Happy New Year's

Wow, what a year 2009 has been. We definitely had our fair share of challenges in 2009, but those challenges brought Zane and I closer than we have ever been as a married couple and brought our family closer together. We learned first hand the meaning of "Families Are Forever" after witnessing all the ups and downs, heartaches and joyous moments of having a child in the NICU and the blessed moments of knowing we have a happy healthy little boy at home. We learned a lot about patience, especially with two kids, one of which is a VERY VERY VERY active little boy that doesn't stop to sleep half the time. With patience, we also learned, you learn something new about it every day because every day is new and different.

In 2009, we learned the true meaning of making sure we are healthy. I have had my fair share of hospital stays with my cardiac and chest pains. After several months of being hospitalized for the pain, we were very grateful for our wonderful doctor who referred me to Dr George, a wonderful pain specialist who diagnosed me with Tietze's Disease (click here to read more about it) in the first visit. I am currently getting injections in my chest every 4 weeks, to help with the pain. The last time I had injections was the week of Thanksgiving, and I can tell you right now, they really do work. I am really feeling the pain coming back and it has been longer than 4 weeks. We are truly grateful to Dr. George, for his knowledge in medicine and his ability to help heal this horrible, unbearable pain. Our normal doctor also referred me to see Dr. Bingham, a cardiologist, who is absolutely amazing. Dr. Bingham ran several tests on my heart and determined that my heart is healthy, other than a slight murmer.

In 2009, we also learned how to cope with and help a child with asthma. Sweet little Hunter has such a hard time in the winter when with his asthma. Towards the end of the winter of 2008, our insurance bought us a nebulizer to help us control Hunter's asthma, and let me tell you, it has been a life saver (and a money saver when it comes to not having to take him to the ER every day for breathing treatments). In the winter, we have to give him 4 treatments of Albuteral and 2 treatments of Pulmocort on daily. Some days he requires more and some days he requires less. He is such a smartie pants and has gotten to the point where he knows that he can't breathe and knows the treatments make a HUGE difference and tells us he needs a breathing treatment or he will bring the nebulizer to Zane or I to give him a treatment.

In 2009, we learned what it is like for Zane to have a job that is stable even in the horrible economy. I know this is a bad way to look at it, but with the bad economy, people are desperate and will do whatever it takes, even if it means breaking the law and end up in jail and that means job security for Zane.

Here is to an excellent, happy, healthy and safe 2010!!!!!!

Happy New Year!!!!