Having a baby in China was definately a different experience. In the end it was a very positive experience but there were a lot of unknowns along the way. We knew that there was one more little one to join our family. Even after moving to China we continued to feel that there was one more. It took a lot of faith and courage on Alauna's part to have a baby here. Even though there are billions of babies that have been born here in China there was a lot of unknown as we decided to have another baby.
We went to our doctor at the local ISOS clinic in Nanjing. After we told the doctor that we were expecting and confirmed it with a test the first question we ask was if we wanted the baby. Of Course! we wanted the baby. Her next comments gave us a glimpse of what we could expect. She asked if we could go to the US to deliver the baby. If not the US then Hong Kong and if not Hong Kong then Shanghai, but she advised and strongly encouraged us NOT to deliver the baby in Nanjing. We were a bit uncertain about her strong thoughts on having the baby in Nanjing, as we have multiple friends that have had babies in Nanjing. After further discussions with her we realized that her concern was less about the delivery and more about if there were complications after the delivery. After feeling like we understood the risks we decided that we would have the baby in Shanghai.
We set up an appointment with Dr. Angela Thompson at Shanghai United Family Hospital. We made the first of many trips to Shanghai to meet with her. We were pleasantly surprised when we met her. She went to medical school at the University of Utah and even though we just met her it was nice that we had something in common. She was really good with sharing the risks and what we could do to mitigate the risks. She understood the frustrations and challenges with having a baby in China and I think overall she did a great job preparing us for having a baby in China.
One area that we did not agree with here was the timing of moving to Shanghai. She wanted Alauna there at week 36-37. With 6 kids at home that was going to be very difficult for Alauna to be in Shanghai for a month on her own before the baby came. We did agree that Alauna would be induced a week early so that would help a bit. The reason she wanted us there was in case Alauna went into labor early. Once she went into labor there was no chance of making it to Shanghai. We were not going to be getting on a train with Alauna in labor so if it happened early she would have the baby in Nanjing. We decided that Alauna would go two weeks early and spend a week by herself and then I would come the week the baby was due. After thinking more on this, Alauna didn't feel comfortable with the idea of being in Shanghai alone 8.5 months pregnant. If she had issues, she wanted me there. She did not want to be in labor trying to get a cab or walking to the hospital. So we decided that we would go to Shanghai the week before Liam was due. We were scheduled for induction on Thursday June 6th. We went the weekend before he was due.
One of the reasons we struggled with Alauna going to Shanghai so early was figuring what we would do with the other kids while Alauna was in Shanghai and I was at work. Fortunately we were able to have Priscilla Smith Westover (Boyd's sister-in-law) come stay with us for 3 weeks. That was a huge blessing to have her come and be with the kids while we went to Shanghai. When Alauna, Declan and I went to Shanghai to pick her up we all planned on going to the airport to get her and then go back to the hotel together. Alauna wasn't feeling well so we decided we would go check in and drop Alauna and Declan off at the hotel and I would go get Priscilla. We walked to the taxi line to get a cab to get to the hotel. The line was super long. At least an hour plus wait. So we decided we would use one of private cars that are always at the airport or train stations. They are convenient because you don't have to wait, but you pay for it. We spent about 15 min in the taxi line negotiating with the lady. She is trying to get us to pay 3-4 times what a cab would cost by selling convenience and not having to wait. We are trying to make her think we weren't in a hurry and willing to wait the hour plus for a cab. Finally after much negotiation we settled on a price to get to the hotel. We left the taxi line and followed her to the car. She wasn't the driver, just the negotiator. The driver was outside. They took us to the exit to meet up with the driver. The only problem was that the exit was blocked with large garbage cans that were lying down on their side and chained together. I guess the train station didn't want people using this exit. We climbed over the garbage cans (remember that Alauna is 38 weeks pregnant) and made it to the car. We got Alauna and Declan checked into the hotel and I had the same driver take me to the airport and wait for me there to bring me back. I got to the airport right as Priscilla came out of the exit from customs. It was perfect timing.
We spent the next day with Priscilla in Shanghai and then headed back to Nanjing. We spent the next few days in Nanjing and then we headed to Shanghai. Liam was due on Thursday and we went to Shanghai the Saturday before. We saw the doctor on that Saturday and everything was looking good. Liam had been breech on our previous visits and he was now turned so we just had to wait until he decided to come or Alauna was induced in a few days. Alauna and I stayed in Shanghai and took advantage of the time with no kids. It was great. It was a mini vacation before Liam came. We watched a lot of movies, and ate a lot of good food. We went to quite a few sites during that time. We went to the top of Shanghai World Financial center. It was awesome. It is over 1500 feet up. It was a lot of fun. We also saw the Jade Buddha in Shanghai and the Shanghai Circus World Acrobats. The acrobats were amazing. I loved watching them. Their show kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It was a great time.
