Big Dilemma

Can someone give me some enlightenment?? I'm in a big dilemma now. Since I started working last December, transporting my kids to schools have been a big headache. During my job interview, I was told the job is a virtual role a.k.a. work from home. When I started, I am expected to show up in the office everyday. Now, I am stuck for the next 5 months to 11 months, at least until my contract expires. So, I asked my boss if I could do 2 days a week from home, and he asked me to give him a schedule. So, Dominic said I should just scheduled 2 days from home a week and let him reject the plan if he doesn't agree.
Meanwhile, I was looking high and low for a transporter for the kids. I survived by sharing the load between Dominic and myself and my neighbour whom we car pool. It gets harder when I have more meeting in office and Dominic travels occasionally. So, I finally found a transporter who is willing to try out. I was delighted at first. Then after thinking it through and talking to Dominic, my family, I have my hesitation. Dominic never think it is a great idea. He always said it is easier to try to juggle it ourselves. My family disagreed big time. They are saying cannot trust the transporter. They may just kidnap the kids. I am concern about sexual abuse - read so much of those stories kids were sexually molest or abuse in kindergarten, or daycare. My in-laws does not know about this, but I know I will get an earful if they find out. Sigh...................

So, what now?? I'll tell my boss I'll work 2 days from home, and cancel the transporter. And wait and see how's things go. Sigh again.....

What A Week!!

So far, this is the most 'interesting' and headache week. I talked about rats paying us a visit last week. Well, I called the pest control people and they came. They helped to cover the hole in the attic and put some baits for the rats. It sure worked!! A few days ago, I found dead rats in my attic!! Being in the attic, I am not able to see the dead rats until it smelled and it sure stink the house!! One rat died on the trap and was easy to find. Another died underneath the water tank. Thank goodness the water tank cover is secured. The rat that died underneath the water tank was hard to be removed cause there is little space to put the hand and hood in to get it. Now, I am waiting for the contractor to cut the ceiling where the dead rat is. My goodness...what a headache and not to mention we had to endure the stinking smell. Luckily the bedroom was spared from the smell or else it will be hard to sleep. It is much simpler to live in a condo!

A new headache just emerged. The water pipe to the washing machine burst and the water is leaking underground!! I have to call a contractor to hack the cement and look for the leak. Another mess! And water bill is going to be high this month. And to add salt to the wound, the contractor had more pressing problem to attend - my neighbour had a burst pipe and the ceiling is all wet. I now have to wait for the contractor to fix the neighbour's problem before he can attends to me. Why can't the developer get the plumbing right when they first built it, and of course the problem only occurs after the warranty has lapsed! Oh......the saying 'we are slaves to our possessions' is sooooo true.

Coming Apart

This week is a real 'adventure' week as Lucas might called it. Almost all gadgets in the house decided that they need to see their 'doctor' and so are my 2 kids. The kids are down with cough and flu and had to visit paediatrician twice. Then, the water filter decided to take a rest and stopped filtering. The water to the washing machine is brown. The garden and the hedge need to be trimmed. The hose to the toilet decided to take a leak. The lights in the garden decided to fuse each time they are switched on. The cooking hood decided to send the smell to the whole house. The air-cons haven't been service since they are installed. What else.....the rat decided to come pay us a visit. So, here I am calling all the 'doctors' for servicing and waiting for them to come and save me.

An interesting week indeed.

Australia, Here We Come

Yes....we are leaving for Gold Coast, Australia for a week starting tomorrow. I'm done packing the check-in luggage. 2 hand carry luggages to go. We got this super duper discounted ticket (RM2500 for 4 of us) and will be flying budget airline. The downside is there is no entertainment system and no much food (and not free) available. Let's see after this experience, if we will still be using budget airline.


Chloe admiring the older children in her ballet trial class.


Their favourite dessert, gummy bears.

Counting Down to Being Unemployed

My sweet deal of being able to work from home is ending end of this month. Looking forward to not having any deliverables and dateline, but not the part of not getting paid though. So, I'm planning to take 2-3 months break while Lucas is having his 2 months school holiday from late July to early Sept. Hopefully, something will come in September/October. So, how am I going to keep myself busy and not spending too much money?? I have written a list of people I want to catch-up and meet, my massage and visit to hair saloon, visit to dentist and doctors, plan for the holiday in Gold Coast in August, organize more play dates for the kids. I think I will not have any problem filling in my time.

