Posted by spots (Singapore, Singapore) on 11 September 2007 in People & Portraits and Portfolio.
You will probably have noticed my lack of posts about Dan in the past few weeks. That is because he's been sort of sick. Or at least, it's been up and down. He had a high fever and a runny nose eons ago, like maybe, 5 weeks ago. And the doctor gave us like 6 different types of medicine, including an anti-biotic. The screaming that ensued everytime we tried to put a syringe of medicine in his mouth (just do the calculation - 6 types of medicine, 3 times a day = 18 syringes + 18 screaming sessions) still echo in my brain. Since then, Dan's runny nose has not disappeared. And by some strange coincidence, every Saturday since then, he's developed a mild grade fever, which has resulted in us skipping church for 3 weeks in a row! Last week, his runny nose got worse. The fever moved from mild grade to high grade and he looked visibly weak & pale. Then, he started developing a lot of eye-dirt, a cough and green stuff was flowing from his nose. His appetite also dropped significantly and his whining rocketed phenomenally. BAD SIGNS. However, because it has been raining every single day for the past week, and I don't have a car, I am unable to bring him to the clinic myself. In addition, I have also fallen sick every time his sickness peaks. So, I've basically had a runny nose, congestion, achey bones & now, a flaming sore throat and cough, for the past 5 weeks. And if you'll excuse my semi-ranting & corny pun, I am SICK of being SICK.
Who is to blame for this sad state of affairs? Well, I have thought about it, and I think that Dan's childcare does have something to do with it. He is not one to often fall sick like this, and you know what they say about childcare and how infections and viruses can spread because of the interaction amongst the children. I think it is forgivable that parents send their kids to childcare if they are sick ONCE or TWICE. But to do it repeatedly and unapologetically is really TOO MUCH for me. So yes, even though perhaps I should not focus too much on who is to blame, I do feel that childcare has something to do with it. Blame has been cast. See if I care.
The silver lining in all of this has been that Ben has so far proved immune to all these viruses that Dan is spreading. And Husband too. We have been careful to separate Ben & Dan as far as possible and to separate their toys as well. I can only hope that Dan will recover soon. I have decided that I am NOT taking him back to our paed, the one who gave us 6 medicines in a rather insensitive, unthinking and perfunctory fashion. But the clinic closer to our home is closed till Thursday, so Dan will just have to recover on his own at home while I drag my decrepit and dying carcass around the house groaning and coughing away. So be it. Life is tough. God never said it wouldn't be. But could someone please tell those inconsiderate parents NOT to bring their sick kids to school anymore????
It's been raining everyday here too and all 3 of us are sick with somewhat milder symptoms than you described here. Bug is going around everywhere, I guess. Hope you and Dan get well soon! Drink luo han guo... it's good for sore throat and cough (even my skeptical husband is a convert!)
11 Sep 2007 3:34am
This is a very cute picture! I like it very much
Karen De Roover
11 Sep 2007 6:07am
oh dear...i hope you and dan get well soon.Very sickening right,some people???They just dont care about anyone else other than themselves,horrible!I remember waiting at pd's,this boy apparently got the HFMD,his parents was told to bring him outside,and they started kicking up a fuss and if they are expected to go out and wait,then they jolly well be given the 1st in queue.Try telling a mother who had to drag her sick body,her 2 sick kids out of bed early in the morning,walk to the MRT for abt 15 minutes,take 2 train stops,walk another 20 minutes to the clinic,wait from 830 though the clinic opens at 9 and the PD comes only at 930, just so to get the vist over and done with,that she has to let this pair of inconsiderate and selfish parent jump her queue.
Then i remember last year we brought Caleb to the beach,this set of parents was apparently doing some photo shoot with their kid,the photographer brought along his kids.These 2 kids came over,started playing with Caleb's toys and chucked him aside,for a whole half an hour while we became default babysitters for free,then at the end of his photo session,he shouted at his kids and say,'Let's go!Did you say thank you?'How convenient???!!!
sorry your post just brought back memories of the SICKENING people i meet and i cant help it,lol.I think you are doing a great job in keeping ben unscathed in this whole ordeal.Will pray that it will continue to be so!I ever managed to do it,one down means all down because mommy is the carrier.Even though i have almost 10 similar tanktops to change every time i carry ian after carrying caleb,they still end up falling sick one after the other,lol. You want to try Kiddy Pharmaton after Dan has recovered?its multivit for kids.Hub's colleagues swear by it and we have been feeding Caleb that too.Seems to work:)
11 Sep 2007 9:16am
Kiddy Pharmaton!!! Is it super suagry sweet? I don't like those types of vitamins. :( But if it isn't, where can I get them?????
