26 Oct 2011

Our cell group organized Charlene's birthday party. Thank you to each and everyone present who came to celebrate Charlene's birthday! We are so blessed to have found a caring church, caring cell members who went the extra mile for us and supported us in whatever ways they could.

It was easy for us as we just needed to be present. We enjoyed the fellowship tremendously and felt really loved. I am sure Charlene can feel the love too as she love going to cell group and to church every week.

These 2 years have been the most difficult in my 30 years of life. But I am grateful to God that Charlene has progressed so much and done so well! I am thankful to God that I am able to see Charlene smile and whine and responding to me each and everyday. She is really super cute...

Potluck

Deco

Thank you Auntie Lee Lee for the pretty ralph polo dress

Pretty cake

Charlene looking at her birthday balloon

24 Oct 2011

Charlene was awake and did well for her neurosuit training in KKH though she complained quite a bit. We are glad to hear from Siti that Charlene will probably be one of the rare children who has no head control to benefit from neurosuit training. We pray that the neurosuit will help Charlene greatly in her muscle control that she will be able to sit by herself!

Charlene also celebrated her birthday in school today! We thank Uncle William for baking the pretty and delicious cake for Charlene. (www.havenbakery.blogspot.com) Charlene was very happy and kept smiling. During song time, Charlene was able to raise her hand when told to do so and even managed to make a noise once when Teacher Adeline asked her to do so.

Pretty cake

Charlene smiling happily 

Charlene posing

21 Oct 2011

Charlene lifted her left hand on both occasions when I told her I want to 'hi-five' and shake her hand. She did the same in school when Teacher Dhilah wanted to shake her hand. Though she still can't verbalize and say '3', she knows now that by raising her hand, it is a response that the teachers will accept as an indication that she understood.

19 Oct 2011

Charlene was smiling happily in the school bus. But the moment she was put on her 'Mecedes-Benz stroller', her face turned black. She started to whine once she was in the physiotherapy room. Teacher Melody did the gym ball with Charlene and perhaps sensing what was to come next, Charlene started throwing tantrums and was very upset when AFOs were put on her ankles and she was put on the standing frame for only the 2nd time.

She was so upset that she had a fit and fell asleep. So she totally missed song time and woke up when it was time to go to the soft play room. She made a lot of noise indicating she wanted more slides. And perhaps she was cold. I resorted to putting her "under a tunnel" (The teachers were joking and saying oven) where she finally calmed down and slept. She awoke and painted a piece of abstract art for a while before drifting back to sleep. Exhausted, she slept soundly and did not get to see Auntie Lena...

A poigant article from a parent who has special need kid

Must read! I was crying as I read this article....

Notes from a Dragon Mum
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/opinion/sunday/notes-from-a-dragon-mom.html

18 Oct 2011

I was reminded that Charlene doesn't like me to talk on the phone. A couple of times, when she is lying on her bed after milk, as soon as I talked on the phone, she will start 'protesting'. 

The same happened today. I called my mum and Charlene started whining almost immediately at the start of our phone conversation. 

My mum heard her and told me to let Charlene listen to the phone. She said some good things to Charlene - I heard her tell Charlene in mandarin "mei3 mei3", meaning pretty. After that, Charlene kept quiet throughout the remaining of our phone conversation. Will try this out again the next time... :) 

17 Oct 2011

Charlene shut her eyes in the swimming pool when I was making her sit and stand in water. The moment I passed her over to Teacher Dhilah, she opened her eyes. And smiled happily as she laid relaxingly in the water! So clever. I don't know to be happy or angry, hahaha.

Charlene threw tantrums on her bed. Daddy carried her, she continued to whine. Daddy made her sit, she is still furious. Mummy carried her, she tried to kick herself out. Daddy suddenly exclamied "She wants music". The moment the "sleeping music" (hymns) starts playing, she fell asleep immediately in Mummy's arms. We are so glad that Charlene knows what to do to get what she wants and will immediately be appeased and satisfied once she gets her way. :)

14 Oct 2011

The school bus tv was showing Eason's concert and cantonese songs were being played. Charlene was listening attentively and was obviously 'looking for them' after it was switched off.

We went for physiotherapy night clinic at KKH. It was more to cater to Teacher Melody who wanted to be at the neurosuit training. Dear Charlene is awake but refusing to cooperate and refuse to do much work especially in lifting her head. Nevertheless, the neurosuit will enable her to balance herself such that her lower body is stable and able to sit without support. That means only need to support/stimulate her shoulder/neck to train head control. After an hour of being in the neurosuit (the longest ever), Charlene had a fit and slept. So the training ended early (it was supposed to be a 2hr session). Since we had time, we decided to go to cell-group.

When we boarded the taxi, Charlene woke up (she obviously was avoiding the neurosuit training). Rev Erick and his wife, Shanti visited our cell. Auntie Shanti held Charlene's little hand throughout worship and throughout cell. Auntie Shanti carried Charlene at the end of cell. Charlene was visibly happy with Auntie Shanti. When we had to leave, and Charlene was transferred to her mummy, she was upset and kept complaining!

8-12 Oct 2011

I was away for a few days as my grandma passed away. 

Charlene was looking for me on Sun and whined through the day. When I came back late at night, Charlene woke up, saw me and complained. 

On Tue evening, Charlene could not get to sleep as she couldn't find her Daddy and Mummy and eventually only slept at 2am. 

Thank God for my mil, lincoln and wei chin who covered my duties in my absence. 

5th Oct 2011

I managed to train Charlene this morning to raise her hand voluntarily to 'high-five' and to shake hand with me. (she needs a super long time like a minute before she can respond).I also put her on the gym ball below the mobile. She lifted herself very high up for a few times.

In school, Charlene was smiling happily throughout. Perhaps, it's because there is no physiotherapy session and it's her classmate birthday.

2nd - 3rd Oct 2011

Charlene is sick. She kept coughing and sneezing.
She slept at 130pm on Sun afternoon.
I was expecting her to wake up at 130am on Mon but she did not.
She slept through and by 130pm on Mon, she had slept for 2 hours and was still not awake.
I began to worry and sms Dr Nat who kindly responded to all my sms and told me to bring Charlene to A&E for a check.
But I am very reluctant. On Sun night, we brought Charlene to the doc who confirmed that her lungs are fine. So I don't see what the hospital could do to help.
So, I was very stressed with Charlene (sick and not waking up) and my grandma (who is in critical condition).
Thank God that after our cell group prayed for Charlene, she finally woke up from her slumber on Mon night 1030pm (she had been asleep for 34 hours).