Friday 25 April 2014

Braces update- 6 more months to go!

Hi Guys,

TIME FLIES VERY FAST!!!

Well, By right this coming October will mark the end of my braces journey….it’s like 6 more months to go!

By left, I heard stories from my friends, who went thru braces phase in their younger life …that the braces treatment will be definitely longer than planned. Example, one of my friend was told that her treatment plan maybe for 2 years, then it dragged and dragged until 2,7 years which is 7 months more. Other examples, my cousin wore braces for 5 years! OMG it’s like wasting the rest of their teenager life. Then many unhappy stories which expectation doesn’t meet with the result and so on and so forth.


So I’m facing an uncertainty whether this coming Oct will be really the end of my braces a not. *arm fist*


Anyway, my upper molar teeth are moving pretty fast and furious. *Ahem* I mean, they are moving according to the treatment plan. My bottom right molar tooth is also moving, closing the gap between first and second molar. :-) 

But the bottom left molar teeth, since I always using this teeth to chew the food in every meal, the wires always break and the teeth doesn’t really move as I expected….that’s why between first and second molar on the left side of my mouth , there's still a gap there, haizzz...

So other than that, the rest of the teeth are perfectly fine. 

Oh ya I think I’m quite prepared with the facts that my braces treatment will be dragged until end of the year, which means 3 months more. Or maybe could be more than that. Maybe drag until next year....But it’s okay actually, I don’t mind wearing this invisible Simpliclear braces for a little longer but I mind to pay more than of what sum agreed. Luckily the retainer is included in the package otherwise it will be sooo expensive L


After this, I still need to do research about teeth whitening, which can be done at dentist office (more expensive) or DIY at home (much cheaper) Let's see how...


So, I am thinking to do scaling and polishing after take out my braces and then do teeth whitening procedures, so not only I have perfect straight teeth but also, perfect white teeth, too. Haiz I didn’t know it’s such a long journey to achieve a perfect smile. L

My mom said, wah so expensive ah already braces now and then later do the teeth whitening thingy. I just replied to her, yeah, since I am the one who start the race so might as well, finish the race gracefully till the end. It’s like left foot stepped on the dog shit, might as well right foot step on it, too. LOL. 


Anyway, my goal is to have perfect straight and white teeth smile. 


Today, and still counting the days when my braces journey ends.



-Deb-


Monday 21 April 2014

Green Juice!

Hi guys!

Trying this green juice recipe from the internet.

Quite yummy and (of course) healthy, too!



Ingredients for 2 servings:

Fuji apple 2 medium size
Celery 2 stalk  
Cucumber 1 medium size
Spinach ( no size, just remove the stalk coz we need the leaves only)
Lemon 1 medium size.

All chopped into dice sized pieces and dump all into the blender cup. Process all the ingredients. Pour a little bit of water. Shake/ Stir. When served, squeeze half of the lemon juice. 




From the raw vegetables...

Put all the good and green ingredients inside the blender....
Finishing product!
Before, served, squeeze half a lemon. 


So yummeh!
(depending on your taste bud!)


-Deb-



Tuesday 15 April 2014

Healing Testimony

Hi Guys,

I don’t know where to start. But this piece of good news certainly needs to be shared.

At first, I was feeling ashamed and it took a big courage out of me to write this post. I hope by sharing this testimony, all my readers’ faith will be strengthened. I am myself witness the power of healing. The power of prayer which endlessly, without fail, support me in times again and again.

God is good, all the time!





Epilogue
The story began from 6 months ago, as per usual, I did my health screening annually and this time round, I was told to do more in-depth screening such as breast ultrasound. And of course ,as a good patient, I followed what’s my doctor advice.  And the screening was done well and smooth…




When the burden come
2 weeks later, when the result is out, everything was perfectly normal. 
As usual, no sign of hypertension, diabetes, or any other significant diseases, even my BMI and body fat is normal. Everything was normal, thanks to my exercise routine I'm completely proud of it. I am a happy person until the doctor broke the news….

.
.
.


There is a lump on my right breast, near areola.  It was very small lump, only 3 X 4 X 5 mm but it’s there and persistent. The doctor explained, we don’t know whether it’s a lump or cyst, whether it’s normal or abnormal, whether it’s dangerous or malignant, whether it could develop into cancer or tumour. But what we know is, there is a risk. A risk to develop to become cancerous. 

