Moving forward

I've been a stay at home mum (sahm) for more than a year now. I've graduated from university for 1.5years. I'm still jobless. Do I regret doing the reverse: graduating, getting married then having a kid? No I don't. I absolutely love how my life has fallen into place.

Yes I had big plans. When I graduated I wanted to take a year to job hop and experience different things and find something I absolutely love and slowly build my career for 2-3 years. Then head to Melbourne to do my Masters in Monash. By then I would be 24/25 and have attained my Masters then get married to Sean and have a kid that very year.

Well obviously plans changed. Looks like now I will still be getting my Masters when I'm 24 but with little work experience or no career. But to me at least I know I have my certifications and I am doing some volunteering on the sides now. And I have the first few years to be with my child and watch her grow. When she's in kindergarten being busy with her life.. I will too as I start building my career. I know some people who only start their career at 25 too. But do they have a beautiful family like me? Nope. So I'm truly blessed.

Friends my age are either in their last year of uni or have just graduated, taking a gap year before they embark on their career or looking for jobs. Some are still partying, not attached or no where near finding a life partner. To each his own. But I'm truly blessed with everything I've got now.

A few days ago I felt pressured that I still don't have a career. But hey everyone's  paths are and will be different. There's no "correct" path on how you should be living your life or achieving what are what age. I know I'm not being a bum cause I'm constantly looking out for opportunities. But plans are constantly changing. Something exciting will happen soon and embracing all these change of plans.

Through the past few weeks I've learnt to live my own life and not bother about what and how others will look at me. Its exhausting to keep up with unnecessary comments and all the negativity. So meh... I'm happy can already!

2 children's emergency visits and 1 GP visit

On tuesday morning around 4am, sean and i got woken up by G's weird chesty and wheezy cough. But she still appeared very happy, busy talking and singing away. Luckily i checked her temperature cause i was battling with myself on whether to bring her to kkh. Her temp was 38 degrees. And we rushed down to kkh. Poor baby caught a viral infection. Was given a steroid med and we had to stay there for another 2hours so doctors can monitor her breathing and then oxygen level. Thankfully after 2hours she was discharged! Sean and i were exhausted cause we didnt sleep at all. She slept around 9am and off to bed i went too! Thankful sean took the afternoon off to help me look after G.

Then came night time where her fever suddenly spiked. My poor mum could hardly sleep as she was sponging her making sure she doesnt burn her brain. That was the start of her fever flactuating and all. Most exhausting next few days as she would be well one minute and the next her fever would be 39 and shes whiny and needy as hell. Which was very cute by the way! Haha

Thursday came and we decided to bring her to the GP again cause her fevers were high enough to be alarming. She had an ulcer at the back of her throat on tuesday which was the cause of infection but that was gone by thursday. So it was puzzling why her fever was still so high. But there was nothing much to be done as shes too young for antibiotics or cough syrups.

Then came friday where her fever hit the highest 40.1degrees! I made the decision to rush her to kkh and thankfully we didnt have to wait long because there were so many sick kids! G was happily talking and responding to the doctor despite a high fever so he wasnt too worried about the infection evolving into something more serious. By then i had came down with a flu and cough already. Dam this stupid virus seriously. She took a blood test and we waited an hour for the results and it came back clear. So we were sent home again

Saturday came.. I woke up with a fever, bad sore throat, cough and flu. Great I have officially been infected. Not a good time for me to fall sick at all!! I battled my fever and still went for a good friend's birthday party. But I was quiet as a mouse cause by night time my sore throat was so bad I couldn't even talk!!

By 12am I asked Sean to take me to a 24hour clinic cause I couldn't take it anymore. Waited 1hour plus cause for some reason everyone chose to be sick at this time too. Doctor says i was really weak (that i shall talk about why another time) Spent $190 (more ex than ane by the way but honestly best $190 I spent cause I do feel better after all the medications) Came home and popped all my pills and went to bed. My fever kept coming and going too. The amount of phlegm I had spat or sneezed out could probably fill a 1.5l PET bottle. Every time I swallow it feels like 2 crusty rocks rubbing against each other. Really FML this time.

Thankfully G's fever hasn't come back the whole of tonight. I guess she's better cause she's drinking my milk and she has passed the virus to me -.-

Now my sis and mum are coming down with a flu. But I'm so thankful for my family especially my mum for looking after G over the past few days. My mum hasn't fallen as sick like me despite having G sleep with her and not having much sleep either. I would have taken care of G on my own if I weren't so sick. So I'm thankful and G is blessed to have a loving grandma.

G and I are staying at my mum's this week as I'm too weak to look after her on my own and we don't wanna spread our nasty germs to the kids and family in the other house. Sean is also coughing already. So its best we 3 stay as far away as possible from each other. Hoping I get well by tomorrow!!

The most exhausting and trying week ever! G has never fallen this sick over the past year and I'm so thankful for that. This time there is some nasty virus going around and infecting all the children! Cause I know a few other friends kids who are down too. Sighhh... Must be the weird weather too.

Be gone virus!!!

Hello baby2 (week 6)

Today we headed to the gynae to confirm everything. I went in with mix feelings, very confused. Somehow while waiting the feeling of being pregnant was gone, unlike yesterday when I was crampy and nauseous like hell. So I thought a slight chance that the pregnancy test I took yesterday was a dam lie.

