'Lil Miss Sniffly

So its another trip to KKH, this time we had a set appointment with a respiratory doctor.

Although Arissa gets sniffly less frequently now (and I believe loading her up with Scotts Emulsion has a lot to do with this, we give her direct 2ml twice a day), I needed to know it isn't an allergy or sinus that Hafidz has. The appointment was set for 11.30am but we got to see the doctor only an hour later, so much for setting an appointment a whole month in advance. It was my maiden KK visit (after 2 years?) so this was a rather insightful trip for me. Wow! A play area.. Wow! Helpful nurses who s-m-i-l-e..

Anyway the doctor, a youngish pregnant Dr Goh, fired off a list of questions when I explained why we were there:

1) Family History?
Father has sinus, Mother's family has asthma.

2) Carpets in the House?
Yes, my Master bedroom is fully carpeted.

3) Any smokers in the family?
Yes, Father smokes but never around Arissa.

She then methodically pulled out all the things that have been playing in the back of my mind. I supposed I always guessed at the reasons for her sniffles but never really accepted them, wanting to believe its simply a long-drawn cold.

1) Father has sinus, Mother's family has asthma.
Both sinus and asthma are genetically passed on so there is a 50-50 chance that Arissa can have either. Or both.

2) Yes, my Master bedroom is fully carpeted.
Bad idea. Carpets breed allergens. Remove them (GAH! She made it sound so easy and cheap!)
3) Yes, Father smokes but never around Arissa.
Doesn't matter. The cigarette smoke and particles will cling to hair, skin, clothes and these allergens will trigger her sensitive nose so get the Father to quit. (Yeay! I finally have Arissa's health & a good medical reason to put forth to The Addict)

A quick examination revealed swollen internal nose glands, confirming that it isn't a long-drawn cold but a likelihood of sinus. She prescribed a bottle of antihistamine, Cetrizine, and some nosedrops which needed to be taken daily for 4 months before another followup examination. On hindsight, I should have asked for something OTHER than nosedrops as Arissa downright despises them and it always ends up with me losing my temper and her throwing a tantrum. The only time I get the nosedrops properly executed is when she is sleeping, even then I need to pick a time of deep sleep (anywhere between 2am-5am).

Hafidz & I are now picking a date to get our carpet removed and laminate flooring installed, but that is another nightmare altogether.

PS: It was a nice surprise bumping into Siti (of Yishun Sec Sch) who is now a mother to a 4year old son Aniq. I knew her through a schoolmate and she was one of the 'wild' girls but always friendly. How nice to see her again after so long, all mature and sensible! :)

Nikon vs Canon

I've been chewing on this for about a month now...

My old crappy Lumix needs to be replaced as its dying of old age and natural causes. I made the mistake of buying a Panasonic in the 1st place- I hated it from the word 'Go' (sorry Joe, know you're trying to convince me otherwise). When I bought it 2 years ago, it was the most expensive entry-level camera on the shop's shelf (setting me back $599). Acting on impulse, I bought it without as much as 5mins research on the product, based on sales person recommendation- what a mistake.

Thanks to this review website, I can now view the pictures taken by the cameras before deciding on one. And it has come to an age-old competition between Nikon and Canon. I must say I love my 1st Nikon in terms of colour quality & ease of use but I'm also itching to try a Canon.


IF i decide to take photography up as a hobby (hey, its kinda work requirements), makes more sense to get:





NIKON P5100



CANON Powershot SX100IS

But can I really be arsed? I mean I hardly have time to read a book, much less consider taking up a new hobby so its point-and-shoot, no fuss, entry-level cameras? For that I must say, I like this one best!

CANON IXUS 75t

Article on Common Cold

Do you feel as if you're constantly wiping your baby's nose? You probably are! The common cold strikes most healthy babies at some point — often repeatedly.

Most colds last a week or two, but some linger even longer. In the meantime, there's plenty you can do to help your baby beat the common cold.

