Suzette's Parenting and Breastfeeding Blog

In the last 7 days, I have been so tired taking care of 2 sick children. It started with Ian first…

Wed night, Ian came back from school with mild fever. It didn’t go off until Friday, so I brought him to see doctor. At that point, the only issues he had were: sore throat, fever, and mild cough. The throat was slightly reddish, nothing else, no blisters or ulcers. So, I’ve taken it very lightly.

In the evening, Isabel came home with mild fever too. I just thought it was something like common flu (since we had our H1N1 flu jab already, one worry less).

Ian’s fever continued on. Sunday night, I took a look into Isabel’s throat, and was horrified to find out many ulcers on her tonsil pillars and the sides of her throat. I quickly checked her hands and foot, looking for signs of coxsackie (Hand-Foot-Mouth disease) – none appeared. But from past experience, I strongly suspected it was HFM anyway.

Monday morning, brought the 2 of them to see Dr Lee again. This time, he confirmed that they both had Herpangina, a type of blisters caused by coxsackie viruses. So, yes, they both had HFM disease! The clinic had to send a report to ministry, and I had informed the school too. Glad that no other cases were found in their school, or I will be really guilty for that.

I suspect it started with me. Although this is rare in adults, but it is not entirely impossible. I had very bad sore throat since Saturday week ago. No other symptoms, but the throat was so painful that it was unusual for me. Following that, Wed Ian was sick, then Friday Isabel. So I really thought it was me who passed on the virus. I don’t know where I got it thought, having been exposed to too many places. LOL!

There is no medication for this. Just paracetamol (Panadol) to ease the fever, and plenty of fluid to keep them hydrated. That’s it! They can’t eat/swallow, so gave them cold yoghurt and ice-creams. Fruit juice also not favored, due to the acidity. Poor children.

But today Ian is back to school. Isabel will go back tomorrow. Whew!

Ian loves spinach, but not Isabel. I found it very difficult to make Isabel eat more vegetables. She only take that little bit. So, I have been trying to camouflage veggies into other dishes that she likes.

For example, I would grate carrots (what Isabel hates most) and put into fish paste and make into her favorite fish balls. When cooking porridge for her, I would also add the same. It is so easy to do this with carrots, but not so successfully with greens.

I then remembered kids love anything that they can dip. So, I tried this. I bought some tortilla chips (healthier version would be using carrot or cucumber sticks), and made some spinach dips…

They fought for it, until the last drop!!! Of course, I also suspect that they love the tortilla chips instead of the dip. I told them the chips cannot be eaten on its own, must eat with the dip. LOL! Well, this is actually the first time I let them eat chips, so they must find it very interesting!

This last 1 week I have been put stressed many times. First, on Monday was the H1N1 scare. We ended up having the 3 of us had the H1N1 vaccination (myself on Tuesday).

Then, on Thursday night, she came home from school, after shower, kept having lots of discharge on her eyes. At one point she said she couldn’t see (clouded by the discharge). Immediately we took her to see Dr. Lee.

We gave her eye drops every 2 hourly (except sleep) and some anti-histamine to reduce the itch. Midnight, she woke up with both eyes glued by the discharge! She couldn’t open her eyes at all! Pity girl…

But the drops work. On Friday morning, discharge was cleared, and she looked completely alright, though I still kept her at home, afraid that it is still contagious.

Just as we thought she has got well… This morning, she woke up with her eyes like this!

And the right eye slightly better:

We had to cancel her swim lesson, and brought her to see Dr. Lee again. Glad that Dr. Lee said it is “just minor” capillary burst, could be a result of her vomit last night. Whew! But still, scary! Like watching horror movies, with that kind of eyes!

I browsed the old post and photos, and just realized that… I have not blogged about her birthday yet! Gosh! I must be too occupied with the incident to get her the replacement watch, which arrived on her birthday –> instead of blogging about her birthday, the attention was on the watch!

Sorry Isabel… Here is the replacement post…

Well, that day was actually quite simple, coz DH was away on business trip in Europe. I bought a huge cake for her, but strange enough the color combination is not quite ‘standard’: the PowerPuff Girl came in blue color, and the PowerRanger came in pink color!

I can’t buy a PowerRanger for her, but she wants pink cake. I ended up just bought a blue PowerPuff Girl, and brought to her school. We celebrated in the garden, first time doing this outdoor!

It was so hot and I was sweating all inside. But the kids were having so much fun. They don’t have to worry about dropping food on the floor, etc. LOL!

Later in the evening, since DH wasn’t around, I invited my friends to drop by (Piggy and Aiyu family). We had another cake session for her at home.

This is what I bought for her from London. She loved it so much, even until now. Of course I got to help her make it.

Last Sunday, a fellow church-mate, also father of Ian’s schoolmate told us that the school has a confirmed H1N1 case. I inquired the principal this morning, and this is what I found out…

Yes, it was confirmed true, not rumor (like my mom always have heard). This girl is next class of Ian’s. She has 3 siblings, 3 years old, 4 years old, and 5 years old (she is 6 yo).

She was admitted to hospital Friday 6 Aug with confirmed case. The irresponsible mother still sent the 3 siblings to the school. The 4 year-old girl is in the same class with Isabel. Last Monday (9 Aug) she still sent, and on Tuesday, it was confirmed that girl also contracted the disease. H1N1 virus starts contaminating, at least 1 day BEFORE symptom shows. So, meaning, on Monday itself she could have spread virus around, thanks to her parents!

Then, Isabel was having many other symptoms, though minor: diarrhea, sore throat, cough. Only then she doesn’t have fever. If you were me, would you be scared about it?

I brought her to see our family doctor, and since it has been 7 days (incubation period is 1-7 days), the most crucial symptom (fever) has not shown, we can be relieved.

Anyway, was advised to have the vaccination for my kids, so I did it on the spot. (Gosh, didn’t have enough cash, got to hutang first!)

Isabel was so brave. She didn’t flinch at all. She offered to take it first whilst Ian cried and hid behind me! She took it bravely, without moving any muscles, resulting a perfect jab –> we couldn’t even find the hole, right after the needle was removed, didn’t know where to put the plaster!

Then, Ian’s turn –> wah, like 杀猪 (kill pig), he held me tightly, wriggled too much, resulting more pain and blood. LOL! After that, he was limping all the way, unlike Isabel, so steady and cool. Hahahaha!

Well, I do agree with the doctor, after the jab, I have more peace of mind, although it will only take effect 2 weeks after.