Bill & Lindsey {anniversary/maternity}

I had the pleasure of shooting Bill and Lindsey's wedding two years ago. I just love this couple. We mesh very well and always have a great time at their shoots. They did an anniversary shoot last year, and again this year.....however, this year, they are expecting! So we combined some bump pictures and I am so excited to do newborn pictures in August!

The Braces Adventure - surgery

So Friday I went in for surgery - rapid palate expansion and removal of all four wisdom teeth. Routine thing, supposed to be in and out, with release from the hospital Saturday afternoon. The surgery Friday was delayed by a couple hours and I don't really remember being back to my room until about 6:00 that night. They told me at that point that there was a complication with some bleeding, but they got everything under control. In scrolling through my phone log, I see I placed a few phone calls that evening.....which I vaguely remember. One to my brother for sure, and I specifically remember hearing "I LOVE it when my sister is on drugs!" Apparently I was all the entertainment anyone needed. Awesome! Friday night was a long night of lots of nausea and throwing up of blood. The two nurses who were there to help me get up to use the restroom exchanged worried looks as they saw the vomit bag full of blood. At that point, they paged the surgeon to see what needed to be done. They scheduled the operating room for 7:00 Saturday morning and I was taken right back in so they could stop the bleeding before too much got to my lungs and stomach. The second surgery hit me really hard because I obviously hadn't even recovered from the first. I made some phone calls to let people know I was headed back in for surgery, and they wheeled me in. I think I was back to my room by 10:00 or so.  I was finally discharged to go home Saturday evening. Saturday night and Sunday morning are quite a blur for me - that "fog" from anesthesia is quite disorienting. I feel like that fog finally lifted last night, which may be why I slept horribly.

 

I went back in to the surgeon today and he assured me that I looked great. That was really nice to hear because I woke up this morning really angry and really regretting this decision. Talking is the hardest part. I feel like no one can understand me, though they all assure me they can. So it must sound worse in my head.

 

Here is a video from today: http://youtu.be/WDmL9vQZeVc 

Rapid Palate Expansion Surgery - Post-Op Day 3

Link to Video

Nick & Lynette {family}

I met up with this adorable family last weekend for some pictures. The two girls were so great and really made the shoot quite a breeze.

Deanna & Tom {engagement}

I met up with this couple last week to shoot their save-the-date/engagement photos. We started at Indian Creek in Kuna and then went to a friend's property and utilized the barn. Barns + evening light = perfection. Every time. The lighting was awesome, the barn was awesome, and this couple is a hoot! I can't wait to shoot their wedding in August!

The Braces Adventure

Well, they are in. As well as the expander. I am less than pleased about the expander and my knee-jerk reaction is to go right back and have them take it out. Nevermind on fixing my midline. Nevermind on fixing the cross-bite. I will deal with those. Just make my teeth straight and we'll call it a day. Everything about the expander is awkward. It looks so small sitting on the counter at the orthodontist, but inside my mouth, I feel like it leaves me with zero room. I can't eat, can't drink, and I sound like a complete idiot when I talk. Since my tongue can't reach the top of my mouth, swallowing is extremely difficult - I always feel like there is residual food/drink in my mouth. I find myself swishing, A LOT. I can't form some words, which really makes me feel like I have a speech impediment. Six months with the expander sounds like an eternity.

 

Surgery is still scheduled for tomorrow, though insurance is dragging their feet on giving the approval. The surgeon called again today to bug the insurance people - they told him to NOT cancel the surgery and to call back this afternoon for a decision. Seriously - talk about last minute. I hate insurance companies for this very reason. We pay all this money for coverage, and then have to fight tooth and nail just to get approval for something. Let's not even get started on all things that are corrupt.

 

In six months, I know this will have been worth it.

 

In two years, I will definitely say this has been worth it.

 

Today? Screw it. This is NOT worth it and I want the expander out of my mouth.

Whitney {boudoir}

As with all of my boudoir shoots, I really can't share many of the photos, for obvious reasons. Whitney and I had an awesome shoot. She was hilarious, which made for a ton of out-takes because we were laughing so hard throughout most of the shoot. I know boudoir shoots look all glam and sexy, but when you get down to it, the shoot itself is hyper-technical due to posing and placement. So if you don't find humor in it, the shoot will never work. I think Whitney and I developed a great relationship right off the bat, so it made both of us feel much more at ease during the shoot. 

 

Here are two samples I feel comfortable sharing:

The Braces Adventure

I bet you thought this was done, or forgotten about, right? Oh no, apparently it just takes THIS long. Medical people, whether it's the doctor, dentist, oral surgeon, orthodontist, nurse, or assistant, are in absolutely no hurry whatsoever to move this process along. Unless I call and remind them to do their job. I'm always happy to do that. {insert sarcasm}

 

So this week is the big week. Surgery is Friday. Tomorrow, I have to go get an EKG done, just to make sure my heart is healthy and strong enough for surgery. I do not expect any sort of complication. Wednesday, the expander will be placed and the braces will go on. And Friday is the big day. To say that I'm anxious would be a gross understatement. I woke up this morning and my heart was racing. I am most nervous about being put under. I have never been put under before, so the thought of not having control is freaking me out. If you know me, you know that me+control is the same as peanut butter+jelly. I need that control to have a harmonious calm in my life.

 

I spoke with my good friend, Abby, who is the surgical coordinator at the hospital. She let me know that she has assigned me the best nurse and nurse anesthetist. I told her this really made me feel a lot better about the entire process, but that I was still nervous as hell. She walked me through the intubation process (which will be through my nose since all the work is being done in my mouth) and also told me that I will have some happy, calm-you-down pills beforehand. I flat out asked her if I could have some NOW. Last week would have been even better.

 

And to throw a curve into this whole ordeal, the oral surgeon and my orthodontist added removal of my wisdom teeth to the treatment plan. We never discussed this in any of the meetings. One day, the treatment plan arrived at my house, and there was the wisdom teeth extraction. Wonderful. Because this wasn't going to be the best time ever when it was just breaking my top jaw. Go ahead and yank out four teeth. Awesome. Thanks guys. Also, still haven't heard from insurance in the pre-authorization. I plan to call them tomorrow afternoon (and if you know me, you know that means today) to see where they are with the process, can we expedite, etc.

 

My patience is not cut out for this shit.

Dana, Veronica, & Easton's visit

So Dana, Veronica, and Easton came to visit last weekend. I am super behind in all of my photo processing, so these are just now getting up on the blog. I loved having the opportunity to introduce my kids to their cousin. They both just loved him. Carter wanted to play with him constantly, and Kendall was very intrigued by this new baby.

 

 

We also took Easton over to meet our grandma - totally made her day!

 

 

 

 

 

Eric's mom met up with us at Kathryn Albertson Park so we could do family pictures. I still need to go through those discs. I'm so behind! I really need to get it in gear this week because my surgery is this Friday and I will be out of commission for a while.

 

We had a great time at the park though! The kids got to run around like maniacs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My mom hogging, I mean HOLDING Easton. ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey my handsome man!

 

 

 

 

We also had a big BBQ/open house Saturday evening so everyone could come visit with Dana and Veronica and meet Easton. We had a ton of food and it was a really great evening.

 

 

Matt and Lori

 

Even my grandma came for a little bit.

 

 

 

 

 

The four musketeers, united once again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is typically how Kendall responds to my camera. ;)

 

 

The three cousins.

 

I was super sad to see Dana, Veronica, and Easton leave. Even Carter told me that they needed to move back because "we never get to see them three days in a row, ever." Definitely made me cry. But it was a great visit and we had a lot of fun while they were here. Can't wait 'til next time!