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Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Escape Artist

On Saturday morning Kayla nearly gave me a heart attack.

I was in one bathroom blow drying my hair. Joe went to the other bathroom to take a shower. Kayla went to the living room.

When I finished I walked down the hallway to the living room and realized it sounded a little too quiet. I thought maybe Kayla was watching Noggin, but nope she wasn't there.

Usually that kind of quiet means your child is up to no good and getting into something they shouldn't be. But then I thought there was just something different about this type of quiet, too quiet. It was more like a type of quiet where I felt like Kayla's presence was not even in the house. All this went through my mind in a matter of seconds.

Before I started freaking out too much I let out one sharp "Kayla!" and I heard her answer me with, "slide!" Oh no she's not I thought. But I knew what I would see when I looked out the living room window...Kayla was climbing the steps to her slide, in the backyard, in the backyard that is not fenced in on one side.

Even though I could see her, even though I knew she was obviously ok, my heart still raced and caught in my throat all at once. I ran over to the screen door that leads out to the patio in the backyard and was going to fling it open when I realized it was locked. As I was unlocking it I wondered, fleetingly, how she managed to get outside if the door was locked.

I quickly scooped her up and promptly took her to the bathroom where Joe was still in the shower. I said to him, "Do you know where I just found your daughter?" (Yes at times when she's getting into trouble I refer to her as "his daughter" and he likewise refers to her as "my daughter"). He said, "uh oh. What was she getting in to this time?" I said, "it's not what she was getting into, it's where she WAS!" and told him where I found her and added, "Do you know what this is doing to my heart right now at just the mere thought of where she could have gone?" He replied, "oh I know just how you feel!"

I figured out how she got outside. Our screen isn't very secure in the frame and it pops out easily. Joe's fixed it before, but Kayla has a tendency to lean against the screen, or push against it, and the screen is loose. She obviously did this while we were each in a bathroom and decided to just help herself to the backyard.

Thank you God that she only stayed in the backyard and went to her slide. But just the thought of how easily she could have wandered away is enough to get my heart racing. It would have been so easy for her to go between the yards and be on the next street over, or just wander down this street. Granted, we live on base and she couldn't have walked off base, but still. She gave me one heck of a scare.

The sliding glass door will now be in place and locked so she doesn't pull any more disappearing acts.

48 comments:

Amy said...

I have been there and done that twice before and it is a feeling like no other! Praising God she didn't get hurt.

Anonymous said...

Michelle, your mom and I know how you feel. Your heart is in your throat and it is like time has stood still! You don't remember this, but while in Germany, your family and mine were bringing your grandparents back to the Frankfurt Airport when we pulled into a parking space got out but decided that was not where we wanted to be and went to another space. We were all in two different cars. We got out of the cars to head into the terminal and your mom said, "Is Michelle with you?" "No" I said, isn't she with you?" Here we are at a big major airport and had no idea where you were, you must have been around Kayla's age, or who had you. Your mom took off running, tears running down her face, me after her....A very nice man found you all alone and brought you into the airport at the infomation place where we found you! Thank you, Lord, for watching out for Michelle! Love, Aunt Debbie

Jessica said...

That must have been scary! I'm so glad she was in your backyard and didn't go anywhere else!

ChupieandJ'smama (Janeen) said...

So Scary! Glad she's ok and hope you are too.

Unknown said...

Very scary! Glad she was safe! I don't know what I'll do when Lauren figures out how to escape!

Ms. Kathleen said...

I can so relate. Once I found Luke in the pig sty. My daughter Tara it seems caused me more scares.

Haha! I am not laughing at you just memories this conjures up. When I was four I took my three year old sister by the hand and walked at 8 a.m. with her to the commissary. My Dad found us later. I caused a traffic jam. I had a grocery cart of bread and my sister was in the cart eating bread and I was pushing it across an intersection... I mean, would you not think someone would notice a toddler walking out of the base commissary with a cart full of bread and a baby sister in tow??!!

My Dad to this day says his heart takes extra beats when he thinks about it.

Next you'll be blogging about Kayla's adventures! ☺

Haha!

K.T. is Mommatude said...

Oh my,I have been there...so sorry that she was missing,but so glad she was only sliding

Andrea@Sgt and Mrs Hub said...

How terrifying! Judah did that to us in Target over the weekend- he was just walking around our legs as we shopped,I saw him toddle off to my right so I headed after him but when the space opened up he was gone! I looked calm on the outside but I was screaming on the inside, Daniel eventually found him - my poor husband, his face was white from fear. Kids move so fast! I wouldn't have known before that happened how you felt but now, I really can relate- it is terrifying. So glad she is safe!

-Andrea

Dori (Aviva's mommy) said...

