Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Has it been that long?

His entry into the world was a little on the rough side. He hung around for 16-and-a-half hours of labor. When the usual route didn't work out for him, the Docs performed a crash c-section and fetched him. His head was slightly elongated when he came out, which the Docs attributed to his getting beaten around inside before they fetched him. To break the tension, they joked that we had a conehead.

He was small: 6 pounds, 5 ounces. And in the ensuing days he lost more weight, had trouble breathing and spent time in the NICU in an oxygen tent. We didn't get much sleep as we hovered over his little form under the harsh lights. We sang to him, spoke to him, and let him know we couldn't wait to bring him home.

Which we did after a few frightening days. When we finally left the hospital, I drove like it was my first time in the car: scared. I kept the hazards on, and refused to get onto the highway because I was so nervous with him in the car. Debbie kept her hand over his face to make sure he was still breathing.

He's obviously grown in a lot of ways since his first few days on this planet, and every milestone he's experienced since has represented yet another in a long series of firsts for our family.

He turned 11 today. No longer a little boy, stretching just a little harder than we'd like into his teen years. We wish time didn't go so fast. We wish it would slow down just long enough for us to savor each moment before it races off in that same direction: forward.

I feel old, yet I can't imagine life without him. And as he matures, I love seeing how his insight grows, too. He's a good soul, just like his Mom.

His arrival made us parents. I wish I could put into words what it's like to watch him figure out how to navigate this chaotic world. But vaunted writer that I am, I can't. I'm capable only of the occasional snippet that, I hope, inspires others to look at their own children and try to do better.

Happy birthday, little man. May your next 11 years be even more exciting than your first.

Love,

Dad

15 comments:

Thumper said...

Happy Birthday to your son!

Get lots of rest over the next 2 years, 'cause teenhood is coming, and you'll need it ;)

buffi said...

He is such a beautiful, happy boy, Carmi! What a testament to good parenting. Happy Birthday to him. And Happy Anniversary of becoming a dad! Keep up the good work!

Misti said...

Happy Birthday little man :)

that was a great tribute to 11 years of life.

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Carmi's Son!
(Family life is grand)

The Mistress of the Dark said...

Hope our little boy had a great b-day

Aginoth said...

Sounds quite similar to the birth of Aginoth Juior...now 5.

weighed in at 5lbs 4½oz, ended up being born by emergency C section, came out with cord wrapped twice round his neck, but did not need additional assistance to breath and had been taken out before any Oxygen depravation, I'm glad to say, but so small !

Happy Birthday to your son Carmi.

MaR said...

Beautiful! Happy belated birthday to your little man. Allow me to rewrite one of your sentences:" He's a good soul, just like his Mom". I would add: And his dad . It takes two to tango!

Sleeping Mommy said...

Beautiful. And that description of driving home from the hospital--oh how I remember that feeling and watching my husband drive oh so carefully--so unlike him.

Happy Birthday to your son, Carmi, he has a wonderful dad.

Anonymous said...

That was beautiful! He sounds like a special young man.... Happy Birthday to him!

Rhodent said...

Happy Birthday to that young man!

buffi said...

Hey Carmi! I'm back from Michele's tonight, so I looked thru your photos. I love how in love you are with your wife and your kids. You all are such a sweet, lovely family!

doug said...

Hey Carmi, children are such amazing little adults... and I have surreptitiously raised so many, having six sisters and no brothers, and now with my Fiancee - helping to raise her just turned four year old daughter and still holding out for one or two of my own finally! Glad to be back,Hello from Michele of course! glad to see you are well and always glad to see Men who really love thier kids express it as often as they can! And just as eloquently as yourself did! All Good! Doug

utenzi said...

Happy 11th birthday!

David Edward said...

11 is a great age, enjoy it - being a dad is the best job ever, I can't believe some men screw it up sp badly

kimbofo said...

Wow. That's a lovely post. I am not a parent but reading stuff like this makes me want to be. :)