more updates

It's been a week since my dad fell into coma caused by Intercranial Hemorrhage Acute Stroke. It is rare and the more srious of the few types of strokes.

No, we are not giving up hope. We visit him, talk to him, pray for him and make him feel loved for we love because He first loved us.

Many Christian brothers and sisters came to visit and said a word of prayers - cousins, relatives, friends, colleagues and ex-colleagues alike. We are encouraged and supported thoroughly in Christ.

Dad was transferred out of Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) to a high dependency ward this evening. After that tracheotomy procedure performed yesterday, he is now breathing on his own. But it pains me to see a hole in his throat and to see the feeding tubes being inserted into his nostrils, causing hiccups beacuse it irrates his diaphragm.

I have heard of many miracles and I am going to trust my dad's case is one of the many God can do in His mighty powerful and miraculous way. What an awesome God we serve.

Update

Tessa and I travelled back to Singapore the very night we heard the news of my father's fall. Made a few calls to various parties and after speaking to the doctor who told me to get back soonest possible, I went onto the internet and checked that there was flight out from Melbourne by SQ departing at 0050am. We packed our bags and proceeded to the airport with help from church friends who popped by to help us with some packing and praying and sending us to the airport. Initially, I was told that the flight was overbooked but after I told them what happened, they immediately released 4 seats for us.

I do not have to say this, but Singapore Airlines is indeed exceptional in its service all the way from the airport (Biju and Steven Bajany) to the inflight service. We have been constantly taken cared of, consoled by the stewards (Mr R Sathia and Mr Ong Kian Seng), offered special food like porridge and seafood kway teow soup, given a whole bagful of lollies and toys for Tessa and even transferred us to First Class at the last leg of the flight so that we could get off the flight first. I endeavour to write a letter of compliments when time permits.

However, Hubba and Theodore had to stay back because there was in issue with Theo's expired passport. They eventually arrived late Tuesday night.

My brother Jeremy arrived on Monday evening.

Dad is still in a comatose condition since Sunday morning after the fall. The prognosis by the doctors are all negative but we choose to rebuke all negative things said by men and trust in the hands of our Lord God. The doctors told us to make a decision by today as they had to remove the ventilator and perform a surgery for him to breathe on his own instead of relying on the machine to help him breathe.

His condition is rare because he had internal brain bleeding in the brain stem. According to the doctor, the brain stem is the vital part of the brain that controls some vital organs like the lungs and it is such a tight area they could not operate on him. The doctors could not determine the cause of it as it could be due to his undiagnosed high blood pressure or was the result of the impact of the fall onto the ground when he felt giddy.

Prayer warriors from Lighthouse Evangelism came to pray for him and even Pastor Betty Lin, a Taiwanese pastor who spoke excellent English, Mandarin and Hokkien came to pray the prayer of salvation for him. We witnessed that he clasp his right palm tightly when she held onto his hand when praying the sinner's prayer to accept Jesus into his life.

I could not believe how many people have prayed for him - my aunts, uncles, cousins, friends even Jeremy's coleagues from MFA.

I will continue to solicit prayers for miracles to work upon dad's fragile life. Please, if you believe in Jesus and his powers, please pray for him right now when you read this.

Thank you.

PRAYER REQUEST

I've just received a call from my aunt in Perth to tell me that my dad had a fall in the market this morning and had suffered a stroke. He is now hospitalised at Changi General Hospital.

Please pray for competent doctors to treat him and help him regain consciousness. Pray for his heart to be softened to receive Jesus into his life.

Thanks

school holidays

How time flies. It's the start of another 2 weeks of school holidays for the kids. 10 mor or so weeks and it will the end of school term.

Theodore started his hols earlier than most being Wed his last school term day. The school organised a worship concert and a Aussie sausage sizzle for lunch.

Tessa missed Wednesday as well as Thursday's class but went back to kinder for the last term class on Friday. She's been missing so much school by falling sick here and there, on and off - and you know, her fees are expensive!

Trying to book them into swimming classes as summer draws near. But was told by a friend not to let Tessa swim because of the fluids in her ears. But hubba insists it is okay.

Now, it will be the start of yet another non-stop buzz.

write

I did not want to put this down but I have to say it - yes, my tiny puny scrawny little princess Tessa has fallen ill again since Monday.

