Happy 14th Anniversary To Us

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish my hubs a very Happy 14th Wedding Anniversary. Hard to imagine we've been married for so long yet our love remains strong. We've been through ups and downs and with each situation, we come out stronger than ever.

You really wouldn't believe it if I told you we met online. Yes it's true and yes I'm one of the lucky ones.

Nevertheless, the 14th wedding anniversary is usually called the ivory anniversary. The name come from the fact that ivory was traditionally presented to the wife or husband as a gift on their 14th anniversary of their wedding. In modern times, gold has replaced the use of Ivory as a gift. Good thing gold has replaced ivory because I wouldn't know where to get an elephant tusk! Ha.

I've learned a lot about marriage in the past 14 years and here's just some of what I've learned....

1. That we must forgive each other of we are going to have peace and joy in our marriage. Someone once told need that “A good marriage is made up of two good forgivers.”

2. Fighting is normal although I must admit it sure doesn’t feel normal when it’s happening.  It’s miserable to fight with the one you love most.

3. There is no other relationship on this planet that has challenged me more to the core, as marriage.  It has shown me many of my weaknesses and short comings and has taught me to overcome them.

4. It has taught me to do the harder things as it’s easier to criticize and nag than it is encourage and build up. 

5. We reap what we sow in marriage. I can see clearly – the grass IS NOT greener.  When my grass looks brown – and someone else’s looks greener – I simply need to water my grass everyday till it’s green again! 

6. I’m not really that great to be married to.  I’d like to think I’m the bomb diggity and my hubby lucked out in scoring a wife like me to be married to (*wink*) - but to be honest I have blind spots…things I don’t see that he very clearly does see and those things are annoying. 

7.  My husband doesn’t always show his love by his words or affection but often it’s through his faithfulness and his provision for the family.

8.  Marriage is hard work and can be a bumpy road at times.  But if I hang on tight to the hand of my husband – I’ll have the best ride of my life!

So before I go on,  I would like to say this to my hubby....

Dear Hubs,

Happy Anniversary!  Thank you for your faithfulness and unconditional love through all the highs and lows. Thank you for giving me your heart, your leadership, two beautiful children and a home to care for. I love you more everyday and can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you!!!  

One by one each year flew by, since we said 'I do'. Fourteen years of memories, shared by the two of us. From big events and holidays, to simple daily pleasures. Some tearful times along life’s way, some joys that can't be measured. One by one each year now gone, but still it's ours, forever each and every memory, of sixteen years in total together! 

Fourteen years ago, we joined as one, and worked together to make living fun. We are partners in life in both work and play. With everything we had done, between through and accomplished in these fourteen years, we could be role models for anyone and everyone who believes in eternal love, for those who trust that there really is a 'one and only.' We could be role models for the benefits of a happy marriage through unconditional love, showing that two are better than one, that it is better to be a team in facing life's challenges, for commitment, for caring, for unselfish devotion.

I don't pretend to know what love is for everyone, but I can tell you what it is for me; love is knowing all about someone, and still wanting to be with them more than any other person, love is trusting them enough to tell them everything about yourself, including the things you might be ashamed of, love is feeling comfortable and safe with someone, but still getting weak knees when they walk into a room and smile at you. And there is no feeling more comforting and consoling than knowing I am right next to the one I love.

Knowing you will be with me in all my tomorrows, makes my today so wonderful. It doesn't matter where I go in life, what I do ..... it's who I have beside me... YOU side by side - year by year. True love stories never end.

Our wedding was fourteen years ago. The celebration continues to this day. The celebration of love, trust, partnership and tolerance.  

It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.  *GRIN*

I love you Edward Palmer.

Thank you for all those wonderful years and the wonderful memories you have given me. 

Happy Wedding anniversary!

Your wife,

Debra Palmer

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And "our song" fits our story so perfectly. - Savage Garden's "I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You"

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Nevertheless, what did we do today or what did we get for each other?

The question really is what do we really want to do and what do we want?  We've been together 16 years...We've done everything together and we've got every thing our hearts desire. What more could we ask for?

Since my mum is still not on talking terms with me, we decided to sneak away from the office early this afternoon and met up at Orchard. First we headed to Dunkin Donuts to get Eddie two bags of coffee. Yes that was what he wanted for our anniversary.

After that we made our way to Paya Lebar and walked over to City Plaza. Instead of a fancy dinner, we decided we’d eat something we really like and have been dying to try. We headed to Arnold’s Chicken!

When that was done, my dear hubby walked me over to Haig Road and by then, we had halfway digested the chicken we just had and so I had some room for my favourite Putu Piring.

It was back to Bedok after that but it wasn’t the end to our date. We walked around Bedok Mall for a while and enjoyed our time alone together. While we were there, Ed bought me the nail polish I had been dying for…the mirror finish!

