Caity walked yesterday. Gine propped her up on the back of the sofa and she managed to toddle 4 steps forward! This is bittersweet for me I guess. I know that pretty soon she'll be running around the house and I'll have to jump up and down to catch her. At the same time, I've been waiting for a long time for her to walk.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Ovarian Cysts & Weight Gain
Well, went to see my Gynae this week. Unfortunately the cysts are back. The condition causes weight gain and the weight gain makes the cysts worse so it's a looping cycle. I've been asked by my doctor to lose about 10% of my current body weight (about 6 kg). That's a lot or hard work.
Remember that when I conceived Caity, it was a time when my weight was down. I'd been working out 3 times a week and watching my food intake. Well, no excuses now. Gotta "feel the burn". Luckily, weight loss is 70% diet. Yes, Yes, I've been having too many bubble milk teas and late night ice cream recently. It's just that working full time and being a mom full time leave you feeling so emotionally depleted. People always ask who's taking Caity when I'm at work. Well, she's well taken care of my MIL but even so I feel guilty only seeing her from 6 pm to 6 am on week days. Fortunately, I've got the school hols and teaching follows a seasonal pattern of intense and breathable periods.
Back to the weight loss. The main thing is that I'm trying not to skip meals. This week I've been going to the canteen and eating fruits if I've only got a half hour break. Also, been trying to incorporate 20 min workouts here and there. Another way is to combine childcare with workouts. Last night we walked for 20 mins with Caity in the pram. It's good for her to observe other people out and about. I've noticed that my pants, although still tight, are a little looser.
Next step, buy one of those body composition weighing machines so I can *gulp* face reality. I hadn't weighed myself since Caitlin was 2 months. Then two weeks ago, I went for a free fitness assessment at my nearby gym. I left with this dazed feeling. My BMI is in the obese range. Also, I have the abdominal strength of a weak-batteried pencil sharpener. Couldn't even do a proper curl up. Good news is that I can still do 20 push ups (probably have lots of upper body strength from carrying Caitlin everywhere).
Well...sigh...a little self-restraint in the ice cream department is well...going to suck. Better start doing more crunches. *Sniff*
Remember that when I conceived Caity, it was a time when my weight was down. I'd been working out 3 times a week and watching my food intake. Well, no excuses now. Gotta "feel the burn". Luckily, weight loss is 70% diet. Yes, Yes, I've been having too many bubble milk teas and late night ice cream recently. It's just that working full time and being a mom full time leave you feeling so emotionally depleted. People always ask who's taking Caity when I'm at work. Well, she's well taken care of my MIL but even so I feel guilty only seeing her from 6 pm to 6 am on week days. Fortunately, I've got the school hols and teaching follows a seasonal pattern of intense and breathable periods.
Back to the weight loss. The main thing is that I'm trying not to skip meals. This week I've been going to the canteen and eating fruits if I've only got a half hour break. Also, been trying to incorporate 20 min workouts here and there. Another way is to combine childcare with workouts. Last night we walked for 20 mins with Caity in the pram. It's good for her to observe other people out and about. I've noticed that my pants, although still tight, are a little looser.
Next step, buy one of those body composition weighing machines so I can *gulp* face reality. I hadn't weighed myself since Caitlin was 2 months. Then two weeks ago, I went for a free fitness assessment at my nearby gym. I left with this dazed feeling. My BMI is in the obese range. Also, I have the abdominal strength of a weak-batteried pencil sharpener. Couldn't even do a proper curl up. Good news is that I can still do 20 push ups (probably have lots of upper body strength from carrying Caitlin everywhere).
Well...sigh...a little self-restraint in the ice cream department is well...going to suck. Better start doing more crunches. *Sniff*
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
14 months
Doctor's visit and shots
Baby is happy, healthy and finally putting on some weight again. Since the doctor's visit a month ago, she's put on 500g to about 8.5kg now. Small for her age, I'm hoping she'll have another growth spurt. Luckily, her head is a normal size and she's average height. I really hope Caity gets her height from her father and not from me.
