04.08.10 / Child's Play, Chin Nee, Confinement preparation, Parenting, Relationship, SL Buddhist, best & good, remember me / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (12)
I have known Jackie (another SAHM since 2 years back) for some time but we had not had a chance to sit down and really chat. This morning she she baked these little puffs and and I went to her place for nice breakfast. The puffs taste really yummy and Jackie even let me “tapau the rest” back for my kids! Will surely try making this one day as they are very easy to make too (will put that in another post later, as this post is not about the puffs anyway).
Challenging days at home, being a SAHM
We chat about the kids (she has a pair of twins too, but the girls are already in their teen), we talked about education and school (where she shared how she got actively involved in PIBG, hoping to change fate of the kids in Chinese School but unfortunately its not like what she thought, how a mum actually went there daily to wash the toilet for the sake of her schooling kid, and how the pressure system grabbed away her girl’s cheerfulness and she eventually put them into Kebangsaan school instead). We also talked about the kids at home, and she shared about the twins character, how different they are, how they fight, and such. I see the similarity of characters in my twins behaviour in her grown up twins too so I can foresee how my future road will be with mykids.
Oh yes, we talked about hubby too, and I was so relief to hear that we share the same fate too (having the exactly same “species” hubby who are so homely and will not just leave their kids to have honeymoon with their wife, weird eh??)
Although very homely, our men is not willing to take charge or help with the kids while being at home, but will just sit aside to watch or sleep in front of the TV and be happy as long as all the children are in the same roof, with the wife taking charge like a mad woman, yelling madly behind chasing after the kids.
Well, hubby used to say that I’ll be able to go anywhere I want once the kids grown up, but according to Jackie, “Nah..very unlikely” because her girls are already in teens, and yet the husband still prefers the mother to be with the children all time. I think it’s because men like these hardly goes out with their friends, so they think socialize is not really needed and they prefer their women not leave their children behind either. Too bad they married the wrong women, as we are born WILD, frequently screaming deep inside despite being caged at home. LOL!!!
Funny that these men thinks that it is always ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY as long as they are together ALL TIME!!! Anyone has hubby like that too out there?
Although it was just a short sharing over a cup of coffee, its feels really good to know that at least I am not alone, in this crazy part of the world, being so stuck at home with the kids, and having to stay so far away from friends. Thanks Jackie and thanks a lot to your YUMMY puffs too!
27.03.10 / Child's Play, Chin Nee, Confinement preparation, Mama Patch, Parenting, SL Buddhist, best & good, remember me / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (6)
Notice I have been missing away from blog, from facebook for days already? I miss my blog, I miss chatting with my blogging friends, I miss my children, I miss baking, I miss my life during this crazy one week Mama Patch anniversary sale. Or perhaps I am not efficient enough? Really can’t believe how lousy I am!
It certainly isn’t easy to run an online shop, especially in a one-man-show business, plus so many distraction from home. So if you ask me if I wanna run a big business and be a Big Si-Tau-Poh…err….NO..more more. I changed my mind. I told hubby, I would rather just let Mama Patch stay small and exclusive as it is now, and it is already enough to keep me busy. Am just happy where I am, doing a little here and there, to keep myself occupied while still being able to spend some time with the kids.
So, no more dream of business expansion, as I do not wish to die of exhaustion since I do not have a good coverage of whole life insurance to protect me. Not at least at the moment when my children still needs me ya…*shake head*….what a weak woman I am!
29.12.09 / Child's Play, Chin Nee, Confinement preparation, Just info, Parenting, best & good, ll / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (4)
I read everything about breastfeeding and get myself ready mentally ever since I got pregnant with QQ, my first girl. Knowing the benefits of breastfeeding, I pushed myself to breastfeed her since birth and I manage to breastfeed her fully until she reached 10 month old.
Breastfeeding twin boys at 3 months old
Realizing the health benefits (as QQ seldom fall sick in school as compare to her peers) and convenience of breastfeeding, I forced myself to breastfeed my twin boys although I was totally dry during my confinement. It was not an easy journey to breastfeed 2 frequent crying boys who refuse milk bottle in their early days.
Boys at 18 months, still on breastmilk
Until today, 18 months, they are still on breastmilk. I think I have done my best for them to boost their immune system. Thank goodness they now can chew and eat all kinds of food. Everyday we will try to cook porridge with all kinds of vegetable and meat to make sure that they get a balance diet through solid.
