First snow

The kids couldn't sleep last night.  They were so excited for the first snowfall.  They were dressed and doing snow angels by 6:15 am.  It was still totally dark outside.  It was the funnest thing I've ever seen.  After school the boys went sledding and they had a blast.  There was at least a foot of snow that fell today.  All of the trees still have their leaves on them and so the trees really suffered.  They were completely sagging down to the ground.  Tonight Weston said that it was the coldest and funnest day of his life.

Worst nightmare

 So I never thought I would ever have to write about something as horrible as this.  I'm mostly writing all of this down so that I don't forget the details of this day.  All of the pictures were taken from my phone.

Wednesday morning, September 28th started off normal.  I got Haylie off to school for 6 am seminary.  Matt left earlier than normal for work.  He was gone around 6:45.  The boys were up early too.  We are reading Harry Potter right now so I read to them around 7:30 am while they were eating breakfast.  We read our scriptures and said family prayers.  I took Cade to school.  I got home around 8:05.  Weston and Tanner love to play outside before school starts and the weather has been so awesome lately that they ride their scooters or bikes around before leaving for school.  I got home from taking Cade and Tanner was not home.  This is not unusual.  He often goes to the park which is across the street to ride around or catch bugs.  I started picking up the house and doing the dishes.  Ryder was with me in the kitchen.  Weston said, "I'm going to go find Tanner."  Looking back now I have to think this was a prompting that he listened to.

Minutes later he came running through the door out of breath yelling that Tanner had been hit by a car.
I asked him where he was. The park he said.  I told him as I ran out the door that he had to watch Ryder and that he could put him in the stroller and find us.  I ran as fast as I could.  I rounded the corner and I couldn't believe what I saw.  A firetruck, ambulance, police man, all sorts of neighbors, cars parked everywhere, and my little Tanner in the middle of it all being huddled over.

"Are you mom?" This was the first question I was asked.  I was grabbed by the arm by the paramedic and given the report.  I was asked his name and birth date.  I was so happy to see him screaming and being difficult for the people.  This is what made me know he was going to be alright.  He was being very vocal that he did not want the neck brace put on him.  They told me to try and see if I could calm him down.  He was in shock his poor little body was shaking.  He has to go to the hospital to be checked out is what the paramedic told me.  I wasn't allowed in the ambulance.  They whisked him away pretty quickly.  Someone on the scene called Matt for me.  Weston turned the corner with Ryder in the stroller.  Weston had some very teary eyes.  The neighbor that I sent to check on the baby was with them.  I found out later that the first people on the scene were a nurse who teaches CPR and first aid, and then a doctor.  Really?!? The miracles keep adding up.

I finally look around.  There is the car that hit Tanner in the middle of the street.  It has cracks all through it's windshield.  Dents on the side of the car near the headlight and a broken headlight.  Wow is all I thought.  The police man approached me and told me that the car had been going 20 mph and saw Tanner at the last second and realized that Tanner wasn't going to stop and hit his brakes.  It was Tanners "fault" because he had not stopped at the stop sign.

Matt gets home.  He is wheeling the bike and Tanner's helmet.  He was wearing a helmet!!!  What a blessing.  I show the neighbor where the baby's things are.  The principal walks Weston to school.  I call my friend Shannon from church to come take care of Ryder.  Matt and I drive to the hospital together. We get there and they escort us through some back door.  Tanner has all sorts of nurses, and doctors surrounding him.  They are doing an ultrasound to check for internal injuries.  It all looks fine they say.  An IV had been started in the ambulance and they begin to give him pain medicine.  This really helps calm him down.  He hates the neck brace and the Mickey mouse stuffed animal that they gave him.  Next is X-rays.  The doctor says there is a good chance that his right femur is broken.  That is the leg with all of the injuries to it.  All X-rays come back perfect.  No broken bones.  The cat scan is next.  Also perfect, no damage to the brain or bleeding.  The only explanation is a miracle!  It is finally quiet for a minute.  We are alone with Tanner and Matt is able to give him a priesthood blessing.

 His Phineas and Ferb shirt and the shorts he was wearing were cut off of him by the ambulance medics.  He was very concerned about his shorts and asked me if we could go shopping to buy some new ones.  I'd have to say that I think Phineas and Ferb have seen better days.

I talked to all of the kids on the phone while they were at school.  Tanner's principle had contacted their principals and they were taken out of class and they each called me.  That was some of the hardest things I did that day.  Each of their voices were very shaky.  It was hard to reassure them over the phone.  I told them they could pray.  I hated those phone calls.  It still makes me sick thinking about it.

 All of the siblings came after school to visit Tanner.  They thought he was lucky because he was getting "free" food.  Matt and I just looked at each other and laughed.  I thought this was the cutest picture of him and Ryder.  Tanner had so many visitors in the hospital.  His football coaches and teammates, friends from church, the principal, and his siblings.  He received letters and paper airplanes from his classmates.  Tanner and I stayed in the hospital overnight just so the doctors could observe him because he does have a concussion.

We came home from the hospital the next day at 10 am.  When Weston came home from school that day he had all sorts of trinkets from Tanner's classmates.  Some pieces of Euro in tupperware, a sweatband, more cards and this most adorable homemade teddy bear.  Tanner loves the bear.  And I can't believe someone I've never met would take the time to make it.  Isn't the world filled with wonderful people?  This is a picture of what Tanner looks like today with his new teddy bear.  3 days later.  Just a black eye.  He is still limping some but he is acting like his normal self.  We are so grateful.  There were so many miracles that day.  I am grateful that the Lord protected Tanner.  I know miracles are real.  We love you Tanner.