One down...

We finally got Imran registered for kindergarten. It's a walking distance from MIL's place. About 3 gates away. Heh! I did some scouting around for others. Smart Reader, Q-Dee's, Montessori, and the list goes on.. but somehow the most important thing to consider is transportation. Hubby is not exactly comfortable with buses. So, might as well we get the one closed to her mom's place.
We met a very nice lady (think she's the kindy' owner) who gave quite a bit of a lecture for sending Imran at year 5. And telling stories where she had to remind parents to register for school early. Haiyak! I finally got Hubby to register Imran for kindy and now got to figure out school? Next year's mission is ON!
Most of the program is the same as other kindy, but the part where she said they teach reading on one-to-one is what attracts me. Imran is turning 5 next year, but has not been able to write his own name. He recognizes alphabets and numbers but that's about it. I'm at lost when it comes to reading. I don't know how to teach. So better get someone to help out on that. Hehehe...
Anyway, they provide swimming class too! Optional of course, with additional monthly fee. With fee 1/2(I think) of Q-dees, I don't mind paying fot extra classes. If Imran wants it.

It's been a while

Dang! It's almost end of 2009 and I've been dormant long enough. Believe it or not, I'm still adapting to the working life. Hahaha!! I can barely keep myself awake after 9.30. Watching the 10 o'clock shows on AXN has never been so hard. If only I have Tivo... then I can just watch the show on weekends.
I'm celebrating Aidiladha in Perlis thie year. Sister is tagging along. My parents in Mekah for Haji. Brother got his sponsored to celebrate in Bandung. That's right. He got sponsored to spend 3-day vacation in Bandung.The perks of having a wealthy girlfriend who doesn't mind spending time and money for him. Well, terms and condition applies of course.
Yikes! Gotta run...Today's itinerary... Padang Besar!

From IJN with love....

NOT!!!
That's right. I'm writing posting this from Dad's room in IJN. He was scheduled for bypass operation today at noon. Due to unforeseen circumstances, it has to be rescheduled to another date. Just a slight delay of maybe a day or two. Depending on the surgeon's time table. I just wish we could get this thing over with, and move on to the recovery session.
I have taken the week off for this. Oh wait, I have to go back to work for second half of the day on Thursday. Nevermind. No biggie. But when your Mom has to go back to work to attend some royal visit, it really pisses me off how some human can be so inconsiderate to other people misery. We're talking about my Dad going for his triple-bypass and my mom has to attend to a full dressed rehearsal and ceremony because the Sultan is coming for a visit. I have nothing against the royal family because they don't really know the A to Z of what;s going on with the preparation to welcome them. It's those kiss-ass people who really irks me to the max! Come on people! Get a grip. This is someone's husband, dad and loved ones we're talking about. I bet if it's your mom, you wouldn't even blink to take leave just to be with her. Then again, talking about these kind of species.... you never know what they capable of. So, I'm just going to let it go. FOR NOW!!!
Right now I'm wondering on how to get here before 6 tomorrow morning. Arrrggghhhh!!!!!

A month has passed

Well, almost. Excuse? Busy, busy, busy...
I've started to enjoy my work place... FINALLY! Though I do feel kinda old since they call me 'Akak'. Heheh... Being a Malay makes it hard for them to just call me by name. It sucks big time! I wish they would just call me by name. Like some of them.
I'm still trying to break the language barrier. Being in Shipping Liner company makes it hard for me to even understand what the customer is saying. Not to mention they have their own code of certain thing that I know nothing about. Which makes it very frustrating. Especially when some customer just doesn't get it when I said 'no' to their request. For today I got one customer asked me to refer to senior staff for her request. I was so angry that I almost told her off by saying 'Who did you think I was talking to? A rock?!!!' The phone was mute, but my supervisor had a blast and laughed out loud!
Did I mention few months back I went to the dentist to get my wisdom tooth checked? Too lazy to browse the archive. Heh! Anyway, got x-ray proof that my wisdom tooth on the left lower gum is not coming out properly and most probably has to be removed surgically. He didn't insist on it so I just shrug it off. Boy, I did not expect the outcome for today's visit. The pain came back and I went for a quick visit hoping for pain killers. This time it was different dentist and he insist that either I go for surgery or live with the pain until I decide enough is enough. Not only the price will burn a huge whole in my ever so small purse, the procedure itself is going to put me through hell! For someone who went through 2 c-sections, I'm not too keen on having another surgery. I hate making decision for something that scared the heck of my wits!
To make matters worse, my dad is scheduled for admittance in IJN tomorrow. Going for angiogram on Friday and doctor has pre-booked for bypass the next Tuesday!

