A New Beginning

This has been the most exciting year of our lives as we were expecting the birth of our son. All throughout Dawn's pregnancy he has been incredibly good: Hasn't moved around a lot, caused too much morning sickness, as well as coping with loud noises at basketball games, movies etc.

Well, as some of you know, it is a shock to all of us that he decided to come out 6 weeks early! I was hoping to get one more month in of drunken nights, endless basketball, cycling, mountain biking, and other things men do but I guess I'll have to put that on hold for a few months :P. But then again, Dawn did sacrifice a lot for the past 8 months so to make it up to her I told her I will watch Toshi on Sundays while she surfs. 

Toshihiro "Toshi" Ikaika Eberly was born on June 25, 2013 at 11:28 AM at Little Company of Mary here in SoCal.  He was 5 lbs 6 oz and 18.5" long ... Not bad for a premature baby but Dawn and I wondered what he would have been if he went to term. The labor experience was pretty intense since Dawn did not want any sort of drugs or an epidural. She was a trooper a tell ya' ... but as a team, husband and wife, and best friends we were able to make it through this experience. I felt that it brought us closer together as a couple knowing that  we can get through anything if we simply work together. There were times during the labor process that she wanted to give up but I'm so impressed with Dawn's ability to overcome pain and listening to my, "You got this, Boo!"

After an intense 2.5 hours of labor Toshi was born and man ... my eyes got so watery. Every time I think of that moment and the blessing I have in my arms I get emotional. He has been a true testament of my ability to not freak out when he's crying or getting nuts that I didn't do something for him. I hope that he's learning from me as much as I am learning from him. This will be an amazing journey that I'm going to look forward to. 

Now onto some pictures!!

Toshi at, approximately, 10-15 minutes old. Dawn's first words were, "Awww man ... look at his nose!! It's so flat!"

Toshi and the family:

(L-->R) Stacy, Aya, Jack, Miles, Toshi

Papa, Toshi, Mama

Mommy and Toshi

Yes, I made sure he wasn't getting a mouthful of my chest hairs! haha

He spends most of his days sleeping and for some reason he has this weird thing going on with his left hand. He loves to put it up against his ear! Sometimes Dawn and I joke that he got that from me since I elbow her almost every night with my left arm (I sleep on her right).  So maybe ... just maybe he got that from me :P

Today, however, 6/29 Toshi had his first pediatric check up. They checked his bilirubin count (Jaundice) and unfortunately he had to be admitted to the hospital for, at least, 24 hours. As a new parent, it's hard to watch your kid go through things where you are completely helpless. I'm sure I'm starting to understand what every parent goes through but you don't really know what that feeling is until you go through it yourself.

But for the next 24 hours he'll be suntanning it up at some outrageous rate (Hospital = $$$$$$$). Luckily we have good health insurance .. or at least I think I do. 

 Got his shades on to protect his eyes

And well... maybe he doesn't like the tanning salon but with a little nursing he'll pass out.