What's in a name...

Well, Da-Yong is now 21 days old and he is growing more active with more facial expressions by the day. We are now only waiting for him to smile socially (not just in his sleep). Hmmm..I wonder, when he smiles in his sleep, what is he dreaming about? :-)

In anycase, while he is resting a little and keeping a little quiet, I thought I might take this time to update this blog a little. I'm sure many people (especially those of the Chinese descent) might find it weird why I named my child Da-Yong which can be directly translated to be Big Courage. A little cultural background, Da or Big is not a common first name as it isn't easy to choose a middle name with that. However, in my family (Chiam), that name, Da has already been chosen by my ancestors from my ancestralvillage in China. The Chinese first name is what we call a generation name. Just like my name, Siong Heng, Siong is actually the name used by ALL my cousins (those who are still traditionalist). Thus, my brother and all my cousins will have the same first name. What makes our names unique is our middle name as in my case, Siong Heng, my brother, Siong Chin, my cousin, Siong U etc. In the case of my son and all of his generation, Da is the stipulated first name. Actually, based on literature from my home family village, my father's generation is Kong, my generation is Siong, my son's generation is Da and my grandson's generation is Keat.

Also, I do intend on registering my son's birth with my home village in China. Now, I just have to find a way to do so....

Finally, I do intend (to my best ability) to ensure that my son keep to this proud family tradition and name his sons Keat....

And....It's OFF!

A huge milestone happened today. The baby is growing like a bacterial culture during its exponential S Curve growth stage. Clothes that didn't quite fit a week ago is now too tight! It is really quite an amazing sight!

Well, yesterday, his umblical cord came undone. This is huge with Da-Yong discarding his last appendage of any linkage to another human being (the Mom). He is truly an individual able to function on his own... Errr...I guess that is not quite true at this stage. He is a helpless little biological creation that eats, sleeps and poops.

As for us, Mom and Dad, we are now getting used to the fact that we have this little one to care for. Getting more used to the task of changing diapers and bathing him.

Again, it's a good thing I suppose....

Gramps are here!

Reinforcements have arrived! Gramps are here...and they are just in love with Da-Yong. They cannot get enough of him. I personally haven't seen my parents so happy. Just like what my Dad says, "Da-Yong brings a lot of joy to a lot of people in this household..." As a new daddy, I tend to agree. :-)


Proud Grandma and Grandpa.


Sleeping peacefully in Grandma's arms.


Grandma looking very happy! :-)


Happy new Mom!


Another family shot.

It's been a week...

All, Wendy here. I'm finally finding a little time to post into this blog. It has been quite a week to say the least. Finally, we are getting into the routine of things although apart from feeding our little Cherub, changing his diapers, burping him and then making sure he sleeps, it doesn't give me time for anything else. In anycase, here are some more pictures that I thought you might like to see...


Cherub sleeping on Daddy's chest.


Here he is contented after having his dinner...having a nap.


Another napping picture.


Thought I just had to post this picture...I took this without Siong knowing. Both, Daddy and son deep in sleep.

Thank yous...

A huge thank you should go out to all the staff of Burnaby Hospital who cared for us during Da-Yong's delivery namely:
RN Janet
RN Gilles (sp?)
RN Elaine
RN Champa
RN Florence
RN Linda

Also, a big thank you goes to the Newton Centre Public Healthcare nurses:
RN Joanne
RN Maureen

You all have set an impossibly high standards for the Canadian Healthcare system. Not only did you deliver Da-Yong, but you provided us with our parenthood crash course in two days that allowed us to cope with having Da-Yong at home.

Also, thanks to Dr. Shelly Ross whose level of experience and professionalism really impressed us.

Finally, thanks to all MDA and RSI staff, friends and family. We really appreciate all your well wishes and gifts.

Its a Boy 2!

Well, it's been 5 days since Da-Yong's birth, and we are back home now. Man, that boy is a really hungry guy, all he does, eat lots, poop lots and sleep little. In anycase, this is a little quiet time that I can use to update the blog with more pictures.

BTW, just in case you are wondering, with my Father's blessings, we have named him Chan Da-Yong (Big Courage).

Do note that I have included more pictures prior to the birth as well down on the March 9th 2005 post below.

Better start posting all the pictures before Da-Yong starts crying again...


