Military Life

The military is a respected institution that many people aspire to join. The thought of braving the front for one's flag and nation is a fantastic prospect, but just like everything else with life, there are some caveats.

Any military household will admit that it's not easy juggling the demanding lifestyle with the obligations of a family unit. It is tough mainly because most service members are on duty for months, and their job description doesn't exactly mean they're safe and sound. Unfortunately, this was the norm for the Daugherty house as Natasha and Chris constantly found themselves in a tough spot. However, this time, there was a lot more at stake.

  

Deployment

Chris Daugherty was a U.S Navy sailor who got regularly shipped off to different parts of the globe to serve his nation. In January 2016, he was on his way to begin his service but unbeknownst to Chris, his life was about to change forever.

What made this separation harder was that this would be the first time Chris would be taking a trip for such a long period. He wouldn't be home for at least five months, and that too only if it was smooth sailing for the whole tour. There's no denying the man's job was an unpredictable one, but nothing could have prepared Chris for what was about to go down.

 

Bon Voyage

Chris was aboard the USS Vinson heading towards the Korean Peninsula, where he would be tasked with decoding codes and signals coming through the airwaves. The young man was a certified cryptologic technician making his job one of the cornerstones of military intelligence.

Surprisingly, despite having such an incredible job description, Chris was none the wiser regarding the events taking place back home. Maybe he just wasn't paying attention, or he just didn't consider the signs to be anything but a coincidence. Either way, the situation seems quite ironic when you think his wife Natasha managed to keep such a massive secret from him for so long.

 

Meanwhile Back Home

At the time, the Daughertys lived in Temecula, California, and they had three kids to think of. Natasha was trying her best to make ends meet and take care of the family back home. After a week without Chris, Natasha was already feeling her husband's absence, and she would've done almost anything to have him around.

It was during this grueling period that Natasha suddenly realized something was changing in their lives; she was lost for words. The mother of three felt taken aback by the startling discovery and a bit confused on how she'd approach the subject in the days to come.

 

A Secret Affair

Natasha was doing her best, holding the fort, and despite her best efforts to mask the recent developments from her kids, it wasn't long before her eldest son put two and two together. Luckily, the little boy was mature enough to hear her out and help his mom keep her secret from his siblings.

Sadly, the dynamic duo had to contend with the four-year-old, who was not very good at keeping secrets. One wrong move and the whole world would know what was going on. That's why Natasha made sure everything ran as smoothly as possible to throw any suspicion off her back.

 

Harder Than It Seems

This whole time, Natasha was still in constant communication with her husband, and it was getting harder and harder to keep her secret from him. After all, the lady felt torn between keeping her secret and spilling the beans because he was his number one confidant.

Inversely, Natasha knew how demanding and critical Chris's job was, and she didn't want to confuse or distract him. After all, her husband would find out eventually, considering how impactful her secret would be to their everyday lives. At that time, the man was on the other side of the globe, and he couldn't do anything about the changes, so keeping him in the dark seemed a better idea.

 

Guilt Trip

Chris and Natasha's journey began over a decade before this moment when the couple met in the navy. At the time, Natasha was an IT systems technician for the forces, and maybe this common working ground played a part in their union. In 2011, the couple tied the knot and had been inseparable since.

That closeness is the reason Natasha was having a hard time keeping big secrets from her husband. After having three kids together, it's almost impossible not to get close to your spouse. During one of her crisis of faith moments, Natasha almost gave up and told Chris everything once and for all.

Damage Control

Natasha emailed her husband and told him to call her back as soon as possible. Luckily, Chris wasn't close by, and Natasha had some time to think things over and make a sound decision. The lady realized that the gravity of the situation warranted a better setting, and a phone call wouldn't suffice.

Aside from dealing with her demons and her sketchy four-year-old, Natasha had to find a way to make sure none of her friends and relatives let the cat out of the bag. Most of these people saw her regularly, so it was only a matter of time before they asked Chris about her situation.

