Again I have to move away from them. This time we won't be so far apart as before, but still. The situation will be different too. I think about how papa will manage all these. Hopefully soon we'll be together again.
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Finally we decided that the family would all move to Melbourne.
It was really heartbreaking to leave the people we love dearly, who have become like our own family and helped us a lot in many wonderful ways, and the place we knew so well.
We sold some of our things, and some that are left we gave away. Time was really tight. We had to leave to Indonesia on 6 Jul and I could only go home on 21 June due to my assignments (the last of which due on 19 June) and the ticket price which was cheapest on that day. So the last few days of our stay in Bangkok were crazy. Our goodbyes were sad, we do not know when we will see one another again. And I was so touched with their love and support for us, though we are not related by blood, religion or country.
We spent some good times with our family in Indonesia, the highlight of which was the thanksgiving celebration of my mother in law's birthday. She looks absolutely georgeous. We are also lucky to be surrounded by our ever supportive and loving blood relatives.
Then another farewell with the family, though not as heartbreaking as the first time, because this time we know that we will definitely see one another again.
When we arrived at the Melbourne airport, the queue for immigration was so long. One girl tried to cut the line and was scolded by people from her own country. Even the queue to go pass the Custom check was very long, it snaked around the baggage claim room. We went out after 2 hours, luckily I did not book the airport pick up that was only 1 hour after we landed, but we chose the one with 3 hours gap.
However, the same thing happened, they dropped us on the other side of the road. It is impossible to cross the road carrying so many things and two kids. So we called a van cab. Then we went to Monash because I needed to ask them about my internship and we ate our late lunch (Chicken Pho and Crispy Chicken Ribs at Roll'd) and then we went to Chadstone to buy shoes for J, home slippers and long trousers for boys, also some groceries. We had dinner at D' Elephant as I did not have time to cook.
We got down at the wrong bus stop on the way home as it was dark and I could not see clearly. The next bus will only come after 20 mins, we decided to walk in the cold, rather than just standing there waiting. We tried to call for a taxi but it did not come until it was only 3 mins to the next bus. So I cancelled the taxi and we took a bus home.
This morning was chaotic. I had to cook for the boys to take for their Camp Australia holiday program. Many things were still kept inside the boxes or suitcases. Finally we managed to send the boys at 9.30 from the original schedule of 8.00
Anyway, we sent the boys and I and papa washed the laundry, did some unpacking, went to Monash, I started doing Pilates again, had lunch at the Asian shop on the 1st floor of Campus Centre, got papa his Australian number, Tax number, visited Monash Professional Development and Training and registered the boys for their vaccination certification at Monash Health. I also got good news about internship. The boys enjoyed their Camp activities. I feel grateful and I think God has laid out everything for us in His own wonderful and mysterious ways.
It was really heartbreaking to leave the people we love dearly, who have become like our own family and helped us a lot in many wonderful ways, and the place we knew so well.
We sold some of our things, and some that are left we gave away. Time was really tight. We had to leave to Indonesia on 6 Jul and I could only go home on 21 June due to my assignments (the last of which due on 19 June) and the ticket price which was cheapest on that day. So the last few days of our stay in Bangkok were crazy. Our goodbyes were sad, we do not know when we will see one another again. And I was so touched with their love and support for us, though we are not related by blood, religion or country.
We spent some good times with our family in Indonesia, the highlight of which was the thanksgiving celebration of my mother in law's birthday. She looks absolutely georgeous. We are also lucky to be surrounded by our ever supportive and loving blood relatives.
Then another farewell with the family, though not as heartbreaking as the first time, because this time we know that we will definitely see one another again.
When we arrived at the Melbourne airport, the queue for immigration was so long. One girl tried to cut the line and was scolded by people from her own country. Even the queue to go pass the Custom check was very long, it snaked around the baggage claim room. We went out after 2 hours, luckily I did not book the airport pick up that was only 1 hour after we landed, but we chose the one with 3 hours gap.
However, the same thing happened, they dropped us on the other side of the road. It is impossible to cross the road carrying so many things and two kids. So we called a van cab. Then we went to Monash because I needed to ask them about my internship and we ate our late lunch (Chicken Pho and Crispy Chicken Ribs at Roll'd) and then we went to Chadstone to buy shoes for J, home slippers and long trousers for boys, also some groceries. We had dinner at D' Elephant as I did not have time to cook.
We got down at the wrong bus stop on the way home as it was dark and I could not see clearly. The next bus will only come after 20 mins, we decided to walk in the cold, rather than just standing there waiting. We tried to call for a taxi but it did not come until it was only 3 mins to the next bus. So I cancelled the taxi and we took a bus home.
This morning was chaotic. I had to cook for the boys to take for their Camp Australia holiday program. Many things were still kept inside the boxes or suitcases. Finally we managed to send the boys at 9.30 from the original schedule of 8.00
Anyway, we sent the boys and I and papa washed the laundry, did some unpacking, went to Monash, I started doing Pilates again, had lunch at the Asian shop on the 1st floor of Campus Centre, got papa his Australian number, Tax number, visited Monash Professional Development and Training and registered the boys for their vaccination certification at Monash Health. I also got good news about internship. The boys enjoyed their Camp activities. I feel grateful and I think God has laid out everything for us in His own wonderful and mysterious ways.
