Please read.
Today was not like any other day I've ever experienced. There are so many thoughts running through my mind, but I don't know where to begin. And it's 6:10 in the morning but I can not sleep.
We've been trying to get the house cleaned for our inspection on monday. Erich and I went to the house to clean but I had to go to work. Erich stayed behind with Gen and the kids while I drove the Pilot to work. Erich had Lola's van. Later that night Erich drove Lola's van back to Sac to return when I got off work and together, as a family, we made our way back home. Erich and I were just carrying our casual conversation asking and talking about each other's day and what we accomplished. We were in Dixon which is about ten minutes away from home when the freeway went from completely clear to a sudden stand still with bumper to bumper traffic. So we slowed down, wondering what was going on. We both agreed there was probably an accident or something ahead holding up all the traffic and then I said, "Gosh I hope every thing is okay". Seconds later I look at the side view mirror and see head lights speeding towards us probably going at about 75 mph. Erich notices it at the same time and starts screaming, sees that the right lane is clear and tries to move over to the right lane but it was too late. The car, and black vokes wagon jetta, hits us in the rear and causes us to slam into the sedan, a honda, in front of us. Air bags deployed, Erich is screaming and I'm panicking to open the door to get to the kids. Mady and Jace start screaming and crying, terrified of the sudden impact our car just experienced and the loud pop from the air bags. I grab Jace and tell Erich to grab Mady. Jace is trembling, crying, putting his hand over his left eye because he had been resting his head on Mady's car seat. Erich takes Mady out of the car seat and wraps her in her baby blanket. I tell Erich to call 911 and I look out and see numerous cars with hazards on and glass all over the free way. We've got head hazards on in the fast lane. The Jetta that his us is on the right shoulder. The red honda that we rear ended is on the left shoulder. A woman comes out of the red honda to ask us if we are okay. We say we're okay and that we're calling 911. A couple of guys about our age come out of the Jetta, cross the street to ask us if we're okay. One of the people they are with are laying in the grass. Couldn't really see what was going on. At this point I'm torn on whether to stay with my family or be a nurse and check on every one involved in the accident. I scan the area and notice that every one is pretty much stable so I stay with my family. A camry pulls over after having noticed us and A man named Chris and his wife Mandy tell us to bring the kids into their car to keep them warm while we wait for paramedics and other help. As we're waiting a big loading trucks stops. Seconds later another big noise. An SUV with a drunk woman in it hits the loading truck. Totals her car and she can't get out of the vehicle. We wait, allow the police (Office Lavato and Shuler) to get reports from those involved and those who witnessed it. Paramedics come and assess us, ask us if we'd like to be taken to the hospital. Our car gets towed. We leave the scene and are taken to David Grant Medical Center which is the hospital on base. We get to the base get checked out. Jaw is hurting from the air bags. Other than that I'm fine. Jace has a bruise under his left eye. Other than that he's fine. Erich has an abrasion on his forehead from the air bag and a huge abrasion on his right arm from the steering wheel. Other than that he is fine. And Madeline is untouched. Awake and alert, playing with her toys.
Other people were injured and we had nothing on us but a couple of scratches and a bruise. Now is the time that I'm realizing how much God looks out for my children and for my husband and for me. Now I know that he does hear my prayers to keep my family safe. There is a reason why I dished out the money on an expensive car seat. There is a reason why we bought the Honda pilot. There is a reason why I was not by myself when driving home from work like I usually do. There is a reason why we were able to walk away from that accident alive and well.
I talk to God at night before I sleep. And I do three things. First I thank him for the life I live now and the fortunes and misfortunes that come along with it. Second, I ask him to protect the ones that love me and the ones that I love. Third, I ask him to help me become a better wife, daughter, sister, friend, stranger, nurse, student, and teacher. I know now, that he hears me and answers me.
It was scary knowing that life might be ending. As soon as I saw those head lights, I thought about my kids. I thought about my husband. When the air bags deployed, All I heard was the sound of my husband screaming, and my kids crying. And I thought.. "Please God. If this is it. Let it just be it for me and not for my family."
