Archive for the ‘Beauty & Health’ Category

ADVERTORIAL

Don’t you agree that these bright and healthy eyes are so precious? 

These bright and healthy eyes are so precious

Today, as a parent, one of my main priorities is to remind my children of the importance of good eye care. We appreciate that “PREVENTION” has to start NOW while they are young.

These “Don’ts” become common reminders in helping Brendan and Darren stay away from myopia:

Getting the boys to spend less hours on Nintendo DS

Spending more time in the "Greenery"

Don’t
- Keep reading or playing their electronic games without allowing their eyes to rest
- Watch TV or read in close proximity
- Read and do activities in the dark
- Read in incorrect posture

I am sure most of you are already very familiar with these tips of good reading posture/distance, adequate rest for the eyes and sufficient lightings.

However, do you know that while making use of the lamps to provide sufficient lightings in our reading or working environment, some lamps can do “more harm than good” to our eyes?

Seriously, I have invested in table lamps at home. Not all table lamps work to my satisfaction though. They are either not adjustable (hence cannot direct the light), not energy efficient, not bright enough, flickering or too glaring.

Especially the flickering and light glare! They are so “disturbing” to the eyes.

Some table lamps cause light glare which can be so irritating to the eyes

Then, about two years ago…..

I bought my first piece of 3M Polarizing Table Lamp (QS2000) with its special feature of the 3M™ Polarizing Light. Evidencing the benefit of the 3M™ Polarizing Light Technology, I have been a happy user since *smile*.

Now…..

I am using a new model of 3M polarizing Table Lamp – CR2000.

With CR2000, my earlier worries on lightings are no more here to stay *wider smile*.

Why do I say so?

Glare – No More
The 3M™ Polarizing Light Filter eliminates glare by up to 80%. My family can read in comfort and yet not hurt their eyes even when they accidentally stare into the lamps.

Dimness – No More
The lamp is equipped with 3M™ Proprietry DESR super reflective film which results in enhanced brightness.

See how dark it is when Darren does not turn on the table lamp

The lamp provides soothing and adequate brightness when Brendan works on the computer

Flickering – No More

3M Polarizing Light is anti-flicker! So far, my first piece of 3M Polarizing Lamp has proven so.

Energy Efficiency

It is such an “IN” expectation now for us to look out for energy efficiency labeling when purchasing electrical and electronic appliances. This lamp comes with energy saving light bulbs that save up to 80% energy used!

The earlier 3M model has not failed our expectations and I believe the 3M Polarizing Table Lamp CR2000, won’t too

So the children’s needs are well taken care of now. In fact, I am getting another piece of this model for my room.

If you are also looking at a table lamp and your expectations match mine, you can check out the 3M Polarizing Light at the retail stores or the website .
[In Singapore, these table lamps can be found at POPULAR, BEST DENKI, CARREFOUR, CHALLENGER, HOME-FIX, URBAN WRITE and PROLOGUE.]

Happy Eye Care!

As a mom, there are simply too many things that we care about — for our young children.  What worries you most?

From academic results, social circle, daily meals, health, motor skill development……..to physical development, to personal behaviours and to values.

It is not easy to prioritise, isn’t it?

For the last two weeks, it certainly became CLEARER to me how much more important GOOD HEALTH is for our children.

I have deep sentiments now because Darren has been sick for the last two weeks *frown*.

9 days of fever and prolonged cold and cough.  After consulting 3 doctors and an emergency visit to the hospital, we discovered that Darren is down with chest infection and has phelgm in his lungs.

His usual joyous, bubbly and energetic self has been missing for a while.  It has been worrying, especially the prolonged symptoms and infection.  I have been drained — juggling between work, tending to my sick boy and preparing Brendan for his ongoing exams.

Seeing him drink these bottles and then new and more bottles of medications can “pain” a mom’s heart.

I am relieved that Darren is finally feeling a little better though he is missing his ongoing Assessment Examinations this week.  What matters most is —- Getting him to rest and recover.

“When are we going for foot massage“, Brendan has been asking for weeks since his birthday. Might sound strange but one of Brendan’s birthday requests is to have foot massage.  He simply loves it after previous experiences!

