The Week is Over

Well, the week of photo shoots is over. What an amazing week it has been, I feel as though I just worked full time for a week and was still a full time mom...interesting. I loved every minute of it (except being incredibly, embarrasingly sore from manuevering my body in interesting ways this week). Thank you to those who have allowed me to possibly tell part of your story this week in pictures. And to those who have emailed me with inquiries and comments, thank you for your interest! I can definately see this in my future and can't wait to see what "develops". (get it?) Anyway, I ended today by taking some shots of my own kids. What an experience, didn't go so well! McKenzie was being a stinker and Zachary couldn't stop laughing...weird, they're so used to mommy snapping a gazillion pictures all day, but they seemed to understand my subliminal urgency to do this well. Yes, (this is for all the moms I talked with today while taking your pictures), I too bribed my little angels...chocolate cookies after Quiznos tonight...worked for one child, not the other (any guesses?). Anyway, a super fun week, thanks for sharing in this new adventure. And, if you are interested in a photography session, contact me and I will email you my information!

Sneak Peak

I had a blast with this cute family with oh so much pink! You guys made me laugh...a very fun shoot! Now I'm off to do the most adorable kiddos who have one hot mom...yes, it's my kids!

A Sneek Peak

It's been cloudy here lately, you know what tha means...great picture time! Here is a stunning family!

Note to self...

Note to self...remember these days.

Conversations with Kenzie

McKenzie, you cracked me up today (you crack me up all the time really). On the trampoline you kept trying to jump up high and do the splits in the sky like Zachary does. You were so frustrated because you wanted me to take your picture doing the splits like you had seen Zachary's picture. I explained to you that you had to get bigger and practice jumping more to get higher. You looked at me for a long time and then said, "Come on, let's go get bigger." Pretty clever little girl, now if you could just find a place for mommy to go "get smaller" we'd have it made! Good thinking!

Lindsey, a Sneek Peak...

An Opportunity

I have super excitement wrapped up in anxiousness about this coming week. I've got my first ever photo shoot, infact, I've got four shoots this week. I am so incredibly honored to have been asked to shoot some pics of some adorable families we know and love, I can hardly wait. Evenso, this is an area where I lack confidence; I could spend the next 50 years coming up with excuses of why I couldn't possibly get paid to take photos and my sweet husband could take the next 50 years coming up with reasons why I should take the plunge. Kirk has enough confidence in me for the both of us, unfortnately he'll be at work during the shoots, oh well. Anyway, I am proud of myself for taking that step and starting to fufill a dream of mine, funny how those dreams are so darn scary huh? Oh well. The picture I've posted today cracks me up. I snapped it last Christmas when Zachary was playing trucks, notice Baby Jesus is driving. I wanted to make it our Christmas card but just couldn't "cuten" it up enough. Shouldn't the Baby be the driver always? Shouldn't we allow Him to lead, boy He knows the way a ton better than I could ever..Zachary sure had it right and focused when he put Baby Jesus in the driver seat.

Slowing Down

Right now our children are way into riding their bikes, which is perfect with the weather we are having now. So, everyday before dinner I take them on bike rides, I walk briskly to keep up. A couple days ago I was getting so extremely frustrated with McKenzie because I was constantly saying "Come on baby girl, keep going", she just wouldn't focus long enough to keep going and finish the task at hand. I am a very focused and get things done girl, for instance...the bike ride was a check off the list kindof thing for me. I am constantly asking the Lord to help me slow down enough to see the world through my kiddos eyes. So, I made myself walk slower and behind Kenzie, to gain a different perspective and to make myself not "wait" for her. I watched her and was struck with what I saw. I saw a little girl with a too big pink helmet on. Her head was swaying back and forth and the sweetest voice you've ever heard was singing a song that only a three year old could compose. She had no concerns, no agenda, she was riding her bike singing at the top of her sweet lungs and dancing to her own beat. The only focus she had was to ride her bike, there was no crossing off on the list, she was in the moment, free to love it, slow enough to not forget it. Wow, did this hit me hard. My daughter who just can't seem to focus like I'd define successful focus as, has it right. I am humbled at the realization that she has it right, and I have it wrong. She will do far more for God's Kingdom than I ever will with my lists (yes, God is on my list too sometimes). She is slow enough to listen, to hear Him enough to obey, she will comprehend His beauty far better than her mother does, she will possibly grasp how deep and wide His love is for her, because there are no lists and no agenda. I don't know, just watching her ride her bike from behind, slowing down, seeing her gave me a glimpse of my daily goal...to be still, and know that He is God.