Those are the most scariest of moments...We have had a few of those and we had to change the locks so Aviva could not unlock the door.

Glad she was fine.

HUGS!

Barb said...

I know you live on a base, but would they consider fencing that one open side for you? My word, how scary.

By the way, I tried to watch Kayla's jumprope video but the minute your hubby starts dragging the container of Easter dye toward her, it stops. Shoot!

Barb said...

And your Aunt Debbie's story was a heart stopper too!

Becca said...

I am so glad that she is ok and all is well.

Many hugs!

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

Oh, I understand. I was outside the other day and turned around, and there was Corinne! I had been in the garage and if she had gone the other direction, I wouldn't have even noticed she'd escaped! What if she had gone the other way?!?!?

Calico Sky said...

Poor you, it was obviously much harder on you than Kayla!
I am so happy and thankful she is safe and sound!!

Anonymous said...

Yes, that has MY HEART RACING TOO!!! And just like Aunt Debbie said, you at the Frankfurt Airport in Germany....
that moment , as Aunt Debbie said, TIME STOOD STILL and I did not know where to begin to look for you!! I was running thru the airport saying, Kinder, Kinder and yes, crying!! Thank God, as Debbie said, for a nice man who brought you into the airport....Michelle, I am so glad "our little Kayla" was only in the backyard and we do not want to go to , "what if" love mom/grandma

Anonymous said...

Yes, that has MY HEART RACING TOO!!! And just like Aunt Debbie said, you at the Frankfurt Airport in Germany....
that moment , as Aunt Debbie said, TIME STOOD STILL and I did not know where to begin to look for you!! I was running thru the airport saying, Kinder, Kinder and yes, crying!! Thank God, as Debbie said, for a nice man who brought you into the airport....Michelle, I am so glad "our little Kayla" was only in the backyard and we do not want to go to , "what if" love mom/grandma

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness, how scary!! I really need to put doorknob covers on, before something happens like that!

Mom said...

We have lost Charlie several times. Each time we find a new problem with our house. Once it was that we needed window locks. That day we found him on the roof. Once we had to go to keyed deadbolts. We are already fenced in, but once we found he used a wood pile to scale the fence.

Charlie makes me feel like General Custer. Constantly surrounded and vastly outnumbered. And he's only one kid! The problem is that he's so darned smart.

Beck said...

Yikes! I'm glad she's okay. When The Boy and a friend of his (My friend Bon's daughter, actually) were both 2 1/2, they VANISHED one afternoon while they were supposedly in our playroom - they were hiding at the far end of my yard and were fine, but until we figured it out, there was just stark terror because there are three different roads they could have gone down from our house. YIKES!

Robin Green said...

Yes, that would be very scary. My hubby tried to be funny once and sneaked my daughter away from me while I was ordering food at the mall. I panicked when I looked down and she wasn't there. He said he knew as soon as he saw my face that he had just messed up big time! and he had

Amy Flege said...

woo hoo...what a scare! just glad she stayed in her yard and didnt wander away!

Jennisa - Avery and Livvie's Mommy! said...

I came across your blog through a comment you left on Sue's page. Seriously...your daughter does have such adorable eyes! Me oh my she's a doll!

Anonymous said...

oh my! I totally would have lost it! You are so right to have felt so scared!

hehe on the "Your Daughter!!" I totally do that!

S. said...

Oh how scary! Lukas opened the door of our hotel room (we had a suite so he wasn't sleeping in the room with us) and was in the hallway at 3 a.m. The doors were very heavy, I never would have thought he could open it, and we forgot to do the latch thing at the top. Thank goodness it slammed loudly, but I was half asleep and confused looking everywhere for him before I realized he was in the hallway. Seriously gave me a heart attack, it was awful...these kids of ours will definately add to the grey hairs!

PastormacsAnn said...

Glad that her Guardian Angel was doing his duty. :-)

Catch said...

I can imagine how upset you were. When Ash was 2, I was yakking on the phone, I thought she was watching tv. I went into the livingroom, she wasnt there....I looked all through the house. In a panic I ran outside....she was over at the neighbors in their backyard!!! I was so upset! We live right on a road! Someone hadnt locked the storm door and she got out. We immediately put a safety lock on the storm door!

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh!! While I don't have kids and can't say I know how you feel, I can totally imagine!!! I'm glad all was fine though!!

Anonymous said...

How scary! I'm so glad that she was in your back yard! That brought back memories of when I couldn't find Gary. We were all calling him and had no answer. My husband looked outside. Tiffany spotted him under his bed a sleep. My Mother-in-law told me that my husband had done the same thing.She went looking all around their neighborhood with friends. The whole time he was under his bed.
I remember you telling me about that story of when you were lost at the airport.
I'm so glad God was looking out for Little Kayla and kept her in the backyard.
love ya,
mimi

Melissa @ Banana Migraine said...