Sunday, July 03, 2016
Today is the day
The last eight months had been so torturing.... I had been doing my preparations but we had not told the kids about it, so we did not tell our friends yet either... everyday I was looking at my surroundings with the feeling that I will not see it again for the next few months... the place that I had been calling home for the last seventeen years, the best seventeen years of my life so far...
It was like having my feet at two different places, I know I have to go for the sake of our family's future but at the same time I don't want to go... I applied for my visa three months before the start of my study, but there is this part of my heart that was worried that they would not grant it but also hoped that they would not... but they granted it....
After that I told my Case Manager that my visa has been granted and she took care of my OSHC... after I got the OSHC and knew when the coverage started, I bought my ticket.... it felt like the point of no return... though actually when I accepted the scholarship offer in November it was already the point of no return....
The last couple of weeks I had this silly thought that if I do things slowly, time would pass more slowly too .... the night before our first farewell dinner in mid June with my hubby's colleagues who are also my friends, I told my kids... I thought that J would cry but T cried more, while J only cried because he saw his brother cried....
After that it was a series of farewells to my dear friends, who have been a part of my life all this time... I teared up everytime..... and one night, T prayed for me "God, please protect mama when she is in Australia, so no bad people will hurt her", I assured her that I will be ok, that I had traveled to many places on my own, he asked me,"What if you don't know that they are bad people?", oh this boy whom I scolded so much..... I cried hard that night....
But tonight was the culmination... we went out from the house at 17.00 so we could have dinner together and the kids could send me to the airport.... we said our teary goodbyes... I was crying the whole time after we finished our dinner... my hope and the only thing I could tell my kids is that we will see each other again in December
So my lonely adventure began.... there were so many people queueing at the bag and body check area... and we had to remove shoes/ slippers and computer/ powerbanks from the carry on bags... ohhh the smell from their smelly feet was killing me.... anyway, here I am waiting for two hours until my boarding time....
It was like having my feet at two different places, I know I have to go for the sake of our family's future but at the same time I don't want to go... I applied for my visa three months before the start of my study, but there is this part of my heart that was worried that they would not grant it but also hoped that they would not... but they granted it....
After that I told my Case Manager that my visa has been granted and she took care of my OSHC... after I got the OSHC and knew when the coverage started, I bought my ticket.... it felt like the point of no return... though actually when I accepted the scholarship offer in November it was already the point of no return....
The last couple of weeks I had this silly thought that if I do things slowly, time would pass more slowly too .... the night before our first farewell dinner in mid June with my hubby's colleagues who are also my friends, I told my kids... I thought that J would cry but T cried more, while J only cried because he saw his brother cried....
After that it was a series of farewells to my dear friends, who have been a part of my life all this time... I teared up everytime..... and one night, T prayed for me "God, please protect mama when she is in Australia, so no bad people will hurt her", I assured her that I will be ok, that I had traveled to many places on my own, he asked me,"What if you don't know that they are bad people?", oh this boy whom I scolded so much..... I cried hard that night....
But tonight was the culmination... we went out from the house at 17.00 so we could have dinner together and the kids could send me to the airport.... we said our teary goodbyes... I was crying the whole time after we finished our dinner... my hope and the only thing I could tell my kids is that we will see each other again in December
So my lonely adventure began.... there were so many people queueing at the bag and body check area... and we had to remove shoes/ slippers and computer/ powerbanks from the carry on bags... ohhh the smell from their smelly feet was killing me.... anyway, here I am waiting for two hours until my boarding time....
Sunday, January 03, 2016
dream comes true
As impossible as it had seemed before, my dream has come true
But unlike the time when I had to leave for Thailand (I embraced it whole-heartedly and happily, I literally leapt at the opportunity), this time my feelings are hard to describe
in my eight years of being a mother, the longest time I ever left my boys were five days
during the worst times, when I was so down, I thought that they would be better off without me
but when the possibility comes that I will have to leave them for a long time
my heart is wrenched
I am not afraid or worried of what I have to do there, but I know my heart and thoughts will always be here
But unlike the time when I had to leave for Thailand (I embraced it whole-heartedly and happily, I literally leapt at the opportunity), this time my feelings are hard to describe
in my eight years of being a mother, the longest time I ever left my boys were five days
during the worst times, when I was so down, I thought that they would be better off without me
but when the possibility comes that I will have to leave them for a long time
my heart is wrenched
I am not afraid or worried of what I have to do there, but I know my heart and thoughts will always be here
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Saturday, March 29, 2014
it is that time of the month again when my body would feel tired with no reason at all
and papa is traveling abroad for 6 days
and there's the school food fair and i have committed to prepare cookies for sale
and no school for the boys as it is closed for a day for the food fair
and the Annual Report to the donor of my project is due in another 2 working days
and I couldn't work on it before as there were so many interruptions, lack of sleep due to house chores and papa's absence and my mind just work better when it is near deadline ...
ouch....
and papa is traveling abroad for 6 days
and there's the school food fair and i have committed to prepare cookies for sale
and no school for the boys as it is closed for a day for the food fair
and the Annual Report to the donor of my project is due in another 2 working days
and I couldn't work on it before as there were so many interruptions, lack of sleep due to house chores and papa's absence and my mind just work better when it is near deadline ...
ouch....
