How it got to be January 6th already is mind blowing. Today the kids started back to school, and somehow, even though I knew Bean had to be at preschool at 9am, I thought I had a whole additional hour to get ready. Neither of us were dressed when I looked at the clock at 9:06 and realized we were supposed to be there already!
In a mad dash, I managed to get Bean and I dressed (Tiny was already dressed,) packed up and out the door in 10 minutes. TEN MINUTES. I dropped the munchkin, made a stop by Starbucks (thanks Mom for the SB gift card for Christmas!) and Tiny and I had her follow up with her ENT. The tubes are still in place and looking great, so we should not have to worry about ear infections, or more tubes for at least the next six months.
Our next major appointment comes on Friday when she has an echocardiogram to see if the whole in her heart (common occurrence in micro preemies) has closed. Fingers crossed.
Tomorrow I get a reprieve with early wakeups because it is predicted to be so cold here that they are delaying school by two hours as a precautionary measure. Woohoo!
2013 was a better year than 2012, through which I suffered many ups and downs. But in 2013, I finally feel as though I let myself grieve the loss of Kathryn in the way I needed to. I banded together with other mothers and we found strength in numbers. And I healed. Our family healed.
Kathryn’s Bench in Kathryn’s Butterfly garden
We were so busy, which certainly helped with the healing process. The blur of the year though, thankfully is memorialized through my very public journal.
I had plans of writing a glorious recap post. All of the ups, downs, and in betweens. A beautiful tribute to 2013.
However, in the mad dash of motherhood, I decided to step away from my computer for most of December and into the first week of January. And as you bloggers know, that was somewhat similar to detoxification from a highly addictive drug. I wanted to write about so many things, but I was also so tired and busy. I needed to be more in the moment. So I was.
So without any pomp and circumstance, and without further ado, I give to you my five most popular posts of 2013. Not surprisingly, three of them have to do with loss, grief, and healing.
Most Popular Posts in 2013
These are the posts that got the most views in 2013.
- 1 The “Magic” Words When Someone Loses a Baby
- 2 31 Days to Organization – SUCCESS!
- 3 How to Help a Friend Survive the First Year after Pregnancy or Infant Loss
- 4 From Couch to 5K – in ONE day!
- 5 Still {International Bereaved Mother’s Day}
I am linking with the Ladies Only Blog Share Blog LinkUp, appropriately themed “Year in Review.”
katbiggie
Latest posts by katbiggie (see all)
- Some Gave All – Memorial Day 2017 - May 29, 2017
- When Mother’s Day hurts… - May 14, 2017
- You’ve come a long way baby - December 31, 2016
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Hope you enjoyed your time away from the blog and the special moments with your family. Wishing you a happy 2014! Love the family pic – you have a beautiful family – and so lovely to capture you all at that special spot.
Thank you Kerry! The break was so nice, I almost didn’t come back! But, I started feeling like I was going to explode if I didn’t start writing again! 🙂 Happy 2014 to you as well.
I love that 2013 was a year of healing for you, Alexa. I’ve learned so much from you this year. After finally finishing your book, I can see that you will make a huge difference in 2014 as well. I hope we finally get to meet in person this year. We’ll have to start planning! xo
That is a truly very sweet thing to say! And I am really hoping that we will meet this year too! And you too make a big difference, always! xoxo
Alexa, I loved how much good has come to you with all your book ventures this past year and truly wishing nothing, but the best again in 2014! Hugs 🙂
Janine, I just heart you. You are forever faithful, forever the cheerleader, forever optimistic! In 2014 I will be a better blog reader too! 🙂
So glad you linked up!! And what a beautiful post.
I think I get that, although in a very different way. About what it means/feels/is to really grieve and connect.
Hoping for big things for you in 2014. 2013 ended rather astonishingly for you, at least from an outsider’s perspective. Wow!
Thank you Tamara. Yes, I can tell by reading what you write daily that you do know what it means, even if it is applicable to your life in a different way than mine. I hope that I’m just getting started and 2014 blows 2013 out of the water! 🙂
So glad I got to “meet” you in 2013 throughout MOAM and hoping 2014 is full of even more wonderful things!
Me too Lisa!