Dr. Ross getting Da-Yong ready for his first close-up shot.


RN Janet looking over Mom and newborn.


Another family picture.


Baby in the Maternity Ward the next morning. Hmmm nice swaddling technique.


Mom and Da-Yong in maternity ward.


More Mom and baby.


This what makes my heart melt. Hmmm...doesn't he look like me (SH)? :-)


Now, my turn to have a picture with Da-Yong.


Awwww...doesn't that just makes your heart melt?


Another Mommy with baby shot.


Now, this is my favorite shot of the lot!


Tua Kor just can't have enough of him!


Family shot with Tua Kor.


Here's Jee Chek with the kid.


Peter coming over for a visit in the hospital. Look at Siong Chin, all beat!


RN Florence (hopefully her last name is Nightingale?? :-)) Carrying him one last time before he left the hospital. Really, does he not look like me?


At home in his crib feeling contented after feeding.


Nice big yawn...


RN Joanne on a home visit 24 hours after birth. Isn't Canadian Healthcare system something?


RN Joanne weighing him. He's just got 100gm left to achieve his birth weight.

That's it for now. I'll update more later. Keep watching.....

IT'S A ....

BOY!!!! A healthy baby boy was delivered at 2:55am on 10th March 2005 in the midst of Wendy screaming for more epidural :-).

In anycase, I'm completely shot from lack of sleep and will update this later. In the meantime, to wet your appetite, here is a set of initial pictures. I'll enter the captions later. I'm really REALLY short on sleep here now..


Here he is, 5 mins old. He is all bruised.


Here is another look at him. Hmmm, does he look like his mom or his dad?


Lets have a look at him closer...


Lets have a look at him EVEN closer...hmmm..nope, he looks like hi daddy!


There go goes pouting his lips again...


There he is with Dr. Shelly Ross who delivered him.


Here's nurse Janet from Singapore helping him out when he just got out...


The next morning, I'm still amazed...I'm a Father now!


Here's Tua Kor visiting him for the first time. She seems more excited then us!


Our first family picture together..

Now, 1, 2, 3 PUSHHHHHH!!!!!

Well, times up. Wendy's fully dilated and its time to PUSH! It was quite a funny scene when she was completely drugged up and was screaming for more epidural when the Dr. has already prescribed that to her. She was trying to argue with the Dr. saying that he was lying to her and that she was not given any epidural when in actual fact, she got 2 tubes in her.

The birth labour experience was quite something to go through...and this is the father speaking. I can't even imagine the experience Wendy's been through.

One thing is for sure though, I'm very VERY impressed with the level of healthcare here in Canada. You should have a look at the birthing suite, complete with hardwood floor, nice sofa beds for visitors, dim lights, cd player for music, shower and toilet. Also, all the healthcare professionals take pride in their work and you could tell by how they work.

In anycase, the baby is coming out and as a father, I have encourage Wendy......."Take a deep breath, now, one, two three, PUSHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

Its Time!

Well, the day we have all been waiting for (or is it Wendy's been dreading all these while) has finally arrived! Wendy's water broke at approximately 6:30pm at work! The child is coming 10 days early! We are not prepared.

Our original plan was to take next week off to prepare for the birth e.g. specify the birth plan, pick names, pack our bags etc. However, I got a call from Siong Ee at approximately 6:30pm telling me that Wendy has been stuck in MDA's washroom for quite sometime already. So, I rushed to her while dialing Dr. Shelly Ross' pager telling her that we suspect that Wendy's water was broken. The Dr. told us to go home right now, take a nice hot shower, pack our bags and meet her at the hospital at 8:30pm.

After admitting, we were met up in the Birthing Suites area by two excellent RNs, RN Janet from Singapore and RN Gilles (most probably from South Africa from her accent). RN Janet was the main labour nurse who took care of us and she was EXCELLENT. A big THANK YOU should go out to her...without her care, it would have been 10 times more difficult.

Some pictures of our rushing to the hospital:


"Stop playing with your camera and TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL...NOWWWW!"


Just finalising the admitting papers with the hospital administration.


Entrance to the Burnaby Hospital.


Burnaby Hospital where Da-Yong was born.


RN Janet looking after Wendy.


Outside of the Birthing Suite having a walk waiting for Wendy's cervix to be fully dilated.