The 9-month countdown has begun…

So, there it is.  Two little lines, and BANG! I’m going to be a dad again.  It’s been 14 years since I’ve last seen a positive pregnancy test, and I’ve got to tell you, the mixture of excitement and downright panic doesn’t really change.  True, I’ve got a lot more experience under my belt, but then again, I’ve got a LOT more experience (I’ll be 42 in July).  Wow.

We heard the heartbeat today, so my wife is officially 7 weeks along, and except for a few close friends and family members, we’ve been trying to stay quiet and think happy thoughts.  We’re finally out of the woods far enough that I’m comfortable telling people.

Comfortable may not be the right word; I’m still slightly in shock, but I’m significantly more optimistic about the outcomes.  I’m going to be a dad, again.  It’s an amazing feeling.

My head is still swimming with the news, but I hope this explains why I haven’t blogged much over the last year, and why I probably will be sporadic for the next few years .  IVF is a time-consuming process, but as I recall (sheesh, I sound like a geezer already), so is raising a baby.  At least this time around I’ll have a couple of high-school students to help out.  My two daughters are thrilled about the possibility of a little sibling; both are hoping for a brother, but as my mom put it, my “track record’s not so great in that area”.

Other words of wisdom from my mom: “you better get your ass to a gym.”  I’ve got less than 9 months to get into the best shape of my life; I’ll have a rugrat to wrestle.  Life is good, and I need to be around for a long time to enjoy it.