New Tounge

Zahra undergo a minor operation for her tongue-tie couple of weeks ago. It's something that she has and we noticed since she was a baby. We already consulted the specialist and he said as long as she can breastfeed, there's nothing to worry about, and that we'll worry about her speech later. So we didn't do any snipping on her. If you noticed, there is a few of her childhood photo sticking out the tongue and it forms a lovely heart-shape due to the tie. 

This is how normal tongue tie looks like. Pic googled.

She is 4 now and her speech is fine (at least to me) so I didn't know that some of her pronunciation is weird. Not until we went to see ENT to check on Emir because of his speech delay. We wanted to check if he has any hearing problem (and thank God everything is alright) and we brought Zahra together and they were playing and laughing in the doc's room and that's when the doc asked if Zahra has tongue tie. I guess he has seen thousands of patients and can pick up any symptom with close eyes. 

So there she goes, an appointment for laser cut the tongue tie under full GA.

Alhamdulillah everything went well and she's all good. The only challenge is to dress her in the OT dress and she refused to wear it and how to persuade her to go to the OT room. 4yo kid is full of wisdom and has their own thinking, we can't just pin her down and force her right?

Initially, she was given a normal children OT gown in yellow and she started to cry, refusing to wear it

"Zahra tanak tukar baju. Baju ni tak cantik"

"Ok, mommy pakai together. Doctor nak check mommy..so Zahra teman mommy k. Nak masuk bilik tu kena pakai baju macam ni"

"Tanakkkk baju ni tak cantikkkkk"

Dah start berdramaaaaa. Thankfully the nurses and doctors are very kind and they helped us a lot, by persuading her and give us sweet time to dress her. One of the nurse siap pergi cari gown lain and give her the adult version.

"Ok Zahra pakai yg ni..yg ni besarrrr kembang2 macam princess"

Boleh?

Finally when we get to dress her, we have to push her to the waiting room before the OT room, and spent about 15mins there..so she started to feel anxious and realized that the procedure is about her. I keep on telling her that doctor wants to make her tongue beautiful like mommy and daddy and she can stick it out very far (with demo). All the attendants are very good with kids too (as most of them have children around Zahra's age) so they know how to entertain her. They give coloring books, talk to her, say that she's pretty like a princess (suka la budak tu!) and make balloon out of the gloves. There are times when she started to be cranky and asking for her daddy but only one parent can be there. That's the longest 15 mins I've ever been.

Princess and her daddy in normal ward, before the op

Getting ready for the op. One of the nurse offered to snap this pic and look at her sour face.

While waiting for the op. Doc giving her funny face glove-balloon. So sweeeet.

When we were  in OT, she had to suck the anesthesia gas and kena buat macam2 to persuade her. The GA siap bagi Zahra main game dekat his hp boleh? I told her that doctor want to test if she can blow the tube just like she blow balloon and her swimming pool because at the end of the tube there is small pump that kembang and kempis according to her breathing and the trick works. Gigih la dia bernafas in that tube and then pengsan hehehe.

I had to leave her with the doctors after that. Parents are not allowed during procedure.

Post procedure. It is oxygen tube to  make sure she has enough oxygen to breathe.

The oxygen and heartbeat monitoring. Reading is constantly 98-100 which is good.

Food provided. Plain porridge and icecream which she takes none. She was too sleepy to eat after that and just asked for a bottle of milk.

The moment she woke up, she saw her wrist is bandaged with drip and started to cry, request me to take it off. Normally the hospital won't take it off because if the patient vomit out or something else happen, they can plug the tube directly without poking new needle. But since she started to get angry, we decided to take it off and cross fingers for anything bad. Thank goodness no vomit after a bottle of milk and she's all good.

Went to playground in the hospital after she's fully awake. Bounce back happily like nothing happen.

She slept for about 3 hours after the procedure due to GA effects. The doc told us that there will be no pain at all because it's laser but when she's all sober she said to me;

"Mommy, lidah zahra?!" 

And started to merengek. She was prescribed with painkiller spray but she refused to use it and the next morning (about 24hrs after the operation) suddenly she cheerful said

"Mommy, lidah Zahra dah OK!!"

So...I guess there is a subtle pain for her.

