His First Father’s Day

Hubby cup-feeds Baby Champuru in the hospital.
Baby is one day old. (Oct. 5, 2008)

When a couple struggles with infertility as we have, the coming of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day is always bittersweet.  We loved celebrating with our families and honoring our parents, but we wondered whether we would ever become parents ourselves.

The anticipation, uncertainty, disappointment, frustration, guilt, and sadness is all part of the package when plans to start a family are thwarted by biology.  Infertility was a scary word to me and I never thought it would be used in reference to me.  When my OB/GYN first uttered it (January 2006), suggesting that I make an appointment with an infertility specialist, I couldn’t believe it was happening to me.  I was in denial – “we just weren’t trying hard enough!” – but the proof was in the pictures (taken by laparoscope).  Severe endometriosis was hindering my ability to conceive.  We went from zero to sixty when undergoing treatment: straight to in vitro fertilization.

Fast-forward a few years and after many tears, fervent prayers, medical procedures, doctor’s visits, nail-biting ultrasounds, and hormone cocktails via injection/pills/patches, we are celebrating Hubby’s first Father’s Day as Daddy to Baby Champuru.  With all of the effort that went into this long-awaited event, it seems all the more precious.

During his first 8-1/2 months as a father, Hubby has settled into his new role splendidly.  We both groped around in the dark together as newbie parents, but we are slowly finding our way.  As I always knew, Hubby is a great dad, but even more than that, he’s a wonderful husband who stands beside me through it all: thick, thin, infertile, pregnant, elated, sleep-deprived… you get the idea.

I am so grateful that we have the awesome opportunity to be parents. It’s an opportunity that I don’t take lightly and never take for granted.

Happy Father’s Day, Hubby.  We can finally celebrate.