 

Rough Seas

While Natasha was making the most of her difficult situation, Chris was having problems of his own. North Korea had begun ballistic missile testing, and it was happening pretty close to where Chris's base was at the time. Soon, making matters even worse, various world leaders were getting involved and the situation became increasingly tense.

Despite what was going on at home, it looks like Chris already had a lot on his plate. Luckily, his wife was smart enough to bombard him with troubling revelations that might have impacted his productivity. Natasha was right all along, and her choice to keep the secret was working out in her favor so far.

 

Holding The Fort

While things were heating up in the ocean, Natasha had to take on two jobs and look after her three kids. It was a challenging situation, but she had to pull through. Of course, it wasn't ideal, but the determined mother of three wasn't one to buckle under pressure.

Luckily, only a few weeks were left before Chris came home, meaning things were bound to make a turnaround for the best. On the flip side, she would no longer have to go to extreme lengths to make sure her youngest child didn't know her secret. The light at the end of the tunnel was nearing; all Natasha had to do was wait it out a bit more.

 

One More Time

Despite the positive vibes on Natasha's horizon, fate had other ideas. As the lady counted the days till her man's arrival, she received a call that would alter the course of her plans. Chris was on the other side, and he let his wife know that he was now expected to remain on duty for an extra thirty days.

This new development was thanks to the uncertain situation with the Korean missile tests. It was a big blow to the mother of three, but Natasha wasn't going to give up. She had already made it past five months, but could she make it another thirty extra days?

 

Fear Of The Unknown

Natasha felt sure she could manage the extra month, but her instincts were saying otherwise. She began wondering if Chris would make it, considering how bad things seemed. The thought of losing her husband before he knew what was happening didn't sit well with her, and she was even more tempted to reveal her secret.

The lady had a right to be worried since this was not an easy situation her husband had found himself in. Moreover, thirty days is a long time for things to go sideways. Nevertheless, Natasha stood her ground and waited for her man, albeit with bated breath and fingers crossed.

 

Home Sweet Home

After six eventful months, Chris was finally making his way home to his eager family. The USS Vinson was making its way to San Diego, California, and it would be docking sooner than later. Despite the man's excitement, Chris had no idea he was about to have a mood boost.

The kids felt incredibly excited about their father's arrival, but even all of their joy combined couldn't match with Natasha's, who was brimming with emotion. The lady had been working extra hard for the past few months, and she was ready to let it all go. The time for the big reveal was finally here.

 

Land Ahoy

On June 23, 2017, the crew of the USS Vinson was finally home. It had been six grueling months away from their families, so everyone was ready to see their loved ones. Everyone exited the docked ship with smiles and got met with joyful excitement and teary embraces.

As Chris set foot on land, his kids ran to him and swarmed the naval officer. They were ecstatic to see their father after so long, and he couldn't contain his excitement either. Even so, something was amiss; Natasha was holding back from meeting her husband. Still, for now, Chris was so preoccupied with his brood of three that he barely noticed.

 

You Must Be Kidding

Chris savored every single moment with his kids as they battered him with hugs and kisses from all directions. Finally, he took enough time so he could save the best for last; his wife. When the time came, the man didn't hesitate to make his way to the love of his life.

Natasha was holding a sign that partly hid her from view, but as soon as Chris made his way to her, she took a step back and dropped the sign revealing a mysterious scenario. The man was taken aback on the spot and he couldn't help but pinch himself, trying to see if he was awake or dreaming - Was this really happening?

 

What A View

Natasha's sign cheekily read, "Welcome Home, Baby Daddy.' At first glance, the greeting might sound ordinary, considering the couple already had three kids between them. Nevertheless, when Natasha dropped the sign, things took a drastic turn as she revealed what she had been hiding all along.

Chris' lady love had a bulging baby bump and a shirt that read, "I'm the present daddy gave mommy before he deployed." So you can understand why the marine would be shocked and taken aback by this. His wife had been handling this pregnancy for six months while taking care of the kids without revealing a single thing.