Oh did I mention I was feeling mighty sentimental today so I wore my diamond engagement ring?

Back home, we spent time with the kids and my lovely daughter Lani made us a Nutella cake.

I feel like the luckiest person in the whole wide world!

A Year Since My Phone Interview with NKOTB

The last time I saw the New Kids on the Block was with two years ago. Once in Jakarta and the second time (just 2 days later) in Manila with my mother. 

The memories are still fresh in my mind as if it was just yesterday.  

But let's talk about my New Kids experience on this date (April 5) a year ago.....

Just as I was beginning to miss NKOTB and started to think of the times I had spent with them in 2012....and just when they've just released their new CD....my friend (a reporter) sends me a text saying she will be doing a phone interview with the boys. This friend I met in 2012 in Jakarta after the concert and who did a huge write up on my mum and I meeting the boys then. 

Anyway, needless to say I was so excited to hear the news and even more so when she had invited me to join her for it! What!? I am going to get the chance to talk to NKOTB over the phone? Someone please pinch me. 

I wouldn't say I'm the biggest fan but I'm crazy over these guys. Have been since I was ten years old! I had my walls and ceiling plastered with their photos torn out from magazines. I watched every VHS they released more than a dozen times each. I listened to their songs over and over again.  

So that invite to being at a phone interview with NKOTB, it brought a whole new range of emotions. I was practically in Seventh Heaven. 

The only bad part to it was that I had to be at my friend's house by 5am. Wasn't a problem really because I tried to sleep early....and by 4am I was out my door and in a taxi on the way to her house!! I had all my questions ready (just in case) although my friend was actually going to be the one doing the interview. I knew for a fact that she would not have invited me over if she did not plan on giving me some time to speak to the guys. But whatever it is, I was simply just excited to be able to be there to witness the moment and to hear them speak over the phone while we sat in her bedroom. OMG! It's like every teenage girl's dream to be able to talk to NKOTB from their bedroom! 

I arrived at my friend's house at 5am and we set everything up...The mobile phone and speaker so we could record the interview. We giggled and went through the questions like teenage girls. I was so nervous I told her she do the talking because after all she's the reporter. She still insisted I should talk so we will see. 

It's 6am and her phone starts ringing...this is it! It was the manager who asked if we were ready for the interview? Well of course we were!  We were practically at the edge of her bed waiting for the moment.

Danny Wood took the phone first. My friend went on with her questions she had thought up for Danny and I was just there listening and not believing there were actually on the other end of the phone. My friend signalled to ask if I had anything to say to Danny but I didn't. 

Next up was Joey McIntyre!  He's as always...loud but fun!  I didn't have anything to say to him either but my friend asked if he remembers anything about Singapore and he said he did from the 90s. How true is that? Who the hell cares? We'll take his word. My friend was having such a great time talking to Joey. You can only guess she is a Joey girl.

I recognised the voice of the next person even without the manager telling us who was next or even without hearing her yell for the next new kid. Jonathan Knight!  He was soft spoken and giggly as usual and a real darling. I didn't really have much to say to him or ask him but when my friend prompted me I just butted in to ask Jonathan when he will be coming to Singapore for that Koi farm tour? And instantly he remembered me! He said he would definitely give me a shout out when he does come to Singapore for a holiday. A girl can continue to dream...

It's as if they saved the best (two) for last... Donnie and Jordan....

"Hello Charlene" the next voice excitedly shouted! It was Donnie Wahlberg. My friend responded and also told him she had a friend with her who is also a big fan. OMG he said hello to me too!! I let Charlene finish with her interview but before she could even ask if I wanted to say something to Donnie,  he went on to talk to me instead.  He asked if I had been a fan for a long time. I calmly and steadily replied I've been a fan since I was 10 years old so that's over 20 years and I'm a Jor-nie girl. He got quiet as he probably was stumped. He continued and said, "so you're a Jon girl?" I said "nope. I am a cross between a Donnie and a Jordan girl." .... and that was it. He laughed so hard and said I was a riot. 

I went on to tell him I was the girl who met them in Jakarta and Manila and who had my mum with me.  I was rather amazed that he remembered and I believe he really did remember when he said, "oh the ones we played ping pong with!"

So the couple times when he sent me a direct message (DM) through twitter, he really did remember me!?

I didn't want to talk up too much of their time and Donnie wasn't showing any signs of wanting to hang up just yet...but we still had Jordan to speak to. So I politely thanked him for his time and said I hope to see them in Asia again soon and passed the phone back to my friend.

As the song "I Wanna Be Loved By You" goes....as Jordan said, "Well, I guess they saved the best for last..."

