Hanif Aiden's High Fever - The Aftermath

Assalammualaikum wbt,

Yesterday my son is finally discharged from SJMC, Alhamdulillah like finally. I swear, if I stay another night there, I'm going to bring my own mattress, blanket, pillows.. Today, I am taking another compassionate leave just to monitor my son and isolate him from his cousins, for precautions. 

The reasons why I chosed SJMC at the first place is because it's nearer and well, established, and so I thought. I am glad it's very near to my parents' house in Bandar Sunway (5 minutes drive) and they've been an angel sending dinner everyday for us and visiting us twice a day. Just because the food expenses here is expensive like crazy and I am blessed they're here. No they have no nasi campur here. Thank you emak, abah. 

It's great to have a room to ourselves, we could do freely what we wanted, praying, taking a bath in that tiny room. They served porridge for Hanif Aiden everyday, sometimes there is mashed potato where we both liked it. Hanif Aiden not used to eat porridge on its own, so he never finished it. Well, sorry to say, it's quite salty! I never put salt nor sugar in his food, so, I was quite dissappointed with this hospital's food especially for baby could be that salty. Aren't hospital food supposed to be bland, ermm...healthier? But, what choices do I have, I still fed him that. Maybe they thought my baby is old enough and has full set of teeth to chew. Sometimes, I do feel guilty to the food delivery man whenever he collect unfinished/untouched food. 

                                  

About the room, it is okay. I'm more than thankful to have a single room, so so thankful. So, we can freely do whatever we wanted. This is the basic single room, if I'm not mistaken, the charges is RM230/night. Although it doesn't have microwave and fridge, but, the nurses' pantry is very near to my room (not that we often use the facility, well, I used the microwave twice, it is lousy, a very old one). 

For hot water and mineral water, do not worry, they will replenish everyday for you. The air-conditioner here is 

Everyday, my mother would cook dinner for us and had abah to deliver them. Syukur..

I've read many reviews which mostly quite bad ones on SJMC and maybe I have some points to agree and disagree. About lengthen the stay and changes of diagnoses, that one is quite true, maybe. The doctor kept on changing the prescription every different day whenever we see her. But I tried to keep positive thinking, well, doctor is no God, she can't tell what diseases anyone's have just by looking at them. There is always try and error, test after test. I don't quite blame her although some infos seemed funny to digest, for instance, a blood test result for certain disease took 3 days? Erm..I am not expert in this, but yeah, I found it quite hard to believe. But, the updates are very slow, and I found there's some miscommunication between the nurses. Like for example, my son has no fever no more and doctor said no need to take the fever syrup anymore, but then, in the evening one of the nurses came bringing together with her the fever syrup (-__-). So, as parents, you have to be alert what the doctor have prescribed and what action does the nurse took. Comparatively with PPUM, the doctor there are efficient in prescribing you the symptoms accurately, and giving updates everyday, day and night. Unlike here, you gotta ask and ask and they will answer only what you've asked. 

Some people claimed that the nurses there aren't helpful, just leaving the medicine on table expecting the parents to give it to their own children. Well, I am lucky to have been attended by quite a helpful nurses, they are all helping giving medicine to my baby while I hold him, willing to wait my son finish his milk rather than just leave the medicine on the table. Well, they can do that, but they don't and I really appreciate it. I don't mind giving the medicine myself actually, but they really are helpful. I am not a fussy one to begin with, so I guess the rule is simple, if you ease someone, they will help you back. 

But after all, although it is quite "slow", but for me, I put them all away. As long as my baby is ok back again, everything else doesn't matter. 

SJMC - The day afterwards..

Assalammualaikum wbt,

After the dramatic admission the other night, doctor has came to us informing there were few possibilities of my son's conditions. It might be viral fever, H1N1, dengue and whatnot. And there were yet to be confirmed depending on blood test. Well, I do not know how long the blood test result to be out.. Aren't it supposed to be only like 1 hour? Hmmmm..

My son seemed very fine and active during the day that we thought, ahh..it must be only like 2-3 days stay. We were so wrong! His temperature will gradually increase starting from evening and throughout the night and only subdued the next morning! He'd even hit the highest temperature of 40.9 degree that made him shivering! Oh God, why.. He was so weak, cried and wanted to be hold all time even during sleep. Yes, if he asleep and I tried to put him down, he would wake up and cry. Even if I didn't hold him, he would reach out his hand looking for me and when he found it, he finally at peace and sleep soundly. The thought of it made me saddened and thinking how he must felt very afraid, vulnerable and wanted us, the parents as his protection.. 