 

Too Good To Be True

It took some time before Chris could reconcile what he was seeing and what he was thinking. At first, Chris felt convinced that his wife was pulling his leg and Natasha was pranking him. However, when gently he poked the lady's belly, he couldn't deny the truth anymore.

It was as clear as day that the family would be welcoming another child sooner than later. Finally, it was at that moment that all his emotions burst open, and all he wanted to do was hug and kiss his wife. Natasha had done a fantastic job keeping this information from her husband, but there was even more in store for Chris.

 

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

As if it were pre-destined, Chris had come home on the most iconic day of the year for a guy like him. It was Father's Day, and this was probably one of the best gifts any dad can receive on the big day. A fourth child would be an excellent addition to their wild bunch, and Chris was ready for the action.

Everything had turned out great, and everyone was happy that Natasha's plan had gone down perfectly. The exhausted lady could finally breathe a sigh of relief as she no longer had to walk on eggshells when dealing with her youngest child and her husband.

 

It Takes A Village

You must be wondering how Natasha managed to keep such a massive secret from her husband for so long. Moreover, it's a wonder no one inadvertently spilled the beans to Chris before he made his way home. So how did our good lady pull this feat off?

For starters, Natasha rallied everyone she knew who knew her and Chris and convinced them to help her keep the secret. It was a big task, but the friends and family members were willing to help out the best they could. A friend even filmed the day of the incredible reunion and uploaded it online later.

 

Tips & Tricks

Natasha didn't leave any stones unturned when it came to keeping her secret from her husband. Surprisingly, even while pregnant, the lady was still communicating with her husband, including video calls. She also sent Chris pictures of the family as frequently as possible.

To ensure her brilliant husband didn't catch on to her ploy, Natasha made sure to go the extra mile when contacting him. After making sure her friends and family were in the loop, she lied to her four-year-old daughter about her pregnancy. The young one was the only wild card she had to be wary of from then on.

 

Concealment Strategies

Aside from making sure those close to her helped keep up the act, Natasha had to develop ingenious ways to ensure Chris wouldn't suspect a thing from the updates and calls. For example, in most of the photos, she made sure to have the toddler in her lap to hide the bump.

In another picture, the lady took a picture with a beer in hand to make sure her husband saw she was living normally. As for the four-year-old, Natasha told her mummy was getting fat, and the adorable child was gullible enough to believe it. If she hadn't, everything would have definitely failed.

 

Shock & Awe All Over

Most of the time, when a serviceman came home from deployment to a pregnant wife, they'd have reason to suspect something was off. In Natasha's case, she was just as surprised as her husband when she found out she was pregnant.

By the time Chris was getting deployed, she was unaware that she was expecting yet, and she only got to find out a week after he had left. The lady had to take a second test just to be sure, and she even discovered she was already eight weeks along at that point. It was a total surprise for the mum, and that's why Natasha kept it hidden.

 

To Tell Or Not To Tell

Natasha struggled with keeping the pregnancy a secret from her husband and, at some point, even broke character for a few minutes. Luckily, the lady got back to her senses in time to send an email to salvage the situation, telling her husband she only missed his voice.

Despite keeping such a big thing from Chris, Natasha was smart enough to document the progress of the pregnancy till he got back. Sadly, this also meant she had gone through seven whole months of pregnancy without the support of her husband. It's commendable she managed to pull this off without any major hiccups along the way.

 

More Revelations

After seven long months, the journey was, at last, coming to an end, and Natasha had finally let the cat out of the bag. The lady had managed to pull off a miracle, and everyone was glad how everything had turned out. Of course, Chris was the happiest since he got a fantastic Father's day gift.

Still, before everything quieted down, Natasha had more in store for her husband. She had been holding on to this piece of information specifically for this moment. Who knew the lady was so good at keeping secrets? So far, Chris knew he'd be a dad, but he had no idea what they were expecting.

 

A Touch Of Pink

Natasha had told everyone who needed to know that she was pregnant, but she had purposefully hidden the most significant part of this information for herself. So no one knew the gender of the baby, and this was supposed to be Chris's special surprise.

