Happy Birthday Brittney!

Happy Birthday Brittney! So glad that you are my sister-in-law...and that you can put up with Johnny! You are such a sweet and fun girl and we are truly lucky to have you as a part of our family! Good luck with the rest of your boards!

A Picture Worth 1,000 Words...

His former front bumper...had to be removed from the trunk for the picture.

A view of the driver's side...can you say "crunch"

Front end, driver's side

I don't think you are supposed to be able to see engine components from this view!

Tail end, passengers side...also a victim of the median!

The driver's side door would only open ~10 inches

The airbag that we owe much of our gratitude!

...notice the styrofoam on the floor.

Just a glimpse of the damage even the hub cab suffered!

Counting My Blessings...

Todd and I are both suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after the events of this past weekend. He and I had met some friends in Long Beach to have dinner on Friday evening. We had both driven because at 7:00pm, Todd was still at USC having had his afternoon clinic run late and it was faster for him to meet me in Long Beach than to drive across town to me and then to Long Beach. We had a fantastic dinner and enjoyed the company of our good friends. We started our trek home heading north on the 405 a little bit after midnight. He and I were talking to pass the time. As we were just passing the LAX airport, we both noticed a car pulled off onto the right hand shoulder facing the wrong direction. Shortly after, a car in the fast lane quickly pulled in between me and Todd and quickly cut across all 4 lanes of traffic. As he did so, Todd had to quickly slam on his brakes which then sent him into a tailspin. Todd then proceeded to skid across 2 lanes of traffic and hit the cement median head on, bounce off and spin in a counter-clockwise direction hitting the back-end which then sent him spinning again to facing the right direction and skidding forward along the median. I was unfortunate to witness this all from my rear-view mirror as well as hear the distinctive sound of smashing metal. Todd uttered and moaned a few words following the crash and then the phone was dead. I was driving as quickly as I could to get to the next exit in order to turn around and get back to him. I had called 911 only to be put on hold for over 5 minutes while "waiting for an available dispatcher." Approximately 10 minutes following the accident, I was back to Todd and soon found that he was alright. It was still another 10 minutes before the first highway patrolman arrived and another 10 minutes before fire and paramedics arrived. The north-bound 405 was temporarily shut down so that the police could push Todd's non-functional car over to the right shoulder and await a tow truck. His car is totaled. Even more upsetting is the fact that the other driver got away, never even having stopped after causing this accident.

Todd is doing well. It is an absolute MIRACLE that he was not injured. He walked away with only bumps and bruises. I truly know that there were angels watching over and protecting him that night. How grateful I am for my precious husband, whom without I would be utterly lost.


Rental Car: $25/day
Price for a totaled 2006 Toyota Camry: $12,000
New 4-door sedan: $30,000
Watching your husband walk away from a horrific car accident: priceless

Happy #31 Birthday Babe!!!

Happy 31st Birthday to my amazing husband! Thank you for being the fabulous man that you are! Thank you for tolerating my crazy...and loving me in spite of it! Thank you for your endless love and support...I would be absolutely lost without you! Thank you for being the laundry and cleaning fairy...I can't image how I would ever have clean clothes without you! You are truly the best and my life is better because of you! I treasure every moment, day, year with you...and love you more and more!!!

Here are just a few fun pictures of the birthday boy taken during the past year!

Playing cards during vacation to Utah...Todd cheats terribly!!!

Todd and Daddy at a Seattle Mariners game!

Todd's "heart" in San Francisco...

The always "Fabulous Fashionista"...at the pool in Seattle

His enthusiasm for my method of packing...and the endless luggage required!

Enjoying a day at the beach...reading the "Handbook of Fractures"

Again, with my luggage at the end of vacation...resorting to wearing my hat to get it all to the car!

MS Awareness Week

March 2-8, 2009 is MS awareness week. All of you who follow this blog know someone who suffers from the disease...my beautiful mother. Although you would not know by watching her, this is something that she has had to deal with now for about 10 years. You will never hear a complaint about how or what she is feeling or struggling with. She will never let you know if she is tired or not feeling well. She is the first to volunteer to serve all those around her, never thinking of herself.

Every year at this time, 600 MS walks are held around the country in order to raise awareness and funding for MS research. I will be participating in the MS walk either in Utah or California this year. If possible, I encourage all of you to look into the walk in your area. You can walk with your family in honor of my mother and those others you may know who also suffer from the disease or serve as a volunteer along the walk route. I had the privilege of doing this a few years ago with my family...it was very touching to see those so stricken by the disease that they are now wheelchair bound, being pushed along the walk route by family and friends. How fortunate we are that my mother has not progresed to this point, and I pray that she never will.

Thanks Mom for your example of service and gratitude. Thank you for teaching me to always try to look outside of myself to those around me. I hope that you know how much I love and admire you!!!

Desperate Times Call For Desperate Meausures

During a recent visit home to Utah to attend the funeral of Todd's Grandmother, I was suffering from a horrible cold. However desperate times call for desperate measures...and I was desperate not to miss out on my Precious Princess Paisley. So, when a dish towel and clothes pin offered a way to cuddle my sweetie, I couldn't resist!

Look at that pearl bracelet...already, a girl with a taste for precious jewels...I think she is already taking after her favorite auntie!!!