Pill Popper

I haven't updated in a while.  Motherhood was at its peak these past few days after the new arrival took its toll in our lives. It has been a month since I gave birth to baby #3 and meeting the quirky demands of 3 kids is quite  a handful, I must say.  I learned to carry 2 "heavy" little people all at the same time.  And when I sit, it was always the same thing, still 2 elves sit on my lap.  Aaahh motherhood, bittersweet!  After all the baby mania, the inner woman in me is saying that baby no. 3 is and should be the last one.  I mean, I was desperately hoping for a girl but 3 kids is exxxhhaaaauuusting!  And so, to further stop my baby making tendencies, I decided to try on the pill. I've never been a pill user. Trying out one gave me the jitters.  And so, off I went to my ob.  She prescribed 2 kinds of pill: EXCLUTON and CERAZETTE.  Ob said, these are intended for breastfeeding moms, the only difference is the price- with Cerazette being more expensive than the other.  I decided to try on Cerazette believing that the more expensive one works best with lesser side-effects.    And because I'm so O.A when it comes to anything that sparks my o.a-ness, I researched the pill many times over, digested and almost memorized the info from their webbie (yikes!).  I've read from forums, countless women whine about the downside of the product.  Horror stories are aplenty..which is a good thing though, at least I've got a foothold on what to expect.

my first pill pack :)

I started my first pill pack this month.  I have also set my phone's alarm at the same time each day.  I've never missed a pill, I'm extremely careful now.  It's been almost 3 weeks since I started poppin' it, and the verdict?  I think this pill's the right one for yours truly.  I haven't noticed an additional pound, no nausea, no headaches, no pimple breakouts...It was like I'm not taking anything at all.  There was an initial bout of spotting but then it stopped and now, it's completely gone.  So hurray to Cerazette and yay to a worry-free me. :)

PS.

for those of you who wish to try Cerazette, try visiting their site www.cerazette.co.uk for additional info because the leaflet enclosed in their packages are sometimes out of date.

My Picky Eater

Khym is such a picky eater.  I can not remember a time that I was at ease with his eating habits.  He never liked rice, veggies and fish.  Up until he was 3, milk was a staple food in his diet.  He was always a liquid fanatic preferring milk and juice over other foods.  And then again, there are those unhealthy food choices: hotdogs, junk food, chocolates..I just don’t understand why he claimed to have difficulty swallowing rice and viand and then later on gulping and munching juice and any other junk food.  Breakfast time, lunch and dinner were always blah..blah moments.  I can’t help but scold him because he just wouldn’t eat.  I tried vitamins to increase his appetite changing them ever so often when there are no results.  And his milk, I switched brands every now and then too in hopes of finding that perfect milk that could fatten him up.  But nothing somehow worked.  And to top it all off, Khym is such a hyperactive child.  He runs, he jumps, he rolls—he does every active motion and does so little time in our dining table.  He’s always on the go..so that extra pound that he might earn, is burned up faster than you could blink. But thankfully, he rarely gets sick, and when he does, it’s only a mild cold or cough.  So maybe, he will outgrow being a picky eater.  I hope he does but for now, I’m just thankful that he’s “healthy” in his own way.  I’m always on the lookout for ways to get my son to eat and I found these yummy recipes on the internet for picky eaters.  I’ve yet to try them but I will eventually.

Here are some of the recipes: (courtesy of Annabel Karmel)

KRISPIE CHICKEN NUGGETS

Ingredients 

7 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 cup milk, plus 1 tbsp 

1/4 tsp salt 

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 tsp fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 tsp dried

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Salt and pepper to season

1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies

2 tbsp finely grated sharp Cheddar cheese

1 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan

1/2 tsp paprika (optional)

1 egg

1/4 cup flour

3 to 4 tbsp canola oil, for frying

Directions 

Cut the chicken breasts into 1/2 inch cubes and put in a bowl. Mix together the 1/2 cup of milk, the garlic, thyme, lemon juice, 1/4 tsp salt and some black pepper (the mixture will separate a little from the lemon juice but this is okay), and pour over the chicken. Cover, and leave to marinate in the fridge for 4 hours or overnight. 

Put the Rice Krispies in a food processor and whiz for 1 to 2 minutes, until reduced to fine crumbs. Mix with the parmesan, cheddar cheese, and paprika (if using). Transfer to a large plate. Whisk the egg in a small bowl with the tablespoon of milk. Mix the flour with a little salt and pepper, and spread out on a separate large plate. 

Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade, shaking off any excess. Toss in the seasoned flour, then dip in the egg mixture, then roll in the Rice Krispies coating. 