She was so cute. The minute we walked into the doctor's office, she started crying because she recognised the doctor from our numerous visits in May. She really clung to me for dear life and wouldn't stop crying. Poor thing.
Made use of our effective 1 week break to bring her out. Managed to visit the zoo and the Marina Barrage. Since the flu outbreak started we've been grounded in Singapore. Personally, I probably don't want to risk it either.
Marina Barrage (above)
Zoo (above)
Baby is happy, healthy and finally putting on some weight again. Since the doctor's visit a month ago, she's put on 500g to about 8.5kg now. Small for her age, I'm hoping she'll have another growth spurt. Luckily, her head is a normal size and she's average height. I really hope Caity gets her height from her father and not from me.
She was so cute. The minute we walked into the doctor's office, she started crying because she recognised the doctor from our numerous visits in May. She really clung to me for dear life and wouldn't stop crying. Poor thing.
Made use of our effective 1 week break to bring her out. Managed to visit the zoo and the Marina Barrage. Since the flu outbreak started we've been grounded in Singapore. Personally, I probably don't want to risk it either.
Marina Barrage (above)
Zoo (above)Reflection on Bf-ing
I was emailing Rene who's a new mother. She's just starting her breastfeeding journey with Baby Ryan. Well, yes bfing is a journey for me that's still going on.
Let's see. I started with little production the first few weeks, sore nipples and lots of frustration. Then it got better between the 3 to 4th months but by that time I had to start work and hence was pumping even when I had full 9 period days and the only slot I had for pumping the milk was during my recess break. That was tough. By that time I also had an oversupply (slightly) because if I didn't express milk for more than 4 hours, my breasts would get really full like a rock. Also, just at the thought of Caitlin I'd let down. Hence breast pads were essential. Even then, some days they'd be so full that they'd drop into the bin with a heavy thud once I threw them away. Then came all the pressure from MIL to quit once Caitlin hit 10 months because Caitlin was so attached to me not only because I'm her Mommy but because she sees me as a major source of food and comfort. I myself felt worn because she wouldn't give me any peace. It's like a drug addict who needs a fix. The moment I walked through the door she would insist on sticking to me and whining until she got fed. I decided to wean at 12 months and it's been a SLOW SLOW process. Mainly because I don't want to do the cold turkey method and traumatize her. The other side of it was that bfing had become such an important part of our relationship that I knew I myself would miss it once it ended. However, I decided that she has to be weaned because her intake of bmilk was interferring with her intake of solids. There were many times where she'd get so carried away with the bmilk that she wouldn't be hungry for proper food or she'd see me and then lose interest in eating because she'd want the breast.
Now at 14 months, Caitlin's slowly coming round to eating solids and bottle milk and only bfing for comfort. I'm letting go emtionally as well and have had more time to change my focus a little. All in all, I've felt fortunate to stuck in there for so long and had time to bond with my infant in this manner. I mean, many women who want to continue have had their milk supply dry up. I can't say for sure whether bmilk is the wonder food that they say it is. However, Caitlin only fell sick once for the first 8 months of her life. Only when I started cutting back on the bmilk that she fell sick more. So yes, I think all women should be given a medal for breastfeeding. There were many time when I just was so proud of myself for making it this far and I'm still going.
Part of what has helped the weaning process is that Caity has learned how to sleep on her own without the breast in her mouth. So at night, I'll feed her for 5 minutes just for comfort's sake and then pull away (same for naps but only if she asks for it). My milk supply has come down considerably to the point where I don't think it can satisfy her hunger in a single feed anymore. In the middle of the night if she wakes fully she'll want the breast but will similarly be satisfied after 5 mintues and go back to sleep. Sometimes I just ignore her whining and she'll automatically fall asleep on her own. An unexpected behaviour from all this is that she's extra clingy in the day and she won't sleep in the crib on her own. I realise that if I don't spend a lot of time with her during the day, she'll want my physical closeness more in the evening and at night.
