Goodbye 2021

 

Another year is coming to an end. Probably what feels like the fastest year of my life. I haven’t written as much as I’d liked to have, but I’ve kinda had my hands full. We grew from a family of three to four. It’s been a lot of adjustment, especially for Z. He still struggles having L around, ESPECIALLY when eating (the sight of L eating makes him literally gag). He definitely loves him, he’s whispered it to him. He is always worried if he’s upset and wants to protect him, despite telling him to “shoo!” if he gets too close. But now my family is complete and my heart bursting full. 

I had a lot of plans this year to do on my maternity leave that just haven’t happened, it feels like time just slipped by. As things started returning to normal in some respects, it was far from normal in others. Z was being sent home from school often with high temperature, we went for plenty PCR tests, we had our first school summer holidays which could be tough at times, especially with the need to follow strict routines and difficulty leaving the house. It’s not always easy to stay home and do the same thing over and over (just like being in lockdown). Sleep has been hard to catch and still is. We didn’t go away for a summer holiday, it felt too risky with baby L being so little and not knowing how covid was going. And finally, after 20 years of trying to get doctors to listen to me, I was diagnosed with a chronic auto-inflammatory condition.

But we did spend days at the seaside with our family. Making sandcastles, jumping waves in the ocean, and enjoying fish and chips with a sea view and the best company. We spent a perfect week in Scotland visiting friends that we haven’t seen in far too long. We were so happy with how well Z managed with our friends despite not seeing them in years. The best ending to the year has been having my brother and his wife home from America, it’s the first time we’ve managed to see them in over three years. Z has loved seeing them and was so relaxed straight away, happily playing tickles. 

Here’s to hoping 2022 goes a little slower so I can really treasure the good parts and find a little more time to write.

Sarah x