Sunday, December 23, 2007

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I'm Back!
Look out for stories of Balqis & Adam.
2008 will be a great year. A year that Balqis, Adam and me will cherish together as they grow bigger and smarter (than me!). I look forward at being outsmarted, out-everything ...
just not out-casted, I hope.
Well, they love their mommy!

See you soon .... stay tuned ...



signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:29 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Friday, April 21, 2006

A courtesy campaign was launched very recently -- and that made me wonder. Are we so discourteous that we need to have a campaign in our midst or are we just making sure that we continue on being courteous? All in all, in the limited capacity of my memory, I remembered that so far, we've had a 'smile campaign', 'be friendly to your neighbor' campaign and now this 'courtesy campaign'.

I am pondering on this issue of course, with relations to both Balqis and Adam. For the past one month, I have been reading to Adam two books - A Mother for Choco (written by Keiko Kasza, a Paper Star book) and also Don't Talk To Strangers (one of the 'My Very First Winnie the Pooh' series). Adam like most kids, lives in his innocent baby world where everything is rosy and fun - they always seem to think that everything centers or rather revolves around them. The two books are wake up calls for the future Prime Minister - he realizes that he could get lost if he does not listen to Mommy especially at public places and that not everyone is to be trusted. Of course, he took all this as the fun and rosy world he is in, with a dash of sugar and honey.

We live in a gated townhouse in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur, where people are with careers, busy - we don't really know some of their names but we stop by to say the occasional hello-hi-how-are-you accompanied by small chats when we chanced upon each other. And of course, everybody knows and recognizes Balqis and Adam. They are popular simply because they greet everybody in their vicinity. But, they are perplexed by one very unfriendly family. Both the elderly husband & wife never ever acknowledged both Balqis' and Adam's hellos and good mornings. How do I explain this to both kids? I almost pity them. Until one day, quite a while back, Balqis, Adam & me were walking towards the car and the man was right ahead of us -- Balqis & Adam sing-song their wishes - good morning uncle… As always, like the rest of his family especially his wife, ignored the kids. They even have a permanent scowl edged on to their faces. Adam was upset. He kept on calling after that man ... 'Uncle, hello .. my name is Adam .. good morning .. ' At this point, my boiling rage reached the limit. I explained to Adam in a very clear, loud, crisp voice for all to hear dedicated to the one man right infront of us - 'Adam, stop it darling. Stop saying hello or good morning to some people who doesn't even deserve it. Some people are not very nice to begin with. We don't want to be friends with these kinds of people'. Ever since that day, both Balqis and Adam stopped ever trying to be friendly with that lot. They accepted that painful fact. But of course, being the happy-go-lucky children that they are, life just go on in their world of rainbows and blue skies.

And what do you know ... one morning, just recently when I was cleaning up the back room, I noticed the wife inching towards my small garden at the back of the house. She looked around, infront, tip-toed towards the garden. She did not see me because the windows were pretty high from the ground. She suddenly stooped over and plucked the curry leaves from one of my pots. Then she retrieved back, still looking around - eyes darting. I would have loved to put a note at the plant so that the next time she sneaked to steal my curry leaves she'll find this note - FREE of charge to all nice and friendly neighbors ONLY.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 8:38 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Friday, April 14, 2006

I havent been updating this blog. Not because there are no activities at all in the household but too much has been going around.

Adam is finally settled down in school. I caught him not standing in the kids crowd at assembly the other day -- perhaps never on any other day -- he stood behind the teachers, mimicking the NEGARAKU, wriggling and looking around, dashing here and there! I was thinking when I saw him from far ... is that my kid? Sure was ...

He punched a year one kid in the van the other day causing the boy's gum to bleed a little. Everybody was stunned. Here was a little 3 year old boy -- still in diaper, I must add - with milk bottle in his school bag -- punching bigger boys ... I slow talked him into telling me why he did that. He told me ... oh last week, that boy jabbed his finger into my eye and it was so painfull.

Balqis, on the other hand, has been asking for MINES Wonderland. Adam does not know what that is but he agrees totally to the motion causing their daddy to scratch his head, while two pairs of hopefull eyes looked up to him.

It's interesting conversations now with the two kids. Adam's vocabulary is growing tremendously, causing his daddy' eyebrows to move up and down dramatically, astonished as he listened to his 3 year old kid speak. Balqis has decided that she doesnt want to get married. Boyfriends are nuisance. According to her, she'll just want to be with us (mommy and daddy). I told her there will be a time when I will remind her of what she said.

So, kids growing up means that we are now able to eat out, something that we couldnt do before with Adam not being able to stay put in one place, upsetting everybody especially his daddy.

It's the weekend now. Have to start thinking about outing. Busy day today but as it is, thank god it's friday!

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 9:17 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Balqis asked for a puppy just recently. And here's our conversation:

Balqis: Mom, can I have a dog?

Me: No you cant Balqis. It's very difficult to take care of one. When it's wet you cant have it in our house because it's dirty, najis. Haram. Coz we're muslims.

Balqis: How about cats? Can it go inside the house?

Me: Cats we can have and can go inside the house.

Balqis: You mean cats are muslims??

Me have no words.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:26 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Balqis almost always either had a lot of fun or a moody cranky one at Didance Academy, where she learns Malay classical court dances. Today, there was a photography session arranged by the Principal and owner of Didance Academy, Dida Mallik as part of her preparation for a brilliant new brochure/profile. The school is moving to a bigger and better premise at section 17 Petaling Jaya from its current Lorong Duta 2.





Balqis getting ready for the photography session. Getting her sarong to be done perfectly as it should be, is way beyond Mom's capability -- Su helping out with Balqis' sarong, which needs to be perfect so that she can move like a princess (sit like a princess, walk like a princess and dance like a princess). Oh well ... if you ask her, she'll tell you that she IS a princess.




Balqis, the Princess waiting for her turn to have her hair done up.








The Princess getting her hair done. At this point, the patience was granted to be at it's utmost best.





The Princess waiting at her court for the rest of the other princesses.




More waiting.





A picture paints a thousand words.







The Princess, finally in action!

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:51 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, February 02, 2006

While sitting having breakfast:

Balqis: Mom .... when am I going to be 6 years old? Long or not?
Me: Quite long ...
Balqis: When I'm 6 years old, are you still going to call me Balqis?
Me: Yes .. You are going to use that name forever
Balqis: Forever??!!!
Me: What do you want your name to be when you are 6 years old?
Balqis: (Deep thinking ... finally a smile broke) Bubble ... How about Balqis Bubble Putry?
Me: Nope I dont think so
Balqis: Sigh ....

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 1:49 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Highlights of the week and it's not even mid-week:

Highlight #1:
Teacher Mrs. Law, the school principal told me: 'Balqis said that she cannot do her homework because you said you are too tired to help her with her school work.' So last night, I made sure (almost to the point of forcing) that Balqis did 3/4 of her school work and made her remember to explain to the teacher that ".... Mommy did not say that but Balqis were too tired to do the homework and so just to make the story more alive told teacher that Mommy said that!"

Highlight #2:
In the car.
Balqis said: "Mom, can I change my name?"
Me: "Why?"
Balqis: "I dont like my name anymore."
Me: "What do you want your name to be?"
Balqis: (After thinking ...) "I think I want to be called Sofea. I like that name. Sofea.."
Me: .... sigh ....

Highlight #3:
In the car. On the way to her classical malay dance class.
Balqis: "Mom, when u grow old, u can stay in the house only. I can go get you things."
Me: "Oh ... thank you Balqis. But I can follow you too, you know."
Balqis was very puzzled and I was even more puzzled by her being puzzled ...
Balqis: "Mommm .... HOW.... I'll be on my bicycle!"
Me: "Oh? You should have a car when you grow up."
Balqis: "But I dont know how to drive a car."
Me: "Then you learnlah ...Just like me, I know how to drive because I learn .."
Balqis: "Nenek know how to drive meh?"
Me: "No ..."
Balqis: "So?" ..... (shook her head and looked at me like I'm real queer)

Am I missing something here?

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:40 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, January 12, 2006

One very early windy morning, we arrived back home from the station and Adam got out of the car and he didnt want to walk on his own. Wanted to be carried. So I scooped him up in my arms and walked leisurely. Adam was not too happy.

Adam: Maaa ..... cepat jalan ... faster lah ..
Me: Why, Adam? School starts 8.30am.
Adam: You see the wind ...
Me: Yes .... we have a lot of wind this morning
Adam: Walk faster ... Nanti Adam fly away ...

The darling was scared that he might be swept up and blown away with the wind!

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 3:45 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Saturday, December 31, 2005

Balqis's Masterpiece - 1

Balqis's Masterpiece - 2

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:50 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Friday, December 30, 2005

Something that Oprah Winfrey said that struck my mind:

It's every moms' dream to have someone take care of her sometimes!

Now, that's deep.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 3:23 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Chose his own t-shirt and pants, socks and shoes. Smiled all the way from home to school. I managed to change the shooting schedule so, Balqis, Adam and me were at the school orientation in the morning. So, Adam sat at the edge of his baby chair in the car, anticipating the excitement at school. Sent him to the classroom and I sat outside it, not wanting to be in the way. You see my kids behaved very differently when I'm around compared to when I'm not around. Trouble seemed to brew more when I am around.

Balqis sat next to Adam showing him how to color, paste and do some craft thing. Adam had on a perpetual smile, dimple and all.

More kids arrived. I peered at them. Doing good. Thought I'd go to the other class to sit around visiting with the other parents. Just then, Balqis came pouncing on me requesting to play the computers. There were tears and begging and finally the big cry. Adam was bewildered. Her teacher Miss Han came to see what was going on and took her hands and into the computer room. All the new kids gathered behind Balqis as Balqis took on the mouse, wiping her tears.

The principal, Mrs. Law came out to see the small commotion thinking, it would have to be one of the new kids. Well, Balqis always have us fooled because she's just full of it all. Mrs. Law went in to look at Balqis. She looked up to Mrs. Law, gave her a big smile. No more tears. The last episode dissolved. Forever an enigma.

As for Adam, he didnt want to go home after that. But somehow, he suddenly remembered his milk and wanted his bottle. That was the cue I've been waiting for. Scooped him up in my arms, brought him to the car, sat him at the chair and drove off with a small trail of crying that could be heard until the school gate. Someone found out that Adam and I had left the building.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:35 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Adam's finally going to school. Balqis said it's the baby class. It's orientation Thursday and Friday but I've got shootings the whole day Thursday so we're only able to make it Friday. Cant wait! He'll be so cute in his school uniform. I think he cant wait either!

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 2:00 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Friday, December 23, 2005

Place: Sitting room, right infront of the TV
Scene: Balqis & Adam watching Bear in the Big Blue House, eating chocolate fudge
cookies

Balqis: Mom!! Mom!! Quick... get me the tissue.
Me: (running) .. why ... (thinking that it might be her flu or worst, another nose
bleed)
Balqis: I want to wipe my hands, it's dirty ... (it's full of chocolate fudge)...
I dont like dirty things you know ....
Me: Why cant you get it yourself? What if I wasnt around?
Balqis: Oh ... it's okay. I can wipe it on my shirt.

I rest my case.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:56 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Scene: In the car, driving home from school
Mood: Pensive, thoughtfull

Balqis: Maa, Daddy still at work?
Me: Yes Baby
Balqis: Are we going to get him from work?
Me: No, we're going home
Balqis: Oh ... he coming back on his own?
Me: Yes
Balqis: Will he come back late ... night time?
Me: Yes
Balqis: ..... he coming back after I sleep?
Me: Yes
Balqis: GOOD! Then I can watch my cartoon until I sleep!

U can never predict what goes on inside those heads ..... Dont even guess ... Chances are u'll get it wrong.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 7:24 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Monday, December 12, 2005

It made its first appearance on our doorstep on Saturday, very early morning. It caught the attention of Balqis first because she was already fully dressed and eating breakfast. Adam woke up, looked around and gave a crow to show that it is already morning. He noticed it and chased it out of the door with him running very close at its heels ...

According to a very reliable source (my darling husband), it took a nap on Adam's tummy Sunday afternoon. We don’t know who it belonged to but it seemed to have adopted Adam as its part-time owner. Balqis was later, an added perk.

This morning both Balqis & Adam insisted that it should ride in the car with us to the babysitter and Balqis to her school. Adam of course had ulterior motives. He wanted it with him at the babysitter's. He cried and pulled and struggled to get it out of the car. The poor thing with it's front feet dangling out of Adam's hands while Adam pulled it by the other feet with Balqis doing her best to keep it inside the car, holding on to both its two back feet. This went on for awhile with me trying to pacify Adam, Balqis and why not, the poor animal too. It had on a confused panicky look as this went on. Adam sweating profusely then had white cream-ish fur from head to toe – most of which were stucked on the sweat. He let out a loud howl of frustration, attracting passers by to this little commotion.

Finally, we managed to pry Adam away with him full of fur and sobbing. It broke my heart but I can’t have it with him at the babysitter’s. I am not even sure whether there will be any poor soul searching for it.

On the way back, I told Balqis that it will be the last time we are taking a stranger into our car. She was not happy with the decision and pouted.

On the way to her school, I thought I smelled something alien. I decided to swerve back home to find out. I found three brownish stools sitting on the car mat and I fumed. Showed Balqis and asked her to clean it, just to see her reaction. She had an icky-eerie-alarmed kinda look and I cleaned it for her to see and to understand that was exactly what I didn’t want in my car.

Sent her to school right after that. At the school gate, she came close to me and took my hand and said, in the littlest voice, “Sorry mama … I wont have cat in your car again”.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 1:25 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Adam @ Hilton KL Sentral

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 2:54 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Adam was ultra naughty on Tuesday night and received a few tight spanking from me. And me of course, I feel terrible about it and Wednesday morning decided to spent some time with him. It ended up with spending the whole day with him, with me shifting all my appointments to today. He decided that he wanted to be with me the whole of yesterday. So, he played with me, watched his cartoon with me, ate breakfast with me and read books with me the whole day. Later in the late afternoon, I took him for a hair cut and a ride to my darling husband's office. Adam was excited but was very quiet when the barber cut his hair. He knew he had to be quiet and he sat very still. He amused himself by looking at himself in the mirror and making faces. Today, he is off to the babysitter.

Balqis as usual, is back to school to the holiday program until 3rd December. I havent figure out what to do with her after that. Looks like today is a nice sunny day. I doubt it will last until tonight. But I'm pretty pleased that it's not as gloomy as yesterday.

Now, I've a back-to-back kind of appointments today. Still havent decided what to wear and no time to wash my hair. Will just drop by at the hair dresser later and wear something cozy and warm. It might be raining again soon.

In the meantime, I'm thinking cardigan set, denim embroidered shirt. Or perhaps a shirt? Cant make up my mind. Major decision.

It's a wonderful day.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:09 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Despite people dropping in with their emails or their yahoo messenger complaining about this blog that's without anything new to read, I still wasnt able to update it until this morning. Balqis and Adam have, for two days in a row, been waking up at 7am. Balqis has been going to school by 7.30am and Adam to the babysitter by 7.40am. This means I am able to start work as early as 8am. I've been having this sore throat ever since we came back from Seberang Jaya for our Hari Raya. The kids got it much earlier.... just prior to our return from Seberang Jaya. It's just too hot over there and not taking enough fluid always does the trick.

It's all very clear in Balqis' mind now that the ones living in Seberang Jaya (Atok & Nani) are actually Daddy's daddy and mommy. Although she was very suprised at this revelations a few years ago and didnt think much of it or the information was just too much too ponder on, she now understands that we like her, have mommies and daddies.

I'm not sure and havent had the opportunity to ask her about her uncles and aunties. She recognised them as part of the festive, the gathering and the meetings. Does she know that like her, her mom and dad also has brothers and sisters, have not been explored. She could have figured it out on her own but she didnt say. And I am not sure whether she remembers me explaining to her the relationship or whether she took it seriously because she didnt comment. At one point, quite some time ago, she did raise an eyebrow when I pointed out ..."You know Balqis, Aunty Ani is your daddy's big sister".

Adam of course, has too much on his mind to even bother about all this. He recognises Atok and Nani. He doesnt care where all these other kids come from as long as he could play with them, every day from morning to night. He cares more about making a big mess with everything to be bothered with anything else and Adam is not easily bothered unless provoked. Whatever it is I cant wait for Adam to go to school this January. It'll just be so much fun for him. I cant wait to see him in his school uniform, school shoes, carrying a batman bag on his back, bringing back art work to show mommy ... although I can imagine Adam's art work which would be very abstract.

One cant tell that those black streaks of thick lines and small random sized group of non-well rounded circles are actually, cats. But there's this confidence in him when he puts up his abstract art to announce to us what he drew. He dismisses any recognition of bewilderment on our part. Or was that a twinkle in his eyes that I see? For all you know, he could be thinking ... "suckers ..."

Time check. Time to begin writing the client's newsletter now. Back to deadlines and datelines, whichever comes first.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 8:28 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Friday, November 11, 2005

Balqis's Annual School Show

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 2:05 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Adam woke up this morning with the biggest, sweetest dimpled smile, you almost couldnt see his eyes. It reminds me of these words:

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
and I think to myself what a wonderful world.

He told me that he needed his diaper changed. I did just that. He looked at me and smile again. This is a very good morning for Adam.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
the bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
and I think to myself what a wonderful world.

He went out on his own after I put on his shoes to the waiting car with his dad running the engine while waiting for me. No hassle. Got to his car seat and amused himself looking at baby birds flying in and out the nest perched on the palm tree right outside the balcony.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
they're really saying I love you.

He sat there in his baby chair quietly all through out the journey. Once in awhile I hear him chuckle. I asked him what's funny. He said he saw the birds again. He thought it was the same one outside the house, following him. We reached the babysitter's place and away he went. He turned back once and again. Then turn around and ran to me. He wanted to kiss me goodbye. He kissed right smack on the lips and smiled and waved and walked away.

I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
they'll learn much more than I'll ever know
and I think to myself what a wonderful world
yes I think to myself what a wonderful world

oh yeah ... isnt it a wonderful world?

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 8:06 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Sunday, October 09, 2005

Both Balqis and Adam always argue about which cartoon program to watch. They sometimes are unable to come to terms and normally, Balqis will give in. When Balqis wants Jojo Circus in Playhouse Disney, Adam would disagree. Adam wants Samurai Jack in Cartoon Network and Balqis will let out a long wail screaming her disagreements. This happens all the time especially right after channel cruising. And normally it will be these three choices: Disney Channel, Cartoon Network or Playhouse Disney, at the most. Their favorite I would say would be the Playhouse Disney. Both enjoyed almost all of the programs there except on days where they chose to be very difficult. And of course, as a standard rule, Adam simply disagrees with all of his sister's choices.

I recently read an article about how kids process television that I would like to share:


HOW CHILDREN PROCESS TELEVISION

Television is an important learning tool for children, as well as a primary instrument in their socialization. American children spend an average of 28 hours each week watching television, but not all children interpret what they see in the same manner. At different ages, children watch and understand television in distinct ways, depending on the length of their attention span, the way in which they process information, the amount of mental effort they invest, and their own life experiences, according to Wendy Josephson, Ph.D., a child development expert and author of Television Violence: A Review of the Effects on Children of Different Ages. Following is a brief summary of how children at different stages of physical and mental development understand television.

BIRTH TO 18 MONTHS
Babies can pay attention to a television screen for very short periods of time but are easily distracted by toys and other activities. What they experience are displays of light, color and sound. Children in this age group may recognize characters, but are unable to grasp program content.

AGES 18 MONTHS TO 3 YEARS
Children become full-fledged "viewers" around age two-and-a-half. By the time they are three, most children have a favorite program. During this time children are increasingly able to pay attention and extract meaning from what they watch. They are likely to imitate the behaviors they see and hear. They prefer educational programs made for children but also like comedies, game shows and the visual action of cartoons. The patterns of watching television during this stage will probably persist through elementary school.

AGES 3 TO 5 YEARS
This audience is beginning to find meaning in content. They can identify "good" and "bad" characters, although "bad" often means scary. Preschoolers are drawn to watching cartoon violence because it is usually accompanied by loud music, a lot of movement and sound effects. Some studies have shown that preschool children, after watching violent cartoons, play more aggressively. At this stage, children are unclear about the difference between reality and fantasy and can identify easily with cartoon or puppet characters.

AGES 6 TO 8 YEARS
During these years, the amount of TV children watch drops, because they are spending more hours in school. When they do watch, children are interested less in educational television than in cartoons, situation comedies and action programs. They also tend to watch for relaxation and amusement, and are generally uncritical of content. At this stage, children can understand story plots and interpret them in light of the emotions and motivations of TV characters. They will use stereotypes to classify characters as good or bad if no information about a character's past is given. The effects of media violence in the development of aggression in children is especially critical around the age of eight. Children, particularly boys, tend to identify with unrealistic, aggressive and often violent heroes. (Research indicates that the attraction among boys for these heroes is the power displayed by the characters, not necessarily violence or conformity with sex stereotypes).

AGES 9 TO 12 YEARS
By age ten, "real" is more likely to mean "possible in real life." Children will often believe that what they watch on TV is a reflection of real life. When asked who they wanted to be like, eight to ten year olds in one study named unrealistic characters from television much more often than characters whom they knew to be more like real people. Boys often refer to character traits such as "brave, powerful and strong" when describing their heroes For girls, there appears to be a growing recognition that aggression is not appropriate for them, which may account for less interest in viewing violence on television and less likelihood of using aggression in real-life situations. The behavior of girls who watch violent content is often more aggressive than girls who do not watch.

AGES 12 TO 17 YEARS
Adolescents watch less television than younger ages, and their tastes change dramatically in the types of programs they do watch. When high-schoolers do watch, they begin to like dramas, including soap operas for girls, sports, and music videos. They continue to like comedies but watch fewer cartoons. This age group is more likely to doubt the reality of television and less likely to identify with television characters. Those young people who continue to identify with TV characters are the ones likely to be more aggressive, especially if they continue to fantasize about aggressive-heroic themes. About 80 percent of adolescents watch horror movies or movies that scare them.

