[NOTE: Originally written March 7th, 2004 just after Miles was born.]
Have you ever been scared? No, really scared? Ok, scared more than you ever have been before. Let me put it in perspective. You are young and had tons of things happen to you, but never has your wife gone under the knife for any reason much less a C section to get your first son. And, never were you waiting to take care of a new life. Can you even do it? Some of you know what I am talking about.
Well, I took the plunge and now I am a father–Easier said than done. So, Neither one of use could sleep and Windy woke up earlier than me, but we both got up and started off with a good cry to relieve the stress. Then, we were ready, but we were still 30 minutes early. We agreed we needed to take a drive. We drove through town and used up 20 minutes and got to the hospital–Being early means being on time.
We entered and right off the stress was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Windy got her IV and I got a Sunkist. Windy started getting meds and I started getting caffeine. Our family stopped by and visited and even a friend, but to be honest I was in La La Land and almost didn’t notice them. They took Windy away and I got into the scrubs. I was shaking and almost couldn’t get those goofy things on. I know I have a big waist, but come on guys…these things are baggy!
I waited patiently. I had already decided I had the guts to look over the curtain. For those who don’t know, during a C section, the wife can have a combination epideral and spinal block that allows them to stay awake. The father or loved one can be in the room and talk to her. There is a curtain that keeps the mother from seeing and makes the area sterile. The curtain is low enough that the loved one can look over and watch the whole thing. Move over TV. This is the real thing!!
So, they called me in and I just didn’t know what I was going to see. Would she been weird looking? Would she be able to speak? Well, she was weird looking, and she could speak. I walked in and said “hi.” I look back on it and thought I could have done better, but a simple “hi” was about all I could muster. I was shaking at the knees and wondered if I’d even make it through it without passing out!
After a few seconds, I decided that the doctors were already in and decided to have a look. I had thought it would freak me out to see them actually cut her. So, I thought I’d wait and see after they started. Oops! I looked too early! They cut her just as I went to look. He hit a “squirter” and the whole ER thing where blood squirts out happened right in front of me. I sat down and saw Windy looking like she had seen what I had seen. She had!!
Well, sort of. She saw a reflection in my glasses. She had to close her eyes when I had a look. Now let me tell you. They jerked her around while they were working on her. I sat and marveled at how they moved her around and all she can feel is pressure. She started to have a weird look and I asked her if she was getting an upset stomach. I was right and the anesthesiologist pumped up some phenergan.
I watched some more, but never really got a good view. I really didn’t want a better view and I didn’t want to leave her. I said down and tried some small talk and Windy gave me that “shut up” kind of look. So, I stopped. Just then, the anesthesiologist said “He’s coming!”
I stood up and watched and a head popped out! I was in awe and before I knew it the doctor had
the rest of his body out. He looked like he was covered in Crisco and they got the umbilical cord and cut it. Miles let out two small cries and Windy asked, “Do you see him?” I responded and she continued, “Is he OK?” I affirmed that and then she asked me how big he was. He looked like he was eleven pounds easy. I thought, “What are we feeding him?”
I got to go over where they were cleaning him up and he let out another small cry. I watched him and marveled at what I was looking at. Is he real? Is this really happening? It was. The nurse handed him to me and I carefully walked over to Windy and she looked at him. It was like a ray of love that looked like Superman’s heat vision. She was in love, though she couldn’t touch the little guy.
I was then instructed to take the baby out and to the waiting room. I didn’t even make it to the waiting room. All my family was there and the pictures started. We took Miles to the newborn room and weighed him and they gave him his shots. He got his bath and never cried. He was tough already.
I watched, but I was still uneasy. Windy was not in recovery yet and it would be at least 45 minutes before I was able to see her. I went to change clothes. I walked in to see Windy. They had brought Miles in to nurse. I saw her and saw she was OK. I wanted to cry, but was able to hold it in. It was like a huge weight was taken off of my shoulders. I looked down at Miles and just then, someone put a heavier weight on. I was now Daddy.
Miles’s Stats:
- Born: 7:51am, 3/5/04
- 9lbs. 6oz.
- 21 Inches Long
- 15 Inch Cap size