Our GP Dr G is getting very worried and has ordered a urine test as well as a blood test for her. So, I have to make 3 appointments with the Royal Childrens' Hospital - both Theodore and Tessa has to see a ENT specialist (yes, I have been advised to send Theo to the ENT specialist coz the school nurse found his waxy ears affecting his hearing and as for Tessa, to have her ears re-examined and arrange for a surgey date) and as well, a blood test for Tessa.

Besides having a temperature, she was again complaining of a tummy ache and the doc found her to have sinus and even prescribed antibiotic for her this time (again!!!)as well as a nasal spray for the sinus condition.

I dont' know what to say, but I feel fatigued and worndown. My bedtime retreat has now been brought forwarded to 10ish. Anything later than that hour and I cannot function. And that is one reason why I have not been blogging much.

The other reason is because I have a whole pile of books and magazines to devour. All the way from the US, I have Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair and Gourmet magazines to read in addition to the New Idea magazine I bought this week which featured Steve Irwin on their front cover. And then I have 3 more chapters to read in The Spirit Filled Temperament.

I cant believe it, I am dozing off as I am writing this. I'd better tuck to bed now. Sweet Dreams.

9/11

It's September 11 today - and my in-laws are flying off from Honolulu to Philadelphia to visit and stay with Ben and Emily at their very pretty white-washed American cottage 'urb house this very day.

I wonder why of all days they have been booked on this day to fly.

Pray for safe journey for them.

blog glog

I really wish I could blog more.

Like last Sunday's sermon topic for Fathers' Day (yeah...was titled Diamonds Are Forever...hehe), the trip to the Botanical Gardens after church last Sunday as well for some coffee and cakes and a short walk before the rain started to pour, about Theo's Creative Arts performance in school, about how the kids spent time sans daddy's presence, about the books I bought, about the weather, about friends.

Somehow, my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak (力不从心).

Even right now.

I survived!!!

...yeah...*signs of victory* - I survived that 1 week all by myself with 2 kids!!! I wasn't as stressed out as I thought it would be. All so because that extra big kid was not around to add to the stress.

Before we proceeded to the airport last night, kids and I popped over the Reid's residence for a cook-a-storm dinner session. Happy made a Korean spicy all-in-one yummy hotpot while I cooked my own version of Kueh Pie-tee (using deep fried won-ton skins shaped into a star shaped shallow bowl for the casing and stewed turnips with dried shrimps, chinese mushrooms, carrots and shrimps for the fillings), deep fried fish paste and pork seaweed with carrots and cucumbers rolls and blanched bok-choy with deep fried garlic, shallots and dried shrimps. And of course, they rounded up the good time with cookies and cream ice cream served with portions of golden syrup pudding. *Ok, I tell myself, that was going to be the last time, I gotta cut down on sugar badly but I simply couldn't resist trying that irresistible but sinful pudding*

Well, I dont know if I have been so influenced by Happy or Korean culture for that matter, I have been eating my foods and dipping them in Korean Hot Pepper Sauce for that extra oomph and as well, eating my Fried Shanghai Noodles accompanied with Kim-Chi (in the restaurant), munching on Kim-Chi as snacks, slurping Korean instant potato noodles with Kim-Chi, and making and eating kim-chi sushi. Next time, you'll probably find me using all Korean cosmetics, skin-care (of which some things I already do) and donning Korean fashion (yeah, already saw one copy of that Korean fashion magazine loaned by Happy and I found it so interesting - Korean haute couture). One thing though, is that, I have not yet catch up on the Korean drama craze. Well, at least not yet. And I'd better hope it will not although I saw myself glued to the Korean cable channel when at Florence's place. But one thing for sure, there's only 24 hours a day and I can only stretch this much and no more.

good night!

p.s I thought I have to mention this. Tessa being the sweet girl as she is, tried very very very hard to stay awake on the way to the airport last night , because as she said in her own words, "wants to see daddy come back to Melbourne". She did dozed off for a little while but fought back just to stay awake and even nagged me to drive faster. Girls are just so different. sweet as.

what's wrong?

I cant use Picasa

I cant listen to Podcasts using Quicktime

I get error messages everytime and had to close Firefox

The media detector is not working

My house is in a mess

I managed to finish only 1 and a half out of the 3 books I had set myself to finish by tomorrow and I have acquired 3 additional ones to read

I forgot to bring my camera along to Theo school's Creative Arts Performance tonight - he did a great job performing his gymnastics though!!!

