Happy New Year 2008

Charlton and Royston are co-operative babies, you adapted very well living in ah ma house after we lived for abt one mth in our own Punggol flat. Despite sleeping in sarong swing during day time, you settled down well in sleeping in baby cots without any fuss. You latched on breastmilk very well & I must thank Charlton to relieve mummy from engorgement two days after discharge from hospital. You eat your 1st food ie plain rice cereal very well at 4mths+ old & you enjoyed the meal time so much !Your chuckles can make us melt and your smiles are very sweet and charming. Mummy will grin to myself whenever I think of your chuckles & smiles. This is the most powerful antidote to relieve my work stress. Charlton is still very shy & will cry when see strangers. Royston can "talk very well" and is more talkative than Charlton and yesterday Royston blah blah says pa pa , ma ma..wow, we are so happy ! Daddy & mummy wish you 身体健康 & 快高長大。。。！

Our First Christmas

Mummy bought the same clothes Xmas clothes for us and this photo is taken at Grandma's house. See how Aston gor gor tried to squeeze himself to take a Xmas photo with us. Charlton looks very natural but take a look at Royston, he does look quite uncomfortable. But we managed to take this First Christmas photo ...yeah !!

I love Daddy & Mummy

I have been waiting to wear these sleepwear for Charlton & Royston when they are 5mths old. See ...they are so adorable ! But the main point is let you all see how they and Aston look like during 5mths old.

Picnic at Pasir Ris Park

This afternoon, we went to have a picnic at Pasir Ris Park. We were so excited because this is the 1st outdoor activity we are bringing Aston and our twins out to breathe fresh air & enjoy the natural green. Mummy put on this set of new clothes for Charlton & Royston and wow they are SOoooo handsome ! Tops are from Fox, bottoms are from Old Navy and the socks are imprinted days from the hungry caterpillar theme. When we reached there, the sea breeze was so strong & blown onto our face until we have to take cover for the kids. Aston enjoyed himself so much in flying the kite (1st time flying kites..hiak hiak hiak..) and playing sands with Keith. Charlton & Royston are just happily lying on the strollers. Very glad that Charlton & Royston did not fuss in this outdoor trip, you drank well, slept well, burped well and played well with ah yi, mummy's cousins and aunties. We shall have more outdoor activities cos I find the outdoor pics are so nice and natural.

Taking care Charlton & Royston in same room

We are always very concerned over their milk intake during the night & this is becos when you are taken care by our maid Joan, you seems to drink less, not able to finish 150ml and will take few times over 1-2 hrs during night time to complete it. We do not want that happen becos when daddy & mummy takes care both you, such incidents hardly happen.

I wanted to have close bonding with Charlton and Royston. This morning, I was telling daddy if we can try taking care Charlton and Royston together and he agree and I feel we have the confidence to take care both you as you are crying lesser now and we know your behaviours and know how to react. We may try this Friday. We will also have to explain to ah ma4 becos she will surely object as she is concerned over enough sleep for daddy & mummy.

Weaning off from night feed

I have been hearing friends' babies and Keith when he was baby drank milk at 10plus and will sleep thru the night and wakes up around day break to drink. Not sure if we will be lucky parents this time. This is becos this week we take care Royston & he wakes up at 6am plus to drink his milk milk. Charlton will still drink at 1am plus or 2am plus then wakes up at 5am to 6am to drink.

