My Little Boy is 1 year old today!

It feel just like yesterday he came to our life and today he is already 1 year old. Happy Besday my little boy..My prayers will always be with you and may you grow up as anak soleh mama & ayah! We love you always..

Picture credit to Ucu.

Oh ya..Ucu make sure your oven works ya..! and  "Maklong ....birthday present plizzz" - sincerely from your little nephew!

* On another note..today is Prince Charles and Kate Middleton wedding..so my baby's birthday will surely be remembered next year by most population in this world! Yeehaa! <as usual mommy always hover!>

Pizza Hut at 50% Off?

It's TRUE..Pizza Hut is currently on promotion folk!..nyum nyum..been craving for pizza lately but have yet to find a good time for me to enjoy the meals all by myself..Other people is craving for some sophisticated meal..but you are craving for pizza only aa asz? Hahah..so what? I love Pizza..

So folks, click here for details promotion. I'm surely will do..now now!..:D..I just love pizza!

Mastitis - My Experience Pt 2..

Sorry peeps for make you waiting..<hope you guys were...otherwise..perasan la asz ni!...hahah..> So the story continues here..

Similarly, second doc advised me not to feed my baby from the infected side..and so I adhere. Doc even advised me not to massage Miss B as she afraid that might be contagious and may spread to other area. I was prescribed with another 2 types of antibiotic, if I remember correctly one of them is Augmentin and get 3 days MC so I could rest and concentrate on emptying infected Miss B through pumping. And yup, the express milk was not kept as per doc advised. A week after that I was entirely free of mastitis, I was able to continue breastfeeding as normal.

The aftermath..? As expected, milk supply reduced tremendously from the affected Miss B until now. Used to get 5 – 6 oz per pumping session, but now I got to make do with 2 or  max 4 oz per session. But it’s OK.. my baby is almost 12 months now, so he’s not depending 100% on milk, as he is also taking homemade baby food now..:D. Have to keep on positive if I wish to continue breastfeeding..

To conclude what I learnt from this episode, which I only found out after healing from mastitis through googling:- (ya ya I should have googled earlier..:P)

1.   Mastitis may infect all nursing mommies, though mommies who has recently given birth is the most likely to be infected, they can also happen to other mommies at any time as long as they are breastfeeding – as in my case

2.   Mastitis may occur more than once, but it’s unlikely that you’ll get it in both side at the same time..- now that is a relieved!

3.   Most common causes of mastitis are

a.        irregular nursing or pumping schedules,

b.       a nipple that is cracked allowing bacteria to enter Miss B

c.       clogged duct that didn’t resolve

- in my case I guess initiated from irregular pumping schedule.hihihi

4.    Sign or symptoms of mastitis

a.       Redness of Miss B – got this

b.      Fever & chills – got this

c.       General feeling of weakness – errr..not sure..

5.    Treatment

a.    Soreness can be relieved by applying heat to increase circulation to the sore area and to speed its healing -  I did this using the modern ‘tungku’. Obviously my instinct can be trusted..hihi

b.    It also helps to massage the area starting behind the sore spot – hmm..this is opposed to doc’s advise..I followed my instinct b4 went to see the doc tho..again my instinct was right!

c.   Breastfeed often on the affected side. Breastfeeding improves the flow of blood to your breast, and the presence of your milk itself also helps to clear milk ducts of infection. Your baby will not be harmed by your milk when you have mastitis. Your baby has already been exposed to whatever caused the infection in the first place. – hmm..in my case this is again oppose to my doc’s advise. But most of the website I came across about mastitis recommended to keep on nursing.Tthe fact that the baby will not be harmed make sense to me..so mommies keep on breastfeeding ya!

d.   Rest. Getting extra sleep or relaxing with your feet up can help speed healing. Often a plugged duct or breast infection is the first sign that a mother is doing too much and becoming overly tired. – I had a good rest indeed..and ahaa..that sign applied to me..hahahah

e.   Wear a well-fitting supportive bra that is not too tight, since this can constrict milk ducts – couldn’t agree more..

f.    If you do not feel better within 24 hours of trying these steps, and you have a fever or your symptoms worsen, call your doctor. You may need an antibiotic. -  obviously got myself 4 types of antibiotics all together..thanks to your procrastination asz!

g.   Even if you need an antibiotic, continuing to breastfeed during treatment is best for both you and your baby. Most antibiotics will not affect your baby through your breast milk – only if I knew this earlier..

