2011 A Year in Review

Well its that time of year where one reflects on the past year and develops goals for the new year to come.  2011 wasn't a great year for me health wise or emotionally - I can only hope 2012 is better!

The questions below are from Unruffled Lanie

I would encourage others to go to her blog and check out her philosophy! May we all strive to live a life unruffled!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

Got pregnant twice, had 2 miscarriages, went through D and C surgery,

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?


2011

Last year at the end of December/ early January we really got serious about starting our family.  I guess my one true resolution was to get pregnant.  Considering I had 2 pregnancies I guess I can say I kept that resolution - unfortunately they both ended in miscarriage.  Next year I will resolve to take home a baby - not simply get pregnant! Maybe that will give me the results I wish for!

I always want to loose weight - considering all I went through health wise, I did end up loosing some weight (although I think I gained it all back over the holidays!)

For 2012 - I wish to be happy and accept whatever comes my way 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes - close friends had a baby in  February and other friends had one in June (right around the time of our first m/c).  2 other friends got pregnant and are due early spring.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No - not unless you consider my 2 failed pregnancies deaths

5. What countries did you visit?
None.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
A baby (or two),  balance, inner peace, more travel, vacations (sorry Lanie - your responses were perfect!)

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?   

^{April 24th - first positive POAS ever!}

June 13 - find out during ultrasound fetus had no heartbeat

September 29 - second positive POAS

October 6 - 4th year wedding anniversary - just found out I was pregnant (week before) and all three BETA results were good.  Life was grand! 

October 18 - find out pregnancy not viable through ultrasound

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?


This is a hard one as I don't think I achieved anything - I guess the new career opportunity (teaching at community college in evenings) that will start in January

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not carrying pregnancies to term (or even getting past 1st trimester) 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Infertility

Pneumonia - January 

Strep throat - August

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Second car - we haven't officially bought it yet as we financed it! Definitely worth it though rather than trying to make due with only 1 car!

12. Where did most of your money go?

Home renovations - renovated both bathrooms and kitchen! Definitely ate up most of our money!

Take-out and restaurant food - our guilty pleasure

Tools for hubby
Bills / debt - almost paid off my student debt!

13. What did you get really excited about?
Our pregnancies when we were pregnant (seeing a theme here?)

Our new kitchen/bathroom

Spending time with friends

14. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Someone Like You by Adele

Mumford and Suns entire album - hubby was listening to this album when I was so sick with a fever when I had pneumonia.  I remember being delusional hearing it for the first time.  Anytime I hear it I think of laying in bed sick. 

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:

– happier or sadder? Sadder

– thinner or fatter? Same
– richer or poorer?slightly richer?

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Live in the here and now and not worry so much about the 'what ifs'

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying, stressing

18. How did you spend Christmas?
With my husband, and family 

19. What was your favorite TV program?
We don't have cable so I watch from on-line. I still love Greys anatomy

20. What were your favorite books of the year?
The Help  - only book I can think of...I read a lot at the beginning of the year but stopped when I got pregnant in April

21. What was your favorite music from this year?


Only album I can think of is Mumford and Sons

22. What were your favorite films of the year?
The Muppets - even though I had to leave part-way through for a bit.  Definitely want to go see it again!

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 29.  Hubby and I did something I'm sure.  Obviously wasn't that incredible as I forget!  The weekend before we went to a friends cottage .  

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
To feel happy. To have had a successful pregnancy

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

Comfortable and practical. I'm not  a fashionista!

26. What kept you sane?
Ummm....jury is still out on whether or not one can call me 'sane'.  I would say hubby and definitely my neighbour and good friend are in the running for helping me get through all the crap I've dealt with! My co-workers who took up the slack and took care of things at work when I was away. I wouldn't have been able to cope with everything if they didn't hold down the fort at work!

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.


 Never thought it would be possible to survive a loss -let alone two.  Lesson learned: You are stronger than you ever thought you could be. 

How about you? How does your 2011 rate? What hopes and dreams do you have for the New Year?