Scariest Moment

Ever have an experience, where you feel completely helpless and scared to death at the same time? In December I had one of the most scariest moments of my life. It was the week of Christmas and we still hadn't taken the boys to see Santa. Since I try to make it a tradition every year to take pictures with Santa, I thought I would just brave it myself with the boys, without hubby's help. Gotta get used to doing that kind of stuff a whole lot more often, right?

Well, I realized I had forgotten to bring the stroller with me. Ugh! And if any of you know my boys, that's definitely something I NEED with them in big crowded places (though now they both know how to unclip the straps, so it defeats the purpose). So I walk around to every entrance/exit to find those strollers you can rent. Just about every door had them, but none had the double ones. Until the very last one. So I get there and of course they only except exact change or ones. I had a $10 bill on me. Grrr....Luckily when I turn around there is an ATM. So I tell the boys to follow me. I picked up Kyler and try and tell Chase to please come with me. (Probably at least 10 times). Again if any of you know my Chase, you know the kid just does NOT want to ever listen to me. So I told him, "Bye, I'm leaving"...thinking he would follow me. (90% of the time, this doesn't work. But sometimes I get lucky). Usually I go to where I can still see him. When I turn around to the ATM, I glanced over a few times to keep an eye on him. Wasn't there for more than 2-3 minutes, when I walk back to the stroller area and he's literally no where in sight. Usually I can find him off in a corner not too far away playing around with something, but this time, no where! I called his name several times and didn't hear him. My heart sank! At this point, I was SCREAMING his name with panic stricken tears. Not really caring what people thought at this point. My little boy was missing!!! It was right by an exit door, who knows who could have snatched him and then took off. I ran outside and screamed his name. Again, nothing. Luckily there was a security guard out there that asked if I needed help. I said, "Yes, I lost my son!!" Then I ran back inside as he's following me, trying to talk to me. I told him what he was wearing his age and all that, all the while searching around for him. I ran all the way down to the play area and food court and didn't see him. A mother and daughter came up to me asking me if they could help. They offered to hold my bag and Kyler so I could search for him. I accepted....Though, now I look back and think, how dumb was I to do that. Geesh!! I'm a little too trusting sometimes. Luckily, they were sincere and wanted to help. Then an old woman also offered to help look for him. As I was running back to the area where I lost him, someone yelled that they think they found him. I look back and that same sweet old British woman was holding his hand walking him to me. I ran to him and scooped him up right away. I said, "Please, don't walk away from me again. PLEASE stay with me, Chase. You really scared Mommy. I thought someone had taken you." He just hugged me tight for several minutes and said, "I love you, Mommy." I've now had this feeling with both of my boys and I NEVER want to feel that way again. Lesson learned! :o(

What would I do without my little rascal??

After all that, I didn't get the Santa picture that I was hoping for, but they're not too, too bad. Kyler just wanted to get down the entire time. Haha!