Monday, September 16, 2013
Friday, August 09, 2013
and before you know it your little baby is going to school
no more feeding fish in the morning... something that I keep on telling myself I'd do it tomorrow or sometime next week....
no more kisses during the day..... oh how time flies....
and the many times I wished they would leave me alone so I could do the chores or enjoyed some me time ....
and the numerous times I scolded them for trivial things just because I was tired and cranky
it's true what we say in Indonesian proverb "regret always comes too late"
hope I could be a better parent for them.... my lovely *though super duper active* boys
no more feeding fish in the morning... something that I keep on telling myself I'd do it tomorrow or sometime next week....
no more kisses during the day..... oh how time flies....
and the many times I wished they would leave me alone so I could do the chores or enjoyed some me time ....
and the numerous times I scolded them for trivial things just because I was tired and cranky
it's true what we say in Indonesian proverb "regret always comes too late"
hope I could be a better parent for them.... my lovely *though super duper active* boys
Monday, May 06, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
oh yes and Jeremy fell down last Thursday 21 Feb. I didn't hear any bumping noise but only the sound of him lifting up his drinking cup and of something slid down the sofa. I was washing my feet because I just went out to arrange the laundry to make sure it get some sunshine.
He bit and had a cut at the middle of his tongue. It bled a lot and he didn't want me to put ice or drink cold water. I was afraid he might need stitches. So I called papa but he didn't bring his cellphone and called Arika, a friend of ours. Because I thought papa might be at koko's school for language day preparation (the next day) and Arika is coordinating. Also she's a doctor so I thought I could ask her. She came and told me looked like it was ok, as long the blood didn't drip from his mouth usually it doesn't need stitches. That lunch time I prepared oatmeal and soft steamed egg. But in the afternoon he already ate the cone of the ice cream which is quite hard. I told him not to because his tongue is hurt and he would feel painful but he just went ahead and ate it. I anticipated his crying, but he just laughed, and at dinner time he already ate crunchies. And the next morning he ate hard crackers.... anyway I'm glad he's healed
He bit and had a cut at the middle of his tongue. It bled a lot and he didn't want me to put ice or drink cold water. I was afraid he might need stitches. So I called papa but he didn't bring his cellphone and called Arika, a friend of ours. Because I thought papa might be at koko's school for language day preparation (the next day) and Arika is coordinating. Also she's a doctor so I thought I could ask her. She came and told me looked like it was ok, as long the blood didn't drip from his mouth usually it doesn't need stitches. That lunch time I prepared oatmeal and soft steamed egg. But in the afternoon he already ate the cone of the ice cream which is quite hard. I told him not to because his tongue is hurt and he would feel painful but he just went ahead and ate it. I anticipated his crying, but he just laughed, and at dinner time he already ate crunchies. And the next morning he ate hard crackers.... anyway I'm glad he's healed
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Oh and when papa was away in NZ it was bearable, but barely :P
Oh the nightmare was when I had to take the boys out. Tio can already understand but Jeremy still runs around and made it difficult for me when we're eating out or when I had to pay for groceries.... anyway.... I think the boys suffered more because of their nagging mom :(
Oh the nightmare was when I had to take the boys out. Tio can already understand but Jeremy still runs around and made it difficult for me when we're eating out or when I had to pay for groceries.... anyway.... I think the boys suffered more because of their nagging mom :(
So we made the move to a bigger house with 2 bedrooms and the living room alone is already bigger than our previous room. Papa said so I can get a helper and more comfortable when he has to leave for NZ again in mid March, for longer period.
The offer came on 5 Jan (if I remember correctly), just a few days before papa had to leave for NZ so we asked the housing officer if we could move in Feb. At first she said ok but later on she said she had to charge us something for the long delay. Oh well.
So we moved on Sunday 17 Feb 2013 to ST5. We requested some repair works in advance and papa came to check several times, I cleaned the room on the day of the move. We booked two khun who usually work as gardener here. But we hadn't expected that our friends would come to help us. They really made the move faster, at first we thought that we had to do it the next day. Tio played outside with our friends' children (Devan, Farrell and Bimo while Dewi played with Jeremy).
I offered some Yuppy candies around and Jeremy asked me for biscuit. But I didn't give him because he just finished lunch. So Jeremy approached tante Intan and said "tante Diah, I want biscuit" ;)) tante Diah is our friend who is so good in baking that we ordered cakes for special occasion to her. Tante Intan is our next-next-door neighbor. Both of them wear hijab ...so everyone was laughing because of Jeremy :D
The first day we only stayed in the kids' room and ate on the floor inside the same room but it felt normal :D after more than a year living in a studio apartment (first Latphrao Dec 2011-Apr 2012 then AIT May 2012-Feb 2013).
The first time I cleaned the house it's so dusty, but now after several days it is getting better. So tired with the cleaning coz usually it takes me only max 1 hour to get everything cleaned but now it is around 1.5 hours or more. The boys are happy they can run around.
It is lot hotter and dustier than the house in ST 7 and lots of small bugs on the floor :( and Jeremy had some raised red bumps almost every day after we moved here. But not too much and seems he's not bothered. Hope it won't be like Tio before. Perhaps Tio 's bumps were also caused by these small bugs (J's bed is our own, it's a play yard but can be used for sleeping, so it can't be the mattress).
