4:26 A.M.

I awoke with the shock of my cell phone playing "Stairway To Heaven," head too heavy to be fully aware of what was happening. The distinguishing names of my children lit the small screen, bringing an Adrenalin rush to all parts of my body. The voice was unrecognizable but stated flatly, "please call 911!" She repeated it again as I blurted out, "hang up the phone, and dial 911!"

The phone went dead and I dialed 911 in Utah, my mind frantically playing scenario after scenario, as to who this women was, what she was doing with my Ex-wife's phone, and what could be the emergency. Where were my children hurt? Was she sitting with my kids at 6:26 a.m. East Coast time?

I explained what happened to my local 911, and she worked to find the number in Georgia. I remember anxiously asking her to hurry. "I am," she said worried herself. "Do you have a pen?"

"Yes, I'm ready." I hung up the phone and dialed GA. I explained to the man again what had happened, and with speedy resolve, he said, "I'll transfer you to our 911."

The phone rang twice, and as soon as a voice entered my ear I told her she needed to send the police to the following address, which I gave her. Then at the first pause, I told her what happened.

I gave her directions to the right building in the apartment complex, and she said she typed it in. She asked for my number, then said that a car was arriving and several more on the way. I waited. Then she said that another operator had the other woman on the phone, too.

"Are they alright?" I said.

"Yes. The call is to apartment "B."

"My kids are in apartment "A."

A few more moments went by, and she said "he's there."

"Is everyone alright?" I said.

"Yes. Your family is fine."

"What should I do, call back?"

"Yes," she said.

"Thank you."

I hung up and called my Ex-wife, who was surprised I was calling.

A neighbor borrowed her phone to call the police on her husband. She had dialed my number instead because it was her "my fave" with T Mobile. She actually apologized to me, and we hung up.

Needless to say, I was awake for hours after that, imagining if it had been an emergency, I would not be able to get to Georgia for hours. Even though I knew my children were safe, a dark cloud haunted me until I finally slept back...

Hours later the Ex called back and explained that this woman had woke her up, and her husband had threatened her with a knife. She had given her the phone, and locked the door again. She retrieved it after the police arrived.

This was truly a unique experience, but par for the course given the past year. Being a father, a parent, it makes you vulnerable. More than I'd like to admit. Of course nothing was discussed about the incident with my kids on the phone tonight. They slept through it all. But the experience made me even more aware of how badly they need me, and how I need them.