So….after the repeated requests, I decided to grant him his wish again of going for foot massage after a year’s break. This time, our little Darren, surprisingly, volunteered to enjoy too. Yes, I use the word “enjoy” because not all kids can get themselves rooted to the seats for 30 minutes with a mixture of painfulness and ticklishness on the feet. My little boy, who used to show so much resistance, was enjoying every minute of it this time, while concentrating on his Nintendo DS.   

Darren's first experience in foot massage

As a mom, I believe in engaging my kids in any activity that will boost their natural defences and also health. If foot reflexology (foot massage) can serve the above purpose and I can get the kids seated quietly for that 30 minutes, we seem to be in a win-win situation *LOL*.

This young boy definitely knows how to enjoy himself with a electronic game set in his hands and massage on his feet

I was told that foot reflexology brings about benefits like improving blood circulation and removing toxic products from the body. After the massage session, we are usually advised to drink water to eliminate toxin and lactic acids. Due to the pressure exerted on certain points of the feet and as a result causing pain, not everybody finds it an enjoyment. Hence, it is such a surprise that Brendan actually misses it:) They sure know how to knock a hole in their mother’s pocket at this young age *oops*. But but…..as long as it is beneficial for health, I guess it is worth it.

Click here to read more on foot reflexology.

I like the small park concept in Singapore because all the housing estates seem to be well-supported by small little parks. Like there are Bishan Park, Pasir Ris Park, Punggol Park, Sengkang Riveside Park. Besides there are also the reservoirs which are usually surrounded by beautiful greeneries and scenery. These parks create ideal places for us to get way from the crowd and EXERCISE. What is a better place for the kids to really let their hair down and run wild and also breathe in fresh air?

Punggol Park, with typical blocks of public housing in the backdrop. Yoh...the pond is not meant for swimming by humans but for fish only:)

See the sunshine on his face! L'l darren is enjoying himself!

At these parks, you can see families, lovers and friends jogging, strolling, cycling, having picnics or simply rest and relax.  Singapore, being a small city island, nowhere is really too far for us to venture to. Heehee…exploring parks has become part of our “weekend nowhere else to go activities” *LOL*. The other day, having gained some kgs, I made a special effort not to only visit the park but also jogged with my 3 males at Punggol Park.

Group of guys having fun in their game of soccer

Haha...whole family trying to catch up with Darren

Haha...mommy tailing behind to catch up with Papa and Darren. Yah...and shooting photographs.

The boys are really enjoying themselves, despite the hot sweats!

These parks are landscaped with trees, huge pond, jogging tracks and I love to see those cute little dogs jogging with their owners.  Oh my goodness…I guessed my past glory of being a a long distance runner has really become history. Or has age caught up with me? Or have I been too busy or rather lazy to exercise lately? I never know a brisk walk (my knee cap problem has deterred me from jogging) can be so tiring!

So, as my boys sped off with their Papa, I cannot help but realised that my boys have really grown. They can really run!  Especially my young Darren who could speed so fast and effortlessly *haha*.  The young has outshone us  and I can’t help but admit that age is catching up with me *Frown*.   I really have to buck up on my exercise to strengthen my own stamina and health and be in pace with my boys *haha*.

My poor Brendan has been down with flu:( Fortunately it is 1-week school holidays and he does not have to miss school lessons. Usually when any boy falls sick, especially with fever, it is enough to wear me out as it means I have to wake up in the middle of the night to give him paracetamol to bring down the fever…..not to mention I have to wake up again before the sky brightens to prepare breakfast and get Darren ready for school before I set off for work.

It is a few days away from Brendan’s birthday. For the last 3 years, I somehow have this “dejavu feeling” before his birthday. Not a good feeling really because for the last 3 years, just days before his birthday, there had been emergency rush to bring him to the hospital!  Hence, although I am wishing for the best this year but somehow when he falls sick again at this time, I cannot help but worry…touchwood!

Firstly……………………………………..

