A FATHER'S LIFE

Fatherhood is a lifetime awesome experience!

After three months of being married to my loving and thoughful wife, both of us were overwhelmed to know that she's having a baby. Our first baby! She went to see her doctor regularly till the expected month of delivering our most awaited blessing of our union from the Lord. (since this blog is about being a father, I will beg to discuss the details of our marriage; other blog maybe).

The baby was expected in November 21, 1997. Before the said date, we attended a retreat in November 1-2 in the same year. Exhausted and tired, we rested after we got home. A couple of days had past, we made some decorating at home. My wife joked and acted like a martial artist. She lifted her legs and tried to kick me. We laughed. And then she stopped and seriously said, "I'm bleeding."

Immediately, I rushed her to the hospital. We traveled an hour. The doctor and nurses attended to her at the Emergency Room. She was admitted. Her Ob-Gyne Doctor arrived and announced that the baby was about to come out. Excited, I started to pray for my wife's safe delivery of our firstborn.

From 7 o'clock in the evening, I went down and up from 4th floor to ground floor vise-versa.

Side story: another mother was rushed to the hospital near 12 midnight. After sometime, the nurse went out of the Delivery Room and called the surname of the father. I approached the nurse with the other father. Hahaha... we had the same surname! The nurse said, "The baby has a slight problem with her legs." Unconciously, I said, "That baby is not mine." Sad for the other father, I am right.

Jann Fayel: 2 months old

  

Down and up.. Up and down I went. More hours had past. Before the clock strikes 7 o'clock in the morning, after a long wait, I am a proud father of a healthy beautiful daughter!

In November 7, 1997 before 7 am, our bright and beautiful JANN FAYEL was born. A gracious gift from our Faithful God.

I am a father blessed by God!

FIRST YEAR FATHER

"Kailanpaman O Diyos pag-ibig Mo.

(Your everlasting love O God)

Kalul'wa'y ligtas dahil sa 'Yo

(My soul is safe because of you)

Kailanman buhay man Iyong inilaan

(You offered Your life, always)

Nang ako'y maligtas sa 'king kapahamakan

(When You delivered me from danger)

Dakila Ka, O Diyos kailanpaman."

(You are great O God, all the time.)

Jann Fayel: at 3 years old

This was my lullaby which I sang to Jann every time I brought her to the bed. It is my way of expressing my gratitude to the Lord who gave our firstborn in November 7, 1997.

My first year of becoming a father was not so easy yet it was a learning experience. Changing diapers. Waking up at the middle of the night just to check on her. From focusing with my relationship to Febe, we started helping each other to meet the needs of our beautiful daughter. We began to spend more on her than our personal needs. Budget seems to get tighter. Nevertheless, we enjoyed every minute of it!

Jann had small red spot on the her upper eye. I was alarmed that it may grow bigger as the days past. My wife and I prayed. I worried that it may affect her eyesight. But praise the Lord it became small till there was none. Jann had some sort of skin disease. Till it became almost an asthma of the skin as the doctor diagnosed. She had an amoeba infection in her stomach. And she was not exempted to an occasional fever and flu. All of these was part of her growing up in her first year as a baby. And my first year as a father trusting God to help me with my responsibilities. For I believe that I can do all things with the strength provided by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Being a father needs a lot of trusting to our great Father!