A Bannockburn woman gave birth to her twelfth child – on Christmas Day.
Kelly McMurray, 43, and partner Derek Erskine, 57, welcomed the latest addition to their family, baby son Liev.
The tot weighed in at 6lbs 6oz when he was born at 9.15pm on December 25 in Forth Valley Royal Hospital.
Kelly’s waters broke early Christmas Day but little Liev was in no hurry and the family managed to open their presents and tuck into their festive dinner before Kelly headed to hospital.
But just a few hours later they were at home in Randolph Crescent so the new arrival could meet his brothers and sisters, the eldest of whom is aged 19.
Having a Christmas Day baby was particularly poignant for Kelly. She also gave birth on New Year’s Day four years ago, however her daughter was sadly stillborn.
Kelly said: “Liev wasn’t supposed to arrive until January and was three weeks early.
“It was a bit of a shock when he decided to arrive on Christmas Day but we are over the moon and just delighted he is here safe and sound.
“It all worked out a treat as we had Christmas dinner and opened the parcels.
“I didn’t go into hospital until about 8pm and even then it was just to get checked. I only had my first pain about half an hour before he was born. We then went home a few hours later. I suppose it was quite a lot to pack into 24 hours.”
Coming up with names gets a little harder with a big family, Kelly admits, but luckily the couple had inspiration from one of their favourite programmes – Sky One’s Ray Donovan, whose title character is played by the actor Liev Schreiber.
Kelly and Derek have been together for 20 years and have a five-bedroom home.
Little Liev joins Ryan (19), Tyler (17), Shannon (14), Jak (13), Bailey (12), Kashiya (10), Tia (8), Sahara (7), Abe (2) and Rain (1).
But he may not be the last. Kelly said: “My age is against me but it’s always possible.
“We’ll take what comes our way.
“Potentially he is perhaps the last one, but who knows.”
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