Credit where credit's due

2011 was a very harsh year for our family.  We thought we lost our baby, but, thankfully, we did not.  Cory was put in the position of being the primary caregiver to Henry, the house, and me while trying to tackle his fledgling business.  We were both in a constant state of worry and would swing from joy to anxiety with every appointment and every doctor's bill.  Henry wanted me to stop being sick all the time so that I could play, and I sometimes wanted to just be left alone with my reality television--better to think about somebody else's drama than our own.  Our new normal wasn't.    

We are surrounded with support and lots of love, though.  Henry had play dates galore.  Cory was given some housekeeping and yard work breaks.  We rarely wanted for dinner.  Friends and family came to sit with me--at the foot of our bed and, later, around our couches.  Cards, packages, magazines, emails, and texts were bountiful, and Cory could at least worry less about my sanity.  2011 was rough, but we found out how very important, talented, and generous our family and friends are.  We made it through, and so did our Elgin.

Later in the year, we found out that EW needed some extra attention to avoid food allergies, and I embarked on the TED.  Friends surrounded me with encouragement, support, and information. Family set aside special foods.  We lost Granddaddy just 14 months after saying goodbye to my sweet Mema.  Again, cards and emails reminded us of how lucky we are.  I returned to both of my jobs but did it with confidence since our experience with a forced school change landed our boys in a better option than we ever thought it would be.  Friends and family, you told us it would be OK.  

So, when we look at ahead towards what the new year has in store, we're looking back at you who helped pull us through its predecessor.  There is no doubt that 2012 will throw its obstacles our way,  and we will struggle as a family at times, but we'll do it a little bit stronger, a lot more cuter (thanks to Elgin), and with the full knowledge that we'll do it with the family and friends beside us.

Thank you for your support, and thank you to my awesome husband for being, well, awesome.