So I don't know whether I can hire maid. Maid wouldn't bother to smash the small2 bugs when sweeping or mopping and I don't want the children to be bitten. But I am also tired everyday and my heels and bottom of my feet are already cracking and so ugly :P Oh well...
The offer came on 5 Jan (if I remember correctly), just a few days before papa had to leave for NZ so we asked the housing officer if we could move in Feb. At first she said ok but later on she said she had to charge us something for the long delay. Oh well.
So we moved on Sunday 17 Feb 2013 to ST5. We requested some repair works in advance and papa came to check several times, I cleaned the room on the day of the move. We booked two khun who usually work as gardener here. But we hadn't expected that our friends would come to help us. They really made the move faster, at first we thought that we had to do it the next day. Tio played outside with our friends' children (Devan, Farrell and Bimo while Dewi played with Jeremy).
I offered some Yuppy candies around and Jeremy asked me for biscuit. But I didn't give him because he just finished lunch. So Jeremy approached tante Intan and said "tante Diah, I want biscuit" ;)) tante Diah is our friend who is so good in baking that we ordered cakes for special occasion to her. Tante Intan is our next-next-door neighbor. Both of them wear hijab ...so everyone was laughing because of Jeremy :D
The first day we only stayed in the kids' room and ate on the floor inside the same room but it felt normal :D after more than a year living in a studio apartment (first Latphrao Dec 2011-Apr 2012 then AIT May 2012-Feb 2013).
The first time I cleaned the house it's so dusty, but now after several days it is getting better. So tired with the cleaning coz usually it takes me only max 1 hour to get everything cleaned but now it is around 1.5 hours or more. The boys are happy they can run around.
It is lot hotter and dustier than the house in ST 7 and lots of small bugs on the floor :( and Jeremy had some raised red bumps almost every day after we moved here. But not too much and seems he's not bothered. Hope it won't be like Tio before. Perhaps Tio 's bumps were also caused by these small bugs (J's bed is our own, it's a play yard but can be used for sleeping, so it can't be the mattress).
So I don't know whether I can hire maid. Maid wouldn't bother to smash the small2 bugs when sweeping or mopping and I don't want the children to be bitten. But I am also tired everyday and my heels and bottom of my feet are already cracking and so ugly :P Oh well...
Tuesday, January 08, 2013
Life is, once again, taking a different turn and forcing us out of our routine.
My counseling sessions affect my life in a positive way. It feels like they bring more and more room for my little family in my heart. I am still emotional and at times easily upset, but not as easily as before.
So today papa left for Auckland at 18.45. He will go for five weeks and I haven't found anyone to help me on Saturday when I bring the kids out. Last few days were emotional. Poor Tio unjustly got scolded many times :( Last night I and papa talked, it was brimming with emotion, but I felt closer to him than ever before. Yesterday morning J woke up with swollen left upper eyelid and insect bite marks on his ear and forehead. So we just observed and today it didn't look any better so I tried giving him Zyrtec and it helped even J spitted some of the syrup out. And he got loose stool today. Well well. Fortunately it also got better.
Papa gave me a surprise, Kindle paperwhite :) so thoughtful of him. Last time he gave me Sony Reader for a surprise, but it's difficult to read it at night that I have to use reading light (with plastic page almost as wide as the Reader). I didn't know that he noticed it. So he put the Kindle near the computer I usually use. But I did not notice it until he told me to open it hehehe. Yeah because he often brings computer thingy thingy that I don't even know what they are. I like the Kindle even though I need to learn as it's more complicated than the Reader. Just now I bought My Sister's Keeper too at 7$ (50% off) hehehe. I'd been wanting that book but didn't want to pay the print out price. ;))
Papa and mama were emotional when it was time for farewell, the kids handled it better, Tio even kissed me and tried to comfort me. Oh I really regret the times when I shouted at him for crying... bad bad bad.....
Day 1
It went well. Jeremy did not take a nap. T & J ate dinner while watching movie at 16.30, J ate a lot, then they played together for a while. T teased J so much that J cried inconsolably, perhaps also because he was sleepy. J sweat a lot so I gave him a warm bath. Still crying after bath, he went to his bed and fell asleep at around 19.30. Oh well, I don't want to think about what time he will wake up tomorrow.
T did some coloring and drawing and talked a lot as usual :D. He said he saw a mosquito. But I couldn't find it. Until it's time for Tio to sleep, I found out that there were 2 mosquitoes inside his bed. My bad.... I checked and looks like they didn't bite him yet.
Things were good with T until he said bla bla bla after we finished praying together (the first time in a long time :P). I think I could pat myself on the back as I was not as emotional as I would have in the past. But I scolded him a little still.... bad bad bad....
The chores are done and I have to sleep early for I don't have the luxury of sleeping in late while papa prepares the breakfast for this five weeks :P.
My counseling sessions affect my life in a positive way. It feels like they bring more and more room for my little family in my heart. I am still emotional and at times easily upset, but not as easily as before.
So today papa left for Auckland at 18.45. He will go for five weeks and I haven't found anyone to help me on Saturday when I bring the kids out. Last few days were emotional. Poor Tio unjustly got scolded many times :( Last night I and papa talked, it was brimming with emotion, but I felt closer to him than ever before. Yesterday morning J woke up with swollen left upper eyelid and insect bite marks on his ear and forehead. So we just observed and today it didn't look any better so I tried giving him Zyrtec and it helped even J spitted some of the syrup out. And he got loose stool today. Well well. Fortunately it also got better.