                                        

                               

                                

I slept with him on the bed since the bed is for adult, it has a huge gap on the bedside reiling, and I feared my baby would fall from it. Whilst, my husband will sleep on the kerusi malas which was rented for RM20 per night (-__-) I would take turns with my husband, sometimes I would sleep first then he would. Someone has to be half-asleep because the nurses will come every 2 hours to get the temperature. Also, we had to frequently checking on Hanif Aiden's body heat and do sponging should necessary. 

                               

The condition continued for days, but on Thursday, it get worsened when he suddenly had a very bad diarrhea. He even had blood in his stool! Ya Allah, I really felt like crying but no, I can't have my breakdown here, I have to be strong for him. And again, the doctor changes her prescription when we informed her about this. She said, it might be either Rotavirus or Salmonella, and took his poop for lab test. My heart breaks whenever we feed him something, he would pooped them out soon after that.. He lost appetite too, only few spoons of porridge (if we're lucky) and he didn't finish his milk even we made only 5oz.. The doctor advised us to dilute the milk for easier digestion.

That night my MIL came with my SIL and her daughters (although we forbid her not to). Despite her busy schedule and at the same time my FIL is still at hospital (it's been 3 weeks now), she still made time to come. My son is very manja with her, well of course because she's babysit him ever since he was born. All are good until my SIL has popped out the story about rats in our house (we suspect they are at the rooftop) which yeah, she scared me on the thought of Kencing Tikus. I am already worried at my baby's current state on unclear disease he's having and she added more of my fear instead of courageous calming words, which was....great (-__-) More diagnoses, baby.  

      

              These two girls terrorizing Hanif Aiden's bed and there Ibu scolding them off hehehe

Well, of course I am paranoid about the possibilities, and we instructed the doctor to do the test on Leptospirosis as well. Again, another blood need to be taken from him. It killed me inside seeing him screaming of pain when the doctor couldn't find the right vein (not again!) and the process took like forever! What worse, my husband wasn't there at that time. Yes, I did cry after that.. Hanif Aiden condition seemed worsened, he become inactive, and sleep a lot. He's quite a friendly baby and would smile to people, but this time, he just doesn't want to. He seemed like having a trust issue because he thought when he's being friendly, people would not harm him, but they did (doctor, nurses..). Well, they are doing their job, don't take me wrong, I am just translating the mind of a baby. He refused to even walk on his own and wanted to be carried and hugged all the time. Oh my poor baby..

                               

The next day, he started to develop rashes all over his body and head, again doctor changes her prescriptions upon seeing this. She said, since the Salmonella test and Rotavirus were negative, this probably a Fake Measles or Roseolar. This is my first time to ever heard such disease. When I Googled about it, it matches all my baby's symptoms. Fake Measles usually happened to baby aged 6mo to 3 years old. It will start with a high fever for few days, and rashes will appear towards its recovery. True enough, when the rashes appeared, that night his temperature is back to normal! Ya Allah, how I am so happy for this! 

On Saturday, the doctor still monitoring my baby, afraid the temperature will come back but to my relief it did not. Hanif Aiden also has stopped taking the fever syrup and only continuing taking the Probiotics. During his stay here, he is very afraid of water especially when the rashes appeared. He refused to take a bath and would scream his lungs out whenever water touch him. I do not know whether is because of the rashes or the water. Then, the doctor gave us baby shower gel which is claimed gentle for his rashes since we forgot to bring any.                             

                             

                              

And today, on Sunday 21 February, doctor has give us her consent to discharge Hanif Aiden, yay! Like finally, Alhamdulillah he is recovering well. The rashes started to dissapper and he is now started to be active and talkative again! How I miss his mischevious behavious, this little monkey of mine. I will continue my next post on SJMC. 

Hanif Aiden's is warded! Day 1 - The Admission

Assalammualaikum wbt,

As I am typing this, Hanif Aiden is sleeping peacefully on the hospital bed - alone, for the first time. He has been admitted since last Tuesday and Alhamdulillah, nothing serious and InsyaAllah, he will be discharged tomorrow. 

