The Car Accident

Friday, October 15th, 2010.

This was the day I was the most scared I have EVER been in my life.

The day started great, we went to the beach because we had tons of family in town. Now, I wasn't supposed to go, because the day before Dakota was diagnosed with a ruptured ear drum. And he was supposed to keep his ear dry for a few days. But I never listen. So we went anyways. We had a great day, splashing in the gulf and then back to the pool. We had to get Skylar home because it was her dads weekend so we left around 3:30. I figured this would give us enough time to get her home and showered before he came at 5pm.

We were traveling north on Pasadena. And for those of you who know me, you know my fear of bridges. I hate them. I constantly have dreams that I am falling off of a bridge in my car and I have to somehow get my kids out without drowning. I know this is awful, but it is my BIGGEST fear in life.

So we are starting to go over the bridge on Pasadena. I am trying to pay attention.

I hear a loud Screeeeeeeeeeching of tires. The SUV in front of me has slammed on his brakes. I have plenty of room to slam on mine. But...

My car keeps sliding. We were on the metal part of the drawbridge and we slide...

I knew we were going to impact the car in front, so I made a choice.

I swerved into the right lane.

BAM.

Hit once, car pushed into guard rail. My worst nightmare... OMGosh will it come true?? We were facing the water, I instantly looked back at Kota, his neck is not strong....

BAM.

Hit again. My head slams against the head rest. OWWWWWW. Dear Lord just get me off this bridge.

The second hit, pushed us back even with the road. I pushed the gas petal and made my way off the bridge. Panicked and crying I kept asking Skylar and Dakota is there were okay, did they have owwies? Everyone seemed fine, but my head was killing me. The woman who hit me pulled up next to me in her fancy SUV.

My first call was to LJ who had left 5 minutes before me. TURN AROUND we were just hit, I am so scared.

My second call was to 911. I was screaming crying and in a panic. The woman next to me rolled down her window, are you okay. Me - I hit my head pretty hard. She rolls her window back up and pulls up away from me.

Paramedics arrive, police arrive, LJ arrives. My head was spinning. Skylar was fine she said nothing hurt, she played her DS thru the whole accident. Thank God. Dakota cant tell me if he is okay. Though he appears to be fine, I still am paranoid about his neck. The ambulance takes Dakota and I to Bayfront. The woman drives away fine with a small dent in her front bumper, claiming to have errands to run. Yes, Seriously.

My grandparents came and picked up Skylar so she could go to her Dads as planned. I checked on her all weekend, she was fine.

At the hospital, LJ, his mom and dad and my mom all show up. I demanded they check out Dakota first. He was fine. no injuries. I was having cramping from the seat belt. Off to ultrasound with LJ. Little Eli had his hands behind his head all relaxed. Glad someone is relaxed i say to the tech.

All in all we are all okay. I have a huge Goose Egg behind my ear where I hit the head rest. Some back pain. But I am alive and I didn't face my worst fear. We made it off the bridge. My car was totalled. Undrivable.

Reality sets in. What am I going to do.

I called in my claim to my insurance just to find out, that my "full coverage" did not include collision. They will not cover my damage. Nor will the woman who hit me. They said it was my fault. My car was "out of control". I am stuck. I still owe about 10 payments on the car, and it isn't drivable. Seriously?

We went through several options, we tried to trade it in. Didn't work out. Tried to look up cars on Craigs List, didn't work out. took the car to our family mechanic - who we trust will all we have...

He tells us, that where the frame is bent, isn't really too bad. All we have to do is pull out the fender, and it will be okay for short trips. No highway. No driving over 45. No one sits on that side of the car.
If we get hit in that same spot it could be fatal. EEK. But it is fixable.

Today is Tuesday, October 19th, 2010.
LJ fixed the car, well kinda. It drives. It isn't pretty but it works. Everyone who knows me, knows how much I love my car. I am emotionally attached. and so very excited it is still mine and it still drives.

Praise the Lord for small miracles.



The accident:

The fix by LJ:

Please let this be a lesson, please check your insurance and make sure you have collision. It will save you THOUSANDS in the long run.

Praise the Lord for our lives. Praise the Lord for an answer, and quickly to our prayers.

Tampa Bays Annual BUDDY WALK - Raising Awareness for Down Syndrome

This is our 6th Year attending. This is our 4th Year winning a trophy for our shirts. YAY! We got first place this year. God gave me a mind of a genius, haha, just kidding. But he did deliver the idea to me and I ran with it.

So, the idea behind the shirt?