I used to...

be able to sleep late and wake up early without worrying what time i will some rest during the day. But now, I have to make sure I have enough sleep just to make sure I don't fall asleep while driving to work in the morning. Yes, I tend to be very sleepy while driving. Coffee sound so good but if I were to have coffee before I go to work, I have to make time for toilet break. Hahahaa...
Anyway, what can I share about my workplace? Other than the fact I drag myself to work on a daily basis. That's right. I hate my workplace. I don't hate the job. Somehow the place and the environment doesn't really motivates me to work harder than I should. Guess I need to figure out a way for me to inspire myself. Of course some some cute guys would definitely help to boost that. Hehehe... Guess, when you are so used to work in a team who will give you 101% of support, it's not easy to see a very divided team mates who has their own share of work. Too add salt to the wound, our so called boss is not exactly a very inspiring person. I thought someone with experience would be mature enough to realized threat does not give you the result you want. Sending news on salary cut and unemployment statistics doesn't help in boosting your team to work harder. It just gives you the opposite. I just can't believe how shallow some people can be nowadays.
Yikes! It's midnight. I have to iron my clothes and get myself ready to go to bed. Need to wake early tomorrow. No, I'm not going to work early because I want to. But I have to sneak out of the house before Hani gets up. The things you do just so your kids start their day in a better mood than yours.

Batte of the fittest

I'm battling with myself actually. Trying hard to get use as a working mother of two very unpredictable kiddos. I know it's going to be hard. But not to the extend I lost all my sixth sense to my overwhelming exhaustion upon arriving home from the office.
Today we decided to go to TESCO hypermarket to buy groceries and things for Halimah. Since Hubby went home earlier, he went to MIL's place to pick them up. And I went straight home and took a shower. Asked whether she wanted to tag along and waited for her to get ready. Once we got to the car, I realized I didn't pack any diapers nor supplies for Imran and Hani. Since it should be a quick one, I just shrug it of and went on. BIG MISTAKE!!!!
Arrived TESCO, the moment I stepped onto the escalator, Hani screamed. I was stunned. We tried to calm her down when all of a sudden Hubby thought of checking her diaper. True enough she pooped. To make matters worse, it has been there for quite some time that she screamed because her bottom was stinging her. I wanted to scream at someone. But who else should I get angry other than myself. I should've been able to detect the smell. I always did. It broke my heart to hear her cry when I wash cleaning her in the washroom. I had to carry her throughout the shopping ordeal because she was in pain. Of course the fact that she's not wearing diapers just scared Hubby. Hahaha...
I can't believe how I can be so ignorant towards my kids nowadays. I do kiss them every morning before I leave. And do hug them when I see them after work. But the fact that I did not detect anything was wrong with them is definitely alarming. I really need to get myself on track my Imran and Hani. Especially Hani. It seems that she's rejecting the idea of having a maid in the house. She felt abandoned at some point. I just hope this phase will go away and eventually realize that I'm not leaving her with a stranger. Just a new addition to the family.
As for Imran, he's having a time of his life. Another person to bully and turn to when Hubby wants to 'cubit' him for misbehaving.

So here it goes...

I have an Indonesian maid. She's from Jawa Timur. A 35-year old lady with 5 kids. Age range from 16 to 2 years old. She has been here for a year plus. Don't really know what happened to her previous employer though. MIL said it was something about she had been treated badly by the wife. Nobody can clarify that anyway. So just have to take her words for it.
Anyway, yesterday her probation starts. As of now, we're sending her together with the kids to MIL. MIL will be screening her for us. Since the main reason to get a maid was for someone to take care of the kids. I'm not too keen on the idea of leaving the kids alone with her. Especially we found out Hani is kinda scared of her. I wonder if somehow Hani feels that she's being abandoned by me and MIL when she saw the maid. You can never tell with kids. Somehow they have such an incredible sense that we would never figure out. I just hope this will be a temporary phase. MIL has been having trouble keeping both Imran and Hani in control. They have already started to bully each other. It won't be long when they'll gang up to bully the others.
As for the maid, she's okay. It's still too early to tell. I really hope I don't have to send anyone back but the decision is not mine to call. It's up to my kids. If either one of them doesn't feel comfortable with her, I might want to try out playschool for Imran. Where the heck can I found one within walking distance from MIL's place?
Oh by the way, our maid's name is Halimah. She calls me, IBU and Hubby, BAPAK. I'm wondering how confused will my kids be when they hear BIBIK calling me with the same call name as theirs. Hmm... should I change to Mom instead? Hahaha!

