God is Awesome!!
Wow - where do I even begin? I was coming home from work on Monday morning, it had taken me about an hour and a half to get to a point that would only take 45-50 minutes. But since the roads were really bad I was going slow and taking it easy. I was 10 minutes from home, on my street, when I hit a snow drift on the road. Now the snow drift was only partly on the road so my right wheels hit the drift and stopped immediately, but the left side of the car that didn't hit just kept on going. I started going sideways, flipped to my drivers side, then landed on my roof.

I am ok (physically), but to me the most scary part was when I fell to the driver side my window smashed and the whole car (well the driver side) was filled with snow. It was so packed around my face that I was not able to open my eyes, move my head, or move my hands to dig myself out of the snow. So I remember watching a snow on avalanche's that stated you won't suffocate in the snow if you build a little bubble around your face. Well how do you do that when you can't move your head or use your hands? Well I ate snow! I just keep eating as much as I could until I had an opening around my mouth and nose (I was still not able to use my hands yet). Once that was done I could breath again I was able to calm down a bit and was able to use my hands to start digging and after a few minutes I was able to dig around my face so that I was able to see what exactly was going on.

It was at this point I took my seatbelt off and feel to the roof of the car, but I was not able to get out. There was too much snow and the seats were in the way. At this point I did not know if I was in a ditch or what, so I spent the rest of the time pounding on the horn with my foot! Finally someone (2 cars) stopped and one couple came running down to the car to see if I was ok, I told them I would be able to get out if they put the driver seat down flat, they did that, and helped my dig some more and they were able to pull me out and brought me to their car. The other car that stopped had called 9-1-1. (side note: only out here when the first firefighter/emergency worker to show up to the scene comes riding in on a TRACTOR!!! Yup, I see the tractor coming and then out jumps a firefighter in full gear, with his emerg. bag running to the car. All I could do was LAUGH!!!!!. What a sight...)

Anyways, back to my story. I waited for the ambulance to come, I didn't think I need to go to the hosp. but they said they can't force me, but they highly recommend I go as roll over are really serious and there could be more injuries that they can't see. So I went. HOWEVER, there was another accident and they didn't have time to take me to the hospital so we went to another scene where we picked up 2 more people. Which was no big deal, they were involved in a 5 car pile up and were stuck in vehicle, I was able to crawl out and walk. I understand. However, I was in WET clothes! From the time of the accident to the time I got to the hospital it was an hour and 20 minutes. That's a long time in soaked clothes. As soon as I got to my room I asked the nurse for a gown as I was taking my clothes off (I have never been so happy to wear a gown as I was at that time!). They kept bringing me heated blankets to warm me up (which after 2 hours, and 12 blankets later was NOT successful).

When it was time to release me I had to put my wet clothes back on, I called a friend in town and told her what happened and she came and got me (she lives around the corner). She took me to get my prescription (as I had no money, in the car SOMEWHERE - either that on the side of the country road, who knows?). She took me home, I had a HOT bubble bath, she put my clothes in the dryer. And when I was done I still felt cold! I could not get the feeling of being cold out of my head, even though I was warm, nothing that could be done made me warm. I stayed there the night as all the roads where closed (they closed the roads at some point while I was in the ambulance). THEY brought me home the next morning and I was so happy to be home. Even if Andrew tried to give me a big hug (umm, accident - whip lash? sore? = be careful. lol - that's ok, I wanted/needed that hug more then anything!!!) We are suppose to get our rental car this morning (Wednesday), who knows what is happening with our car (it's only a 2004 sunfire, still a "new" car) but we were told that most cars involved in a roll over are a write off. but I don't know, the snow seemed to cushion me/car, the car was still running (even when they took me in the ambulance - keys stuck in the snow), and it didn't "look" bad. But we'll see.

So now that it is all over - here are what I am thankful for:
1 - first and far most THE KIDS WHERE NOT WITH ME!!!!!!!! (as I was laying on the roof my head was underneath their car seats so I was looking up seeing thier car seats hanging upside down and that was all I could think about). At first when the snow buried my face for a split second I was scared for the kids, thinking they were stuck in the car as I didn't hear them cry then I realized they were not there!
2 - That Andrew was not with me. I can handle the accident, but I am thankful I was ALONE
3 - That when the window smashed the glass didn't hit me in the face (or elsewhere)
4 - That someone stopped (after 15-20 minutes I think I was there. I heard 4 songs on the radio) . The people that stopped had just pulled over to turn around to go back home when the saw my car up the road a little bit more.
5 - That they were able to get my out and I would not be stuck in the car.
6 - That I was wearing a seatbelt
7 - That as scary as the snow burying me, it also protected me!
8 - That I was smart enough to know to get that opening around my face by eating the snow.
9 - That I didn't panic! Things always get worse when you panic
10 -That no other cars were involved
11- That I am "ok". Sure I'm a little sore and bruised, but I am so thankful that I am ok.
12 -That I didn't get hypothermia (yes once realized I was ok, the next fear while waiting for help what that I was going to get hyperthermia and die)
13-That I have great friends that were able to care for me, and take care of me. Thank you Jenn And Andrew!!
14 - That I watched the show the on avalanche and knew what to do
15 - That I was only going 55 kmh. Who knows what could have happened if I was going the speed limit of 90kmh!!!!!
16-And the last point - God was with me 100% of the way! When I knew I was sliding all I was able to scream was "God protect me", and that he did! I was in an accident 5 years ago in February (yes - I FINALLY get that accident off my record and now I am going to have another 5 years on me). but anyways, the people I hit in that car was my sister (and her 5 kids, ages 13 months old, 2 year old twins, 3 year old and 5 year old). All I could said as I knew I was going to hit them (black ice) was "God protect them" and he did. Jessica had a bruise on her shoulder from the car seat, but their little van (protected by fibreglass) protected those little kids against my dad but steal ford explorer!
so yes - GOD IS AWESOME!

There will be a post comming up in a bit about post tramutic stress!