We dropped by 2 childcare centres in the area where we will soon be living yesterday morning. Although we only had appointment with 1, we managed to view 2. But is was just as well as the hubs and I were not too comfortable with the one that we viewed without the appointment but which a teacher kindly allowed us in. The one that we had an appointment with belongs to a chain, is non-air-conditioned and has a public playground in front of it. They only switch on the air-conditioning during nap time. The only turn off is that they have 3 types of uniforms that we must purchase! The young principal of the centre gave us some time and advised us to think about it before committing as this is an important decision.

After viewing the 2 centres, we had lunch, popped by Jerry's for awhile before meeting up with a potential contractor for and at our would be home. We formalised the purchase of the flat early this week and would like to renovate it as soon as we get the keys as we need to release our current home to the new buyer as well.

The contractor is a referral from Lynn who overhauled her house early last year. His workmanship and quote seems good enough and we hope he will be able to give us a more accurate quote after viewing the flat and understanding what we want to have done. The only headache now is that the old flat still has cast iron pipes in the kitchen and both toilets which are corroding! 

The contractor brought to our attention the slight foul smell that was emanating from the kitchen toilet. The contractor reckons that HDB will do an upgrading at our area to change the pipes but the big question is when. So the husband's next task is to send an email to HDB to check on that and if we can change the pipes ourselves if it's not going to be done by them soon. It is quite bad to the extent that the current owners wrapped newspapers around the pipes in the kitchen. Not only are the pipes corroding, they are also placed awkwardly. Well, HDB do not place any emphasis on design many years back except for the generosity with space. Thankfully, the living areas are spared.

And today, we visited the youngest SIL at home after church today. She looks better and is really a strong person. The hubs told me that while his brother isn't keen to try for another one, she still is. Well who knows. He may have a change in heart in time to come. After all, his best buddy's wife is expecting and is due about a month before their supposed EDD. Well, it's good to know she's all well and good now. That's all that matters now.

When we returned on Sunday, the hubs sent a text through a group whatsapp chat that he created for the family and asked how was the SIL doing. Seems that she was still leaking and was quite heavy.

When I was on my way to work on Monday morning, I saw that the youngest BIL tried to call me twice when my mobile was switched off. Knowing that he sometimes calls me when he can't reach his eldest brother, I called the hubs at work to let him know. Moments later, the hubs called me back to say that the youngest BIL was indeed trying to reach me. They have lost their baby.

I went to see the youngest SIL during lunch time but prior to that, have been messaging the 2nd SIL. Seems like the youngest SIL had given birth prematurely at 24 weeks. She managed to carry her baby from delivery until he passed on, about 4 hours later. The baby was breathing, moving and even hiccuping. But his eyes were still sealed and although externally, he looks developed, internally may not be so yet.

The cremation for baby Roman was carried out yesterday afternoon. Just with family. It is so heartbreaking. And it definitely brings back a lot of other memories for me. Today, they are going to collect the ashes and scatter it at sea.

I just hope now the youngest SIL recuperates well mentally and physically.

I've been so busy at work that I've to neglect my blog for a while and I'm just going to do a quick update before work beckons me again.

We were in Phuket last Thursday and came back today, hotel stay compliments of the Victors. The hubs and I were not too keen on the trip initially but Kenneth kept saying that he wanted to do this for the hubs' birthday as the hubs' has been Kenneth's bff for the longest time and especially since their only son passed away early last year, Kenneth really wanted to show his appreciation this way.

We sort of enjoyed ourselves, sort of because the hubs and I are different kind of travellers from the Victors and Salahudeens. There were 4 families who traveled together for this trip and the Victors and Salaudeens are the sort of travellers who like to soak themselves in the pool for most part of the day while the hubs and I are the sort who like to visit places. We concluded that going on staycations with them would make better sense so in a way, we are sort of deciding probably no more overseas holidays with this group of people.

The hubs brought K to braid her hair when we were at Patong Beach. K, who still dislikes the sand between her toes, stayed on the beach mat the whole time we were there. When we stepped onto the beach, she removed her sandals after the initial steps as the sand were getting into them and then she started walking with her toes curled. It was a funny sight. I guess we need to bring her to the beach more often.

We returned to Singapore on the morning flight while the rest took the noon flight. I had wanted to come back earlier so we can get settled in as it was back to work/school for us tomorrow and also allows the hubs and I time to unpack and for me to do a little washing. On our flight back, Bev was on board and was she surprised to see us! Her little cousin was so happy but thankfully, knows that Bev is working so pretty much left her alone. 

Now, as a family of 3, we can pretty much go on holidays on our own and have a swell time. :)

Happy 2015 everyone! 