Mastitis - My Experiece

Mastitis? I never heard of it before until I experienced them myself few months back. That was when I consulted my doctor for which I thought as normal fever due to plugged duct. What puzzled me was, plugged duct can occur even when my baby is already 10 months old?

At first it was just soreness of Miss B, with few lumps. So I was confident that it was just blogged duct or in Malay term known as ‘bengkak susu’. What I did, I continued feeding my baby, offering the affected as well. Thank God it was just one side, cannot imagine if they were both!

The next few days, I started having fever. Being the type that hates taking medication, I tried to ignore them. But to the extend when I couldn’t stand them anymore, I just took panadol to reduce the fever. It worked I tell you..but only for few hours..After that the chillness came and I continued having fever again. I recall the worst was over a night; I started feeling the coolness even when the fan is off. Then suddenly my temperature soared I guess reaching 40 degree and my mind was actively deliberating I don’t know what until it was difficult to differentiate between dreams and reality..Yup, was that bad.. and worry my hubby alright..hihihi

It was Chinese New Year and most of the clinics at hubby’s hometown was closed, so I got to bare with the pain with the help of panadol until the day clinic was open. Besides taking the panadol, to ease the pain I simply use the modern ‘tungku’ to poultice while gently massage the affected area to help with the milk flow. Immediately after that, I would nurse my baby and it help to reduce the soreness.

The morning I planned to visit the clinic, I noticed there’s area of redness and swelling of the affected area becomes worsen.. It worries me very much, so we straight away went to see the doctor hoping she could give me the cure of this ailment. That was then I knew that the redness is a sign that Miss B is infected and that I shouldn’t nurse my baby from the affected side. According to the doctor, there’s no specific medication for this and the panadol that I took just help to put the fever off, that’s explain why the fever kept coming back after few hours. So I was prescribed with two types of antibiotic to be taken for a week time.

After taken the antibiotics for almost 3 days, it did put some relief to the pain I had to endure, and my fever stop right after that. As the doc advised, I did not feed my baby on the affected side, but rather continuously pump them and simply threw them away. How heartbreaking it was to just pour them out just like that, which means fresh milk supply for my baby was lesser then. That would also mean my milk supply from one side will reduce as it did not get direct feeding. I was somehow not satisfied with the fact that I could just nurse my baby from the non-infected side and that there was still some feeling of discomfort on the other side, so I went for a second opinion.

What happened next? To be continued next episode..heheh..

My Mom will always be my pillar of strength..what about yours?

A mother's heart is the child's schoolroom. Don't you think so?

If there was a day for everything you have given to me as a mother, it would be Mother's Day every day. Thanks for always helping me to remember what is important in life... and today it is you! You're the best! Thanks for all you do.

Our mothers are our pillars of strength and our confidante. There's nothing in this world that can replace our mother's love.

Let's celebrate this special day by bringing your mother to Summit Subang USJ and participate in the "Mom On Facebook" Snapshot Contest. Share them with your family and friends today just because your mom will always be your cup of comfort when you’re feeling low.

So hurry, and join the "Mom on FB" contest today. #MomOnSummitFB

Today in History...

Today, 24th of April 2011 marked as history in our little family as my daughter lost her first tooth this morning..I am putting this as our  remembrance,  hoping that one day if she asked me when did she first lost her first tooth, she would find the answer here..:D. Was thinking of snapping her photo without her tooth, but she is kind of relunctant..perhaps she feels emabarassed..as if this is not normal..heheh....

hmm..how time fly..

What do you do when...

you expect the person who is more experience in the field than you, to actually guide you in your day to day task but yet you are the one who guide him/her in simple tiny miny thing like administration of own e-mails and setting meetings?

What do you do when..
you expect the person who is more experience than you to lead you but yet he/she always assign you to lead 'projects' and then never bother and care about them ever since?

