System Glitch grounds Firefly Mega Sale Promotion

Just read the newspaper and understood that Firefly's Mega Sale promotion has been put on hold following a system glitch. The airline needs to fix the problem first and hopefully the promotion can take effect soon. No wonder I was having problem to get any deal yesterday.

I have tried Airasia's RM 3 deal today. It is not as much or easy like what you can get during their previous promotions. So, I am going to give up and try to get the Firefly's deal once their problem is being fixed.

However, I managed to book the return tickets for my maid to Manila next year as her contract is expiring in May. The total cost is only RM91 if I do not add on the baggage, seats, insurance, convenience fees. When added up all the miscellaneous cost, the cost is  still less than RM 200. It is a very good deal.

As a temporary measure when my maid is back home for a month. I have requested/booked my previous confinement lady to come and help in her absent. I think it is quite a good arrangement and we can still work and again, I can trust her too with the children but of course, the damage is, you need to pay her a higher fee than the maid's usual salary.

FireFlyz and Air asia Sale

Fireflyz is having their sale starting from 11 Jul to 12 Jul. The deal is RM9 one way for selected destinations and there are 1 million seats up for grab.

I started to check on the deal early this morning on their incredible deals. The page only shows e.g.  Subang to Langkawi at RM 29 each way. So where is the RM9 deals?

Then, I tried again in the afternoon, and the deal of RM9 came out and shown the travelling period up to Oct 2012. However, I have checked month by month from Dec 11 to Mar 12, I couldn't see a single offer of RM9.

Then, I tried again late afternoon, the deal of RM9 is still on by the flying period has been shorten to Mar 2012, and I tried again month by month, the RM9 is still not available. 

So, is this a real deal or not? Anybody out there got lucky and manage to get the RM9 deal? I was looking  forward to book for the whole family to go Langkawi again. The kids seem to be really enjoyed their last stay there. The twins of 19 months can even said 'kawi, kawi' and when I asked them whether they want to go Langkawi again, they all said 'Yes'.

However, never give up. Start midnight on 12 July, Air asia is having the RM3 sales! So, good luck to all and this time, I hope I can manage to grab this fantastic deals. The last time when Air asia was offering their RM1 deals, I managed to get that till last step for payment, the system error got into me and no way I can get the bargain back again after numerous trials and time wasted.

Travelling with Young Children (Long distance)

We have just done an amazing race of our own by travelling thousands of miles with just the 2 of us and 3 kids. The conclusion is; it is tough and tiring.

The reason for the travel is to bring the kids to visit their grandparents back in Belfast. The grandparents are  already in their 80's. The grandparents came to visit us for the 2 consecutive years. So, we feel it is our turn to travel back and visit them, so they have the chance to hold and talk to their grandchildren. We do skype - video call with them every week. Watching from a distance will not be as good as holding them yourselves.

Long distance travel with your children is not an easy task, proper and early planning is important. Here are some of my experience or tips to share:-

1. Booking of your travelling plan

2. Packing

3. Handling
4. Coping with Jet lag

Booking your traveling plan

I have booked the air ticket about 4-5 months ago to enjoy the discounts. However, there are mainly no flexibility i.e changing date/pre-book seats and etc. with the discounts. So, you have to be very sure prior to booking. 

Our original plan was to bring a maid along with us to help to handle the kids (remember, I have 1.5 years old twins and a 3 yrs old son). I have booked her ticket prior to getting her visa. I have earlier consulted the officer for UK border agency prior to the booking. However, as we starting to compile documentation for submission, we have encountered various problem with her application and a fee of RM1500 to be paid upfront. Finally, we dropped the idea of taking her with us and will have to learn to cope between the 2 of us with the 3 children and the luggage to handle!

As result of that, I have lost an air ticket and has called for kind consideration for refund. As I bought the MH Low air ticket, they can't do any refund but they suggest I appeal via email through ibesupport@malaysiaairlines.com. I told them that we really struggled to save up the money for the children to go for a visit and they were kind enough to refund me the money with RM200 admin charges.

Again with this MH Low tickets, we were not allowed to make any advance seat booking. I made the effort and tried to call a week prior to my departure and again they were kind enough to reserve the seats for me considering I have 3 kids and 2 bassinets were needed.

So, I would give credit to Malaysia airlines for all the assistance and support rendered.

