Alaric's Preschool

Alaric's class is getting bigger. Used to be 8 now it had became 18.
They actually split the class into 2. Differentiating the younger and older toddlers. But I still feel that the quality and the attentiveness to the toddlers are greatly reduced.
The reason that I am saying that is because there are many incidents of carelessness of the teachers. Such as, missing information in the record book, missing items in bag, misplacing dirty clothes with clean clothes, sippy cup not closed tight thus causing leakage and wetted the bag. Such nitty gritty basic negligence made me wonder whether Alaric is receiving the right education and adequate care and attention in school. Is the teachers capable to handle the larger class?
And last week, they actually downsized the area for PN classes and expanded the infant area. That really made me feel very uncomfortable as the reason why I decided on this school is due to the spacious area and the number of toddler in a class.
Maybe it's about time to keep a lookout of other schools.

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Herpangina

Alaric was sick since Sunday. It all started with a high fever of 39.4 degee celcius at the night of the zoo trip!
Thinking that he may had caught a viral from the zoo as the weather had been hot and humid thus viral virus were rampant. But on the Wednesday, the 4th day of infection, his fever were still not settling. Thus daddy took him to the PD.
He was diagnosed with Herpangina - Hand foot mouth sister virus. He has red spots around his throat area which will cause him extreme pain. That's why he is refusing milk and most food.
PD commented that this virus would be from school instead of the zoo. I called the school to inform them about it so they can sterilize and clean the school to prevent virus from spreading to others. Yesterday principal called to inform that there is a case of HFMD, a mild case. Sigh. My worries came true. Hope they handle this with great caution.
Anyway Alaric's fever is settling. Plus the teething issues, his cough seems to be coming back. Teething always bring illnesses for him. Hope he clear his cough and flu soon.
Mummy and daddy cannot afford further leave. Daddy took 3 days after starting work less than 2 weeks and mummy took 2 days of unpaid leave since it's still on probation period.
That's life.

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Mystery solved (I hope)

Poor Alaric had been coughing for nearly a month. Several visit to PD and daily dosage of Salbutamol had not been effective. Sleeping soundly at night seems like an impossible task. He will be awaken by his coughing around 12am-1am.
During our last visit to PD, we expressed our concern and requested for antibiotics which we try not to give unless necessary. We are worried that the constant cough will affect his lungs as he has sensitive nose and lungs. It may even lead to asthma.
With the help of antibiotics(2 weeks dosage) and lots of effort keeping the house clean at all times, keeping all plushies out of sight, also with the help of a air purifier cum humidifier at night, his coughing is lessen tremendously. One more week to complete the antibiotics. I hope his condition remain this way while we also stay hardworking to keep the house clean. Change all bedsheets and mop house at least once a week, wipe of dust in room and vacuum house daily, etc.
I do hope everyone in the house is cooperative enough to make things happen. For the good of Alaric at least.

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Working Mummy for the first time!

Valentines Day marked an important start of our life.
I started work and Alaric starts his full day school, his day without mummy, away from home.
Lots of preparation done for his school. Speaking to teachers and principal, understanding the schedule and Alaric's habits. Bringing his favorite plush and pillow and blanket and mittens and many many more so he feels more at home. Food was another concern so I also brought along some snacks for him -biscuits, bread, fruit bar, cereal, etc.
For the first day, work was ok as I started with half day for the month of Feb and will be going full force in March. Alaric did cried at goodbye again. He cried like it's the first day of school. But he settled down quickly I left. He bath with little struggle in school as he wanted to bring along his plush with him to bath. Maybe he felt more secure with his plush then. Lunch was a full bowl and that made me so happy. He slept on his own without much patting and no carrying. Although it's only for a short hour comparing to 3 hours nap at home, I felt he did well. I picked him at 330pm on the first day. He burst into tears when he saw me. Clanged to me like a koala. I missed him too.
Day 2 was as good as day 1. But lunch wasn't good as he took only 1/3 of his lunch. Thank goodness for the biscuits. Anyway I realized that he dun fancy pasta, ESP red sauce ones.
Day 3 was good as he slept for 2 hours for his nap. Lesser crying at goodbye. No crying when I picked him at 440pm. His milk intake and meal was moderate in school too.

My first Valentine's gift from Alaric!

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Not again!