It all started since last Sunday, 14 February, when he has slight fever that night, and thinking it is not that high, we went to work like usual on Monday. Ibu has been WhatsApp-ing in the family group saying he has a slight temperature hike and later that night, we brought him to the clinic after the temperature measurement marked at 39 degree! Doctor gave him the medicine inserted in his back and that night the temperature has lowered. I took a leave the next day and taking care of him, he was restless and again, the temperature kept on increasing despite the medicine we gave him. That's it, we brought him straightaway to SJMC (Sime Darby Medical Centre) in Subang Jaya. We were even contemplating whether to go or not to on our way there, because suddenly his temperature started to get lowerred but we were glad we continued anyway. We were told at the registration that there will be no admission that night as the rooms are full. 

"Oh ok, I don't think it is that serious. It just a fever. We will get the medicines and go back home", I thought to my over-confidence self.

There were so many patients that night and most were neither turned down or referred to other hospitals! Yep, it was that full. Man, it is like booking a hotel room during school holidays! I'd even had a chit chat with a girl next to me, she is from Bandar Tasik Selatan, and she had been to Ampang Puteri, Sunway Hospital and SJMC and all declined her and she has to be referred to KPJ Damansara! 

Okey, back to the story, we didn't actually expect he has to be admitted since first there was no available room and second, he seemed very active. He wanted to walk here and there exploring. But when his turn to be checked by doctor, the temperature marked at 39 and the doctor said;

"We have to admit him, there is no room, but I will try to get one for him"

I don't know whether it's Hanif Aiden's luck or it's too serious or maybe because he is still a baby that doctor prioritize him? I was too stunned to digest what the doctor had said and just nod. We were the last patient around, so maybe our rezeki to get the room after they have declined others. I didn't expect and prepared for him to get admitted either since we bring minimal stuff with us. Before that, the nurse had sponging him because his temperature too high, oh boy, he was crying so loud. But, that just a beginning, later, when the doctor tried to get a blood for a test, my nightmares are begun.. He was crying so so so loud that I wanted to cry with him. The doctor even swaddled him first to avoid him from moving. He tried his right hand, couldn't find a vein, then, he switched to another hand for a vein, to no avail too. Imagine, he had inserted the needle, moving it around trying to find the right vein..yeah, it was damn painful process! I myself couldn't endure the painfulness whenever doctor poke my hand, let alone a small baby like him, Ya Allah.. Then, the doctor gave up and declared, no need for IV drip for my baby, thank God. I couldn't imagine the worst, my baby with a hand tied to an IV drip or me taking care a baby with an IV drip. Allah swt is fair, although in this difficulties, He helped us easing the way, first: a room for Hanif Aiden and second: no drip for him. It is indeed a blessing in disguise, you just have to open your heart to see it. 

                                

At around 2am, we finally "checked-in" to our room. By the way, at SJMC, you have to pay deposit of RM500 which will be returned upon discharge unless should there is any additional charges, they will deduct from there. Alhamdulillah, Hanif Aiden is covered by my insurance from my job, thank you Etiqa. However, my entitlement is for two-bedded room but since there weren't any, only the single room is, I have to pay the room rates difference. About RM80 per night. But, I'm glad anyway, we were much more comfortable in this single room and is easier for me to taking care of Hanif Aiden. Yelah, I'm worried his crying would disturb other patients should we opted for the two-bedded room instead.. See, another hikmah Allah swt showed us.. Alhamdulillah. The hospital locate us at Surgical ward in Level 5 because that is the only available room, so, it is quite boring looking to compare with a colourful Paediatric ward. Even some of my visitors double confirm with us,

"Is it the right floor?"

"is he that serious to undergo surgeries?"

"Why there is no cartoons on the wall? This is the most boring Paediatric ever!"

Ok, fair enough, the last one was coming from myself before I realize it is NOT a Paediatric ward. 

I will continue the story in the next post because I am sleepy now and we had to pack the bag for discharge tomorrow..

Sambal Ikan Bilis Tumbuk Belimbing Buluh

Assalammualaikum wbt,

Today I'd like to share a recipe which has been passed down from my grandmother to me which is passed down from her mother. Geddit? Haha. The ingredients are simple and its great to eat with hot steam rice. But I love this sambal most when we pair it with soup...a plate of rice won't be enough..

If you do not have belimbing buluh, you could actually substitute it with lime juice because the function of it is to give the sourness to this sambal. 

