Curveball!

OK - so the last two days have NOT gone as I planned them! I'm writing this from the hospital room (yay for hubbies who have laptops and wireless internet!!). So yesterday morning I headed off with the kids to church - it was our weekly ladies Bible stucy - and on the way there (around 9:30am) I started having stomach pains - kinda like sharp cramps up under my ribs.

I didn't think much of it and it wasn't until after the Bible study (11am) that I started to REALLY feel bad. The pain was so intense - I figured it was something I'd eaten for breakfast and that it was SERIOUSLY disagreeing with my stomach.... Mom took the kids home and I drove my car home as fast as I could. I beat her (and no, I didn't speed TOO bad) and by the time she got there I was in horrible pain. We called Matthew and he came immediately home from work.

Tried to get the doc on the phone but ended up hanging up on them and just headed in to the ER. They did a CT scan and an ultrasound - they found that my infection levels were high as were my white blood count. They found some inflammation in my stomach on the CT scan and figured that was a result of another infection. Today they did an endoscopy to determine what was in my stomach - which was NOT an ulcer.....but just some inflammation - painful, sure, but it doesn't explain the pain I felt yesterday - not to that degree.

SO.....we wait. :) At this point we don't really have any answers but I'm so thankful that the pain is mostly gone - I'm just sore and uncomfortable but that's TOTALLY bearable! Matthew's bored from sitting around here all day and the kids are having a blast with their grandma's. :) Hopefully tomorrow they will either find something more (possibly doing some tests on my gallbladder) and if they DON'T then I'm just praying we get home quickly and that pain never EVER comes back! :)

Thank you to those of you who have been praying, I'm so appreciative to you for continuing to bring me before the Lord. We've stayed encouraged and I'm feeling so much better this evening - now to find some answers! :) Thank you again and sorry for the "book"! :)

Ella Bella

Here is my Ella Bella - in all her glory. We decided this morning to have some one-on-one time - we're trying to get some nice pictures of the kids. Sadly, while I thoroughly enjoy taking pictures of OTHER people's kids, my own are a SERIOUS pain in the rear! They don't look at me, they cry, they whine, they run the other way . . . they give me the silliest faces (note, I did not say FUNNY faces) . . . and even with bribery I am not able to accomplish my goal!

SO, after a frustrating hour with Ella, I managed to come away with a handful of "decent" pictures - but not what I wanted. I told Micah that I didn't have the energy (or patience!) to do his pictures . . . he didn't seem too sad about that! (Although he WAS worried that he wouldn't get his "gummies" - which were my tools of bribery that he knew he'd get during his "session"!)

ANYWAYS - while these pictures aren't what I was looking for SPECIFICALLY, I still think she's the most beautiful little girl EVER and I'd happily display these on my wall for the world to see! :)

I need one of THESE.

Ok so my hubby isn't going to like this post . . . AT ALL. But I can't help it. I sit here in my (uncomfortable) chair in the afternoons, looking at my FABULOUS dual monitors (thank you honey!), editing these SWEET and PRECIOUS baby pictures. It's HARD NOT TO want one!! I thought three days of visiting with Kathryn and beautiful baby B would have broken me of this . . . but NO. It's pretty obvious from the images below that I've got it bad, huh?? Kathryn took these and while I don't look NEARLY as cool as I'd like, I thought it was a FUNNY progression! Plus, she totally caught me smelling that sweet baby head smell that is my FAVORITE part of little babies. (I don't care so much for the "other end" that also smells . . . ) See bigger image here: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2153/2438880005_84b302cd6e_b.jpg

I'm HOME! :)

I'm back home - which is both happy and sad. :) I was so happy to see my hubby and both Micah and Ella waiting for me at the airport, but I was very sad to say good-bye to Kathryn, her mom Ann, and baby B. I had a wonderful time with them and am so thankful that I was able to get up to see them (even if it was so short) and to photograph baby B. :) I'm super tired and I've caught a cold so I'm headed to bed now . . . but I just had to sit down and go through the files from the last day or so. Happy Sneak-Peek guys!! Thank you for having me into your home and sharing your food and time with me - thanks for driving me around and THANK YOU for taking me to Grandpa's Cheesebarn!! :D (updated the pictures & added new)

The First Campout

We've been telling Micah for months that we'd go camping . . . and you know what?? It never happened. (Big shocker, huh?) Sadly, we let the whole "winter" go by without putting the tent up even one time - well, not true, but Micah wasn't IN the tent so it didn't count. Anyways, tonight is very possibly the last cool evening in FL for the next several months . . . and even though it's a "work night" for Daddy, we put up the tent and the boys are out there (right now!) reading books and eating popcorn! (Since it was a very last minute decision to camp, I had no time to properly prepare . . . so they are seriously lacking in the provisions department.)

Ella and Micah "helped" Daddy put the tent up . . . I did nothing but snap pictures FRANTICALLY in the dark. (In the hopes of somewhat capturing this monumental night - the FIRST campout!) Micah repeatedly told Ella that she was going to sleep inside with Mommy because she's "not a big boy yet" like he is. :) She replied with an emphatic, "NO Bubby! I a GIRL!" She and I came inside and watched Curious George together . . . and I have NO idea what the boys are doing. Well, I do know it involves some books on bugs and other creepy crawly things (Micah's current infatuation) - Oh and popcorn and flashlights. Sounds like a little boy's dream, eh?? :) I hope they sleep good!

