Did That Really Just Happen?

Malkiah came running out to me, in the kitchen, fear and tears painting his face.  "My balloon".

I ran into his room, following his lead, and heard a horrible noise.

Worse than the noise, was the smell, of something burning!  I turned the switch off.

His balloon made friends with the ceiling fan.  The tail of the balloon had wrapped itself into

the motor of the fan, stopping the fan, creating the sound, and making that smell.

I grabbed a tall chair from the kitchen.  I heard Matthew, in my head, telling me to stop.

Sorry, honey, I ignored you.  You said a lot in my mind.....

Get off the chair.

Turn off the power.

You're severely pregnant.

You're going to fall.

Alexi, no metal tweezers anywhere near that motor.

GO TURN OFF THE POWER, JUST THROW THE MAIN BREAKER FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!

I ignored it all!  I can only get away with these things while he's away.

I had 3 children standing around the chair below me, 2 of which kept asking if I needed Daddy.

I had something to prove!  No, not that I was as good as Daddy, just that we can get by without him.

I did it!  Got all the HOT, melty, balloon tail out of the motor, reconnected

all the pull thingies, and managed to not fall; not once!

"Whew!  Ok, no more balloons.  I'm popping them and they're going in the trash." 

To my surprise, no one protested!

"Daddy's so much better at this stuff.  Try not to do anything crazy until he gets back.  I'm just not as good with these things as he is, ok?"

"Ok Mom, we'll try.  Daddy would have done it quicker!"

"Yeah, no kidding!"