For once...I can say that this was a good year!

Remember when you were younger and your parents would talk about how fast time flies, and you would roll your eyes because life literally dragged on forever? And now we sit here wishing time would just. slow. down.

Another year has come to an end, and for once I'm not swearing this one as it leaves us. It has been a number of years since I've been able to say this - but 2018 was a GOOD YEAR. No surgeries, no hospitalizations, no major illnesses. Will there ever be a time when these things don't define a good versus bad year? Because no matter what else happens, these are definitely the things that make this decision on this journey. 😟

We've had our downs...a cancelled scuba trip due to illness, more skeletal movement, return of some headaches and hot flashes, an exhausting and stressful first semester of junior year, and an ongoing brain battle with a new BAHA.

But in the grand scheme of things, our downs have been minor and far out-shadowed by our ups...a Sweet 16, a short dive trip, a Spring Break cruise with great friends, a new puppy, a week at the lake, a trip with Ryan's family to Gatlinburg then on to Atlanta to visit Katie, ten days in Hawaii celebrating my parents' 50th anniversary, a couple of weeks at the beach with different friends and family, a scuba trip to the Keys, a successful Dig for Duke (Duke Children's fundraiser), induction into the National Honor Society, a weekend in the mountains, a new car which finally led to a driver's license, hurricane parties and snow days with friends, coaching for Miracle League, many boat days, and lots of time with friends and family and puppies.

We don't always know what the next year will bring in its entirety, so as always we enter with a little trepidation. Lung function tests in January will determine whether we can continue pushing out a very painful and complex spine/scapula/rib cage surgery. I'm afraid a sleep study is also going to be required and I won't be surprised if the results warrant some type of breathing aid while sleeping, something we hoped wouldn't happen for years. Eye muscle surgery will be scheduled for the first part of the year...this is elective and 100% her decision. Wisdom teeth will have to be removed in the OR (this is not a trivial thing for a craniofacial kid). Maybe she'll even decide to finish her SMILE surgery (ha!)? And hope with all hope that she finds the courage to switch to her new BAHA, allowing her brain to relearn hearing. But as always, we will balance the bad with some good. A trip to visit my parents in the Keys, a rescheduled Disney trip, some beach weeks, some lake time, maybe some diving (scuba friends - hint, hint 😉), senior pictures (😲 good for me, but she would beg to differ), college visits, the start of her senior year, and whatever else we can fit in there.

So as we say goodbye to 2018, and usher in 2019, we do it with hope. Hope that this year is as good as the last. Hope that the worst years are behind us. Hope that life is as easy for Kennedy as it can be. Hope for happiness, health, and love. Hope...we hope you have it too.