It only takes an instant!

for an accident and devastation to happen! - my Sister-in-Law (Karen) and my Niece (Cait) were involved in a 3 car tragic accident last night - all 3 cars are totaled - Karen's being the "most" intact - i'm talking parts and metal left, no cars, think bad and then take it a little worse, that was the scene of this accident ..

best way to describe this accident - you know when your heading down to the Jersey Shore in the summer - and you get stuck in 3 hours of traffic - you finally pass the accident - and all you can do is bless yourself and say "thank god i was in the traffic not in the accident" - and then you think "omg the poor families" - THAT was this accident!

1 positive thing about the whole thing - while Karen was driving down the road - a cop was behind her the whole time - so when the accident happened - he was RIGHT there! - sometimes it's a good thing to be followed by the police (moral of that story)

Karen was super Mom - even though how hurt she was - she didn't cry in front of Cait - all she thought about was Cait - 'make sure Cait is ok' - 'i'm not leaving till someone is here for Cait' - 'Cait i love you' - 'mommy is fine, just a boo-boo' .. everything which eased Cait and made things so much more easier for Cait to handle! - i swear Karen couldn't have been more of a super Mom last night - she was just unbelievable and strong and supportive - all to make sure her baby (Cait) was OK .. i'm so lucky to have her in my family! - she was "MOM" to the nth' degree!

as i told my Mom when we returned from the hospital late last night - the one things we can take from all of this - we all have each other - we all will be there when we really need each other - and well all love each other - there was no doubt God looked out for them - and there is no doubt in my mind i am blessed with my family! - as things my look gloom in your life - and you think every pitfall is happening to you - something will make you realize - YOU HAVE LOVE - and makes you realize just how important the people who you love and love you back are ALL that matters!

in the mist of all the craziness - my Mom starts having panic attacks worrying about Karen and Cait - thoughts rushing her brain 'why didn't i just watch Cait at her house' - the typical 'it's my fault' when something happens - when you know in reality it's no ones fault - but you just feel so much pain and hurt and feel there's little you can do - the entire car ride getting to the accident was filled with guilt from my Mom - she felt it was all her fault ..

last night was filled of uncertainties - running from the accident to their house (accident was right at corner) - screaming for my Mom b/c she called and i thought she had a heart attacked - running in the house - grabbing Cait and running and screaming like a mad women looking for my Mom - then running back to accident scene filling out reports - officers telling me i should really take Cait to the hospital pronto .. unbelievable i was 'cool' through it all ..

when Cait jumped in my arms, kissed me on the lips, and said "i love you" - that's all i needed to make it all "OK"

back to when i thought my Mom was having a heart attack - the police officers were gonna call an ambulance for her - one of the ambulances backed into my car - so yes, now my car was hit and in an accident - then my Niece was showing some signs that she might of had a possible concussion (wanted to go right to sleep) - so i had to drive her over to the hospital (which my GPS stinks and took me 5 mins in order to figure the damn thing out) ..

as Karen said - thankfully she was so brave to get back in a car after all this - to allow me to drive her to the hospital!!! - my Cait is just a wonder - the politest child, sweetest thing ever! - i'm talking through the entire ordeal "yes please"; "no thank you"; "can i please just not talk right now" - all this from a child who just went through pure hell! - she's an angel sent straight from God !!

i am just SO beyond blessed - my Family is my everything - it's who i have - i am so beyond thankful that i still have Karen and Caitlyn in my life - hurt but healthy and alive!

melted my heart as well - when all Cait wanted to do was hold my hand and lay on me - i know it's probably b/c she just didn't wanna be bothered with moving around and i was just 'there' - but still knowing my lovebug wanted me and needed me at that moment felt so good - makes me think maybe the whole 'having a baby' thing isn't so bad after all - don't worry NOT any time soon - i LOVE being Aunt Erika - it's the best thing in the world! - i mean THE best!

coming home last night - i walked in and i saw my yellow Wellies laying right on the floor as i walk in - i almost cried - what seemed seconds ago - she was wearing them and being goofy at my house! - right before Karen picked her up - Cait did my make-up - dressed me up for a fashion show, that i then i had to model - she painted my nails and used the hair dryer to dry them faster - then of course put it in our hair to give us the 'diva fan'

the "what if's" started to rush through my veins - i rushed into my room - and 'let it out' - i couldn't imagine them not being with her - i will take them any which way - Caitlyn is just badly bruised up by her 5 point car seats (thankfully, it saved her live) and Karen has 2 fractures in her ankle! - all this as they should be leaving for Disney World next week ..

i have prayers for the others in the 2 other cars - i do not know of their status and i can only pray for them and their families that miracles happen! - only thing that is a certain was that 1 of the cars was driving with no headlights on (the streets by them have no street lights, so if you don't have lights, your driving like a ghost) - their was an angel who lived at the corner house who happened to be a nurse and took care of Cait till myself and my Mom got there ..

last night was a night of horrors - all starting out with me leaving work a few minutes early so i can spend time with Cait (she was at my Mom's house, b/c my Mom was cooking a turkey and waiting for Dr calls) - grabbing my bag to leave - and BAM it breaks! - my 'i'm being thrifty and going to buy a bag at TJMaxx and save money' broke - Joe joking saying "guess it's back to $1000 or higher" - i say "you know it, those bags don't break"

always say what you feel - don't forget to say "i love you" - cherish the times you have with the ones you love - it only takes an instant for it all to come crashing down - let the little things go - life is short and can be taken away from us in an instant - take the extra minute to buckle your children in the car (a baby in the accident was not in a car seat when the accident happened) - make sure your car has all the airbags it should - look twice before you go - ect.

i am so THANKFUL i have Karen and Caitlyn with me - my prayers are with the other families hopeing everything will be OK - God works in mysterious ways - and i can only hope that a happy ending someone comes from this most tragic time!