JLPT 3 2009 results 28 February, 2010
Posted by dear1dear2 in Dear1, Learning Training, Nihon no koto.add a comment
This morning as usual, I went downstairs to buy breakfast and some grocery shopping at NTUC. On the way home, I decided to check the letterbox… :D
There was a huge pile of mail, many of which were related to the baby bonus for Baby1. Then there was this 1 letter from The Japanese Cultural Society, Singapore… :D
If you have read my earlier post, you would have known how I had 2 years of Japanese language lessons some years back, and how I deferred taking my JLPT until this year. Having 2 years of formal lessons under my belt, I was pretty confident of tackling JLPT3 directly (I did not take JLPT4).
However, I was getting rusty from the lack of practice. My revision didn’t go as well as planned since I was busying myself with baby stuff. And perhaps I was a little bit lazy. Hehe… But hey, I still do my weekly fair share of reading practice (raw manga) and listening practice (raw anime). :P
On the day of the exam, I was feeling very nervous. I was really ill prepared. However, I calmed my nerves and handled the exams with my years of exam experience. When I left the exam hall, I had hope that I may pass after all.
And now, the results:
- Writing-Vocabulary – 67/100 – 67%
- Listening – 83/100 – 83%
- Reading-Grammar – 150/200 – 75%
- Total – 300/400 – 75%
Yeah… I passed! Ha ha ha ha ha! I passed with a score of 300 (passing score is 240), not bad. In O-level terms, I would have scored an A1. :D
My poorest section was in Writing-Vocabulary, and rightfully so. As I had mentioned, I was ill prepared, and the one thing that required the most memory work and study time was vocab. And it really showed.
My best section was Listening. I attribute this to the 2 years experience I had interacting with my native Japanese teachers. Quite frankly, my Japanese teachers spoke much faster, more non-standard, and with more slang. So I naturally was able to understand most of what the exam audio tape played.
For Reading-Grammar, I did average. This was becos a lot of the information in the passages can be deduced from context. And somehow, I have more of a knack for remembering grammar than remembering vocab, so I was able to draw upon my memory from deep within to understand the comprehension passages.
It was a good result for me, given the little time I spent on preparation. Now, I hope to advance to the next level and try my hands on the new N3 level which is set between JLPT 3 and JLPT 2. Of course, N3 is not going to be a walk in the park. I’ve most probably already used up my luck and rusty memory with JLPT 3, so I need to study study study! *Growl*
頑張ります！
-Dear1
Confessions of a 2.5 weeks Breastfeeding Mum 23 February, 2010
Posted by dear1dear2 in Baby, Dear2.add a comment
They never tell you that it’s actually really not easy at all. All pro-breastfeeding books always start with “Breast milk provides blah blah nutrients to baby, and promotes bonding between mummy and baby….. WHO recommends breastfeeding for at least 6 months blah blah blah….” But have they told you that breastfeeding requires more than just pure determination?
Having read all the pro-breastfeeding literature, Dear2 resolved to breastfeed Baby1 for as long as possible, setting a timeline of at least 6 months. But in merely 2.5 weeks time, many events seem to have taken place, testing mummy’s and daddy’s resolve on numerous occasions.
Challenge #1 – Colostrum not coming in
Some mtbs complain about colostrum leaks nearing the end of their pregnancy. How I envy these mtbs, cos it means that baby won’t have to suffer those few days while waiting for mummy’s colostrum to come in. Dear2′s colostrum did not start until Day3 at the hospital stay, and mind you, that mere first 3 days of waiting and pressure from the nurses was enough to put the question to mummy’s and daddy’s mind on multiple occasions – should we feed baby with formula milk? Baby1 was able to use her reserves for the first few days after her birth, but as her weight keeps on dropping from 2.5 to 2.1kg, and with jaundice looming ahead, we finally gave in on Day4 and consented to feeding her with glucose water….
