The Older Brothers

My poor older boys! They too had been in the accident, which had scared them and hurt them, then sat at watched Ian out on the road during the wait for the ambulance. One had hurt his shoulder and the other his leg. Both had been checked out by the paramedics when they arrived but were both just bruised. However the trauma of it all I felt was also having an impact on them. The one with the hurt leg had decided that he could no longer walk, and insisted on being carried or riding in the wheelchair. The one with the hurt shoulder was only complaining a little about the pain and using his arm but totally falling apart whenever he was asked to do anything.

I didn't know what to do. These boys needed something normal, they needed their mother back but I was a wreck. My heart ached. I felt like I had lost my little Ian already and was on the verge of losing the twins too. I thought maybe I should go home with my other kids and try to act like everything was normal while Albert stayed with Ian, but I knew I couldn't do that. I prayed that everyone in my little family would be able to heal emotionally and physically from this accident.

The older boys had camp on Thursday. I thought they might be too disturbed to be able to go. I sent them to my sister-in-laws house the night before and she said she would take them if they seemed to be doing well enough.

My mother drove them and she said it was like a miracle when they arrived. Both of them seemed to turn back into themselves and jumped out of the car to play with their cousins. I was so grateful.

My sister-in-law called the next day and reported that they had both gone to camp. They had had a great time the night before and were acting normal and were both even jumping on the trampoline with no complaints about any pain. What a joy to my heart this was to hear!

After camp they called and were so excited to tell me all they had done. They loved it and sounded happy and well. They were looking forward to a sleepover/movie night/pizza party with the cousins that night.

I am so grateful to my sister-in-law and her kids and for the scout camp and leaders for putting something normal back into my boys' life when I could not, and for the many prayers uttered in the boys' behalf. I feel we are truly being blessed.