Another dear friend continued bfing past 20 months. She too felt it was easier to continue until her toddler no longer needed it. Unfortunately, by then toddlers are more set in their ways and can articluate a lot better making it harder to stop.
I think the day I finally give it up, it will be a sad and happy day but hopefully since I'm weaning so graudually, I won't have any regrets.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Baby's diet
I've been doing research on the Macrobiotic diet. It was developed by a Japanese guy where 60% neutral whole grain foods (like brown rice) 30% vege and 10% meat. Also recommended for cancer patients.
I learned how to do this from my mother in law's maid who has been cooking the porridge for my niece who was always at the top of the height and weight chart for her age group. She not overweight by any means. She's got a little belly becuase she's always hungry but she's very tall, healthy and intelligent.
Here's the recipie:
A handful of brown rice & "gei-ji" (wolfberry--good for eyes). About a cup of water. Bring to a boil for half an hour.
Then put in a small slace of lean pork or beef (about 1/4 of your palm and 2cm thick). Turn the fire down to simmering.
2 hours later put in chopped root veges or green veges of choice (I just use about the same as the rice) and a piece of fish.
A dash of really good quality, low sodium soya sauce to bring out the taste of the meat.
Take out the meat before serving. The fish should dissolve.
All the nutrients should have gone into the "soup". No need to strain because the whole thing will become like cantonese "djok" porridge. The rice will swell and the veges will become soft and mushy.
I bought a very small slow cooker. If done in the slow cooker, I just put in the rice first thing in the morning on high setting. Then I just leave it on that setting and let it bubble away adding the meat once the rice has boiled. By noon, the porridge is ready. I serve it for lunch and dinner.
Okay, I know it takes forever but the resulting porridge smells so tasty.
Baby's still very fussy about food but I'm happy to report that she no longer sees me as her major food source and can now fall asleep on her own. I just feed her in the morning to clear my milk supply and once more in the evening before bed. However, I pull away while she's still awake and she then tosses and turns till she's asleep.
She's super interested in whatever we adults are eating. This is good because if we eat healthy, she will too. I just worry about the amount of salt in the food sometimes.
I learned how to do this from my mother in law's maid who has been cooking the porridge for my niece who was always at the top of the height and weight chart for her age group. She not overweight by any means. She's got a little belly becuase she's always hungry but she's very tall, healthy and intelligent.
Here's the recipie:
A handful of brown rice & "gei-ji" (wolfberry--good for eyes). About a cup of water. Bring to a boil for half an hour.
Then put in a small slace of lean pork or beef (about 1/4 of your palm and 2cm thick). Turn the fire down to simmering.
2 hours later put in chopped root veges or green veges of choice (I just use about the same as the rice) and a piece of fish.
A dash of really good quality, low sodium soya sauce to bring out the taste of the meat.
Take out the meat before serving. The fish should dissolve.
All the nutrients should have gone into the "soup". No need to strain because the whole thing will become like cantonese "djok" porridge. The rice will swell and the veges will become soft and mushy.
I bought a very small slow cooker. If done in the slow cooker, I just put in the rice first thing in the morning on high setting. Then I just leave it on that setting and let it bubble away adding the meat once the rice has boiled. By noon, the porridge is ready. I serve it for lunch and dinner.
Okay, I know it takes forever but the resulting porridge smells so tasty.
Baby's still very fussy about food but I'm happy to report that she no longer sees me as her major food source and can now fall asleep on her own. I just feed her in the morning to clear my milk supply and once more in the evening before bed. However, I pull away while she's still awake and she then tosses and turns till she's asleep.
She's super interested in whatever we adults are eating. This is good because if we eat healthy, she will too. I just worry about the amount of salt in the food sometimes.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Urine & Singing in the car
Baby's sick again! She's been having a fever on and off for the last 3 days. It's so sickening. Luckily it's not a high fever.