Suggested Citation:
"How Children Process Television," Issue Brief Series. (1997). Studio City, CA: Mediascope Press.
Sources:
1. Wendy L. Josephson, Ph.D., Television Violence: A Review of the Effects on Children of Different Ages , Canadian Heritage, 1995.
2. Mediascope, National Television Violence Study , 1996.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:27 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Warisan Benang Kapas

View more video clips by Malaysia.tv


For those who like traditional (and I mean a heritage traditional) baju kurung, baju kebaya, baju kedah or even a baju cekak musang (there's apparently baju cekak musang kecil and besar), you can get those at the Warisan Benang Kapas Boutique in Bukit Tunku. I recently visited the gallery and was awed by the beauty of all the creations and I want to share them with you.

Please also meet the owner of Warisan Benang Kapas, Habibah Yaacob whom Balqis always thought of as The Other Queen!

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 7:01 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Friday, September 16, 2005

Balqis cried this morning because I didnt want to let her bring the RM10.00 Little Artist (89 piece art set)to school. (We bought it from one of those people who disturb your lunch to show their wares). In retaliation, she undo her hair that I had neatly tied back with pink ribbons and pink mickey mouse hair clips. She threw them on the floor and wailed. She must have seen my face coz she fled the scene. But after that, although I still stick to my decision, she sobbered down. In the car, I asked her:

Mommy: Do you know why I was angry at you?
Balqis: (in a very small voice) Yes. Coz I took out my nice hair and throw the ribbons....afterwards you have to do again then I'm late to school
Mommy: Why do I scold you?
Balqis: (raised her eyes to look at me) Coz you want me to be good girl

And she forgets the whole thing. Reached school. Teacher came by the car to get her. She went out, turn around and said, "Bye Mommyyyyyy ... I love youuuuu."

Sigh.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 9:10 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 1:44 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Sunday, September 11, 2005

The other day, I was very angry with Balqis for something and I dont for the life of me remember what it was now. I must have looked really upset because Balqis said ... "Mum .. dont look at me like that. You look like a monster". And I said, "If I am a monster, I will eat you!" She pondered about this for awhile before saying, "Mum, you eat daddy and Adam first okay."

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 3:57 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Monday, August 29, 2005

Our darling Balqis was the flower girl for Her Majesty The Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Fauziah binti Al-Marhum Tengku Abdul Rashid at a fashion show luncheon recently. The fashion show was presented by a friend, Nizam Ambia -- the grand prize winner of the Piala Seri Endon 2004 in the fashion category. We were on our toes in keeping Balqis happy and occupied while waiting for the Royal car to arrive at the Kuala Lumpur Hilton Sentral. With butterflies in our stomachs, me and my darling husband thought of all possible games and interesting chats with her so that she'll not be bored and upset for waiting. The Royal car arrived on time. Balqis was excited. Smiles all over her face. Waited for her turn patiently, just like a princess. Balqis kissed the hand of Her Majesty The Raja Permaisuri Agong and beamed. The flower bouquet was bigger than her so Mommy had to help her present it to Her Majesty. She did a splendid curtsy, smiling all the way. The Queen said "Clever!" and presented Balqis with a gift. Although Balqis was already told of this as part of our preparation for her to understand the sequence of event, she couldnt help but almost jumped with joy. But she did behaved like a princess -- smiled and said Thank You with a grin from ear to ear.


Balqis -- happy.


This was part of the show. Balqis was just excited about this when she saw them at rehearsal and thought that she perhaps have to attend the malay classical dance classes after this. I thought that it is a good idea and is seriously thinking of registering her as soon as I can find time to meet with Dida Mallik the owner of the academy. Oh but the little dancers were adorable!



Balqis wanted her photo to be taken with Uncle Suhaimi and Aunty Eli. I couldnt help but compare and remembered when she did that the last time. There was a picture of her when she was about a year old with a small group of friends including Suhaimi, at a dinner get-together and a birthday surprise for my darling husband at Bangsar Shopping Centre. I believe that it was the sundanese restaurant. She was real little at that time and was seated in the baby chair that whole time we were there.

At this time, notice that the flowers on her head are gone. She has been asking to get out of that baju kurung for that past hour and was on the verge of crankiness.


Balqis also seemed to think that Habibah Yaacob (a friend of mine and the owner of Warisan Benang Kapas Boutique in Bukit Tunku) is another Queen. She wanted to have her picture taken with the other Queen! Habibah's collection was highlighted at lunch time and it managed to get an invitation from the Queen herself, for Habibah to meet her at the Istana! It's all too exciting. When you wear a Habibah's design, that means you are the only one that has that in the world and you are a part of the malay heritage!


Here is Balqis with one of the model!

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 5:50 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

My poor darling baby went to sleep on her own. I was busy the moment we got home with some crisis the client got themselves into. From then on, the phone seemed to be stuck to my ear with just about 900 phone calls to make and receive.

Today, Balqis' teacher, Mrs. Law told me that Balqis will emcee some parts of her upcoming concert which will be on Oct 2.... so help us GOD.. Balqis' mood swing is unpredictable and are beyond comprehension, thus, everybody is on their toes everytime she took the mic. It could be a big smile and it could also be a big frown. It could also be the 'Take-the-mic-then-push-it-back-to-the-teacher-and-run-off attitude! We will never know and will always be surprised. I cant wait.

Adam managed to disturb me in between phone calls. He just cant take it when I give something or somebody else more attention. But he was pretty mild tonight with no major upheavels. His favorite song nowadays would consist of these words:
'Bangun Pagi, Gosok Gigi, Pergi Sekolah'. He knows the meaning of these words... he just cant pronounce them properly yet. It will be a good experience bringing Adam to school which will be very soon. I'm registering him for the next semester. How exciting .... For both, the future Prime Minister and his mom!

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:37 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Yesterday, the sun touched my skin. Today, all seemed clear. My babies are beginning to have almost clean supply of oxygen. I am relieved. And so are they. Dont have to wear those masks again which I agree was a nuisance to play in. But they understand. It's either that or bad and prolong cough bouts. Medicine is definitely not going to be welcomed. So masks were the collective decision with both Balqis & Adam. On the second day of the haze, Balqis told me after school, "Mom ... you know ... those are not clouds... those are smoke. We cannot go outside, you know Mom. I stay inside only and teacher close the windows." Good for you, Balqis. And thanks to all the teachers that had to make those days extra exciting indoors.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 5:07 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, August 11, 2005

I'm really scared. I've been in the haze for the past two days and it was scary. I cant have these kind of air being breathed by my babies. My eyes hurt, my throat hurts and the smell of smoke permeates in the air, filling my nostril and oh my God ... my lungs! But what about my babies? I cant have them breath this smoke. I cant have smoke in their lungs. God, please let the haze go off. Hazel is in the haze.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:20 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Sunday, August 07, 2005

The following have been selected to be Conversations Of The Day (August 6, 05):

Conversation No: 1
Time of day: Morning
Venue: In the bathroom. Balqis the 5 year old gonna-be (in October) is in the showers.

Take 1 ....ACTION!
Mommy: Balqis, are you hungry? What would you like to eat?
Balqis: No Mom. I'm already fat. I dont want to eat anymore.



Conversation No: 2
Time of day: Late Afternoon
Venue: In the car.

Take 1 ..... ACTION!
Balqis: Mom, I want to go to London.

END

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 12:42 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, August 04, 2005

A friend of mine gave me the following poem entitled 'LISTEN'.
I would like to share it with all of you.

LISTEN
(ANONYMOUS)

When I ask you to listen to me,
and you start giving me advice
you have not done what I have asked.

When I ask you to listen to me
and you begin to tell me why I shouldnt feel that way,
you are trampling on my feelings.

When I ask you to listen to me
and you feel that you have to do something to solve my problems,
you have failed me, strange as that may seem.

Listen! All I asked, was that you listen;
not talk or do -- just hear me.
And I can do for myself; I am not helpless.
Maybe discouraged and faltering, but not helpless.

When you do something for me that I can and need to do for myself,
you contribute to my fear and weakness.

But when you accept as a simple fact that I do feel
what I feel, no matter how irrational, then I quit
trying to convince you and get about the business of
understanding what's behind this irrational feeling.
And when that's clear, the answers are obvious,
and I dont need advice.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 9:28 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, July 28, 2005

Balqis is a very busy girl nowadays. She has her normal classes in the morning and afternoon each day. Now she also has her musical theatre rehearsals. It's her debut so it has to be good. She plays the crane (a bird the Japanese legends depicts as a symbol of long life)in the ballet segment of the musical. This particular theatre was chosen after a careful & thorough research by Balqis' Mom. I also helped with the art direction of the props. Here is why I chose the story for the school. Please read the story of a girl named Sadako.

(Story is an excerpt from http://www.sadako.org/sadakostory.htm)

The Sadako Story

The paper crane has become an international symbol of peace in recent years as a result of it's connection to the story of a young Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki born in 1943. Sadako was two years old when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. As she grew up, Sadako was a strong, courageous and athletic girl. In 1955, at age 11, while practicing for a big race, she became dizzy and fell to the ground. Sadako was diagnosed with Leukemia, "the atom bomb" disease. Sadako's best friend told her of an old Japanese legend which said that anyone who folds a thousand paper cranes would be granted a wish. Sadako hoped that the gods would grant her a wish to get well so that she could run again. She started to work on the paper cranes and completed over 1000 before dying on October 25, 1955 at the age of twelve.

The point is that she never gave up. She continued to make paper cranes until she died. Inspired by her courage and strength, Sadako's friends and classmates put together a book of her letters and published it. They began to dream of building a monument to Sadako and all of the children killed by the atom bomb. Young people all over Japan helped collect money for the project.

In 1958, a statue of Sadako holding a golden crane was unveiled in Hiroshima Peace Park. The children also made a wish which is inscribed at the bottom of the statue and reads:

"This is our cry, This is our prayer, Peace in the world".

Today, people all over the world fold paper cranes and send them to Sadako's monument in Hiroshima.



For your information, there is also a Sadako's statue in Seattle Washington, USA.

But, let's also read the letter Sadako's mother, Fujiko Sasaki wrote after the death of her young daughter:



Letter From Sadako's Mother

Come Back to Me Again, Sadako
A Letter from Sadako's Mother, Fujiko Sasaki

No one is lovelier for a mother than the most miserable child. I have four children and I feel very sorry about Sadako most. Already eight months have passed since Sadako died. She was really a miserable child. When she was born during the war, there was not enough food and she weighed only 2250 grams, but she was fine except when she got pneumonia when my husband was drafted. You may laugh at me if I praise her (Translator's note: it is not Japanese custom to praise your family in front of others;), but she was so considerate and thoughtful that I relied on her. She helped me a lot in every possible way. When I can't go to sleep, I often remember my child who got worn out and died and wish I could hug her to my heart's content only once more. In my dream, Sadako says to me, "Leave it to me, mom" and I wake up calling, "Sadako!"

Then I realize it was a dream and I wonder how she is. For a while, I'm lost in my sad thoughts and join my hands in prayer before the tablet of the deceased.

I remember January 9th last year. She showed me a lymph node behind her ear saying "Mom, I think that my lymphatic glands were swollen a little." I thought it. But when she had a check up at ABCC(Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission) in June, 1954, she was told that she was fine, and she was really vigorous and everyone knew she loved doing exercises.

I once thought, "If she has to suffer like this, she should have died that morning on August 6th" (which was the day the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima), but I now think, "I wish she were alive and could be with me no matter how handicapped she was and how heavy her sickness was."

I remember Sadako like I remember yesterday. What I remember most is the time when she was hospitalized.

It was a rare and fine morning at the ground of Nobori-cho elementary school on February 10th, 1955. I remember vigorous children playing, jumping an elastic string. Sadako was enjoying playing it though I thought, "Sadako! You are sick with an atomic bomb disease called leukemia. Oh, no! Why you?"

My husband and I took her to a hospital though she went to school happily with a bag as usual.

Sadako looked fine without knowing that her doctor said she would die in a few months.

After he told us this, my husband and I cried hard near Sadako, who was sleeping peacefully. We were choked with tears and spent the night thinking, "Oh, we wish something could be done. We wish here was something to save her against this illness of Atomic Bomb disease." I squeezed Sadako's hands thinking "If a medicine which could cure this incurable disease in the world existed in the world, then I'd like to borrow money even if it is ten million yen. Or, if possible, let me die for her..."

But we were so poor that we could barely live. I decided to do my best as a mother and love her as much as possible. But eight months after she has passed away, my heart is still choked with sorrow because I couldn't do anything for her.

I appreciate her doctors' efforts, caring for her day and night. When I heard that she would die soon, I bought silk fabric with a cherry blossom pattern and at night I made her a kimono. When I gave it to Sadako, she kept back her tears and said, "Mom, you did too much for me." I asked her to put it on saying, "Sadako-chan, this is my wish, so please put this on." She wiped her tears and wore it and looked very happy.

She knew we were poor though she didn't say anything. She used to say, "Mom, I'm not a good daughter because you have to spend so much money for my sickness..." I'm sure sure she had many things she wanted to buy as a teenager such as new clothes, but she didn't say anything to me and kept it to herself because she knew we were poor.

I coundn't stop my tears when I saw Sadako wearing the kimono because she looked so nice. She watched me saying, "Why do you shed tears? You did too much for me..." We had a dream to buy kimono for her after the war because she had helped me so much. Our dream was realized finally.

One of her classmates, Miss Chizuko Hamamoto, wrote her reminiscence of Sadako as follows;

Sadako looked more beautiful in her kimono because her swollen lymph nodes made her appear as if she gained weight. She wore her beautiful kimono with cherry blossom patterns today. When I said, "You look nicer with Kimono than a dress, Miss Sasaki," she said, "Is that so? Isn't it nice?" But she looked sad. I don't know how Sadako felt about her friend's words, but the kimono became a keepsake.

She believed in a saying that if you fold a thousand cranes, you'd get over your sickness. She folded paper cranes carefully, one by one using a piece of paper of advertisement, medicine and wrapping. Her eyes were shining while she was folding the cranes, showing she wanted to survive by all means.

When my husband and I went to see her, she said, "Dad, I've folded just four hundred paper cranes." He was considerate to her, keeping back his tears.

"How hard her fate is, though she wants to live so much! How pitiful she is though she wants to live so much! Sadako, I want to do something for you by all means," I thought, but there was nothing I could do and I thought tenderly of her.

Looking at the folded cranes which Sadako made innocently on her bed, I almost cried my heart out thinking of Sadako's feelings. I wondered why she was born.

I gave folded cranes that she made sincerely to her classmates and put the rest of them in her coffin as well as flowers so that she could bring them to the next world.

Why didn't you thousand cranes sing? Why didn't they fly?

Sadako, please forgive me. How hard and uncomfortable it was every day. I wonder if you live in comfort in the heaven.

Her classmates, the members of Association of Kokeshi, come every 25th, and are kind to us.

I cried reading letters of reminiscence of Sadako which will be published in a book the other day. I really respect children for their strong love and wish for peace because they made a plan to create a Statue of an Atomic Bomb Child with Sadako's death as a start.

Sadako! The peace you wished for will be realized in the form of a statue of An Atomic Bomb Child, with the help of your classmates such as Masako and Chou as well as children from Hokkaidou in the north to Kyushu in the south.

The statue of An Atomic Child will be built as the symbol of peace on the lawn near Atomic Bomb Memorial Tower in Nakajima where Sada-chan went with father!

Sadako! Listen! Can you hear your friends' strong voices for peace? As the mother of a child who passed away when she was only twelve and a half years old, I'd like to appeal to mothers not only in Japan but all over the world that I don't want such a horrible thing to happen again. So many children are looking for peace.

P.S. The letters are from Record of Atomic Bombs in Japan by Seishi Toyota. (Published by Nihon Tosho Center in 1991)



Now, that's why I chose the story for Balqis and for her school to play and perform at the Musical Theatre competition.

For your information, the kids made the paper cranes to show at the theatre too. We have plans to further present it to the Japanese Embassy where the kids can sing the Sadako Song to the ambassador before presenting the paper cranes as a contribution towards peace.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 8:30 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Sunday, July 10, 2005

One warm Saturday afternoon right after Adam succumbed to his usual afternoon nap, I continued on reading right by his side. Unfortunately, I fell asleep while giving Adam company during his nap. It probably lasted about 10 minutes or so. I was awakened because the temperature suddenly seemed to have been multiplied. I saw that somebody had actually place a blanket over me. Just as I was about to protest, I saw the culprit coming towards me, a teddy bear in hand. I pretended to continue on sleeping. She placed the teddy bear on my arms. Adjusted it several times and positioned it a few times before finally getting really satisfied with the bear. She saw that the blanket is no longer at it's place thus she adjusted that too. The blanket was placed way up high right up to my chin. She cleared my hair off of my face, making sure that all of Mom's hair is in place while ensuring that Mom is comfortable. She planted several kisses -- on my cheeks, forehead and nose. Again, not satisfied with Mom's hair, she brushed off my hair with her fingers to put it back in place.

I continued on the charade until she left. I continued on reading with the blanket off of me. Whew.... Alamak ... she came back in .. heard her sighing and saw her lips in a thin straight line... while she shook her head and adjusted my blanket, again.

The third time she came back into the room checking on me, I didnt pretend. Upon seeing that I was finally up, she smiled and told me that she was the one that'd placed the teddy bear by my side (Mom probably didnt even know might be the rational to the explanation).

Later that day I asked her why she'd placed the blanket and teddy bear for me. She replied ,'Oh ... I saw it on TV the other day. Somebody did that to her Mommy so I do to you lahh ..' Then a few hours later, changed her mind ... 'No lah .. coz you always do that to me ...' But much later on the very same day, she told me ...'Maaa... I love you lah .. that's why I give you the bear and put blanket.'

I rest my case.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 12:13 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Friday, June 17, 2005

Yesterday, in the morning, Balqis received three spanks from me. The saddest eyes, hands outstretched requesting to be hugged and big fat tears were the result. Every morning there is a need to be difficult to shower and change to go to school. It was done always on purpose always resulting in arriving at the school between 30 - 45 minutes late. These actually has been so for the past at least one year. If everything is ok at home then at the school gate it will not be. The princess will grab my legs trying to hold on to me as long as possible, my legs, my hands, my fingers are the common target. Adam will just wait patiently in the car, in his car seat, looking at all these antics. No signs of any emotions registering on his handsome face.

So, the morning Balqis received three spankings from me is the day she remembered. I hope she does. Today she was splendid. With no arguments, kickings or tears, she walked to the bathroom for her showers. Allow me to dress her fuss-less, do up her hair without any problems, socks, shoes - everything was okay, no head hanging with mouth pouted as rounded as it could get ..... everything was fantastic. Reached the school, she turn around and said,"Goodbye Mommy. See you later."

So three spankings was good. The result was marvelous. Although I hate having to do that and thought about her sad face the whole of that day, I think it was a much needed spanking to begin with. But her face.... and her tears and her sobbings in between her small little apologies will be remembered.

Bringing up child. Bringing up Mom!

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:47 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

A few weeks back, in May, I had to spend 4 days away from home, for the first time in almost 5 years, managing a client's media get-away in Port Dickson. My darling husband of course, had to take over all of my job specifications at home. Just for that, he decided to take leave from work. Fancy that.

Tonight, I asked Balqis about how she felt while I was away.

Me: Balqis, do you remember when I didnt sleep at home and Mommy work far away?
Balqis: Yes ... just like Daddy (my darling husband is the jet-setter of the household not me)
Me: Did you miss me?
Balqis: uummm ... let me think ....
Me: huh?
Balqis: Yes I love you ...

I rest my case! Answer a question with a better answer.
What do we have here .... somebody in the making ...

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 1:58 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Saturday, June 11, 2005

I cant stand her jumping around anymore ... thus I said:
"Balqis, please dont jump around. You are not feeling very well."
"Why cant you just sit down and watch your cartoon?"

She sat down.

After awhile, I said, "Balqis, please hand me your water bottle."

The Future Prime Minister of Malaysia's Big Sister replied :
"I cant. I'm not feeling very well. I must sit down."

Me? Oh ... I'm just the Mommy.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 12:53 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, June 09, 2005

At 5am this morning, I touched Balqis (a mother's instinct) and she was hot. Gave her panadol syrup and stayed home the whole day today looking after her. Whenever she decided not to listen to me, I will tell her that she does not listen to me because she doesnt love me. And that statement will change the entire scenario almost immediately. She will not necessarily do the things asked but she will answer back 'I love you ... but I dont want to do'. I will say 'That means you dont love me because you dont want to do what I say.' She will, normally, in a very authoritative voice, cuts the conversation short with 'I love youlah ....' And that's the end of the conversation.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 3:39 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Come June, my Adam will be 2 years 6 months old! How time flies.... and of course, he is now every single thing that signifies the terrible two syndrome. His favorite past time now is throwing things into the toilet bowl and flushing it down. Of course some of the stuff he tried to flush in will not be able to be flushed down.... for example, his sister's Barbie Ballerina Doll, the box of tissues, a ball, a photo frame and oh ... paper clips too. I am just not fast enough for him. Everytime he does it, he will look at me and grin, the most mischievous look all over his face.

Balqis will never be able to complete her wood block castle that she normally will painstakingly arrange, decorate and innovate. Adam will, with a single swish of the hands or sometimes the legs (they can be handy too)... down comes the much thought out castle. Great architecture came crashing down on the floor. With that, you can tell -- It's not going to be a quiet and peaceful weekend unless they nap. My darling husband's favorite passion becomes putting them to nap only because he wants a quiet and peaceful weekend. But of course, you know that not of all your dreams will come true and this particular one will be it. They'll stall nap time as long as they can. They outwit you and outsmart you pretty much, majority of the times. And let me tell you, you will never win!

Balqis loves coloring and drawing. The trouble always comes when she holds up her creations to announce it to the rest of the world who cares to compliment and admire her work of art. That act, will of course attract the attention of a certain individual, the would be Mr. Prime Minister of Malaysia, Adam. With a single bound and strike, the art crumbles and he tossed it as far as he can with a beam that radiates his whole face. You may also catch him singing slowly under his breath after this rapture. Balqis would be devastated and inconsolable which will result in her asking for her milk and her drifting to sleep as a solace to herself.

Sometimes, I offer no action or reaction to these episodes only because I just simply dont know how to manage it. But there will be times when I just sat there and wonder ... Adam, what is it that I ate or didnt eat?