11 Sep 2007 6:37pm
Hi Ruth, hope you & Dan recover soon. I also think childcare is really a breeding ground for bacteria & viruses. That's the reason I still hesistate to send charis to childcare coz I don't think I'm prepared to handle all these. But many parents & grandparents do also tell me that the positive of it all is that it builds up their immune system & they tend to be able to fight off infections better in the long run. Take heart, they will get better.
11 Sep 2007 9:15pm
hi babe,yah it is disappointingly super sugary syrup that you dislike.Orange in colour.I'll just tell u where to get it,most pharmacies have it,i got mine from Unity Pharmacy,the subsidiary of NTUC.
12 Sep 2007 10:51am
Talking about health supplement, I've also recently started giving charis daily dose of Scott's emulsion (cod liver oil) for general health. I used to take them when I'm young. It's said to help build up the body's natural resistance to infections. I also conveniently take them together with charis now to boost up my immunity. I buy the orange flavoured one ... this will appeal more to the kids.
12 Sep 2007 11:50am
Hi Ruth, My whole family including my 3month old bb is also sick and I am very upset about it. I sent my 27months old daughter to a 2 days trial at the childcare and I think she somehow caught the bug from there too. I saw a few children with running nose being fed with medicine. Wonder why cc allows them to attend classes when they are in the acute phase of their sickness?? Is this the way kids build their immunity?? Oh, I rather not have it this way cos each time they fall sick, we get it too. It is just so tiring to take care of sick children :-(
12 Sep 2007 7:04pm
Hi Ruth, P/S to the email that i sent yesterday - there's a sugar free version of Sambucol.
12 Sep 2007 9:10pm
I guess some kids are still sent to childcare because their parents are unable to care for them if they stayed home? There are families in Singapore don't have helpers (or have unreliable helpers), both parents who work (with very little leave to take) and no family support. As a mom of 2, I know my kids' illnesses can drag on for 2-3 weeks at times, and we can't afford to take leave each time one of my kids is ill to stay home with the child, but I will so do when I have to deal with fevers and severe viral and bacterial infections. I hope I don't come across as supporting, or worse, encouraging, parents to bring sick kids to school, but that is the other side of the story, which we FTWMs are very familiar with. I hope you and Dan get well soon!
12 Sep 2007 9:59pm
The pead did warn me that when kids start going to school, their rate of falling ill will escalate.There is this doc my girl sees at kinderclinic. very nice dr and understands that each medicine sessions is accompanied with a screaming session. To me, if the child is still ill, then they should not be in child care. if parents are unable to take leave, then they should get a granparent or a relative to supervise the helper (if she is unrelilable). not only will other kids be infected but the sick child may be exposed to more germs and fall ill with other sickness due to their low immunity.
12 Sep 2007 11:15pm
My girl attented cc for 2 months and yes, she has been coughing & having runny nose on and off. As sensible parent, we know that the child should be kept at home when she is sick. But, it usually takes more a week each time the child falls sick. So, how many leaves can the parent take (and in my case, I just started work with the company)? If the option of grandparent or relative babysitting the child is available, the child may not need to attend cc in the first place. so, i can understand why cc allows a child who has cough/cold to attend school (but not for fever). The feedback I gathered from parents whose children attend childcare is that it is a norm that a child will fall sick frequently in the initial stage (either low immune or undergoing stress from a new environment). So, I taking a wait and see approach. If after 6 months, my girl is still coughing/sneezing every one day or other, I gotta pull her out somehow. btw Ruth, why Dan is in cc? Pardon me, I thought you are thinking of engaging a maid and you are SAHM?
13 Sep 2007 12:27am
Hi Fong, we wanted to expose Dan to childcare to meet more friends, learn to be sociable, etc. There are many benefits -- e.g. Dan sings more songs now, and likes to clap and has learnt to play with others better. He picks up a bit of Mandarin too (the owner of the cc is a Taiwanese).
Nonetheless, it's very trying to see him fall sick. We are lucky to have the option to have Dan stay home when he's sick. And the domestic helper is to help with the house chores, and not to take of Dan too much.
Agree with comments above that it's a tough balance -- as a father and hubby, I must say it's been quite a struggle too, to remain empathetic, to take a fair load off wifey, and to be a fair and firm daddy. If only cc's have their own medical isolation wards and doctors on call! But I am asking too much ....
13 Sep 2007 9:31pm
I see here a very healthy way of young parents discussing their childcare experiences. Its good to "shed" such mental stress by way of opening up and discussing the issues. You not only learn how to manage better your young children but feel more comfortable going about your daily work and family duties. There will be ups and downs, but I think you all are managing well.
17 Sep 2007 2:24am
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