We Are Back...

We are back from Taiwan since 30th December around night time. We were fortunate to have Ah Boh's help at the airport and home. We also finally fetched Auntie Rose back from the agency lodging this morning. It was a rough and stressful trip for us all so we are still trying to put things in order again... Thank God we made it back in one piece!

Taiwan - Day 15 (Last Day)

In desperation, I messaged Ah Boh to fetch us at the Changi Airport. We planned to rush the kids to KKH after we dumped our luggage. Auntie Jessy offered to fetch us in a cab and help, but I couldn't risk spreading the virus to her. After all, she has young kids at home too! Fortunately, both kids seemed alright. We still needed to send them to the doctor once we reached Singapore, but it seemed less urgent now. Maybe we could even let them rest a night.

The flight back was quite frightening actually. I took all the vomit bags and got them ready in case either of the kids (including myself) puke. I also load my handcarry bag with diapers and clothes to change. Then there was a horrible turbulence that sent Alfee scurrying into my arms. I had little choice but to unbuckle him because he was so traumatised. Soon, it was over and he was back watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Just when we thought the worse was finally over and we were moments from the sweet home ground... Alfee refused to be buckled during landing. He kept crying and holding on to me tightly. The air steward came over to tell me to buckle him but I simply couldn't tear him from my arms. So, I buckled him to me. Then he came over again... telling me to buckle him to his own seat... blah blah blah... safety regulation. I couldn't really entertain him because Alfee was screaming to pop his ears then. CK got really pissed and yelled at him for badgering me. 

Fortunately (for the steward), his supervisor came over to explain how Alfee's neck might break during an impact if he's on my lap. She quickly coaxed Alfee into his own seat with all, and I mean ALL, the toys she could gather on board. We managed to buckle him but we couldn't stop his screams of terror. He screamed for at least 5-10 minutes with his eyes wide open, staring straight ahead at nothing. Both CK and I held him down in agony.

In my heart, I prayed that he would not be traumatised too much and please... let Sophie not vomit or cry at that moment. I think our prayers were answered. We survived. I unbuckled and grabbed Alfee the moment the seatbelt sign went off. He lunged into my arms and he was all smiley again.

I have never been happier, more grateful to be finally back in Singapore. The kids were super happy to see Ah Boh. Maybe because she's not associated to any part of our Taiwan trip. She represents all the comfort and relief of home sweet home.

Ah Boh was very kind to follow us home and help us settle the kids in for the night. The kids went straight for their Octonauts DVDs and favourite packet milk. Suddenly, they seemed totally untouched by our ordeal in Taiwan, like everything was just a bad bad dream and they had finally woken up. 

Taiwan - Day 14

Our last day in Taipei and we still didn't feel very well. Although the kids seemed better and their appetite had improved, they were hardly back to their full strength. We were advised to do a follow up with the doctor so we went back to the clinic in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, Papa took Sophie out for a walk while Alfee slept in the room. She was reluctant to leave the pram because she felt weak from the lack of food. Yet she wanted to go out for fresh air.

Back at the clinic, both kids were given clearance to take flight tomorrow. We were happy to hear that they were on the road to recovery and there was nothing else to worry about. In fact, they were even well enough to go to the Taipei Zoo, which Papa promised the kids. I was apprehensive but I guess the kids needed a break from the virus too.

We took the train there. It was alright, just a it crowded. I was super paranoid that the kids would vomit or have a bad case of diarrhoea on the way. Fortunately, they were just lethargic.

The rest were also at the zoo, but we only met Ah Gong and Ah Mah. Honestly, I found the zoo quite a disappointment. The animals were kept really far in so visitors had to walk upslope for a long time before any animals could be seen. Also, the number of animals within each enclosure was small... like one leopard, one bear and maybe two elephants. We didn't even manage to walk beyond the section closest tot he entrance. 

One thing I like about the Taiwanese spirit. They are quite civic minded and polite. In the train, they will give up seats very promptly to those in need. Even CK with Alfee in his arms was considered someone in need of a seat. Women, men and teenagers would not hoard seats at all. Something we, Singaporeans, need to learn. Nobody will look at mothers (or dads) with prams or kids with frustration here. Everyone tried to help when we seemed in trouble. 

Our family gathered and reunited after days of isolation. We thought it would be good have our last dinner in Taipei together. We found a nice Chinese restaurant but the kids were not hungry. Sophie was complaining about tiredness and tummy ache. I thought she was just grouchy since the doctor already said she was better. However, she puked again in the hotel room later in the evening.  

I broke down... finally after so many torturous days, I caved in and collapsed into a heap of misery and pessimism. Should we check if we could fly back immediately? Will the kids ever recover? Should we go A&E here? Just when I thought she was getting better, she started her spasm of vomiting again. How on Earth could we manage a flight back? Would we be stuck here with Noro Virus? It was pathetic... I was pathetic. We didn't sleep.

Taiwan - Day 13

I felt a bit sorry for CK because he's well and good to travel but he couldn't do much of that with three sick kittens. We could only loiter in the city and we had to rest every 30 minutes or so. 

We ate light and spent time together quietly. The kids were not their usual chatty selves so we just walked about the city and tried to relax a bit. Sophie was grouchy and she had a plastic bag in her hand wherever she went for vomiting. All of us had lost our shine and it was hard to feel good about anything except thoughts of home.

Taiwan - Day 12

By now, I was at the brink of insanity with all the poo and vomit and the kids' crankiness. Alfee was perpetually suckling in the hotel room because he was so miserable and hungry. Sophie was always bored yet she couldn't find much energy to do anything. Also, she became very conscious of vomiting or diarrhoea so she refused to eat or drink. 

We tried traveling on our own but it was torturous and I was tempted to just cut short our trip and book our flight home. Papa insisted we move about a little because it was too depressing to stay in the room the whole day. I didn't feel well enough but I knew we had to keep our spirits high... or prevent it from dipping too low.

We then made it our mission to look for Chinese DVDs for the kids. I never wanted to get books because the prints are in Traditional Chinese. But DVDs are different. This mission proved to be harder than we thought. We went to many malls and found very few. In the end, we bought two sets of DVDs... The Penelope and Hooray For Fizz.

And when we see a decent bookshop, we quickly parked there for Sophie. Somehow, the books soothed her restless, angered soul. We also managed to get sound books with Taiwanese songs, which are quite adorable.

One of the best lunch place we had found ... California Pizza. Both kids were asleep so we had some rest. My poor kids were still not eating much but Alfee had better appetite and he didn't care if he had got diarrhoea after eating. Unfortunately, that meant he regressed in his toilet training.

The only food Sophie could eat (willing to risk diarrhoea or vomiting) was french fries. We had to feed her that despite our better judgement. Of course she felt unwell after all but we had to let it go... 

Back at the hotel room, Sophie just slipped into bed and watched TV until she was tired and slept. She looked really worn out. She would play with her doll a bit but she's totally not in the mood for anything. Meanwhile, Alfee just suckled all the way till the next day.