Gervin Goes To School

Time flies. Gervin is turning 2 soon, and he is attending childcare centre.

His first day was great. By 2nd day, he was able to wave goodbye! Steady buin pee pee!

Outdoors vs Indoors

As long as the weather permits, we like to bring the kids outdoors. Very soon, Gervin may join the pack!


Hmm... How will that look like??

Sibling Power!!!

Daddy in action!

Gerrard trying very hard.

Huh?! I thought there's a Prince Charming at the end of the tunnel??

Where's my Mummy?

Daddy got to play cos of Gerry.

Whee!!! I can go for many many rounds of this!

I want to go for 3 more rounds!!!

Tah Dah!

Talking about sibling revelry...

When can we get a real decent family photo?!

Big Boss

Despite being petite, Gervin is relatively faster in acheiving his developmental milestones compared to the 3 older Heavenly Kings. At less than 7 months old, he is able to pull himself up and stand by the side of the cot on his own. Now, he's in the process of being trained to sit down and eat. Alas! He is not as interested in the teething biscuits as to watching TV. Instead, he is more curious than his siblings. Likes to observe them play and always turning around to see what they are up to!

Now, it's about a month to my return to the service. I think I will miss him a lot when I'm back at work... :(

Yummy yum yum!

Biscuits and TV are the best!

Lean but Mean

Gervin is the smallest baby of all 4, yet the strongest. He has trained his abs so strong that he can sit up on his own, pull himself up and stand at the side of the cot. All these, before the age of 7 months. Maybe because he is always curious about his siblings. I can see that he is always trying to get up to see what they are up to. He is really growing fast!

Here's my milk!

What's this? Hmm...

What's that??

Of Brotherly Love and Sibling Rivalry

Gerry's going to Childcare soon. He spends a fair bit of time with Gervin at home and has learnt to take good care of his younger brother. But he bullys Gerrard and Gerlyn a lot, that he is always sitting on the Naughty Chair...

Gerry: Look! This is Gervin!

Gerry: Talk to my feet!

Gervin: Yum yum! Nom Nom!

Happie Fathers' Day

Liat's getting busier and busier over the yrs. Take this holidays as an example. He hardly had a break and I felt the time spent on the kids was somehow compromised. The Gers simply adore their daddy's company.


I always make the kids give him a 'welcome parade' when he's back.

And it's always 'find Daddy' time at night.

Liat helps read bedtime stories and pat Gerrard and Gerlyn to sleep while I settle Gerry.

And most of all, I have to be the 'technology police', keep reminding daddy to stop his iPhone or blogging when the Gers are around... ;[


Nevertheless, he's quite a good dad. So, here's wishing him...

Liat always claimed he used to be fair. Now, who do you think Gervin gets his fair skin tone from?!

Simple void deck fun. But actually no ball-kicking is allowed...

Fast-forward >>

It's amazing how time flies.

Just like Gerry, Gervin is doe-eyed, except that he does not have double eyelids like that cheeky Gor-Gor. He is equally adorable and cheerful. Very curious, always wanted tolift himself up to see what his siblings were up to...

I'm left with about 14 weeks before I get back to school to teach again.

I think I will start to have separation anxiety again....

This is delicious. Nom Nom Nom...

Gerry wearing his uncle's pants. And this is made by mummy's grandmother!

Where is Gerry??

Gervin: Auntie Joyce, I know you like Cafe World!

Brothers - Gerry and Gervin

Gerry is entering the Terrible Two stage.

Screams, cries, snatches toys and beats his elder siblings. Instead of being bullied, we frequently hear Gerrard and Gerlyn complaining of being beaten by Gerry. Most probably because these are the people whom he has to share toys with.

On the other hand, Gerry seems to have a stronger bond with Gervin. Maybe because Gervin is not playing his toys?! Gervin also is responding a lot to this young elder brother of his, cooing at him sometimes.

Hope Gerry grows out of this stage very soon, and does not have to sit on the 'Naughty Chair' anymore...

Gerry: Heehee! I have all the bread!

Gerry: This is delicious. Nom nom nom...

Gerry: This is good for you. EAT!

