Been really busy with baby and violin despite an inflammation of at least one tendon in my right shoulder that hurts badly sometimes.
In the midst of all these, I found myself trying to help a dear friend who's family is clearly suffering much from broken relationships and really bad communication.The worse part is it involves the church and the whole episode becomes really ugly with all the unneccessary politics.
Without delving into the issues involved, I can say that I am a easy scape goat as the organisation puts procedures and reputation over and above the more important aspects of the issues - the hurting parents and rebellious children. Its also convenient for them to skip everything refering the entire issue to "private family saga" that had nothing to do with the church despite the implied "condoning" of many a wrongs.
Any way, why be a busy body, my husband retorted!! Why get yourself busy and upset over things like this. Well, he is different from me and do not feel as strongly about helping others like i do. After this "stupid" episode, I find my heart strangely yet predictably hardened.
Yes I wish for the best of the family but i can see I am not "pastor" material. I have too much empathy and will go all the way to help those really close to my heart. But OUCH!
I find that life is already "tough" so to speak, there is not need to worry about other people's problem. So what about the situation in Myanmur, what can i do? Other than praying why should i burden myself with unneccessary "heartache".
Its only wise to enjoy a happy family life, in making good violin music and in getting back into my former shape.
Saturday, 29 September 2007
Sunday, 16 September 2007
Movie Magic
We first exposed Rachel to cinema when she became 2. Her first movie was Mr Bean Holiday and though she did not laugh at all the funny scenes, she amazed us by staying awake for the entire movie.
Fast forward 3 months and many movies later, she now enjoys catching movies; a past- time that both her parents loved. So far she had watched: The Simpsons Movie, 811, Secret, Ratatouille (TWICE!) and the latest was Evan Almighty.
She even watched the New York Metropolitan Opera high definition screening of The Magic Flute with us.
The best part is that she watches all these movies - FREE since she is way below the 90cm regulation even in her thick- soled Dora the Explorer shoes. At the screenings, she loves to help herself to the pop corns and has since indicated to us that she wants to watch MORE movies - especially cartoons. Already she owns more than 60 vcds and dvds - all original cartoons since we are quite against piracy and enjoys "acting out" some scenes in them.
Her favourite is the rated 5 star "Rat can cook "cartoon which I love too. It also spark off a Ratatouille craze! She now owns a Ratatouille sticker book, a read aloud story book and a water bottle that she had decided to drink chocolate milk with. Each morning she reminds me to BUY Ratatouille T- shirt, (she owns 4 simpson cartoon t shirt now) and Ratatouille helium balloon which are currently not available in the retail scene yet. Indeed both of us are eagerly on a watch out for these much coveted items. Ha
I am looking forward to attending a classical concert as a family once she is 6. In the mean time, she loves to watch the violin and piano concert dvds that daddy buys or borrows from the Esplanade library. I very much would like to bring her to this years SSO's Baby's Prom - a classical concert for children under 6.
If not for the steep pricing of Swan Lake on Ice, I would have brought Rachel to see the graceful professional ice-skating to the beautiful music of Tchaikovsky.
Fast forward 3 months and many movies later, she now enjoys catching movies; a past- time that both her parents loved. So far she had watched: The Simpsons Movie, 811, Secret, Ratatouille (TWICE!) and the latest was Evan Almighty.
She even watched the New York Metropolitan Opera high definition screening of The Magic Flute with us.
The best part is that she watches all these movies - FREE since she is way below the 90cm regulation even in her thick- soled Dora the Explorer shoes. At the screenings, she loves to help herself to the pop corns and has since indicated to us that she wants to watch MORE movies - especially cartoons. Already she owns more than 60 vcds and dvds - all original cartoons since we are quite against piracy and enjoys "acting out" some scenes in them.
Her favourite is the rated 5 star "Rat can cook "cartoon which I love too. It also spark off a Ratatouille craze! She now owns a Ratatouille sticker book, a read aloud story book and a water bottle that she had decided to drink chocolate milk with. Each morning she reminds me to BUY Ratatouille T- shirt, (she owns 4 simpson cartoon t shirt now) and Ratatouille helium balloon which are currently not available in the retail scene yet. Indeed both of us are eagerly on a watch out for these much coveted items. Ha
I am looking forward to attending a classical concert as a family once she is 6. In the mean time, she loves to watch the violin and piano concert dvds that daddy buys or borrows from the Esplanade library. I very much would like to bring her to this years SSO's Baby's Prom - a classical concert for children under 6.
