Pasta Galore!

We had housecraft in class on Tuesday coz the Life & Social Skills Room was "out of order". We had to bring the portable hotplate, pots, knife, chopping boards & stuff we needed to class.

Dish of the Day: Tomato sauce based spiral pasta

New brand of sauce I found in the supermkt which is quite nice with chunky stuff in it!

Chicken sausage hotdogs that the kids helped to chopped & sliced.

Finely chopped tomatoes that 1 of the caregiver kindly helped us with.

3 slices of cheese to make the sauce thick & gooey!

The final product! Most of the kids had about second servings k! Woo hoo! So give me face! Haha!

Muffin Treat!

A kid's mom blessed me & my partner with a box of muffins! Apparently it's from a "famous" shop that has been featured on TV. Instead of fortune cookies, they came up with fortune muffin. Quite cute la!

Thank you for the treat! It was nice, though I could not eat too much of it. I enjoyed the "crispy" top part the most!

A Walk In The Night

My last brisk walk home from school was last Wednesday thus felt funny when there wasn't aerobics on Monday evening after work. There will be a 4 weeks break till the 3rd round starts on 11th February. How timely, immediately after the CNY festivities.

Finally, I could not take it anymore. I went for a brisk walk@1.15am.

Did a 33 minutes brisk walk tat included 5 minutes spent climing up 17 flights of stairs!Woo hoo!Sure felt good!

Dun worry, my neighborhood's quite safe :P

Now, I have to worry whether I'll wake up with panda eyes or not!

I lost 2 kgs!

Enuf said.....

(Like 3 weeks ago. Maybe more now since I've increased the frequency & intensity of my walks. I also need a brand new weighing scale that's accurate)

A "Secret" to Share with you all......

For those of you close to me or have interacted with me recently, you'd have known that from my recent blood test results done in Dec 2007, my blood glucose (BG) levels were mildly on the high side. (Due to certain pre-existing conditions, it's complicated)

As such, I have to go on medication, Metfomin, to control it. In addition, I also have to test my BG levels regularly, esp. when I wake, before meals & 2 hrs after meals, to ensure they are in control.

My new "Optium Exceed" glucometer (RP:$149) from Abbott (right) & Easy Touch Lancing Device (left) in a handy black carrying pouch.

To clean, kill & destroy those nasty germs.

Needles to insert into the lancing device to draw blood from my fingertips. (Around $18 for a box of 200)

MediSense Optium Blood Glucose Test Strips. (Not too sure about the price but think around $30+ for a box of 50 strips, if not more)

It is not a condition that means a death sentence. This means I just have to be disciplined with my diet & lifestyle to keep it under control.

This does not mean I have to starve myself & not eat at all. It just means I have to watch what I eat (esp. all the hidden dangers such as salt, sugar & starchy stuff) & eat in smaller & more regular portions, rather than stuff it all down in one seating.

So, if I decline a meal or treat outside or refuse dessert (which like never happens!), pls understand it's not coz I don't want to eat with you or don't like you. It's just that eating out exposes me to temptations. More than I can handle at times.

I exercise more now these days not coz I am "forced" to. But rather, I have started to actually like doing so & enjoy it! It can be quite addictive.

Of coz, this does not mean I do not enjoy life anymore. It just means I have to be more well-balanced, in all that I do. (Actually, this applies to all aspects of our life)

I do falter & fall at times. But I am thankful for the chances that my great & gracious God gives to me when I fail.

My Abba Father knows my heart & desires.

I was telling Him that all these stuff are going to cost me quite abit in the long run. Not that I can't afford it but still, it'd be a burden on my finances. Purse strings have to be tightened & shopping sprees have to be limited. I wasn't really complaining to Him, I was just pouring my heart out to Him. Ranting actually...

My aunt, who's a nurse at a restructured hospital, said she'll get all the stuff for me directly from the supplier. Indeed, it is much cheaper. Instead of $149 for the glucometer, lancing device & 50 strips, she got it all for $110 & an extra 50 strips! I was thankful for whatever savings I could get.

I was ready to transfer the money over to her bank a/c. But guess what she said? It's all FREE. She has decided to bless me this "1st round" of items plus a box of 200 lancets! Wow!I could hardly believe what I heard. This is really God's providence towards me! *blown away*

So now that you know my "secret", for my birthday, CNY or Christmas in 2008 & in the many years to come, you are highly encouraged to get me any of the above-mentioned items for me (esp. the thin lancets & blood glucose strips!)

What Big Eyes You Have!

