As Pentatonix serenades me with Carol of the Bells I think about the past 12 months. This time last year we were preparing for Christmas, decorating the tree, wrapping presents, trying to make it through until the winter break with a Kindergartener and Pre-schooler. As 2018 approached we had many feelings of excitement for the new year, but also apprehension as we knew 2018 brought medical interventions for Emilee.
I'll do my best to give a recap 2018; I'd suggest a cup of coffee, glass of wine or hot tea as you read through this book....
In January I was given the opportunity to go to our corporate headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee for training for my newly acquired position of Risk/ Performance Improvement Manager. It was two days of in depth training and networking opportunities. Once I returned from the training, we spent a night in Little Rock, Arkansas for an event that Kyle attended for work. While it was a short trip, the kids had a blast playing at a park with slides and climbing features built into the rocks.
February brought the new experience of Ice Hockey for our family. We tried the whole "soccer" bit, but Connor was not a fan. I always felt like we were dragging him to the practice and games and he spent more time fighting against the rules than abiding by them. After his first RiverKings game in December, he went ice skating and then next thing we knew it was a world of 50-60 degree rooms with a very stinky boy. In February he was fitted for his hockey gear. He then continued with the learn to skate program and graduated from Snowplow Sam. My best friend, Lauren, visited and I was able to spend a few days doing touristy events like Graceland and Beale Street. I also hit a major pot hole on a downtown street causing the latch to my hatch to completely shear off..... So, there's that!
March.... Hockey officially started...The weather allowed us to go fishing at a really nice park close to our house...we took a trip to the zoo...(if you can't tell, I don't really remember much about March- just a quick review of the photos saved on my cloud)
April 1st was Easter and April Fools Day, although we played no jokes on anyone. The kids had a very low key Easter and because of the weather, I must shamefully admit that we did not do an Easter Egg Hunt. I'm sure, one day the kids will need to talk about this in therapy. April also meant more hockey (trust me, you will see the word hockey in every month update from here on out). April also meant another training for me! I was able to attend a training in New Orleans. We were extremely fortunate as Yaya was able to come watch the kids while Kyle joined me for the weekend. It was a gorgeous experience and I really enjoyed exploring my French culture... and eating Cafe Du Monde.
The first few months of the year were busy with travel and hockey. We were traveling to Olive Branch, approximately 40 minutes from home weekly, sometimes twice a week for practice, working full-time and still trying to find time to blog (AKA, sorry, I had to let the latter go!)
May was a fun month! The kids had Field Day at school and I took a half day to go watch my amazing kids participate. Connor continued to learn the basics of being on the ice with a hockey stick. Emilee had another round of tubes placed due to ear infections. She was struggling with a high fever and there was general fear of waiting and developing an infection that would not allow her to have her heart procedure in June. Connor and Emilee had their last day of school performances, can I say how adorable these two are?! (That may be biased.) We bought an above ground pool (as I type this, it's still up in the back yard... slightly frozen, but hey)and Emilee had a lovely Emergency Room trip via ambulance due to difficulty with breathing, turned out to be pneumonia and subsequently we had to move her heart procedure date.
I wish I could skip June. June was one of the most stressful, exhausting months and I was so happy when July 1st hit. After Emilee's bout of pneumonia, she suffered with some coughing and choking issues as it cleared up. Unfortunately, one time she started choking, I happened to be driving, took my eyes off the road and rear-ended another vehicle. Thankfully no one was injured, aside from some whiplash and fear of driving on the awful Germantown Parkway. Emilee rode the school bus for the first time to the extended school year program. HOLD UP--- ever have a moment where you completely forget about the good things that had happened?!?!?! Y'all. I met Jake Owen. My husband, the most amazing man in the universe, bought me VIP tickets to see Jake Owen in concert, equipped with meet and greet passes. It was everything I ever dreamed of. Now back to hell month. So after my accident, my car was totaled and I was left searching for a new car. I am now the owner of a Hyundai Sonata. Then June 27th we took Emilee to her Heart Catheterization. After two hours we were told the hole in her heart was much more complex than initially thought and we would have to have open heart surgery. See why it was so easy to forget about the amazing moment of meeting Jake Owen?! Well, we proceeded with the surgery and the recovery. I cannot even tell any of you how grateful we are for your support and continued prayer throughout that ordeal. But July 3rd we were discharged from the hospital and returned to Maryland for the holiday.
July was still a month of recovery for all of us. But we did celebrate Connor's 6th birthday! He had it at the... yup you guessed it... ice rink. He had a blast and has fully embraced the life of a 6 year old. Whatever that entails.
August was full of movies in the back yard, swimming and friendships. Grandma, Pappy and Aunt Holly visited Memphis. Connor had his room remodeled to fit his growing love of hockey (let's get real, its an obsession). Then it was back to school, more hockey, and Emilee's 4th birthday.
September.... stay with me... we are almost through this year!! Kyle and I turned 29. More hockey. Connor lost his first tooth.
October- I went to Nashville to finish my Healthcare in Risk Management certification. I ran a 5K. We carved pumpkins and went trick or treating. Connor had his 1st grade field trip. All the fun "fall" stuff. It was a great month!
I can already feel the end of the year approaching...Need a refill... go ahead and do that now. I may need one as well.
Okay, back and ready to wrap up the last two months.
November brought Connor's turn to visit the Emergency Room due to possible appendicitis. Turns out he had a stomach virus. Kyle was able to go hunting and killed a doe. We got snow! Connor played more hockey and went hunting with Kyle for the first time. Emilee picked out her new big girl glasses. We had a Thanksgiving at home with just us and the kids. We wrapped up November with the Christas Celebration at our town square and Starry Nights at Shelby Farms Park.
AND December!!! So this has been the most fun filled December we have had with the kids. I feel they are at an age that they can really participate in a lot of the Christmas events and understand what is going on. Bow came back ready for some "Elf Games". Sometimes he is a little tired and forgets to move HAHAHAHA. More hockey. A visit from our cousins Laura and Daniel who are expecting a little one in May of 2019 (YAY! We love babies). A Christmas Parade and 1st grade Christmas Performance. A trip to Bryson City, North Carolina where we were able to meet Yaya and Grandad for a surprise visit on The Polar Express Train. Unfortunately it was cut short due to the impending, record breaking snow storm. Decorating our Christmas Tree and an ugly sweater Christmas Party with neighbors. So, let's say we have really brought out the Christmas Spirit this year.
Congratulations, you made it through a whole year review of The Reese's!!! I feel like I owe you coffee/wine/tea depending on your choice. Instead, I will give a coupon for one free hug that doesn't expire.
I cannot believe all of the things that we have accomplished and places we have travelled this year. As we look forward to Christmas in about a week and 2019, we are really excited about a few things. The first is all the babies we are expecting this year. Kyle and I will become an Aunt and Uncle again- his brother and sister-in-law are expecting their first little boy in just a few short months. As mentioned above, Laura and Daniel, our cousins are expecting their first little one. We are excited for my sister's wedding, date to be determined. And of course the prospect of a potential move. Our three years is up this summer but we have requested an extension for a variety of reasons. But, we should find out in a few short months if that extension was granted or if we should begin the process of moving to another location. Emilee has her next cardiologist appointment in February to check on her heart function and the ASD repair. Connor is looking forward to the next hockey season and continuing to excel in school.
Much like anyone, our story has the highs and the lows. This year has brought about many challenges but also blessings. We hope that this year has done the same for you and that 2019 brings about happiness, health and an maybe the winning Powerball ticket...
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
With love,
The Reese's
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