Monday, August 30, 2010

LACTOSE INTOLERANCE

I'm beginning to suspect that Jonathan might be lactose intolerant.

Yesterday, I gave him just one scoop of his Karihome goat milk and he ended up with lots of secretion and retching from afternoon, the whole 10 hours, stopping only at around 2am.

This is the 2nd time it has happened.  The first just last week but I caught that on time.

I'm not sure myself too because 3 hours after that one feed, I gave him the Isomil.  So could it be that I shouldn't mix feedings?

I googled and found this:

What is lactose intolerance?

Lactose intolerance is the inability or insufficient ability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products. Lactose intolerance is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, which is produced by the cells lining the small intestine. Lactase breaks down lactose into two simpler forms of sugar called glucose and galactose, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream.


What causes lactose intolerance?

The cause of lactose intolerance is best explained by describing how a person develops lactase deficiency.
Primary lactase deficiency develops over time and begins after about age 2 when the body begins to produce less lactase. Most children who have lactase deficiency do not experience symptoms of lactose intolerance until late adolescence or adulthood.

Researchers have identified a possible genetic link to primary lactase deficiency. Some people inherit a gene from their parents that makes it likely they will develop primary lactase deficiency. This discovery may be useful in developing future genetic tests to identify people at risk for lactose intolerance.

Secondary lactase deficiency results from injury to the small intestine that occurs with severe diarrheal illness, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, or chemotherapy. This type of lactase deficiency can occur at any age but is more common in infancy.

What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance?

People with lactose intolerance may feel uncomfortable 30 minutes to 2 hours after consuming milk and milk products. Symptoms range from mild to severe, based on the amount of lactose consumed and the amount a person can tolerate.
Common symptoms include
  • abdominal pain
  • abdominal bloating
  • gas
  • diarrhea
  • nausea

The reason why I suspect is because of the highlighted sentence above.  although Jonathan didn't have alot of diarrhea episodes, he did have quite a few of vomiting incidents.

There are 2 tests.  One is to consume lactose beverage and test with the breathe for hydrogen and the other is to use the stools of the child.  Yesterday I tried to send his stool for testing but was told the lab is closed on Sunday and we cannot keep stools overnight.

Checked with GP and he said stool tests are very expensive.  The other way is through blood test.  But he said to let Jonathan continue with the soy milk for another few months first.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

PAY ATTENTION PLEASE!

What does Jonathan do when he wants me to pay attention to him or whenever I leave him alone for a while?

This ....

His first target is the packet of tissues that lies within reach.  He will pull and pull, the fan will blow the tissues all over house and eventually the whole stack will break free from the plastic packaging (seen here under his knee):

And when the tissues are no longer helping him to get any attention from me, he will reach out and pull something else.  Sometimes he can even right into the box of Jonathan's button supplies and start pulling things out. As you can see...he was reaching for the bag of diapers:


So he's finally got my attention.  When I ask why does he pull the tissue, he will grab a few pieces in his right hand and wipe his mouth with them.

My boy...so smart...LOL!

Saturday, August 28, 2010

MARTHA STEWART FRINGE SCISSORS


 

I've just ordered this Martha Stewart Fringe Scissors from Valerie's SCRAP-n-CROP.com!  I just had to have it even though I don't know when I'm going to use it.  haha!  It's just too unique for me to not buy it.  But I know I can share it with my sister Leanne!  It's limited in stock.  So I hope I can get it :)

SCRAP-n-CROP always has the best price ever!  Thanks Val!

Friday, August 27, 2010

DESIGNS FOR TSHIRTS

Despite what went on, I'm thankful to God that He helped me come up with designs for requests:

This was designed for a physio therapist from USA.  Jonathan's PT had asked me to create something as a gift for 2 therapists who were here to trained the PTs in Singapore.  I googled about PT and found this statement "The Law Of Physical Therapy" and decided to use the initials of the course "NDT" which actually means Neuro-Developmental Treatment.  Colors used: silver (silhouette)  / red (law of PT)  / royal blue (initials NDT) / light blue (words)

My sister wanted a shirt for a student she taught in kindergarten 2 years ago and who will pay her a visit every year on Teacher's Day.  His birthday was coming and she wanted to give him a shirt.  His name is M.J.  So I created a few designs using his initials including this smiley.

