Looking back at 2011

Here is a list of the top 10 things that happened in my life in 2011.

10. Jason and I had our "infertility/conception" story published in the international Knights of Columbus magazine and the Pope Paul VI Institute's fundraising newsletter. And I was featured in an Omaha World Herald story about Oprah. They came and photographed me wearing Oprah's sweater at work. And mom and I watched the last episode of Oprah with a large group of other Oprah fans in Omaha.


9. Jason installed wood floors in our house after we had major water damage over Labor Day weekend. While we are still finishing up repairs, the floors look and feel so nice! Thank you, Jason!


8. Jason and I went to several concerts this summer: Eric Church, Zac Brown Band, Sugarland and Gary Allen.




7. Celebrating my first Mother's Day. Madelyn got me a massage - that I have yet to use.


6. I won a national award for a special section I worked on at the Catholic Voice.

5. I was able to spend time with extended family on my mom's side and my dad's side. Several came to my brother's wedding and others were at Dodge Days this summer in Dodge.




4. My nephew, Henry, was born in May. That makes three!


3. My brother, Brent, and Sarah got married in August and I was a bridesmaid. Super fun!


2. My mom and I had second row at the Josh Groban concert here in Omaha. It was surreal and exciting and is something I'll never forget.

1. Our Madelyn Mae was born Feb. 2 making me a mother for the first time. Nothing else comes close to the thrill.

Holiday overview

2012 is officially here and for the most part, we finally are healthy. While Jason and I were thrilled to be celebrating our first Christmas with our little Mookie, we were heartbroken that she was sick - too sick to be around anyone other than us, which meant we spent Christmas at our house.

Madelyn developed a high fever, horrible congestion and a cough on Christmas Eve. I'd never seen her that sick before. She was really lethargic, had no appetite and just wanted to be held by mommy and daddy all day long. Jason and I went to separate Masses that night and we took turns holding Madelyn Christmas day.






We saw the doctor the day after Christmas and we were surprised to discover Madelyn had an ear infection and a burst ear drum. Poor thing! This was the fourth ear infection she has had in five months, so we made an appointment with the ear, nose and throat specialist. She'll be getting tubes soon here, which hopefully will relieve her from serious infections - those that require her to have antibiotics.

We kept her home from day care all that next week so she could get completely healed up before being exposed to other germs. My mom came for two days and Jason took off that Friday. She is doing well now - and it's me and Jason who have the colds.

I pray 2012 will be a year of better health for us.

We still haven't been able to get together with my family or Jason's to celebrate Christmas yet. I'm keeping my Christmas tree up until we do! Madelyn just loves the lights, and each morning she points to the tree and we turn it on and look at the ornaments. So cute!



Soooo big!


She really loves to sing.