Classic signs of the common cold

The common cold is an upper respiratory tract infection caused by one of many viruses. The first sign of the common cold is often a congested or runny nose. Because babies' nasal passages are quite small, it doesn't take much swelling and mucus to cause congestion.

Nasal discharge is often clear at first. As the cold progresses, the discharge usually becomes thicker and turns shades of yellow or green. Later, the discharge may become clear and runny again.

Other signs of a common cold may include:
· A low-grade fever
· Sneezing
· Coughing
· Watery eyes

Toughing it out

Your baby's immune system will need time to conquer the cold. Since colds are caused by viruses, antibiotics won't help.

If your baby is younger than age 3 months, call the doctor at the first sign of illness. For newborns, a common cold can quickly develop into croup, pneumonia or another serious illness.

Most of the time, you can treat an older baby's cold at home. Consider these suggestions:

Offer plenty of fluids. Liquids can help loosen the congestion. Encourage frequent feedings for younger babies. Offer older babies water between regular feedings. If you're breast-feeding your baby, keep it up. Breast milk offers extra protection from cold-causing germs.

Thin the mucus. Your baby's doctor may recommend saline nose drops to loosen thick nasal mucus. Look for these over-the-counter drops in your local pharmacy.

Suction your baby's nose. Keep your baby's nasal passages clear with a rubber-bulb syringe. Squeeze the bulb syringe to expel the air. Then insert the tip of the bulb (about 1/4 to 1/2 inch) into your baby's nostril, pointing toward the back of the nose. Release the bulb, holding it in place while it suctions the mucus from your baby's nose. Remove the syringe from your baby's nostril, and empty the contents onto a tissue by squeezing the bulb rapidly while holding the tip down. Repeat as often as needed for each nostril. Clean the bulb syringe with soap and water.

Moisten the air. Running a humidifier in your baby's room can help soothe irritated nasal passages. Aim the mist away from your baby's crib to keep the bedding from becoming damp. To prevent mold growth, change the water daily and follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning the unit. It might also help to sit with your baby in a steamy bathroom for a few minutes before bedtime.

Avoid cough suppressants and other cold medicines. Coughing helps clear the mucus from your baby's airway. For otherwise healthy babies, there's usually no reason to suppress it. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns against giving cough and cold medicines to children, especially those younger than age 2 years. Cough and cold medicines haven't been proved effective for children — and for young children, an accidental overdose could be fatal.

Remember, over-the-counter pain relievers and cough and cold medicines don't kill the viruses that cause upper respiratory infections. And low-grade fevers — which do help kill viruses — don't need treatment. If you give your baby an over-the-counter pain reliever, follow the directions printed on the label.

When the common cold becomes something more serious

Most colds are simply a nuisance. But it's important to take your baby's signs and symptoms seriously. Again, call the doctor at the first sign of illness if your baby is younger than age 3 months.

If your baby is age 3 months or older, call the doctor if he or she:
· Isn't wetting as many diapers as usual
· Has a temperature higher than 103 F for one day
· Has a temperature higher than 100 F for more than three days
· Seems to have ear or sinus pain
· Has yellow eye discharge
· Has a cough for more than one week
· Has thick, green nasal discharge for more than two weeks
· Has any signs or symptoms that worry you
· Seek medical help immediately if your baby:
· Refuses to nurse or accept fluids
· Coughs hard enough to cause vomiting or changes in skin color
· Coughs up blood-tinged sputum
· Has difficulty breathing or is bluish around the lips and mouth

Think prevention

The common cold typically spreads through infected respiratory droplets coughed or sneezed into the air. The best defense? Common sense and plenty of soap and water.

Keep your baby away from anyone who's sick, especially during the first few days of illness. If you have a newborn, don't allow visits from anyone who's sick. If possible, avoid public transportation with your newborn.

Wash your hands before feeding or caring for your baby. When soap and water aren't available, use hand wipes or gels that contain germ-killing alcohol.

Clean your baby's toys and pacifiers often.