Just watch your back Sweetie

I'm posting this post from Ipoh. That's right. I had to take EL even though I have yet to get my entitlement for annual leave. For one reason and one reason only. Family comes first. It begins with such a beautiful start in the morning....

Hubby turns 3-0 yesterday and we had planned to have family dinner. Since I'll be attending orientation and training I can get off work early. But one phone call from my mom changed everything! My dad was warded to CH hospital. For your information my dad has been in and out hospitals for his heart condition. Nothing serious. Just a mild heart attack and few days of bed rest and medication. So neither mom nor my sister who was with him expected anything worse could happen.

Now, my mom is in KL for a convention. And she is still waiting for her relocation to CH. So she is still in Jengka whilst my sister is accompanying my dad in CH. Since we did not expect anything serious, my mom decided to visit him on the weekends. Unfortunately, sister informed me, CH had decided to send dad to GH in Ipoh because his condition just got worse.

At this point, my mom was already having a panic attack. This is her other half we're talking about. Dad went to the CH hospital for a his cough but ended up with severe heart attack. What the he**???!!!! He was only having the usual mild attack and ended up in an ambulance to see a specialist!! To make things worse, my sister was unable to get hold of my mom and she got yelled for not informing mom immediately.

I called my supervisor and informed her that I'll heading to Ipoh and won't be coming to work. Bless her angel soul! Picked up my brother so he'll take mom's car from the hotel. Got my mom and went straight to Ipoh. Arrived in the middle of the night. Dad was sound asleep. Got ourselves checked-in into a nearby hotel and rest for the night.

And today my mom got the whole story from yesterday. The truth was the nurses and doctors in CH has given my dad not only the wrong medication, but an overdose as well!!!! He had rashes all over his body. Body temperature went down and he was shivering. Thank God for their immediate decision to send to a specialist even though with being such an idiot for not listening to my dad in the first place! Ipoh's doctor immediately recognise his condition as allergic reaction instead of the severe heart attack as written on his report. My mom is planning to sue the hospital for malpractice! But she got mellowed. Instead she just wanted to give them a piece of her mind. As of now, Ipoh's doctor is planning to inform IJN to schedule for dad's triple bypass soon.

Thank you for everyone who has helped my family when needed! As for those people who are resposible for sending my dad off for a lousy trip down the hill, watch your back, Sweeties!! Because mom is coming to town!!

Let's pray....

I have never said that being a working mom is easy. Neither is a stay at home mom. Both had their own bittersweet experience that only a mother can feel. And just like a fingerprint, no mother could ever have exact same feeling towards their own experience.
After 3 weeks of working, it is still too early for me to experience the exhaustion of coming home to continue with house chores. Yes, I still cook dinner. With good planning, I don't have to wait to defrost my poultry. Hubby took care of the dirty laundry while I'll be the one enjoying my favourite show on TV folding them. Somehow we take our own share of cleaning up the house. Which doesn't really happened that often. But I'm glad that everything is going pretty well for now. Though I'm having a hard time dealing with the fact that I left my kids to my in-laws. They're not exactly the right person you'd want to leave a very vocal kid who would just scream if he wants something. Yes, I'm that bad of a mother. I don't let them scream at my house but somehow manage to let them off at my in-laws. Well.... Seems Hubby had the same problem too with them.
Enough about that...Let's get really serious now...
Last Saturday, we were shopping for some shrubs to start of my so-called garden, when we got a call from MIL informing us that Hubby's aunt was in the hospital with head injury. She was a victim of snatch theft! We decided to drop by the hospital since we were already on the road. Here I was thinking it was an injury caused by a fall. Boy I could not be more wrong!!! The truth was she was ambushed (MIL used that term) and got hit in the head with something very hard that I believe gave a mild concussion. By the we saw her head was covered and I could see dried blood on the sheet below her head. This happened in PJ. In public!! Well, most of these incidents do happen in broad daylight with people around. Somehow I felt ridiculous at how these scumbags can actually get away with their evil way of getting what the want. Trust me when I say they are not after your cash. It's something more important. Your identity! You think identity theft only happens in foreign country? Think again!!!
As for the person responsible for what happen to this very sweet lady. I curse you!!! You hear me??!! What goes around will come around. And I pray that you get the most just punishment for your evil scheme to survive. People live not to bring misery to this world, but somehow human does not comply with just being happy. Some idiots get their adrenalin rush by causing pain to people. And it is not my responsibility to rationale these behavior. To me... you are at the scumbags who will rot in hell or better yet, get killed in the act. Either way, it doesn't end well for you!
So now.. I pray.....