Since my sister liked 2 of what I designed, I gave her the smiley for the front and the other design (enlarged) for the design on the back of the shirt.  Colors used:  silver (smiley face and MJ)  / orange (full name)  / red (star)


This is the last design I did for H's niece who has just took up tap dancing.  Front :


For the back, I found this tap shoes clipart and also found the phrase when I googled for quotations for tap dancing.  The phrase is supposed to be "tap shoes make the best noise ever!"  But I changed "noise" to "sound".  The front of the shirt is actually violet but it looks white here.  Colors used: violet (front) / fuchsia pink (tap dancer) / ice blue (tap shoes) / white (phrase)

ANXIOUS WEEK

Jonathan threw up blood on last Tuesday (17th August).

It all started after we got home from his dental appointment.  The heavy traffic on Tuesday (17 August) afternoon after the appointment at 4pm didn't help.  Jonathan have been having issues regarding long journeys lately.  Although he didn't show any signs while we took the longer route back home.  But by afternoon, the symptoms started showing.

I should have given him some medication before we left home that afternoon.  but I thought that since he has been well, there was no need.  Wrong!


First slowly then in full force.  By evening, I saw traces of dark red puke.  I thought it was the medication that I gave him earlier.  Towards 10pm, puke became darker and the vomiting wouldn't stop.  Even when I fed him 10ml water, everything came out.  I got worried.  Called my GP that was supposed to close at 11pm but nobody answered the phone.  Got Harith to run to the clinic but the doors were locked even though there were patients inside.

I debated and decided "never mind".  He should stop vomiting around 12midnight - 1am like he usually does.
It didn't stop and when he threw up another time, the towel had quite a big patch of dark red patch.


We were at KK at 2am.  Oxygen level 98% even though he looked pale.  ME took his blood for test that came back ok.  He didn't order any scan or xray (and I didn't even remember to request), asked questions if Jonathan fell or anyone sick at home, all negative.  Then said Jonathan will have to stay the night for observation.  That was it.

Jonathan threw up another time before we got admitted and moved to the ward.  But he stopped retching after that and only once at 5am on Wednesday morning.

Sleep was on and off for him.  The parents of the child in the next bed who was admitted at 5am was talking at the top of their voices!  I forced myself awake because Jonathan was on a normal bed and like the last time he was admitted, I was afraid he would push himself off the bed.

Harith wanted to stay and help me watch Jonathan while we take turns to rest.  But forgetful me didn't bring along his feeding tube.  So he went home at 4.30am and return at 7am with all his feed.

No fluid was given to Jonathan during the night.  Only the next morning at around 10am after the senior doctor came to ask questions.  All these while, I was told that there's no need for anti-vomit medication.  By then, Jonathan had totally stopped retching.

Doctor said that there was a possibility that while he was retching hard, a membrane or lining around the throat area or feeding tract may have ruptured causing the bleeding.  There was no traces of blood in his saliva when he drooled.

No extra tests done.  They administered a medication to reduce the acid in the stomach through the IV.

Towards the afternoon, I felt that Jonathan was much better and asked if we could be discharged.  Another doctor's round was at 3pm.  I requested for discharge.  They wanted him to stay another night for observation when we start feeding.  But I wasn't ready to give Jonathan any milk yet.  I didn't want to upset his stomach.


Doctor in attendance told me she would consult the senior doctor.  We waited for another 2 hours.  It was almost 5pm when she came back with a form and said that if I still wish to be discharged, it will be AT OWN RISK (AOR).  I had to sign the form to release them from any responsibility should anything happened when we got home.

I signed it.  What the heck!

The journey back home was one of the worst I had ever taken.  The traffic was extremely heavy everywhere!  I have now developed a phobia of travelling long distances with Jonathan.  I kept watching him, kept praying.  Thankfully, he was ok.  But he hadn't eaten (except for the IV water drip) for 2 days so I had to rush home to make the porridge water.

On Wednesday night, 3 of us were so tired that we slept at 11.30pm.  But I was emotionally disturbed.  I kept thinking about the AOR form that I signed.  Did I make the right decision?  Was I wrong to bring Jonathan home?  What happened if something serious occurred?  I cried buckets while everyone was sleeping that night.  But to see him at home resting and getting better each day, I was beginning to feel that I made the right decisions.

I felt that the experience at KK in Ward 31 wasn't as good as I had on previous occasions.  The nurses were attentive and nice.  But unfortunately, I could not feel that with the doctors.  I guess there were too many patients. Although as a mother, I should have asked more questions, but sometimes I'm just so darn stressed out to even think and I was hoping they could give me more suggestions as to what could be done to prevent these episodes when I told them that this was not the first time Jonathan vomited while travelling long distances. The only thing they told me was to start small feeds first and gradually increase.  This I already know.  I also noticed that if I talked to much, the kind of look they gave me seemed to say "ok enough."
Finally when I signed the discharged form, she left and went on her duty.  They had washed their hands.

