Posted by John 06Feb12:

I wonder, "What does a six-day-old dream about?" I want to ask her, but my daughter is sleeping so well. Instead, I sit on my haunches listening to each precious breath. Jessica is a ball under every other sheet we own behind me. How can she take such long confident breaths while I- who has surived car crashes, mortar, bullets and all manner of terrible things- am afraid to move? ...Let alone breathe!

Too excited and jet lagged to sleep, I slowly edge back on the tips of my toes to my office. I gently squeeze past the door and roll the baby monitor headset into my ears. All is well. I grab a book but am unable to open its cover. I sit down to hear my wife stir and rise to pour herself a glass of water. I lose myself in the silence and the glow of the blank computer monitor until I feel her hands around my shoulders. She asks how I am, and I tell her the truth.

I have never been happier.