Aqil, a week to 3yrs old.

Poor Aqil having chicken pox. When seeing doctor, he said children has been coming to clinic with chicken pox for past 2 weeks. Asking the nursery, apparently 2 weeks ago, there was a kid had chicken pox. I was sure Aqil had been immunised for varicella at 1 year old like Zaky. Umar had chicken pox at 8 months old, from a visiting friend whom their daughter just recovered. This was in summer 2004! I totally forgot how to deal with chicken pox kid, so i have to ask everything about it from the doctor. Even the receptionist at the clinic just recovered from chicken pox! So it's quarantine time for Aqil, and Mummy! :P Now it's the 4th day and Aqil recovering fast, Alhamdulillah. Only about 2days that he had the blistery 'pots' (Aqil said, "chicken pots!"). Alhamdulillah it's mild and bearable for Aqil. Aqil who's going to be 3 soon likes to talk. Everyday he always talk about lotsa things, especially about his Thomas and friends! and ask funny questions. This is some of his conversations.

- Mummy, "Aqil, do you want to have Thomas's set for your birthday?" Aqil with serious face, "I don't want Thomas sad, I want Thomas happy!"

- Aqil, climbing on the stool to listen to the washing machine closely, "What is happening Mummy?" Mummy, "It's the washing machine, washing up the clothes Aqil" Aqil, "Owwhh" - While having noodles on the breakfast table, Umar was saying that he felt like at the cafe or restaurant and Mummy is the waitress (yeah..you'r certainly right, it happens everyday, every meal! :P). Then suddenly: Aqil, "Mummy, you have to be careful with my two brothers" Mummy ??? "Why Aqil?" Then Zaky answered, "Because we are ninjas!"LOL

- Aqil,"I wanna watch Emily and the New Coaches" Mummy" (one of his many thomas dvds) Mummy, "ok, but you have to ask Umar to shower first" (it's 7.00pm) Aqil with his serious face and on top of his lung, "Umar! Go sho-wer!" Mummy told him again that he has to say it with please, so he did it again with please. Then he came to me, "Umar doesn't want to shower! I am angry!" (with serious face!) Mummy, "Can you be patient Aqil?" Aqil, "No I don't want to! So I will transform! (Mummy?) I will become bad guy, allergy bad guy!" (Laughing in my heart! coz he was so serious!) our Aqil..funny 'lil boy who's allergy to cow milk/dairies :-)

- Aqil wanted to pray Maghrib with Mummy, putting on his sajadah. He did not follow at all, except 1 al-fatihah. After solat,

Aqil, "I cannot finish the prayer because it's so hard"

Mummy, "U mean the solat?"

Aqil, "Yes..I cannot finish solat. It is hard, the solat"

2011

It's the new year and lots of things have been happening, in fact the past 22months in Malaysia was really a different experience for the family. Alhamdulillah we learnt many, many things throughout, be it the boys themselves and their mum and dad. We should be thankful to Allah for everything, even if say Alhamdulillah/praise to Allah every second we breathe, it's still not enough to thank Allah, for life He give, for rezeki; of food, happiness, calmness, time; for the spouse He give, the children, for 'ilmu..list will go on. Everything is rezeki from Allah. Praise to Allah.
And yesterday I had the rezeki to meet up my old girlfriends, one of them I haven't met since 19yrs ago! another one I only met July last year after 15yrs! another one I only met last raya open house after 18yrs! and another one I only met dec2008 in S'pore, after last time we met in London in 2001! SubhanAllah. Allah is so great, rezeki of time and happiness lies within, and this one is when i live in Malaysia :-)
Hey girls, don't forget to visit me across the border after this ok :-)

s.m.i.l.e.

got this interesting facts from fb

SMILE.The Messenger of Allah Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "To smile in the company of your brother is charity. " (Bukhari)

It seems that nothing has more power to elevate a mood than the impact of a genuine smile. The benefits of a smile extend not only to the recipient of the warm gesture but also to the smile's originator. "A smile is a little curve that sets a lot of things straight." Here are some of the many ........ Benefits of Smiling!

1. Smiling Makes Us Attractive- People are spending millions on cosmetic products and procedures to make them look better.If you want to look better, try adding a genuine smile. Its cheaper and mush more attractive.The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don't go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day -- you'll look younger and feel better.

