September 2013

The Month of September:

Rode Bikes

Celebrated birthdays

Adleigh did her first school HW

Zeke had to put together is first project with poster

Shopped for Halloween costumes

Aunt Linny came to visit!

Walk to Remember

Zeke's class trip to Cal-Wood

Boulder Flood 2013

Cheer

Football

Got the best gift - Beckett Bench!

Dance started again

Gymnastics

A Walk to Remember 2013

BRAVE

 Honestly I wanna see you be brave
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

Brave: Sara Bareilles 

I think that small crisis's involving my children make me panic...more than a typical over protective parent.  Believe me...I have been at the lowest point that a parent could ever be at.  I have endure every parents worst nightmare.  Because of this I am afraid of it happening again.  I mean our chances of losing Beckett to SIDS was 1%...ONE percent...and he fell into that small margin.  How can I feel confident that my other children will always be safe? 

Devastation has hit my community.  Living only 8 miles from Boulder the Flash Flood is almost at my doorstep.  Seeing the pictures is mouth dropping.  It is almost like watching a movie...like last summer when the Dark Knight shooting happened only 45 minutes from my home...unreal, things like this aren't suppose to happen around me.  It is only in the movies, right? 

Never did I think that sending my son to an Outdoor Education program with his 5th grade class that he would be stranded...stuck...and I would have no way to help him or even get to him.

The town 3 miles from their cabins was hit the worst - only 13 miles outside of boulder...who received 21.5" of rain in a few days.  Roads washed away.  Cars, houses, etc. destroyed.  It was nerve wracking trying to figure out what was going on with my son - was he safe?  When was he coming home?  Were the only thoughts I had that Thursday morning.

That evening we did find out that all the kids, adults and teachers were safe, had plenty of food, water and were having a "great time."  But...the only road to this education camp was destroyed and there was no way to get them out.  

All I wanted was my baby boy back in my arms.  Safe within my reach and watch.

After 2 days of no answers...only reassures of their safety...because they had NO Internet, phone and the only communication was through a 2-way radio to another stranded campground that had use of a cell phone - we were told that the kids really didn't know what was going on and were having a great time learning, partying and playing with friends.  At the end of each day I was SO thankful for these wonderful parents that were watching these 85 10-11 year olds - keeping them calm, entertained and safe.  But I desperately wanted to hear Zeke...the teachers/adults had to hike to the top of a mountain for them to be able to get cell service- so thankful that they were able to get there and call other parents/family and reassure the safety and well-being of each child.

Pictures of where they hiked to - looking down on Cal-Wood (where they were staying).

Saturday afternoon - after Zeke being there since Wednesday - we found out that the National Guard was going to helicopter the kids to safety.  So excited that I was finally going to get him back...the worry left...and excitement to be able to see him set in.  I arrived 30 minutes early to the pickup site and just waited.  I took Teague with me...because I needed someone to be with me...I couldn't stop crying, probably because of the relief.  While we watched the bus pull into the parking lot - praying that Zeke was on the first bus - Teague turns to me and says:

I want to hug Zeke!

I think he knew his mom was sad.  Luckily Zeke was on the FIRST bus and in the FIRST seat.  I was happy that I would be the first parent to get to hug their child!  As the bus stopped and the principal began to give us directions before letting the children off the bus...Zeke yells out the window:

Hold on mom!  I'll get off in a minute!

Every parent started laughing!  That little stinker let every kid and parent off the bus before he got off.  But I finally had my BIG baby in my arms and my world was in place once again.  I am so happy that Zeke had a GREAT time and made lots of fun memories.  He thought it was pretty neat to be able to ride a helicopter home!  How many kids can say that they done that!?

I love this boy more than life!

Pictures of their rescue!


This is a pictures that National Guard took when they were coming to get the kiddos!

I will always be grateful for the teachers, parents, Cal-Wood staff and National Guard that were able to keep my son safe and eventually bring him back to me in one PERFECT piece. 

Broomfield/Lafayette Colorado

This happened 2 miles from our house.  Jed was one of the first cops on site...luckily everyone survived but the road complete collapsed and these cars drove right off into the ragging water. 

Videos

A mom filmed what it was like getting on the Chinook and then one of the MANY news coverage...you can see Zeke in the pictures :)

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