July 22 ~ 2011 runaway child

Today may have been the worst day ever. I haven't been getting a full nights sleep in a couple weeks so I am tired & a little sensative. I didnt' go to the gym because we had a really busy week & I wanted to slow it down a little for him and rest. In retrospect, we should have gone to the gym or pool & PLAYED. It started off fine and everyone is safe & happy at the end of the day but the time in between... MAN OH MAN... I think a list is the best bet today... and I am quite positive that this never has happened to anyone!!

Today I ....

tried to get someone to eat breakfast while I ate part of a cinnamon roll

chased a 2 year old while I was cleaning & vacumming

fixed the roller blinds on his window repeatedly because he pulled them out of the wall

went to Target because we were out of diapers

went to store because we were out of milk

got a christmas gift & birthday gift

had lunch with a little boy

cleaned up poop when he undressed at nap and pooped

showered with him when I was getting ready for work because he refused to take a nap

tried to do the laundry because all the coveralls are dirty & that is how he pooped on the floor

did dishes because the cups for milk were all dirty

played outside in 100+ heat

and the worst part....

When we were playing outside, I went inside for a moment to get us a drink. It was those seconds that Espen went out the back gate and DISAPPEARED. I ran out screaming his name, searching the yard then ran out the gate and into the front. I was HYSTERICAL. I was screaming. He was GONE. I called Doug screaming that he was missing. I ran around the front of the house again & spotted him...he was across the street in a neighbors yard playing. I was so scared & crying like a fool. I scooped him up and sat on the grass. That neighbor came out yelling at me ~ asked IF I was his mom (like she has NEVER seen us out there in the last year) and told me he had been wandering in the street and playing in/drinking her flower water. I was just crying and said he got out so fast. I took us home crying (Espen was laughing) and locked us in. I was still crying and holding him. I held him for a long time & talked to him about what happened. He told me he left the gate, went in the street & hide from mamma... I talked & talked about how he can't leave unless he takes mamma with him. THIS WAS THE WORST THING THAT I CAN EVER IMAGINE HAPPENING. I cried at work. I cried after work. It was upsetting beyond words. I have certainly left him outside to run in & change the laundry, go to bathroom or close front door.... never again. He needs eyes all the time on him. It was a rough few hours....