Dakota is going through this "thing". When he gets over stimulated he has these episodes. These episodes look very similar to seizures. We only know they are NOT seizures because we had him tested. Twice. His body stiffens his eyes roll back and he looks, well, just weird. We have gotten pretty used to them. but they happen everywhere, while I am grocery shopping, while we are dining out, when we are visiting friends, when we are at playgrounds. And people stare. They stare HARD. Some of them point and whisper. Some of them look appalled. It makes me feel like a circus freak show. And it isn't fair to my child. And I so badly want to walk up to them and say QUIT STARING, JUST ASK! Ask me what my son has, don't ask me what is wrong with him.
So, that saying, made it to the front of the shirt. IN Very Large PRINT. So those who stare can read it clearly. And on the back, are some of the top things I get asked, when they do ask.

Yes, Dakota has Down Syndrome
No, it is not a disease.
Yes, he is handicapped.
No, he is not retarded.
Yes, he is a sweet boy.
No, he is not sweet all the time.
Yes, we are very blessed.
No, we have no regrets.

You would be amazed at what people have come up and said or asked me. And my son is only 5. Imagine the people who have children with Down Syndrome who are much older. They have had many more years to be offended. When I told a few people about the design for this year, they said, "Well aren't you afraid of offending people?" UMMMM, Are they NOT offending me by staring?? Hmm, just saying...

So, this year we had a minor dilemma with our shirts. The woman who usually does them for us - cancelled. Which was not really a big deal, until it came down to crunch time and I had no idea what I was going to do.

This is when the Good Lord stepped in. Thank you Heavenly Father, I love you !!

An old friend of mine, with whom I haven't spoken to in over 6 years, popped up on my facebook. Saying he wanted to help. Wouldn't you know this man orchestrated a whole deal to get us shirts and have them paid for. He found people who didn't even know our family or know about Down Syndrome, or know about the Buddy Walk, to just donate money. Thank God for having people like that still out there. So a big shout out to all those who assisted us in our shirts this year!

The shirts came out awesome, but do you know what is more awesome??
Dakotas Dream Team DOUBLED in size this year!

Look at us all! What an impact we made! All of these peoples hearts have been softened to Dakota and the Down Syndrome cross he has to bear! How glorious!

If it weren't for all the people in this picture, I do not know how I would survive. They are AMAZING friends through and through! Thank you all for supporting us!

My Grandparents even came! They had just drove all the way down from Massachusetts, the previous night, Were exhausted, but still managed to make it bright and early the next morning! Thanks Nana and Papa L.

People say Ignorance is Bliss. But its really not. Its shameful. You know what is bliss??

Having Dakota in my life.

Thank you God for choosing me to be his mom. I wont let You down!



UPDATE: We made it into the Clearwater Gazette!
http://www.clearwatergazette.com/20101014/buddy.html
Check us out!

It's a ..... BABY!

Yesterday, October 4th, L.J. and I found out the sex of our baby.

Here is what happened - you know it wasn't just as easy as that, right?!?!

L.J. had to work that day, so my mom got to go with me. She says, " I am so excited I could pee my pants." Yes, she really did say that. Yes I really was embarrassed! We went to the imaging place, because my doctors office doesn't do it there. The nice woman who did the sonogram was so kind. Especially with my mother there jumping around like she had ants in her pants. She told me as I laid down that I am not far along enough, and she may not be able to tell the sex. UGH, disappointment, as this is the only sonogram my insurance will pay for. I told her, " I will seriously have a melt down on this table, please try hard!" Then, I added, " No, seriously, I am not kidding." So she is looking around and says, " Ugh, the umbilical cord is in between its legs, I wont be able to tell." UGH, disappointment. So, she gets a call. She says she has to take it because some important stuff was going on. When she got up, I looked at my mom. I took my hand and mushed and pushed and poked my belly. Please, baby, cooperate! She came back from her call, and tried one more time. AHA, she says. Aha, what?!?!?!

Sono Tech: "I see it"
Me: See what????
Sono Tech: I see it!
My mom: OMGosh!
Me: WHAT?!?!?!
Sono Tech: Its a penis!
Me: Praise The Lord!
Mom: ~crying~
Me: ~Tears of Joy~
Mom: I KNEW it!
Me: YESSSSSSSSSS
Sono Tech: Its def a boy!

So there we go...

L.J. and I are having a BOY!

His name will be Eli Simpson Merritt

Eli, because we wanted something biblical, and because of my Mom of course, Elizabeth.
Simpson, because my Dad has no boys, and we wanted to honor him and my grandfather by passing down the name.

Well, Eli, it was so nice to see you. I cant wait for you to see me.

Oh also, they upped my due date to March 10th, because he was measuring big. They said he was measuring 17 weeks and 4 days. I thought I was 16 weeks and 3 days. Interesting. Either I am having a huge baby, or I was further along then I suspected.

So there ya have it!
It's a boy!