2. Smiling Changes Our Mood-Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There's a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.

3. Smiling Is Contagious-When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them.

4. Smiling Relieves Stress-Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you'll be better able to take action.Smiling helps to promote release of a "feel good" group of hormones called endorphins. These are the same group of hormones responsible for the runners high you hear so much about. If you don't have time to get to the gym for a hard run, try adding a smile to boost these natural, stress relieving hormones.

5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System-Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling.

6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure-When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?

7. Smiling is medication-Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug and leads to a healthier immune system.Various studies conducted over the years have shown that smiling can boost the functioning of the immune system. This may help to reduce your risk of developing everything from the common cold to chronic diseases such ascancer. Could there be a less expensive medicine than this?

8. A smile inspires others-When you smile you also send a positive message that can potentially change someone else's mood for the better. The person you graced with your smile may go on to pass the kindness to someone else. Who knows how far your original smile will travel?

9. Smiling promotes Success -Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently. When you smile, you appear confident and capable. Given the choice between two equally qualified job candidates, the smiling candidate is going to be perceived as being more of a team player and easier to work with. Who do you think is more likely to get the job offer?

10. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive-Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It's hard. When we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that "Life is Good!" Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling. Smile..!!!.. .It does not cost a cent and can make a persons day! "It takes seventeen muscles to smile and forty-three to frown".

The greatest reason for smiling is because it is a sunnah [practice] of our Beloved Messenger of Allah [peace be upon him]!!!. The Messenger of Allah[pbuh] had a smiling face and advised us to entertain our guest with a smiling face and good conduct. To smile is an act of charity!

can we smile when we are in stress? in sadness? we gotta give a try?..

Our 2 yr old Aqil

This morning Aqil came to me and say, "Sun-day, Mon-day.." I was surprised and say, "Monday, then?" To my surprise he said, "Tuesday" (in 'pelat' way). Then he sing the song! "Sunn-day, Monn-day, Tuess-day, Wednesday-Thursday. Frii-day. Saturday..." Half way we sang together. Bless :-) (This is from the cd in Mummy's car, since we were in San Diego) This moment made me miss all those time when I spent more time with my kids, when they were only one, then two, then three; Umar, Zaky & Aqil. Umar had the most time of his early years with his Mummy, time to teach him anything and everything for early learning (Alhamdulillah). Not anymore that I can have the luxury of time, but I still grab any opportunity, meaning whenever they are interested in anything, be it reading, painting, scribbling, playing. Teach them kids something. Mum is the best teacher, because we understand our children in different ways from their teachers. (Don't start on this topic now that Umar is at Primary :P)
Aqil who just turned 2 on March 26th, can count 1-10, sometimes he miss 1,2 number, sometimes he add the teens! and 20! Guess he must have listened to Zaky counting ;-) He's the 1st of his siblings can speak Malay words at earliest, yea..coz he went to Daycare that most kids speak Malay or mix language, Malay-English, ending with 'lah'...Mmmm..so Aqil have all sorts of mix language that he speak. We prefer one language at a time. It's a bit sad when you can't have anymore control on your child development, due to many reasons. However parents can still make the best of the time when they are with their children, but it may not be enough. One day, we will see that our children has grown to have the personalities, strength from what he has been through his childhood life. We become who and what we are, rooting from our early childhood experience.

Germs Died

"Zaky, have you brushed your teeth today?"
"I don't have to! The germs already died!"
"Huh? How did the germs died?"
"I 'tui-tui' (spit) them!"
(our 2nd boy who just turned 3 1/2 yrs old)
Happy New Year 2010!
(it's 01012010 but the post said 31122009 as in San Diego. missing it )

11 years

as man & wife. 6 years as mom & dad for Umar, Zaky & Aqil. 12-12-2009 it's the 11th year anniversary. Alhamdulillah. Praise to Allah for everything.

