Sunday, January 24, 2010

What an experience

Ok, so I had an event happen today that I decided I had to blog about. It was quite the eye opening experience for me and I don't think I have ever in my life felt the way I felt today.

As some of you know a couple of months ago I found a really cheap ticket online to fly out and visit my friend Kelli in California, so this past week I drove down to Boise, Idaho; left Austin and Brooklyn with my family and Talon I went on a little trip together. I won't go into much detail about the trip...it was definitely fun seeing Kelli, Jeremy and adorable little Kalylie, but let's just say the second day I was there Kalie got the flu, and then two days later Kelli got the flu so we pretty much just stayed indoors and played. (Oh and the weather was crazy, rained like sheets all week as well..so that just added to the funness..haha)It was still fun to catch up with Kelli and Courtney though, I swear we don't see each other for years and when we get together it's like we're back in high school all over again.
ANYWAYS, so yesterday I flew back into Boise, picked up my kiddos and made the long 6 hour drive home today. We came upon Treamonton and I was having one of those moments where the kids were crying, we were tired of driving and we all just needed a little break. So I was getting ready to take the next exit when I look up and see a red SUV in the opposite lane on the other side of the median rolling and coming right at me. I pulled over ASAP to watch this car roll three times and land upside down in the snow filled median. I saw the passenger in the car as it was rolling (that's how close she was to me) and could tell she was a young girl but couldn't tell if anyone else was in the car with her. I jumped out of my car along with two truck driving guys. Both of the men started digging the snow out to get down to her and literally had to get flat on their stomachs to start pulling her out. I'm standing about 5 feet away not really knowing what to do and as soon as they get her head and shoulders out she starts screaming at me to GET HER BABY OUT!!! Panic swept over me because the snow was completely filled with snow and I didn't see a baby. I had on my dumb clog shoes that kept falling off because the snow in the Median was up to my waist so I just kicked them off and started running towards the back seat. The mom was pointing towards a handle looking thing so me and a man pulled on it at out popped a car seat....filled with snow. I brushed the snow off right in time to hear a piercing NEWBORN baby crying, and sure enough a tinny tiny baby boy is in the car seat crying like crazy.(he was FOUR WEEKS OLD) I knew it was a good sign he was crying so I got him out of his car seat, took him to my car and wrapped him in blankets. (Now may I remind you that I was gone for 10 days so I had all my luggage in my car...blankets, clothes, shoes, onesies from Talon, etc...so it was a huge blessing. They got the mom to my car and she was HYSTERICAL. There was another lady that pulled over that happened to be a nurse so checked her and the baby out and they both seemed to be ok. Except that the baby had glass all over him and the mom had a huge cut behind her ear and was bleeding everywhere. She checked the baby out and told me to take off his wet clothes and change him into some of Talons, which drowned him of course but I was happy to have them with me, then wrapped him up into one of Austin's big flannel Thomas blankets. I had extra shoes for the mom, gave her a jacket and just waited for the ambulance to come. It got there..which seemed like FOREVER, and I just held that baby., picking glass out of his hair, wondering how such a little thing didn't have a scratch on him. They both ended up being ok, mom just had some pretty bad bumps and bruises and needed some stitches. But as soon as I bundled that little baby up he fell right asleep in my arms (which I wasn't sure was ok but the EMT guy said he was fine) and I seriously just said prayer after prayer thanking my Heavenly Father that I didn't come upon something worse and that this poor little family was ok. The ambulance took them to the hospital (oh and I have to add, my sweet Austin told the little baby he could keep his blanket..which I thought was really sweet because it was his favorite) and after they took off...I lost it.
I seriously sat in my car and bawled like a baby. In the moment I was all about helping, getting things under control, and as soon as they left I'm pretty sure I went into shock. Ben called me right as that happened and I was so emotional I couldn't even talk...which pretty much freaked him out until he understood why and then was just concerned about ME getting home in one piece. I did just that, and then hung onto him and my kids like no other the rest of the night.