Challenge #2 – Milk not coming in
5 days stay in the hospital and Baby1 got thinner and lankier, and mummy’s milk supply was still very much questionable. The Medele Freestyle Pump which was the most expensive baby item we bought did not yield any milk at all, if you consider that miserable few drops of breastmilk to be anything at all, it was a confidence trial again. It was with sheer determination to feed Baby1 with whatever little breastmilk that mummy has, and the belief that Supply = Demand , that mummy continued to breastfeed baby diligently at 3 hours interval as well as stimulate milk production through pumping. No bother that Dear2′s mum and Dear1′s parents keep asking if baby is drinking enough. As long as baby is able to fall asleep after a feed, this means baby is able to be satisfied from the feed, meaning, full…. With a few days of constant feeding, mummy is able to detect some patterns too, like how baby looks satisfied or falls asleep immediately after a feed, and how mummy’s breasts seem to become softer after a feed, meaning, emptied. Baby also almost always rouses at 3 hours interval for her feed, meaning, hungry already. With all these signs, plus mummy’s determination in not giving up, mummy is comforted, but not so for daddy. Daddy was still concerned by baby’s poo and pee, is her poo normal, is her pee enough….? 2 weeks on, and baby seems to establish a routine – feeding at mummy’s breast during the day time usually makes a sleepy baby, but baby seems to be exceptionally hungry during the nights, and it’s usually supplements with formula milk.
Challenge #3 – Growth Spurt
Just when mummy was getting confident that everything is under control, baby’s feeding patterns change again. She seems soooooooo very hungry all of a sudden!! Is it that mummy’s milk supply is not catching up with her supply? Sob sob…. Each feed is almost an hour, and yet baby is still not full, and gotto supplement with formula milk. Would we be better off just sticking to total formula milk…..? Luckily, Dear1 found on the website that baby is just undergoing a growth spurt between 2 to 3 weeks, and thus constantly needs to be fed. During this phase, breastmilk is still the best food for her in this developmental phase, so mummy just gotto change from the 3 hourly to 1.5 interval feeds…
Challenge #4 – Sore nipples
They tell you that they have given up becos of the excruciating pain from the sore nipples. Yes, the nipples are sore after the constant sucking, and pains when baby latches on, but the most grilling part is when mummy cannot carry baby as she constantly kicks or brushes past mummy’s nipples. Should I persevere in breastfeeding, only to compromise on having intimate moments with my baby? The determination is yet again shaken…
Challenge #5 – Confinement Rules
5 days stay in the hospital and no shower or wash hair is ok as mummy hardly perspire in the air con ward. But once back home, with Singapore’s kind of humid weather, it was sweat sweat sweat all the way. D#mn all the no bathing, no touching of water confinement rules, so it was off-you-go barely after 2 days at home, but even twice a day shower and alternate days wash hair and mummy still sweats greatly. Hope baby doesn’t take in these sweat when she’s at mummy’s breast…And to h#ll with all the confinement food – ginger makes jaundice worse and wine gets passed on to baby through the breastmilk. How come nobody ever talks about these conflicts between confinement and breastfeeding……..?
Challenge #6 – No life
Feed every 3 hourly from start to start, and each feed takes from 30min to an hour, and that leaves mummy only 2 hours. Sleep, eat, wash up, do housework, and it’s hardly much time for anything else. Even catching a home movie requires some precise timing so that baby dun wakes up before the end of the show. Going out of the home is a nightmare too. Now, does this shopping centre have a feeding room? If not, den nope, we can’t go there….. Go to the park for a walk? Have to go IMMEDIATELY after a feed, else baby will fuss again…
Challenge #7 – Miserable pump yield
Dunno is it mummy’s problem or is it the pump problem, baby is able to be satisfied from direct latching, but if we were to pump it out, it’s a miserable 10ml from each breast only. Still a problem unsolved, but we’ll make do with direct latching, afterall, direct latching still beats feeding indirectly.
They only tell you all the good things about breastfeeding, but hardly mention about these things that make your resolve waver so often, so frequently. Luckily we are in an internet time now, and can seek constant support from other people in forums, or through ‘professional’ advice from websites which details what we can expect as the norm.
For now, mummy is just going to take 1 step at a time, and hopes to breastfeed baby for as long as she can. *Pray, please don’t keep testing my resolve….* Hopefully as Baby1 gets older as the days goes by, her feeding and sleeping habits will establish some patterns…
- Dear2
Paying everything by EZ Link card 21 February, 2010
Posted by dear1dear2 in Dear1, Dollars & Cents.add a comment
This may be an old idea to some but I thought I will share it here for the benefit of even more people. Here’s the idea:
Pay everything by EZ Link card whenever possible if you are using Citibank SMRT credit card with auto-reload service.
