An Explosive Start to 2010: It's always better to throw up expensive chocolate

"I need a warm drink." Mommy Boo cried out in agony. She had threw up her lunch several times already. Daddy had threw up once but he was having a huge stomach cramps and diarrhea.

"The Starbucks joint is down the street. It's cold and I'm not sure if we can make it to the coffee place and back to the hotel without throwing up or poo-ing into my pants. Chloe's diaper is too small for me too. Let's go down together to Times Square instead and look for a coffee place." Daddy replied.

Both Mommy and Daddy readied themselves by having more throwing up at the wash basin and poo-ing into the toilet bowl. It was the only the 3rd day of the year to 2010. The Tan family were having an explosive start to the new year.

2 days ago, the Tan family flew back to Singapore for Chloe to follow up with her inoculation and to catch up with Chloe's grandparents. With their cable TV subscription, the Tan family was able to catch the fireworks from different countries through different TV channels. When the clock struck 12 midnight, Daddy was channel surfing between Hong Kong, Taipei, Kao Shiong and Singapore.

The next day, the Tans went for a Yum Cha session with Chloe's maternal grandparents, grand-auntie, uncles and future auntie-in-law who also took the time to send us off at the airport. Grand auntie had to work so she did not see Chloe off. Chloe had a couple of photos taken with her doting relatives while at the airport. When it was time, Chloe bid farewell to everyone and followed Mommy and Daddy through the immigration counters.

"It feels good to have checked in early, isn't it?" remarked Daddy. "Now we can shop to our hearts' content before boarding."

Mommy and Daddy spent a considerable time shopping in T3 until it was time for Chloe to be nursed. Everything went well. Chloe was happy and so were her parents. The Tan's decided that they should rest their weary legs on the sofas around the TV lounge area. Minutes after sitting down, disaster struck. Chloe had been attached to Daddy with the Baby Bjorn Synergy, her legs dangling out of the Bjorn carrier, kicking away. Daddy gently squeezed her calf and ended up with a wet and sticky palm. Chloe had pooped and spilled into her clothes.

"Never fear!" Thought Daddy. "We're well prepared this time because we've brought along additional clothes for Chloe to change." Daddy removed Chloe from the baby carrier and discovered something bad. Chloe had stained her newly washed carrier with her poo!

After a change of clothes, the Tans made their way to the boarding gate and boarded the SQ866 flight. Chloe was not her usual self. She chose to sleep instead of being nursed by Mommy when the plane was taking-off on the runway. When the plane climbed to its designated cruising altitude, the air stewardess began to assemble Chloe's bassinet. When she was done with the assembly, Chloe managed to stay asleep while she was placed inside the bassinet.

Daddy and Mommy started to watch the movie, "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs", on their personal displays. In the middle of the show, Chloe woke up as she normally would if it was close to her nursing time. Mommy had already prepared her nursing cover and Daddy carried Chloe out from the bassinet and onto Mommy's lap. Chloe then "merlioned" ("Merlioned" is an action verb. It can be used to describe a person in the act of excessive vomiting.) all over herself and also on Mommy. Luckily, Chloe did not had much vomit on her clothes but unfortunately for Mommy, she cannot wear her newly washed jacket because it was starting to stink with Chloe's vomit.

The kind air stewards offered to serve Daddy first while Mommy nursed Chloe. Daddy was about three quarters through his meal when Chloe decided to set off more explosions in mid-air while she was being nursed.

Daddy quickly polished his in-flight meals and checked little Chloe's back once she was done with her feed. The fears were confirmed in the form of a big patch of greenish-yellow stains. Chloe soiled her clothes again with her poo. This time, there will be no fresh clothes for Chloe to change into. Daddy grabbed the baby wipes and a fresh new diaper before he carried Chloe and walked along the aisle towards the back of the plane where the lavatories were located. Mommy followed shortly with Chloe's last piece of decent clothing, her fluffy white Zara jacket for the winter. Chloe will have to wear only her jacket for the rest of the flight until we arrive at Hong Kong International Airport.