We often hear cases of spreading virus is happening so frequently. Although I strongly believe that they have got the best nutrient and DHA from mother’s milk, we also supplement them with multivitamin and fruits, hoping that make them tough inside, especially at this curious stage of their growing years.
Unlike 5 years back, it is so good to see that more and more mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their little one.
Specially written for: Join in Curious Kids Need to be Tough Inside
24.09.08 / Confinement preparation, Parenting, breastfeeding / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (22)
Tags: breastfeeding, fenugreek, seeds, tablets
With the current incident of contaminated milk in China, I guess many pregnant mums lagi wanna die-die wanna breastfeed their babies like I do. Thanks to my boh-kam-wan attitude, the twins are now solely on bm, but of course after putting in lots of effort.
For people who are not blessed with good milk supply like me, these are some tips I tried to increase bm:
- Drink lots of fluid (milo, milk, etc) but it did not work for me
- Drink green papaya soup and all sorts of soup again sadly it did not work for me
- Find medical help from breastfeeding consultant it helps when i was prescribed with Domperidone pills
- Take the above fenugreek tablets, can get from GNC @RM62.90/bottle Engorgement starts when I started this 2 days ago!
- Or buy raw 50sen fenugreek seeds from the kedai runcit took this last time with QQ but now, hubby said worth paying GNC for the USA imported tables for his twin boys!
* Even though I manage to exclusively feeding the boys now, still do not experience dripping or wetting my shirt until today :(* (but at least after delivery, my face is clear of acne 
After the recall of the milk powder, I wonder what mummies in China now are feeding their children with now. My friend said demands for hiring “Nai Ma” (Lactating Mother who has just gave birth) to breastfeed their babies even increase tremendously, just like how we engage maids here. How nice if I can engage one also for my boys when my supply was low!
20.08.08 / Confinement preparation, Family, Parenting, Twins, breastfeeding / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (21)
Back dated post
After visiting blogs, only realise I forgot to post on the twin’s fullmoon!!!!
*apalah this Mummy, only thinking about breastfeeding*
So. let me *shiok* sendiri (proud of myself) for presenting one of my breastfeeding pictures here
We actually celebrated a few days earlier by bringing back the boys to my hubby’s hometown for ancestors prayers. I was lucky as my CL actually suggested that she can travel with us so that she can help me take care of the babies. (Furthermore, good also to travel before the Ghost Festival month!!!!)
We just held a dinner for hubby’s siblings besides the prayers. Nothing fancy about the boys’ fullmoon celebration. QQ shiok also coz get to play with her cousins until forgot all about us.
Luckily the babies did not fuss much during the travel….*phiew*
06.08.08 / Confinement preparation, Pregnancy, Twins, breastfeeding / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (33)
Tags: breastfeeding, CL, confinement, Pregnancy, Twins
Benefits of having a CL (confinement lady) during confinement
- someone to manage the household
- gets hot steamy home cooked confinement food
- I get to “order” food that I want to eat
- someone expert to manage the baby
- mummy gets to sleep and rest better
- bath water well prepared
- laze around on my home theater seating
I am lucky that both my CL (confinement lady) from my first and previous pregnancy are good. Both of them eat only very little, mainly only vegetable and most importantly, they are very expert and gentle with my babies.
But one thing about having CL during confinement which I guess most mummies would agree with me.
“There is someone there to watch over me if I am feeding the babies well”
Although they mean well, the truth is that I feel the pressure when CL starts to question me my if babies are full if they still crying after feeding, asking me if still got milk to feed them, ask me if she should make some milk for them. Sometimes it just confuse me if I am producing enough. I admit, I have lost all confidence in breastfeeding this round as my sons cry non stop, each time after I feed them.
After the CL left, our routine now gets better. I somehow feel the whole environment more peaceful. At least I am in control in feeding, and how much I need to top up with formula.
If only I have another baby again (I think only yeah…), I will probably do my confinement without hiring a CL (providing it is not another TWINS pregnancy again).
What about mummies out there? Do you prefer a CL or without one?
25.07.08 / Confinement preparation, Parenting, Twins / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (40)
Tags: Ang Pow, full moon, Twins
Picture taken by Jazzmint
Everyone has been asking me what are the names of my babies, and until today, only I publish it, sorry yeah, folks!
