And you say...

* the loveLY. the ugLY.....

Tuesday, July 31, 2007
twenty-five and more to come...
Before the clock strikes twelve, let me just say one thing to my parents...

HAPPY 25TH WEDDING
ANNIVERSARY!!!!!

Woohooo...twenty-five years of marriage and what have they got? Five beautiful daughters, three dogs, and a nice big garden. Haha...okie okie it's not about us (sorry for the perasan-ness! =P) nor the dogs nor the garden.

I'm sure Dad and Mum have been through much together as a couple...after so many years, and they're still so loving. =) They have been a great example of how married couples should be, not only as a couple but a couple with kids (and not only two or three, but five), still committed and loving towards each other.

I love you both, Dad and Mum! =) May God continue to bless your marriage, beyond what you can ever imagine, with many many more years to come.
Posted by ltsmei at 11:26 PM ~
Monday, July 23, 2007
Friends?
I think many people do not fully understand the meaning of BEING a real friend.

Being true friends doesn't only include the good times and the best of times together...it also includes the horrible, terrifying, ugly, irritating moments. Yea, it sounds so cliche...but let's dig deeper.

The horrible, terrifying, ugly, irritating moments include times when the other person loses trust in you, when the other person is going through something that he/she does not want to tell you and confuses the daylights out of you, when the other person misunderstands you or your intentions (maybe both as well), when the other person deliberately (or maybe not) hurts you with words, with actions, whatever...but instead of being resentful, you still extend your friendship. You be kind. You do not say things you'd regret later. You give them the benefit of the doubt. And although it seems like your efforts are in vain, you continue to care. In short, you do not give up.

This is how I understand friendship to be. After all, God has extended His grace; why shouldn't we?

To a particular friend: You once told me that I sometimes try too hard at being a friend...and although I still think that a person can never try too hard at being a friend, I'll give you your space. Like I said before, it's probably the only way I know how to be a friend...if you're reading this, I just wanted you to know that I'll be around if you need anything.
Posted by ltsmei at 9:44 PM ~
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
This, I know...
Stupid lah. I hate falling sick. I worry myself, and I worry people. Had to take mc today, so I didn't get to meet the kids... =( I kinda miss them, actually. Especially my favourite one (the poor child's a long term patient...been in the ward for almost a year).

Now I know how high fever feels. My temperature spiked up to as high as 39.3 degrees Celcius yesterday. My face was burning, my eyes were blurry, I was so flushed that Chin Fang thought I had a sun-burn, my head was heavy. And I was shaking and shivering, like how the Osim iPamper (haha) shakes...

I will never, ever in my life would want to experience that again. Once is enough.

Okie, so I was talking about the kids...I'm working in a high dependency (HD) ward. If you don't know what that means, it just means that the patients there are more sick than kids in the general wards, but not as sick as those in the intensive care unit (ICU). So yeah...

I'm actually not feeling depressed when I see those sick kids...it's not that I don't have compassion or am so keras hati or what. It's just that I know I am in that particular ward for a reason...I'm quite enjoying myself, actually. It really warms my heart when a crying child keeps quiet when I try to soothe him/her...Mum's right (since when was she not? =P); singing to an upset child will capture their attention. And so I sing songs =)

Just the other day I was reminded that every one of us, our lives are in the hands of an Almighty God.

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands" Isaiah 49:15, 16

I have no business questioning God why these children have to suffer...He has inscribed them in the palms of His hands. Surely He knows what He's doing. My duty is to nurse them and be someone they can count on to brighten their day. That's it.
Posted by ltsmei at 6:08 PM ~
Monday, July 09, 2007
B is for Breathe
Argh.

I am tired (I felt quite refreshed this morning after a day off on Sunday, but now I'm feeling tired again). One week of work and I'm already so tired...

I never knew I had to attend seminars and conferences and meetings and talks and lectures, accumulate at least 15 CNE (forgot what CNE stands for already =P) points, then can I only renew my nursing license. And this happens EVERY year.

For a moment there, I felt kinda cheated...okie, I still am feeling a bit lah (or maybe I am just so naive and am in great denial). I mean, c'mon...I just want to work as a nurse, take care of my patients. And no one ever told me that when I become a nurse, I have to earn the freaking CNE points!!! Sure, I know we always have to be updated when it comes to all these medical services and whatnots, but...points!!! I don't know why I'm so bothered about this, but I am. Sigh, it makes everything so...legalistic. I hope this is only in S'pore.

My gosh.

