Why can't I collect child support from a default judgement from 2000. The father never should up to court.?

The father never showed up to the negotiation conference back in 2000. Soon after I received a copy of the default order. It wasn't until 2004 that we went to court again, with him being there, where another order for child support was issued and he started paying. What I want to know is what happened to the first order? and is my child still owed money from 2000 or did the father get a free p on child support for damn near 4 years