Good thing also happen on Hard time

Last Friday, we got not a good news. Father in Law was hospitalized due to abnormal heart rhythm (Heart Arrhythmia). He stayed one night on ICU and his condition get better than move to the patient room.

Till now, the doctor haven't really determined what the exact root cause. The heart it self was on good condition through several test, but the beat it self was abnormal. So right now Calvin's dad need to consume some medicine to make his heart rate beat normally.

On this hard time for both of our family, we also realized that we getting closer - that's the good thing ^^/.
Of course you can getting closer also in happy moment hehehe.
We being teaches to be thankful in hard and good time.

Anyway, pray for the best.

Family Nite Out - The Great World Circus - Summarecon Mall Serpong

Yeay, finally we could enjoyed our family night out - Calvin, Me, Josh and my Mom.
I remember my mom bring me to watch the circus when I was little, and now just my turn to bring my mom watch it again. (of course, last time I remember a lot of animal parade, but today's there only cat and dog, but the other show at least make my mom amazed also ^^)

Click here for more detail information The Great World Circus - Summarecon Mal Serpong.

Source - Summarecon mal serpong website.

Yes, we used BCA card to brought the ticket.

We buy the "Utama" class ticket, cause the Platinum, VVIP and VIP are sold out. We quite surprise that the higher ticket price sold out first :p.

IDR 500.000,- for 4 person worth it!

2 hours performance time (15minutes break).

More than 10 shows (forgot to count it hahaha), represent 7 countries.

It's a live show! And really let you wondering where the limit of human being.

Can you imagine how many years of tears they gone when mastering their skill till ready to perform on stage.

I love how they interact with the audience. Really fun ^^/

Before the show

Before the show, once it's started all seat full.

Now a little tips:

1. Book the ticket, On the day come earlier to exchange the ticket. (weekdays more comfortable and no queuing). The door opened 30 minutes before the show.

2. I suggest 2 years old toddler for really enjoying the show. Josh felt in love with it, he want to watch it again and asked daddy to brought another ticket :p. Taking a nap before the show really help out (check the schedule).

3. Bring water and small food with you, on the break time you will want to snack lil bit ^^.

4. Don't forgot to pee first! a long queuing on the nearest rest room.

4. Pocket camera won't really capture a good picture, cause the bright light inside the arena. 

So just enjoyed the show ^^ ( I took lil bit of the beginning and ending show ^^)

6th Chemotherapy - Finally the 1st Cycle Done! and the Result so far.

3th April was the date!
Still owe the story and list of medicine of the 5th chemotherapy.

Laptop need to be cured cause one of the cable inside broke due to Josh *sigh*.

Anyway, the last chemo really make us curious what will be the result.
Since this was the last chemo on the 1st cycle, my mom barely complaint of anything.
She just gone through it, even with lot's of pain.

Today, 23 April 2013, we visit doctor looking the result.
Stable disease - Partial Remission - that my mom condition right now.
The Cancer cell still there, not growing yet not shrinking.
One month from now, we could have a PET Scan for confirming result.

Honestly, I didn't want put too much expectation. That's why, I still wait for the PET Scan result to ensuring what we will do next.
My mom have a neuropathy side effect, damage on her sensory nerve where she felt numbness and tingling on her hand and foot. Hope it's was temporary.

That's what I could share right now. Hope she could feel better.
Me and Mom with lil Josh will watch circus tomorrow ^^/ to entertain our self. Will share about this :)

Pomelo (Jeruk Bali) Boat Creation

My MIL brought Jeruk Bali from market and woww it's taste so sweat and I haven't had one for a long time.

Then the day after, I got 7 Jeruk Bali left beside the refrigerator WOW.

For a week later, I ate Jeruk Bali all day, good my mom like it, so share with my mom also.

I didn't know when we (Indonesia) called it Jeruk Bali, where there is no relation with Bali (one of Island in Indonesia). Cause it's familiar with Jeruk Bali name instead of Pomelo, I will continue called it Jeruk Bali.

Now, it's come to creativity time, what will you do with the Jeruk Bali's skin.

I heard that long ago, before we have so many toys, people play with Jeruk Bali's skin.

They made car, hat, etc.

So here what we do:

A Hat?

A Boat and sing "Row your Boat or Sailing Home or other song..."

Have a great weekend play date with our kids.

Bubble Tea

From last year, so many bubble tea shop established here.
I barely brought it till my sista told me to try it out and I kinda love it. Today bubble tea is differs from before, you can set your sugar and ice level.
Josh asked us to let him try and since then, he love it also. Whenever he look at the bubble tea shop, he will stop by and asked us to buy it. oooo nooo... We play run away game to distract him ^^/

Cause my son love it, I can't help except to search the recipe how to made it at home.
Josh help me along with the process like get the starch, put the water,make the bubble and boil it with me.
I used sosro tea bag, UHT white milk, made Jelly and the boba.
For the boba, need to improve it, but lot of better from last time hahaha.

