I started toilet training Luke two months ago when he could more or less sit up. Used to have to hold his hands when he poos, but these days he can hold on to the sides on his own. He is usually quite good with going to the toilet to poo cos the minute you put him down he'll do his thing within a minute. But the strange thing (or some might say 'good thing') is that he needs to do it at 6.30 every morning and nothing later than that. Take today as an example, wanted to take him to the toilet after I had brushed my teeth, and by the time I was done was already 6.40 and he had already poo-ed in his diaper! Good thing he could continue round 2 when I put him on the toilet bowl.

Candice came over to visit this afternoon. She is my ex-student from 1999 batch. She came over to see Luke and gave him an ang-pao (she's married), bought him shirt and jeans from States and bought me Giotto (my favourite!) from Germany (she's a stewardess). So sweet of her. And strangely, Luke likes her cos he allowed her to carry him and played with her. I asked him if it was because Aunty Candice is pretty and he gave a thumbs down! Funny! And when I told him he should stay over at her house one of these days for her to 'practice', he gave a thumbs up and clapped! Really looked as though he understood what I was saying.

Believe it or not, Candice gave me the most headache when she was a student! So now it's pay back time, she's been really nice and bought me lots of stuff for the past few years! But it's always the case, my worse students always end up closest to me and keeping in touch with me for years. The joy of teaching. :)

(L-R) Cousin Katelyn, Aunty Priscilla, Cousin Eshton, Nai Nai, Ye Ye

(backrow) Uncle Roy, Uncle James

Another day of feasting on New Year's Eve. We've been eating good stuff since Friday night, was not even New Year yet and I had Yusheng twice already! Anyway had most of my favorite dishes on Sunday! Delighted! :)

It was father's birthday yesterday. We had a nice, expensive catered dinner at home. It came with Yusheng as well, a bit too early but was OK cos I love Yusheng. Something that I always look forward to during CNY. Actually it's more like I love everything but the raw fish, which is kinda silly cos Yusheng is about the FISH!! :) Was nice having everyone round the house again after so long. Haven't been able to host dinner parties for a long time. It was quite exhausting having to clean up after (only managed to sleep at 1.30!) but was a nice gathering, just that there were a few 'dramas' here and there.

Papa insists on buying the 'Chinese-New-Year' clothes for Luke. With the short haircut he really looks like a China boy!

Brought Luke for a haircut today. Was contemplating for so long, couldn't decide if he should go for a cut cos the last time he cut his hair, I kind of regretted it. He looked so mischievious with his haircut that I felt like spanking him when he misbehaved. Whereas with his longer hair, he looked so cute that I couldn't bear to spank him! Anyway, yesterday LiMin said she wanted to bring Zia for a haircut, so I thought, Ok la, then they can go together.

Yeah! Finally managed to put back on some weight! But I'm so superstitious these days that I can't say it in front of him! Frankie and I just said "do you think, ahem, ahem? Yes, yes, don't say it out!"

Luke was hospitalised. He had a really bad cough on New Year's Day and so I brought him to Dr Cheng on 2nd Jan. Was given more 'Singulair' and 'Asumalife', just like before, but this time round he gave Luke 'Ventolin' as well to help open up his passage way. After we came home, Luke was a little feverish and so I gave him paracetamol. By 4pm his fever didn't subside and continued to go up. Was beginning to feel a little worried and gave him paracetamol every 4 hourly. By night time his temperature had gone up to 39.7 and he was so red and hot! Meng Ling and Moo Yong came over and drove me to KK A&E cos Frankie had to work night shift. Doctor said it was viral infection and gave us Anti-biotics, he also told us that the fever will last a few days but as long as it's below 38 it's Ok. By the time we got home, we were all so exhausted. Meng Ling stayed over to help out just in case. Was really tired as we had to keep waking up to check his temperature and feed him his medication. That day felt like a very long day.

Then on Sunday Luke coughed so badly that he was a little breathless. I called Dr Cheng and he told me to increase his ventolin puff to 3 hourly. On Monday his cough and breathlessness didn't improve and so I had to take him to the doctor for the 3rd time in 3 days! Dr Cheng took his saturation and suggested admitting him for oxygen therapy. That means he needed to be hooked up to the oxygen supply again. The treatment was supposed to be for a day only but Luke started having diarrhoea on his 2nd day in the hospital. Dr Cheng suggested to put him on drip in case he gets dehydrated. At that point Frankie and I had already decided to transfer him to KK. And we actually went in an ambulance!! First time sat in an ambulance! It's like so serious and so many people were looking at us cos Luke had his oxygen tube on and a few big guys escorted us to the A&E registration!

By the time we got into the ward, Luke was really really exhausted and just wanted to sleep. Unfortunately he needed the drip. Poor boy was already so tired and had to go through the pain. He never liked people to hold his hands and this time round there were 3 people trying to hold him down. He was screaming and crying when they inserted the tube as well as draw blood for tests. And during all these commotion where is mummy?? Of course she was so scared that she stood outside the room and cried! Of course scared la! That's one of the things I hate most, THE DRIP!! It's not only painful, it's so uncomfortable. I don't even dare to look when doc inserted for me, how will I dare to look when it's done on my own son? Anyway I must say that Luke is really a brave boy.

Well, the worse is not over yet! He was tested with ROTA VIRUS! His diarrhoea was really bad. The minute his food touched his mouth, you would hear the purging from the other side. His drip was removed 2 days later, not because he was OK, but because it was out of place and they HAD to take it off. We were all hoping that he wouldn't need it again and they wouldn't need to re-insert. Unfortunately things took a bad turn on Friday night. He was purging so badly that the doctor said it was 'IMPRESSIVE'! Impressive?? What a word to use! By Saturday his diarrhoea was so bad that it was almost every few minutes once and there were even blood streaks and he was moaning in pain the whole night. We got so worried and called for the doctor. Poor Luke was so dehydrated and became so skinny! There was no more chubby cheeks, hand and legs were just bones. His eyes suddenly became so big cos the face was just so small and you can even see his neck! Aiyo! Heartache! Sad to say, they had to re-insert him and he was put back on drip again! But thank God he was much better the next day!

It was the worse weekend! What a horrible week at the hospital, it felt like more than a week there! Now that he is back, we have to continue to feed him as much as we can to put back whatever he had lost during that week. Wanted to take a picture of him during that week but forgot to charge camera battery. But also like very chek-ark, it's like he so sick still wanted take photos.

Well, I can only say that this boy is too smart for me. I think this is his way of stopping me from going back to work! YOU WIN, LUKEY BOY!! Mama loves you! :)

Luke would lift up both hands when he's happy

Not amused that we put on a hat for him

Angry Luke. Dunno where he learnt it from, he would clench both fists and pout his lips, making a funny sound at the same time.

We had a family dinner over at my place on Christmas eve. Had it at the function room downstairs. Was Luke's 2nd Christmas but 1st Christmas with the family and at home cos he was still in hospital last year. Time really flies. Last year Christmas was when Luke's weight hit 1.5kg and he was transferred to an open bed from the incubator. It was also the first time that we could carry him. Yup, that was exactly a year ago. Though he could finally join in the family dinner this year, he couldn't really sit down and eat with us. And worse still, he usually sleeps at 6.30pm everyday all the way to the next morning, so it was quite a challenge for us and him. Good thing he could 'tong' till about 7 plus before he finally fell asleep and that was when mummy and daddy could really sit down and enjoy the food and company.