Travelling at a Bad Time

I am in Busan, S Korea now, having been here since Mon. And what a bad time it is for travelling.  Claire is having her PSLE, which started yesterday.  All I can do is to wish her the best ...via a skype phonecall.  While I am here busying myself alone, there Dar is handling the whole family.  As she says, when it rains, it pours.  Barely into the second day, and I heard that Nigel had a nasty fall.  While he is better, and thankfully Noah is too (a HFMD scare..), I cant help but think what a jinx I am. And now I heard that the helper is "sick" too...

I have the time here to myself, walking around, buying things, eating, jogging...in the midst of an exercise that is not really my main stay.  There Dar has to cope alone.  Life is unfair...to my dar.  Which is why I am so looking for her to be able to enjoy herself next week in Taiwan.  She deserves it. Am waiting to head home tomorrow....

Sorry that I have to leave you home alone, dar.  It's my fault. I really ought to try to cut down my trips...

The Birds and the Bees

Just completed attending a talk on the Birds and the Bees. It was quite a useful session, and some good tips like sharing age-appropriate ideas to the kids, understanding the motivation behind eahc question and affirming the love and commitment to the S.. issue. Of course, there were also other food for thought, as the speaker talked about the roles of the parents; or how the lack of it can change an individual's inclination. Also the point about how children looked at their parents relationship and how it may affect their development in future. Which brought me to my blog and Dar's. It has been a while seen I last updated or viewed. Looking at the posts that we have both done, cant help but think that it has been such a blessing from God. Things are going well, so much so that I worry if it is meant for me/us to enjoy the good days....morbid thoughts again, but as I think about how fragile life is and how something can come out from nothing and can turn a whole family upside down. I pray that God will continue to bless us all. Cos I really want to be able to share our perspectives with the kids...

The Family - A witness for Christ

I was drawn by the sermon on Sun. I guess I came to the realisation that my family - of 5 kids, is our way of bearing witness to Christ. We are not strong catholics, and we have certainly not contributed much to various ministries. But God had given us gifts, and if we can bring them up well despite the challenges, I think we would have shown what God has done and what we can be grateful.

Indeed the start of the year has not been smooth. We had a spate of flu virus attacks, starting with Claire, Nigel, then me, Dar's mom, Chloe, Nat and the maid. It was certainly no joke, as dar herself said that she cant fall sick. Made me realise though when I stood in the family...when dar's mom falls, the main support strutcture falls, in terms of running the admin household chores. But Dar is around to take it up, and she can, in spite of running the kids schedule. Me? I can transport some of them for classes, but suck in monitoring their school work or much less household chores.

Claire also started on a bad footing - she has been terrorised by her form teacher, who also happens to be her Prefect mistress, when she is in the prefects Exco. So much so that for the first time, she has cried and said she doesnt want to go to school. We are really concerned. But slowly trying to show her she can deal with it. If she really cant, we would definately have to speak to the "T-Rex".

Fortunately, there is a silver lining. We are reading Nat better in his feeding patterns at night. That's why I am up and blogging, after feeding his second feed. But the surprise package must be Chloe. She is now the class monitress...wow. She is really over the moon. The way she gloats at dinner, and like dar says, she is really "high". ha ha. Certainly, hope things stay high for her.

Heading Rome

Why is it that I always feel like this when I am heading overseas...I guess this time its different cos I know that Nat is at home, and Dar would have to take care of all 5 kids. I feel really bad knowing she is still in confinement. It doesnt help when Nat wakes up like every 2 hrs at night. I shudder when I think how tired dar will be. Really didnt want to go for this trip...

I really cant wait for Thu PM when I will be back, and to look at all of them again. Already miss them even before I depart...:(

Kids, pls stay obedient and dont cause too much trouble when daddy is not home.

Dar, I know its tough and you will have to suffer, but pls try to rest as much as you can..I will be back soonest...

Love

Enjoying the Family

Recently, I have been able to spend quite a bit of time with the family. I managed to take a day leave per week to spend with Dar, spend time fetching the big 2 for ECA, and time fetching the small 2 kids to or from school. I really enjoyed the time spent with the family. Am I getting old or something else, I dont know why I have been so caught up with work and work.

As Dar says, this is the last chance to "make amends". Indeed...looking at little Noah, when he throws his tantrums (not the tantrums, but the look on his face), or listening to Chloe ask her questions or singing her Lou Xiang. Even watching Nigel and Claire as they devour every meal. It's the little things, no doubt that matters.

Looking at Dar as she struggles recently- She has had palpitations, the pain in the groin due to loose ligaments, swollen feet...I feel sad that I cant help. And she would go that she is feeling useless and so on. To think she actually tried her "stunt"-scooting out for noodles at 5am...I cant imagine what would happen if she cant drive back.

But there are funny moments - I know I shldnt make a joke of it, but she was really worried that the lift in our block would break down. She said she would walk down the stairs...and I asked her whether she wanted Nat's place of birth to be "Level 6 lift landing Blk 2 Toh Yi"...

We are just waiting for Nat's arrival now. I am hoping that he comes soon..he's estimated to be between 3-3.2kg now, so I think it shld be fine...

Reflections

Been in a reflective mood, and thinking about what I have been doing. Really love to drop everything and stay and watch the kids. Just looking at the family portrait yesterday and soon we will have 1 more addition. I am contented with what I have, and just feeling that it can be easy to lose everything.

Was really touched by Dar's gesture...she is already having difficulties to move, and yet she chose to let me sleep longer by fetching Claire.

The best I can do is to let her have more nice nightsnacks...:)

The last 8 months..

It has been a long time since I last wrote. Over this past 8 months, many things have happened, most significant being Nat's impending arrival. That of course means that Dar has had to endure the sufferings of carrying a baby again. As she always said, I have it easy. Indeed, this pregnancy has not been easy...with the morning sickness, the pain on the lower back and now the strain on the groin area. She can hardly walk now, but at least I have managed to insist that she goes to work lesser. It's God's grace actually, that at least her Accounting Quiz has completed, and the term is coming to an end. But dar being herself, with less work she also complains.

My work has as usual taken a good bit of my time. But I am determined that the Aust/NZ would be my last trip. Dont think Dar can handle another time when I am not around. Have been busy with various things from the various visits and workshops, to the trips and the exercises. Really need to spend more time with the family.

Which is why I am very glad for the last weekend where we had a good time at the Resort Worlds. Sure it was pretty tiring at the Universal Studios (and I must say comparatively with Gold Coast, not as good..in fact same Shrek show...disappointing), but at least the kids enjoyed. The kids have in this time grown quite a bit...Nigel has been really busy with his sports life- soccer, golf, badminton and swimming. Claire has become really independent travelling by herself to class and school. And yes, she has put on quite a bit of weight. Chloe has also come along well...and she will be going to P1 in a few months time...another worry, but another milestone as well. Am hoping that she will cope well. Orientation day would be coming soon in Nov. And of course, little Noah...who continually entertains us. Recently, he has been up to his antics, and calling himself a joker...really an interactive toy.

Looking forwards to Nat'a arrival now...Although due in Nov, I think he may just come in mid Oct...good and bad also. Hoping that he comes soon, so that Dar need not suffer. But a premature baby would be hard to manage also...Just hoping that we can cope and not like what Dar say that we may have more disagreements.

In any case, just hope that Dar rests well..