Joy Ride

Germany was hit by Storm Emma two weeks ago and because of the storm people were asked to stay home and no long travel if possible. But thank God we were spared from the storm..we had very strong wind in our place, our neighbour´s roof was blown off but they managed to fix them at the same day...but it was not as bad as other areas..luckily!..some pilots have to fight with their flights during the storm but luckily no disaster occurred...before that only two hours driving from our place was earthquake, I was scared when I saw it on tv..once again I praised Lord its not at our area... a few scary things happened recently... Actually we planned to go out of town but we didn´t want to take any risk from the storm so we decided just to look at shops nearby...we remembered Kenneth needed a new bike. His old bike was almost too small for him. Normally during this season they have bikes on sale everywhere....so we dragged our boys along and hoping to find a good bargain at the bike shop not far from our house. Eventhough it was very windy and drizzling but it wouldn´t stop our mission that day. We let Kenneth choosing his favourite bike.. he couldn´t made up his mind after seeing plenty choices of boys bikes there....rambang mata terus dia hehe...but he was clever he chosed one with blue colour...which suited mama´s taste too. He made a good choice, its a brand. Do you know the brand of the bike? PUKY..LOL..( sounds like bad word kan? nasip bukan ended with I LOL) the first time I saw this word on the bike I laughed to my head haha....apparently the brand that he was taking is very popular cause its very reliable and tahan lama...his old bike has the same brand eventhought Kenneth fell off so many times..basikal hampas2 on the ground, donno how many times...but the bike is still in good condition now...tahan lasak!.but of course the price also bikin potong leher...but knowing my son will ride more often when Summer comes so we guess its better to get him a good new one eventhough I was thinking just to get him a second hand bike from a bike bazaar here....the price is much much cheaper of course but well we don´t know how long does the bike last after somebody has been using it right...After all one day Kyle can “waris” the bike from Kenneth. When I saw my son trying on the new bikes I realized how my boy has grown up...tida sedar oh..early last year he was still riding three wheels bike haha...We were really lucky cause that was the last type of bike standing there...so we grab it!.

After getting his NEW TOY he couldn´t wait that long to try it but too bad we had to leave the bike standing in the garage for a few days cause its still quite cold for him to go out riding (very windy bah). In some areas were still snowing...luckily not in our area...brrr....btw, I can see many Tulips coming out in people garden..its so nice to see those flowers... a few days ago we had one fine sunny day and since Kyle is recovering we took the boys went out for a long joy ride....Kenneth had a sweetest day with his new bike and I was glad Kyle manage to inhale some fresh air....its good for his lung!.

Where I have Been?

Where I have been? Well, I have been so stress and down for a couple of days when my younger boy sick!. It was my another nightmare! But our bad days just over, Kyle feel better now. Thank God that we didn´t end up to the hospital this time (he was admitted twice before because of lung infection). Kyle is a premee boy, (will blog about this another time...such a long story) he seem to catch every respiratory infection that goes around every winter. He is more sensitive to cold climate in general. That is why I really wish I can get away from the winter because my son prefers warmer surroundings. Last week his bronchitis came back again and went down with fever for almost 6 days. My heart broke seeing my small boy with frequent hacking cough. His cough and breathlessness would be worse at night time because of the collected mucus in his lung and this really disturbed his sleeps for a few nights. He was wheezing most of the time and coughing endlessly...because of that I didn´t sleep well as well for a new nights..I was worried like hell!. So my job was nursing him, keeping my eye on him for 24 hours, waking up and giving him medications in the middle of the night....During day time I felt like a zombie!. Twice I had to bring him to see our Children doctor to have his lung checked-up. During the examination doctor found out that his left lung was already a bit infected but he got all the prescribed medicines that can help open his bronchial tubes and clear out mucus from his lung so it´s easier for him to breathe....which we need to give through inhaler....and now he is under two different antibiotics treatment. He needs to take his medicines with the inhaler for 14 days now and after that we´ll see..I have to get him check-up again and hopefully he will be fully recovered by then... I really pity my son..because of his sickness, his appetite had decreased. His body weigh dropped a little...I tried in every way to offer him food but he just rejected it. Most of the times he is playful and cheerful child, never sit quietly in one place but when he would not be keeping in good health he would become very mild, occasionally got irritated so easily and got very angry if not obeyed. Thank God my son is slowly recovering now, still not eating much but at least he started drinking more fluid again and trying to catch up his sleepless nights...He started to be lively again and I am so glad to see his improvement. As his mom, I will be very glad if one day he can get rid of his dependence on bronchodilator drugs and inhalers and hopefully he can start lead a normal healthy life.