Chloe did not seem to be sick for she was still feeding well and cheerful. The colour of her poo reveals otherwise. It was green in colour. Breast-fed babies are supposed to have yellow coloured poo. When they are unwell, the colour changes to green. Chloe's poo was greener than yellow. Daddy quickly changed Chloe and gave her a thorough wipe-down with Mommy's help. After helping Chloe to put on a fresh diaper and her winter jacket, Mommy carried Chloe back to the seat while Daddy cleared up the mess in the lavatory. It was less than a minute when Mommy returned with Chloe to the lavatory. Chloe had "merlioned" again while she was making her way back to the seat. This time, she threw up on her jacket.

It was a good thing that the jacket was water-resistant to a certain degree. With some water and wet tissues, the visible vomit was wiped away from the jacket. The smell, however, did not go away. Mommy, Daddy and Chloe finally returned to their seats after clearing the mess. Mommy was finally going to have her meals in peace. In Mommy and Daddy's mind, both of them were concerned whether their little Chloe was fine. After all, this time, Chloe had very little time to recover from jet-lag and her inoculation jabs before being subjected to another flight.

The movie ended shortly thereafter which signalled that the flight was about to reach Hong Kong. Thankfully, nothing eventful happened and the Tan's arrived at the hotel feeling very exhausted.

The Tan's decided that they shall not venture too far out for dinner since Chloe doesn't seem to be in her usual self. There was an eatery around the corner. Mommy had ate there once. Uncle Victor, Daddy's colleague from his company, had bought take-aways many times from this eatery. Tired and exhausted, the Tan's decided that they will have their dinner from this eatery and have an early night's rest.

Daddy resumed work on Monday morning while Chloe stayed with Mommy in the hotel room. Mommy too, was resuming her work after 4 month's of maternity leave. She was officially a SAHM, which stands for "Stay at Hotel Mom".

Lunch time couldn't come soon enough. It was a cold winter day in Hong Kong. The Tan's decided that it may be hard to head out for lunch. Daddy rang Mommy while he was making his way back to the hotel and Mommy told Daddy she had no preference for food. "Anything is good." Daddy decided to buy takeaway from the same eatery where they had their dinner. Daddy ordered the "Tak Kee Special Fried Rice" and a packet of Soya Chicken and Roasted Char Siew with rice and returned to the hotel room with lunch.

Daddy had a meeting at between 4-6pm and it was during this meeting when Daddy started feeling nausea and was having stomach cramps.These were symptoms that Daddy was having a stomach upset. "I'm feeling nausea. Are you ok?" The SMS read as Daddy sent the message across to Mom.

"I feel a little nausea too." Came the reply from Mommy.

At that instant, Daddy knew there was something wrong with lunch.

The meeting was tortuously long and ended at 5:55pm, it was time for Daddy to pack up and leave for home. Daddy dashed out of the office building and walked back towards the hotel. The cramps intensify in pain and another pain was creeping into Daddy's body. Stomach churning out of control, Daddy knew he had to make his way back to the hotel room as quickly as he can. Whizzing through the ever so crowded streets of Causeway Bay, Daddy finally reached the hotel room.

With a sign of relief, Daddy turned the door handle and opened the door to the hotel room and saw Mommy greeting him on the other side of the door.

"I'm having a major tummy-ache!" Daddy greeted Mommy. "I'll need to use the bathroom."

Mommy looked at Daddy with her doe eyes and muttered, "I need to use the bathroom too."

Most hotels rooms usually caters one water closet/toilet bowl in each room. Therein lies the problem. When more than one person is down with food poisoning, there is not enough water closet to pass around.

Daddy made room for Mommy so she can clear her bowels first. After wincing around the room for a couple of minutes, Daddy could not take it anymore and asked Mommy if she was finishing up. To his dismay, he heard the sound of Mommy flipping the newspaper. "Are you done?" Daddy asked impatiently. "No and I think I need to vomit but I can't." Mommy reply. "Can I use the toilet first then? I'm ready to burst out!" Daddy exclaimed.

