Many times we want to achieve material things, outperform others and enjoy our life to the fullest. Well, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that!
But things don't always go smooth in life, some of us at some point may be strugglng with financial problems, health/illness as well as facing disappointment with humans. When things happen, some of us may backslide and choose return to the world, continue to worry our days away or even withdraw ourselves from everyone, a human way of numbing oneself.
But what if we could change our focus to something that is meaningful and eternal? To whom shall we go?
On the last day of 2017, it was pouring like mad since 1pm. We made a trip to Mandai after church to visit our dear Aunt Julia. It's been almost 4 months since you left to live in paradise with our dear Heavenly daddy. I'm so thankful for your courage to fight against all odds coz I would really really want to meet you again when the time comes. I miss you so so much. I miss your precious contagious smile and I also miss your beautiful teochew voice talking to us...
[Merry Christmas to you!]
Leah loves 老姑
My few last moments of 2017 was spent eating steamboat dinner with family at home, preparing the kids for bed and hanging my laundry to dry when the clock strikes 12 midnight. Haha, life with young kids leh what do you expect?
I like cafes/restaurants with a small play area so I CAN KEEP MY CHILDREN AWAY FROM ME AFTER THEIR MEALS AND SLOWLY ENJOY MY RAINBOW CAKE WITH KOPI! It would be perfect if you score a table just next to the play area. #parenting101
We were on a 3D2N family trip to Malaysia, JB and LEGOLAND. It was so much fun, we had good weather, ate yummy food and hung out with the most accommodating company.
On the last day of our trip after dinner, we had a little time to spare before our chartered transport arrive to bring us all across the customs and back to Singapore. We let the kids have a go at the playground outside the mall during the wait. GW went off to buy us some atas ice cream while I helped took care of the strollers, belongings, shopping bags and keeping an eye on the children at the same time.
5 minutes later, I saw Elliot carefully climbing up to the monkey swing. I didn't stop him because he did this monkey thingy many times before in Singapore. But accidents do happen. Apparently the monkey swing got stucked in the middle and gave off a hard jerk, causing the boy to loose his grip and fall. He used his hands to support his weight when he landed butt down on the hard ground with a loud thud. He picked himself up, and started looking around [ for me or to check if anyone saw that embarrssing moment?] then his face frowned like he was in alot of pain.
I tried to stay calm and beckoned him to come, so I could assess his injury. I got him to lift both his arms up straight in front and realised his left arm near the wrist area was bended downwards. It was a horrible sight to witness and my heart shattered into a million pieces! I held his arm straight and started panicking, looking around frantically for husband.
The boy was crying out of fear because I told him his bones are broken, which I regretted alot. I took our belongings and ran to Weisiong, he was taking care of the younger ones at the playground and told him, "Elliot broke his arm." He immediately made a call to our driver to quickly come so we could head to the nearest hospital if required.
Holding Elliot and Leah, we walked towards the mall direction to see GW appear right in front of us with ice creams. He was very startled by the incident too, he put Elliot on the stroller to minimise movement and threw away the ice cream. Ah bee help took care of Leah, my heart was beating fast and I was unable to think properly. All I remembered was Weisiong telling me to try get some first aid from the visitor information office.
The staff roughly had his arm wrapped in a sling, he had calmed down and stopped crying after we explained to him that this is not his fault, it was an accident and we will need to send him to the hospital so the doctor could fix him. It helped that his classmate had a cast on his hand months ago and is well now, and he knew he's just about to go through whatever his friend did. Hazel suggested to let him have some painkiller before getting on our mini bus, which helped a lot [thanks Hazel!]
Our final decision was to send him to our KKH back in Singapore.
Photo of Elliot in the bus heading back to Singapore, he was so tired from the ordeal and slept very soundly. It was good he could take his mind off his injury for a while. The photo on the right was Elliot waiting patiently for his turn at KKH, he drifted in and out of sleep a few times. He didn't want any food/drink though I've packed some biscuits and his packet milk along.
Apparently, the A&E was very crowded. We waited for 3 hours to have our queue number called to do the plaster cast on his arm. It was 1am.
The X-ray of his fractured bone, near the wrist area. The bones were supposed to be straight. Elliot was sedated so the doctor could align his bones back using X-ray and make a plaster cast for him. It took about 20 minutes. Elliot was moved to the observation room while we met up with the doctor. He showed us the xray of his bones, they looked perfect and I was so relieved.
Elliot, under the influence of drugs, woke up with a swollen face and feeling very groggy. He said I have 4 eyes and 2 mouths and threw up every time the nurse elevate the head rest a little. He even told me he's going to heaven with Jesus.
Doctor said he could only be discharged if he could sit up straight, stop vomiting, fully awake and aware.
We were asked to talk to him to keep his swelling fluttering eyes open, which was the most tedious because it's 3am by then. We talked about all the fun we had at Legoland and also made plans for our next trip when he recovers. We talked about our upcoming Sentosa staycation and how he's going to the beach to build sandcastles with one hand, and how he's going to protect his cast from getting wet.
Discharged from hospital and got home at around 5am. Slept for a few hours before we head for our Sentosa staycay. His papa bought so many presents for him that day.
1 week after his discharge. He goes for his 1st follow up at KKH for X-ray and to upgrade his plaster cast to a fibreglass one, which is so much lighter and comfortable.
Here's he was choosing the colour to use for his new cast.
Nurse removing his old cast.
As you can see, he chose a very loud red cast for himself. I tried to persuade him to go for the blue or purple one. But his mind was set.
He wanted to be ironman.
He needs to live with this cast which extends all the way above his elbow for the next 4 weeks. After that they will replace it with a shorter one which supports only the fore arm for ANOTHER 4 weeks.
He's quite excited to own a red cast for now. To him, it's like a cosplay.
Yup, wait till the itch kicks in... then he will know.
Boomerang of Elliot dancing with his new cast.
Despite the mishap, there are many things I am thankful for.
1) He broke his arm instead of his leg, and he's mobile enough to still enjoy the rest of the holiday. Sure sucks being wheelchair bound/ crutches huh. Thank God he doesn't need a surgery too!!
2) It's the left arm. Yay! School work is not affected since he's a right hander.
3) MIL was still around. She's set to fly to Korea a couple of days later when Elliot broke his arm. She was a great help, caring for Leah so we could rush Elliot to the hospital right after we got home.
4) He didn't eat/drink after his fall. He's required to fast for several hours before his treatment. Thank God he refused to have any food intake and could go straight for treatment without delay.
5) He has been the most cooperative and obedient. He was in pain but tried his best to turn and twist his broken arm for a good xray. He held back his tears and told me he's not going to cry because he is a Ninjago. He was so tired but kept his eyes open whenever I prompt him not to fall asleep. Never once he whine about his condition and this really pains me alot.
我想说 你只是个小孩 你不需要把自己武装起来
妈妈很心疼你
6) The accident happened on the last day, and we were heading home. I cannot imagine he broke his arm on the first day, and all our plans go haywire. Our Legoland tickets were bought for our second day, non refundable somemore!!
7) Our supportive travel mates. Thank you all so much for the help rendered throughout our journey home. Giving up the best seats in the bus to us, making sure Leah don't go missing [LOL!!], lugging our barangs when we cross the customs, and arranging with the driver to drop us home first before everyone else.
