Reflecting back on 2009

2009 has been an eventful year for us! It brought us many challenges but also much joy I thought for my last post of 2009 I would look back on all the milestones of the year.

January 2009- Ben and I made the decision to give one last attempt at having a family. We decided to put all we had into this attempt and prayed it would work.

February 2009- After countless injections, many trips to Montreal and days of feeling crappy the time had come where there was nothing left to do but wait and see if our dreams would come true.

March 2009- We're pregnant! I think I took 10 home pregnancy tests before getting blood work ordered from my doctor. When he called with the results he said to prepare for multiples. We were so excited thinking we would be having twins. On March 21st we made the trip to Montreal and were speechless to see FOUR sacs! We were cautioned that it was likely that all four would not make it.

April 2009- We said goodbye to Dr. Mahutte and his staff, grateful for all they did for us during the past 21 months we had been patients there. We traded our weekly ultrasound trips 3 hours north for weekly trips 3 hours south when we became patients of Dr. Acker at Brigham and Women's Hospital. We were given all the info and statistics of multiple gestation pregnancies and made the decision to attempt to carry all four babies.

May 2009- Ben had not been feeling well for sometime and finally one day he stayed home from work and I convinced him to go to the doctors. After a day of testing and a transfer to Dartmouth he was scheduled to have lymph nodes removed to test for lymphoma. Days later we got the news that he had stage 4 Hodgkins lymphoma and began chemotherapy treatments that day. He was sick and drained but we prayed it would work and he would be able to enjoy his four little miracles that were on their way.

June 2009- At my 17 week u/s we found out we were having 3 boys and a girl...Let the naming fun begin! Ben was very weak from his treatments so we were quite a pair me wobbling and him limping around.

July 2009- We reached viability day and I began to worry bed rest was just around the corner. My baby shower was awesome! We got so many things the babies have put to good use.

August 2009- We made the trip to Boston for the last time before delivery. We became fixtures at my aunt and uncles so we were close to the hospital in case of an emergency.

September 2009- Ben went home for chemo and I went to the doctors for my weekly appointment only to be admitted with pre eclampsia. 15 days later on September 17th I called Ben, who was home recovering from another round of chemo, at 3 am and told him to get down to Boston because I was certain today would be the day. Sure enough our miracles were born that day and our lives were forever changed!

October 2009- After 26 days in the NICU Matthew and Brady were coming home, Aubrey followed at day 29. Cameron was released on day 35 and we all came home to surprise Ben.

November 2009- Ben had his final chemo treatment and we celebrated Thanksgiving with so much to be thankful for. The babies were growing so much and we were enjoying everyday with them.

December 2009- We recieved the news Ben was cancer free! Merry Christmas to us! The babies enjoyed their first Christmas and so did Ben and I. They are getting so big.. Matthew 11lbs 14oz, Brady 13 lbs 13oz, Cameron 10 lbs 14 oz and Aubrey 9 lbs 14 oz. Tomorrow will mark our 10th anniversary and the begining of what is bound to be a fantastic year!