Monday, June 30, 2008

Very Scary

We have been swimming alot these days. It's just about the only fun thing to do in Arizona because of the extreme heat. It has been 113 and 111 and tomorrow 110. Too hot for us! We never get used to it even after living here for years.

I have been taking the boys swimming after 8:30 p.m. because we want to avoid questions and stares. I have gotten so many, "what's wrong with your" and "Why isn't he saying anything?" I am tired of explaining and hearing kids laugh at K.C. and Adam when they are excited and flapping or humming. It hurts to hear someone laughing at them and Big Brother feels awfully sad when people do that too. What surprises me the most is that the kids parents just sit there reading a book or talking on their cell phones.

We live on Private Property and it's always been safe for years until last night. The pool is a 7 minute walk for us but having so many pool toys and three boys to keep up with (If Adam runs I know I won't catch him) we always drive the van. We left at about 8:40 p/m/ thinking no one would be at the pool. We were right, some folks were just leaving as we unlocked the pool gate. The boys have alot of fun splashing around freely without any worries. After about 30 minutes I noticed a car pull next to my van. Big Brother watched intently hoping it "wasn't people coming to swim." No body ever came to the pool but I could hear them talking. I walked over to the pool gate quietly to see who it was because I had a nervous gut feeling. I saw four black guys, one guy was leaning against my van and the other guy was staring into my van. I didn't recognize these people and knew they didn't live here because I have been here for years and would have seen them at some point. I knew they were going to steal the van. I was so scared, so very scared. I didn't know if I should just pack up with the boys and walk out the gate. I was scared to do that because if they were trying to steal the van and knew they were caught doing it they might hurt us. So I called 911 and told the operator. I can't even begin to tell you how scared I was having the boys with me. The only thing the reassured me was that we had a key to the pool and they didn't. The operator stayed on the phone with me the whole time, I told her I was scared, I had three boys with me and two were Autistic. She said the officer was only two minutes away. It seemed like forever. I let the boys play but Big Brother was scared because he kept saying, "we won't have a way to go anywhere what are we going to do!!" While I was on the phone with the operator I heard a glass break. I told the operator and she said the officer was coming down the street and I could see his headlights and lights flashing, he caught them before they took the van!! Thank God!! Big Brother ran over to the gate and watched, I called him back over to us and got the boys out of the pool and let another officer in to talk to him. He said the window was broken but that they were caught! I am so grateful that they caught these guys. Can you imagine being without a car/van and having three boys? We are in the van more than home it feels like on therapy days. I got the window to the van fixed today. I still can't believe it. Why do people have to be like that? I just don't get it. The guys who were trying to steal the van looked to be about 20 years old. I told the officer I wanted to leave to get the boys home, they were getting antsy and as we headed out of the gate I heard an officer say, "your name is Levi?" He was talking to the guy who tried to take the van. The guy looked at us as we walked out. I had to say something. I did say something. I said, "thanks alot for breaking our window and trying to steal our van, did you know this van is used to take my Autistic kids to therapies?" He said nothing. I am praying that he thinks about it and changes.

We are all safe and when we got home Big Brother was visibly upset. He gets so hurt when he knows someone "is real bad" or "makes fun of his brother or Adam." I worry about Big Brother alot because he takes things very hard and dwells on them. We will keep talking everyday and I'll give him lots of hugs, he'll start to feel better :) What a world.

21 comments:

Casdok said...

So glad you are all safe, how incredibly scary for you, but sounds as though you handled it really well with your quick thinking.
Hope Big Brother is ok.

Even after 19 years with C, peoples comments can sometimes still hurt. Like you say its usually the kids parents are the worst.
Hugs to you all.

Ye'he Sh'mey Raba Mevorach said...

So glad you are all safe and sound, and still have your van!

It's fabulous that you had the presence of mind (and cell phone) to call 911. It seems like it was 100% the best, most correct thing to do.

You are amazing. Keep hanging in there!

Niksmom said...

I'm so relieved no one was hurt and the guys were caught. You were calm and acted quickly; that probably made all the difference in the world!

I wonder, though, if you should consider asking someone to acompany you on those swimming trips so that you have help in case, God forbid, something were to happen? I'd hate to think of you alone with all three of the boys and not able to get help. Hope big brother is doing okay today, too.

Sending videos sometime this week. :-) xo

GClef1970 said...

Tina, you are one level-headed woman! I don't know that I would have called 911. I probably would have watched the whole thing unfold in front of me. I'm so glad that everything turned out okay.

mommy~dearest said...

