HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARNABAS!

Actually it is belated birthday cos his birthday is on 28 Dec (yesterday). Thks Mich for remembering, not that I forget, I just got the dates mixed up..... thought that today was 28 Dec....haha! I want to post something as a tribute to my precious first born, Barnabas, Tan Yong En.

It's been abt 2 years plus since he left us...... but the memories are still strongly rooted in our hearts. We set up a small corner to put all his stuff as a remembrance (see above). Ok, not going to post anything sad or weepy here..... just going to be thankful for all that God had done in our lives through him.

NOTE TO BARNABAS, our son of encouragement (for those who do not know, that's the meaning of his name.):

Barn Barn, these are the things that we missed about you:
1. Your lovely smile everytime we fed and burped you
2. Your courage when you had to go through 2 surgeries
3. Your patience when we had to feed you countless medicine
4. Your gentle touch each time you reach out to us
5. Your big & beautiful brown eyes..... just like daddy
6. Your funny expressions
7. Your ability to attract so many nurses in the hospital.... they even visited you out of working hours...... so sweet!
8. Your sweet smell
9. Your tiny little feet & hands
10. Last but not least..... for being such an easy baby, you really satisfied our parenting instinct then.



This is the album that I make in remembrance of Barn....it was a difficult and painful task cos I was blurred with tears as I put up the photos and captions. I just want to pen down everything about him at that time.

Though right now, we are busy taking care of Joash, we have not forgotten one bit of Barn...... he is our first born and has a special place in our hearts (not that we love Jo any lesser, ok! We just love them differently!). The short period of time spent with him was priceless and precious.

BARN BARN, MUMMY MISS & LOVE YOU SO SO SO MUCH! HOW I WISH YOU CAN BE AROUND TO PLAY WITH DI DI JOASH. I AM SURE HE WILL LOVE HIS BIG BROTHER TOO!

And yes.... once again thank you to all who had seen us through those times, we couldn't do it without you!
posted by "Sum" Teacher at 12/29/2006 11:14:00 AM | 0 comments |
CHRISTMAS PARTY AT TAMPINES - PART 3: PRESENTS, PRESENTS & MORE PRESENTS!
posted by "Sum" Teacher at 12/28/2006 12:58:00 PM | 0 comments |
CHRISTMAS PARTY AT TAMPINES - PART 2: LET'S PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by "Sum" Teacher at 12/28/2006 12:11:00 AM | 0 comments |
MY FIRST CHRISTMAS PARTY AT TAMPINES - Part 1: Introducing the people & food

This was the first time we celebrated Christmas at home in Tampines. We usually go out for a meal. It was soooooooooooooo fun! Joash had a great time too. I took load of photos so this is only part 1 (watch out for more). So put on your glasses if you need one and let your eyes do the feasting!

NOTE: IF YOU ARE FANS OF JOASH (HAHA!), WATCH OUT FOR HIS INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS AT www.tomsum.blogspot.com . TOMMY DARLING, YOU ONLY NEED TO LOAD JOASH'S PICS IN HIS BLOG, CAN SAVE TIME! SO DEAR PLS LOAD ASAP!

posted by "Sum" Teacher at 12/26/2006 04:56:00 PM | 0 comments |
A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FOR ALL
YES...... 2 MORE DAYS TO CHRISTMAS........ OH CAN'T WAIT TO GIVE ALL THE PRESENTS OUT............ HEE........ HEE....... CAN CLEAR THE SPACE FOR PUTTING MORE STUFF IN THE BOMBSHELTER!

Here's the picture that inspired a message from my heart:


Hmm...... such love........ ya, love seeks to protect....... that's my best friend Adeline & her son Asher at Sentosa beach. This little boy was afraid cos the place seems unfamiliar and big for him. So he started to cry. My Bf got to hug and assured him that she is right beside him. (Btw, he loves water so he gets really excited when he sees it.)

Isn't it the same for all of us? We got fightened cos we can't handle a certain situation or a new environment. Worries and anxieties overwhelm us and we don't know where to run to..... or maybe others have hurt us so much that we can't just forgive and forget...... we held on to our pain and cry ourselves to sleep at night and soon life become meaningless. Then we wonder" "God, where are you?"

This Christmas, I am reminded that it is not just us searching for God but is really He reaching to us and sometimes it is through pain and difficult situations. God gave His Son, Jesus......... His way of reaching out to us. So what should our responses be....... TRUST AND OBEY, THERE IS NO OTHER WAY..... open our hearts to Him as He open His arms to us.

