Thank you 'Baby Training Classes'

When we first found out we were pregnant with Dylan, one of the 'stupid, late-night classes' that we took at the hospital was Infant CPR.  In the class they covered an excessive amount of baby life-saving techniques during a very inconvenient time.  Given that I was so pregnant I thought to myself that I was wasting my time.  Little did I know that I would be utilizing some of that information 6.5 years later. 

Fast forward 6.5 years, 3 kids, and many, many parenting moments.  You know how it is.  You have kids, you start out at Day 1 thinking that at any moment they are going to be erased (SIDS, a random fall, choking, cancer, it gets crazy!).  You love them more than you love yourself, and then they piss you off.  You still love them, but maybe you want to temporarily erase them (wink, wink)!  Day-in, day-out can be grueling, and then so rewarding...it can be like a bad relationship, and in the end they always love and need you. 

Today while driving in the car my world almost ended.  I am tearing up even typing this.  Grayson (aka mama's boy) choked on a banana.  I still can't believe it as I put this into print.  I have ALWAYS feared this.  Every time (for all 6 years in my motherhood career) I have monitored my littles as they have snacked and eaten meals in the car for fear of choking.  Maybe because my mother brainwashed me with story after story of kids choking on: hot dogs, grapes, vomit, etc. Here goes:

Today was an A-typical day.  No gym, no YMCA school, just taking Auntie Ash for a ride to pick up her car from the shop.  Prepping for the trip I packed the usual mom-bag full of snacks and juices.  At about 10AM, on the way home, the kids got restless just about the time that I got on the phone so I started tossing them snacks from my mom-bag to buy myself about 10 minutes of peace.  Among the snacks was '1' banana.  Olivia was so thoughtful and broke it in half to share with her baby brother.  He was so thankful and smiled ear-to-ear.  About 45 seconds later I heard nothing, but saw Grayson gagging and turning bright red in the rearview mirror.  I KNEW it was the damn BANANA!!  I waited about 10 seconds before swerving off of the road and slamming the car into park.  I extracted gray from his chair, at which point he was turning purple, and reached WAAAAYYY back into my repertoire of tricks.  I grabbed him by the throat and turned him face down (kinda on Olivia's lap) and gave him the baby heimlich.  He coughed up the banana and I held onto him for dear life.  I seriously shook for about an hour.  My hands could barely drive the rest of the 30 minutes that was required to get my kiddos home.

Thank GOD (if there is one), that Gray is still here.  I know it sounds dramatic, but I have NEVER been that scared.  I totally felt the 'fight or flight' instinct kick in.  There was a part of me that wanted to leave him and run out to the main road to flag down help.  Then, the gravity of the situation kicked in and I realized it was my job to save this boy.

I love you Gray, don't ever pull a stunt like that again...my heart can't handle it!