Oral Thrush

Sigh, over the last few days, Royston milk intake was very low and it worries daddy & mummy. We cannot figure the reason cos you appear happy and do not look unwell but you cry for many times for long while on last Sat. Little did we expect to see oral thrush on your lower & upper lips this morning. We thot it's ulcers so I apply oral gel meant for mouth ulcer before I left for work. Who knows 阿媽 call daddy to bring you see PD asap cos she is worried. I took urgent leave and daddy drove us to Raffles Hosp see Dr Veronica Toh. When we reach the clinic, it was full of babies and kids and the nurse told me that I need to wait abt an hr to see Dr Toh. We are hungry and daddy need to rush back to work so we request nurse let us see Dr Tan who is available. He checked you and confirmed to us it's oral thrush. I ask him what causes it and he told me it's due to sucking pacifier and the fiction it rubs on the lips and mouth. You will cry when drinking milk. No wonder you drank so little each time. Dr Tan prescribes oral thrush gel to apply on you for abt 1 week. I applied for you in the clinic and I can see the sides inside your mouth has thrush also. Mummy wishes you a speedy recovery.

First Food

As what baby center says this week can try out on feeding solid foods on you. Over the weekend, daddy has bought Heinz brand cereal to try out on you. Charlton enjoys it so much as you will open your mouth real wide for the cereal whilst Royston was frowning and is raising his hands to shake off the spoon but finally still ate some.

Quality time

Taking care of twins is never easy but we tried out best to spread out our undivided time to Charlton & Royston. We also need to consider your big gor gor Aston. As Charlton was fussy baby during 1st two mths, cries alot and need to be cuddled. Night feeding was little for Charlton when taken care by maid. Charlton's appetite will improve if mummy and daddy take care you during night time. We need to care for Royston too & there were a few times we put both you in our room to sleep and you did not sleep long. One of you will cry so loudly and affect each other. No choice, we hand over Royston to our maid to take care. Mummy had always thot there is no problem to take care both you but the issue is you are too affected by each other cryings so no choice seperate you from our care. Royston recently was drinking lesser and I may ask daddy again if we shld try take care both you during night time. Maybe things will be different cos you are 4mth+ old now where your drinking time are predictable and we more or less can apprehend why you cry.

Not enough sleep that's why....

Ah ma complained that both u did not sleep for long for the last few days. You only slept 30mins or an hour and you will wake up. You are 4mths old now so probably you think you need not sleep so much. Wrong wrong..you must have enough sleep else you will be grouchy and cry very loudly. We will have hard time to coax you but most of the times we are able to sayang sayang and you are ok after that. But not today. For the consecutive few days of insufficient sleep, Charlton cannot withstand the tiredness. You woke up today since 4pm and slept at 9plus without drinking milk. Wow, solid 5hrs plus did not sleep. You cried loudly so we rock you in yao lan, you woke up few mins time and we fed you milk, you cried even louder, then rock you again, more cryings, finally I brought you to the room and tried to sayang you to sleep. You cried even more louder and this time I shivered with your loud cryings. After much sayangs, you finally sleep. Now waiting for you to wake up drink milk. Royston is sleeping soundly now.

These are the MOMENTS !

This is the 1st family photo we had. Charlton and Royston are 4mths old now. The clothes you wore are new ones which mummy bought a few days back.



Charlton and Royston sleeping pattern in yao lan. I find you always raised up the hands to cover the ears. So cute !


Well well well...Aston sat in walker when he was 5mths old. Cant believe 4mths old can sit in walker. Ah ma insisted let you sit despite repeated objections from mummy. I scared affect your spine bone mah.

First Hair Cut

Charlton and Royston are 4mths old today !!!!! Been waiting for this day to bring you to have the 1st hair cut, eat chicken drumstick and butter biscuits. Hair cut was needed cos you are already dropping alot of hair and a nice botak head is needed. Eating chicken drumstick and butter biscuits are strange rules from 外婆 as she says these food will make you drool less on foods.
Just now at abt 7plus, we came home from work to fetch you to have the 1st hair cut at Auntie Judy's salon. Her hair salon is called My Hair Artiste. She also cut for Aston gor gor so daddy and mummy trusted she will do the same good cut for both you. When we reach there, I realised forget to bring along camera to take down memorable pics of your 1st hair cut. Charlton was cool and well behaved as you are couched onto mummy's shoulder. Royston also couched onto mummy's shoulder but you are grouchy and cry while having the hair cut. A real regret no pics to show you...