Here our baby boy enjoy the bubble milk tea.

P.S. It's doesn't mean I always want to busy my self with something I can just brought it anywhere,
but simply make it with my boy, I just want to show him that I love him and willing to take my time making something for him. ^^

Josh 2.75 years old ^^ - 3rd Quarter

Know the opposite

ask and answer question:

Josh: Papa dimana?
Ma: Papa dimana?
Josh: Papa hilang!
Ma: Hilang?
Josh: Papa Kerja.
Ma: Iya nak, Papa kerja di kantor.

Lagi perjalanan pulang dari supermarket:
Josh: Ma, mana stoberi apel nya? (snack)
Ma: Itu di toko, tadi Josh tidak mau pilih yang itu.
Josh: potato di mobil (snack potato yang dipilihnya ada di mobil)
Ma dalam hati: wow, sudah tahu penempatan ternyata :p

Lagi mau telepon Grandpa:
Ma: Josh nanti tanya akong dimana yah?
Telepon tersambung:
Josh: Akong, coklat mana? (Grandpa selalu identik dengan coklat)

Suka iseng dan menggelitik sekarang. Buah dari kita suka mengelitik dia juga :p.

PR terbesar:
Kalo Josh sudah upset, dia bisa pukul or ngamuk.
So far, kalo  masih dalam batas, aku peringatkan.
Luar batas sedikit, berdiri di pojokan
Sangat keterlaluan, aku pukul pantat nya Josh supaya dia merasa bahwa itu sakit.

Selain itu sekarang aku  suka repeat:
Sayang mama? Yes/ Good sambil angkat jempolnya
Pukul mama? No sambil waving tangannya
Kiss kiss mama? Yes/ Good sambil angkat jempolnya.

Ma: Josh, apa yang boleh di pukul?
Josh: Pukul Ball.
Jadi sebenarnya Josh tahu mana yang boleh dan tidak, hanya saja self controlnya masih dalam pembelajaran.

Selain itu, aku suka baca cerita baik itu bible story ataupun cerita lainnya, sambil bercerita sambil terus mengingatkan hal yang baik untuk dilakukan.

Craft Time - Program Anak - Reformed 21 Channel

If you have subscribe to First Media TV, Don’t forget to check out the Children Program on Reformed 21 Channel. Click here for the schedule.

30 minutes program - 3 times a day - bible story, craft time, etc.

Below is one of our activity where we got the idea from Craft Time - Children Program.

What you need:

- Paper

- Pen, Scissor, lil bit glue

- Paint and Brush (3 colors might be good)

- our Hand ^^

What to do:

1. Draw something that you like i.e. flower, car, etc - we follow the original idea - Cross.

2. Cut the your drawing

3. With a lil bit glue, stick on the other paper.

4. Brush your hand with paint (darker colour first), stamp on the paper. Make sure you stamp all open area.

5. Then take off the first drawing. Tradaa, it's done!

Done ma!.

Since most of my brother's colours paint was dry, I can only used white, majority in yellow and green ^^.

I make mistake by stamp the bright colours first, therefore we couldn't really see the hand printing on there.

But Josh enjoy the Craft time and he continue it on our wall ^^.

I notice he stamped his hand on the floor also.

He asked me to help him draw

Lock in Room

3 times, Josh lock him self in the room.

He could lock the key, but most of the time failed to open it.

The first one, 2 weeks ago, he lock him self on the room and finally he could took out the key and I opened the door using the duplicate key.

Yesterday, he locked twice. Yes, Twice!

One on our bed room, he could not open the door, he cry out hysterically. Good, we asked him go to the window and try to open it, and yes, he could done it.

Wanna know his first word after he done it? "Pintar yah" - wanna show that he was smart to follow our order *sigh*.

Second was on the bath room, not duplicate key. The worst case, we should climb from the upper window.

But don't know why, he could turn the key and open the door. And again he told me "Pintar yah". *sigh*

From above experience, we agree to:

1. Don't hang the key on the door, unless no other choice - i.e. bathroom need to be locked.

2. Teach him how to stay calm and follow our instruction, and learn how to turn the key both way.

Finally we never know when it's repeat again, but one for sure, as a parent, stay clam is a must on this kind of situation!.

Activity with Toddler - Magnetic Colour pin

I saw a game with magnetic colour in the toys shop and suddenly I think to buy a magnetic colour pin (I don't know what it called :p) on the stationary store.
A packet consist of 8 pieces with 4 different colour i.e. blue, red, yellow and green.
I brought 5 packet cost you IDR 25.000 (2.5USD), so I got 10 pieces of each colour.

