Hiro's Post-Surgery

Hiroyuki was discharged from hospital this morning. I woke up early today (not my usual 11 or 12 O'clock thingy) to rush to the vet. I want to be there when they opened the clinic as I couldn't sleep the whole night thinking of my Hiro..

We were on the way to the vet when my handphone rang. I can recognised the number .. it was the clinic. My heart almost missed a beat - oh no! did anything happen to my Hiro? my beloved cat? Answered the call and was told by the nurse that Hiro is ready for discharge. Relief... thank God it wasn't any bad news. Informed the nurse that we are already on our way there.

The first time I saw my Hiro again.. my heart was in tears.. He looked so weak and in a state of shock. He had the cone-collar around his neck and his ear still showing traces of blood. It was heart wrenching to see those stitches on his ear.

How it all began.. that night when I was on my way home from work, received a call from Eddy (my son) who alerted me that there's something growing in Hiro's ear. I checked it as soon as I reach home and Yes, his ear was so swollen that it blocked the whole ear.

Sent Hiro to the vet to have the swelling examined. The vet confirmed it as a blood clot. It seems that one of his blood vessel had ruptured. Hiro need a surgery to remove the blood clot as well as to stitch the affected blood vessel. Hiro had to be warded so that the surgery can be performed.

I was sad and worried. Nothing should happen to my beloved cat. My cats are part of me. My cats understands me and cheer me up whenever I am feeling down. My cat don't disappoint me nor hurt me - unlike humans!

We went straight home after fetching Hiro from the vet. the larger cage have been assembled to provide a secure recovery area ( I don't want Pyaar and Kitty to disturb Hiro). After feeding him his anti-biotic, I prepared his meal and placed it in the cage where hiro was resting.

All of us left to wash the cars while Tina (my daughter) went for her piano lesson. While washing the cars, the handphone rang - call from home. The maid called to alert us that Hiro was bleeding badly from his mouth and that blood was all over the kitchen place - I rushed home!

It seems that Hiro had tried to removed the cone-collar on his neck and it got stuck in between his mouth and cheek. In his tremble, it cut his cheek. Seeing all those blood on his mouth and neck tore my heart apart - I removed the collar. As soon as he's freed from the collar, he rushed to his bowl and ate his meal. Oh no! I think he must be really hungry and the collar has made it difficult to eat from his bowl.

After he had eaten, he sat next to me in the kitchen. I clean his wound and fur with lenolin wipes (baby wipes). He did not retaliate - I guess he is in so much pain and weak after the surgery. When he is all clean, I left him to rest in his favourite spot in the kitchen. I sat in the living room. Soon Pyaar and Kitty was at my leg like as if they knew I was going to say something. As they both looked up at me, I told them not to disturb Hiro cos he is ill. They just stood there and listen.

Pyaar and Kitty behave well today - none disturbed Hiro. I guess they are just as worried as me..

I hope Hiro recovers well and quickly. I just cannot bear to see him in such state...

Ramadhan is coming!!

Ramadhan is just round the corner, seriously round the corner (2 days to go)!

I am always eager with the arrival of Ramadhan. It will be a month when I have so many things to do in so little time. There's so many fond memories that will come flashing back whenever Ramadhan appears. It will also be a time for me to do self-reflection, to draft a new resolution, to make it a point to be with my family.

As a child, I am always competing during Ramadhan - who gets to complete a full month without a day missed. I was not very healthy, always sick.. mom's say cos I was a premie (born after 7 months in her tummy). So, whenever I do get to complete my fasting without a miss, I'll get present. But perhaps it was not so much about the gift - its all about winning!

As a mom, I witness the training of fasting on my young kids. It was not easy training my two boys - Eddy and Ryan. My mom always feel they are too young to endure fasting (lame!) and would feed them quietly behind my back! I am a no-nonsense mommy, so I see them rolling on the floor in hunger and giving me pathetic faces to gain my sympathy during the weekends when granny is not there! hahahaha!. I think it was only when Eddy was 7 or 8 when it all become a normal routine.

Tina was easy. She started fasting (full day) when she was three.

Last year Ramadhan is something I will always remember. It was on the very first day of fasting, I attended a job interview. After the interview, I went straight to Starbuck and ordered my frappucino & cinnamon Roll. I was chewing on my first bite of cinnamon roll when my brain suddenly yell "wadda hell am I doin? I'm fasting!!!"
Ouch! I forgot! I threw out whats in my mouth and head over to the counter to ask the lady to pack it away for me. I told her that I had forgotten that I'm fasting. She was sweet, she took my tray and hand me a voucher. I can redeem my frappucino another time (that's what I call.. GOOD SERVICE!).

During Ramadhan we are always busy. There's approximately 4 weekends to dine with family. On top of that, there's shopping to do. Normally, I would sent all the materials for my outfits to the seamstress months ahead. We normally start shopping for the kids two weeks thru Ramadhan - kids get excited that way.

I will also be busy making pineapple tarts during that same time. Yes, I make my own pineapple tarts every year without fail because that is what my hubby and kids like most. The rest of the cookies we will buy off the rack. This year I hope to make my own Kek Lapis though I am a little disappointed with the new oven I bought. Let's hope hubby allow me to buy another oven instead.