We had a New Year's eve dinner with the Victors and Salahudeens before proceeding to the Victor's home. What was supposed to be a short stay for K to play with the girls ended with us staying over to 2015. This the the first time K has stayed up till 1ish in the morning and thankfully, did not show any signs of a meltdown.

On the first day of 2015, we visited the SIL in hospital, just so she doesn't get too lonely. Afterall, it's New Year's Day and of course the youngest BIL and their son were with her. Seems like her gynae has asked them to be prepared for the worse as she bled again. I told her not to let the boy lie down beside her on the bed as he makes so much movements when all she really should have is a stable bedrest. 

Although 2014 did not end on a good note, especially with the loss of the Air Asia flight, I still want to wish for better health for everyone in this New Year.

I was back at work on Boxing Day and I am glad that we had Esther over as she could play with K and free the hubs a little. While I can still get things done while being alone with K, the hubs makes me feel that he can't. And also he's got a very bad habit of checking his FB ever so often.

Nobody at the workplace seemed to have the mood to work the day after Christmas and I was chatting away with the people from finance, especially since my Manager was on leave. When the work day finally ended, I met the hubs, Esther and K for dinner before proceeding to Star Vista again to finish up the train coupons. K had been saying that she wants to sit on the train with Esther jie-jie. We have so many that we even gave some coupons away. Not that there was much shopping at Star Vista, it was the train rides that K kept wanting to go back for. She has taken so many rounds of train ride on her own, with me, Bev, Ivy and now Esther.

And after lunch today, we went to visit the SIL at the hospital. Unfortunately, she cannot be discharged yet and in fact may have to be warded till the last trimester. It seems that she was still leaking as of yesterday and they need to prop her legs up. She said that when she was first admitted, they had put her legs up at almost 90 degrees! Hopefully her condition stabilises and she can be home for the Lunar New Year and this time I've advised her not to travel back to her hometown in Malaysia, like how she would normally do so.

It's back to work again for me tomorrow and bonding time for K and the hubs. I think when it's time for her to return to school, she will go through some separation anxiety again, like how she did when we returned from our Chiang Mai trip. 

We didn't do much today, so much so that it feels like any normal public holiday. When last night's dinner was cancelled, I made arrangements with Jeremy to go Gardens by the Bay in the evening. He, Ivy and Bev decided to have dinner at the market near our place and very shortly after, it started to pour.

The rain was still so heavy when the 3 of us drove to the market to meet them that going to Gardens by the Bay was no longer an option. Disappointing but what to do. So, the alternative was to go Star Vista where we had so many coupons for the train ride there. We had some from shopping and then some others were given by other shoppers. So sweet right! But we ended up with a tad too many, I reckon. 

With nothing planned for today, K was pleasantly surprised when we opened our bedroom door, supposedly after her afternoon nap to see that M has brought Esther home. While the hubs and I slept, K was playing the whole time on the bed. We then took the 2 of them out with us to the furniture mall to see what we could potentially buy for the new place and had dinner outside.

That basically sums up the eve of our Christmas and the day itself. K's childcare is closed tomorrow till Tuesday and the hubs is responsible in taking care of her. I've mentioned this so many times but he either forgets or wasn't paying attention that he has to apply leave to be with her. Anyway, I'm leaving it to him what he needs to do. 

As for the youngest SIL, she is still under observation. I hope she'll be given the all clear and can be discharged soon. Not doing anything for Christmas is one thing but having to be bedridden and worrying is something no one wants to go through during the festive holidays.

We went to the restaurant at the Marina Bay Sands for departmental dinner yesterday evening. And because the hubs had his company's Christmas party, he was not able to pick K up and thus, at my Manager's suggestion, K was the special guest for dinner. 

The food spread was fantastic! But unfortunately my tolerance to something which I ate, wasn't. Within an hour or so, I felt my face feeling hot and thought that it could be the alcohol in the food. Shortly after, my body started itching. It was definitely not the alcohol but a food allergy and there were mosquito-like patches on my temples and parts of my body. My manager suggested that I go see consult a Doctor straightaway and my colleague so sweetly accompanied me and K although I had arranged to meet R at the clinic.

During the not so short wait at the Doctor's, the itch and swells subsided but I waited for my turn anyway. According to the Dr, the allergy could be due to additives or the usual suspects of crustaceans. I had 3 oysters, 2 mussels, some fresh prawns from the cold section and it has never happened before. When the hubs met me, he said I'll probably need a jab but after the wait, I was almost afraid the Dr can't find the spots anymore. Lol...

Anyway, we are supposed to have a Christmas barbeque at the youngest BIL's home this evening but the hubs received a text this morning that says that dinner has been cancelled as the SIL has been admitted to the hospital as her waterbag was leaking. Oh dear, I hope she and the foetus will be fine.