Kate's Blog

Follow me if you will as I try to navigate through the ups and downs of my world.

I'm writing this blog to help me make sense of all that has happened - from my diagnosis with non-Hodgkins lymphoma while pregnant with my third child in May 2008
, through to my reflections on chaotic family life as I try to pick up the pieces of my life again.


The kids are so small, and I'm working hard to keep us all safe and to stay in remission.

Stay with me - it won't be all doom and gloom I promise!



Saturday 2 January 2010

New Year

So, Happy New Year to all. I hope 2010 is good for you.

We had a lovely time - my cousin and her family were staying with us, and we spent New Year's Eve eating, drinking and watching Jools Holland. By the way, while we're on that point - does anyone know, can anyone categorically and definitively reassure me that Jools Holland's Hootenanny is LIVE!! A terrible rumour was spread in our house on New Year's Eve that it was pre-recorded. No!! Surely not!? Help me feel better about this.

On a more serious note I was going to write something about my New Year resolutions and all that stuff - but instead I think I might just consider the things about 2009 which were good despite the obvious pressures I continue to face, as well as thinking about what I want to achieve or hope to happen in 2010. It's all a bit obvious really and all a bit corny I suppose. But I do think lists can be cathartic and positive - depending on what you do with them of course. So here goes....

2009
1. My family - my kids and my Rog, and my mum, brother and sister and their lovely families
2. Managing to stay in remission
3. Hattie reaching her first birthday and me being there to celebrate it
4. Getting to my 40th birthday
5. The birth of my newest nephew
6. Our much planned and very exhausting camping holiday in France
7. Being around to help Martha through her first term at school
8. Starting this blog
9. Doing my memoir writing course
10. Finishing our lovely loft conversion
11. Getting our woodburner
12. Learning to give Ed his treatment myself
13. Unpacking those Christmas decorations for another year

And for 2010....

1. Continuing to stay in remission
2. To stop catching every bug going - watch that immune system strengthen again!
3. To write regularly - not to forget that book hovering in the back of my mind
4. To get fit and lose weight - to look fantastic for my 41st birthday in May
5. Lovely kittens and a puppy
6. St. Petersburg and Rajasthan - maybe...
7. Another nephew - or maybe my first niece this time, we'll wait and see
8. Summer-time holiday with the kids
9. Finding the perfect A Level teaching post in September
10. My mother meeting someone to share some fun with
11. My sister with another bun in the oven
12. Everyone I love and care for staying well and healthy - please!!
13. Unpacking those decorations for Christmas 2010, being about to celebrate two years in remission

Not too much then!!

I'm quite pleased that New Year's Eve is over - it's a scary time for me as I feel forced to think again about what's been and gone and what might be to come. I'm childishly sad that Christmas is over - as always so quickly, but it's kind of a relief to get back to normal days again. And every day is a step forwards towards a lighter future.

4 comments:

Menopausal New Mom said...

What a lovely tribute to 2009 and yes, please look ahead to 2010 with a positive outlook. You wouldn't want to look back at your 40's when you are 80 and wish you hadn't worried so much!

2010 has so much to offer and like you, this is my year to get fit and spend more time doing the things that my 3 1/2 year old wants to do. Who says we can't be fabulous and fit in our 40's!!

Anita said...

In spite of your difficulties in 2009, your list of things to be thankful for was full of wonderful occasions. I'm believing that 2010 will be just as good...better!
Happy New Year!

Tracey said...

Kate, I have met a lot of new people in blog land but your stories resonates with me more than most. For that reason, you cross my mind often. When you do, I shall say a little prayer for you and yours (if you don't mind). Here's to 2010, and that box of Christmas stuff you won't be able to find, but you will be around to open.

Anonymous said...

I look forward to seeing how 2010 treats everybody. Here's hoping it has a soft spot where you're concerned.