Crying badly and show tantrums at school door. Refuse to go school like as though it's the first day of his school.
What is wrong with him?!
Temperature seems little higher at usual at 37.5-7 Degree Celsius. Hope it's due to the crying and tantrums.
Pls dun fall sick as I am starting work on Monday!

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Happy 2nd Birthday! School Celebrations.

He seems extremely happy before we even go to school. I think he knows that there is a school party as I told him the day before!

Sesame Street Character Cake from Polar.


Family photo.


PN1 and PN2. Where is Alaric?


Birthday boy seated at special seat.


He know it's his birthday.


Clapping and singing along as everyone sings him a birthday song.


PN1 students. Same class as Alaric. He is the eldest, by days. Many of his classmates are not here today.


PN2 students. The Kor Kor and Jie Jie class.


Lovely and caring teachers and principal.





Mummy better help before his saliva all "boo" to the cake.


With assistance from mummy.





I am a big boy already. I distribute cakes to all my friends.






Everyone is enjoying the cake!


So am I.



My nose!


Yummy. Cake is good! I had second serving.


Distribution of goodie bags!


One for myself too. They all liked the goodie bag!


Keep away and resume class. Teacher ordered! ;p


Choo Choo Choo back to class.

PS. all students also dressed for CNY Celebrations that day.

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Rainy Days Woes

It had been raining cats and dogs for days. Everyone seems to be having the same complain on FB - where is Mr Sun? We need to sun our clothes!! ESP during the CNY PERIOD, a lot of washing of bedsheets, blanket and cushion covers, not forgetting the usual load of daily clothes. All the washing is put on haul and the stuff that were washed 3 days ago are still hanging around in our living room! Yes, no typo error! Clothes all over in the house! And it's really an eyesore! Maybe we should have gotten a dryer.
Other than the problem of washing, going out is another issue! It was raining so heavily this morning, in fact since days ago! There is no way to book a cab. We tried calling all cab company, even those ulu ones like SMART or TRANSCAB. Its either cannot get through or no answer! Thank goodness my father-in-law was home and was kind enough to send us to school despite the fact that he worked till wee hours last night. 3 cheers for FIL! Maybe we will consider bus service provided by school to solve the "rainy school days" woes!
Cannot imagine my working days when I need to prepare dinner for family early in morning and sending Alaric to school on a rainy day?!? A lot of adjustments to our lifestyle once I join the workforce again.
Another major woe about rainy days is- Flu! It made everyone sick! Alaric is having running nose again this morning!!! Aarrgghhh!!
Hope the rain stop before Alaric school end. If not I will have a tough time, carrying him and bag and umbrella and need to flag for a cab. I wish I am an octopus with 8 tentacles!!

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Busy Busy Busy...

It had been busy busy busy for us. ESP with CNY drawing near; less than a week to CNY!
Shopping for New Year clothes, goodies and decorations. Spring cleaning the whole house. Packing away unwanted yet considered new and useful stuff and send to Salvation Army. Not forgetting slotting time for my interviews. All above while poor Alaric is suffering from ear infection and me still having flu.
Thank goodness Super Daddy came to rescue! He does most of the spring cleaning and I am thankful that I can catch some sleep while fussy and grumpy Alaric zzz.
Adding more stress- financially, emotionally and physically, we were notified last minute that this year we can celebrate and distribute red packets. Plans to buy mandarin oranges and change notes for red packets were rush rush rush!
We hope we dun look like panda when we go visiting.

PS: rain rain go away! I need the sun to dry my stuff!!

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New Wing of Elfa @ Katong

This new wing of the school is for the nursery and K1 and K2 students.

The whole place is so nicely done up and kids moved around to different classrooms for different activities.
I look forward for Alaric to move to the new wing!

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Birthday Preparation

Alaric's second birthday falls on Lunar New Year Eve. Everyone will be busy with reunion dinner than to celebrate his birthday.
We will only do a small celebration in school and cut a cake after reunion dinner. Maybe bring him to the beach to have some fun time.
Preparation is easy comparing to last year. Only goodie bags for the kids in school and ordering of cakes.

Will post more photos on the celebrations.

