Life is Precious

There are a few family and friends that live a ways away that have been asking to see pictures on the accident....so this is what this post is all about....lets see if I can get through this without breaking down....

Friday September 9, 2011 I received a call in the afternoon from Brian.  He told me that we had been given tickets through his work to go to a concert at the state fair.  He is in a carpool where I get to pick him up some days and this happened to be one of the days.  So at about 6:40pm we left our home to pick him up...

I got on the freeway as usual and there were a few large semi trucks that were right there as I got on so I proceeded to go around them because I am scared to drive next to them.  I got in the fast lane and hadn't even got up to 65 yet.....came around a corner and as I came around there was a large 50 gal barrel in my lane that had just come out of a truck in front of me....at this point I was surrounded by other vehicles...I glanced in my mirror and there was a car to my right...so I tried my best go into the emergency lane so I wouldn't hit the barrel (which would then shoot it across the freeway into other vehicles)...as I was breaking and swerved to miss it I lost control of the car.  It hit the median and then rolled, landed on its top and slide to a stop.  As we were flying in the air I didn't know whether or not I had crossed the barrier onto oncoming traffic (all I could think was I am not ready to go, I really thought I was going to die)....

When the car came to a complete stop I was praying to know what to do next....I quickly unbuckled myself from hanging upside down reached in the back to get Braelyn out.  She was kicking her feet and really had no idea what we had just been through, other than summersalts inside of a car....as I was pulling her from her seat I heard an angel, a guy had pulled over and was asking through my front door if we were all right....I passed him Brae and he pulled me out....There were about 15 complete strangers that stopped to help, they were complete angels for us and I wish there was a way I could tell them thank you for being there for my family in our time of need.....one of them was a doctor and his wife who had called 911...the doctor told the operator that we appeared to be fine but based on the situation he didn't believe his eyes and to send and ambulance.....a sweet lady brought me a blanket...a young boy brought me some water....another lady that helped me with Brae and wouldn't leave until she knew we were alright.....they were my angels....I will never forget them.....

Braelyn only had a rug burn from her car seat strap and I only had a concussion and  some bumps and bruises....We were so blessed to be walking away from that accident....

Since then, from talking to the witnesses and state patrol, I did the best that I could given the circumstances....otherwise other vehicles would have been involved...we were definitely being watched over and so blessed to be here today!  I am so grateful for all those who stopped and for the friends and family that have been so helpful after the accident....life is precious!

right after the medics got there

getting checked out by the paramedics

Seeing the car after it had been turned rightside up

Family Photos

I have to be one of the worst bloggers, 9 months I think was my last post, our little girl is growing up so quick I wish I time would just stop for a moment! We were able to take some amazing pictures with the fantastic photographer Jen Herem with Jen Herem Photography we were blessed to be one of the winners in a contest she had for a free photo shoot. Otherwise we wouldn't have been able to afford pictures at the time. So thank you for everyone who helped us get the photo shoot, we love you all! Here a couple of the pictures from it....

9 months

My baby is 9 months!  She is so cute and getting so big... but still a little squirt!  Here is what she is up to now:

• Weighs in at 14 lbs 8 oz
• Height is 27"
• She loves to dance, anytime she hears music she shakes it
• She says mom and dad and knows who we are
• She just learned what a cow says
• She loves her dog rookie and rookie loves her
• She has a fake cry, and knows the word no
• She likes to clean and likes to make messes
• She has been crawling for a few weeks and gets faster everyday
• She tries to stand up
• She sleeps through the night
• She knows how to climb out of her car seat
• She mumbles to us like we know what she is saying
• She loves to play copy cat
• She will pick up my cell phone and talk to it

This video was when she was almost 7 months old of her dancing, she will now hear music anywhere and start dancing it is so cute!  Love her!



VOTE for BRAE

We entered a contest to win family photos and need your help by voting for our little girl to vote you have to click on "like" on Jen Herem Photography on Facebook and then in the cutest kid contest photo album click "like" on this picture of Brae here is the link:

VOTE FOR BRAE

or if that doesn't work here is what you copy and paste in your browser:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/album.php?id=173387622683711&aid=41476&closeTheater=1

Thanks for all your help!  Gather your friends and family we would love the support!

