2019 - My Year in Review - Lindsey Out Loud

My favorite and most inspirational blogger is Helene Sula of heleneinbetween.com. She was 100% the reason I decided to start this blog + helped me in countless ways in setting up my site, my writing, my social media, you name it. Her website has tons of informative information on all things blogging + how to make money doing it. But she’s also just a really cool human who enjoys traveling all over the world (like literally went to over 100 cities all over the world last year) + helping other people. So because she has been so successful with her blog, she has decided to help others who want to make a business out of blogging. + I am forever grateful that she helped me!

ANYWAY, I say all this to say, she has an AWESOME tradition of posting a year in review blog post at the start of every new year. + not only does she share hers, but encourages other bloggers to link their post on hers! It encourages community + togetherness in the blogging world. Really cool, huh? So I am writing my year in review post inspired by the queen herself, Helene Sula. Seriously, if you don’t follow her stuff, you should. + you can check out her year in review post here.

2019 was an amazing year. We gained another member of our family. My sweet baby girl was born in July, and she has brought so much joy to our family. This year we had so many changes and challenges, and through it all, some amazing things have happened. Here is my year in review:

The first thing to happen in 2019 was my best friend becoming a mommy! She welcomed her over 8 lb son into the world right at the start of the new year! It is amazing to watch your friends become parents. A few months later, she would have to undergo major surgery due to an abscess that formed from her c-section scar. She had to go home with a wound vac + was stuck at home for weeks recovering. Luckily, she recovered beautifully + is doing great now! It is so scary to see your friends go through something like this though.

I celebrated my last birthday in my 20’s.

I won an award for Corporate Office Person of the Year at my job. I was so humbled and honored to receive this award.

We found out that we were having another girl! Chelsea was ecstatic!

Cooper started making this face often + developed his love for books.

I made it to the halfway mark in my pregnancy with Camille.

It became official that Brad was getting a new job + we would be moving! We put our house on the market.

The kids went to see the Easter Bunny.

My sweet niece, Callie Grace, was dedicated.

We had a birthday party at the park to celebrate my girl turning 5. For some reason, it was 40 degrees in April + we all almost got frostbite.

Chelsea’s birthday was the day after Easter so it was an Easter-Birthday celebration all weekend long!

One happy 5 year old!!

See that huge bandage on her hand? Cooper slammed her finger in a pot accidentally + it got infected. It was the biggest ordeal that led to going to the doctor + them telling us she might have to see a surgeon. Luckily with oral + topical antibiotics, saline rinses, lots of wraps + epsom salt baths, it started healing + surgery was not necessary. Her fingernail came completely off + has just recently grown back. This was not a fun time. Pictured is a girl who got to go to Target + pick out a new toy to bribe her into not complaining about the finger so much.

Another one of my best friends had her baby boy! I have been friends with her since we were this little–actually before because our moms are best friends and were pregnant at the same time. It was so special to see her become a mommy!

Celebrated Mother’s Day with the sweetest two and one in my belly.

Celebrated my mom on Mother’s Day!

My girl had her third dance recital! This time she had two numbers, and she rocked them both!

We started going to Easley to explore our new town that we would soon move to. Little did we know we would become regulars at this place.

I had just a little over a month until I would meet my sweet baby. We only had a few weeks left in our house until we moved. My last day at work was approaching soon.

Chelsea graduated preschool and was headed for Kindergarten. I couldn’t be prouder of her.

Last few days in our house.

Celebrated my dad on Father’s Day! He’s really cool.

Moving day! These two little homeless children were entertaining themselves.

It was official! We closed on our old house and the new house in the same day in addition to moving everything out of the old house and into the new house. (Click here to see a bunch of pictures of the new house.)

I worked frantically to get everything in order before baby joined us. These two got settled in.

My blood pressure had started to rise early on, so they were keeping a close eye on me. I got to see my baby girl on ultrasound + I cried when I saw this little face because it looks so much like her big brother.

The kids made themselves at home and were loving the new house.

My sweet friends came to see the new house + celebrate baby girl.

New neighborhood came with a perk–a pool.

