Mount Alvernia Hospital Tour

I did a hospital tour at Mount Alvernia Hospital today! It may seem silly since P was born there, but I didn't do the hospital tour when I was pregnant with P and quite curious what they cover during the tour. Also, I wanted to know how the hospital renovations were coming along, especially with the car park.

Mount Alvernia Hospital provides a Free Shuttle Bus Service that operates from Monday to Saturday (excluding Sundays and Public Holidays) to/fro the following stations:

• Bishan
• Novena
• MacRitchie Reservoir Carpark

Since there wasn't a direct bus from my house, I decided to take their shuttle from Bishan MRT (in front of 7-11). It would be helpful to check the shuttle bus schedules from their website. Since the hospital tour starts at 2.30PM, I thought I will take the 1.55PM shuttle from Bishan and reach in plenty of time. However, the shuttle only arrived at about 2.10PM, so I was just in time to report to the Patient Liaison Centre located at the Main Lobby. Hence, please buffer for late arrival of the shuttle bus if you intend to take it.

There were already a few people in the Patient Liaison Centre, presumably also going for the hospital tour. The receptionist took my name, handed me a goodie bag and some information they were going to touch on during the tour. 

Contents of Mount Alvernia goodie bag

Information on the benefits and privileges of the Mount Alvernia Ladies card is probably the greatest takeaway from the hospital tour. I signed up for the card during a baby fair in May 2013 in order to do a health screening prior to trying to conceive. There wasn't a clear explanation given by them at that point in time on what were the privileges. It was a vague "You get savings on maternity packages, health screenings etc", but since I intended to do health screening, I signed up without asking too much. I also thought there will be lots of information available online with regards to the benefits of the card, but I couldn't find much. Well, there you go, the benefits and privileges of the Mount Alvernia Ladies card... You could also apply online via their website.

For today's hospital tour, we had 4 couples, 3 mothers (who came alone, including me) and 1 mother who came with a friend. My ex-colleague (due on 8 May) was supposed to join me, but she couldn't make it due to work commitments. I guess if everyone turn up in full force with their hubbies, we can expect at least 18 people on the tour.Our tour guide started the tour by going through basic information like maternity packages, and letting us know the tour route we will be taking later. Clyde must have been raring to go on the tour, for he kept kicking me during the entire explanation. The moment we started walking, he only kicked every once in a while, which hopefully means his nod of approval.

We were taken to the delivery suites (where they induced my birth previously), the rooms (only the 2-Bed Room, Single Room and the Single Deluxe Room were available for viewing), the nursery (where babies are) and the Alvernia Parentcraft Centre (final stop). At the end of the tour, we were given a drinks coupon each, which we could redeem from the cafe at L1.

Some useful info I got from the tour:

• The newly constructed car park is now open, but because they do not have a TOP date yet, the lifts are not functioning. It will be good to drop your pregnant/in-labour wives off at the lobby before you go in search of parking
• Maternity packages will start on the date of your delivery. E.g. if you check in on Monday and give birth within Monday, they will not charge extra. If you check in on Monday and give birth on Tuesday, maternity package start on Tuesday but you have to pay delivery suite and nurse charges for that night.
• Do pre-admission registration ahead of time so that all details will be made available to hospital the moment they have your ic number during check in. For pre-admission form, need to complete the Expected Date of Admission field in order to get an SMS confirmation from Mt A that they have received your details.
• Companion is only allowed for single rooms, and a companion fee of $80.25 applies. It covers 3 meals for the companion as well. If you have the financial power to go for the Family Suite (one and only in the hospital at a whopping $896.66/night), the companion fee is included as part of the package.
• The hospital do not encourage us to bring our breast pumps because the nurses will not wash and sterilise for us. Instead, we could rent one from them at $20 for the entire hospital stay. In view of this, I'm considering put my dual breast pump purchase on hold and try out the hospital pumps first. I will still have my Medela Swing and Avent manual from 1st pregnancy as backup, although both didn't work well for me previously.

I can't help but feel excited after the tour. Clyde hits Week 26 today, which means I'll be seeing him in about 14 weeks' time ^^

Hello Yasmin

Ever since we caught Hello Adam last year, I've been wanting to bring P to the next series called Hello Yasmin. Hello Yasmin is a theatrical play for children aged 2 to 4 years old, and explores the topic of plants and growth. Children will learn what it takes to grow a plant (seed, soil, water, sunshine) and that patience is key in seeing the growth through.

With P starting school beginning of this year, it becomes very hard for me to bring her to a weekday play. She would have to miss school and I didn't want to do that. Compared to the Hello Adam weekday play session I went for previously, this Hello Yasmin weekend session is obviously more crowded. However, I learnt that my forum group are planning to go together to enjoy discounts on tickets, I decided to join them. 

Upon entering the recital studio, we found many styrofoam blocks on the floor. I didn't think much of it and even encouraged P to stack a few up, only to realise later in the play that it was one element of audience interaction. P was really fascinated with the play, though her view was occasionally blocked by adults in front of us. That's the thing about having audience seated on the floor. She had to stand through the most of the play in order to get a glimpse of the action. The play has plenty of songs and dances and the little ones were encouraged to join in. There was a couple of times that P couldn't contain her excitement and whoop in glee, haha. 

