Updates on Kayden & Out-Break ~ Rosealla! : Kayden’s New Found “Girl Friend”

Since my last post on Kayden’s teeth-cutting experience, I have been very busy..with our upcoming project..and as well as taking care of him 24/7.

While we are away from the scence, he has achieved some major milestones recently. On one occassion, after I have uploaded his photographs onto Facebook, and I casually asked him “Oh look..! Who is that?”…Low n behold..to my astonishment..he actually shout out his name..”Kay-den”! Wow…

Just a fortnight ago…he began to learn to stand up on his own! Now..it is one of his fav. past-time..he enjoys doing it and always with full of gaggles…so enjoyable to see him grow..no money can buy..these invaluable experiences..I have never regretted taking a year’s leave to look after him.

Just as everything was looking rosy for us..while we are preparing him for his infant care/school,  he was brought down by some influenza bug. Dreads..why isit…always ..such that when we are about to send him back to infant care…he will always throw..such surprises on us??? Really beats us…my own explanation is that ..he doesn’t want to go..that is his delaying tactics…? maybe? or just pure coincidence? it’s the 2nd or 3rd time..already..

Anyway, this stubborn flu bug of his caused him to develope mild to high fever (37.5 – 38.9 Deg C) for almost 6 days..and it has kept us (mostly myself) awake thru’out the nights..sponging…measuring temp. sponging…measuring temp…!  Started with self-medication and lots of sponging..but just when my supplies are running low n he wasn’t feeling any better..I had no choice but to bring him to his regular doc n paed. Preliminary conclusion : Viral infection – flu bug, so we got to monitor his condition further to make sure that it is not the UTI infection again…haiz..Once an UTI-ner…forever suspected to be an UTI-ner…choy! *touch wood*

While busy nursing his fever.. n running thru’n fro’ to do some essential shopping at the Expo ..yes…ESSENTIAL…(SITEX lah ..n JL Expo Sale lad..What a timing! .. that’s why he is out with us), thank goodness…after drinking some barley water..to “cool” him off ..his fever went off abruptly…on day 6…! But…but..but..on the following day..while I was dressing him up after a quick shower (he stinks..man..after so many of days w/o a proper bathe..only wipes), I noticed tiny red spots began to appear on his arm..torso..n sole of foot. Ooooh o…chickenpox..measles…all came flooding my already-tired-out brain…oh..no..another round of observation.

The next fateful day, he had rashes all over this torso, trunck, neck, hairlines, scalp and face! Arrggghhh….so not cute already…I thought to myself (oh please..*slap myself*..that is secondary lah!), so I went calling his paed again..okay cos its a Saturday..so appointment full…bo bian..but to gate-crash lor…and we did it! Dr Simon’s diagnosis : Rosealla. Layman term : False measles. I will playfully tell people ..oh..he has a new found girlfriend called Rosealla..*LOL*..

What’s that? A viral infection affecting most infant to tods, which is relatively common in young children. Children infected with this virus tending to exude influenza-like symptoms..n since its a viral infection, no antibiotic is required..just let nature runs its course! yah my fav tag line…indeed. So lots of fluids..lor. I am so glad it is not chickenpox or measles. Now, I am nursing his rashes, and still waiting..waiting for him to “clear his gold masses”…has been constipated for 3 days..Poor baby. Now, we are both  mentally and physically tired!

He is supposed to be at the infant care tomorrow, so I just called them to inform them of the deferment, yet again. Oh well…I get to spent more time with him hehehe…before I return to work again.

 

After M.I.A for so long

It has been a while since I updated this blog.

Have been busy lately.. ..yesh with Kayden again, and so much so that…I am lazy to think and compose and write..brain cells kena strained liao…

After switching Kayden to another infant care school, problem arises again. This round…..he is sick..to be exact it’s broncholitis and U.T.I. again! So and again..I have to thick-skinned and write to my boss to extend my no-pay leave until end of December. Envious…? Don’t be..cos I am NOT ON A HOLIDAY ok..? …..I became MARIAH No. 1 ler…and since I am No. 1..there must be a No. 2 rite…n if u r fast enough…you would have guessed it …yesh it’s none other than our Kayden’s papa – Kelvin Tan…yeeeaaaah!

