New Years 2009-2010!

Happy New Years!

We rang in 2010 in Deland. It was a blast opening presents. We didn't do fireworks this year because some baby was asleep. Some highlights include Aliya gets her first guitar from Adam Mama. Rob gets his first Hanukkah paraphernalia from mom. The family gets a Wii! We had lots of fun!

2009

As cliche as it may sound, 2009 was rollercoaster of ups and downs for us. When we were up we were really up and when we had a down moment it was as pretty low. The year started with vomiting, lots and lots of vomiting in Cleveland! Pink lemonade and chili coming out of my nose while in the car was memorable or in the back of an attendings car or in the hallway of our apartment, the side of the road, pretty much everywhere! February greeted us with bitter cold, snow and ice in Ohio and then we got to come home to Florida! Mom and Wayne came up to Ohio and drove down with Rob so baby and I could fly. They were greeted with a blizzard. March started out with Christy and Adam getting married in Des Moines at the Botanical center. It was such a beautiful wedding and we had so much fun! The rest of March was very tough; mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. We all took it really hard. It was a strange moment, almost like it was a joke, when we found out. I was 32 weeks pregnant. The weeks following were spent engulfed reading articles about breast cancer, studying and researching. Lots of tough, tough days and nights followed. Adam became an official adult in April celebrating his 18th birthday! He got a Saab convertible for his birthday. Mom started chemo in April. Rob and I dealt with match, scrambling and finding a good residency spot, stressful to say the least May, our favorite month this year. Rob and I graduated from medical school! Finally! Oh yeah, and ALIYA WAS BORN! She was so little and sweet. Poor thing endured 21 hours of labor with her face squished since she was ociput posterior. At least I had an epidural, poor Ali had nothing. No wonder she hates her face touched or wiped. Mom stayed up until she was born even though it was at 3 in the morning and she was exhausted from being in the middle of chemo. We moved to St. Pete in June and got Lexi Lou (my car); we also sold Oliver (the Jeep). July rob started his internship. He started with ICU and he was there all by himself. It was a very trying time for him but he came out unscathed and says he is a better intern for it. Mom finished chemo in August! Yeah! Aliya went on her first plane ride and trip to NYC in September with mom, dad and me. She did awesome for being so young! She didn't want to sleep and took in all of NYC! The year just flew by once October hit starting with Rob's birthday and Halloween then my birthday and Thanksgiving in November and my surprise cruise in December! Christmas and New Years quickly followed! It was a full year! I am really looking forward to 2010. New Years Resolution- I would like to make better life style choices for myself and family.

Jan

Feb

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Universal Studios

Sebastian gave us tickets to Universal Studios so Aliya could see him in costume as the Grinch. Unfortunately he was not working the day we went but it didn't stop Aliya from having the time of her life! We were not expecting to stay long or for Aliya to enjoy it at all but the weather was great and she was having a ball. She loved it. We saw the Barney show and animal actors. Aliya loved the parade but couldn't stay awake for the whole thing. By far the favorite thing we all did was go to the Beetlejuice Rock show. Aliya was mesmerized! She was having so so much fun. She was dancing and laughing! It was so so cute. Watching her was the most fun! We had a great time! Thanks Sebastian! I can't believe it but we stayed until 10pm when they closed!

Christmas 2009

We had a small christmas at our place before we headed to moms. It was so fun! Rob, of course, went all out and bought me too much! It was really nice and quiet. We got dressed and went to mom's for a Spurlock christmas. Uncle Gary and his family, Tim, Tammy and Dillan, Uncle Larry, Uncle Pinky and Aunt Teri, Aunt Pat and Uncle Toshi, Aunt Sheila, and Grandma were all there! It was really fun. We played bad santa, ate a lot and laughed! The wine puzzle was a hit again. I became a pro, Uncle Toshi and Tammy beat it as well. Aliya fell asleep on Uncle Toshi for a long time. He just held her until she woke up. It was a really nice time. Very pleasant, I wouldn't change a thing!

Four Generations!

Christmas Eve 2009

 We had so many presents under the tree! 

Sean, Deb, Wayne, Mom, Rob, Aliya and I (and Maddi and Lucky) had Christmas Eve at Moms house. We started the night with oyster stew, a tradition Wayne has kept for christmas eve. Mom made such a wonderful dinner and the table was gorgeous. We had lamb, orange chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus, corn casserole and champagne over the most amazing table lit with a candle chandelier. It was perfect. Aliya sat with us at her new high chair and entertained herself with moms wall of mirrors. We headed out to open presents. Aliya was first and like a typical baby, she liked the bows and paper more than the gifts themselves. She received too much, and it was all wrapped in pretty princess paper. We ate desserts before the rest of us opened gifts. Deb had made an amazing apple pie, we had cookies that mom, aliya and I had made, pies and cake...yum! Then, Gifts!!! We had a lot of fun with the wine puzzle. You have to solve the puzzle to get into the wine! It took me an hour with instructions to put this puzzle together and mom solves it in a matter of minutes! I think it should take at least as long to solve it as it took to put together! No one else was able to solve it so fast, if at all. We received tons and tons! The car was packed! Thank you all for everything! We really appreciate it, but spending the evening with you guys was our favorite gift of all! You are all such a blessing and we are so lucky to have you as our family, we love you!

I have to say this was my favorite Christmas yet. Rob and I are finally getting settled and we have such a precious sweet little girl. I feel so good about where we are and I really enjoyed this year. I felt at peace and happy. It was wonderful!