Welcome Home, Son
May 24th, 2010
She wanted me to kill her. She told me the pain was unbearable. If I wasn’t going to kill her, she told me, at least allow the doctors to cut her open. She squeezed my hand until my knuckles turned white and my eyes squinted with muted tears; she wanted me to share what she was going through. I have to admit I didn’t like it much, even if it was just one-tenth of one-percent of the the pain a woman feels at labor. Eight hours later, at 8 o’clock Sunday evening, 16 May 2010, I witnessed my son born in a pool of blood and screams, wailing after the long journey he’d taken to come into our lives.
The doctors and nurses at the Suzhou No. 2 VIP maternity ward did an outstanding job supporting my wife during labor, and during the four days they stayed in the clinic caring for my family (though the sofa on which I slept most nights could have been more comfortable). A force of nature has entered my life, an infant boy named Ashley Xavier (already shortened to Asher; Chinese name: Zhou Si Cheng): both Chinese and Western blood intermingle in his veins. He as the first addition to our family will shape my life and my senses in ways I can barely imagine; much as China itself has.
I can’t wait.
May 25th, 2010 at 1:12 am
Congrats!
May 25th, 2010 at 8:59 am
Congratulations!
Brian in Shanghai
May 31st, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Congratulations Bill! Hopefully we will get to see your son on our next visit to Suzhou sometime next year:) Best wishes to you and your family!!
May 31st, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Thanks, guys! Miss you here in Suzhou. Please let me know when you’re back in town.
June 3rd, 2010 at 6:43 am
Hi Bill, very happy for you!
June 16th, 2010 at 10:55 am
Bill, belated congratulations to you are your wife. I just had a baby daughter two weeks ago in Beijing. It was by Caesarean section, which is not for the faint hearted to watch. Hope your having as much fun as I am being a dad!
June 16th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Thanks, Ray, for the congratulations! A daughter! We were gunning for a daughter but were delivered a lovely little Chinese boy with blue eyes instead (weird how those genes work). I don’t think I would have managed a C-section well; as it was the little “snip” the doctor gave my wife was enough to make me blanch.
Best regards and good luck in the future.
Bill
P.S. This link came through email from Babycenter.com; don’t know if you received it too! : http://www.babycenter.com/0_8-ways-for-new-parents-to-get-more-sleep_7750.bc?scid=momsbaby_20100615_B:2&pe=2Ux0JoE