Happy 4mth old Charlton & Royston

My two handsome princes turn 4 months old today. You are so chubby cute & I always pinch your face, sniff your cheeks and cuddle your little hands and toes. Er yi
says I am the most fortunate mummy to have both you, so cute and handsome !

Royston's Urine Test Result

Last Saturday went down to Raffles to have Royston's urine sent for culture...praying hard that this time round it'll be clear. Otherwise, it is very likely to be urine reflux problem with the bladder and he will need to go on long term antibiotics for 4-5 years.

Yesterday hospital called...to inform that Royston's urine does not have germs anymore. YEAH!!! No more antibiotics for my boy!

Royston's little ops

Monday, 22nd October 2007

As some of our friends probably know, Royston (younger twin) has been having UTI problem since 1 month old. He's been through so many urine tests and under antibiotic since 1st mth. Yet each time, the urine test showed germ infection.

After several tests and each time different germ is found, doctor is beginning to suspect Royston might not have UTI afterall. He might be just having infection at his foreskin area. He has seen two PDs and both recommended circumcision for him. So, yesterday (22nd Oct), we brought Royston to a doctor recommended by Raffles Hospital for the ops.

Some friends requested us to update them about the process and so here it is. I'll try my best to describe the ops.

Well, at the clinic, the doctor begin by explaining to us how common circumcision is in the States and among some ethnic groups and how simple the process is. And given his age, he'll recover in a few days time.

The ops begin by doctor using marker to make a mark on his foreskin. That will be where he'll cut. After that, he stabbed Royston at the base of his penis with the anesthetic jabs (yes, he really use stabbing actions to pop the needle in). I think that is the most painful part of the ops as Royston cries during the jabs.

But I think the anesthetics worked immediately because Royston is back to normal in a while. The doctor then proceed to use several pincers to pull on the foreskin and hold it in place.

Next, he uses his ops scissors and cut the extended foreskin away. And final procedure is to put in a plastic ring around the penis to protect the wound for the next few days. That ring will automatically drop by itself in 4-6 days time.

The whole ops took about 10min at the most and there's little blood. So not too scary. But for the next 2 days, my poor Royston might feel a little pain when the anesthetic effect wears off.

Hopefully with this ops, his germ in urine problem will be gone and spare his body of those antibiotic treatments. He'll go for his review and urine test next week. Hope for the best.

Oh ya, in case you want to know:

1. the ops is done through local anesthesia
2. it cost me S$481 bucks!
3. the doctor is at Gleneagles Medical Center. If you want the contact, let me know.

Baby Talk

Have you ever wonder whether babies understand one another with their "Ooo"s and "Aaa"s? My boys seems to be having a very interesting conversation while we adults are being amused by them...and they 'talk' to each other everyday!

Charlton & Royston's Growing up@3mths old

Our princes are turing 3mths old this coming Sunday. You have put on reasonable weights, yeah !

Charlton : 5.9kg
Royston : 5.55kg

Both of you have fallen sick since 2mths til now but your drinking is still considered regular and we are really hoping you can each time drink 120ml and not drink half or drink a quarter and then drink the remaining in an hr or 2 hrs later.
Daddy and mummy wishes for speedy recovery for both my princes. Esp Royston's UTI, you are due for urine test on 15Oct and if there is still germs, we need to send you for circumcision. Mummy really feel very heartpain for little young like you to undergo the surgery. We have tried to clean you very cleanly and taking all hygience measures so that you are free from germs & can be spared from the surgery.

@3mths old, we notice that you are able to recognise our voices, look at us, attentive to sounds, make out some sounds like ah ah, er er (so cute !) concentrate for few seconds on red/white/black pattern cards, chuckle with grinings when we tease you, raise up your legs at slight angle when playing in the Winnie the pooh playmat, move your fingers and hands freely & frown when we scold you. At times when you place both you side by side, Royston will "box" Charlton's face & the strength is too mild cos Charlton jus let Royston continue to hit. This is the most heartwarming scene cos it will remind mummy the two of you inside mummy's tummy 10mths ago. So sweet !