Jokes aside… I must say I am really really thankful to my bosses for being so understanding, but I am feeling paiseh..cos my work has to be assigned to the other of my colleagues (even though now they are really really short of manpower)

Okay I will spare u the details of the ordeal, which we have undergone. On a happier note…I would love to share some pix of Lil’ Kayden with you guys.

 

Kayden Is Sick Again

What a coincident …after one week of joining his new infant care school..he has fallen sick…again. Arghhh….he is due for his immunization shot…so now on hold liao….shucks.

His previous stinct was at the other infant care school, exactly after one week he fell sick…that was about a month ago.

The only difference - last  stinct’s virus was from yours truly, and the current virus stinct ? Its complimentary from his infant care school, at no extra charges.

This time one..is more serious..why..?  Fever + flu/sneezing + coughing…as compared to the previous, which he only suffered from flu.

H1N1? I really don’t know..

Call me a paranoid…but once bitten twice shy…having gone through the last fever episode…I am now…more wary and uptight…scared liao. We are like “热锅上的蚂蚁s”…but doc seems cool about it..leh..some med for his fever (standby), flu (oral n nose drop) and cough.

Apparently, those medications didn’t really work wonders…no overnight miracle. His fever fluctuates..just like the stock market shares…and his cough got worse..and I could hear wheezing..sound..on Monday night. So on Tuesday…we brought him back to the doc again.

Again he was very cool about it…and told us that Kayden is suffering from broncholitis..no antibiotic is required as this is caused by a virus. This time round he suggested that either Kayden be put on a neb or given inhaler puff..alamak…administering liquid medicine into his mouth is already a challenge..now the inhaler puff…!

And just awhile ago…teacher Christina from his infant care school called and asked about him..cos he has been missing school for the past 3 days…sad. Blah..blah blah..updated his teacher about his condition and was advised by teacher to prep his immune system with some Vit C.
Actually, before Kayden started his infant care school, I did buy the rose hip concentrate (which is known to be rich in Vit C and I drank that during my infant days) for him…huh…he does have sweet tooth man…he rejected the drink I made for him. Now…got to get back to the pharmacy to source for another alternative.  

Besides teacher’s advice, I am also contemplating to give him the yearly flu shots…call me kiasu..but I don’t think the both of us can afford to take so much leave to care for him, especially now that he is at the infant care where he will be more prompt to all these infectious viruses.

Speedy recovery, baby!

 

Updates on Kayden’s Medical Condition

Summary on his medical conditions

 

~ Suffered from UTI in early March 2009.
~ On-going treatment of antibiotic (in total of 7 weeks..ending on 27 April 2009)
~ Half way thru’ the oral med he has bad rashes on his butt., so he is on topical fungal n antibiotic cream, interchangeably, still on it..
   (oh yah n the hot weather didn’t help at all…thanks alot man!)..Eliminating all possibilities, my long trusted GP said it could have been due to
   the anitbiotic which he is taking, which in turn is making his stools more acidic and thus the rashes..ok fair enough.

Ok..so last Thursday Kayden went for the ultrasound of his urinary system – to be precise the bladder n kidneys.

This week – Wednesday, he went back to see the urologist consultant who had seen him during his hospital stay, to review on his condition.
All doc did was asked :” how is he?” Oh come on….isn’t it obvious…?
And so I related his nappy episodes to her…hah…! straight away she brushes off the possibility that his nappy rashes was due to the anitbiotic…o.m.g..then y isit that the rashes only developed after taking the antibiotic??? Coincidence? If allergic to diaper then it would have happened..rite???? Oh no..maybe the skin at his butt area are more retarded..it takes 3mths + to develope rashes.. duh!..
She just look look abit and says : “oh no it can’t be the antibiotic..its just nappy rash…”  oh forget it!

