Yesterday, April 10th, was a special day for me. In Kole’s birthday letter I mentioned a scare we had soon after he was born. On April 10th two years ago I came awfully close to losing my life. A little too close if you ask me. :) I know many of you were reading my blog during that experience and your kind words and support were a big part of what helped me through it all. Last year on April 10th, one year later, I was extremely emotional. In fact, I was surprised that the anniversary of the experience was affecting me as much as it was. Our family was on a vacation in Maui at the time (April 10th always falls during my kids’ Spring Break) and I couldn’t stop crying. I stayed up really late on the night of the 10th writing down all of my thoughts and feelings – sort of just remembering and reliving it all. I titled the post “I remember” and with butterflies in my stomach I hit publish. All of the sudden I felt so much better. A wave of calm swept over me. Like I had to remember and write and cry and get it all out so that I could move on. I spent the rest of that vacation with my family with a full heart, truly living in the moment and so grateful to be there. The experience I had two years ago changed me. It made me realize how things can change in an instant. How precious our time is here. What a gift every day life is. You realize this quickly when you are suddenly in danger of losing that gift. I wasn’t as emotional yesterday on April 10th. Time has a way of easing the pain of certain memories. This week my kids are out for Spring Break and just like last year, I spent April 10th vacationing and swimming with my family. And remembering. Several times throughout the day – when Kenny was so quick to help with the kids, when Ellie laughed going down the water slide, when Addison hugged me, when I was chasing Kole and he looked back and smiled (checking in to make sure I was far enough away not to catch him but close enough not to leave him) I sent a little prayer of thanks up to my Heavenly Father. I’m so happy to be here.
Then at the end of the day I uploaded my most recent pictures from my camera. They are pictures from our every day life. More reminders of the precious gift I’ve been given.
Grocery shopping with my buddy (thank goodness for the seat strap on grocery carts and for bagels from the bakery – the only way we make it through the store). Happy in the produce section…
over it by isle 9.
Parent Day in my girls’ classrooms.
Dinner with girl friends.
Heading to Kindergarten. I love age 5.
My little camera man – always ready to assist.
My girls – always acting silly.
My man. Holding our baby in one arm and a pink barbie purse in the other. Lucky me.
Little explorer.
Open House. The girls love showing off all they are doing at school.
No training wheels! WOOT WOOT! I don’t know who is more excited – the girls or their parents.
Actually I do know. Parents hands down.
Thick as thieves.
Fly little man!
A quick dance to start the day.
It doesn’t get much better than this.
So happy to be here.
xoxo, Erin
Erin I’m sitting here with tears rolling down my cheeks. What a horrible thing you had to go through but how lucky you are to have such a wonderful family and fantastic friends.
sweetest post EVER!!!! i am so happy you are alive and well. the world is so much better with you in it! :-)
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Hi Erin,
I am new reader of your blog and I read that story a couple of days ago… I am so happy for you that everything turned out fine in the end. You have such a great family and you inspire me in so many ways: Organizing, scrapbooking, exercising – yes even cooking ;)
Judith
Erin, your post is timely for me tonight, to remember to be so truly grateful and remember the wonderful things in my life, we live in a small town in Queensland Australia a town devastated at the moment by the loss of two young dads (one tragically killed, the other gone in an instant with an aneurism) and a young mum of five in the last month. I teach the children of these families and whilst I am so heartbroken for them all I am trying to focus on how truly grateful I am for my husband and kids and life in general and also that the children who have lost their parents had such wonderful role models for the beginning of their lives. Life can be cruel but also so wonderful, my principal once said to me, we have to have our Good Fridays (bad days) to really appreciate the Easter Sundays (wonderful days)and I so rely on my faith at times like these. I am so happy that it was not your time to go and that you are living a wonderful life every moment you can x
I remember waking up and reading this with disbelief. I prayed for you and especially for your mom as I know as a Nonny the responsibility she felt caring for a newborn and two other children. Thank God for the favor He showed you!
Erin, I just finished your post of last year. Wow! So much to go through for a young mother. Thank God for caring people such as Kenny, your mother and dad, your sister and your friends. Isn’t it amazing how they all step in, no questions asked? So thankful in the end all turned out well for you. And yes, when something like that happens to you and you come through it, you are changed for life and I have no doubt more grateful. We could all learn from your experience.
You are so wonderful Erin!! The world would have missed so much without you- I’m happy you are here too. :-)
Happy Thursday!
Amber
Such a wonderful and inspiring post. In the mash up of everyday life we all to often forever how fragile it is. You are so brave to share the story and I know I felt so much better when I expressed my sadness over my miscarriage on my blog. So happy you are still around!! ;-)
I’m so glad that you made it out of that experience okay…I can’t imagine how scary it must have been.
On a separate note, can I ask you a totally random question? I’ve been looking for a yellow paint color and I love the one on your girls’ wall. Do you know what color it is?
Life is a precious gift, sometimes it’s hard to be thankful for it when we are so busy and distracted. A great reminder to live each day to the fullest. I am so glad that everything turned out the way it did for you and your family!
Do you know how pretty you look in Yellow! I already commented about this post last week…But I am going to do it again. You make our lives so much brighter. It’s so weird to feel like you are a part of my life and we have never met. I actually had a dream about you the other day. :-) You inspire us women to be better friends, mothers, wives, daughters, teachers, sisters and just plain better women. I admire you relationship with your husband and kids. I love how you and Kenny have come such a long way to where you are now. When you were working like crazy to help support you guys. You are such a magical gem in this world. You guys were sooo meant to be together. YOU make this world a better place! Thank you! Thank you for being you. Even if you sister picks on you for some of your posts, the rest of us love em!
