So rare I get to spend alone time with Mami. Wait, these smartphone apps are really fun.
So this blog entry is written in conjunction with many things. First it spells the end of Karling's maternity leave, the end of my house officer training and the conclusion of my service in Seremban hospital, the end of our 2 years sojourn in our rented house at Rasah Jaya, which also marks the beginning of our district posting to the outskirts of Negeri Sembilan. It was a tough decision on whether to bring Peter along, but in the end the in-laws became his foster parents while we sort out our arrangements in the new working environment.
This,is sort-of a culmination of our lives in Seremban.
Little cuddly Peter & snow white-fair Mami
Seremban has been good and kind to us for the past 2 years. Traffic is not too jam, we take approximately 10-15minutes to travel from our rented house to work place. Babysitter lives just next door, how convenient can that be? Our friendly local community church is like 2 Taman(s) away. Cost of living is lower since Seremban is still considered a town (unlike nearby big city Kuala Lumpur). Still, it provides all the amenities and necessities within close vicinity, such as Tesco, Jaya Jusco (not sure why they name it Aeon now), cineplex, swimming pool, recreational garden, etc.
Most importantly, eating outside is affordable. Dining at a Chinese restaurant ordering a meal which consist of 1 vegetable and 2 meat dishes cost only Rm 24-28. This was in 2011, now the prices has gone up exponentially in 2014. Those days we didn't have the additional 6% goods & service tax (GST) to our dining bill,sigh..
So fun to feed Nana chocolate sundae and watch her run around in her new shoes.
Before you 2, it was just us 2.
Our family loves going Jusco on a weekend, which we often frequent because so far that's the best place to be. Definitely beats staying at home because Nana needs her running space and exposure to stimuli. Not to mention we want to reward her with fried chicken and ice-cream sundae just because we adore her. After being confined to the 4 walls of our "enclosure" for 1 week, watching her go is like releasing her to the soundtrack of "who let the dogs out". Either that or Madagascar's "I like to move it".
Sometimes we would walk from 1 end to the other of the food alley and back to where we started, before deciding on what to eat. If the need arise, we would shop for some of Nana's clothes and footwear. Otherwise the only entertainment for her in Jusco is the musical coin slot machines. Reminiscing the time before we became parents, Karling and I used to catch late night movies here and even indulge in Karaoke at Greenbox. On 1 hand I wished we could turn back the clock, on the other i wish we could have some more cutie pies running around at home (mind me I'm writing this in 2014 when its still Nana & Peter).
The place where I first started working life
For me, lots of ups and downs working in Seremban GH. I take it well in my stride as learning process and a lesson that money doesn't come easy, even for a profession like mine. The 1st posting was the hardest, which was obstetrics & gynaecology, because the transition from medical school to hospital working life demands steep learning curve. It was sort of like the story in the Book of Exodus. God's people the Israelites thought living as slaves under Pharaoh was hard enough(med school), until God brought them out of Egypt and tested them in the wilderness (hospital) before delivering them to the promised land.
So there I was in Anesthesiology as my final posting, I was on call as a house officer and we were referred a case by O&G for a mother in labour requesting epidural block. Stepping back into the labour room didn't trigger any nostalgic feelings, I guessed treating patients everyday has numbed me of my deep emotions. It was as though I have grown accustomed to anhedonia ie the inability to experience pleasure. But that moment in the labour room only made me pondered how time flies, and how much have I actually achieved till then.
..I was still in the wilderness.
In case you're wondering whether to pursue a profession in medicine and thenceforth prosper (or ruin your future trying), here's a second opinion, from my old blog.
Toughest Training
It never gets tiring to see how cute your child sleeps
I'm back to Pizza Hut again, this time with teeth..
Mami wants to be more healthy & less sinful today
Leaving Seremban means leaving our faithful rented house that has served us good to provide shelter above our heads. It wasn't grand like what people think doctors should afford but it was good enough in terms of affordability and strategic location. Nana will also have to bid goodbye to her next door babysitter who must have had one tough nut to crack in form of our daughter, from infancy to toddler-hood. From the bottom of our hearts we thank her a lot.
All of us luuuurrrve Pizza Hut. I used to have it only once a year when I was a kid. Coming from a small town Tanah Merah the only chance me and my brothers get to taste this succulent rubbery cheesy Pizza Hut was on year end school holiday when my mum would bring us back to her hometown Melaka. Pizza Hut was a must have, and it used to be sooo sticky and cheesy last time. I heard our district posting is going to be at a God forsaken place, so before the launch to outer space, lets have some Pizza Hut shall we, huh Nana & Mami?
Nana was 10months old when we 1st brought her to Pizza Hut Seremban.
Click here to see Nana in Mushroom Hat at 10mnths old
...but I want to keep my hair, I don't want to become Botak.
The family tradition must continue..
Click here to see BotakNa
Mami's precious little baby, oh how you have suffered.
