Bed bugs nightmare

I was almost sleepless for the past two weeks. It all started with bites which I thought came from mosquitoes. The itchiness was unbearable. The first morning I woke with three bite marks and took them lightly. Then after a night or two, I was bitten again, on the same arm but slightly closer to the wrist. Each time, it's 3-5 bites. And finally, my whole left arm was covered with bites. I went to Hospital Selayang and visited the doctor. I've to admit I WAS a super stupid patient as I didn't ask what medicine was it before I got injected. Why do I need injection if it's just bites? I was sure it wasn't allergy reaction. But it was too late when I knew it was steroid. The medication was heavy and I slept for almost two days. But the itchiness nor the marks go away. Then it was my baby's turn to get bites and it prompted me to take immediate actions!

I naively thought it was dust mites and called several home sanitisation companies. Thank God, two out of the five that I called were very sincere and explained to me that :

1) dust mites don't bite

2) I've to check for signs of bed bugs 

So I went googling for info on bed bugs and it seemed like the symptoms I had fitted nicely into the puzzle of the whole picture BUT I just refused to believe it. Bed bugs are notorious pest and it's difficult to rid off. I don't want to believe my bed or room has it!! 

Finally when I have cleared my mind, I knew I have to make a decision. I googled for Malaysia's companies which handles bed bugs. Unfortunately, not many accept residential contract. There's one company which spoke confidently about destroying bed bugs with one time flush out pesticides. I took that in without thinking further. Our family has been fearing to enter the room and quick decision had to be made. I agreed and his worker came the next day. 

I left my house for the worker to work. When I got back home, I mopped my whole house and scrubbed the common toilet except the affected room 4 times! It hurt every part of my back yet I couldn't sleep at night, still worrying whether the bed bugs are gone for good. The room was considered a dark room with smelly pesticides, closed up, and eerie. I hate to think that our favourite room has been turned into a "ghostly" room. I've to do something when nobody does. I kept praying to God for strength as God is the creator of all and He knows what could be done. Why should human fear bugs?

I opened the door of the affected room and mopped the floor twice and took down the curtain for soaking. I scrubbed the waxy toilet floor until it feels clean. I've decided that I will not avoid problem but solve it, not with my own strength but God's. 

Below are a few notes on bed bugs:

1) bed bug likes blood and to catch them you may have to wake up one hour before dawn ie around 5.30am.

2) if you note any blood stain marks on the bed, look out for signs of bed bugs 

3) bed bugs hide in seams and you'll find black spots which are their excrement around the seams 

4) bed bugs bite in a line, usually on the face, neck or arm (they live within 1 feet) from our sleeping place because they like warmth. 

5) you may bring bed bugs from high turnover places like hotel, hospital, university dorms, etc. So always check for signs of bed bugs before unpacking your clothes in the hotel. They might hitch a hike from your bag to your house (which was what happened to us)!!!

Soon, I'll be going back to sleep in the room. I told my son, "I've to be a guinea pig to make sure the bugs are gone. I won't let my kids be harmed." According to the articles that I've read, bed bugs are considered gone for good if there's no new bites for three weeks after the treatment. 󾍛󾍛󾍛

Photos for reference

Day 7: Mood swing

ROUND 1: When I was in the church today, pastor had a small talk with me. She said she had wished to call me but it was not so convenient to talk through the phone in the office as there are always people in the office and she didn't want anyone to eavesdrop on our conversation. So, she said she'll look for a suitable day to pay me a visit. But her main point of talking with me was to remind me to be selective when looking for friends to share my family problem. She feared that I share with someone who might spread my family problems to others or have prejudice towards my husband. It made me guilty and I could sense it running through my spine. 

While sitting at the corridor waiting for my son to come out of the toilet, my mind was running while on who was the one friend that pastor tried to hint me not to tell her anything. I didn't know and it's important that I find it out rather than sulking for the whole day. At that moment, I saw pastor walking out of the canteen and I called out to her. She turned back and I asked her. She told me it's better not to tell anyone though best buddies about family problems as they might not be able to provide the best solutions or advices. I should be looking for pastor or counselors for professional advices. Ahem....

ROUND 1: TOTAL KNOCKED OFF

ROUND 2: It was not like me for the rest of the day. I was moody. It's like end of the world. Yes, I did went to Daiso, one of the shops I like the most but it didn't help. I just look through things and after more than 30 minutes, I came out of thr shop buying just a pair of sponges - having plans to wash my own car. Next I bought car wash shampoo and fast wax. I wanted to buy a car vacuum cleaner also but didn't. I shouldn't buy it when my husband was around. So, car wash was enough at the moment. And it was a long queue to get stamps. When I was queuing, I asked the man in front of me, "What's the stamps for actually? It's my first time." He answered that if we get 10 stamps we can get RM5 voucher. OK. so, you'll have to spend RM300 to get 10 at also which only gives you a return of RM5. But still, everyone is lining up for it. RM5 meant so much now...life is hard. We have gotta save save save...it didn't help me to feel better.

