Cord Blood Banking

I mentioned in one of my earlier entry that I would do a cord blood banking post once I've gathered enough information. Above is a packshot of Cowboy's cord blood collection kit and obviously, I've decided to bank it privately with Cord Life mainly because it is the only private cord blood bank in Southeast Asia to be AABB accredited (though I heard stemcord is in the process of getting accreditation) and it has friendly and professional sales consultant. Being AABB accredited means that the company has to meet some of the highest standards in the cord blood banking industry and this gives great assurance to me.

It took me and Daddy a few months to decide if we should fork out money to bank it privately, donate to Singapore Cord Blood Bank or to discard it and pray that no misfortune will befall, in view of our family tree's clean bill of health. We just couldn't make up our mind.

At one point, we were almost decided on donating it to SCBB because there were claims that a person's own cord blood might not be the best source of stem cells for the treatment of many genetic disorders like metabolic diseases and leukaemia. That means, on top of money spent (futilely) banking it privately, we need to spend another bomb buying suitable cells from SCBB for transplants. Now, that sounds silly and totally unwise. As SCBB is a national reserve, so once we've made a donation, my bb's stem cells will belong to SCBB and available for public access, which means it might not be available to us in times of need! Urgh! This is a caught between tough situation.

My gynae recommended that if we are financially able, we really should consider banking it privately as there could be wider uses of stem cells for treatment of more diseases in the future once there are breakthrough in researches.

We procastinated till an advertisement in ST by cordlife came out, offering a HP mini laptop (SP. S$599) upon sign up. Of course, there were strings attached so after much haggling with the sales consultant, we committed a 10-year plan for $3100 (excl GST) using CDA account. It was a $650 direct discount.

We felt relieved and a load off our mind after this decision is made. Like many others, there is always a doubtful side of us on the uncertainty of what could happen in the future hence, to keep our mind at ease, we felt we should embark on this biological assurance least we regret in the future.

Visit to Singapore Flyer

It has been a while since we ventured into town with Rynae, so on this wonderful Saturday, our family decided to keep cool in the shopping centres in the bay area. GSS has kicked in but we haven't a shopping list in mind. Daddy suggested visiting Marina Barrage but the walking distance is unimaginable! So, we changed plan to visit the Singapore Flyer instead. Well, not to take a ride but to enjoy the breeze and scenery. It was rather relaxing and our gal loves strolling on the rocks and throwing leaves into the water.

Tennis Session

World no. 1 toddler tennis player (with some kungfu skills)

Mummy saw a set of toy tennis rackets that came with a rubber ball in Kiddy Palace and grabbed it at a 15% discount. From now onwards, besides bicycle riding in the evening, Rynae can also sweat it out in a game of tennis!

Vesak Day Holiday

In lieu of the Saturday Vesak Day PH, school was closed on Monday - a jolly good weekday for an outing to the zoo. It was my first attempt in bringing Rynae to the zoo by myself and I told her to give me her greatest cooperation. And she did! She was well-behaved and I was particularly proud of her when she patiently waited alone for my return when I queued up to buy food at KFC.

We caught the (boring) Elephants of Asia show at 11.30am and thereafter, I forked out $5 for a basket of bananas and carrots for our friend to feed the animals. We took 2 rounds of free ride on the tram before bidding farewell. We truly enjoyed each other's company today.

Pail Walkers

I came across a website (http://www.kydzedu.com/) sometime ago that claims to be a provider of high quality educational toys and learning resources to schools, preschools and learning facilities throughout Singapore. After looking through their catalogue, I do find some items interesting and therefore dropped them an email to find out about their pricing. Their response and customer service attitude was excellent and that gave me a positive impression of them.

As I hardly trust online product shots, I decided to make a trip to their outlet.The shop was choked with merchandises and there was hardly any walking space. Spotting me looking around aimlessly, the pronto boss came forth to offer help and showed me what I wanted. Thank god I came because some of these items looked so far-fetched from the pictures I saw online!

I shortlisted some montessori and some fun time toys, amongst them, a pail walker which I've been wanting to make/get for Rynae. I had this instinct that she'll like it and she really did! Seeing her playing with this walker brings back memory of my childhood cus I used to play with DIY condensed milk tin walkers when I was young too! What a nostalgia...

Free Swenson Ice-cream!

Remember the FREE Swensen's Kids' Club membership I applied for about a month ago? We received a letter addressed to Rynae a few days ago and it was her very own membership card! Mummy was still skeptical about the free ice-cream and decided to try redeem one for month of April. Without any questions asked and with much politeness, I was ushered to the counter inside the restaurant to choose my ice-cream flavour. I handed the treat to Rynae who happily start feasting on spot. So from now on, we'll pop into Swensen's for our free dessert every month! That's too good to be true!

