Wednesday morning started out fairly normal for us.  We got up, ate breakfast, did some chores and the kids started on some school work.  I remembered that we had to go get new books for band before the next day so we drove off to Marysville.  We picked up three of the books but the music store didn't have the fourth so I figured we'd stop by another music store I knew of and see if we could find it there.

     As we drove down the road I wasn't thinking of anything inparticular, just what needed to be accomplished to get through the day.  We stopped at a red light behind several other cars and waited for the light to change.  Suddenly my whole day took on a new twist.  A man in a pick up slammed into the back of our van.  I didn't hear the tires squeal to signal he was trying to slow down or anything, just the sound of his truck smashing into our van.  I verbally asked the kids if they were ok and they said they were.  Jubilee, amazinly enough, didn't cry but she was okay too.  I called the police department to get someone to come see what needed to be done and then moved the van out of the road. 

     It only took a few minutes for the police to arrive and things became a whirlwind of activity.  The paramedics showed up and took my vitals.  They said I looked ok but wanted me to get checked out after Mike arrived.  The reports were written, the man was written a ticket, we found someone to watch the kids (thanks Spurling family!), and headed to the hosptial.

     When we got to the ER they took me right in (I think the fact that I am 36 weeks pregnant had a lot to do with that).  They were so full they put us in what we termed the "special room."  Really it's the room they use for criminals or people that are not stable mentally.  I didn't realize 'til much later in our stay that my bed also was equiped with restraints! 

     They X-rayed my neck to see if I had broken anything and fit me with a phildelphia collar.  The collar was one of the most uncomfortable things I think I've ever needed to wear.  I don't think it helped much the nurse didn't put it on right but...  I was already hot and the collar made me even more so.  The nurse brought me one of those lovely hosptial gowns and a couple of prewarmed blankets - I was on the verge of over heating.  Mike kept a good watch on the door to make sure it didn't close because there was no way for us to get out if it did.

     They checked my vitals again and got ready to draw some blood when somebody who actually needed the "special room" arrived.  They didn't have a palce for me so I was set in the hallway.  The nurse drew blood there.  I don't know if it's because of the hallway or if the nurse was having a bad day but I'm still sporting a pretty nice bruise on my arm from the draw. 

     We finally got put into a regular room (complete with TV) and had just turned it on when another nurse walked in and said she'd take me to MRI.  We had talked to the doctor and she said because of the baby the MRI would be a last resort so we told the nurse maybe she was supposed to take me for an ultrasound instead.  Yes, she found that that was the answer.  So we headed off though the hospital.  The ultrasound was like no other ultrasound I've ever had before.  The baby was first and it was okay (ear and all :))  Then they started on me and because my orgeons are all squished from being pregnant they looked clear up to nearly under my arm pits.  I was totally covered in gel by the time it was all done and only wanted to shower but at least everything was okay.

     I was taken back to the ER and set back in the hallway because somebody had snagged my room.  I asked if there was anyway we could get something to eat since it was 3pm and both Mike and I hadn't eaten since breakfast.  We shared a turkey sandwich and some apple juce that at least took the rumbling away in our stomachs. 

     Finally we were cleared from the ER and taken up to Labor and Delivery so they could monitor the baby more.  It was much more quiet up there :).  We listened to the baby's heart beat for a while and discussed if I needed rhogahm again.  Finally that was ruled out and I was sent on my way.

     I was glad to see the kids and glad for the supper Mrs. Spurling made for us.  We stayed to fellowship for a while, it was just nice to unwind.  At the end of the night we still had to head back to Marysville to pick up Mike's car and then it was off to bed.

     I think I'll be several weeks (months?) fighting with the insurance company (his).  Life will go on but I'm hoping a lot more uneventfully for a while.