It's past midnight...

and I am still awake.. I'm sleepy but awake..
Living in a neighborhood where you are the minority certainly has paid it's toll on us. Ever since New year we have been bombarded with fireworks war. That house trying to outdo this house is no longer an expression. It a way of life. They are trying very hard to outdo each others flashy and loud fire crackers that none of them even gave a slightest thought of people with babies and children who get scared easily by extra loud exploding sound. Alhamdulillah my kids managed to sleep soundly even when the fireworks are lit just right in front of our house. I'm not talking about those firecrackers we played during Ramadhan and Eidufiltri. I'm talking about gigantic fireworks.
I thought fireworks and firecrackers has been illegal for years. So how did these people got hold of the license or permission to blow up these fancy bombs? I just want my peaceful night back!!! I have to get up early and brace through idiots on wheels!!!!!

1, 2, 3 4, 5

Once I caught a fish alive...

Imran has been singing lots of kids as well as adult songs. But it took me quite a while to figure out which song he's trying to sing. Especially when he was enjoying himself singing 'So What by Pink'. I could opnly make out the 'So, so what.. blablabl... rockstar' As for Hani she tries very hard to say the words, but could only come up with.. 'oohh.. oohh..' Good enough for me.
Last weekend we spent 2 nights at A Famosa Resorts in Melaka. Overall the security was good but the service? Bad!! Hubby's aunt wanted to have late lunch at their clubhouse cafe and ended up waited half an hour for nothing! No apology or anything that resembles their regret but somehow came up with an arrogant excuse of they only have one kitchen to serve 2 restaurants and they have members to serve. Well, they were in for a shock because Hubby's aunty just gave them one look and said ' That's not my problem! I ordered 1 Mee Curry and 2 plates of fired rice. And you came with 1 mee curry and 1 fried rice. If you can't handle that simple order then maybe you should re consider the tasks. Just because we're not one for your club members doesn't mean we're not paying customers!' That's not her exat words.. but how I wish it is. She did bambooed them for the bad service.
Durign the stay we decided to go for the Safari World, but had it cancelled due to drizzling rain. However we ended up in the 4-feet deep swimming pool in the rain! Hahah.. Oh, I forgot to mention we stayed in one of the villas which provided a not-so private pool. Imagine how happy the kids were when they saw the pool right beside the car porch. Imran's cousin was cheeky enough to wonder why can't they spent swimming in the pool until night time? Surrounded with 6 kids below 6 was priceless...
Sad to say even the cowboy world trip had to be canceled. It didn't matter though. They already planned to get up early to have the first dip in the pool. Ad this time Imran has finally found the courage to get into the pool. He got himself those round floaties and started to paddle all around the pool Guess he was phobic of not being able to keep his face out of the water with his arm-floaties.
I'll see if I can post some photos of the trip. Right now I have to wake Hubby up becasue we have to go out for grocery shopping. I hope I can persuade him to do some window shopping but he got his sinus problem again. So not so sure whether he would be in his usual grumpy mood or the good side. Hahaha.. Either way, after the long and enlightening chat with a someone, I have come to conclusion to stop being jelous of others happiness. Just be happy with what I already and about to have. Amin.....

After the grueling days at work..