Once the man of her life got home, Natasha started organizing a gender reveal party for their friends and family. Everyone had been with her through this journey, and they couldn't wait for the last piece of the puzzle to fall in place. When the moment came, everyone gathered around Natasha and Chris as they popped a balloon with pink confetti revealing they'd be giving birth to a daughter.

 

Time's Of The Essence

By the time Chris made it home, the couple only had two months to get used to the new normal and prepare for the arrival of their new bundle of joy. Considering Chris's profession, every single second counted, and the couple had to make up for all that lost time.

To begin with, Chris and Natasha scheduled a maternity shoot to document the special moment. At the same time, the couple spent as much time as possible with their three kids before the new baby came along. Everything seemed to be going according to plan until something threatened to throw the happy family's dreams off the rails.

 

Wants & Needs

Despite trying their best to make up for a lost time, there was now a dark cloud hanging over the couple's heads. Chris was still an active duty navy officer, so there was a high chance the fellow would get deployed before long.

Since Chris had already been away for quite some time, he wasn't keen on going on another tour any time soon. Although it was still a possibility, the man had to hope for the best. Even if he got deployed, Chris wished that he'd be around when his daughter got born; otherwise, everything Natasha had done so far would be for naught.

 

Agonizing Patience

Although the next deployment date was slowly coming closer, Chris was yet to receive his marching orders even then. To make matters more perplexing, Natasha wasn't showing any signs of going into labor. It was one of those moments; anyone wouldn't wish on their worst enemy.

The anxiety was not making things easier for Chris. It was like waiting for the home bell to ring only to know you might have detention afterward. As luck would have it, Chris had his angels smiling down on him, and he finally got his military orders. He was not due to report for duty till the following year.

 

At Last

After the long wait, Natasha finally went into labor on September 2, 2017. Their daughter, Anara Rose, became the newest addition to their unruly bunch, and the family was brimming with pride. The journey was finally coming to an end positively, and this chapter could eventually be closed.

Both Natasha and Chris were ecstatic Chris was able to be by her side when she gave birth. It was a full-circle moment, and we can't blame them for being so grateful after the year they had had. Sadly, the navy soon came calling, and Chris had to leave his home and family once more.

 

Complete Package

Once everything settled down after their baby was born, Chris went online to let his friends and fans know the fantastic news. Of course, he couldn't help but share his love for his daughter and the excitement of welcoming her into the fold.

Unsurprisingly, the story went viral, and news outlets all over the nation were clamoring to get a piece of the action. Natasha was glad her plan had all worked out in the end, and Chris had been such a good sport so far. Natasha now had everything she wanted, and she felt like the happiest lady in the world.

 

She'd Do It Again

Chris later told 'NBC' that the surprise was genuinely life-changing for him, and he appreciated the thought process behind it. The father of four figured that the news was quite essential, and had Natasha told him over the phone, it wouldn't have had the same impact.

As for Natasha, she regretted nothing. On the contrary, the mommy of four informed news outlets that it had been an arduous journey, but the end justifies the means. She was glad about the outcome and proud of her work. We can't help but feel the same way, considering how much Natasha achieved - The gamble was risky, but it paid off handsomely.

 

More & Behold

Major news outlets such as 'CBS' and 'NBC' were interested in the story, so the Daughertys had several interviews lined up. In one of these interviews, Jamie Yuccas asked Natasha if she'd have any more surprises for her husband, but the lady was quick to say she had nothing waiting.

The last one had been big enough to cause a stir, so it was more than enough for the family. It had taken them six months to finalize the surprise, and it was a rollercoaster of a ride. Understandably a mother of four cannot go on another one of those rides again, as it turned out she'd be back on solo duty soon.

 

Another Tour

Four months after the birth of his daughter, Chris found himself on duty once more. This time, he'd be going to the western Pacific for four months, where he'd make trips to Guam, the Philippines, and Vietnam. While there, he'd take the time to visit the beautiful sites and take beautiful pictures.

