My anxious hour

I am only slightly embarrassed to admit that Dave decided to drive Ella around tonight to get her to fall asleep. Once upon a time, when I never knew the agony of a child who got out of bed 14 times a night, I would have sworn I'd NEVER do this. We have now done it 3 times.... with more to come I am sure. On a different note its so easy to say "I'd never....." when you've never felt the desperation of a certain incident. Luke has yet to ever get out of his bed after we have put him down for the night. He's been a perfect sleeper all of his life, sleeping through the night at 6 weeks old! Ella has pretty much always been a nightmare.

I am getting off topic. Sorry.

So as Dave ran out the door he stated" I'm not bringing my cell phone but I'm sure I wont be more than 10 minutes." The last 2 times we have been this lazy and opted for the easy way out, Ella has ben asleep within minutes. Out they went and on I turned Food Network. 

As I sat watching the "Chocolate run-way challenge" I realized it had been 20 minutes and still no sound of the front door. 20 minutes later I got a bit more nervous. Let me interject with one small side-story. A year ago I was home alone. There was a very loud knock on the door and I anxiously went to see who was there. I said "hello?" no answer. A bit louder, "Yes? Who is it?" Again, silence. Im my head it made perfect sense that it was someone trying to trick me into opening the door so that they could push their way in, attack me and then kidnap my sleeping kids. I grabbed the phone, ran upstairs and sat by my door shaking for an hour until Dave came home. In his hand was a big, wrapped plate of  beautifully decorated sugar cookies from the Young Women. I almost died. But I was relieved. Dave doesn't leave me home alone at night much these days.

Now that my "clear" thinking has been exposed. 

I heard an ambulance 40 minutes after Dave had left and I really started to panic. Visions of the car accident exploded in my head and my imagination went running. I called my Mom and asked her if she thought the Hospital would have called me immediately should something have gone wrong. I was minutes away from calling Fountain Valley Regional before I saw familiar headlights. I hung up the phone and ran out. Ella  was still awake, it had been an hour, and Dave was obviously agitated. I grabbed her from him and hugged her tight. Walked her upstairs and lay her down... she went right to sleep by the way. I had never been so worried.

This is obviously a look into my scared psyche, a terrifying Halloween event from when I was a little girl (thats a whole post all its own) But it got me thinking how much I love and need my Family. How my world just couldn't function without every member in it. I am so grateful for my wonderful Husband and my amazing kids. I don't know what I did to deserve them. Maybe a little trickery and manipulation. But I feel thankful for every day that they are all safe and healthy.... and mine!!!!