Oh…mine..it is so typical of the docs there or what…or are we unlucky…? This is the second time we encountered such “professionalism”..
Am I expecting too much ? or they are just there to make $ instead of practicing medicine? Only God knows…
It seems to me that they are there to pass time and when pay day comes they just smile to the bank..or what?

First, they are late for our appointment…okay they will tell u…oh the doc got rounds to make at the ward lah…or this n that…for sure…aiyah whatever it is…they are always right..never mind..benefit of the doubt given.

Then when they see you, they give the kind of can’t-wait-to-get-over-the-consultation look ..and want to finish the session soonest possible.
It is just so stereotypical of them, the moment she heard my story, she gets a piece of the anatomy of the human urinary system and exlpains to us what kind of procedures will be done on Kayden in the months to come! Mind u there is a stack of this anatomy thingy on her table …which has been photocopied…it only tells me that all UTI cases will go thru the same treatment…so SOP man…and her job is so easy..
Questions starts popping up in my mind..like  ” Are all UTI cases the same? ” Isit necessary for all of them to go thru the same treatment or procedure…? Can’t we just skipped the not so necessary test and move on a more confirmative one to acertain the cause of his UTI?

She told us that she would need to change Kayden’s medication; from one type of antibiotic to another type and to be taken for another 3 mth or rather until the next review…(to see what huh? Asked : “How is he?” again….? nothing to be done during the visit…but just to see see only…literally) then she will schedule for another procedure for Kayden which requires the insertion of some radioactive dye into him and check if his kidneys have been scarred by the last episode of UTI.

I am really worried if his lil’ liver and kidneys are able to take another 3 mths of anitbiotic..just for preventive measure. Of cos I hope that she knows what she is doing and afterall she is a professional and I wouldn’t want to doubt her professionalism.

After my last experience with them and once bitten twice shy, honestly speaking I really have doubts about the whole course of treatment…and I am having minimal faith.. We desparately  wanted a 2nd opinion…and so…an appointment was made with another paed.

Will I let Kayden go thru’ the next course of antibiotic treatment? Will I go back for review and then the invasive test procedure? I will let u know again lah…when we got our 2nd opinion….hehehe…

 

Nappy Rashes Are Here to Stay

Ever since he is on cephalosporin..(antibiotic for his UTI) he has been having loose stools..well it was alls well initially…but lately about 3 weeks back…he hass been experiencing..bad nappy rashes at his buttock area. Aye …thought of including pictures of his rashes but to save u guys from throwing out ur meals..I better not…Picture speaks a thousand words mah…then I dun have to be so cheong hey…hehehe

Anyway..our lil’ fren has been seeing doc again…for his buttock..and on and off on anti-fungal cream and antibiotic cream and coupled with clothe diapers. …My days are never boring..I am always busy…Doc said that b’cos of the anitbiotic, it is casuing him diarrhea (side-effects) and hence making his stools more acidic and as a result leading to rashes. Poor baby..

Hmm….I guess as long as he is on this antibiotc ..his rashes are here to stay…he will still be on it for as long as the consultant at KK thinks his condition warrants it as a form of prophylatic treatment…Till then…Kelvin and I will still be as busy as ever…me..will be busy changing his clothe diaper, while Kelvin will be busy washing it…at the end of the day….

Parenthood never ceased to surprise me…with full of challenges….hmmm….hope I will just be as sound as ever…

 

Just when I thought The Worst Is Over..

Boy oh..boy..just when I thought the dust has settled down…just 2 wks after my rashes episode..another incident happened again..

Well..Kayden has been having fever for about 4 days..and forgetful me…didn’t thought of it as a sign of infection at all! Absent-minded indeed..I only kept asking myself how come a barely 3mth old boy is having an on-off fever..but I have forgotten all about the infection thingy.

