2009 In Review

WOW, what a year. It definitely had it's ups and it's downs. I really hate to wish away a year, but I am glad to say that we survived this one, and it is almost over.



Jan.

good - visit with Grandma Terry, Aunt Jenni and Faith

challenge - an MRI of Lily's heart for pre-op purposes, we had to be there at 6 am and the MRI clinic wasn't even open for 30 more minutes.



Feb.

good - Daddy's Birthday, Grandma Terry spending two weeks with Miss Grace, Grandma Terry, Poppop, Grandma and Papa, Aunt Ann and Uncle Sam, Lara and David, every denomination of minister that came to the hospital and LOTS of wonderful friends who then got all their friends to pray with us and for us. Two forgiving new jobs that allowed me extra time off to be with Lily.

challenge - Open heart surgery, with a week and a half long hospital stay for Miss Lily and very little contact with Grace. It was very hard and although I can say Egleston is a wonderful place, it was so nice to come home on Daddy's birthday and have a double celebration.



March

good - good news from the surgeon, and cardiologist, and again lots of wonderful friends who brought us meals when we were just surviving.

challenge - a hard month for me, with the anniversary of losing Brendan starting it off and all the doctor visits and returning to work, hoping Grandma and Lily would be OK.......I didn't get a lot of sleep.



April

good - more good news from the cardiologist, pleased with her progress, Lily starting to sit alone again and starting to relax.

challenge - Getting back into the swing of things, trying to redo our mortgage at a better rate...never happened. And dun,dun,dun,dun........Grace to the DENTIST, poor hygienist and dentist, they never knew what hit them.



May

good - A visit from Grandma Terry and Poppop for RECITAL and LILY'S BAPTISM! Mother's day with my two growing girls.

challenge - missing Grace's four year old program, her last one as a preschooler:(.



June

good - can you say BEACH TRIP!

challenge - normal everyday stuff and Grace to the DENTIST (thanks to Daddy she made it through and got to go to the Disney Store for a special gift.)



July

good - can you say another BEACH TRIP, this time to visit Grandma and Poppop at their house. Lily's first trip.

challenge - this was the month of the tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy and tube placement. Poor Taylor, Campbell and Caleb (two cousins and 1 best friend) all had it done within two weeks of each other. Poor guys, at least that got some cool toys and lots of ice cream to eat.

on the fence - Grace met her Kindergarten teachers on the 31st. She is officially a schooler, not a pre-schooler.



August

good- school starts, another cardiologist visit for the little one with excellent news, NO MORE HEART MEDICINE!

challenge - school starts and a bone graft for me in my jaw.



September

good - DISNEY WORLD FOR LILY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY

challenge - the beginning of a three month struggle with ear infections.



October

good - quiet month, fun Halloween

challenge - still struggling with ear infections for Miss Lily two different antibiotics were tried this month.



November

good - THANKSGIVING, a quiet week at home in preparation for ear tube placement

challenge - Lily and those darn ear infections, shots this time, numbing drops for the ear pain and waiting for the cardiac clearance for ear tube surgery. Basically a waiting game.



December

good - CHRISTMAS, Grandma Terry and Poppop coming up for Grace's birthday, Lily's ear tube surgery(technically in Nov.), an excellent birthday party, Carol Sing at FPC and a few relaxing days at home. And the wonders of Zofram.

challenge - An ER visit via ambulance for a puking 14 month old(no concussion only a stomach bug), 3 days later Grace getting the same stomach bug, working 2 out of a total of 6 days the month of Dec. No Kindergarten performance due to another bug giving Grace a fever and what turned into a sinus infection. Spending over 75 dollars in co pays for both girls the month of December at the pediatrician - and that doesn't include medicines or the ER visit. Getting Christmas shopping done, wrapped and sent with two sickies. And cancelling our trip to Florida to see all the Campbell's due to the sickies.



Well that is the highlights of our year. Hopefully next year will be full of more good than challenges. I have learned so much this year it seems that I am still making room for things in my brain, plus I am still reliving parts that I would love to look at through rose colored glasses - not there yet. I am trying very hard to learn to count the blessings and relish them. So I would definitely say the blessings in our life this year, have been all the people from family, friends, co-workers, nurses, doctors, surgeons, fellow parents at Egleston, customer support at Blue Cross Blue shield, people we hardly know who gave in ways they will never comprehend how much they touched our hearts, ministers and most especially the two beautiful girls who grace the pages of this blog everyday. They make the challenges in our life, but without those girls, life would be very boring. So here is to another great year together may it be as blessed as 2009.



I hope you had a great 2009 and that 2010 will bring you many blessings.