These are some words that you hear almost everyday since birth.
yang yang yang (means sayang sayang)
Or or (means sleep sleep)
Mummy
Daddy
Aston gor gor
Charlton
Royston
阿瑪
阿公
Joan auntie (our maid)
外婆
阿姨
舅舅
舅母
姑姑

Looks-Alike Meter

Aston has the looks-alike meter done and the results is 50/50 mummy/daddy resemblance. How abt Charlton and Royston ? People says Charlton looks so much like Aston but then results says he looks 6% more to mummy.


Royston is 5% more to daddy.


Well, then maybe will yield different results when they grow older :)

Baby Massage

Didn't know babies can go for massage until Shubin's friend introduced to us one Chinese physician along Changi Road (clinic name is 'Yu Guo...acupuncture and physiotherapy' something like that). Only know we can give babies body massage using baby oil...didn't know can go for Sin Seh type of massaging.

Since our older twin, Charlton, was quite a grouchy baby since birth and cries a lot, so we brought him to the Sin Seh last night. Oh boy, she was quite a fierce doctor. 'Scolding' us for pulling Charlton's cap too low and doesn't carry him properly..sternly questioning us whether we scared him, exposed him directly to fan/air-con or not and whether feed him too much or not. Aiyo! Luckily the massage lady after that was a friendly one. So the massaging time was quite relaxing...yes even for us parents who just stand there and watch.

Charlton, like his usual self, hate people to touch him especially his hands. So he was crying so loudly when the massage physician tries to pry open his hand. She tried for a few times but then gave up and turned to body and back massage instead. This, Charlton liked. So he just lie there and enjoy...so much so he let the auntie massage his fingers after that.

After the massage, I think Charlton had quite a peaceful night sleep last night. At least no more crying-for-no-reason before sleep.

So we decided Charlton shall continue his massage treatment and Royston and Aston shall go for monthly massages too...for general health maintanence.

1st Month Checkup

Charlton and Royston just had their 1st month checkup and injection. Initially we are still quite worried for Royston since he doesn't drink as much as his gor-gor. We worried he doesn't grow well. But turn out he also had a good weight gain. Here's their current stats:

Charlton

Wt : 4.45kg (birth 2.9kg) up 1.55kg

Ht : 54cm (birth 49cm)

Head Cir : 36cm (birth 33cm)

Royston

Wt : 3.8kg (birth 2.52kg) up 1.28kg

Ht : 52.5cm (birth 48cm)

Head Cir : 34.5cm (birth 33cm)

The Paedetrician very good. One look at them he can tell Royston is the calmer baby. 果然有经验.

1st Month Visiting to Agilent/Verigy/Kodak

Yesterday was my twins 1st month. So took leave to bring them back to me and my wife's offices. Let those uncles, aunties, gor-gors and jie-jies see them.

It was quite fun (though tiring). And they actually created quite a commotion in Kodak and Verigy (sorry ah Jeff, we made a lot of noise at your desk). Everyone was so excited. And I'm so touched with the nice photo frame that Merlinda made. If you haven't seen it, check out the photo section of my site or the album at my twins blog. This gal is really talented.

Last but not least, thanks guys and gals for the gift! We'll bring them back to office again when they are older. Let's see if you can still tell them apart. ;-)

Cool Slideshows!

Training paid off

Luckily I've been 'training' myself to sleep only 4-6hrs a day before the twins are born. Imagine now got to wake up at least 5 times every night (last night was 12am, 1am, 3am, 4am and 5am) and yet people comment that I looked fresh. Haha..it must be either that I looked terribly shacked in the past or now the joy of having the twins is written all over my face (thus covered the tiredness).