Becuase the suspects a urinary tract infection, she made Baby wear a pee bag which is this small bag with a sticky mouth to be taped to the skin of the pokey. Poor Vin spent the entire morning at the doc's office just waiting for our daughter to pee. In the end, he gave up and came home. She refused to pee. Then when she did, the pee wet the whole bag which moistened the sticky part thereby dislodging when she moved. Apparently, you're supposed to hold her upright all the time so you can "catch" the pee. Whoever invented this system of collected a toddler's urine is a moron because which toddler stays still for that long? Anyway, I returned home from work to find a frustrated husband and a baby whose urine, up till now, remains ellusive. We'll try again in the morning to hunt for the pee. However, all three of us (yes including the maid) are in disagreement over how to ensure that Baby either pees into the plastic bag or into a plastic cup. I say we let her run around the balcony without her nappy and watch her really closely then when she gets the shivers rush in with the plastic cup in hand. Vin says that won't work because she'll only shiver post-pee; not before. We can't even lay a plastic sheet on the ground to collect the urine as we have to make sure the sample is uncontaminated. Sigh, only being a parent could make a person so obsessed with urine.
Oh, we were in the car just now and I started singing to Baby. I realised that it's a wonderful way to introduce vocabulary. I'll sing and she'll watch my mouth really intently. I'll go "When you're happy and you know it ..." She'll then clap her hands, shake her head and raise her arms at the appropriate part of the song.
I made little word tags so that I could tape them to everything and show her words of things around the house. She was more interested in throwing the tags in the air and pushing them around on the floor. Oh well, one step at a time. Vin held up the word "Cat" and she immediately said "Kaaa". "Cat" is her first real word because we point the one that lives at the base of our block out to her almost every day. Perhaps its fitting since we both love cats. Not really sure if she really was reading the word since she says "Kaa" or "Paa" to almost everything. Unless, that is, when you ask her a question in which case she'll immediately shake her head.
Becuase the suspects a urinary tract infection, she made Baby wear a pee bag which is this small bag with a sticky mouth to be taped to the skin of the pokey. Poor Vin spent the entire morning at the doc's office just waiting for our daughter to pee. In the end, he gave up and came home. She refused to pee. Then when she did, the pee wet the whole bag which moistened the sticky part thereby dislodging when she moved. Apparently, you're supposed to hold her upright all the time so you can "catch" the pee. Whoever invented this system of collected a toddler's urine is a moron because which toddler stays still for that long? Anyway, I returned home from work to find a frustrated husband and a baby whose urine, up till now, remains ellusive. We'll try again in the morning to hunt for the pee. However, all three of us (yes including the maid) are in disagreement over how to ensure that Baby either pees into the plastic bag or into a plastic cup. I say we let her run around the balcony without her nappy and watch her really closely then when she gets the shivers rush in with the plastic cup in hand. Vin says that won't work because she'll only shiver post-pee; not before. We can't even lay a plastic sheet on the ground to collect the urine as we have to make sure the sample is uncontaminated. Sigh, only being a parent could make a person so obsessed with urine.
Oh, we were in the car just now and I started singing to Baby. I realised that it's a wonderful way to introduce vocabulary. I'll sing and she'll watch my mouth really intently. I'll go "When you're happy and you know it ..." She'll then clap her hands, shake her head and raise her arms at the appropriate part of the song.
I made little word tags so that I could tape them to everything and show her words of things around the house. She was more interested in throwing the tags in the air and pushing them around on the floor. Oh well, one step at a time. Vin held up the word "Cat" and she immediately said "Kaaa". "Cat" is her first real word because we point the one that lives at the base of our block out to her almost every day. Perhaps its fitting since we both love cats. Not really sure if she really was reading the word since she says "Kaa" or "Paa" to almost everything. Unless, that is, when you ask her a question in which case she'll immediately shake her head.
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