Happy Life! your friend Stephanie
Love this post. Love your blog. It was great to read this as the sun came up this morning (I live in Seattle and we are finally starting to see spring!) So happy you are taking the time to enjoy your family, and reminding me to do the same :)
It’s so important for all of us to stop and appreciate the small things in life, because they end up being the big things! Lovely post!
I kind of understand your feelings about anniversaries etc…. Two years ago I had my baby 8 weeks early due to severe preeclampsia, my kidneys and liver were shutting down and I had an emergency c-section to preserve my life. Then my little guy was in the NICU for 6 weeks afterward. That anniversary is coming up and I feel myself getting emotional about it. Life is such a gift and it is good to have reminders (although not so fun to go through the scary, life threatening situations!)
Erin,
I have been following you for a long time. I can’t even imagine going through that. My husband is in the military and we understand that you need to live each day to the fullest! You have inspired me so much this past year!
Jen @ beyondthecammies.com
Thank you for sharing this post. As a full time working mom (usually overtime) tying to balance everything life throws at me I try my best to keep a cool head during the rough moments and to slow down and enjoy the good ones. This is a great post to remind all of us that life is precious and to be thankful for the blessings we have.
love this post, brought tears to my eyes
-Jeannie
We’re happy you’re here too Erin!
God bless!!!
Very touching post. I’m so glad you overcame all of that. The reason you did, is because God isn’t through with you yet. You have so much more to offer the world and he knows this. One way you project that is through you’re blog. You touch so many of us weekly and put smiles or tears on our faces like you did today. I know that this blog maybe an outlet for you but its joy and inspiration for your {blog friends}. Followers is so impersonal isn’t it? {smile} For me your posts make me stop, smell the flowers and through all of my crazy busy days remind me of how thankful I am to have a family that loves me such as yours love you. {I know that was mushy but its how I feel}. Thanks for sharing Erin.
Holy Hannah, I still remember April 10th from 2 years ago pretty vividly as well. I can tell you exactly what classroom I was substitute teaching in when I read the post from Kenny and I was completely mentally checked out the rest of the day because I was too busy worrying and praying for a woman I had never even met, but felt like I really KNEW. I am so so so HAPPY you’re here, Erin. Love you, BFF!!
I just wanted to tell you that I LOVE your blog, so much that I gave you an award! :) Go check it out http://lovelylittlesnippets.blogspot.com/
This was such a beautiful post
Life is precious & every day is a gift for sure.
So happy you are well, Many happy days ahead for you & your family :)
I LOVED this post Erin! I have to say that as much as I know you are having great success with all your organizing posts, (and I’m totally a fan!) I really miss your everyday posts with random pics of the kids! Love seeing what they are up to! Those grocery store pics of Kole are hilarious! Glad you guys are having a great week!
I really can’t believe it’s been two years since your big, what, experience? Is that what we should call it? Better than “When you almost died”! I remember so clearly sitting here at my computer reading Kenny’s blog post about what happened and I was freaking out, just bawling and I couldn’t stop! Which was really kind of silly because by the time I found out what had happened I also knew that you were ok. But I was just so, so scared for you. So worried about you, and so sick thinking about what if you had died and left Kenny with 3 little ones! Then it was killing me that I couldn’t be there to help you recover! I remember thinking, through the whole ordeal, that as much as it was a HUGE trial for you, that is was just that, a trial, and that Heavenly Father certainly was watching over you! Wow. Love you!
Oh and I can’t believe it’s been a year since Maui! We need to plan our next trip! :)
Thank you so much for your kind words everyone. Honestly, they mean so much to me. I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to respond to each one of you. We have been traveling today and I am finally sitting down at 10:30 at night! But I read these comments several times and I’m so grateful for the wonderful people who read my blog and take a minute to say hello. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
xoxo,
Erin
I still remember that time 2 years ago. I too am so thankful your family gets to keep you here…for many many years. What a scary time for you all.
My perspective like yours has changed so much on what a gift life is even if it’s so short, like my little Afton’s life. I’m so thankful for my little family.
Your “experience” is how I found you. Read about your story on Clover Lane and came over to write a littel message of support and say a little prayer. I’m so glad I stuck around to get to know you better through your blog. I’m sure all your readers will agree that we are happy you are here. Thanks for reminding us what’s really important. Love your spirit. Blessings to you Erin :)
Hi Erin! I LOVE your blog! What a scary experience after you had Kole! I’m so glad you are okay.
I somehow missed this uplifting post. Thank you for sharing and reminding us all to be grateful for each day and what an example you are.
Hi Erin! I remember reading that post 2 years ago. I’ve been reading your blog for a while. And i can relate to the feelings that you were having and still have. I had a similar experience when my youngest son was born with an emergency C-section 5 years ago. I coded on the table after the surgery and obviously they were able to bring me back because I am writing this now. But it is still emotional on his birthday every year. It gets a little less each year I think, but still. You relive it, emotions come back up. And every year I am so incredibly grateful that I am here enjoying my kids. Sometimes those ugly WHAT IFS come up but I push them away. We are here for a reason Erin, our families need us. Wishing you all the best! And Happy Birtday to Kole! I look forward to seeing many more blog entries from you! And Project Life posts! I do Project Life also. Have a great day!
I started reading your blog about a year ago and this was the first time I read your husband’s post about what happened to you. That sounds incredibly scary! Thank goodness for you husband and friends and family! I cannot imagine going through something like that. It is so easy to get wrapped up in daily life and forget to be grateful for what you have. Thank you for the reminder. I love your blog and your honesty. :)