Ingredients

1 handful of dried anchovies/ikan bilis (if you can get the ones from Pangkor, they're the best!)

1 handful of cili padi (depends on your tolerance level against hot explosion in your mouth)

5 shallots

2 handful of belimbing buluh (remove the stem and leaves)

2 cm belacan (optional)

*Blend or pound everything. You can use dry blender, but do not over blend it. We want the texture. If you're a patience and strong person, you can manually pound them using pestel & mortar.

This is how it looks like: 

Step-by-step

1) Heat the oil. You have to use quite a lot because this ikan bilis mixture going to soak it up. 

2) Pour the mixture and stir continuously.

3) Yes, keep stirring. At this point, if it's too dry, add some more oil. Also, if you do not use belimbing buluh, you can squeeze your lime at this point. 2-3 would be ok for this measurement. 

4) Yes..more stirring. Season with salt. You have to keep stirring until you can see the oils appear and the anchovies have turn brownish/crisp. The more the mixture, the longer it takes to fry it. 

5) After your ikan bilis has turn a bit brownish and crispy, turn the heat off. It depends on your liking actually, the longer you leave it, the crispier it might get. I like it crispy but still soft to chew. 

        You can spot a brownish ikan bilis there. 

This is one of the dishes my grandmother taught me, yes, a bit nostalgic. Give it a try :) 

Chicken Casserole with Peas

Assalammualaikum wbt, 

This is another recipe I made for Hanif Aiden's stocks. This is a repeated recipe, again, it is easy and all the stuffs can easily bought at our local stores. Again, this recipe is courtesy of Annabel Karmel. Oh how I am so obsessed with her! 

        

Ingredients

12g butter

1tsp sunflower oil 

50g leek, chopped

75g carrot, chopped

200g sweet potato, chopped

2 sprigs of thyme

250ml chicken stock

40g frozen peas

100g skinless chicken breast, cut into chunks

Step by step

1) Sauté the leek in the butter and oil for 4 minutes until softened. Sautee the chicken until sealed. 

                                

2) Add the carrot, sweet potato & thyme and pour over the stock. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. I cheated a bit this part, I don't have any stocks, so I used normal water instead, tasted just fine. 

                               

3) Add the peas and continue to cook for 4 minutes. 

                                

4) Remove from the heat; pick off the thyme leaves throwing away any tough stalks. 

                               

5) Blend until smooth.

                             ,

This dish is great to eat with pasta and baby porridge and on its own. Happy trying! 

Sea Bass with Spinach Puree

Assalammulaikum wbt, 

Today I am going to share another recipe which I made for my baby. Super easy, super yummy and my baby loves this a lot. This is another way to get your baby to eat greens. Spinach is rich in Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Folate and Iron which are vital in baby's development. Well, the original recipe which is taken from Annabel Karmel's Top 100 Purees said to use Cod fish but it is bloody expensive at Jaya Grocer which for 100g, it was sold at RM55! So, alternatively, I used Sea Bass or Ikan Siakap and it tasted just fine. 

      

Ingredients

20g unsalted butter

5cm piece of leek, finely chopped

200g peeled & diced potato

125ml unsalted stock

100ml milk

30g spinach (I used baby spinach)

150g fresh cod (or in my case, Sea Bass)

20g Parmesan Cheese, finely grated

*Since I am making a large batch, I don't exactly follow the measurement. I just agak-agak.

Step by Step

1) Heat the butter in a saucepan. Gently saute the leek for 3 minutes.

                            

2) Add the potato and fry for 2 minutes.

                            

3) Add the stock and milk. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 8 minutes or until tender.

                            

4) Add the spinach and fish and stir over the heat for 3 minutes or until the spinach has wilted and the fish is cooked. 

                            

                            

5) Stir in the Parmesan & puree until smooth in a blender or mash for older babies.

                            

This is how it look after it has cooked.

                           

After I pureed them using hand blender.

                           

This dish is great to be eaten together with baby's porridge or as a pasta sauce. Happy trying! 

Macau Day 3 - Revisit St Paul's Ruin

Assalammualaikum wbt,

Finally, it is our final day here. At first we wanted to go to Macau Tower, another attraction in Macau where it has the highest bungee jumping in the world! I checked the details, this tower's floor made from transparent glass, erm..thanks but no, thanks. I might've peed myself up there. The ticket price is HKD$153 if you wish to go here. Before we going out, we ate Nasi Himpit and Brahim's Sambal Ikan Bilis for breakfast.

