An Update of Sorts!

I have been hiding from my blog.

I could also say that I have been unbelievably busy and distracted with the events that have sort of turned our life upside down over the past few weeks… but really I’ve just been in hiding in general. Actually, maybe more like holing up or hunkering down… Mainly just trying to help my little guy get better and amazingly enough, HE IS GETTING BETTER!!

So, tonight I thought I would write down a few of the details from the accident, if anything to have them for our little family journal, that is this blog.

It’s not something that you really want to remember, but it’s also something you don’t want to forget. Meaning: It’s hard and sad that it almost takes something traumatic to really slap you in face and remind you of the single most important thing in life, but it’s also amazing and humbling to see the overflow of love, support, concern, prayers, calls, thoughts, messages, acts of kindness etc… I am truly overwhelmed and beyond grateful for it all and don’t ever want to forget it.

Saturday, March 6^th however is a different story. In short, Blake and Braden were headed to a Saturday morning basketball game. The were in Ballantyne heading north on Johnston road when a teenager failed to yield coming out of a median in the Ballantyne Country club. They hit hard. Blake's car is totaled. Poor Braden's lips/lower face were torn up. Although he was in his car seat and buckled in, the force of the hit threw him pretty hard into the front passenger seat causing lacerations by his teeth.

I got a call a few minutes after it happened. Blake told me an accident had happened and then threw his phone to a bystander to explain a bit more. I was already on my way into Ballantyne for a baby shower, so I booked it as quickly as I could to get down there, I however, was not prepared arriving to the scene. I freaked out when I saw a fire truck and ambulance… and the car. There was glass and blood everywhere… it was just crazy.

I saw Braden for the first time in the ambulance. His face was all bloody and he was in shock… seriously it was a mother's worse nightmare. I was crying and wanted to scream but the EMT said I would have to pull it together. We tried to keep him stable all the way to hospital uptown. He went from the ER, to radiology (catscans etc..) Then immediately had plastic surgery to sew up his lip as well as laparoscopic surgery in the abdomen due to major abdominal bruising and bleeding. He had a fractured nose, and his poor little face was swollen and black and blue.

Thankfully Blake was okay, just bruised and sore and his knee got banged up a bit. He was released from the ER after a few hours and we stayed with Braden for 3 days until they let him come home.

My Mom and Sister Camille, drove all day Sunday to get here. Blake’s parents were on their way home from a cruise and drove to be there Saturday night. We had help w/ Gavin from fantastic church friends and really had so many prayers and thoughts with us, that we could feel it.

Of course the best news was that everything is going to be okay. What has been amazing to me is how quickly the physical wounds are healing. Braden was/and has been such a trouper. The hospital was again, a bit of a nightmare, but who can blame a 4 year-old… I can only imagine what was going on in his head!

Anyway, we made it home from the hospital last Monday and though it's been up and down... it could've been worse so we are grateful for that. His face is looking so good, the pain has been minimized. We go back to the plastic surgeon next week to finalize things with that. His swelling and bruising is almost gone!!! Emotionally we're still on a roller coaster but that is definitely expected!! I have had such great help with Gavin (thank you thank you friends) and the BEST neighbors helping with meals. We’ve had packages and goodie baskets, crafts and deliveries all throughout the week and you can only imagine how much that has helped lift Braden’s spirits. Again, he has been such a trouper!!

I cannot express my gratitude enough. You never expect or hope to be on this end, but it does give you a humbling view of how wonderful it is to be loved and supported by so many.

I hope this post didn’t scare anyone! Just wanted to write out the story. Also, I’m posting a few pictures from day 5 on out. Definitely not going to post the ones from the first few days. Thank you again to anyone who has prayed, helped and supported in any way!

On a final happy note... we had a surprise visit from Darth Vader himself! You can't even imagine how excited/happy Braden was. Star Wars is what has been literally getting him through each day, so this was the icing on the cake! (A huge thanks to our fabulous neighbor who makes being a fan look good)!!