I’ve had a few requests to post pictures from our trip. So I finally got the picture uploader (thank you Genuine and Shylah) that allows pictures. I just first wanted to show updated pictures of the kiddos. HG is on the right. The other is Genuine Niece. Where has the time gone?

They are growing like weeds! The middle picture is of HG and HB when he was about 1 and she was about 6. *sniff

This is a current picture of HB now that he’s lost two teeth. He was very proud of losing that tooth.
So there you have it….the kids growing up.

The phone rang. I woke up thinking I was dreaming. Yes it really was the phone. I looked at the clock. It read 3:27 am. YIPES. “This can’t be good” was my exact thought.
“Hi…it’s mom.”
“um…Hi mom. What’s up? Is dad ok?” Not really wanting to know the answer I listened with squinty eyes. For some reason it seems to lessen the blow. “Your house flooded. It’s under quite a bit of water. Everything downstairs and 1/2 of the upstairs is destroyed.” That moment of silence felt like fifty years. “It’s only materialistic stuff. Just grab the pictures, my wedding dress and the rest can be replaced.”
This was about day 9 in our trip. After that it was a little hard to consentrate. We just decided to let it ride and enjoy our time. And we did.
We arrived back in town to sleep in yet another hotel. 3 days after arrival I was looking at the grill of a semi truck going about 40-45 miles per hour. I found myself yelling words that I do not usually use. “DUDE, SERIOUSLY!!! I HAVE A GREEN LIGHT??!! WHAT THE WORLD DUDE???!!” I personally have not used the word, “Dude” since I was 12. I felt my life flash before my eyes. And then I saw my daughter’s life flash before my face. I had both of my children in the car with me. “Oh God please keep them safe!” was my pleading as I hit the semi head on for us. It all happened so fast. As we hit I heard HG scream, “Mommy I AM HURT! HELP ME HELP ME MOMMY I AM HURT BAD.” I still hear that even 12 days later in my dreams. I wake up in a cold sweat and look over in the passenger’s seat and see HG. The terror in her eyes I can’t get rid of the images. I heard nothing from HB which is unusual. I went back to check to see if HB was ok. He would not speak. His eyes were wide in fear. I looked over at HG and see that I accidentally threw my arm out to break her from hitting the dash. I punched her in the head. My heart lunged as I saw that she was bleeding and absolutely unconsolable. The lady that was behind me stopped and called 911 and issued her statement. She proceeded to tell the driver of the semi off as he approached to find out if we were ok. He of course would not admit that he had turned in front of oncoming traffic.
I turned around and saw HG’s eyes and noticed that she was starting to go into panic. I called 911. They came as fast as they could and took her away. I refused to let her go without me but also knew I had to deal with HB. The 911 operator called my parents and let them know we had been in an accident. She didn’t say if we were ok. The person on the phone also told my mother that only 2 were found in the car. My mother started to panic. They raced over and stayed with HB as I went with HG in the ambulance.
After all of these things that have happened we have not had a moment to return calls, update on our trip, or return emails. We hope that right now we can call on you for prayers. We are all “ok” sort of. This has been a lesson in what is really important. No house, no car yet we still have each other. We have enough…we are blessed beyond measure.

PICTURES HERE OF THE CAR VIA KAREN

*started this post on 8-8