Thia is a girly girl

My daughter Thia wears dress everyday. She thought it will make her look like a princess. She also likes to wear shoes all the time. In a shoes store, she likes to try different kind of shoes. And when she find shoes that she likes, she will stick with it even though they are not her size. I will have a difficult time to put the shoes away from her ... sigh ...

I have a funny story about her and her shoes. One day, she wanted to see her dad who worked in our basement. She walked down the stairs but she tripped and felt down to the floor. She cried, poor girl! But, here is the funny thing: she cried not because she was in pain, but because one of her shoe felt off when she was falling down! She cried: "my shoe ... my shoe!" Isn't it hilarious?!

Anyway, she is a fun girl. She likes to draw pictures with crayons and eat the crayons afterward ... I know, she's crazy! She likes to dance and sing. I want to sign her up to a ballet class, but she has to be 3 years old to be in the class. She takes music class once a week. Hannah Montana is her favorite. Gym class once a week. Play group once a week. She is interested to learn a tricycle. But she is not interested to potty train yet. Everyday I try to take Thia to her potty, so she get used to it.

She also likes purses, make up things and Princess stuff. Yesterday, we went to my friend house to do play group. My friend's daughter has Ariel the little mermaid make up table. Thia loved it. She sat down its chair for a long time and she didn't want to share it with her friends (not nice!). And just exactly what I thought, she didn't move at all when I told her it's time we had to leave. I had to carry her. She cried and try to fight me. Oh no ... I imagine how difficult will be go traveling to Indonesia with her this summer without Gus (Gus will come later). Wish us luck, guys!

Thia, Benny and I have colds

A week ago, Thia got a stomach bug or stomach flu and vomited all night long. The disease is gone and now she has cold. Usually she coughs so hard and it will make her vomit. She couldn't sleep well because of that. It means I couldn't sleep well either, helping her out. Poor girl. And poor Mama .... ;)

Two days ago, Benny got the same bug as Thia: stomach bug or stomach flu. He is feeling better now, but he has a little cold.

I have a cold. Fortunately, mine is not too bad. Even though I am dizzy and my nose is stuffed up, I still can do the housework.

Everyone but Gus, is sick. Usually I am the one who almost never gets sick. Alhamdulillah! Here, mothers are not allowed or are not supposed to get sick, otherwise the world will stop spinning. ;)

Peanut Allergy

In December last year, Thia was diagnosed with Peanut Allergy. Peanut allergy is common in the states, but not in Indonesia. I didn't know anything about it and I thought peanut-free sign at almost every day-care or school was strange. But then I found out that peanut allergy can be dangerous. It can be deadly!!!

Allergic Emergency Care Plan:
Mild reaction:
-Mouth itching and swelling of the lips, tongue, mouth
-Skin itching, rash, hives, swelling
-Gut nausea, cramps, diarrhea, vomiting
Treatment:
Benadryl 1.5 tsp by mouth

Severe reaction:
-Throat: itching, tightness, hoarseness, hacking cough
-Lungs: shortness of breath, repetitive cough, wheeze, tightness
-Heart: "thready" pulse, faintness, passing out, low blood pressure
Treatment:
- inject EpiPen immediately and call 911 or go to emergency room immediately

Extra careful:
Thia had mild reaction, but her doctor said that was possible for her to have a severe one. Now I have to be very careful with the food she eats. I have to check food labels at the grocery store every time I want to introduce new food to Thia. In a party I have to ask the host which food contains peanuts. If you are not sure about some food, you better avoid it.

The chance:
The doctor said that people with peanut allergies have a 15% chance to be outgrow the allergy. This is a good news for Thia even though the possibility is small. I hope and pray someday Thia will be free from her peanut allergy.

Be ready:
I have Benadryl, an Epipen, a cell phone and allergic emergency care planl( see above) in my pocket book. I carry those around everywhere Thia and I go. The most important thing is when you are helping people with severe reaction, do it as fast as you can: inject epipen firmly into outer thigh immediately and call 911 or go to emergency room immediately.

Take seriously:
Now I take all allergies seriously. Gus is allergic to bee stings. The reaction was pretty bad. So I suggested that he get it checked out, he might need an epipen too.

Sources:
- Dartmouth Hitchock Clinic
- The Peanut Allergy Answer Book: 2nd Edition by Michael C. Young, M.D.
Thia's doctor recommended me to read this book. It's a great book. It has all the answers you need to know about peanut allergies.

I am back!

Hi everyone! How are you guys doing? I miss you! We have a ton of snow today. Benny and Thia like to play in the snow. They like to taste one too ... snow cone everyone?!

My family and I are doing great! I have been busy being a "Taxi Mom" and doing other stuff. I am exhausted and I didn't have time at all update my blogs ... sorry ... :(
When I said to my husband, Gus, that I missed my old life, he said jokingly: "in your dreams!"

OK, here is what happen when I was "disappeared":

- Redsox parade in Boston.
It was awesome! We got to see everyone closely. Pabelbon danced and sang on the duck tour in silly way. We didn't go to Penang restaurant but we had lunch at Thai Basil on Boylston street instead.

-Thia just turned two.
This girl is a big trouble! I can't bring her into a store, because she will run around like crazy. She likes doing "fun" things like: playing in the toilet! She was soaked ... gross !!! You can see her "caught in the act" picture with the green shirt.

She goes to Local Motion (gym class ... kinda ... ) once a week. She likes to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and The Itsy Bitsy Spider. On her birthday, I tried to make Indonesian food. But it took so long to cook it. I have to admit that cooking American and Italian food is a lot easier.

She likes to wear dresses now! I don't mind she does that. But it's winter now, and she doesn't want to put on her coat because it will cover her dress! Gees ...

- I just had my birthday too.
It was a surprise party. My mother in-law, Cynthia, had the idea. I was really surprised and I loved it. Thank you guys! It was the best birthday party ever!

- Learn to skate.
I know I am very busy, and I don't know why I am taking this lesson. Maybe because I thought someday I would be the only one in my family who couldn't skate. It's easier if you take this class when you 3 or 4 years old. But when you are old like me ... it is a nightmare! I fell down a hundred times! Every time I was on ice, I was thinking: "what am I doing here?" But after doing a lot of practice, I can skate around now. Horay!!! It's not perfect, but I am proud that I can skate a little bit. :)

I saw an ice rink at Taman Anggrek Mall, Jakarta. Do you know anywhere else that has ice rink in Indonesia?

- Have a new friend: Hany Von Gillern.
Hany is fun and she is a good cook. We email each other often. I am planning to call her someday.

- Busy getting holiday presents.
Luckily I am done shopping! Yay ! Gus still has shopping. Hurry up Gus!

That's all! Do you have any plan for New Year's Eve? We are going to Gus's parents house. Gus's brother, John, and his family are coming to visit. On new year, Gus will take Benny to Marlboro, MA, for hockey tournament. Thia and I won't be going because they will leave at 6 o'clock in the morning! A yay yay ...

Hmm ... delicious ...

Thia, Thia, Thia ... why haven't you learned your lesson my Cutie Pie? I don't know how to teach you to stop eating crayons, chalk, and sand. It's yucky, Sweetie and it doesn't taste good either! But you do it again and again and again. Like the other day, you stuck out your tongue to show me that you just had a little bit of crayon and you said: " hmm ... delicious! ". Thia, you are so silly!