At the same time, I am also thinking if I should be a permanent employee instead of a freelancer, or try my hand on some small business, or just retire for good! Haha...I wish. Financially, I am not in a position to retire.

Death

Out of the blue, while I was tucking the kids to bed, we had this conversation.

Lucas: Mom, when you are dead, do you want to wrap in cloth or you want to go to heaven?
Me: I want to go to heaven. I heard it is a very nice place.
Lucas: But heaven is far far away. I wrap you in cloth like mummy. Then you can still stay in this house with me.
Me: But I will smell. (not in a mood to explain the decompose part).
Lucas: But I will miss you if you go to heaven. (started to sob softly) Do you have to call the heaven to come and get you?
Me: I think the angel will know to come and get me.
Lucas: Do you have the number to call the angel?
Me: No. I don't.
Lucas: Good, then you cannot call the angel. I will wrap you in white cloth all over you except your eyes. Or else you can only see dark or white.
Me: OK.

It sure feels good to hear him say he will miss me when I died!

It's So Darn Hot

Last few days have been soooo hot. The temperature inside the house is 33 degree Celsius. Wonder what is outside??!! What do you do when it is soooo hot? Watch TV and read inside air-condition room. We can't get out of the house to go to the playground until it is 6.30pm (and it is still hot). Then in less than 40 mins, the sky gets dark. At night, the air-cond have to be switched on till morning. I don't need to be in the Middle Eastern countries to experience summer there. I have it right here. Time to emigrate?

I wonder what is better now, too much heat or too much cold?

Holiday & What Next?

This week is Lucas last school week for Term 2. Then he will have his 2 weeks holidays and start Term 3. I still have not plan any activities for him other than spending one weekend in Singapore, and a 'staycation' in a KL hotel. What to do with him so that he is less hook to the TV and iPad??

My work contract is until end June and very unlikely it will be extended. Work load is tapering off and the project has no budget. I have been trying to get a flex hour job but to no vail. Going to be unemployed after June! Maybe it's time to change career??

Chloe is turning 2 in 3 months. I'm still undecided if I should start her playschool at 2 or 2 and a half? And which playschool to go to?

Decisions, worries and decisions.

Chloe's Pictures

Look at my bunny teeth!

I'm unlike my brother, I'm not afraid of birds.

I can sit on a balloon without bursting it.

Change of Career?

My work from home job is ending end of this year. I have been looking for jobs with flexible hours and so far failed miserably. There is nothing close to what I have now. So, I am wondering if I can switch career at my age??!!

Selling my junk/excess on e-Bay? Was told transaction costs are high (have to pay e-Bay and Paypal) and consume lots of time for a small profit.
Be a property agent?
Be an 'investment' adviser for ourselves (with our peanut capital to go with it)?
Be a full-time homemaker and fire my maid?

Any better ideas?

It Has Been Awhile

It has been awhile since I last post. Life has been hectic and crazy at times.I still work and have no help during weekends. So, weekdays are working days and kids, and weekends are kids and kids. That's life and I believe I am not alone - so I don't feel bad.

Lucas has grown more mature mentally. He was and still is very much protected. Lately, he has been mixing with his classmates who have different personalities than him - good practice for him of what to come when he attends the primary school. He is such meticulous and fussy kid. Things have to be done his way or else he gets upset and angry. Really testing my patience at times. I lost my patience many times and always have remind myself not too..sigh. Physically, he hasn't put on weight for the last one year. He only grows taller, and hence skinner. He is a fussy eater - no vegetables, not meat. He likes cheese, yogurt, mushrooms, tofu, macaroni. Lately, I have been able to get him to drink soup - telling him his muscle will grow bigger if he finishes his soup. Lucas has stopped taking his afternoon nap as well. I figure it is not worth nagging him for 45 mins to nap. He sleeps early without nap, between 8 to 8.30pm.

Chloe on the other hand is giving her brother a good fight. A girl not to be bullied. If Lucas snatches things away from her, she is not going to let him go easily. She even knows how to work Lucas out. One day while they were in their car seats and I was driving, Chloe decided to blow saliva to Lucas. Lucas obviously get upset and told her to stop it. The more Lucas asked her to stop, the more she blew at him. Lucas got so upset and shouted at her. I have to get them to stop. Guess this is only the beginning.

