My lil’ munchkin got measles!

For few days mama didn’t get enough sleep (sleepless) since Sophie fell sick last week, Friday. That nite, her body temperature was quite high, 38.5 degree C, but still Sophie playing around like usual. When we noticed her body warmth turned heater, we decided to a nearby clinic for check up. On the way to clinic, Sophie intoned her favourite song “Cleopatra Stratan”; she could utter lalalalalalalala in the right melody similar as in the song. (Perhaps, I could tell u guys later in next entry, how we discovered it is Cleopatra Stratan song that she’s been admiring now!).

I’m not being racist, but my lil munchkin is easily scared of people with unfair-skin-tone meaning she would instantly snivel or cry when meet up with such people. Continue back to the story, we met up an Indian doctor and lil Sophie who was singing lalalalalala began sobbing once we entered the consultation room. Haahahaha..she was super duper cutey ! The doctor (I’m sorry Doc, we never meant to hurt you!!) was seriously checking my baby and consultation time took only about 7 minutes as Sophie pulled out his statescope as well as to a torchlight and made it hard for the doctor to examine her. I asked doctor about my munchkin condition, and he said she was only having light fever since no runny nose.

So we gave her paracetamol and vitamin C (2.5 ml of each liquid), according to doc’s instruction. Tomorrow morning, we monitored her conditioned, Sophie seemed weaker but her body temperature went back to normal.  Both of us (those were very very young yet inexperienced parents done idiot decision) thought she was fine then we brought her to Masjid Wilayah- to eyewitness Babah best friends (kecik and Ena) tied a knot. After the solemnisation, we headed back home, and I quickly cooked porridge for Sophie before her medication, and at the same time preparing some dishes for the family.

I fed her few spoons then asked for my sister’s help to continue the feeding and with that I could finish cooking. After sometime, I heard Sophie vomited and scarily she puked and everything in her stomach was discharged through mouth and nose. My mind suddenly black-out-ed! I hugged my baby and seriously I couldn’t think of anything that time and only one person appear quickly in my mind and she was Mamazila ( Sophie’s nanny; our next door neighbour)! Coincidently, she was just in front of our house main door. She took Sophie, brought to her house, and put some water on Sophie’s head to low down the heat. Sophie cried calling for my name, and she was just refused to be taken by anybody else, even babah. I hugged Sophie tightly to calm her.

Terrible! Truly terrible. It was our fault -the fault which we have promised not to repeat again in future. We should actually stay at home, not going anywhere so that she could get enough rest. Shouldn’t we?

Hmm, on Monday (Sophie reached 9 mos old – 26.05.09), only we discovered that she’s having baby measles which is common to all baby. Rashes appear to all over her body but luckily it wasn’t too obvious. Following my mother’s advice, I showered her with coconut fluid and some shredded-kangkong water. Only wear holed shirts and pants. No lotion! No baby powder!

I’m lucky as my parents and my parents in law came here! So we are not that ‘alone’ to manage the baby measles. Alhamdulillah, she has recovered today! She woke up this morning, cheerily like she usually does and asked me to play with her!! Sophie mama love U! Babah loves u too.

XOXOXOXO Sophie.

Weaning the Allergens – Our True Experiences!

I came across to an article about the process of withdrawing infant formula milk and instituting babies’ nourishment with other food. I love reading about baby’s development and when I found out this piece of writing, my mind scream hysterically as we had mistakenly understood the weaning routes our baby should have.

According to The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), solid foods should be introduced to baby around six months of age to ensure she receives proper nutrition. However, keep in mind there are a number of foods that we should not give to our baby until she is older, including:

1. Wheat: Wheat is the most common grain allergen so baby should not take wheat or wheat products until she is six to eight months old and can handle rice and oats.
2. Honey: Honey can harbor spores of botulism, which can grow and produce life-threatening toxins in your baby’s intestinal tract. Do not give baby honey until she is older than one year. (Never do as I don’t like honey as well)
3. Cow’s Milk: Giving a baby cow’s milk too early can cause childhood allergies. Wait to introduce cow’s milk until she is one year old. (ermm, I’m having disparity clinch with this idea..i’ll tell u later…)
4. Eggs: Infants older than nine months can have egg yolks, but wait until the baby is older than one year to give her the protein-rich whites. (Never do!)
5. Citrus: before giving citrus juice to baby, check with pediatrician as it can cause allergies. (Yeah, we gave some sack of fresh oranges to Sophie…I don’t know about this either)…
   
6. Peanuts: Peanuts and peanut butter can cause violent allergic reactions and shouldn’t be given to children younger than 3 years old. (Never do, because I already know peanut has been voted as the allergen of the year!).

Talking about allergies, I had a chance to visit an allergy convention together with my superior somewhere in Bandar Utama last few months. We were there to meet our client, who is the organizer of the event. While waiting delegation to wrap up their presentation, I approached a N**t** booth just to look around their products and I asked them about their infant formula milk (which I thought maybe good to change current milk to their brand). They gave me a very detail booklet, – about their scientific research and bla –bla –bla of their formula milk which is also allergy free tested! So once I went home, I told Babah that we should change Sophie’s current *2* Gold to this *a* by N**t**. Then we bought that so called allergy-free formula milk.

