Throughout my life and travels I have seen and experienced things that could amaze and confuse most anyone. After many years I suppose I’ve grown to a feeling that, well, I’ve seen it all. I hadn’t.
On March 20th 2006 by far the greatest miracle I’ve ever known entered into my life and my life is truly blessed beyond any capability of my imagination to conceive. Johnathan (Jack) Emerson Donahoe, my son was born, my life will never be the same and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Now I’ve heard millions of stories about child birth and how wonderful it is, how painful it is for the mother, and how unforgettable it is. I guess I would hear this from folks and just sort of write that off as ramblings of a crazy parent who are not trying to capture some sort of sanity as their child is tearing the restaurant apart. I was wrong.
My Uncle Phillip asked me before the delivery whether or not I was going to be present during the delivery. I told him I was and he said, “Great, I look forward to hearing about your experience.” This kicked off a bit of nostalgia for me thinking of when his son, Phillip William was born. Uncle Phillip called the house and talked to my mother and was balling like a baby himself, “He’s the most beautiful baby in the world!” My initial thoughts were ‘Wow I have a new little cousin!’, ‘Wow, Phillip is a dad!’, ‘What, Phillip was crying?’ See it may be me, but Phillip had never seemed like the “crying” type. In fact, he sort of seemed like the kind of guy that could set there and watch somebody club puppies and never even flinch. I’m not certain but I think I have a memory of him as a teenager cheering when Old Yeller died. Maybe I just made that one up, but my point is he’s not the crying type.
Well I understand perfectly as to why now. To witness such a miracle is overwhelming. I laughed, cried, and looked at my wife in such a unique and loving way. As she was going through the height of delivery and was screaming and clinching my hand so hard I thought it would break, I felt helpless. I felt like there was nothing I can do to make this pain go away. I thought if this child ever back talks his mom, I’m going to slap him silly. I thought, I really owe my parents an apology for something, for what I’m not sure, but I know I do.
As Johnathan came into the world I kept taking in air. I just couldn’t believe what I had just seen. It was the most surreal, beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed and he was an angel put on earth. Immediately I was worried about him, he came out not screaming and crying, just kind of laid back and breathing kind of heavy. I thought oh hell, he’s got high cholesterol. He was fine, we got him to the table and after snipping his cord and he started screaming bloody murder, loud enough to deafen 3 rooms away. I thought, ahh, he’s going to be a singer or an orator, I’m so proud. When we set him in his mother’s arms I thought my heart would burst right then and there. That would be about the second time I had cried I guess.
The following couple of weeks were wonderful and difficult. I recall in the height of my partying days of getting home a 3 a.m. and back up at 7 a.m. to go to work and…sort of getting through it. Well, I now understand the pressure of folks wanting you to have children while you are in your twenties instead of the backside of thirty something. That ‘no sleep’ reserve tank ran out of gas a long time ago, or so I thought. The first two weeks was like having your body in a Chinese torture camp and your mind in Heaven, or maybe it was the other way around, I don’t remember. Part of this I suppose is my own fault. Everyone tells you over and over, “Sleep when he sleeps.” It’s impossible, he’s too cute when he sleeps, you have to stare at him. After the second week was over and Jack started sleeping about 4 consecutive hours in a row during the night, Sherri and I noticed the dizziness went away. It’s been getting better and better as we go.
Jack is now starting to smile and do little baby giggles. I don’t care what’s on your mind, it is wiped clean with pure joy every time you hear or see that. Since Sherri was pregnant I’ve worried myself sick over what kind of father will I be, how will we afford this, insurance, day care, SIDs, on and on and on. There is so much to worry about, but as I hold him in my arms and he stares me in the eyes and smiles I have the greatest moment of clarity in the world. Being a father isn’t a burden by any means of the imagination. It is a new beginning not only for this small child, but unto myself. You are filled with immeasurable hope. love, patience, and understanding. This child is a part of me, a part of her, and the world is brighter for it. There is no limits on love.
On March 20th 2006 by far the greatest miracle I’ve ever known entered into my life and my life is truly blessed beyond any capability of my imagination to conceive. Johnathan (Jack) Emerson Donahoe, my son was born, my life will never be the same and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Now I’ve heard millions of stories about child birth and how wonderful it is, how painful it is for the mother, and how unforgettable it is. I guess I would hear this from folks and just sort of write that off as ramblings of a crazy parent who are not trying to capture some sort of sanity as their child is tearing the restaurant apart. I was wrong.
My Uncle Phillip asked me before the delivery whether or not I was going to be present during the delivery. I told him I was and he said, “Great, I look forward to hearing about your experience.” This kicked off a bit of nostalgia for me thinking of when his son, Phillip William was born. Uncle Phillip called the house and talked to my mother and was balling like a baby himself, “He’s the most beautiful baby in the world!” My initial thoughts were ‘Wow I have a new little cousin!’, ‘Wow, Phillip is a dad!’, ‘What, Phillip was crying?’ See it may be me, but Phillip had never seemed like the “crying” type. In fact, he sort of seemed like the kind of guy that could set there and watch somebody club puppies and never even flinch. I’m not certain but I think I have a memory of him as a teenager cheering when Old Yeller died. Maybe I just made that one up, but my point is he’s not the crying type.
Well I understand perfectly as to why now. To witness such a miracle is overwhelming. I laughed, cried, and looked at my wife in such a unique and loving way. As she was going through the height of delivery and was screaming and clinching my hand so hard I thought it would break, I felt helpless. I felt like there was nothing I can do to make this pain go away. I thought if this child ever back talks his mom, I’m going to slap him silly. I thought, I really owe my parents an apology for something, for what I’m not sure, but I know I do.
As Johnathan came into the world I kept taking in air. I just couldn’t believe what I had just seen. It was the most surreal, beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed and he was an angel put on earth. Immediately I was worried about him, he came out not screaming and crying, just kind of laid back and breathing kind of heavy. I thought oh hell, he’s got high cholesterol. He was fine, we got him to the table and after snipping his cord and he started screaming bloody murder, loud enough to deafen 3 rooms away. I thought, ahh, he’s going to be a singer or an orator, I’m so proud. When we set him in his mother’s arms I thought my heart would burst right then and there. That would be about the second time I had cried I guess.
The following couple of weeks were wonderful and difficult. I recall in the height of my partying days of getting home a 3 a.m. and back up at 7 a.m. to go to work and…sort of getting through it. Well, I now understand the pressure of folks wanting you to have children while you are in your twenties instead of the backside of thirty something. That ‘no sleep’ reserve tank ran out of gas a long time ago, or so I thought. The first two weeks was like having your body in a Chinese torture camp and your mind in Heaven, or maybe it was the other way around, I don’t remember. Part of this I suppose is my own fault. Everyone tells you over and over, “Sleep when he sleeps.” It’s impossible, he’s too cute when he sleeps, you have to stare at him. After the second week was over and Jack started sleeping about 4 consecutive hours in a row during the night, Sherri and I noticed the dizziness went away. It’s been getting better and better as we go.
Jack is now starting to smile and do little baby giggles. I don’t care what’s on your mind, it is wiped clean with pure joy every time you hear or see that. Since Sherri was pregnant I’ve worried myself sick over what kind of father will I be, how will we afford this, insurance, day care, SIDs, on and on and on. There is so much to worry about, but as I hold him in my arms and he stares me in the eyes and smiles I have the greatest moment of clarity in the world. Being a father isn’t a burden by any means of the imagination. It is a new beginning not only for this small child, but unto myself. You are filled with immeasurable hope. love, patience, and understanding. This child is a part of me, a part of her, and the world is brighter for it. There is no limits on love.