Mommy vacated the toilet seat just in time for Daddy to fire off an explosive bio-hazardous concoction of bio-waste. The stench was so horrible it soon filled the entire hotel room.

"It's so smelly, I can't take it anymore, it makes me feel like vomiting!" Mommy sounded exasperated as she dashed into the bathroom and made her way to the wash basin. "Arrrrrrrggggggghhhhhh!.... Arrrggghhh...! Mommy was vomiting into the wash basin while Daddy sat on the water closet feeling guilty.

Daddy soon was done with his poo-ing. After cleaning up, Daddy went outside to look after Chloe and Chloe had taken her cue to poo as well. It was only a day since Chloe was under the weather. Her poo was still greenish colour. Whenever her poo was greenish in colour, it gives off a really sour smell.

Mommy was still hugging the wash basin so Daddy took it upon himself to help Chloe with the diaper change.

"Eeeewwww!" Daddy protested vehemently! "Your poo is so stinky today!" He tried to tell Chloe cheekily. The stench was unbearable for Daddy. Mommy had just stepped out from the bathroom. "Dear!!!" cried Daddy, I want to help to change Chloe but I can't. The smell of her poo is so bad today I FEEL like vomiting too!" remarked Daddy.

Mommy replaced Daddy for Chloe's diaper change so Daddy could go hug the wash basin for a while.

In total, Daddy vomited once but poo-ed at least 5 times while Mommy did not managed to poo but had to vomit 4 times in the next one hour.

"I need a warm drink." Mommy Boo cried out in agony. She had threw up her lunch several times already. Daddy had threw up once but he was having a huge stomach cramps and diarrhea.

"The Starbucks joint is down the street. It's cold and I'm not sure if we can make it to the coffee place and back to the hotel without throwing up or poo-ing into my pants. Chloe's diaper is too small for me too. Let's go down together to Times Square instead and look for a coffee place." Daddy replied.

Although the Tan's had visited Times Square on many occasions, they could not recall if there was a place where they can get warm beverages for takeaway. In their search, Mommy had to visit the restroom for another "merlion" session. They walked aimlessly and chanced upon the Agnes B cafe.

"How about a cuppa of hot chocolate?" Daddy asked Mommy and she nodded in acknowledgement.

The Tan's ordered 2 cups of hot chocolate for take-away. Sipping the hot chocolate in the cold wind provided some relief to their burning throats and growling stomach as they made their way back to the hotel room. The relief was temporary.

"I think I need to vomit again!" Mommy sounded a warning to Daddy as they waited for the lift.

"No kidding! You're not going to throw out very expensive chocolate, or are you?" asked Daddy.

"Yes I will have to if I have to!" Mommy retorted in objection.

Mommy did throw up very expensive chocolate after returning to the room. Daddy sipped his hot chocolate in the hotel room while waiting for Mommy to finish her "chocolaty merlion" session.

"It definitely feels better to throw up sweet chocolate than just regular, pungent vomit." Daddy could not have agreed more.

Celebrating X'mas in Hong Kong

Chloe will be turning 4-month old on X'mas day. She will be celebrating her first X'mas in a foreign land. Chloe probably already knew what her X'mas present will be. Daddy and mommy brought her to the Toys R' Us store at Causeway Bay last night and searched high and low for the Kick and Play Piano by Fisher-Price.

In addition to that, mommy also bought Chloe a Hello Kitty romper from Zara.

Chloe is now sleeping soundly on the bed. She had just celebrated her first X'mas feast with daddy and mommy at the bay window of the hotel room on the 28th floor overlooking the Victoria harbour and the clock tower at Tsim Sha Tsui. She is wearing her new Hello Kitty romper while she sleeps. Mommy noticed that Chloe has already tried to rip apart the wrappers on her X'mas gift from daddy.

She can hardly wait but she has to learn to be patient! =)

Chloe is born in Singapore and raised in Hong Kong?

