Seriously.

I thought our vacation stories had ended, but NO! How silly of me. We had 12 hours to go.

We went to the airport this morning, bright and early. Drop off the rental car. Check in for our flight (my suitcase was five pounds over - ooops - but because I was a DENVER BRONCOS fan - had the hat on and everything - he waived the fee). Things were going alright.

We decided to hang out at this play area before going through security. HDHusband stayed back to watch The Bug and I went to get coffee and buy a card for our anniversary that's coming up.

As I'm walking out of the shop, here comes HDH. But, there is no Bug. I asked him where he was, and he says, "I thought he was with you?". And as soon as I saw the "I'm not kidding" look on his face, we freaked out. FREAKED OUT, people.

Ran. Far. Fast.

HDHusband thought The Bug was behind these girls, walking down the hallway. I happened to come out of the store, so he thought the Bug had gone in with me.

Nope.

HDH ran ahead, and I ran behind, trying to look into stores and what not, thinking The Bug may have gotten stalled at the toy store. No.

I'm running, looking everywhere, afraid he'd pop his head out and I'd be blasting by at a speed that would make a gazelle blush.

Things going through my head:

"Oh my god, NO! Please God, please God - PLEASE bring him back. Where is he? Oh God. I can't find my baby. Where is my baby? Find a security agent. Find a security agent. Grab ANYONE with a badge! WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE WITH THE BADGES?!?"

About now, we're on the opposite end of the airport. See, there are two security stations bookending the airport (with the shops in the middle, where I was), and he's gone from one end to the other. HDHusband turns left and runs out into the ticketing area, thinking maybe he ran that way.

We're about five minutes out now. And five minutes doesn't sound like much unless you are looking for your baby, trust me on that one.

I run into this throng of people, waiting for their turn in the (other) security line. I saw nothing but a sea of people I wanted to pick up and move with my eyes. I wanted to see my baby, and why was in he in all black this morning? I was kicking myself while running for not making him keep his orange jacket on. I couldn't see the forest for the trees.

And I swear - out of nowhere, this man walks out of this crowd and says, "Hey! Are you looking for a kid?", I tell him yes, and he points right to this security agent (the one who gets to check your ID and ticket) and she is holding The Bug. Who looks a bit scared, kind of amused.

I turn to thank the man, and you know what? He was gone. POOF. Like he'd never been there. What do I believe? I believe in angels. I believe we certainly have them and this very well may have been my son's. It was sincerely as if he appeared out of the crowd to show me The Bug. He stood out from everyone.

I took Bug into my arms and tried to be brave. The security agent said something about how she didn't know whose kid it was and had called the main security folks. I don't know how long she had had him. People were starting to talk and stare. You know, "What mother would let her child get away ... ", so I said something about 'husband lost track of him' and left. Crying. People were consoling me as I walked back. I was sobbing.

We finally found my husband, equally as frantic. We hugged. I kept crying. 'Cause that's what I do - I cry, I guess.

Truly, not a very fun way to end your trip, you know?

I can offer up one other unfortunate incident:

My in-law's just called to tell us that when I put the hideaway bed back last night after The Bug's nap there, I apparently managed to trap their cat underneath. Not in the mattress, but under the couch part. The cat is fine. Wasn't in there for all that long. I told her to call back if we'd managed to mess anything else up at their home.

I want to go to bed.

Now.

Sigh.