The year that was 2020

 Woah! What a year that was!

The underlying message of this crazy year was to enjoy the little things.  And that we definitely did.  9 days into the year we had a blow when Biju was asked to resign from his job.  The life as we knew for many years was set for change.  

Add to that the spread of the pandemic, the health scare, the lockdown, the uncertainity, the job search, the disappointments and rejections, the school change, the online learning, the final year at school, the college applications...a crazy, topsy-turvy, twirly-whirly year!  A month by month highlight of the past 12 months.

Jan - On 9th, Biju was handed over the letter. He had to resign immediately and was offered three months' salary and visa and insurance upto renewal. This was totally unexpected and he had the biggest shock.  The only plan I had in mind was to wind up and move back to Kerala once school closed.  Aarush was in the final terms of Grade 5 and Aaryav, KG1.  But Biju had other plans and wasnt ready for a move so soon.  

Feb - Serious job hunt started.  But things were not easy as we expected.  Salary offered was less than half with no benefits.  Corona was spreading fast and wide and before we knew it, the whole world was being affected.  Abhis exams had finished and the Grade 12 classes commenced.

March - Many countries went in for a lockdown.  Abhis school closed much ahead of schedule and we brought her to UAE.  One good decision beacause a couple of days after she reached India went in for a lockdown.  Aarush and Aaryav's school closed.  We were all asked to stay indoors and step out only for essentials.  Kids were locked up at home with no one to play with.  

April - Schools reopened.  Online classes were introduced.  Aarush started his Grade 6 and Aaryav was promoted to KG2.  Aarush adapted well to the online classes but it was a daily challenge for Aaryav.

May - We celebrated Aaryav's 5th bday with a home baked cake.  Aaryav was pulled out of school as the online classes were only adding to the stress.  I decided to home school him.  He was super happy about the decision.  After almost 2 months within the walls, we started going out.  To groceries and for house hunting.  We were planning to move to a smaller and more economical space.  Finally we decided to renew at the same place and luckily, there ewas a rent reduction due to covid situation.

June -   Abhis online school started.  Aarush cleared his first terms exams.  We decided to pull him out of DPS to reduce the expenses, applied for TC and took admission in Ebener International.  I joined a weight loss group with school friends and started walking and dieting.

July - Aarush turned 11.  Summer vacations started for Aarush.  Since he cleared first terms, he could join Ebener from the second term onwards.  Weight loss kept me sane.  I lost almost 8 kgs with indoror walking and diet control.

August - Biju joined a small service provider called VolumSat for a small pay,  Hours were long, office ws far away, he had to face the traffic.  But we were immensely grateful.

September - Biju continued at VolumeSat.  Aarush stared classes at Ebenezer.  He settled in fast and started doing well.   Aaryav was chilling totally!

October - Abhi turned 17.  She was happy to spend time here with us than to be struggling in the hostel.  She started researching on colleges and even wrote her first SAT exam for which she scored 1400. Biju stopped full time work at VolumeSat.

Nov - By now, we were used to the changes in our life and to the world at large.  

Dec - Abhi took another SAT exam and she scored 1450 this time.  School closed for winter break and she started working hard on the application o NYUAD.  Application done by 29th Dec 2020.  We are waiting eagerly for the results.  Went to the desert on New Years Eve.  And watched the fireworks at Majaz.

A golden oldie

Weaning

Last night was my first nursing free night in 2 years and 5 months and the first one ever for Aaryav.  Our breastfeeding relation had been going so beautifully and my sincere intention was to continue until he decided to call it a day.  The way it was going, certainly we would have continued for another year easily. But at times fate does intervene and you are forced to take decision from the head rather than the heart.

He is a picky eater, a slim guy, yes! At 2 years 5 months he weighs only 12 kilos.  All around me pinned his puny size to breastfeeding and have been pressurizing me to stop, I have not been  too concerned and felt that he would eventually catch up in size and weight.  But the situation of his teeth were worrying me. I could see the enamel getting depleted and a few cracked teeth were a cause for alarm.  Finally, I made the dreaded visit to the dentist half ashamed that I would be judged as a careless mother.  One look and the pedodontist suggested a root canal for one of his upper incisors and a filling for 3 cavities. A root canal is definitely not something I am keen on subjecting him to at this stage.

I followed this up with a visit to the paediatrician who was more milder.  She supported my opinion of not putting him thru a traumatizing experience like the root canal just as yet and suggested an immediate weaning especially of night feeds.  And so here I am, keeping my fingers crossed that I will have the willpower to see this through.  Much earlier than I expected, I feel sad that we did not celebrate the last feed as we should have.  Even now I wonder, should I just give him another feed telling him that this is the final one in our lovely journey together?  A lovely time cuddling him and watching his little jaws move briskly satiating his hunger and comforting him.  The slowing of the rhythm while he drifts off into his sleep the only way he has known ever. I will keep my mobile away and be engrossed in him and him alone. A ceremonial goodbye to our breastfeeding days. This afternoon nap was also without feeding.  Maybe I will just give in one more time and cherish it and imprint the experience in my mind.  Come to think of it, I will not be feeding another baby again this lifetime.