What you need:
- a Magnetic colour pin
- a magnetic whiteboard (or you can play using a paper on the your refrigerator)
The main purpose I brought the white board was to encourage Josh to hold and draw something, but it's can be used as a magnet board also, so that a plus for us having this kind of whiteboard.
- a different colour of whiteboard marker (I get blue, red, yellow and green same with the magnetic colour) cost me around @IDR 9.000 (1USD each marker)

I can used to Learn:
- matching colour/ grouping and create a different shape.
for example: I draw a flower consist of different colour circle and asked Josh to put the magnetic colour pin.
- counting like below activity.

One day Josh make a long caterpillar with the magnetic pin. On the other day, he try to put it everywhere to hang the magnetic pin.

Below is just one activity where I used the magnetic colour pin.

Ok ma, I'm ready to take the challange ^^

Note: video upload where showing the process he put it, failed. will post the link once success ^^.

Update:

Wall Track Hot Wheel - Toys - Buy or Borrow (Rent)

When I have kids, I become more frequently stop at the toys store.
Maybe I'm too serious therefore mostly I end up buying education toys or prefer buy a book.
I found an excuses which prevent me to buy a lot of toys, cause children easily get bored with their toys.
Even so, I remember my Daddy always brought Barbie for me which I love to have but have no memory to play with it (a prove that I barely play with it).
When I visit other friend or relatives house, sometime I think I shall buy a toys for Josh.
Since Josh love the car or train (as we introduce to the boy), then I think to have a real car track or rail train.
We got a present of rail train too early and it's didn't work since I kept it.
haven't had a chance to search for a car track, most of the time Josh played on his big brother house ^^ from a battery to manual one, from big size to very mini size track.

Yesterday I saw a Wall Track Hot Wheel (which cost you around $80) left unused on Josh's big brother toys box.
I get an idea to borrow it for a month and search the instruction from youtube and tradaaa....
Josh really happy to have it on our wall and he still amazed on how the car move on the track. Thanks to the big bro allowed us to borrow it ^^.

Oh there one part left, but still work.

Josh keep playing with his new toy

I buy a toys when:
- have a long term used
- have an education purpose
- Improving your creativity
- Something you can't try to create
- Affordable to my pocket (Not too expensive - hahaha)

Other than above criteria, I think to just borrow it or rent it.
Now days you can rent a toys and of course the hygiene must be a priority when you search the rental shop.
Never done it before, but I saw my friend rent a huge cooking stove toys for 1 month and it's cost you like 10% or less from the original price. I think that a good deal.
Just browse and we could find a rental shop for daily used (Party time), weekly or monthly.

Happy Playing!

Josh with Friend

4th chemo - What I feel and What my mom might feel.

Kurang dari seminggu, Mama akan menyelesaikan Siklus Chemo yang pertama.
Tentu hati pun deg-degan.

Cerita mengenai perjalanan Chemo ke 4 mama, saya rangkum dibawah ini.

Mama tinggal denganku sesudah Chemo ke 4 selesai.
Seperti biasanya, kita sudah hafal apa saja efek samping yang akan dirasakan:

Hari 2-4
Seluruh badan terasa sakit, seperti ditusuk oleh jarum jarum.
Terkadang tidur dikasur yang hangat membantu mengurangi rasa sakit. Kebetulan papa mertua beli satu set kasur batu yang bisa dihangatkan. Awalnya untuk Calvin yang sakit pinggang, tapi koq rasanya membantu mama untuk tidur.

Hari ke 5-7
Pencernaan mulai terganggu. Pup mencair dan seperti diare.
Hari-hari tersulit, susah makan dibarengin oleh diare, tanda bahaya dehidrasi menjadi prioritas.
Membujuk makan dan minum walaupun hanya sesuap.

Hari ke 8-10
Perlahan kondisi badan mulai membaik.

Day 11
Kondisi tubuh balik ke normal, dengan berat badan berkurang.

Day 11-21
Hari penambahan nutrisi badan dan berat badan ^^.

Siklus ini seperti berulang terus menerus.
Tidak ada yang bisa dilakukan untuk meniadakan, hanya cara untuk tetap bertahan dalam kondisi sulit tersebut.