Papa gave me a surprise, Kindle paperwhite :) so thoughtful of him. Last time he gave me Sony Reader for a surprise, but it's difficult to read it at night that I have to use reading light (with plastic page almost as wide as the Reader). I didn't know that he noticed it. So he put the Kindle near the computer I usually use. But I did not notice it until he told me to open it hehehe. Yeah because he often brings computer thingy thingy that I don't even know what they are. I like the Kindle even though I need to learn as it's more complicated than the Reader. Just now I bought My Sister's Keeper too at 7$ (50% off) hehehe. I'd been wanting that book but didn't want to pay the print out price. ;))
Papa and mama were emotional when it was time for farewell, the kids handled it better, Tio even kissed me and tried to comfort me. Oh I really regret the times when I shouted at him for crying... bad bad bad.....
Day 1
It went well. Jeremy did not take a nap. T & J ate dinner while watching movie at 16.30, J ate a lot, then they played together for a while. T teased J so much that J cried inconsolably, perhaps also because he was sleepy. J sweat a lot so I gave him a warm bath. Still crying after bath, he went to his bed and fell asleep at around 19.30. Oh well, I don't want to think about what time he will wake up tomorrow.
T did some coloring and drawing and talked a lot as usual :D. He said he saw a mosquito. But I couldn't find it. Until it's time for Tio to sleep, I found out that there were 2 mosquitoes inside his bed. My bad.... I checked and looks like they didn't bite him yet.
Things were good with T until he said bla bla bla after we finished praying together (the first time in a long time :P). I think I could pat myself on the back as I was not as emotional as I would have in the past. But I scolded him a little still.... bad bad bad....
The chores are done and I have to sleep early for I don't have the luxury of sleeping in late while papa prepares the breakfast for this five weeks :P.
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
We're busy with applying jobs in NZ... so far no positive response yet
It feels so fast. I've been wanting to move to NZ when I was still single, after watching Lord of the Ring and found that the shooting was done in NZ. Just before Jeremy was born we lodged the application, thinking that it would take 5-6 years (as the process to become PR in Canada). We didn't expect that it's this fast.
Anyway. We're also planning for our Christmas trip to Singapore as we cannot go to Jakarta as papa's family will be traveling away anyway. So we have to at least see my side of the family for maybe it will be a long time before we will see each other again.
I'm going to NCS for at one time I had felt that I could not take my ancient emotional burden with me anymore. It really affected me so much and my relationships with my little family. I feel that it's useful. It's as if now I really have room for my little family, a room that had previously been taken by the negative feelings. The first session was hard, I was so dizzy after that. I don't know how my counselor did that, all she did was listening and affirming my feelings. Anyway, hope I can still improve myself for the sake of my little family.
It feels so fast. I've been wanting to move to NZ when I was still single, after watching Lord of the Ring and found that the shooting was done in NZ. Just before Jeremy was born we lodged the application, thinking that it would take 5-6 years (as the process to become PR in Canada). We didn't expect that it's this fast.
Anyway. We're also planning for our Christmas trip to Singapore as we cannot go to Jakarta as papa's family will be traveling away anyway. So we have to at least see my side of the family for maybe it will be a long time before we will see each other again.
I'm going to NCS for at one time I had felt that I could not take my ancient emotional burden with me anymore. It really affected me so much and my relationships with my little family. I feel that it's useful. It's as if now I really have room for my little family, a room that had previously been taken by the negative feelings. The first session was hard, I was so dizzy after that. I don't know how my counselor did that, all she did was listening and affirming my feelings. Anyway, hope I can still improve myself for the sake of my little family.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
A new development in our NZ visa application, papa was interviewed via phone. The notification letter come few weeks ago and today is the appointed date. We were both nervous. Papa did some research and I contacted my friends in NZ. In my opinion it went well, papa sounded calm and answered the questions clearly. Well, we'll have to wait for another 3 weeks to know the result.
My life now: wake up at 07.00 or later :P (papa prepares the breakfast and Tio's lunch), take a bath, pack Tio's lunchbox and Jeremy's food, ride my bike with Jeremy around AIT sometime (to buy food and, rarely, feed the fish), go home, give Jeremy a bath, browse the internet while Jeremy is playing, prepare lunch for me and Jeremy. At 13.00 my maid comes, mops the floor, irons the clothes, washes the dishes. Usually Jeremy naps from 10.00-12.00 but when he wakes up late, he naps at 12.00 or later. Then 15.00 Tio goes home. Help Tio taking his bath, cook our dinner while my maid watch the kids (mostly Jeremy as Tio can play independently now). Take a shower, set the washing machine, remove the food from the electric stove and keep the stove away so my maid can do the dishes (our kitchen is so small that if I don't keep the stove and the food the water will spray on them). The kids get hungry at 16.30 so I feed Jeremy while my maid feed Tio (must admit, I let them watch movie coz Jeremy won't sit still even for just one minute without it). Then at 18.00 my maid goes home. I prepare my own dinner just before she goes home. Papa usually comes soon after or 1-2 hours later when he has training to take care of. Then at night after sweeping the house and washing the dishes, I take some me time watching movies (first was Desperate Housewives, then Pretty Little Liars, then Gladiator, then now I start watching Heroes, it's very gruesome, I didn't know it and I watched it while eating my lunch), I usually end up sleeping at 01.00.
