Bear Lake...not the vacation we bargained for.

Last week we went to Bear Lake with some family for the 24th weekend and we had the scare of a lifetime with our baby boy. We got there Thursday and after setting up camp we headed down to the beach. We were playing in the water and on the beach and having a great time. We had brought a tube to pull behind a jet ski and had taken some of the kids out and they loved it. Derek and I were standing talking to Aimee and Ben and we kept counting the kids and checking on everyone. I told Derek to look how cute Carson was, he was playing on the shore in a life jacket, he was climbing in the tube (that only had a little water in the bottom) and playing. Then I looked up and noticed my Dad pulling into the campground, I turned around to count the kids again and when I looked back for Carson we couldn't see him. We immediatley ran for the tube and Derek found him face down with his head stuck underneath it.... Ahhh, he pulled him out and he was blue and not breathing. Derek and I tried to start CPR but we were so shook up, thank heaven for my brother Adam and our friend Ben. They took over the CPR while Derek coached Carson to keep fighting, and I went with Aimee to dial 911. Carson finally started to spit up and get some color back in his cheeks. He started to cry for mom, and we worked hard to keep him awake while the ambulance was on the way. It took the ambulance about 35 min. to arrive, apparently they'd been dispatched to the wrong beach, by the time they arrived Carson was doing better, and still crying. When we got in the ambulance they checked his heart rate and saturations which were great. We entertained Carson with a glove blown up like a balloon and we let him decorate it with bandaids. In the emergency room we got x-rays and they looked good, they monitored Carson through the night and we left the next morning. We worried Carson would have some side effects or brain damage, but he's perfect! We feel so blessed and lucky. We know how precious life is and just how close the other side is, and our glad God is watching over us. We were tempted to pack up our camp and head home but decided to stay and finish out the trip with family. Derek and I spent the rest of the weekend holding Carson's hand with an extra watchful eye on Hayden and the kids ended up having a great time. We are thankful to our family who was so supportive and good to watch Hayden while we were at the hospital. I hope everyone gives their kids an extra hug and kiss and remembers the important things in life, I know this experience has given us a new perspective. We are also grateful to the hospital staff at Bear Lake Memorial who were very nice and supportive.