True Story..Its Worth Reading!

At the prodding of my friends, I am writing this story. My name is Mildred Hondorf. I am a former elementary school music teacher from Des Moines , Iowa . I've always supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons-something I've done for over 30 years. Over the years I found that children have many levels of musical ability. I've never had the pleasure of having a prodigy though I have taught some talented students. However I've also had my share of what I call "musically challenged" pupils. One such student was Robby. Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single Mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson. I prefer that students (especially boys!) begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby. But Robby said that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano. So I took him as a student. Well, Robby began with his piano lessons and from the beginning I thought it was a hopeless endeavor. As much as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm needed to excel But he dutifully reviewed his scales and some elementary pieces that I require all my students to learn. Over the months he tried and tried while I listened and cringed and tried to encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson he'd always say, "My mom's going to hear me play someday." But it seemed hopeless. He just did not have any inborn ability. I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled but never stopped in. Then one day Robby stopped coming to our lessons. I thought about calling him but assumed because of his lack of ability, that he had decided to pursue something else. I also was glad that he stopped coming. He was a bad advertisement for my teaching! Several weeks later I mailed to the student's homes a flyer on the upcoming recital. To my surprise Robby (who received a flyer) asked me if he could be in the recital. I told him that the recital was for current pupils and because he had dropped out he really did not qualify. He said that his mother had been sick and unable to take him to piano lessons but he was still practicing "Miss Hondorf I've just got to play!" he insisted. I don't know what led me to allow him to play in the recital.. Maybe it was his persistence or maybe it was something inside of me saying that it would be all right. The night for the recital came. The high school gymnasium was packed with parents, friends and relatives. I put Robby up last in the program before I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing piece. I thought that any damage he would do would come at the end of the program and I could always salvage his poor performance through my "curtain closer." Well, the recital went off without a hitch. The students had been practicing and it showed. Then Robby came up on stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked like he'd run an eggbeater through it. "Why didn't he dress up like the other students?" I thought.. "Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?" Robby pulled out the piano bench and he began. I was surprised when he announced that he had chosen Mozart's Concerto #21 in C Major. I was not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimo to fortissimo. From allegro to virtuoso. His suspended chords that Mozart demands were magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so well by people his age. After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo and everyone was on their feet in wild applause. Overcome and in tears I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby in joy. "I've never heard you play like that Robby! How'd you do it? " Through the microphone Robby explained: "Well Miss Hondorf . Remember I told you my Mom was sick? Well, actually she had cancer and passed away this morning And well . . . She was born deaf so tonight was the first time she ever heard me play. I wanted to make it special." There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening. As the people from Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed into foster care, noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy and I thought to myself how much richer my life had been for taking Robby as my pupil. No, I've never had a prodigy but that night I became a prodigy. . . Of Robby's. He was the teacher and I was the pupil for it is he that taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself and maybe even taking a chance in someone a nd you don't know why. Robby was killed in the senseless bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April of 1995. May God bless you today, tomorrow and always. If God didn't have a purpose for us. We wouldn't be here!

Easter Gift.

I know it is Lent Season but its 23 more days until Easter. Most shops and houses already showing the spirit of Easter by putting up Easter Decorations. Apa lagi Easter Eggs and Easter Bunnies can be seen everywhere now. Kids already got their advance Easter Gift from our neighbour who live just a few block away. My boys are lucky cause these people are sooo children friendly...they have been pampering the boys...they shower them with many presents.... Whenever they appear to our doorsteps they must have something to the boys...untung lah durang ni selalu dapat hadiah. I feel so blessed jugalah. I am sure they´ll be missed when we move away from this town one day ..wuahh!!. See what she gave to my boys..cute or not? I find those bunny figures are so cute so tayang lah sikit hehehe....knowing her, I am sure she will come again before Easter with some Chocolates and other Easter goodies!. Sometimes I try to avoid those sweet stuff but somehow its hard to let down people who are just being nice to us right. If it is continue like this abis lah saya, I will never snap into my jeans hahaha..

Kyle enjoy playing with his new toys...he likes to make the figure kiss each other hahaha..kids are always cute right.