But of course, Adam remains the handsome boy with big round alert eyes, whom Dr. Norliza, our family GP has announced to not have any candies, sugary food, chocolates and the likes until further notice. She insisted that I warned the babysitter not to do otherwise and against this order. What brought upon this is of course Adam being very active. Apart from having to wait for Adam to complete his rounds at the clinic, switching on and off the fax machine, running the water at the sinks, jumping non-stop, tried moving her posters in numerous occasions and the list goes on ... Adam also once slammed the door to her office causing a minor tremor to her office wall. He is pretty famous at the clinic. All the nurses know him by name - all shifts.

When he sleeps, he looks like an angel. But then again, what else could he possibly be, but my very own angel.

Mr. Prime Minister, over to you...

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 9:49 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Saturday, May 14, 2005

Last Thursday started very early for all of us and that includes Adam too. I woke up to a very irritating alarm but to which I'd no choice but succumbed. I was ready by 6am and my darling husband started the car engine. Adam awoke in the process of transferring him from his deep slumber into the car seat, leaving behind a warm, cosy comforter. The poor baby. I caught the 6.15am LRT to KL Sentral to catch the earliest ERL to KLIA. With a 7.25am flight to catch and in mind, I could have shoved the driver of the LRT aside and drove all the way, if it had one. Unfortunately, I had no choice but to wait, fidget and frown in my seat in the LRT as it stopped at each station and waited for minutes before it went off to the next and the next and the next stations. It chose to stop and wait at each stations. My friend called from KLIA at 6.30am and asked me were I was. In the train. I decided not to tell her that I was still in the first train. I detected a sigh of relief in her voice while I continued on drumming my fingernails waiting for the endless ride.

I finally got out at Sentral if I am not mistaken close to 6.45am. Got to the wrong side of the building to get the ticket for an ERL ride. Walked as fast as I could to the other end to the correct place to get the ticket and to board on the ERL. Darn that KTM officer who showed me the wrong side of the building to get the ERL ticket from. Just as I reached the platform, I saw everybody running right ahead of me. The perfect time to panic. I decided to join the crowd. I ran and hopped onto the train slightly before it closed the doors. Sat myself and waited for the train to take me to KLIA. 28 minutes it said in the brochure, the website, the everything else about it. It'd better be.

My friend has been frantically trying to get hold of me. Of course, I only knew about this when I finally arrived KLIA. My phone was on discreet, I didnt hear it buzzing. I finally arrived at 7.23am, 2 minutes away from the flight. Just as I stepped out of the ERL, noticed that I had at least 8 missed calls, ran to the departure hall while speaking to May, my friend. May had left my boarding pass with the security guard so that she could run ahead and asked for another favor from the gate keepers to wait for me. But then of course, arguing with all the 3 women officers before being saved by a nice security gentleman was another story.

I approached the 3 women security officers and one of them asked me before I could opened my mouth.... Hazlina? I almost grabbed it out of her hand... ran all the way to the escalator while listening to the announcements of my full name as per the identification card! I ran and ran. Saw the As and the Bs gates looming. I managed a quick prayer before glancing at the boarding pass... B7. Okay ... here we go! 237 miles per hour in the morning but it was all worth it as I managed to run into the waiting craft with all of the business class full and waiting! I, of course walked passed them, their glaring eyes and rich suits pased the curtain and sat my self in my seat. Tired. They closed the door.

By the time I reached Kuala Lumpur later that night, I could hardly raise my eye lids and almost dozzed off standing in the LRT back from Sentral to Wangsa Maju. I made it back all in one piece but not one peace in mind. Mind was working overtime over the meetings during the day in Johor Bahru and body is just too tired to respond. Quick cleaning up and off I went to dreamland. Fatigue is a very mild word to describe my state.

Now, back to buffing my nails.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:53 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Saturday, May 07, 2005

Everybody complains nowadays and that includes Adam. He complains every night about the choice of pajamas Mommy chose. He will look at the pair I placed on the bed, picked it up and hold it up to observe. He usually does this with his head cocked to the side. The decision normally comes in a split second. Either it goes down on the floor accompanied by his screaming, which is normally followed with him turning around at the speed of lightning running towards his pajama box (I placed all his pajamas in a special box for him) or a big wide smile, a good sign of approval. Disapprove means, he will rummage the whole box to find the ones that he wants. Pajamas with Spiderman, Batman, Superman or The Incredibles motives are very much preferred. He doesn't know about The Incredibles but they look like superheroes to him. From the pictures they look like they fly, they've got capes so they must be the likes of Spiderman, Batman or Superman. Thus Mommy's task now is to stock up on those to avoid any unnecessary argument after the daily routine of evening showers.

Balqis always looked amused when this happen. She tried at one occasion to join in the Let's-be-difficult-and-choosy-about-pajamas attitude. She observed the much-loved Cinderella Disney with the frilly sleeved sleeping gown that ran just right after her knees that was so... oh ... so pretty Mommy, thank you for getting those for me and said,' But Mommy, how about a Barbie Night gown?' 'Yeah… what about them... you don't have any.' Cry .... 'But, I must have ... I like Barbie you know ...' more sobs. 'Okay .... I'm not going to argue with you right now. I'm tired and I brought back work. 'I need you to sleep early.' Silent. Looked up at me with the saddest pair of eyes and ... sob .... said, 'Okay Mommy. But I like Barbie ...' I stood there wondering -- Who invented the word 'but'? The very next day, in between meetings, I ran into a mall to find a pair. I wonder why I did that. To avoid a confrontation with her when I picked her up after school because her memory is darn good and I know it's not going to be 'Hi Mom.. how was your day' greetings BUT 'Mom ... did you buy me the Barbie gown yet?' or I gave up arguing and want to get on with my life peacefully after evening shower ....

Protest, critize, grumble, whine, carp, find fault, nitpick, nag, make a complaint and object, according to the Thesaurus (US English) states that it is the same as COMPLAIN, expressed in other words.

Sigh.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 9:32 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

A big white furry (how else could it be) monkey got itself into the dining hall from the open window at the back room two weeks ago. My darling husband & Balqis had just left for the Mamak Store and Adam was left with me. You know when you feel another presence besides yourselves in the house, your 6.5 sense telling something else is around, for God's sake - turn around and look! Lucky I did just that and I thought I caught a glimpse of a very long tail, the same second I heard Adam going ... 'Monkey ... Monkey ....' My hands was full of suds from all the washings in the kitchen but I ran (about 225km/second) into the dining room, screaming at the top of my lungs, scooped Adam up while noticing the Monkey's face of terror at this screaming banshee and ran all the way with Adam in my arms, to the front room. The monkey had his hands extended, ready to scoop Adam up when I entered the dining room! It must have thought... here's a darling looking boy, let's scoop him up and carry him away but of course his thoughts was interrupted rudely by the screaming banshee.

Why I scream even before my feet took off the 225km/second? We've just been to the Petting Zoo a few weeks earlier with Balqis' school and I thought Adam might think that he could play with this Monkey or something like that. I started screaming at the same time I noticed the tail and hearing Adam's 'Monkey ....' ....which I thought was a good strategy.

The monkey ran to the back room, turning around once or twice, to see whether his assailant had left him or hot on his heels. Upon seeing no one close, he decided to rest for a bit on my ironing board. Both me & Adam peered from the front room hoping for a no-retaliation show by the monkey! It was, I could say one of those very lucky days when Adam did not contest me picking him up, running away from something rather interesting. Maybe he was taken aback with my screamings and decided to follow mom as the safest choice. Why ... when the monkey stood up, he was taller than Adam! And Adam is 34" tall! I was shaken rather badly after the whole episode and vowed never to open the windows at the back room, wide open anymore!

The day I almost lost Adam to a big white furry monkey made me realise that it would have been a very difficult story to tell for how could you lose your child to a monkey, in your own home. Adam still remember the monkey because sometimes, you catch him telling you again how he chanced upon a monkey as he walked out from the kitchen into the dining room. Now I am wondering -- will the monkey still remember Adam? You think?

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 8:38 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Monday, March 28, 2005

Nizam's ArtWork @ Hilton KL Sentral

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:47 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Pic 1

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:34 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Pic 2

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:29 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

*Exclusive Pictures* Nizam Ambia Backdrop for Force of Nature Concert. Nizam Ambia is an up and coming versatile Arte Coutoure artist in the region. Nizam is the resident artist of Yayasan Dunia Melayu (YDM). Taken on 15 March 2005 prior to Concert night on 18 March 2005. I am the Force of Nature Organisation is organising the concert for the Tsunami AID. Nizam bagged the Grand Prize of the Piala Seri Endon 2004 batik design competition late last year.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:24 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Sunday, March 13, 2005

Adam waiting to feed a lonely white bird. Also visible is his glorious not-so-perfect ear anymore, after the incident.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 7:45 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Petting Zoo @ Sunway

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 7:36 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Monday, March 07, 2005

Came back around 6pm after a long... long day. Went inside the house, throw the keys on the sofa and ran to the restroom. Out. Switch on the fan, the lights and the Playhouse Disney Channel 63. Chose two pyjamas and placed them on the sofa, with diapers. Placed the towels ready for showers. Took out the laundry bags and ran out of the house and place them in the car. Place Adam's baby chair back into its position. Had my partner in the car earlier, so it was removed to the back seat. Ran back into the house. Grabbed two lollipops. Back on the road heading for Adam's babysitter's. Need the lollipops to pacify him having to sit in the chair. He seemed to not want to be in it nowadays and I cant handle him seating else where in the car. Gave two honks and I immediately saw his head looking down at me. I can see those eyes peering from the window pane. The head disappeared. He came running down the stairs with the babysitter. Ran around the car, laughing, with me chasing close at his heels. Some days, he ran and jumped onto my arms. Most days, it's a chase and .... quite a struggle. Yes ... offered the lollipop and finally managed the seat belts around him. Drove out to the laundry. Took some laundry back. Adam requested for his side of the window to be open so that he could see mommy clearer -- I presumed.

Back on the roads, heading for Balqis' school. Arrived. Rang the bell. Adam called my name. Answered back so he knows I am around. He looked out of the window, saw me and waved. Balqis and friends ran to the door... saw me and Balqis gave a scream... Mommmmyyyyyy .... Waited for her to get ready with her shoes, her bags. Reminded her of her water bottle. She disappeared back into the school. She came out with the maid and Mrs Law the principal. She decided she doesnt want to go back yet. 'I want to walk with my feet first Ma'. 'No Balqis... it's late. Get into the car please.' Everybody helped me pacify her. Mrs Law promised a morning walk on the next day. Of course Balqis has already decided that the walk should be this particular evening. After talking, explaning and pacifying, which failed miserably, I let Mrs. Law take over. It was another 20 minutes before she finally was placed on her booster chair. No lollipop can do anything to help me at that point. She screamed and yelled and cried as I practically forced her in.

Drove off finally. She offered her hand to say sorry in between sobs. I took it and told her not to repeat that incident again. Arrived home. Balqis didnt want to walk to the house but want to be carried. Got out of the car. Opened the door. Carried her to the house. Unlock the lock. Into the house -- place her on the sofa. Stanley, I believe was on. Went back to the car. Opened Adam's side of the door. Dont want to be carried. 'Nak walk' came the instruction. Let him got out of the car on his own. Walked him into the house. Requested for Balqis to open her shoes and help Adam with his. Back to the car. Took out Adam's bag and Balqis' bag. Back into the house. Went back outside. Took all the laundry out. Those took two trips. Back to the car. Drove it into the garage. Back into the house. They were arguing over a toy. Adam hit Balqis on the head. Balqis wailed and screamed as loud as possible. There has been instances when I entered the house and both would be glued on the TV, which would have been a big relief. Requested for both of them to take out their clothes while I do the same. Chased both of them into the showers. I declared that shower time is over. 'I dont want to go out!' both screamed at me. Practically forced Balqis and Adam out of the bathroom after all else failed.

Both are not happy with Mommy but condoned. Pyjamas on. Tonight, there was no arguments on choice of pyjamas. Went to the kitchen to prepare their milk. After milk, running around the sofa, jumping on the side table and onto the couch seemed to be the event of the night. A spanking threaten issued and ignored. Another threaten issued. This time more firm. Balqis started to cry and offered her hand and said that she was sorry. Adam does not care but slowed down considerably. Bear in the big blue house is on and both got ready to be sniffed at. Eyes glued on the tube. It was 2 hours and 2 feeds later that Adam finally slept. It was no easy mission. Almost impossible it seemed. Balqis decided to be online with Barbie for awhile after Adam slept. After a few reminders, she followed suit half an hour later. I checked on Adam's bandaged left ear constantly and gently reminding him not to sleep on it. His ear -- well.... that's another long story, blood, sweat and all. Right now, I just want to sit down, read my book, sip my milk and sigh.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:51 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, February 24, 2005

So... asked Balqis the question of the day: Why did you cry this morning?

Her answer came almost immediately: Yeahlah ... because I want you because I love you.

Who would argue with that?

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 9:38 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Called Balqis' school. She was ok the moment she entered the school compound. All smiles and putting everything behind her as if nothing happened. No problem.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 4:20 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Everything was calm this morning. Adam decided to wake up at 5am and requested for the Playhouse Disney Channel. No problem. My darling husband breezes through his shower and grooming. Getting dressed was pretty smooth sailing too. Adam went in for an early shower because '..... Maa.. pooo ....'. No problem. He requested for some hair gel when he saw my darling husband putting on some for his hair. Dressed Adam. No problem with my choice of attire. Balqis was deep in sleep. To the choo choo train. Got some breakfast for the babysitter's house. To the babysitter. Back to the house. Showered Balqis and prepare her for school. No contest. No problem. Brush her hair, plait it. Dark pink ribbons. Pretty like princess. Into the car. No problem. Smiled and sang all the way to school. Arrived at school. Teacher Ms. Han came out to get Balqis from the car. Balqis decided not to go. She pulled me with all her might. Her teacher pulled her while pacifying her on the other side of the car. Balqis pulled harder. Hands clawing me. I asked her why. No answer but on the verge of tears. Problem. She finally went out carried by her teacher, wailing. I have no idea what brought this about. Big Problem.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 8:48 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Balqis tossed and turned and whimpered and smiled in her sleep last night. Must have been one hectic day for the girl. I love seeing them smile in their sleep. Sometimes, when you are lucky, you get to hear them laugh and talk too. Because I had a late meeting yesterday, my darling husband helped by coming back early on the train and fetched the kids. I can tell you that it wasnt an easy task. Adam would not want to sit in his chair and insist that he sits on the hand rest in the middle. You'll probably have to spent at least 20 minutes convincing him to just sit in his chair and we'll all be on our merry way. He'll probably run to the back seats avoiding you when you reach out for him. This will go on for the next 20 minutes. If I need to be really fast, I'll bring with me goodies to entice him to sit in his chair and not run around in the car. I am used to his antics and sometimes hang out with Kak Ani, his babysitter, chatting while he plays inside the car. Then, Balqis will sometimes realise that she had left behind the most important toy back at school and insist that you turn back. I can just imagine my darling husband going through it, boiling with suppressed anger, if it happened. Well, it did. Just the way it was. Actually, it's always much easier to fetch Adam first then Balqis coz then Adam knows that if he sits down now, we can be off to Balqis' school where he will enjoy all the attention when everybody comes out to say Hi to him at the car. Slipped my mine and forgot to tell my darling husband the trick.

When I arrived back around 7.30pm, the kids are still in their play clothes and not their pajamas. My darling husband had his face buried in The STAR and the TV was blasting. Both kids argued about who shall open the door for Mommy and it resulted in a small squabble, leaving Adam the defeated opponent crushed to the floor, crying his heart out. I managed to pacify him by offering a shower. Balqis insisted that she also should shower at the same time with Mommy. Well, I have no problem because it will make my life easier. Only thing, getting them out of the showers will be one big challenge. This is the time for darling husband to take over one kid.

Right after her shower, Balqis started to cry. Her teeth hurts and she placed the palm of my hand over her face and wouldnt want me to let go. Must be a new one coming up. After an inspection with the torch light and a very curious Adam, I hereby confirmed that a brand new tooth is coming up. We gave her some pain killer and she finally slept close to 11pm. The poor baby. I stayed close to her last night fearing the worst. But she seemed fine when she woke up. Pain must have subsided.

This morning, while I was preparing her for school -- shower, dry her up, put on her uniform, socks and brushed up her hair into a ponytail with pink (of course) ribbons, she looked up and said to me, 'Thanks Mom. Next time when you get smaller like me, I will take care of you like this.'

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 1:02 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, February 17, 2005

Caramel, Cream, White & Dark Brown are Balqis' favorite colors besides pink and then again more pink. It all started when she placed her feet over mine. And she looked down in horror, saying, "Maaa.... you are white and I am black!' All traces of smiles gone. And I told her ....'Of course you are not black.' She always associate the color black with sinister, gloom and bad things. 'You are caramel'. The smile came back. 'Oh ... then how about Adam?' 'Adam is cream'. 'I am caramel, Adam is cream, Mommy is white and Daddy?' I pondered. 'Daddy is dark brown.' The actual fact is that the three of them have the similar color category -- brown. Balqis is a tad lighter and Adam a much lighter shade of brown. Although this conversation took place about a year ago, I got to think about it again the other day when Balqis teased me that she is Chinese, while the rest of us are Malay.

You know sometimes, kids say out the darnest thing, candidly and it is said out much too loud! They dont mean a thing by it actually, just expressing an opinion. Kids are honest. Until they know how to lie. There was once she saw a really fat guy and decided to share her opinion with the rest of the people queuing up for the horse rides. 'Maaa.... that man is so FATTTT!!' I told her that it's not so nice to say that about people. 'Why?' she asked. 'He is fat you know. You cannot see?' I explained to her that it's not so polite to say that someone's fat because it might hurt their feelings. 'He will cry, meh?' and her turn came to ride the horse.

For horses, like any other things, she doesnt like the black ones. She will not go near or on a black horse. Only the brown and white ones. These little people also have preferences you know. Adam is also beginning to show some preferences over his clothes and food. Balqis started that quite awhile back.

I normally would unwind with a book. Balqis & Adam would normally copy this. They immediately will ask for their books too. For Adam, his choice will be something like Sesame Street I want To Be A Cowboy or some kind of animal book or bugs story. Balqis pretty much is OK with any titles. Not too choosy. She sometimes would pick up one of my Jeffrey Archer and start to pretend reading it, just like Mommy.

Now I've to go and choose my attire for the day. Semi casual. Perhaps flats. Pants. Shirt? Or cotton skirt. Blouse. Or perhaps I should wear the cardigan set. Nope.. it's too hot. Should I tie my hair. Or let it loose. Maybe I'll just clip it.

I've to go and make some decisions. May all your decisions today are wise and the ones that you'll be happy with.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:09 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Saturday, February 12, 2005

It's a hot night. It's been a hot day. The poor babies kept on wanting to take showers. I dont blame them. I thought I was gonna be crispy if I stepped outside under the sun so we didnt go out until after 7pm to do some groceries. They had several showers today as a matter of fact. Then fight with their mother about which clothes to wear. Balqis, of course, would have an opinion about the outfit that I chose. 'It's not pink... I want pink...' or 'I not like this one. This one not nice..' or just simply .. 'I dont want this!' Adding to the list now, is of course, our darling Adam. He now stands at 37inches but it's a 37-inch Adam with an attitude. He too now, like his sister (whom he affectionately calls 'Tatak' for 'Kakak'), will disagree with me about the choice of clothes he is going to wear. I have learnt to just lead him back to his wardrobe and let him chose what he wants rather than me walking back and forth chosing his attire for him. Once dressed, he sometimes will go into the dining hall to take a peek in the mirror. That's the only floor length mirror that he could look at anyway, at 37 inches tall.

He has also grown to be quite fussy with his food. I cant do anything right it seems, in choosing his menu. Balqis on the other hand, has grown to be quite good at adhering to her mom's menu. But of course, if that fails, use her vanity against her. 'If you eat those vegetables, your eyes will be bright and shiny' will get her to finish every single strand of vegetables on her plate. Because she is so obssessed in getting to be a big girl, I sometimes used that fact to get her to eat too. 'If you dont finish up, you'll grow smaller by the time you wake up tomorrow...' will do the trick.

Balqis & Adam helped me clean up the balcony today. The balcony has turned into their toys store room. Thus, spring cleaning was urgent on our list today. From where I stood, it looked very crowded. By the way, since Adam's favorite game is -- throw toys, cookies and anything throw-able from the balcony, it was quite a challenge having him in our team.

Adam's speeches is beginning to form. I had a lot of fun talking and listening to him talk. But when those two are together, they seem to be talking in secret codes. I cant hardly understand their gibberish but they understand each other fine by the way they move around the sitting room, creating as much mess as they could muster. Anyway, I am having the time of my life watching the two munchkins grow and looking at them having so much fun that I sometimes dont have the heart to stop them from playing and making a mess. But then of course, there are a number of spanks from time to time. Normally it will end up with me getting spanked back. In a way, it's their way of telling me 'Hey ... we may be just 37 inches tall but we've got rights'.

I'm melting. I'd better leave this dining room table and get back to civilization, where it's cooler and where there's cable TV.

Have a nice cool night!

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 12:49 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, February 10, 2005

I had to work on Tuesday and work really hard. I had 46 CNY hampers to deliver all over Kuala Lumpur, Klang & Putrajaya, orders from a last minute client. Monday, we had 30 orders to deliver but it wasnt that bad. Tuesday morning to deliver hampers and 2pm I had to be available at KLCC for my client's interview with a leading financial news-magazine. Balqis' school was closed and Adam's baby sitter requested for the day off for her to go 'balik kampung'. So, no other choice but for my darling husband to take leave from work and stay at home to take care of the two of them. So help us GOD!

Woke up early to do some washings in the kitchen. Wake darling husband up. He woke up almost immediately. I had only 2 hours to spare. Got the kids' clothes laid out. Darling husband sneaked out as quietly as possible to get breakfast and the papers. Adam woke up upon hearing the door closing. 'Daddy?' he asked. Scooped him up and bathed him. Took 15 minutes to just ask him to get out of the bath. He finally came out with a promise of Superman-flying-stunts into the living room. I held him on his front and ran all the way to the living room. He held his hands stretched out to the front and pretended to be superman. Clothed him. Balqis woke up. She goes into the bathroom. Out. Dressed.

Took care of the beddings, comforters and pillows. Darling husband helped to put some of the comforters out at the back. We liked them puffed up and smelling fresh from the sun.