Ohmigod- how frightening. So glad you all are safe! That was quick thinking, momma. My gut instinct would have been to make noise to hopefuly scare them off. I'm also almost equally as happy that the police were so close and responded in enough time!

kristina said...

oh my goodness, that is too much. just glad you are safe and nothing too bad happened. take lots of care.

Donetta said...

I rejoice at how God protected you and the van. This is just so amazing how perfect the timing was ans how your lives were spared any other inconvenience. Rejoice with big brother to relieve the fear.

Mom without a manual said...

Wow! I am just so glad that you guys are okay! You handled that very well. I am just so glad that you and the boys are safe!

I'm sending hugs to all of you but can you give Big Brother an extra squeeze?

Ye'he Sh'mey Raba Mevorach said...

Thanks Tina for your note on my blog. Thank G-d our son Chayim Zvi is doing really well, recovering from the accident and surgeries as he's supposed to and improving every day. Thank you for keeping him in your prayers - it helps! Your boys are in our prayers as well.

Our Akiva (PDD-NOS) is on summer break, but he still has camp at school for another 4 weeks, just no therapy and fewer hours. We will have to work harder at helping him stay focused and on top of the things that can "set him off" He did really well this year, even got a good grade in gym! We're so grateful that he's getting what he needs...

I don't have an email address for you, so I'm writing in your comments.

Regards and hugs,
me

Happy Elf Mom (Christine) said...

OH I'M SO GLAD the police came so quickly! What an awful experience! I was riveted reading it.

I think the worst part of reading what you wrote was MY reaction to it at the end... I went... Well, of course they're not gonna care? Why should they give a crap when all they probably wanted was a few bucks for the next drug high?

Callous of me.

PEOPLE SHOULD CARE MORE! That means me, too.

I'm glad you're all ok. My goodness!

MiSScNeLLY said...

I hope all is well with you all now. I know being in that situation can be scary and I am glad to hear that the police were able to stop the crime. Be safe!

Lora said...

OMG Tina! What a horrible thing to have to go through! I am so proud of you for being on top of things immediately by calling 911. I am so glad that they caught the stupid idiots. That must have been such a terribly terrifying situation to get through especially since you had the three boys to think about and BRAVO to you for taking such excellent care of them and not panicking. You are such an awesome mommy to those boys. I wish everyday for you guys to always be safe wherever you are and I am glad that that wish has been granted. We love you so much and give thanks that you are all safe. Big hugs to you guys!

JUST A MOM said...

I am late I am again sorry come tell me when you have posted... I am so proud of you being so brave... big brother is such a big loving kid.

Peggy Lou Morgan said...

What an awful experience for all of you. I hope it doesn't ruin swimming for Big Brother in the future. How did K.C.? Handle it.

Take care,
Peggy Lou

redheadmomma said...

I am SO impressed how beautifully you handled it!!!!! WOW - again, you inspire me with your strength and your quick thinking. SO glad you called 911, and it is SWEET they were caught!!!!

kristi said...

I am so sorry about your van. How scary!!

A couple of years ago we had several break ins in vehicles. They busted my window and took my stereo.

Nobody was doing anything about it so I called our corporate office... in the next 2 weeks they installed cameras. My window cost me $150. UGH.

Marla said...

Wow! I can't believe they caught them so quickly. that would have been very scary. I am so glad you are all okay.

LAA and Family said...

Oh, how scary that must have been! I am so glad that you were able to get the police there in time. I had a close brush with being mugged in a grocery store parking lot when my oldest son was a baby. I think the guy was drugged out or something, and I think the only thing that saved us was that a guy in a nearby car beeped his horn and waved to me to let me know he was there. I have never looked at being out in public the same since then.

I hope Big Brother will get over this okay, and you too! Hugs from here as well!

Maddy said...

So scary! It's been a while now, is Big Brother doing o.k.?
Best wishes

Kris said...

First I must say that I grew up in Tucson and know what summer is like there,and I have a 6 year old autistic boy, so I have a profound understaning of why you would want to take your boys swimming at night. Too bad there are people out there who just don't care about anything but themselves.

You did great though, letting them know what they were about to do. I just hope they bothered to care even just a little.

Jerks

By the way I've enjoyed reading your blogs in the past but I've been gone a while. When you get a chance check out my blog at autismlaughs.blogspot.com

Melinda said...

I am so thankful it turned out well in the end and you all were safe and I am thankful too you had a cell to call for help and you did listen to your instincts!