But now you look cuter than before
I think I'm having post traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), po po.
And now, it was her brother's turn, only Peter had it a little after 2 months. Not that he requires it, but in fairness to Nana Papa has now felt obligated to make shaving his children's head a family practice or rather, tradition. Our peculiar way of doing it is by cutting off the long strands with the scissors, then clearing the remnants delicately with a normal beard/moustache shaver. The challenge was to do it as quickly and gently under one sitting so as not to traumatize the unsuspecting 1st time client or worse creating a permanent phobia towards future visits to barbershop.
Peter wasn't quite delighted with his treatment as he turned fidgety and complaint a lot in the only language he knew of i.e crying. Still, the job was done and the result was perfect. A clean shaven head that rival a bright, full bloomed moon. Everyone's heart instantly melted to witness Peter's steely determination and all gave him their tender-loving-care. Peter had no regrets at all that day.
Come on Nana, your turn now. At least you get to keep your hair.
Scrub it here, scrub it there, I'm gonna look so Snow White fair.
I like Mami pouring water on me.
In keeping with the fact that soon once we start our district posting the distance between us are going to grow, we spent more time at the in-laws place. I remember the awkward moment stepping into this house for the 1st time when Karling and I were still new. Nice cozy house, old fashioned parents, pleasant, at the same time bashful siblings. Her house was the transition zone, where I paid my customary respect, before Karling and I would take off for dating at say, Sunway Pyramid, Subang Parade and even as far as Petaling Street. No youngsters are a fan of curfew and this house had one, hence as young lovers..err..couples it wasn't easy playing by the rules, but we abide by it.
Fast forward 2 years, the furniture arrangements in the guest room has been altered to accommodate this 2 very important guest, Nana & Peter. The house has taken a more lively atmosphere of squealing and crying with the parents-in-law's retired lifestyle coming to an abrupt halt. They have became the wise parenting consultants, rolling back the years to take up this challenging task of co-managing my mischievous kids, who has by now(2014) grown accustomed to this warm and blessed abode.
Agghh, nothing like the refreshing feel after a nice cool bath
I wouldn't have Nana any other way, even if she was mischievous like a boy.
The cheeky look on her face every time she's up to something.
Having 2 children who are not too far apart wasn't part of our family planning but God knew what was best for us and how it was to be fulfilled. In a few months time, Peter would be Nana's playmate and they can constantly keep each other company. We can teach them together how to share, care, communicate properly, be obedient and the icing on the cake is that they would be each others moral yardstick and patrol.
At times we were just frustrated that drastic adjustment had to be made in terms of sacrificing personal time for Nana and Peter, yet looking back it was all part of the testing and moulding process I had to undergo, for the greater good. Karling used to nag that I'm not spending enough time with the children or helping out at home. Guess I was the other big baby who needed straightening up. So weeks turned into months and months turned to years, now(2014) I do everything from teaching Nana to read to bringing them for swimming, and the list goes on.
Spending time with the grandparents, they are warm and caring.
Watch me bottom up this bottle full of milk, Ummm~.
Going shopping with cuddly little Peter & young Mami.
Still remember the time we drove from Subang Jaya to Sunway Pyramid for a little family trip. One thing I enjoy the most is dressing the children up to a real trip such as going to Kay-EL. Nana would be in her colourful confident attire while Peter in his smart fresh new outfit. Both looked equally adorable. Mami on the other hand looked stunning for a new mother of 2 (That's a compliment because some women find time to misinterpret and read between the lines). Having not achieved much in career and finance, I was however the proud father content to wear the tag of the fantastic 4.
I would have to agree with myself that my days of spending leisure time walking the whole mall shopping, dining and catching a movie have long left me. Sounds very cliche but when i had so much time and freedom in college I had no money. After working, things has gone from bad to worse in which I neither have time nor money to splash on designer items. Don't even know why I brought this up.
This trip was necessary for the family to bond and share each others company. Nevertheless it took everything in us to work together, be quick thinking and fast-acting to meet little Nana & Peter's need while out on the go. Honing our parenting skill took a steep learning curve that day and the key was to keep cool and never lose your head.
Papa, do I need to wear specs too when I grow up? It looks so heavy.
Not if you don't spoil your eyes playing too much video games..
Arise and shine, my little ones, had a good nap?
The distance from Seremban to BSJ is about 74km which consumes traveling time of 1 hour 20mins. In order to get there, we need to ascend the very accident-prone hilly terrain of Bukit Putus, before crossing the always congested Kuala Pilah, followed by the DAP run Chinese majority Bahau district.
To give you a rough idea of the location, God forbid if you're posted there for any working commitment, google map This.
The fist that will one day hold a KFC drumstick.
This car does anything but move forward.