Overheard that Kak Lela, my partner is picking me up from the house. Balqis decided that she must follow mommy to work today. She concluded that 'Mommy is not going to work. She's going to Aunty Lela's house.' She put on her shoes, put on Adam's shoes on for him and decided to wait for Aunty Lela outside the house. Change of tactics. SMS-ed Kak Lela to drive passed the house and parked near the parking bays, by the side of the house. I will sneaked out from the back door. Kak Lela played out the plan to perfection. Drove passed Balqis & Adam who were playing outside. She looked straight ahead while at the corners of her eyes, she saw both Balqis & Adam stopped playing to look. I was already waiting at the side of my house. Went inside the car and Kak lela drove out, right infront of the two kids. Balqis was very suspicious. I heard her told her daddy, 'That is Aunty Lela, Daddy.' 'No... that was someone else,' came a lame answer. 'Yes ... it was ....' confirmed Balqis. By that time, I was already inside the car ready to go through the come-what-may. My darling husband busied himself taking their pictures to divert their attentions away.

Ready, get set, go! Kak Lela stepped on the accelarator and headed out right under the kids' noses. I saw them looking and pointing. Got an SMS to say that everything is clear and OK on the home front. I heaved a sigh of relief.

My main advice -- anything happened, things go out of control, turn to the PHDC Channel 63. (At least that's what I do and it works!)

An hour passed by.
SMS: Please prepare kids' snacks. Cookies on kitchen counter.
SMS reply: She is having milk and getting ready to nap.
SMS: Must give her some snacks before she sleeps.
SMS reply: Later when they wake up.

Two hours later.
SMS: Kids ok?
SMS reply: OK. Both napping.
SMS: Please dont play POGO. Make sure you are infront of them when they wake up.
SMS reply: Me not playing. (Yeah right!?)

Three hours passed by.
SMS: They had their snacks?
SMS reply: Not yet because they are now having milk again.

Four hours later.
SMS: Me at KLCC.

Five hour later.
SMS: Me going back on LRT.
SMS reply: Want us to fetch you?
SMS: Going back with a cab.

Sigh. That's just me. The anxious worry wart. On other days, I will normally check on Balqis at school at least twice a day. Adam's baby sitter will receive at least two phone calls from me too. Just to check.

Got home. Everything is fine on the home front.
Got ready for a good walk at the KLCC Park with the kids.
Both slept early that night. What a day!
Me, to the computers with my darling husband to look at all the pictures.
Together alone at last.



signing off..Hazelinesnow at 2:52 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Monday, February 07, 2005

Yesterday, we celebrated our 5th year wedding anniversary by taking the kids out to the Bird Park. Of course, that fact remain oblivious to both Balqis & Adam. Balqis got a peck on her nose from a caged white bird right next to the 'Take Your Picture with a Parrot' section. Perhaps, the bird felt threatened by Balqis' peering eyes, probably too close for it's comfort. This happened when we were not looking and were both fussing over Adam. I was pretty sure she tried touching the bird. I showed her the 'No Touching' sign. A new light dawned upon her and she said,'Oh .... cannot touch. He bit my nose, you know.' Adam was riding in his stroller all the way, yelling 'Hello Bird' .. 'Hello Bird' ... 'Hello Bird' to every single bird he saw in the park. The fee to get into the park had gone up. RM28.00 for adults and RM20.00 for 3-12 year old kids. Lucky we had Jusco loyalty card that helped us get a big discount to get in. Instead of RM76.00, we got in with RM28.00. Pretty good? I think so.

We were there pretty early so we managed to get out before it was too hot, which was around noon. Nevertheless, yesterday was a pretty hot day. Balqis complained that she was tired 3/4 of the way and had her daddy carry her instead. But she went back down when she saw the peacocks spread their tails. She was petrified when those birds made big loud sounds unlike Adam who just giggle and break into big great smiles when that happens.

Adam couldnt take his eyes off of the ostriches. 'Big ...' 'Big ...' was all that came out of him when we parked his stroller right outside the ostriches cage. Balqis, who have had an experience riding an ostrich before just shrugged and looked elsewhere.

They had a pretty good day. That was Balqis' second trip and Adam's first one. She didnt remember her first trip, though. I thought my darling husband had a good exercise walking around the park and told him that he should do this kinds of outing every week because it is good for him. He is much better off doing that rather than being his usual self of a couch potato, of course. As for me, I would have walked KMs/Miles around the house everyday doing the housework. A lot of exercise. And yes, I do a lot of shopping that normally entails a lot of walking too.

The year of the Rooster it is. All we have in the house are Horses (me & Adam) and Dragons (Balqis & my darling husband). Gong Xi Fa Chai, friends. Salam Maal Hijrah from all of us -- Hazel, Hisham, Balqis & Adam.

Check out all of our new photos (more to come) ... Click Here




signing off..Hazelinesnow at 9:30 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

The moment we woke up today, we were all scrambling around because I was too tired last night to prepare for this morning. My darling husband dashed into the showers. I took out his shirts & pants. I decided he should choose his own tie this morning, perhaps the 8th time since he married me. Adam woke up and chanted 'TeeVee...TeeVee ....'. Ran back to the hall where the chanting took place. Switched on the Playhouse Disney for him. Went to the kitchen to check on their bottles. The only thing I managed last night was boiled their bottles. Bottles ready. Into the bags. Adam needs at least 4 attires a day not including pajamas. Into the bag. Me, back to the kitchen. Found out that we only have one bottle of apple juice left. Into Balqis' school bag. Cookies into both bags. Prepare Balqis' school uniform. Cough syrup into Adam's bag. Cough Syrup and panadol syrup on the table -- to be placed in Balqis' bag. Darling husband called out to prepare Balqis' antibiotics. To the kitchen. 5ml of Augmentin extracted. Into the hall where Balqis is lounging infront of the PlayHouse Disney. Adam said 'Me pooohhhh'. Oh gosh! Another gasp came from inside the room... 'Oh No ... Adam I'm late!' Balqis decided to be difficult. I want water. I dont want the white one first. I want the pink one. Not too close to my mouth. I dont like the smell. He dashed out from the room to show me the tie he chose. 'This one ok?' Took one glance and answered impatiently, 'Yes...'. While doing his tie infront of the mirror in the dining room, he shouted,'Faster Balqis. I was late yesterday. I dont want to be late again today!'. Medicine in. Water consumed. Scooped Adam up and ran to the bathroom. He opened his own pants and put them in his laundry basket. I yanked open his shirt. 'Oww!' he protested. Sorry. Ushered him into the bathroom. He insisted on playing with the toys in the bathroom. 'No time for toys now, Adam. Later, ok?' Not too happy but since Mom is doing everything super fast, I might as well go with the flow. He looked amused. Out. Dressed. My darling husband managed Balqis' shoes. I came out, everything was already in the car. The car moved out and seemed to be flying all the way to the LRT station. Oh my God! I forgot Balqis' uniform and medicine on the table.



signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:29 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Sunday, January 30, 2005

My darling husband is taking super precautions (according to his standard) because of the dengue fever breakout in Malaysia -- No, of course, he won't be going around the place to ensure that it's super clean or calling in people to fog the place down. That is my department. He did something else unimaginable by my parents or friends. He went and bought both Balqis & Adam Children's Repella -- Herbal Mosquito Repellant Cream. 100% Natural Ingredients. Moisturises As It Protects. He made sure the kids are splurged from top to toe with this cream everyday (if he is home) after the kids' evening shower. According to the article I read, the mosquitoes are most active between 5pm - 7pm every evening and 5am - 7am every morning (echoing what my darling husband had told me earlier). Please have all of your windows, doors etc closed within these time frame for extra precaution. My mom though, agrees and ended the discussion the other day very firmly with her favorite saying : 'Prevention is better than cure'.

When I first moved into this place, there were still bugs that you have never come across even in the Britannica Encyclopaedia. I didnt try the 'Bugs Encyclopaedia' though. But nevertheless, I encountered all different colored and types of bugs that I got to see for the first time in my life. And I am petrified of bugs, creepy crawlies, 'pacats' and the likes. There used to be a lot of squirrels roaming around. If you have any leftovers, just leave it outside your kitchen door, the plates will not only be empty but cleaned without a morsel of rice(if it was rice that you've left them, that is). I used to also feed the birds. You know, the normal brown colored birds we have here in Malaysia. They used to make their nests at all of the windows of my home. Just imagine the cheery chirps in the morning.

Nowadays, I see less squirrels and the little brown birds. But adding to the menagerie now, are monkeys, the pigeons and cats. I found out that I actually end up feeding all these animals from the same tray. And oh yes, after almost ten years now, cockroaches and lizards came in to be a part of our lives too.

Balqis and Adam are also petrified of all these bugs and creepy crawlies. But that does not stopped them from approaching these creatures, with caution I might add, hands held tightly together, to just get a little closer for inspection. The moment it moves, the two will run off squealing their heads off.

Gosh it's another hot night. I wonder what's the temperature is like now. Perhaps around 33C? My husband just told me that mosquitoes dont fly out when it rains because they cant flap their wings. Dont know whether he's pulling my legs but I sure dont want any encounters with them at the moment.

Gotta check on the babies. They both got to bed pretty early tonight. Must be tired from their horse rides. Now what's that ringing in my ear?



signing off..Hazelinesnow at 9:30 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Balqis have been requesting for her own laptop for about 5 months. She has not given up yet and has been very consistent. A few days before the Adha holidays, she asked again,'Maa, have you bought me the laptop I want?' And the mother answered (again, for the 20,325th time or something like that),'No Balqis. Mommy does not have enough money. It's very expensive you know. And I cant buy only one. Adam might want one too.' Balqis, the regal princess, looked at me indignantly and answered as a matter of factly. 'Maa ... how many times must you tell me this?' 'I told you before, tell Adam, you no money. You can buy for me only.' 'Yes, see... that's the point, I dont even have enough money to buy one.' She has an answer to this. 'Then go buy some moneylah and you can buy me the laptop. That one also dont know.' I can never win!

She's been waiting for Adam to fall asleep tonight so that she can use my laptop to surf her websites -- Barbie and Playhouse Disney. She's very good at it. She controls the mouse better than some adults I know! She knows how to connect to the Internet and pick the sites from the Favorite tab. What she does mostly in this websites are playing games like puzzles, coloring, listening to stories, do make-overs and a lot more. They do have very interesting online games. I always limit her time spent on the internet because I do not want her to stay up too late and because I also do not want her to be carried away with the games. Luckily, she does understand this and will normally stop on her own accord to go to bed.

Balqis & Adam had a good time at my parents' home. My parents own a big home with a lot of play areas... and oh, two staircases, enough to encourage Adam to go up and down and back up and down at the speed of lightning. I honestly think that his feet barely touches the stairs. Balqis will go around the house, exploring. After awhile I had actually stopped calling out for her because it's just too tiring and stressful. And I found out, she knows when to come back into the house, without arguing.

Tonight is a hot night. Weather hot, that is. I may have two cranky babies at hand soon. I'd better prepare the feeds now while I contemplate another shower before hitting the sack.

It's been a pretty hectic month this January. I wonder what February has in store for me. More surprises? We'll see.



signing off..Hazelinesnow at 1:44 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Somehow the weather's been pretty breezy over at where we live. At night, the sound of the wind arouses the curiousity of two kids -- while they wonder out loud whether it's the monster coming out to take them away, we use it to ensure that these two kids slumber off early. Tonight of course, is an exception. Because Mommy announced that she has work to complete and everybody must be in bed early, they decided that they are not sleepy at all. Perhaps. But then their eyes could no longer stand the test of time and they succumbed to acute lethargy. With that change of event, I pray for my inspiration to finally find me so that I may complete my work tonight.

It's way past 1am and I can hear Adam tossing. Perhaps he needs his first feed. I'd better prepare the feed while he is still not in a bad mood due to a late feed. The meal in a bottle had better arrived as early as the first whimper else there'll be hell to pay!

The wind has stopped it's howling and the night is calm. My mind is far from the calm nature of the night as it turmoils with my next wave of inspiration, which I needed rather urgently. No inspiration.

I forgot it's Aidil Adha this Friday. The fact kind of just slipped my tired mind. I confirmed an appointment on Thursday afternoon and it was hours later I realised that I'd promised my dad to be back early to celebrate with him. And, I just realised that I'd committed to a presentation first thing Monday morning after the Adha. What has got into me! I realised the sad fact when I was contemplating the idea of spending the weekend right up to Monday with my dad.

Tommorrow's another day. Perhaps I should be reformatting my mind with a special tool to take care of my acute memory lapse. Will see what can be done to undo.

Sigh ...

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 1:21 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, January 13, 2005

I am back at home now. I couldnt weave my way inside KLCC for my 3pm media interview today. All of KLCC's entrance have been blocked. I had to make a huge round from the Ampang elevated highway (after finding out the entrance to KLCC on that highway has been blocked) to Jln Sultan Ismail. Nope that entrance is off limits too. I then make another big turn, passing by Jln Pinang to get myself to Jln Ampang. That parking bay is closed too. Then I saw the mayhem infront of KLCC. Everybody was outside the KLCC instead of being inside! A sea of people walking about, some hanging out, some just basically sitting on the pavements were all outside the building. The whole building does not have electricity. The world's tallest building is having problems with it's electricity supply. Luckily the traffic police were everywhere today guiding the traffic. You know how it is sometimes when they are never around when we, the people need them the most.

The blessing in disguise is that of course, my meeting is postponed to next week. I get to go home early. Get Balqis & Adam back home. Spent time with them. And they get to watch their channel 63 Playhouse Disney too. Both Balqis & Adam, oblivious to the mayhem in downtown Kuala Lumpur, screams with delight when the Big Blue Bear 'sniffed' them from the TV screen.

Everything looks ok on the home front for the time being. Let's hope that we are not getting any electricity problem tonight again, at home. Or there'll be hell to pay.



signing off..Hazelinesnow at 5:32 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

There is a dead cockroach on the floor in the second bathroom. Balqis & Adam refused to go into that particular bathroom until somebody removed it. Balqis & Adam investigated and peered as closely as they could despite the fear, holding on to each other's hands, to see whether it still can move. 'Dead already,' the coroner announced while the other one nodded his head in agreement. 'Maaa ... I dont want to go shee-shee in that room. I scared.' There are normally two reasons given: the first, there's a dead cockroach and the second, if the monster come and eat me then how. Sigh.

This morning, Balqis was cranky and didnt want to let me go when I dropped her off at school. Her teachers came to my rescue. I said my goodbyes after Mrs. Law signalled me, with her head and eyes rolled to one side, to go off. I can hear her screams as I drive away from the school. Adam was bewildered but didnt offer any explanations to his sister's peculiar behavior. He sat there wearing his Lil Rock cap, hands clutching the green bear he's picked out before going out of the house and appeared unperturbed with his surroundings.

Took Adam directly after that to the doctor again, so he could have his nebuliser. The doctor said that he's improved tremendously. I hope his cough will cure soon too. A bout of cough always leaves Adam breathless and I am scared every time I look at him cough, with tears in his eyes, and his face turning red. Applying the nebuliser was not an easy task. Adam hates having to be confined to the same place for more than 5 minutes thus having to sit on mommy's lap, with the the green, smoky thing over his face, was always a big challenge.

There was a blackout early this morning, around 5am. It was sweltering hot and the two kids cried together in unison, waking me up from my deep slumber, thanks to the antibiotics, cough drop, flu medication (Do not operate heavy machinery) and panadols that I took before going to sleep. Their father scrambled around to find something to fan them, in his dire effort to keep his kids cooler. We lighted the whole house with candles after a 10 minute grope in search of them.

Today is a bright sunny day. The afternoon promises to be scalding hot. I, no doubt will have an umbrella handy. Just in case, if I have to walk out in the sun. No need to add to the million of freckles I already owned with great pride. No whitening stuff, cheap or expensive will do any good.

The day looks like it's going to be a cheery one! :o)



signing off..Hazelinesnow at 9:17 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

New year's here and gone. Now we are back into the swing of things that will determine the paths taking us to that horizon where dreams are suppose to come true. To go forth towards the roads that has been taken before or to venture to new possibilities, the roads that has not been taken, perhaps. But let me tell you, some things never change!

On the very first day of school, Balqis was in a bad mood, not because of anything but because there was somebody's mother in there taking her kid's picture. According to the bewildered teacher, she was allright when we dropped her off. And then all of a sudden, she cried and sulked. When asked about this later in the evening, she asked, 'Why were you not in there taking my picture?' 'Because that wasnt the first time you go to that same school. That boy is new.' 'Yes but that boy's mother were there taking his picture. You were not taking mine'. I can never win. We didnt hang around much that first day of school because our darling Adam was having fever, flu and cough. So, we dropped her off and decided to pay the doctor a visit, before dropping him off at the babysitter. But we did go back to Balqis's school to choose Balqis's curriculum. Of course, we had to sneak in because we needed her to stay in school and we do not have any intentions of bringing her back with us. We chose for her to be in the Monday - Thursday: Mandarin medium -- 8.30am - 11.30am (with breaks of course), Monday - Thursday: Ugama 11.30am -12.30 and Friday: 11.30 - 12.30 Ballet. We told her of the decision later and she was pretty pleased with our choices.

This week, all the three of us are sick. Fever, cough, sore throat and flu virus has transmitted itself over to us. The only one still going strong is my darling husband. I have had to take care of both Balqis and Adam before contracting the same virus. Balqis and Adam are both on the road to recovery. I am the only one lagging behind now.

For the past two weeks, I have been working from home thanks to the wonders of technology. I get to spend some time with both Balqis & Adam first in the morning before I send them off. Then again, if I really am on a tight deadline, I send them off pretty early before positioning myself infront of the laptop. Let me tell you - one of the perks of working from home is that you have fresh crisp blankets, pillows and comforters every night, fresh from drying them out in the sun!

Adam is starting to speak! We can figure out what he's saying now. Of course, I am the walking dictionary who had to translate some of his vocabularies. But then again, he will scream the words out if he noticed that you didnt get him the first time. I dont know why but perhaps out of exasperation of having to say the words out a few times.

We shall see what else is in store for us this 2005. I look forward to it. Me, my Boss, my CEO and my COO! What am I in this picture? Non other than the Executive Secretary with a very long list of job requirements to fulfill. No promotion, no increment! What a life!




signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:53 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Balqis came back with a flu! She has a bad stuffed up nose. Been watching her the whole of last night too. Her nose wasnt so bad then, though. I was having a phobia attack the whole night and couldnt sleep a wink until after 'The Apprentice' which comes up to almost 3am. My phobia was that of earthquake happening if I close my eyes and fall asleep. I thought if it happens, I will first grab Balqis & Adam and make a mad dash out of the house and run far away from the house to avoid the rubbles. My imagination was really running wild and I was contemplating of waking my darling husband up. But since he was seriously orchestrating a series of snores, I dont have the heart to do so. Nevertheless, I finally succumbed to acute lethargic-ness and fell into very deep sleep. I went to sleep surrounded by all my loved ones.

The whole day today, I thought of the less fortunate. What will I do if I were in their shoes? I will never be that strong to face all the calamities. I cant bear to look at the parents holding dead bodies of their children. I cant bear to look at the rows of children who will never again open their eyes and play with their toys or eat the cookies. They will never ever be able to be naughty again or drive their parents crazy! They wont be needing those new school shoes because they will never have to attend school ever again. No need for lullabies or lollipops.

At my darling husband's Faculty, there are 9 vocational school teachers from Aceh, enrolled in an advanced course. There had been nothing but anguish. Tears and more tears. Not knowing whether their children are dead or alive. I cant imagine being in their shoes. I know I will never be able to have the strength. The only place they thought could help them was of course, logically their Embassy. Upon arrival and hearing their plight, they were merely shown the newspaper and were asked to just refer to them for any updates.

Today, I help arrange through some editor friends, special interviews with the group of 9 Aceh people who have no idea what have happened to their loved ones, property and how their future would be like from now on. There were a lot of tears and if they could fly, they would have arrived at what would have been their doorsteps back home within seconds. But will they find their family? CNN reports that bodies are everywhere in Banda Aceh and none are being claimed. Chances are nobody can claim them because nobody is around anymore. Their whole family wiped out. How do you break such news?

When I look at my Balqis and Adam now, I look at them with very different eyes. They are my precious love. God, give me the strength to know and realise what is happening in the world around me at the moment, for I too am affected so severely, emotionally. How can I not be?

From a mother to all the mothers in the world, specifically those with strengths and patience to hold on to your faith, and some who has no choice but to hang on to the little bit of sanity that's left after what you have gone through, I pray for you and your loved ones.



signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:08 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Tuesday, December 28, 2004

The kids did not wake up at 6am today! That leaves me with some time to do some last minute house work. Sent my brood off at 7.30am, with Balqis almost falling asleep again on her feet. Two destinations this morning, as always, the babysitter's and LRT. I really hate having to sent them off too early in the morning. I prefer to let them sleep as long as they want then sent them off but then that cant happen this morning. My darling husband as usual, hurries us around all the time in the morning. He does not like to be late and his office uses the archaic punch card system. The cards may vary in colors depending on your attendance basically, the time of your arrival. So this morning, we carried the very sleepy Balqis into the car and the sleepy limp Adam into his baby chair. Adam, though, managed to open his eyes slightly and managed a smile for his mom, when he saw me going into the car. Balqis continued on with her snooze until the babysitter's place. Our babysitter lives in the 3rd floor of a flat very close to our place. I can hear Balqis' scream and crying all the way down to the car park, I'd imagined at that time, it happened when my darling husband said goodbye and turned around to go off.

So I have the whole house all to myself this morning. Enough time to open all the windows and air the whole house before I leave for my hair salon. Then back to the house, change and off to work. At least, that is the plan for the time being.

Only 3 more days to 2005. In 2005, Balqis will be 5 years old in October and Adam, 3 years old in December. She'll be 7 years old soon and off to first year at school. I am quite apprehensive thinking of Balqis going off to the first year at school and I am sure the school will not let me sit in the class with Balqis or even outside of the classroom. Maybe Balqis will sent me home if she knows that I plan to camp outside her classroom just to make sure that she will be okay. I can imagine her rolling her eyes, mouth half opened wondering whether her mom has gone mad. If she has a handphone at that time, she'll probably call my darling husband to ask him to get me off the school property. Anyway, just imagining...

