2013 started off in much the same way that 2012 ended and that is with a LOT of sickness in our family. On January 15th, AJ gets the stomach virus. Two days later it has moved through our entire family including an incident in which I threw up on my sleeping child. It was not our finest hour.
February 2nd - AJ starts crawling
February 5th - AJ is diagnosed with RSV. Just after midnight I head to the ER with AJ. A few hours later he is admitted due to complications from RSV. After a long night in the hospital, Andrew comes to relieve me in the morning after dropping Caleb at daycare. I get home, showered, and into bed and the phone rings. Caleb is sick and needs to be picked up from daycare. Because I am breastfeeding AJ, Andrew and I switch places again. AJ and I are released from the hospital around 5pm that same night about 17 hours after we arrived.
February 16th - I posted this on Facebook, "It has been a big week for AJ. Recovered from RSV, stopped "lazy" crawling and started really crawling to get what he wants, and then today he repeatedly effortlessly pulled himself up to standing, started cruising around his activity table and walking behind his walker toy. Still 8 days shy of 8 months old and growing up way too quickly!”
Late February/Early March – AJ gets his first two bottom teeth.
March 9th to March 15th – Vacation in San Diego to visit Andrew's family. We also made a special trip with Caleb to Disneyland, but unfortunately, my phone died so no pics :(
March 21st – I posted this on Facebook, “At the pediatrician with this guy again. I had them count, we have been here just for AJ 13 times since November and will be here again on Saturday...all sick visits. That doesn't include a trip to urgent care, a hospital admittance, and a bout with the stomach virus.”
Late March (Easter Weekend) – We had a visit from Andrew's sister's family. It was so nice to have all the cousins on that side of the family together for the first time ever.
April 4th – I posted this on facebook, “9 month well visit turned sick visit. Found out our little chunk is 21lbs, 12oz and 28.25" tall and has double ear infection #6. Tubes are in our very near future.”
April 13th – We celebrated by 32nd Birthday celebrated with a Star Wars cake...Caleb's choice of course.
April 17th – AJ's consultation with the ENT. Two days later he had surgery to put in tubes. He's only had one ear infection since then, so they seem to be working!
May 11th – Celebrated the 10 year anniversary of my graduation from college. According to Facebook I was doing this, “Today I spent the day in jeans and a t shirt running AJ to the doctor then a quick trip into work (cuz you know there are no weekends in lab work) and then taking Caleb to see Mt. Lebanon HS perform Seussical (those kids are amazing!). Now I am snuggling with AJ as he naps while we await pizza delivery for dinner. I think I am exactly where I had hoped I would be as I listened to President LJ Lemons speak on that beautiful day in 2003.”
May 14th – Caleb’s first soccer game
May 27th – Celebrated our 7th Wedding Anniversary
June 6th – Had a Eureka moment in the lab!
June 23rd – AJ starts walking June 24th – AJ turns 1! “One year ago, we welcomed a tiny, calm, wide eyed baby boy into our family. Andrew and I even commented about how calm he was and how he was going to be our "laid back child." Over the past year he has shown us that he is anything but laid back. He has experienced challenge after challenge and health problem after health problem. But he has come through all of that with a smile on his face and a fighting personality. He's still a wide-eyed child and loves to experience new surroundings and meet new people. I am excited to see how his personality continues to develop and shape who he becomes. Happy 1st Birthday to my spunky, cuddly, perfect little man! I love you AJ!”
AJ’s party was nearly cancelled due to yet another illness in our family. Caleb and AJ both came down with Hand, Food, and Mouth. But everyone was healthy enough by June 29th when we celebrated with just a small group of family. We had a picnic in our front yard and it was absolutely the perfect way to celebrate the first year of our littlest man’s life.
July and August - We soaked up as much as we could of the rest of the summer with only a few illnesses here and there. We spent the 4th of July with our good friends Stacey, Tom, and Caleb’s girlfriend Layla. And we took advantage of some great 4th of July sales and purchased some much needed new appliances for our kitchen.
We celebrated Andrew’s 33rd Birthday.
September - September started a new chapter in my career as I became a postdoc. I’m still working in the same lab doing the same research, but taking on some additional responsibilities and taking advantage of some new training opportunities. Four months later and I am thrilled with the decision that I made to take on this new challenge and I feel so blessed that the opportunity presented itself at just the right time in my life.
We also celebrated Caleb’s 5th birthday this month! I’m still shocked every time I say that I have a five year old! Caleb has grown up so much this past year, and I am so proud of the little boy that he has become.
In October, my sister completed her first 5K when we participated in the Pittsburgh Color Run. We had a blast, and I was so proud of her.
October also brought another bout of the stomach flu in our house including a trip to the ER for AJ. Hopefully we can just call 2013 the year of the norovirus and leave it in our past for 2014.
And of course, we celebrated Halloween Star Wars style!
In November, D and I ran two more 5K races besting our times at each successive event. We had a great time raising money in the "Do it for Dina" race and then in the Turkey Trot in our hometown on Thanksgiving morning. It was FREEZING, but so much fun! Caleb even ran the kids 1/2 mile fun run.
We rounded out the year with a relatively relaxing December. Caleb wrote his first real letter to Santa, we learned that AJ is terrified of Santa, and of course we had to have a Star Wars Christmas. 2013 was also the year of Star Wars in our house.
Whew! I made it! Ready to put 2013 behind us and say hello to 2014! Happy New Year from our little family!
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