Lucas Loves Playing Roulette

Yes, at a mere 5 weeks old, he already has a favourite game which he seems to love...Roulette...and the stake here is not money...rather, it`s Mummy`s sanity...

For the past week he has been up at various times, usually for about 2 hours. It can be anywhere from 12am to 6am...and i am so so tired. It`s stressful to try and guess each night what time i will have to be up patting n rocking him to sleep. And worse still, after 6am, he usually has a sleep strike in the mornings where he doesn`t want to nap till noon, and even then keeps waking....who said newborns are easy to handle coz all they do is Sleep & Eat?????

Dear Lucas, as much as you love staring at Mummy`s beautiful face during ungodly hours of the wee mornings, Mummy is no longer young...i am prone to fine lines and wrinkles. So, if i do not rest well, you will not have a pretty Mummy to continue staring at in the near future. Please be kind to me and sleep soundly every night till morning. I love to gaze at your cute lil face, but there is a more appropriate time for such activities.

I love you to bits, but please do not torment me like this...for both our sakes, sleep well and dream well darling...

Sleep Aides

For a long time, Gabe was a poor sleeper, seriously. Nap times were 20minutes at most, unless he slept on my chest. Night times were testing to the extent I cried at his crib side while trying to lull him to sleep. I prayed so hard that I wouldn`t have this problem with Lucas. I just couldn`t imagine going through that again and start hating motherhood.

So this time round, i broke all rules. I brought bought all the BIG GUNS.....sleep aides as many call them. Yup, i needed help and desperately. You see, Lucas didn`t like the Combi cradle we had and didn`t nap long enough for me to much. And night times, it took up to 2.5hours of patting, rocking and singing. I was seriously getting depressed.

So i read this blog, troublesometots, and thought I`d give it a try since she really swears by her methods. So, what did i do?

1) Fisher Price Cradle Swing
My hesitation to get this wasn`t due to the price. At about USD130, it`s not too expensive. Rather, it was due to the fact that you can`t use it long, only up to 11.3kg, so that`s maybe till baby is 7-8 months. But, like i said, desperate enough, i took the chance, even knowing that maybe Lucas wouldn`t like it, then it`d be a waste of money. The swing arrived yesterday evening and this morning i tried it....perhaps it`s too soon, and he needs to get used to it, but he did nap in it for 1hour plus, which is i think good. I`m hoping he can soon nap for 2 hours in it...wishful thinking.

The swing has many songs and nature tunes and 6 speeds to choose from. And, the plush material is so comfy especially in the winter.
Let`s see how he does in it over the next few days.

2) White Noise
I seriously didn`t believe in this one, i thought baby music was better. But after reading the blog, and comments from other moms, i thought why not. So i downloaded an app on my iphone and tried. First night, i thought it didn`t really work. 2nd night onwards, i saw a huge improvement, he slept better and longer. And honestly, i slept better too hearing the sound. Only thing is, i think it`s not to good to use it on a phone...radiation ....

3) Pacifier
I`ve heard how many people do not want to use the pacifier because they are afraid that the baby will still be sucking on it into toddler years. And Gabe didn`t take to the pacifier, so i didn`t have that problem...come Lucas, i needed all the help i can, so i gave it to him in his first week. Obviously then, it kept dropping out, but when it did stay in his mouth, i can say it helped alot...and now, nap times, i use it to calm him...big big help...gonna keep using this till i wean him off it maybe by 1 year old...

So, having so many aides, i worry that it`ll be hard to wean him off any if these, especially the cradle to crib situation...but, having have 2 kids to take care of, and my sanity to maintain, i can`t think of months down the road...i have to think of NOW. And NOW means having all these...weaning LATER....

So, wish me luck and keep your fingers crossed that after using all these, i`ll have a super sleeper in Lucas....

In Survival Mode

Ok, Grandma (Mum) has gone back since Saturday morning, so today was my first day home with 2 kids under the age of 3. Did i survive? Hmm...i think yes, i did, barely, but i did. Here`s what our routine looks like:

06.00: Lucas` waking time (i cannot understand why he chooses to wake so early when he has the luxury of sleeping-in)
*Note; He chose also to wake up to torment me at the ridiculous time of 02.00 - 0400...i was about to go crazy
- Feeding time

07.00-07.30: After turning on the heater in the living room and it`s warm enuff, i transfer him to the living area and put him in his cradle cot
*Note; He hates being put there especially in the mornings, and immediately screams till he is carried, which makes it difficult coz on school days Gabe needs to be prepped

-Quickly wash face n brush teeth
-Tend to a still whiny Lucas
-*On school days, it`s a maddash preparing Gabe`s milk n lunch for school

