All About Your Child

This morning, Allan went to school to collect all the worksheets Keatkeat and Binbin had missed during last week.

Only 10+ students were seen in Keatkeat’s class. The full headcount is 27. Chicken Pox has almost ‘Wiped Out’ the class. *laugh*

After the instructions were given, Teacher P looked at Teacher C, “How should I tell him?”

Allan: “I’m alright. You can just tell me. What is it?”

Teacher P: “Errr… maybe I shouldn’t. When will he be coming back to school?”

Allan: “The M.C. ends next Monday, but I’ll probably let him stay home for another week before bringing him back. What is it that you want to tell me? If it concerns my child, I think I should know.”

Teacher P: “But you are not suppose to know. Errr…. I think I’ll better check with the Principal first (who was not there then). I’m sorry, I can’t tell.”

I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE DO THIS!!!!

IF You have something to say, just say it. If you know you shouldn’t tell me about something, then DON’T EVEN BREATHE A WORD in the first place!

When Allan told me about the conversation he had with the teacher, I picked up the phone and gave the Principal a call immediately.

Me: “Hi Principal, I’m the parent of Cheng Keat in Kindergarten 2. He has been absent from school for a week because of Chicken Pox. Does the school has some kind of arrangement which I should be inform about?”

Principal: “Just make sure you get the doctor to certify that Cheng Keat has completely recovered from Chicken Pox before you bring him back to school. Bring the certificate along with you on the day you bring him to school. That’s all.”

Me: “Is there ANY OTHER SPECIAL arrangements or issues I should know?”

Principal: “No.”

I was unhappy when I hang up the phone. I always believe in the chinese saying: ‘Wu-Feng-Bu-Qi-Lang’ (direct translation: without wind, there will not be wave)

I hate this type of feeling. Knowing that there is something going on and yet I do not know what it is. Its like having a splinter stuck on your palm. You see it staring back at you, yet you can’t get it out. *Urrrgghhh*

Tell me how can I shake off this feeling?

I dare say Keatkeat is a warrior when it comes to battling with sickness. At 1+ year old, he fought hard when he was hospitalized for uncontrollable diarrhea (*Ha! Who can control that anyway).

Then came Bronchitis, Hives, Sinusitis…..

For all the above, he hardly whines. Never cried. Didn’t even threw a tantrum.

… and now the Chickenpox Battle:

He puts on his armor, from head to toe, in and out, he is all geared up for the battlefield

• Positive Thinking: “the more poxS I have, the faster I will get well”
• Expression: *Smile* *Laugh* *Giggle*
• Attire: “I must wear long sleeve and long pants. Then I will not burst my Chicken Pox.”
  

He bursted several poxS already causing it to be painful when we apply the calamine lotion or when we wash his body.

He only whines when his dream is interrupted by the incredible itches, but never when he is awake. If they itch when his eyes are wide open, he controls himself from scratching. Comes over and request for more Calamine Lotion or Prickly Heat Powder. These 2 are his ‘Best Friends’ now, they bring immediate comfort.

Fever comes and go, but he stays focused. Keeping his mood happy by watching cartoon on Playhouse Disney Channel, racing his virtual car on his dad’s handphone or simply play with his beloved family. If it gets too uncomfortable, all he does is lie on his mattress and hug his bolster tightly for some reassurance that he will get well eventually.

When he is really tired from the hours of struggle, he will just lie on his back and in the softest voice “Mommy, I’m really feeling terrible. I think I don’t want to do anything. I just want to lie down”

The next moment, he is asleep. I allow him to decide what he wants to do. ‘Cos only he knows his own body’s needs best. I permit him to sleep even though it was meal time.

That also implies that he doesn’t have his regular nap nor night rest. So as a Mommy, I had to go with the flow: When he sleeps, I’m awake with my Binbin. When he is awake at 3am, I had to be awake too…. isn’t parenting a test of your tolerance level?

The first batch of poxS are drying up.
The second batch are itching.
The last batch are appearing at the most awkward places: beside his anus, under his ‘balls’, inside his ears, on his lip, his tongue, down his throat….the last 3 are the worst areas.

Previously, he couldn’t control but cough, choke or gag a little when he is taking small mouthful of food. But he wrestled, he refused to surrender, slowly, but surely, he finishes his portion of nutrients.

But not for the dinner today….. He screamed in pain and squeezed his mouth in his palm, when he carelessly stuffed the spoon into his mouth too quickly, or slapped the cup too hard on his lips.

First time, he screamed.

Second time, he screamed and held back his tears….

Third time, he wailed…
he couldn’t withstand the pain anymore… he only drank 2 mouthful of soup…. he gave up. Went to his mattress and cried himself to sleep…..

Chicken Pox made my Warrior broke down…. C.P. won the battle…. My Amazing Warrior was defeated this time…. *heart sank*