ROUND 2: TOTAL KNOCKED OFF

ROUND 3: when we were on the way out of the shopping centre, my baby daughter wanted to try to play the pushchair with a baby inside. I pulled her away because I feared she might spoil it and we have to pay for it. Oh, how I wanted to buy for her. But we need to save. It's tearing me apart. I feel exhausted to move on even another day...

ROUND 3: ............................................

Day 6: Exhaustion

Today errmm.... I think I've lost the battle even without devil being involved. Oh yea, I know I've missed Day 5 journal but my baby was reluctant to sleep early yesterday and I had to play with her till almost midnight and by the time, she was asleep, I was too. 

To begin with, I think we should begin the day with the "daily bread" or words of God. Not being able to read the Bible the first thing in the day plummeted my confidence and faith. First, I should be more tolerant when my baby was crying and refusing to take bath instead of being pissed off. So, what should a mother be? Always kind and caring and gentle. But I was angry, angry, angry which shouldn't be. Prayers were reduced. Temper shot up easily. This is so wrong. 

The only reason for this bad mood was that I hadn't been able to get good sleep for the past few days because my baby had fever and woke so many times in the middle of the night to be breastfed. When I don't get enough of sleep, I'll get mad easily. Devil, of course, knows my weaknesses better than my husband or children. Here, I fell into guilt and pain. The mental torture is so tremendous that I wish I'm dead. 

I always feel like committing suicide when I've hurt my kids or when I feel I'm not a good mother. I also feel stressed when I haven't got the time to mop and clean the floor off the mess. I feel irritated and feel like things are crumbling down on me. I wish my husband would be more understanding and help out looking after the kids rather than watching TV. Everything seems to be so wrong. 

I haven't been able to sleep at 10pm and wake at 6am to read the Bible and pray. This should be done for better days to come. 

Jesus, please help me to...

Day 4: Honesty test

Today I was tempted and ...

Yesterday I read Alice Mathews' "Mary and Martha" and "Eve and Rahab". Her analyses on the four important women in the Bible were so interesting that though I was exhausted, I couldn't stop reading. 

On Mary and Martha, she said that we need to have both characters in our lives. Mary was the one who searched for the truth and seek God while Martha busied serving God and His people. We need to have both. It's the matter of priority. God. Then, work. 

On Eve and Rahab, I learned that decision making can bring favorable outcome or disaster. One made a bad decision and brought birth pain to the descendants of women. Another one made the right decision and got blessings. 

Today, my friend whatspp me and asked whether I would like to join a survey which RM150 will be paid once it's done. I was elated and asked to join. The agent called soon. And she explained to me what to say and what not to say. I was shocked to know that I've to tell lies...plenty of lies. I kept asking, "God, are white lies considered sinful to you?" At one point of time, I asked to stop the conversation so that I can talk to my best buddy and ask her opinion on it. But the lady on the other line was adamant and said, "It's so easy. Why do you find it difficult? You just need to tell them what I've taught you." 

But I was uneasy. One of the biggest lie I've to say is that I'm working when I've not been working for the past 6 years! 

I finally took the courage to say, "I don't think I can tell lies. I'm not comfortable with it. Thank you." We ended the conversation. But later on she whatspp me and asked me to have second thought. I called my friend and talked about it. 

My friend said, "It's just the matter of RM150. If you want it, just do it. Otherwise don't waste time thinking about it. Rahab did lie too.." 

While reasoning to my friend, I understand better on the story I've read. Yes, Rahab lied. But her lie was the proof of her faith in the God that could save her and her family. Her lie was not done for selfish desire but to save the whole Israel nation. 

If I accept the job, I need to lie and it's for the sake of RM150. Is my integrity and principle worth just RM150? Am I glorifying my God? 

God, it's not easy to reject an offer that pays me with just a few lies. I need the money. RM150 meant a whole week of grocery and food for me. Though not lacking, I wouldn't mind having the extra money to keep. But I know I need to put God first before anything else. I am Jesus' ambassador. What I am doing determines what others see in God. 

Bible verse:

1 John 3:7

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. 

Day 3: Patience

I'm a caterpillar, caterpillar crawling slowly, 

Patient, patient is my other name,

But one day, I will turn, 

Into a butterfly, 

I can't wait - to fly high, 

But for now, patient, patient, 

Crawling slowly.

This is a song I created for Hannah after she took out my amigurumi caterpillar and played with it. All of a sudden, I related caterpillar with being patient and came up with this song. Praise The Lord. I really do hope this song can become a good Christian song for children to learn about patience.

