Monday, October 18, 2010

Reflecting back part 1......

On October 7, 2009 our lives changed. I still remember the day so clearly. We were driving down the road in pouring down rain and I had considered telling Dustin to pull over, but little did I know that wasn't meant and you'll see why a little later in the post. Next thing I knew we were laying upside down in the car and I couldn't find my kids, I hope no one ever has to experience that, and I couldn't keep my husband conscience. I didn't care who was around me or who heard me, I was calling out to the Lord to please spare my husband because he was lost and to please help my kids. I remember looking up at one point and seeing Dustin's phone laying there and I grabbed it and was gonna call someone but just hesitated because I didn't want them to panic on the phone with me cause I myself was already in a panic. They wouldn't tell me anything about the kids other than Konnor was ok and they were working on Kensley, but I had no idea of the extent of it. Apparently I was up against the culvert so no one could get over to that side of the car and at first they didn't even know I was in there and I was trying to scream and tell them, but it was hard to holler, I just didn't have the breath, but thank the Lord someone heard me. I helped them unbuckle Dustin so they could pull him out. Then they were able to get me out. The pain was so unbearable, it hurt to breathe or move.

I was asking for my kids, but they kept telling me that I had to go to the hospital and that they were being taken care of. They put me and Dustin in the same ambulance together and about the only thing I remember of the ride was thinking if I can just go off to sleep cause it hurt so bad to breathe. I remember holding Dustin's hand on the way and telling him I love you. We had no concept of the time frame that all of this was going on. They took Dustin to the same hospital that the kids were at and I was left by myself. The weather had gotten bad so they just decided that they would just transport me by ambulance, which was at least an hour away. I was still on the back board and still had a neck brace around me and it was all so uncomfortable.

We went through numerous x-rays and scans, but all came back good. Thank you Lord! Once we arrived at the ER at the same hospital as the kids Dustin was given a phone to call someone. He got a hold of his mom and dad, but they were so upset that she passed the phone over to Bro. Steve Mahathey, I remember talking to him briefly. At that point me and Dustin were in separate rooms but we could see each other through the window. Sis. Mindy Holman and Sis. Heather Riggins came to stay with me in the ER and the Lord came by and I'm so thankful for that. Holly and Heather were also vacationing at the beach and were able to get to my kids and stay with them. Uncle Leonard was with Dustin. They moved us to rooms and I was able to get me a shower with some help from Sis. Jenny Harkins, bless her heart, but at that point I didn't care. I had mud madded all up in my hair and all over me. They didn't allow me to go see Dustin, it was over in the morning by this time and I just had to go to my room cause both of us were sharing with other pts. Friends and family started pouring in, the support was so overwhelming. I never would have dreamed all of those people would come to see us, but they did and I don't know what we would have done without them there.

We rested for a couple of hours and the next morning they wheeled Konnor up to see us. It was such a great feeling to see him there and doing well, just a little sore. I remember just hugging him and crying. They came in and discharged me so I went over to sit with Dustin until they discharged him. I didn't want to go alone to see Kensley, we really had no idea how bad she was, most of it had been kept from us. Once Dustin was discharged we immediately went to see Kens. I can still remember the first time we saw her, it was just heartbreaking seeing her lay there with all of her hair cut off and tubes running everywhere. She was just lifeless and I was just helpless. All we could do was wait. We then headed to Konnor's room to visit and soon after he was discharged. There are so many details that I feel sometimes I could write a book. To go back a little, Konnor had some cuts that were pretty bad and they thought he might have to get some stitches, and he heard them talking about it and began to pray that he wouldn't have to and the nurse came back and said he didn't. The Lord hears their prayers and I'm so thankful he knew to pray about it. I want my kids to know that the Lord can give them whatever they need.

Here is a pic of how Kens started out. This picture doesn't do justice of how she really looked. I go back to those days so many times and am so thankful that he carried us. And I do mean he carried us, I look back and think we were upset and didn't know what to do, but I find myself struggling more over it now than I did then and I know it was the prayers and the prescence of the family and the Children of God that helped us through each day. We only went one day out of the whole eight weeks that we didn't have any visitors. What a blessing to know that we have such great family in the Lord.



I'm going to make this part 1 of my post and finish it up maybe tomorrow or before the week is up.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Ok so I'm a little late to getting around to this, but I have been out of blog world for the past couple of days, so here goes:


Fall Questions...

1. Do you like Starbucks? no, I just think it smells really good :)

2. How do you decorate and prepare for Fall? I normally don't do a lot of fall decorating, I love the colors, but just have never really gotten anything much to decorate with, but now Christmas is another story.

3. Will you participate in your college's homecoming activities? never went to college

4. What is your favorite Fall clothing item or accessory? Boots and sweaters

5. What was your favorite Halloween costume as a kid? I have absolutely no clue. I never remember what I dressed as. I know I went. I'm old people. Give me a break!

6. Do you like Halloween/Horror movies? No not really, most of them are so gorry that they don't even seem real, but on the other hand some are too real that I just can't watch them.

7. What is your favorite Fall activity? I love going to the Smokies this time of year and letting the kids carve pumpkins and the family gatherings.

8. What is your favorite Fall recipe? soups

Quick questions...

1. What movie coming out soon are you looking forward to seeing? I have no clue!
2. What will you miss most about Summer? not having to bundle everyone up before you leave to go somewhere.
3. When do you start your holiday shopping? usually not til the day after Thanksgiving, but I'm hoping maybe I can go ahead and start looking for some things now.
4. Favorite exercise/activity? Shopping....lol....I like this Marty so I think I will copy her answer!
5. Best book you've read lately? not read lately, but all time favorite book is The Notebook
6. Do you make your bed every day? Not everyday, but I have started trying to do better about it
7. If you could choose a personal chef or a personal shopper, which would you choose? definitely the chef!
8. Which TV show are you most excited for this Fall? Hmmm....let's see Greys Anatomy, Private Practice and The Good Wife are at the top of my list.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

I am thankful.....

