On Wednesday, April 7, Pania and I went into the hospital to have her induced into labor. After much ado, Paul Michael Slezak was born on April 8 at 3:57 pm. We left the hospital around 5:45 pm on April 11, Easter Sunday, after five days and four nights in the hospital. That was utterly exhausting. Pania and I had both of our parents on hand to send us home. We packed everything up, put Paul in his car seat, climbed in our car, and tried to relax for the drive home. Pania and I looked at each other and smiled as we pulled away into a light rain; the wipers running. I turned on the radio, and as if God were watching over us to give us comfort, the radio was playing Finally Home, by Mercy Me. It hit me before I left the hospital parking lot, and I immediately began crying a bit, mixed with laughter. Pania asked me what was wrong and I simply said, “the song,” and turned the music up as we left the parking lot and turned right onto Nall Avenue. I didn’t say much, but just listened to the song and thought about everything we’d been through, and who joined us as we came out the other side. We drove home, cleaned up, and sat down to the wonderful Easter dinner that my parents had prepared.
I am so thankful for all the kind thoughts and prayers everyone sent to us; they helped me emmensely. Having a child is a trip, and I’ve loved it. In the first week we’ve been loving on Paul and experiencing all his ‘firsts’ with him. Even when you understand that these moments are precious, and you do your best to savor them as they happen, they speed by too quickly.
April 18th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
So glad that you ‘get it’. Welcome to the parenting club!
July 26th, 2009 at 3:55 am
Yes, what a lovely song. I think it was a sign of God blessing us and Paul. And I believe it’s true because he is such a wonderful kid. I love him dearly!