When he was moving on to 7 years old, I received a phone call from school that he had a fall (just slightly before his birthday) and he was not able to walk. I remembered myself rushing from office to school, my heart very unsettled. Next I was carrying a 20 over kg boy alone, with his bag and my handbag and rushed to hospital.  This is the challenge for a mother when his father is working overseas.  The next few hours was mummy hiding all her worries and anxiety in her heart alone as Brendan was put on wheelchair, received x-ray and received treatment. Phew, fortunately, Brendan was able to go home to celebrate his birthday, and recovered after a week!

Secondly………………………………….

Just days before his 8th birthday, I received an emergency call from school and this time apparently Brendan believed that he had swallowed a chicken bone while in school.  A shaken mother, I made a mad rush from office to school to hospital with Brendan. What happened next was an ordeal as I was alone to pacify Brendan to allow the doctor to insert a hard stainless steel device inside his throat to check and extract any possible  bone.  Things were not very smooth and to tell the truth I was as frightened as Brendan to see such a cold steel matter inserted into my SON’s throat.  I had to remain calm though so that my boy could be strong….Phew….eventually no bone was detected but it was enough to scare the wits out of me especially when Papa was again in a distant land!

Then………………..

Coincidentally, just two days before his 9th birthday, when I least expected and when I was busy at work…..I received an unwelcomed call again. This time, my poor Brendan had a cut on his head after banging onto the edge of a classroom door while playing hide and seek with a classmate! His head was still bleeding when I reached school and what happened next was expected.  X-ray, making frantic calls to Papa Ed (who was obviously overseas), and using my best approach to soothe a frightened son, it was late night when we managed to pull through and went home together. Fortunately, he was able to cut his birthday cake at home.

All these unpleasant encounters for the last 3 years and I just want to say ”Not again please!”. Sound pretty coincidental but it is definitely a nightmare!

In one of my previous posts, I have talked about my boys taking up Chinese Martial Arts or Wushu. It is already their 4^th lesson and they now have their wushu costumes.

I am seeing good results because Darren, who is hardly attentive at home, is finally trying to be focused throughout the wushu class *VICTORY sign by mummy*. Of course, I am not trying to prepare them to be like Chinese Gongfu Superstar Jet Li *wink*. Hmmm….discipline, getting fit, getting more flexible….wushu is definitely a right choice for them.

Brendan was saying: “Mummy, I can protect you from any danger with wushu.”

Mummy: “Aiyo, not with your skills now” *lol*

I am touched but it is still a long way and I am not sure whether they will persist through the classes and practices. Till then, I will have to make sure that they will not use what they learn to spar with each other at home.

Darren loves to have his photos taken. As usual, he is posing instead of listening to the instructor...mummy's fault.

Thank You for viewing:)

When I was young, my baby teeth were left to drop by themselves.  I even remembered my mother trying to tie one end of a string to my loose tooth and the other end to a door knob. She was trying to help me pull out my loose tooth by closing the door. Sound so painful right? Of course I resisted!

With easy access to dentists today, the situation might be different for children now.  Brendan’s baby teeth started to loosen when he was about 6 years old.  For him, each loose tooth posed as a threat to him. Why? Because he was afraid to swallow it while eating or sleeping.  Although I could have continued to assure him that we could just wait for the tooth to drop on its own, I was not able to face his fear and sobbing everyday due to a loose tooth. Hence, I brought him to the dentist to remove each tooth that is loose. This effectively removed the stress of both mother and son immediately because although he was fearful of going to the dentist, he was even more fearful of a loose tooth.

I have collected some memorable photographs of Brendan while he was going through the baby teeth dropping process.

Part and parcel of bidding farewell to baby teeth - missing front teeth

Finally 1 new front tooth has grown while the other 1 took about a year!

It has been 3 weeks since the onset of the school holidays and we took a break to bring Brendan to the beach for cycling and also played badminton yesterday. It was an enjoyable afternoon until Brendan injured his neck ligaments. Everything happened so suddenly. Just bending down to pick the shuttlecock and all of a sudden, he was in great pain!