.....going right along with everyone else's post today!

I'm thankful for my husband, who is also my very best friend.

I'm thankful for my kids who always brighten my day!

I'm thankful for my job, I have great co-workers to work with and great benefits.

I'm thankful for my home and that we have cars to drive and food to eat.

I'm thankful that the Lord spared all of our lives, things could have been so different.

I'm thankful of how far the Lord has brought Kensley and for what He is going to do for her in the future.

I'm thankful for my parents, they are always there when I call them and always willing to help me.

I'm thankful for my in laws, they are such wonderful people.

I'm thankful for my brother, he can be a pest sometimes, but I love him. And I'm thankful for all of my brother and sister in laws.

I'm thankful for my friends, they are always there to help when I need them or when I need a shoulder to cry on.

I'm thankful for my church, I couldn't ask for a better place to go.

And most of all I'm thankful for my salvation, I couldn't do anything without the Lord's help. I feel so small compared to most, but I want to do my little part.

Lastly, I want to share a picture of Kensley, she lost her front tooth yesterday at school while eating lunch, she looks so different with it gone now.


Friday, September 17, 2010

Blog giveaway

....ok so I am supposed to blog about the giveaway that Shelby has on her blog for a "whimsical design" for your blog. I'm blogging about this because I have to to get qualified in the drawing. Wish me luck!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Geek Day!

Today was Geek day at school and Konnor couldn't wait to dress up for it. Went to Wal-Mart last night and got him some glasses to wear and this is the outcome. He really plays the part well. I took these with my phone so they aren't that great, but Marty has some on her camera so maybe they will be better.



Saturday, September 11, 2010

....as everyone knows it has almost been a year since the accident and we are so thankful for how far the Lord has brought Kensley. We all want her to be completely well and sometimes I tend to have to recheck my patience on that, but I know it will come in His time. We are still so thankful for your continued prayers. But what I wanted to get on her and thank the Lord for is when our family went to the car to retrieve all of our belongings one of my worries was my camera and memory cards and they were found all in tact. But somehow in the mist of all the stuff going on somehow my initial memory card came up missing. I didn't do a lot of worry about it while we were in the hospital because that wasn't so important at the time, but after we got home and had time to settle in I began to look for it and couldn't find it anywhere. I was crushed, all the memories we had were what we could remember. I had one of my memory cards, but it only had I think the last day on there. The bin that had everything in it had been searched and searched so I just dismissed the fact that I was going to find it and put the bin in the attic. Well I had a yard sale today and decided I was going to go through my stuff in the attic and see what I could sell. I came back across that bin and thought well I will just look one more time. Well I didn't even have to look it was right there. I couldn't hardly believe my eyes. Over 300 pictures from Disney were found, I was estatic. It may seem small to some people but this was huge for me. I know the Lord had to have done that because I had tore that bin apart looking for that card, He is so gracious to us.

On another note, we had our yard sale today, and it was a hot one, my faces proves it. Needless to say I got me some sunshine today. We were selling away when I looked across the road and saw the rain coming. I told the others and we began to carry everything in the Jerome's shop. We got the most important stuff in just in time, but by the time we got the rest of it we were trenched from head to toe. We had a few more customers, but then decided to pack it all up. All in all we had a good turn out and made lots of $$$$.

We are now getting ready for church. It's 2nd weekend so hope everyone will come out and see us.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Couponing and Labor Day!

....well I did my first couponing this weekend. I was so overwhelmed with trying to figure out what was on sale, what I had a coupon for and where could I get a coupon. I think I was on the phone with Melia Saturday almost 30 minutes. I started trying to make a list but it just wasn't working for me. So I loaded Kensley up and we took off to Publix. Yes my first couponing experience was with a kid in tow, she actually did really good. I got lots of BOGO items and used a few coupons. So all in all for my first experience I think I did really well. I spent $106 and saved $78. Dustin thinks they just tell you that to make you feel good. He's just jealous, maybe I should let him try the grocery shopping one day.... :)

I got home Saturday from the grocery store and several were in and out of the house all day, but we don't mind, we love company. Saturday night we went to church and then had a few over afterwards to watch the Alabama game. Although it was really tough to stay awake, I'm sure I did doze a few times, but glad they won! Roll Tide! Sunday morning I was exhausted and we stayed home that morning and then church that night. After church we went to Red Lobster with Scott and Josie and altogether we had 6 kids with us to. They did good though...dinner was good, but the price wasn't so good. But what do you expect it was Red Lobster. And can someone tell Scott that the resturants don't care whether or not your party is made up of kids or adults, they are still going to charge you the gratuity. Yeah he wasn't so happy about it, but paid it anyway. Guess where we won't be going with Scott for awhile, yep you got it Red Lobster.

Monday we got up pretty early and Dustin had some things to do the new trailor that New Harmony got and then we headed up to the mountain (Gunters) to the church where they were grilling out and the kids played. We stayed for a couple of hours and then headed down to Scott and Josie's to visit for a while and then back home. Hilary and Daniel Mahan came over and Daniel and Dustin recorded a song that Daniel had written. They did a really good job. We enjoy them coming over, Hilary is a blast and Daniel coming over gives Dustin someone to enjoy playing music with.

Today was back to the grind at work and it was a rough one. We are getting new billing software, so we have started this week getting conversion ready for us to start training on it, which means my other work gets neglected. I tried working on it some later this afternoon, but didn't get near the things done that I needed to, but it will be there tomorrow, trust me no one is going to go in and do it for me. :( Well I hope everyone has a good week and we will talk to y'all soon!