Our maid is good and she has good chemistry with my kids, but somehow not with me. Oh well, I have to tolerate more because I've experienced the worse. It just won't work if the maid doesn't click with the kids. She comes on Mon-Fri. On weekends I sweep and mop the house and clean the bathroom while papa iron the clothes.
Tio will have his graduation on 28 June and he will perform "If we hold on together" with his friends ;)) my big boy is going to kindergarten now. Then he will join summer school which is arranged by some of the mothers (because the school won't arrange any this time). Let's see how it goes
My life now: wake up at 07.00 or later :P (papa prepares the breakfast and Tio's lunch), take a bath, pack Tio's lunchbox and Jeremy's food, ride my bike with Jeremy around AIT sometime (to buy food and, rarely, feed the fish), go home, give Jeremy a bath, browse the internet while Jeremy is playing, prepare lunch for me and Jeremy. At 13.00 my maid comes, mops the floor, irons the clothes, washes the dishes. Usually Jeremy naps from 10.00-12.00 but when he wakes up late, he naps at 12.00 or later. Then 15.00 Tio goes home. Help Tio taking his bath, cook our dinner while my maid watch the kids (mostly Jeremy as Tio can play independently now). Take a shower, set the washing machine, remove the food from the electric stove and keep the stove away so my maid can do the dishes (our kitchen is so small that if I don't keep the stove and the food the water will spray on them). The kids get hungry at 16.30 so I feed Jeremy while my maid feed Tio (must admit, I let them watch movie coz Jeremy won't sit still even for just one minute without it). Then at 18.00 my maid goes home. I prepare my own dinner just before she goes home. Papa usually comes soon after or 1-2 hours later when he has training to take care of. Then at night after sweeping the house and washing the dishes, I take some me time watching movies (first was Desperate Housewives, then Pretty Little Liars, then Gladiator, then now I start watching Heroes, it's very gruesome, I didn't know it and I watched it while eating my lunch), I usually end up sleeping at 01.00.
Our maid is good and she has good chemistry with my kids, but somehow not with me. Oh well, I have to tolerate more because I've experienced the worse. It just won't work if the maid doesn't click with the kids. She comes on Mon-Fri. On weekends I sweep and mop the house and clean the bathroom while papa iron the clothes.
Tio will have his graduation on 28 June and he will perform "If we hold on together" with his friends ;)) my big boy is going to kindergarten now. Then he will join summer school which is arranged by some of the mothers (because the school won't arrange any this time). Let's see how it goes
Friday, May 18, 2012
I had been kinda down recently. I felt like I was a failure in about everything, in being a person. Well, wrote it all off to a trusted friend and he suggested that I need to count my blessings more. I started doing that, on and off, but it started to change me. I hope it will last long.
He also said that I need to see the positive side of everything, even in things like Jeremy's crying which is often, long and inconsolable ;)) At first I almost laughed it off, what good could come from it. But suddenly it hit me (when Jeremy was in one of his crying bouts), that by habitually control my emotion when Jeremy is crying (cos Jeremy would scream even more when I or his daddy gets emotional), I can also improve my self control when Tio is crying.
I have to admit it and apologise to Tio, that whenever he cried when he was small I, or sometimes his daddy, would get so emotional that we didn't really help Tio venting off his emotion. Hope I am not too late in changing myself. I've caused much damage to my lovely eldest. Yet he's still so sweet to me. I feel like I don't deserve it.
He also said that I need to see the positive side of everything, even in things like Jeremy's crying which is often, long and inconsolable ;)) At first I almost laughed it off, what good could come from it. But suddenly it hit me (when Jeremy was in one of his crying bouts), that by habitually control my emotion when Jeremy is crying (cos Jeremy would scream even more when I or his daddy gets emotional), I can also improve my self control when Tio is crying.
I have to admit it and apologise to Tio, that whenever he cried when he was small I, or sometimes his daddy, would get so emotional that we didn't really help Tio venting off his emotion. Hope I am not too late in changing myself. I've caused much damage to my lovely eldest. Yet he's still so sweet to me. I feel like I don't deserve it.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
19 Oct went to Indo
9 Dec went back to Bangkok, stayed at Center Point Apt. Tio wanted to go back to Abloom. Center Point is ok, but Abloom is better. The room in Abloom was bigger, and the bathroom was so comfy, no bathtub but it was so easy to give bath to Jeremy. In CP I had to put J's bath tub inside the big bath tub and it's so inconvenient esp because J didnt want to sit most of the time, luckily my poor back did not give me any trouble. And in Abloom there was a washing machine operated using tokens. In CP I had to wash the laundry using J's bath tub by bending my back over the big bath tub.
10 Dec salvaging of AIT, so sad to see my house's condition. I broke into tears when I saw J's teddy bear all ruined. We went to look for Jeremy's bed and stroller in Central Chidlom which is near CP
11 Dec papa went to look for apartment. Luckily Vineeta has already booked one room for us. Otherwise we would not get this nice, clean, brand new, affordable and very near to school room. The room is a studio room, costs us 5,000 this month and 6,500 per month starting next month.
