2008 in review meme style

I am not going to write some riveting year in review post here because, quite honestly, a big part of my year was a blur. Spending 3 months in bed kind of made those 3 months run together. Then I had a baby and suffered from lack of sleep and learning how to make sure 4 kids live through the day every day. So I really feel like my year was consumed with pregnancy, baby and kids! I am looking forward to clearing my head and focusing on other things this year!

I stole this meme from Mandajuice in place of a regular post.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
had an epidural, was put on semi-bed rest, had most of the summer off of work

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't believe in resolutions....if you want to change something just do it! Don't wait for the new year to do it. I do however have a goal for the next 6 months to clear out our storage area and get rid of EVERYTHING we don't need or use.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Besides me....my friend Justine had her 3rd baby (and my step-brother's wife just had their 2nd baby but that was the 1st so it is for 2009)

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My step-dad's mother - Grandma Betty

5. What countries did you visit?
This one.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Money! my pre-pregnancy body (I will settle for pre-Hailey at this point!)

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Jan 6th - Eli's 8th bday, March 12 - Kayla's 12th bday, Sept 25th - Emma's 2nd bday, June 24th - the day we got the van because of June 27th - the day Hailey was born and July 1st - the day my sister and brother-in-law got here for their visit

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Definitely the birth of Hailey. Finding a good home for Chica. Getting Emma potty trained with the help of Nana.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I'm still too ashamed of it to mention it here....

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
If you can consider pregnancy and low amniotic fluid and illness then sure! Oh I had some horrible sinus thing going on in June too.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Boy...didn't do a lot of buying of anything with the exception of the van and that was a have to not necessarily a want to

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Kayla, Eli and Emma for how well they all adjusted to my bed rest and to bringing yet another human into this house!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I was very disappointed in one of my coworkers in the months leading up to the election for sure! Other than that I would have to say Eli's teacher at the beginning of the year...thankfully she is no longer his teacher!

14. Where did most of your money go?
Uhhh gas? bills....food.....diapers. Like I said before, there was nothing fun going on with our wallets this year since we knew I wouldn't get paid for my maternity leave.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Finally getting to meet Hailey

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
This is probably rather cliche but it would probably be All Summer Long by Kid Rock

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier for sure
b) thinner or fatter? I'm going to have to go with fatter on this one unfortunately
c) richer or poorer? This is always a hard time of year for us but we are poorer due to having half the income for the summer....still trying to come out of that slump!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I feel like I did everything I had wanted to do this year actually. I guess maybe making a trip or two to Boulder would have been nice since I didn't go at all this year.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Even though it wasn't an option I wish I wasn't in bed so much!

20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home with just JR, the kids and I and then dinner at Nana's with more family

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
With Hailey for the first time and with JR, Kayla, Eli and Emma over and over again

22. What was your favorite TV program?
I gotta admit I really loved Swingtown! And of course the requisite Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives and Big Brother

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope can't say that I HATE anyone....

24. What was the best book you read?
I would say Rockabye by Rebecca Woolf and Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen were tied for me. Twilight is up there close too!

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Didn't necessarily discover any new artists but I did help Kayla order songs off of itunes for the first time ever!

26. What did you want and get?
A vehicle to fit my family. To give birth to a healthy baby. New teacher for Eli. Kayla to do track again. Emma to be potty trained. To enjoy my maternity leave and do lots of stuff with the kids.

27. What did you want and not get?
Well besides money.....I honestly can't think of anything! I know there were lots of things but nothing so big that it stands out in my mind.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
The only two movies I even remember seeing was Baby Mama and Twilight....not sure which one I would say was a favorite!

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Went to dinner with the family and I turned 31.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Is this answer getting old yet? Money! And sleep would fall right in there with that one (and the lack of sleep is more from Emma than Hailey)!

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Uh yeah I don't really consider maternity wear fashion...and my post maternity wear of whatever fits wear it isn't doing so hot either!

32. What kept you sane?
Hands down having a helpful husband when it comes to the kids. And of course my mom and my friends Jess, Sue and Lew!

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hmmmm not sure that I fancied anyone in particular!

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Besides the election as a whole - I am a democrat and work with mostly republicans, some being more outspoken than they needed to be and chose to bring the issues up with me instead of their fellow republicans! These bailout issues really bother me....

35. Who did you miss?
The main person I missed was my friend Lew while I was on maternity leave!

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Hailey of course!

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
That I am that 1 in 100 women whose birth control pill doesn't work for! :)

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Cryyyyybabayyyyyyyy - Janis Joplin.....