Post op. The yellowish is the area that is cut by laser. It's ulcer but it's gone after about a week. We went for follow up last week and she's healing accordingly.

Last but not least, couldn't help not to post this. I feel like Grey Anatomys wannabe. 

Anyway, I didn't notice any significant changes in her speech and she still trying to accustom to her new tongue. We need to encourage her to practice her new tongue capability by sticking out the tongue as far as she can (ie: licking icecream).

All in all, she was a brave and good young lady, even the doctors and nurses gave her that compliment and I am so proud of her.

Another Yee Sang session

Happy CNY everyone!! How's urs? We went back to Terengganu as we have engagement ceremony. Thus, this will be my first time not celebrating CNY after married. We spent CNY at salak south every year previously...and we have lion dance show coming to the house every year, and guess what, kebetulan tahun ni takde lion dance okkk! In a way I was relieved...because I don't have to miss the fun haha.

Ok, anyway, we had another yeesang party, luncheon this time just before we went back to Terengganu, at One World Hotel, same place we had in 2012. It's kind a revisited but with different menus. And much older participants haha. Oh ya, last time only us and my PIL kalau tak salah, but this year my MIL invited Auntie Tim and Auntie Lala together..so there were 10 of us (including the kiddos).

The table setting. With bottomless Pu Er tea.

Zahra got her present from Auntie Lala! Her much awaiting baby doll. Well, she's been asking for a baby doll from me since months ago and I keep on holding it because she already has 2 baby dolls but according to her it's not the same because one has rambut pacak (a brunette that he hair stick up) and one has rambut gulung-gulung (a blonde with curls). She wants a real baby with pacifier and milk bottle. I didn't plan to buy it because I feel that will spoil her but then she break the wish to auntie Lala and her wish is granted :-/

And she's lovin it each minute. She's been playing with the doll throughout the lunch.

Emir is not left out..he got a Belle from Thomas and Friends range. Also his most awaited toy! He loves train (especially Thomas & Friends) so much but MrComot bought the cheapo RM7 train which won't move and my sister bought him a good train set completed with tracks, lights, smoke coming out and whatnot, but too bad the train is a bit flimsy and he broke some parts. We glued them back but it's not the same. This one is from Fischer Price and betul lah org cakap original stuff tahan lasak, this train is banged from various places but stay true to itself. The motor pun kuat. We plan to buy sikit-sikit the set for him..adding to the collection :D

Ok let's go to the food. We had the salmon yeesang and other Chinese food is ordered by my MIL.

Yeesang with salmon and the yummilicious plum sauce. The waiter is from Nepal (well..hotel pun dah pakai non-local) and he is trained to speak Chinese even though I doubt he understands it. So for each ingredient that he mixes, he will say something and the funny thing is, I ask my MIL what that means and MIL said she also don't understand..because he just belasah cakap LOL. I think the pronunciation is not accurate..certain phrase my MIL got it.

Tossing to the all good stuff in life

Compulsory vege - HK choy sum, stir fry with garlic style.

I-have-no-idea what is this..combination of foo chuk, fishball, mushroom and another choy sum.

Their special fishball, also forgot its name.

Chinese style beef steak. It bit tough.

Duck and chicken with jellyfish at the middle. The jellyfish is spicy! Anyway I love last time when we had the duck..but this time the duck is a bit tough and dry. So disappointing :(

Random salad I had from the plate and when Zahra saw this she laughs and said "Mommy ni macam Sepi la". Apparently Sepi is a cow character in Upin Ipin, who loves to eat vege, or grass I guess :-/

Emir is so excited with his new train. This is the first time he sits throughout the lunch which lasted for almost two-hours! A history breaker!

Random deco in the room. A glass/crystal chandelier.

Zahra and her doll. The baby doll comes together with a bag-pack which she can wear the baby back-carry style. The set also has 3 extra clothes for the baby to change. Suka la budak tu.

Random pose of her in fluffiest tutu! And softest too! Also a present from Auntie Lala. Haishh budak2 sekarang bertuah betul. 

The food as in overall is quite plain to me..but it was a very lovely luncheon as we get to gather and I enjoyed the company very much. Ahh..this reminds me to do the Thank You card for all the gifts.

Again, Happy Chinese New Year everyone. This year is horsey year! Well, I'm not a fan of horse, just for a record of this blog hehe.