Life changes

So much going on these days, so little time to sit and spill my guts to my computer!

First – Vivian is the sweetest little addition to our family! She is somehow going to be 6 weeks old on Saturday and that just blows my mind. I think we are finally figuring each other out and in fact, miraculously, both her and Aleesia are sleeping right now (which means they will wake up any second, right?) so I was able to eat and get some important things done (like this blog, clearly).

Second – Aleesia is going to be TWO on Sunday! Again, unbelievable. But she is seriously awesomesauce. I love toddlers!

Third – I am officially a lady of leisure for the next few weeks as I transition out of my previous job and into a new one in March. I’ll be able to work from home and there are about 10,000 other things that swayed my decision when this company came looking at me. I’m looking forward to the new adventure.

Fourth – I have heard (and said!) the saying “life happens” probably a million times. But life has really been happening around us these past 6 weeks. Here’s a recap:

• Vivian was born (12.20)
• We came home (12.21) (and Mike was able to have the week off of work!)
• Gianna, Aleesia, and I all got sick with whatever virus was going around all of Northeast Ohio (12.22)
• Christmas! (12.24/12.25)
• Everyone is feeling betterish, but Mike gets sick worse than anyone else had (12.27ish)
• Mike goes back to work for the day (12.29)
• My mom is gets sick so we changed our New Years day plans and we all went to my one sister’s house.

This is when life really happened – on the way home, my little sister and her husband (& their puppy!) got into a very bad car accident.

If you have ever been the (un)lucky person to receive a call from a person whose car just literally got slammed into and pushed into a tree, take my word for it – it will shake you to the core. I was thankful to be the one that she called because I am blessed (thanks, Mom!) with a  calm personality especially when things are not good. I was also thankful to be the one to stay on the phone with her until help arrived because it helped me to be there for her and to feel like I was “doing” something when I felt so helpful. (can someone please invent teleportation for situations like these?) It was very scary, and I have had several nightmares about it since then. The scared sounds and descriptions I heard on the other end of the phone are not something you quickly forget.

But we are so blessed to have each other – blessed first of all that they are all alive; blessed that she could remember my phone number when a witness handed her a cell phone; blessed that every single person in our family mobilized and took care of each other without so much as a breath of hesitation. They were not far from my sister’s house so her husband rushed to the scene of the accident just in time to be there as I hung up and the firemen were cutting them out of the car (and to take care of Sami, their dog). My sister had a broken foot (and a toddler at home) so she couldn’t go with him. I was unable to go to the hospital (newborn, and all) so Mike went and met them at the hospital. My stepdad was at work (he is a firefighter, ironically) but he left and got my mom.

My sister ended up with 4 broken ribs. My brother in law had a brain bleed which required him to be monitored in the ICU, but was sent home with a bad concussion and stitches in his face. Their puppy broke her little leg and has an external fixation device on after it was surgically repaired!

When I finally saw her after the accident I squeezed her so tight that I thought I might break her other ribs and finally let all of those pent up tears flow because she was okay and I COULD squeeze her! My sister’s family and mine all pitched in to stay with them, drive them around, do whatever they needed and it wasn’t even an issue or a question – that is what we do. I never take our closeness for granted, but this was a time when it just shined so strong.

Their accident was caused by a car coming the other direction going left of center. It happened in literally the blink of an eye. The tow truck driver who took away their mangled car was amazed that they were alive, THAT is how badly the car was damaged. The offending driver? No insurance, driving someone else’s car, and “doesn’t remember” going left of center – how you don’t remember literally nearly killing someone is beyond my ability to understand. This is my soapbox moment for the week – don’t text and drive, don’t drink and drive, don’t do drugs and drive, be aware of what and who is around you. I know that I have taken driving for granted on multiple occasions and not been as focused as I should be but you can bet I have become more cautious than ever after this experience.

So, in the blink of an eye our lives changed – thankfully they are all being put back together now.

Everyone in our house is finally not sick, someday Gianna will actually go to school for a full week (she has had a lot of snow days!), and we count our blessings a little more these days.