A Day in Hell

So Jonathan had to work yesterday in the morning and I figured we would go for a walk at the O.C. Fair, but found that it was too hot and windy. So I thought Ontario Mills would be a good place plus I could find a cute outfit for Nainoa to wear for Santa pictures. My sister called once we were out there saying that they were evacuating everyone from Olinda Ranch. I tried to get on the freeway soon after around 1p.m. and then by the time I hit the 57 everything was at a stand still. No one was moving and I had 0.3 miles to get to the nearest exit. It took us 4 hours to get off of Pathfinder road. While we sat stuck on the freeway Nainoa had several meltdowns along with the baby. Many times during the 4 hours we were there I lost it and cried with the boys. I was so tired and felt horrible that I couldn't do anything for the boys. I figured they were safer buckled in. I was so upset that a few people in other cars came over and offered to help me with the kids. I was thankful for those people that offered and only wished I would have taken down their address to thank them. I was just mentally drained and too shaken to think about it at the moment. Some complete stranger drove my car at a snails pace while I got Nainoa some water (I always keep bottled water in the side door cup holders for emergencies thank goodness) and snacks that I keep in a tote along with an emergency kit and other kiddo necessities. I changed the kids diapers and nursed the baby while people got out of their vehicles to watch the water carrier planes fly super low past us. To make matters worse my car was running on fumes. I called C.H.P only to be told they couldn't get to me. I told them I had two small children and they said they would try to get to me, but there was no guarantee they would reach me. I decided to take matter into my own hands and ask the truck next to me that was carrying two lawn mowers if they had any extra gas they could give me. I offered them what I had on me ($5.00) and they were so kind and gave me the gas and didn't take my money. Four hours later we got off of the Pathfinder exit and thank God made it to a gas station. Once we filled up we started back on Pathfinder to find that this was not the end of the nightmare. The street was just as bad as the freeway. We were stopped again, sometimes we would move forward a few inches, but most of the time we just sat there. I cried with the boys again for about an hour until Jonathan was able to guide me through some neighborhood streets. My GPS wasn't much help b/c it couldn't provide live feed on what streets were congested. My poor grandma called to see what I was up to and it was right at the time I had figured out that getting off the freeway wasn't any better. I had to get down and rest so we stopped at some Jack in the Box on Nogales(sp) and Colima (scary) and fed the boys and got back on the road. My aunt called and offered some words of comfort and my cousin Shayla was so kind to stick with me on the phone and used google maps with live traffic info to get me home. By the time I got home it was around 7:20p.m. I wanted to cry when I got home, but I was way too tired to cry. What a day!!!!!!!!!!!!

The corner of Central and Brea Blvd blocked off (this road takes you into Carbon Canyon).

The view outside my porch. Usually it's pretty clear, the sky is blue and you can see the hills in detail. Today the sky was brown and ash was falling like snow.

Nainoa toys on the porch with the definite signs of a nearby fire.

Another picture of the corner of Brea Blvd. and Central. You can't even make out the sky it's so smokey.

A leaf that wandered off from a fire zone and onto our porch.