the journey

This blog will turn 4 years old in March this year. I remember the day I started this blog, as clearly as if it was just yesterday. Readers who had been with me since the beginning might remember that the title of this blog used to be "Teaching Isaac". My sole purpose for this blog was to record the homelearning activities I was doing with Isaac, who was only 2 years old then.

How this blog has evolved over the years! From Isaac, I started blogging about Jaden, and then finally Ellicia. Besides sharing about activities I did with my kids, I started writing about places we visited, and even shared quite openly about our daily lives, and my personal thoughts and experiences. Through these few short years of blogging, I've met some really wonderful people online and a few in person. People whom I might never have a chance to meet otherwise.

The past 4 years had been rather eventful. From a working mother who took a year's no-pay leave to stay home with my kids in 2008, I had returned to the workforce in 2009, only to decide to be a SAHM again in 2010. From having 2 lovely boys, to a miscarriage, to trying for a baby again, and finally having a baby girl to call our own. From having a secret desire to want to start my own business, to finally really starting it.

I've lost some, have gained much.

The last 3 months of 2011 had been the lowest and most challenging months of our family life, as well as that of my husband and I. We literally walked through the valley of the shadow of death. This episode has brought my hubby and I to rethink the way we live. It has changed us. Our perspectives. Our relationships with people. The way we live our family life. The way we want to relate to our children. The way we want to reach out and connect with people.

I am glad I started this blog. I am glad that I can look back and recall certain moments by reading this blog. I think I have quite an interesting life (Haha!). It has been a wonderful journey. I thank all of you who have "Walk(ed) With Me" and are still walking with me. 

And now, I'm starting this new year saying goodbye.

2012.
Isaac is going to Primary 1.
Jaden is going to K1.
Ellicia is now 1 year old.
My hubby is starting his new job, on the same day as the kids' first day of school.
We have got ourselves a live-in domestic helper since last week.

A year of new beginnings.

And I will not be blogging anymore in this space. Well, I will still record my thoughts, photos, family outings and stuff, but only privately. I think it is a good time to conclude this blog and move on.

If you're looking for parenting blogs, there are many really great blogs out there, many of which I will still continue reading.

If you wish to contact me, I can still be reached at nghuiing@gmail.com.

And for those of you who know me in real-life, nothing will change! You will still see me! And my hubby! And our kids! :)

So farewell, my dear readers.
Heartfelt thanks to all of you who have been following this blog, and to you who have left comments here.

Here's wishing you the most wonderful and "best-est" year in 2012!

Happy New Year everyone!!!

XOXO


PS:
As an afterthought, I was thinking, since this blog is about our kids, this post wouldn't be complete without their photos! So, I'm leaving you with these latest shots of our 3 little ones.

Happy Isaac.

He's entering P1 tomorrow! *gasp!*

Cheeky Jaden.

Still as happy and carefree as ever.

Little Ellicia.

I like this girl! :)

She's growing up into a little lady.

Ok, goodbye friends!

I hope I won't be adding one afterthought after another... and still adding afterthoughts for the next few years! LOL! Well, it's hard to kick the habit of blogging, and even harder to say goodbye! ;p

swiss surprise

Over the weekend, the hubby gave us an extra huge surprise. The moment I woke up on Friday morning, he came to me, passed me our family's travel checklist and asked me to pack for a 2-nights stay. I stared at him, thinking that he was joking. It turned out that he was serious. But he refused to tell us where he's bringing us to.

So, I obediently packed our suitcase and the dear hubby drove us to the surprise destination. We ended up at my parents' place. Ok, that's not the destination. He was just picking up my mum, who was going with us! My father was supposed to meet us later in the evening! It was only then that I found out that the hubby had planned this surprise and had informed my parents about it 2 weeks ago. Which means all 3 of them had been secretly keeping quiet about this for 2 weeks!

So, where on earth is our destination?

Here's where we ended up in...

The tallest hotel in town... Swissotel

We were surprised, exhilarated, thrilled. The boys went wild when they saw the room.

They were even more over the moon when the daddy showed them the interconnected room... which is supposed to be the kids' room.

We didn't expect him to have booked a family suite for us! The kids literally went crazy running around their room, exploring and jumping up and down on their beds. Even baby girl was excited.

Well, who can blame them? Even I was attracted by the colourful room!

There are soft toys, colour pencils and colouring papers provided for the kids.

