Choked Up...

Tonight was so far our scariest event in Parker's whole little life. I'm a lot less freaked out now, but my heart still feels like it's in the bottom of my stomach, if you know what that feels like. I took Parker with me to the Basketball tournament here in town tonight, something he loves to do and he hadn't been out of the house in awhile, so I thought why not. He started getting fussy towards the end of a game so my mom was giving him M&Ms, a real treat for him because we usually stay away from candy. But, mommy forgot to pack yogurt melts and that was the most edible thing they had for him at the concession stand. The few times he has had M&Ms he's done really good, he always thoroughly chews... so much so that he ends up with stains all over his shirt from the colored drool.

What would have happened, if I hadn't been looking at him in that exact moment? He was in his stroller, and looked over at me right as it happened. His eyes were as big as you can imagine and his mouth was WIDE open. I quickly grabbed him up, my mom hadn't even realized what was happening. I put him at eye level and he had this huge tears running down his cheeks, but no sound. Oh the panic. A few seconds seemed like an eternity. I didn't know what to do. I knew what to do. I leaned him forward and hit him on his back but all I wanted to do was keep looking him in the eyes, making sure he was still there. How long can a baby go without oxygen? 1 minute? 4? Oh God, how long has it been. Should I scream? This gym is packed, there must be a Doctor or a Nurse or someone who can help, but who will hear me? Will it be too late? WHAT DO I DO????

*cough cough* Thank you God, Thank you Jesus, he is breathing, he is COUGHING, he is crying! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! He is so scared, he is crying so hard. Thank you for not taking my baby, Thank you for helping me remain calm although inside I was screaming. Thank you for his precious life, for not taking it when in an instant it could become Yours.

How long did this actually go on? My mom and cousin were both there beside us, both equally freaked out but by the time they noticed it, it was about 5 seconds. So 10 seconds total maybe? The longest, most dreadful 10 seconds of my life. Of his life.  Thank you God.

In this article I read from OC Family, it says that 2,900 infants and children DIE from choking each year. Not always on food, but a lot of the time that is the case. How horrible is that... Needless to say, we will not be having ANY candy until... kindergarten? I think that's the longest I can prevent it lol, if it were up to me it would be NEVER.