If not for the steep pricing of Swan Lake on Ice, I would have brought Rachel to see the graceful professional ice-skating to the beautiful music of Tchaikovsky.
Physiotherapy time!
I've been really busy caring for Rachel, cooking and practicing the violin on top of diligent house-keeping. In fact, it was during my previous violin lesson that i realised i had developed a frozen shoulder!!!
I now remembered that i had strained my right shoulder working out with weight machines some time in april when Rachel was still in child care. At that time, I did not seek treatment immediately as the pain was limited to extreme shoulder movements. I sincerely believed it will go away and refrained from exerting that particular group of muscles. Now I know that was a wrong move!! By not using the muscles involved I had caused to membranes to be inflammed and now the whole shoulder was less mobile or rather mobile with help from the left hand and with some pain.
No it was not a dislocation nor was it likely to be a muscle tear. It was probably tendonities. Anyway, the physiotherapist applied heat and electric current to "thaw" it after helping me with various exercises and stretches to determine the exact part that was injured. She said probably i need some 6 sessions to regain complete mobility and should refrain from carrying rachel now 10.3kg on my right side.
I am believing God that I will be completely healed soon. And able to draw the full length of the violin bow smoothly without feeling "jammed" or "immobile" or "numbed at the fingertips".
Imagine if not for violin lessons,and the pain that indicates that something is wrong, I probably will ignore the injury despite the area feeling so warm for a long time and end up with a more serious case of frozen shoulder.
I now remembered that i had strained my right shoulder working out with weight machines some time in april when Rachel was still in child care. At that time, I did not seek treatment immediately as the pain was limited to extreme shoulder movements. I sincerely believed it will go away and refrained from exerting that particular group of muscles. Now I know that was a wrong move!! By not using the muscles involved I had caused to membranes to be inflammed and now the whole shoulder was less mobile or rather mobile with help from the left hand and with some pain.
No it was not a dislocation nor was it likely to be a muscle tear. It was probably tendonities. Anyway, the physiotherapist applied heat and electric current to "thaw" it after helping me with various exercises and stretches to determine the exact part that was injured. She said probably i need some 6 sessions to regain complete mobility and should refrain from carrying rachel now 10.3kg on my right side.
I am believing God that I will be completely healed soon. And able to draw the full length of the violin bow smoothly without feeling "jammed" or "immobile" or "numbed at the fingertips".
Imagine if not for violin lessons,and the pain that indicates that something is wrong, I probably will ignore the injury despite the area feeling so warm for a long time and end up with a more serious case of frozen shoulder.
Monday, 3 September 2007
Ouch! Pain Pain
Sigh! Last Friday one of the most feared happened. Well, just when i thought that Yan was finally free to help mind our darling while i do some shopping, I returned home to see them both in pain and traumatised.
According to the daddy, he had opened the door to let the baby await my return. That was after they had waved at me from the bedroom window while I was walking back home from the bus stop. However, he had left the bedroom window opened and so a strong gush of wind blew a helium balloon out of the front door. Immediately the dad went out to catch the child's beloved balloon and soon, he witnessed the strong wind slammed shut the door on our baby's right hand. The cry from the child was heart wrenching and there was blood on the white door near the hinges.
As soon as I reached home with my groceries and ice cream from the estate supermarket, we dashed to the hospital. As a pianist, daddy was worried about his little girl's fingers; both the ring and pinky on the right hand were badly bruised and swollen. I did not have time to think, all i could do was to comfort the wailing child and trust God that she would be alright. In the cab, i touched her swollen joints ever so tenderly to see if they were working and I thanked God, the fingers were still responsive and seem not at all broken. I called her pediatrician and was glad she was around to attend to Rachel. Thankfully the Xray showed no fracture or hair line fractures and Rachel was given a bandaged to protect her injured hand while she goes about playing. What a traumatising experience and what a miraculous protection from the Lord.