I have been waiting to do a nice scrap for the names, that is the reason of the delay. Guess this nice picture taken by Jazz will do
What is happening to me:
Time is really out for me these days as I have been going out this whole week to settle my personal things before the departure of my CL next Monday. Wonder do you all go out during confinement? We will be going back to hubby’s hometown tomorrow for full moon prayers, and from next Monday onwards, I’ll be on my own….*sob sob*…..
What is happening to the babies:
Remember the geli thing called “At Tap Chee” ? Hey, it kind of works la….At least the boys are more settled when they sleep (probably they are also older now?)
Zhen is now 4kg (surely feels heavy for me) and Then now is 3.6kg. The nurse just came over to weight the boys yesterday and haha….I did not even realise I have to give Ang Pow to the nurse wor. Got such thing one meh? I only found out when a neighbour mentioned it to me, with my CL confirmed it.
Ok la, since I missed giving her on her last 2 visits, so still untung since I only have to give one “Lai Si” yesterday. So funny when I think of it!
Got to rush again….be back next week!
21.07.08 / Confinement preparation, Parenting, Twins, breastfeeding / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (25)
Tags: breastfeeding, confinement, engorgement
Time flies really and I am already completing the 3rd week of my confinement!
But sadly, I notice my milk supply is getting lesser and lesser (with less sign of engorgement). If the baby feeds at different time, I’ll normally feed one baby and pump on the other side at the same time.
Suckle amount = Pump amount ?
Not sure if the above equation applies. Sadly I only get the most 1.5oz from pumping one side. Does that mean that my baby only get to suckle 1.5oz from one side feeding?
No wonder they cry like mad and keep on waking up every hour! Since they are already taking 3oz of formula from bottle, I wonder if I can keep them full by solely breastfeeding them?
For the first 2 weeks, I have been pumping only at night and will put into this mini fridge upstairs (luckily got this portable mini fridge for car use) so that I do not have to go all the way down to the kitchen’s fridge or use my wine refrigerator.
But these 2 nights, I have been sleeping with one twin (on rotation basis) while CL takes the other. Since the supply is so low, I got to wake up almost every hour to feed to my hungry baby 
Have been drinking a lot, taking all kinds of soup. Can you believe that this odd mama’s shirts and bras are dry all the time during confinement?
Any tips to increase my supply?
17.07.08 / Confinement preparation, Parenting, Twins / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (56)
Tags: Ap tap chee, CL, mou tan, Twins
To share a very geli photo here.
Anyone knows what this is called? After so much struggling with these 2 babies day and night (even my CL said they are the most difficult babies she ever seen!), we decided to try this remedy for the babies.
How to do:
Wet the shoulder, thighs, and arms area. Then rub some flour onto the wet area. Work under your bathroom lighting. If lumps are seen, then it means the babies internal body is hot (my friend called it “ap tap chee” (hokkien means dirty torn) ). Then apply some lotion to shave it off their body (we tried to shampoo it off but it just could not come off).
Why do this:
To cold down the baby’s body so that the baby can sleep better.
Not sure if it works, but no harm trying since we almost go mad. Cannot imagine how my life will be after my CL leaves end of next week….WAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
15.07.08 / Confinement preparation, Parenting, Twins / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (40)
Tags: head swirls, Twins
Can you believe it? I am blessed with 2 sons, both with 2 HEAD SWIRLS !!!!
Update on the 16th day:
Twin 1: 3.45kg (gained 700g)
Twin 2: 3.15kg (gained 800g)
Mummy: Bleeding reduce, wound not so painful anymore, weight (ahem, still a hippo so cannot reveal!)
Yesterday night, my poor CL did not have a chance to sleep until 5am this morning! Both the boys woke up every hour for feeding and even during daytime (they hardly wait for more than 2 hours for each feeding!). According to my CL, this is the most difficult pair of twins that she has taken care in her 10 years experience!
I really wonder if I can cope at night after she leaves, in another 2 weeks time. I even propose to hubby last night if we should send one kid to babysitter if I really cannot cope (how I wish if we can allocate another budget for this!)
12.07.08 / Confinement preparation, Parenting, Pregnancy, Twins / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (35)
Tags: c-sect, contraception, pills, Twins
Before I was discharged, the doctors talked to me, asking me about my family planning. When I told them I have not discuss with my hubby and decided, they insist that we let them know our decision before I can discharged.