Adam, I am thinking of sending him to where Balqis goes for her playschool now, by mid 2005 so that we have two english speaking people with a very heavy chinese accent in the house. NOT. I vowed that I will one day shed that accent off of Balqis. Balqis is picking up more Malay words now that for the whole month of December, I have her sent over to Adam's babysitter's place. But she recently picked up a five letter word -- BODOH. When I ask her what it means, she does not really know what it means but maybe because it was used by the other kids when in angry mode, thus she try to use it as often as she can! I told her that it's one of the many bad words around and she cant use it on anybody or anything. She listened very attentively and she said in a very tiny, remorseful voice, 'Okay Maa, I wont say it anymore, out loud but can I just say it in my mind?'

Here I am, strategising other people's key messages and looking through corporate strategy and planning, made speechless without any strong key message for my Balqis' question. Fail!






signing off..Hazelinesnow at 7:37 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Saturday, December 18, 2004

They finally nap! Been driving me nuts the whole day. Finally some time for me!

I read my horoscope in The STAR today (Not that I believe these things, just doing it for fun) and it said, 'You could be travelling this weekend (really?), whether long distance (oh!) or in cyberspace (that's more like it). There's adventure in the air (yahoo), so it's time to crawl out of the crab cave (hey ... I happen to like the cave!) and be free of restrictions and boring routines (hardly a routine). Cant be a routine when you lead a very exciting, invigorating and lively household like the one that I am living in now!

I just realised that Balqis never once today, asked me whether we are going 'jalan' or not. Unlike normal weekends where she will start pestering both of her parents the moment she opened her eyes in the morning. I guess she thought ... dont bother ... Daddy's not here today. She's been cranky since morning though. I hope that it is not a sign that she will be getting the tonsil infection next. Adam is still on medication although looking at him, nobody would have thought that he is not well. Of course, giving medication to him needs a lot of manipulation and strength. Not so much of strategising is needed in that department.

Because I had some time to spare yesterday, I went shopping for cookies and snack food. As a result to my ingenuity, we have a well stock up larder full of cookies and snack food for the next two weeks. I love looking for candies, cookies and snack food surrounding the Christmas celebrations. You have a load of choices especially if you drop by at places like Bangsar. So, as a result of that, I am now officially munching on some cookies which brands I cant even pronounced. It says 'Bahlsen. LEBKUCHEN MISCHUNG. Neue Rezeptur!' Let's see if I can find some english on the packet.. here you go -- 'An assortment of spiced gingerbread cakes. Plain Chocolate.' Now we know what we are eating. My all time favorite brand is actually Keebler. My only problem nowadays is that those two little rascals get bored easily with anything including the type of cookies and snacks we buy. Thus I have to end up buying various packages and end up rotating it for their consumption. Sometimes what they had last week, is a no-no this week, so I have to remember what I bought last week and the week before that. Selecting cookies supply for the home is never an easy task and takes some strategising and sometimes, to a certain extend a degree of manipulation too. The manipulation comes in usually when one smart rascal retorts that '...that is the same thing you fed me last week the same day and at this time too!' Good to know that she has a very good memory but it's not good to know and realise that you dont have an excuse or a good answer to give to a certain 4 year old! I definitely have to read more books on bringing up children and look up on the specifics of 'Answering Strategies and Beyond: 1-4 years old' and 'Undetectable Manipulating Language and Strategies for 4 years old and below'. That gives me a great idea! How about coming up with an Encyclopedia on this. It can be categorised according to age group. Okay, I digress and deviate at the same time.

Before the CEO (Balqis) and COO (Adam) wake up, I'd better go and prepare the fried chicken now before all hell or heaven depending on situations, break loose. Happy eating this Christmas season. Excuse me while I enjoy my cookies.

Crab cave ... ceh!




signing off..Hazelinesnow at 4:16 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Friday, December 17, 2004

A few weeks ago when I was out shopping for some kid's music, I stumbled upon one album which I, without hesitation, bought. The title is 'Golden SLUMBERS', a father's lullaby. If you like jazz or new age, then you'll love this because it consists of the genre of music produced and mostly arranged by an all time favorite of mine like Dave Koz and David Benoit. The album consists of these wonderful music:

1. Blackbird (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) featuring Dave Koz & Jeff Koz
2. Isnt She Lovely (Stevie Wonder) featuring John Stoddart
3. Charlotte's Song (adapted from Dvorak) featuring Peter White
4. Brahms' Lullaby (Johannes Brahms) featuring Brian Culbertson
5. You'll Be In My Heart (Kala's Lullaby) (Phil Collins) featuring Steve Kujala, Grant Gessman and Brad Cole
6. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) featuring Dave Koz & Jeff Koz
7. When You Wish Upon A Star (Ned Washington/Leigh Harlins) featuring David Benoit
8. Hush Little Baby (Traditional) featuring Bruce Watson
9. Somewhere Over the Rainbow (E.Y. Harburg/Harold Arlen) featuring Rick Braun
10. Lullaby For Isabella (Dave Koz/Jeff Koz) faturing Dave Koz & Jeff Koz
11. Afro Cuban Lullaby Traditional) featuring Bruce Watson
12. All the Pretty Horses/Scarborough Fair) (Traditional) featuring Grant Geissman & Brad Cole
13. You can Close Your Eyes (James Taylor) featuring Norman Brown
14. Golden Slumbers (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) featuring Dave Koz & Jeff Koz

The album was inspired by the talents of the participating artists whose intimate creations became personal dedications to their own children. Jeff Koz wrote that 'It is my wish, that as fathers young and old listen to these lullabies, they too might find a bit of inspirations to share with their children'.

In the inside inlay, it states: 'Moments That We Share Today Are Memories That Last A Lifetime'. Accompanying these beautiful words is a picture of a baby craddled in his daddy's arms. Just simply beautiful.

But alas, there is a stern warning for the listeners: May cause drowsiness in infants as well as some adults. Babies should not drive or operate heavy machinery while litening to this music!

To experience the music, go get one today! To be inspired by it, go listen to it NOW.

I categorised it as 'A Must Have!'

To get to know one of my favorite artists or for more of Dave Koz, please visit: http://www.davidkoz.com




signing off..Hazelinesnow at 9:45 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, December 16, 2004

The whole of last night, Adam seemed to be suffering from a tummy ache as he wriggled from left to right, calling 'Daddy!' I rub some ointments on his tummy and that somehow made it better but only for awhile. He woke up again, screaming. Finally, to pacify him, I let him sleep on me. That seems to calm him down and he managed to continue on with his slumber until morning. And of course, since he always wakes up before everybody else, he torments and disturbs us, in his effort to wake us all.

Today, is the second day of me being Santarina bearing gifts for the Editors and journalists for a client. And I was at the bank when I received a call -- Adam is having fever! Sigh ...

I managed two publications, Sin Chew Jit Poh & The STAR and flew back to get Adam. When we got to the doctor, he was at 39.6! The poor baby!

I think Adam is missing his dad. This is the first time, he's been left for more than a few days. We called Jakarta, I thought perhaps just let Adam hears his Daddy's voice. Balqis had a good chat. Adam just simply listened, smiling from ear to ear.

I hope he will be better tomorrow. I know I wont be able to sleep well tonight. Just two more days, Adam.... and Daddy will be with you. The poor darling!



signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:11 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Monday, December 13, 2004

I worked from home today. Sent everybody off by 8am and from then onwards it was my time. Tomorrow would be murderous. But all in all, I managed to squeeze an hour at the salon. Fetched the kids early (5pm) and spent time with them with Playhouse Disney. Mostly with Pooh, Bananas in Pajamas, Clifford the Big Red Dog and a few more. The list is endless.

My darling husband got home barely 5 seconds before he had to shower, put on fresh clothes and out he goes again for another meeting. Tomorrow he is flying off to Jakarta and I have just finished packing for him. What I have not done is prepare them notes for him so that he'll know which shirt goes with which tie and pants and oh of course, the socks too. But I did place the ties together with the designated shirts, just in case.

I've started to tell Balqis about Daddy not coming home from work and will be sleeping somewhere else until he finished his work. What makes me explain or rather the decision to explain all this to Balqis took place after I realise that she is finally old enough to know that Daddy's not back and he is not back for 'a lot of times'. I figured that for the next few days, I will have a badgers of questions about 'Where's Daddy, Ma?' 'Why he not come home?' 'Why he sleep different home?' Actually I know this for sure because it has already started! ... and he is only leaving tomorrow! Basically it started the day I explained to Balqis about him leaving. And of course since that fatefull day, I'm just swarmed by the questions. And today I reminded her about him leaving again and the first question she uttered when she first lay eyes on him was,'Daddy .. you going to sleep at different home?' Yeah ... I thought... that sounds like he has another wife isnt it? Let's hope that Balqis does not say that to too many people.

Adam, I think will be a problem. He always want to fall asleep with his daddy. Tonight, he realised that daddy went off and left him. Tears came but in interval like manner. Kind of like ... when it rains, it pours? I think he cried and called out ..'daddy' as and when he remembered him. Adam would be more like ...'daddy mana?' The poor baby. Come to think of it... Poor me ... I'm gonna be stuck with two wailing kids crying their hearts out for their daddy whenever it's sleep time!

Balqis & Adam fights nowadays. It will always start off with Adam banging Balqis's head with one of the toys (the hard ones) or something. Or disturbing Balqis when she colors. Or simply pulling the book from right under her nose, when she diligently and painstakingly has chosen the right combination of colors. And this always happens when she is at her best concentration mood. She will retaliate although I noticed that she does not necessary does so all the time. I think when it just simply really gets to her nerves, then she retaliates. She either pushes Adam away, which angers Adam very much or just simply hit back at Adam. Adam of course, will cry sometimes not really out of pain, but out of frustration of being hit.

I always look at them when they sleep and look at them very long. Look at these two sleeping angels. Nobody would have believed me about the chaos these two sleeping angels could have caused.

Tomorrow onwards will be a new experience. An experience that I shall live and re-live later even after a few years from now. Perhaps even after they'd gone off to college. He has not even left and I am wondering and of course, as always knew the answer. We will live through this. Heck ... he'll only be gone for four days, for heaven sake! Get a grip! Somehow or other, I think Balqis would be quite strong living through four whole days without her Daddy. We'll see about darling Adam.


signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:33 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Friday, December 10, 2004

Yesterday was my darling husband's birthday. We bought a carrot walnut cake to celebrate it with Adam & Balqis. We asked for 10 fat candles and bought some party packs so that both of them will have some fun. This means that everything is being done in their consideration. Balqis was suprised when told that 'It's Daddy's birthday today, so we have a happy birthday later at home.' She asked me 'Daddy also have a birthday?' I said everybody does. She pondered and deliberated on this fact for awhile. Last night I added that 'Tomorrow will be Adam's birthday, you know.' She thought about it and asked me whether she could have another birthday. 'Of course not. Everybody has a birthday once only every year.' She was not too happy but accepted it with 'oklah'.

So today, my darling brilliant son Adam is 2 years old. How time flies (Typically what all mothers would say). An independent kid with pizzaz. He's always entertaining us with his antics. As a baby, he was very easy to take care of, hassle-free. The cool dude. He can talk a little now, you know. His vocabulary is building up and I noticed he speaks both languages, English and Malay but mostly Malay.

He sneezed when they put him on the baby bassinet within moments of me giving birth to him. He sneezed and his feet kicked the side of the bassinet. Everybody in the labor room stopped what they were doing to look at him and laughed. He was born on the 5th day of Syawal, 10 December 2002 in the wee hours of the night.

Last night I awoke to check on him, he noticed me and opened his eyes and held out a hand. I held his hand while he nodded off to sleep again. He still wakes up for night feeds and my darling husband always helps out with his feeds at night. He stopped being breast fed when he was a little bit over one year old. I was hoping that he would continue on until he is 2 years old but I was going back to work then. He did continue but for the night feeds and whenever he could be with me during the day.

The carefree Adam who smiles and winks whenever we tell him 'I Love You, Adam.' Also the Adam who would climb on your shoulder with one leap and pull your hair. Pinched you and look at your reactions as he does all this with a thin smile on his face. Who for no apparent reason, will take a book or toys or whatever it is that he has in his hands and hit his sister's head with it.

My darling Adam, Happy Birthday my baby!






signing off..Hazelinesnow at 1:56 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Monday, December 06, 2004

It's 7.40am. I've sent my brood to the babysitter's and the LRT. Just as I was about to settle down, I heard the motor bike outside my home. The newspaper nyonya is here delivering papers to my neighbor. She likes to ram up the bike, you cant miss her. I ran out as quickly as I can because she's fast. She rides off pretty fast, for a nyonya. I almost twisted my ankle trying to get into my slippers but managed to get hold of her. Got hold of the papers and look through Computimes as fast as I can and as carefully as I can, looking out for a client's news. Sigh -- not there yet. It was a one-on-one interview -- why wasnt it being picked up yet! This means a personal call bearing candies in a jar. I'll figure it out later.

I was thinking on how calm Balqis was this morning about going to stay at Adam's babysitter for the day. We dont feel like sending her off to school just yet because we know that she will be a wild and carefree girl at the school, with probably not enough rest, busy playing. That Tuesday after she returned back to school after being sick, she became worst by night and both me and my darling husband did not sleep taking turns to sponge her down, monitoring her. Wednesday we went to see her pediatrician at the Kelana Jaya Medical Centre and was subscribed to a brand new set of medication which I must say works wonders on her!

I did some banking after the doctor's visit and my darling husband gave her the medication, while waiting for me in the car. So after dropping off my darling husband at his office, both me and Balqis rode home. She was extraordinarily quiet so I started a series of conversations, asking her questions, telling her stuff. Guess what she said to me? 'Ma ... can you not talk? I just want to sit here and be quiet!' Let me tell you ... I have not gotten over that yet!

Okay. I need to wash my hair, blow dry it and choose something semi formal to wear. I have 3 appointments today. I'd better get close to my schedule because I had an agreement signed with the little-finger-twist style (latest in fashion) this morning with the household's CEO, Balqis. I'd better not fetch her 'night time'. It has to be 'not late' because 'the other day you promise also you come late one!'

Off I go. Dont want to get anymore demerits.




signing off..Hazelinesnow at 7:47 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Monday, November 29, 2004

The clock showed 5.45am. I seemed to be hearing moans or was it actually a bad cough? Probably my darling husband's snoring. But then again it wasnt that close. I woke up immediately and ran to where Balqis was sleeping. She was curled up into a ball. Her forehead is hot. My darling husband awoke to get the fever medication following my shrill orders. Just as I was scooping her up, she went into fits. I could only see the white of her eyes, her body went into spasm, lips white as a sheet of paper. Administered the Diazepam Desitin rectal tube 5mg and immediately her stiff body stopped shaking. She came out. Administered the Voran Suppositories 12.5mg for the fever. We brought her to the bathroom for a shower down to allow for the temperature to go down. She was too weak to stand on her own. My darling husband sat on the toilet seat and showered her while she sits on his lap. She came about a bit more but I saw that her eyes were still not too focused. We showered her twice. Her temperature was quite erratic. At 8.30am, she finally stabilised. We went off to see Dr. Norliza in Melawati. Bad tonsil as expected.

Balqis has been napping since afternoon. She spent the first half of the morning actually playing dough, watching her Playhouse Disney Channel and coloring. I've been monitoring her the whole day and it looks like the situation is under control. But, of course, both me and my darling husband will not be having a good night -- we just cant go to sleep properly whenever any of the two babies are sick.

I've been working from home. Thank God Balqis has been napping. She was not too demanding too except for the one time when the 5ml dose of neurofen needed to be administered. Big fuss over that but she finally relented. I managed to complete quite a bit of work and is making progress over the other stuff I was working on too.

I'm praying for Balqis's tonsil to be not too bad tonight and for her to be recuperating anytime.

I wonder what Adam has been up to at the babysitter's. But I can imagine him being a handfull because he has always been. I can feel that he is calling me now in his heart. It is just simply the greatest feeling when you hear them tell you 'Mommy, I want you'.

Will be right there with you Adam. But then again, I have never not be with you. I have never left you and have always been there with you, although not physically but always in my mind, heart and soul.

Sigh ...


signing off..Hazelinesnow at 5:40 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Sunday, November 28, 2004

Today was kind of a solemn day. It drizzled in the morning. The sun came out for just a short peak then it just simply poured. The situation in the house though, has been far from solemn. With such an active household, how could our's be solemn! But, right this very instant and also the reason why I have a few moments at hand is because Adam has finally decided to nap. Balqis too but she is now up, eyes glued to non other than the Cartoon Network. My darling husband just left for Low Yat Plaza again.... the second time today. This morning's trip was to get his latest toy -- a digital camera and now, to collect a 128MB something for the camera, which was not placed in the box. As usual, I dont want to know how those things work. My almost 10 year old Olympus non-digital traditional camera is still working and much more simpler to understand and manuveur. That's all I need.

I managed to dash out to the Great Eastern Mall right after he arrived home from his frolics at Low Yat. Both Balqis & Adam surprisingly were very calm seeing me leave. They even waved Goodbye and said 'Bye Maaaa'!!! They never seemed to fail to surprise me with something. So, after my meeting, I came straight home, without even going into my two favorite stores there, Charmain & Island Plaza. I know .. it's difficult to understand how strong my will power is sometimes but wanting to rush back home to see Balqis & Adam made the choice very very easy. Not much will power is needed.

Guess who is sitting beside me eating nyonya kuih right now? Balqis. So it's not so quiet afterall because she has a string of questions for me from the type of kuih she is eating to Atok Hassan being my Daddy.

Ok Adam's up. He needs his snack. Lucky I bought the nyonya kuihs. When they are older, I'll tell them the story about them having part of Baba/Nyonya blood in them. Right now, I'll just have to ensure they understand the simpler things like who their Atoks, Nenek and Nani really are. My Daddy and their Daddy's Daddy. My Mommy and their Daddy's Mommy. Seemed mind boggling to them because they seemed to be other people they had to call Atok and Nenek too.

Time for the snack and more Cartoon Network and of course more bonding time.


signing off..Hazelinesnow at 3:51 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

It's been awhile. A long while. But Ramadhan proves to be a hectic month for everybody. Last October, Balqis turned 4 years old! Big girl with an opinion. 3 days before her birthday, she was admitted at the Kelana Jaya Medical Centre with broncho pneumonia. We took her there because our family doctor is also the Executive Director at the medical centre and thus, we would like to support him. She went in on Saturday and discharged on Monday 25 October, just a day before her birthday. Together with me, both of us went shopping for her birthday party at her school right after the discharge. She came back home with medicine but was happy with the promise of a Birthday party the next day with her friends.

Her birthday present this year was a portable swimming pool that my darling husband got at Toys R Us. She finally got to use it only yesterday though together with a very happy and excited Adam.
Hari Raya was good for them. And for us too! We get to spent a lot of times together after the hectic Ramadhan. My dad was really happy. This year's turn was Muar for Raya. Penang it is, next then!

Work wise, we're doing pretty good -- got to sign up two new clients this week! I am happy and await the hectic schedule. I am working from home today because all of my meetings were around the downtown KL vicinity. Even managed to grab stuff from Marks & Spencers in between my meetings! Got some gingerbread cookies! I would enjoy watching both eating the cookies while painstakingly considering which part of the body should be eaten first.

How time flies. It's going to be that time of the year. It's the season to be jolly -- it's not the celebration that matters at all but the nostalgic feeling that gnawed me in the pits of my stomach whenever it's the season -- I miss the snow and just simply the Christmas aroma!

Time to leave the comfort of home and dash into the early evening drizzles to get Balqis & Adam home. Wonder what they've been up to today. Wonder whether they'd ever wonder what I've been up to.



signing off..Hazelinesnow at 6:08 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Monday, October 11, 2004

Balqis was already in a very bad mood having to wait for over an hour for her concert to begin. We had sneaked back in after sending her off at the club, telling her that 'Mommy and Daddy are going to work.' We managed a seat 4th row from the front, thinking that it was pretty safe. We saw her bored gesture -- scratching her head, smiles all gone, boredom was written all over her face. We were silently praying for her not to graduate to the next level, which is in the 'cranky' category. We saw her going out of the ballroom accompanied by her teacher. Must be to the restroom. And then again half an hour later. As we were quietly minding our own business, talking to each other, we saw somebody break through from behind the stage with a big smile, running towards us! Teacher Mrs. Law noted that Balqis indeed has very sharp eyes! From then onwards, it was a big challenge for her teachers to keep her backstage, so help them GOD! When it was finally over, the wait, that is, her turn finally came in after the first act -- she was on percussions. She had the I-dont-care look on her face, did her percussions thingy looking around giving everybody the bored look and refused to sing. Me and my darling husband gave all kinds of signals from our seats, smiling from ear to ear to get her back in the mood, everytime her eyes darted over to us. We failed miserably. Missing her afternoon nap and having to wait forever or so it seems for her for the concert to begin, was just too much for the impatient Balqis. She was just too anxious for the whole concert to begin and end. She had on a beautiful white dress with ribbons in her hair (ala the twist era). Of course, compliments of her mom's make up and hair styling. After the third act, she came back on stage and emceed the next dance routine. 'Hi..my name is Balqis. Let's twist with us'. She continued on looking at everybody, smiling very pleased with herself and continue on smiling, rooted on the stage, eyes darting back to her teacher on the left side of the stage. Then we heard the rest of the other kids backstage screamed .. thank you! thank you! Balqis looked at the crowd back and said..'Thank You' and went off backstage to begin her next routine -- the twist! The concert ended at 7pm. And so the evening ended with Balqis crying because she wanted the microphone or else she wont sing the last act. One of her teachers gave her a lollipop and that seemed to have taken her attention away from the microphone, for awhile. She did not enjoy herself at the high tea reception after the concert, crankiness sets in to the highest order. When she started to scream at everything, off we went -- the next stop Adam's babysitter. Balqis slept in the car even before we reached home. That was the end of the day. Balqis' first concert.





signing off..Hazelinesnow at 2:06 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, October 07, 2004

Adam is back to his normal naughty self. Once in a while, his darling sister, Balqis will remind him not too jump around else 'you'll lose another tooth and break your leg like that other baby'. She did pick that one up, I thought. Ima (my friend) like most parents, sends her baby daughter -- a 3 months old baby to a babysitter when she goes to her school. She's a school teacher. One fine day she received a call that every mother dreads. Something has happened to the baby's leg because another child under the baby sitter's care fell on top of the sleeping baby, which was placed, (I hope either in a rocker or on a very thick mat) on the floor, at a certain corner in that particular house. When Ima arrived at the babysitter's, both the babysitter and the baby were wailing their hearts out. Aisyah's leg was dangling! The poor baby broke her tiny leg! Poor Aisyah. She's now resting in the hospital, leg put up to set it and later according to the doctor, she might have to be casted. Balqis picked the story up I suppose when she overheard her anxious mother telling her father what had happened to Ima's baby. She talked a little bit more about it with me, a clear fear factor on her face. She seemed to be unable to get over the fact that somebody had actually broke their leg. And it's just a baby too.