I am deadbeat

Crikey, Steve's gone!

I am deeply saddened by Steve Irwin's sudden and bizarre death.

Theo loved to watch him on TV. Ironically, the most times we watched him was when we were holidaying in Singapore, which was shown on Discovery Channel on Cable TV. My dad loved it too.

He portrays himself as a very devoted family man and as well, contrastingly, as a typical Aussie larrikin. But a good man indeed with a very infectious persona.

"What you see is what you get" is what's been generally described of him.

God Bless Your Soul Steve.

Languages for Thought

Read this article in The Straits Times Interactive today titled "Passing on the Chinese Language" which is actually a speech made by Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew last Saturday. Full article can be viewed here.

Anyway, here is an excerpt of the speech : "Nevertheless we have succeeded in creating an English-speaking younger generation who can speak Mandarin as a second language, though not at the standard of English or Mandarin that we are aiming for." - referring to how Singlish and Chinglish came about?

So, that brings me to ask this question : Are Singaporeans generally 东不成 西不就?

双语政策一直是我们教育制度的一大卖点。有时竟觉得是一种反讽。身为双语政策下的产物，中英语言的表达能力与掌握两语的深奥度有限,并时更觉得自己是文化上的浮萍。语言毕竟不是文化的全部,单凭掌握东西方语不足以掌握深度的文化，结果只是东西方都不着边。这该是新加坡人的荣耀还是尴尬呢？

Lessons in Logic

Lessons in Logic

If your father is a poor man,
it is your fate but,
if your father-in-law is a poor man,
it's your stupidity.

........................................................................

I was born intelligent -
education ruined me.

........................................................................


Practice makes perfect.....
But nobody's perfect......
so why practice?

........................................................................


If it's true that we are here to help others,
then what exactly are the others here for?

........................................................................


Since light travels faster than sound,
people appear bright until you hear them speak.

........................................................................


How come "abbreviated" is such a long word?

........................................................................


Money is not everything.
There's Mastercard & Visa.

........................................................................


One should love animals.
They are so tasty.

........................................................................


Behind every successful man, there is a woman
And behind every unsuccessful man, there are two.

........................................................................


Every man should marry.
After all, happiness is not the only thing in
life.

........................................................................


The wise never marry.
and when they marry they become otherwise.

........................................................................


Success is a relative term.
It brings so many relatives.

........................................................................


Never put off the work till tomorrow
what you can put off today.

........................................................................


"Your future depends on your dreams"
So go to sleep

........................................................................


There should be a better way to start a day
Than waking up every morning

........................................................................


"Hard work never killed anybody"
But why take the risk

........................................................................


"Work fascinates me"
I can look at it for hours

........................................................................


God made relatives;
Thank God we can choose our friends.

........................................................................


The more you learn, the more you know,
The more you know, the more you forget
The more you forget, the less you know
So.. why learn.


........................................................................

A bus station is where a bus stops.

A train station is where a train stops.

On my desk, I have a work station....
what more can I say........

Happy Fathers' Day

Talking Cock in Parliament 2006

This was the one Ivan was trying to show us with his MacBook at the Botanical Gardens this afternoon.

Hahaha...I had a good time laughing my heart out...but hey, this shows the versatility of Singaporeans in handling languages - being able to switch between American, British, Australian and Singlish or even Chinglish! Or as she said it "We all speak English but some English is more English than others"....But credits goes really to Ruby herself - a very talented lady indeed!

humming out loud

...hahaha...humpalang means everything in Cantonese dialect ...and a spoof to the famed mee siam "mai hum" (without cockles) or "mai hiam" (without chilli)...whichever. Photo courtesy of Talkingcock or visit here.

Ivan is a BIG fan of Talking Cock - he's reliving his life back in Singapore though them and Mr Brown. Talk about lost childhood (isn't it?) haha... thanks to his ex-SMR as well current neighbour moi here huh?

my princess's joke

Tessa was complimented today for being a pretty girl.

And so I reveberated the message to her, saying to her "Tessa is a pretty girl?"

Thinking I should get a very happy response, I was shocked when she gave me a grumpy, grouchy look and her "famous" frown (yeah right, from me huh?), crossed her arms, turned to her side and said to me loudly "NO".

I was puzzled. You would be happy if you receive compliments from someone wouldn't you? And so, I pressed on to ask "Why Tessa, what's wrong? Aren't you a pretty girl?"

