Gary Phang & Alicia Lee

Again this blog in hiatus for some time.  Sometimes I wonder should I continue writing since it may be read by myself. But after some thought it may be good to record down some of my children development. Sometimes I really forgotten Emelee’s growing up years and how we went through it.

Gone are the days where we usually have a tranquil, smooth-functioning period in our house. Emelee’s stubborn and strong-willed characters are driving us nuts and turn our home into war zone. Often our family exploded into confrontation with our daughter. Sounds serious? Nah, I think most parents went through this situation. Maybe I am a bit exaggerated.

She can be quite persistent when it comes to getting what she wants. Sometimes she just refuse to receive our instructions. She took so long to finish off her meals (1 hour). Since last two weeks, she doesn’t want to sleep on her room anymore. Instead we allowed Weslee to sleep on her bed and room alone now. She sleeps at the guess room and occasionally awakes few times during the night and tried to sleep with us (she know how to open the door now).  She also insist us to sleep together with her. ~sigh~. But things are improving slowly.

Weslee starts to roam and exploring everywhere around the house and starts to create havoc by messing up all the toys. He is more interested to scattered all the toys around rather than play with it. He grew up fast, he is now wearing size “XL” diapers and already started wearing his sister’s clothes which she only wear at age 1 year plus.

Must continue to pray for God’s wisdom and grace upon bring up these lovely children. Sometimes I felt really tired, more so to Alicia.

My last post our update was back in May! Do I need to catch up with almost five months updates? I hope not but I shall let the pictures do the talking (as they said pictures tell thousand words! no?) Blame it on Facebook? I have neglected in updating this blog and spend most of my free time when online in Fbing. Probably that’s tell I am not good in writer or plain lazy (aha-gotcha!) And I have also revert this blog to its classic template.

On family life

Since the arrival of our another bundle of joy – Weslee into our life, things have changed quite a bit. Now we have new routines albeit with more “standard operating procedures”. Alicia adapted to it quite well although now she has to handle extra work to take care another child.

Emelee has grown up and started to have her own character. She is full of energy and starts to talk a lot. Sometimes we do understand what she says and we just guess. She also started to become more rebellious. It’s hard to get her to obey our instructions. She also took ages to complete her meal. At the end, she was constantly lectured and canned by us. Sometimes it is really difficult to control our anger. Now, we have to change our strategy, we seldom cane her anymore and start to use some soft but firm approach. So far it works well but we got to have lots of patience. Praise to be God; she plays together with her brother and usually made Weslee smiles a lot with her antics.

Weslee begins to stand and crawl very well since 7 months. He is into almost 9 months coming 13 Oct. He is really a big eater and can’t wait for his meal/milk. He also woke up less during the night with only one feeding at 1 or 2 am until the next morning. He is really puncture and wakes up on the dot, i mean almost exactly at 1am or 2am. He is also very alert and seems like know what’s going on surrounding him.

On parents & siblings

Celebrated dad’s birthday in Jun at restaurant in Seremban. Both mom and dad is doing fine. With dad keeps himself busy with his watch repairing business, almost the one and only such skill craftsman in Seremban. He also faithfully worked as newspaper delivery man early in the morning which we always asked him to quit. Sometimes we pondered if we request him to stop all these activities, how is it going to impact him. Surely he will not get used to it.

(Dad’s birthday dinner in Seremban)

Mom as usual busy with herself shuttling here and there. Mostly she spend her time at my youngest sister’s home. Thank God she also attends church service and cell group faithfully at Grace Neighborhood Assembly.

During Hari Raya holiday, they stayed with us for 2 days in conjunction with our cousin’s – Vincent’s wedding.

(with mom and dad at Genting Highlands)

On spiritual life

This area seems to be difficult for me to explain. Many events happen in the past few months that draws me to rethink my priorities and of course it let me closer to God.

(College youth in Passion Alive cell group birthday celebration)

I have been serving for youth ministry for almost 8-9 years. But do I really grow spiritually besides serving? Often, we just serve out of obligation or treat it as a duty (or the Bible says so!). I asked myself – do I serve out of my love for Jesus Christ or do I serve just because I am part of the team? With the new addition to my family (both Emelee & Weslee), it prompts me to look at the priority of my family (God first, family second). Besides, I am hurt by recent circumstances that I would preferred not to pen down here.

I have also decided to quit serving PA for Music ministry. More often, it’s quite stressful to shuttle to/from church to pick up my wife and kids for second service while I served in the PA during the first service. I felt I am not able to assist my wife to prepare the kids for church service and we often reached church quite late for the second service. With this, I hope I can devote more time to prepare and go to church fresh and stress-free!

I am toying with Microsoft Windows Live Writer and see how this software can help me to edit my blog.

I am tired of the previous layout and trying on the current new design. Please stay tune as I have lots of backlog of posting to be uploaded. Apology again for not being updating this site for more than a month.