The reason: Becos each time you deplete the stored value in your ez link card, it will be automatically topped-up and charged to your Citibank credit card bill. Each top up will earn you 1.7% rebates which can be redeemed as stored value in the ez link. Basically, it’s as good as cash.
The problem: First, there is an admin fee (25cents) associated with each top up. The way to maximize this is to increase the auto top up amount from the default value of $30 to $50 so as to diminish the effect of the admin fee.
Second, payment by ez link isn’t very widespread at the moment. Luckily for me, I used it frequently at my school for lunch where ez link is accepted. Assuming $2 per lunch, I would have spent ($2×22 working days=) $44 per month and earned ($44×1.7%=) $0.748. That’s 1 short MRT ride just by tapping my wallet during lunch. :P
I have not tried paying by ez link outside school as its availability is really limited. A quick glance at the ez link homepage shows that the library, community centres, and 7-11 are amongst the few places that accept such payment. Hopefully with more merchants accepting ez link payment in the future, we can further exploit this indirect credit card rebate earning method. If and when ez link can be used to pay for ERP and car park charges via the upgraded In-Car-Unit, the rebates will definitely become more significant.
The rant: Please do remember remember remember to redeem your SMRT$ as they can expire! We lost about $40 of SMRT$ last year becos we forgot to redeem it. Blame the stupid credit card bill. The expiry reminder wasn’t big and prominent enough and we totally missed it until the date had passed. !@#%$#^#$^@*&
If we consider tapping the ez link as being more convenient than handling cash and coins, then paying by ez link and earning rebates at the same time yields the best of both worlds. Try it!
-Dear1
Baby jaundice improving 20 February, 2010
Posted by dear1dear2 in Baby, Dear1, Slice of Life.1 comment so far
Jaundice is a condition that is very common amongst asian babies. It can be identified by a yellow tinge on the skin that is caused by high levels of bilirubin in the baby. However, visual inspection normally don’t yield reliable results, so the most objective measure is for baby to take a blood test which requires pricking of the heel. It is so heartbreaking to see baby cry when the nurse pricks her heel to get the blood samples.
Baby1 had a high jaundice score (low=good) on the 4th day and so was required to stay an extra day at the hospital to undergo the phototherapy session. We decided to extend our hospital stay by 1 day too to accompany her. The next day, her jaundice level was down and she was able to come home with us. 10.1
Two days later, we were required to visit the hospital again to repeat the jaundice test. Alas, it went up again despite us sunning her in the mornings and evenings. But luckily, it wasn’t over the threshold of 15 and Baby1 did not need to be admitted to phototherapy again. 14.1
Two days later, yet again, we had to visit the hospital to repeat the jaundice test. The level went up again despite our continuous sunning. But it was just shy of the threshold, luckily. At that point, the nurse recommended renting a home phototherapy kit which costs around $350 for 3 days. However, the doctor recommended continued sunning instead, luckily. 14.5
Back home, we were feeling the strain of having to drive all the way to TMC just to do a simple jaundice test. Couldn’t it be done at the polyclinic which is just 10 minutes away from our house? Turns out that it can be done, just that the nurse at the baby clinic didn’t inform us of the alternative. But our next repeat jaundice test was to be scheduled on the Chinese New Year holidays and polyclinics are closed. So no choice for us, it’s back to TMC one more time.
We sunned baby furiously over the next few days in the morning between 8am to 10am and afternoon between 5pm and 6pm. There were other non-conventional methods recommended by the old folks and other hearsay, such as letting baby drink water boiled using 7 (yes, seven!) red dates, bathing baby in stout (yes, the alcoholic drink!), feeding baby with filtered goats milk, etc. But we wasn’t going to believe such things. For us, we just followed the doctor’s advice, sunning under indirect sunlight for 10-15mins, front and back.
Four days later, we visited the hospital to repeat the jaundice test. No choice, it was a public holiday and we had to pay $50 surcharge on top of the $8 for the test itself. Baby1 was asleep while the heel prick was being performed. She winced, but didn’t cry, yeah! We waited 15 minutes for the result… It dropped! What a relief. We called our baby doctor over the phone and he advised that we continue sunning Baby1 for the next 3-4 days, but we do not need to repeat anymore jaundice tests. 12.5
For the past few days, Baby1 fluctuated from pink to slight yellow colour. The weather was bad and we couldn’t sun her effectively during the golden hours. We’ll keep up the sunning efforts and hopefully baby’s jaundice will continue to improve.