We bought fridge, electric induction stove, cooking pan and sauce pans
12 Dec morning we bought Jeremy's play yard where he will sleep in and new stroller that can be used for koko and J. Papa went to the new apt in the afternoon to receive the fridge etc that we bought the day before.
13 Dec at 13.00 checked out from CP. Then we moved to the new apartment. Jeremy slept when we were near the apt and continued sleeping in the apt. I took it as a good sign :)
When we first moved to CP Jeremy was cranky, but after some time he's back to normal again. Then now again he's a bit cranky. Hope he'll be ok soon
The room is nice and clean, I have space to wash and hang the laundry (no space for washing machine), and to give bath to Jeremy. There's water heater, but no wash basin and no space for cooking, it's a bit difficult washing the dishes in the bathroom sink. Things that can be improved: the bathroom floor is so flat that water spread everywhere instead of flowing directly to the drainage and there's no height difference between the shower part and the dry part. The lift and common washing machine are not operating yet and there's the noise from the builders' activity as the apt building is not yet 100% finished, and right outside the building the road is small and a lot of traffic, many stray dogs and their poo poo are scattered everywhere, no park or garden for the kids to play with. Anyway, I like staying in here and the children are ok too.
17 Jan 2011
still I like the place, though it's too small to keep our things and there's so much dust (sometimes I think that's why we cough so much these days)....the best things are that the room is clean and so close to Tio's school
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
- We went to Garuda office, packed our things and the next day, on 19 Oct we flew to Jakarta, we left some things with my very kind ex-boss who live near the airport -
The flood story has turned into a nightmare for me. On the 20 Oct I still saw pictures of my house with only 50 cm of water in front of it. And some friends also informed me that the building was still safe.
On 21 Oct morning the situation was more or less the same. But on the night of 21 Oct the nightmare came. The water almost reached the bottom part of the old aircon which is still installed in my bedroom. How my heart broke to see it. And to see other parts of AIT campus which are also submerged... to remember my happy days in that house, in those rooms... in that campus... how my boys' laughter had rung there.... how Tio learned to walk, to play, to ride bicycle there....
now we have no home to go back to... our things, though not much in monetary value but choked full with memories, are gone.... the water is expected to stay for around 4 weeks... and after that what? we can't possibly stay in that house... farms and factories are submerged... diseases will spread....
I still don't know what to do... I love my house.. I love AIt .. I love Thailand... and I'm not ready to leave the little piece of heaven that I had enjoyed for the last 12 years...
Till now, even the sight of Thai products (Tipco juice, Glico, etc) and fruit (longan, etc.) reduce me into tears...
- pic of my lovely home in its sad condition... the one at the corner, ground floor-
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Thailand has been flooded for months this year. The first impact we felt was that our maid asked to go home earlier since there was news that her house would be flooded in another 2 hours.
We thought we were safe, it was in another province. We invited her and her son to stay with us in case they had to evacuate. But turned out that we had to evacuate ourselves
We had been keeping our belongings and moved some to papa's office which is on the 2nd floor, but not all and not yet ready to evacuate. A Thai friend called that Friday night 14 Oct and told us that a water gate broke, AIT and TU issued evacuation orders. So in panic we packed our things and moved to a serviced apartment in Bangkok (which turned out to be very nice, better than my expectation ;))) the kids have also been enjoying our stay
AIT was safe that night, so the next day we went back to AIT to get some more things, wash our clothes and back to Bangkok. The next day we went outing to Paragon and Villa Market. The next day we stayed at the apartment. The next day papa went back to AIT to get some more stuffs as the situation got worse around AIT. AIT is still safe (no water) till now but the areas surrounding it are already inundated. So we don't know for how long AIT will stay safe and if we are inside we won't be able to go out should we need something
Timothy has runny nose as usual, but Jeremy got sick with cold. The night before he cried so much that we got worried. Then last night he vomited and has been having blocked nose and cried again
We'd looked for apartment which is more affordable for 1 month stay in Bangkok. But now there's the news that Bangkok governor said Bangkok has 48 hours to prepare for flood
So we decided to go to Jakarta for 2 weeks
We thought we were safe, it was in another province. We invited her and her son to stay with us in case they had to evacuate. But turned out that we had to evacuate ourselves
We had been keeping our belongings and moved some to papa's office which is on the 2nd floor, but not all and not yet ready to evacuate. A Thai friend called that Friday night 14 Oct and told us that a water gate broke, AIT and TU issued evacuation orders. So in panic we packed our things and moved to a serviced apartment in Bangkok (which turned out to be very nice, better than my expectation ;))) the kids have also been enjoying our stay
AIT was safe that night, so the next day we went back to AIT to get some more things, wash our clothes and back to Bangkok. The next day we went outing to Paragon and Villa Market. The next day we stayed at the apartment. The next day papa went back to AIT to get some more stuffs as the situation got worse around AIT. AIT is still safe (no water) till now but the areas surrounding it are already inundated. So we don't know for how long AIT will stay safe and if we are inside we won't be able to go out should we need something
Timothy has runny nose as usual, but Jeremy got sick with cold. The night before he cried so much that we got worried. Then last night he vomited and has been having blocked nose and cried again
We'd looked for apartment which is more affordable for 1 month stay in Bangkok. But now there's the news that Bangkok governor said Bangkok has 48 hours to prepare for flood
So we decided to go to Jakarta for 2 weeks
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Jeremy and Timothy - the first weeks
The first night was difficult, Jeremy demanded to be fed continuously for almost 4 hours, leaving me with very sore nipples
For the next few days I had pain all over my body, from head to toe: swollen feet, sore incision wound, cracked nipples, cough, eye discharge (but doctor said it's not the contagious type as my scleras were not red)
Jeremy really looks like Timothy. Papa found pics of Timothy and when we put their pics together the resemblance is just so obvious
Jeremy is more graceful when being breastfed. According to "What to expect the 1st year" he is more of the "gourmet" type, while Timothy is the "barracuda". Jeremy would taste the nipple, smack his lips and then gracefully suckle. While Timothy would immediately charge and chase when being presented with nipple.
