Sailor Dad

Today history was created. This day will remain in people’s memories for years to come. As with any event, there are differing options as to the outcome of today’s events and the circumstances surrounding them. But I think, overall, that no matter your sex, racial background or political affiliation, today was a positive note in American History. I will admit I was surprised to see President Obama make it as far as he has; but I am also very pleased that he is our new President. I think that for the first time I actually feel a glimmer of hope in the future of the United States.

I remember about six or seven years ago, how uncertain I was about bringing a child into this world. Like it or not, today’s world is nothing like how I grew up as a kid. There is a seemingly loss of innocence today. You can’t just let your kids run around the neighborhood without wondering what sort of pervert or weirdo is going to snatch them up. Today’s inauguration didn’t truly change anything in the number of creeps and weirdos in the world, but I feel that something is different. Watching the recent news, financial ruin is all around us. All we really have is hope that our elected officials can change the current trend in America. Today I think that hope was rekindled.

Here I am on the verge of bringing another child into this world. Of course, my wife is going to be doing all of the work, but I’m partially responsible for his existence. It’s still a bit overwhelming, and I imagine that it doesn’t really change no matter how many children one might have. Financially, we are better off than we were when my daughter was born, but uncertainty lurks in the back of my head. I am almost certain that everything will be fine, but the unknown is just that, and it’s a little frightening.

It’s been a week since I’ve begun to constantly think about my son’s impending birth. With just about two weeks left, every time my phone vibrates, rings or lights up I stop for a moment to wonder if it’s the news I’ve been waiting to hear. This time I will be a lot closer than when my daughter was born, and with a little luck and fortunate timing, I will actually be in the hospital when my son is born.

With just over 3 weeks remaining until the birth of my son, I think I am becoming a bit anxious for the day to come. My daughter was born about two weeks early while I was on deployment in the Persian Gulf and I have a sneaking feeling that my son will come about the same time. That puts his birth in a few days. Of course, I could be overthinking the whole thing and he’ll be born on his original prescribed date.

In any case, the next few weeks will change our lives forever. I just hope that my daughter adjusts from being an only child to becoming a big sister. She’s excited about it all, but I don’t truly believe that she knows what’s going to happen in the house. I’m certain that we all will adjust to our new environment.

Recently, I was informed of a significant schedule change at work. As bad as it was before (missing Halloween and my wife’s birthday) now it’s worse since I’m not going to be home for Thanksgiving either now. Where I’m going is not nearly as important as the fact that I’m missing the bulk of the holidays with my family until the end of the year. At this point, I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll even be home for Christmas. I used to think that skipping the surge deployment earlier in the year was a blessing, but since that time I’ve been away from my family more and more.

As I told me wife the other day, “At least I’m not on deployment…” She responded with, “You go away so often, it might as well be a deployment.” And she’s right. In April we left to go to Panama for escort duties; that trip took about a month and a half. Then in June we left again, this time for two months, in order to float around Hawaii for a multi-national exercise. September consisted of a few days each week spent out to sea for training. Earlier this month we went to San Francisco, and now I’m looking at a schedule that will keep me away from home for another month or so more.

If the current trend continues at work, I’ll either end up smoking again or having a heart attack, or both.

Yesterday, we received a notice from my daughter’s school that there was a child who was diagnosed with Whooping Cough and that we should be cautioned about our daughter’s health. It featured the symptoms and guidance if we suspected that our daughter had come down with the illness. Today, as I was surfing the internet, I found a local news story with a bit more information.

From: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/17609283/detail.html?rss=dgo&psp=news

A 9-year-old student at Fletcher Hills Elementary School got sick, despite being immunized against the disease.

I was then relieved that since my daughter has no interaction with the student in question, she has a low probability of contracting the illness. The last thing I need in my house is a child with Whooping Cough.

In other news, about two weeks ago, I was exposed to someone who was diagnosed with Meningitis. Of course, while stationed on a Naval Destroyer, quarters are close and that gives the best reason for concern in regards to spreading a dangerous disease. Initially I was concerned primarily with the opportunity of spreading the illness to my wife and/or unborn child, but reassurance from a Kaiser nurse relieved my concern.

As for me and my family, I’ll be siding with the option of immunizations for my children, regardless of their effectiveness. As it has been said, “It is better to act cautiously beforehand than to suffer afterward.”