Put the oil in a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Fry the nuggets for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels and let cool slightly before serving. 

Recipe Tip: To freeze, put uncooked, coated chicken cubes on a baking sheet lined with cling wrap. Cover with more cling wrap and freeze until solid, then transfer to a re-sealable box or freezer bag. Cook direct from frozen, adding 1 minute extra cooking time for frying.

STICKY BBQ RIBS

Hands on time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour

Yield: 4 to 6 portions

Ingredients 

BBQ Sauce

1 small red onion, chopped

1 tbsp olive oil

1 garlic clove, crushed

1/2 cup tomato ketchup

1/3 cup fresh orange juice

1/4 cup clear honey

1 tbsp dark soy sauce 

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

2 3/4 pounds Saint Louis-style spareribs, cut into individual ribs

salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season

Directions 

Pre-heat the oven to 325 F. In a frying pan, sauté the onion in the oil for 5 minutes or until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, then add the remaining sauce ingredients, bring up to a simmer and cook for 1 minute. Allow to cool slightly then whiz together in a blender. 

Put the ribs in a large roasting pan (line it with foil for easier clean-up) and season with salt and pepper. Pour over the sauce and toss the ribs to coat. Cover with foil and cook for 30 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 400 F, uncover the ribs and cook for a further 30 minutes, turning over halfway. Transfer to a plate and allow to cool slightly before serving. 

Alternatively you can broil or BBQ the ribs -- season and cook in the broiler or over coals for 10 minutes on each side. Brush the ribs with some of the sauce then turn and broil or grill for 5 minutes. Repeat 3 to 4 times until the ribs are cooked through, with a sticky coating.

ANNABEL'S YUMMY BURGERS

Hands on time: 8 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Yield: 4 burgers (suitable for freezing)

Ingredients 

1 medium red onion, chopped

3 tbsp sunflower oil

1 garlic clove, crushed

1/2 tsp thyme leaves

2 slices white bread, crusts removed

9 oz ground beef

2 to 3 tbsp tomato chutney 

salt and freshly ground black pepper 

1–2 tbsp flour, for dusting

Directions 

Sauté the onion in a tablespoon of the oil for 5-6 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and thyme and cook for 1 minute. Tear the bread into pieces and put in a food processor with the onion mixture and blitz together. 

Transfer the onion and bread mixture to a bowl, then stir in the rest of the ingredients and season to taste. Form the mixture into 6 burgers using flour dusted hands. 

Oil the rack of the BBQ well with the remaining sunflower oil before cooking the burgers over medium hot coals for five minutes each side until cooked through. (Medium hot coals means you should be able to hold your hand over the BBQ comfortably for 10 seconds. ) 

Alternatively you can fry the burgers in sunflower oil for 4-5 minutes each side over a medium-to-low heat. If you fry over a high heat, because of the sugar in the tomato chutney the burgers have a tendency to burn.

MY FIRST SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE

For children ages: 9-12 months

Cooking time: 24 minutes

Yield: 3 portions (this recipe is suitable for freezing) 

Ingredients 

1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 medium carrot, peeled and grated

3/4 cup wiped and sliced button mushrooms

5 ounces lean ground beef

1/2 cup canned crushed tomatoes

1 cup chicken stock

A few drops of Worcestershire sauce

Pinch of brown sugar

1 bay leaf

2 ounces spaghetti

Directions 

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a saucepan and sauté the garlic and onion for 2 minutes. Add the grated carrot and sauté for 2 minutes more. Pour in the remaining oil and sauté the mushrooms for about 3 minutes.

Meanwhile, sauté the ground beef in dry frying pan until browned, then add to the vegetables together with the tomatoes, stock, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, and bay leaf. Cover the saucepan and simmer for about 15 minutes; remove bay leaf. 

Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions, but do not add salt. 

Puree the cooked meat using a handheld electric blender for a smoother texture. Chop up the spaghetti into short lengths and stir into the Bolognese sauce.

CHEESE AND HAM PIT-ZAAAS

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 1 child portion

Ingredients 

1 small, round pita bread ( about 3 inches diameter)

2 tbsp tomato sauce

1/4 cup shredded mozzarella or Cheddar cheese

1/2 thin slice of ham, cut into thin strips

1 tsp sliced black olives (optional)

2-3 fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)

Directions 

Preheat the oven to 400˚F. 

Warm the pita bread in a microwave for about 10 seconds, then carefully split in half to give two thin rounds. Place the pita halves on a baking sheet, crumb side up. Spread tomato sauce over the rounds and scatter on the cheese, ham, and olives, if using. 

Bake until the cheese has melted and the pita is crisp, 9-10 minutes. Cool slightly before cutting each pit-za into four. Scatter a little torn basil on top to garnish, if desired. 

