Thankful

A week ago yesterday Brian and Clara were in a car accident that could have been quite bad, but we are grateful that they came through with only minor injuries. On Mondays I have a late lab, so Brian had picked Clara up from daycare in an old Ford truck that his Grandma had just given him (he has been driving it for several months) and they were going to look at available office space in a small town outside Lincoln. Brian was turning on a green arrow that turned yellow when a Blazer coming the opposite direction on 84th St. came through the intersection and slammed into the passenger side near the front wheel. All the other traffic was stopped and the driver of the other car didn't even seem to slow down.

Brian got Clara, her car seat, and diaper bag out of the truck. Some people from the car dealership on the corner came with fire extinguishers to put out a small fire that started under the hood. A kind stranger let them sit in his truck and gave Clara a blanket since she was cold. The emergency personnel that came gave her a bear. Eventually they went inside the car dealership and Clara was able to play with toys. Even though there were no obvious bad injuries, Brian decided it would be a good idea to go to the hospital to get checked out. So, they rode in an ambulance to St. Elizabeth's. By this time Brian had left me a message that they were ok, but to come to the hospital to get them. Clara got a few cuts and bruises from broken glass and a little shaken up. Brian got a skinned up knee and was sore for a few days. He has been seeing a chiropractor, who took X-rays of his neck and it looks a bit shifted to the right.

After we left the hospital we got some food and then went to Target for Clara to pick out a toy for being brave. Between the hospital and Target Clara was distressed because she could see a cut on her finger. After we got to Target and picked out a Band-Aid with Curious George on it, then the finger was magically better. And, Clara got a little doll stroller and some bath toys that she has been wanting for months and I had been telling her to wait for Christmas. The new toys certainly took her mind off of her problems.

As you can see in the pictures the truck is a total loss. Brian's parents are letting us borrow an extra car of theirs until we find a replacement.



So, we experienced a truly thankful Thanksgiving. We celebrated with Brian's family. Clara had a cold that made her miserable for a couple of days, so I was a bit sleep deprived. And, my sister-in-law was also sleep-deprived when baby didn't sleep well at night for several nights in a row. Other than that we had a nice time. Brian and his brother helped his dad put up electric fence to turn the cows out on the corn stalks to eat for free. The weather was warm enough to send the kids out to "help." And, we celebrated Brian's grandma's 90th birthday.