Father's Day

Of course since it's Father's Day I have to write a Father's Day post. Actually this is the first of a short series since there have been more than one dad or father figure in my life.

This morning Hubby was woken up by Maisie's usual "Isa great sunny day!" Tomorrow it will have been three years since Hubby became a daddy for the fifth time. The first was fifteen and a half years ago.

I remember so vividly the day I discovered I was pregnant with Kelly. Sorry, no one knows all the details of that day as it was a very private and joyous moment for us. Nine months later he stood by my side as I suffered through hours of contractions and dozed off and on from Demerol. I saw the fear in his eyes as doctors and nurses suddenly started running in all directions when I developed toxemia. I viewed the horror in his face when he grabbed a nurse to ask what was going on and her reply was, "Your wife could die if we don't treat this immediately." I experienced the fatigue in his posture as he encouraged me to push... for almost three hours. Then I understood the love beaming from him as he carried her too me all cleaned up and weighed. After telling me she weighed 9 lb 2 oz and was 21 inches long, I told him to take her back because there was no way I gave birth to a baby that big. I'm 5'5" and weighed 103 lbs pre-pregnancy.

I remember watching Kelly turn her head when she was one day old as she heard Hubby's voice on the speaker phone. It was simply awesome to know she already knew her daddy. In discovering that I had to stay in the hospital for four days but that Kelly was being released, Hubby's reaction was "What the heck am I supposed to do with her?" We still laugh about that. The hospital was understanding and allowed me to keep her in my room. Now, it's time for Hubby to teach his oldest daughter how to drive. (Oh! Tears!.....hang on....ok, sniff)

Two years later we had Jacob. Hubby deals with the pain differently than I do. We don't discuss it much but I know that he still hurts. I also know that he loves Jacob very much.

Exactly one year and one week after we had Jacob, along came Reyna. Her birth was our no fuss no frills delivery. Well, other than the fact that we went in for a checkup only to have our doctor decide that TODAY was a great day to have a baby! Hubby had to ask for scrubs so he didn't have to help out in a business suit! His parents got there just in time to keep Kelly so she didn't have to see her little sister come into the world. Yesterday, he and Reyna snorkeled for a couple of hours discovering they both really enjoyed it. They have some beautiful shells and sand dollars to remember their first snorkeling adventure.

Seven years later along came Carson who is actually named after Hubby and Hubby's grandfather making him the third. Daddy finally got his little boy! Every time we had an ultrasound we had them make sure it was a boy. Thankfully it was an uneventful delivery. Now, Hubby is looking forward to watching Carson play T-ball and enjoying those father/son activities and moments. He bought lots of baseball things for Carson last Christmas.

When Carson was about a year and a half, and just before we left to go trick-or-treating, we learned that he was going to be a big brother. Seconds after the two lines appeared, I knew this would be our last baby. Though Hubby wanted her to be born on her due date of July 4th, I knew I couldn't handle waiting two more weeks and demanded she come early. So, on June 22, 2006 Hubby became a daddy for the last time to our little Maisie (at least it better be the last time or my doctor is going to be in serious trouble!). In 2014 her birthday will be on Father's Day which will be worth having her two weeks early. Maisie is the typical baby of the family. She has been telling us for two weeks that she wants a bike for her birthday. Guess what she's getting tomorrow?

Hubby has a special relationship with all of his children. Many times when he has to run errands he takes Kelly or Reyna. He loves to play "echo" and tickle games with Carson. Maisie crawls in our bed every night and yells, "Daddy!" so he can come in and give her lots of hugs and kisses. It's not always easy having a big family, but Hubby makes time for each of them. He's a terrific Daddy and we all appreciate him very much.