No wonder some of my friends left KK to go to NUH.

ok.

He's lost weight but at least now he's better.

Till today, both of us are still lethargic.  I hate hospital stays.  If not for him retching blood, I would have stayed home and brought him to the GP the next day.  I still have to figure out what's causing him to be like this.  He's not decided not to go out long distance.

*******************************************

On the dental note:  Further to his teething issue (HERE) that got me worried, turned out there was nothing to worry about.  He's got teeth growing out of the gum above the normal teeth but doctor Toh said it was ok.  Counted his teeth successfully as he was quite relaxed this time around.

*******************************************

On Monday (30th Aug) I'll be meeting his teacher, Principal and the social worker regarding Jonathan's school issues.  Hope we can work something out.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

SCRAPBOOK TSHIRTS ON SALE

I decided to put these because I get more traffic here:

The bigger shirts have been sold.  So I have these few left.  Don't mind the pictures.  They were taken in dim light:

"WHEN CROP.PORTUNITY KNOWS"
Cotton Round Neck Shirt

Sizes
1 pc M (Ash Grey) - 40"W, 29" Length
1 pc XXS (White) - 34"W, 26" Length
1 pc S (White) - 38"W, 28" Length

Usual Price:  $16
NOW:  $12




"I JUST LOVE SCRAPBOOKING"
Cotton Round Neck Shirt (Ash Grey only)

Size
1 pc M - 40"W, 29" Length

Usual Price:  $18
NOW:  $13



"S.A.H.M (SCRAPBOOK - AT - HOME - MUM)"
Cotton Round Neck Shirt (White only)

Size
1 pc S - 38"W, 28" Length

Usual Price:  $16
NOW:  $12



"I HEART SCRAPBOOKING" (words in silver)
Cotton Round Neck Shirt
(The lines below the words are not on the actual shirt)

Size
1 pc S (Black) - 38"W, 28" Length

Usual Price:  $16
NOW:  $12


PRICE INCLUDE 7% GST.
Customer to bear postage charges. Transfer to Singapore Bank account only.
Purchase Non-Exchangeable and Non-Refundable.
EMAIL ME if you want any of these shirts.  thanks!

Monday, August 09, 2010

SCRAPBOOK TSHIRTS

I'm selling off some scrapbooking t-shirts at a discounted price.  They are brand new, like this one:


Will be posting the sizes and pictures after National Day week.  If you want a shirt like this or knows anyone who might like to have one, wait for my next post and email me.

Here's wishing Singapore Happy  Birthday!  This year, my mum is sharing the same birthday.  I LOVE YOU MUM!!!

Thursday, August 05, 2010

T.T.T.

His gums are tender because there are teeth dropping and new teeth growing, all at the same time.

He has been drooling alot all because of the teeth.  He cringes when I brush his teeth.

I faxed this picture to his paediatric dentist a few days ago because I was really concerned that one of the teeth that is coming out is pushing against another tooth and has caused that tooth to become loose and shaky.  Besides, he's appointment is supposed to be in October.
(It's black and white cos I didn't want it to be too graphic)

The new tooth on the right is coming out but the baby tooth is still intact and pushing against the tooth on the left.  At the same time, it's causing his gum to be tender and red.

It's hard to get an appointment fixed but the appointment desk was able to fix another appointment to 17 August.

Spoke to Dr Toh yesterday.  She said there's nothing to worry about.  So we can wait till the 17th.

But I'm not taking it lightly.  So I've been giving him panadol (only at night before he sleeps) to make him comfortable.  Jonathan said it doesn't hurt.  But when I see the redness, I'm stressed.

Today, I found a new tooth emerging from the last tooth that dropped.  Then to my surprise, I saw a wisdom tooth on the upper jaw!

No wonder he's been drooling and to compensate the uncomfortable feeling, he's been pressing his mouth against the mat that he's lying on.

I hope this Tender Teeth Times will go quickly!

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

BANDANA a.k.a HEAD SCARF

My friend Nicole, the great charity supporter, has just shaved her head again for a good cause.  The HAIR FOR HOPE is an event which invites members of the public to shave their heads to show their support for children with cancer.


So I got her a black triangle head scarf (bandana to her) and got her to give me a phrase to print.  Printed the words "SOUR AS EAGLE" with a silhouette of an eagle in between the words.  See picture below, the blue in words ... although not so clear here.

So does look good in it :)