                                  

So, today, we did more and more shopping (I know, I know) because I have quite big family and gotta buy each and everyone of them something. Today such a lovely day, the sun's out and temperature aren't that freezing. More like Genting-ish. This is the real Macau's weather more likely. We went again to Senado Square, and yeah, we went to St. Paul's Ruins again because we wanted to go to Macau Museum which apparently only next to the St. Paul. Unfortunately, the museum is closed on Monday.. Great (-__-). Then, we went to Mount Fortress which only next to Macau Museum. Oh accurately, the built the Macau Museum on top of the Fortress. Here, you have to climb a very steep stairs but no worries, it isn't that high. But for low stamina people like me, it was really challenging. Thank God for cold weather I didn't pass out. I've seen some old people climbing up the stairs and that really put me to shame haha

Well, basically, a fortress is a fortress, a thick brick wall made from the war era yada yada. There are cannons and some war artifacts displayed there. There were many people came visited this place although it was Monday. 

                             Museum closed? I'll take picture with the signage then

There's actually an escalator! But it was closed..hmmmph

     Garden surroundded the Fortress and Museum

Halfway through the steep stairs. Had to rehat, having some chocolates and drinks before continuing further stairs..Semput!

                                        Lower part of the Mount Fortress

There's a convenience shop and toilets before you reach the top of the Fortress/Macau Museum. But there were so many people, and I doubt the cleanliness..

            Finally, after the rough steps, I am here! 

Macau Museum in the middle of Mount Fortress. I wish they were opened so I could take the escalator instead..

                                                 Hooray to the sunny day

                                                       View of Macau City

On the high peak overlooking Macau City

                                                 With one of the cannons

Basically, on top of the Mount Fortress is where the Macau Museum main entrance located. Nothing much for activities up here but the view is spectacular where you can see the Macau city. That explains why I have like thousands of picture here.. The garden is well maintained and it is so clean! There were many people up here despite it was Monday and  yes, you have to take turns to take pictures for some spots.

            The steep stairs on our way down

With the statue of Father Matteo Ricci, Italian person who brought Christians belief in Macau. That is why there are many churches in Macau because majority of them are Catholic. 

Since the day is brighter and clearer today, we took pictures again at St Paul's Ruins. The pictures turn out so good! 

                        Look at the crowd!

                                The climbing aisle heading to historical places of Macau

On our way back to the bus stand to get into our Hotel's shuttle bus, we stopped again at this one stall selling waffles and banana pancakes. They tasted very delicious despite its plain barter. Must be because we eat it hot during this cold weather. 

This is banana waffle! Even the mould has the shape of bananas. I only realized it when I placed my order on other thing. Each of these pancakes sold at HK$10. 

This is what I ordered. Same thing for second time. So sedap!! 

Then we headed back to our hotel. Since we already checked out, we just wandering around didn't know what to do. Then, we just stopped at McDonald's eating fries and Coke. Yeah, even that cost about HK$44 (-__-) Well, at least it can fill our grumbling stomach since nothing else is Halal here. All our instant noodles are already in luggage but even if we wanted to eat them, where can we get hot water and yes, there is possibility we will be chased out if we eat it at restaurant. I already planned to have dinner in flight, which to our luck, Air Asia's Pak Nassir Nasi Lemak is available yay! I am so hungry I am thinking to take two! Hahaha. The Macau airport is ok, well, can't do must justice here because I didn't take a tour. I just sat reading book while listening to iPod while waiting for the gate to open. Oh by the way, if you wish to wrap your bag, the price is HK$25. The wrapping is quite lousy despite the high charges. 

The flight home wasn't so smooth, it was bumpy and loud that I thought the plane gonna make a U-Turn and change a new place, well, it didn't happen anyway. I couldn't sleep and my ears ringing for two days! Overall, from my humble opinion, Macau is a nice place to go to if you're looking for entertainment and indoor kind of person, and of course if you're a gambler, this is a cheaper place to go to compared to Las Vegas. If I were to go there again, I will bring extra money and made an advance booking for the shows. But, maybe not for the time being. There goes my Macau story, hope it will benefit you and guide you in some ways :)