"So I guess that answers the question if I'm sterile or not huh?"
That was one of the first things I said to Celia after she told me she was pregnant.
April 7, 2007 8:15 a.m.
It is Saturday and Andrew rolls out of bed finally getting a good night of rest. For the previous 5 days I had been out in the field getting just a few hours of sleep.
April 6, 2007. I make my way home from the field about 6:00 p.m. and give Celia a call to see how she was doing. We were set to have Jadon in 5 days on the 11th so I knew she was very uncomfortable. We talk casually about the stuff I did in the field and I ask about her. Nothing special. I let her go because I had not showered in 5 days and tell her I will call her later in the evening.
April 7, 2007 8:15 a.m.
I wake up checking my phone and see something extremely unusual. I had 20+ alerts, such as missed calls and text messages.
April 6, 2007 8:30 p.m.
I call Celia earlier than I had expected. I let her know that I'm dead tired and going to go to bed. I let her know that she can call me later if she wants but do not recommend it. The logic being that she would get upset with me if she called and I was asleep on the phone with her. If anybody has ever had it happen to them it is annoying as hell.
April 2--April 6, 2007
I am out in the field and I have my phone. Cell phones in the field were forbidden as we were prepping to fight the damn dirty Al Faruq (See Blog Earlier Today). Andrew decides he is a rebel and brings his phone with the logic being that "To hell with it. My girl is pregnant and I want to check up on her throughout the week." I stand by my decision. The catch to all of this was whenever my phone was on the ringer was on silent. It would be a kick in the nuts to get caught with my cell phone ringing.
April 7, 2007 8:20 a.m.
I open up my phone and begin checking all of my alerts that I missed. I had multiple calls from Celia within minutes. I already knew. I scroll down further skipping a few of the alerts to a text message. It confirmed what I already suspected. "Pick up your phone! The baby's coming tonight." I instantly begin to panic. Then I saw what had happened. My phone was still on silent. I had been to tired to turn it back on.
I begin making phone call after phone call. I call my military instructors and inform them and then I get a hold of Celia. She had already had Jadon. I had slept through the birth of my first child. My heart sunk. As soon as I could I got on the road and made my way to Iowa to see this when I arrived.
Well he wasn't wearing this outfit but you get the point.
I spend the next 3 days holding this beautiful baby experiencing feelings that I had never felt before in my life. The first time he got to me wasn't when I was holding him for the first time, no. It was at the end of the night when I was getting ready to push him down to the nurses. He had his eyes open, both arms in the air and grabbed my finger. I cried.
April 10, 2007
I have to leave Iowa and head to Fort Knox so I can embark on a journey that would allow me to write my blog from earlier today. This means I have to say goodbye to my new family. I don't know if many people can truly understand just how difficult that was.
April 24, 2007 8:40 p.m.
I am counting down the days now. I have 3 more days until I am able to see Jadon Alan once again. I know what many of you may be thinking. Damn this asshole is talking a lot about his kid showing a lot of pictures. You know what? You're right. Look, I'll call a spade a spade and truth be told; I have a very good looking baby. Clearly he got that DNA from his mother but I will take credit.
In all seriousness now. I know it will only be 3 more days until that little 7 pound blessing melts my heart once again. He has made me feel something that I had only heard about and I pledge my life to give him the best life possible. I love you Jadon Alan.
