Word of the Day: Grateful

In my first blog entry, I made a rule that I would write about not-so-great things during my pregnancy only if I could do so with humor. Well, since I made that rule, I can break that rule...just this once...

After work on Wednesday, I was involved in a car accident. I was driving straight on a road near work and a guy in a van was at a stop sign to my right. He did not look to his left, thus he did not see me and proceeded across the road. So my Camry t-boned his van and he dragged me across a turn lane and two lanes of oncoming traffic. Surprisingly, no other cars were involved. (Grateful)

The guy driving the van jumped out immediately and came to check on me before calling the police. (Grateful) Three witnesses stopped. (Grateful) An off-duty police officer stopped to help move my car out of the two lanes of oncoming traffic. (Grateful) One of the witnesses is a co-worker whose office is on the same hall as my office. She had to leave before the cops arrived, but in doing so, she contacted another co-worker who called my manager, who was still in her office. (Grateful)

The police officer arrived and the guy driving the van was honest, admitting he did not see me. (Grateful)

As I was being taken by ambulance to the hospital, I watched out the back windows as my manager arrived at the scene and took pictures of both cars. Then she arrived at the ER. (Grateful)

My sister was arriving in town from a business trip and arrived at the ER minutes before the ambulance arrived with me. She stayed by my side from that moment and through the next 12 heart wrenching hours. (Grateful)

I was transferred from the ER to Labor & Delivery so that Baby E could be monitored. Although her heartbeat was heard within moments of arriving in the ER (Grateful), it was low for her and she was not moving, after having been active all day. And I was having contractions, or one lasting contraction since the accident happened. So there I was in a Labor & Delivery room 8 weeks before I was planning.

One of my favorite doctors from my practice was on call. (Grateful) And the nurses on duty were amazing - comforting and accommodating. (Grateful)

My mom arrived early the next morning and stayed by my side for the remaining 12 hours I was in the hospital. (Grateful)

By mid-morning on Thursday, Baby E was moving around and her heartbeat was up to the range typical for her. (GRATEFUL)

Family, friends and co-workers showed their love and support through visits, phone calls and texts. I have not responded to each and every one of you, but it did not go unnoticed. I promise. My cup runneth over.

So 24 hours after the accident, I was discharged and headed to my parents' house to recover, which is where I am now. I am tired, I am sore, but I am grateful.

Word of the day is grateful, brought to you by the letter E.