Amniocentesis, deal or no deal?

After so much dilly-dallying, we finally relented with the OB to have Sallie went through amniocentesis. It was her young age of 35 that put her at risk, and understandably, like all well-meaning parents-to-be, we fervently objected that chromosomal defect is a possibility. Add to the fact that the procedure is invasive, costly (S$900) and pose certain risks (miscarriage, club foot), however minute, we decided to go for the triple test to gauge the risk instead. Sadly, the result of which forced the issue.

I know that a positive result, which is expected in 2 weeks, would put us in a really dreadful dilemma.

Please pray for us...

A visit to the A&E

I had to take an urgent half day leave yesterday to bring my eldest son to the hospital. A day before, he slipped and injured himself playing basketball at school. Having seen and experienced various sport injuries myself, the smartaleck in me "diagnosed" it to be just a mionor sprain and decided to secure the injury with a splint and observe.

Somehow, having played the game myself since I was about his age, I knew accidents such as this would bound to happen. Of course Sallie was quick to the draw in blaming me for encouraging my son to take up the sport.

We took a cab to Tan Tok Seng Hospital (TTSH) where the GP doctor referred us for a more comprehensive diagnosis, which in this case would surely involve x-ray. I almost mistakenly entered to the geriatrics sections since it is just beside the A&E. Seeing elderly people wheeled around in various disheartening conditions makes me think about growing old. It seems to be a curse.

TTSH, which was founded by a philanthropist by the very same name, was the ground zero when SARS hit the country a couple of years back and would take no chances for a similar outbreak. Only one person is allowed to assist a patient--that is after a screening which is basically body temp taking and few questions. I know for a fact that Pinoy nurses are abound in hospitals here in Singapore but still, I can't help but marvel really seeing them in droves. My son was even attended by a kabayan, Doctor Roger Orcino Aguilar. I would like to thank him, by the way, for making us really at ease with the place.

Fortunately, it is only a small fracture barely visible from the x-ray and only requires to be casted for a couple of weeks.

Ichthy itch

It really needs some scratching.

Although I'm planning to really spruce up the aquarium, I know it would have to wait 'till we come back from our Christmas holiday in Pinas. It would be dreadful coming back from the holidays and see my aquatic "kids" floating belly up that even with commercially available "holiday feeds" and the promise from a friend to once in while drop by to take a look won't appease me.

It would be prudent to be patient but still I relented to Sallie's constant bickering and bought six real rosy barbs (those that I initially acquired are actually platies) and a pair of dwarf gouramies. The live plants really would have to wait though.

Lo and behold, such a sight to see! The shoals of tigers and rosy's were not swimming, they were dancing. Their fins seemed orchestrated by some music beyond human ear cognizance. It's mesmerizing watching them. No wonder many are hooked. Even when they started chasing each other to claim territorial rights was very entertaining which made the kids burst with laughter. The gouramies maybe a little bit composed. The male, which is more colourful in orange stripes, hid in one of the artifical reefs while the silvery (with some metallic blue hue) female leisurely swam near the surface.

I've seen some really good aquarium set up here which I shared with my wife and the kids. It's all in the family now and there would be no turning back.