The Saturday before we left for Malacca, I brought Balqis over to the Century Paradise Club (our club) in Melawati for Balqis's first ever concert rehearsal. The concert will be held there thus the rehearsal needs to be done at the actual venue too. During one of her dance routine, the girl who was behind her on the stage accidentally hit her hand with the 'poom poom chak' -- a small like a drum thingy that you hold with your hands to make the 'poom poom chak' sound. I cant think of a name for it at the moment. Thus from there onwards, we had a teary Balqis, already not in the mood presenting on stage. Camelia, the poor girl who had accidentally hit Balqis's hand, was oblivious to the fact that she was the cause for all this grievances. Of course, the explanations that had to be given to Balqis took about 3 days for her to accept and understand the fact that Camelia did not mean to hit her, it was just an accident. Both me and the teachers did our part to ensure that Balqis's first concert will be a pretty experience for her. After that incident she got off the stage, still crying, and decided that she did not want to be backstage with the rest of the other kids. All of the other mommies helped me pacify Balqis that fateful Saturday morning but to no avail. So the rehearsal went on without Balqis on the stage for some of the shows. Olivia, Nicholas's Mom (according to Balqis, Nicholas is her boyfriend) brought Balqis down for an ice cream which when asked, she thought about it for just half of a split second before relenting. After the ice cream from her future mother in law, everything was smooth sailing. Plus, Nicholas did his best to bring back the smiles to Balqis's face too. After the ice cream, we managed to bring Balqis back up to the ballroom and continue on with the rest of her singing parts.

This coming Saturday, Balqis will perform in her first school concert. And later this month on the 26th of October, she'll be 4 years old. How time flies. I can still remember the time when they place her on my tummy -- the first time we saw each other. And as for her daddy, I think the following song just simply sums it all up for him.

Butterfly Kisses
By Bob Carlisle

There's two things I know for sure
She was sent here from Heaven
And she's daddy's little girl
As I drop to my knees by her bed at night
She talks to Jesus and I close my eyes
And I thank God for all of the joy in my life
Oh but most of all

For butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer
Stickin little white flowers all up in her hair
Walk beside the pony daddy
It's my first ride
I know the cake looks funny daddy
But i sure tried
Oh with all that I've done wrong
I must have done something right
To deseve a hug every mornin
And butterfly kisses at night

Sweet 16 today
She's lookin like her mama
A little more every day
One part woman
The other part girl
To perfume and make up
From ribbons and curls
Trying her wings out in a great big world
But I remember

Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer
Stickin little white flowers all up in her hair
You know how much I love you daddy
But if you don't mind
I'm only gonna kiss you on the cheek this time
Oh with all that I've done wrong
I must have done something right
To deserve her love every mornin
And butterfly kisses at night

All the precious time
Like the wind the years go by
Precious Butterfly
Spread your wings and fly

She'll change her name today
She'll make a promise and I'll give her away
Standing in the bride room just starin at her
She asked me what I'm thinkin
And I said I'm not sure
I just feel like I'm loosin my baby girl
And she leaned over

And gave me butterfly kisses with her mama there
Stickin little white flowers all up in her hair
Walk me down the aisle daddy
It's just about time
Does my wedding gown look pretty daddy?
Daddy don't cry
Oh with all that I've done wrong
I must have done something right
To deserve her love every mornin and butterfly kisses
I couldn't ask God for more than this is what love is
I know I've got to let her go but I'll always remember
Every hug in the mornin and butterly kisses at night




signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:46 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Friday, September 24, 2004

Adam Faris Putra stole the thunder last night, away from his Nani by falling face down and chipped off one of his front tooth. What puzzled me was that he fell down face first, on a pillow. We were all (Balqis, Adam, their Aunty Rahila (My darling husband's younger sister), cousin brother Azim and me) getting ready for bed. We were all snuggling in the same room because that was the only room with the air-conditioner and you will never be able to have a peaceful cozy night if you sleep outside of this particular room in that particular house. Adam stole the thunder because up to that point, majority of the attention was given to my Mother in law, fresh out of hospital the day before. She was admitted on a Friday late afternoon and later transferred to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) for observations, before getting another transfer to the normal ward just a day after that. All throughout her entire 66 years of life, she had never been admitted to the hospital before thus naturally this has been a major shock to everybody in the family. She had never spent a day in the hospital not even for the births of all her six offsprings.

Adam's tooth had actually fell onto my lap as he stood up after the fall, to run over to me to be pacified. I stared at the tooth, horrified. It appeared that what I had in my hands was not the entire tooth only part of it! The now, much talk about tooth is safely wrapped in a tissue paper, by my darling husband, at my request and resides in my wallet. The affair left Adam with the remainder of the tooth still stuck in his upper gum. I am very sure Adam is in great pain. The entire of last night, he didnt want his feed. Unusual. He normally has at least three feeds. He cried every time he tried to feed from the bottle when I placed it in his mouth. I believe his gum hurts. The entire day today, he refused food.

Mak has always been the do-er in the house. Even Daddy who has probably spent the past perhaps 40-odd years with her does not know where things are in the house. She has always been the gregarious one. As sadly put by Daddy's younger sister whom we all refer to as 'Nyah', 'You took care of my brother when he was really sick (My father in law has had a stroke and lost balance of half of his body just recently) and you made him healthy again. Now that you are sick, I just cant take this.' She said this between sobs that left no dry eyes around the hospital bed. Of course, my darling Balqis asked me,'Mommy, why is that nenek crying and why everybody must cry too?' Then Nyah broke into a smile in between her sobs saying,'Why not the three of us stay together in that old house in Kampung Gajah?' Balqis's opinion came out loud and clear after observing this,'Oh ... that nenek just playing only lah ... see now she smile!' Balqis's mother who nowadays are seldom shocked at what is being said by her 4 year old, immediately looked around and was relieved to find that no one had really noticed.

Seberang Perai is one of the hottest place on this face of the earth -- I am comparing it to all the cities in the world that I've been. I think it's because of its location which is near the sea. It's hot and humid both during the day and night. But, if you like Penang style food/mamak style food, then it's a haven for you! I personally like the food and I think it's a nice place to live, with air conditioners available, of course.

Actually the plot is thicker - On our way back to Penang that late Saturday afternoon, in the heat of the day, the air-conditioner in the car decided to call it quits. My sister in law who hitched a ride with us together with her daughter (Balqis's age) and whom we had to make a turn for, from Malacca back to KL and off to Penang, noticed the failing air-conditioner. She had called us to tell us that she wanted to go back to Penang and we should all go back too -- the request came in between sobs. I had actually panicked, when I heard her sobs that is. The air-conditioner was a cause to be worried about -- RM650.00 was the damage just recently to have it repaired. The air-conditioner came back a short while after and all of us heaved a sigh of relief. Everything that happened after that was just within seconds and I forgot to form any kinds of opinion during the commotion. My darling husband noticed the temperature rising, before anybody could say anything, especially me who was busy thinking whether this is a perfect time to panic or not, the engine sputters and gagged and my darling husband expertly manuevoured the car to the emergency lane where the car stopped by itself, without my darling husband having to put any pressures at all to the brakes.

Never fear -- AAM is here. I pulled out the wallet and took out the AAM Membership card. It says -- Valid until: 7/2004. We were charged RM500.00 to have the car towed back right up to Seberang Perai (Non-AAM charges). Of course, it was pointed out to us rather bluntly and it hurts -- It only takes RM90.00 to renew your membership.

The car were towed with all of us (2 Mommies and 3 babies) in the towed car and my darling husband in the truck. We, later found out that this was against the law. Whatever it is, it was lucky that nothing happened during the ride back to Seberang Perai although I was actually quite scared sitting in the towed car with the babies. The tow truck was quite fast and I am sure exceeded the limits once or twice. The babies, oblivious to what has happened, slept all the way.

We spent the whole entire week in Seberang Perai, car-less and at the mercy of my brother in law's spare car. The kids were hyper active most of the time and I believe it was due to the heat. I was getting cranky myself! It was just a tiring 5 days away from home.

The car had to undergo major servicing which costs around RM1,070.00 and that is a lot of money. I never could understand the logics behind car engines and I would like those to remain just as rhetoric to me. We are finally back at home tonight. They had to take days to repair the car which was simply absurd and beyond my comprehension. Nevertheless, we are home with a new and enhanced engine for the car but Adam, he came back without one tooth.

I do hope that Adam's gums would be better tomorrow. I do so want him to have his normal feeds even if it means I have to wake up three times tonight. I just want my Adam to want his feeds again. And I am very sure that Adam too, would want to have his tooth back so that he could have his feeds.

But one thing I am sure off, Adam is glad that he is finally home. Home Sweet Home -- with or without the tooth.



signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:08 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Monday, September 13, 2004

I worked from home today but then probably right up to 4.30pm where I've got to leave the comfort of my home to a 5pm meeting not too far away from where I live. Today was a relief. I only have a few writing assignments to complete and then the 5pm meeting to attend. Of course, let's not talk about the number of phone calls coming in .. but then that's just normal. No heels, no corporate suit, no need to style the hair in the morning, no need for make up. My bare footed self, my cotton bare-belly-button style t-shirt and black cotton shorts as the attire for the day up to 4.30pm at least. My staffs at the office and the part timers are all on Yahoo Messenger. They can choose either to be on yahoo or msn messenger actually which gives us all easy access to each other. I'm always updated as to the goings-on in the office and able to vet through everything before it goes off to the clients, pronto. I'd like to call it -- Running the office on remote control.

I remembered a director based in a Singapore PR agency who sneered at me when I mentioned that I sometimes worked from home. After trying to explain what it means to that old lady (no punt intended), I gave up after recognising the reasons why she snarled so at the idea. She does not have the faintest idea what real time messages are! She of course, has never used it before and not open to the idea of having to work when you are at home! Technology has its problems but so far we all cant live without it.

Balqis got to shower at home this morning. She was thrilled. Normally she goes to school in the morning in her pajamas and will have her morning showers there before changing to the school uniforms. She had me tie up her hair in two plaits. Looking very pleased, she was in a very good mood this morning, with all smiles. Adam on the other hand, dont care much for plaits but was pleased that he too got to shower at home before going off to the baby sitter's place.

This afternoon, a catasrophe landed. Then another one followed. Two catasrophes in one afternoon was all I can take. It was much harder to go through then a presentation or a pitch to a new client! The hair dryer died. It just went poofed! Tried it again. Nope. Not budging. No sound. I can imagine my darling husband's face when I tell him this evening. He knows that this means that his darling wife will be gallavanting to the hair salon every other day washing/blowing/setting the hair until he gets me a new hair dryer. And darling, please this time, I dont want the cheapest one at Carrefour. You know, the one before that lasted me 15 years. Of course I bought it in the US when I was still in school. But 15 years! and it wasnt that expensive too. Perhaps they just dont make things the way they used to anymore. I figured maybe I'll just use the thermo flat iron permer instead, which I bought a few months back at a warehouse sale. Okay -- it's working and looking good. Just as I was developing the second layer of the hair, the lights went out and I sat there in the dark looking at myself in the mirror. What else could possibly happen. A blackout at a very opportune time. 30 minutes went by until there was a flickering to the lights on the ceiling .... it's up! 3 minutes passed by and it's down again! Two blackouts in one afternoon was just too much for me. But all is well -- I finally managed to do the hair in peace.

Time for me to pick on what to wear and which make up to put on. Sigh .... a girl has got to do what a girl has got to do! So help us GOD!





signing off..Hazelinesnow at 3:43 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, September 09, 2004

The air-conditioner in the car broke down on Monday. Talk about bad Mondays. I was thinking about how lucky we are because Balqis & Adam most of the times would only be in the car early in the morning and again early part of the evening. I can imagine Balqis going 'Maaaa .... it's hot. I dont want to go in the car'. I finally managed to sent it in for services yesterday late afternoon and I would like to announce that I am still sitting at home waiting for the call from the mechanics. RM650.00 to change the air conditioner's cooling coil or something like that and again, for some valve somewhere in there plus of course labor fee and some other stuff that was mentioned but not registered in my mind. Of course I am hopeless when it comes to names of the engine parts of a car or any other things with engines. I am one of those mommys who only knows how to get into the seat and start the engine. Of course I know where the brakes and gear (does automatic count) are. The indicator, the wipers and the hazard lights key are amongst the few parts inside of a car that I use and am used to. Once my dad saw spark plugs on the floor of my car and asked me what were those doing there. I told him as a matter of factly that the mechanics said that I need to change those and I did. The mechanics put the old plugs inside the car I suppose so that I know that it was changed to the new ones. My dad stared at me for awhile before slowly shaking his head. From that day onwards, he took charge of the servicing part of my car. It was my first car that time and I am not willing to have extra un interesting inputs to my head, especially when it is a series of mechanical gibberish. I remembered my mom asking me to practice taking off the tyres and putting it back on should anything happened to it! Me! I even detest having to put in gas to the car or put in air to the tyres. I will do these chores only when it becomes absolutely necessary. Now, luckily my darling husband takes care of all the car services chores. I am simply not interested and not willing to learn. Having AAM membership I guess gives you confidence whenever you have to be on the road. Should anything happened, they are just a phone call away and they are reliable.

Adam was fetched at 8pm today with me racing through the LDP Highway trying to get to Adam as fast as I can -- with my air conditioned car. The mechanics had put almost the whole entire insides (or at least I imagined that)of the air conditioner on the car floor to show me that a new one has been placed. I just looked at it and shrugged. I suppose later when I show that to my darling husband he will be a little bit more enthusiastic about seeing the broken parts up close and personal.

Balqis was tired when I got her at her school earlier. She probably had a very busy and tiring day today. She went inside the car singing 'The Greatest Love of All', Balqis's version because other people would not have guessed that the song would have been that one.

Friday's here at last! Tomorrow will be another day working from home. I need a rest now. Thank God it's Friday!




signing off..Hazelinesnow at 1:30 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Sunday, September 05, 2004

Last night we slept to the backdrop of KLCC in the sky looking in to our window and woke up to a sombre KLCC staring back at us, looking magestic and serene. The last thing and the first thing in our eyes were the blinking lights of KLCC. We witnessed the multi-facet of Kuala Lumpur -- A very quiet and peaceful downtown Kuala Lumpur at 6.30am on a Sunday morning as opposed to a burst of colorful blinking lights and a buzz of activities the night before.

Balqis though, exclaimed that she didnt really like this 'house' as much as her own house. She probably described it as a 'house' because all of us are there, we eat there, we shower there, watch TV there and going to sleep there. Why she thought of the Renaissance as a 'house' is beyond my comprehension. Perhaps because of the short journey we took to arrive there from home thus she does not consider that this is a hotel where a short term stay is normally the case. And the normal case is that, we only stay in a hotel when the journey is pretty long and tiring for her and Adam. Oh and she has all that matters with her -- Mommy, Daddy, Adam, her coloring books and her colors.

Adam couldnt care less about all these details as long as he is having a good time exploring. Both of them slept before 9pm, after creating a fantastic mess of rice chicken porridge on the carpet and all over their body. A bath in the tub, air-conditioning buzzing, tired of exploring this other 'house', they slept peacefully without a stir until around 4.30am when both eyes still closed tight, cried for their feeds. Their bottles with them, they went back to their sleep unfazed. But of course, Adam the early riser forced me to open my tight glued eyelids at 6.30am when he woke up, a much more energised Adam.

Saturday morning, we all had roti canai for breakfast at home. It's Adam's favorite breakfast menu. The roti canai must be with the lentil stew and Adam likes to have a lot of it. They normally share 3 pieces together -- My darling husband, Balqis & Adam. As if rejuvenated by the roti canai, after breakfast, both Balqis and Adam had a non-stop let's-mess-the-house-as-much-as-we-can spree, with both me and my darling husband turning into tarzans when they started to do their dare devils stunt around the furniture. Of course, Adam fell from the sofa faster than a speeding bullet or us running and diving (me of course ala-Jackie Chan) trying to safe him. He was complimented by a bump on the top back part of his head of course, accompanied by a long, strong and very loud screams from him. I wasnt sure who screamed the loudest. Me or Adam. I thought my darling husband was going to get a heart attack. We cant both be getting heart attacks, so one of us has to be in control, I thought. We do this without having to communicate verbally, as if by telepathy. If I was the one that was turning pale and white watching these two dare devils' stunts, then my darling husband would be the rational and calmer one. The only good thing that came out of the incident was that Adam immediately asked for milk and napped.

Last Saturday, not realising that they probably would out-lived us anyway, both Balqis and Adam went into a pack together to further enhanced their degree of mischievous-ness. Saturday night, when they were already asleep, both me and my darling husband with our aching backs, feet and head, wondered out loud -- Are other kids like ours?


Today, both Balqis and Adam went to bed just before 8pm. And sometimes, whenever that happens, I feel that the whole world is just too quiet and lonely without them mischieving around. I managed to do some housework while checking in on them on and off. All are peaceful on that front.

Time for me. Precious time. Precious time for my precious. Precious time for me.

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 8:44 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Monday, August 30, 2004

Monday morning buzz started around 6am this morning. I'd thought of going straight to a meeting, from home, but then remembered that I'd forgotten to bring the folder back on Friday night. Decision would be to have to go into the office first this morning to retrieve that file for the meeting. And oh no! I'd thought that I dont have to do anything to my hair until like this morning when I washed it last night before going to sleep. Now, I would have to curl it, morning's just not a good time for setting any kinds of things to your hair ... I dont think I would have time and I can imagine my darling husband's voice going ...quick!quick!... losing patience. 7.30am -- my first call of the day came in. One of the staff is sick -- was my first thought. Either that or the office is on fire. Is the office insured? Must speak to Rozi about it -- my thoughts as I took the phone from my darling husband. It was Adam's babysitter. Guess what? They are still in Kuantan and guess what again ... scratch all the meetings for the day, I'm staying home.

Sent my darling husband to the LRT station at Wangsa Maju, Balqis then declared that she should be sent next before Adam. Balqis of course, must not know that Mommy is staying at home with Adam else all hell will break loose! I was contempleting of having both kids with me for the day since I was not going to work anyway. But then, I thought, I would need to sent out a few emails, replied some and work some on the laptop. I promised Balqis I'll come fetch her 'before night comes' because 'I not like you come get me when night comes'.

For the past two weeks, my schedule has been pathetically awful. I would only arrived at her school/day care between 7.30pm - 8.30pm. The poor darling. Of course my guilty feelings forced me to tell my husband 'Darling ... please step on it!' when all the other times, I would be the one that tells him to 'Can you please slow down a little bit? I would like to be there in one piece'. Well... good decisions are based on appropriate scenarios. There are certain times when we dont necessarily have to hurry. And there are certain times, like, my God.. you'd better be there in 5 minutes flat, kind of thing.

I wanted to look at cybertv to watch my friend Nisriwani, the author of 101 Puteri Dunia Melayu being interviewed by my friends Suhaimi Sulaiman & Tengku Elida, on the Power Breakfast Show. But of course, Adam dominates the laptop and the laptop turned off three times! Probably have to catch the reruns.

The handsome boy slept then woke up looking around for me but didnt want to be picked up. He stood with his back to the balcony door, not wanting to be touched. He came over to the workstation and I picked him up. He slept again on my shoulder - great achievement.

Everybody's been asking what we're gonna do tomorrow. Have not thought about it. Perhaps just lazing around at home ... Kuala Lumpur and its vicinity might be crowded.

Home, where love is.


signing off..Hazelinesnow at 2:44 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, August 26, 2004

I stayed at home today, taking care of darling Adam. Adam's babysitter is on leave. Tomorrow will be my darling Husband's turn to look after Adam and then I take over again, on Friday. We had fun playing the whole day - Where does he gets all those energy? I let him messed up all his toys watching closely how he chose each toy, observed it, threw it back to the container, dig on in the container, took out another toy, observe and threw it back ... His favorite mischief nowadays is switch-off-the-TV-when-Mommy-is-watching. He will always switched it off then looked back to see how I will react eventhough I think he knows that I will always be upset with him. He'll looked back closely, I believe, to see what this woman will say or do today. And, today might be different than yesterday. He has this never-mind-let's-do-it-again-and-see-whether-her-reaction-is-different-this-time attitude about it. Today, Adam made history. He is on Rhinathyol (Flu, Cough & Phelgm mixture), Leftose (Phlegm), Antibiotics and a strike against taking all kinds or forms of medication. Normally it'll take the two of us for the job. It's never a quiet affair. Taking medicine time is always very trying and tiring both for us and Adam. He will kick and fuss and yell and wriggle, clamping his mouth and yell and yell some more. Basically we put up with a lot of screams and a great big struggle. But today, as if he knows that his pint-sized Mom is all alone and this challenging chore is on her shoulders, he behaved, slightly. I still need to put him on the floor, lying down with both his hands under my legs. But, I shall announce that it is without a scene. He opens up his mouth and swallow -- one down, two down and three down! I was amazed beyond belief but with great big relief. I wonder what will happen tomorrow with my darling Husband.

Oh yeah .... My darling Husband will be at home taking care of Adam and I will be arranging for Balqis' school to sent her back home around 5.30pm or 6pm. I will be sitting in a 5pm meeting at the Client's Underwriter's office and I predict that the meeting will drag onto at least 7pm. I dont want Balqis to be late going home. I dont want her to be too tired. I hate late meetings because it means that I will be late meeting with my two babies after the whole day away from them. And for sure, tomorrow, when I arrive, I will not recognise my own house. There are times that I thought ... oh no ... I've gone mad... I've gone into someone else's home. All the mess that greet me were not there when I left home this morning ... this must not be my home.. I've made a terrible mistake of walking into somebody else's living room... get me out of here!!

Nevertheless, I will be home on Friday thus, I may be able to do some cleaning up -- yeah right -- I wish! I think sometimes, my thoughts betray me by thinking without looking back. Let's step back for awhile. Yes... I will wait for Siti, my maid to come in Saturday to help me clean up. I will not attempt to do the impossible.