Emelee got food poisoning since yesterday. She has been vomiting since yesterday morning whatever she drank or ate. But she crave for banana which I promptly bought for her yesterday evening after work. But that also she vomited after eating one piece of it. This morning, I thought her digestive system went back to normal as she drank quite lots of water and she must be really hungry since her stomach was quite empty. That also she throws out. Then next gave her some milk, that also throws out. There goes lots of cleaning up to do this morning. Can't see her suffer this much already and sent her to a pediatrician to for consultation. She was suspected to have food poisioning and could be the half-boil egg she has taken since Thurday morning. She was prescribed with "anti-vomit" drops and it seems to be working. She didn't vomit since she has taken his medicine in the afternoon until now. But I can see her body is weak and do not have a good appetite. She just took 2 bottle of Vitagen, 1 slice of bread and 4 oz of milk with some water in between since afternoon. I pray God will continue to minister to her and heal her completely. Amen!

Sent Weslee for vaccination today (3rd jabs) at government clinic. As usual, there was big crowd but surprisingly quite fast though. Now Emelee and Weslee both developed mild fever. Aik! pray they will get well soon.

This is what I have not written about Weslee. Since birth until today, he still occasionally vomited after feeding with some mucus and milk. This is what written in babycentre.co.uk.

"Reflux is the word used to describe what happens when the stomach contents come back up into the gullet or even into the mouth.

The medical name for gullet is oesophagus (spelt esophagus in the US). So the long name for reflux is gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, shortened to GORD in the UK and GER in the States.

The diaphragm is the muscle which separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. As the oesophagus passes through the diaphragm, the diaphragm acts like a valve - stopping stomach contents from going backwards up the oesophagus. Doctors refer to this valve mechanism as a sphincter.

But sometimes the valve action isn't as strong as it could be - when you are pregnant, for example. In fact, one of the reasons you get heartburn in pregnancy is due to your baby pushing up onto the sphincter - it forces acid back up the oesophagus.

This also happens to babies, but in their case it is because the sphincter action of the diaphragm isn't fully developed. During the first year of a baby's life, the sphincter action gradually gets stronger and their chance of having reflux decreases. Around 50 per cent of babies will get some reflux but in only a small percentage of these is it a real problem. At the age of 10 months the number is down to about one in twenty babies"

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/health/reflux/

Initially most people said it will go away by itself after few months. Weslee was regularly immunized monthly at government clinic and nurses there was not helpful in explaining this situation. But on 2 May since we were in Seremban and heard there is an experienced pediatrician – Dr Liew (Liew Children Clinic), we seek consultation from the clinic. The doctor said high possibility it was 'reflux' and we can't help much since he was breast fed (can't change baby formula to try). He prescribed some medication to minimize the symptom. As of today, Wesless still occasionally vomit after feeding though it lessen. We also prescribed him with Chinese medicine Bo Ying compound from Eu Yan Sang. There rest we just need to pray that he will recover soonest.

Emelee is already 2 years plus and Weslee 4 months old. Sometimes it hard to keep track on their exact age. Unlike previously, we only have Emelee and she was our first child, we keeps counting nad notice it every month.
According to Alicia, nowadays, Weslee was trying to get her sister attention when she was sitting beside him. Weslee really gained quite a lot. Look at the photo, Weslee's head is almost if not bigger that Emelee. haha!

Week before Mothers day, brought my parents to Fish & Co for lunch at Jusco Seremban 2. We have over-order the food and have to take-away some. About my mother? Nothing much to say leh! Except I knew she has sacrifice a lot for us five siblings and very much concern about our wellbeing. Mom has really aged and I pray she will continue to be healthy and God protection covering her daily going in and out.
Then on Mothers day, brought Alicia & Emelee, together with my sis-in-law Natalie and her son Ashley for dinner at Daidomon Japanese BBQ restaurant at Great Eastern Mall. Mother's day offer at RM49.90++ (adult) RM29.90 (child). Emelee dined free. Worth it if you are a real meat eater. You have to request for BBQ meat. Food, BBQ meat is alright but disappointed with the buffet dishes. There is no oyster as advertised.
We also went for a vegetarian dinner at MG Cafe, Sri Hartamas with Emelee former babysitter and her daughters on Sunday. Food is really good with a touch of fusion.

With Emelee and Weslee into this family, now I truly realized it is not easy to be a mother. Lots of sacrifice has to be made to bring up the children. Besides that, we need to have patience to nurture the child's character. Talking about patience, I am really lack of it and needs God's grace the more. Else, you will see me spanking Emelee very often! HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all mothers.

Emelee got so much energy! From the moment she wakes up, she will keep herself busy all the time. As the title suggest, she is really energetic. Now she climb out from her baby cot. Gone are the days that we still can contain her in her bed even though she already woke up. She will climb out of bed, turn off the fan and tried to open the door. Barney is her favourite movie now and she keeps insist we play Barney movies. This is the only movie that she can sit still longer. At restaurant, we always have to find ways to divert her attention. Gone are the days Alicia and I can enjoy the food undistracted.

She kinda love and care for his brother. She sometimes shared interesting moments with her brother. We also need to be cautious as she may get over excited - slamming his brother! Initially Weslee was shocked while asleep; but he get used to it now! Its interesting to see what happen when they grows up.