-Dear1
Baby1 is 2 Weeks Old 17 February, 2010
Posted by dear1dear2 in Baby, Dear2.add a comment
Baby1 is 2 weeks old today.
The past 2 weeks has not been easy. From the initial disbelievement that we are finally seeing Baby1 in this world, to the stress that we experienced from the Staff Nurse Pressure in the hospital becos Dear2′s colostrum has not come in yet, to the worry that Baby1 had to stay extra day in the hospital and go for 2 other tests for jaundice; from the back breaks from bending over to change Baby1′s diapers constantly, to the extremely hot and sticky bodies cos of the hot and humid weather at home, to the arms and body aches cos of carrying Baby1 too much. Worry, fatique, sleepiness, tired, irrate all piled on top of each other and I am really surprised that 2 weeks have passed in a blink of an eye since the day we first saw Baby1′s beautiful face.
Parenthood is definitely not easy. There are many decisions to make, and many rules that you have to enforce. The dynamics of the comfortable twosome style that we have established over the past 3 years have now changed, and it’s probably time to rework communication rules and expectations with each other, and of one another.
Let’s work together, Dear1. Last time we were a couple, now with Baby1 we are a team. And like in any effective team, it’s about bringing out the strengths in every member and using that strengths effectively. We have always work well with each other, and I am sure that moving on, we can continue to complement each other well.
- Dear2
Happy CNY & V-Day 2010! 14 February, 2010
Posted by dear1dear2 in Dear1, Slice of Life.add a comment
Happy CNY & V-Day to everyone!
This year, things would be a little different for us compared to previous years becos Baby1 is born just a few days ago and Dear2 would be in her confinement period. This means that we can’t go new year visiting this year. For people who are superstitious, it also means that other people can’t visit us as well.
Nevertheless, we still prepared all the ang baos for our family members and passed them to our parents to distribute on our behalf. Oh, Baby1 received quite a few ang baos from her uncles and aunties too. :D
Hmm… Today is also Valentine’s Day. I wonder how we can celebrate V-Day now that Dear2 is confined. Maybe we can order a romantic KFC delivery? Haha… But with both our lives revolving around Baby1 right now, I think some quiet personal time with Dear2 chit chatting over a nice warm cup of milo would make a great date.
I’m typing this post with my right hand while carrying baby in my left hand cradle position, coaxing her to take her afternoon nap. Typing with just 1 hand is horribly slow, so I shall stop here. Btw, Dear2 is also taking her recovery afternoon nap now. I shall too soon, once baby goes to sleep. :D
-Dear1
p.s. Baby shall use the nickname Baby1. :)
Baby is Born!! 13 February, 2010
Posted by dear1dear2 in Baby, Dear2.7 comments
Omg, after half a year’s of anticipation, baby is born!!
It all happened in a haze….
On Tue, Dear2 had some pale lumpy yellow discharge, quite an uncommon sight as Dear2 hardly have discharge of this kind during normal days and during pregnancy. There was the stretching feelings in the night, which gynae and Dear1 say is labour contractions, at 10pm, 10.30pm and 11.15pm. These stretchings were accompanied by some mild headaches, or was it just some kind of sensation in the head…?
Wed, mum came over to recee her ‘confinement place’ aka our house. The weather was probably hot, and Dear2 was feeling a bit of headache then. There was no discharge, but again at night at 11pm as Dear2 was lying in bed ready to fall asleep, there was the stretchings again. This time, they come at intervals even shorter, like every 15 or 10 min. Baby is getting so stretchy ah…?
In the middle of the night, for no rhyme or reason, Dear2 woke up, not unusual as she sometimes does so during the past month becos of the ‘motherly instinct’ or becos of Dear1′s snoring. But this time it was neither, it was just sitting. Wake Dear1 up…. maybe not, since Dear2 cannot decide if she’s really so hungry as to want to cook a maggi mee… Just go back to sleep than….
