Lost Child! About This Page:

[disneyknut]

To start, DH was working night shift last night (11-7) & when he works nights I allow one kid to stay in my room with me ( usually on the floor.. they consider it a camp out) & I feel more secure with them in there with me ( I know I'm a big wimp )

Last night was DS #1 turn & the other 2 pitched a fit.. I didn't have the energy to argue as I had a splitting headache from the school Science Fair so I allowed the other 2 to come in the room as well.. DD was on the floor by DH side of the bed.

I must have fallen asleep before the kids for a few minutes (this was a horrid headache) & when I woke up with a start I immediately looked to check on the kids ( I NEVER fall asleep before my kids) Saw the boys & they were fine but Shebly was nowhere to be found on her side of the floor.. I figured she got into bed with me.. Nope, no Shelby,look where the boys are sleeping, No Shelby!!

Shelby is a chronic sleepwalker & we have gates & door alarms all over the house so I really didn't panic I figured she went in one of the other bedrooms.. Checked the boys room, No Shelby!, check her bedroom, No Shelby..

Hmmm.,... I figured she climbed over the gate in the hallwat ( we have a ranch house) & went into the living room.. No Shelby.. I am starting to worry but figure with all of the tight security I have in the house (due to her sleepwalking & me being paraniod) she couldn't go outside..

I check & make sure all of the doors are locked & the alarms are set.. they are!!

I check the bathroom, No Shelby!... She is no where at all in the upstairs.. I checked the playroom, the kitchen, dinig room etc..

I think Oh she went sleepwalking into Pappy's ( several times we found her sleepwalking trying to get into FIL's apartment) I go downstairs , past the laundry room, through the gameroom, No Shelby, into the garage, No Shelby, into FIL's apartment, it's dark & no Shelby!!

I am really panicked now & goofy thoughts are in my head..

I realize I have been looking for over 10 minutes & I think I'll wake up Jamie to have him help me...

Jamie gets up & we start looking & calling Shelby's name.. NO SHELBY!!!! We search in the closets, EVERYWHERE!! SHE IS NOT HERE!!!!!! MY heart was beating sooo hard at this point.. & I realize that she HAS to be gone either kidnapped or sleepwalked out of the house.. I grab the phone to call the police & at that minute I hear DS #2 start to stir & I go to check on him & find SHELBY laying right next to him under my cedar chest.. I must have missed her the other 2 times I checked by DS #2..

I send Jamie to bed & get into bed to try to calm myself but I'm shaking!!!

When she sleepwalks it's usually to a person so I really should have looked better near the boys.. Could you imagine if I HAD called the police.. they'd have thought I was nuts!!!

It's funny now, but I was genuinely terrified at the time..

[GoofyMom]

Wow, scary stuff! I'm glad you ended up finding her safe and sound!

Something similar happened to me when DD was about 2. I was doing something, can't remember what but it was likely laundry , in the middle of the afternoon. DS, 3 at the time, was playing in the back yard (fenced) and DD was in the family room watching a video on tv. Suddenly, I realized that DD wasn't laughing or singing along with the movie like usual, so I ran to check on her. And she's not in front of the tv. I call for her and get no answer. I run outside and call for her. DS hasn't seen her. I yelled for her again, and the neighbour pops his head over the fence wondering what's wrong. I must have sounded terrified. He helped organize a search posse of all the neighbourhood parents and we start combing the neighbourhood. He asked me a couple of times, are you sure she's not in the house. Yep. Positive, I had looked for her quickly and called for her. Well, by this time it's 10 - 15 minutes after I noticed her missing and I'm really nervous. We lived on a cul de sac just off a couple of very busy streets with a small walkway connecting some other streets. He insisted that I go back inside to check for her one more time before we called the cops and start looking past the walkway. So I went back in and called for her one more time.... and she answered! She had been hiding on me and she thought it was funny. NOT! I was so relieved and felt like such a moron when I told the neighbours they could quit looking for her... But at the same time, it was good to know that everybody would pull together for us.

[Colexis Mom]

Wow, Ann, that's terrifying Glad you were able to find here. I would have been in tears!! Hope you were able to get back to sleep at some point!!

[chezp]

Ann, I'm glad you found her - that must have been an awful experience.

[mac]

Thank gosh you found her! What a scarey feeling that must have been.

[rescuesk]

OMG!! How scary! for a calmer night tonight!