What do you do when...
you expect the person who is more experience than you to always remind you of your deliverables but yet you are the one who always remind him/her of the deliverables?

What do you do when..
you expect the person who is more experience than you to be few steps ahead than you but eventually realise that you are a step a head from him/her?

What do you do? What do you do? In dilemma in deed..

Tips to manage sadness or anger

What do you do when you are at range, feeling down and try to cool down peeps?

The title sounds like am good at handling my anger and sadness, which actually I'm not really good at. But hey, why not sharing  with you what I always practise when I feel like throwing out what's in my mind with all those 'vulgar' words to those who 'boil my blood' and makes me sad.. it could work as a reminder to myself as it really works for me tho....maybe could works for you too..

I found out this method co-incidently actually during my Uni years. I was so frustrated with a friend, feel so humiliated and so on by the way he/she treated me. So, I tried to find ways to express my feelings towards him/her, , in such a way that I wouldn't hurt him/her feelings. So what I did, I jot down all those words kept coming and talking in my mind in a piece of paper, everything that I would like him/her to know, how I hate the way he/she treated me, what he/she shouldn't do to me etc, everything until I satisfied and releived. Then I crumpled the paper and threw them out. I told myself, with that I would forget all his/her wrong doings and will start a new path with him/her from there on. And guess what, it feel so good, and if you ask me now what actually happened that time, I could hardly remember..Yes, I forget them all right..

Well, just got to know that this method is highly recommended by a professional motivator, I couldn't remember who from a radio station. Does it mean I was already a motivator since then? Aahaha..keep on dreaming asz!

So Called Long Lost Hobby..

It's been a while since I last put my hands on cross stitch..kind of almost forgotten this hobby as the last one I did was during my "plant grapes" <read as direct BM translation..hihi> time. Yup, just to fulfill my so called free time, I kind of love doing cross stitch. To be honest, this is the only art work that I can consider myself good at. Others is a totally No No..Quoting from my mum : I have "hard hands" <read as direct BM translation ya folks>..hahah. I guess this is the only traits inherit from my mum as she's also good at crocheting..

Tadaa..

Look at this..kind of proud of my own handcraft..Not bad huh? Thanks to my mum as she completed my project just recently with the crochet..so now I proudly put them on my side board at my living...:D

I wish could find some time on cross stitch some of these days..Being a Mom, it's difficult to find time for myself to do what I want..guess that's what being mum is all about..maybe should squeeze some slot in no matter what..well like people said "when there's a will there's a way"

I find it difficult to get a good and nice design for cross stitch from the shops. Anyone of you know if there is any shops selling nice cross stitch design and kits at affordable price? Just want to know in case one day I got this craving to do cross stitch again..which I dunno when..heheh

I know, why not ask Mr Google on the design instead of buying them..well I did.. and it's even difficult to find a free but nice design from the web..hahaha Of course la kan? Where got nice and beautiful things now adays in this world for free..All must pay!

Contemporary Girl...

Got this e-mail from a friend and like this very much..thot of sharing with you all guys. To me, this article says it all from the bottom of a woman's heart..

Contemporary Woman

She is a girl, who is as much educated as you are;
Who is earning almost as much as you do;
One, who has dreams and aspirations just as you have because she is as
Human as you are;

One, who has never entered the kitchen in her life just like you or your
Sister haven't, as she was busy in studies and competing in a system
that gives no special concession to girls for their culinary achievements;

one, who has lived and loved her parents & brothers & sisters, almost as
much as you do for 20-25 years of her life;

one, who has bravely agreed to leave behind all that, her home, people
who love her, to adopt your home, your family, your ways and even your
family name;

one, who is somehow expected to be a master-chef from day #1, while you
sleep oblivious to her predicament in her new circumstances, environment
and that kitchen;

one, who is expected to make the tea, first thing in the morning and
cook food at the end of the day, even if she is as tired as you are,
maybe more, and yet never ever expected to complain;

to be a servant, a cook, a mother, a wife, even if she doesn't want to;
and is learning just like you are
as to what you want from her;
and is clumsy and sloppy at times
and knows that you won't like it if she is too demanding, or if she
learns faster than you;

