2015 was a year of trials and tribulations; elation; pure joy; sadness; and overall perseverance for our family. It brought with it the highest of highs, but the lowest of lows. It taught us patience and understanding. It brought us to the end of our ropes and fighting our way back up the slippery slope of the life we have in front of us. It showed Kaizer that his momma could be strong in the hardest/ darkest/ and scariest of times. It taught him the prices of your choices in the harshest of ways as well.
Starting out our year was the arrival of our perfectly imperfect little spitfire! Aurora Elizabeth came into the world and it was like she was always there! I got to spend the first 2 hours just holding her and looking at her! She was the most beautiful baby girl I had ever seen! Those blue eyes and blonde hair had me wrapped! We knew from August that she would be born with club feet but we didn't know how bad her feet would be. Her feet are as flat as her daddy's feet, and they were tucked pretty good into place. Her heel was where the bottom of her foot should have been. It didn't matter to me! She was perfect!
From January 28 until March 11, we did weekly casting of her feet to turn them out. She had her casting from her hip to the bottom of her toes, each week turning her feet out a little bit more. She hated having the cast cut off and then reapplied. She ended up with her feet being stuck in a ballerina like position that required surgery. She had surgery on March 11 to cut her Achilles. In cutting this, her feet were able to be placed correctly and she was casted for another 3 weeks with no breaks.
She got her last set of cast off on April 1 and went right into her boots and bar! They do the same things as the casting but she able to remove them and get into the bathtub and play more freely!
Kaizer has been such a trooper through all of this! I worried about him after being the only child for over 9 years! I worried about how he would be with a younger sister, but he has been amazing! He has the biggest fan in the world! She follows him everywhere! They talk to each other all the time! He is so protective over her and her feet! Sometimes a little too much, but he is just doing his job!
He came out of 4th grade so much smarter than before! He was A honor roll all year! No shock there! He made new friends and truly embraced the kids who needed it the most! For his 10th birthday, be still my heart, we had a party at the house! He invited his friends from school and even had a sleepover! Batman was the winning theme! He got legos, his favorite thing, books, money, and some video games! Our summer started off great! End of school, his birthday, and everyday just working and being a family...too bad August brought a slap to the face.
At the beginning of August, on the way to get Kaizer, Eric and I fueled by drinking, got into a argument. The next day I left for work and thought the fight would blow over, how wrong I was. Eric and I continued the fight most of the day. He ended up packing his bags and leaving. There I was stuck with 2 kids. Me being me and how my mouth usually runs over, it did that night too. Sadly Eric didn't stay gone and came back. He made some choices that he regrets deeply and forced me into a spot that I never should have been in. He spent the next 17 days away from us.
In those 17 days, I learned how truly strong I was. I became the mom I should have been with strength and confidence in my choices. I learned how hard it was to work full time and be a single parent! I made one of the hardest heartbreaking choices I could have and signed Aurora up for daycare. That signing came with lots of tears. In those dark days, I learned true forgiveness for someone who truly earned it and forgiveness for myself. I had to truly look at myself and see the deep faults within me. Not the easiest of tasks in life.
After those 17 days, we got back to life as a new normal. Eric and I entered treatment to make ourselves better and stronger. We have learned to be sober, live sober, and not give into temptation. We have to be stronger or we will fail, and fail miserably. Life isn't always easy, drinking isn't the answer to make it easier. As we have learned, drinking fueled anger and unhealthy choices. We have to be better than that! And WE WILL!
Halloween was a great time! Kaizer was Iron Man while Aurora was a pumpkin! They made out like bandits! I think we still have some candy left! My mom took them trick or treating since I was working and Eric was also busy! She really enjoyed having that time with them and they enjoyed it too! Aurora really had no clue what the holiday was, but she knew it came with suckers! What more could a sweet heart want!
As the end of the year approached, life threw us another curve ball! Eric entered a 21 day inpatient rehab and again I was the single mom of life. Luckily for me, this time around, I was much better prepared for this task! He did get visits, a 4 hour pass for Thanksgiving, and every Sunday he got a 2 hour church pass! That helped make this time easier. He seemed to learn a lot about why drinking was his thing and what triggered his drinking and anger. I learned a lot too. I am no better than him. I have my triggers and my reasons too, but everyday I am working through those! Together we will conquer this demon!
Christmas brought an all new joy and happiness to our home! The lights, the ornaments, the noisemakers that we have all seemed to make the kids happy! They got way more than they need! I think the big hits were Aurora's train and Kaizer got a new video game! He is already kicking butt! We got him a 3 month subscription to the PlayStation online too! Aurora was less than interested about the paper, but she loved the boxes! Go figure there!
As our 2015 has ended, life can truly get better for us in 2016. 2015 took us on a journey of unbelievable highs and incredible lows. It taught us the hardest of life lessons while sharing the joys of a brand new life! Aurora made our family complete in 2015! She continues to bring us so much joy and deep belly laughs! Kaizer continues to get smarter everyday and be the best big brother ever! Their bond is incredible and I know they will always be the best of friends! So in closing, from our family to yours, we hope your 2015 brought you to places unseen and 2016 brings you to even better places on this journey of life!
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