Natasha and Chris had promised each other they wouldn't have any more surprises waiting in store when Chris returned home. While away, Chris was homesick, and he couldn't help but miss his five musketeers. He always counted down the days till when he'd have his children and wife in his arms.

 

No Hiccups

Chris managed to come home as scheduled without any extensions. This time, it was a calm reunion, although everyone was just as thrilled as last year to finally see Chris home. His daughters were over the moon to have dad back home, and the marine felt happy his wife wasn't hiding any major secrets from him.

He made sure he was as present as possible whenever Chris came home since his days were always numbered. To maximize on time spent with his family, Chris made sure his devices were nowhere near him. The only distractions he allowed came from his children and wife whenever they came to him.

 

Brothers In Qualms

Despite being deployed, Chris managed to carry out the interviews with Natasha. As a result, even after the baby was born, their story was still hot in the news spheres, and several blogs and papers published this fantastic story. This situation probably came about because several people can relate to it, and the media outlets wanted to spread it as much as possible.

Chris and Natasha's story isn't far-fetched, considering another military man was facing something similar. His situation was a bit different because, unlike Chris, he was aware a baby was on the way, but there was a slight twist to his tale.

 

By Choice

Jon Keeney is our next story, and this man was out on tour back in 2012. He had signed up for reserve duties after his stint in Iraq, and before long, he found himself bound for Afghanistan. Over there, Jon joined the 305th Military Police Unit of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The military is a challenging and demanding line of work, so soldiers are often used to living life with a degree of uncertainty. Despite this, nothing could've prepared Jon for the news he was about to receive. It was one of those pieces of information that could bring even the hardest of men to their knees.

 

Tough News

Jon knew his wife was pregnant before he got deployed to Afghanistan. Just like Natasha, Megan kept in touch with her husband regularly to touch base. In their case, though, Megan updated Jon on the development of the pregnancy since Jon wouldn't be heading home any time soon.

Sadly, five months down the line, Megan had some troubling news for the soon-to-be dad. During a regular check-up, Megan found out that their baby had developed a heart defect that had caused its blood to face some circulatory complications. Unfortunately, this meant that Megan was now going to have a very complicated pregnancy.

 

Coming Home

Sadly, the news kept getting worse as Jon found out there was no way to ensure the baby's safety until after birth. The soldier knew he had to find a way to be with his wife despite the military obligations; It was a unique scenario that deserved some leniency.

Luckily, his superiors empathized with him, and Jon ended up set to board the next flight back home. Unfortunately, after securing his leave, Jon met with another hurdle; all the flights out of Afghanistan had gotten canceled, meaning our good man was stranded, and his chances of getting home in time seemed to grow slimmer than ever.

 

More Problems

Jon got forced to take a series of flights to get home, and if he were lucky, he'd have gotten a free seat due to his status as an active-duty military man. This was common among flights, especially when there was a free seat on an America-bound flight.

Eventually, Jon managed to get to Germany, and then things hit another snag. During his layover, his flight got canceled, and he was stuck there for four days. It was almost as if fate didn't want him to get home, but the man wasn't ready to give up without a fight, not just yet.

 

Fingers Crossed

As a last resort, Jon called his dad to help him out of this tough spot. The marine's old man was quick to call in some favors from his friends in the Senate, who pulled some strings to help Jon get home sooner than later.

Jon landed home, and in two days, his wife went into labor. Megan gave birth to a baby girl, but they barely had any time to register their happiness when the baby got whisked off to the operating room. It was one of the most challenging moments in the couple's life, but the procedure was meant to be for the best.

 

All's Well

Jon and Megan had managed to keep it together so far, but they couldn't help but feel anxious as they waited for their baby to come from the operating room. Anything could happen in there, and all they could do was continue to wait and hope for the best.

The surgeons at West Virginia University Children's Hospital did their best to save the little one, and after a grueling surgery, things finally took a hopeful turn. They could stabilize the baby, and Jon and Megan were able to take in some air. Although Jon's trip home had been a harrowing experience, it had all ended on a positive note for him and his family in the end.