Here's the evidence (for when Micah is older and asks why we NEVER did anything spur-of-the-moment or "cool" with him):

Putting up the tent with his "helpers"...

The excitement is mounting....poor kid can hardly stand it!

Ella, insisting on being RIGHT in the middle of everything (as usual!)

This is how we left them - Happiest little boy on the block tonight!

Michael: FLY

Last night I met up with Michael to do some grad pictures - this handsome guy is sort-of like family to me. Well, honestly, his whole family is just another extension of mine. It's so wierd (in a good way!) to see these "kids" that I knew way-back-when all grown up! Here's just a little sneak peek for Michael and his family - I promise to share some of the formal shots soon as well, I just got caught up a little bit in these first!

(**Edited to add - Thank you Uncle Larry for sharing with Michael your incredible talent for posing!)

OOPS...my bad!

I would like to publicly apologize to my FIFTH reader - my sister Sarah, who lives in the Philippines. :) I had assumed that she never "bothered" to check in (since she's never left a comment before) but that assumption was in error. (You know what assuming does, right?) So anyways - SORRY SARAH! :) I'm kidding though - I fully realize that you are waiting like 30 minutes for my blog to even LOAD the pictures, and I appreciate you being willing to wait that long to see them. :) Since I'm apologizing, I should probably tell you that my statement of "four readers" is a bit of an understatement. I also know that I have at least two readers in Norway - THANK YOU NORWEGIAN FAMILY! - and also a reader up North - shout out to Kate! :) There might be a couple more of you as well.....THANKS! :) I didn't mean to exclude any of you - I said it for the comedic effect - probably shouldn't have though - I really do love that there are several of you who check in on me! :D TELL YOUR FRIENDS - haha! ;)

For Heather . . .

First of all, I apologize to my 4 blog readers (thanks mom, grandma, Jess & Veronica!) - I'm posting yet again about Heather. :) Finished up some pictures of her and Dave and I had nothing ELSE to do with them but share! It helps that they're easy on the eyes . . . so if the pictures DO hurt you to look at them you can totally blame it on my processing - I MIGHT have gone a little overboard with a couple! (what can I say, I pretty much do everything overboard...)

We did these pictures the day before H & D left - it was stinking HOT outside but I was excited to practice on them . . . and excited because I knew Heather would take pictures of my hubby & I - our first photo session together EVER! :) To see the first one bigger click here: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2104/2396882815_7b167d0ef1_o.jpg

My little buddy

This is my buddy, V. Isn't he cute??

He came over the other day and I couldn't help myself - I mean seriously, LOOK at his smile!! Could you resist this face??

I just wanna SQUEEEEEZE him! Anyways, I just wanted to share because . . . I can't help myself. I'm just very needy when it comes to this sort of thing. I NEEEEEED people to see how stinkin' cute these kids are! :)

Veronica & Isaac, yall have made one SUPER DUPER handsome dude - and thanks for bringing him over from time to time!! :D

OH, and congratulations Baby V on figuring out "the wave" :)

The many sides of Heather

Dave and Heather were here for 9 days. It flew by - WAY too fast - but not so fast that we couldn't take a ton of silly pictures! Here is how I've spent the last hour - sad eh?? But I know Heather has been DYING to see her portraits . . . this girl is one of my favorite people. She is actually MORE fun in real life than her pictures show - can you believe that?? :) I can totally see why Dave (my cousin) married her - ya done well, Dave!!

And without further ado.....I present....Heather. :) By the way, the image probably will not fit completely on the screen. Click on this -http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2243/2385322391_048c8ec420_b.jpg and you will be taken to the image....in its entirety. :) (NICE and BIG)...

Heart 2 Heart

A little over a month ago I was contacted by a birth center here in Central Florida - called Heart 2 Heart. They asked me if I was interested in working with them to provide photography to their clients as well as display some of my artwork in their office. I jumped at the oppertunity and we got together to discuss it. One of my favorite pieces is hanging in their office - so if you happen to be there for any reason, look for it! It is the image below.

Since talking with Michelle, I've been incredibly busy and have intended to post something about this on my blog - but THANK YOU ... a HUGE thank you to Michelle & the ladies at Heart 2 Heart for giving me the oppertunity to display my images and for wanting to work with me! I'm so excited to be a little involved in what you ladies do at the birth center! Shortly there should be a link from my website that you can follow to theirs - or you can go over to the right and check them out - they are the top link in my set of "Check 'em out!" links. (FYI - all of the things I think are worth taking a look at!)

Here is a blurb from their website about what they do at Heart 2 Heart. :)

Heart 2 Heart Birth Center is dedicated to making every pregnancy and birth the best experience possible by pampering mom the whole nine months. Experience the highest level of midwifery care while still enjoying the personal one on one care that you can only receive from midwives. Every mom deserves the best. Every mom deserves Heart 2 Heart Birth Center.

Heart 2 Heart Birth Center is conveniently located in Seminole County, in the Historical District of Old Sanford. Just minutes from Volusia County or Orange County, our midwives have been serving Seminole, Volusia, Brevard, Orange, Lake, and Sumter Counties for almost 20 years in homebirth practices.