Regrettably, Sophie didn’t really into this milk and her stools became worse and she continuously having diarrhea. What a waste! And pity to my lil’ girl! Babah blamed me for my immediate-jump-to-conclusion-sense and said our baby is not an experiment thingy (My bad, as before that, I told him about the scientific research of this product that sounds incredibly convincing!). Later we changed back to the initial brand. I got lessons; the best researched brand doesn’t mean it suits Sophie’s stomach well, in fact the allergy-free term used was merely turned into endangered toxic.

I got another story to share! I have a friend whose son (aged 9 months) refuses to drink milk (whatever named milk), as his grandparents often give him junk food with a reason “Alah, just give him some to taste”. The “some-to -taste” idea has swiftly cultivating his habitual action to taste more and more. End up, he refuses to drink milk, loves eating junks and these have really made his mother fall in great apprehensiveness.

In a nutshell, foods and solids reflect the inner growth of babies’ brain. As mothers; we should select the best nutritious solids for our babies during this momentous milestone. YES, please avoid the allergens and do plan properly for your loved angels!

Flu and Runny noses season ~ poor my little baby = (

Yesterday night, we couldn’t sleep as Sophie kept awaken and cried. We noticed her warm body temperature and thought she had diarrhea. We checked her diaper but she didn’t pooped. I put some Yuyi oil but she had constantly crying. I hugged her until I fell asleep and didn’t realise it was already 6.00 am in the crack of dawn.

Sicky little one in Babah’s arm.( latest pix)

While get myself ready to work this morning, I saw Sophie crawled on bed and she slipped herself down dimly. Then only I noticed she got cold with her nose ejected nasal discharge. Poor my little baby! No surprise she couldn’t sleep the whole night, probably she felt uncomfortable having stuffy head.

Hubby took half day leave while I continue working after paying a visit to Mediviron Clinic.

Now is raining season, possibly Sophie has gotten infection from somewhere or someone else or maybe her antibody was just so weak. Within 6 months, this the second time she got cold and fever. This is the second time too that I felt extremely worried about her. However, she is a strong baby and yet still crawling actively and trying to move up like usual. Yah, it’s good to sweat, Sophie!

Feverish face.( 1 month old)

Get well soon sayang!

Sophie is having Separation Anxiety ~ kesian Mrs. Nanny

Sophie: eheheheh…mama dun leave me, ok!

Our grandparents from Sandakan were here recently and more than 7 weeks Sophie stays at home with them plus babah worked on night shifts. When everybody no longer at home, no more avail people to look after Sophie, we had to send her back to Mrs. Nanny (kak zila) who lives just next to our house.

A very heart-wrenching scene took place when I brought her to Mrs. Nanny’s house for a visit. Sophie cried loudly and her hands kept on moving in the air ~ a sense of trying to hold mama tightly when Kak zila approached her. She would probably be thinking that I’d be lost like forever if other people take her.

She had forgotten her nanny! Pling! Flashback the reminiscence, I read in a newspaper article highlighting about baby’s short-term memory. Give a yes that young child has a hard time with separation because they do not have a sense of time and they do not understand about work and daycare.

Taken from a useful parenting article, here are some ways to help you and your child reduce anxiety during partings:

1. Build a positive relationship with your care provider. She can be a great help during stressful times when your child demands your attention and you are not able to oblige. Do not feel threatened by her or treat her as a competitor. She is there to assist you. (Our nanny is so friendly; we are so comfortable with her and family)

2. Goodbyes should be brief. Long goodbyes are better left for the movies. If your child has problems separating from you, it is more difficult for him when you keep giving one more hug or kiss. Do not feel bad when your child screams “I hate you” as you leave. Your child still loves you no matter what.~ (Know what, for now Kak Zila has to wear scarf every time we leave Sophie. Sophie has this idea for good~ wearing scarf equal to nak pergi jalan-jalan.”)

3. If your child is having difficulty adjusting to daycare after several weeks, conduct spot checks to see how your child is adjusting. Is there something troubling her? You may want to hold off making any changes such as getting her to sleep in her own room or getting rid of his favourite comforter when she starts daycare.(erm, Sophie can lay down anywhere but now, she hates sleeping in the crib.Becozzzz she wants to roll her body here and there on bed. So guess where are we every night? Babah and mama separately sleep at very narrow positions of our bed edges …Sophie conquers most spaces…huhuu..Tak yah conduct spot check la wat mase nih..Alhamdulillah)

4· Prepare for the morning rush. Goodbyes are more difficult when parents are anxious in the mornings. If you are stretched for time when you say your goodbyes, your child will pick up from your non-verbal cues. Give yourself and your child ample time in the morning by preparing everything the night before. Wake your child up with a smile and say: “We are going to have a great day today.” ~ (Ermm, well she understands and behaves well when mama say: “Don’t cry mama going to work.ok”. Sophie must wakes up to see me out. If she still sleeping when I am about to go, then I will receive a call in office saying that she is searching for me..ma..ma..ma..ma)

5. Celebrate your getting back with your child. Before doing anything else, spend the first hour with your child after you pick him up from daycare. Have a wonderful chat about your day at work and the daycare. Play a game or two. Go for a walk together. This antidote for stress works all the time. (Of course, we always have an itsy bitsy spider game..Sophie loves it!)

We gotta find a school for her ya..a nursery school perhaps..