I would recommend it for children her age, but try to go for a weekday session if possible. The kids will get a higher chance of participating in growing the plants. At the end of the play, they will also get a pack of seeds which they could grow at home. My seeds are still intact because I don't think P is ready and has the patience to grow them. Maybe when her school eventually introduces the theme of plants, I will bring out the seeds to reinforce the idea.

Valentine's Day 2014

A simple Dominos pizza dinner, Gong Cha and a blueberry cream cake from Prima Deli sums up our Valentine's Day. The little one in the tummy hits the 24 weeks mark. Really great to be able to spend the day with my loved ones!

The Horsey Year!

P celebrated CNY in school on 30 Jan. Instead of her usual school hours, her school hours were tweaked such that the afternoon session dismisses at 12.45pm. The school sent a letter encouraging the kids to come dressed in CNY clothes and to bring along some snacks to share with their classmates. I took leave for the day, and was able to send the little one off on the school bus.

MY CNY dolly

Hubby and I did one final round of spring cleaning and went out for lunch. We reached mil's place to pick P up, only to see that she is busy emptying her school bag and exploring the goodies. She told me her principal gave her a 红包, which actually turned out to be Hello Panda biscuits in a small plastic bag, haha. She also received some small toys and sweets from school. I checked through her bag and found this! Her artwork is now hanging proudly behind our door. 

P's artwork - She told me she painted the red portion

P must have had too much fun in school. We tried to get her to nap so that she wouldn't be cranky when we go to my grandparents' place for reunion dinner later, but she decided that naps are not for CNY eve. Luckily, she held herself well during the reunion dinner and was especially happy to see my parents and sister there. She finally fell asleep at 10pm, with her 压岁钱 under her pillow. 

初一 for us is usually a hectic event and the day starts early. For this horse year, events ran in this order

1. Leave at 8.30am to go church

2. Go to hubby's mom's side

3. Go to hubby's dad's side

4. Send in laws home

5. Go to my dad's side

6. Go to my mom's side

We were out the whole day and I had to pack extra diapers and clothes for P. P took her nap in the car between events 4 & 5, and we stayed in the car for an additional 20 min so that she can get sufficient rest. In any case, my bones are usually achingly tired when we got to the end of the day. It made me miss those days before I met hubby. In those days, I only had to go to my dad's side and mom's side and finish off for the day. I really don't dare to imagine getting 2 bubs ready by 8.30am next year, omg. 

OOTD for CNY Day 1

Day 2 would usually be hubby's day's side, an uncle who stays in a landed house and have guests over every 初二. This is where lunch always include popiah, and some dim sum items ordered via delivery. After my brother in law has his fill, he will start the blackjack gambling den and is aka the banker. I recalled that P was quite disruptive during the gambling session last year. This year though, that family had a new baby girl and they had toys in the house for P to play. She kept herself entertained and didn't require much supervision. 

After the gambling session, we'd head to hubby's nanny's house near Farrer Park. This nanny had taken care of hubby when he was about 5 years old, and is like a second granny to hubby. She is getting on in years but never fail to reminisce on hubby's childhood days each time we go. Hubby and her grandson (3 years younger than hubby) were playmates, and he's now in Boston studying his PhD. In fact, hubby is thinking of going to US in the next few years since his childhood playmate is living there and will be able to show us around. 

OOTD for CNY Day 2

初三 was a bad day for P. She developed cough and fever the day before and woke up on Day 3 coughing till she threw up on our bed. None of the laundry shops were opened, so we had to bring the soiled laundry to a 24hour DIY laundromat to get them cleaned. You would load the laundry into their washing machine, put in the required amount of money and start it. The laundry will then run and you can come back later to collect it. They also have dryers working on the same concept. I've only seen such shops in US previously, but they are gradually popping up in Singapore now. The only con is that hubby needs to drive back and forth to stagger the washing machine and the dryer. Apart from that, it's a lot cheaper than going to laundry stores. 

We visited my colleague's house in the late afternoon and he has an amazing wife who is such a great cook. He stays also in a private property, and P entertained herself by going up and down the steps, haha. The last stop of the day is hubby's boss' house. He has recently started work in a new company and was pleasantly surprised to be invited to the gathering. It was a nice condo near Thomson, home to his bosses (husband and wife duo) and their 4 kids. Their youngest girl is 5 years old and P and her took to each other immediately. After hubby and I were greeted his boss and exchanged oranges, P had disappeared. We found her in her new playmates room with several trunks of toys. No presents for guessing what she did for the rest of the night. 

We had lunch on 初四 at my grandparents' place. P coaxed my grandparents into playing with her outside the house while me and hubby ate. Every once in a while, peals and shrieks of laughter will come from P. It was really very heartening to see them having fun. My grandparents are also getting on in age, and I really need to remind myself to spend more time with them. P is their eldest great grandchild and I hope she will have some fond memories of them when she grows up. 

P and her great grandparents

That's so much for CNY. I'm back to work today and P is back to school. Hubby is still on leave today and volunteered to fetch P to school. He told me that she kept saying goodbye to him when she reached the assembly area, as if very embarrassed that her dad has followed her to school. She is apparently adapting well and knows the school routines by now. Way to go, my little one!

Waiting for assembly to start.