And guessed what her reply was ? - "I'm a PRINCESS!!!"...haha..I am Her Majesty The Queen then.

Relaxing Saturday

It's been a pretty relaxing Saturday for me.

Despite tucking into bed after midnight, I woke up slightly before 7am this morning to the gentle morning glow of light that has seeped in through the curtains. With Spring's arrival, the sun wakes up earlier too.

Did 2 loads of laundry and hung them up to dry. But the weather forecast for today is rain, rain for tomorrow, rain for day after. And the temperature will be back to winter like after today.

Had a lazy Saturday morning brekkie with the kids and then we all spoke to hubba, yeh-yeh (lo-yeh) and mah-mah (lai-lai) via Skype. Mah-mah (as the kids calls her) bought so much foodstuff for us and the kids. I even got see to see my gifts from Candy and her - can u imagine 2 watches!!! (How I wish I can tell them I do not need another watch and definitely not 2 more). AND how I wish the Coach watch be turned into a Coach bag because my Prada has been sent for repair. yes, all the way to Hong Kong. and it'll take 5-6 weeks. I vouched never to buy another Prada. Cant believe it lasted only 6 months and the were tears inside, broken stitches and peeling leather. (However, I did see another new design which fancied my eyes)...

had a simple lunch - fish fingers for the kids, cos lettuce and tomato salad with extra virgin oilve oil and lemon juice for myself and a ham, cheese, tomato paste and parsley pizza toast for us all.

the music that has been playing this morning must have helped create the relaxed mood too - it's Baroque.

Lunch @ Nandos 01 Sep 2006

spring is here!!!

Spring is finally here.

Today being the 1st of September 2006. And it was a glorious 23 degrees weather day. And I still vividly remembered whining about skipping the month of August and jumping straight to September and, can you believe it, it is here. It is finally here. I'm sorry August - you didnt fare too badly though. Thousand apologies.

But with Spring weather comes hayfever, with which comes non-stop sneezing and an itchy palette. AND with it comes blotchy skin and a sore nose. Plus downright irritability. And I had but to pop Telfast this morning and hey, the sneezing and the itchy palette has all but disappeared. Gone. Just because I took a pill. Right, I am toxing my body with chemicals. What else can I do? I don't know.

And so, hubba has gone to Aloha Land. Yes, again ! I can imagine him sipping Mai Tai under swaying coconut trees and dancing to the rhythmic bodily movements of the Hula dancers. nah..he's probably tucking into THAT Japanese food in THAT popular and famous Japanese restaurant in Honolulu where bumping into dignitaries and celebrities are the norm rather than the exception. I could not help but recall from my memory bank that I remembered I COULD NOT tuck into any of the tantalising and very appealing sashimis laid right in front of my very own eyes, stirring my temptation, but could not eat them because I was pregnant then. 6 years ago. I should have insisted on going with him this time. well, too late. there's always a next time isnt it?

Anyway, he's there for Candy's wedding (Good on ya, Candy) who is, of course, my sister-in-law and his sister. Date set is this Sunday and it's a beachside Hawaiian wedding. how romantic. and to think her 4th finger is wearing that 1.5 carat diamond ring set in platinum and that will glitter and shimmer under that Hawaiian sun ray to the extent it might bounce you off your feet and cause instant blindness to those eyes that are so seethed with envy (like mine?). Dont ask why her name is called Candy and not lolly, polly or dolly. Candy is fine and dandy.

Oh yes, on this first spring day, I went to the dentist. Dr John Chen - he's from Singapore. And had 2 fillings done. and I hope not more to come. but which is very unlikely because I dont know what has happened to me - since coming to Australia, I have taken to the liking of sweet food - chocolates, lollies, ice creams, gelatos, cakes and what have you. I have developed the sweet tooth. (maybe there were other better things to eat in Singapore than such things aforementioned like Japanese cheesecake, takoyaki, nonya kuihs, kuih tutu (mmmmmmmm), soon kueh, crystal dumplings, tau huay and the list goes on. anyway, today, I went to Coles and I bought 3 bars of the newly launched Heaven chocolates that was on special. It was available in honeycomb, hazelnut caramel and almond nougat. AND I had to have them all. Because. Because I like them all. Look out Elaine - your tummy is bearing the brunt of all these snacks and cravings. Call it gluttony. AND IT IS A SIN.