It breaks my heart to even have to write about this. The weather here has been horrible, driving to work the past couple mornings its been in the negatives. On this particular day, I left the house at 3 degrees to take Liam to daycare on my way to work.
We were running a little bit late so I remember rushing out the door. I buckled sweet little Liam into his carseat, as usual, and began our 30 minute commute to school and work. Everything was totally normal, roads were fine, but there was a little traffic. I remember getting on the freeway and started making my way over to the carpool lane. Traffic started to get more heavy so I was only going about 50-55 mph. On my final lane change into the carpool lane, I looked over my left shoulder at my blind spot and began moving into the new lane. As soon as I looked in front of me all I saw was red brake lights. I slowly braked and unfortunately it was at the exact moment that my back tires hit a patch of black ice. We immediately spun out and began spinning. The front of the car hit the guardrail on the left side... then the right...then the back of the car hit. All I remember is hearing Liam scream, airbags deploying, smoke everywhere. We finally came to a stop and subconciously I was just waiting for another car to slam into the back of us. I was waiting for that one last blow. It never came.
Liam had stopped crying by that point. Was he okay? I turned around to see his face in the baby mirror, eyes wide open.... he was okay. Still safely buckled in. So grateful for that new car seat we had just purchased.
Just as I was assessing my own damage (burnt face and legs from the airbags deploying) a man came up to my window to check on me. I explained that I was okay but I didn't know what to do. He said the police were on their way and he had already called 911. Just as he was finishing up explaining to me what happened a cop came up behind us and started redirecting traffic. I was perpendicular to the freeway taking up more than 2 lanes. I got out of the car to get my sweet baby and met the cop on the side of the freeway. He took us to his warm car while he and another cop pushed my car over to the opposite side of the freeway so traffic could get through.
I sat there in the car, in shock, crying, and couldn't stop kissing Liam's head. I just felt so grateful yet so undeserving. We came so close to being hurt. The worst could have happened. Neal came to get us and I just buried myself in him and sobbed. I felt so guilty. How could this have happened again? This is the second major car accident that I've been in where the car had been totaled. Why was I given another chance? Why was I so blessed to have my son make it through the accident with me, unharmed?
I was feeling so many emotions that day but the overriding one was undeserving. I'm beyond grateful for heavenly father and the blessing it has been to have him constantly watching over me and my family. We were saved that day and I am forever grateful, once again, to Heavenly Father for giving me another chance at being here on earth to fulfill my calling as wife and mother.
I shudder at the thought of what COULD have happened and try to focus on what did happen and learn from it. I'm more grateful than I've ever been for a healthy little boy that is my world, my everything. I'm grateful for a husband that consistently is my rescue and saving grace. And most of all- I'm grateful for the Lord for watching over us on that very horrible morning.
We were running a little bit late so I remember rushing out the door. I buckled sweet little Liam into his carseat, as usual, and began our 30 minute commute to school and work. Everything was totally normal, roads were fine, but there was a little traffic. I remember getting on the freeway and started making my way over to the carpool lane. Traffic started to get more heavy so I was only going about 50-55 mph. On my final lane change into the carpool lane, I looked over my left shoulder at my blind spot and began moving into the new lane. As soon as I looked in front of me all I saw was red brake lights. I slowly braked and unfortunately it was at the exact moment that my back tires hit a patch of black ice. We immediately spun out and began spinning. The front of the car hit the guardrail on the left side... then the right...then the back of the car hit. All I remember is hearing Liam scream, airbags deploying, smoke everywhere. We finally came to a stop and subconciously I was just waiting for another car to slam into the back of us. I was waiting for that one last blow. It never came.
Liam had stopped crying by that point. Was he okay? I turned around to see his face in the baby mirror, eyes wide open.... he was okay. Still safely buckled in. So grateful for that new car seat we had just purchased.
Just as I was assessing my own damage (burnt face and legs from the airbags deploying) a man came up to my window to check on me. I explained that I was okay but I didn't know what to do. He said the police were on their way and he had already called 911. Just as he was finishing up explaining to me what happened a cop came up behind us and started redirecting traffic. I was perpendicular to the freeway taking up more than 2 lanes. I got out of the car to get my sweet baby and met the cop on the side of the freeway. He took us to his warm car while he and another cop pushed my car over to the opposite side of the freeway so traffic could get through.
I sat there in the car, in shock, crying, and couldn't stop kissing Liam's head. I just felt so grateful yet so undeserving. We came so close to being hurt. The worst could have happened. Neal came to get us and I just buried myself in him and sobbed. I felt so guilty. How could this have happened again? This is the second major car accident that I've been in where the car had been totaled. Why was I given another chance? Why was I so blessed to have my son make it through the accident with me, unharmed?
I was feeling so many emotions that day but the overriding one was undeserving. I'm beyond grateful for heavenly father and the blessing it has been to have him constantly watching over me and my family. We were saved that day and I am forever grateful, once again, to Heavenly Father for giving me another chance at being here on earth to fulfill my calling as wife and mother.
I shudder at the thought of what COULD have happened and try to focus on what did happen and learn from it. I'm more grateful than I've ever been for a healthy little boy that is my world, my everything. I'm grateful for a husband that consistently is my rescue and saving grace. And most of all- I'm grateful for the Lord for watching over us on that very horrible morning.
This is my all time biggest fear! So glad you two are okay :) the snow and icey roads scare me so bad!
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