Kids « Kawiz's Blog

Asthma attack

29 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment

by kawiz in health, Kids Tags: asthma attack, asthma remedy, asthmatic, cetirizine, diphenhydramine, loratadine, nebulizer treatment, salcodyl, Vicks

Zayan had an asthma attack Sunday night. He had difficulty in breathing and was constantly coughing. He has been free from asthma attack for over a year now. So, I was quite surprised he got it again. It wasn’t chronic, but you could hear the wheezing …

I realized this sudden attack was caused when my mum and I had to rearrange the furniture because the twins were constantly climbing them and could have fallen.

We had to take Zayan to the clinic the next morning. The clinics in Kuching close at 9.00 pm. So, I had to do whatever I could to ease his condition that night. I also asked Azleen what else could be done as I knew that she was asthmatic before. These were what I did for Zayan:

The air-conditioning was switched off
I made him wear a singlet underneath his PJs
I rubbed Vicks to his chest, back, the soles of his feet and calves
I added an extra or two pillows so that his head and upper body is raised much higher

Zayan had problem sleeping. So, I stayed up with him while comforting him till he fell asleep around 1 am. The next day, we took him to Klinik Cahaya. Doctor asked whether Zayan has been unwell earlier. I said, “yes, he was having the flu and I have been giving him flu medicine [Loratadine (from Axcel)]. When we saw the doctor, he gave Zayan the neb treatment and some medicine; antibiotic, cetirizine syrup for flu, diphenhydramine syrup for cough, and salcodyl syrup for asthma and also to help with the phlegm.

The doctor also recommended that I could give him some warm water to drink. It’ll warm up his chest. I googled and found some good sites to refer to know more about asthma and what to do when there is an asthma attack:

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/asthma.htm
http://petualama.blogspot.com/2011/03/home-remedies-for-asthma-to-prevent.html; this writer advises to seek advice and do research prior to using home remedy
http://asthma.about.com/od/asthmabasics/a/Asthma_handle.htm
http://www.noattacks.org/; a site that tells all about asthma attacks in children
http://www.healthquadrant.com/asthma-attack-treatment.html

Swimming diapers

25 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment

by kawiz in Activities, twins Tags: babies swimming, MBKS swimming pool, Poppies, swimming diapers, The Spring, water babies

Yesterday, Azleen and I went to the Spring to buy swimming trunks for the twins.

I remembered finding one at Poppies. I vaguely remember it was green with red dots and costs only RM10.00. Pretty affordable, that one.

So, we went to Poppies with the twins. I found the very same diaper and too bad it was the only one they had or left! We need two diapers but they only have one!

We hope other stores would have swimming diapers. It’s rare for shops to carry swimming diapers for little ones as it’s very rare for babies to start swimming in Kuching.

After paying at Poppies (the diaper cost RM10.90), we headed to Parkson’s swimming gear section. Nope, they don’t have any swimming diapers. The sales assistant suggested we go check out a store on the Ground Floor. And, off we went. We asked the store lady whether they carry any swimming diapers and she said, “Yes, There’s one left”. Erk! Azleen exclaimed, “One?!”, while I exclaimed, “And it’s PINK!”. Azleen quickly went through the items on the hanger. Phew! They have some more and they’re blue! Thank god! Hahahaha … imagine having one of the boys wearing pink. We paid RM15.00 for the blue swimming diaper. It’s original price was RM29.90.

Then, in the evening, we brought Zayan and the twins to the MBKS pool. The twins looked so cute in their swimming diapers. [Photos to follow soon]

Lion’s Whiskers

25 Mar 2011 1 Comment

by kawiz in family, Kids, Stories from around the world Tags: Jennifer Armstrong, Lion's Whiskers, Lisa Dungate, raising kids to have courage

I came across a blog, named Lion’s Whiskers. What’s that all about you might ask?

Well, it’s a blog that provides information for parents on ” … raising their kids to have courage for the challenges on the path ahead”.

The blog is inspired by a traditional folk tale from Ethiopia. Read it here. It also gives top 10 reasons to read the blog. I am sure I will like this blog after I’ve read through the posts. I’m sure you will too

OH, by the way, the blog is managed by two women, Lisa Dungate and Jennifer Armstrong. Good work, ladies!

Lisa Dungate, a parenting coach, child/family therapist, and family life educator.

Jennifer Armstrong, an award-winning author of over 100 books for children and teens

Twins first trip to the pool

24 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment

by kawiz in Activities, twins Tags: MBKS public swimming pool, swimming, water baby

My brother and his fiancée decided that they are ready to bring the twin babies to the pool. So, yesterday was their first trip. Ziyad is a water baby, while Ziyan is a bit afraid of the water.