Photos

Quick Post...Brae and I had the opportunity to "model" for JJ Cole Diaper Bag company.  I say "model" because we had such a blast doing it.  JJ Cole's Diaper Bags are so cute and have so many fun things about them.  I wish I would have known about their company sooner and I would have purchased one before Brae came.  They have a lot more things than just Bags so check them out if you are looking for something cute and affordable.  Here is the photographer's website who took the pictures.  Her name is Julie and she is does amazing work!  It was so fun!  julieparkerphotography.blogspot.com

Taking a look at our 2010

This is a very brief look back on what we did in the year 2010, of what I can remember.  We were busy all of the time and hope that 2011 we will be able to relax a bit more and enjoy our little family and friends!  So here is what we have been up to:

January 2010

• Got the keys to our first home
• Started a full remodel on day one (Stripped the house down to the bones, tore out all carpet, changed the layout, knocked down walls, added walls, added a shower, tore out all plumbing and electrical...)
  
  
  
  

February 2010

• Remodeling continues (Added insulation, ran new plumbing, electrical, gas lines for appliances, sanded and stained two rooms hardwood floors, drywall, trim, paint, put in new carpet in the bedrooms)
• Baby belly starts to show
• Jake returns from his mission

March 2010

• Still Remodeling (More painting, put in new tub and tiled shower and bathroom floor)
• Moved into home (still under construction)
  
  
  

April 2010

• Started to have contractions every 5 minutes apart non stop til baby was delivered (got sent home from the hospital 4 times).  Each time the nurses didn't believe me, hooked me up and had to give me a drug to "try" to stop the contractions, they still were consistent and I was sent home to labor...for a month and a half!
• Went on bed rest and had to quite work earlier than expected (I wanted to work up to the day I delivered)
• Finally got a shower up and running in the house! (We had to shower at my parents....never going to do that again!), installed tile in mudroom & kitchen, finished the fireplace, still putting the house back together.

May 2010

• Still remodeling 
• Still in labor
• One week before having the baby I was on all 4s, wait all 5 if you count my belly on the ground, helping grout and seal our amazing kitchen tile...Brian tried all he could to get me to rest, but I didn't want to miss a beat of the remodel!
• Tried everything and I mean EVERYTHING to get the baby to come out...you name it, I tried it!
• Got induced on May 12th and our baby girl arrived after 3 hours of pushing at 11:10pm just in time to share her birthday with her daddy! 
• One week after we had Brae, Brian got his tonsils removed and was on leave for two weeks (It was nice to have him home to be with Brae when she was so little, but it was a challenge taking care of Brae and Brian, but totally worth every minute of it!
• Two weeks after having Brae I went to back to work (only for an hour to train and had Brae with me)
• Brian's Best friend Kyller and my friend Heather got Married!  I was able to do the flowers for them, we did them up at Heathers parents home and it was the first time I was away from Brae

June 2010

• We celebrated our 2nd year anniversary!
• Went to Lake Powell (six weeks after having a baby and in a swim suit...I did sit ups two days after being home from the hospital from having Brae, and everyday after that...note to self, probably not the best idea...but well worth it in the end!)
  
  
  

July 2010

• Went back to work part time, I get to bring Brae to work, such a blessing!
• Installed the kitchen cabinet boxes (doors to come when we decide what color...its too hard!)
• Braelyn's first parade, fireworks, etc. We love July and all the holidays!

August 2010

• Braelyn's first horse race (Brian's grandparents have horses that they race and we love going up to Idaho to watch them!)
• I got Brae to get in the lake with me...or well made her get in with me, she didn't like it so much

September 2010

• Still Remodeling the house
• Braelyn started to eat baby food and is sitting up by herself!
• My brother Jake got engaged to Jess who is sisters to Heather who married Brian's best friend Kyller...So Brian and Kyller are finally going to be distantly related by marriage
• Brian's Grandparents had their 60th wedding anniversary  

 October 2010

• Remodeling has slowed due to lack of funds, we have been doing things as they come, it is getting so close to being done, but there are so many little things that just keep adding up...Every time we are in lowes and we are at the check register Brian says add it to my tab....haha hopefully someday soon this will be done!

November 2010

• My brother Jake got married to Jessica in the Salt Lake Temple!  I did the flowers for her wedding, I hope to start that up again sometime soon!
• Got a kitchen sink!  Still remodeling!

December 2010

• Jacquelyn had knee surgery and in two months hopes to start training to run again!
• Braelyn claps her hands, plays peek a boo with pulling a blanket over her own head, and she dances every time music comes on!  She is going to be a dancer like her mommy!
• Our first Christmas with Braelyn
• First time having Santa visit our house, Christmas is SO different when you have a child in the home, its hard to explain how special it is!
• Still Remodeling...we hope to be able to finish it with the money we get back from taxes and hope to have an open house to show our friends and family all of our hard work (Blood, Sweat, and Tears have gone into this home!)

Keepin her clean

Normally Braelyn hates, i mean absolutely hates getting her nose cleaned.  We were trying to clean out her nose tonight and this is what she did, luckily we had a camera near by and hurried and turned it on...she always makes us smile!