3rd Day with Snowy

Dear All

We got Snowy on Thurs, 20 May 10. His skin has patches of exposed skin and he started to scratch his ears and bit his raw hind paws especially after his walks in the garden downstairs.

I feel so bad...I had called the rescuer twice, once on Thur and another on Fri. On Fri, the rescuer's ad friend called to check on how the dog was taking to my hubby. So far, Snowy likes all of us and vice versa. I made an appointment with the vet this afternoon at 3pm. Diagnosis - cell test of dry skin - good news, no mites. Most likely no homonal issue was the rescuer says his coat has grown. It seems I have been bathing him too often (once a day)....so only at most twice a week and no hair drying his fur. (But boy, does this dog sting!).

Snowy got a sterioa jab. He was injected on his back. He almost snapped at the vet and pulled his tummy downwards away from the needle. The needle came out, so I had to hold up his tummy for the vet to jab again.

The medication included 2 liquids and 1 tablet..you tell me, how am I to get these into the dog when he has teeth!! Bert and I had to do this together. I grabbed the dog (mind you, he is wearing a collar to prevent him from gnawing his raw legs and scratching himself) and forced his teeth open while Bert dropped the pill into his mouth. He spat it out thrice!! We gave up and tried squeezing the syrings into his mouth. Most of the antibiotics and lysine (to improve his appetite..he has not eaten till this evening) landed on my hands and on me. I got nicked by Snowy twice today....once at the vet on my right cheek, for accidentally touching him on his injection spot...luckily he was wearing the collar and the collar saved me! The other was when he nicked my left hand when he shook himself free from the spyrings of medicine. We are supposed to feed him twice a day!! Don't know how to do this with all that teeth!!

We followed the nurse advice on the tablet since the vet's advice of putting it right inside his throat and massaging his throat was like a suicide request to get your fingers bitten off!! We crushed the tablet and stuck it to honey and traced in onto his lips. He licked it off. That give me an idea....perhaps I should try mixing the 2 liquid medicine with honey and traced it on his lips too. Hopefully it'll work however I have 2 - 3 ml of liquid to get into his tummy twice a day!! Snowy's gona be a fat dog soon!!! Boy, never realised how tough it is to care for a sick dog!

Love Theresa

Our New member of the Family - 20 May 2010

Dear All

It was nerve-wrecking last night. We 3 girls were anxious about our new member of the family. We were going to meet him this morning. We don't know how he will be like nor will we like him, or even if he'll like us?

Who are we talking about, you may ask...it's someone the girls had been hankering for some years back, but I didn't want it then....the kids were too small, no else can help me. It's something that I had when I was just a little 10 year old like them now. It's a doggie!

As you know, we like in an apartment, so small dogs are best. However, toy dogs are so ridiculously priced! So the next best thing (other than begging friends) was to look to SPCA.

I saw the ad and the pix of Moodle (a mixed breed poodle). He's an abused dog who mistrust humans and fierce to man and animal alike, however, we were told he doesn't bite.

The lady called me, checked my background and arranged for me to view the dog. I had missed 2 opportunities before (1 a 4 yr 10 mth mini schnauzer - someone had already arranged a viewing and obviously adopted it and another a 8 mth old chihuahua - the advertiser didn't get back to me). This time, I know Moodle was a problem dog, so it took me some time to consider, but decided that I think our family could give him all the love that he can handle. I got the girls to give me 3 reasons why they want a dog:

1) Dogs are great companions and devoted animals

2) They felt great compassion for the dog and wanted to shower it love and care

3) They believe taking care of a dog would make them more responsible people with greater compassion for each other (the girls), family and animals

Wow, the last one just blew me away (actually all these coming from the younger 9 year old Feli!); I was impressed and knew then that the girls were ready for a pet.

Feli and I went down today to view the dog. We were so lucky Moodle was rescued by a dog groomer, so he was handsome though his white fur was growing out in patches. There were patches of baldness but the groomer reassured us it's not skin disease but due to being exposed to the elements of sun and rain whilst tied to a tree for almost a week!! So sad right?

Bert was saying he'll leave the decision to me as I am the only one with dog experience. Also, since I will be home most of the time, I need to have a chemistry with the dog. He's only criteria were it must be small, don't bark at night and free of disease and below 3 years old. Well, Moodle just made the age limit...he's 3 years, but the groomer says from checking his teeth and the brightness of his eyes, he's less than 3 years.

Moodle came to greet us like duck to water, like he was expecting us and hoping we will like him and take him home. The groomer was pleasantly surprised that Moodle didn't bark at us. He wagged his tail and came to lick my hands and sniff my trousers and feet. He did so to Feli too. We loved him immediately. He didn't look at all like a poodle! He was more like a Westie mixed Maltese or Silky Terrier! His coat was soft like candy floss and smooth like silk. He has long slighty wavy coat, unlike the tighter curly coats we would expect from a poodle. However, he has a poodle crop on top of his head but it's soft like wool.

When Tiffy came home from school in the afternoon, the dog took to her immediately too. Like an old friend.