Variations: Toast the pita halves under the broiler, then add the toppings and continue cooking under the broiler until the cheese melts. For hungry toddlers or older children, use whole mini-pitas.

Enjoy cooking these recipes.  I will too with my kids. :-))

Caring for baby's umbilical cord

It has been a growing debate whether to swab alcohol on the umbilical cord right after birth or not...Others say, it's a must while others think it doesn’t make any huge difference at all. For hygienic purposes, I prefer the former. Korby's umbilical cord fell off after 7 days. I changed his diaper one night and it just fell. After that, his belly button had this red/yellowish discharge which eventually disappeared after a few days. Now, after 11 days, it has completely healed. Newborn babies are prone to infections that’s why, a dab of alcohol twice or thrice a day won’t hurt. Some parents may be taken aback by the appearance of baby’s umbie but nonetheless, they need to keep it dry and eventually it will fall off.

There are several things you should avoid when it comes to baby’s umbilical cord:

• Do not submerge the baby into bath water until the stump falls off. Sponging and mild soap and warm water is sufficient for bathing. It is also advisable not to use powders or creams as they may irritate the cord, baby's skin and can even cause respiratory problems if baby inhales the dust of powder.

• Do not let the diaper rub on the baby's cord. It is important to fold the diaper back or under so the cord will not make contact with the diaper. The cord should remain in the open so it can dry, and it's important that the diaper do not irritate the cord area. In the Philippines, it has been a tradition to put abdominal binders on an infant’s tummy. The old people said that it should be done to prevent air or gas from entering baby’s tummy through his umbilical cord or belly button. Although older relatives gave me abdominal binders, I never use them at all from my 1st baby up to my third. I never really did understand the whole point.

• Do not use non-sterile cosmetic clay on the umbilical cord. Do not use any non-sterile product on your baby's umbilical cord. These products can produce a breeding ground for bacteria and neonatal tetanus, a rare, but deadly disease caused by bacteria found in solid and animal waste. All childbearing women are encouraged to receive a tetanus vaccination to prevent neonatal tetanus in their infants.

• Do not manually pull off the umbilical cord. Near the end of the drying period the stump may appear to be "hanging on by a thread." As tempting as it may be to dispose of the dried cord, do not attempt to speed the process by pulling it off.

But should all else fail, contact your pedia immediately. Some signs of umbilical cord infection are:

• A reddened or inflamed cord area.

• A discharge from the stump.

• Odor from the stump.

• Tenderness of the skin surrounding the cord.

• Active bleeding from the cord.

• Your baby is running a fever.

But when you’re taking good care of baby’s umbie, in 2 weeks time baby’s umbilical cord will be completely healed and a cute kissable belly button will take its place.

Kd's Baby Reaction

After a week, everything mellowed down. Kc and Kd, my two older boys are almost out of their sickness mode.  The cough and colds are beginning to dwindle and I'm relieved!  For the past few days, I've been like a hawk guarding the little one with all my might while struggling hard to keep the older kids' hands and noses off the baby.  I kind of succeeded with Kc, my 6 year old since he's older, he knows and understands that baby might catch the cold.  And he stayed away for most of the time.  But then again, there's Kd, my 1 year old.  Most of the time, he leans on the baby's bed and takes a closer peek--dangerously close enough to transmit the germs.!  And if taken away from his new fancy, all hell break loose.  He screams like mad.  He really wants to be around the baby most of the time and it's tough for hubby and me to prevent him from doing so.  Kd has improved.  No more listless crying, which he did for a whole week after the baby was brought home from the hospital.  We sensed that maybe it wasn't all about his sickness that made him oh so clingy and tantrum prone.  It was probably his coping mechanism and inevitable reaction to the baby.  The first few days were really tough.  Kd was always clingy and screaming.  And it was a high-pitched scream.  Painful to the ears and heart.  The whole day, he would cry like crazy whether we carry him or not, whether he's awake or about to sleep, he wouldn't drink his milk and he had slight diarrhea.  We thought the whole thing would go on for much longer but surprisingly, yesterday..he woke up, all smiles and ready to take on the world.  He's back to his normal hyper baby self!!  It was a relief.  I hate it when my kids are out of sorts, whether they're sick, have tantrum dramas or just being a plain cry baby, I don't get to heave a sigh of  reprieve until they're A-okay.  So now, Kd's back to turning the house into an utter mess, doing his jiggly moves and flashing that charming smile.  And I'm glad that those grueling first few days were over and bracing for many more draining weeks to come with 3 kids in the house.  Good luck to me.  (*gulp)