one, who has her own set of friends,

and that includes boys and even men at her workplace too, those who she

knows from school days and yet is willing to put all that on the

back-burners to avoid your irrational jealousy, unnecessary competition

and your inherent insecurities;

yes, she can drink and dance
just as well as you can, but won't,
simply because you won't like it,
even though you say otherwise

one, who can be late from work once in a while when deadlines, just like
yours, are to be met;

one, who is doing her level best
and wants to make this most important relationship in her entire life a
grand success, if you just help her some and trust her;

one, who just wants one thing from you, as you are the only one she
knows in your entire house - your unstinted support, your sensitivities
and most importantly - your understanding, or love, if you may call it. 

Note: some points may not be applicable for muslim women ya & thanks Mr Google for the images..:D

Hiring Full Time Maid Pt 2

As shared with you previously, we chose second method -  dealing with agent from overbroad. In our case, our maid is from neigbouring country Indon. So now, let see the steps that we gone through for hiring maids particularly from Indon ya...

1. First meeting with the agent, we spell out the maid's criteria that we are looking for and also agreed on the terms and conditions like the 'fees', payment method, the timeframe we could get a replacement in case the maid run away etc. In our case, concluded fees by end of the meeting - RM 3500 which is inclusive of the maid's 3 months salary

2. Second meeting with the agent upon availability of the maid, we were provided with the maid's medical report + passport photo + photocopy of passport, which means the agent already prepared the necessary at his side. During this time, we got to pay him the full amount we agreed in step 1 in cash. Yup, very risky indeed..so got to be sure that this agent is really reliable based on his past records. In our case, alhamdulillah the agent is reliable based on his past good records..

3. With the information we had, we were able to fill in all the required forms from the immigration which we downloaded online here. You may refer to this immigration website to understand the details procedure too. Cost onvolved here is for stamping purposes which is around RM 20.

4.  Once all the forms are completed, we submitted them to Putrajaya Immigration. As precaution measure, we photocopied all the forms at the Immigration's cafe before they were submitted..I remember cost per page is 20 cents. I guess you may get cheaper outside..so you may want to photocopy the forms before heading to Immigration Putrajaya. Our cost here is around RM 5 I guess. Cannot recall the exact amount as they are not so significance..heheh

5. Within 3 working days time you may get the results whether your application is approved or otherwise. So we went to Putrajaya Immigration to collect the 'approval letter' after that timeframe, brought with us a banker's check. For your info, upon claiming the letter, you need to prepare a banker's check under the name of "Ketua Pengarah Imigresen Malaysia" amounting RM 430.

6. The letter was then given to the agent for him to proceed next processing with Malaysian Immigration in Indonesia for visa approval.

7. Once approval is received, the maid is now able to enter our country. In our case, our maid's entering point is at Port Klang.

8. Upon maid's arrival, we went to fetch her at Port Klang, brought with us the copy of the approval letter we got at step 5 + photocopy of my IC (as employer's name is mine) for the immigration at Port Klang's further actions. So it is very important of you to make a photocopy of the letter since step 5 yah..

9. Once the maid was here, we got to register her to FOMEMA before we could proceed for medical check up as she is first timer here. FOMEMA's office is at Pusat Bandar Damansara at block G. Cost here is RM 190.

10. With that we proceed to FOMEMA's registered clinic for our maid's medical check up. Results of the medical check up will be made available in 5 working days from the date medical check up is performed. You can check the results onilne here.

11. Lastly, after FOMEMA's result is out, we went to Putrajaya Immigration office again to collect the sticker.

You see, you need to settle everything from Step 9 to 11 in 1 month time..otherwise you will be pinnalised of RM 100. Don't take this lightly ya..That was exactly what happened to us..am sharing this with you so you don't  repeat the same mistake like we did..

To conclude total cost incurred is:
Agent fee = RM 3500 + Stamping = RM 20 + Photocopy = RM 5 + Immigration fee = RM 430 +    Fomema fee = RM 190 equal to RM 4145

So guys, hope this info is useful to you especially those who decided to take the same method like us. Mind you, this is what we experienced, and may differ to your case depending on the agent that you deal with or in any circumstances.  However, you may use refer this as your guidelines. I highly recommend you to refer to Immigration website to fully understand the procedure and process.