The good news is we too, can run into God's ever open arms and received His assurance and love. Did you notice that it is not really Asher who runs rather it is Adeline upon seeing him cry, embraces him immediately. Yes...... that I think is truly what God will do for us without us even saying or doing anything. Our only response is to believed and received His love. LOVE SEEKS TO PROTECT AND GOD IS LOVE (1 John 4:8)!

Once we have chosen to believe and receive His love for us...... we can find freedom in Him (2 Cor 3:17). We will have freedom and courage to face each new day and most importantly to learn to love again when we are hurt so badly. Oh ya, the picture of Adeline & Asher did not just end there, here's how it ended:

Look at Asher's happy face (ok, maybe you can't see cos it quite blur, but believe me, he is happy)! He knows his mummy will always be there for him. Yup, we can also be like him and walk out into the world with confidence and peace cos we know God is with us! May you find God in all that you do...... may love, joy, peace fill your heart this Christmas.


HAVE A HAPPY, MERRY & BLESSED CHRISTMAS!
posted by "Sum" Teacher at 12/23/2006 11:43:00 AM | 0 comments |
I AM SO STUCKED! SHE IS SO SICK IN THE STOMACH...... POOR US!
I had a terrible day today. My milk ducts were blocked from yesterday night till this afternoon. It was so so so painful.....CAN DIE... maybe even worse than c-section! I cried a lot and also tried many methods to unclog them. Meng was so sweet .......... she paged a lactation nurse for me even though all of them will not be around until tomorrow. Many thanks to her comfort and sharing of the painful experiences (yes, she suffered worse fate than me! haiz..... the type of sacrifices we made as mums....).

Anyway, it's over..... now my breasts and fingers are sore from all the expressing and massages. Btw, all these methods did not work for me... the milk ducts just suddenly unclogged by themselves....... yes, thks to Kim & Jacielle for praying too! I was so worried that I might have mastitis..... have to jab the nipples (sorry for being so graphic...haha!) and squeeze the STRANDS of HARDEN MILK (like cheese) out! Oh my gosh..... Thank God..... mine was milk....... ok just want to write this down so that Joash will know how much I went thru' for him...... better love me more than his GF..... Hahahaha!

My best friend also had a bad experience today. She ate minced pork noodles with eggplants plus 2 JAPANESE LADLE SCOOPS OF CHIVES OIL (so yucky....puke.....)! After eating only less than half a bowl, she suffered from gastric and had to take 4 packs of Lacteol Fort. It's just too OILY! The horrible noodles is found at West Mall called don't know Ma what kitchen...... anyway... just avoid all restaurants with the word "kitchen" at West Malls...... keke!

Alright, just not a good day for us..... but I think we ended the day well... at least for me! Cos I got 3 visitors today, Mich, Daphne & Daryl......we had fun chatting and watching Happy Feet. Oh....... a word to Daryl & Mich...... if Joash coughs....you two know what to do har! Ok...... good night and it's time for pumping again!
posted by "Sum" Teacher at 12/17/2006 11:17:00 PM | 0 comments |
Celebrating my Mama's Birthday at Quality Hotel

We celebrated my mother's birthday at Quality Hotel, Taiwan porridge buffet. Finally, I have chance to try this very popular and cheap buffet, only $9.80+++! I was too busy feeding Joash and myself so fogotten to take photos of the food.... ai ya... too bad cannot show you guys the food they serve there. The food was not bad for $9.80..... there were quite a lot of variety and they changed the type of food quite frequent too. There were also a number of ang mohs eating there. This place is really value for money...... especially good for those who have big appetite!

Ok, I will let the pictures do the talking.

posted by "Sum" Teacher at 12/10/2006 10:21:00 PM | 0 comments |
ALL ABOUT TREES & BLURRRRR PHOTOS

We took these blur blur photos at Hotel Intercontinental with Gillian's camera..... (Haha...... Gillian, your camera blur blur is it? Ke ke!). Anyway still counting down to Christmas, can't wait to bring Joash out for his 1st Christmas. And yes, we will get a Christmas tree next year. Godma Gillian says she will sponsor the Star (made with diamonds right???). Anyone else wants to sponsor the ornaments.... haha!

posted by "Sum" Teacher at 12/08/2006 11:43:00 AM | 0 comments |
UPDATES!

November has been a month of non-stop shopping for me! And I love it cos shopping is my favourite pastime and "de-stresser"! December is here and it's time for Christmas shopping...."faint"...... I can see DH's pockets burning!

posted by "Sum" Teacher at 12/02/2006 12:21:00 AM | 0 comments |
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