So when hubby came to visit, they discuss with my hubby again on this matter and insist an answer. Reason given is that I should not be pregnant for at least 3 years so that it would not stress on the bad wound since I carried twins.
Wanna know what was my answer ?
Haha……of course I told them I would take daily pills lol (surely they would not check if I eat daily or not right?)
Anyway, is there such thing that twin mama should not be pregnant again at least for 3 years? The same goes for c-sect mama?
11.07.08 / Confinement preparation, Twins / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (20)
Tags: CL, maid, Twins
First, will talk about my maid. After 1 1/2 month with us, she is really a great help especially in the kitchen. All the confinement food upfront preparation, family meals, cleaning job and laundry (including CL’s and babies clothes) are all done by her alone. She loves cooking so she picks up cooking skill quite easily. All CL has to do is to tell her what to do, and she can cook the dish for the family. But cleaning wise, hmm, not very good at that. Me and hubby got to keep reminding her to clean this, clean that. Sometimes tell many times liao also no action unless I ask her to do it immediately and stand there there looking at her doing her task. Very “tai tau har” (forgetful person) until sometimes she leaves our home door wide open!!! ….sigh…..
Next my CL. Not much complain although I feel that previous CL is more experience. Current CL is far relative and thank goodness we decided to hire one for this confinement. Although she does not have to do any house chores, is really not easy for a CL to take care of the twins (sometimes even kelam kabut when the boys need feeding or need to be carried at the same time). Basically she just have to cook for me (all things upfront prepared by maid) and take care of the babies.
Really cannot imagine once my CL leaves. Having two babies at one go is really tiring!!!!!!!
10.07.08 / Confinement preparation, Twins, breastfeeding / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (31)
Tags: baby, breastfeeding, formula
Although I manage to breastfeed my first child exclusively, I do not know why how I failed to do it this time (even on one child).
Each night I will only take one child so that I can breastfeed him directly without having to pump at night (lazy to sit there, pump, wash and bring down the expressed milk to the fridge thereafter). But I notice my boy will keep on sucking non-stop. After empty one side (30-40mins), I burp him (15-20mins), I feed same baby another side, and another burp. By all done 2-3 hours are gone and this same baby is due for another feeding.
I even tried tandem breastfeeding but after 30-40mins (after both side being empty), we will burp them and both will start crying again coz want some more milk. By then mummy is totally dried up and we need to feed both with formula.
Cannot even manage to breastfeed one baby now, let alone 2 babies. Can anyone tell me whats wrong?
09.07.08 / Confinement preparation, Parenting, Twins, breastfeeding / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (23)
Tags: breastfeed, Twins
One cry, the other one also cry.
One hungry, the other one also hungry.
One wee wee, the other one also wee wee.
Even my CL also going bonkers liao!! Every night, CL will bring the babies into her room to sleep early. After getting rest for a few hours, she will bring one of the twin to me (a few hours after my last pump when my supply replenished).
However with just one baby, I also cannot manage now (feeding and burping). Baby boy is so demanding that whole night I just got to feed and burp. Did not manage to sleep for the past few nights until morning.
At 7am, I had to wake up to prepare QQ for school, and it is only at 8am, after she left to school, I manage to catch some hours to sleep after my first pump in the morning.
This time I really fail miserably to breastfeed, even with one twin. Really don’t know how to cope when CL leaves in another week time! I think I am going to have panda eyes for at least another 2 years, no more blogging for me…*sob sob*!
09.07.08 / Confinement preparation / Author: chinneeq / Comments: (34)
Tags: bengkung, urut
I was so devasted to see my big flabby stomach after the delivery of my child. Not only it is HUGE, inside is PAINFUL as well. When I walk, it bounce and bounce (which really hurts!) especially when I go up and down the staircase.
So an idea pop up with the bengkung that I have.
See my big tummy? (as if I still have a 8th month baby inside!)
Since I cannot use it to tie my tummy due to c-sect (with strings in front for a flat tummy), I had my urut lady (oh, I urut on my 5th day only on limbs and back except tummy part) tie it this way (string at the back, padded cloth in front)!
Pretty useful right?
I hope I can get back to shape naturally at least after 6-12months instead of depending on diet supplements such as Phentermine.