My Car Accident.

Pictured here is my beautiful car (Audi A6 Avant, with third row of seating)that we purchased 2 months ago, put new tires on it two weeks ago. We bought it to accommodate all the children that I am watching. I really loved this car, it was in our price range and pretty luxurious.

Two days ago I got in a head on collision, my sister Madalynn was riding shotgun and then I had all seats occupied with five more children, all in car seats (or seat belts, depending on their size) luckily.

So here is the story....

I was driving West on south temple. There are two lanes headed west and I was in the left one. My lane was pretty much car less, I had about 50 feet behind and in front of me before any cars. The right lane however was backed up and someone had left a space for the "other car in this story" to come out of a side street. When I noticed the space I started to slow down, even though I could not see if there was a car there, just to be cautious. Unfortunately that did not matter, the "other car" pulled out of the street to go left, for whatever reason she did not slow at the gap in the cars to check the second lane, she actually pulled into my lane a bit cause me to hit her head on. Well head on for me, more front and fender for her car. Both air bags deployed and smoke filled the car. Madalynn was screaming " I can't see!", I was unsure if the car was on fire or it was just the airbags, so without even a moment to think about it I reached over, opened Madalyn's door and said to her "get out!", then I went to the back door and told Josh and Anastatia to hurry and carefully go to the grass. Then I went to the side door where I had three screaming babies and began to unbuckle my sister Isabella since she was closest to me as I did so there was a bystander talking to the other crash victim. I asked him in a stern voice to please help get the babies out. He reached in for Clara while I handed Isabella off to a total stranger and reached for the middle to get Patrick. We all got out safely and as soon as I sat down I was able to keep all of the babies calm (as long as the strangers stayed away). I was very close to crying, but held back to try to help calm Madalynn and Satia who were frantic. Madalynns face was completely swollen to where her eyes were barley able to open. As a nurse helped Madalynn someone asked me about my arm, I told them "I don't want to look at it yet, It can only make things worse, I need to stay calm". I had Clara in that arm rocking her back and forth and Patrick on my lap. Josh was calm and quiet the whole entire time, I don't think he cried once. I tried many times to get individuals to find my phone, which none could do. I tried a strangers phone to find anyone who could give me Angie's (Clara's mom) number. When I couldn't find one person to answer there phone, including Trevor, I left the babies and went to search the car unsuccessfully myself. Finally I got a hold of Nate and called Angie, I also got a hold of Mike and my parents. Trevor who was supposed to meet me at my parents house and found out there was an accident when he arrived at my parents house. There were many times that I nearly passed out. When everyone had arrived to help with the kids and I knew they were all safe I found myself fighting consciousness even more. At this point I did start to cry, not due to the pain because I was numb from head to toes, it was due to it hitting me that we didn't have health insurance, it ended the day before, and we had liability only insurance. At one point me mom reminded me that since the accident was not my fault I would not have to pay for it, so that was helpful. They wanted to take me by ambulance to the hospital, thinking financially and the hospital was three blocks away, I told them I would rather walk then pay for the ambulance ride, I got criticized for my decision to not take the ambulance by many people, including at the hospital...Trevor was cutest driver I know anyway, so we took the Camry.

After being at the hospital for six hours I found I have nothing broken. I had to have a tetanus shot, which I am finding extremely painful right now, I had to cry it out a little this morning. We had to put my arm in a splint. Besides an incredibly sore black and blue body and the skin missing on my arm that is now replaced by the Audi symbol on the steering wheel and the lack of sleep due to the pain and my husband having to get me dressed. I am doing great, and I don't mean that sarcastically. Madalynns face has lost some swelling. And everyone else walked away unscathed. We are incredibly blessed that it wasn't worse. So what is next for us? I am not quite sure...experiences like this sure do remind you of what is important, even though I already knew, every night I thank my Heavenly Father for them.