Gervin's 5 months old!

Time flies. Gervin is turning 5 months old this week.

Maid is getting more and more competent. Though hearing not so sharp at times to hear him cry.

Teething stage is starting soon. Salivate, salivate. Puts his hand into his mouth. And a bump on his gums at the lower jaw.

Still very auditory. He always listen and turn to where we were.

That's Gervin's good friend - yellow caterpillar. A hand-me-down toy from a colleague.

Like his hair now. So soft and correct length.

Now no worries of suffocation. He's strong enough to pull out his hand and push his head up.

Wat happens to the others?

Many wondered what happened to the other kids when Gerrard is busy with the remediation.

As much as possible, Gerlyn plays with Gerrard. In times whereby concentration on Gerrard is needed, they took turns,or it's 'go find Daddy time'.

Ever tried to get Daddy to help Gerlyn with her home assignment while I work on Gerrard. The task was to decorate the window. This is the outcome:

Because Daddy thought decorate on a fake window...

Gerry's been very trying. I think it is the Terrible Two syndrome. Angelic as he looks, he likes to roll on the floor and scream. The naughty chair was implemented and I placed him at the balcony till he realised that he needs to keep quiet in order to come back.

As for Gervin, he's very active. I placed him on the sofa. So that Daddy can look after him while I do the activities.

See, yesterday, he's caught in the act!

How do I cope? I don't know.

Just do it? Just do it!

Suffocation

On Monday, Gervin was suffocated!!!!

Liat brought the 2 older children to T3 to play. Gervin was lying on the bed while I was playing with Gerry in the living room. I have a habit of checking on the children every 10 to 15 mins, even when they are sleeping (luckily that I have this habit!). When I went in to check, I had the greatest shock - Gervin was lying head-down, crying into the mattress! I quickly rushed over and carry him up. Gosh! His face was all red. Luckily not blue or purple! The crying stopped almost immediately. The bedsheet and the corner of the pillow was wet.

As I reflected and thought through, I think I had neglected the fact that Gervin had grown, and much stronger than what I thought he was. Being born small (2.4kg), I am always concerned about his growth and perceived him as 'small and weak'. But the fact is that he had grown with time and much active than what I thought. Of the 4 children, he is the only one with suffocation experience. I thiink is because he has learnt to flip and turn (much faster than the other 3), but still too weak to either lift up the head for long, or to turn back again.

I spent time reading up oin suffocation. I think he is alright. At least he is still drinking hungrily and smiled to me this morning.

Looks like it is a good decision to take no-pay leave. At least there is an extra pair of eyes to watch over this little terror. Cannot imagine what will happen if it is just the maid...

Botak

Time flies. Gervin's 4 months old tomorrow.

My maternity leave ends next week and no-pay leave follows till end of Term 3. First time that I actually fully utilise my maternity leave and 1st ime that I apply for no-pay leave.

So much time spent with Gerry and Gervin. I think our bond will be stronger compared to Gerrard and Gerlyn.

Little Botak, pls grow fast fast. The little tigers are already walking and you still can't finish your milk... -_-"

Gervin lifting up his head after a good sleep and feed. Think he has stronger abs than Mummy!

Celebration

Today is our neighbour's full-month celebration for their baby girl. Gervin had no full month celebration beacuse: 1) we are simply too lazy 2) we felt embarassed having so many celebrations. Felt a bit guilty. But I feel I will be able to make it up to him when we celebrate his birthday with a bigger bang. It will be 3-day celebration! :) Watching him grow is a fantastic feeling. Being healthy and to grow slowly is really more important than being a big baby at birth.

Cheeky. Just like Gerry.

Getting used to Mummy with the camera.

Responding to Mummy's cooing.

It's not Gervin's real voice. It was actually Gerry at the background. Also watch carefully the responding time.

It is indeed true that a baby will laugh to laughter and cry to cries.

Gervin's 100th day

Not exactly 100th day yet, but yesterday, we brought him for a haircut, so as to make into a brush...

Curious little one...

My mum says he looks like me. I feel so too. :)

Cheeky fellow...

