Deric Turns 6

My eldest son, Derico, celebrated his 6th birthday at the amusement center of Reef Mall with his classmates and friends ( plus their chaperones, he he he ). As per his request, he had his batman cake and wore his batman cape during the entire celebration.

Diego, the youngest party animal in our family, enjoyed his kuya's birthday bash although he was not able to participate in the games. He did his own thing by just dancing whichever place he was put trying to steal the limelight from other kids.

The next day, my two sons had a great time counting the gifts but Derico was not allowed to open all the gifts at once. He is to open each gift every friday so as to have the surprise and excitement reserved for every weekend. He agreed with the arrangement.

Our Ninong Sotirios also dropped by to give his birthday gift to his "apo".

Six Years Ago

T'was at 4:32 p.m. last April 3. I have regarded the slightly audible baby's cry as product of my excitement / anxiety / lack of sleep / tiredness or all of them while I was standing by the doors of the delivery room. But when the doctor asked me in, it comfirmed my suspicion. And the sight of a 5.15 lbs. and 49 cm. little human being further reconfirmed that Deric ( or Nino Derico Santiago Quinmo ) has indeed arrived!

I stared at him clueless of what to do while my father-in-law began taking photograph shots to document his first moments on earth. I was still still. Not until an aide carried him and brought him to the nursery. I tailed them up to the nursery door and proceeded to the viewing clear glass. There, he was placed in an acrylic bin and wrapped with a cotton and foil sheet. He was restless and exerting all his effort to let go from his wraparound. I thought my boy was one hell of an assertive creature who already knows what he wants ( or in this scenario, what he doesn't want ) . I was smiling in awe in admiration of this little guy's assertiveness. Then, I deduced that he can manage and went back to his mother.

After about 15 hours of labor, and even if she had epidural shots ( supposedly for painless delivery ), she was not at all in fine state. She had fever hours before giving birth probably due to her heart problem which prompted her cardiologist to give her antibiotics during her labor and continued for a week. Even then, delivery was normal. Deric was also given antibiotics as a preventive measure just in case he got infected, too.

Deric stayed in the nursery the whole 4 day period that we were in the hospital. On his third day, Bubot and I went inside the nursery and had a first taste of carrying bhim in my arms. I told him, " So, that was you inside Bubot's tummy , huh." He stared as if he recognized my voice and stretched his arms towards my chest. I cried. I guess, fatherhood just sunk inme right that moment. I lingered staring at him and while I've noticed that he's got some imperfetions, I thought he's the most beautiful infant I have ever seen.

Note: This account was written six years ago.