To me, to choose the best is a tough choice between Donnie and Jordan but anyways....

I heard the manager yelling for Jordan and I prayed like hell that he would be in a good mood. I know he does have swing moods but he's only human and I am too so thus why I was praying he would be in a good mood. Haha.

He finally got on the phone and his voice sounded like an angel. I practically melted.  He wished us a good evening and acted so surprised when we told him it was 6am in the morning. He asked us what the hell were we doing up at this hour? Duh! We said we woke up special to speak to them and he said "awww that's so sweet and that's why we have the best fans". I was goo by the time he finished that sentence.

My friend did her thing and Jordan patiently answered every question she had for him and before I know it he was talking to me...I think it took me a while to realize until Charlene nudged me real hard! I barely heard Jordan say, "Did Donnie say Ping Pong in Manila?"

By now, I was not just goo. I was floating goo. 

The rest of the conversation is history but I clearly remember word for word what each and everyone said especially Donnie and Jordan. I mean why not?  I've recorded the whole interview and have listened to it over and over again. 

Till today I float when I think of that special morning. And a part of me still can't believe it actually happened but I have the recordings and the published article as proof. After all, I don't need to prove anything to anyone right? 

I wish one day I will get that chance to meet them again and interview them.  I never thought it would ever happen but it did....so why not keep dreaming that it may happen again one day in the near future. 

Once a Block Head (BH) always a Block Head.

Going to the Papa Shop....not Mama shop but the Papa Shop!

During dinner this evening, my hubby suddenly suggested we should head down to The Papa Shop as it was what I've been wanting to do as I have this biggest “fan girl crush” on local actor Keagan Kang who happens to be one of the owners. 

Now I know Ed is doing this because he loves me and always wants to make me happy…just like how he got me VIP tickets to meet New Kids On The Block.

Anyway, I didn't want to make the trip there for nothing so I got on to Instagram to spy on whether Keagan was there or not. He did post something so I assumed he was there. 

We finished dinner quickly and washed up, showered and left the house. 

It was pretty much a pain finding the place but if we weren't so spontaneous, we could have spent a little more time looking up the directions.  

Nevertheless, we found the place and as we walked towards it, I already spotted hunky Keagan Kang!  *fan girl squeal* .... I did that at heart but remained calm. I am always calm even when I finally met NKOTB after 20 years of waiting.

The exciting part was Keagan spotted us walking towards The Papa Shop and he seemed to have recognized me... probably thinking to himself "that crazy fan chick".

The kids didn't have problems choosing what they wanted to drink (a coke and mineral water) and picked out the chips they wanted. It was Eddie and I who took a while looking at the wide selections of beers and such. 

But before that, my hubby asked Keagan if he would take a photo with me knowing I would never ask. Ha. First I took a photo with Keagan then my kids joined in and before we knew it, the guy behind the counter was taking a photo for all of us. 

Then came the other surprise. ...

Keagan said that Sunny Pang was there too! Yup! It was like the Code of Law cast gathering. Sunny joined us. I finally get to meet him too. How great to be able to kill two birds with one stone. I have to say they were really great people. So down to earth and simply just wonderful.

It was a great experience because I really liked them both and I am a huge supporter of local talents. Of course the ones worth supporting. 

We had just one drink and we left because it was getting pretty late and the kids were already getting impatient since we had promised them ice-cream at Wendy's. 

But I'll definitely go back again soon. Not just to see Keagan Kang but because The Papa Shop is truly a great place to be at.

It's a haven for alcoholics like myself with their wide range of beers, wines, ciders and spirits. Not to mention the outdoor seating which is a great plus point for me seeing that I can have my kids with me unlike being at a pub.

Did I mention I also love the name given?  It's so catchy and almost so very local. It's the total opposite of the mama shop you would go to for bread, eggs, milk or sweets. I now wish we could have a Papa shop in most neighbourhoods so one could conveniently pick up some booze after a stressful day at the office.  

I'm definitely excited to head back to browse their extensive range of craft beers and ciders. If possible I'm also going to try as many as possible....actually I think it may just be possible since their prices are really very wallet friendly.  

And the other good thing about The Papa Shop is that even though the allow you to bring your own food, there's also a "mama shop" style rack of snacks (peanuts and chips, etc).

I really enjoyed myself tonight even if it was for a short while. I loved how my kids could be with me. I loved how the prices were reasonable and how relaxed the place was. And I loved the fact I finally got to meet Keagan Kang and Sunny Pang.  So The Papa Shop is definitely the place to be seen at. If you're into the local celebrity scene and if you’re lucky like I've been tonight, you may catch a glimpse of your favourite local celebrities there. 

Here’s some info for those interested in checking this cool place out...