To all mothers

There are many kinds of mothers in this world... those that gave birth to a healthy full term baby, breastfeeding mothers, those mothers who struggle with breastfeeding and are forced to give formula. Mothers with terminal disease but yet they fight through it for the sake of their child, mothers with children who suffer from terminal disease who have to fight strong to cheer their bubs up, surrogate mothers; babies who arent theirs but is it possible to detach yourself away from a foetus who clearly isnt yours but you carried for 10 whole months? Mothers who donate their eggs to let other women who are infertile have a child; morally and ethically it isnt your child but it has your genes and may somehow look a bit like you. Working mothers who juggle a 9-6pm job who dread leaving their child behind and have little time with their child, full time mothers who devote their life to their child, giving up their personally space and time to be with their child 24/7. Single mothers who decided to be brave and be a father and a mother to their child. Teen mums who made a mistake and although still a child themselves have to grow up very fast to be a responsible mother. Mothers who are in an abusive marriage but yet soldier on and do whatever it takes to protect their child.

And then there are mothers like me.... who spent my first mothers day in the nicu cheering my little bub along. No one wishes to be a mother like me. I remember last year during mothers day i just bawled my eyes out during lunch with Sean cause all i saw were families smiling and spending a special day with their children while mine was in the hospital fighting. All i wanted to rob her away from the hospital and bring her home to be with me.

Fast forward this year, I am truly blessed to be Gwyneth's mother. I never expected being a mother can be so rewarding and fulfilling. I am lucky enough to be with her for the past year and still continuing so. We have such a great and close bond; Im proud to say I cant even pee in peace cause all she wants is me. HAHA.

Whatever mother you are... just know that you are doing the best you can, being the best mother you can be for your child. And though G is so young, I know she knows that Im doing the best I can to fulfill my role as her mother.

So HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL! you deserve it great mothers (:

Where the Yangs dine: The missing pan

(Currently G is sitting on my lap as I type this post out. too many distractions and pauses cause she keeps touching the keyboard!!)

Going to add another segment to my blog which is to write about food. During our dating days Sean and I would scout for good brunch places. Trust me when I say there was one time we had eggs and truffle fries every weekend for brunch! No guessing which are my favorite kind of brunch food.

We have been to too many places that I can't remember. I even have a list of places to go and that list was created 2-3years ago and we have not even covered half but yet new interesting brunch places keep popping up!

On Saturday (2nd may 2015) we decided to give The Missing Pan a try since I've read some good reviews on their famous French toast.

Pushed the glass door and we saw 4 tables, a lift and a glass window which the kitchen where they bake can be seen. Tiny little first floor. We were shown to the lift and up the second floor we went. But the lift was tiny and it could not hold the weight of 2 grown men, 2 women and a baby so my sister's boyfriend took the stairs.

We were greeted and given the menus by a very friendly and hospitable male staff. He walked away and came back when a set of plastic cutleries for G.

I love how they paid attention to little details like for babies. We always eat out with G very often and most places always give us big Ikea kiddie cutlery which obviously isnt suitable for G at the moment cause it can barely fit in her tiny mouth. I was pleasantly surprised that they actually provided her with a Munchkin baby spoon! We always bring her own cutleries but it was definitely a nice and fresh touch to our dining experience (:

So as mentioned I LOVE LOVE anything truffle! well who doesnt right? Their truffle fries were good! But only for fans of cheese as they really sprinkled alot of cheese. Fries were fried to perfection but felt that the cheese was a tad bit too overwhelming that it kinda masked the truffle taste. 

My sister ordered their pork belly eggs benedict since it was one of their popular dishes. But she felt the meat was too tough and dry. Eggs were runny though. Overall my sister and her boyfriend did not feel it was a great brunch. they have had better. 

(spot tiny baby hands) 

I ordered the beef and chicken skewer french toast which was another of their popular dishes. I loved the beef cause it was tender and flavourful. But to me having fruits with meats were a bit weird; interesting new concept but interesting. Also because i dont really like savoury and sweet food mixed together. The fried chicken skewer was really yummy. Something like pop corn chicken but nicer! G enjoyed the french toast for sure! She does a happy dance whenever she likes something shes eating. For me the meats were the star of the dish not the french toast. 

I ordered the strawberry lemonade which i LOVED. They have pretty interesting drinks on their menu. Sweet, tangy and gassy. this was a great compliment to my meal

Overall i think my sister, her boyfriend and husband did not have a fantastic experience. I was half half. To me the great service made up for the medicore/over-rated food. I wish i got the name of the staff that served us. Cause he was really friendly not only to us but to G as well. He talked and played with G; served her the menu and asked her playfully what she wanted to eat. To me when a server takes the extra mile to even serve/entertain a baby, it shows how much he enjoys his job. This is called going the extra mile to make a customer have a memorable experience. This is the first kind of experience we had that the waiter actually took the initiative to interact with our baby. G often attracts attention whenever we go out but this was more than a "oh shes so cute" kind of service. So props to that waiter! 

Food: 3/5 

Ambiance: 4/5

Service: 6/5 !!

Shall end this post with my favourite picture of my 2 loves. G is so sweet... she really knows the way to melt your heart. Definitely daddy's lil girl.