Don't Put Your Eggs in One Basket!

I've decided that I have to post this now otherwise I won't get anything else done. This has been one of the longest weeks I can remember. It all started Sunday night when Abbie dumped a glass of juice on my brother's new laptop. Luckily he got it cleaned out and running again, but it wasn't a pleasant night.

Monday morning I got up and got ready for work just like any day except for the fact I was still upset about the night before and wasn't in the socializing mood. Abbie hadn't slept well through the night, but managed to be completely out when I went to get her jacket on so we could head off for the day. I decided I would change her diaper so that I could just put her in the play pen when we arrived at my sister's house and then be on my way. We ended up leaving home about ten minutes earlier than usual. I remember looking at the clock as we were driving away and saw that it was 4:23 and thought it was crazy that I was so early, but I would finally be to work early. When we got to my sister's, we went inside, I put Abbie in the play pen, had my sister put her antibiotics in the fridge, and bent down to give Abbie a hug and kiss before I left. I wasn't inside more than a few minutes, 3-4 tops.

As I walked out her front door, I looked at the house 2 doors down and noticed a man carrying a briefcase looking object walking towards the front door. I have a friend who lives there and sometimes see people come home at early hours, but this time there was something odd about him. I didn't see any cars and the house was dark, but he was certainly walking with intent. I walked out to my jeep, opened the drivers side door and saw my glovebox wide open. At that point in time, it clicked. I didn't have to look but I knew that my backpack and laptop were gone and that the "briefcase" the man was carrying was my laptop. I immediately ran back inside my sister's and yelled at her to call the police I had just been robbed. She asked me if I was serious and as I was running back outside, I yelled back something to the effect of yes I was serious and he was down the street. (I swear I didn't tell her to get off her lazy a**, like she thinks I did!)

I pulled out my cell phone and dialed my mom to tell her what happened. My voice started quivering as I told her I'd been robbed then a little voice in my head told me to pull it together and go after him. It wasn't right for him to get away with my stuff like that. I started running down the street to my friend's house to see if I could see him. It was so dark and I didn't dare go into the backyard by myself, so I did what any crazy girl would do in that situation.... I yelled out telling the a** hole to get back here with my stuff. Yeah, not my finest moment. Especially considering the fact that my mom was still on the phone with me. A quick apology to her and she said she was on her way.

I couldn't see anything at the house, so I decided to head down to the corner in the off chance that I would see someone running out of the neighborhood with my stuff. A brief moment later, the first police car arrived. He confirmed I was the one who had seen the perp and asked where he had gone. I pointed to the house and he immediately drove by with his spotlight on. He drove around the block then came back to the house. By this time, another police car was in the neighborhood. The officers got out and immediately started pounding on the door. No one answered, so they started checking the grounds. Apparently my sister was hearing a lot of noise in her backyard as well, so they searched her yard and the one next door as well. Meanwhile, I was standing at the corner and hearing a ton of rustling between the two houses in front of me. I got on my phone and called my sister and told her to send them down my way because I was sure someone was down my direction. As I looked around, I could tell that there were 2 different officers at the entrances of her neighborhood, not to mention the unmarked vehicle, and another one or two cars that were now patrolling the streets in hope of finding whoever was out there.

The police finally made it down my way. I told him and his partner that I was hearing a lot of rustling in the yards across the street and they went to check it out. Mom showed up about that time and joined me on the corner so I could fill her in on what was happening. Quick side note... My sister lives in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods because of all the greenery that is there. Well, this time it certainly isn't helpful! We were both surprised at how often and closely they looked into the trees. The one who was on the scene first came back and told me they hadn't seen anything. Then he asked me if I had any ties to the home behind me. I told him no and he shined his flashlight into a car that I happened to be standing next to. Apparently that one and one behind me had been broken into as well. He got on his radio and said something then told me they were going to do a sweep of all the cars in the neighborhood because they had noticed at least four or five others that had been broken in to. He told me I could go back to my sister's house and to wait for them to come back and take a statement. I asked if I could touch my vehicle or if they wanted to do prints. He said that they wouldn't be able to take prints because it had been so wet and they wouldn't be able to find something. I insisted that my car was pretty dry because I had driven it from Sandy, but he still declined. Mom asked if I wanted a ride back to my sister's, but I told her no and that I needed to work off some adrenaline.

I got back to the house and waited for the officers to return. I shed my first few tears during this time and went inside to visit the little girls room. Abbie woke up when I walked in the door, so I took her with me then made her a bottle and laid her back down. Thank heavens she was okay and sleeping through most of it. I gave the officer my statement and tried to recount everything that was in my bags. Not so easy to do on the spur of the moment! I had called into work while I waited at the first house to tell them I wasn't going to be for a while and why, so I figured that I would just hold off longer since I would be needing to cancel everything and get a new ID.

