Rachel has been preparing for her violin assessment test for the past few months. If she passed this assessment, she would be able to attend the Suzuki Graduation Concert in March. She took her assessment on Feb 7 but did not manage to get through. I was surprised when the Teacher told us there is a re-take for those who failed because initially I had thought that she would have to wait for another year to take the level 1 assessment again.
I must say the piece that she had to play for her assessment was not an easy piece for a 5-year old child. I don't think I would be able to play it well myself. Sometimes, I feel guilty of giving my little girl too much pressure instead of allowing her to enjoy learning music.
Take a look at her practice session:
Boy-Girl Relationship
The other day, P, Rachel and I were seated in the living room watching a Chinese drama serial. Part of the story involves a triangle love relationship between 2 boys and 1 girl. So I popped a question (for fun) to Rachel asking her, "how can 2 boys and 1 girl be together?".
Rachel replied very quickly and innocently,"just add another girl can already lor." And she is right!
P and I had a good laugh over it. Children.....you will be amazed at how their little minds work.
Rachel replied very quickly and innocently,"just add another girl can already lor." And she is right!
P and I had a good laugh over it. Children.....you will be amazed at how their little minds work.
Angel down with Virus Bug
Shannon was down with fever on the day P left for his business trip. It started with a mild fever on the 1st day and I attributed it to the cause of her cough and running nose. On the 1st night, her fever shot up to over 39 d.c. all the way through to morning. On the 2nd night, it went as high as 40.4 d.c. Her temperature did not go down even after I have given her medicine and sponged her. I got anxious and took her to A&E at 4am in the morning. Nothing much the doctor and nurses at the hospital did except to give her medication, told me to wait, gave medication again, wait again, sponge her, wait some more and then asked if I would like to admit her when after having done all these, her temperature remained at 39+ d.c.
I took her home when they told me there was nothing much they can do except to monitor her and give her medicine again in 4 hours time if she stayed at the hospital. I was told to bring her back to do a blood test if the fever persist till the 5th day. And that was just the 3rd day when I brought Shannon to the hospital. Imagine I had to wait another 2 days for her young body to suffer at such high temperature (if really) before these medical professionals would take further action.
I have no intention to remind myself of the unpleasant experience I had at the hospital that morning to blog about the details. These doctors may have seen a lot of such cases in children and think nothing much of it. I just feel that we should not take any chance with a child's health, or anyone's health for that matter. I would rather be safe than sorry.
As if hearing my prayers, Shannon's fever subsided on the 5th day. She was back to her active self except to have lost some weight. Poor baby!
I went back to work after being away from office for 3 days (without checking a single email). I just have no mood to work. Rachel almost got used to me staying at home such that when I told her I was going back to work the next day, she asked me, "Why?".
Shannon has fully recovered. Thanks to all the friends and family members who had shown concern for my little darling when she was sick. It is no doubt that it pains a mother's heart the most when her child falls sick.
I took her home when they told me there was nothing much they can do except to monitor her and give her medicine again in 4 hours time if she stayed at the hospital. I was told to bring her back to do a blood test if the fever persist till the 5th day. And that was just the 3rd day when I brought Shannon to the hospital. Imagine I had to wait another 2 days for her young body to suffer at such high temperature (if really) before these medical professionals would take further action.
I have no intention to remind myself of the unpleasant experience I had at the hospital that morning to blog about the details. These doctors may have seen a lot of such cases in children and think nothing much of it. I just feel that we should not take any chance with a child's health, or anyone's health for that matter. I would rather be safe than sorry.
As if hearing my prayers, Shannon's fever subsided on the 5th day. She was back to her active self except to have lost some weight. Poor baby!
I went back to work after being away from office for 3 days (without checking a single email). I just have no mood to work. Rachel almost got used to me staying at home such that when I told her I was going back to work the next day, she asked me, "Why?".
Shannon has fully recovered. Thanks to all the friends and family members who had shown concern for my little darling when she was sick. It is no doubt that it pains a mother's heart the most when her child falls sick.
Home Alone....again
P has resumed his business travelling again after a good long "break" of about 3 months. This time round, he's off to London and I heard over the news that parts of UK is experiencing the heaviest snow for 18 years, with forecasters warning of more severe weather to come. I guess environmental climates have been turned up-side-down and have become unpredictable with all these stresses humans are putting onto mother earth over the years.
So, I am home alone with the kids again for 2 weeks. P and I had a brief discussion before his departure that perhaps he should go away more often because Rachel behaves well when either one of us is not at home. Sending him off at the airport, I told him repeatedly to put on enough warm clothing, to take proper meals, to have enough rest, to take care of himself.....we are sure gonna miss him. (Too mushy for you?)
It is difficult for us to talk on the phone with him in London and us in Singapore because of the time difference - 8 hours - "not here, not there", worse than being in US. He does call home every other day during his lunch time for a short chat though. I know he misses his little angels as much as we miss him. We look forward eagerly for his return.
So, I am home alone with the kids again for 2 weeks. P and I had a brief discussion before his departure that perhaps he should go away more often because Rachel behaves well when either one of us is not at home. Sending him off at the airport, I told him repeatedly to put on enough warm clothing, to take proper meals, to have enough rest, to take care of himself.....we are sure gonna miss him. (Too mushy for you?)
It is difficult for us to talk on the phone with him in London and us in Singapore because of the time difference - 8 hours - "not here, not there", worse than being in US. He does call home every other day during his lunch time for a short chat though. I know he misses his little angels as much as we miss him. We look forward eagerly for his return.