Jeremy can stop sucking when the breastmilk is overflowing (let down) and let the milk drips down his chin. I don't remember Timothy doing that. But both are choked and cough because the milk flow is just too much
Jeremy doesn't like to be held upright or sat down for burping. He would push his head backward so we have to hold him lying down again. Just like Timothy, he would remove the gloves or socks we put on him within 2 minutes. Both of them don't like being swaddled. Jeremy would kick and moan and try to pull his hands out.
Tio is a baby who follows text books, we can find the solutions for the problems we had with him in the books and usually the solutions work well. Or maybe because this time we didn't really have time to read all the books in advance nor when problems happened.
On the first check up at 1 week old Jeremy was suspected to have jaundice and doctor asked to get his blood tested for bilirubin level. If it's >15 then the baby has to undergo light treatment. Luckily Jeremy's was 9.8, which is lower than the threshold level of 10.
Doctor said the continuous feeding because he received nutrition all the time when he was in the womb, or maybe inadequate breastmilk. I think it's the first one :D coz I grazed when I was pregnant.
As for my checkup doctor said all's ok, the waterproof-bandage was removed and he taught hubby how to remove the "magictape"-like bandage which should be easily removed after shower.
Timothy takes all the changes well. But he clung to my sister when she and my mom were visiting. And he acted up too maybe because he knew he had other people to turn on to when his parents are upset. I realized I'm too emotional with him and had to tell myself all the time to calm down, though often times I failed. I really have to be kinder with him.
Hubby has been kinder to Timothy and now he has to take full time care of Timothy. I help when Jeremy is sleeping. Sometimes the timing was right, I could help Timothy when he needed me. But sometimes this happens: breastfeeding-poo-change of clothes-wake up-more breastfeeding-pee-change of clothes-wake up-more breastfeeding-poo-change of clothes-wake up...it could take more than one hour.
After all the convenience of taking care of a 3 yo boy, these changes are hard to take. But I just keep telling myself that this too will pass ;))
For the next few days I had pain all over my body, from head to toe: swollen feet, sore incision wound, cracked nipples, cough, eye discharge (but doctor said it's not the contagious type as my scleras were not red)
Jeremy really looks like Timothy. Papa found pics of Timothy and when we put their pics together the resemblance is just so obvious
Jeremy is more graceful when being breastfed. According to "What to expect the 1st year" he is more of the "gourmet" type, while Timothy is the "barracuda". Jeremy would taste the nipple, smack his lips and then gracefully suckle. While Timothy would immediately charge and chase when being presented with nipple.
Jeremy can stop sucking when the breastmilk is overflowing (let down) and let the milk drips down his chin. I don't remember Timothy doing that. But both are choked and cough because the milk flow is just too much
Jeremy doesn't like to be held upright or sat down for burping. He would push his head backward so we have to hold him lying down again. Just like Timothy, he would remove the gloves or socks we put on him within 2 minutes. Both of them don't like being swaddled. Jeremy would kick and moan and try to pull his hands out.
Tio is a baby who follows text books, we can find the solutions for the problems we had with him in the books and usually the solutions work well. Or maybe because this time we didn't really have time to read all the books in advance nor when problems happened.
On the first check up at 1 week old Jeremy was suspected to have jaundice and doctor asked to get his blood tested for bilirubin level. If it's >15 then the baby has to undergo light treatment. Luckily Jeremy's was 9.8, which is lower than the threshold level of 10.
Doctor said the continuous feeding because he received nutrition all the time when he was in the womb, or maybe inadequate breastmilk. I think it's the first one :D coz I grazed when I was pregnant.
As for my checkup doctor said all's ok, the waterproof-bandage was removed and he taught hubby how to remove the "magictape"-like bandage which should be easily removed after shower.
Timothy takes all the changes well. But he clung to my sister when she and my mom were visiting. And he acted up too maybe because he knew he had other people to turn on to when his parents are upset. I realized I'm too emotional with him and had to tell myself all the time to calm down, though often times I failed. I really have to be kinder with him.
Hubby has been kinder to Timothy and now he has to take full time care of Timothy. I help when Jeremy is sleeping. Sometimes the timing was right, I could help Timothy when he needed me. But sometimes this happens: breastfeeding-poo-change of clothes-wake up-more breastfeeding-pee-change of clothes-wake up-more breastfeeding-poo-change of clothes-wake up...it could take more than one hour.
After all the convenience of taking care of a 3 yo boy, these changes are hard to take. But I just keep telling myself that this too will pass ;))
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