So immediately, the doctor suggested me to do day surgery in her clinic next week (either lumpectomy or biopsy procedures, I didn't really pay attention to her). I was scared. She assured me that everything’s gonna be okay but need to be operated as soon as possible before its spreads out but I was like, heck! I just received this piece of bad news, no time to digest or to update my family, and yet she asked me to make decision to do the surgery right away!? 


“I need some time to clear my mind, doc, I can’t decide now. “That’s what I replied.


So off I went home, with a burden in my heart. My heart is so heavy and weary. I didn’t know what to do. So I prayed.


With a burden heart, I went for second opinion; this time round I went to breast specialist, Dr Chuwa at Gleneagles. I read review of her expertise in the internet and I knew I will be in a good hand.

Well side track a bit, I prefer to have woman's doctor rather than man's doctor in this type of situation. Like woman's gynae is more comfortable than man's gynae, are you on the same page like me?

OK, back to the specialist....so...

I still remember clearly, on Saturday morning, I went in to the specialist's office and take my shirt off, time to do ultrasound again. She did the ultrasound to me and yes! I could tell that she’s really trying hard to find that lump, roll up and down using the transducer, for almost a minute or two. And no! She can find that lump! Again, feeling discouraged for the second time, the lump is confirmed there. 
L


But she assured me there’s nothing to be alarmed. Maybe it’s just a water lump or solid lump. Again same thing, she wouldn’t know what is exactly that thing until we can do biopsy. But since it’s so small so she suggested me not to worry and see the development in the next 6 months.




Waiting time
So every day of my 6 months waiting was smooth sailing. Work. Study. Exercise. Have fun. And occasionally pray. 

Deep in my heart, I was telling to myself, I've been thru hell (like c-section delivery or confinement thingy) .I pulled thru. I survived. so this thing is like a piece of cake for me. The burden more to the financial problem, I supposed...

I've even prepared the insurance form, just in case if I need to do surgery, I can claim back the surgery fee from the insurance company. But ultimately, I’ve come to a terms that, I will surrender to God in whatever circumstances that will happen. Everything surrenders to God.





The time is approaching. I’m counting the day.
2 weeks prior to that, my mom came from Jakarta to support me morally. Even my family and friends from church were praying for me. Plus lots of prayers from my mom’s church, too. I am so touched by this kind of prayer support. So many prayers and encouragement's text on my phone now, really appreciate that....


Moreover, as per suggestion from one of the sisters in Christ, we both were taking Holy Communion with a read from the bible’s scripture. I am a very good planner so I picked the bible verse which related to the healing. 7 days, 7 bible verses. Jesus healed the sick; Jesus healed the women with bleeding for 12 years, Jesus healed the paralyzed people, and lots of lots scriptures we read it together. Not only had we prayed for the complete healing, we also, have asked for a soft heart, a surrender heart to God alone. Oh ya, we also prayed for peace, for strength, for assurance, that whatever happens, it will be happened according to His plan, and indeed we know that His plan is beautifully made for us, His children.

The side effect of Holy Communion is bring us closer to each other, and of course, bring us peace, bring us love, bring us an assurance that God is always be with us. He will never forsake us. What a good side effect, have we! J




The day when I know the result.
Last saturday, we took the last communion early in the morning before we go to the hospital for the second check-up. 

Honestly speaking, I felt peace throughout the cab journey, no worry, no weary. 

I believe that was Jesus who touched my heart and take away my worry. 


My appointment is at 915am but we reached there around 840am. The registration was pretty smooth but the waiting time was sooo long. Normally, in this kind of situation, every minute of waiting was like torturing to me, but that day, I felt peace. We are waiting patiently, again, no worry, no weary. 
I believe that’s God presence inside me.


For the first time in six months, here I go, again, taking my shirt off again to be examined. Before that, I heard the doctor is talking to my mom in Mandarin, asking about my mom’s past history about breast lump. My mom did a lumpectomy when she was in early twenties once. And then one more time, another operation when she was in her forties. Both lumps are solid and better to be operated quickly so seeing her situation last time, well, I can say, I have a brave mom, indeed!

Okay, so the doctor using transducer up and down, applying the gel, again up and down, left and right, seeing the monitor, and found nothing. 

.....


No more lump! Nothing! It’s gone! It’s completely disappeared! Hallelujah! 

And then she moved to my left breast and again to check using transducer. And she found nothing.


Hallelujah!


So yeay! The doctor said the lump is completely disappeared! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!


We all rejoice! This is the tear of joy!


