I have an heir
May 18, 2010
On May 17th, at 5:16pm California time, everything changed.
My son was born through a cesarean section. He’s healthy and has a great set of lungs on him. We were supposed to give birth on the 19th, but when we went in for our last scheduled OB appointment, the missus was showing early signs of preeclampsia. Rather than risk things getting complicated, our OB sent us straight to the labor and delivery ward, and things got started.
I suppose their birthdays are always a bit of a surprise in most cases. I’m feeling a bit guilty, too, because I had a hidden hope that this would happen pretty much exactly the way it did. As they say, be careful what you wish for.
We’ve been in the hospital, and will be for 2 or 3 days while the missus recovers from them cutting into her abdomen. The boy latched on and has been sucking away all night, which is a great sign. And, as every new father has, I’ve become familiar with the tarry, black poos already. I’ve also had my first panic attack during an hour while the nurses took the boy away to give the missus and me some time to sleep. The panic wasn’t about him being away from us, but from visions of the drastically altered future life I’m embarking on.
How do you make sure you’re the perfect balance of father, friend, and husband? How do you devote everything to this new life in your house without losing track of your own life? I suppose the answer is: you just do.
I’ve loved this boy since he was little more than smudges on an ultrasound picture, but that love was nothing compared to what I feel now when I look into his tiny face.
