A Little Tribute to Kevin on Father's day.

It was about 20 years ago that I first saw Kevin with a child. My sisters were visiting Iowa, and my two nephews were over. Kevin came to pick me up to go out somewhere, and spent the next hour playing trucks in the hall. There was a spark there. He would be a good father. At the time, I didn't know he would be the father to my kids, but you could tell that kids liked him.
Fast forward about 9 years. Living in Phoenix we spent countless hours with my brother Jim, his wife Jessica, and our good friends Angie and Gary Iserhott. The Iserhotts had this darling baby, Danielle. Kevin really liked her. He played with her, and made her laugh, and other than one little incident where he hit her head on the ceiling, she liked him too. We were married then, and I knew that I wanted him to be the father of my kids. (all 2 or maybe 3 of them) We had no trouble deciding to have a baby, and no trouble having one. Ian was born about 10 months after the decision was made. Kevin was a father. He was GREAT at it. He wasn't the guy who was afraid to parent. He never balked at changing diapers, being alone with his son, making bottles, or anything baby related. I wanted another almost right away. Fertility is a funny thing. I have seen it time and again, the more ready you feel for a baby, the less able you are to have one. We waited, tested, and waited some more. after 5 years, we had a successful IVF cycle that resulted in our triplets. People ask me how we took it when they told us there were three. Sometimes you hear a corny story of the dad passing out at the ultrasound, or worse a sad story of a dad not wanting three babies. This was not Kevin. The doctor said there were three and Kevin said, "I guess we are going to buy a mini-van." He embraced a high-risk pregnancy. He did almost everything while I was on bed rest. He went to the kindergarten orientation alone, took Ian to the bus on the first day of school, and followed it in his car watching from across the street to see him go into the building.
I watched him juggle caring for three tiny infants, giving up all aspects of a normal life for sleep-deprivation, countless diaper and outfit changes, feedings, and the logistics of multiples with teaching a little boy to ride without training wheels, to swim, and to recite the entire line-up of the Coyotes.
I have seen him sacrifice hobbies that require time away from home. I have seen him turn down business and social occasions for little league, swim meets, and simply to be another pair of hands at home.
When our Hadley the surprise was born, Kevin stepped up again, enjoying all the little things that make her special. His focus is not on the stuff we can't do with another little one around, but instead the day to day joy she brings us all.
There is little doubt that Dad is the "fun" one around here. He builds grand obstacle courses, he plans spur of the moment trips, he wrestles, tells stories, and comes up with the most unique things to do. I can see all the memories that he makes with his children, and I know there will be a day when they recall all the funny little things he has done to help create a strong, happy, family.
The gifts were not big, and well planned this year. Dad, in fact, got even less than Mom did on mother's day, which is very sad. We did Go to church and lunch as a family. We have taken the day off all the work that has been filling our weekends. It is one of those days that will fade into life without a lot of specifics, but also one which will contribute to the overall feeling my kids have of what family time is all about.

We love you Dad. This is your gift, son't go snooping around for anything else......