I woke up in the morning, though exhausted because Hannah hadn't been able to sleep well due to slight fever. Like usual, life is dynamic no matter how exhausted you are. But I took the courage and as planned and prayed, I pulled Isaac to the living hall before we left for his school. I apologised to him for all the wrongs that were done and asked him for his forgiveness and we prayed together. It was a good start.

Throughout the day though unfavorable things happened, I prayed and tried to keep calm. I kept singing the song I made and reminded myself to have more patience. 

Because I was more patient with Isaac, I can see that he was more patient also and though he still answered me with a "No" when asked to do something, he negotiated with his tone. 

When I said, "You still have five more minutes only to bath."

He disagreed with a big NO but seeing my downcast face, he added, "six minutes." 

I smiled and said, "Sure."

I gave him Robo poli car, a toy I've bought a few months ago but have been keeping on the top shelf. I thought by putting it high up and letting him see, it gives a sense of encouragement to improve on his behavior. We had a deal. He needed to have 10 smileys in order to get the toy as a reward. But today I changed my mind - with prayers. 

"Today, I'm going to give you this toy. It's not because you've done any good or deserves it. But because I love you. Love has no conditions. Just like how Jesus loves us. He died for us not because we deserves it but because He loves us." 

I thank God for today, as He has given me strength to love my unlovable child and in him, I can see love again. 

My Bible verse to memorize today: 

1John 2:15

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

Day 2: Anger control

Sometimes I wish I was a little girl again but with different parents. I wondered whether my life would be different if I have had parents who were understanding, supportive and loving. But the fact is, we can't choose our parents. God chose for us and we have to live with it.

My family members have bad temper. It's so bad that when my dad talked, his voice thundered through the house and no one dared to say anything else. "It's in our blood!" was the excuse for hurting others. And now it's in my blood. 

I believe everyone will feel angry and when we are angry, we will do sinful things such as inflicting pain whether mentally or physically on someone else, usually the more vulnerable ones. And it is so wrong, I know it. But when anger arise, no amount of water can swallow it. 

My cousin brother looked at those abusive years with his dad in a positive way. He is holding a CFO position in a big firm with a very difficult boss. When asked how did he handle and tolerate such boss, his answer was, "My dad trained me so." Trained. I salute him for he can get over the abusive years and convert those hurtful words and physical pain into a training ground for his success. 

Today, I had a disagreement with my son over his piano practices. It ended up with me sending him to his quiet chair. But when he was in it, he started to scream. I moved him to the toilet and told him that toilet is the best place for screaming. He started to yank the door and finally, came out of the toilet and shouted at me, "Get out of the house!" I opened the door and pulled him out of the house and tried to close the door but he managed to push in. So, I asked him to go back to the toilet. I didn't know what else I can do. I need to keep calm. I can't let him out. If I do, I would get really mad and do sinful things. I need to pray. I cried. I called my best friend, also my son's ex-teacher. She talked to him and calmed him down. 

After the incident, I talked to him but I couldn't feel his repentance. He was very much a belligerent child. What should I do, God? How I do undo the hurt? 

How I wish I could start everything afresh, but parenting is different from drawing. When I don't like my drawing, I can just throw it away and start with a new piece of blank paper. In parenting, we have to start from where we failed. Though the water is murky and ugly and we are just too exhausted to try out, we have to continue the journey because parenting is a lifetime business. 

"Lord, my God, six years have gone and many wrongs done could not be undone. It's too late to regret but he's six now. He's not sixteen. I still have time. Please help us. Jesus, please hear my plea." 

Sometimes, I wish my husband would understand my exhaustion. The exhaustion is inextricable and unexplainable. The moment I wake up, things await me to do. Taking care of a baby and a kid is not like completing a paperwork where you can see the COMPLETION of it. Baby needs attention and from the moment she awakes, she needs to be hugged, read to, carried, sung to, and played with. And to top this up, one has to overlook and guide the homework of an ungrateful child. 

"Lord Jesus, I could only rely on You for strength and guidance. Amen." 

Day 1: Spiritual warfare

I woke up feeling exhausted. I wondered how people survive with 6 hours of sleep yet being productive. My mind just couldn't sleep in peace and money was the culprit. We are not lacking anything but it's always at "making ends meet" condition which I don't feel secure. My mind would not stop generating ideas to make money and that's how I got lost in the dreams of getting more money and losing my children and myself! Such clever trick. I felt like I was possessed by the Money Devil. I renounced it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. How could one serves two masters? I was serving Money all the while subconsciously all this while!

Though I got the chance to read the Bible after so many months of idleness, I felt lousy and down almost the whole day. And Satan is always at the doorstep when I'm lack of sleep. My mom asked me to visit her house because she had bread for my children. I don't like going to her house because she has so many idols, talismans and whatever that is to make her feel "secured". And these things aren't just dead. Devils are lurking behind all these and are awaiting for chances to pounce on us, especially, Christian and me- a weak Christian.