Ever since our little Chloe was born, she had spent her first 2 nights at the hospital, 65 nights at home, 1 night at the Amara Sanctuary on the island of Sentosa and 32 nights in Hong Kong island by the time she celebrates her 100 days of babyhood with a cocktail of 7 viruses (namely Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Hib disease, Pneumococcal and Rotavirus).



Chloe has been a good girl for the past few weeks. During her first week in Hong Kong, she was not her usual self. She cried more than she did when she was in Singapore. After the first week, we moved to Express by Holiday Inn at Causeway Bay and Chloe broke her own record of "Most-Continuous-Uninterrupted-Sleep". That night we moved in, she slept for 6 hours before waking up to demand for milk.

Boo and Chloe are accompanying me to Hong Kong because of a recent work assignment. This trip marks a number of "firsts" for the family:

1. It was the first time our family of 3 flew overseas together.


2. It was Chloe's first time on a plane at age 2 months and 1 week old.


3. Chloe pooped for the first time at high altitude and stained her new BabyGap romper!


4. Chloe took the subway for the first time. In Hong Kong, it's named the MTR.


5. Chloe took the Star Ferry from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui. (That completes her Air/Sea/Land mode of transportation!)


6. In all, other than being chauffeured around in a car in Singapore, Chloe has been on the plane, taxi, bus, subway, tram, cable car and ferry within one month.


7. The family dined at a 3-star Michelin restaurant for the first time at Lung King Heen.


8. We visited places like Ocean Park, Stanley, Disneyland Hong Kong as a family.


9. Our family's first hike was a leisure 40 minute hike to a pavilion lookout point on Lamma Island.

Chloe's Baby Showers

Happy 1st Wedding Anniversary

Today marks our 1st anniversary together! Happy Anniversary to us.

Our 1st anniversary celebration at Amara Sanctuary Resort clad in Liverpool Jerseys

Chloe has arrived (The first days of Chloe Tan)

Hi everyone,

My name is Chloe Tan. My parents are Johnson and Nicole. I was born on the 26th August 2009 at Thomson Medical Centre. As I was 3 days overdue, Daddy and Mommy had chosen to induce me.

On the day of my birth, Mommy and Daddy checked themselves into the hospital. Mommy was ushered into the labour ward while Daddy was asked to go to the Admission counter to settle the paperwork.

From my Mommy's womb, I could hear the "Miss-y" telling my Mommy to clear her bowels. Then I heard Daddy's voice when he returned and could not find Mommy in the room. My silly Dad forgot to check the washroom. Mommy and I were in the washroom because she was still clearing her bowels after the nurse administered a very effective medicine into her. Finally, another "Miss-y" knocked on our washroom door and Daddy was reunited with us again.

Mommy was then asked to lie on the bed while the "Miss-y" attached a device to monitor my heart rate and Mommy's intensity of contractions of her uterus. Next, the "Miss-y" poked a thick needle into my Mommy's left hand and placed her on a drip. The drip contains Syntocinon, a synthetic version of the naturally-occurring hormone, oxytocin. Both chemicals were used to cause the muscle of the uterus to contract during labour so that I could be pushed out. Synthetic oxytocin was used because I was overdue. Poor Mommy had to endure the prick of the needle for my sake.

The effect of the Syntocinon was very strong. Every half-hour, the "Miss-y" came in to increase the drip dosage. They also noted my heart rate and Mommy's contraction for the past half-hour. Mommy's uterus, once my warm and cosy safe-haven for the past nine months, started shrinking! I had no more space left and was pushed through Mommy's birth canal. By now, Mommy was inhaling many puffs of "Laughing Gas" as the contractions increased. The air was meant to help Mommy to manage the pain from the contractions. Many a times, Mommy was not drawing the breaths correctly as she was taking them in smaller puffs. Daddy noticed it and kept saying "Breath... breath...breath..." many times to Mommy. Every time Daddy said breath, Mommy would hear Daddy's voice and she would take in the laughing gas longer with each breath. Later on, Mommy also told Daddy that his voice helped as there were many instructions from the "Miss-y" but all she could hear was Daddy's voice. Good thing Daddy knew about this because it was mentioned during Parent Craft training.

