Hand, Foot, Mouth, Shudder...

HFMD is still at epidemic levels in Singapore, with more than 1,000 children getting it this past week alone. Poor Jordy has had it twice (TWICE!!!) this year already - the first was an extremely spotty affair, but thankfully he wasn't afflicted by the characteristic ulcers in the mouth; the second bout was milder but he did have a few small ulcers in his mouth which went away fairly quickly, thankfully.

I read a report which quoted Singapore's Ministry of Health as saying that the kids that caught HFMD tended to have poor nutrition and hence their immunities were low. Started looking at what Jordy's diet is like, and I thought it seemed pretty ok. I mean, he's not one of those kids that will just eat brocolli and carrots as is, but he usually gets his fair share of nutrients.

A typical day in Jordy's food journal (on a playschool day) would look like this:

Breakfast
Breakfast #1 at home (7.15am):
- 1/2 banana
- 1 pottle yogurt
- 1 piece toast with vegemite/jam/peanut butter
- 1/2 cup diluted orange/dark grape juice

Breakfast #2 at school (8.45am):
- cereal/french toast/hash brown/"bao"/sandwich

Lunch
Whatever school offers: usually rice with soup/veg, pasta, porridge, noodles + apple slices

Afternoon tea
Afternoon tea #1 at school (3.00pm):
- bun/sandwich/green bean soup/sponge cake

Afternoon tea #2 when I pick him up (4.00pm)
- cereal bar/banana/Heinz baby biscotti thingies

Dinner
Very predictable:
- Main course: noodles with chicken/fish, brocolli, carrots, OR spag bog with 5 veg sauce (beef mince + tomato, zuchinni, red pepper, carrot, celery), OR macaroni cheese + brocolli and tomato/carrot soup, OR tomato/carrot soup + cheese sandwich
- 1 pottle yogurt
- 1/2 pear or mango or apple

Supper
- Cheerios + milk

Aside from that, I'm giving him a daily multivit supplement, a tablespoon of Scotts Emulsion (Orange), and as soon as my order from iherb arrives, an immunity-boosting supplement from Elderberries called Sambucus, which I've had recommended to me from so many different mom-sources that I think I should try it.

Anyhow, I'm trying my best to make sure Jordy gets his daily nutrition needs. But this whole HFMD thing is just always lurking at the back of my mind. Guess we can only do what we can, and leave the rest to a higher source!

Oh, and in light of the epidemic, the new policy at childcare = no more toys from home. So Sheepie now stays at home and miraculously... Jordy is perfectly fine without him, and has been falling asleep with no problems. Honestly, sometimes I don't give him enough credit. What an amazing, adaptable kid!

Yes, The Camel Diaries are Alive and Well, Thanks for the Concern!

Yipes! Yet another crazy long hiatus from ye olde blog.

This time the reasons are pretty valid: HFMD Bout #2 (a mild case that saw us being off school for 9 days!), then Mama Maree came to visit and we were too busy having fun in Bali and then at the pool, and in the midst of it all, we had not one, but TWO, birthday cakes!

The first was at Jordy's second birthday party, held the day after we returned from Bali. We made a pretty special airplane cake (if I may say so myself):


And the birthday boy was very visibly thrilled:


The second cake was a quieter affair, a strawberry and cream concoction from Da Paolo, which we first had for D's birthday this year. Jordy went at it with his characteristic focus.


I'll do a Bali post soon - I feel compelled to chronicle just what a fantastic traveller Jordy is turning out to be. From being wonderful on the flights, to taking hour long naps in the car with his head on Mama Maree's lap, to eagerly climbing into weird, new cots, and to saying "Amazing Bali" and "Thank you so much" to the many taxis drivers we met in Seminyak and Ubud!

In the meantime, this is more a blog-recusitation post so that everyone knows I'm still alive and writing. On that note, I'm currently reading The Guardian's How to Write. I am officially inspired. Now to just get of my butt and do something about it!