Nothing seems to soothe the pain and we had to bring him to the doctor. Doctor advised that an injection would ease his pain much faster.  However, it was really tough getting Brendan to stay calm and be jabbed.  A previous experience of an unpleasant injection must have scared him badly because he could not stop crying and resisting. He never struggled so hard when he had to receive his injection when he was younger. I really spent a long time coaxing him before the doctor managed to succeed in giving him the jab!  From encouragement, to incentive, to tight hug and I really put in my best persuasion power before he unwilling relented.  I guess the most important message is to let him know that there is nothing to fear at all. In the coaxing process, I believed I told him that I would buy him a new PS3 game and now I will have to keep to my promise.  Never imagine that it could be so chaotic when a kid has to receive his injection!

I guess when asked what is my greatest expenses, one of them would be on medical bills for my kids.  My boys tend to fall sick regularly especially the younger they are.  Taking turns to visit the clinic has already become a regular affair.

Some say that young kids tend to fall sick more but their immunity will strengthen when they are about 10 or 11 years old. Some say probably my family has been too “clean” and so my youngest boy’s immunity has become low. Others say that it is common for kids to fall sick when they are in a school community with a lot of other small kids. Doctors also tell me that it could probably be due to my youngest boy’s sensitive nose and nasal system. Yet there are also assumptions that it could be due to the fact that he was a premature baby.

Then what happen when one kid falls sick? The next one will follow soon.  No matter how we try to separate the kids when one is sick, there is no way at all.  It is tough to draw a boundary for them. Not too long ago, both boys were suspected with Hand Foot Mouth Disease. Then Darren was down with cold last week.  It is poor Brendan’s turn now with high fever, stomach cramp and nose bleeding. Staying awake at night to sponge a feverish kid and feed medication has become part and parcel of motherhood.

We are giving the boys vitamins, regularly cleaning the house, giving them healthy diet, giving them opportunities to do regular exercise and the boys do not snack much. Somehow, mummy still does not have superpower to “get the bacteria and virus” to stay away from the kids.

Singapore reports its first H1N1case today. A 22-year-old Singaporean who had just returned from New York yesterday was tested positive for the virus.

Though there is no need to be overly alarm, I have purchased face masks, sanitizers, anti-bacterial hand wash and hand wipes for the family.  We had a hard time sourcing for face masks and thermometers when the initial news of swine flu was announced few weeks ago.

Often many of us do not practise the “full steps of hand washing” even though we are aware.  I found this useful hand washing video clip to show the boys the correct techniques of hand washing to prevent germs especially when they both have the common habit of either pinching or rubbing their lips.

Darren started developing big red blotches of rashes on his waist, hips and body last night. Coincidentally, he is having a common cold and we started wondering whether it is the result of the cold medication that he has consumed. The running nose and itch made him feel so unbearable. This morning the blotches have become redder and bigger scale. My poor boy’s eye was swollen, with unsightly blotches on his face too.

Swollen eyes and face caused by the skin blotches

Red big blotches of skin rashes on body, legs, hands and face

Doctor confirmed that Darren is suffering from a type of skin rashes known as “URTICARIA”. This is similar to what Chinese termed as “Feng Mo” which I used to experience when I was a kid. My mum used to make me wear long sleeved pyjamas, with long pants then because I was not supposed to be in direct contact with the wind or active fan which is believed to aggravate the condition.  I decided to let Darren put on long sleeved shirts and pants since my mum’s/grandmum’s/great grandmum’s  theory seemed to work on me previously.

Doctor prescribed antihistamines medication for Darren and also calamine lotion to be applied on the body. I was told that the rashes are likely to subside in two to three days or more, and in some cases could subside and re-develop again. Poor Darren is kept at home again to rest and recover.  Poor ME decided to take the day off to tend to an itching Darren and at the same time also to do some office work at home.  Considering that Darren has just missed school for two weeks due to hand-foot-mouth disease and now missing school again due to urticaria, I have no choice but to provide him with a lot of homeschooling for the time-being.

Some common causes of urticaria are i) allergy to food, drugs, environment, ii) possible viral infections (in this case, there is a chance that it can infect others), iii) use of unsuitable synthetic products iv) stress v) systemic and general disease.

While my boy suffers the day/days, feeling high level of itch, running nose and unsightly rashes, what I can do is to give him the care and support by being with him and not forgetting to also attend to office deadlines at home.

This is the beauty of a mother - able to tend to a sick child and office work at the same time.