We made these figurines using unique wood clay I discovered in Chinatown. Costs $5 a packet & it's non-toxic, non-staining & can be air-dried. Mix 2 parts of wood clay with 1 part of water.

The movable eyes we used were abit too big though! We had a fun time making them! :)

A Special Get Well Card

A kid in my class was hospitalized since Monday earlier this week. A series of blood tests were done & he was found out to have a viral infection. Thus won't be back in school so soon though he was discharged today (Friday).

As such, we have decided to make him a personalized Get-Well card specially for him. It was posted out this evening. Hope it brings a smile to his face when he receives it!

We miss you lots & look forward to seeing you back in class real soon! *hugs*

L-cell Dinner 2008

We had our L-cell dinner@Galley by the Straits, the Waterfront Restaurant, located inside the SAF Yacht Club, Sembawang.

As its website proclaims( http://www.galleysgourmet.com/) : This is a great place for lovers: lovers of good food, lovers of beautiful view - all in a rustic ambience!

Elsie & Wai Wai. Somebody's gona watch lots of movies hor!

Lots & lots of ice-cream for the kids & daddy! haha!

One big happy family, gathered round the table of love.....

Help help! Let me go!

Darling Stephen with his daddy, our SL, Kevin :)

Dearest Kevin, Yen Ping & Wai Wai,

Thank you all so much for your leadership, guidance & hearts big enough to want to mentor us in unconditional love. Thank you accepting us as we are despite the "nonsense" we give u all at times, yet always encouraging us to stay close to God in our walk with Him.

Kevin & Yen Ping,

Thank you for having walked with me through joyous & difficult times. The patience, mercy & grace you all have extended to me is very much appreciated. Your 2 boys - Gaston & Stephen, have also blessed me with much laughter & joy! Not to mention numerous great big hugs!

Wai Wai,

I have been much blessed by your presence ever since you've joined us & have been touched by your ministry. I pray that God will grant you the desire of your heart with regards to where He will lead you after you've completed your CCM. (Side track abit: Stay in the North@PL with us, pretty please!!! We petition for you can??)

Meanwhile, stay pretty & sweet for your upcoming wedding! I sure look forward to it.

Phew!!! (Part 2)

Yay! I walked home from school again. Roughly takes me about 50 mins to do so. I din get distracted today much as was walking quite fast & din want to stop. Ended up with only 3 sticks of otah for $1! Haha! :P

My Hairy Furball!

This is Furby Koh. He is the family's pet & my sis' darling. He is a Shetland Sheepdog, aka Sheltie. A miniature version of Lassie, a collie.

Year of the Rat?!?

Eerr....we trapped a rat in the back garden a few days ago. It looked quite cute. Looked like something out from Ratatouille!

Another smaller one was caught again today.

Celebrated My Birthday!

On 1st Jan, I turned 28!

Gosh! And I felt age catching up with me on the 1st day back to school. Think holidays play too much, now back to full 5.5 hours of chasing, changing, carrying & on the feet, body not used to it yet. Could feel the physical tiredness in my bones! (if there is such a thing!)

I celebrated the day with my family.

Dad, me, mom & bro. Sis dun like to take photos.

I was treated to a tim sum lunch@Yum Cha@Chinatown. Not my 1st choice but no choice as we woke up late.

Dad's favourite dish. Pig trotters in vinegar black sauce. Think Christina will love this dish too. Eeww.....

My favourite yam paste with ginkgo nuts (not the best I've tasted so far) & sis' mango pudding.

Visited NTUC Finest at Bukit Timah Plaza. Very Cold Storage like. Apple crumble, pizzas, tarts & pies! Woo hoo!

"Blow your tastebuds off"-looking cakes that are sold by quarter blocks. Chocolate fudge cake, chocolate brownie & mocca cake were $10 per block. Carrot cake with cream cheese was $13 per block.Blueberry & Oreo cream cheese cake were $19 per block. Lastly, Tiramisu with mascarpone cheese was $24 per block. Was so very tempted to buy it but didn't.

Has frog leg porridge for dinner. I like the one in Chinatown near SGH.

Finally, like any typical S'porean, how could I not go claim my free birthday ice-cream from Swensons? *grin*

Give Life, Give Blood!

Finally! After stopping my medication (which is another story which I will share later) for 3 days, I was able to go for my monthly plasma donation which was overdue.

Due to the festivities, I could not find the time & energy to go down to the Blood Centre@SGH to do so.

For the 1st time, after having been donating for years, I actually asked the nurse whether I am able to take some photos of the process to share with you all. Hopefully in doing so, I am able to eradicate some common fears & misconceptions associated with blood donation.