On the 3rd day of the fever episode, his fever actually subsided …whole day no sign of it…then it decided to visit him again…on the next day! He was having a high fever of 38.9 deg c..it was raining heavily and making it a bit troublesome  for me to bring him to the doc. ( I should have insisted!) so I ended giving him only paracet …it did work…but until at night…9+ only. That is when everything took a turn for the worst…he wasn’t having any fever though ..n suddenly …he started throwing milk…and began what seems to be a choking kind of expression. ..and kept crying..and it gets louder when Kelvin tries to carry him….and when I tried to carry him…he cried very loud too..really its nerve-wrecking..lor..cos he can’t talk ..and we just have to guess what is he up to.. So I began..patting his back to get any remnants out of his lung (which was what I thought initially…he was choked by milk)…but to no avail. That was when I began to realise it was something else…but dunoe what n…I began to panick..(trying very hard to keep my cool) but I managed to call my mum for help!!!!!!

Fortunately, Kelvin and my brother are around..and then I grabbed whatever I can think of …with me…and off we go to the nearest clinic.  It was when I was in the car…I realised that he was throwing what seems to be a fit! Why I didn’t rush straight to A&E..? Well, I couldn’t ascertain..if his was a choking incident or a fit, ALL  I could think of is to give him the fastest aid..

Don’t know isit consider fortunate or unfortunate..? We reached the clinic at Sembawang MRT Station..it was closed (just like the rest near my place) so there is another one…which is still open…until 11pm, so I rushed in..OK, at this point in time u would say….heng ah…another clinic is still open…but I can’t of regretted going in…cos…the doc…says its a febrile fit!…and there is nothing much he can do..(which is quite true lah) ok..so I managed to ascertain that Kayden is having a fit…so how…now…I am stuck ..I can’t just go to A & E like that cos I dunoe what to give to him to allevate his condition…and what if somethingw worst happens alng the way…what am I to do?

So stay put lor…then doc instructed the clinic assistant to sponge  Kayden (by now his fever is back to visit him again…) and a neb to “open-up” his airways, while I am there turning and holding Kayden to rest his right side. So the waiting game starts….while he was crying frantically …we waited eagerly and with thoughts running wild inside me..what if this n what if that…and why the hell the stupid ambulance is not here yet…! It took them almost 1/2 hour to reach us…reason : short of ambulance! ???? O.M.G ! Hello….??? although its just a mere 30 mins…and it seems like forever ok…and anything could happen! …I am really angry n frustrated! Keeping my cool…and tearing…I can’t help but to keep bugging the clinic assistant to call them n rush them…fortunately…Kayden felt better after the neb….

Ok so while all these took place….where is papa….? Papa..? I really dunoe what he was doing…I could only remember asking him to make phone calls….I guess he was as clueless as..me…Could he have been in a shock too?…I dunoe…All I know…is to tell myself to keep cool and have a clear mind…I can’t loose my composure.

I am so glad when my brother (who is waiting outside the clinic all the time) called me n informed that the paramedics are here already..I felt so relieved. That was the first time I am on an ambulance..and pray that it will be the last!  While on the ambulance Kayden was being sponged again…and given oxygen supply…cos..they found his heartbeat weak and oxygen level low…so frightening…I am glad the female paramedic made me felt better by talking to me…and not letting wild thoughts get into me..very soon we reached KK hospital…n because we arrival in
“style” (in ambulance)..we were given priority treatment..no need to q, as compared to if we were to walk-in just like that…

While I was with Kayden at the A&E ward sponging him away,…papa was at the counter doing all the admim work. After waiting for about 1/2 hour, we were being ushered to the paed’s ward. that’s when the waiting starts again…we waited for about an hour+ ..for the M.O… Aiyoh..I got lots to say about this M.O. and I bet she is still doing her housemen thingy….cos she is so…green..kept repeating her questions…and can’t write properly on the case sheet….u just can tell when they are not pro enough…I am so glad she was there only to take an account oof the incident, nothing else.  I felt like a suspect leh….assisting in criminal investigation.

It was until an hour later a more experienced M.O. came along and spoke to us about Kayden’s condition and told us what is expected to be done..So at around 3:00 am Kayden was taken away by the staff nurse……for a series of tests…and his blood, urine and spinal fluid were extracted for analysis to see which is the culprit for causing the infection thus his fever…It was only until 4:30 am then Kayden returns. He was sound asleep, with tube inserted into his lil hand.

