I’ve had quite a few terrifying moments in my life. Most of them have occurred since I’ve had children. I watched my newborn son, Jacob, with a tube down his throat being taken away from me in an incubator, moved to another hospital while I recovered from a C-section; unable to hold him or even touch him.

I held him in my arms a year later, watching him struggle to breathe while the nurses gave him nebulizer treatments, trying to raise his blood oxygen level from 88%, while his little chest heaved, trying to take in enough breath.

We have since then been in and out of the hospital several times with Jacob when he has had asthma attacks.

Christopher, however, has always been my healthy little boy. We’ve only had one scare with him and that was the Christmas of 2011, when he was diagnosed with RSV. There were 3 days of hell while I sat with him in the rocker, making sure he was breathing. But, he came through like a champ and has had no serious illness since. I count my blessings. I’ve been haunted by the thought of losing my Jacob many times in his young life but I’ve never had that same fear with Christopher.

But, last night, Christopher did something that almost changed my life forever.  I’ve since realized that illness isn’t the only thing I have to worry about with my little ones.

Three years ago, we had the boys’ bedroom windows replaced with new windows.  Our home was built in 1966 and it still had the original windows when we moved in. We decided, since their bedrooms are on the second floor, that we should have newer windows so they wouldn’t go through the glass. They have those wonderful child locks that keep the window from opening more than a few inches. They are wonderful unless you have a child like Christopher… who is fearless and can figure out a way to climb up and unlock them.

I was downstairs yesterday afternoon, getting dinner ready. Jacob was doing homework at the dining room table and Christopher was playing in his room.  Safe, right?

Jim walked in the front door moments later and said, “Why is Christopher’s bedroom window opened?” I said, “What do you mean?” Jim replied, “His window is wide open, screen and all.”

I didn’t wait another moment. I ran up the stairs as fast as I could. I found Christopher with his stuffed chair pushed over to his window, about to climb out. My life truly flashed before my eyes. I saw a world without my little Bean.  I don’t know how I would have survived that.

I thank the Lord above that Jim came home when he did. I don’t like to think what my life would be like today if he hadn’t.