2012 comes to an end!

As we get older, the years just seem to by faster. I thought I would reflect back month by month on some highlights of 2012!

January:
In January I started the Biggest Loser at my gym again, ready to up my fitness some more. I love this program, and was on Team DJ, the black team, once again. I had the chance to go to a training in Yakima, on Wraparound Coaching, with the infamous Laura Burger-Lucas, one of my heros in this world. This month, Ryan and I decided to go forward with our dream of adopting a child through foster to adopt. I scheduled our orientation class, and unbeknowst to us...our baby girl made her way into this world!!

February:
We attended our foster parent orientation and started the application process, one that wouildn't be complete until July. Ryan and I began a new side job adventure through our friend, Matt. We started as DaVinco vendors, ordering and stocking shelves at Cash and Carry. I continued with my Biggest Loser challenge, competing in Team Challenges. I hosted a Pull-Ups potty training House Party.

March:
I finished the Biggest Loser Challenge this month, having lost weight and inches. I had struggled a bit, due to low blood pressure and orthostatic hypotension. I did a Tilt Table Test at the hospital, which was a very crazy experience!! Not one I would like to repeat. On Saint Patricks Day, our family made the trek to Grand Coulee for a Memorial Service for Ryan's Dad and Grandma. We were able to celebrate their lives and see all of Ryan's family. A highlight for me was a Jury Duty Summons! I have always wanted Jury Duty, and finally got summoned;) Ryan and I competed in a 15K Badger Mountain Challenge together. It was freezing cold, but be completed it, and hope to do it again next year!

April:
I got to go in for Jury Duty! I was excused by 11, but I thought it was amazing! For Easter, we headed to my Mom's, where the 4 cousins hunted egss together and we ate too much. It's always fun to see the little boys together! Casey went to a date to the park with his girlfriend, Mya. They rode in the wagon together, and shared lunch in the picnic basket. I completed the PRIDE training required of foster parents, inching us closer to our foster license. I got a new bike!!

May:
We headed to Bend, where I hosted Jolene's bridal shower! Ryan started his softball season. I competed in the Sage Rat Run, a 12K! That was 7.4 miles, and I ran every step! My Mom, Dad, Jenna, Matt, Kelly and Caleb brought the RV's over and visited in the Tri-Cities. A good time was had!

June:
I had the chance to fly to San Francisco and attend an amazing training by Dr. Ross Greene, on Collaborative Problem Solving. I got to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge! I had been training for a sprint triathlon, and went for a team open water swim. Due to Immersion Pulmonary Edema, I had to be pulled out of the water, by 2 heros. I spent a few days in the ICU, and the next week recovering at home. A VERY scary incident, and I didn't get to complete the tri.

July:
In the beginning of the month, our foster license was finally approved, 8 weeks late!! And on July 9th, one phone call changed our lives forever! We met Emily that day. It had been a rough day for her, but she still was all smiles for Ryan and I. We fell in love and brought her home! My Mom and Jenna came that weekend, loaded with bags of pick presents. Our little girl who came home with a onesie and nothing else, suddenly had a closet full of clothes and toys! We had photos taken, of her and as a family this month. A friend of mine hosted a welcome party for her, which was lots of fun. I started FMLA leave, 6 weeks worth, to bond with my baby girl.

August:
Ryan had 2 weeks of vacation, which was also the last 2 weeks of my FMLA leave. We went to Seaside with my family, and camped at a KOA. We slept in a tent 5 nights, with 2 kids! That was quite an accomplishment. We had a blast, Casey loved the ocean! We also went to my Grandpa Al's 85th birthday party at my Mom's house, where I got to see my Aunt Barbara from Tennessee, and meet her daughter, Marty, who is my Mom's cousin.  We also  got in some boating and sunshine in Tri-cities.

September:
As I got ready to go back to work full-time, M's daycare situation wasn't working. I made arrangements at work to return part time the rest of the year, until M could attend daycare with Casey. I started another Biggest Loser challenge! I had the unique opportunity to fly out to Duke University in North Carolina and be part of a study on Immersion Pulmonary Edema. I was the 10th athlete they flew out. I have some neat pictures of my experience, which was just crazy! It was very mentally and physically challenging. And probably deserves a blog of its own:)

October:
October started with a trip to Seattle to say good bye to my little brother, as he leaves for Marine boot camp!! I am so proud of him! It was Ryan and I's birthdays, although, as we turned 32, it's not nearly as exciting as when we were younger! Jolene, Nick and Kayla came out for a weekend, and we went to the Pumpkin Patch. It was a great weekend that went by way too fast. Halloween was a blast, our kids were dinosaurs. They enjoyed trick or treating, especially Casey!

November:
This month, we were lucky enough to have my little sister fly over and spend 2 weeks with us! She also got to be here for Casey's 3rd birthday and his Construction themed birthday party. I finished my Biggest Loser challenge at my lowest weight ever. I was 3rd place! For Thanksgiving, we headed to my parents house, and had a fun filled weekend. We did some black Friday shopping, and again, ate too much.

December:
We had family Christmas photos done, and the kids met Santa....we got THE best Santa photo, and both kids are smiling! Ryan and I got to go on a date, dinner and shopping! It was our first solo date since M arrived! I officially went back to work full time mid December, but have the last week of December and first week of January off! We celebrated Christmas with my family mid December, and went to Zoo Lights, made gingerbread houses, wore Ugly Sweaters, ate, drank and we were Merry! We celebrated Christmas at home, Ryan was off Christmas Eve and Day, for the first time in years! Christmas Eve we went swimming at the gym, and did a special 12 days of Christmas work out. We had dinner with Nicole's family, and finally saw a baby belly on Nicole! Christmas Day it snowed! All day long! We stayed in our jammies all day, opened presents and played with our new toys.

We had a wonderful year! We certainly had our share of ups and downs. This year we had to say good bye to Matt and Kelly's lab, Otis. My first nephew. A true "Marley and Me" story. Otis was Caleb's best friend, and I was always amazed at the capacity at which Otis loved Caleb. Otis joins some other boys at the Rainbow Bridge, they are probably having a ball together.

Shauna's best friend was taken from us this year as well. Stacy was hit by a driver under the influence of drugs, as she walked to her car outside her home. She was a fighter, and hung in there for a month. Her friends and family and co-workers rallied to raise money for her, held benefits and shared stories. She brought a whole community together. Stacy was a rare gem on this earth. She had a beautiful smile, a positive attitude, and was an elementary school teacher, who loved her students and job. Stacy left behind her high school sweet heart, Jason, they celebrated their 6 year anniversary while Stacy was in the ICU at Harbor View. I can't think about Stacy without tears. Stacy was Shauna's best friend, but was at my house so often, my parents referred to her as their other daughter. She worked at the theatre with me, as did Jason, and pretty much all of my friends and Shauna's! Stacy was just one of those people who never had a bad thing to say. She had a nervous laugh that she did, when something was awkward. She was so cheerful, and called her friends "sweetpea". I think of her everytime I call my daughter that. Stacy was taken too young, she did so much good in this world, and had so much more to give. I just can't comprehend that she isn't here. My heart goes out to her family, especially Jason, and her sister Ashley.

Now that I have dampened the mood, here is to 2012! You were wonderful and heart breaking!

Bring on 2013!