Just a little history on CJ. With his life with us uncertain, I would write things down hoping that if one day he was taken away, he might could read some of the things I’d written over the years. It was 4yrs of a rollercoaster ride with highs and deep lows. I wrote this on his one year anniversary with us in 2015…
October 18, 2014 started out like any normal day. It was the opening day of rifle season here in Georgia and if I remember correctly it was a little cool. Angie decided to hunt with us that morning which wasn't too strange. Always love it when the wife goes! Little did I know this would be the only time she went last year. I know she saw one deer but claimed it was too small to shoot.
After the hunt we went home and Angie cooked her "famous" breakfast for us, again not out of the norm but not expected after getting up early herself to hunt. After breakfast I told her I was just gonna snooze in the recliner and wait for College football to come on. I asked if she was taking a nap and she said she had to go to town. I asked if she wanted me to go, and she said no. Again that's normal. When I asked if she was gonna take a nap first she said no. Now that's not normal, lol!
Well, after being gone for a few hours she returns with someone that would change our lives from that moment until this very day!
She walks in carrying a baby car seat. My first thought was someone we know is having a baby shower and this is a gift. But, gifts don't consist of an actual baby in the baby car seat!! My first words were, "I don't know where you got it, but take it back!!!!" She replied she couldn't! I told her, "Take it back and get a refund!!" Again she said she couldn't. I then said, "Tell me where you got it and I'll pay them to take it back!!" Then she replied it's just for 45 days. 45 days?? That would mean Thanksgiving!! That would mean the Rut!!
Needless to say I wasn't a happy camper!! I was 46 years old! My "baby" would be 16 in a few months!! I was just really enjoying extra money, freedom, sleep, etc...
I was so ticked about the whole ordeal I didn't even hunt that afternoon. I finally asked Angie what its name was and she replied CJ. I asked what it stood for and she said the mothers and fathers initials. She couldn't pronounce his real name. I thought great, initials for a baby, how wonderful is this!!
The baby hadn't made a sound the whole afternoon and Angie decided to try and smooth things over to go get my favorite dinner from a local restaurant. She said she wouldn't be gone more than 15 minutes. She said me and Zac could handle it! She had no more backed out the driveway and I heard this LOUD fart! I turned to Zac and said that was impressive!! He had this funny look and said I thought that was you. We both turned white as ghost when the quiet baby started this ear splitting scream. I thought of calling 911, but thought about jail time for calling them to change a diaper!! Started to call the wife back, but she was getting FOOD! I told Zac we got this!!
It had been almost 15 years since I had done this. It was like riding a bike, right?? Not sure what that kid had eaten but it came out as quarantined waste! 2 diapers, messed up the first one, and a box of wipes later and we had it changed!! Now this baby wouldn't quit crying!! I tried rocking, walking, and every other trick I could muster from an aging memory! Nothing worked!! Finally Angie got home and somehow consoled the screaming demon to a soft whimper. I could see then, this was going to be a long "45" days!!
For the next "45" days I learned a lot. I learned what it was like to have a baby born with over 5 different drugs in his system. I learned what it was like to take a baby in that had no interaction with its "mother" his first 5 days of life. (To this day he still won't hug or lay his head on your shoulder). I learned what drug addicts go through during withdrawals. I learned that because of withdrawals, certain meds couldn't be used for tummy and other issues! Some meds would just feed the addiction. I learned that we, mostly the wife, can actually function on less that 4 hours of sleep a day for 7, SEVEN, straight months!!!
Most of all, I learned that I can LOVE! After the "45" days the mother still hadn't tested clean and the state was going to take the baby unless we intervened. So, we became temporary guardians.
All was good. We made good money. Made a sacrifices in sleeping arrangements. Put up with all the rumors about the baby. Saw our boys take to the baby as their own. Saw my family and parents offer unconditional love, even if they thought we were crazy, lol. All was good.
You know "good" never last forever. All of a sudden, all of the things we were used to doing came to a halt in a big way. This baby was a bigger investment than we anticipated. Our savings went then it was almost paycheck to paycheck. Angie had to cut back on her work and the state insurance didn't cover all the meds baby CJ needed. Certain Specialist that he needed weren't covered either. We have two extra vehicles and two extra drivers, lol. And a son in college. ** Just want to take a second here and let everyone know, WE GET NO MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT! The only thing the state provided for was his formula (that he was allergic to) and medical insurance that only covers certain things! His formula he had to have was $58 a can.
On top of that, at about 3 or 4 months the "parents" decided they want the baby back. Just so happens they had been collecting food stamps on him and got cut off when the state realized they didn't even have the baby! Would I have had too much pride to use them if we got them?? Normally yes, but things were and still are tough at times, so yeah I would load the buggy right now!!
Looking at our post over the last year things might look normal. But trust me, a middle aged couple with a baby, is anything but normal. This post wasn't meant for sympathy or accolades. It was meant a little to my friends I turn down on trips for
kitesurfing lessons in el gouna egypt. Can't afford things like we used to.
October 18, 2014 was a day that started out just like any other. Except this particular day God decided I needed another Son!
I love you baby CJ, my Lil' Man!!
, gotta love it. That is one beautiful buck and a better story!