The Papa Shop is at 2 Kallang Ave, #01-K2, CT HUB, Singapore 339407.

The nearest MRT would Lavender and from there it's about a 5 minute walk. 

They are open Mondays to Sundays from 5pm. I'm not too sure about the closing times as it varies according to the days and I've lost track but you can always check them out on Facebook.  

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Who is Keagan Kang? 

Born 5 May 1976, in Perth Australia, Keagan Kang is a Australian actor whose first professional acting role was in Sweat, opposite Heath Ledger. A Singaporean theatre director then invited him to star in the stage play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and that was when Keagan's career in Singapore grew. 

Keagan was also nominated best supporting male for his performance in Wit by Margaret Edson at the first DBS Life Theatre Awards.

Keagan also played a huge part in a Singapore drama series, The Pupil (TV Series), playing a criminal defence lawyer and most recently Code of Law.

Rare Blood Type

Do you remember the first time you applied for your NRIC?

I still do because it was an eventful day for sure.

The year was 1991 and I was in Primary 6. We had the people from either the clinic or the NRIC office come to the school to accept our application forms and to check what blood group we belonged to so it could be recorded on our ID cards.

We waited in line like prisoners for our turn to get our fingers pricked. The part that made this whole day eventful for me was when it finally came to be my turn. The lady poked my finger the first time, took a drop of blood and started testing it to find out which blood group I belonged to. She seemed a little confused and decided to poke my finger again. She must have done this about three or four times before asking me if I am Chinese. Only when I told her I am mixed Eurasian did she stop poking my finger because the A- blood group she's been getting finally explained why I had that blood type.

So yeh,  my blood type is A- and apparently from that lady's reaction,  only Eurasians and Caucasians have that blood group.  But it never hit me at how rare it was until I got pregnant with my first child.

It caused so much complications that my pregnancy was placed under the high risk pregnancy unit.

Apparently i was carrying a foetus with a blood type different from my own, and I could have formed antibodies against foetal RBCs. Sometimes these maternal antibodies are IgG, a small immunoglobulin, which can cross the placenta and cause hemolysis of fetal RBCs, which in turn can lead to hemolytic disease of the newborn called erythroblastosis fetalis, an illness of low foetal blood counts that ranges from mild to severe. Sometimes this is lethal for the foetus.

Among these antibodies are some which attack the red blood cells in the fetal circulation; the red cells are broken down and the baby can develop reticulocytosis and anaemia. This disease ranges from mild to very severe, and death from heart failure (hydrops fetalis) can occur.

Hemolysis leads to elevated bilirubin levels. After delivery bilirubin is no longer cleared (via the placenta) from the neonate's blood and the symptoms of jaundice (yellowish skin and yellow discoloration of the whites of the eyes) increase within 24 hours after birth. Like any other severe neonatal jaundice, there is the possibility of acute or chronic kernicterus. Profound anaemia can cause high-output heart failure, with pallor, enlarged liver and/or spleen, generalized swelling, and respiratory distress. The prenatal manifestations are known as hydrops fetalis; in severe forms this can include petechiae and purpura. The infant may be stillborn or die shortly after birth.

Unfortunately both my kids didn't have my blood type and thus why they were both under high risk pregnancies. After they were both, they were in the NICU for a week. It was heart breaking to see what they had to go through but thankfully, everything is good now.

The treatment for this?

Before birth, options for treatment include intrauterine transfusion or early induction of labour when pulmonary maturity has been attained, or 35 to 37 weeks of gestation have passed. The mother may also undergo plasma exchange to reduce the circulating levels of antibody by as much as 75%.

My doctors didn't see the need for this while I was pregnant so for both my kids, the treatment was for after my babies were born.

After birth, treatment depends on the severity of the condition, but could include temperature stabilization and monitoring, phototherapy, transfusion with compatible packed red blood, exchange transfusion with a blood type compatible with both the infant and the mother, sodium bicarbonate for correction of acidosis and/or assisted ventilation.

Both of my kids had temperature stabilization and monitoring and phototherapy. Thankfully no transfusions were needed although my son came close to it.

You should see the nurses and doctors panic when they realized what my blood type was. They were calling blood banks to have bags of A- blood on standby. It kind of felt nice to feel that important. Haha.

So you see, I'm a gem. A rare gem. Haha.

But seriously,  my blood type (A-) is the 4th rarest in the world.

7% Caucasians
2% African American
2% Hispanic
0.5% Asian

It's one thing to be rare but it's another when it concerns your health and your life and worse when it’s the life of your own children.

I am thankful that even if my kids had a rough week or so after birth, they are healthy and smart and perfect now.

On a different note, I am also thrilled to mention that I received a DM (direct message) from Jonahan Knight on Twitter today... woohoooo....