Saturday, November 8, 2008

The Accident

We have had many questions about our "accident" and what happened so I thought I would explain it and let everyone know about what we call our MIRACLES!! It was after last Thanksgiving my kids and I were in a severe auto accident. It was pretty traumatizing for all of us. Luckily the kids were only bruised and scratches. Nothing serious...THANK HEAVEN!!! That was first of the major miracles though. Cause Megan should have technically been thrown from the car. She had undone her seat belt (now she is always making sure everyone has there's on) and I was trying to do it back up and rear ended a gravel truck with two trailers. Not a pretty sight. As for me it was a much, much different story. The steering column collapsed and slammed the steering wheel into my right leg breaking my femur bone. I broke a couple of my ribs and bruised my sternum. I had a severe concussion from hitting my head on the windshield...weeks later I was still digging glass out of my hair. Another MAJOR miracle was that about 30 seconds after the accident happened my mom and Jules (my sister) pulled up to the stop sign right by the accident. They were there the entire time to help us. My mom stayed with my kids and Julie went with me. They seriously were a godsend to us. I don't know how I would have done it cause my kids were in a different ambulance than me and I was so scared for them. SO it was wonderful that they were there. Julie helped me a ton cause I was in the worst pain I have EVER been in. A hundred times worse than labor and delivery. Another miracle was that my doc informed me if I had broken my bone and inch higher I would have hit the main artery right there and I would have bled out in seconds. Wow talk about a shock to us all. I thought I was going to die. The accident happened at 1pm and by 6 I still didn't have any pain meds cause they hadn't found a vein...the curse of red hair and fair skin. I was praying I could pass out but didn't happen. Finally at 6:30 the doc showed up, he had been waylaid because they had to have a special rod delivered because my femur was longer than any they have ever done....crazy!!! They finally put me under for surgery. I was never so grateful in my life for anesthesia as I was that moment. Needless to say I was in pretty rough shape. Six hours later I had a rod inserted inside my bone in my leg. They did a nice 6 inch incision through my hip muscles and hollowed out my bone and put a titanium rod inside and then screwed it into place with 4 screws. One of the screws stripped out while they were putting it in so they had to make a new hole...sounds like a construction project. But I guess they were reconstructing my leg. I was hospitalized for three days and then our family moved in with my mom and dad and Jill. We stayed with them for over two weeks until Jeremiah was done teaching for Christmas break. They were a Godsend again and always are. I would have never made it if we hadn't gone there. I was in SOOOO much pain and could not even lift my leg an inch. I couldn't even put weight on my leg for the first couple of days. Then I was only barely weight bearing. Me and my crutches were great friends. By the time I went home I was about 35% weight bearing. Jeremiah finished teaching on Dec. 17th and we were able to move back home. It was a challenge though cause my bedroom was up FOURTEEN stairs. We set up camp downstairs but I really missed my bed and so I moved back up. The exercise was good for me but quite a challenge. Christmas was a very humbling experience that year. Luckily I had already finished all my Christmas shopping before the accident. So that was a HUGE relief. But we realized how blessed we truly were. In reality we should not have lived through that but we did and I was so grateful that my kids were OK. We have had a lot to deal with the past twelve months. The kids and I had nightmares and a lot of emotional issues...but we learned that a lot of talking and a WHOLE lot of crying was very helpful. We had such wonderful friends and WONDERFUL family to help us through it all. This past summer I had to finally have my screws removed and that was quite fun. Then about a month and a half ago I found out that I had developed bursitis in my hip and I am now receiving steroid shots to help deal with that pain. We are actually handling it pretty good. It has been a long haul but definitely a learning and growing experience. Gotta love those. I am just so grateful we are all here and alive and well. My kids are fantastic now and I am actually walking. There is so much to be happy about. So that is my story...whew quite a long one sorry!!

Our story

So here is our family story. Jeremiah and I met while we were at USU going to school. It was a whirlwind romance...AHHH...Cheesy I know but so true. We met the last weekend of Nov. and we were engaged in Feb. But like they say, "when you know it is right why wait!" He has been WONDERFUL for me. We lived our first year in Salt Lake. He worked as a foreman for a construction company and I was a receptionist for an electrician. Then we decided we needed something more stable so we packed up and moved back to Logan to finish our schooling. We both were in the Secondary Ed program but I was in English and he was in Technology Education. A little while after our move Abby decided to join our family in 2001. Then Jeremiah received an internship teaching at North Davis Jr High. It was a perfect opportunity to do his student teaching and get paid for it. So we packed up again and moved to Brigham City. We wanted a small community but something close to his work. We have loved Box Elder ever since. In 2002 Eric made an appearance into our family yes they are 18 months apart crazy I know!! Then Jeremiah was offered a better job as West Point Jr High as the Technology teacher and head of the Technology dept there. He also is over the TSA club there and it has been awesome for us. I tease him cause I tell him it isn't really work for him cause he gets to do what he loves most teach and build. The ideal job....so that is great. Then in 2004 Megan made an appearance...just 18 months after Eric. Yes, I told you we are crazy. But I wouldn't have it any other way. Six months after Megan my health was failing and we had to have an emergency hysterectomy. It was a difficult thing since we both wanted a large family but very necessary. So we are happy and very grateful for our three HEALTHY children that are indeed a blessing and a miracle. Two years ago we had the opportunity to move and build a new home in Perry just down the road from Brigham and still in Box Elder. It has been a wonderful experience. We love it here and are so excited with our new friends and new experiences.

Starting again!!:)

Miracles of all miracles....I have started my BLOG...AGAIN!! This time hopefully, I can keep up with it. About as well as I keep up with my other things ;) Oh well it is worth a try. So here we go...wish me luck.