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Architect at work, away from school

Today Alaric is on medical leave so he is exempted from school.
His cough is not getting any better and is disrupting his sleep, or should I say it is disruptive to our sleep!
He woke up at 6+am and only managed to zzz back 7+am so I didn't have the heart to wake him up at 8am to bring him to school.
It's play time and rest time for him at home. Hopefully after a visit to PD and a good rest over the weekend will make him recover by Monday.

My little Architect at work again!


Coo Coo Train. He really sit and move using his legs.
I had been some time since he last played blocks. He still enjoys them!

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Falling sick again!!!

Alaric was ok at goodbye. Said bye bye and kiss me goodbye, no tears!
When picked him up at 1145am, he was crying like he was in school for the first day. Teacher said he was clingy today and cried when changing clothes to go home after lunch. Calling out for me and crying.
He was warm to touch since yesterday. And also coughed out yellow phlegm again. I think his cough is back. He was warm again this afternoon at 37.7 degree celsius.
Expected him to fall sick when in school but it's just so frustrating especially when we had decided to try him on full day starting mid of January.

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Good start of the week

After the weekend, despite all the fun we had as it's the New Year, there is no crying and I even received goodbye kisses from Alaric at the gate while we bided goodbye. Only negative part is that we reached school late again. We reported to school at 930am.
I have no plans for myself today. Simply have a slow morning, having breakfast at the usual coffeeshop and blog and update my 2011 organizer. Hope to pick him up only at 1145am today. Peeked at him at 1040am and it was Chinese story telling time. He was sitting down, listening and paying attention.
Then I had a discussion with principal on Alaric's readiness to start full day program. She felt that he is ready as he is no longer crying and somehow enjoying his school times. It is dependent on when I wish to start work. I also shared with her my concern on the working mummy subsidy as I need to plan and find a job as soon as he starts full day to get the subsidy of SGD300 instead of only SGD150. She advised me to provide her the documentation before 10th of each month so she can claim for it for me. Thus I need to plan when he starts full day, estimate how long he will take to adjust, extra time for him to build immunity and find a job soon to be entitled for the subsidy by the 10th of the month. Not forgetting the festive CNY in the month of February.
I was thinking of starting him mid of this month-17 Jan, so I will take 1 month or 1 and a half month to adjust him and find a job. That means I have to start work or at least find a job by March so I only pay 1 or 1 and a half month of fees without working mummy subsidy. To be discussed with hubby and see how.
Picked him up at 1145am. He wants me to carry in while he is in the midst of cleaning up and changing. No crying though. But lunch very little today.

Home sweet home and relax one corner!

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No more teary Goodbye

Despite the morning fussiness he had at home that made me scolded and put him at "naughty" corner, he didn't cry at goodbye at school today!!
First he said "No.No." when we are alighting the cab. When we are at the gate, he said "Mummy!". When Teacher took over and carried him, there is no crying nor sobbing. He bided me goodbye reluctantly when Teacher ask him to say and kiss goodbye. He was still sobbing yesterday at gate during goodbye.
This week is the longest week of school we attended. We have never attended a full week before since December. We are going to achieve that. It's Friday tomorrow! I am so proud of him. Hope he doesn't cry at pick up like yesterday and have more of his lunch at school. Did I mention that he self feed his porridge lunch yesterday? He took half a bowl.
I am looking forward for him to have full meal at school so we need not have lunch at home again. This actually delays his usual nap time at about 1+pm to around 2.30pm. And late afternoon nap delays his night sleep time. Thus affecting his wakie time. School nap time is around 12.30pm. If all adjustments is good and he is adapting well to all the timing, we may start him on full day to try. My only concern is eating and sleeping issues.
Anyway I had my breakfast while blogging. Will laze around a while, playing games and blogging and fb-ing before I head to Parkway Parade to do some shopping. Most shops are only opened at 11am. So I have maybe around half an hour to shop before I fly back to school and pick Alaric up at 11.45am.
Will peek and update before I go PP. Sad that I didn't managed to see him as he was in the room.
The shopping trip was an unfruitful one. Never buy anything. But I never leave empty handed. I went to the library to borrow 6 more books for Alaric. The library is having "promotion" - instead of 6, you may loan up to 12 books per card till 31st of Jan 2011.
Reached school at 1145am. No crying from him! But today's lunch was noodle and he didn't eat much. Hope he eat well soon!

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His Artwork for the month of December

It's all about Christmas!

I believe mostly assisted.

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