Zaky @ 3yrs 4mths

I've been wanting to write about Zaky from months ago. Seemed like he's been going on through lots of changes, or rather development of his own, positive and negative! While writing this, he's bullying Aqil on the bed while Aqil thought it's fun play! Gosh! :P "don't push him!" "Zaky! Don't push him!" Zaky,"he thinks it's funny!" i'll stop first then... ................................
Continue now. Everyday Zaky always say sentences that's funny and sometimes amaze us. eg few days back, "Mummy, praying mantis says "AllohuAkkebarr" LOL and good that he relates 'praying' with AllahuAkbar. One day at the swimming pool, "Mummy! there's a mosquito at the swimming pool." where is it? Then I saw a huge grass hopper at the place :-) LOL Lately after sending Umar to board his school van, we (Mummy,Zaky,Aqil) will spend time at the park/playground (this is why we opted to stay at condo) for breakfast and play (and Mummy had foot reflexology walking, hehehe) and Zaky will always bring his craft butterfly he named 'Sally' (he thought Sally is not a girl's name! :P) whatever Zaky. Arguing with him, you'll never win! So he always look around for Sally's friends, other butterflies. On good days we may find a few of different type of butterflies. Mummy's feeling good again living in Malaysia when my children can learn from nature, like the time we were in UK and States. How much nature, everyday life can teach our children. For free!
And everyday, Zaky & Umar (after he came back from school) will always like to play with bristle blocks and typical lego blocks. And their favourite thing to create is, the transformers! We parents are so amazed on how both of them can create such a transformer that can transform and with many things, like wings, propellers, shooters (yeah, boys! :P), changable arms/feet, and all of these will be described by themselves, on each parts. Language, explanation, imagination, creativity and all sorts that's been learned in this Transformers play. Sometimes it can be as big as their small chair ;-) Umar said, "We don't have to buy the Transformers toys Mummy. We can do it ourselves and i think it's better." (that's Umar, which Mummy has to always remind him of being boasting...may be kids age hopefully). And I think this interesting play between the brothers has made Zaky & Umar does not like it at the nursery. Everytime coming back from nursery at late afternoon, once they enter the house, they both will rush to their toys! and play, play, play as if they haven't seen it for a long time! :P Sometimes I feel so blessed that my kids really love staying home with their mum.
About Zaky, he could count to 20 and only from a week ago we started to get him to 30, nearly there. But he always said, "I can count to 100!" Ok, Can you say it? "1,2,3,... ,18,19, 100!" Hahahhaha.. he wished he can count to 100 like his big brother which he always follow suit whatever Umar does. Sometimes too much, "Can you help me with this Umar, can you help, can you help" bothering his big brother while trying to do the same as what Umar does :-)
In reading, Zaky now managed to recognise simple/common words that he sees in book. We are still trying to get him to be able to read :-) With 3 super heroes in the house now..hhmmm.. wherever, whenever there's opportunity. May Allah give us strength to teach our 3 kids to their best potentials. Amin. (got to stop, appointment for Umar's report book at his school, can't wait to meet his 6 teachers of each subjects. tarra.
* Alhamdulillah at Umar's report day, discussing things out with teachers of each subject and the principal (I was the last parent so time was all on me, hehehe), the school conclude that Umar has huge potential academically and hopefully will improve to his mischief. We know already that we are dealing with a kid that will test things surrounding him, including people! and would like to see what's the reactions we shall take to tackle the problems he created. Talk about school I'm happy with the way they handled my son, Umar, academically and in islamic adab&akhlak. Although Umar started this islamic montessori preschool only from last July, he had learnt so much about Islam, our religion, about why Allah created us, how to be a good khalifah to the world and all other aspects of daily life that Islam has set the guidelines for the right path. Will we be able to direct our children to the right path, with the so many duniawi things parents need to do to survive the family life nowadays, the surrounding environment that always make us forget our creator. And now I'm talking about living in the country that majorities are Muslims, with athans heard at 5 prayer times a day. But as individual, how much have we done for Allah swt, the way we live, the things we do everyday, the human relationship, the inner self cleansing in trying to lead a blessing life from Allah swt and others. I've been living in non Muslim countries for nearly 12yrs, and those experience had made me learnt so much, and it's so strange that life in the country that majorities are muslims is filled with lots of things that can astray you and sadly the muslims behaviour around does not reflect muslims at all, in public or secretly. Ya Allah, show us the right path. Amin. (ops.unintentionally)