This is Rebecca.  A year ago I was going through one of the hardest times in my life to date, so I’m feeling reflective.  Here’s a synopsis of my personal storm cloud:  I had a 5 week old new baby, a 4 year old having some big adjustment issues, a hubby working more than full time (which a job that does not accommodate ‘sick time’ or ‘family leave’), and Mastitis-From-Hell.  Mastitis of any form is horrible, and I had it bad.  I had already had 2 out-patient attempts at drainage, and antibiotics with no relief when it was decided I would need surgery and hospitalization.  After 6 days in the hospital without seeing my baby (now 6 weeks old), I was discharged home with IV antibiotics, a gaping hole in one breast that had a wound drainage system hooked up to it, and started receiving in home nursing care.  It took a month for me to get off all antibiotics, and the wound to close.  It took even longer to be able to breastfeed full time again and even longer still to feel like I had a handle on motherhood again.  My parents live 6 hours away and still work.  We had lived in the area about a year, so we didn’t have a great support system built up, although we did have a fantastic neighbor at the time who took care of both boys until my parents could arrive when I was admitted.  We felt very isolated and alone.                                                                 (first time seeing my baby in a week)

My parents called in the cavalry in the form of my Aunt Bev, Uncle Larry, and Cousin Mandy.  Bev and Larry are retired and all 3 live only 2 hours from us and they dropped everything and came to stay with us when my parents couldn’t stay any longer.  They did everything- they cooked, cleaned, they fed our baby when I was too tired or weak, they played with our older son (keeping him occupied and helping him adjust), they offered moral support.  So much moral support!  It was hard on me emotionally to not be able to supply enough milk for my young son and Aunt Bev reassured me and reminded me that I needed to heal.  And it didn’t end when I had recovered, they came back again and again.  Over the past year we have gone to see them twice, and they have come to see us countless times. Before this, they were the Aunt and Uncle I saw a couple times a year growing up.  After our wedding we moved and subsequently went 9 years without seeing.  Once we moved back to the area, in the year prior to this, we saw them 3 times.  Since this, I can’t even count the number of times.  Mandy went on vacation with us and my parents, and Bev and Larry house and dog sat. We moved and they came (along with my parents) and helped us pack, move, unpack, and build a chicken coop. Our relationship with them is great and we are so thankful to have them in our lives.  They are our silver lining.  I’m not saying I want to go through all that again (please, no), but at least I can see the silver lining and be thankful for them. So, in the end I am healthy, my family is healthy, and we have an Aunt Bev, Uncle Larry, and Cousin Mandy to count as close friends.

during my recovery

tree trimming party

fall apple orchard trip

painting gourds

Cousin Mandy and us in front of Blackbeard’s Castle

cuteness!

fun at the Zoo

making a tool box

building a chicken coop

painting a sign for the play structure

Uncle Larry assisting the Captain

Aunt Bev watching the brotherly love

Family Vacation

Thank you Aunt Bev, Uncle Larry, and Cousin Mandy for everything!!!!