Today, she is no longer in bandage and her hand together with the dexterity of her tiny fingers seemed normal. Except for the few bruises, everything is OK! Thank you Jesus!
Childhood Injuries
About childhood injuries, it seemed every kid had their fair share. I was a toddler and I almost drown now once, twice but thrice. According to my mum, I had fell into the family's eco pond and twice in the huge dragon flower pots used to collect rain water. Once I was blue and was rescued by my grandpa!!! That explains my unknown fear of deep waters and thankfully now that I can swim I am better equipped and less fearful of being in the sea or deep pool.
I remembered too, the traumatic day when my parents pulled a tape worm out of me when I was a pre-schooler. It was so bloody painful. Apparently growing up with some chickens and ducks, I had been running about bare foot in the landed property garden that I spent my toddler days in. Never ever run barefoot on soil!!!
Then, there was this day when I was running and I slipped and landed on the back of my head. All I could see was total blackness and many a Malay voices panicking. Soon I regained consciousness.
There was this other incident when a neighbour's kid, a big girl bully tried to push me down a flight of stairs while playing and thankfully I was agile enough to grab the supporting raillings and landed on my bum instead.
Yan too, fell off a flight of stairs when he turned one. I thought that is SO SERIOUS but then again Rachel rolled off the bed when she was 4 months old and I was similarly traumatised by her inaugural fall.
In addition to many subsequent falls, she also chipped her front teeth when she fell face down while I was bathing her. Most recently she suddenly jumped from the sofa and landed on her face and cut her lip while yan was teaching. I was horrified. I was going to break her fall but I was not quick enough and was freaked out cleaning the blood from her lips and teeth. Thank God no more broken tooth. God's healing is superb. Her lips are now back to normal.
"Unforgivable" Facial Injuries
I was in primary school when this silly stupid idiotic girl ran into me and banged her head into my lips. My upper lip was cut so deeply and there was so much blood in my mouth and on my PE t-shirt. The PE teacher wanted to send me to hospital for stitching and asked me to ask my parents. At that time I remembered my grand pa was sick, really sick, in and out of the hospital after amputating his leg and my mum too went to the hospital for some surgery. Not wanting to add any financial burden, I declined going for the stitches. I washed and went home instead with the tissue pressed on the broken lip to stop the bleeding. I was angry with that girl whom I never talked to ever as she did not care to apologise. Sadly, she never seemed to be a normal kid and was often goofy. Anyway when i reached home I was horrified that the tissued became glued to the blood clot and then I had to remove the remnants of the tissue and that was not without pain and fear.
After this incident I became rather worried that I would look ugly. Thankfully, God healed the lip though upon very close inspection I can see the old scar that "damages" what would be an almost perfect pout. I just cannot stand it when people accidently hit my face. I mean why not other parts of the body but the face is so delicate and any scar can damage one for life.
Then once in a worship rehearsal. There was this fat girl that waved a jesus flag pole right into my right cheek. Boy it was an accident. I was not even standing close to her at all but in her exuberance in worshipping the Lord she had flung the flag so far back and whacked my right cheek with her might. I was seething with pain and anger and so embarrassed and worried that I may be bleeding on the cheek and sporting a tribal scar like SEAL forever. Thank God, there was no blood but a huge bruise that kept me indoors for a week or two. (I don't one anybody to think that I was abused!!!!) Sigh what remained was an obvious depression or dent on what would be an almost perfect right cheek. It is more obvious when I smiled so I hardly smile now a days.
Of course I had forgiven this fat girl but wisdom tells me to avoid "dangerous" people.
After all these facial injuries, it is no wonder that despite what many people including my husband thinks, I do not consider myself a beauty but one always in need of much beautifying.
According to the daddy, he had opened the door to let the baby await my return. That was after they had waved at me from the bedroom window while I was walking back home from the bus stop. However, he had left the bedroom window opened and so a strong gush of wind blew a helium balloon out of the front door. Immediately the dad went out to catch the child's beloved balloon and soon, he witnessed the strong wind slammed shut the door on our baby's right hand. The cry from the child was heart wrenching and there was blood on the white door near the hinges.