Hari tersulit bagiku sebagai orang tidak mengalaminya adalah hari ke 6-7.
Tidak hanya tenaga tetapi pikiran dan emosi semua larut didalamnya.
Secara tenaga, kita mesti membujuk beliau makan dan minum. Selain itu mesti berusaha menenangkan pikiran mama. Kesabaran dibutuhkan dalam masa ini.
Mama akan mulai mengeluh kenapa Chemo sangat susah, kenapa dia harus mulai chemo dan banyak orang diluar sana yang survive tanpa Chemo dan sebagainya.
Terus terang, sampai hari ini aku terus merasakan bahwa sesungguhnya mama tidak pernah bisa menerima dirinya harus di Chemo, tapi siapa diluar sana yang pernah benar benar mau dikemo??
Tentu kita harus berusaha menerima jalan yang kita pilih, tetapi ada kalanya disaat merasakan sakit yang paling susah, akan lebih mudah bagi kita untuk menyangkal pilihan kita dan berharap akan jalan lainnya.

Aku mencoba memahami apa yang sebenarnya tidak akan pernah aku pahami, maka dari itu, akupun gagal didalam mendukung mama secara emosional.
Jikalau mama merasa trauma dengan efek samping Chemo, saya pribadi merasa trauma saat melihat bagaimana pribadi dan pikiran mama menghadapi efek samping tersebut.
Mama yang kutahu adalah seseorang yang kuat dalam menghadapi masalah. Tetapi kenyataan yang kulihat saat ini berbeda jauh (mama jarang sekali sakit dan mama takut sakit), jadi mungkin saat ini, mungkin saja saya yang tidak bisa terima kenyataan bahwa ternyata mama lemah dan butuh bantuan dalam menghadapi efek samping Chemo ini.

Pada hari ke 7, aku menyerah dan menganjurkan mama untuk ke rumah sakit. Aku selalu menghitung kecukupan apa yang mama makan dan minum, dan merasa bahwa saat itu tanda dehidrasi sudah didepan mata. Tetapi mama menolak dan marah dengan keputusanku. Untuk diketahui, setiap kerumah sakit, berarti bertambah biaya yang harus dikeluarkan dan biasanya itu tidak sedikit, dan mama menghindari hal tersebut.
(mama masuk rumah sakit pada saat Chemo pertama dan kedua, dan biaya Chemo menjadi berlipat ganda).
Setelah itu, mama berusaha memaksa dirinya untuk minum lebih banyak, dan seiring hari berlalu, kondisi beliau semakin baik.

Terlepas dari segala kesalahpahaman yang terjadi, dalam segala kesulitan yang dilalui, aku berharap aku mendapat pelajaran untuk menjadi manusia yang lebih baik lagi.

Next story - Chemo ke 5, bisa dikatakan Chemo yang dihadapi dengan lancar (oh bukan tanpa efek samping). Aku akan coba share obat-obatan mama dan makanan apa yang dikonsumsi selama Chemotherapy.

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A week less from the last treatment of 1st circle chemo.

Come to an end, really feel nervous.
But I still owe some stories behind.
So here the stories of 4th chemotherapy.
My mom stayed with me after the treatment.
Like usual, the cycle as below:
Day 2-4 - mom felt hurt on all her body.
Day 5-7 - impact on my mom digestion. She will keep going to the toilet, very similar to a diarrhea.
Day 8-10 - the body slowly get better.
Day 11 - you back to normal, with less weight.
Day 11-21 - you need to eat normally, to gain weight, to add more nutrient to your body.
It's like a repeating cycle.
For me as outsider, the most difficult day is on the 6-7th.
You need to persistently persuade her for drink enough and eat even just a bite.
Beside, you need to cope with "the mind". Patient is needed on this kind of moment.
My mom will start to grumble how hard the chemo was, wish to never start the chemo, etc....
Honestly, I felt my mom never really want to have chemo, but tell me, who really want it?
Of course you need to accept it, but if you are on the very deep pain, somehow, may be it's easier for you to deny it and wish the other way.
Again, I'm not someone on the illness, therefore I just tried to understand what I never truly understand it.
Therefore, I'm failed also to support her emotionally.
If she get traumatized for the side effect, I get traumatized on seeing her reaction toward the side effect.
I never found or seeing my mom so week on facing a problem, as far as I know, my mom is a very brave person. But this totally different from what I saw now, so somehow, may be I'm the one also who can't accept the reality that my mom actually need lot of help to go through the side effect's pain.
On the 7th day, I gave up, and told my mom that I will bring her to hospital, cause I'm afraid that she get dehydrated. I always count what she eat and drink, so I could say, what she drink less than needed. The situation differs from the 3rd chemo where she listen to my word to drink more.
Anyway, she refused it and get mad with me. For you to know, each time you get to hospital, means you spent another fee, that's what my mom want to avoid now.
At the end, my mom could push her self to drink more and day by day pass and she get better without being hospitalized.
In spite of all the misunderstanding, all the hardness we gone through, I hope I'm learning on how to become a better human who have a passion toward other.