When Bert came home in the evening, Feli and I were at the pool and the dog was in the cage. Bert said the dog didn't bark nor made a sound. I let his out of the cage and he didn't bark at Bert. Instead, he wagged his tail and went to lick Bert on his hands and arms and jumped onto his legs with such friendliness. I told the groomer and he was so pleased as he says the dog usually barks at strangers.

He didn't eat his dinner tonight, but he enjoyed his evening walk with Bert, Feli and me. We took turns holding his leash. He was aggressive to strangers that a lady commented in a friendly smiling way that for a small dog, he's very fierce! He even approached a bigger dog (a small breed with floppy ears) quite aggressively too. They sniffed each other till the bigger dog yapped when Moodle sniffed his body. By the way, we decided to rename him Snowy cos he looked like Tin Tin's dog from the cartoon show.

We ran Snowy up and stairs. He's fast. But he's a bit frightened on the coming down of the stairs.

So far, we have taught Snowy to sit. It also seems he may not be paper trained. So far, as I am writing this, he has not barked and is currently sleeping in complete darkness in his cage in our backyard.

Keep our fingers crossed that he'll soon eat tomorrow. He stinks very fast (he had a bath only today)...I hope it's just because of our Singapore hot weather now.

Love Theresa

LC Sharing Session @ JJ House (15 May 2010)

Sharing question posed by Hosts:

"Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Cor 13:4-7.

Reflect on how you have or want to live your life in light of the above verses in the context of your spousal and parent-child relationships.

Bomb Scare at my girl's school - my reflections

Dear All

Today, my elder daughter's exams were interrupted as there was a bomb threat. All students in both primary and secondary schools were immediately evacuated. There were lots of commotion in the background when my daughter called me, and her voice was high pitched with excitement and confusion. "There's police in my school. There's also some police cars! Don't know what's happening but we were told to go home".

I called the school to find out about the rescheduling of her orals and asked why there were police in school this morning. I was told the school received a call that a bomb was planted in the secondary school so the children were all evacuated as a precaution.

It was so scary to hear that! Terrorism is so real and near, in fact in my girl's school.

I realised so deeply tonight as I prayed with Tiffy before she slept that I love her so very much. I cried as I thanked the Lord for protecting my little girl today and everyday. I really do not know what life would be like without her. Just last night, Bert and I had to impose a new rule of no handphone and ipod in the house. Tiffy was of course not so pleased about this as they are her main source of entertainment. That was precisely the problem. We wanted her to interact more with us rather than her gadgets! I can't imagine how guilty I would feel if this tension between us is still there and she's gone....I would not have the chance to reassure her that what we do is out of love and concern for her well-being and her studies, and that we do still love her, that it was not a punishment. Tiffy asked if I was crying during our prayer and when I told her I was, she asked me why. I told her that that's because I love her so, and would be devastated if she was gone just like that. I prayed fervently tonight for the Lord to continue to "keep us safe from harm in body and soul always".

It sometimes take shocks like this to wake up in us how much we truly care for and love our loved ones. We mustn't forget to tell the ones we love how much we love them, to give them a kiss or a hug.

Love Theresa

Happy Mother's Day - A celebration of Love

Dear All

Today is Mother's Day (9 May 10). Mum's table fan is spoilt for at least a month. She asked me to help her buy one, a slightly more expensive one, so that it was last long. We bought one quite expensive (for a table type) and decided to give it to her as a surprise present for Mother's Day. On the way to her home, we also bought a cake for we both mothers to cut and share. We were so lucky that there's one perfect cake left and it was on offer. The girls immediately said "That's the one!" It's heart shaped, in pink, had 3 roses, 2 daisies, 2 tiny dark pink hearts and a masipan edible banner saying "I love you" as decos on top of the 1kg cake. I guess you can say it was love at first sight!

No one else came to visit her tonight. Only my bro called today. We cut the cake after dinner and took lots of pictures. Mum playfully placed her head next to mine and said "we are like siamese twins!"

As I wished her good night and gave her a hug, her eyes appeared a bit teary. She was so very happy tonight. She loved our present and the huge cake. She was happy she had given me a present in return...her brandnew kua-li which she had bought ages ago but never got to use it. Bert said mum said since our new home now has a storeroom, she can pass down all of her unused brandnew non-stick pots and pans, since she's too old to cook now.

As I stood next to her, I noticed that she has shrink even more short. I can't help feel a tinge of sadness. She and dad won't be with us long, and yet why do my siblings not even visit them even on Mother's Day? Last time they say the children are so busy and so are they in fetching them around. Now their youngest is already Sec 4, the 2 elders overseas studying I really don't know what had happened. Anyway, it's good that my bro called her.

Mum said dad's memory is fading. He had asked the maid what is his wife's name and he sees her everyday! I told mum not to feel sad as he's going to be 94 next week...it's just old age.

As I hugged my dad to say good bye, he can hardly hear me. Even though he is old, he still trys to sit up on his bed to see us as all 4 of us troop into his room to say good night to him. He seldom smiles nowadays, so we try to joke with him to make him laugh. Sometimes we succeed, and when we do, we feel so elated as when he smiles, my mum smiles too.

Happy Mother's Day to all you mums! May the Good Lord and His Blessed Mother watch over you and your loved one always!

