The Scare

Today was my LAST therapy appointment from my back injury over 2 months ago. YEAH!!

I had fallen asleep for a few minutes, and was running late to the appointment so I forgot my phone, but no big deal because I don't usually answer it in the middle of therapy anyway, and it's always a quick appointment. I knew I'd be home just in time for the kids to get off the bus.

When I pulled in my driveway, I watched the school bus pull out of the neighborhood, and hurried to get the little ones out of the van and in the house so I'd be ready for Karleah and Nathanael to walk in the front door. I grabbed my phone to send a text to my boss so he'd know my P.T. was complete, but instead noticed two missed calls from the school. I knew immediately that Karleah must have had safety patrol (she has done this before!) so I got the three little ones back in their coats, shoes back on, buckled in the van again, and took off for the school, knowing that Karleah was going to be in a panic about how late I was.

When I got to the school, the kids weren't in our "normal" meeting point. I figured she had gone in the school to warm up, maybe visit her teacher. The office told me they hadn't seen Karleah, and her teacher said she had only seen Karleah about 20 minutes before, in the office. I went back to the office and they again said they hadn't seen her, but I told them her teacher had said she WAS in the office, then they backpedaled and said they couldn't be sure who had been in the office. Panic started setting in....

The office staff went over the intercom and said "If Karleah and Nathanael Stucky are in the school, please come to the office." The ladies in there said "maybe she went home with a friend?" I pointed out we just moved here and she hasn't been to any friends' houses yet. (Not to mention that nobody else in our ward attends that school) They asked if she could have just walked home, I told them where I live and they said "I sure hope she didn't walk that far with a first-grader brother!" (UMMM, YEAH! ME TOO!)

I called the home phone, just to make sure she hadn't gone there, no answer. Called my nephew's cell phone (he was at my parent's place next door) and he said he hadn't seen them but he'd call if they showed up.

I finally left the school, drove home SO slowly, telling Carson, Vanessa, and Faith to keep their eyes moving and watch for the "big kids". NOTHING! I was praying and trying not to panic. When I got home, I ran to the back yard to see if they were there. Nope. Made sure the front door was locked, yep. Nobody inside. Called out their names. No response. OK, no I'm worried...

I got back in the van, grabbed my phone to call my mom, and suddenly there is Karleah, in the driveway, with Nathanael right beside her. As soon as we made eye contact, we both started to cry. I told her I was so proud of her for getting home, and taking are of her little brother. Nathanael seemed surprised we were emotional, he thought it was a great adventure because they had "crossed the really really busy roads, and didn't get hurt!" They crossed a very busy highway and I'm so glad Karleah knows the 'safety rules'.

Needless to say, we reviewed safety rules and what to do if you are lost or scared or don't know where to go. I told Karleah that next time, she should go back in the office and have them call Grandma, or her dad, or another family member. But, I'm still very proud that she took care of her brother. That's a HUGE responsibility and I am impressed at how calm she stayed, and how upbeat she was for her brother. They both got large cups of hot cocoa, with extra marshmallows.

I am SO thankful that my kids are OK. And that they (mostly) know how to stay safe.