WHERE'S THE FIRE??!!

Two weeks prior to the birth of my fourth child we were finally able to go out and purchase a mini-van. With three kids, already, it was a purchase already well overdue... regardless, before we signed the final papers, the dealer asked us if there was anything additional that we thought should be included in the papers before we signed. All we had noticed was that we were missing 3 of the four center pieces on the hub covers, so that was written in and we signed off. After we got home that night it occured to us that we were given only one key, and we should have asked to have a second made. But, we didn't so we put it down on our list of things to get done... soon...

So, almost a year and a half later we find ourselves getting ready to make a quick trip to the store. I ask my oldest (11) to unlock the van and go put the baby in her car seat while I round up the other two. A few minutes later, my husband and I walk out the front door and see my oldest chasing his two younger siblings around on the front lawn.... "Where's the keys" I ask. My son reaches for his pockets and then with a little panic on his face says, "There in the cup holder on the babies car seat..." (you know where this is going, don't you?...)

So I reach for the door handle - locked. I try another handle - locked.... trying NOT to panic I try ALL of the handles KNOWING that each is just as locked as the rest... My husband stands next to me... did you know that a person can REALLY have their face turn red and have smoke come out of their ears when pushed?... okay, not really... but hubby told my oldest to go to his room before he REALLY lost it...

I went in to the house and did the only thing I could think to do... I called the locksmith... it will be $55 and 30 minutes.... I ask the gal, "could you PLEASE tell the guy that my baby is in the car?" she tells me that she will relay the message, but he is on the other side of town and it's 5 o'clock traffic... so I give my information and go out to wait... All the while, the baby has now worked herself up into tears wondering, I'm sure, WHY we were all outside and she was still INside the van. My cell phone rings and it's the locksmith guy. He tells me that he could lose his job if it were found out he told me, but because I had the baby in the car, if I called 911, the responce would be a lot quicker and it wouldn't cost me anything. I was a little hesitant... he continued, "I am still stuck in traffic and it's probably going to be AT LEAST another 15 - 20 minutes before I can get there. I have kids, and if it were MY kid, I'd call 911. I will be there, regardless, as soon as I can." I thanked him for the information and asked my husband what we should do as I dialed "9-1-1"

About 5 minutes later, all of us waiting out front by the van (mind you, we never even got out of the driveway!) we started to hear sirens. Hubby and I look at each other, thinking "surely they aren't coming with lights and sirens...." the sirens were getting closer and closer and the next moment we saw the BIGGEST hook and ladder truck the town has round the corner. The sirens, thankfully, were on an ambulance going down another nearby street. Anyway, the neighbors start to emerg to see what the excitement is about and three very nice young Firemen emerge with their "bag of tricks" to rescue my baby, who, by now, has calmed herself with her blanket and sucking on her finger. Who'd have known that 30 seconds earlier she was near hysterics! lol! Now she had that "deer in headlights" look, like "what the heck?" Our next door neighbor motions to my husband asking him if we were all alright? He half smiles and slunks over to the fence, and before he says a word, she smiles back and says, "One of those kids locked the baby in the car, didn't they?".... lol... yup....

A few minutes later the doors were open and we were waving goodbye to the big red truck! Such an exciting life we lead! : ) Guess I better move that second key purchase up my list of "to-do's"....