Kids' toothbrushes, toothpaste, plastic mugs, shower foam and shampoo are provided in their toilet.

And a stool for them by the sink.

What thoughtfulness!

We stayed on the 51st floor and the view from the balcony was awesome, especially at night.

View from our balcony.

View of St Andrew's Cathedral from 51st floor.

The hubby had also booked a separate room for my parents, to thank them for all their help in taking care of our kids during those past 2 months of drama.

View from my parents' room balcony... beautiful.

And of course, besides the rooms, another place that can make the boys go crazy is the pool.

As baby girl was having flu, she could only watch enviously by the poolside...

The kids had great fun over the weekend. We had a good family time.

5 more days to Christmas. Remember to spend some quality time with your loved ones.

Here's wishing everyone a Merry Christmas filled with love, joy, peace and hope.

running

We signed the boys up for this year's Standard Chartered 750m Kids Dash. Due to the unexpected turn of events, I had actually wanted to let them skip it, as I had neither mood nor energy to bring them for the run early Sunday morning. But the hubby said they should just go for it. And so, they did.

Together with their Uncle Steven and Aunt Lydia, I brought the 2 boys for the event.

Getting ready for the run.

Look at the crowd... we're that far behind at the Starting Point.

Halfway through the run, the boys were getting a bit grouchy due to the crowd and heat. Jaden started to complain of tummyache while Isaac complained of itchiness on his skin (due to the heat). They walked most of the time instead of run. Well, it doesn't matter really. At least they persevered and walked to the end....

And received their medal, and bottles of water and cold 100-plus.

Well, they were more excited over the cold drinks than their medal!

For you, Daddy! We did it!

A shot with mummy.

This was Jaden's first run and Isaac's second. Isaac took part in the POSB 800m Kids Run earlier this year.

Here's him with his medal.

This boy is on a quest to collect medals. He had asked me to sign him up for other runs EVERY year. And that's what we're gonna do!

she's one

Seriously, how can time pass so fast? Baby girl turns one today! And I've not even blogged about her birth story, after 365 days...

Anyway, it doesn't matter.

What's important is that she's growing up happy and healthy.
She's crawling all over the house. At a super fast speed.
She's able to pull herself up to standing position.
She's taking lots of solid food, as well as still being breastfed after one year.
She can wave goodbye.
She nods her head to indicate 'Yes', and shakes it if she wants to say 'No".
She can finger-feed herself.
She can drink from a straw, by herself, holding her bottle in her own hands.
She plays, she laughs, she's full of smiles.
And of course, she cries too.

All in all, she's thriving.
We're just waiting for her to say her first word(s), which I believe, should be anytime soon.

Happy Birthday Baby!

a walk through the valley

It's the month of December. My most favourite month every year. I'd usually start listening to Christmas carols since November every year! This time, however, I've not listened to any yet.

2 months ago, during a routine health check, my hubby discovered a lump in his neck. After a series of tests, the results show that it is a malignant tumour. So start visits to the doctors, blood tests, scans, biopsies, and finally, a surgery last week.

Our lives were thrown into a whirlwind of confusion, fears, dread of what's going to happen.

Thoughts that crossed my mind were not good ones.
I fear that he's going to leave me alone in this life with 3 little kids.
When I walk around our house, I dread that this might be the place where I'd say goodbye to the one I love the most.
Where the kids might have to say goodbye to their precious daddy.

It was as if we were suddenly being hit with a huge invisible fist, and our heads were spinning.
Unexpected.
Shocking.

We would not have been able to pull through these few weeks, if not for the love and support we've received from our friends and church pastors.

My hubby is now on the road to recovery. The operation was a success, with no complication at all. He's now recuperating and resting at home.

Looking back, we see God's grace in this seemingly hopeless situation. My hubby would not have discovered the tumour had he not been required to go for a health check for his new job. It is his first change of job in 14 years! It was a good thing that the tumour was discovered early, and thus there was not much spread!

Our perspectives on life is forever changed. Petty issues are not important anymore. We treasure each other more. Treasure our family, friends and loved ones more. Each day that we're alive, we want to live it to the fullest.

Through this episode, we have experienced overwhelming love.
Friends who stick with us and see us through.
We have experienced great grace.
Empowerment to live and fight through the most difficult times.

Our lives have been forever changed.
And we are grateful to God for his grace in our darkest moments.

"Though I walk through the valley

Of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me."

~ Psalm 23:4