Thur morning, as Dear1 was dabao-ing breakfast, Dear2 had a block of brownish mucus discharge. Omg, this looks dubious, definitely not what Dear2 have ever seen so far. Could this be the legendary ‘show’? But I expect something more solid than that jelly like mucus leh, and perhaps at least contain some tinges of red…? Admit hospital or not – but admission means that no food and drink already. But Dear2 was too hungry for that uncertainty, and it was finish-the-carrotcake-first-den-we-decide, all the while feeling that weird sensation in the head…. We called up gynae’s clinic to see if we can bring forward tomorrow’s appointment to today, and when clinic informed us that there could be some opportunity at 10.30, it was pack up hospital bag and the house with the half chance that we will be staying in the hospital from this day onwards liao.
We reached gynae clinic at 10.30am promptly, but it was an hour’s wait until we finally get the see gynae. As gynae was getting ready to do the scan, she felt a contraction. It was ok for Dear2 cos the ‘contraction’ just felt like usual baby stretch, except that this comes with some headache, or really, just some sensation in the head. Gynae checked for dilation – omg, Dear2 is already about 2 to 3 cm dilated. Dun think can hold until tomorrow already, so it was a quick fix up with TMC and off we went to do admission for scheduled delivery at 2.30pm. Alas, the cheapest single bedded room that we want is not available, and the next available tier of single bed room cost twice as much at $900+ per night. Sensing Dear2′s distress, the 2 staff at the admission counter were very kind and patient to secure 1 of the room that we want, but we’ll have to check in after the Op as the patient has not yet discharge. After all the admin, Dear2 quickly checked into a 2 bedded room where there was another mummy. It was about 12.30pm by now. Omg, this is just so unbelievable…
Change, shave, inject medicine to induce bowel movement, within 10 mins it was laxative effect in play, call brother and both parents and it was very soon 1.30pm where Dear2 was pushed to the Operating Theatre. The waiting was hard, every 5 mins seem to take forever, and finally at 2.35pm, gynae and anesthesiologist appeared. Inject needle on hand and put on drip, push into OT, insert urine drainer, inject 2 needles into spine for numbing and epidural, and finally Dear1 is allowed into the OT. In a smooth motion, gynae began operation, anesthesiologist help to push baby out, and baby is out at 3.12pm. Baby was carried to show Dear1 and Dear2, and while wiping clean, Dear2 heard baby’s first cry, bringing tears of joy to Dear2 as well. Baby and Dear1 then left the OT and Dear2 was stitched up and put on monitor. By 4pm, Dear2 was finally pushed back to the ward after shivering tremendously while on the monitor.
Dear2′s brother was there already, Dear1′s parents arrived afterwards shortly and at 6+pm, baby came into the ward as well. Tried latching baby as we wanted baby to go on total breast feeding. Baby was pushed in at regular intervals after that, at 12mn, 4am and 7am, but kept dozing off while suckling…
For the rest of the evening, it was dizziness, frozen legs, cannot talk cos will start shivering again, and no food and drinks until the next day.
Fri, Dear2 was finally given food from breakfast onwards. Baby was pushed in at regular 3 hours intervals to stimulate mummy’s milk production and the nurses commented that baby can suck well. :) Through out the day, some friends and relatives came visiting, but Dear2 was just feeling very tired. The needle in the hand for the drip and the stomach stitch made Dear2 lay absolutely still in bed the whole day until butt pain…
Sat, Dear2 was still not producing colostrum and the nurses suggested feeding water or formula. Dear1 and Dear2 insisted on total breast feeding and got the nurses to help when baby falls asleep halfway during the breastfeeding. Exercise baby, check and change her diaper, unwrap her, tickle her cheek and forehead and arm to wake her up during the feeding session. There were many visitors throughout the day too, and feeding became awkward with so many people outside the curtain. Dear1 and Dear2 also din get any chance to catch up on any sleep too.
Today, Dear2 was experiencing much pain in the tummy, more so becos of gas rather than wound pain. The ‘windy’ medicine prescribed by gynae made the tummy ache even more, and 2 dose is enough for Dear2 to keep it aside. Output release eases the discomfort greatly, with the release of solid waste and lots of gas….