Helpful Decorator

Rynae likes to doodle especially when she feels bored so Mummy makes sure she has ample stationaries that any inspired artist will have. There're crayons, colour pencils, magic pens, sketch books, note books and blank papers on her writing table, waiting for her pampering. Sometimes, she'll draw abstracts, sometimes she draw things as close as real life (well, almost!). I let her loose with regards to the things she wanna make or draw so as not to restrict creativity and emotional expression.

However, she wasn't satisfied keeping her work binded in books or chucked away as loose sheets of papers. She wanted to exhibit them! Her excuse? To help me decorate the house. Yeah, thanks for the much-needed decoration. My living room now looks like a low-budgeted child care centre. I wonder if things are the same in every family with little tods.

Below are some art pieces taken from her personal exhibition. Bidding starts from S$50 each. All keepings will go towards Rynae Bong's educational fund.

Beat The Heat

What's up with the weather these few days? The heat is unbearable! Mummy had wanted to bring Rynae out for a weekend shopping spree but the heat was such a deterrent. We dilly-dallied till half a day was gone before deciding to bring our gal for a dip in the pool instead. Excellent choice to beat the heat.

29 Weeks Antenatal Check-Up

In a twinkle of an eye, Cowboy is now 29 weeks weighing in at 1.35kg. I haven't a nice ultrasound scan of him to share because he was in the downward position, facing my spine. I did however, see a 3D picture of him during last month's antenatal check up. The chap was happily sucking his fist then! I regretted not asking my gynae to print out that picture because I reckon I'll get a good 3D shot of him from now onwards.

So far, we've brought Rynae to every antenatal check-up to keep her involved in the waiting process and also kept aware of her akan datang new sibling. I try to pre-empt her where matters of his arrival is concerned. She's well aware that didi's coming out in June and I would be giving birth in a hospital and that I would not be able to step out of the house during my confinement, which means I cannot bring her to school then. Goodness gracious me. It was a good intention gone bad. She became hysterical when she heard that I cannot bring her to school! For some unknowing reason, she has been fearful of speaking up to her teacher that she doesn't need the school toilet as she has gone to the toilet at home. In order to make her attend school, I made a pact with her that I will help her to tell her teacher EVERYTIME. Even till today, she never forgets to remind me (like a broken record) to tell her teacher.

Hence, when I told her I couldn't do this for 1 whole month, her tiny world seem to come crushing down and she became insecure, disturbed and depressed. She begged not to be sent to school during my confinement! It occured to me that it would be the school holidays then so as a matter-of-fact, I told her she really doesn't need to attend school then! It took me a few days to repair the mayhem. My! I should have been more tactful... and less truthful. After that episode, I made an effort not to highlight the negativity and disturbance of our lives after Cowboy's arrival. Instead, we joked about letting him wear her passed-down dresses, playing with her used toys and sleeping in her yesteryears' baby cot.

I am glad to know that she loves her baby brother afterall...

Good Friday @ Zoo

It is Good Friday today - a public holiday. How should we spend it? We decided at the eleventh hour to visit the Singapore Zoo. Somehow expected, there was a hugh holiday crowd at the zoo entrance. We're in for the big squeeze! This is our 3rd visit this year and zoo's getting a little bored for Dad and Mum. The only and forever excited person is... Rynae.

We took a different route to visit the kangaroos in Australian Outback. Coincidentally and unknowingly, we ran into their kangaroo feeding time. Our friend requested to feed the pouched animals so Mummy paid $5 for a cup of animal feed. The zookeeper showed us the correct way to feed them - pour the feed onto our palms for the animals to pick up. We did as told and poured some onto Rynae's tiny palm. But god knows what.. the kangaroos were salivating all over her hand when they ate! Mum knew trouble's brewing because Rynae hates getting her hands dirty! Next moment I knew, I heard her screaming and calling it quit. Daddy had to come in and finish up the job.

A usual pitstop in the zoo is the Kidzworld but remember Rynae's cousin's fall there? It cuts such a deep impression in her that she refused to step into the pool. We allowed her to ride the carousel instead. Weather that day was unbearably hot so we made an exit soon after lunch.

