OMG! I scared the poop out myself with my granddaughter!

@nanajanet (4436)
United States
December 15, 2009 12:11pm CST
My heart is still pumping, hours later. I was feeding my granddaughter her lunch. I still keep her in the high chair, at age 2.5, so I can just keep an eye on her and not have to worry about a mess and her getting up and down off of the chair. As she was eating, I ran outside, quickly, to put out some trash, less than 2 minutes. I come in and she is passed out (she has done this before in the middle of lunch) but she looked like she was not breathing. Right away I thought maybe she had choked while I was out and I gently shook her 3x before she woke up. I thought for sure that she was dead and when she cried, I realized that she had just fallen asleep deeply. I put her in her bed and then went in the living room and cried because it had frightened me so much. Since my son died (almost six years ago), I just fear losing her or my daughter, more than most people would. I know it sounds crazy but I am still so upset. It really scared me!
2 people like this
11 responses
@anniege (202)
• China
15 Dec 09
Hi nanajanet. I am sorry you had to go through such experience,which is really scary. And i am so glad that your granddaughter is ok. I can understand your feeling because i have a daughter 8 months. I am sure you are a very good grandmother and can take good care of her. So don't worry about it. Wish you and your family happy everyday!
1 person likes this
• Belgium
16 Dec 09
It is a normal reaction in your case, try to hide it as much as you can. And get better;)
1 person likes this
@themdno (402)
• United States
16 Dec 09
It's not crazy, it's good you're on top of things so much. You only went out for a second, but as soon as something looked wrong you were right on top of it. She is probably better watched than most babies. It's crazy how babies can be in such a deep sleep like that, it can be scary sometimes. My little sister was the same way when she was a baby.
1 person likes this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
9 Jan 10
Having lost a son, I can see why you are sensitive to losing another child. I can only imagine how scared you must have been to see your granddaughter appearing to have been choked and not breathing. I imagine that cold that comes over one when they are so very afraid and the avalanch feeling in the stomach. When my middle son was 2 he was playing in the bedroom and my older son, who was 4 at the time, came to find me and said, "Mom, brother is blue." I ran to find my 2 year old choking. I did a quick Heimlich maneuver on him and out popped a 'fireball' candy. Apparently he had found it at the daycare earlier in the day and had it in his pocket! I was never more frightened in my life.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Dec 09
OMG--what a scary experience for you. I bet it took you quite awhile to calm down. While my mother still alive she would often give me a scare as she too could be such a deep sleeper and often it looked like she wasn't breathing. I've even had frightening moments with my cats...sometimes they are sleeping so soundly I wonder if they are still alive as it often doesn't look like they are breathing--I too try and try to wake them up and nothing..then all of a sudden the cat wakes up and looks at me with a dirty look for disturbing him--it's usually Pyewacket that scares me like this I'm so sorry to hear about your son, I didn't know this
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
16 Dec 09
That would have scared me too. I bet you are more worried than most about losing another loved one. I can understand why you would be so upset. Take care.
• United States
15 Dec 09
Wow, reading that just gave me the chills, even after knowing she was alright. Just knowing how you must have felt, the range of emotions all in a split second. Glad she's okay. I have a 6 month old daughter and am sure I will experience all these emotions eventually too. So far so good though.
1 person likes this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
16 Dec 09
This is really scary. I can understand how it must have felt Janet. Hugs to you both. This reminds me of an incident a few years back when I was babysitting my 2 year old niece. She fell from the bed, which was bit higher. It was a divan. She fell on head with her her face up with a sound. I was so scared that day that nearly started to cry. When my mom came back I told her and she also got scared and we went to a doctor to make sure things are all right. The doctor advised to keep watch and we had to go for some pediatric x-rays. I still remember the incident with shivers.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
16 Dec 09
hi nanajet, First of all, I am very sorry for the loss of your son. I can only imagine your fear upon seeing your granddaughter like that. Kids can just fall asleep anywhere. My daughter had fallen asleep amidst a bunch of toys in the toy room when she was a little younger than that. I had gone out to the kitchen for a coffee and when I came back I thought she was gone. I panicked and began searching all around and even ran outside even tho I was certain she could not have slipped out without my knowing. In the end...there she was blending right in with the dolls....sound asleep. I don't think we ever stop worrying about them.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
16 Dec 09
hi nanajanet no you do not sound crazy at all. when we get deeply hurt or grieved like you did with your son,you become a lot more sensitive to changes in another person, you were just being a great grandmother, I dont mean grgrandmother but a great woman who is a grandmother too. Some children will do that, get so relaxed and asleep you wonder til you see their chests rise. You are just being a human being. Up until three years ago the thought of stepping up onto a curb or down never bothered me in the least .Until the day I had a horrid fall and smashed my shoulder so badly I hAd to have surgery and have an artificial shoulder joint put in. from then on I have this fear of falling so I am really very careful , watch where I step, be sure that there are no things on the floor for me to stumble over, and the walkways in Gold Crest are well lighted. I think its just being healthily conscious of possible things that could trip one up.
• Germany
16 Dec 09
Hi, nanajanet. This is really scary! I am glad that your granddaughter is ok. I could not imagine how frightened i would be if i were in your situation. I am sorry for what you have been through all these years. Perhaps next time you can do the chores together with her or when you are sure she's in safe situation. Have a nice day!
• United States
15 Dec 09
Hi Nanajanet! Well I am sure that is a very scary experience... I am sorry that you had to go through something like that. I know that I would have reacted the same way that you did... As for me... I only throw out the trash when my daughter is sound asleep... during her nap time... I am sure that you must be scared of loosing them.. Its normal! I am so sorry for the loss of your son and I hope that things get better! As for young children, they always manage to keep us on our toes! lol... Have a nice day!