CNY 2009

CNY this year was far from expectations and very hectic.

We took the 7 am flight from KL to Miri on 24 Jan and only started packing late the night before. I wanted packing this year to be different i.e. to pack way in advance but was busy every night. The Wee family got together and had our reunion on 22 Jan and on 23 Jan night, my brothers wanted to see the kids again, so stayed at my parents’ house till late. As usual Jon was working late..its always like that when we are off somewhere the next day. So in the end, only took out the suitcase at 11.30 pm. We hardly slept. By the time we got to bed was 2 am and Jon’s friend came at 4.30 am. I only got ready by 5 am. So stressful! Well I din know that more stress to come.

Arrived at Marudi about 3 pm. Felt very unsettled with the kids. The weather was terrible, worst than before, so hot and humid on one hand and rainy in the next. Mosquitoes were huge and I had at least 15 bites on the first nite. Was worried more for the kids. I hung around them so that the mossies will attack me instead of them as my blood is the sweetest and prone to all such bites. I was really irritable and poor Jon got the brunt of most of it but I guess he patiently ‘tahan’ me.

Our little Aaron then had fever on 4th day of new year. Took him to the government hospital and got some fever medication. At 3 – 4 am that nite, we found rashes all over his front part of the body. Took him to the hospital again in the morning. The initial diagnosis by a nurse was measles. The doctor’s assistant said no..its an allergy. It was a relief to hear that. It cannot be anything so serious as normally fever will continue up to 2 – 3 days. The rash was almost immediate. Then blisters started appearing on his little toes at night..wah panic and I was suspecting hands, foot & mouth disease already. Searched the net and the signs matched, blisters appearing after 1 day of fever. He refused to drink and was unsettled. Jon & I took turns at nite to comfort him. Each waking hour was a crying one. Sat morning back to the hospital again..the episode at the hospital require another write up…Arielle developed fever on Friday nite. By now I really could not wait to go home. My mission was to just keep their fever down. Booked an appointment with SJMC for Monday morn.

Touched down at 7 pm on Sunday, 1 Feb, reached home before 8 pm to a clean house. Mum mopped the house and Dad fried mee hoon for our dinner. Thanks ma & pa! Home Sweet Home!

Monday morning – confirmed Hands, Foot & Mouth Disease – the Sarawak strain – and both quarantined for a wk! Thank God not the serious strain. But got it fr my parents who told me earlier not to bring him back. Sigh!