SIGH ....

Jonathan started whiny when I told him he had to go to school today.

Let him listened to some praise songs to calm him down.  Talked to him about school and compromised with him.  All the time he was quite ok with occasional pouting lips.

Changing him was alright until I had to put him on the buggy.  He started crying.  I forced him to go.

Harith helped me.  His heart aches to see Jonathan like this.  But I had to be the main force.

Jonathan cried while still on the buggy right, up till when we were waiting for the taxi.  The journey there was alright.  His throat had secretion and phlegm from the crying.  But he was lighthearted.

Met his classmates and teacher...finally.  He seemed to be fine until I transferred him to the special chair.  He had speech therapy ( a new therapists) and also physiotherapy.

I requested to leave early because since it was Jonathan's first day at school, I didn't want to tire him too much.

But by 3pm, he started showing signs of discomfort.   Towards evening, he started retching.

Do I need to let him go through this to know that this is the main reason why he just refused to go to school?

He told me he doesn't want to go because of the current buggy and the special chair in school that he is using. It's true...both do give him discomfort because he is not sitting properly.  With the buggy he is still able to be adjusted properly.  But with the special chair in school, it's a total discomfort.  I've been trying to highlight this issue to the OT since last year.

He's not going to school on thursday.  I cannot afford to have him fall ill especially during chinese new year.


Lord...I really need help.

I WISH TOMORROW NEVER COMES

Somehow, deep down, I wish tomorrow never comes.

Not because I don't want Jonathan to go to school.

But more so I hate the struggles and us being tired after that.

Lord ... make it work tomorrow.

Then I'm reminded that I should not worry about tomorrow :)

SIMPLE CHINESE NEW YEAR

My sister Sally gave me this from Die Cut With A View

 

And this is the only simple card I made for a friend.  No other CNY cards this year.  Not even handmade "hong baos" red packets.  I did some last year {HERE} but this year ... I'm just not up to it.

  

Used the 福 craft punch on the glitter cardstock.  Then punched the same word on a dark gold thin paper.  Scalloped punch out the shape and pasted the gold paper directly over the chinese word on the cardstock to make it stand out.

 

And it looks like this year's CNY will also be a simple affair for us.

JONATHAN'S THIRTEEN!

Jonathan turns 13 today.  Officially a teen.  ThirTEEN.  Wow.

He didn't want anything.  So Harith put some money in the red packet and gave it to him at 12 midnight last night and said a meaningful prayer over him.

So another has come.  What has he achieved?  Physically taller and stronger.  Wanting us to meet more of his demands.  Able to explain himself {even though it's multiple choice of questions and answers}.

He's more responsive to people around him.  Greeting family and friends on his own without being told to do so.

I want to thank family and friends who called/sms/emailed to wish him today.  His cousins called him on the phone and sang happy birthday and he was amused, even though he didn't burst out laughing haha.  Thanks Rachel, Rebekah and Reuben :)

Today, after his music class, Harith bought him a cute tiny hazelnut cake and we set the camera on timer and took the following pictures:

Well..I had to test the timer first :)

Then try the zoom to get the best shot.

 

Happy boy was pleasantly surprised to see the cake and us singing the birthday song.  His smile is always priceless!

 

  

Harith holding Jonathan's hand and cutting the cake ... how to balance?  haha

  

Me trying to superimpose by holding the cake right in front of the camera ...didn't work..haha!

  

Time to tuck into the delicious cake ... and it was really nice.

  

Me giving Jonathan a few pieces of the cake and water to wash it down.

 

Jonathan said celebrating his birthday at home was good enough.  He didn't need to go out.  Cute :)

We love you Jonathan!

VIDEO PRESENTATION

The actual video presention of Nick's song. the big screens were by the sides of the whole ballroom so my sister couldn't catch it in her video clip.

No voice in this song. Can only record it after chinese new year.




Copyright. Serene Bie Ho

SONG FOR NICK @ HIS WEDDING

It's funny why I didn't think of a title for this song when I wrote it.  My sister wanted a song for her son, Nicholas, at his wedding.  I guess I can call it "A SONG FROM A MOTHER AT HER SON'S WEDDING" or "A MOTHER & SON SONG" or "A DEDICATION TO NICHOLAS FROM HIS MUMMY".  These titles are just too long.  I'll just leave it blank ;)

I actually did a video presentation using the song.  You can watch it HERE.

Before writing ... My ta jie (Nick's mum) gave me a gist of what she wanted in a song.  I penned it and she approved it.

You know ... songs like these will always strike a chord in everyone's heart.  I was trying hard not to cry.  In all my years, I've sung for 4 of my brother and sisters' weddings and for other church members as well.  I don't know when I can do that for my own son.

Nick gave me a rose plucked from a bouquet after the song.  haha.  But I'm glad that through this song, the bond between mother and son grew stronger that same night.

Thanks ta jie ... for letting me help you pen the words of these song.

My er jie {2nd sister} caught my singing at the dinner on video.

TODAY ... I FEEL IT'S MY FAULT

I told him he has to go school today.

The signs started showing around 10am.  He began to whine.  Then pouted his lips.

Towards 11.30am, no amount of youtube, wheel of fortune, or music could distract him.

I promised him his favourite music after he comes back.

It didn't work.  Alot of pep talk, alot of cajoling...no use.

The bawling started.  For more than half hour he kept crying.  Secretion and phlegm built up.


Even when we carry him to the buggy, he will refuse to sit.  Straighten his body, lock it in and now matter how much we push, he just wouldn't bend his body.  We cannot afford to snap his bones.  Finally after about 5 minutes, we give up.  My back hurts tremendously.

He sounded to be choking on his secretion.  Harith picked him up and finally managed to talk him to stop.

He told Harith he'll go back on Thursday.  Hopefully he keeps his word.

He's been like that even with family events or going out to get grocery.

Times like these, I feel it's my fault to have let him stay home for the last half year.

Tired :(