That night they constantly monitor his temperature n BP..and started him with high doses of ampicillin and gentamicin ..cos they fear that there maybe a brain infection..it was a nerve-wrecking moment for me…cos..I am so worried about the results of those tests.

The following day he was still feeling lousy..could see that he was very sleepy..and listless…and temperature is still on the high side…soon..the preliminary test result is out…n glad to hear that brain infection – meningitis was ruled out! The possible culprit turns out to be UTI – urinary tract infection..possible bacteria culprit is E.Coli..

And so they adjusted the antibiotics accordingly…Doc says he needs to be warded for another 2 days for observation and the final results of his urine culture…fair enough.

Glad to see that his fever subsided and under control at the end of 2nd day…he looks and feels better …as u can see in the following photos..

Lying comfortably on the bed..watching TVExercising his porky legs..

 On Thursday doc gave the final verdict and “green light” that Kayden may be discharge..we are so glad to hear that he can go home..liao..but he is not off the hook completely as yet…cos he needs to return to the hospital at later dates to do an ultrasound of his unrinary tract and kidneys and then review by the doc to investigate the underlying cause of his infection. Doc says the infection could scarred his kidneys or there maybe a reflux in his uriniary tract…it’s very scary to hear all these….really..Besides the return for review…Kayden is also given 7 weeks of oral antibiotic..poor boy..so young and has already taken so much medicine…It’s been a week since his discharge …I am still monitoring his temperature as a precaution measure….

Just hope that he wil be fine… and that was just a one-off situation kind of thing…otherwise…I can’t really go back to work with a sound mind…

 

Kayden Kayden Kayden..!

Hmmm….initially I thought to myself wow..I will be having 4 mths of maternity leave..how nice…and how am I going to spend it..hahaha…it was an ideal thought.

It was too good to be true..and everything happens for a reason (why they gave us 4mths)…

Well after Kayden’s visit to paed., things didn’t seem to turn for the better…firstly I have problem in deciding whether to send him to infant care or nanny…(time waits for no man)., secondly I have rashes all over my body..(including source of milk supply)..shucks..and so thirdly..he has lost touch to bottle feeding…arrhhhgghhh….stress stress stress….ah……that was about 3 wks ago…I am glad…two of these problem have been solved…

All I can say is I was too naive to think that my 4 mths of maternity leave would be a smooth sailing one….I was so wronged! It is packed with so much unexpected events….so stressful, so frustrating…everything is so so so……I dunoe…what else…to expect…

Thinking of going back to work to escape reality..? Nah….not really…that didn’t really cross my mind…I only wished I could look after Kayden full time. On the contrary I DREAD TO GO BACK…and wished I could quit working..I am so sick of my job..!

 

Kayden’s Visit To Paed

Yet another visit to the doctor…ever since his arrival, he has been visiting doctors…maybe..there was no cause for alarm…but then again..being 1st time parents, we just want to be doubly sure…that he is alrite.

Since his 3rd week, he has his 1st visit to doc for his nose..I was paranoid…for he kept sneezing..about 6-7 times within a span of 10 minutes…it got me worried…and so off we go to our GP. Being ignorant..I was told that it is just babies’ normal reflexes…ah..chay…so I left it alone..

Then no long after he began to experience colic..BUT this time I was not being paranoid cos all the symptoms which he was experiencing is similar to the ones as mentioned in books and on the Internet. So off again to see another GP…(recommended by my mum’s friend)…
Poor Kayden was indeed diagnosed with colic..so he was given anti-gas medication and some probiotics. As for me, I got to watch my diet..since I am breastfeeding…sianz…ah…It was really frustrating and unbearable in the beginning..but now…I am getting used to it. During our visit, the doc weighed Kayden and to my surprise…he weighs about 4.8kg, as of 3 Feb 2009.

