Becks Kao Thunderstorm days

The mysterious case of losing weight

February 20, 2017

It’s been a really tough week on the home front.

I’m running on a full, almost 24/7 schedule of running the business – and just returned from Co-working Unconference Asia in Chiang Mai, when I received a few calls from unknown numbers on a Tuesday afternoon.

It was the primary school calling, telling me Becks threw up in class.

Ate something wrong, maybe. The girl’s been snacking like it’s the new diet as she discovers the awesome selections of the vending machine in school.

But to my horror after 14 hours from 12pm to 2am on that very day, she was still throwing up and not keeping anything down, and we knew we had to make that dreaded trip to the A&E at NUH.

Only to be discharged 4 hours later because she could at last keep a drink electrolytes down, and then – BUMMER! – to be admitted 7 hours after because she started complaining of stomach pains.

I missed my chatty, noisy, bossy girl: all quiet staring at the TV while the IV dripped on

I missed my chatty, noisy, bossy girl: all quiet staring at the TV while the IV dripped on

Nothing’s rougher than rough this week with the day she was warded being the roughest because — who gets any rest in the hospital?!

The toughest bit, actually, was being told by two doctors on two separate occasions  – one our PD, and the other her attending doc at the Children’s Ward – that her lack of weight gain was worrying them A LOT. She apparently only gained 1.5 kg over the last 3 years, or is it 1 kg over the last 2 years; but whatever it is, she is now skinny as bones, eating poorly and officially not growing well for the doctors to wave a red flag at our face.

And this puts us all in panic mode wondering what we could do.

I texted mom friends to ask for recommendations on supplements.

The husband started planning lunch box menus and *importantly* running the selections by the little girl. She brings the lunchbox for recess, but often has meltdowns when she sees what the helper has packed.

So far the buns, pasta and rice were hardly touched and even the helper is at a loss. So I found out she’s been only liking the muffins, grapes, tomatoes and Hello Panda.

We also started to like Tasty, Tasty Junior and Delish on Facebook to get ideas on what to make, so she puts in more in her mouth. Of course, we would need to wait for her to recover from the severe dehydration and low sugar count due to the horrible bout of stomach flu that gave the entire family zero rest this entire week, before we start our meal plans for her.

And I am now officially crowdsourcing for ideas, suggestions and recommendations. Please feel free to throw them my way.

Big thank you to all who saw my IG post and sent prayers our way. Of all things I covet most, I covet believers in Christ covering my children in prayer.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

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8 Comments

  • Reply SophiaG February 22, 2017 at 8:19 PM

    Sounds like you and your family had a really trying week! Sorry to hear that Becky is unwell. Hope she’s been liking your husband’s lunchboxes! Will keep you and your family in mind <3

    • Reply MotherKao February 25, 2017 at 11:27 AM

      Thanks for sending kind thoughts our way. She’s doing much better.

  • Reply TAO February 20, 2017 at 4:33 PM

    I heard from my friend he is exceptionally experienced in diagnosing illness just by feeling the pulse on the wrist. It is worth a try as I believe TCM will help in some ways.

    Mr Wong Chin Nai
    https://www.practo.com/singapore/doctor/dr-wong-chin-nai-tcm%20physician%20(traditional%20chinese%20medicine)

  • Reply Angie.S February 20, 2017 at 2:57 PM

    Sorry to read that Becky’s unwell. Does she like to drink milk? Full cream milk does help with weight gain…and some say durians too? Praying for her recovery. Stay strong for her Liz!

    • Reply MotherKao February 25, 2017 at 11:28 AM

      Thanks, Angie! She hates durians unfortunately. Loves her fresh milk though. 🙂

  • Reply Shuqing February 20, 2017 at 2:39 PM

    Sorry to hear about Becks. It’s tough when the little ones fall ill and tougher still when we aren’t sure how we can help them. I think the pediasure suggestion is a good one. She sounds like she prefers sweet to savoury so perhaps for now, make pasta sauce with more sugar or honey and maybe she’ll take to it better? I’m not much in the cooking department so can’t say I’m reliable source of ideas. Hope she recovers soon. Take care, Kao family!

  • Reply Emiline Tay February 20, 2017 at 1:34 PM

    Put her on pediaure milk powder? Speedy recovery, Becks..keep you n family in prayer..

    • Reply MotherKao February 25, 2017 at 11:30 AM

      Pediasure is so costly and not having any effect *yet*, heh. Thanks for the suggestion, Emiline. And thanks for the prayers and love!

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