About yesterday...

I was chatting with my mother-in-law via email tonight and she said it would especially hit home that I am now a father once I bring Heather and Gabriel home from the hospital tomorrow. I am sure in some ways that will be the case, given that this almost seems too good to be true. I am sure that Laura speaks from experience and there is more than a grain of truth there. It's a life-altering event in my life, and one thought keeps jumping to the forefront of my mind. I have been sitting upstairs working on the truck inventory for most of the last eight hours. Every now and again, the thought just leaps into my mind... I am a DAD. Wow!

The experience where it really hit me, though, began when Gabriel's head started crowning during the delivery. I saw the intense concentration on the face of the doctor who was using a device called a vacuum extractor to help our baby along. It had gotten to a point of exhaustion for Heather and it became apparent that the baby was too large; Heather couldn't do it on her own. The nurses and doctor were working, almost holding their breath while hastening with great care, if you can imagine.

Maybe it was routine to the medical staff, but for me, it was an extreme moment where I didn't know what to feel, so I felt it all... fear, excitement, apprehension, concern, and total elation. Everyone was concerned because the labor couldn't progress further, since the baby was so large. It could have just been the intensity and urgency of what was happening. In any case, the moment that the baby's head was free and the doctor could bring the baby's shoulders out, I knew everything would be all right. What hit home for me was seeing my son for the first time. When it came time for me to cut the cord, I had to walk away for a minute to compose myself because I was shaking, completely overcome with more happiness than I have ever felt. I had tears in my eyes when I came back to see the beautiful baby Heather and I had created.

There were two days that will forever stand out in the history of my life. The first was the day that Heather and I were married. The second particularly significant day in my life was the day that my wife, the strong woman that she is, brought our son into the world. I cannot imagine anything in this world exceeding that complete happiness, and yet, I am a Dad. I know the best is yet to come. Life is very good.