Sleepless nights. . .

It was sleepless nights for me the past few nights. Ed has the ugly looking blisters of chicken pox. He had fever, ulcers and a very bad sore throat last Monday and knowing our boy Ed, who had his share of ins and outs of the Likas Hospital, I got him to drink kembang semangkuk (it works wonders you know;)) and of course got him to see a doctor immediately. The doctor's prognosis was Ed had flu. Hmm. . .however, Wednesday welcomed the chicken pox and by Friday it was all over him. He'd wake up at night asking for milk but I realize that he would only hug his bottle of warm milk to sleep. He'd cry on and on at times and it breaks my heart to see him in pain. I would cuddle him, rub his back, wipe away his tears just to at least ease his 'duduh mommy'. Eventually, he'll fall back to sleep. Every hour or so, I got up to check on him. Fever? Did he pee?

Edward was and is still away for work purposes. I am thankful that he was around during the weekend so I got to get my beauty sleep while he took over the task of checking the kids, especially Ed, at night. Yesterday, Ed was his usual self - mischievous, naughty and a pain to the butt(lol) to his other two siblings - eases my tensed shoulders though;) Edward called to check on us at night and knowing that Ed was getting better, we were able to be in the mood of exchanging naughty sms (lol).

Well, the blisters are drying up but I guess we'll still be cooped up at home till they're really gone. Heard the thing is going around. . .chicken pox I mean. I received an sms from my cousin Donna last night and her girl Carmen has it too. Hmm. . .so we might as well watch out not for Santa but probably for the infectious chicken pox this X'mas season. It may just be under our trees this year!!!

Our idea of a birthday celebration....

Our idea of a birthday celebration this year was:

a) Spending two nights at The Cottage Hotel, Kundasang

It's a new resort with reasonable price RM 108 - heater, astro, wi-fi etc..

b) Watching the 4x4 Pesta Kubis Challenge

However, most of the time I find myself watching the two boys, Ed & Nell. They had their

own mini 4x4 in the mud when the vehicles got stuck;)

c) Spending time with the kids
It was a so called pay-back time after leaving them a week at my parents
just because of the Borneo Safari



d) Appreciating nature
This was taken at home a few minutes after we arrived from Kundasang. It was drizzling
and the kids were shouting, "Mommy, take a picture of the rainbow." Why not, especially at
almost the close of the day.



d) Feasting on a cake

Edward surprised me with a durian cake which he ordered from Trixie.

Lucky us, the kids were not so into durian. . .so we had it all to ourselves.

e) Ehemm....had time to "pak toh" also

As I was trying to put candles on the cake, the kids were jostling each other to see who gets to count the candles first. They counted and I heard them whispering....

"Huh??? Mommy is 5 years old?"

"Like me?"

"No, you're not yet 5."

"Ya lah, but next month I'll be."

"Cannot lah. Mommy not budak-budak anymore."

"Ok, you count the candles again."

And so they counted again. I can't help but smile at how kids can come up with funny things to say and funny solution to a problem. I trace my steps back to the life at 31. There were rough and smooth rides, ups and downs, bitter and sweet....you name it. The norm of life but it makes life more colourful and more meaningful. As I close that chapter of my life, I hope in the years to come if I get a chance to leaf through its pages again, I could say those experiences help me grow....

As of now, hmmm....I wouldn't want to tally the candles on the cake but instead I want to count the blessings that God has given to us...

My thoughts at random. . .

At work....

1. Bored....completed what needs to be done here and loves the idea of 'vanishing' before 12.30 ;P

2. Counting days....hols just 'round the corner

3. Baby Ed's birthday....need to do something....

4. Durian...indulge in the creamy and bitter taste soon....MUST be bitter ah....

5. Where is Beevy??? Caught a glimpse of her earlier....

6. Glad got to key-in marks last week....a long queue now ....

7. Another weekend escapade???

8. Cake Mania

9. Thinking

10. Missing....Edward....

Hope to relax soon....

Edward and Philip Chai on RAW

Japanese Team

River at Ulu Kimanis campsite

Sunset at Pimping Beach

Sunrise at Pimping Beach

It was another exciting opportunity to be part of the Borneo Safari 2008 event. We were flagged off with tyres squealing and engines vrooming down Gaya Street on 26 October and only returned to comfort zone on 2 November. The journey offroading was not as challenging as last year but still the experience - watching the adrenalin-rush men pushing their 'toys' to their limit, enjoying time off from work, nature, being away from the kids:( - is one I wouldn't want to miss again. Although it was a different phase of work I get there but I sure had a relaxing escapade.

Being in school these last two weeks would be like hell ;P. Documentation to do, handing over files, students to see for last minute thingy and lots more before we go off for the hols. I think back of the one week escapade - cooling in any river we get to, listening to crickets at night, sunsets/sunrise, reading in peace, the early morning walks - hmm, how I wish....It's peaceful and quiet here at home now and I am relishing every moment of that Ed and Edward wake up. I am even contemplating on sneaking out just to wander down the road to SASS and probably do a bit of "clicking" here and there. Reality checks!!! Arrgghhh, I'll trudge this last mile for this year by maybe just looking further down the road....any greener pastures???