Happy Holidays

That's right. Our school-going kids are now already into their year-end holidays, thanks very much to the herpangina virus. Third time lucky? This round it included special treats like Daddy rushing from the SW of Singapore to the NE to take Sarah and her 39-degree fever home from school with her puking in the car (and leaving our Monopoly set behind), the next day Daddy covering an even greater distance to get Sophie and her mouth ulcers away from her poor little classmates still saddled with another week of school, Matthew hitting a record 40.1 degrees, and a final, cosy little trip of just Daddy and the three big kids to the doctor to confirm the diagnosis. Where was Mommy in all this, one might ask. Oh, not very far away. Just posing and repeating "Om" a few times at a downtown yoga sanctuary, or buying more lovely dies and texture plates off ebay, and oh, of course, working VERY HARD in the office. Mommy got no car, bopian.

So, they're now all ensconced at home, no school excursions, no after-exam games in class, no West Coast Park outing this Saturday, and no first steak dinner for Matthew until doctor gives them the all-clear. Speaking of which, I had considered taking him to Morton's at first, but that will certainly start him off with UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. So, Astons it'll be, when he's good and hungry again.

This morning they were each provided with a big paper bag and tasked to fill them with toys and other stuff they no longer wanted. They were actually enthusiastic about it, and particularly towards things not their own. "But you don't need it!" was the common refrain as they tried to throw out each other's old things. Good! I endeavour to inculcate in them the virtue of chucking and that is a sure step in the right direction. Always try to throw out OTHER people's things first.

Meanwhile, Baby has been given the all clear at her very first appointment with the therapist as regards her walking (or lack of), given that she can climb the sofa and cruise, and also as regards her speech (or lack of), given that she has no problems with reception and fuller expression can expectedly come later. Good. Now to see what the specialists say, since her doc thinks it'll probably be a matter of sooner and not later that the lump in her head should come out, based on her recent MRI scans. Well, shopping for the right brain surgeon is almost as interesting and engaging as trying to pick the right items for combining shipping on ebay, and rather trickier. We've been given some big names at different hospitals to consider and consult, and kind souls have given us plenty to think about regarding post-op ICU care and so on. The medical social worker was glad to observe that we seemed to be positive and have good support, so, to keep that up. Well, we certainly wouldn't be as content as we are now without our three F's: our Faith, our Family and our Friends. So, THANK YOU and HAPPY HOLIDAYS one and all!