Now I am getting used to his colic problem, but it becomes a hassel when it recurr in the middle of the nite…this explains why my “pandan eyes” is getting more n more prominent. NOW…his nose problem is getting worse…it became stuffy/congested to the extend that …it gets worse as the night progresses..It really saddens us when we see him crying frantically away..and gasping for air…and feeling helpless. Double whamy!…Depsite using the aspirator and nasal decongestant (which I can’t use more than 5-7 days)..

I have got no choice but to bring him to see a paed this time, although we know for sure..its parts of infant growing up phases..(only for some not all..due to a narrower nasal passage way). Fortunately, there is one opposite Sembawang MRT Station and we don’t have to go back to Mt A for the paed which he used to see. So on 17 Feb 2009, the both of us brought him to the paed to get his condition diagnose. True to our expectations there is nothing much to be done for his stuffy nose…poor thing. For he is too young for any decongestants…
So the paed only did an irrigation for his nose..to flush out all the mucous remnants…the worse part is to see him struggling and crying away…in misery as the paed trys to remove the remnants from his nose…heartache…
So there is nothing much to be done…except to give him..saline drop…and my many many many…more nites of misery too….(besides his)
But we are glad to find out that he is growing….(putting on weight)..he now weighs…about 5.6kg and measures about 67cm.

Next week, his 2nd dose of Hep B jab…I wonder how will he react…?

 

The Past Week…

Has been torturous …

Since Week 37 ..Saturday..it was the start of my slow and steady torturous journey..(I felt bad as I was typing this..cos..it’s not his fault..though I just happened to be suay bah..so Lil’ One..don’t be offended by this entry..Mummy needs an avenue to vent my uncomfortableness)

Since last Sat, it started with me couldn’t wake up at my usual time..which is around 9+ to 10+. Instead I sleep till almost 12 noon, when Kelvin returned to work and joined him for lunch! Lil’ One must be hungry already..but I no matter what I just can’t get myself out of the bed…I never felt so tired n sleepy b4!

So thought after the long sleep…my energy is more or less replenished..heh heh..I was so wrong..my body felt so weak…that I took a long time to finish my lunch. What follows was even worse…body starts to ache esp. my waist area.. for a moment..my mum thought I was going into labour…(hahaha so am I) Tahan until I had my dinner..and a cold chin chow drink..wah…suddenly I felt refreshed and recharged!Unbelievable…I had never like to drink chin chow..BUT…lately…it seems so attractive to me….haha…pregnancy never fails to amaze me….

What follows till this week..is the same old drama lor….one day I can wake up feeling like a zombie…and the next…feeling alrite…so unpredictable…and lousy days…I have to call back to office…to ask for urgent leave…and slept till 1 pm! All because I have sleepless nights….n just to “add a pinch of salt to the wound”…I had my all-time-pregnancy No. 1 enemy – ACID REFLUX..! Great isn’t it..? Top it off like toppings to ice-creams!

I felt so bad…now…cos…was supposed to meet up with the gals for Sye’s birthday/Christmas celebration..but at the rate I am going…how am I going to meet up with them…?

Dear gals thanks for being so understanding and accomodating..by changing the venue…even though I don’t know for sure…if I will be able to meet up with u gals…I will try my best..

P.S :
Lil’ One…if u could ever sensed mummy is writing this pile of complaints..please…don’t be offended…its not ur fault.

 

Mummy Is Going Back To Work Tomorrow

Its been a week+ since mummy fell sick.

She has been down with a viral infection. Fortunately, pappy is on study leave and can take care of mummy.

Mummy still nursing her flu and is going back to work tomorrow..I am kind of worried if she will be doing fine..and hope she recovers reaalllllll..reaalllll…. soon…..otherwise I will have to eat more of those yucky medicines. I can also feel that mummy is feeling real guilty…for taking so much medicines, but so little nutrients for me… (  Poor mummy…..

Now is pappy’s turn…he is feeling feverish and has a blocked nose…and mummy is trying very her best to nurse him back to health…otherwise..the both of them will have to take an even longer time to recover.

Love,
The lil’ one.