Organization: Virginia Department of Health
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Tue, 22 Dec 1992 21:47:31 EST
From:         "Michael A. Kline" <MKLINE@VDH.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Operation Pest.

On Tue, 22 Dec 1992 14:02:41 EST jones, mark said:
>Hey Russ,
>Thanks for sharing! Russ, I tell you, as a well seasoned old timer
>father for 11 weeks, I can truthfully say that there is nothing like
MAKS>       21 years, the oldest in Arizona, Rachel, 14 is the oldest now.
            Your right though, nothing like it.
>it. People may think I am cornball, or more sensitive than a "real man"
>should be, but thats ok! Dont you feel bad about the ecstasy you
>feel about this little life that God has given you two! Every night when
>I get home from work, I go spend a few minutes with my little Stacia Kaleigh
>and she now welcomes me home with a big smile and laughs aloud! She is
MAKS> When I get home it's usually a race up the stairs with me screaming,
      "Oh, noooo!!!!" and Rachel chasing me up the stairs for her hug. She
      wants a good hug most of the time and it means the briefcase, lunch
      box, etc, have to be put down. Many times as I try to "escape" up the
      stairs, Joel's at the top stair with his arms wide open yelling
      "Daddy Cakes! Daddy Cakes!!" Don't know where he got that one. The
      twins normally just say hi... They keep to themselves.

>Daddy's girl and I love it! I still have to choke back tears regularly when
>she gives me that trusting little look and lays her head over on my shoulder
>for me to cuddle her.
MAKS> Yea, me too. Joel's 4 now, but still is soooo cute as he's falling
      asleep. Or on the older ones. Chew them up, have them crying and saying
      "I hate you..." and storm off. Then come back a bit later and say,
      "You were right, I was wrong. I'm sorry." and give you a hug. And dad's
      not perfect either. I've messed up and punished the wrong one from time
      to time. No one's perfect.
>
>One thing that really meant the world to me: My wife had a C-section. It was
>planned, and she had an epidural and was awake the whole time. I was in the
MAKS> My wife had an emergency C-Section with Joel. She had a C-section with
      the twins, and she shouldn't have had any problems with Joel, but you
      know doctors. Kept pushing the petosin or what ever till she cramped so
      hard it broke. Anyhow, I'm trying to get her to breath, and she's telling
      me "Something's different. It feels like a hat pins being shoved up
      inside me somewhere." So, being "quick", I went and got the doctor.
      He took a couple of looks at the monitor, her pulse, etc, and off to
      OR. They let me in a bit later and I was able to take pictures of Joel.
      When I got in there Linda was OUT and there were 4 pairs of arms inside
      Linda. I had to keep telling myself "They've done this before, they've
      done this before... Hey, I know! I'll watch Joel!" Smart move. Mom came
      out just fine. Wants another..! At 44 no less!
 OR with her. Well, when they lifted our daughter out of her womb, they cleaned
>her up, checked her over and handed her to me, and said "come on Dad!" I got
>to spend the first two or three hours of her life talking to her, rubbing her
>back and legs and just bonding with her.I was sorry that my wife was not there
>but I would not have traded this time for a million dollars! From that day
MAKS> I followed Joel back to the nursery as they sewed Linda up. After all
      she didn't know I was there and I was getting queasy. But I didn't
      faint! :-)

      As I was in the nursery doing pretty much the same things you talk
      about, several people were tapping on the window. I looked up at
      a small group of about 4-7 people who were ooohing and aaahing at
      watching dear old dad play with his new boy. They smiled, held up
      1 finger and mouthed "First?!?" like they were sure it had to be.
      I looked up, smiled, and held up 5 fingers and mouthed "Fifth!"
      The look of "Weird Dad!" came over all their faces. It was quite
      comical, though I was back to playing with Joel.

>forward, I have purposed in my heart that I would be a get-involved Dad in
>everything! None of this leaving it up to Mom. She is truly a wonderful Mom,
>but I think that two parents working together to love and nurture, each
>providing a unique touch that the other cannot, is Gods best. (...)
MAKS> Yes, and home schooling, devotions, etc. It's a full time job, and
      worth it most of the time. Even in the "bad" times, it's still worth
      it. The parents had a blow out with the kids who do not want to clean
      up for Christmas, even though we blew our wad on them and have only
      about $10-20 for each other. I've spent $5 so far I was able to
      scrounge out of gas money. I did the bills and we'll have some
      extra from there. Linda's suffering from Christmas blues with all
      the shopping and cleaning up. I've taken this week off to help.
      So we like to think we have a proper perspective, but even so,
      there are presents to buy, wrap, and things to do, and it's almost
      depressing. Anyhow, this was supposed to be uplifting, and today
      was better, so onward and upward.

>Any other babies expected out there in Christia land?
MAKS> Let's see. No, I don't think so, not yet anyhow.

>I am finding that He is teaching me everything I need day by day!
>definitely get all soppy over the babies! God Bless you all......Mark
MAKS> Thanks, Mark. I got a kick out it. Brought back a lot of past, and
      current memories.

Dear old dad....
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