Counting down!

Counting Down! Two more days to go before I switchover to the new job. Work seems endless! I was still staying late every night. The handover was difficult because of so many interruptions.

Surprise no. 1 - I had a good mid-year review and competency assessment. Surprise no. 2 - I received an expensive hamper. It made me feel guilty. I thought I was being too harsh. But not for long. A person can't change overnight!

Term 3 Progress Report

The Principal wrote on Amanda's Term 3 Progress Report "Great work, keep it going!"

Once again, Amanda did very well in the exams. Despite having missed school for 2 weeks, her results were better than last term. She scored the highest marks for English in her class as well as the whole Sec 2 level. She also scored the highest marks for History in her class. In total, she scored 3 A1s and 2 As.

I am very proud of Amanda. I have encouraged her to do her best always because someday, she might win a scholarship. Then her dream to study law in the UK will come true.

On the other hand, Matt's results were disappointing. Despite having tuition, the marks for every subject fell. As he was good in Maths, I had expected him to score above 90 marks. Instead, he scored 88 marks and according to him, this was the highest marks in the class! Well, I have to see the paper first and check if the paper was a difficult one.

Matth's bad behaviour is another concern. His relief Form Teacher called to complain about his bad behaviour. She left a voice message and said that "his behaviour was intolerable and disgusting!" Last evening, before I came home, Alvin had already given Matt a lecture. Slamming down a book in front of the teacher was disrespectful. He shouldn't have done it. We had told him to apologise to the teacher.

This evening, Matt's tuition teacher also voiced her concern over his behaviour and attitude. It seems that he is always careless and hands in half-complete work!

Did we do the right thing by taking Matt out of Student Care?

Functional Vision Assessment

Lay Hong arrived an hour early at our home as she wanted to do a Functional Visual Assessment for Amanda before our PSG meeting that day. I was so glad that I had volunteered Amanda for this.

Amanda did a series of tests which included visual field, colour and contrast sensitivity, reading rate and reading efficiency, and tactile sensitivity.

I found today's meeting to be very helpful. I had learnt that a bit of creativity like using pop up stickers and common household aids can enhance the independent living skills of the VH. Amanda and I also learnt from Lay Hong the correct techiques of the use of the cane to go up and down the stairs. No wonder Amanda fell down from the stairs recently. She wasn't using the correct cane techniques! Fortunately, she only suffered minor bruises.

Psychopathology?

I just had to write down all my frustrations! This the final month, and I am counting the days before I make the switchover to the new job. It is certainly the most difficult period of my life. God, please help me get through to the other side of the tunnel quickly.

Psychopathology or split personalities? Well, everybody seems to think that he is suffering from split personalities just like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde from the famous novel. It was so funny when a new colleague made this comment. We both laughed uncontrollably. At least, I haven't lost my sense of humour!

Alvin's birthday & National Day

Alvin had recently been diagnosed with mild Diabetes. He is now on medication to control it. We saw this coming partly because of his family history. Already two out of his seven brothers has Diabetes. So now that's 3 brothers including Alvin.

To celebrate Alvin's birthday we had dinner at Thai Accent Restaurant at Vivo City. The food was sumptuous and we all ate too much. Later, we went to Swensen for dessert and ice-cream. We did a bit of shopping before we went home.

Amanda's recovery

I took half day leave yesterday morning to bring Amanda for her next review/check-up.

Amanda felt that her vision has improved a little over the last 2 days. I have noticed it too.

At last, some positive news from the doctor. He said that there was no more swelling in the cornea and clarity had improved by 30%/40%. We were so happy and relieved to hear this.

Praise the Lord! I immediately smsed our loved ones and friends the good news.

Amanda can't wait to go back to school tomorrow. Her friends at drama club will be performing and she don't want to miss it. Originally, she was supposed to the narrator!

9-days Divine Mercy Prayer

Was it God's intervention or pure coincidence that I met my old friend, Judy at Novena Church last Saturday?

Judy suggested that I try the 9-days Divine Mercy Prayer for Amanda. So yesterday afternoon, Matt and I went to Judy's house in Sembawang. She gave me the prayer booklets and a rosary, and taught me how to recite the prayers.

Saturday afternoon, Amanda attended a healing session at GMB. I noticed that she seemed happier after that.

We started our 9-days Divine Mercy Prayer on Saturday night.

Sunday afternoon, Pamela, Phyllis and Michael came to visit us. They bought Amanda a big pink teddy. It was nice of them to take the time and trouble to come.

I could see a change in Amanda's attitude. She seemed more positive and cheerful now.

Amanda's check up today

The doctor had planned to remove the stitches from Amanda's cornea today. However, with the recent change of events the doctor had to treat her eye infection and cornea rejection first.

Today is the fourth check-up. The look of disappointment on the doctor's face said it all. There was nothing he could do to help her. We will just have to wait and see, come back again next week.

This has been a crazy week. I felt like I am going mad. I can't bear to see Amanda so depressed. She sensed my sadness and she knew that I have been crying. What can I do??? I smsed to Ms Chung, her ex-teacher, Auntie Cheng Choo of GMB, Auntie Margaret and Bao Li asking them to call her and try to cheer her up.

Lord, please hear our prayers.

Amanda's 14th birthday

Amanda can't think of a place that she'd like to go to celebrate her birthday. Probably because she wasn't in the mood for celebrations. So, I suggested that we have dinner at Centre Stage, Marina Square. It is near to my office and there are a few restaurants there.

We had dinner at Spageddies Italian Kitchen. The waitress was kind enough to provide a complimentary tiramisu to the birthday girl.

I felt that Amanda deserved additional birthday presents. So, during lunch I bought from Suntec a pink sweater, a pink skirt and a white t-shirt to match.

Over the last one week, I had asked our family members, friends, colleagues, Amanda's teachers, Auntie Cheng Choo and the GMB church members to pray for Amanda. I was so desperate and our only hope was for a miracle to happen.

I have applied for a day's leave tomorrow. We will be going to Camden Medical tomorrow for Amanda's next review/check-up. I dread going there as I can't bear to hear what the doctor would say. I sensed that Amanda would have felt the same way too.