I finally found my way to my ever so loyal PC. Hahaha... It wasn't that grueling at all actually. I sat there staring at my two monitored PC doing training module one after another. And watching my new-found colleagues answering phone calls and ever so expertly looking for information on the monitor while making sure the previous task which was interrupted by the call is not lost. With all the datas that needed to be entered and validate, phone cals to answer, queries to handle, there was one things that hit me. The place is somehow silent. After few hours I realized, the keyboard was not making so much noise. I remember back in my data centre day, we had complaint about the loud sound we're making just by hitting the keyboard. Gosh.. I really missed them.
To make matters worse, I realized that I did not miss my kids. Does that make me a bad mother? I don't believe so. Apart from I don't call to ask whether they're alright with MIL, I don't even talk about them. Well, the part where I don't talk about them would probably because I'm the only one with 2 kids. There's another lady with 1-year-old son but we haven't had time to chit-chat yet. The rest of the team? One word. YOUNG! Hehehe.. Imran has gotten used of me going to work. But it'll take Hani some time and loads of distraction to keep her occupied enough just to stop looking for me. She's getting along just fine with Hubby.
What can I say about Hubby, he's my guardian angel. These 2 days has shown me how dedicated he can be to support me. He has successfully managed to shower both kids before sending them off to MIL. Went to work and came back home and starts to prepapre for dinner! I have definitely underestimated him! He even help out to do laundry. Not that he never did before. But I know how exhausted he is when he came back from work, but somehow he also understood that it would take me some time to adapt myself to the routine.
If only I can get my pay earlier... Sad to say I won't be getting my salary until end of February. So I guess I have to get a belated birthday present for him. Hahaha.... Or an early anniversary celebration? Hmm..

Last weekend...

as a stay-at-home mother will be spent in Jengka with my mom. Dad is stuck in CH because his chauffeur, my ever-busy sis had to work on Saturday. Besides I still have last minutes shopping to do. Wait, did I say shopping? It's more of grabbing whatever I can have from my mom's collections. Hehehe.. I've already got loads of office attire. But still yet to accessorize. Handbags and shoes are on top of the list. And where else can I get them other than my mom. Don't be surprised, she can actually have some very interesting collection of handbags and shoes. For a close-to-retirement-age lady. Huhu... Sorry mom!
Apart from that, I'm still wondering about make-up. Face powder and lipstick. I really need a good compact powder because I tend to shine by noon. Hahah.. As for liptsick, well.. to give colors to my face? Hehe... As for eyeliner, blusher or whatever other people use, I suck at it. Seriously. Eyeliner.. poked my eyes. Blusher... what cheekbone? The rest..? Come on. Give it up already. Just how much product can you put on your face. Okay, I'll take that back. I can still remember how heavy my make-up was on my wedding day. Gave my mom a shock because that lady destroyed my eyebrows! Hahaha...

Killing time....

while waiting to pick up the kids...
Today is the fourth day MIL has been taking care of Imran and Hani. Let me summarize the event...

Day 1 - Send around 10 o'clock. Imran was alright.. Hani was looking for me all over the house. Toilets, rooms, kitchen, including under the stairs.. Picked them up around 2.30 because Hubby has to go to work.

Day 2 - Send around 9.30. I left and stayed at home. Around 4.20 pm MIL called saying Imran is crying and screaming he wants to "B.A.L.I.K". Arrived at MIL's to find he's sleeping soundly in her Sorento and Hani was messing with all the buttons and dials on the dashboard. She was a excited to see for like 5 seconds then went back to her gadgets.

Day 3 - We went to Puching to donate things for an orphanage. MIL wanted to borror Hilux cause she has promised to give bags of rice to them. So, no issue from both kids. And we bought tricycle for Hani which made her cry all the way back home.

Day 4 - I set up Imran's V.smile game console and left both Imran's bike and Hani's trcycle at MIL. So far no emergency call. I'm waiting until 6 to go pick them up.

Tomorrow will be another day of training. Next I'll start work and hopefull I can come back on time. I have been warned about the flexible hours. But until I can get a reliable maid to help, I would really want to get home by 7 pm.

Does that sound like a wishful thinking? I really hope not.

