Kristin Cavallari Has a New 'Appreciation for Life' After Car Accident and Brother's Death

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Kristin Cavallari is counting her blessings after a rough couple of months.

The 29-year-old Laguna Beach star Instagrammed a picture of herself smiling in a new photoshoot for her Chinese Laundry shoe collection on Wednesday, and said she's looking on the bright side of things. Cavallari dislocated her elbow in a car accident last Thursday when she was hit by another driver in Chicago, and last month, her older brother, Michael Cavallari, was found dead in Utah.

"I dislocated my elbow in a car accident last week and because of that, and everything else I've been through in the past couple months, I have such an appreciation for life," the mother-of-three wrote. "I am so thankful it wasn't worse, and more importantly, that my babies weren't with me."

WATCH: Kristin Cavallari -- 'Not Being Able to Hold My Baby Is Absolutely Killing Me'

She also said she's still feeling pain from the injuries she sustained from the car accident.

"My arm hurts like a b***h but I'm thankful because I have my arm!!" she wrote. "Shot my spring shoe look book today and even though I could barely move my arm, I am forever grateful for being here to shoot it."

Slowly but surely, Cavallari has been getting back into her normal routine, following the devastating death of her brother. Aside from getting back to work on Wednesday, she went out on New Year's Eve to celebrate with her husband, 32-year-old Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.

"Last night was the second time I've put makeup on in over 5 weeks and left the house (besides the grocery store and taking Cam to school)," she Instagrammed earlier this month. "Even though I shed a few tears, it was a really nice night and felt good to be out. 2015 brought my sweet, baby girl but it also took my brother's life. Hoping for no extreme highs and lows this year. Happy new year, everyone."

Although 2016 clearly didn't start off as planned, it's nice to see Cavallari staying positive!

WATCH: Kristin Cavallari Says She Talks to Former 'Hills' Co-Star Heidi Montag 'All the Time'

Earlier this week, Cavallari revealed the worst part about her car accident injuries -- not being able to hold her 2-month-old daughter, Saylor.

" ... Not being able to hold my baby is absolutely killing me," she tweeted.

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