08.00-09.00
-Gabe & Terry wake
-Terry feeds Gabe breakfast
-I feed Lucas
-I`m still running around while tending to a still whiny screaming Lucas
-Terry changes Gabe

09.30-10.00
-Terry is ready to go off to work
-I`m alone with Gabe & Lucas (still whiny)

10.30-11.00
-Feed Lucas again
-try to put him for a nap which is hard coz he doesn`t really like being out down in the cradle
-Try to fend off Gabe who usually pops by Lucas` side to pat him or touch him

11.00-13.00
-Do laundry
-De frost meat for dinner
-Chomp down my bread which is my brekkie plus lunchie
-Tend to Lucas who usually needs multiple pattings to sooth n fall asleep deeply
-Do whateevr else that needs cleaning
-Tend to a whiny Gabe
-Make Gabe`s lunch
-Feed Gabe before Lucas wakes
*Note; Lucas woke up too soon, had to carry him in one arm while feeding Gabe...survived and Gabe did finish all of his lunch

13.30-15.30
-Fed Lucas, quickly put him to nap
-Put Gabe to nap successfully
-I wanted to nap, unfortunately Lucas chose to wake, had to put him back to sleep
-Took a quick rest on the sofa

15.30-17.30
-Gabe wakes at 15.30
-Give snacks to fend him off
-Gabe plays with toys
-Lucas wakes, carry him
-Prepare Gabe`s dinner
-Marinate dinner
-Feed Lucas

17.30-18.00
-Feed Gabe while carrying Lucas

18.00-19.30
-Put Lucas to nap
-Cook dinner
-Lucas feeds

19.30-20.45
-Terry is back, have dinner
-Terry tends to Gabe
-Feed Lucas
-Wash up
-Prepare Lucas` thermos and milk powder to bring into room

21.00-21.30
-Bring Lucas into bedroom for feed & bedtime

21.30 onwards
-Still trying to put Lucas to sleep which can take up to 2-2.5hrs on a bad day or 1hour on a good day
-Bedtime for this super duper tired Mum

*Lucas stiill feeds every 2hours at night...

So all in all, i guess things got done in the end, not 100% the way i wanted it, but we all survived the havoc...and so, a new day begins......

Lucas` 1st Month Check Up

This morning we went for Lucas` 1st month check up and we`re proud to say he`s doing well. He is now 4kg, that`s an average of 41g per day he has put on and the doc says that is alot. I was so stressed about whether he was getting enough milk or not, so I`m relieved. You see, at birth he weighed 3024g, but upon leaving the hospital, he had dropped to 2782g...quite a bit of weight lost due to my milk supply coming in late.

So, we`re happy with what we have seen so far. Right now, he is drinking 60-80ml per feed which is every 2-2.5 hours. I hope he will soon be able to take in at least 90-100ml over a 3 hour stretch especially at nights.

His sleeping patterns on the other hand, could be improved. Right now, daytimes are the hardest as I need to pat or rock him and put him down, even then, he wakes upon being put down. So mostly it`s carrying him. That means i can`t get as much done at home and i can`t spend much time with Gabe. Sucks....big time. So let`s hope Lucas will be a good boy soon...

As for me, I`m still 60kg...i think the machine is slightly off...sigh, i don`t think it`s gonna be easy losing 10kg...depressed....perhaps it is time to consider liposuction since i do not plan for a 3rd child..


Hello everyone...I`m a froggy baby today!!!

Motherhood x 2

Motherhood is tough, much tougher than i thought. I do not understand how some can breeze right through it, all sugar and honey. For me, it was months and months of sleepless nights and horror feedings with Gabe. And now, with Lucas, it isn`t easier especially with the night time sleep taking 2hours to put him down. How i wish there was a button to just push and they`d fall asleep.

And now, with 2 kids, one with Down Syndrome, it gets challenging. There are going to be battles and tricky situations to handle. There will be days when i want to tear my hair or maybe the kids` hair out. There will be days when i will be screaming like a loony. But, having made the choice of having kids, we deal with it and cope with the situation to our best ability. There is no such thing as `Cannot cope`. I think everyone can cope, it`s just how we do it. I`m sure there will be times I`m gonna make mistakes, but I will handle & cope in the end.

I dislike it when i am told i cannot cope or handle it and it`s doomsday with 2 kids. There are sacrifices of course, but we do what we have to do, and negative thinking and comments ain`t gonna help much. I would like to think that I`m a super mom and with a little lot of prayers, it`ll work out in the end. Heck maybe it`ll wor out so great I`ll be thinking of having a 3rd baby.....ahahah, snort snort...ok i was just joking...my mum will be the first to freak out. especially if it`s another boy!!! Hahahah that will be soooo funny...

