Runaway

Well, I have quite the story to tell tonight about my little Sam.  I hope you don't mind me sharing!  For those that may not know, Sam is my 6 year old son who was born with xxyy syndrome, a severe speech disorder and is on the autism spectrum.  He is amazing, but a lot of work!  We have definitely had our work cut out for us!  Several months ago, he started running away, every chance he got.  And I don't mean little running away, I mean he was fast, way too skilled for getting out of any locked or closed area and it seemed that that was his life mission!  He even ran away at the pool once. He told me he had to go potty, ran into the men's bathroom before I could get there and kept on going.  He went right out the other door of the facility, left the facility, discarded  his suit and life jacket in the parking lot and was later found (with the help of the police) 10 blocks away-stark naked! This was only one of many, many running escapades.  We were even suspended from the gym I attended because in one hour there, they found him in the parking lot 4 different times.  I felt I couldn't go anywhere or do anything without losing him.  I couldn't turn my head without him ducking away and dashing.  It reached a point where the police department in 3 different cities knew us way too well!

Then in September, he started a new amazing school, we bought him a puppy and we started a ticket system with him.  I don't know which three was the magic trick or if it is all three combined, but what I do know is that his desire to escape has disappeared.  He doesn't even try to run away anymore, and he is very proud, at the end of the day when he earns a WOW ticket for not running.  This has brought much peace to our home and it has been blissful.

There's the back story, now I can tell my story for today!  Mr. Pest had taken 3 of our older children to the football game.  My eldest was babysitting for a friend. It was just me, Sam and the baby at home.  We had had lunch and Sam and Noah were playing in the family room.  I was doing a few things on the computer when I thought it was a little too quiet.  I got up to check and couldn't find Sam.  I called, but immediately checked the back yard.  I called to him and the puppy, but got no answer. I ran to the front door and the back yard gate looked opened, but was leaning like it had been opened and then closed.  My heart froze in terror.  I jumped in the car and quickly drove around the close by streets.  Nothing.  I drove back, ran through the backyard to confirm that there was no Sam and there was no Buster (the puppy).  I grabbed Noah and put him in the car and we began to drive. We drove for about 15 minutes all over our neighborhood. I was feeling frantic and so alone since everyone else was gone.  I dialed 911 and gave them the usual spill!  This has become way too common.  They told me to go back home and wait for an officer.  I did and we were in the process of getting everything set up, when a neighbor from one street over pulled up. She had Sam in her van.  There was no puppy, but I was just thankful that he was safe.  He had walked to her house and walked right in!  So, after talking to the officer a bit more and Sam getting another badge sticker, we headed in the house.  I asked him where the puppy was and he pointed to the house. At that moment, I remembered that Buster had been up a lot in the night (my lack of sleep with caring for him must have altered my memory) and that he was still asleep in his kennel, in the garage.  I then asked Sam if he had come out the gate and he said no and pointed to the front door.  Well, I had been sitting by the front door, so I knew he hadn't gone out then.  I asked him why he left and he said (in his own little language of mostly vowels) "I find mommy".  Then I see the toys in his hand. They were toys that had come from his older brother's bedroom in the basement.  I may never know for sure, but I think he was home in the beginning.  He must have gone down to the basement to play and just didn't answer when I called. I was so sure he had run away that I didn't even check in the house.  So, at some point, while I was frantically driving all over the development, he had come upstairs, found us gone and went looking for me!  I can laugh about it now, and I feel a bit foolish for worrying everyone, but happy that it turned out okay!

Sorry for the epic tale, but after all the hard things we've been through with his disappearing, I wanted to record this sweet little memory of him out looking for me!

And now for the freebie of the night!  Here is the 7th piece.  By the way, Sam is my inspiration behind this kit! He LOVES trains!  So, I hope you are enjoying it!

Download HERE!  Enjoy!  And remember, I ALWAYS love when someone leaves some love!  Feel free to let me know if you are liking this, if you would like me to do this every month, etc.!  Have a great night and don't forget to change your clocks back (unless you live in Arizona or other parts of the world)