Spending time with children vs updating blog

Yesterday, a friend commented that I did not update the blog for a long time. I think I blogged the most last year because I spent a lot of time on work. This yr, I spend a lot of time with them, and that I am so tired by the end of the day...

I think I may form the strongest bond with Gervin. He's the one who gets me having the longest leave.

My mum says he looks like me. I feel so too.

Tamed.

Mental Strength

Pregnant with Gervin made me stonger in mental strength.

Firstly, the pregnancy came as a surprise. I had IUCD inserted, and hence when I discovered I was pregnant after using the test kit, I was very worried that it may be an ectopic pregnancy and may had to abort it. Luckily the ultrasound scan verified that he was ok.

Ultrasound pic of Gervin when he was part of a sac.

Then came the cross-road in my career. I was to meet the VP to prepare for my interview for Level Head on Fri. I verified my pregnancy on Thurs night. Without much consideration, I knew where I should be heading. So, I talked to Mrs Soh on Fri morning, before I spoke to the VP, then the P.

The Maid. Sounds like horror story? It was for me. The first maid was clever. Too clever. There was a short period of time that sometimes I would pause and looked into space at my workplace, wondering what the maid was doing with Gerry at home. When we had a change in maid, it was slightly better, just that the concerns were different - wondering whether Gerry was hurt due to her carelessness or clumsiness.

The older children also required care. Worst episode was the chickenpox. While caring for the older ones, I was constantly mindful of the danger for the unborn one. That was tough, physically and mentally. Then it was handling Gerrard's problem. Bringing him for assessment, accepting it and then went with Liat for his first occupational therapy.

For this pregnancy, I had craving for food in the middle of the night, and that cookies and titbits could not fulfil my eating desire. First time in 4 pregnancies that I asked Liat to buy supper for me. Turned out to be a flat 'I am tired'. So, I ordered and ate Mac many times. Yah, unhealthy food, but what can you get after 11 pm without having to drive out of the house? So I always jokingly tell people that Gervin is a MacBaby.

SVT episodes were different this time. They were intense in the last trimester. There were 2 occasions that the doctors could not convert after the 3 injections of adenosine. Doctors then recommended me a Class C drug - able to cross the placenta and cause baby's blood pressure to drop. I requested for a cardiologist, hoping that the expert can offer me solutions rather than me choose the options. Shifting of responsibility? Maybe. Luckily, the cardiologist on duty was my doctor. He gave me a 4th injection with higher dosage and it worked! I was choked with emotions and tears welled up in my eyes. Is it fear? Or thankfulness? I do not know. I didn't end there. I was given a 14-day MC (longest MC ever taken). There was even a time I had to stay in the hospital.

After all the mental tests, what's next? I know I must take good care of myself. Only then, the children can then be well taken care of.

Our biggest Xmas present!

I was hoping we can wait till 2011 to deliver Gerry.

On Xmas Day, I had a 'show' and we had to rush down to the hospital. That was the 3rd time in a week that we had to go to the hospital. Previous 2 times, I felt unwell. Each time, we were turned back home as the doctors said the baby was not ready. I was seen by different doctors as my gynae was on annual leave.

With the 'show', we knew it must be it. On our way to KKH, I was experiencing contractions every 6 minutes. Reached the hospital at about 11.30am. By the time that my gynae arrived, it was about 1pm. After the waterbag was burst, things happened too quickly.

With a 'major' contraction, I informed the nurse. After checking the cervix, she said 'not ready'. The moment the 2nd wave came, I told Liat this is it. Indeed, it was a 'wave of no return'. Gervin just slipped out. The gynae was in the room just in time to cut the cord! So Prince Gervin arrived at 1.36pm on Xmas Day.

Being less than 37 weeks, Gervin is a bit prematured. Luckily that he need not be in the incubator. Immunity is a bit low though. He developed eye infection, most probably from visiting relatives. Also had jaundice. Hence, we are rejecting all visits.

He can drink quite a lot though. Hope that helps in catching up with the growth that he would have if he stayed longer in the womb.

New punk on the block

Infection in his right eye. Jaundice too.

Sleeping soundly at home

Seeing his daddy...

Moments after birth

3D image, showing head, chest and clenched fist