June 6th came without Liam coming on his own. So we walked (no taxi) to the hospital. We got checked in and went to the labor and delivery room. I was surprised and amazed at the size of the room. I think out of the seven kids this was the biggest labor and delivery room we have had. It was nice to have such a big room. The hospital assigned us a nurse/midwife. This seemed normal. With all our other kids we typically had a nurse that looked after us. The difference here was that she did not leave the room. We arrived in the morning around 8am and Liam was born at 8:55pm and she didn't leave the room except for about 15-20 minutes to go get something to eat. She even asked us if it was OK if she left to go eat. She mostly let us be. She would check Alauna's vitals as needed. When baby Liam was getting close to coming the doctor came in and everything was going smoothly. The nurse was very assertive and she was trying to take control and do it her way. The doctor and her battled it out and finally the nurse let the doctor take the lead. When Liam was finally born, his umbilical cord was tied in a knot, wrapped around his neck, his arm and his body. He was quite the little acrobat before he was born. The doctor said it was pretty rare that the umbilical cord was tied in a knot and told us to make sure we got a picture of it.
When Liam was 2 days old we had his "baby hospital photos" taken. In China, this was passport photos. Your eyes have to be open on a passport photo. This is not an easy task with a 2 day old baby.
We had Liam on a Thursday night, and we were not allowed to leave the hospital until Sunday night because they wanted to make sure Liam had all of his tests and shots done before we left. One of the shots couldn't be done until he was 72 hours old. They waited until he was exactly 72 hours old and then finally let us go. So, we were finally able to leave the hospital around 9:30 pm on Sunday, As we walked out of the hospital (no wheelchair), we tried to find a taxi. We were loaded down with a new baby, suitcase, car seat/stroller, flowers, and other things from the hospital. We couldn't find a taxi, so we started walking. We kept trying to get a taxi, but they were already all full. So, we walked to the hotel. It was crazy to walk to and from the hospital with our seventh child. In America, you can't even walk to your car. You are taken to your car in a wheelchair. There is no way you'd be allowed to walk "home".
On Monday, we took Liam's "hospital photos" to the American Embassy and applied for Liam's passport. We also got an American birth certificate for Liam. So, he has a Chinese and an American birth certificate. We also took the train back to Nanjing on Monday. We were careful to keep him covered on the train because the people in China love babies and always want to touch them and hold them. This was the first time the kids got to see Liam. It was weird not having the kids come to the hospital to see their new brother. It was so much fun seeing how excited the kids were to meet their new brother and to see how much they already loved him. It was especially fun to watch our sweet little Declan get so excited to be a big brother. He just wanted to hold Liam and love him. It was like watching your kids on Christmas morning or enjoying a day at Disneyland.
Every time we have a baby I am amazed by Alauna. This time was no exception. It was something that I can not use words to describe. I have always know that Alauna is an amazing woman. This time, however, I saw something in Alauna that I have never seen. It was a look in her eye that I will never forget. It was a look of fear, a look of exhaustion, a look of pain. It was a look of confidence, determination, and unconquerable spirit. I have always known that Alauna is an amazing woman and while she often doubted herself there was nothing she couldn't do. This moment confirmed that to me. That look on her face told me that there was nothing she couldn't do. There have been many amazing women in history and I would put Alauna at the top of the list. I am so blessed to have Alauna as my wife. She is an amazing mother as well. We are very blessed to have our seven children.
We have loved having Liam in our family. He is such a happy baby. He is growing and loves to smile. He loves being part of our family and you can tell that he can't wait to get up and run around with his older brothers.
Boyd and Alauna
 |
| We saw these guys and asked what they were doing. They said they worked in a Steak Resturant. We decided to give it a try. It was the weirdest thing ever. It was like an old time Western set in China with one steak on the menu. It was $100 USD. We said we had to go and ended up eating BBQ that night. |
 |
| Beijing duck on LaoWai Street. I love Beijing Duck. |
 |
| This was at the Jade Buddha. These ladies talked to Alauna giving her advice and asking her advice for about 20 min. They wanted a pic with their hands on her belly for good luck. They were in complete amazement that she was going to be the mother of 7 kids. This was just a day or two before Liam was born. I'm also amazed by Alauna. |
 |
| Alauna looking beautiful as always at the Yu Gardens. |
 |
| Nothing like a little foot massage. The people giving the foot massages were also husband and wife. |
 |
| Guacamole made tableside. |
 |
| Alauna looking beautiful at 1500 feet in the air. |
 |
| I love these two. They worked so hard. |
 |
| Baby Liam |
 |
| Our baby is now a big brother. Declan Loves being a big brother. |
 |
| Brannon and Liam |
 |
| Trevon and Liam |
 |
| Tiana and Liam. |
 |
| Marissa and Liam. Not sure why we don't have a pic of Mikayla and Liam. I need to find one. |