Do you want to giggle?

The Cycle

Tomorrow is Thursday: bathroom and kitchen day, Friday is dusting and floors day. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are extras like cleaning showers, refrigerators, baseboards, etc. Every week, I mean every week I think "How am I going to get this done?" And every week it gets done. You'd think my heart would know not to speed up at the thought and that my brains would be loud enough for me to know that it gets done, the cycle never fails. Laundry often is daunting, ironing seems endless, yet it gets done, the cycle works, funny huh? Why, in ten years am I still paranoid that it isn't going to come together? Sometimes, when I really allow myself to think on it, I'm just shocked that it works. I am shocked that I've always remembered to buckle the kids in their car seats, that for some reason I don't forget to give the meds, dinner is provided every night...seriously, how does that happen? How do I get my kids in bed every night at 7:30 clean and fed, homework done? How do I get to every appointment on time, how do I even remember appointments, how do all the toys get picked up every day all day? How are pigtails in place each morning, shirts tucked in, lunches made? How does it all happen? When I think about it, I am amazed that it happens, that I could be responsible for this all? So tomorrow when I set out to scrub that toilet yet again why will I think it won't get done? Weird, how did I ever get old enough to have a cycle? Mind boggling at times.

Kenzie Grace

Shoot me Now

My goodness, shoot me now. If I could go back three days and be more loving and sympathetic to my sick children, I surely would (I'd also go back and change the fact that I licked Zachary's ice cream cone on Saturday...woops). Last night the fever came, along with the most nutty chills and terrible sore throat...so much for Air Born huh? The doctor took one look at my throat, winced, and said don't even need to swab...you're full of puss (pretty huh?). Kirk took the day off too, he's got it. The great news is the kids went to school today and are making us dinner (just kidding). When Kenzie got home she ran to my bed, felt me and said "You hot Mama" (like 103 hot) then she gently stroked my cheeks and said "Oh, it's okay Mama, you are bery brave sweetie". She just laid there and stroked me for a long while...I'll tell you..she is going to make an amazing mama and the best nurse ever. Zachary's comment was..."see now you know how sick I was!" Complete opposites I tell you. The goal is to take my tylenol with codine, get the chills under control and beg God to allow me to awake without this fever.

We've got Antibiotics

Well, after a long night of high fevers, Zachary hallucinating (CRAZY SCARY) and severe tears, we are now equipped with two sets of antibiotics! Kenz and Zachary are geared up and ready to recover...that is my pep talk! My throat hurts, so far (after 6 tablets of Air Born) it isn't the strep throat hurt...we'll see. Zachary has to have his tonsils out since he's had too many parties with his buddy strep. I'm not too sure about it, so I'll have to do some googling around on the subject. So, we'll see if school is an option tomorrow. Here are my kids tonight...clean, full of motrin and antibiotics, with a bit of dinner in their bellies...YEAH!

A Mother and her Two Sickos

We spent yesterday at the ER with Kenzie...get this we went one month without a visit! We were thrilled with how long she stayed healthy this time (seriously, I'm not being sarcastic). What blew our minds even more...the ER doc sent us home with a diagnosis of "viral infection"...a little history for you all, we've never been sent home from the ER with a viral infection, we have never not had pneumonia and we've never not been given a bundle of meds for her. Wait, it gets more incredulous...the doc said her chest x-ray was completely normal...nothing present! I think somebody had to pick my jaw up off the floor. We've NEVER had a clean x-ray, even when the cutie is healthy, there is always infection in her lungs, hence the "chronic" pneumonia label she's been given. I must have asked the doctor three times if she was sure and Kirk and I just stood there in awe, certain that she had no idea how to do her job and was completely wrong. We walked out to our car shaking our heads in disbelief...weird. Anyways, Zachary woke up this morning with a fever therefore...both kiddos home from school...thought I'd give you an honest glimpse into the day.