Is Donating Blood Safe?

Blood donation is a safe procedure.

It takes only about 45 minutes (whole blood donation).

Donors give about 10-12% of their circulating blood volume during each blood donation.

In general, blood donation, whether whole blood or apheresis (plasma/platelets), does not usually have significant adverse effects on a donor's health.

Healthy adult donors who meet the required screening criteria should be able to donate safely and regularly.

What Types of Blood Donation are There?

Whole Blood Donation

450-mL, or less than 1 pint, of whole blood is collected from each donor in a plastic bag that contains an anticoagulant preservative.

Apheresis Component Donation

Apheresis is a specialized form of blood donation in which only one specific blood component (either platelets, plasma or red cells) are extracted from the donor.

It is slightly more physically demanding than a whole blood donation. The process is also longer, about 45 to 90 minutes.

Apheresis enables the collection of highly concentrated packets of platelets, red cells or plasma, as compared to normal whole blood donations.

Apheresis appeals to many donors because it allows them to donate many more times a year. An apheresis donor can potentially donate up to 12 times a year, as opposed to just 4 times a year for whole blood donations.

The Donation Process

It should take 45 minutes for a blood donation, and up to 90 minutes for apheresis donations – the minutes you spend making a donation will certainly be time well spent!

1) Registration
Your personal particulars will be recorded and you will be asked to fill in a health assessment questionnaire.

2) Medical screening
A doctor or nurse will ask you about your medical and social history to confirm that you are fit to make a donation, after which your weight, blood pressure, pulse and body temperature will be taken.

3) Blood test
Your blood haemoglobin level will be checked to ensure that you can make a donation.

4) Blood donation
Your arm will be cleaned, after which a local painkiller will be applied to ensure that you feel no pain during the donation.

It wasn't as bad as it looks k!

Insertion of the larger needle

Blood starts to flow

Freely flowing....BTW, I was donating plasma, so abit different from whole blood.

Beside the "washing machine". Plasma is extracted from the whole blood which collects in the bag as yellow liquid. Then the red blood cells are returned back to me. Not everyone can do this. The nurse will check to make sure your veins are large enough to take it coz it might collapse during the "returning" process.

Me & my bag of warm plasma!

Bandage which I have to wear for 2-3 hours. They din have my favourite colour thus the bright pink.

5) Refreshments
After the donation, you will be required to rest briefly and have some light refreshments before resuming normal activities.

It's that simple!

Phew!!!

I walked home from school today after work.

It took me 50 mins & I clocked about 6550 steps. Still short of my daily 10,000 but still better than my last attempt.

This time, I did not get distracted by 7-11 at Shell station & teh tarik from my corner indian coffeeshop.

However, I got tempted & bought 6 sticks of fish otah for $2 & an orange & a pear for $2.

Still, I am SO proud of myself. Hope to be able to sustain this "walk home" thingy throughout the year.

People around me, pls keep reminding & motivating me to do so k? If not for anything else, at least for health's sake. Thanks! :)

BTW, I had a good & pleasant start in class on my 1st day of school today. Praise God! :P

The Father's Love

It was an electrifying production. One that touched not only your hearts but engaged all your senses! A truly multi-sensory sensation I'd say!

The "silvery" choir!

Keng Teng & I again! We're buddies from ME (Ministry Expression) in CM (Creative Ministry)

"Miss Vanna White"

Ginny & I with our silver fluttering hearts

Adrian & his (choir) gals. Looks like some "Shanghai Tan" thingy!

I sure had fun. It was tiring but it sure was worth it!

Blessed New Year & Joyful Bday to Me!!!

Hi friends & dear ones!

Blessed New Year! May 2008 be a year of greater & better things to come in all aspects of your life!

For those of you who know the Lord, may you also grow close & by leaps & bounds in your walk with Him.

Let faith arise to believe in new beginnings that are beyond our mere human expectations for our God is a God of impossibilities! Amen?!

As usual, WatchNight Service in church has always been a special time in my heart for me as it's my birthday at the stroke of midnight!

For those of you who remembered, thank you for your well-wishes, gifts & hugs!! I am touched by your thoughtfulness & love.

Cell (AMK Hub) in action again!

Keng Teng & I!

What a colourful & joyful sight! Some of us were hard at work trying to get lyrics of the new songs into our heads!

Gina & me! I look nice in pink hor? Many people complimented me....so happy...haha! Bought this blouse quite some time but din really dare to wear it till now coz bright colours were required!