All this time, I'm still in my womb and Mommy started pushing with the help of Daddy and 2 "Miss-ies". It took the time of 3 intense contractions before Mommy's Gynaecologist arrived. It then took 2 more contractions before I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Poor mommy had to suffer an episiotomy because I was a heavy BB. Thanks to the large quantities of bird nest and the occasional durians that was bestowed upon to me by the placenta.

Air! I'm breathing air for the first time in my life outside of my Mommy's tummy. The feeling was very different when I was training for it with amniotic fluid. It did not help that some of the fluids were mixed with the fresh air in the delivery room 7. I choked and started to cry but only for a while as one of the "Miss-y" quickly inserted a tube into my mouth. The tube quickly sucked out the fluids from my throat and I started to feel better. Daddy was offered a pair of scissors so that he could cut my umbilical cord. Goodbye cordie, I remembered holding and kissing you time and again while we were playing in Mommy's womb. Thanks for supporting me throughout this nine months so that I can finally breathe the air with my own lungs. I will miss the times we spent together.

After the "Miss-y" cleaned my body, I was returned to Mommy's embrace and Daddy finally had a chance to take some pictures of my birth. The bonding between Mommy and me was momentarily brief but treasured. It was time for me to be wheeled away to be weighed and measured. Daddy's coming along because it was his job (he was not the one bleeding) and also because Mommy wanted Daddy to make sure that the "Miss-y" did not mix me up with another BB. Deep down, I know Daddy will come with me even if he was not told to because Daddy will always keep a watchful eye on me as I grow up.

I weighed 3.98Kg and measured 52 centimetres in length. In case you think I'm fat and chubby, think again. My BMI is 14.71893. After weighing me and measuring me, the "Miss-y" tagged me on my ankles and left me alone with Daddy to bond. Daddy said to me, "Hello Chloe, I'm your Daddy. Daddy's here and Daddy will protect you and make sure you grow up in a safe and healthy home." He then proceeded to introduce me to his Nikon N90 camera. Daddy also called Gong-Gong and Yeh-Yeh to inform them about my time of birth and weight. He was so proud of his wife, my Mommy, because she had given birth to me without any other forms of pain management.

The "Miss-y" returned a while later and wheeled me back to continue my bonding with Mommy. I was breast-fed by my happy and exhausted Mommy. Yippee! I am tasting something else other than my own amniotic fluids and I do not even want to tell you what amniotic fluid consists of.

I spent the next 2 days sleeping and demanding to be fed or to be held. Keeping Mommy and Daddy up all night with my wailing seems part of my job. So my Daddy thought he and Mommy were ready for the job at hand, they better be in for a reality check! Friday's the day the 3 of us leaves the hospital as a family. On my first night, they decided to let me stay in the nursery so that I can have a chance to stay under the warmer. I still have some fluids in my nasal canal. Mommy and Daddy were worried because I kept sniffing away. Every few hours, I was wheeled back to Room 506 so that Mommy can feed me and Daddy can take pictures of Mommy and me. By leaving me in the care of the "Miss-y" at the nursery, Mommy and Daddy also had a chance to rest from their exertions.

On the second day, Daddy requested for me to room-in with Mommy and Daddy. My constant wails were effective at keeping them awake. My lucky Daddy took the chance to sneak away for a while. Later, I realised that he had gone away to order my cot and bought me a thermometer.

The cot was in the colour Mommy had envisioned for me and because they had waited till the Takashimaya Baby Fair, the cot finally came at a discounted price and was sold separately. It was a good thing because Mommy also wanted me to use mattress from BabySafe. Daddy managed to get both and also decided on the mattress sheets, bumpers, pillows and bolsters. They will be delivered next Tuesday and I can hardly wait till they arrive. Meanwhile, I should be able to sleep between them on their King-sized bed and can wake them up every few hours in the middle of the night. This will be fun when we get home.

