It’s that time of the year again where I reflect on what has happened over the past year – 2013. It has been quite a year with its fair share of ups & downs. Last year I said I felt like I came out a weaker person than the previous year, but this year after everything that has happened I feel stronger once again. Once more I want to thank my friends & family who have been there for me through the tough times, and the good of course. 


January started with little man coming down with a viral infection – the first of many times of him being ill this year! I started taking antidepressants (which I am not in the slightest ashamed about) and I also welcomed the arrival of my first post-miscarriage cycle which meant we could start thinking about TTC again.


In February I proceeded to have more counselling which was a welcome relief after the miscarriage and spiraling further into depression again. We also celebrated my mother-in-law’s 60th birthday, which was also to sadly be her last. 


In March I celebrated my very first long awaited Mother’s Day (after missing out by one day when little man made his appearance!). I also continued with my counselling and it really helped me on the way to becoming ‘me’ again. And the highlight of the month, little man’s 1st birthday! 


April saw yet more illness for little man with an ear infection, a very bad reaction to his MMR jabs, gastroenteritis, and then a chest infection & virus! It was a terrible month for him, and of course me as his Mummy seeing him ill so much. At the end of the month I started my first charity challenge of the year, Live Below The Line! 


May was a month for charity as the first week saw me continue the Live Below The Line challenge. I also then completed my first ever Race for Life! After this I also restarted on my weight loss journey after being so up & down with it. And I also became a fundraising coordinator for Saying Goodbye. 


June was a difficult month to start with as it should have been the month we welcomed our little angel. Our little man hit a milestone when he finally started walking after months of cruising about! And then we discovered I was pregnant again, just before our due date – I truly believe it was a gift sent to us from our angel. 


July was a month of firsts. Little mans first injury related trip to A&E, and we saw our little berry for the first time too! Unfortunately we had an awful end to the month when we were told that my mother in law was nearing the end of her life and she had a matter of days, or even hours, left. 

August saw another first for little man – his first haircut! I also held my fundraising event for Saying Goodbye. This month though we also lost my beloved Mother in Law, and then the week after we lost my Grandad too. And then there were their funerals. We hoped that this was our lot for this year, after also losing my Uncle at the beginning of the year – all to the horrible ‘c’ word. 


September was a fairly quiet month for us, but we had our holiday to Wales at the end of the month. 


In October I celebrated my birthday, and I also reached the halfway mark of my pregnancy. We attended my cousin’s amazing wedding which was a big up after the many downs of the year.


November saw me reach the “V-Day” for my pregnancy. But I also ended up with my annual winter cold which made me feel like death! 


And finally, December. It was quite a sombre start to the month, what with it being the 1st anniversary of losing our angel. After that significant date had passed, we started with our Christmas celebrations. We had a fairly busy Christmas period being out & about at families homes, so we’re going to have a quiet New Year. 


So, that was the year that was 2013, with all of its highs & lows. 


What have been your highs & lows of the past year?