The value of money

Hubby and I went scouting for maid agencies today. We were shocked to learn that the initial cost has gone up to RM8k. And the monthly pay has increased to RM550 a month. Some even charge more for younger maids. If it's not for Hubby's tie-breaker, I would have opt for nurseries.
I can't believe the cost of hiring a maid has gone up so much within 4 years. I read in random forums that people used to pay RM350 a month and the initial cost of booking and processing documents was around RM 4k. That was few years back. With fuel price fluctuating, cost of living has definitely gone up higher than average. Maybe there will come a point where people can't afford to have savings due to a lot have been spent on daily needs. Food, clothing, basic needs which require an average of 80% of your monthly pay.
I worry about the future. Sounds a little cliche? Of course. I'm already preparing my kids for the future. I want them to be able to enjoy themselves without the financial burden. But how can I guarantee the financial freedom when all that we see is financial debt increased within seconds. I'm not a financial expert. Obviously! Hehe.. But I do know the difference between the 'want' and the 'need'. I want that so-called slimming program but what I need is to spend 30 minutes on the treadmill. FYI, Hubby bought a treadmill and it has been unused for few months now. I used to run 30 minutes a day. And Hubby saw the change. But somehow I got tired of the regime and quit! Hahahaha... But that's another story.

Cause we are
Living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
- Madonna's Material Girl lyrics...

Can anyone please

share with me the experience on the process of getting a maid? Or perhaps recommend agencies for it?
We have decided to go for foreign maid but since neither of our parents nor us have had long term experience with hiring full-time live-in maid, we have to get help. Hehehe..

If you can't stand it, change your diet!

Wonder what I would have reacted if I was being exiled to Mongolia? All work and no play? children start helping out as soon as they can understand orders? Make me feel so blessed living in this country. Though one say the grass is greener on the other side. I am quite content with the grass right here. Hahaha...
I have seen a couple of shows where families being sent to Africa, Mongolia and yes there was one family sent to spent 9 days if I'm not mistaken with an family the deep forest of Sarawak. Apart from the culture shock that they faced, one thing that really struck me big time. The animal slaughter. What on earth were they thinking every time they took a humongous bite of those greasy hamburgers?? A humanely killed pigs? Hahaha... Would you eat meat with poison in it? Of course not. You'll ended being humanely euthanize yourself. I guess electric shock could do the trick but that would be way too costly.
I guess being brought up in a not so small urban area is not too bad. I've seen cows, goats, chickens and not forgetting rabbits being slaughtered for their meat. And yes I've eaten most meat except for buffaloes. At least I think I've never eaten it. I can understand when vegetarians and PETA protesting these animal abused because they really believed that animals should have their rights to live because they are living beings. What I seems to have problem is with those people who eat their medium raw steak cooked by a well-known chef and claimed that killing animals are cruel and should not be tolerated. Now these hypocrites should be taught some lessons regarding the circle of life. Huhu..

There goes my shopping spree...

Hahaha... NOT!
I have yet to even start my job when another dilemma decided to drop by. It is something both of us have actually put into consideration. But never expected it to visit this soon. MIL requested for us to apply for a maid. We have been discussing the matter of her taking the kids and definitely have put some consideration that she would not be able to handle them with her current condition. Don't get me wrong, she's an angel. She truly is. But for someone with a soft heart to take care of my ever hyper kids would definitely drive to her physical limits. Especially since Imran have started the tendency to bully her baby sister. Of course Hani can defend herself. But both of them would start to wail like no ones business and that would definitely drive everyone crazy!
So, I am already contemplating on how to save money in order to be able to pay for a maid. The initial plan to get a job was to pay my student loan. Which unfortunately have accumulated quite a sum of arrears. Then comes the expenses of commuting to work. Tolls, gas, food etc. Then the car we're about to buy for me. Just some cheapo car will do. But still, the monthly payment? I would like to be able to pay for it. Can't just blindly depend on Hubby. He's already paying for the house, Hilux, insurance, not to mention my make-ups. Hahaha.. seriously. I really do want to help.
We're not a big fan of spending our money for luxury things. We don't shop at boutiques, we don't eat at Tony Roma's because we chose not too. We chose to prepare ourselves with a better future. (I know.. I know.. yada yada.. just bare with me okay? This is MY blog..) Am I wrong for not sending Imran to a well-establish kindergarten just because I feel there's not need for it? He can still learn to read and write at other kindergartens. Hubby and I graduated from Tabika Kemas. And proud of it. As for Hani, I'll let her decide on what she wants when she can.
As for the maid issue, we have deliberate (hah!) and decided to go for it. MIL's trying to get one locally but I'm pretty sure none is available. Most probably we have to settle for foreign aid. I'm not too keen on having a live-in maid but MIL wasn't too keen on nurseries. Hehehe.. Hubby became the tie-breaker and decided on maid. Good for him! I just pray it wouldn't take too long for us to get the right one.