On Friday morning, I had slight Jaundice but the Paediatrician gave the green lights for me to be discharged. Mommy also received the same green lights from her Gynaecologist. Before we leave, there was one thing Mommy and Daddy needed, they needed to refresh on a couple of things from their teacher, Mrs Wong. Mrs Wong taught Daddy how to feed through a cup. A significant task because all this while, Daddy felt totally at a loss how he could help during my feeding, a task only Mommy could do. They also re-learned how to do a swaddle. Finally, they asked Mrs Wong to teach them how to burp me and I burped really loudly. Please excuse me and please excuse my smelly fart when Mrs Wong placed me back into the Maxi-Cosi car seat.

The drive home was uneventful as Daddy carefully navigated the mid-afternoon traffic along the PIE and BKE. Daddy tried very hard to stay awake when there was traffic congestion along the PIE. On hindsight, I should have let him sleep longer but it was a safe ride home.

My Out-of-Office auto-replies

I am parenting away with my newly first-born child and daughter who popped into my life on 26 August 2009. During my time away from the office, I will be swopping Technical White Papers, Infrastructure Diagrams and KBs for parenting books and magazines. (Hmmm, is there a reboot button on this miniature form of a human body that wails non-stop day and night?... and where is the operations manual?...)

I will be returning to office on 14 September 2009.

Thanks for your understanding.

Johnson

A Chip Off the Old Blocks

In typical family tradition, our dear daughter has decided, while still in her mother's womb, on her expected date of arrival. Just as how her parents had planned their lives systematically, from buying a house, getting a car and getting married, little Chloe is not leaving anything to chance, not even her date of birth.

In every sense, she had immediately taken to her mum. Exactly 29 years ago, Chloe's maternal grandparents were carrying Mama Boo and Mama Boo was also overdue. When they were prompted by the gynae to choose a date to induce the labour, they decided on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. 29 years later, in exactly the same fashion, Chloe is as overdue as her mum was back then. (Talk about being late!) We were asked to decide on the date for the inducement. The answer is obvious. Both mum and daughter will be sharing the same lunar birthday. (Talk about getting broke every year on the 7th lunar month!)

By sheer planning and coincidence, Chloe's parents' and grandparents' wedding anniversary also falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, or what is commonly known as the Mooncake Festivals.

So the date's set. Everyone's ready. Stay safe, warm and snuggly in your mum's womb. See you 2 days from now!

Chloe will be a Virgo!

Today marks the 40th week of the pregnancy. It is also Chloe's expected date-of-delivery as predicted by our gynae during our initial visit many months ago.

Then, Mama Boo reminded me that our daughter will be a Virgo if she does decides to say hello to the world today. I was thinking, "Oh no! Not Virgo, not another neat-freak in the house. I'm a Cancer man, a born collector of nostagia and sentiments. So yes, I hardly throw things away and this often riles up my Virgo wife and mum-to-be of our little Chloe. I hope when Chloe grows up, she will learn to accept her father's values and be patient with him.

On the subject of patience, while searching for the url links to the Virgo woman and the Cancer man, I could not help but notice that Cancer man makes "gentle, caring, sympathetic and understanding father, projecting exceptional patience, pride and protection toward his children."

It's funny because we are so eagerly anticipating your arrival. At the same time, I want to make sure that you only come out when you are ready. Take your time Chloe, come out safe, come out strong. No matter how you look like or who you will become in life, I'm your Dad and you are my daughter. You are the product of my love for your mum and you will always be Daddy's pride and joy.

Till then, have a safe journey.

An audience with the King

I finally have a chance to meet my boyhood hero in the flesh last night at the Marina Oriental Hotel. He is none other than the King Kenny Dalglish.

Article featuring my question to the King in The New Paper:
http://news.asiaone.com/News/The+New+Paper/Story/A1Story20090727-157248.html

Article from LFC TV:
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/archivedirs/mediawatch/2009/aug/MW14890090801-1125.htm

Article from Liverpool Banter:
http://www.liverpoolbanter.co.uk/2009/08/blood-red-race-against-time-fo.html