Busy Mom: October 2011

During the confinement month, 3 boys kena stomach flu. Jon the worst and because he's still on diaper and keep having diarrhea, he ended up having a real bad diaper rash, we have to clean/wash his buttock after each poo and yet he was so scared to let us wash, painful!!!

I have been wanting to toilet trained him during my pregnancy, thinking that I won't have time to train him once Hannah is born. But am just not ready. I told God my concerns that Jon may still not be toilet trained when he attends kindy next year :(

But during the stomach flu period, I felt ready all the sudden. Told him not to wear diaper, explain to him airing his buttock will recover faster and i assured him the pain will be gone if he go diaperless. He listened.

In 2 days, only 3 accidents and he can tell us he wants to poo and pee (oh well, actually he uses the same word 'boot boot' whenever he wants to pee or poo) and even nap without diaper. Wow! That's fast! Faster than his brothers, coz I trained the older ones stage by stage. 1. Poo 2. Pee 3. Nap without diaper. Then slowly move on to diaperless when going out and lastly diaperless at night.

Can save on diapers but which also means gonna take longer to clear his diaper stocks as we still have a few more in the storeroom :p.

Blessing in disguise. Stomach flu is no fun but no complaints...God answered my prayers.

it's been 1.5 weeks since confinement aunty left. i feel as though she has left long ago. life has been extra busy but i thank God that Hannah is an easy girl to take care.

i had a different experience in this confinement period. oh...a...luxury one i would say :P

my mom in law once asked me "Connie, do you want 'urut'?"
my confinement aunty added in "you should have it, that massage help to push your womb back into proper place and help dispel water retention"
i've been thinking, why didn't i do in my last 3 pregnancies...
1. i doubt of its effectiveness
2. i was breastfeeding and baby wants it anytime, i'll have lots of interrupted massage when baby wants milk
3. am afraid of ticklish

but my confinement aunty said "don't worry, you should take care of your body more, baby i'll take care, just go for it"

then i sourced for recommendation. checked out forums, asking contacts from jem's friend...etc.
and that was it, i had my 1st ever massage experience, 2 hours each session and i had 5. i enjoyed it and it's nice to talk to people while massaging...

Then how about the main 3 concerns?
1. I did see my tummy flatten (though not completely) after my first session.
2. I nurse Hannah while lying down and still have my massage at the same time
3. I hold my bolster tight and covered my face when comes to that part.

one day, my mom in law and confinement aunty were chatting. then aunty showed us her photo when she put on makeup (she looks good). and she said 'because i'm working as confinement nanny, i have to wear something comfortably, but when i'm not working, i'll make myself look nice. it's important for woman to look healthy and good than to look haggard and wear beggy clothes (i was wearing one...:P). as we get older, we must take care of our face even more"

first, the body, now face.

to cut long story short, i sourced for home facial. i remembered joyce kept telling me about her facial lady, has good skills and can do at people's home, and we can split transport charges if mom in law, myself and her do together. and there you go, thanks to joyce, i had my first facial at home, it was great!

it is also my most expensive confinement too, confinement aunty is my mom's friend, my mom told her to make sure i am well rested and eat well. so 天天大鱼大肉, all are expensive and best part of the meat. she cooks well. thanks to my mom. everybody who visited me said i look good coz i have more 'meat', look radiant and of course well rested (kind of). i still running around the house doing this and that till my confinement aunty have to constantly remind me 'you should rest' and i listened to her.

through the massage lady, she introduced me one of her customers, mother of 4 kiddos, no helper, hubby travels a lot and.....homeschooling some more. my massage lady is a muslim, and she said 'you must get to know her, she always calm, she has verses that help to keep her calm, her kids are all well-behaved, she doesn't yell at her kids and she's a 'practised christian' (oooo, Godly woman :))...so i also make new friend, introducing myself thru sms and we have been communicating thru sms since then.

massage and facial lady...one thing in common. they are strong willed and very independant. both..somehow...at some point of the conversation, told me, should their other half cheated on her or hv unhappy marriage, they still can survive because of the skills they have. massage lady said "a woman cannot be without skill" i guess that applies to everybody...and of course...that makes me think...till today...what skill do i have and want to develop. not because am fearful of what will happen to my marriage in future...but simply...it's important to have skill.

3 ladies i see...
cleaning aunty - $11/hour
massage lady - 55/hr
facial lady - $60/hr

the one with most physical draining work earn the least...but somehow that makes me appreciate my cleaning lady even more.

i have my challenge now. nathan, our precious middle child starts to exhibit what I suspected is the 'middle child syndrome'...causing troubles, get very emotional with little things. Ian's work took up most of my time in coaching him and I have to make super extra effort not to neglect nathan. Jon is ok coz he divert his attention seeking to his grandma.

Coping and adjusting. God is good.

Will update more soon.