Long story cut short, I was brought up in a Chinese temple with tens of idols. My paternal grandma was a medium. I was once such a proud child because people came from near and far to pay visit and respect to the idols in the house that I lived in. However, fear was there no matter how many times I prayed to these gods or how many talismans I had in my purse. It's just simply scary to even go out to the toilet at night because tens of idols would be staring at me. And what's more, my mom, a devotee got attack from black magic and these so called gods were helpless! She had to find some other medium, who had higher knowledge in the dark art to save her. That's when I no longer felt proud of my gods. There was always a question in my heart: Why can't the god I pray save me? Then who else can? I'm going to believe in that god. That's how I came to accept Christ as my savior because He is omnipotent and in Him, nothing is impossible. 

Fast forward 10 years after accepting Christ, my life isn't a bed of roses. And the Devil is persistent in tempting and hurting me in any way he could think of. First, through my mom. And now, through my son. Today, he lost control and for the first time, he spat at me. I slapped him instantly. I told him how disappointed I was but tried to keep calm, knowing very well that it's in the Devil's plan. My son cried and apologized. I hugged him and told him that he had just lost a battle but it is ok. We must go back to God - always. 

In the afternoon, we argued about the spoilt stickers and I sent him to stand at a corner. He felt so angry and could not stop screaming, punching and kicking the air. It was at its peak when he started to move closer to me and I knew it very well he was going to take advantage of that to beat me. I asked him to go back to his corner and he hurled, "you're bad guy! You're bad!" Satan definitely knows me very well. I don't like to be called bad and I would get really mad. But today, things were different because I put God first. I prayed and asked God for strength and patience to handle my son. And thank God, I would give myself a thumb up for handling it well. I didn't not raise the cane upon him today though he was belligerent! 

But I was sad, I lost my temper when my baby daughter was crying when I was cooking. Why can't I keep cool? I should have kept God's verses in my brain at all time. Alas! Not a moment should we let loose or we'll lose the battle. 

Tomorrow's a new day and I should be doing better, Amen. 

Battling depression

I feel like I'm battling this myself. I'm losing the battle and I cried so often, thoughts of suicide is not something new. I told closed friends and I want people to know I have problems. I want people to pity me and listen to me. Yes, it made me feel better. But the betterness doesn't stay. I'm lost. I'm nowhere. I'm back at the battlefield once I've finished talking. It's useless. 

I thought this is a battle of mine until I broke down and cried and knelt with prayers. It's not mine. In fact, it's never meant to be. It's God's battle. And He's battling for me. He's in the front line and I am at the back, watching the waves coming close but never hit me because He has blocked the danger. 

I've spent endless visits to the doctors for my back bone. I've recovered or so. And now, it's my mental health breaking me apart. I don't know how to do this and that. First and foremost, I didn't come from a supportive family. Encouragement and praises were not my parents' cup of tea. I grew up not knowing how to be happy, what real happiness is and how to be encouraged. I thought getting married and having children will make me happy and so I did it. But I didn't feel happy. In fact, having such low spirit and having children at the same time made me helpless. I am incapable of taking good care of myself and feeling good, let alone handling house works and taking care of the kids. And it's a cycle. The more helpless I am, the more depressed I feel and it goes on and on till I break down and come to God...

I need to go back to God. Yes, I have wanted to talk to professional about my mental state but when I did, I feel it is useless again. I went through therapy. It made me feel better for that one or two weeks and then I was back at the battlefield, feeling exhausted and battered. 

I looked back and realised how much time I have wasted wrestling with my own dreams, regrets and wishes. I have not truly appreciated what God has provided me. I haven't really thank God for the beautiful son He has given me. I've neglected my son in the midst of looking for an extra of few hundreds to save each month. I've wished he would take longer naps in the noon to let me finish my work. I've lamented and complained why he was so clingy and attached. I've done so many things to hurt him, I feel hurt now. And I'm doing the same to my baby daughter now. It's so unfair to both of them, I know. I know it's wrong yet I can't help myself but doing the same thing every day! 

My son wet his bed yesterday and today, it was the first time, after 4 years that we weaned him off diapers that he wet his pants during the Sunday kids' service. And he didn't feel remorse. He said no one notice he peed in his pants. There's something so wrong with that yet he felt "it's ok" to do that. He could have gone through stressful moments, I don't know. Maybe cos I caned him too hard few days ago. I don't know. There's something wrong and I need to purge it out ONCE AND FOR ALL. Let's kill the weeds by uprooting them! In order to help my kids, I need to help myself. I need to be OK first and in order to bring them up to be fine adults. 

And today, I need to stand up again. I'm not strong and that's why I need God to be my shield. I'm not going to lie about my journey in this healing process whether it's my success or failure in overcoming stress. And this will become my daily routine journal to mark my healing process.