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2007 was quite a year. It was the most emotional and exciting year that I can ever remember. We never could have guessed the roller coaster ride that this past year had in store for us.

The first few months of the year were so exciting, as we watched Sophia progress from pulling herself up, crawling up the stairs, standing, then sure enough she finally started walking. Now days she can almost outrun us. There was also the first ear tube surgery (more on that later).

In April our little Princess turned one, which was a huge milestone. She was very timid and hardly touched her cake or her presents. We had all our friends and family there to celebrate Sophia’s big day.

Also in April we got a huge surprise when we found out we were pregnant again. The word “Surprise” is an understatement. So many emotions…excitement and fear. We hadn’t yet mastered parenthood and we were going to have another child…At least we had another 8 months to prepare…or so we thought!!!

The saddest part of the year for us was when we had to find Rory a new home. Rory was having a hard time adjusting to Sophia being so mobile. We found him a great home with some friends of mine and from what I hear he is doing really wonderful.

In June we said goodbye to our first home. We had lived there for 5 1/2 years. We drive by our old house every once in awhile, but we really love our new home.

Mid-year came all the fun times of the summer, trips to the zoo, fair, parades and fun with family and friends. At the end of September Kevin and Sophia had a Daddy-Daughter weekend, while I took a trip to Vermillion SD, my alma mater, to visit Karissa and some friends. Unbeknownst to us that would be our last weekend before our lives would change again.

The entire month of October was the hardest and scariest month of our lives. My water broke the beginning of the month, 7 weeks before the baby was due. After an emotional 5 days of bed rest, Derek James was finally born on October 10. Those 5 days ended up being easier than the next few weeks. The rest of the month we spent in the NICU was very emotional. It was a very trying month which ended with us taking Derek home the last Sunday of the month. We were finally all together as a family. We can’t thank Grandma Marilyn enough for staying with us that month and helping out we when we really needed her!!

Over the last couple of months we’ve just been trying to get used to being a family of 4. I recently went back to work and Sophia and Derek stay at home with our new nanny.

Unlike most people, we spent the last day of 2007 just like we spend every other day…at home with the family. Of course, the day started with another ear tube surgery for Sophia (woohoo, we met the deductible this year.)

In the end, it was a crazy and eventful year, but we wouldn’t have had it any other way.