Christmas Photos!

First documented smile - on Christmas Day! Levi was happy. We were happy too as his gift to us was sleeping midnight - 5 am and then 6am to 8:30am! We were refreshed and ready for the big day! He is almost 8 weeks old and now waking up for only one feeding during the night! He's a FANTASTIC baby - easy and gentle (takes after Francis). We love changing his clothes. He loves laying in his bed and watching his mobiles. He moves his arms and legs and we say he's out riding his bicycle! Our family of three

Another Levi gift!
Notice his skin color compared to mine.

The Christmas haul - thank you for the boxes from America!

Our two sons!

Bath Time for Levi

Christmas Preparations!

We are getting ready for Christmas around here. Just a few pix of Levi from some friends.

Bigger and Bigger!

We went to the children's hospital yesterday.
"Where can I weigh my baby?"
"Go to the 3rd floor." Only stairs in this hospital, so up we go.
"Where can I weigh my baby?" I ask the doctor in room 3.
"There's the machine. Go ahead."

DIY measure your kid! So, after removing most articles of clothing ("WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" The Chinese nurse yelled!), I weighed and measured Levi and walked right out of the hospital. All free service!

At birth, Levi weighed 3.5 kg or 7 lbs. 11 oz.
Yesterday at 35 days he weighed 4.85 kg or 9 lbs. 8 oz.

At birth, Levi was 52 cm long or 20.5 inches.
Yesterday at 35 days he was 55 cm long or 21.7 inches.

Just Pix 3 and Video

Me and Mom ready to hit the town. Me and Mom reading "Goodnight, Gorilla." I like the black pages!

Me in my finery - hand knit-for-Levi by Gayle in Laurel, MS. Thanks!

Ooooo... So excited to go out and pass out red eggs - I'm 30 days old!

Party in my crib!

Man Yue (Full Month)

In China, a woman who has given birth must stay at home for one month. She cannot wear glasses, watch television, read anything, wash her hair or do anything else that might strain the brain or body. A delicate creature is she after delivering a child. And, a newborn is not supposed to go out of the house for the first 30 days.

But, on the 30th day, the mother and child dress up in red, put on their silver bracelet and anklet and take a walk around their area, passing out red dyed eggs to any friends or family they meet. If they received a gift from that person, they receive two eggs.

So, we did the Man Yue ritual and headed out in our red outfit, passing out 18 eggs along our way.

Big and Little Brother

This is Levi with his younger brother (in Chinese). This little Chinese boy was born a day after Levi, so Levi is the Big Brother (in more ways than age - look at the head difference!).

Disposable Thumbs/Attachment Disorder

Little did I know that the muscles that needed the most workout were in my thumbs! I'm thankful for the opposable thumb - helping me keep his head straight and on target as well as keeping all necessary objects in their proper place at 3 hour intervals! Ouch! Opposable thumbs? How about disposable thumbs?!

And... the BOOK (What to Expect the First Year) has that the umbilical cord will usually fall off around 10 days. Here we are on Day 20 and I fear Levi has some kind of detachment disorder. He is absolutely unwilling to detach himself from that thing! We're hoping before Thanksgiving (in 2 days) so we can give him a really good bath. We've been sponging him around here and there so far! Stinky little booger.

A Portrait in Parts

Just For Grandmom!

On The Mend

We ended our jaundice trauma today with the doctor's approval of our efforts to bring down the jaundice in Levi. So many people wrote back to share their own jaundice experience. Now, Francis and I understand that when it comes to kids, people can connect and are interested - we all share a similar experience.

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers and concern for us.
And thanks for all the encouraging words and emails!

2 Weeks Old!

Just Pix 2

At the doctor. Using the puppet pillow to prop!

Update

Here's me and Mom. This has been a strange week for me. After getting out of the hospital on day 5, jaundice sprang up and we were back at the pediatrician's office at the hospital. Mom had to step up the breastfeeding schedule (so no sleep for her) and levels went a bit down. But, after retesting, Mom had to put the breast milk aside for 3 days (and she caught up on sleep, hence, the blog update!), and Daddy stepped in with the feedings with a bottle. Also, Gracelyn is here, our American friend from China. So, Mommy, Daddy and Gracelyn can take a rotation during the night to feed me. Ha! But Mommy still has to get up and get that milk out by pumping so everything will be okay once I get back to feeding on breastmilk. So, we test again on Friday - checking liver function and jaundice levels. Who knows what the doctor will say? But, I'm glad I'm growing!

And introducing...

Here are Claudia and Clement (13 and 11 years old) introducing their new cousin. Claudia and Clement are Francis' older sister Lisa's two children. They live here in Hong Kong. They can tell you how to say Levi's name in Chinese - Cantonese and Mandarin!

Three generations!!!

This is Uncle, my father's youngest brother. He has been a great help since the delivery. He's the made-to-order chef! And boy, it's great food! Here we are, three generations of Ng men! We think Levi looks like Uncle - notice the hairdos!

Later. Later. NOW! NOW!

Is he going to be a Trekkie? Notice the hand.

Naked Scream

Just Pix 1

Lactose Hangover

Clean head

Week 1 Down

Here's Levi, wasted from a 1 hour feeding frenzy, on Dad's lap. Francis loves lying on the sofa with Levi on his chest, sitting in chairs with Levi on his lap, walking around with Levi on his shoulder. Francis is a HUGE helper! He buys all the food and does all the errands. Praise!

