The economy is tumbling down. The worst one since 911. I’m not an economist. But, I know what caused it.

The bankruptcy of two US biggest finance company. It has a domino effect. Mostly on finance, investment and manufacturing companies.

Many electronic companies in Malaysia were shutting down. And, many people are terminated. Jobless. Money-less. Severe headache.

I received an email from the global CEO in the middle of December ‘08. Saying;

Today we are announcing that XXXX must adjust its guidance downward for the first quarter due to rapidly deteriorating business conditions. With that, we also are announcing that we will be taking a provision, or a financial charge, to cover asset management actions and position reductions in the 2009 fiscal year. While these are not yet finalized, we are estimating that over the course of 2009, we will eliminate roughly 1,300 positions globally.

1,300 innocent people will be jobless instantly!

But, I thought… hey, that would be in other countries. Not in Malaysia. Heck I was wrong.

A colleague whom I’m quite close to was retrenched recently.  Extremely short notice. 24 hours. Very cruel!

The reason given - her position is not required in any department. Not required?

As easy as that? What were they thinking? She has been working here for 12 years!

Loyalty not a guarantee anymore.

Did I mention she is 7 months pregnant?

She will be jobless for months. Who will hire a newly-retrenced pregnant lady? Answer me!

I told you that I hate phlegm so much.

Nasty phlegm caused discomfort to my baby. And, given me sleepless night (taking care of the little princess).

Izzah’s paed was on long leave when we went to SMC. So, we were referred to see another paed, Dr Hoe.

According to Dr Hoe, my baby vomitted to clear the phlegm in her chest.

Babies don’t have the lung capacity to actually cough out the phlegm so they either vomit or they swallow it. Most of the time, they vomit it.

But continuous vomitting could cause dehydration. It’s dangerous for babies.

Dr Hoe said most probably little Izzah had an early Bronchitis. So, Izzah was immediately put on nebuliser every 4 hours.

Nebuliser is an equipment using a face mask to inhale a liquid medicine that has been turned into a fine mist. The nebuliser helps loosen and dislodge the phlegm that is in the lungs and passageways.

Baby Izzah has no problem using the nebuliser. She even hold the nebuliser herself!

This amazed the nurses because most babies will cry when put on a nebuliser. Perhaps because it’s noisy and misty?

And, every morning I need to take her to the Physiotherapist. To suck the phlegm out. Using a Phlegm Suction unit.

Before that, a Physiotherapist will pat her back for a few minutes.

Izzah still enjoy the back-patting session. It’s like a massage for her.

But, when the suction session began, she cried her lungs out. Her face almost became blue. And, making my heart wrecked.

All babies who undergo a physio for phlegm sucking were wailing like crazy.

Who will not? They put a tiny tube inside their nostrils and throat to suck the mucous.

Nasty phlegm. Making babies suffer.

I had a miscarriage so I was given a 9-day medical leaves. From 17th - 26th Dec’ 08.

And, then my darling baby was hospitalised due to early bronchitis from 24th  - 30th Dec’ 08.

So I took a one day compassionate leave on the 30th. And, one day annual leave on the 31st.

Meaning, I was away from office from 17th Dec’ 08 - 1st Jan ‘09. A long two weeks!

If my baby not been hospitalised, I could have become a two-week stay at home mom (sahm).

It’s heaven to:

• Sleep at what ever time I like.
• Wake up late (I’m off from praying).
• Surf the net all day (and all night) long.
• Lazing on the bed with my baby. Bonding, playing and talking with her.
• Taking really good care of her.

I love being a stay at home mom (with income, of course)!

Little Izzah turned 9 months yesterday. Not so little anymore, I guess.

If I didn’t miscarried, she could have become a big sister just a few months after her one-year birthday.

Let’s see her achievement so far.

• Soldier crawl
• Sit unsupported
• Pick up object with their thumb & forefinger
• Respond to her name
• Search for object hidden from view
• Transfer object from one hand to another 
• Saying “babah” or “mama”
• Wave bye-bye
• Taking object in & out of box
• Stacking and fitting things together
• Clapping hand 

You grow girl!

According to Wikipedia;

Phlegm (pronounced /’flem/) is sticky fluid secreted by the mucous membranes of humans and other animals. Its definition is limited to the mucus produced by the respiratory system, excluding that from the nasal passages, and particularly that which is expelled by coughing (sputum).

Whatever it is, I hate them.

Phlegm caused my dear baby to cough and vomit all his milk out. Not just once. But, every time she was feed.

Phlegm caused me to clean the mess again and again. Wiping the sticky stuff from her clothing, the floor, the baby cot, our bed, the carpet.

Changing her cloth. Cleaning the little princess body, face and hair. And, of course cleaning myself.

The ritual when the phlegm strikes:

Feed. Cough. Vomit. Clean the mess. Clean the baby. Change her cloth. Clean myself. Change my cloth. Feed again. Cough again. Vomit again.

Phlegm cause my dear baby to be hospitalised for 7 days.

My baby was admitted in Selangor Medical Center from 24th - 30th Dec ‘08. So did her mama (read:me).

I was still recuperating from the miscarriage then.

It was tough for a sick mama to look after a sick baby. And, it was boring like crazy staying in the hospital.

The single room (RM190 per day), was way too below expectation. I mean furniture & fitting wise.

There was some kind of green algae around the aircond vent. And, the almost detach ceiling. Oeww.

The room looked old. And, smell old. I think 2nd class ward in Hospital Sungai Buloh is much (much) better.

But then, since the medical expenses are covered undered ING (hubby’s medical benefits), I shut my mouth.

As long as the medical services and the doctors are good, I will not complaint (much).