What can you do with 5k?

My second post on 'Money matters' topic, after the first one, which apparently was an abandoned post i.e. no further story :p  This time, I have the chance to have RM5k with the following 6-month payback schedule.

Month 1	1,027.33
Month 2	833.33
Month 3	833.33
Month 4	833.33
Month 5	833.33
Month 6	833.35

I have the choice of (1) not taking it, so I won't get and won't lose anything.  (2) Take it, save it and do nothing with it, so I will lose RM194 minus some dividend generated after the 6 months (which is obviously not much).  (3) Take it, invest it.  Hoping that it generates some if not a lot returns later.  Otherwise, loss.  Hmm ...  Risky.  So?

Pneumonia oh pneumonia

Having been hospitalised twice, I can't help but feel 'something' each time achik shows signs of fever or cold.  And she did that again yesterday.  She had her varicella and pneumococcal jabs last Saturday and started to have fever that evening, which I thought was due to the jabs.  But when the fever didn't go away after three days and she started to cough, that feeling came.  I did some information searching on pneumonia amongst children and here are my findings.  Credit to Info Sihat.

Symptoms:

• Demam panas
• Batuk dengan atau tanpa kahak
• Sakit dada
• Tiada selera makan, tidak mahu makan
• Rasa tidak sihat, sering merengek
• Pernafasan laju atau susah bernafas
• Muntah atau cirit-birit

Achik had only the first two symptoms when she suffered from the pneumonia.  She ate and drink milk well.  She was grumpy a bit when her body temperature was high, but back to her normal active self when it subsided.

Children who suffered from pneumonia will be hospitalised when:

• Pernafasan laju
• Sukar untuk bernafas
• Bibir menjadi biru
• Batuk berdarah
• Tidak boleh makan atau minum atau tidak kencing

Sounds a bit too late to me.  I don't think parents should wait until the above signs appear to have their children admitted to the hospital.  Furthermore, in a number of pneumonia cases that I came across, which sadly ended with the death of the children, the only sign that the parents could see was the fever.

Prevention checklist:

• Mengekalkan amalan cara hidup sihat - always striving for this
• Amalan kebersihan diri dan persekitaran yang baik - this too
• Teruskan penyusuan susu ibu - am doing it
• Mengambil immunisasi boleh mencegah jangkitan kuman di paru-paru - done

Based on my experience, (1) always observe the number 3.  If the symptoms do not go away after 3 days, do something.  (2) take action as early as possible.  In fact, in some cases, the bacteria that infect the lungs actually come from the infected upper respiratory organs like nostrils and throat.  Therefore, early treatment can avoid them from spreading to the lower respiratory organs.

Salam aidilfitri 1432H

TaqabbalalLaahu minna wa min-kum.  It is not too late to wish eid mubarak to all.  Minal 'aidil wal faizin.  May Allah accepts all of our good deeds performed throughout the Ramadhan and makes us a better muslim, aamiin.

This is the second time we celebrated eid as a family of 5.  Last eid, achik was only 10 days old and barely noticeable.  This eid, she was exactly 1 year old :-).

On another development, Alhamdulillah, I have managed to get someone to look after achik at home, as a result of doctor's advice to isolate her from the nursery for at least a month due to her relapse recently.  Otherwise, I would be left with one and only option: UNPAID LEAVE.

Thank you Allah for everything that you have bestowed upon us.  May we always be amongst your obedient servants.

Salam aidilfitri! - [Limited edition. Displayed
during the month of Syawal only]

Second milestone hit and other things

Achik was born in the afternoon of 19th Ramadhan last year, so on the 19th of Ramadhan this year, which was also the 19th of August, she turned 1 according to the islamic calendar.  Of course she is officially 1 year old on the 30th of August, which is, Insya-Allah, Hari Raya :)  With some 100+ oz of EBM still in the fridge, Alhamdulillah, the second milestone of our breastfeeding journey is reached.

But things didn't go quite okay though with achik being admitted for the second time to the hospital due to bronchitis.  With barely over one month gap since the first time, it certainly wasn't something we (or any parents) would want to experience.  Alhamdulillah, this time was a lot less serious that she was given home leave on the second day and discharged on the third day.  May Allah protect her and the whole of our family from the illness of all kinds, aamiin.

Welcoming Ramadhan with 164 oz

Ramadhan kareem !!! 

Every Ramadhan, year after year, we pray that the Ramadhan be the best Ramadhan ever for us.  So does this year although it is extremetly challenging like never before to face Ramadhan single handedly.  May Allah give me the strength to make it the best Ramadhan ever, aamiin.

As part of Ramadhan preparation, I did EBM stock counting last night, which found a total of 164 oz of frozen and fresh EBM.  Barely exceeding the targeted 160 oz needed for Ramadhan, Alhamdulillah.  It is my duty now to work hard to collect a minimum of 8 oz a day.  I only managed to express 9 oz on the first day of Ramadhan and the same amount on the second day.  So very close to the bottom line of 8 oz a day and it is only the second day!  I dare not contemplating about what would possibly be the yields in the coming days.

As if understanding her mama's apprehension, achik consumed only 12 oz during the past two days.  Actually, she has been showing the pattern of 12 oz a day for the last couple of weeks.  Since I return home earlier than usual in the month of Ramadhan, the chance of saving the last bottle is higher.