Long story shorter.... I ended up taking the day off so I could cancel my identity and find a new one. Can I just tell you that it is a major pain to start new with absolutely nothing, or close to it anyway. You can't start a new checking account without ID, but you can't get a new ID without having a social security card. In order to cancel credit cards, you have to know what the numbers are and if you haven't written them down somewhere or have billing statements, you're in a little trouble!

I called Ralph to ask him if he could get new insurance cards for me since mine were in my wallet. I broke down on the phone and told him what happened including the fact that I was in school again. He offered to purchase new books for me and help me out in any way he could. He called and sent me text messages throughout the day making sure I was okay. It was very nice of him and he reminded me of the Ralph I fell in love with years ago. I also spent a good time talking to one of my good friends who kept me calm and comforted as well.

I had a horrible time sleeping that night (and still have problems sometimes). When I close my eyes I see all over again that man walking down the street with my stuff or opening my car and seeing the glove box wide open. It sure is a pain and I still have that gut wrenching pain that came after the initial shock wore off.

Tuesday was a little better, but I was so incredibly worn out that it was a long day. Nothing got accomplished except for the fact that I made it through 12 hours of work. Luckily my boss was out of town on vacation, so I got a few short naps in at work! Wednesday was so incredibly busy at work, I didn't have much time to breath. I did figure out that "nice Ralph" was gone and he was back to normal. He didn't bother me about school Monday night, but you better believe that come Wednesday afternoon the harassment began. It's going to be another long battle with him concerning school.

My poor Abbie has definitely noticed the stress in me too. Thursday and Friday were Ralph's scheduled days to have her and she was not interested in going with him at all. She gave him a hug and a kiss then wanted "mom" back. She is practically glued to me and doesn't want to be put down. She's such a cute little stink! I sure love her to death!!!

Among the things that were stolen were a brand new MacBook laptop computer, a new computer bag, a biology book and lab book, a graphing calculator, a change of clothes including a new Victoria's Secret bra and my favorite grey Airmed t-shirt, a few DVD's, a reading book by my favorite author Mary Higgins Clark, a folder with church papers in it, and some of my court stuff. As of Thursday morning, they have had some stuff from the neighborhood turned in (from what I heard from the neighborhood watch person, 10-12 ish cars were broken into in that neighborhood that night), but nothing belonged to me. I loved the evidence person I talked to. She reassured me that they would notify me if anything came in and they get a lot of backpacks in, so there is a chance that I may see something again eventually. I lost my wallet which had my drivers license, my paramedic and fire certificates/badges, my credit cards, my check book, my insurance cards, and a couple of dollars. All of it had to be replaced. It wasn't until after that night that my mom told me that they say you're not supposed to put all of your cards, checks, ID's, etc in the same place. Yep, it makes sense, but I've never heard it before and I certainly didn't do that!

In my thinkings, my biggest initial fear was that Ralph had something to do with it. After I heard that so many vehicles had the same problem, I figured it was just a lucky shot for them. My biggest fear though from the entire experience is that they were so close. I know the neighbor kiddy corner from my sister was broken in to. Either they came from there or they were in my sisters driveway or right next door and I didn't see them. If I had locked my door after I got Abbie out of the car, would they have been desperate enough to physically do something to me or Abbie in order to get my keys from me? That fear haunts me. Things could have possibly been much worse. (I am a huge worry wart, if you can't tell) I'm lucky that neither Abbie or I were hurt. We were definitely blessed with safety that morning.

Monday night, Ralph and I did some talking (I told you he was nice to me) and I told him that I'm not one to ask "why me," but I did ask what I'm supposed to have learned from this. I've come up with a few things so far. First of all, being a single parent I am a huge chicken. I need to learn to be tougher. Second, lock your car doors, even if it is 4:30 in the morning and you are only going to be inside for a few minutes. Third, don't put all your valuables in one spot. It is a pain to reclaim or replace them!

I was telling this same friend that I talked to all day Monday (not Ralph) that I feel like I lost a child. It has rained every day since Monday and all I can think is that my stuff is out there somewhere waiting for someone or me to find it. I have been back to my sister's house numerous times in this last week and each time I drive through her neighborhood I drive slowly in the hopes that I may see something that has been overlooked. Still no luck, but I'm hopeful. I've learned in my life not to be too much of an optimist because I always seem to get the brunt side of it, but there is a huge part of me that believes my stuff will be returned to me or at least some of it. Lots of prayers have been said this week!