2010....A year in review...

In many ways, 2010 was good to my family.... in other ways, I can't wait for a new year and hopefully some better luck....and better health for Cameron...

In January--- we spent a lot of time with family, went sledding, hung out with friends, and Cameron battled the silly flu :(

February-- the colts went to the Superbowl (but lost *tear) and Cameron slipped on ice just before Valentine's Day, dislocated his knee cap, leaving him in a full leg brace.... I also began subbing and fell in love with a whole school of amazing kids...

March--- My parents and I traveled to Colorado for a few days to visit with my brother.... and we loved every minute of it! We're actually hoping for another trip again this year! :)

April-- I celebrated an amazing birthday with family and friends, Cam celebrated his bachelor party with ammunition (and came away unharmed thank goodness!!), a good friend got married, and we kicked our wedding planning into high gear! I started teaching an 8 week maternity and fell in love with some awesome kids.

May--- We met our awesome wedding photographers (on the same day that Cam managed to smash his hand in the trunk?!), my beautiful bridesmaids threw one hilarious bridal shower and an even funnier bachelorette party! My bridesmaids also began their fittings and alterations for their bridesmaid dresses, and Cameron and I went through "you know what" with our silly wedding invitations before finally getting everything the way we wanted them! haha   Some of our good friends got married, as well another couple finding out that they were expecting with their miracle baby.

June--- A very dear friend was diagnosed with a horrible disease that shook the whole community and she began a long battle that she is winning! Another amazing person lost his fight with the same horrible disease after becoming an inspiration to many people. After much stress, work, and unwanted drama, I finally married my best friend and honeymooned in a penthouse on the top floor of the hotel....(probably the only time that we'll ever say that! haha)  I also began trying to cook and collected a pretty large supply of delicious recipes, but the Betty Crocker phase didn't last long...haha 


July--- We enjoyed fireworks with friends, babysat for Karter, celebrated birthdays--including Cam's.. I surprised him with a video I borrowed of him singing and dancing at his high school prom (he had told me about it many times)... I also cut off most of my hair and donated it in honor of three amazing women who didn't have the choice to keep their beautiful locks..... Cameron also got a great job offer out of the blue and was hired within a few short hours of the interview.


August---- Cameron felt pretty puny for a few days before he got terribly sick just before a long planned family vacation... He had to stay home, and I ended up sick about an hour away from our apartment. I spent 24 hours feeling crummy before journeying down to meet the rest of the family. Cameron and I also got an opportunity to go boating, tubing, water skiing, and jet skiing.... we had a blast!  We also helped my parents throw my dad's family reunion, and build a 10x16 second story deck in 6 days.

September--- We got our wedding photos and fell in love with some of the most breathtaking images we've ever seen...I also started teaching a 8 week maternity leave and fell in love with yet another group of amazing preschoolers....

October--- The family threw Karter a *Cars themed birthday. Cameron began to have pain and numbness in his fingers that then lead to his whole arm. He began therapy and had many doctor's appointments.

November--- His appointments and therapy continued with little progress... We also went through a horrible emotional roller coaster that had my whole family longing for answers and at a complete loss.... Luckily, we took action and things are back to normal--if not better..... I also got a huge compliment from my boss that then lead into a job offer that I accepted and began. We spent a family day at a corn maze, and had an amazing Thanksgiving with my whole family.

December--- The lack of Cameron's progress and increasing pain lead to an MRI that revealed many issues in his upper spine. We had a scheduled appointment with a spine specialist just before Christmas, but it was rescheduled for January. (We are hoping for good news and treatment that relieves his pain quickly.) We kept Karter overnight again (which we LOVE!), celebrated Christmas with Cam's parents before they left for vacation, and had a great Christmas with my family... My grandma came home from the nursing home where she was staying for short-term therapy and my brother drove home from Colorado just in time for a white Christmas... Cameron woke up Christmas morning with a tooth ache from complications with a false tooth from childhood and will be having a root canal next week..boo...Also, I did get to put up my first Christmas tree, and we continue the desperate hunt for our own home... We did get some horrible news just after Christmas that left a loved one and our family heart broken and hoping for better things in 2011. .



This year has been difficult---emotionally.... We've had many close friends and family affected by horrible illnesses, nearly lost one of the most important people in our lives, and had many struggles in our own relationship....

Cameron and I are definitely learning the meaning of our vows.... "in sickness and in health" aren't just words.... they're real in our marriage.... Many people don't know this, but Cameron has a rare heart condition...He had surgery less than a year into our relationship to correct his aorta and takes daily medication to regulate the blood flow. The condition affects many parts of his body (bones, muscles, joints, etc) and causes his bones and muscles to connect abnormally, leaving them easily injured, pulled, popped out of place, dislocated, or broken. With all of these possibilities, injuries are a weekly thing in this house and can be stressing on a relationship...We also have found out that he has a non-cancerous tumor growing in his back that has left more than 10 doctors puzzled at its formation. Am I saying this for sympathy?!? No... I'm venting and sharing information more than anything...

I wish I could count the number of times that he's been injured, sick or just in pain and couldn't attend an event with me.... I'll be honest when I say that I'm the first to get angry when he tells me that he can't go, but then I think about how I would feel if I was expected to go places while I was in pain....Then I start to get mad at other people....First of all, no one knows what it's like to have this happen time and time again (for him and for me), but second of all, no one knows what it's like to hear the comments people make about him not feeling good, being sick so often, or even making up injuries/illness just so that he doesn't have to attend..... It makes me mad and breaks my heart all at the same time.... I just wish people would understand.....

Anyway.... as the doctor bills, chiropractor bills, dentist bills, hospital bills, and more continue to come in.... we're reminded of the "for richer or poorer" part of our vows.... Times get rough around here and emotions are put the test, but we try to remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that God doesn't give a person more than they can handle....

We are hoping 2011 brings joy, happiness, peace, good health, and prosperity to our family as well as yours...