Tips for Stay at Home Moms Going Back to Work - Leslie Godwin, MFCC

From this site.

1. The first thing to do is to be very clear about why you are going to work, what you need to earn, and what schedule will work for you.
I'll be working Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 5.30 pm. Seems perfect to me.

2. Don't feel that the company who offers you a position is doing you a favor just because you have been out of the workforce a while.
Definitely not. I know I have actually impressed them with my experience and the way I handled the interview even though I was out of the corporate world more then 3 years. (So perasan!)

3. Most moms returning to the work force worry about the gap in their resume.
I actually did worry. How am I suppose to 'sell' myself when all I have been doing is taking care of my children. Then when the interview came, I just realized I was doing management work as well as admin when I was handling the laundry shop. Hahaha!

4. Talk to your spouse and find out what his concerns are.
He requested that I get a job. The main concern? My student loan! Hahaha.. Dang!

5. Talk to your kids.
This one is quite a dilemma. How do you explain to a 3-year-old and 1-year-old that mommy will be leaving them with grandma for maybe up to 10 hours (includes commuting). Not so easy. Especially when the little is still BF.

6. Help is available.
Help is all around us. Thank you for my ever-so helpful MIL. She has been an angel to me and my family. If she can't handle my ever so active kids, there's always nurseries and kindergartens.. Last option, a maid.

7. Practice interviewing with a friend.
Hahaha.. never got the chance to do this. Wish I had.

8. If working outside the home doesn't work, be willing to change jobs, look for work you can do at home, or return to being a homemaker full time.
I pray that I don't have to face this.

Suze Orman's 2009 action plan

I got this from watching Oprah's Best Life show on Hallmark. I got hooked with Suze Orman when my MIL introduced me to her show on CNBC. Just love how she kept saying "NO!!" to ladies who spend too much on luxuries when they're not suppose to. Hihihi...

1. Do not spend any money for one day.
2. Do not use credit card for one week.
3. Do not eat in a restaurant for one month.

One lady could not agree to the third plan. I couldn't agree more with her. Why..? I can get very sick of my own cooking! Hahahaha....
I can stop myself from spending any money for one day. Haha.. Just wait till I get hold of my own money. Wonder what damage I will do. I definitely can live without using credit card for more than one week. Plastic money only for emergency cases. Remember when Hani was admitted to PMC Klang for 3 nights? Had to borrow MIL card because mine had exceed the limit. Hubby was in London. Definitely need a higher credit limit for those emergency expenses. Don't be mistaken, she does have insurance, but had to pay and claim later.
But the part of no eating outside for one month.. I really wanted to give that a try. Especially once I started working. Wanted to see if I can discipline myself to bring food from home. There are loads of one-dish recipes out there. Just need the time, discipline and obviously the gadgets to do so. Haha.. another excuse for shopping? There goes my financial plans!

After the long wait...

As some might have guessed, I went for a second interview last Tuesday. And today I got a call from them asking me to collect my offer letter tomorrow and get myself a medical check-up. Obviously when I said I can start immediately it is acceptable that they wanted me to start next Monday. But given the thought of how am I suppose to leave my kids without some warning would give me terrible guilt feeling. I requested for one week delay.
So I'm head over heels about getting this job. Since I have yet to get back my pre-married size, I have to settle with the traditional Baju Kurung. Courtesy of my mom. I can do a monthly rotational with the ones she gave me. Not including the one I bought for raya. Hahaha...
I pray that my kids would be alright. And I have to start a new cycle for Hani. What was it, reverse cycling watchamacallit?
Gotta go.. Hani and Imran are having fun in the shower.. Geez, wonder how am I suppose to survive the hours without them screaming....

Mission 1/2 Accomplished...

hahaha... funny ain't it? How can I secure a half worked mission...

because I have to wait for the outcome within 2 weeks time.

Thanks to your prayers, (CT and MQ) I have recovered from the nasty cold. Hubby's sharing my antibiotics.. (kad insuran tak dapat lagi, sebab kena bayar dua orang je ambil ubat... huhu..).

Told ya!

See... I completely forgot to update. So here is my first post for the year 2009!

I'm down with a terrible cold, therefore I have to get a full bed rest today. Tomorrow I got a very important mission to accomplish.