Missed Blogging!

You know what they say about the best laid plans.

In my case, they remained just that. Plans. I had planned to post twice before leaving for vacation. I even had the pictures prepared and all.

But the day before I left was so hectic with last minute stuff at work and errands plus a visit to the pediatrician cause the kids were under the weather that my blogging plans went poof!

So anyway, I'm back from a five day trip to Singapore. It wasn't all that I had planned it to be. For one thing, kids took a turn for the worse with a nasty virus when we left and I was mostly worried during my stay. Racked up a huge mobile phone bill with calls to my mom checking on how the kids are. What rotten timing, huh?

Then I had a list of all the places I wanted to visit and things I wanted to do. But I ended up just walking around mostly and staying by the pool trying to make a dent in my pile of books (some I brought and a lot was bought!). While I lament the fact that I missed a lot of places, I appreciated the time spent alone with no schedule to follow but my own. The hubby was out during the day for work so it was just me and whatever I wanted to do. But of course I hit Borders and Kinokuniya (largest bookstore in SE Asia?). I was in heaven.

But, um, don't have much pictures. I'm not too big about taking pictures myself. I'd rather have someone else take them (the hubby, of course). On our last day, when we were finally determined to take pictures, camera battery ran out. Pathetic, I know.

The hubby and I went to the Funan IT mall for electronics and other techie stuff. He was entranced. While I could feel my eyes glazing over within five minutes of stepping into the place. Now I know how the he felt the night before as my friend and I happily scoured through the night market in Bugis.

I could tell the kids missed me. They were finally ok by the time we got home. Got super nice presents for my parents, of course! Have to make up for all the sleepless nights they spent taking care of sick kids (you cannot imagine how guilty I was the WHOLE time I was there).

I missed the kids, I missed blogging. But I totally cherished the alone time. Now reality intrudes but I feel more than up for it. This morning Faith woke me up and said, "love mommy". And it felt good to be home.

Spooky!

Something weird happened last night.

I was fixing the bed and telling the kids to turn the tv off as it was time for bed. About five seconds after I said it, the tv was turned off. By itself.

I was in the middle of the bed, hubby was sitting on the big bed tapping on the laptop, Faith was lying near me and Josh was sitting on the floor a little to the left of the tv. The remote control was lying very near the tv. No way it was one of us. I looked at the hubby and asked, "What was that?!". He didn't know. The kids just said the angels turned it off, mommy.

Needless to say, I didn't sleep very well last night. I remember thinking of all the unexplained instances that have happened to me in the past. And I dreamt about a ghost in the house.

I can't count the number of times something like this has happened.

There was the time the hubby and I were napping in the afternoon (no kids yet) and the radio was on. We both woke up when the volume was turned to maximum level. Remote was on top of the stereo. The volume dial was turned all the way to maximum. Whoever it was wanted us to wake up, I guess.

Several times when I was alone with baby Joshua, I felt a presence. Usually happens when we were napping. I'd suddenly be very aware, all the hairs on my arms would stand on end and I absolutely knew I didn't want to open my eyes. So I would just cuddle closer to the baby.

It lessened after Faith was born. Maybe because there was more noise. But appliances being turned off kept happening (even at my parents' house). There've been too many instances to write them all down. Things that happened when I was still living in my parents' house with my sisters. A frightening incident at my dorm when I was awakened by a sharp pinch on my chest and saw two pairs of small glowing red eyes hovering over me and I couldn't move. I don't know if it was a nightmare but I always felt uncomfortable and slightly scared in that room. The feeling stopped when I transferred to the adjacent room.

Of course, there could be an explanation for all of it. Most of the time, I just shrug it off.
Last night I remembered my grandmother's death anniversary is on Monday. So maybe she was helping me get the kids ready for bed.

Angry Mama Bear Post

Lately, Joshua and I have gotten into the habit of talking about school before bed. I love the quiet, intimate talk, sometimes whispered, between the two of us. I am happy that he opens up about who his friends are, what games they played in the playground, funny things he or his classmates said or did.

But last night's conversation worried me.

Are some of your classmates naughty?
J: Not all. J is sometimes naughty but sometimes not. D is naughty because he hurts me. And calls me names.