This year will be a little different for me. I'm not in the mood for anything. My life feels empty, as if there's something missing. I have not sent my material to the seamstress either (looks like no hari raya clothes for me??). No, we'll get those ready-made clothes for the whole family for our first day. The rest of the days.. I think I'll recycle my songkets.

Mentioning about hari raya outfits reminds me of Rini. Last year, the two of us wore baju kurung for the whole first week of hari raya in office - It was really one sweet memory! I normally wear baju kurung when I dont know what to wear to work (horrible me!).

Ramadhan & Eid Ul Fitri.. brings back sad memories. I just can't help but to think what are my two babies doing in heaven. I wish they were here enjoying the good time with us.. Its been two years yet I still misses them so much! ( I am crying as I wrote this in office.. fortunately everyone has left).

sorry.. I cannot complete this writing...

Today - 21 Aug 2008

Firstly, I am wishing my other half a 'Happy 15th Anniversary'!. Thank you so much for loving me unconditionally and tolerating my laziness, spoiltness, sickness, craziness, etc., etc., etc.

I think this year is a super-busy year for us. New job, failed business venture, learning to pick up the broken pieces in life. Glad that all are now back in the correct track. Glad that I am settling down well with my new job. Glad with all the good and bad things that had happen.

Life goes on... We are stronger when we have each other to lean on. This year's annivesary is a little misplanned in a lost desire. We are just too busy that we forgot to plan anything. But it is OK. Life has better meaning for me now than those expensive gifts and beautiful bouquet - don't feel bad that you have forgotten to send the flower as long as you have not forgotten to love me and pampers me like always.

He has been working late since mid May. So, I've decided to spend this evening with two friends. Nur was my secondary schoolmate, Juju was my childhood friend since I was 5 or 6 when we used to attend the same religious recital lesson. Had dinner with Nur & Juju at Swensen Northpoint.

This whole dinner plan was funny to start with. Perhaps because I was extremely late for the group dinner at Secret Recipe Marina Square some months ago. I arrived at 9pm when the meeting was arranged for 6.30pm! hahahaha! I was busy busy busy with work work work.
So, for this dinner Juju had set a rule that those who came late shall pay for desert!

I was supposed to leave office at 5pm - determined to do so! However, there was some urgent contract that requires my response immediately. So, I left office almost 30 minutes later.
Fortunately the company shuttle bus was already there (as if it knows I'm coming!).. Alight at St. Andrew Cathedral and walk quickly to City Hall MRT Station. Another coincidence, the train was already there when I reach my platform heading for Yishun. I did not do the normal Marina Bay reverse route and fortunately, the train from City Hall today has plenty of vacant seat. Else, my leg gonna ache all the way in these high-heels!

Walking thru the Northpoint tunnel, I called Nur. Heard the ez-link tapping sound and my next best question was "where are you?". Nur replied "just reach Yishun Bus Interchange and where are you?".. we burst into laughter realising that we both arrived at Northpoint at the same time. So we agree to meet at OCBC and headed for Swensen together.

Now, where is Juju? We called her and she says that she's leaving her flat now. Ohh.. looks like someone gonna be LATE!!! hahahaha!

Nur and me were so hungry and looking at the menu makes us want to order everything! But we go slow (a little..). We ordered Spaggethi Bolognaise, Crayfish Pasta, Caesar Salad with Chicken cutlets, Clam chowder soup with sour bread (separated cos I'm fussy!). We eat and chat while waiting for Juju.. who apparently appears LATE!

Juju came sweating, salam and quickly ordered her food. Then she was complaining of inhaling too much glue from the next door office renovation. Nur and I just giggle our way.. Then she asked to salam again. We were like.."huh? salam already what!" Looking confused she replied, "Aiyaa.. salam again lah cos I have forgotten..".. hmm anything lah.. so today is double-salam day! hahaha!

She peeped into our salad bowl and the next thing that happen was so hillarious. Juju said delightedly "ohh.. beef salad!".. Nur and I laughed so hard that we almost choked. I guess Juju is high on glue that she failed to distinguish between Chicken & Beef!

Dinner was a super-long event today. The restaurant did not chase us away perhaps cos the bill come out to be a 3-digit figure! We eat and talk slowly .. nobody is rushing noone today.

Then we went on to discuss about our upcoming so-called 'girls trip'. Its like the tip of the iceberg! Suddenly all so chirpy at the topic. Juju will source for the air-tickets.. I'll do the hotel picking.. so exciting.

Today was all a happy one for me cos I really enjoyed the meet up.

As for my other half, he is all so moody & uptight - had a bad meeting with client, had a lousy day at the handphone service centre with staff who just failed to rectify his new handphone faultiness, all seems not right for him today. And being his other half, I had to take in some unnecessary blows from him too - What a dumb luck on my 15th Anniversary!

To all those singles out there... Marriages need not be all rosy though singlehood may not be fantastic either... confused!

Time for bed... someone is staring!!! hahahaha!

Au Revoir!