Precious Thots

There is so much to write
That I dont know where to start
You have left an imprint so bright
That a lifetime will not help distort

The journey so far, travelled so fast
Has been filled with memories from the recent past
Leaving me dumbstruck in considerable awe
That I had to fall back on my forgotten poetic skills to hem and haw

A lot of happiness and excitement
Interspersed with a lot of anxiety and disappointment
Your birth has been a miracle of life itself
A story so lush with action of yourself

The anxiety started much in advance by everyone
With your arrival eagerly expected and prayers done
I was the first to know the news, slightly before it came
For I had read tonnes of literature on the same

So when the results came, I was thoroughly overjoyed
And we shared the happy news with everyone and enjoyed
But immediately came the scare, bringing a tear
Rushing us to the hospital in nervous fear

The first 3 months were quite hectic
With your demanding mom becoming more erratic
With weird requests late at night, it was hard going
But for you my dear, nothing was beyond my doing

I have been following your growth right from when you were 8mm long
When I first saw you, a lovely angel with a heart fluttering strong
That brings tears of joy to my eyes even as I recollect the moment, so frozen in time
The most enduring of images there ever will be, seeing a life being born from mine.

Just when things were settling down in earnest
And everyone was getting excited and getting some needed rest
There came another shocker to our hearts, another stern test
For getting a baby as precious as you, everything has to be at its best!

I already had the checklist ready based on my extensive research
And was glad when the doctor checked all the boxes based on her scan and search
But my heart stopped a beat when she consulted her senior and saw a shift in her tone
And the mood became sombre when she finally broke the news that you dont have a nose bone!

This event triggered the most frantic search ever
From the US to India to Australia, family members wherever
To understand whether further diagnosis is absolutely required or not
Given the procedure will put you at risk, we didnt want to, but we were in a knot

At the end, we decided to put your well being at the forefront
And trust in the power of prayer from everyone we knew, and bear the brunt
Your mom had the courage to take in the longest needle I have ever seen
All to ensure that you are safe and healthy, the most precious gift there has even been.

The results came out normal, bringing collective relief after a while
And from then on, with due extra care, you didnt give us any further surge in bile
You took your own sweet time to finally develop your sweet little nose
But everyone around you went into panic mode until then, I suppose!

The first kick you gave had your mother screaming in joy and chime
And gave me the same feeling as seeing your heart beat for the first time
As days went on, she was making me jealous as you were responding to only her brush
But then soon realised that I had a calming effort on your adrenaline rush

We enjoyed the days counting down to the arrival of my dame
Scouring the internet and arguing countless times over your name
While enjoying your attention from inside your mom's tummy, constantly shifting positions
And keeping you engaged and singing lullabies through my ameteurish piano compositions

There was no shortage of drama just prior to your birth, a week ahead
First rushing us to think you wanted to meet me in a hurry, turning all our plans on its head
And then when we have finished re-scheduling everything, taking your time to come out
Keeping all of us waiting and guessing, 26 hours in all, even to the point the doctors were in doubt.

I was there all along, keeping your mom and yourself company, anxious after every BP drop
Waiting for my precious daughter to arrive, my most sought after prize
And then as suddenly as it was, there was a surge of activity and your head appeared with a pop
Taking even the doctor and experienced nurses by complete surprise

November the 12th, just as my sister always wanted and I had secretly hoped,
You came out with a loud sneeze, and just as soon I had you enveloped
My darling was in my hands and the next 15 mins were absolute bliss at last
Just you and me, looking into each other's eyes, while an eternity walked past

Not a word spoken, not a cry heard, you were just exploring with your eyes dashing
Having me completely mesmerised, I wouldnt have noticed if the world came crashing
I would have even failed to capture the previous moment if not for a eager nurse who told
Hearing her complement your long eyelashes, I was filled with pride as a dad only a few minutes old!

Then started the flurry of calls I didnt want to make
Although only a few minutes it would eventually take
I didnt want to lose even a few seconds of that precious time
When that instant connection was established between us, poetic beyond rhyme.

Even your great grand mother flew in at 85 yrs to witness your birth
So precious were you, although at 2.6 kg you were quite small in girth
Of all the names shortlisted, Sahana (Patience) was finally chosen as it struck a chord
And it did resemble the times you have made us desparately wait for you to break free from your cord.

To say that your mom has been through everything to bring you here
Is but a massive understatement, for the sacrifices she made for you my dear
From her food to her job, from her sleep to her greatest fear
Has all been for you and only you, my precious one born in the Rabbit year.

There is a lot more to say, but I am sure this verse is just one of aplenty
To describe my loveable girl that I have always wanted, my most precious dainty
But what better way to celebrate my 30th birthday than to compose this poem, long overdue
Smiling ear to ear as I commence describing the precious thots about you!

Random Access
The search has just begun !!! (to find my way back to earth from Cloud 9 - on second thot, I dont want to!)