I think sometimes I go through phases in my life where I just try to get through the day, take things for granted sometimes, and I don't really stop to look at everything I have and how amazing my life really is. I have never had more of an understanding of how fast that can all be taken away from me and how fragile life really is until I witnessed this today. Sometimes we all start feeling sorry for ourselves, think about if we could have this or that..but the only thing that matters is the now and what we do with it. I think of all of the people in Haiti and how scared they must be right now..I can't even imagine.
Anyways, what a scary eye opening experience this was for me today, but one that happened to me for a reason for sure. And one that I will never forget.

12 comments:

Kami Satterlee said...

Wow amazing story. How scary for you to witness that I wouldn't know what to do and would probably freak out! Thanks for sharing, It makes us all stop and think about our families:) Hope the pregnancy is going well. I did order one of those utterhider thingies thanks so much for sending the link! I ran into your mom while she was watching your kiddos this last week and chatted for a bit (she didn't know who I was, so I hope she doesn't think I'm crazy) Anyways, glad you made it home safe!

Carrie said...

Thank you so much for sharing I cried my eyes out of course, but definately grateful you shared I am glad you made it home ok.

Unknown said...

Whoa. That is so scary. It sounds like you were in the right place at the right time. I' m so glad you made it home safe, that is a yucky drive. What a blessing for that Mom to have you there.

Jenn said...

That's so scary. I'm glad everyone was ok. You are so brave and strong for helping them so well. And I am sure the mother knows that you were a blessing for her that day! How neat that you got to be part of something so scary and helped make it better. And I'm so glad it helped you learn a lesson on how blessed your sweet little family is. I think we all need that more often.

Kristen said...

Hey Aubrey, this is Kristen from high school. First of all congrats on the pregnancy! And second of all what you had to do on your way home is insane! I have a new baby boy that is almost 4 months old and so was bawling of course when I read this. I live in California too and this past week when it was practically a monsoon out here I had to drive all over the place (californian's DO NOT know how to drive in the rain!) and the thought crossed my mind more then once what would happen if we wrecked. I would be screaming too for someone to get my baby out. I can't even imagine that happening with a newborn! Scary!! Good thing you were there. And hopefully next time you come to CA it will actually be sunny :)

KWK Clan said...

Wow, that is amazing. I am sure she was glad you were there. You were in the right place at the right time. I need eye openers every once in a while too, I think we all do. Glad you and your family are ok and back safe!

Lisa said...

Wow Aubrey! I am so glad the mom and baby were okay. I'm sure they were so happy you were there with everything they needed. What a blessing. I'm glad you guys are safe and sound. It makes me want to hive my kids a huge hug.

Ashley said...

Oh Aubrey that is so scary. I am sitting here crying. That would be one of my worst fears. I am so glad everything was ok and how amazing that you were able to help. Good reminder of how luck y we are to have what we have and not take a day for granted. Thanks for sharing!!

The Dunns said...

Aubs-
I love you! I am so glad you were there for that sweet mom and her tiny tiny baby. I can't even imagine how scary that would be. I got all emotional reading it! I am so glad you guys made it safe as well. We love you tons! love-car

Kurt and Michelle said...

Aubrey-
That is so amazing! What a blessing to that little family that a mother with a baby boy herself and extra clothes was the first one to stop and help. What a neat (and I am sure scary) experience.

Anonymous said...

I'll admit I usually don't read a lot on others blogs, just look at pics, but gosh Im so glad I started reading that story! I can't imagine being there, shes so lucky to have had you to help. I almost went off the road in a storm going to Idaho last week! How scary!!!! I just prayed and prayed, then went about 40 the rest of the way. Thanks for sharing such an eye opening experience

Anonymous said...

ps how do you get your due date count down on your blog? I clicked on yours, but I don't want to have to sign up for all the stuff on that website. Is there another way? Nic