Painting Easter Eggs

Easter's round the corner and Mummy has emptied 6 egg shells for Rynae to paint. Honestly, I've been too lazy to do much paintings with her recently thus my gal was exceptionally excited when I proposed egg painting activity to her. I participated as I wanna try decorating one myself but while I'm waiting for my white base coat to dry, Rynae grabbed it and kindly offered to help me finish it up. I couldn't stop her in time and my egg was smeared with thick, green paints. Urgh... thanks men...

Our precious Easter Eggs. Looks nice from afar, not close.

Want me to paint your face?

I'm done with the eggs. Next are my hands!

Speed Rider

Daddy came home with yet another surprise today - a bike for Rynae! He's been contemplating about getting a bike for various safety reasons but he has finally made a decision! Our friend was over the top and wanted to test drive the moment she saw it.

"Mummy, you see, I can stand up and paddle!"

"Mummy, is xx around? I wanna show him my new bike!"

"Can you see, I know how to use the brake!"

Having a bicycle at this age somehow boosts kids' ego and make them feel BIG on achievement... that they've grown up and am no longer paddling kiddy tricycle.

With her new mode of transport, Rynae generously volunteered to give her tricycle to her baby brother...

My New Camera

Mummy got a wonderful surprise from Daddy yesterday when he came home with a gift - a brand new Panasonic DMC-FS6! It has been months since Mummy's digicam died on her and it felt so handicapped without a camera of my own! I didn't want Daddy to spend a bomb and neither do I want a super complicated, multi-functioned camera, so this one suits me just fine. Hurray!

I harassed (who else?) Rynae to be my model while I try to get myself familiarised with my new found toy. Tell ya... she wasn't the least pleased! *Grinning*

Uniqlo's Opening in 8 days' time!

I have this habit to open a few tabs while waiting for my web pages to load. This evening, I decided to google for Uniqlo just to browse through their catalogue but I got a pleasant surprise. Uniqlo is opening its first Singapore and Southeast Asia store in Tampines on 9th April! It's just 8 days' away! Second store here is due to open soon in Ion Orchard!

I've never stepped into a Uniqlo boutique but this brand is so familiar to me. Uncle Leslie has given Rynae some clothes from Uniqlo Hong Kong before and when Aunt Caryn was in Japan last year, she has also bought some Uniqlo stuffs for me! The product catalogue in the Singapore website was limited. There weren't even any childrens' clothes! Anyway, it's ok. I'll try to find some time before I bomb to pay the new shopping centre a visit.

Swensen's Kids' Club

I received an email on a promotion that Swensens is running and was doubtful about its authenticity. Sign up before 31 March and upon approval, she/he can redeem free ice cream sundae every month till she/he reaches 12 yrs old! Hmm.. sounds too good to be true.

I checked out their corporate website and it stated that an applicant needs to send in the form together with receipts totalling not less than S$80. Not FREE as stated in the email I've received!

The last thing I want is to fall prey to such hoax so I sent an email to ABR Holdings Pte Ltd to verify. It took them 1 working day to get back to me with a reply. And yes! The application is free!

Should I apply? Most probably yes!

March Holiday Journal

Before the school holiday, I've thought of a list of things and places to go with her... like the zoo, the swimming pool, Singapore Discovery Centre etc. While still mobile and hands-free, I'd like to spend as much personal time with her as possible. But alas! Rynae went down with a persistent cough and running nose that last the whole school holiday! The weather for that week was also temperamental with unbearable sunshine one moment and rainfall the next. Daddy took 2 days' leave and while on medication, we brought our gal out for retail therapy, visiting malls like Suntec City, AMK Hub and Vivo City.


Splashing good time at Vivo City

Fruitless Eye Check Up

I noticed that my gal likes to frown her eyes when she watches television thus I've long suspected that she could be short-sighted. Well, mum is, so there could be a possibility she could be inherited with imperfect eye-sight. Guilty enough, I've been procrastinating the eye check-up for her because of pure laziness. Finally, in conjuction with the school holidays, I brought her to the polyclinic today for her 4 year-old assessment and an eye check.

After a short 'ice-breaking' session, Rynae was asked to sit down in a children's chair where she needed to put on an eye mask to cover one of her eyes. Her relaxed mood took a 360 degree twist and she showed embarassment and discomfort with it. Though I had pre-empt her that she would need to speak up when doctor asked her what she could and could not see, our friend refused to cooperate. No cajoling could make her wear back the eye mask so mum tried holding it and even using my own hands to cover her eyes. She didn't budge. Her excuse was she couldn't see the numbers with one eye! Duh...!

