Review of 2014 - January to May

SO HERE IT FINALLY IS . . . only 7 months late!  I've included this more for me than for any of my readers, just so that I have a bit of a "written record" of what 2014 was about for us; however, feel free to read on if you like . . . (there are two parts to this--today's post as well as a post on July 5, which covers the second half of the year 2014).


I know this is so cliche, but I cannot believe this year is coming to an end this week.

Where the time has gone, I'll never know . . . but what I do know is that for every moment that passes through the proverbial "sands of time", moments with my boys are passing by and I don't feel like I'm quite ready for this part of life to be over.  This past year proved a reality that I hadn't ever really fully grasped before--my boys are growing up.  I mean, I know they've always been growing physically, but for my older son, a new level of maturity has developed in his heart and soul.  It's a cool process to watch, but it also slaps me in the face and gives me the reality check that I don't want to know--he's reaching adulthood more quickly than I want him to.

Thankfully, so far, the teenage years have been an enjoyable experience for us.  Mitchell just turned 15 and Ty 13, so I know we still have a long road ahead, but for some reason, society, friends, my own observations, etc. led me to believe that once "teen" became part of the vocabulary, all hell was going to break lose.  That hasn't happened.  And I actually don't expect it to anytime soon.  My boys are very grounded and while I admit they have their "moments" (and believe me, I have mine too), this teenage era is actually pretty fun for the most part.

I know I don't write here that often any more . . . and believe it or not, part of the reason for that is because my boys are getting older and they need me more than my blog does . . . but I like to reflect on each year so that we at least have something recorded to reflect on in the future.  I love to read old posts and acknowledge God's obvious presence, protection and faithfulness in my life, and to reflect on how I've grown.  Sometimes I read my older posts and just shake my head at the woman I once was--and I'm sure I'll keep doing that as years go on--actually, I hope I do; because if I do, that means I'm growing.

JANUARY

So, back to the beginning of 2014.  Last January I was still recovering from my thyroglossal cyst surgery, and on January 9th I received the news from my surgeon that my surgery was successful--three benign cysts were removed, and the news I really needed to hear:  that my very pink and still quite swollen scar would be a "thin, white line" in a years' time.  Well, it hasn't quite made it to a "thin, white, line" . . . but it looks much better now than it did a year ago.  You be the judge:

                                  December 24, 2013                                   December 24, 2014

What's been amazing about reporting on this blog about my thyroglossal-cyst removal surgery is that I've been able to reach people all over the world as they've come to find answers about the surgery, and apparently writing about my experience has helped others through their own time of surgery and recovery.  I love how God has been able to use my own pain and discomfort to encourage others.
This is one of the benefits of technology and I love it when God can use it for His purposes.

FEBRUARY - MARCH

Another medical challenge came my way in February . . . this time with regards to my eyes.  During a routine examination by my regular optometrist, he noticed that one of the routine retinal scans they perform at his office, indicated a "black spot" on my retina.  He was unable to make a diagnosis at my initial appointment, so I had to go back a few days later.  He needed to dilate my pupils and get a better look at the area in question.  At the second appointment, my optometrist discovered that yes, I did have a problem with my retina, which appeared to have the beginnings of a tear in it.  I had not experienced any symptoms, so I was thankful that technology was able to assist in diagnosing a minor thing that could have become severe very quickly.

I was referred to an eye specialist and by the end of February, had my first appointment with him.  From the time of my appointment with my regular eye doctor until my appointment with the specialist, the tear had become worse.  Again, I was very thankful for so many things, as God made appointments available in a timely manner, and I didn't have to wait long for this whole ordeal to be over.  In mid-March I had laser surgery to fix the retinal tear, and at my follow-up appointment a month later, the specialist gave me the good news that the surgery was successful.  The plus side is that if I notice anything weird going on with my eyes in the future, I can just by-pass my regular optometrist, skip the referral process, and book an appointment with my specialist as soon as possible.  I hope and pray that doesn't happen, but if it does, at least I will be able to fast-track the process.

APRIL - MAY

I don't really think there's much to report about April, but May was the saddest month of 2014 for all of us.  Our beloved dog, only 7 years old, was killed in an unfortunate accident in our yard.  My husband accidentally drove over her.  We were all devastated.  Pepper was an amazing dog, but even more than that, she was a good friend.  For Mitchell especially, she gave unconditional love during a time in his life that he needed it most.  She was Ty's "skateboarding" companion and spent many, many hours with all of us doing various things in our yard.  It still brings a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes as I type these words about Pepper.  She is dearly missed.

Here are some pictures of us with her over the years . . .