of our toddler's fever. 

Her body temperature the day before was approximately 39.4 C.

Later that evening, I applied the "Hitsamitsu for Children" pad on her forehead and her temperature reduced slightly the following morning.

I gave her a shower 3 times throughout the day so that she doesn't warm up again.

In the afternoon, she slept for a couple of hours.

When she woke up, she wanted her formula milk.

As I handed over her milk bottle and tried switching on the TV, suddenly the TV screen turned white. 

I was struggling with it. 

I could only hear "Ni Hao Kai Lan's" voice in the background. 

As I was fiddling with the remote, I kept saying "Oh no ... Oh no..."

My toddler looked at the screen and looked at me a few times. 

I guess it registered in her mind that I was struggling. 

As she sat up and moved closer to me, she pat my back and said, "Don't worry, Ummi ... Don't worry."

OWH MY GOD!

She was the one who tried to calm me down! 

I am so thankful to Lord the Almighty for granting her this ability to empathize and able to verbalize it!

I immediately smiled, hugged and kissed her, whilst saying, "Thank you, baby.... thank you..."

I was near to tears ... happy!

Toddler's Fever in October

It was only yesterday that our toddler seemed fine the entire day. 

Around 4pm after we came home from bringing my mom around, our toddler suddenly came down with fever.

She fell quiet, wasn't active and was breastfeeding constantly. 

I decided to give her a shower at 5pm and didn't switch on the water heater. 

She was screaming at first, but eventually settled down and was even laughing her head off, enjoying the shower. 

I started to bathe her from her feet, then moved upwards so that she isn't shocked from the cold water. 

Once done, I applied Vicks on her chest and back, Yu Yee oil on her navel and legs.

We settled down for another breastfeeding session. 

All she wanted was to lie down and cuddle in bed, so I took the opportunity to use a damp cloth, applied the towel on her feet, legs, body and head. 

When hubby came home from work, she didn't run to the door and greet Daddy like she normally would. 

She could only afford a smile to Daddy from the bed.

Nevertheless, she gathered up some courage to walk over to him and got him to hug her. 

Her eyes started to get watery and her body temp did slightly go up.

Hubby then pointed out that we still had the cooling water (picture below) in stock.

Hubby fetched a bottle and our toddler drank from it using a straw.

Her body temperature didn't subside but it wasn't at a worrying high. 

She woke up a few times throughout the night to breastfeed.

This morning, she woke up early, looking for Daddy. 

She saw my mobile phone and said "Daddy ... Daddy!"

I dialed hubby's number and when hubby answered, she said "Hello Daddy" a few times. 

When hubby was talking to her, she just kept quiet.

She was lying down on our bed.

When hubby said "I love you", she answered "I love you too, Daddy."

After saying goodbye, she fell asleep again not long after.

Her body temperature was slightly lower in comparison to the day before. 

She woke up whilst I was in the shower. 

I decided to give her a shower too. 

She requested for milk and just laid down on the sofa whilst watching cartoons on TV.

I continue to provide her with cooling water, orange juice and plenty of liquid. 

At times like these, I'm glad that I'm not working considering that I do not need to request for time-offs, or having to take turns with hubby to stay home. 

I'm hoping that our toddler will get better soon.

My Eczema Relief

Throughout my entire life, I've never thought that I have eczema (in denial, maybe?). 

Yes, I would have the occasional skin itching and dryness, recurring skin rashes and redness, at times the skin would crack (painful!) but it would go away.

This skin inflammation was something I thought was a chemical reaction or due to my sinus. 

The normal areas would be my face (around the nose and mouth which would inflame when the weather is too hot), my hands, my neck and my feet.

It's baffling as I have no idea why it keeps recurring. 

It became worse after one year of giving birth to my daughter as the inflammation does not seem to go away.

I've had so many visits to the clinic and they prescribe me with Hydrocortisone, given me an injection and antibiotics. 

The doctors whom I've consulted had not asked me to visit a specialist nor told me that I was suffering from eczema.

Until ... 

One fine day, I pricked my finger (my thumb) on a needle. 

I thought nothing of it when I saw that it started to swell a couple of days later. 

The swelling became worse and became an open wound (the fact that I started scratching each time it itches didn't help at all!).

I tended to it using minyak gamat, Zambuk ointment and the existing ointments prescribed by the doctor.

It got worse. 

Hubby had been pestering me to go to the clinic. 

Being the stubborn gal (and because I gave up going to the clinic), I told hubby that I was fine. 

Up to the point that the skin became too sensitive to touch and hugely affected me when I cooked or wanting to complete my house chores. 

I told hubby that I couldn't take it anymore so we went to the clinic. 

It was a locum doctor. 

She was the one who told me that I had eczema. 

She carefully looked at my thumb and showed me why she suspects it was eczema, showing me the redness and area surrounding it. 

She advised that she would refer me to a skin dermatologist to get it treated.

I'm not really a fan of going to the clinic, more so a specialist (still stubborn).

So I consulted my best friend, Google.

I read how other eczema sufferers treated their skin condition. 

They've come to accept that it would never go away but to reduce the itchiness or "tame" it was better than suffering any further. 

I read how they found the brands below extremely useful in treating their eczema (among others):

Sebamed

Nivea

Cetaphil

Oilatum

Eucerin

Considering that I had several areas to cover and the article I read with feedback from readers validated how Nivea Creme helped them, I purchased one tin.

I applied the cream generously on the affected areas one evening. 

The next morning, I was amazed to see that it cleared up, especially my face. 

Throughout the day, I applied generous amounts all over, however, noticed that it became too oily for me. 

Later that evening, I noticed the redness had re-surfaced (not on my face but my neck). 

It went on for a couple of days.

I then gave Sebamed Baby Lotion a chance (my toddler's cream), I mean, what could go wrong, right? 

So I applied the cream, again, generously. 

The good thing was, it didn't feel oily even after applying and re-applying the lotion. 

I was elated to see the results!

The redness had started to reduce slowly and didn't resurface at all!

I've been trying this for a couple of days and am happy to report that THIS lotion definitely works for me!

I must admit that the skin tends to flare up and I can't help but scratch it.

So here I am, battling myself and the urge to just scratch ... *sigh*

This works for me and may work for you too.

I find that eczema sufferers like us go through a lot of "trial-and-error" phases to find the right treatment.

I do hope you find yours soon!