But I must also thank my dear wife for covering the rest of the hours that I'm sleeping and also helping to make my wake-up time as short as possible. :-)

Photo Album

If you notice, there's a new photo album to the right of this blog. I'll try to squeeze as many photos in there as possible.

So for every blog I post in the future, the photos in that blog will be added to this album for your viewing pleasure...

The Arrival...

Hello my dear friends! Our twins decided to come to this world earlier than scheduled. So here they are! Arrived in this world at Raffles Hospital on Saturday morning, 14Jul.

Their weights are 2.9 and 2.52kg respectively...very good weight for twins. Both are doing fine and mummy as well. So they are expected to be discharged on Tues.

Currently can still tell them apart by their forehead shape and size. Hopefully I can derive others ways to distinguish them because they are just born. So the shape of their head can still change and become identical (they're identical twins). Otherwise later when the younger one catch up with the size, I'm afraid I'll mix them up at home.

Anyway, from the pictures below, can you tell them apart? (Hint: Twin 1 is bigger...more meat)

Cool Slideshows!

Name Analysis

Hi everyone! The last time I promised to post my twins' name analysis. So here it is!

Aston's Chinese name was a result of me reading many books on naming theories. After naming, we confirmed with a "shifu" and it seems that the name was quite good. So it boosted my confidence and this time round, we decided to name our twins ourselves again.

After going through several combinations, I proposed to my wife 峻丞 and 峻旭. She like it immediately because combining them together, you'll get 丞旭, her Taiwanese idol..hahaha...

And to be on the safe side, I asked for an assessment of these names. Below is what we get...(that is if you're interested to read all those Chinese stuff)

And if you ask me why only one set of analysis? That is because the names are of the same stroke count. And their birthdates are the same. So their fate will be the same...

林峻丞 and 林峻旭
拼音: lin jun cheng and lin jun xu
笔划: 8 x 10 x 6 (for both names)

五格笔划
天格-> 9(水)
人格-> 18(金)
地格-> 16(土)
外格-> 7(金)
总格-> 24(火)

天格9的解析
（大成之数）大成之数，蕴涵凶险，或成或败，难以把握。
含义：浮沉不定之象。利去功空，陷落穷迫、逆运、短命、怪澹、悲痛，或者幼小离亲而困苦，或者病弱、不遇、遭难、废疾、贫困、灾难、孤独，甚而刑罚，有不测之凶厄。主运有此数者则为大凶。即或一身得免灾害，也难免丧失配偶或有缺子之叹。实为人生最大恶运。但有例外的怪杰、学者、伟人、富豪能出此数者。(凶 )
天格数是先祖留传下来的，其数理对人影响不大。

人格18的解析
（铁镜重磨）权威显达，博得名利，且养柔德，功成名就。
含义：铁石心发达运具备，有权力智谋。颖性非凡，志望一立必破万难达到目的，成就功业，博得名利。惟自信心过强而又乏包容之心，恐招事非诱发非难。宜养柔德，且慎勿骄。(半吉 )
人格数又称主运，是整个姓名的中心点，影响人的一生命运。

地格16的解析
(厚重） 厚德载物，安富尊荣，财官双美，功成名就。
含义：反凶化吉象。位尊望重，建立基业。雅量厚重，足智多谋，善于协调，所谋如意，家门繁荣，福禄寿俱全。为大事大业可成，富贵发达的好暗示。属温和之首领运数。(吉 )
地格数又称前运，影响人中年以前的活动力。

外格7的解析
（七政之数）七政之数，精悍严谨，天赋之力，吉星照耀。
含义：独立、单行、权威之象，过刚而缺乏同化力之意。天赋的精力充沛，具有调节事物发展的才能。能够勇往迈进，排除万难，成功显达。若能涵养雅量，刚柔处事，扩大气度，自然幸福上进。如果玩刚弄权，易酿成内外不和，于已不利，宜戒之。女性有此数者，难免流于男性特征，切要注意温和养德，才会吉利而无过失。(吉 )
外格数影响命运之灵活力。

