An Amazing Night...Ends in the ER.

Last night was our ward Christmas dinner and for the first time in 2.5 years Seth was able to come! He has always either been working or at school, and had always come to help clean up after, BUT this time he was able to be with us for the dinner & everything! It was so fun to sing Christmas carols together and watch the amazing traditional Nativity Scene performed by the adorable primary. It was all going so perfect...

Fernando (Seth's old boss) & his wife Julie were able to come as well! It was more than a treat to have them there. Fernando is one of the most amazing people we've ever met. Seth has a special place in his heart for him. :)

Nicci found her friend 'Bennett' and they walked hand-in-hand throughout the church & all around the gym. It was hilarious! Bennett has took a liking to Nicci ever since her surgery and they've become pretty good pals. So precious.

...Everything was going so perfect until the end. Seth, Mom, & Dad were helping clean up and i was talking to some friends. My mom had just said to me, "Brandi, where's Nicci?" I told her that I had just talked to some 11 year old girls that wanted to play with her and they were with her in the gym...and i assumed everything to be fine. Mom told me i better go find her but i brushed it off, and continued talking...Not long after that one of our friends came running through the door with our precious Nicci and blood was dripping down her mouth. She ran her into the kitchen where Seth, mom, and i followed. Our friend handed her to me and told us what happened. Nicci had climbed up the stairs to the stage ... and fell off, head first. I can't even write this without crying... After everything she has been through... Because i was off 'chatting with my friends' my daughter took a head dive off the stage onto the wood floor. She bit her lip as she fell and took a good chunk out of it but the very worst was her head. The whole left side of her head was swelling right before our eyes. We held ice on her mouth & head and then decided she needed to go to the hospital and get a CT scan. We rushed right to the ER and were surprised to see that they took us back immediately. Mom & Dad were right behind us and Seth & Dad gave Nics a blessing. It was so comforting for me to watch my husband's hands & my father's hands on top of my baby girl's head. Even though Seth, Mom, & Dad were comforting me & telling me i wasn't responsible, it felt like they were just echoing around me. I sat there watching our dear helpless Nicci screaming because of the neck brace and the undeserved pain she was feeling, and my head was swimming with guilt...I still can't believe i wasn't watching her...assuming that she was "playing with the kids"...she's 18 months! What was i thinking? We are the most careful, paranoid, OVER protective, parents...and I, her mother, was responsible for her while everyone else cleaned up, not the cute kids playing with her...she was my ONLY priority...and worse than ever, i failed. ... The Dr. came in and looked at her and gave her a CT Scan of the brain & neck. After what seemed like an eternity the results came back good! He said she had a minor concussion but should recover ok. The swelling seems to be getting worse though, but we're hoping that's normal. Today her entire left side of her head, even her eye, has almost doubled in size from last night, and it's really squishy where the swelling is. She will be seeing her pediatrician on Monday, and we are calling her Dr. in Salt Lake as well. We are praying all will be ok. It's amazing how the Lord protects his dear children while teaching their mother's very important lessons. She is such a tough little girl. Nicci has been through so much and yet always finds things to be happy about. She's our little miracle.

Major lesson learned...never let your most treasured & prized possession out of your sight...not even for a moment.