Another year over, and a new one just begun

Dear 2010,

   Wow.  What words can I use to describe you?   Fast.  Frustrating.  Amazing.  Unexpected.  Unfair.  Eventful.  Surprising.  Accomplishments.  Achievements.  Rollercoaster.  Over.  Lets review why this vast array of words suits you:

In January, Mom fell and broke her shoulder resulting in surgery, pins, and a nursing home stay.  While the timing of her surgery worked well as I had to be at the hospital for a three hour blood glucose test anyways, the situation in whole was terrible timing. Jim and I were to leave for Florida for a mini vacation a few days after Mom was to be discharged from the hospital.  Dad would need help since Mom could barely do anything for herself and with us out of town that would leave a lot of weight on everyone elses shoulders, not to mention the guilt we would feel by not being there to help.  Overall it was decided that it would be best for Mom to recuperate in a nursing home. I felt such turmoil in making the decision to continue with our vacation plans.  Mom would be alone in a nursing home, Dad would be alone at home.  Still to this day I can't say if I made the right choice by going and missing out on what would be one of the few remaining weeks with Dad but it was good spending one on one time with Grandma and Grandpa Lebarr.  Hopefully in a year or two, we can make the trip again but this time with less anxiety and without being pregnant.

In February, we got to see the great Ted Neely reprise his role of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar for his last tour ever.  Although I've known the music of Andrew Lloyd Weber for years and even marched to it in band, I had never seen the movie or musical performed of Jesus Christ Superstar until I got married. So imagine my utmost astonishment when I learned that my mom and dad had went to see the musical when it first began.  And Ted Neely had performed in it as well! 

March brought a surprising visit of an uncle who we hadn't seen in years upon years.  It was a visit that you could tell put a little joy in Dad's heart and to whom I contribute the errand running of the day to the um...pleasant... birth of our son Jacob.  As I would like to have peaceful sleep tonight, its a story I won't retell but will always have this post to refer back to as an extra dose of birth control.

And then its April.  The month didn't start off too bad.  Dad had started taking oxygen.  He look healthier.  He sounded amazing.  All he wanted to do was hold and care for Jacob and since he was feeling better, he was able to.  My regret, as is any ones, is that we didn't get enough pictures.  Jim  also turned the big 3-0 in April.  Of course I wanted to have a big bash for him but with just having a baby the details never worked out.  And then things quickly went downhill from there.  On April 9th, my best friends father lost his battle with cancer.  I remember walking into the church thinking about my own Dad slowly losing his own battle with cancer, wondering how long it would be before I would be one standing there greeting people for my fathers funeral.  Twenty days later, my question was answered.  Maybe someday I'll retell the story of that last hour.  Maybe by putting it into words I can stop reliving it in my head on the most random of nights or as I'm driving down the road to the store.  Maybe I can find peace in it and all that we will be facing over the next few years with Mom's health as well.  Maybe.

With Dad passing away at the end of April, his viewing wasn't held until May, which wasn't exactly the best start to the month.  I had plenty of distractions like potty training Bree, going back to work and beginning my first (and very successful too) garden.  I learned that two and half people (Bree being that half person) cannot possibly eat the vast amount of tomatoes that 12 tomato plants produce and that green pepper plants are not worth my time.  Although they grow big and tall and leafy, it is not worth all the watering and weeding for two peppers that were smaller than the palm of my hand.  Next summer, mass producing green beans. 

In June I biked 35 miles in the MS Bike to the Bay.  It was my first time biking that far even by adding up an entire summer or two worth but it was fun and I plan on doing it again next.  Hopefully I'll have more time to train and maybe even "talk" Jim into doing with me.

Apparently not much happened in July because I cannot think of a thing to write about and that's okay.  I'll take uneventful versus drama any day.

August was greeted with a coworkers daughter, who was only 31, passing away.  She too lost her battle with cancer.  Her passing struck a cord in my heart as she left behind a young daughter.

September flew by as all Septembers do with working fair after fair and the start of the football season.  It too was a very uneventful month and I'm not complaining.

In October Jim and I celebrated a milestone.  Our ten year wedding anniversary.  Of course we wanted to celebrate, live it up, take a vacation and more but instead opted to drop the kids off to Grandma and Grandpas for a weekend alone at home, finishing all those little projects that nag at the back of our minds, catching up on movies we've missed over the past three years, and putting together a puzzle.  And thats what I love about us.  Forget the fancy dinners and bottles of wine to reconnect and celebrate accomplishments but instead bring on the tents, sleeping bags and weenies over a fire.  We're simple people who take pleasures in the everyday things.  We know who we are, where we came from, what we want for ourselves and our family and won't get caught up in the game of "keeping up with the Jones."  We're ten years strong with no end in sight.  To infinity and beyond!!

November also brought a milestone. Gabrielle turned three!!  Can you believe it??  There are times she still seems so much my little girl but then there are times, like when I pick her up from the sitters and she's begging me to go to school, that I realize she's growing up so very quickly.  Right now we're struggling with the three year old listening/obeying issue and sometimes I think that maybe sending her to preschool will help in that area.  But then I realize that by putting her in school begins the next chapter in my life, the chapter that includes snow and fog delays, cancellations, schedules, school programs, holiday and summer vacations, more schedules, breakfast at the table every morning instead of lazy, pajama breakfasts on the couch, homework, even more schedules, dropping kids off at two different locations and more.  And, dang it, I'm just not ready for that chapter!  November, however, did not end on a good note.  The flu struck our house and it hit hard.  We dealt with two sick children for the first time and lived to tell about it.  It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be.  I imgained a trip or two or urgent care for dehydration or some random flu side effect but instead just needed to have every surface in my house shampooed, washed, and wiped off from projectiling fluids.  At least my house is clean.  Then yet another tragedy struck.  A co-worker of mine who also used to be a co-worker of my dad's at the telephone company passed away.  She also lost her battle with cancer. Enough already, right?

Then I'm not entirely sure what happened in December.  I think there was a Christmas tree, a few presents, maybe some cookies and snow involved but I can't be certain.  I blinked and it was over.

Now we say goodbye to you, 2010.  I think you held a few more downs than ups but some years are just like that.  When I think about everything that happened and its effect on my life and my future, I'm reminded of a quote that I read somewhere that impacted me enough to commit it to memory and to live by it.

We can't control the wind but we can adjust the sails.

                                               Sincerely,

The Dominiques

Jim, Rachel, Bree and Jacob