A Year in Review: 2010

Before I wrote this post I went back and read 2009's year in review post. This paragraph summed up the post:

"I'm not sure what to think about 2010. Things won't be much different, but you can never anticipate what is going to happen. We will all continue working in our same jobs, I will attempt 2 more semesters of Kinesiology, Brode will undergo the same Craniosynostosis surgery yet again, and we will watch our baby turn into a troublesome toddler two-year old."

I couldn't have been more right about things this year, but I also couldn't have been more wrong about a few others. The year always seems to go so fast, but looking back at pictures and particularily Brode's health notebook (yes it is all kept in one beloved notebook with every detail otherwise appointments blend together) we have been through a lot - an adventure filled year.

January '10 - I completed an interim class while working as Brode attended day care.

February '10 - Spring 2010 started where I completed many of Kines classes including biomechanics and exercise physiology. I also celebrated my 21st birthday with friends! Brode kicked off the year with a set-back: Right Lung Pneumonia, otherwise known as pneumonia number 4 for our little man. Still no answers as to why.

March '10 - We met Dr. Toivonen, our hand surgeon. He diagnosed Brode with left trigger thumb. The agreement to wait six months was made before any surgery discussions arose. Set-back number 2, Brode got his first case of croup - mom and grandpa lost lots of sleep. Brode was also given glasses that completely fell through and we requested a new doctor - that was a fun week of frustration!

March '10 - May'10 - School, work, and day care continued. We made trips to LaCrosse and the Mall of America. Pink eye, first ear infection, and a full body rash breaking out in the entire day care kept us home several days!

June'10 - Spring semester ended and I spent my time working full-time while taking 2 online summer classes. We made weekend trips to the cottage and enjoyed time with friends. I went to Country USA with friends.

July '10 - Brode had a pre-op CT scan on the 12th to prepare modeling for his upcoming surgery. Later that week we went back down to meet our new ophthamologist where he was diagnosed not with far-sightedness as previously thought, but hypertopia/4th nerve that affects his tracking. July 28th Brode had his second craniosynostosis surgery (plate removal and cranioplasty). The 5 titanium plates on his skull were removed and holes were filled with bone grafts. We spent 4 days in the hosptial then a week at home for recovery.

August '10 - Brode's 42 staples came out on the 9th and we were back to summer vacation! My summer classes ended and I got a full 2 week break before fall semester started. Brode spent a long weekend with Grandma and Grandpa when Matt and I went the annual LaBarge family camping trip.

September '10 - Fall semster started and Brode turned 2! We had a large Mickey Mouse party for Brode at our house to celebrate! Brode had his 2 year check-up late that month where our doctor indicated that although Brode has had many health issues he is very advanced for his age. He knows well beyond his fair share of words, knows his ABC's, can count to 20 alone, memorizes songs, started potty training, and speaks in full sentences that are rarely misunderstood. With his birthday Brode moved up to the 2 year old room at day care! He has been doing great, still has the same friends, and really enjoys the new teachers. Brode loves getting outside more in this room, doing independent art projects, and he comes home with a new song every day!

October '10 - Brode had his left trigger thumb released by Dr. Toivonen at St.E's. A quick in and our procedure with 10 days of bandages fixed the problem and his thumb is good as new! Brode also missed the Halloween memo and failed to celebrate even though his Elmo costume was adorable.

November '10 - December '10 - We celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas with friends and family. School ended and Brode became more spoiled than ever, but you heard all about that! Brode also had re-checks will all of his doctors and everyone is impressed with his progress, great news!

What a year! Although Brode wasn't on the healthiest side of things, we were blessed with amazing doctors to help us through! Health insurance saved our lives this year and hopefully we can now take big steps forward. We were also blessed with tremendous amounts of friends and family that joined us in good times and in bad! My poor friends deal with all my stress, but we always have fun:

2011 - I can't even start to make a prediction because I have NO idea where I'm going to be! This is the year of decisions and moving on. I will be graduating in May and will then be completing an internship. This causes my Kimberly Clark placement, after 2 and 1/2 years to end and me lost in the job search. I'll need to pick an internship mid-spring that will last until August. After that it is all up in the air. I will apply for 2012 grad schools in the fall, but will hopefully find a job with my bachelors until grad school. I always had "I have to go to high school, I have to go to college" in my head, and now I have no idea what comes next. We'll find out - bring it on 2011!