Clarks: The Junie Report

A couple of days ago we went for the second OBGYN visit. It went really well -- much better than the first time (which was fine, too) -- because, for one thing, we had a different doctor to see Cec who was more communicative and more calming. We were told clearly that the "liver issue" we'd wondered about is nothing at all to be worried about, and that everything else seems good also. The doctor used a hand-held microphone and speaker set to let us listen to Junie's heartbeat. [Oh, Junie is the baby's name -- until s/he joins us on this side of the womb. Maybe you can figure out why "Junie" a little faster than I did when Cec first said it to me... Get it... June-y... due date of March...] The doctor didn't seem impressed, but we're pretty sure that the faint "whoosh, whoosh, whoosh" was Junie and not just Cec's Doritos. [We ate Doritos in the cab on the way to the doctor.] Anyway, after the doctor visit we were led by a nice young lady from the Int'l Dept. to the OB unit. She introduced us to the English-speaking head nurse [whose Eng. name is Wendy -- we don't know the tour guide's name], and we got to see the rooms for pre-/post-delivery, the outside of the delivery room (which was occupied by busy mommies, thus not available for touring right then). We found out clearly and concisely that -- YES! -- I will be able to be in the delivery room to assist & support Cec. That's not the common practice in China, and we'd heard conflicting reports about the policy at this hospital. And, there are even private rooms available with beds for Mom, Dad, and Baby -- another unusually comfortable situation for Chinese [and American?] hospitals. So, all-around... it was a very useful, encouraging, and informative visit. Oh, and we signed up for Chinese pre-natal class. There's another mom-to-be signed up for the February class [you take the class on one single day the month prior to delivery] who also shares our March 8th EDD, so maybe we'll have twins! Well, you know... not real twins, but... OK, so that's all, I guess. Pray please for things to continue to go smoothly. I know you will, so thanks in advance. We really, really, really appreciate your support and encouragement more than you know.