Time to get back to my proposal -- I've just had a rush of inspiration. It's telling me to save it and present it tomorrow as it is. Nothing more to add. All angles, covered.

The big Baby of the house is reminding me that it's close to 2am and I should be in bed. (Actually -- I know.. He's saying that so that he could take over the laptop to play his online chess game that he is addicted to!)

Oh before I forget -- Balqis told me today in the car that her best friend, Chau Win scolded her. 'Chau Win scold me today you know. Next time you take the 'pisau' and cut her head ok, Mommy'. Where did you get that from? I never said that to you or even when I am so very upset with your Daddy (at least I believe that I never said it out loud, if that thought ever crossed my mind). It turned out to be either Amirul or Nicholas that said that so 'I follow only'. Both Amirul and Nicholas, the darling boys are 5 years old. Balqis will be 4 years old this October. Where do they get all these ideas from?

I shall need a much more serious therapy. I am hoping that one of my clients will agree to my strategy to do a Media Retreat where we bring a group of media people away from Kuala Lumpur, the destination in mind is Tanjung Rhu Resort and Spa in Langkawi. I'd put in spa treatment for all of them. And of course, I will include yours truly, who is in dire need of any kinds of spa treatment. If the client agrees to my sometimes far-off strategy, that is.

But for now, my strategy will be to go to sleep. Like, now .....





signing off..Hazelinesnow at 12:57 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Monday, August 23, 2004

Been ultra busy. Business is buzzing thus work triplicate itself. As I was finishing off with one fax on the last Friday very late afternoon, I received a call from Balqis's school. My assistant took the call which came in on my hand phone. Balqis is having fever! Flew on the Federal Highway to get my darling husband at his work and into the Friday early evening traffic, we inched into the crawl on almost all of the highways around Kuala Lumpur. But, of course, my darling husband seemed to be very cautious all of the sudden. He, who would normally not let a gap of a mosquito between the cars infront of him, were like a kancil away from the other car infront of him throughout the entire journey. On normal days, there will always be the sudden swinging in infront of whoever that was just a second late in inching and proceeding forward. But that evening, my darling husband seemed to be taking forever to get us to Balqis's school. I was praying hard and hitting the accelarator in my mind.

When we arrived, Balqis was really hot. To the clinic. 39.2. Voltran supp to the anus. Screamed at the nurse -- 'Pain, you know' and cried. She also had fallen down earlier that afternoon and had on her forehead a blue black round bump. Besides that, there is also a slight blue black mark on her cheek. Apparently, she'd fallen down face first! I cant imagine and I dont want to either.

Darling Adam had a bad flu over the weekend. He also ended up with a bad cough come Sunday, much to my dismay. Luckily, the strong boy was without fever. Today, his babysitter told me that he hardly coughed and his flu seemed to be getting a lot better too. I was just too relief beyond words.

It's the school holidays again which means that the morning traffic would be a little bit gentler to the motorists. Balqis noted that not very many of her friends were at school. She is there to join in the Holiday Camp program. I dont know and am not sure what is the plan this time but normally they have trips and outings besides the normal art and craft thingy that she does all the time, well, at least most of the Camp that she'd attended.

This morning, at work, I found a folded piece of paper in my handbag. I opened it up to see that Balqis had left her efforts last night, in my handbag. I asked her about it this evening to see whether she remembered putting it there. She did. She told me that she placed in Mommy's handbag so that Mommy can bring it to work. I told her that I showed it off to all the aunties at work. She beamed especially when I told her that all of Mommy's friends said that she is clever and beautiful! Wonder where she got the vain pot-ness from -- must be from my darling Husband's side of the genes.

Adam too now, will look into the mirrors without fail to just watch himself jump, smile, clap and wearing a cap. The darling boy is now asleep. He fell asleep in the car following his Daddy put in gas to the car. I hope he gets a good night sleep tonight. He didnt last night. He woke up twice throwing up from all the coughing. The poor baby.

Mommy has to go and check in on the two babies now. Wonder where the third and biggest baby is. Perhaps sleeping while putting the other two to sleep. I think I'd better rest too. Feel like flu is coming my way -- again! After this, when they are both grown up and out of college, I want to go to sleep at 8pm every night. But then again, perhaps, that will be just that not by preference but by age!

That reminds me - someone wrote in my birthday card once -- Age is mind over matter. If you dont mind, it doesnt matter. Or something like that.

Well, let's not mind. It's the journey ...









signing off..Hazelinesnow at 9:09 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Saturday, August 07, 2004

It is a strange feeling. The head is throbbing and seemed to be spinning.. or wait a minute is it the room that's spinning? My eyelids are glued together and am finding it hard to open even one lid. Heavy lid I have.. must remember to not put on too much eyeshadow next time .. and .. oh the sky high mascara is really making my eyelashes too heavy to be opened. And what's this? Oh no ... my throat hurts when I swallow. Flu is on the way. I need antibiotics. I need to not wake up until next week. I need to ... I need to ... I forgot what I need. Oh yeah ... I need to drink some water but can I not wake up and have that drink while I sleep?

I need my vicks inhaler. Where is that inhaler when I need it?! Is that Adam I hear crying? It sound so far away. Is that Balqis's scream telling Adam not to disturb her? My eyes opened to the rude awakening! Yes.... why oh why does these two people need to wake up at 6 o'clock in the morning on a Saturday?!

I have been sneezing my head off on Friday at work and had started to kind of lose my voice a little bit. Although my darling husband would be thankful as there will be a little bit more peace and less noise coming from me, he does not fancy having to be the one and only one to wake up for the two babies' night feeds. I cant help it. I need to swallow the flu tablet which made me drowsy, two tablets of paracetamol and one table of antibiotics. Medication makes me sleepy and drowsy, no matter what the dose! And I certainly have no plans to wake up for anything from night feeds to mid night snacks. I just want to sleep and I need the sleep.

I woke up with a jolt from the screamings of these two babies! It's only morning and they are at each others throat! I was not sure what was it that made Balqis really mad at Adam. Something Adam grab from her hands or something like that. And of course, Adam being Adam who needs to have everything Balqis has, had to retaliate when Balqis grab the stuff from his hands again. By this time, the episode seemed to be turning into a more dramatic scene. Adam was so sad about the whole thing, he buried his head onto my chest and cried crocodile tears. While Balqis continued watching her TV looking unperturbed, she glared at Adam and showed him that she had what he wanted in her hands. Adam sobbed.

Although I have no intentions of getting up from bed until next week or the week after, I had no choice because the decision was made that Mommy must wake up to solve this very urgent matter. My vision was not that clear but it looked like something blue that they were after. And oh it has buttons. It looked like my hand phone... it looked a lot like my hand phone... because IT IS MY HAND PHONE!!!

Thus, my Saturday began today with all these excitements going all around me! Both Balqis Putry and Adam Faris Putra did not nap at all the whole day and I spent most of my time, well... all of my time saying ... 'no Adam, no Balqis, dont do that Adam and dont do that Balqis'. And oh ... also... a lot of times saying ... 'Please help me Balqis and Adam' ... 'Please listen to me ...'.

Both went to sleep by 8.00pm tonight leaving me with some peace at last. Now, step aside and dont anybody touch my favorite spot infront of the TV. I am sick, I am having fever, flu and a throbbing head. My throat hurts beyond words. I dont want to argue with anybody and I cant becoz I dont have the voice anymore to do so.

The first time tonight I managed to watch Akademi Fantasia from the beginning without any disturbance. Yeah ....








signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:29 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Sunday, August 01, 2004

Although we didnt go out much this weekend, it was a busy weekend nevertheless. Probably need another weekend to recover from this one. It never fail to amaze me as to where children find their energy. Today, both Balqis & Adam did not even nap during the day! Well Adam did for like 30 minutes. Yesterday was the same. But both went to bed very early tonight. And yesterday too. So that kind of supposed to help but then by the time both of them are tucked up fast asleep, it's my time to be really sleepy too! Shucks! I thought of doing up some work I'd brought home to complete over the weekend. I didnt managed to do anything at all last night because I was just nodding off at the keyboard. Tonight I was a bit better. Must be the Jamu. Although I didnt finish the lot but I managed to make a head way to one very important proposal -- in between jumping up and running to both Balqis & Adam. I imagined that both must be very very tired, grumpy and cranky. My mom always told me that when kids are too tired either they sleep motionless or they tend to cry and get up uncomfortably during the night! Tonight's the latter!

Balqis's speech is forming up beautifully. Balqis started to really know how to speak at the age of a little bit over 2 years old. We were very concerned and worried over the fact that she was not able to speak properly yet at that time. Somebody pointed out to me that Balqis will be speaking a little bit later due to the fact that she was picking up dual language as opposed to kids who only speaks one language. Not sure whether that's just myth or otherwise. But I noticed that her speech improves tremendously when I started to send her to the playschool/day care.

Adam now is going to be 20 months old. He cant speak yet but he tends to catch up on the tails of each words spoken by us. Today, he pointed outside and said 'there'. So my darling husband took them both out to ride their bicyles. I could see them from the window. I noted that my darling husband stood rooted watching them going around him. 15 minutes passed by and I noted that he moved about 0.5mm away from his earlier position. I made a conclusion that there is a difference in the way mommies look after their kids outside the house as opposed to daddies. They tend to just stand rooted while watching the kids. We mothers tend to tailgate the kids as much as possible in the hope that we could catch them, dive down or do something to shield them from falling! Daddies tend to just want to use as little muscle as possible -- in this case, using the eyeballs muscles will be just enough unless absolutely necessary to chase, follow or tailgate them. I am not sure whether this is true but it certainly is in my household!

Okay -- Balqis is up crying. Big cry. I wonder what is the matter. My darling husband is losing patient. Sometimes, all she wants is to be put on the old rocker that she'd outgrew but the chaos she created tend to get on my darling husband's nerves.... especially if she's not telling what is wrong or what is it that she wants.

Now, please excuse me while I save the world.





signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:37 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Friday, July 30, 2004

That was the most tiring two weeks of my life! Friday is finally here and I thought it would never come! I need a good rest this weekend. Dozed off in the car going back home earlier in the evening, around 8pm+. It was drizzling in Kuala Lumpur and traffic began to pile up as early as 5pm. And it's Friday -- doesnt make it any easier.

My thoughts have been with both Balqis & Adam since morning. I missed them a lot today but I was lucky that today was not too tight thus I allow some time to think about both of them quite a bit.

Today though, I guess because of the cooler weather and perhaps they are both plain tired too, both were cranky thus we all make up to be the crankiest family today! All I could think off was just to go to bed as early as I could. Both Balqis & Adam, thank God they are not picking on each other but their Mom is definitely ready to face any consequences.

I played with them some while watching TV. My darling husband had no difficulties in putting them to bed tonight. Great!

Me ... I am so tired. Going to sleep now before my forehead touches the keyboard! And I think I could just sleep standing too -- A 5 letter word plaqued me -- TIRED!

signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:11 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Tuesday, July 27, 2004

Balqis has recovered! Thank GOD Almighty! Been away from my blog for about what ... a week? Not sure. A lot have been happening at work. What with the moving to the new offices, business seems to be set to sail. But then, sailing is not easy. You've got to know the know-how to be able to survive. I've diversified the business a little bit somewhat. But I can feel, in my guts, how and where I would like to steer the company's direction.

Tired to the power of infinity. Working on some stuff I brought back from work which started pretty late because I normally will wait until both Balqis & Adam are in deep sleep before starting on anything else be it the house work or the office work.

Balqis & Adam are growing to be two beautiful kids with a mind of their own. You can see two very distinguished characters between these two. Quick-witted and oh so smart.... I've been outwitted by Balqis numerous times. The distinct differences of course include the different characteristics of a boy vs a girl.

Tired ... oh so tired... I cant hardly opened my eyes. Think I'd better join both Balqis & Adam ... and I am sure ... another person would be in too, shortly!

Take a deep breath .... Sigh ...



signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:05 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Saturday, July 24, 2004

On Friday, at 12.45pm, I received a call from Balqis's school. Balqis is having high fever. 12.55pm I was already hitting the road. From Kelana Jaya, I hit the LDP going through SS2, Damansara Jaya and Damansara Utama, cutting through 1 Utama and hitting the Middle Ring Road, my prayers for Balqis never stopped for a second. One male chauvinist pig decided to take on the race, thinking perhaps this lady driver is picking on the other drivers on purpose, driving at 100 km/s, at times 120 km/s, the slowest she managed at 80km/s. Little did he realised that the particular lady driver couldnt care less -- mind, body and soul was just arriving at Balqis's school in one piece to see how Balqis was doing. I arrived in Melawati at 1.20pm. Swerved into my driveway. Parked. Off the air-cond. Off the ignition. Put on shoes, locked the car. Ran to the door, unlock the lower lock, unlock the upper lock, ran to the kitchen, open the fridge, grab a Voltran Supp just in case and ran back to the sitting room and towards the door, grabbing the thermometer on my way out. Stuffed all of that into the pocket of my black checkered skirt. Locked the upper lock, locked the lower lock. Ran to the car, unlock the door, open my shoes, start the engine. Swerve right back on the road, hitting the air-cond while I turned right towards Balqis's school. 1.25pm I was ringing the bell at her school, anxious. I heard Balqis's friends calling her -- your mommy is here! I ran to the other gate nearer to the classes and saw Balqis bounced out of the classroom! A sigh of relief but as soon as the gate was opened for me, I rushed to her, took out the thermometer and checked her temperature. 37.8. Mrs. Law had administered Nurofen 5ml and sponged her. Balqis smiled and beamed upon seeing me. Looking up to me innocently without even realising what her mother had just went through, racing through the Friday afternoon traffic overtaking every single vehicle in sight, worrying about her.

I brought her home. Changed her into something more comfortable and watched helplessly at her temperature rising to 38.6. She slept. All I could do is now administer the Voltran Supp 125mg and sponge and sponge and sponge. She laid down on her cold gel mat and I had the cold pack on her head. She was shivering with cold due to her high temperature. Curled up in a ball, I stayed by her side until the fever finally broke at about 4pm.

I must have received just over a thousand phone calls that afternoon and the same amount of missed calls. I missed 2 meetings that afternoon. But I went back to the office arriving at 7pm, with my darling husband and Balqis in tow. Had a quick meeting and left for Adam at about close to 9pm. Poor darling Adam!

Balqis was still having fever today and you could have imagined our sleep the night before. I was dead tired and my darling husband kept on and up to monitor Balqis. I had my rest. By 4am, he surrendered. Not feeling very well, he was already a zombie as he started with his sleep for the night or rather morning. He was away within seconds. And I was up until about 7.00am and only after Balqis's fever broke that dawn and stabilised that I crawled into bed again, tired, thinking about my puffy eyes and an impending throbbing headache. A possible flu coming up. Just as I was about to doze off, something tugged at my shirt. Opened up my eyes with all the effort I could master. Adam was up, beaming, his dimpled smile greeting me and cutting short my thoughts of wanting to continue my slumber.

It's 11pm now. All 3 babies are asleep. Adam had just cried for his feed. Touched all 3 babies and confirmed that there were no fevers in all three. Balqis had had her Nurofen 5ml, anotibiotics 5ml and flu medication 5ml. Adam had his 5ml of panadol syrup too. The big baby, well, he is gone with the wind tonight. He had cough drop, flu tablet and panadols.

And me? I am just too tired to go to sleep! Anxious at the thought of my Monday media training that I will be conducting at the client's premises (because I am yet to do up the presentation powerpoint) and anxious (plus worried) about Balqis's fever tonight (I pray that it'll be better for her tonight) and about Adam too. Am scared that Adam might contract the same thing as Balqis. Hopefully not. Nevertheless, all precautions have been set into place.

All of us will be in the living room tonight -- camping style. Oh ... and I just realised. Unlike other nights, it'll be me tonight waking up to do the night feeds -- so help us God!

Will catch up on my beauty sleep soon -- probably when both Balqis & Adam are in college. But then again, that time it'll be a different kind of anxiety and worry plight. In the meantime, we'll go through things as they come, gradually. Will go through tonight first with a simple note to myself -- let's not wake up until they cry for their milk! But will do their milk before hitting the sack.

Ooops... excuse me, Adam is interrupting my thoughts now... must be tired of sleeping in that rocker of his. Will have to put him down.

Some plan!







signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:46 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Tuesday, July 20, 2004

It's almost midnight and I am still at it with some work I brought home. My darling husband is not home yet thus I had to put both Balqis & Adam to sleep, which was a difficult task. They finally slept, Adam first and after their third quarell resulting in Balqis giving one kick to Adam and a slap on the head with a coloring book. Poor Adam stood strong not a tear was shed perhaps because he knew he started the brawl!

Balqis was quietly minding her own business concentrating on some coloring project when Adam pulled the book from right under her nose! And one smack from Balqis would do it. There are times when he made it a big deal although he started it first. But then again, Adam is just a baby and he doesnt know that he's not supposed to that, was always my message to pacify Balqis. There are certain times when I said ... It's OK Balqis ... if you dont want to accept Adam's apology, tomorrow I'll give Adam away ... And Balqis would be so mad at me screaming 'No! You dont do that to Adam'. Oh so .. you do love Adam, I'd say only to be replied back in total silence from Balqis.

This morning, I found Balqis developing a slight temperature. And this evening when I got her from school, the slight temperature has become a major concern. But she just got better from fever just recently was my lament! I do hope that it will not be developing into something worst. Am monitoring her tonight.

Life at work has become a major chaotic uproar! Of course as usual everything need to happen at the same time. This morning as I sat in the presentation, waiting for my turn to present, I felt like running out of the board room in the middle of the presentation to place a call to Balqis's school to find out how she was doing. It seemed be drag on and on and on. Somebody must stop this! As soon as it ends, I ran to make that call. I was fidgeting and was unable to fully focus towards the end of the presentation wondering about Balqis at school.

GOD please help me with Balqis. Please dont make her sick again. She just got over a bad fever. Please get her well.

Tomorrow's another challenge. Moving into the new office slowly but surely. Stuff are finally coming out of the store room therefore I am hoping to be able to clear the room soon. The store room happened to be the second room in the house which has been turned into a store room temporarily.

Need my rest. Need my sleep. Not just any kinds of sleep... but my beauty glorious sleep!





signing off..Hazelinesnow at 11:30 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Monday, July 19, 2004

Yesterday, Adam fell down three times! Sigh ....
He was playing in the drying area while looking at Mommy doing her washings and wanted to look into the washing machine, lost his footing and fell down somehow head first and his forehead hit the unused dish holder resulting in a small cut.  Later, he decided that he should be let into the kitchen no matter how and was hanging on to dear life shaking the Safety Gate with all his might.  And the gate flew together with him to the floor.  He hit his head with the gate on top of him!  Later, he bounced on the sofa, again lost his balance and toppled over to the floor, head first.  I flew to the sofa in a dive that would have made Jackie Chan mad with envy.  Half of my body on the sofa, my feet dangling trying to balance my maneuver and hands outstretched holding on to Adam's feet.  Although the Jackie-Chan-maneuver managed to catch on to Adam's feet,  it wasnt fast enough.  His head had already reached the floor resulting in a few scratches on the forehead again but this time on the right side.  So help us God!

Me working from home this morning to finish off a few proposals.  The sms-es have been coming in steadily since 8.15am from all over and would not let me be in peace.  Meetings will start in the afternoon today and am working on 3 separate proposals and 1 presentation simultaneously.  My specialty -- multi-tasking.  Arent all mothers?  Special message to future employers -- if you need somebody with multi-tasking capabilities, chances are you have to hire mothers!Now, come up to my face and tell me that you disagree!


signing off..Hazelinesnow at 8:45 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, July 15, 2004

I went out of the office right after the simmering down of the afternoon thunder showers in Petaling Jaya. Roads were clear, the highways were a breeze. It was just a few minutes to 5pm I believe and I swerved the car right onto the driveway of Balqis's school. She was still having her afternoon nap. The first thing she said to me was ... 'Mommy, saturday (she meant yesterday. She cant pronounce yesterday and always describe yesterday as saturday) so late you pick me up. I wait I wait I wait.' So naturally she was pleased that I was real early today. She had on her a perpetual small satisfied smile. I asked her why she was smiling. She said 'Today Balqis go home already now'. So I got to spent the early evening with her, watching her Play House Disney Channel on cable TV and playing the playhouse disney.com on the internet. She watched The Lion King for awhile before abandoning it to go see what I was doing in the kitchen. Today I was cooking their macaroni, potato, carrot and chicken ball soup.

I am hoping that I will be home early tomorrow too. My target is to reach home by 5.30pm to get to spend some extra time with my Balqis & Adam again tomorrow.

They'll be happy, I hope. I know I will be.






signing off..Hazelinesnow at 6:04 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Wednesday, July 14, 2004

I really really hate working late. I will only work late if necessary and I do my best not to. If it is a meeting, all throughout the entire meeting it will be *Balqis* *Adam* *Balqis* *Adam* in my mind until the meeting ends. For the past few days beginning Monday, my schedule has been erratic and hectic. My new agency is finally up and running, searching for office space and meeting people are the majority part of the activities. Majority of my time are consumed with meetings and meetings and then more meetings. My partners and me are going full throttle and with a few contracts secured, we are, to describe it with a four letter word, BUSY.

Since Monday, I've been picking the kids up on the average 9pm! And I wished I could fly back to get them after those unavoidable meetings that dragged and dragged! My darling Balqis told me on Monday night that she waited for me so long. On Tuesday, the maid at her school told me that Balqis complained to say that Mommy is very late. And today she was already asleep! Sigh ... And only if Adam could talk!

So far this week I only get to spent a few waking hours with them at night before they dozed off so naturally I missed them a lot. But I've scheduled my time for both Thursday and Friday so that I will be back early at home! I pray that there will be no last minute urgent meetings to attend to. I hope by next week as my work load eased off a little bit, I will be able to leave office even earlier to go home to be with the kids. I will also be able to not go to the office and start work from home first before going off for my meetings outside.

The 6pm meeting ended at 8pm tonight. To top it all off, majority of the traffic lights going to my house was down due to a blackout. Thus the chaotic traffic causes major halts at several points. Darn! Darn! Darn! And all I could think of was *Balqis* *Adam* *Balqis* *Adam*.... If only I could fly ....