The nurse was a wonderfully patient and understanding woman and she suggested that I come back in 3 months' time. But what if Rynae still refuses to cooperate then? Does that mean I've gota keep coming back? The 2-hour wait in the polyclinic today was already grueling and antagonising and I don't think I want a taste of it again. Furthurmore, they do not check for astigmatism. Hence, I consider the option of going to KK Hospital or TMC.

So long... polyclinic...

Creative Puppet Making

Raffles City SC is currently running a PUPPETrazi workshop organised by Act 3 International where they encourage all ages to come forth to make their own puppets from recycleable materials. Mummy has no planned intention to participate but because we were 'stranded' in the venue (Daddy's at IT show), I had to find something to kill time! When asked what she wanna create, Rynae was fickle-minded. At first she suggested a sunflower, thereafter changed mind to guitar and finally decided on maracas. I ended up participating too. I made a guitar from a shoe box, bamboos and nylon strings. Our friend changed mind last minute (again) and her final product was a sunflower in a vase made from Yakult bottle, stuffed with styrofoams.

Well, did anybody realise that this is a workshop to make PUPPETS? I didn't until I write this post! I thought we were required to make toys! Guitar and vase aren't puppets at all thus we had completely digressed from the topic! Gosh... what a blunder.

Combating Diarrhea

We had a panic attack last Wednesday night when Rynae suddenly fell feverish. Besides not being able to finish her dinner, she had no sickness symptom prior. Must have been caused by the eccentric weather. I went on graveyard shift that night to check on her temperature constantly. We were hoping it would go away in a couple of days but instead, it worsened to include diarrhea the next day. After eating Doctor's medicine, she still has the runs. 6 to 8 times in a day. It was so serious that she'll wake you up in the middle of the night to tell you she's squirting that very minute. Cannot wait!

Milk was cut off and I put her on Vitasoy for 2 days. I started her on milk when her diarrhea seemed to improve but it aggravated her condition. 3rd visit to Doctor and she advised to stop milk for 2 weeks else could run the risk of causing her to suffer from lactose intolerance. Which means, she cannot consume milk or milk products with lactose (milk sugar) in future! This sounds serious. Daddy and Mummy sought desperately for unchilled, nutritious soya milk alternative that would last at least a fortnight. Vitasoy is not a long term solution as it's packed with loads of sugar.

There weren't many options and we bought Dumex Step 2 Soy Special Follow-up Formula. It was a gamble. We didn't know how it tastes like and if Rynae will take to it well. Our fears were met when Rynae refused to drink it. No wonder it was stated 'for babies above 6 months' on the packaging because only babies with immature taste buds would drink this yucky beverage. It has not the slightest taste of sweetness and has raw, beany smell. Even adding Ribena cordial could not enhance its flavour. There goes our $26.55!

Daddy went back to supermarket shelves and came back with Unisoy 100% organic soy milk powder in convenient individual packs. At least it tastes much better than the previous. Mummy added a little Ribena cordial during the preparation. Thank god Rynae accepted it. What a relieve...

Visit to BabyCare Festival 2009

In case you're not aware, Expo is buzzing with events this weekend! Natas and BabyCare Festival are both being organised in the same time frame and the expected crowd is gonna be horrific! I don't wanna be stampeded so I choose to go on a Friday. The line up of participating merchants and starbuys at this year's BCF was attractive and now that I am preggy, there's an even valid reason for me to check out promotional bb products and services! Praise the exhibitors for organising BCF in Hall 6B because I do not have to cut through crowds along the long and squeezy hallway.

Big brands like Avent, J&J, Cordlife and OCBC had their prominent brand presence in the hall. There were genuine great buys everywhere! Maternity bottoms on sale from $25 onwards, toys at more than 50% discount and baby skincare products at special prices! I had to exercise monetary self-control many a times. This event is also an opportunity for merchants to collect database sales lead hence there were many free samples/gifts to be collected, on condition. Do a survey with NTUC and you get a bib. Give your feedback on healthcare to Parkway Health and you get a bladder weekness slim pad plus a pair of mitten. I completed several of such 'non obligation' forms and got away with a bagful of freebies. I know that I would be bombarded with phone calls and newsletters but if these sales people are not aggressive, I'm fine with the information they provide.

I sat down for a lengthy consultaion with Cordlife too - my main reason for being there actually. I gained some insights but I did not sign up with them on impulse. I needed to do the necessary research so that I know I have made a good choice. With the knowledge on cordblood banking, I would then be a good adviser to many people and I bet you will trust my advice then! Stay tuned if you're interested. Once I've got enough information, I'll do a post on 'cord blood banking'.