The end of consultation, the doctor explained to us sometime the lump could be appeared and disappeared depends on the hormone/ lifestyle/ due to stress. But in my case, the lump might be something like a water/ fats retention due to imbalance hormone. True enough, when I looked back, I did the ultrasound 5 days before my period (-_-“) So girl, now you know why it’s not encouraged to do ultrasound before or during period. Or now you know why a week before period come we always tend to feel moody, lazy, bloated, cramps, and feel so uncomfortable. or PMS in the scientific's terms. 


Ok back to the topic, so once again, the doctor said, that the lump has disappeared completely so nothing to be worry about. 


I think the best part about it, is that the doctor, herself, was the one who assured my mom that everything is fine. 


Soon enough, I saw the tears of joy in her eyes! In my mom’s eyes! 


Our prayer has been answered! He healed me! He makes my lump disappeared! Hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus. 




Aftermath
The next thing, the doctor said that we can do a follow up ultrasound 6- 12 months from now to see how is going to be so I’ll come back in the 6 months’ time! With a joyful heart!




Special Thanks.

I’m amazed by God’s grace, He not only gives me peace and surrender heart but He granted my wish, He healed me completely. J

Thanks to God, for your complete healing.

Thanks to my friends and family who give me prayer support. And especially thanks to my mom, who came here to give me support mentally and spiritually.

She benefited from our 1-week Holy Communion the most. And not to forget, we both prayed to give thanks in the end of the day.  
We both promised will share this healing testimony to the people out there. So that’s where I decided to write this post, this healing testimony. The power of God. The power of prayer. The power of faith.

Sometime when I heard the testimonies in the church, I was like, yeah, I believe that, that’s awesome, but that healing is only for them, not for me. 
But now, after I encountered all of this drama *ahem* I know that indeed, the healing is for all of us, who believe in Him. Who cling into Him.

Jesus healed me for a purpose. And this is His purpose. He healed me so that I can be a living testimony, to share this good news to outreach the people out there. 

Yep and the goodness of God not only be consumed by us, Christians, but also, goodness of God is to be shared to other people, too, especially to lost sheep out there.

Thanks for reading, everyone. God bless you.

-Deb-







Saturday 12 April 2014

River Safari trip 2014


YO! 

Last weekend, we went to River Safari. 

Located near Singapore Zoo and Night Safari.

It was the first time I visited River Safari. The highlight is actually Panda and Red Panda. The rest of the animals, especially fishes, are from river.  Not only fishes, river creatures such as crocodile and otters are there too! 


Pose at Entrance



First, we went to Amazon Flooded Forest!




Lots of river creatures...But I don't think these fishes are edible creatures for human....












Piranha Fish












Lunch break!


Lunch Break! Tried Panda bun for the first time. One is chocolate and one is red bean. 



And then, after lunch, we went to Squirrel Monkey Forest. This is how the monkey look like. So tiny and fast!




Then, in the Panda forest....Red Panda!


Red Panda



Sleeping Panda



 Nothing much to see, because the Panda is sleeping and the other one is hiding in the cage.

So sad...


And Next! Amazon River Quest.









I think we finished visiting all the animals in about less than 3 hours time. Maybe if the Panda was playing or feeding time we could spent the whole day there! 


That's all.


Bye!


-Deb-










Friday 11 April 2014

Last day, day 4, going back to Singapore

Day 4, Last day our holiday and the day we back to Singapore.



Lemon Cafe for brekkie
I wan all!




yummy!



Egg benedict and salad 





Before eat, take photo first ya!

Again, from Boracay we took ferry ride for 15 mins, coach ride for 2 hours, and finally air flight for 4 hours from Kalibo to Singapore....It took us whole day! Home sweet home!
















Till next time. 

Okay, as per what I said, my Boracay dream come true, but it's not all about it. It's not the end of my journey. 


One day,

A friend of mine asked me a question:

If now my dream came true, what will you do next? what's next, Deb?

I paused awhile.....

Smile and reply....

That's the best part of it...

When my dream came true, the good part is that, I get to go find a new dream....

Yes, another dream, another bucket lists to add on...to accomplishes....

And the lists goes on...



-Deb-




Monday 7 April 2014

Thermal Spring Water

Remember my last year's post about my Holy Grail, Avene Thermal Spring Water? 

Well, I don't think I am a loyal fans because after all....

My itchy heart ( and hand, too) drove me to try another brand of Thermal Spring Water....hahaha....




Vichy....just a normal one Thermal Spring Water, nothing so special about it I can say, same price, same quality. 






So far I love La Roche Posay best because it's not only refreshing after I spray onto my face. But the nozzle spray, is really created scientifically, to just spray-fit on the whole entire face.

Love it to the max





-Deb-