Packing

A checklist of items is essential on items to bring along:-

1. Medication

2. Food/Milk Powder

3.Clothes and 

4.Others

5. Bag to board / carry along

I have started to work on the list 2 months ago prior to departure. We have restricted ourselves to just 2 bags to carry on so that we still have 'hands' to manage the kids.

Medication

Standard medication e.g for cough, cold, fever 

Ointment

Cream for nappy rash, minor cuts

measuring spoon or syringe for the medicine

Food

Biscuits, baby food, milk powder, their favorite tit bits/snacks

Clothes

Jackets/Coats, long pants, shirts if you are going to a cold weather country. others like socks, underwear, lots of hand clothes, blankets

Others

Baby monitor, thermometer, toys, baby stroller (if your kids still using them)

Carry on bags

milk bottles, milk powder, thermos, biscuits, tit bits, drinking water and bottle, coats (to wear when land), few change of clothes (just in case the kids sick and need changing), diapers, baby wipes and toys to keep them entertain.

So, we ended up with 3 trolley bags and a box to check in and 3 bags to carry on including our own coats and some computer gadget for the children to play.

I am a fond user of baby sling, so there were also 2 slings packed together.

Handling

• on board the plane
• going through immigration

on board the plane

This is a real challenge of your patient. You need to be calm and patient at all time. The flight journey was not too bad as they were late night flights, the children went to sleep after 1-2 hours after the plane took off.

The tough bit in the plane was to handle 3 kids and trying to get them to eat in a very narrow space. We ended up not eating ourselves and concentrate in feeding the children. The last 2-3 hours of journey could last like ages. I think we have done OK! We kept them occupied with their toys, movie, games and food.

going through the immigration

We need to remove things like boots (if you are wearing one), belts, separate the electronic gadgets, all children's drinking bottle, thermos and etc. Imagine you have to carry the children, trying to remove all the stuff and trying to put them back all together. Patient, patient, calm and calm again is the key thing. Of course, again, the children will be all over the place, crying and screaming at the same time.

We were unlucky due to the change of connecting flight time and up to a delay of 6 hours. We decided to book into a hotel even just for a couple of hours of stay so the children could have a bath, change clothes, have their milk or snacks and also a lie in.

By the time we get on the connecting flight and landed in Belfast, the overall journey took about 22 hours (from door to door).

Coping with Jet lag

If you can try to get the children can adjusted to the time in that country. However, no matter how hard you try, you will the one least enjoying your sleep. The scenario is always the children will sleep whenever they want and when you are ready to sleep, they are awake. The children took about 4-5 days to get adjusted to the different time zone and we took about 2 weeks to catch up our sleeps and we have lost our temper with the kids occasionally due to lack of sleeps.

After this trip, we decided we are not going back for a visit in another 5 years time till the kids are a bit order and able to receive instruction better and a bit more independent. However, it was good to be able to visit their grandparents and all the aunties, uncles and cousins back at home.

Another Success Rate (2)

I have recently received an email from a reader of my blog. She is currently pregnant with twins and still under her first trimester.

She said she found my blog inspiring and helpful. I am so glad my blog is able to help others. She saw my children's photos in Dr.Prashant's office and realise that I was the blogger she has been following.

I am glad that she successfully got pregnant and may GOD bless her journey. It is excited to hear about another success rate.

Jack's 1st School Outing Trip

Jack went on his first school trip last Wednesday. In the beginning, I was reluctant to go as I need to take a day off and accompany him for this trip. Children who are less than 3 years need to accompany by a parent. The school was worried about them not able to walk long distance and require to be carried and the teachers will need to care for others.

Jack is always fascinated by things that move and with engines. He has been talking about getting on a bus for quite sometime. I thought this could be fun for him but I am not very sure about visiting an organic farm.

The place of visit was GK organic. The owner, Mr. Gan was quite strict on certain thing e.g. 

1.he disallowed the teachers to feed the children with sandwich breakfast and instead demanded all children to have just a banana

2. All to walk around the farm barefooted. 

Amazingly, Jack was coping well and was able to walk with his bare feet on the uneven ground filled with stones, mud and grown grass. Some other children were struggling and complaining about the pain.

Jack did not mind the hot sun and got his hands dirty into sweet potatoes digging and some other children didn't even wanted to try as they were worry that their hands are going to get dirty.

