Thank God for Guardian Angels! (long post)

So this past Tuesday started off as a pretty regular day for once. It had snowed the night before but the road reports didn't look too bad, but as always, there was no report for between Fox Creek and Whitecourt. I must admit, it's the worst section of highway probably in this area but I was feeling all right about it. So I left with Trevin in the morning and we got to Whitecourt without a hitch. Went to his Dr's appt, had lunch and then did some shopping at Walmart. When we were leaving Walmart, I put our packages in the truck and then buckled Trevin in and for some reason I re-checked his carseat a couple extra times, making sure that he was safe. Then we stopped at UFA to get some washer fluid and when I put the extra in the back seat I placed it somewhat securely tucked under the back seat and thought, okay, at least this probably won't bounce around should something happen.

When we passed the weigh scales, a semi-truck with flatbed hauling some sort of Atco type building was merging into the highway and I took my time (because I hate semis on the highway AND especially in winter!) and I wasn't sure if he was going to pull in front of me. He left me pass in the right hand lane and I continued on. Pretty soon my windshield was dirty and the washer fluid wasn't working so I pulled over into a rest stop and washed the windshield by hand before continuing on. Trevin was napping and all was good.

We finally got to Iosegun Hill (my most hated hill of the drive home) and I noticed coming over the crest that there was a truck in front of me that was driving slow because of a slow going Suburban. I was going to pull into the passing lane but hesitated because of icy-ness and then saw that an unloaded logging truck was coming up in the passing lane so I let him pass before venturing into the passing lane. I hadn't wanted to, but the people in front of me were creeping up and I was scared to try and brake, considering that there were two vehicles already in the ditch from an accident at the bottom of the hill. Things went fine and I passed them and then saw everyone moving over into the passing lane because another semi was stalled in the middle of the road heading up. He was out putting his chains on. As we passed him, I realized that two vehicles in front of me was the same semi truck that I had passed by the weigh scales. We finished climbing the hill and once at the top the semi finally pulled over into the driving lane and I continued to pass as safely as I could. I was nervous, but didn't accelerate to get by him quicker (like I would on good roads) because I could see the packed snow and ice on the road. All I wanted was to get safely back into the driving lane.

The semi kept up with me for awhile and I cursed at him more than once for not slowing down a little so I could get by safely. When he was finally out of the way, I went to go back into the driving lane and had an odd feeling go through me. That's when I realized that the tail end of the truck had swung out from behind me and then the truck started fishtailing all over the highway. I felt oddly in control but had no idea of what to do. The truck finally swerved for the ditch and I knew the second we hit the snow that the truck was going to flip over and it did. Everything was slow motion from there and it was very surreal. Oddly, all I kept thinking was "protect your head, protect your head Kendra, you can't be injured or you can't help your baby" and I had my arms up to shield my face. It really felt like I was a towel floating in the dryer for a few moments, even though I could hear glass smashing and could feel the cold from snow flying around inside the truck.

Once the truck stopped I opened my eyes and saw that I wasn't hurt and then I tried to look into the back for Trevin because he wasn't crying. It was awkward to turn and then I realized that I was in the air, drivers side up. I struggled with the seatbelt because gravity was pushing me into the clip and when I finally unlatched it I fell down into the passenger side of the truck. I scrambled to my feet and looked for Trevin. He was still strapped in his carseat but his top half was covered from snow that had come in through the smashed window. I quickly brushed off his face and he looked at me before letting out a yelp. It was then that a man came up to the truck window and offered help. I told him that we weren't hurt but that I had a baby in the truck. We freed Trevin and he took him up to a lady who'd stopped on the side of the highway, and then returned with a couple other men to help me out of the truck.

It was so odd standing in the truck with it tipped on it's side. Having the driver door above my head and the sunroof in front of my knees. I climbed out of the door to get out with the help of the men and we gathered what we could from inside the truck that wasn't buried in snow or stuck. The most important things were out of the truck, Trevin and I, but it was nice to get pretty much everything else like the diaper bag, our shopping purchases, the little stroller etc.

We had to wait for the police so I waited with the lady who had Trevin, and we sat in her Suburban (yes, it was the lady who was going slow on the hill) and in her vehicle she'd been driving another lady that I knew. How fortunate was it that they were from town too! AND she had a carseat in her vehicle. We drove up to the nearest roadside pullout because people weren't slowing down on the highway around us and it was deathly icy. Zane arrived just after we'd finished up with the ambulance crew (who just talked to us because we weren't hurt) and then he followed us home.

I hope and pray to God that this never happens again, but I am so very thankful that although it did, we were not injured. Not even a scratch. How does that happen? I will admit that I have a few bruises, but other than the seatbelt one on my shoulder, the rest are on my knees and happened after the crash. Not a mark on Trevin either. How fortunate is that? I truly believe that our guardian angels were watching out for us that day, and that they sent their earthly angels to assist at the roadside.

Now I'm just half-patiently waiting to see the truck so I can see the damage for myself and try to piece together just exactly how much we rolled. I'm sure we went over more than once, but with everything happening so fast, yet so slow, I'm just not sure anymore. And when I try to re-create what I remember happening, I can't get the vehicle into the position it ended up in. I suppose it's things that don't really matter ultimately, but I think I need to figure it out for some sort of closure maybe? That's why I really want to see the truck and get some pictures as well. I'll have to scrapbook about Trevin's and my first accident LOL

I found out today that the truck was towed into town here a couple days ago and no one called me about it, even though I'd left messages yesterday with the tow company. It's in their compound and Zane and I are going to go over later to clean it out. There are a few things I'd like to get out of it for sure, my New Kids cd's (yeah yeah LOL), Trevin's bear - Mr BearBuns, and my cell phone. When I told Zane that ALL of my New Kids cd's were in the truck he basically made a comment about how at least something good came out of the accident, or something to that effect haha

I'll post pictures later tonight or in the next day or so when I get a chance. I truly believe in divine intervention now and can honestly say that there Christmas miracles. I'm alive, healthy, have a beautiful little boy and a loving husband, as well as family around me and we're all safe and sound. I'm not sure I've ever felt more blessed as I do today.