Yikes! I would have been so scared too! I'm so glad she just stayed in the backyard.

Julie Julie Bo Boolie said...

You're not alone. Sarah did that around that age too.

I know your pain.

HUGS

Sue said...

Wow. I can only imagine the fear that you felt. They are little magicians. And to think she just thought she was having fun on her slide - not a care in the world.

I'm glad she's ok.

Pendullum said...

That would have me shaking all day...

Cheryl Wray said...

Oh my goodness, I know that just scared you TO DEATH!!! Thank goodness she was okay. I'm so glad she was okay and everything worked out!
I know you're holding her a little tighter today!

Anonymous said...

Oh yes! Very scary!! I've been through that before, too! I'm so glad you found her and that she was safe. Hope she doesn't do that again anytime soon!

Anonymous said...

Michelle...those little cheap six dollar alarms that adhere with that double sided tape at Home Depot...were a lifesaver for us.

We put one on the entry door, and one on the slider. We also had a piece of wood cut to fit in the sliding door, that is a little difficult to get out.

Miss E got out once, it was one too many times for me. We haven't had a problem since.

I am sure you were scared. My heart was pounding as I read this.

Hugs.

Mayhem And Miracles said...

I don't think any parent ever gets their kids through childhood without one of those moments, but there is still nothing routine about it when it is YOUR child. I'm so glad she was safe! Thank you God for watching out for her. I am going to try to post this now and hope it works. I've left you several comments lately and it hasn't worked.

Sara said...

Oh my gosh, I am glad she only went in the back yard!!! That is one of my biggest fears with Nathaniel! He wants to be outside ALL the time! We have a gate up at the back steps so he cant get to the door. I can understand your feeling, I would have felt the same way!!

Kei said...

Oh, how scary!!!
And your aunt & mom's story gave me chills... obviously you have a great guardian angel. (((HUGS)))

A Captured Reflection said...

Those moments really freak you out eh? Heart in mouth, everything seems to go in slow motion. So glad your darling girl is OK :-)

Anonymous said...

OMG, I would have been a nervous wreck! So glad you found her!

Glo said...

I know it was scary and I know first hand how terrifying it was for you.My son got a way from his Dad in a big Dept.Store. He was 3. He did tell a clerk he was lost and his name. When we got to him he was yelling mama,but the clerk at the store would not let him come to me until I showed I.D. Well I got mad,but after I thought about it. That was a very wise and smart lady. I did go back and tell her Thank You. This was 43 yrs ago.
We just "Thank God" Kayla was ok.

Leslie said...

Oh no! I bet you were scared. Bless your heart! And hers...glad she is okay!

=0)

Anonymous said...

Holy cow! I can so relate to that!! Rhi got away from me once at a store when I was pregnant with Nate. I was at Best Buy. We were only there for about 10 minutes when Rhi went around a corner. I saw her go around to the left into the next aisle (actually she went two aisles over) when I turned the corner and my baby wasn't there I completely freaked out. I did the sharp shout out like you and it seemed like forever before she casually toddled over to me and said Hi Mommy. I was so upset I had to leave the store and go cry in the parking lot. I'm SOO glad Kayla only went to her slide and stayed in the yard. Thank you God. Phew!

Overwhelmed! said...

I had one of those heart stoppipng moments tonight! We were at a local pizza joint, just down the street from our house, and while we were standing in line waiting to order, Snuggle Bug was ooohhhing and aaahhhing over the video games they have there.

One minute, I could see where he was from where I was standing. Seconds later, he had vanished! I frantically scanned the room and couldn't see him. I looked at the entrance door, where people were going in and out. I called out his name and was about to sprint for the door to catch him outside, when I heard his little baby voice below me. I looked down and there he was! He'd wandered over to me and, being as small as he is, I didn't even see him until he responded to my calling his name.

It's amazing how quickly I can go from calm and assured to terrified in no time flat when it comes to the safety of my son!

I'm glad Kayla was fine.

Linda said...

I think we've all had those heart-stopping moments Michelle. This is where we are so thankful God is watching over our little ones. So glad all is well.

Annie said...

Michelle,
I have had many of those moments too, so scary. The worst of which ended up very bad. I'm glad Kayla was okay. She is such a little doll.
blessings~
Annie

Christina M said...

Oh no, you must have panicked. Vince is still staying in one place pretty much, except for rolling. Funny how you blamed it on Joe :-)

Carole Burant said...

I think all of us as mothers have had this happen to us once or twice...it's a terrifying thing to go through, especially when you start the "what ifs"! I can't even imagine NOT finding your child...that has to be hell to the extreme. Thank God Kayla hadn't wandered off any further!!! xox