I was a fun trip out and glad that I was able to spend some one to one time with him. He is now looking for another trip out in a bus.

Sun, Sand, Beach - Trip to Langkawi

Once again, thanks to Airasia's free seats tickets, we managed to get the whole family including the maids to Langkawi for a short break.

It was a pleasant flight journey with a delay in departure to Langkawi of about 10 minutes and early arrival back to Kuala Lumpur around 20 minutes. It was only about 1 hour flight journey, so the children were manageable. Just a little bit of crying in the beginning and in the end of the journey.

We rented a Nissan Serena upon arrival at RM 260 for 3 days 2 nights, not a bad deal at all. We decided to stay at Awana Porto Malai this time due to its spacious room and the children pool, also a magnificent view from the room.

View from our hotel balcony

sunrise view

The children love the beach and really enjoyed themselves digging into the sand, soaking and trying to catch the fish in the sea.

A bit for too short (3 days 2 nights) for this trip. We can managed to go to the pool once, beach twice, visiting friends there, a bit of shopping and dinning out at the beach. Will definitely stay a day or two longer the next time. 

Can't wait for Airasia's next good bargain!!!

G6PD

My youngest son, 1 of the twins is with G6PD deficiency. G6PD deficiency is an inherited condition in which the body doesn't have enough of the enzyme G6PD to help red blood cells function normally. This deficiency can cause hemolytic anemia, usually after exposure to certain medications, foods or even infections.

To learn more about G6PD, you could check out the following websites:-

1. www. g6pd.org

2. www.g6pddeficiency.org

Just to share my experience here. My son was diagnosed with G6PD deficiency since born due to his high jaundice. We have accepted the fact that he is born with this deficiency. When he was around 1, my husband decided to get a 2nd opinion. So, we went for a 2nd blood test and the result came back, has set us jumping high that he has free of the deficiency. I was shocked and delighted with the result. However, I called my gynaecologist and asked is this possible. The doctor said this is possible due to his organs were not properly and fully formed yet when he was just born. 

I have also called the paediatrician of my son who broke the news of his deficiency to us when he was born, to ask him could this be possible? Is mis-diagnosis possible at that time? My husband was not happy with me,  not able to accept the new result. I told him, I do not want regret, I do not want mistake. The doctor's reply was this is not possible and advised us to perform another test.

I decided to send the blood sample to Singapore for more extensive test and the result shown he is still with this deficiency. With that result, we decided to move forward and to pay him special attention and be watchful of his diet. 

My neighbours' children also have the same problem. I noticed that they actually do not realised or research into what can the people with this deficiency take or eat. Basically, they only know about Fava Bean, traditional herbs and some medications. 

However, legumes like the following which we consume regularly especially when you are leaving in Asean countries are also suppose to be prevented. The following is best to avoid and may not shown any effect when consume but in long run, it may cause organ failure as posted in www. g6pd.org :-

1. Legumes like broad bean, black bean, kidney bean, pea bean, soy bean, Chinese long bean, french bean, dhal, miso, fu jook, alfafa sprouts, fenugreek, peanuts, tamarind (asam jawa), chick pea and etc.
2. Other foods likely to contain hidden soy/legumes (to check label) : baked goods, chips, candies, gravy mix, low fat cheese, margarine, sausages/processed meat, Worcestershire sauce, salad dressing and etc.
3. Bitter gourd
4. Chinese herbs
5. Vitamin K
6. Tonic Water
7. Sulfides e.g wine
8. Menthol - toothpaste, candy, mouth wash
9. Artificial blue food coloring
10. Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
11. Moth Balls

In order to help body to conserve G6PD, you need to take antioxidants, suitable fats and eating fewer refined carbohydrates:-

1. Good Antioxidants,  Strawberry/Black Current, Walnuts, Sunflower seeds, Pomegranate, Ginger
2. Fruits : Pomegranate, Grapes, Orange, Pineapple, Lemon, Kiwi, Grape Fruit, Lemon
3. Nuts/Seeds/Dried Fruit :Walnuts, Sunflower seeds, Apricot
4. Vegetable: Chilly pepper, Red cabbage, Pepper, Parsley, Spinach, Cereals, Broccoli, Tomatoes, Carrots, Barley, Oats, Corn
5. Roots : Ginger, Red beet, Garlic