Chloe has 3 teeth - two on the bottom gum and one on top. Thought those teeth come in pair, isn't it? I believe she is more than 8 kgs now. She will have her one year check-up next month. She wants to eat everything, especially the food Lucas is eating. She has cereal and yogurt for breakfast, porridge for lunch and dinner. In between, she has her snacks (cheerios, biscuits) and fruits. Her favourite fruits is apple mix with pear. She doesn't fancy banana anymore. I gave her strawberry once and she developed some rashes! Stopped the strawberry for the time being. Chloe sleeps tighter at night now. She doesn't wake up in the middle of the night crying (hope it stays that way). She sleeps from 8 - 8.30 am to 7.30am and naps twice a day, with about 1 1/2 hr each nap.

Meanwhile, for me, my work contract is until Sept. Most likely there will be no extension this time, as the work load has reduced tremendously. Time to update my CV and keeping my fingers and toes crossed that I will find another flexible job. I have also been into healthy lifestyle lately. Get some essentials oil for the family and trying detox program. And watching World Cup when I can.

Sleep, Oh, Sleep

And don't know why, Chloe has been waking up more often in the middle of the night. The last 3 nights, she woke up 3 times at night and she stayed awake for an hour. The first time it happened, I let her cry until she goes to sleep. Then the next morning, Lucas told his teacher 'I'm tired. I didn't sleep well. My sister was crying all night.' Argg....I got the message. The second night, I did not want her to wake Lucas up, so I sleep standing beside her cot, while she sings, happily kicking away. After a while, I couldn't take it anymore. I just bring her to my bed and she felt asleep soon after me ( I guess. I was asleep before her). The third night, I did not want her to expect to sleep on my bed, so, there I was sleep standing again until she dozed off. What a peaceful sleep I had! Hope it will stop tonight - fingers and toes crossed. The first thing I need in the morning is strong coffee.

Meanwhile, Lucas has been just the opposite. He falls asleep before her and sleep thru the night. When I complimented him the next morning, 'You are such a good boy. You came to Mommy's room zero time yesterday'. He gave his proud smile and said 'Thanks Mom'.
Lucas has stopped taking afternoon nap. When I asked him to nap, he will reply 'I am not sleepy at all'. I have stopped pressuring him to take nap. He sleeps much earlier at night 8.30pm and it is better for me and him.

Photos

The photo shot went well. The photographer would like to do more but the kids were not cooperative. Lucas kept making funny faces and Chloe was tired after half an hour. But we have a number of nice shoots.

Assessment for Kindie Entry

I registered Lucas in the neighbourhood school, which has kindie, primary and secondary. And he has to go for assessment before they can accept him! This is the first time Lucas has to do a test and I don't think he knows what is a test. When I asked the school what does he has to prepare, the lady answered very calmly - nothing. All I can do is to tell Lucas 'You have to answer when the teacher asks you a question, and you have to do what the teacher asks you to do'. I heard so much stories about the mother having stress when the kids are taking exam and now I know what that means. It is more the worry of the kids sabotage themselves by purposely not doing what they know, for the reason on known to them.

It's Good Friday today, and we are having BBQ for Dominic's family and relatives. It is going to be surf and turf. Tomorrow, we are going to check out a RM3.5 million apartment - not that we can afford it, just to KPC. No plan for Easter Sunday. Last year, we had gifts for Lucas. This year, we were just too lazy. And annoyed that the boy has been really naughty and stubborn.

Photos

Baking cookies.


Lucas's car collection.

Happy 2010

Happy New Year. I just realised that I have been blogging for two and a half year. Blogging does help to 'document' the kids' development and reference at a later stage. 2 days ago, Dominic was reading the old posts on Lucas which was posted 2 years ago. We thought Lucas was quite different from Chloe but after reading the old posts, Dominic's summary was 'Chloe is just like Lucas. Both cried before they go to sleep, put everything into their mouth. The only difference is Chloe drools and Lucas did not'. Well....what to say - products from the same factory. One thing which I have failed miserably is getting Lucas to sleep. 2 years ago, I said I will have to get Lucas to sleep on his own.........and today, I am still trying!