D hurts you??!!
J: Yes. But you know what mommy? It doesn't hurt anymore because I have an invisible shield around my body.

Why does D hurt you?
J: Because he said I'm new in school.


I couldn't sleep right away. He fell asleep a few minutes after while I was stroking his head and pushing his curly hair out of his face.

I was angry and sad that this has come up so early. That my little boy has conditioned himself not to feel the pain being inflicted by someone else. I didn't think I would have to deal with this situation at this early stage. They're only in kindergarden, for crying out loud!

So I'm at a loss. The school doesn't encourage hitting back (of course). My first instinct is to teach him how to fight back and I know there are conflicting schools of thought about this. Yes, I know violence begets violence. I've read the literature and the experts' opinions on it. And of course, I forbid the siblings to hurt or hit each other. We don't believe in spanking and have enforced discipline through time outs. This has worked for us and the kids.

But faced with the reality of my child being bullied, well, makes me angry. Really angry. But I decided last night to swallow my instincts and work with the school. I told Joshua to tell D to stop hurting him. I believe his mentor used the words, "verbalize". I hope it works. And of course I will have a talk with the principal and the teacher about these incidents.

Because if it doesn't and I learn that it is still happening, then all bets are off.


What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Birthday Post

Isn't it cute? It's a card my brother and his fab girlfriend made for me. It's supposed to be me, the hubby and the kids -- Southpark version. I love it....even though it's not supposed to be blue! (I can't freaking figure out why it's blue.)

I celebrated my birthday yesterday. My 36th. There, I've announced it to the whole blog world. To those who sent their birthday greetings by way of this blog, text, snail mail, email, YM, etc., etc., thank you!

I told my dad that in four years time, he's going to have a 40 year old daughter. Ha ha. I couldn't quite grasp the idea. He just laughed. Then I thought, does that push me out of the mid-thirties category into the late thirties one? Or do I still qualify for mid-thirties? What's the cut-off?

I don't feel any major change except for the fact that I don't think I'll ever be asked to show my passport the next time I try to get into a bar in Sydney. That was embarrassing. Especially when I was 24 at the time.

On an aside, the hubby and I attended a 25th wedding anniversary celebration and were asked to say a few words for the couple. I just said congratulations to the couple and let the hubby take over the talking (a rare occasion, I know! I was shy! *cough* *cough*). He basically said what we talked about on the way over. That he was thankful to the girl for setting us up on our blind date and that we were glad to be in an event that was celebrating 25 years of togetherness at a time when so many of our friends' or acquaintances' marriages were not going so well. We then spent the rest of the evening taking multiple versions of the picture I posted here and generally just enjoying ourselves at our table.

I know how truly blessed I am. There really is nothing else I'd ask for (except for everyone to be forever in good health). Everything else is just fluff. Nice to have but not really needed.

Back from the dead

I had good intentions last night. I was going to relax and post something as soon as dinner was over and the kids ready for bed.

Just five minutes on the couch, I thought. Two hours later, the hubby had to pry me off it (literally) so I could get ready for bed.

Both kids have been sick since last weekend. Faith had a really bad cold and cough then Joshua's fever started 2am on Monday. I've been up in the wee hours of the morning everyday trying to get his fever down and checking (and rechecking) his temperature. The on-off cycle of the fever finally stopped yesterday and he's back in school today. Which is probably the reason why I suddenly felt all my energy drained last night. My body decided it could afford a break since everybody else was ok. Huh. Nobody to use the nebulizer on, no nose to wipe, no back to rub, no fever.

I find it weird that I rarely get sick or catch anything from the kids. With the way Faith rubs her runny nose against my mouth, you'd think I'd be down with it immediately. But noooo, I've got mommy immunity. Which is kinda cool. Makes the hubby envious cause unlike me, he catches everything.

Things are crazy at work too. Coupled with my Mandarin classes (which I am running behind on), I've hardly had time to do anything else. Am going on vacation in a couple of weeks so I have more work to finish before then.

On brighter news, my birthday's coming up! I'm getting waaaaay old but that hasn't stopped me from being excited about it. Who cares, right?