总格24的解析
（掘藏得金）家门余庆，金钱丰盈，白手成家，财源广进。
含义：天赋幸遇，才略智谋出众。勤俭建业，克服困难，白手起家。财源广进，兴家积蓄，到老愈丰，为子孙继承余庆的福运之数。(吉 )
总格又称后运，影响人中年至晚年的命运。

对三才数理的影响: 顺利成功，易达目的，基础平稳，心身健全，可得长寿幸福。(吉 )

对基础运的影响: 境遇安定，稳固，身心健康，德性高尚者能有大的成功。（吉） 　

对成功运的影响: 万事顺利，能达到预想的目的。（吉）　

对人际关系的影响: 讲情义，奋斗心强，易与他人发生争执或纠纷，事后冷静下来能分明是非，不再与人计较。数吉者可成功。(平 ) 　

人格18有以下数理暗示: 次吉祥运、艺能运、刚情运　
地格16有以下数理暗示: 首领运、富贵运、男性双妻运、女德运
外格7有以下数理暗示: 吉祥运　
总格24有以下数理暗示: 富贵运、女德运

总评及建议：
你的名字起得非常棒，成功与惊喜会伴随你的一生。但千万注意不要失去上进心。。
可能对婚姻不利　

姓名评分：96

Multiplications...does amazing work in Nature

2 x 2 = 4, 4 x 4 = 16, 16 x 16 = 256....

Hate Maths? But this multiplication work wonders in Nature. Check out the babies' weight over the past 2 months. They practically double up every month.

~~Twin 1~~~~~~~~~~Twin 2~~

10 Mar 2007


29 Mar 2007


28 Apr 2007

See how Twin 2 has catch up with his brother in terms of weight. =)
That is something comforting to know because one of the major worries of twins is one twin growing too slowly. So every now and then, I'll talk to them, asking them to share food. Don't fight. Must share share. Silly right? But I'll do even more silly thing just hoping they'll be healthy. Haha... :p

Coming up next....babies name analysis.

25-Jan-2007 - Down Syndrome checkup

Today we're back to the hospital again for the Down Syndrome check. With twins, the risk of having it is higher. So we decided to choose for the more accurate test than the triple tests.

The test is done by another consultant in Raffles, supposingly a specialist in high risk pregnancy. Well, he did the usual scans using his machine and then we sit down for the consultation.

This is when he start telling us the risk associated with twin pregnancy. All those things about higher risk of this, higher risk of that. The best part is, he told us he can't see a membrane separating our twins and he is going to classify them as single sac twins which occurs in less than 1% of twins pregnancy.

The twins in a single sac will mean 100% their cord will entangle together and almost 100% they'll need to be born early/premature.

Shubin was almost on the verge of crying when she heard that.

Luckily after this doctor's session, we're supposed to see our gynae again. We told him about the single sac finding but he doesn't agree. He remembered he sees 2 sacs the last time round.

So we went into his checkup room to have another scan, this time using Dr Tan's own machine. One scan and indeed we can see the membrane indicating 2 sacs clearly. Here's the proof. You can't see the pic clearly but we can see it very clearly in Dr Tan's machine.



After this incident, we decided never ever think of changing a gynae. No even to another consultant in the same hospital. The machine they use can yield different result and imagine how much difference that can make. Especially when yours is a high risk pregnancy...

09 Jan 2007 - Gynae visit

It's been one month since the last visit. By now, the babies have taken their form and you can see their arms and legs. Check out these pics (hopefully you can see the labels on the pics).







This time round, Dr Tan requested permission to use our twin photos for his lectures. So in return, we get to have some 3D photos free. Check these out.





Never know this is how 3D images look like. Now you can't see the baby face features because they're still too small. Anyway, their face should be still very skeleton-like, with little meat on it. So better not to see too clearly. ;)