This morning, around 6:30 I feel this very warm body climb into bed with me (a rare thing for Z-man). I'm informed of a tummy ache and sore throat, immediately my heart is thrown into palpitations because I know this child's pattern...tummy ache, sore throat, so I get my courage up and take a sniff...yep terrible breath, I know we're dealing with strep throat yet again. It is encouraging to know he will get the happy syrup that makes it all disappear, unlike his sister...she will have to persevere. So, I get my game face on quickly, two high fevers, one mama who didn't sleep all weekend due to an already sick kiddo, and a Monday (which is usually my favorite day for reals). Both kids inform me that no breakfast is needed...score! I divide the couch up into two beds, a blue car side and a pink princess side, each kid has fetched their pillow and I am well equipped with Little Einsteins. I quickly try to reason with myself to feel no guilt over allowing them to spend the day in front of the tube and that if I were sick I'd feel like laying around too. So, I surrender to movies. Kirk is heading out the door, I grab him and whisper in a repetitive desperate chant, "Please come home early, please come home early..." He says he'll do his best. Off to call the schools and explain the epidemic causers come from my home and try to explain why McKenzie has missed almost as much school as she has attended...hope they won't call authorities (a joke people). I get jazzed up for medicine time, I spend the first hour giving myself a peptalk about Kenzie and the meds she always refuses, so I put on a huge show with Zachary and how much fun he has taking the medicine that will make him feel like playing and having fun soon. She doesn't buy it, puts one hand over her mouth and the other one in front of her face (her, I can't see you sign). So, I wrestle her into her high chair, forget to pray with her, after the vomiting, remember to pray, then she gets it down. Woohoo, I totally achieved a marathon! We spend some time decorating turkey feathers for their school (an assignment they both were assigned), most of the project was done by the mom, but I'm proud of my work! I lay them both down in front of the TV and get determined to finish the laundry, and clean some because I know within two days I will be down for the count with a fever that came from nowhere. I make the most delicious applesauce (do I sound impressive? Don't be, it was a crock pot recipe...easy and it makes your house smell divine!). I push Kenzie in the swing for a while, until I realize she has nodded off (must be sick), we try to build a castle out of blocks, but two sick kids with little patience, one being three, hitting begins...I kindof stare for a while at them...good entertainment at this point. I make chicken soup because Kindergarten has taught my son that soup heals sickness...make it, again, nobody eats...so Kenzie downs some pediasure so I can feel like a decent mom and Zachary, well he stares at the TV still. We read some books, do some more medicine, and throw all children in bed for naps!!! I hop on the treadmill determined to walk like 30 miles because I can feel the illness coming on and know I won't be exercising later this week. I walk only 3, but feel not much guilt over it. Zachary wakes up, kid must have been sick to nap that long. All he wants to do is rock in the rocking chair with mommy, can't resist that! I rock him until I feel that all germs have cralwed into every passage of mine, confident they find good resting places until they can make my life miserable another day. Kenzie wakes and wants half of the lap, we all sit and watch the Smurfs, I try to explain what type of "things" they actually are but can only say they are blue things. Seems good enough to them. After Motrin kicks in, we play princesses and cars together, life is good with meds huh? I cook an extra large dinner so we can eat it when I am down and out later this week, throat is starting to feel funny. It's 4:30, I begin looking at the clock, wondering if Kirk remembers my sickos at home and my frantic plea with him this morning. Kirk waltzes in at 5...kenzie goes running screaming "Daddy Home"...makes it look like she hasn't been miserable all day..grrr! Zachary, full of good motrin helps Daddy put the swing in the back yard...ahhh, I am breathing easier. We, Kirk and I, eat while the kids sit and look at their plates and touch nothing...at least I can say I tried. Dishes done, I can feel the drainage down my throat...not impressed. For dinner I baked an entire head of garlic and at the whole thing...hopeful of prevention. I will stink for days, but maybe it will be a healthy stink, but most likely I will be miserably sick and then have to smell myself for days...ooh, should have thought that one through better, oh well. Zachary falls asleep on the couch, poor baby is burning up, Kirk brings him to bed, Kenzie has some funky bumps all over her face and her eyes look distorted, like if you look too long at her...you just get grossed out. She looks miserable and becomes defeated with the mention of meds. Kids are in bed...I'm off to Target to buy AirBorn. The lady that checks me out is coughing with a runny nose, then informs me that she loves AirBorn and that it works great...hmmm. I'm home, stood in a hot shower for a nice long time, Advil has kicked in, hope the AirBorn does something, and I smell of garlic...pretty picture huh? It is 10:00 now, Zachary just woke up with huge tears in his eyes saying his throat hurts bad, fever is 103.4 again. When will that Motrin work...grrr! I lay him on the couch and we venture out to see what is one at 10:00...we find Noggin, it works. I tell him the meds should kick in soon and then off to bed. My poor little ones...we are off to the doctor tomorrow for strep throat yummies! So, was it a bad day? Was it a long day? Let's see, no, it was a good day. The best part was smelling my son's hair while I rocked, trying to memorize the smell, trying to slow down enough to paint the picture in my forever memory. I'd say the day was just right (minus the garlic).