As soon as I reached home with my groceries and ice cream from the estate supermarket, we dashed to the hospital. As a pianist, daddy was worried about his little girl's fingers; both the ring and pinky on the right hand were badly bruised and swollen. I did not have time to think, all i could do was to comfort the wailing child and trust God that she would be alright. In the cab, i touched her swollen joints ever so tenderly to see if they were working and I thanked God, the fingers were still responsive and seem not at all broken. I called her pediatrician and was glad she was around to attend to Rachel. Thankfully the Xray showed no fracture or hair line fractures and Rachel was given a bandaged to protect her injured hand while she goes about playing. What a traumatising experience and what a miraculous protection from the Lord.
Today, she is no longer in bandage and her hand together with the dexterity of her tiny fingers seemed normal. Except for the few bruises, everything is OK! Thank you Jesus!
Childhood Injuries
About childhood injuries, it seemed every kid had their fair share. I was a toddler and I almost drown now once, twice but thrice. According to my mum, I had fell into the family's eco pond and twice in the huge dragon flower pots used to collect rain water. Once I was blue and was rescued by my grandpa!!! That explains my unknown fear of deep waters and thankfully now that I can swim I am better equipped and less fearful of being in the sea or deep pool.
I remembered too, the traumatic day when my parents pulled a tape worm out of me when I was a pre-schooler. It was so bloody painful. Apparently growing up with some chickens and ducks, I had been running about bare foot in the landed property garden that I spent my toddler days in. Never ever run barefoot on soil!!!
Then, there was this day when I was running and I slipped and landed on the back of my head. All I could see was total blackness and many a Malay voices panicking. Soon I regained consciousness.
There was this other incident when a neighbour's kid, a big girl bully tried to push me down a flight of stairs while playing and thankfully I was agile enough to grab the supporting raillings and landed on my bum instead.
Yan too, fell off a flight of stairs when he turned one. I thought that is SO SERIOUS but then again Rachel rolled off the bed when she was 4 months old and I was similarly traumatised by her inaugural fall.
In addition to many subsequent falls, she also chipped her front teeth when she fell face down while I was bathing her. Most recently she suddenly jumped from the sofa and landed on her face and cut her lip while yan was teaching. I was horrified. I was going to break her fall but I was not quick enough and was freaked out cleaning the blood from her lips and teeth. Thank God no more broken tooth. God's healing is superb. Her lips are now back to normal.
"Unforgivable" Facial Injuries
I was in primary school when this silly stupid idiotic girl ran into me and banged her head into my lips. My upper lip was cut so deeply and there was so much blood in my mouth and on my PE t-shirt. The PE teacher wanted to send me to hospital for stitching and asked me to ask my parents. At that time I remembered my grand pa was sick, really sick, in and out of the hospital after amputating his leg and my mum too went to the hospital for some surgery. Not wanting to add any financial burden, I declined going for the stitches. I washed and went home instead with the tissue pressed on the broken lip to stop the bleeding. I was angry with that girl whom I never talked to ever as she did not care to apologise. Sadly, she never seemed to be a normal kid and was often goofy. Anyway when i reached home I was horrified that the tissued became glued to the blood clot and then I had to remove the remnants of the tissue and that was not without pain and fear.
After this incident I became rather worried that I would look ugly. Thankfully, God healed the lip though upon very close inspection I can see the old scar that "damages" what would be an almost perfect pout. I just cannot stand it when people accidently hit my face. I mean why not other parts of the body but the face is so delicate and any scar can damage one for life.
Then once in a worship rehearsal. There was this fat girl that waved a jesus flag pole right into my right cheek. Boy it was an accident. I was not even standing close to her at all but in her exuberance in worshipping the Lord she had flung the flag so far back and whacked my right cheek with her might. I was seething with pain and anger and so embarrassed and worried that I may be bleeding on the cheek and sporting a tribal scar like SEAL forever. Thank God, there was no blood but a huge bruise that kept me indoors for a week or two. (I don't one anybody to think that I was abused!!!!) Sigh what remained was an obvious depression or dent on what would be an almost perfect right cheek. It is more obvious when I smiled so I hardly smile now a days.
Of course I had forgiven this fat girl but wisdom tells me to avoid "dangerous" people.
After all these facial injuries, it is no wonder that despite what many people including my husband thinks, I do not consider myself a beauty but one always in need of much beautifying.
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