Well, as you can see...we had quite an adventure on the way home from Jonesboro last night. We were entering onto the on ramp of the highway near Newport when the road was completely covered with smoke. A farmer was burning his wheat fields and it was getting too close to the highway. It was like we were in a yellow cloud. We heard a loud crashing sound and wondered what in the world had happened. As the smoke cleared a bit we could see that 2 semi's had run into each other right beside us. We veered to the left and got out of their way and thought that we were in the clear...through the smoke....and then we were hit from behind by another semi. It was so scary and Payton was crying, and in moments like these you almost come out of yourself, become calm, and then come back to reality. Payton was fine, there were vegetables all over the place because I had been feeding her in the back seat....but we were all fine, or so we thought. 2 cars stopped behind us and they were girls from my conference. It was so amazing to see familiar faces...they could take Payton and we could try to get ourselves together. Except my neck was hurting a little, so the paramedics looked at me, and as soon as I said that my neck hurt I was whisked away to the board with a neck collar (the first picture). Quite a unique experience for sure. I didn't want them to take me to the hospital, I really thought I was fine, but we went just for precaution. And I am glad that we did. There are tons of funny circumstances now that we look back from the Newport Hospital.....like the pregnancy test that took forever...that was negative...whew..to the many other oddities...but we came out with a fracture of my C4 vertebrae. Nice. I have now broken my neck. After talking with some doctors (thank you Bradley) the hospital decided to release me (and not transfer me to LR by ambulance) if I would go see an orthopedist the next day. So they looked for 30 minutes for a C collar for my neck only to find out that I already had one on. Great!
We are at home in LR now at my parents house, and Brian has driven down to be with us, and all in all we are doing fine...His grace is sufficient. Below are some pics from the wreck and me getting fitted for a new collar because the other one was majorly uncomfortable. I will explain them.....but thank you to everyone for all of your prayers and calls. They have been so wonderful. I have the best friends ever!
Here is me on the stretcher. It was not as scary as it looks because at this point I was thinking these people were crazy.
You can see the smoke in the background, and it doesn't look that bad, but the wind had carried it right across the road and you could see nothing in front or beside you...or behind obviously.
Here is the back of my car- they had to pry the trunk open, but thank goodness we weren't going very fast or we would have been smashed to pieces.
This is probably about 10:45 at night and I finally got to sit up after being on the back board since about 5:30.....thank you! Payton had just woken up, and all I could do is just hold her on my lap. I wanted to squeeze her so bad- she is so precious to me! Notice the uncomfortable plastic collar that digs into your ears.....
And here is the better one....we love it! And I think you all might need to get used to seeing it because I think I will be wearing it for awhile.....we will find out on Monday and I will let you know what the Dr. says....Love you all!
The gang was all there...I can't believe that we got them all to sit still for a picture!
Payton and the Birthday boy.....Happy Birthday Wyatt!
Playing bubbles with Daddy on Granjann's back deck...
Getting into a little trouble in the flower pots...she loved how the dirt felt so we just let her go at it....
On Tuesday we went and spent the afternoon at Brian's parents, Payton got to swim in the pool with Granna Sue...she is such a water baby! I can't wait to be able to get back in the water with her...
Here is me on the stretcher. It was not as scary as it looks because at this point I was thinking these people were crazy.
You can see the smoke in the background, and it doesn't look that bad, but the wind had carried it right across the road and you could see nothing in front or beside you...or behind obviously.
Here is the back of my car- they had to pry the trunk open, but thank goodness we weren't going very fast or we would have been smashed to pieces.
This is probably about 10:45 at night and I finally got to sit up after being on the back board since about 5:30.....thank you! Payton had just woken up, and all I could do is just hold her on my lap. I wanted to squeeze her so bad- she is so precious to me! Notice the uncomfortable plastic collar that digs into your ears.....
And here is the better one....we love it! And I think you all might need to get used to seeing it because I think I will be wearing it for awhile.....we will find out on Monday and I will let you know what the Dr. says....Love you all!
They had a picnic outside under a big shade tree...Payton was eating her green beans, and she kept her glasses on her head the whole time! She is such a momma's girl!
Payton enjoying her bath in the hotel. She is such a water baby!
Payton looking at the blueberry bushes....they were not quite ready....
When it was time to leave, Payton helped my mom load up the car. She drover her little car all the way down the hall, onto the elevator, and then down into the lobby! What a big helper!
Payton giving Presley some lovin for her b-day...
What a great idea! One of PK's b-day gifts was a pool! They just plopped her right in the middle and then you can just rinse it all away! No mess!
She was pretty delicate about the cake at first. She really just wanted to use it to paint her legs!
But then her cousin Will who is 14 months got in on the action. It was hilarious! He dove right in like he was bobbing for apples....I can't wait to see what Payton does!
All the cousins on the boat....
Payton and her "Aunt Erin" at the pool. The pool at the resort was great because it had an beach type entrance so Payton could walk around in the water or get in her float and float where it was a little deeper.
Picture of the infinity pool and the lake in the background. It was so pretty!
Payton and her Aunt Casey on the boat.
Payton is floating in the lake! She kicked her legs and loved it for about 10 minutes....the the life jacket became a little too consuming so we put her back on the boat. But I am so glad that she had that experience!
Payton and her Granna Sue and Granddad....helping him drive the boat (at the dock :) )
We ate dinner the last night at The Pier on Lake Travis. We sat outisde by the boats and the water. Payton did so good staying up 2 hours past her bedtime!
Payton and Daddy eating breakfast on the airplane...
Payton and Daddy were relaxing during our long layover....
Payton eating lunch on the airplane....she was such a big girl eating on the tray!
On Thursday Morning we woke up early and headed to the airport for our family trip to Austin! It was Payton's first airplane ride and she did amazing! She ate her banana and oatmeal on the first flight and then took a quick nap. We didn't even have to get her toys out of the bag! When we got to Atlanta, our flight was cancelled. I was a little nervous about the extended layover that we now had, but she took another nap in her stroller and then it was lunch time when we were on our second flight. She ate lunch and luckily we had a 3 seat row and so she sat in the middle and played. She was a loud talker the whole flight, but never shed a tear! Way to go!