I will put up photos from yesterday later.

*updated with photos 14 April 2011

Then, Zaheer brought to dinner at Premier 101 to eat Ayam Penyet. I must say, it was the best ayam penyet I’ve tasted so far!

Nearby, there is a cafe cum bakery called Delizze. I’m quite surprised there is a place this good in Kuching and it’s food pricing is really affordable. I must make a trip there one day with mum and family one day. It’s not to be missed. I found a post by jfook with photos of the yummy pastries and ala carte dishes. Another post by John Wong here.

Zayed & classmates had spidey cake

22 Mar 2011 1 Comment

by kawiz in Events, Kids, school Tags: goodie bag, Mdm. June, spidey cake, tadika seri keria, zayed's birthday

Today, Zaheer, Azleen and I (and of course, we brought the twins with us) went to the boys kindie with Zayed’s birthday cake and goodie bags for his friends.

Zayed is a shy boy. Here you can see that … This is when he’s standing in front of the class and everyone is singing him the birthday song.

Zayed being shy ...

The twins joined in the fun too!

Zayed and his classmates

A class photo with Mdm June and Miss Tena.

This is Zayeds place on the shelf outside the classroom.

Where to find BPA free bottles?

16 Mar 2011 1 Comment

by kawiz in Babies, News Tags: amomsblog.wordpress.com, ban BPA feeding bottles, BPA free bottles

With the ban on BPA feeding bottles announced yesterday, I am sure many parents would be hunting for BPA free bottles for their babies/infants. I googled and found this excellent blog by Trisha, http://amomsblog.wordpress.com. She has presented a list (cheat sheet as she calls it) of BPA free bottles and sippy cups. See here.

Ban on non-BPA-free feeding bottles

14 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment

by kawiz in Babies, News Tags: ban BPA, ban BPA feeding bottles, bisphenol A, feeding bottles, Malaysian Insider

Tonight’s evening news headlines highlighted that the Malaysian government will ban feeding bottles that are not BPA-free by March 2012.

I googled online and found an article by The Malaysian Insider (it’s the first to publish online).

Hmm … I wonder why wait a year? A year is too long if you’re thinking of the safety of the little ones who are drinking from these bottles.

*************

So, which plastics contain BPA?

According to Wikipedia, we should look at the identification code found at the bottom of the plastic container/bottle.

“In general, plastics that are marked with recycle codes 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 are very unlikely to contain BPA. Some, but not all, plastics that are marked with recycle codes 3 or 7 may be made with BPA.”

Some type 7 plastics may leak bisphenol A

Type 3 plastics may leak bisphenol A

*************

p/s: I’ve added a post where you could find the BPA free bottles and sippy cup. See here.

Stomach flu; a remedy

12 Mar 2011 1 Comment

by kawiz in Kids, sick Tags: 100 plus, diarrhea, stomach flu, vomiting, what to give for diarrhea, what to give for vomiting

It’s been more than a week since my first boy started having stomach flu (my earlier post on stomach flu is here). Now, Zayed and Zayan are better, though the twins are still purging.

Boy, oh boy … I can tell you there were a lot of cleaning and washing going on … every day! It is a handful when it’s just me doing the cleaning and washing and four kids doing the ‘mess’. This is very memorable for me … hahaha.

There isn’t much we could do for the boys and babies, except giving them liquids and more liquids, especially when they kept throwing up because that’s when they can’t eat and keep the food down. I give my older boys 100 plus, while the babies drink hydration salt solution. I stopped giving them milk and anything that contains lactose, though I still breastfeed my babies. Lately, food is very much bland. Mostly, bananas, toasted bread, rice porridge, rice crackers and rusks for the babies and toasted bread with a favorite spread and plain rice with fish and egg for the older boys.

Zayed can be very fussy. He would refuse to eat anything and that’s when I have to entice him with pizza, beefburger from McDonald’s, chicken from KFC, and french fries. Otherwise, the last option is to let him have some bag of chips! It happened twice before when he had to be admitted to the hospital. He kept throwing up and nothing goes in. He won’t eat nor drink. It got very serious when he was dehydrated and was running very high fever. He became very, very weak.

I learned the lesson the hard way. If he can’t eat or drink, give him something that he loves i.e. fast food and sweet sodas. The important thing is not him eating and drinking right, but him to at least eat and drink something.

One other important thing is to get them to rest, rest and rest. I know with toddlers, they just won’t. So, you have got to force them to sleep. That;s the only way to get them to rest.