Everybody seemed to want a fraction of my time since I was gone for the whole of last week from work and that situation does not help. My assistants are having a very trying time to accomodate everybody and I must say that I am thankful that they were on top of things while I was gone.

Time for my slumber. We are all sleeping together tonight with me in the middle holding both Balqis's and Adam's hands. Balqis on my right and Adam on my left. And before long, I know Adam with turn over and placed his head on my chest. And Balqis will put her leg over mine, not letting go of her hand in mine.

Sweet dreams my little sweethearts ... Mommy is here to chase away all the bad dreams ...
and keep all the pretty ones for both Balqis and Adam.







signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:49 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Sunday, July 11, 2004

I can give a good sigh of relief. They are confirmed to be 98% healthy and definitely on the way to full recovery. We all went to Carrefour today to do some minor groceries shopping. I think everybody at Carrefour would have known us at that point. Not because we are popular public figures but because we are the most chaotic family around. It was also too impossible to miss us because Adam kicked and cried and screamed (For the first time an ultra moody Adam)and wailed and scratched and wriggled. His head, ears and nose were red with all those crying. Balqis on the other hand, decided that she must be seated in one of those car-look-a-like cart or else ... So, I had to go and get the car for her. They were asking for a RM30.00 deposit and I digged my wallet to find that I only had RM20.00 with me! My darling husband, of course had to forget his wallet! The groceries shouldnt be any problems coz they are online with Maybank and I can always use my ATM card at the counter. The most pressing problem then was I had to go to the ATM machine quick to get some money for this darn car. Walked. Queue. Get money. While I was gone, my darling husband had to control and look after a wailing, kicking and wriggling Adam who also wanted to get in the car-cart thingy and Balqis of course, would not want to share it at all!

When I arrived there was already a queue forming up with Adam crying and screaming and Balqis looking so contented with herself at having the car-cart thingy to herself. I paid the deposit and I tried psychology with Balqis. She bought it and jumped out of the car-cart thingy and I went on to find my dear darling husband. Adam was placed in the car and all is well..

All is well until they decided that they wanted a drink right there and then. We grabbed a pack of cultured drink of which both Balqis & Adam drank and left nothing at the end. So I kept the plstics covering the drink together with the bar code so that it could be scanned for us to pay at the counter.

Finally we reached the counter and queue up to pay for the groceries. The person in front of us didnt have enough money with him resulting in us having to wait. Once the next counter was free, I transferred all my stuff over and queue up at the new counter. By this time, Adam thought that the waiting was a bit much and wriggled and screamed and cried and kicked to be let down. We were scared to let Adam get down from my darling husband because we would be chasing him everywhere and he is faster than any one of us!

We paid and walked as fast as we could to the car. Adam has not stopped crying. He only stopped crying when the car moved and when we allowed him to sit on my darling husband's lap.

Dinner was spaghetti and meat sauce. My darling husband's recipe. He did all the cooking and I did all the cleaning up. He also helped me cook Balqis & Adam's macaroni soup.

That was one tiring afternoon for all of us. Yeah and Balqis helped me blow candles on my birthday cake. Adam had fun smudging the cake with his fingers, on his mouth, it was also on his forehead. He did a big mess on the kitchen floor. Well ... as long as you are quiet and happy, I will willingly clean your mess up later. Just do not cry anymore.

Does anybody else's kids behave like ours? Or maybe what my darling husband said is correct -- our kids are special. Very special they are of course to our hearts! And dont anybody take that away from us!





signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:20 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Saturday, July 10, 2004

It's finally Saturday and I thought it will never come. I am in a state of aching body, limbs and my waist is killing me. Cant get good spare parts nowadays so I am living with what I have! And today, as I turned a year older I thought I could feel the age creeping in ... with style (not giving in!).

Major announcement -- Balqis is good! She's back to her normal self... I thank GOD! Adam is on the way to recovery ... the cool dude is now happily opening up his mouth to take in the medicine as opposed to Mommy having to strap him down in between the legs, holding his hands and feet together! Major hurdle. Major disaster area before as it will normally take all my might to just feed a medicine. Coming from a 148cm person (and growing so fast), that was some maneuver petite Mommy has to do. My darling husband would always be the feeder because I will never be able to go through ensuring that medicine is in the mouth. Then ensuring medicine in throat and swallowed. Medicine in the mouth does not necessarily means that it will be in the throat and way way down in the stomach. One twist of fate, the medicine will be on Mommy instead of landing itself in Adam's vein!

We were always wondering whether this is a major world phenomenon or is it just happening within our world. More statistics is needed and major research is under way. Will not be able to share report with anybody at this point of time.

All my 3 babies are napping at this point (remember that I have 2 small babies and 1 big one!) and that leaves me with quality time to myself -- reading a book bought by my darling husband (currently reading Adik Datang written by Pak Samad and the book is autographed by him), putting clean laundry into drawers and in the wardrobe, visiting blogs while sipping peppermint tea.

I had a blast from the past yesterday. A theatre friend from Singapore gave me a surprise call to see what I was doing this weekend. He will be up here getting his script from Pak Samad and he needed to touch base with me because he needed my support for their upcoming theatre project with Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka (DBP). I have left that part of my world (Theatre) quite a while back -- as soon as I got Balqis. I had no more spare time to either write, produce, be involved, act (which I seldom do) or whatsoever anymore. I left it where it was too. Am on hiatus when it comes to theatre. Those days, I used to travel down to Singapore invited by Theatre Kami (most of them are dear old friends) on several special occasions. Now, although I dont do theatres anymore I am looking for some time to go see one with my darling husband -- and when we find a babysitter who is willing to take care of Balqis & Adam. And you know, I will always be the worry-wart. I will think of them most of the times I am away from them and wonder whether they are OK, what they are doing etc. Thus, we seldom go out nowadays. But as they grow bigger, I am beginning to gain more confidence and feeling more comfortable at leaving them behind with babysitters. Thus, I think I will be able to do my own things slowly as they grow older.

It's Saturday -- It's my birthday -- It's a wonderful day thus far!



signing off..Hazelinesnow at 6:10 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Thursday, July 08, 2004

Adam is sick too! When I got him back from the babysitter yesterday evening, he already had a temperature going. The poor darling is also having flu and I reminded myself that I shall take a look at his tonsils with the Disney Princess torchlight, of course belonging to Balqis.

So, today is day 4 of me at home looking after Balqis. Adam was with me most of the morning and I'd sent him off to the babysitter since he was doing much better than Balqis. Adam has always been a strong boy. This morning, Dr. Norliza had to chase him around to get his temperature. He hated for the thermometer to be in his ear. He fan it off like fanning off a fly! Made a face and screamed making a crystal clear statement: Dont touch my ear. Dont you dare touch my ear. The doc got it finally.

Last night I brought Balqis to see Dr. Rayney Azmi Ali just to get another opinion. He's always been something like a family doctor but he is always away from his clinic that we are forced to be the loyal patrons of Dr. Norliza ever since. He is mostly in on Wednesdays and these are the times when we will get in to see him. Dr. Rayney was also the receiving doctor when I gave birth to Balqis ... so Balqis and him kind of have a bond.

He prescribed Balqis with a strong antibiotic. Her lungs seems clear. I was so scared that it might be another Broncho Pneumonia case (Nauzubillah). We spent 5 days at the Peadiatrics Ward of Gleneagles when Balqis was about 2 years plus because of Broncho Pneumonia. 5 days and 4 nights. And I was pregnant with Adam too at that time!

Last night Balqis had a fretful sleep while my darling husband had no sleep and me, an interrupted sleep. Her nose are bothering her so much and she is having difficulties breathing through her stuffed up nose. Her temperature soared and dropped but not to normal, just kind of dropped insignificantly.

I piled up pillows for her so that she could be rested all through the night almost sitting down but real comfy like so that her stuffed nose would be clearer a little bit for her to breath. That did not help much actually so she continued on her fretful sleep crying, whining and irritated. She didnt get a good long rest but interrupted ones too, the poor baby.

Adam was immediately fine when I administered the voltran supp and gave him plenty of fluid to drink. He has no problem in that department thus this makes my life easier to manage when it comes to Adam. But, you need to use his built-in straw winnie the pooh water tumbler. I guess he finds it exciting drinking from the tumbler and he continues on sipping from time to time even on his own accord. Balqis on the other hand is refusing to take in any fluids especially water. That has been the challenge since day 1. But then I had this game of 'cheers' before drinking with her and for a good one day drank water voluntarily so that she can 'cheers' with mommy's water glass to drink. Although she wasnt drinking as much as I would have liked her to, at least she did. But then after that she got bored with the game and stopped drinking - except for her milk which I prepare with half the normal formula as opposed to the normal 4 scoops of milk powder to 9oz of water.

This morning, eventhough he was having fever, Adam decided to help Mommy brush her hair. So he took her hair brush and he went to work -- brush, brush and then Tuk!Tuk! *grin* brush, brush, Tuk!Tuk! *grin*. He grins every time I screamed because he was hitting my head with the hair brush in between the brushing of the hair. He loved doing that and is thrilled to have caused me or anyone to scream like it's his reward for being naughty.

Adam is asleep according to the hourly report I'm getting from the babysitter -- my calls and I know .. she must be thinking ... get me of off this Mom!

Balqis is also napping at this point infront of the TV on her comforter hugging her butterfly Aussino pillow while borrowing Adam's grasshopper Aussino pillow, watching Playhouse Disney Channel 63.

Time for Mommy to take a deep breath close to Balqis, to monitor. I hope tomorrow will be a better day for both of them. As for me, once they are recovered, I am flying off to the Fiji Islands... in my dreams ...






signing off..Hazelinesnow at 12:21 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Wednesday, July 07, 2004

Today is the third day I stayed at home to take care of Balqis. I thought perhaps today I could go back to work considering the fact that Balqis spent most of yesterday sleeping! She woke up at 8.30pm or so, and temperature rises up again. Okay here we go. Thermometer under the armpit. We only have a digital one. I guess it's high time to invest in the thermometer that you place in your ear for your temperature. Will wait for one of the pharmacies for sale because it cost around RM170.00. And so we noticed Balqis's temperature rising reaching 38.5. Hit the showers to cool her off. Voltran supp. to her anus. And sponge, sponge, sponge and sponge some more. Temperature. Still high. Sponge again and again. Temperature. And on and on and on... that's what I've been doing since Monday!

The doctor had ordered us to stop feeding her antibiotics because she developed diarhea which according to Dr. Norliza could be one of the cause for the high temperature. It was quite a long explanation - so okay, we'll take your word for it.

This morning I woke up to Balqis calling me. I touched her and she was hot. Thermometer. When it finally beeped, my eyes almost dropped to the floor. 39.2. I rushed her into the bathroom. Showered her. She wanted out of the bathroom. 'It's cold! Stop it! Stop it Mommy! I'm cold'.... she screamed in between shivers. I took her out and dried her and started the whole entire sponging episode again. My darling husband upon seeing that it will kind of take a considerable time for the temperature to drop, fill in the tub and put Balqis in it, much to Balqis's joy! She spent a considerable time playing in the tub squealing. Out she came. Temperature dropped to 37.0.

And so it goes on and on for Balqis since Monday. Her fever does not subside for long. Then back to high temperature again. Showers, sponging and more sponging seemed endless for me these past few days. Sigh ... poor Balqis. Although she is still the active girl but you can tell that she's not feeling too comfortable when her temperature is high. My baby Balqis. Hope you will be fine tomorrow.


signing off..Hazelinesnow at 5:53 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Sunday, July 04, 2004

This is one tiring weekend. I need another weekend to recover from this one. I had to work on Saturday. The meeting lasted from 9.30am - 2.30pm. Darn! Lucky it was at Starbucks Amcorp Mall so at least there was some elements of lepak-ing in it too, although the meeting was of a serious nature. Me and my business partners normally trash stuff out at these kinds of fad coffee places. Less bureaucratic atmosphere.

Balqis was sick since last night! :o( It has been a habit with me and my darling husband to put our hands on the kids' forehead and neck to check whether they are OK from time to time. Paranoid parents, I know. Well .... Balqis had a temperature. We woke her up much to her annoyance to give her the panadol suppresant syrup. She took it in between her wailings. She was OK until about 7am. I woke up to find that she was lying down sleeping in a tight curled up position, shivering. Sigh .... I ran to get the thermometer while screaming for my darling husband to wake up.

She went into fits at about 2pm. We had her showered, administered voltran supp into her anus but her temperature was still not stabilised. Her fits ended some seconds but a long while to me when I was looking at her. Lucky we've gone through this and the doctor had advised us and taught us the first aid to the matter. Laid her down on her side to ensure that there was no obstruction to her breathing. I administered the (I forgot what it is called) something rectam pushed it into her anus and press the medication to stop her from jerking. Her jerking stopped but her face was ashen white, her body stiff. Her eyes still was looking upwards. I called out for her to look at me. Just look at me. Her eyes slowly looked at me but she was very very tired at this point. When we saw that she was about to recover, we went to the bathroom, sat her on me and showered her to bring down the temperature. Right after that, we went to see the doctor. It must have been her tonsil infection and as suspected, it was the cause. Antibiotics is imperative here! They didnt have the one that we were used to but were given something of the same effect and standard, we were told. Came back and Adam who was just wailing and pushing himself to us not too excited about all the attention and fuss given to Balqis before, went to sleep. One hurdle over. At least we can concentrate on Balqis alone.

When I wanted to place Balqis on my lap, Adam disagreed profusely! He stepped onto my lap first and sat himself down so that there will be no more space for Balqis. So, I had to give Balqis to her Daddy. And with a single bounce, Adam is out of my lap and into my darling husband's. So when he finally took his afternoon nap, that came as a big relief for both of us.

Balqis now is lying down on a cooling gel, the size of a small mat. A friend of ours got it for us from Hospital Kandang Kerbau in Singapore. When your baby's temperature is high, what you do is you wrap them in one of these. But it's kinda small you know, thus all we could do is to put Balqis on the mat to cool her temperature down a little bit more. Sponge her good. And about an hour after administering the antibiotics, her fever broke. 36.6 after continuous sponging and praying. That was a long afternoon for both me and my darling husband. And I bet for our darling Balqis too. She was not too excited about having to stay indoors because of her fever especially when she heard the neighbors' kids playing and laughing having fun outside. But I know -- she was just concerned about the fact that she couldnt play with her brand new bicycle.

She had her first ride on her brand new bicycle last evening together with Adam (Adam was on Balqis's old bicycle) and Mommy and Daddy. Although she's had her bicycle since Tuesday, she was OK for waiting until the weekend to have her test drive on it. Poor darling Adam, his first time playing with the bicycle outside and he fell down face first on the road!!!! I screamed the loudest scream that seemed to scare away all the birds. They all flew away. Adam too gave a loud shrill and my darling husband who was just a few cm away from Adam scooped him up also with a single bounce. Supermen in the makings. Adam had a cut on his right upper part of his eyebrow and some scratches on his sweet face! :o( But after a few minutes, he wanted to be let down and jumped on his bicycle and awayyyyy ..... (I rest my case).

Besides the bicycle, I also bought the two kids their table and chairs. It came in as a colorful set, blue, yellow, red and green. Adam was so excited about it the first night that he wanted to take his chair to sleep! And the next morning wanted to take it with him to the babysitter! Although he couldnt talk yet but his expression is enough to communicate his wants and frills. I turned around to look at the both of them while writing this entry. They are watching the new Playhouse Disney Channel 63 on cable TV. My darling husband is on the roll - he just showered them and changed them to their sleeping attires, made them milk and entertaining them. Balqis is just simply staring straight ahead watching Rolie Polie Olie. While Adam, who just got up like an hour ago, was standing on the sofa, also staring at the tube with his mouth jabbering gibberish. His hands pointing to the tube every now and then. Cant wait for him to know how to talk.

...... and then when it comes for the time for both of them to know how to speak... all I will say is .. so help me God!

Oh ... and tomorrow's Monday! Boooo Hoooo .....


signing off..Hazelinesnow at 6:41 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Tuesday, June 29, 2004

I was wondering what Balqis think of her Mommy. Adam of course, thinks of me as his pacifier, his toy and friend. Yesterday morning, Balqis asked me ... 'Where is my new bicycle? Say only but never buy!'. And I thought ... I'd better get that particular bicycle today! We've been promising her the new bicycle everytime Adam wanted to use hers. And she actually had outgrew the one she has now. We thought give that to Adam and buy her a new one. We were of course, unaware that she has been listening to the conversation because she looked like she was concentrating on her colors. With her head cocked to the left, eyes staring straight at the picture and hand busily coordinating colors. Didnt realise the ears were also working overtime!

I have a 2 days medical leave :o) because I have flu. Balqis is off to school and Adam is with the babysitter. I have the whole house to myself and of course, did some light housework. I cant keep still. And I know that my darling husband would suspect that I will be doing my favorite housework chores which is doing the laundry. At the rate the children are wearing clothes like 4 attires a day, I cant wait for the weekend to do the laundry... it will be sky high! As it is, they averaged about four outfits a day between them and simple arithmatic will tell you how much laundry I have to endure, and that's just them.

I was going to think about what Balqis think of her Mom. The other day, just as I dropped her off at school, she beamed and clutched at my sleeves, apparently showing me off to her friends... saying 'Look this is my Mommy you know ... nice or not... nice or not.' I was secretly laughing in my heart. I looked down to look at her beaming face. Her friends looked up to me. And Balqis said... 'Saylah Hi to my Mommy... You say Aunty ... Comelah call my Mommy, Aunty.' It was just so funny the way her mind works.

Still thinking about her bicycle, perhaps I will dash there at about 11am. I still have to go to an appointment at 3pm later somewhere AmpWalk on Jln Ampang. After that I had to meet up with two of my journalist/writer friends at Mid Valley to discuss an impending project. Exciting writing project! Code named .... eerr.. havent think of a code name yet.

What I thought of my Mom was that she was very kind and beautiful. She is soft spoken but able to scream (tarzan-like) whenever she is angry. She always wants the best for her kids and is a worry-wart. I take after her in the worry-wart department. All in all, she is the best Mom in the world!

Would Balqis and Adam think that too? I'm unto my second Strudel -- but not to ponder on what Balqis & Adam would think of me... more like pondering whether I should be putting out the laundry or just let it be in the drying area. Tough decision... need a board meeting for this.

Okay ... flu medication starting to kick in -- with a RED ink-ed message: Can cause drowsiness. Do not operate heavy machinery'. Oh No! I need to use the washing machine!





signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:31 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

People, I have two announcements.






Announcement no. 1:

SALE
Clarins Beauty Fair
Savings of up to 70%
Date: 2nd - 3rd July 2004
Time: 10am - 5pm
Venue: Mahkota 1 & 2, Level 3
Armada Hotel, Petaling Jaya


Announcement no. 2:

OFF SEASON SALE
Shiseido, Za, Whitia, EtthuSais, Uno
Date: 3rd - 4th July 2004
Time: 10am - 6pm
Venue: Edaran Tan Chong Motors Petaling Jaya
Jalan Kemajuan (near section 14)

So there ... I bet that some people will be busy this weekend -- beginning Friday!
Knock yourselves out!



signing off..Hazelinesnow at 9:04 AM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}

Monday, June 28, 2004

Today, I'd returned back the folder given to me by Balqis's teachers before the school holidays. I had to pen down my signature at these stuff:

~ her Computer Aided Work Book
~ her Environment and Social Studies
~ her Fun in Numbers Activity Worksheet
~ her Pre writing Skills
~ her I Can Count Mathematics Nursery
~ her qi ming ji ben da o de Nursery Work Book (Moral)
~ her Pre Reading Activity Book and
~ her Saya Belajar ABC - Buku Kerja

What a lot of stuff she's learning! For a 3 year old and 9 months old baby!? I am so proud of her!

I also had to pen down my signature on her Report Card, for her first semester's report! First time doing it and I am thinking ... she has a long way to go, still. She's not even half way... She's just a baby ... And I told myself that I will work very hard to ensure that she has all it takes to be a successful being now and the here-after even if I have to do it alone.

I was doing my manicure today and my manicurist was telling me that she has a 5 year old son -- the reason why she is working her butt off for. She is a divorcee and her ex husband she claims does not care less about the son. She is actually sending the boy for extra tuition for English, Math and Mandarin so that the boy will be, in her words, 'clever not like the mother must work only'. 'I want him to be clever'. She tells me that she is paying RM800 a month for his school and tuition. And she is no executive. She told me that at night she has to do part time work too, to make ends meet. But most important in her life is that she aspires for her son to be 'clever'. She does not ask for more. For her to be able to have enough money to sent her son to school and tuition, she has to put up her son with a baby sitter who takes care of him for her all the time. She will only pick up her son on weekends when she does not have any part time work. There are also times when she could only see her son once a month. But, she speaks to him on the phone every night, to hear his voice and 'to let him also hear his mommy's voice. I tell him I love him ... and for him to study hard because his mother works very hard to make him clever'.

I just thought... there are a lot of things only Mothers will do for their children. No matter how difficult the situation is, it's always the children that is priority. Does not matter whether she is tired or needed a rest badly or wanting stuff for herself. What matters the most to this particular lady is that her son is being educated and being given the chance to succeed in life, with proper education. And her ambition for herself is ... 'I only want to do people's nails and be good at it so that I have enough money to send my boy to school and make him clever'. That sets me thinking. Even some fathers in this world would not have done that. Although it's the fathers' duties and responsibilities to go the extra length and find means to ensure that the children are very well taken care off in terms of clothing, toys and schools, not all families are that lucky. In some families, I see that the ardent thoughts of wanting their kids to succeed badly belongs to the Mothers. And she goes all out to ensure that her dreams are fulfilled. Some of us, take things for granted and will not give things like this a second thought: one reason, somebody else is already taking care of it so why waste my energy and money investing. Another reason: whatever will be, will be. No need to go beyond the boundaries of your circle of life.

We all have dreams for our children. I have dreams for my Balqis & Adam. Just take one look at them and you know that there is nothing else that you dream of but the best and only the best for them. And for that, even if it takes all my might, I will ensure that they will always receive the best of my love and attention.

Nothing but the best for Balqis & Adam. And I hope and pray that both of you will succeed in life and hereafter. And for both of you to always love me.




signing off..Hazelinesnow at 10:20 PM [ | ]

{Takes all sorts to make the world .. the world..}