Playtime Smiley time

Alarm bells started ringing frantically when it dawned on me that the little one is already 2 and still does not seem to have made much progress in his conversational skills.  All I had to do was an honest analysis of his activities through the day and it was staring me in the face that I spend way too less quality time with him, playing and communicating. Oh yes, catering to three different age group kids with totally different needs and routines can  be nerve wracking.  But excuses are not what we needed here.  Guilt was slowly inching its way into my heart. I made the strong resolve to sit down and play with him and talk to him and enjoy him more.

And like an added blessing all the toys ordered online poured in together!! There are building blocks, shape sorters, magnetic puzzle boards, shape matching kits, racing car slides etc to keep the low on energy mom and the super energetic toddler occupied on lazy mornings.

Once I started making the concious effort, I have discovered that it is indeed loads of fun to play with the small one.  In a few days I noticed marked changes in him.  He is so much more receptive and calmer.  His vocabulary has definitely improved and we celebrate each new word.  The latest ones are mooyi (movie) and toys.  I am on the look out for new games that will be fun and will challenge him more and more.

What games do you play with your toddler?

Happiness for me is.....

....these three smiling faces!

Chicken pox strikes

On May 4th Thursday, the husband decided to work from home.  So grabbed the opportunity to drive to school and pick up both the kids early. We decided to make it a fun day out for us. We had a quick lunch from Mcdonalds and saw the movie "Saira Banu" after that.   In the evening we attended Roshitha's bday get together.  After a bit, an intense tiredness and headache set in which I attributed to the walk in the scorching hot sun that I was not used to.  Headache was severe into the next day as well inspite of having a good long nap.  Thats when I noticed a water filled boil on my chest. A few more here and there soon after.  Chicken pox!! Something I had dreaded always.  And to make it more dreadful, I had been so lazy that the little one was not even vaccinated yet!! By Sunday a few spots broke out on my face as well and the numbers on the chest and the back increased rapidly.  Severe itching all over!! But it was a very mild case as I felt completely normal by Tuesday and by the end of the week all the scabs had fallen off.  All was good and I was waiting for the next attack wondering who the victim would be.

Exactly after 14 days, on a Saturday, Aarush walks in with an itchy small sore which was bugging him.  I immediately noticed the two boils on his tummy.  And on Sunday, I search all over a totally exhausted Appu and catch sight of the dreaded water filled boil on the tip of her finger and later a few popped up on her face.  The baby appears ok so far.  Keeping fingers crossed that he is spared this time.

Its day 3 today and Aarush has quite a few severely itchy boils.  Appu seems to be a milder case though its too soon to say.  Neem leaves is what we have been using mostly to get relief from the itching.  Brushing the body gently with the leaves, bathing in water boiled with neem leaves and cooled and applying paste of neem and turmeric.  We made Aarush sleep on a bed of neem leaves yesterday too.  Calamine lotion is being spread over the body at regular intervals.   I have also been adding baking soda to bath water.  Oat bath has been said to give a lot of relief so I am going to try that tomorrow.  Aarush is on Zyrtec, an antihistamine, but that is not helping him much. He is crying out and unable to sleep due to severe itching.  As I type this its 3 15 am and he has just dozed off.  I am sitting beside him brushing him with neem leaves.  Appu, the more tolerant of the two is deep in sleep thankfully.

Thats where we stand now.  Will be updating on the progress soon.

Updated to add:

Now its a household of 3 chicken pox kids.  The tiny one started breaking out in spots on Tuesday and have quite a few by now.  Temperature was moderately high for a day otherwise he is manageable.  God has been kind enough to keep it mild for all three and giving a break after my attack so that I can take care of them.  And the timing is right enough not to mess with our vacation plans.  Thankful for small mercies!

Cheers to New friendship!

So at 24 months, Aaryav has made his first official friend.  An adorable cuddly little 27 month old in our same building...just a floor below.  Surprising how we never met earlier inspite of me being on a constant search for playmates for the bored little toddler.  For now, the duo seem to be getting along well though Aaryav is a little boisterous at times and this intimidates the ever so gentle Baby A a bit. They watched and sang along with a few rhymes, read a couple of books and played with blocks. Mental note made to introduce the little one to new and better methods of expression.

Baby As mom happens to be an awesome mommie blogger and is extremely sweet and warm as well. Love her positive parenting style and look forward to getting some amazing parenting tips from her.