Yesterday was the last day of partying. Today is winding down day. Need to get Lucas to sleep early and get up on time to go to school tomorrow.

Back to routine.

So Happening...

Since we were back from our holidays, there we so much happening with Christmas and New Year around the corner. So much food, catching up with friends and getting ready for 2010.

Lucas enjoyed this year Christmas. He knows about getting presents, chocolates, candies in abundance during Christmas. On the eve, as usual we had dinner at my in-laws place. After the dinner, it is time to open presents. Lucas knows how to tear away the wrappers by himself. No need help from us anymore. Then on Christmas day itself, he opened the presents we gave him. On the Boxing Day, he opened the presents from my family. He got so excited that he asked on Christmas Day if 'Is tomorrow Christmas again?'.

As for Chloe, she is still doesn't know any better. It is the time of the year where I dressed and dolled her up. Put on her nice and cute dresses and the hair accessories. She started on solid 2 weeks ago but I have stopped it a week later. She doesn't want to eat her apples and were getting constipation. I have to stopped to get the bowel motion back in place. Today, I tried the solid again. I puree the apple as opposed to grate the apple previously. She finished her apple but were complaining after that. Wasn't sure if the apple is making her discomfort or the teething. She has been drooling like nobody business and eating anything she can grabbed - her pillow, cot bumper, skirts, handkie. Poor girl. I did not try to give her the teething toy as I find it unsuitable - either too big or too hard. Nothing is as yummy as her tiny fingers.

I have also moved Chloe to her own room on Christmas Day. She is now sleeping on her own, in her own room. I have completed her room decoration project. Honestly, it is easier to move the kid now than later. She is sleeping well in her room. I have to a baby monitor for nighttime use. It was Lucas that is difficult to adjust. He walks to my room two to three times each night and I have to shoo him back to him own room. With the two kids out of my room, I have so much space in the bedroom!!

For myself, I am trying to finish the house project I was doing. The current task is to tidy up the study room cum home office. Need to file all the papers and books and junk neatly. One thing I just realised, there is no such thing as enough shelves or storage space. The clutter seems to fill itself up.

Next few days are going to be more food and entertaining friends. We have a friend and family coming over on Monday. Dominic is cooking wagyu beef. On Tuesday, it is going to be our few hours off. Going to watch Avatar while the kids are bonding with the grandparents. On Wednesday, some friends from overseas are coming. We are having Klang Bak Kut Teh and cendol - all food local for overseas friends. No plan yet on New Year Eve. We are going to missed the firework which we can watched from our apartment's balcony previously. New Year day, we are having my family over. Will be feeding them pork knuckles and sausages. Then............................it will be back to normal. Lucas starting school on Monday, I start work on Tuesday and the nanny is starting work on Wednesday.

For whatever it is, it has been a great year. Looking forward to 2010 when I will turn 40 ..ahem...and even greater happenings.

Little Helper

I was at the backyard doing laundry this morning. I spilled some water from the bucket and Lucas who was playing sand there asked, 'Mommy, can I help you?' - very sweet of him. So, I asked him to dry the floor.

Brotherly Love

Best picture we got so far of the 2 kids together...

No But, No Why

Chatty Lucas has been talking a lot. One day, he and his usual 'But, Mommy, ......' (his way of expressing excuses) suddenly came to a halt and he said 'No But', 'No Why'. I asked if his teacher said that to him and he nod his head. Ha..ha..he must has been finding excuses and his teacher must have shut him up by saying 'No But, No Why'.

Chloe is getting bigger. She likes to try to sit up, smiling and laughing alot when she has enough sleep and food. Her hair - still not dropping much nor growing much. I will be starting her on solid food when she is 6 months old. Gosh, I have forgotten those puree vegetables and fruits. Need to refresh my memory.

As for me, I still have to 2 kgs to shield - if I ever can shield these 2 kgs. Am in a mood for shopping. Already thinking how to decorate the house for Christmas and what to cook for Christmas. Dominic and myself are taking a break from the kids next week. We are going to Sydney for a few days (complimentary from MAS Enrich points and hotel points). Will pack the kids to my parents for bonding period while I take my break :)