Teach everyone in the household to cough or sneeze into a tissue — and then toss it. If you can't reach a tissue in time, cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm.

Simple preventive measures can go a long way toward keeping the common cold at bay.

In spite of ongoing studies, the scientific jury is still out on popular cold remedies such as vitamin C, echinacea and zinc.

Here's an update on some common alternative remedies:

· Vitamin C. Vitamin C doesn't appear to prevent colds in most people, but taking large doses — up to 5,000 milligrams — at the beginning of a cold may reduce the severity of symptoms. Lower doses — 200 to 300 milligrams — may shorten a cold's duration. Just what constitutes an optimum dose isn't clear, but amounts in excess of 2,000 milligrams a day may cause nausea and diarrhea.

· Echinacea. A National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine study released in 2005 found that echinacea did little to prevent or shorten colds. But testing herbs is difficult, and scientists say more research is necessary. Some people swear by Airborne, an herbal cold remedy that's sold over the counter in many drugstores.

· Zinc. The cold-fighting reputation of zinc has had its ups and downs. That's because many zinc studies — both those that find the mineral beneficial and those that do not — are flawed. In studies with positive results, zinc seemed most effective taken as a lozenge or nasal spray within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. Taking zinc with food reduced side effects, including a bad taste and nausea.

From MayoClinic.com Special to CNN.com

Breast is Best then comes Cod Liver Oil

Before she turned 1, Arissa hardly ever falls sick. I loved that she never fell prey to any colds or coughs or the common baby ailments. She was sturdy even though we took her out pretty often amongst sick, sniffly cousins.

I think it all boiled down to the fact that I was breastfeeding until she was 8.5 months, even with the hassle of pumping at work and taking expressed milk home. Although my milk supply was not impressive, I made sure she had a full feed in the morning, 1 expressed breastmilk feed whilst I was away at work, and 1 full feed before bedtime. If she got hungry in between, she would be supplemented with formula milk. Of course, there as also the inconvenience of having to watch what I eat (nothing spicy, nothing cold).

I must say I enjoyed all aspects of breastfeeding. I miss the closeness most of all, the only reason I stopped breastfeeding was because she grew teeth and started biting. With no direct feed, my supply dwindled even further.

Now 7 months later on full formula and solid food diet, she is constantly down with something. Its either fever from teething or the sniffles or some persistent cough that refuses to go away. I am at wits end. We give her the best formula milk, the same stuff Zoe Tay regularly promotes. We have spent hundreds of dollars on various doctor/hospital visits and get the same advice over and over that I've committed it to memory. I know I needn't worry too much as she remains active and has a good appetite throughout but as a mom, I just want her in the pink of health so I needn't have to keep wiping her tiny nose for fear it would get blistered..

I dropped into a pharmacy one day, not in search of meds, this time to thoroughly comb through the vitamins counter. Everything was new and complicated but 1 packaging caught my immediate attention.

It was like I travelled back in time! Without haste, I paid for it and took it home. I'm now halfway through the 1st bottle and I must say that there has been improvements in her health. A few days after we started her on Cod Liver Oil, her runny nose dried up. For about a week afterwards, she was sniffly only on 2 occasions- when we were in Palawan beach in Sentosa (she was wet & cold?) and when we were having dinner at Mak's Place (definitely freezing in the a/c section).

We mix 1 teaspoon in her first morning milk. She is usually too sleepy to notice the spiked milk but Mom has started giving her direct and she doesn't seem too bothered with the taste. In fact, I'm going to start the whole family on this supplement. Its cheap (S$7) and after doing some basic research online on the product, it seems like nothing bears testimony like a product with a 125 year old shelf life. My mother 'borrowed' some of it when she had a nasty cough and it went away in a day. Its a health supplement, best of all, and I'm a firm believer in Prevention is better than Cure.

They say breast is best but my 2nd option has to be Cod Liver Oil.

**I read that if kids are already on Emulsion that they shouldn't be given multi-vites. Scotts is concentrated in Vit A and an overdose can be fatal. Something to research more on?