Happy 4th Birthday!

We celebrated Khalis' 4th birthday on the 10th July. (He's 4 already?) =D

Had a small class party for him with a small homemade cake and later on celebrated another round with his TokMa, all his aunts and uncles.

I didn't prepare another cake but someone had a small cute cupcake ready =D Although Khalis was more excited to open up all his presents then blow out the candle lol!

This year we decided not to have another big party to curb overspending (and the hassle to organize a party, really) but instead have small, personal ones. As long as he's happy with celebrating with his friends and family, that is enough =)

Class party *Spot the happy bday boy* =D



Homemade cake..

and a mini cupcake!



All the presents for the birthday boy (who got impatient and opened the biggest box!)

Eeee.. BumbleBee!

Happiest Birthday boy!

Kd Boy joins in too!

Happy Birthday, Buk! Looooove you so much! =D

We Had Him ~ Maya Angelou

Beloveds,
Now we know that we know nothing,
Now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our fingertips,
Like a puff of summer wind.

Without notice,
Our dear love can escape our doting embrace.
Sing our songs among the stars and
Walk our dances across the face of the moon.

In the instant that Michael is gone, we know nothing.
No clocks can tell time.
No oceans can rush our tides with the abrupt absence of our treasure.
Though we are many, each of us is achingly alone, piercingly alone.

Only when we confess our confusion can we remember that he was a gift to us
And we did have him.

He came to us from the Creator, trailing creativity in abundance.
Despite the anguish, his life was sheathed in mother love, family love,
And survived and did more than that.
He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style.

We had him whether we know who he was or did not know,
He was ours and we were his.

We had him, beautiful, delighting our eyes.
His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a pose on his toes for all of us.
And we laughed and stomped our feet for him.
We were enchanted with his passion because he held nothing.
He gave us all he had been given.

Today in Tokyo, beneath the Eiffel Tower, in Ghana’s Black Star Square.
In Johannesburg and Pittsburgh, in Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham, England
We are missing Michael.
But we do know we had him, and we are the world.

A beautiful poem written by one of the greatest poets we know, Dr. Maya Angelou.
A tribute read to all by Queen Latifah during Michael Jackson's memorial.

Michael Jackson

Undoubtedly, millions of people out there are affected by the loss of our King of Pop. Admittedly, I am one of them.

It took a while for the truth to sink in. I felt numb. It wasn't real. He didn't die. It's just a rumour. Even after reading the news on e!online and watching it on the telly, it was just too difficult to accept it. Michael Jackson. Dead. Nope. It can't be.

After a few more 'latest news on MJ's death' in my face; I finally let myself believe it. The ache in my heart is silent to everyone else. Why do I feel this way? I didn't know him personally. He wasn't my father or my brother. He wasn't my husband or a relative.

He was a singer whom I grew up listening to. It was his collection of MTVs (when it was played on a LaserDisc) which I watched over and over as a kid. He was the one who made me and my friends gather round to watch his superb 'Ghost' videoclip. It was the effect he had on us. The magic he had on us.

In many ways he has touched a lot of people's lives. He was a visionary. A humanitarian. A talented songwriter. A superb entertainer. One can't help but watch in awe as he performs his famous moonwalk and dance routines. His songs are undeniably catchy and meaningful.

My heart aches as I think of all the wonderful things he could have done. My heart aches for the long awaited comeback that never was. My heart aches for his children who shares his legacy. My heart aches for the loss of our great music icon.

Oh, my aching back..

So, I finally got off my bum and went to get a referral letter from my GP to see a specialist regarding my back. It's been more than a year since the pain worsen.. I can't even remember how it happened.. or when.. - was in back in high school? Or was it after the kids?

I recall backaches especially after vigorous training in sports and dance. The worst training was the crazy stunts we did in cheerleading back in 2000.. I fell face flat once onto a cemented ground. I was required to stand on my friend's shoulder (who is ard 5feet 8), leap in the air and hope to land back first safely on my fellow babes who built a human arm 'bridge'.. Something happened along the training.. Someone wasn't prepared, I lost control, MG couldn't support me and SPLAT I went. We were all pretty exhausted from all the training and that fall called it a day.. I banged up my right knee and hands pretty badly.. and boy was I sore all over..

Besides that fall, all the training probly took up a lot of me (especially since I was quite small back then)

Anyway, back to present time.. My GP recommeded a specialist in DSH - Dr. Rozman, who is a friend of hers. Hubs helped me arrange for an appointment on Saturday morning and so we went.

Got to the hospital 10mins after 9 and realized that it's a first-come-first-serve basis even though we had an appointment. Oh well.. There were 5 patients ahead of me so we went for breakfast at the cafeteria to kill some time.. I only got to see the doc ard 10.30!

Dr.Rozman's a friendly doc who is a huge fan of F1 racing. There's pictures of the cars and drivers, autographed photos, plaques and replicas of the F1 cars in a tall cabinet.. =D

He asked some questions regarding pain in the legs, thighs etc.. and proceeded with some stretching, tapping and even tickling my feet! The good news is that my nerves are not involved seeing I don't get numbness or pins and needles in my legs and thighs.. It's very likely an old injury which occured some time ago. He calls it scarred muscle tissue and recommended Physiotherapy - the only way to help heal the wound... He sent me for an x-ray to double check on my spine.. So another round of q-ing up at the x-ray room before I head back to him to see my film.

Hubs left with the boys for an appointment with the real estate agent to look at a house here in BSD while I waited for my turn (seems ages) for the procedure..

My spine is in perfect condition although it is not very curved when laying down causing muscle spasms which doesn't help with the wound I already have. Now I understand why some days (and nights) my back is so sore I can't do much or sleep much for that matter..

Dr.Rozman prescribed some medication to be taken when I start my physiotherapy - 5 sessions in 2 weeks and a follow up with him after. I've made my appointment for Thursday at 2pm for an assessment before they plan out what's right for me. Wish I could get it done tmr but since Hubs isn't ard til Wed, I'll just have to wait..

Part of me is excited to know what therapy is given to me, but also I'm a lil nervous of the procedure itself.. He did say I'm going to go through some pain, hence the medication.. how intense would it be? Guess I will find out soon! =p