Thursday, July 29, 2010

Back Pain

When I was young, I always heard my mom or grand mother complaining having back pain, especially after they had carried something heavy. I was still a teenager. At that time, having back ache seems like not something happen to me very frequently.

The last time I had terrible back ache, was when I was pregnant with H. I was around 8 months pregnant during that time. It was a Saturday and we were getting ready to travel to Malacca for a short trip with my parents and my brother family. L was 2 years old that time. She was much attached to me, and even more when I was pregnant. She always demanded me to carry her. So that morning, she asked to be carried again. It was my mistake actually. I thought just for a while, I did not squat down before carrying her. I just bend down and when I wanted to lift her up, *OUCH!!!* I felt a sharp burning sensation on my back! I shouted in pain, and put her down immediately. For a while, I couldn't move at all. Just stood there letting the pain go off. I could hardly walk. But I thought it would go off soon so I did not think much about it. Just continue to load the stuff into the car and then we set off to Malacca.

During the car ride, the pain did not go away. In fact, it was getting worse. When we stopped the car for toilet break, I had difficulty getting down from the car to bring Lynn to the toilet. I could hardly walk too. Every movement would cause me in great pain. I consider myself have very high tolerance on the pain, still could not take it. It was very very very painful. Much much more painful than giving birth. :(

After taking our lunch in Malacca, we decided to pay a visit to the doctor. We went to one of the hospital in the town. Seeing my big tummy, at first the nurses thought I'm going to deliver! LOL! The doctor checked my blood pressure and my back. He prescribed me panadol as pain killer. He mentioned that it is safe for me to take the panadol. He also gave me some patches to put on my back, to relief the pain. Could not remember the name now. I did not take the panadol but I did put on the patch. The patch did help a lot. Still painful, but at least I could move around. Night time sleeping was another night mare. I could not get up alone without help, to go to the toilet. I could not turn my body too. Every movement was a great pain. It was a restless night.

Could not remember how long I suffered from that back pain. But Lynn did not ask for carry anymore after that. She knew I was in pain. She would say "Mama pain pain".

Few months back, I experienced some back pain too. During that time, I had coffee almost every working day. So I tried to cut down the coffee intake, and the back pain would go away. Since then, I limit myself to maximum of 3 cups of coffee a week. Usually I only consume 2 cups per week.

For the past one month, consistently I'm having back pain almost everyday. At first I thought maybe due to coffee. However despite I stop taking coffee for the whole week, the pain did not go away. I also tried putting a small pillow under my back when I sleep at night, but it did not help much this time (this method used to work well for me before this). It is not very pain, still bearable, but VERY annoying. I can feel the pain most of the time, whether I am walking, sitting, or even sleeping. I'm not sure is it due to carrying Hao? He is getting heavier now. However I don't really carry him much nowadays. Not even more than 5 minutes. A short hug and carry when I pick up the kids at my parents house (H will sure ask for carry, except if he's sitting in the high chair having his dinner), carry him to the car seat and carry him to switch off the lights. I don't carry him when we are outside shopping etc. Usually hb is the one (only if H asks for carry). I don't really think carry H is the reason. Then what is the reason causing the back pain? Sigh. No idea. Maybe it is due to the stress from work? *Shrug* Going for a body check-up this weekend. Hope to find some clue there.

Wishing you all a great weekend! 

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Stories of a Grandma with her Grandchildren

Grandma has 2 sons and 4 grandchildren, 2 from each son. Whenever grandma meets her grand daughter, she would surely "remind" her that she has no manners.

Story 1

One Sunday evening, grand daughter was meeting uncle, aunty, grandma and her cousins. She was so happy the moment she saw them. As usual, she greeted every one of them.

Grand daughter: Aunty, you see I'm so pretty (showing off her beautiful dress).
Grandma: Pretty has no use. It'll better if you have good manner.

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Story 2

During dinner, papa ordered banana milk for grand daughter and grand son. Uncle chose to have tea together with Grandma. Not too long after that, the drink was being served to everyone. Grand daughter took a sip of the banana milk and she loves it. She also offered it to her brother, before putting it down on the table while waiting for the food.

One moment later, grand daughter realized her drink had gone missing. 
Grand daughter: Ei? Where is my banana milk?

Mama saw uncle was taking a sip of the banana milk. It seems that uncle wanted to taste it. He put it back right after that.

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Story3

It was a Sunday evening. Grandma, papa, mama, uncle and 2 grandchildren were dining out. It was a traditional Korean food, with various side dishes were served. One of them was this meat ball. However there were only 4 meat balls for all 4 adults and 2 children.

Grand daughter: Mama, I want the meat ball.
Mama took one meat ball and gave to her.

After grand daughter finished the meat ball, she wanted some more. So she asked her mama again.

Grand daughter: Mama, can I have some more meat ball please?
Mama: No, you have your share already. Mama has given you one.  Grandma, uncle and papa still not yet have eaten the meat ball. We have to share the food.

Grand daughter loves meat ball. She wanted more of it. So she continued pestering mama for it.
Grand daughter: Mama, can I have some more meat ball please?
Mama: No.... others have not yet eaten.... mama gives you other food ok? How about some eggs?
Grand daughter: I don't want egg. I want meat ball.

Grandma and uncle overheard the grand daughter asked for the meat ball.

Uncle: You want meat ball? Never mind just take it.
Grandma: Yeah, just take it.
Uncle: Come, uncle takes for you. (Took one meat ball and put on grand daughter's bowl.)

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Story 4

Kids were playing on their place while waiting for the food at the dinner table; standing on the chair, playing loudly. It was a public place at a restaurant, thinking that the children may disturb other guests in the restaurant; mama had to keep on reminding the children to behave and play quietly. Also it is not save to stand on a chair, also not the right thing to do, mama also keep on asking the children to sit down. However despite numerous reminders, the children still keep on standing and playing loudly. Papa become annoyed and raised his voice to the children. Grandma and uncle think papa should not raise his voice in the public. But without raising voice, the children won't behave.
 
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Story 5

Grand daughter always like to sit with aunty whenever they are having dinner together outside. Grandma wanted to take picture with aunty and grand son. Not sure how, grandma took over grand daughter's place. When grand daughter realized her place got taken, she wanted it back.

Grand daughter: Hey this is my place! I want to sit here.
Grandma: Grandma just wants to take picture with aunty for a while. Can you sit over there first?
Grand daughter: Don't want. I want to sit here. I don't want to sit there. (Worrying that she does not get to sit with aunty anymore.)
Grandma: We just want to take photo, it won't take long. You sit over there first, ok?
Grand daughter: No, I want to sit here. (It was a long bench. She tried to squeeze herself thought to reach her place.)
Grandma was not happy about it.
Grandma: No manners! (And put a black face to the grand daughter.)

Mama asked grand daughter to sit with her and apologize to grandma.

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Story 6

Grand daughter no. 2 is still a baby, about 10 months old. Since she can't take much adult food yet, most of the time she would be sitting on the high chair and watches the adults eating. Sometimes she would feel boring and make some noise to complain. She likes to play with her lips. During one of the dinner session, she was playing with her lips, spouting the saliva loudly and non-stop. Grandma thought she was being funny and went over to play with her. So the grand daughter continued spouting the saliva, making "buuuuu..... buuuu....." sounds there. 


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