In 2010 a series of events that would lead me to Breakthrough began.
In March my dad died.
I found out 2 weeks later that I was pregnant.
Within a few months we learned that our baby was club foot and would require a significant amount of treatment.
Then my husband, Keven had a second spinal fusion surgery.
I was juggling a full time job and my AF Reserve commitments.
The stress level went through the roof.
I tend to eat when I’m stressed and pregnancy is an excuse to eat pretty much anything you want. I gained about 20 with that pregnancy.
In December of 2010 Kailyn was born, and weekly trips to have her casts changed began.
At one month she had her first surgery.
Within a few months my Mother-in-Law had moved in with us to get out of a bad relationship.
It was around that time we learned that Kailyn’s clubfoot was going to be more difficult to treat than expected.
Over the spring and summer I lost about 15 pounds while upgrading to flight status for the Reserves and Keven started an IT company.
By her first birthday we were preparing for a second surgery and had learned Keven might be medically retired from Active Duty, all amid rumors of layoffs for my civilian job.
Oh, and I was also pregnant, again.
As 2012 started, my Mother-in-Law moved out, as discussions were had about possibilities of having to move my mother, to the area from the Midwest.
She came out and stayed with is to help through the pregnancy.
At my civilian job we learned that it was only a matter of time before funding for our positions was cut.
We continued to wait for news if and when Keven would be retired.
In July the paperwork all went through and Keven was retired and focused full time on our company.
In early August I was laid off and at the end of the month Kyara was born.
I had gained over 30 pounds with this pregnancy.
My mother stayed with us through Christmas; then returned home to prepare for the move.
As 2013 kicked off, I focused on trying to find a job and maintain my reserve commitments, still juggling my kids and helping with a growing IT company.
I had to pass my fit test or the Reserves weren’t gong to be in my future much longer.
In May I met Chris and Karen and began the journey I am currently on.
My focus was to try and reclaim some sanity from the chaos that was my life and of course pass that fit test.
It’s been almost a year now and while I can pass that fit test, the insanity remains a constant.
We are preparing for a third and hopefully final surgery for Kailyn, the company is going strong and my youngest is happy and healthy.
I still don’t have a full time job, but the kids count as that.
I work part time and have the Reserves.
I have lost those 30+pounds, but more importantly I have a place to go when life gets a little too crazy.
Thank You for all the support!!
Vikki