Ok, jokes aside, no i do not want another baby. I do not want to be 38 or 39 and still changing diapers and getting minimal sleep. At that age, i should be resting well to reduce wrinkles. So nope, it`s the end of the production line for my uterus...and if anyone can convince my hubby to have a vasectomy just to be 100% absolute no accident happen, I`d be eternally grateful. Otherwise, thoughtful gifts eg supplies of good quality condoms will be welcomed as well, thank you very much in advance.

As tough as it gets, these 2 will be my reward...aren`t they just adorable???

Full Moon

It`s one month since the birth of Lucas....and so far, all i can say is that it`s tough. Nothing like what i planned. I had planned to breastfeed Lucas exclusively for at least 5-6 months, but that didn`t turn out well....Then, i thought with Lucas, he`d be a good boy, sleeping and just eating for the 1st month...umm..let`s just say that`s not exactly the case. Sigh...motherhood...why oh why...

No doubt he`s a cutie pie..but it`s even tougher now, coz Mum has gone back to Singapore...think she couldn`t wait...so we are on our own now, for better or for worse...

Thank you so so so much Mum for coming even though your hands and shoulders were aching so bad...thank you for taking care of all of us so well this past 1 month, doing all the laundry, cleaning the floor so often...and most of all, the yummy food you cooked nearly everyday. We probably wouldn`t have surivived so well without your help...muaks!!

And here is our lil prince, 1 month old, and getting naughtier, screamier and smarter by the day

Gabe`s Adjustment

Before Lucas was born, we were abit worried on how Gabe would feel since he wouldn`t really be the center of attention anymore and I`d be spending most of my time with the baby during the first few months. But we did kind of prepare him by telling him about Lucas and he`d be all sweet kissing my tummy and patting it.

Fast forward to this day, I think we were right to be worried. During my 4 day stay in the hospital, Grandma looked after him until Daddy came back at night. And i didn`t see him till the 3rd day in the hospital. By then he was a bit cool towards me...sob sob...when i went back home, i was shocked because his change in behaviour was like 360 degrees. He was so so whiny and naughty,　not listening to instructions at all. I guess he was jealous and hurt that i wasn`t playing with him most of the time.

Still, it was shocking. I felt really bad that i had to spend most of my time feeding Lucas or expressing my milk and by night i was so tired i couldn`t really have time for him. But i try. Lucas doesn`t make it easy, but when he does got o sleep, i try to play with Gabe like we used to, drawing and reading. And it has gotten better now, he seems happier and more accepting of Lucas.

Right now, he goes to sleep at night with Daddy in his room, he on his bed and Daddy on the futon. I think this sleep arrangement will have to continue until Gabe can sleep on his own. So he and Daddy have become the very best of friends and Gabe lights up whenever his father comes home from work...Mummy is 2nd in line now....

He has started going back to special school 2-3 times a week and i guess it`s good for him since none of us have much time to entertain or play with him, so at least there he has friends and teachers who can give him some of their time and attention.

He has progressed really well, he can walk alot right now, yes, still clumsy most times, but he can walk...:) And his vocabulary has improved alot he can say quite a few words, one of which he loves is `There` whenever he pints to something. words he can say:

Woh Woh (Dog)
Boat
Book
Ball
Book
Car
Star
Ba (Mummy/Grandma)
Dad Dad (Daddy)
Pa (Grandpa)

Fast Forward 5th March
Gabriel has begun accepting Lucas...he now kisses his baby bro alot, and keeps touching his head. Sometimes when Lucas cries, Gabe is the first to go to his cot and pat Lucas...still occassionaly, the boy `accidentally` pulls Lucas` hair and gets a sound smacking for doing that（：

We had Gabe`s doc check up today, all is well...he can now just take 1 type of medicine once everyday instead of 3 times a day..yay!!! And....jeng jeng jeng.....our boy`s weight is now.....9.7kg!!!! wooo hooooooo.....and his diapers are L size now...another round of applause...we`ve come a long way!!!

Ｏｎ　ａｎｏther note, i have stopped expressing breast milk...permanently..i felt really bad about it, but you do what you have to do. firstly, Lucas wasn`t into BM and secondly, i spent so much time pumping, that i didn`t have much time for Gabe, and when Mum goes back, i do not see how i can manage 2 kids and pumping and washing and have time to spend with Gabe..it was just too stressful...so there goes failed breast feeding efforts....

Ok,more pics of Lucas to come..and of Gabe too...stay tuned