I'm just thankful that it wasn't it. And that he answered my prayer. He protected me and my family.
We've been trying to get the house cleaned for our inspection on monday. Erich and I went to the house to clean but I had to go to work. Erich stayed behind with Gen and the kids while I drove the Pilot to work. Erich had Lola's van. Later that night Erich drove Lola's van back to Sac to return when I got off work and together, as a family, we made our way back home. Erich and I were just carrying our casual conversation asking and talking about each other's day and what we accomplished. We were in Dixon which is about ten minutes away from home when the freeway went from completely clear to a sudden stand still with bumper to bumper traffic. So we slowed down, wondering what was going on. We both agreed there was probably an accident or something ahead holding up all the traffic and then I said, "Gosh I hope every thing is okay". Seconds later I look at the side view mirror and see head lights speeding towards us probably going at about 75 mph. Erich notices it at the same time and starts screaming, sees that the right lane is clear and tries to move over to the right lane but it was too late. The car, and black vokes wagon jetta, hits us in the rear and causes us to slam into the sedan, a honda, in front of us. Air bags deployed, Erich is screaming and I'm panicking to open the door to get to the kids. Mady and Jace start screaming and crying, terrified of the sudden impact our car just experienced and the loud pop from the air bags. I grab Jace and tell Erich to grab Mady. Jace is trembling, crying, putting his hand over his left eye because he had been resting his head on Mady's car seat. Erich takes Mady out of the car seat and wraps her in her baby blanket. I tell Erich to call 911 and I look out and see numerous cars with hazards on and glass all over the free way. We've got head hazards on in the fast lane. The Jetta that his us is on the right shoulder. The red honda that we rear ended is on the left shoulder. A woman comes out of the red honda to ask us if we are okay. We say we're okay and that we're calling 911. A couple of guys about our age come out of the Jetta, cross the street to ask us if we're okay. One of the people they are with are laying in the grass. Couldn't really see what was going on. At this point I'm torn on whether to stay with my family or be a nurse and check on every one involved in the accident. I scan the area and notice that every one is pretty much stable so I stay with my family. A camry pulls over after having noticed us and A man named Chris and his wife Mandy tell us to bring the kids into their car to keep them warm while we wait for paramedics and other help. As we're waiting a big loading trucks stops. Seconds later another big noise. An SUV with a drunk woman in it hits the loading truck. Totals her car and she can't get out of the vehicle. We wait, allow the police (Office Lavato and Shuler) to get reports from those involved and those who witnessed it. Paramedics come and assess us, ask us if we'd like to be taken to the hospital. Our car gets towed. We leave the scene and are taken to David Grant Medical Center which is the hospital on base. We get to the base get checked out. Jaw is hurting from the air bags. Other than that I'm fine. Jace has a bruise under his left eye. Other than that he's fine. Erich has an abrasion on his forehead from the air bag and a huge abrasion on his right arm from the steering wheel. Other than that he is fine. And Madeline is untouched. Awake and alert, playing with her toys.
Other people were injured and we had nothing on us but a couple of scratches and a bruise. Now is the time that I'm realizing how much God looks out for my children and for my husband and for me. Now I know that he does hear my prayers to keep my family safe. There is a reason why I dished out the money on an expensive car seat. There is a reason why we bought the Honda pilot. There is a reason why I was not by myself when driving home from work like I usually do. There is a reason why we were able to walk away from that accident alive and well.
I talk to God at night before I sleep. And I do three things. First I thank him for the life I live now and the fortunes and misfortunes that come along with it. Second, I ask him to protect the ones that love me and the ones that I love. Third, I ask him to help me become a better wife, daughter, sister, friend, stranger, nurse, student, and teacher. I know now, that he hears me and answers me.
It was scary knowing that life might be ending. As soon as I saw those head lights, I thought about my kids. I thought about my husband. When the air bags deployed, All I heard was the sound of my husband screaming, and my kids crying. And I thought.. "Please God. If this is it. Let it just be it for me and not for my family."
I'm just thankful that it wasn't it. And that he answered my prayer. He protected me and my family.