And I have a whole stack of assessment checklists waiting for me...I felt so pressured when I was handed them. But I keep telling myself to breeeaaaathe...let's take this one day at a time.

I can do it...one day at a time. One day at a time. One. Day. At. A. Time.

ARGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by ltsmei at 9:26 PM ~
Friday, July 06, 2007
loathe ---> like
I used to hate running...no wait, I mean, LOATHE. Yeah.

That was when I was at the age of twelve or thirteen...no one could force me to go jogging. I'd make up excuses for not going for a run with my sis. All the time. I really hated it big time, like really kow-kow don't like. I don't know why I hated it then, but I did.

Then it got better. I started to dislike running...although once, I got a prize for being one of the first fifteen to reach the finishing line during merentas desa. Haha, but still I disliked the idea of putting on my shoes and run.

Now, I go running without even being asked. Whee...it even feels good! Hehe...see how far I've come. My sis should be proud of me. =P Kekekekekeh...

Okie imagine that's me...except with black hair, and I, most of the time, don't run with dark glasses. In fact, I never do...oh, and I don't wear long pants; I wear shorts. Oh and wait, I'm definitely younger. Much much younger. And I'm much darker too. Haha, okie forget it...let's just forget that I even put that picture up. =P

I'm starting to like running. =)
(And everyone goes, "Oh my gosh, I'm speechless!!")
Posted by ltsmei at 9:55 PM ~
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Graduated
Yesterday was Graduation Day...I had the day off from work. It's funny...I wasn't all that excited. I even went swimming in the morning, haha. The excitement came only when I touched on NYP ground, when everyone was moving around in haste and it was so hectic and everyone in their graduation gown looked like they came out of a Wizard of Oz movie.

I started getting a little emo when they played the short video clip of our cohort...I don't even know why. Hmmm...so weird. So anyways, I was so afraid that I would fall on stage because, you know, with my height and all, it wouldn't be any surprise if I trippped over my gown...

Well, I did NOT fall on stage...however, I managed to ALMOST fall while walking down the stairs when we were told to line up. Brian went and called my name because he wanted to say hi, so I turned in his direction and tripped. It's a good thing I didn't fall. Hehe...but then again, it might have been good if I did. Think about it...I would have been famous. Haha...more like infamous! =P

Okie I'm getting carried away...what I really wanted to say is, a HUGE THANK YOU to those who came. Umm, my family. Hehe...my whole family came! =)

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw Pris and Jem standing at my doorstep with Mum and Jo...

Jem, thank you for ponteng-ing school and coming to see me even though you didn't even get to come in for the ceremony...Pris, thank you for rushing back from school and through lunch so that you all would be in time to fetch me. Jo, thanks for lending me your shoes although I still don't know how you walk properly in them. =P Jiejie, thank you for coming after your appointment and you had to carry the darn heavy laptop, hehe.

And to Dad and Mum, thank you for driving all the way down to S'pore to attend the ceremony and also for allowing Jem to ponteng school (haha =P). I appreciate and love you all very much! =)

To Merv, Isaac, Jit, Aunty Angela, Aunty Marie, Ryan, thank you all for your messages of love and thoughfulness. =)

To NR0416, we will strive to be the best nurses around!! Woohoo!!! Gonna miss you people... =(

Okie, that's all folks. I've talked a little too much. Pictures will be up when I'm free...heehee. Excuse me, I'm a working woman now okie...
Posted by ltsmei at 7:14 PM ~
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Selamba no more
My first day at KK Hospital was...umm, kinda not so exciting. We had these really really really long lectures and talks about the hospital vision, mission, core values, organizational charts, who is who and what is what and where is where, blah blah blah...I got so sleepy after lunch. Actually, before lunch also lah...hehe.

Today was more interesting...in fact, it was fun. We went to our wards, and yay, kids! =) For most of the day, we just played with the babies. My gosh, they are so cute even though they are sick. I think they're the main reason why I'm so excited to go to work, hehe. =P So geram, man. Sometimes I just feel like pinching their chubby and pudgy cheeks.


I honestly didn't feel like coming back to S'pore after my long break. From lepak-ing at home then, watching TV and movies and reading to my heart's content and doing house chores AT MY OWN PACE, to getting up as early as 5.20am now...there goes my laidback life.

But I shan't complain.

By the way, did I mention that I lost that ONE precious kilogram I had put on during my break? (Due to being sick, what else...bad tummy, bad tummy) Sigh. I'm so skinny now. Help!
Posted by ltsmei at 10:50 PM ~