Hiring Full Time Maid Pt 1

As promised before, I will share with you the steps me and hubby took to hire our maid. As far as I know, there are 3 ways we can hire a domestic maid:

1. Totally through agent in Malaysia - which eventually will deal with another agent from the other country
2. Directly through agent from the maid's country
3. Your own arrangment

Of course the first method is the easiet and hassle free I guess - all you need to do is just to spend your money and the rest will be arranged by the agent. Normally cost for this method is in the range of RM 7K to 8K (if I got this correctly..). Note that two agents involved here though you deal directly with only one agent domestically.. so that's explain the cost..

Contrary to first, third method is the cheapest way for you to hire maid. Provided of course you have contacts who can help you find a suitable maid for you. Normally people who used to work overbroad especially in those country like Indonesia, Philippines or Cambodia will use this method. Cost for this case is only on those imposed by Immigration (I guess in both country) and of course administrative cost like stamping..photocopy forms etc is inclusive.

Second method is less costly as compared to the first as you need to pay for the service of only one agent  which is from the country you is hiring the maid. But not to forget you must also include your own cost to settle administrative matters over here with Immigration. This is the method we chose as obviously we never have experience working overseas. So could save at least around RM 1K to 2K..(hubby please help me with the calculation..:D). Hope I got this right..lets see if I got this right later eh after I list down the cost we spent next..

Happy Besday Lil Sis!

At this day around 1++pm (if i'm not mistaken), 2x years ago (very nice of me eh..:D), put the end of my title as the last child in the family. Yup, was blessed with a lil sister of mine Liyana who is somehow special on her on way. We used to be not so close (now is much much more closer..heheh), most probably due to the age gap and due to the fact that she took over my place as the 'anak manja' mama & abah...hihihi..but over the years I get used to my current title now as the middle child and to be honest I do cherish her presence in our little family. So sis here goes:

May you always be blessed in this world and hereafter..

Sudah Terkena baru Tergadah...

Iye...that's exactly what happened to me this morning..all because of my ignorance..oopss not just mine..hubby too..<nak jugak tu include suamiku..hihi>..iye la..dah keje tu sama2 buat..jadi sama2 lah iye amik habuan..iye dak? peace yang! :D

Anyway, what happened was, RM kami melayang begitu sahaja pagi tadi disebabkan sikap sambil lewa kami..tak adhere to rules stated by immigration, which kena complete sume2 mende hal2 maid in one month time upon maid's arrival..next entry insya-Allah saya sharekan serba sedikit prosedur2nye sementara masih ingat ni..sambil2 tuk ingatan diri sendiri jugak..

Oh ye..nak tau dak bape RM melayang? iye kawan2 RM 100 ye.. Tu la lenkali jgn amik mudah bab2 cegini..ingatkan bole buat rayuan minta kurang, sebab diberi peluang jumpa pegawai kat bilik die..but obviously pegawai tu mmg malas nak layan kut? kalo nak minta kurang, die kena bawa kitorg ngadap minister kat ministry of finance kununye. terus hajat nak tawar menawar terbantut..jadi paksa rela la kami bayar kat imigresen pagi tadi. Imagine kalo ada 10 org macam kitorg ni, dah RM 1000 imigresen dpt duit senang2 begitu saje..itu baru 10, kalo 100 org kalo 1000? ha..kaya tu..Tp kan, bile dipikirkan balik, if I were at thier side, this could be one of the way to ensure people adhere to thier rules. Kalo selalu boley buat rayuan, selalu bole dpt diskaun, people tend to amik mudah mende2 cegini...betoi tak? Pape pun, mmg salah sendiri..sendiri tanggung lah..ngeee..

Tinidewi Giveaway Apr 2011

Cecece..I'm trying my luck for the first time ni...since rulesnye sgt2 le mudah & senang..n most important tak yah entry panjang2..so Cik Tini..count me in yeah! Moga2 dpt menang bole anakku merasa baca komik yg best itu..:D