Dear1 and Dear2 also attended the breastfeeding cum bathing class conducted by Parentcraft. The 1 hr session started at 11am. The demonstrator mentioned that patients get to have 1 free session with their Lactation Consultant, but we have not seen this person yet. A call check turns out that we might not get a chance to see them as they might either have passed their rounds and it was already the weekends. The Birth Registration counter was also closed over the weekends by the afternoon when we wanted to go process it. What the hack….
Early Sun morning, we finally started to see some colostrum. The Pedi came at 7+am and if baby clears the jaundice test, we can all discharge. Gynae came at 8+ to change Dear2′s dressing and to sign discharge. Happily, we packed up everything in anticipation to go home, but alas, baby’s jaundice level at 12.7 is higher than the passing rate of 11. No choice, since mummy is finally producing colostrum, and that little bit of amount is not sufficient to be pumped out, we decided to stay 1 more night so that baby can get the colostrum. We took this day to catch up on sleep, and instructed relatives not to come visiting.
By afternoon, there seems to be more colostrum and baby don’t need much tickling during the feed now. Her suckle is more of slow deep sucks rather than the earlier short shallow sucks. By evening, with assistance from the nurses on how to position baby, the latch improves and baby latches about 15 min on each side. However, by the night of Sun, Dear1 and Dear2 finally gave in to Nurse Pressure and consented to feeding baby with glucose water as baby is small and has jaundice…
Mon morning, the lactation consultant finally visited our room and gave us some advice about breastfeeding. Baby’s jaundice level came out to be passable, yeah, baby can discharge. Happily, we gave instructions to relatives on the discharge and off we went to home sweet home.
This is Dear2′s birth story and our of TMC hospital stay. Dear2 was initially disappointed that baby will be born via a Cesarean and not a vaginal birth and hence unable to experience ‘the process’, but the earlier than the scheduled C section delivery kind of compensated for this as Dear2 still gets to experience some panic. Labour, is afterall, usually not a systematic process, haha. Ultimately, Dear1 and Dear2 are just so glad that baby is born healthy and beautiful, and we must continue to love each other even more now that our family has really expanded from 2 to 3.
Mummy loves Daddy and Baby, Baby loves Mummy and Daddy, and Daddy loves Mummy and Baby.
- Dear2
Note from Dear1: At night, the room at TMC was so cold even after we turned off the aircon that we had to boil water using the kettle provided several times a night to heat up the room. We even placed the kettle, lid opened, in the centre of the room like a campfire.
As We Go Into Week 37 10 February, 2010
Posted by dear1dear2 in Baby, Dear2.add a comment
Baby is officially full term after passing week 36, and with slightly more than 1 week, we can see baby after C section delivery on 38w2d, yeah.
Baby feels very low in the tummy now and the top of the abdomen feels kind of spacious. People always say mtbs tend to have less appetite during third trimester but not so for Dear2 and it was normal eating still, if not, more hunger nowadays. This week at home on maternity leave also allows Dear2 to fill herself up with loads of water, cos the feet swell due to water retention seems to get worse and worse nowadays. Dear2 finally understands what other mtbs mean when they say swollen feet hurts, cos they really do when the toes cannot bend…
Next week 38w2d will be baby’s scheduled delivery, but there’s no telling if Dear2 will go into labour sooner than that. Dear1 and Dear2 have already had ‘reunion dinner’ with Dear2′s family last Sunday, and this Sunday will be the even more sumptuous dinner with Dear1′s family. And since Dear2 will be missing CNY goodies during confinement, this week also means the last week to load up on these snacks before baby is out. KFC, love letters, peanut cookies, last chance to indulge before we see baby next week!!
Eating and sleeping and resting at home this week also makes Dear2 more conscious of baby kicks. Baby don’t really move much in the mornings, and it is only until afternoons when mummy is at her study desk just surfing the net for recipes that baby starts kicking and stretching a lot. And on Tue and Wed night, as Dear2 is watching the 10pm show, there will be the stretching feelings. Dear2 was starting to get confused – is it that baby is really stretching, or that these are already labour contractions? Especially those at night, they seem to come every 30 or 45 min before going off, and only by going to sleep does Dear2 stop experiencing these movements…… What about that lump of mucus discharge on Tue…? The clock is really ticking down…..
As an announcement, Week 37 officially ends on Thur. Keke…
- Dear2