Someone has to do it

Mommy is doing a great job in feeding me, meanwhile, daddy is glad to help in cleaning me up.

Land of milk & honey

Born in Honk Bang

That's my new name for Hong Kong - Honk Bang. I amazed that my husband doesn't sleep very well. He wakes up very easily at most any disturbance. However, after growing up in Hong Kong the first 18 years of his life, you'd think he could sleep through a typhoon, which I'm sure many Hong Konger's have done!

Levi is undisturbed by the honking, banging and general steady hum of traffic, construction and what-not that goes on in this city. The funny thing about Hong Kong is, it's a TALL city. Apartment building blocks can reach more than 30 stories. It seems a race to see who can make the tallest building.

So, from the 16th floor of the flat we are staying in, I estimate that I can see more than 200 other apartments in the surrounding 2 apartment blocks and mine. And if you are wondering how that is possible, consider that the apartment we are staying in is only 600 square feet (and can house a family of 4!). They pack the people in and high in Honk Bang!

Let's hope Levi sleeps like his mother! 9 hours would be nice, thank you, and do not disturb. (Definitely my mantra BEFORE motherhood.) Now, it's "Just one more minute, please."

What's in a name?

Hmm... how do you name a kid? Especially when his mom is from the States, his father is from Hong Kong - the Cantonese speaking part, and they work in a Mandarin speaking country.

English:
Jonathan - "gift of God" (Francis chose this one.)
Levi - "joined", from the Levites, one of the 12 tribes of Israel who, when they all entered the Promised Land from Egypt, they didn't get a parcel of land, but were set apart to serve in the temples and holy places, leading the others in communing with God. (And we like to wear blue jeans, as well!)

Cantonese:
Ng - sounds like "mmm....."
Ga - sounds like "gah." Means "excellent.:
Lok - sounds like "lock." Means "happy, joyful" from Galatians 5:22.

Mandarin:
Wu - sounds like "woo." (Same character as Ng, but different pronunciation b/w the 2 languages.)
Jia - sounds like "j'yah." Again, "excellent."
Le -sounds like "luh", as in "lull." Again, "happy, joyful."

ID:
Jonathan Levi Galok Ng

Whew!

The Best of the Best

Best Change - Getting out of the hospital and being able to breastfeed at home in bed (no feeding the baby in your room at this hospital - have to walk to the feeding area everytime - notice the long hall photo! Think of this long walk at 3am! with stitches in your abdomen!).

Best Advice - Learn to sleep anywhere at anytime.

Best Word of Wisdom NOT! - Breast feeding doesn't hurt if you are doing it right. Hmph!

Best Moment - getting home and starting to be a family of three.

Thanks for the comments and the feedback - we are excited to share with you!

Before and after the slim-fast program

Too sleepy to eat

May be hungry but I am too sleepy to eat. Wake me up later!

First nursing day

Thanks to your prayers. Levi is now off IV and out of the oxygen chamber. This is the first time Terri got to hold Levi in the nursery. However, Terri is experiencing severe pain in her right shoulder blade and incision while nursing him. Please pray that it will get easier everyday.

Precious Moment

Unedited footage for our precious moment. One nurse was eager to take our child away for more post-natal care. But, we just could not wait to hold him in our arms. We are not sure who he looks like - he seems to have Francis' mouth and Terri's hair color. You tell us, okay?

So Comfortable here!

Little Levi needs some helps in the oxygen chamber for his lungs are little congested with fliud. Please pray for his lungs will get strong quickly.

Just the three of us.

Ng2 is officially changed to Ng3 as indicated by our new son. Please let us proudly introduce to you Jonathan "Levi" Ng. Levi was born this morning on November 1, 07 at 9:18 AM. He weighs 3.5 kg or 7 lb and 11 oz. He is 52 cm long (i.e. 20.5 inches).

Mama Terri did really well with this instant weight loss, though she described the experience was like soemone tried to pull a brand new tire out of her six-inch incision!

Time for slim fast

Terri is so ready to join the instant slim-fast program and to be their public speak person.

Whoa!

We hit Hong Kong without a hitch. No one at the Nanning airport cared that a woman the size of a whale was boarding the plane. Perhaps whales travel often?

The baby has opened a disco club these last two days - perhaps the last party before the grand exit (or entrance?). He's seriously ready to get out, and I am ready for him to get out too! The doctor agreed yesterday, so everything's a go for tomorrow morning.

We head to the hospital in 2 hours. Please think of us and we'll let you know ASAP all the birthing details!

He'll be born November 1 at 9am in Hong Kong - and October 31 at 8pm in America. (Thank goodness for the All Saint's Day birthday on November 1!)

Photos coming soon!

Speak to me, baby!

Is he knocking to come out?

Is he saying, "Get me out, please."

Is he saying, "GET ME OUT OF HERE NOW!"

Is he saying, "Ha! I'm really a girl!"

Is he saying, "Who's out there listening?"

3, 2, 1

Counting down.
10 toes I cannot reach now.
9 steps from the bed to the toilet during the night.
8 ways to make toast to eat in the morning.
7 times I drop something I cannot pick up.
6 days until the kid comes out.
5 digits I hope he has on his hands and feet.
4 meals I eat a day.
3 days until we leave for Hong Kong.
2 in our family as of today.
1 big baby boy who looks like... (that's the BIG QUESTION!)?