I got the house ready for baby to make her appearance. It was decided that I would be induced at 37 weeks since my blood pressure had continued to be an issue.

My sweet Camille was born on July 11th weighing 6 pounds 13 ounces, my smallest baby. She didn’t make a sound when she was born. She just looked all around, eyes wide open, + didn’t even cry when they gave her a shot. She was so little + so sweet. (Click here to read my suggestions for what you should pack in your hospital bag.)

Big brother + big sister were in love. My heart was full.

We got to come home as a family of five, but it would be short lived…

My cousin took these sweet newborn photos for us.

After taking our newborn pictures, we took Camille to the doctor + they weren’t happy with her bilirubin levels. So she was set up to receive light treatment at home. But I had been not feeling right all day + my blood pressure had been high. When I made a call to my OB, they told me to go to the hospital to be evaluated. I ended up being admitted for postpartum preeclampsia. Luckily my sweet girl got to come with us to the hospital, light and all. I was given a magnesium treatment to try + lower my blood pressure. After almost 24 hours in the hospital, I was discharged + we got to come home again (but not for good).

That weekend we celebrated my sweet Mammy turning 80. I thought we were on the other side of all the health issues. I was wrong.

That weekend I started having pains + bad bleeding. So the next week I called my OB again + they scheduled me to come in for an ultrasound. After the ultrasound, the tech said, “Well, you know your body. Something’s wrong.” I said, “What is it?” She said, “I can’t say, the doctor will have to tell you, but it’s ok, they can fix it.” I then had to wait about an hour and a half to see the doctor. I was going crazy. Turns out, I had a blood clot in my uterus + would need to have surgery that day to remove it. Back we went to the hospital. I got home after midnight that night, but thankfully this would be the end of my saga.

So then we did a thing. A stupid thing, some might say. We took three kids (one who was not even 3 weeks old) + went on vacation. It was a last minute, spur of the moment trip because I just had to get away for a bit. It was wonderful. (Click here to read about a 3 day itinerary for a trip to Charleston.)

Cooper learned how to climb + jump out of his crib, so we were forced to change his crib to a toddler bed. He was thrilled, obviously.

This little girl turned one whole month.

All too quickly, my husband had to start regular football practices + then had to start teaching too. He was gone 7am-8pm Monday-Wednesday. Thursdays + Fridays when he had games, he wouldn’t be home until 11 or 12, sometimes later. Saturdays were his only day off + Sunday he had to go to school for coach’s meetings. So on days like this when I got all three of them dressed, I was really proud of myself. Camille was having to wear a hat all the time because she wasn’t gaining weight + the doctor suggested that she might be burning calories by being cold. So we were instructed to have her wear a hat at all times to keep her warm. (Click here to read my confessions of a mom of three.)

Chelsea officially started Kindergarten!

I got to spend some quality time with these two while big sissy went to school. Camille finally made it over 7 pounds + didn’t have to wear a hat all the time!

This little boy started preschool three days a week. He wasn’t a fan at first, but by the second day, he had warmed up + now he absolutely loves it.

Camille turned two months. I started working from home for an online business consultant. (Click here to read ways you can earn money + still stay home with your kids.)

Chelsea started her fourth year of dance at a new dance studio.

Camille got to go to school with big brother! At almost 3 months, she started going three days a week to the same school as Cooper. She absolutely loved it from the beginning. She has had no problem + everyone there loves her.

This little boy turned TWO somehow (+ it was 90+ degrees in October. Yeah, remember how it was 40 degrees at my daughter’s birthday in April?).

My niece turned ONE + she’s just the cutest, sweetest little thing.

Another month down…

I went on tv to support a friend + her local business opening.

I had the cutest pineapple, Spiderman + Jojo Siwa on Halloween!

I launched my blog!!! I spent basically one entire weekend creating my website from scratch + planning + writing + obsessing over every little detail. (Click here to read my first post about why I started the blog.)

Did a photoshoot with the wonderful Hannah Kerr to get some professional shots for my site.

She finally started to chunk up a little bit + I can’t handle it.

I discovered that Cooper despises taking pictures almost as much as he despises going to bed. I had to do ninja things to be able to get this picture.