Haloween Part 2

Zachary you looked too awesome as Optimus Prime (eventhough you wouldn't wear the helmet that I'm sure cost $10 alone and nobody really knew who you were without it...still awesome bud) You had wanted to be a Transformer for months, but when it came down to it, you really really wanted to be a Clone Trooper dude. You rolled with the punches though...while you trick or treated, you just explained to people that your mom had bought this costume early, but you changed your mind and for people to just pretend you belonged in the Clone Wars theme somewhere. You are too funny! Next year, I'll wait til the night before bud.

Glimpses of Haloween Part 1

Just one step closer to being an official OT

I've been known to say over the past 6 years, that if I ever change careers, I would love to become an occupational therapist. I have almost 7 years experience, just lacking the official certificate. I've got a bazillion toys that work well with my someday career, I can talk the talk, possibly walk it too, and now...I have a therapy swing in my home. One of Kirk's colleagues blessed us with a therapy swing with three different attachments. What a gift! We're talking a lot of money and a ton of benefits! My kids adore this new gift and spend 100% of their time on it. A therapy swing is super helpful for sensory issues, self regulating, and core development. I am working on balance and strengthening with Kenz on it. Anway, this thing is massive. Imagine a park swingset sitting in your house. I have done well for two weeks, but my mental state has told the husband...get this thing out of my house! So, the swing must head to the back yard, much to my children's sadness, but my mental"ness" is thrilled! We've had a good time on the swing!

Guess who weighs 27.9 pounds? (I know I'm on Weight Watchers, but I'm not that good!) McKenzie weighs 27.9 pounds! WOOHOO! We are doing the happy jig around here. A lot of people ask...why are we so obsessed about her gaining weight? Well, our number one answer is, because her entire team of doctors is obsessed. Really, something the typical child's parent may not know, kids need fat for cognitive development. McKenzie has never had extra fat, infact she burns more calories than the typical kids because her body is constantly fighting infection, as well as trying to keep her coordination in tact...takes a ton of calories to not fall down! So, we push the fats and calorie enhancers mainly for that cognitive development. We are thrilled with her weight...she is officially on the growth chart now! Yeah Kenz!

Lions and Pinecones

When Kenzie isn't in preschool, I always take her walking with me. She rides in the blue jogging stroller and we do our normal hour route. It is a sweet time; her insisting I sing "Once Upon a Dream" almost the entire time, her not understanding that Mommy has difficulty talking, much less singing while working out. But, we get in some good three year old conversations. The best part for Kenzie is stopping to pick a "lion" and pinecones. There is always a patch of dandelions on our walk and for about a year now, I always stop, pick just one, and she holds it for a long time; pushing it all over her face and proclaiming it tickles...everytime! Toward the end of our walk, we have a special pine tree that has tons of pine cones on it. I always grab one for her, now we've picked all the ones from the easy to reach spots, so she enjoys seeing me hop for the high ones. This is the point in our walk where we make a u-turn, for the next thirty minutes, she hugs that pinecone and talks to it, soothing it. Often she says "It's okay, I got you, ssh." Ah, what a sweet thing we've got going. Today I just had to take my camera on our walk to capture this little ritual we've made. Who knew exercising could be so meaningful?