The day I almost lived in the basement.

Let me start the story by saying I am incredible claustrophobic. I hold my breath when I ride the elevator. I can't breathe when I have a ring on that's too tight, and heaven forbid someone put a cover over my head and try to tickle me (thanks, dad.) So, it's a typical Tuesday. The kids are home bc of spring break, and we're all playing in the house. I decide it's been long enough - I'm going downstairs to clean out the rest of the boxes (yes, that we still haven't unpacked, and have lived here 5 months) and sweep and mop. I load up the kids, put Cole in front of the downstairs tv, feed Anna Reed and buckle her to her seat. and get to working away. I'm now in my own world and while taking something to the guest bedroom Cole comes in behind me. Let me first paint the picture for those who haven't been to my house. Downstairs has a big den area, bathroom and a guest room. It's partially underground, so the windows that are there, have those black iron bars on them. So, as I am in the guest room putting up some things Cole comes in and slams the door. (yes, you'd think he would be terrified of doing that since he has one arm in a cast from doing that, but no, it's fasinating to him.) I turn around and look at me and Cole sitting in the guest room and think to myself... "I've never spend more than 2 minutes in this room, wouldn't it be awful it that door was locked?!" Sure enough, as I walk to it and turn the knob, reality set in. I PANIC. AND THAT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. Anna Reed is in the other room, and the only window has bars on it! I'm stuck. forever in this room. with. no. phone. Seriously, my mouth started watering and I felt my lungs cave in, I couldn't breathe! As I'm frantically running around in circles I realize, there is absolutely no way out. Cole is freaking out, because I am freaking out. He tried to hide under the bed. Knowing that the worst case senerio was us being stuck for 6 hours, until PJ got home at 5:30 and found us. I knew AR was at least safe (and just fed) and tried to keep telling myself that. I start to think there is no way the windows are going to open (you know how old windows are) and I knew I couldn't get out.. but I could yell. As I look out the window I then see all those trees. Ok, also let me remind you we have 26 acres behind us, and realize my only hope for someone to hear me is if the old lady next door is home. (the one that tried to call me in for animal cruelty, but that's a whole OTHER story.) I start yelling "HELP" to the top of my lungs out the window. After a little while, I hear her saying "where are you, jamie?" THANK THE LORD...I'm going to be saved!! She comes and can't get me out, since the doors are locked, but can at least call PJ to come home, and let me in. So, he comes home, then comes around outside to talk to me through the window. I'm like "what are you doing, go inside and let us out!" He tells me he can't get in because I deadbolted everything from the inside, because Cole keeps trying to escape! OH NO. So, he beats down the front door. Seriously, I don't know how he did it, but he did. On the first try, which is kinda scary, but anyway. He comes downstairs lets us out. I'M FREE!!! He's looking at the door, only to show me if I jiggle it a certain way, I could have gotten out. Ok, I swear I did that. Anyway, I'm forever terrified of being stuck places, and will NEVER take my cell phone out of my hand, and have emergency exits, everywhere.