Nesting for the National Holiday Part 1

China is having a national holiday this week. This is the first time we have had a full week off of school and actually chose to stay at home. Last year we went to Vietnam, the year before that Macau. This is really stretching Trevor and I :) We are choosing not to travel mostly because it is just not wise at the point in my pregnancy. We are trying to make the most of our time though. Over the weekend we purchased a new golf club set for Trevor. We got them from a cool section of Guangzhou called Shamien Island. This is where all the finalization's for adoptions take place. There are always tons of American families and their new little daughters.

To see a family with a son is very, very rare, but we did see one. There was a young couple with a little boy, but of course he had a deformity. This is the only way a boy would be put up for adoption. He had a hair lip. It had not been repaired yet, but I am sure as soon as they get that little guy back to his country, they will have it fixed. As I sat there with my son in my belly, I just felt so sad...how many more babies are going to be born with hair lips and given up.

Anyway, as I was waiting for Trevor to finish his last minute bargaining I found a really cool antique Chinese stool. I love Chinese antiques. I think they are so beautiful. Someday I will create a blog showcasing what we have collected so far. Anyway, to your average Chinese person, and antique is a piece of junk. I was looking in a shop selling all kinds of cheap tourist items, when I spotted this stool propping the door open. While the lady is trying to sell me a T-shirt, I point to the stool and ask "how much?". All the sales ladies gather around and start giggling, they think it is soo funny that someone would actually want to buy this stool. So, she starts the price at 200 RMB, which is like 30 dollars. I laugh and cut the price down to 50. She laughs, I laugh, and I ended up paying 100. They probably think they ripped me off, and they did, but I really like my stool, and I have been wanting one for a long time. The photo of the stool is at the top of the post.

The rest of the day was spent purchasing our Christmas tickets home, (yes we will be making stops in Texas and Canada. We will be in Texas from December 20-27, and Canada from the 27-3rd), and purchasing all the necessary goods I will need to nest this week. Nesting for the National Holidays Part 2 will be about all the great things I am cooking for Trevor to have while I am in Hong Kong, and for my mom and I to have while we will not have access to an oven in Hong Kong.

The time is near for Jackson to come!

belly pics

I guess these were taken at 35 weeks. I think I look pretty normal, but I sure do get started at on the streets of China. I am probably the largest pregnant woman that some of these people have ever seen. Most full term Chinese women look like I did at 20 weeks. I am not joking. Oh well.

Introducing Jackson....almost

Why Hong Kong, Why not America, Why not China, Why not Korea???

Choosing where to have a baby while overseas can be a very complicated questions. The title reflects questions people have asked us and questions we have asked ourselves since we found out we were pregnant. I will give you the answers we have come up with in no certain order.

Well, I'll start with China. China is where we are, this is where are home is, we are here. Why not China? Well, there are several reasons. First of all let me say there are millions of babies born here all the time, and I even have other ex-pat friends who have given birth there. The doctors are qualified they know what they are doing, and I do believe the baby and I would survive if we chose to give birth here. But we aren't. These are the reasons. First of all there is almost a 97 percent C-section rate here. Chinese women can only have one child, and with that being the case, they want things to run smooth, not surprises, and they want their tubes tied afterwards to prevent further pregnancies. I can totally understand this, but unlike them I have the freedom to have lots of babies. Also the culture here is very superstitious and that plays out in everything from eating, to sleeping and of course giving birth. They want to choose "lucky days", and "lucky hours" etc. The after care is also very, very different from western countries. I won't go into all the different stories I have heard, but ya, very different. OH, and the doctors don't speak English so well.

Why not America? I would love to have my baby in America. I would be able to leave with plenty of time to get there and rest and be taken care of by my mom. I would be familiar with the doctor, and on and on. The only problem is that my sweet husband my miss the big event. Trevor gets two weeks paternity leave, but trying to time these things is difficult, and I want to be with him as much as possible.

Why not Korea? This may be a no brainer for you, but we actually considered it. It is a lot close than America, Trevor could make within a few hours. The health care is incredible. We have lots of friends there. I guess it would not have been a bad choice, but we would like to be closer to home.

Why Hong Kong? We settled on Hong Kong because it is only a two hour train ride away. The healthcare is very western. I can fully understand my doctor and she can fully understand me, we both speak fluent English. Our insurance works with great hospitals there. They give you a fair chance at having a natural birth, however they will give you a discount if you plan a C-section. I guess that is the trend these days. We are happy with our decision, and feel that we have planned as much as we can.

There are disadvantages to Hong Kong as well. I have to move down there at 36 weeks to ensure safety, and to avoid having to travel across the border during labor. Hong Kong is super expensive, and this living process will cost lots.

I will move to Hong Kong on the 8th of October, and my mom arrives on the 9th, so I am pretty secure about this transition period. We don't know when Jackson will arrive, but whenever he hints of an appearance Trevor will be on his way, and my dad arrives the 29th. I can't wait to fill you in on all of the details that will take place over the next 36-40 days.

The Nursery

I have really enjoyed the nesting stage. Actually I nest all the time, I think that is part of the life of an ex-pat. I know at all times in the back of my mind that we are not permanently settled, and I am always looking for ways to keep things organized and easy to move at some point. Here are a few pictures of the nursery. We are blessed to have a three bedroom apartment, so one room is totally for Jackson.

The Adventure Begins

I realize that I have a hard time managing a blog unless there is a specific purpose or theme. I decided that I would choose a theme based on the adventure that Trevor and I are aboout to have. I have 1 more day of work, and this marks the first of many milestones. I will stop working for 4.5 months.

Let me take this opportunity to brag about my school and the occupation of "International School Teacher". Yes, that was 4.5 months, 3.5 months I will get a full salary, and that last month I have chosen to take as personal leave. I am not sure what I would be getting back home, but I am pretty sure this is more. The insurance that the school provides pays for 100 % of this special little baby, so we are very thankful. Trevor will get two weeks paid leave, and if we need more time, we can request it, it will just be without pay.

Anyway, I have never stopped working for this long of a time span. I got my first job when I was 16, and I have been working ever since. I love working, I love earning money, and I love saving it, and then spending it, and ya, just managing it. I realize that maternity leave is not a vacation by any means, but well, ya living in Hong Kong for a month will be pretty awesome, especially with my mom there. I will post another blog about not only have a baby overseas, but then leaving that overseas country to go to another country to have the baby. WOW...we never thought it could get this complicated.

So, 1 day left. God has provided an amazing substitute for my classes. If you don't know I teach middle school beginners band, intermediate band, music apprecitaion and high school choir. THere are not many people walking around the streets of China looking for a job like that, who speak perfectly good English. THere was one though. My relief teacher is from NOrway, and she not only has her bachelors of music, but also her masters. She is young and energetic, and seems to really enjoy the opportunity of taking my classes. THis week she has been the boss of the classroom and I have just been running around making sure everything is organized for her.

I must say, I am just so amazed at how this has all worked out. I am so thankful, and could list tons of miracles that have already taken place thoughout this journey. I am happy that I now have a blog theme and that I will probably be more motivated in writing as I now have direction.