Here is Nana, enjoying herself in one of the local super market at Bahau. Surprisingly it has Lotus Five Star, a cineplex which shows relatively up-to-date new movies. One week before the posting commenced we travel down to survey these foreign places. Our would be colleagues advised us to find Chinese food in Bahau if we get tired of eating non-balanced, oil abundant Malay food in BSJ. Mainly our concern was to find a baby sitter who could take care of both Nana and Peter at the same time.
The task has its challenges as we stopped by Chinese sundry shops to ask for contacts, looked until Kampung Baru Mahsan, a new village 8km away from BSJ before we found 2 options. 1 was a rather elderly and frail widow, who somehow maintained a neat and tidy house. The other was a plump mother of 3, whose house was crampy with Taoist idols and a little dimly lit for our liking. After much consideration, we struck a deal with the 1st lady. Being her 1st time baby-sitting, we agreed that if all goes well with Nana, we would bring Peter over after a month or 2.
Peter, I wish I could still fit in that small bath-tub.
Nana watching intently as Mami dresses up Peter .
The grandparents nod in approval seeing Mami's diaper changing skill.
It was gonna be difficult to part with Peter, even harder to leave it in the hands of our elderly parents. After years of toiling in hardship, its a no-brainer they deserve to cool it off during their retired years. In their own words, every baby are different and therefore despite years of parenting experience, it will still be physically and psychologically taxing to put another 1 under their constant monitoring. My parents-in-law understood our plight and decided to sacrifice their inner resources for Peter's well-being.
Thankfully doctor's quarters were provided for. It was found in good condition within the hospital compound. We were entitled to a family apartment equipped with the bare-minimal furniture, and spacious kitchen with cabinets. No TV with satellite disk but that's ok. Lots of running (and crawling) space for the kids. This was our sanctuary in the wilderness until time beckon us to return to the city in pursuit of career advancement.
What? I can't follow you all to the new place, until when?
Hush little Peter fret not, Papa will return for you when you're bigger.
Our migration happened in 2 stages. When we first arrived in BSJ for scouting purpose, we unloaded some belongings at the quarters. Without the help of hired transportation, we packed almost all our belongings into my grand-livina and Karling's myvi. Needless to say the washing machine and dismantled baby-court went into my MPV (they don't call it multi-purpose for nothing). By the time we made our 2nd trip to BSJ 2 days before reporting, our old rented house in Seremban was completely evacuated and dusted.
No heavy feelings leaving behind the people and nostalgia of Seremban, for sooner than we know we will return. Plus in my precious possession is a hard-disk of family pictures from whence it all begun, all for us to reminisce, if ever we aren't too caught-up in the hectic pace of life.
Mami's gonna kiss you all over your Botak head.
We're gonna miss you sooo much.
All good things come to those who wait on the Lord.
I would probably still return to Seremban every weekend to continue my locum job. Government pay for local doctors just doesn't cut it and any revision for remuneration moves like snail. Hence, locum job is the best way to earn unrecorded tax-free cash. Lucrative as it seem then, after 2 years of toiling in 4 walls clinic attending to various human disposition especially those who pay visit merely to demand for undeserved medical certificates, at the expanse of sacrificing precious family time, I decided to hang my stethoscope from doing outside job anymore (This finally occured in 2013).
During the time I ended internship, I was still receiving only Rm3k per month, plus critical, housing, welfare allowances and what not. Gnash my teeth and put myself through x5-7 36hrs shift per month and the pay still barely cross Rm4k. Our new house was reaching completion, and requires renovation,plumbing, wiring, setting up of lightings, furniture and fans. Again, locum job was the only feasible way to make ends meet. The pay rate back then was Rm35-40 per hour and is still unrevised after 3 years (2014), which goes to show the country's economy is still mismanaged under the wrong hands, and minds, hence the reason i quit.
Lets get some formula milk for you while they're on promotion,shall we?
They have more fun rides in Carrefour SS15.
This is it, goodbye for now, you'll be in good hands.
Children are the most precious asset a father can have, I just didn't see it back then when I was chasing for luxury and financial satisfaction. There is so much potential in them, to raise them to become better than i could be, in career, maturity, problem-solving and physical ability. The concern now is for their well-being and personal hygiene, taken care of by exorbitant baby formula milk, countless diapers, and a proper babysitter. Soon it would be decisions for nursery, kinder garden, music classes, and all the expenditures that comes with it. Inevitably, one would worry whether his kids are smart enough to be enrolled in the best primary education there is in town.
Right now, I'm putting in motion every aspect in order for them to surpass their own parents 1 day. Ambitious or haughty as I may sound, I am only driven by my paternal role and responsibility, to watch the apples of my eyes blossom, so that despite underachieving in my own academics I could still kick back with no regrets. God, give me wisdom and strength, make me a better head of the family, and teach me to be obedient to Your guidance. Amen.
1 last stop in great grandma's house before heading into oblivion.
1 last hug before parting to fulfill our duties.