Love Theresa

Thank you Lord, no enough

Dear Lord,

This is a thank you note to you which I feel that I did not thank you enough so far...here is the list of reasons why I need to thank you:

I thank you for the peace and stability in Singapore; and please help Thailand to restore peace back into their society and help the poor of Thailand too in their daily lives.

I thank you for all that you have given me, though some of the things I did not pray to you to ask for it - however, you have given them to me and appoint me as the steward. I am so grateful.

I thank you for the little house that we are now staying.

I thank you for the family that we now enjoy, cracking all the jokes each night at the dinner table,

I thank you for the work and career you have given me.

I thank you for the good health you have given me to continue do your will.

I thank you for the wonderful colleagues you have given me at my work place. On this, I pray for the soul of my wonderful colleague, James and also Lillian who is still in ICU coming to 8 months. May you help her in her recovery.

I thank you for the spouse - my pillar of strength, that you have given me.

I thank you for the church at Tampines.

I thank you for little events in my life that thru them I got know you - better.

I, THANK YOU, LORD.

AMEN

AlbertY

A Lesson learnt - April Fool's Joke

Dear All

Yesterday was 1 Apr 10...April Fool's Day.

It started out from a friend's SMS to a group of praying parents. The principal of the school has invited us to dinner on a particular day. My friend said she was going with her sis-in-law, and if anyone is coming, to sms her for the principal's address.

At first, I thought, why was the principal inviting us for dinner? I left it as it is. Later on, it dawned on me that it could be an April Fool's joke. The clues were there. It's for praying parents, and my friend's sis-in-law isn't one. Next was why no reason was given for the dinner gathering, and why no address given. Lastly, why such an important invitation was done by sms through a parent and not a teacher. It turned out I was right.

There were still 2 more parents who had not responded, so I helped my friend along with her joke by trying to evoke an sms respond to the invitation from them. When the last one came in, she lamented that her hubby had met the nun from our school and told her about the invitation! It seemed the April Fool's Joke had been thought to be true, and passed on to 2 other people outside the group! Damage controls all came in. Luckily in this case, not much energy nor time was spent to contact the nun & the hubby to tell them it was only a joke. The negative point was, some parents were a little disappointed as they looked forward to having a casual chat with the principal in a more relaxing atmosphere.

A lesson learnt by the prankster, the disappointed parent and me from this "experience" was how easily, fast and wide news can spread. Some went back to the source to verify info, some didn't and took it for truth and told someone else who then told another person. Doesn't that apply to us in our daily lives? Rumours and white lies can easily spread the same way.

Recently, when Bert & I took out the wash from the washing machine, almost each piece of clothing was covered with tiny torn white tissue paper. I was aghast! I thought the children forgot to empty their pockets of tissue paper. Luckily, instead of opening my mouth to accuse, I paused for a while and asked everyone. Everyone said "not me". I thought, someone is either telling a lie or had forgotten. Then as I retraced my own steps the day before, I realised I was the culprit! I had taken the extra Macdonald's paper napkins after the children had eaten at my mum's place and put the extra 2 napkins into my shorts pocket. I had mentally noted to recycle them for my cooking when I got home. However, I forgot about it and now am faced with the tissue problem.

Bert tried taking it off whilst the clothes were still damp, however it was difficult. So we decided to let it dry first. Next day, even when I flinged the clothes, the tissue paper stubbornly stayed on. I had no choice but scrape off each piece of tissue and threw them into the dustbin. Needless to say, I got so tired, some pieces of tissue missed the dustbin and soon, my floor was littered with tiny pieces of tissue paper! I was exhausted (it was late at night when the kids were already asleep). Bert said, tomorrow then mop the floor. I just couldn't stand it! What if the wind blows and the paper flies into my hall!! It's better to clear it now then suffer a worse consequence. So there I was, mopping the backyard, kitchen and utility room!

Imagine - just 2 tissue paper can cause so much trouble. I remarked to Bert - can you imagine if the 2 tissue paper were a rumour - it's like the tiny pieces of paper told to tens of people. To collect everyone of the repeated rumour back is so difficult. I need to scrape off each individual piece of dried paper which was stubbornly stuck to the clothes (or telling people who still believed the rumour rather than the truth). Some fell on the ground which I have to pick up or else the wind will blow it further (like rumours spreading like wildfire!).

Another lesson learned for me, who tend to be critical in my speech and negative and complaining was, to learned a humbling lesson - when I try to see the splinter in my brother's eye, I did not realise I had a log in mine. I tend to quickly accuse and think that others were at fault and not realising that the person whom I am blaming is actually MYSELF!!! I was at fault for the troubles that I was in!!

If you are still wondering if anyone else fell for the practical joke, the answer is, yes - everyone else fell it it except your friend here who was the only "survivor" who didn't fall for the trick! Yahoo-yee! That doesn't mean I'm that sharp or smart - (I actually believed it in the beginning) it's just that I had time to reflect on it, mulling it over my mind. I think sometimes we have to think things over before reacting. It doesn't mean I'm smart or anything...I guess it comes with age!!! Haha!

Love Theresa