Rainbows

After every storm, there's a rainbow.  At least, that's how my brain works.  I know I don't always see them but I know, somewhere, there's a rainbow.  It's what keeps me going through hard times.  This past week was a little rough on us.  Brandie (the artist formally known as Ouizer) and I both got up in the middle of the night to party.  And by party I mean get sick together.  And by sick I mean my entrails decided to party like it was 1999, and leave my body with a last big hoorah!  Y'all, I have never been so sick.  I think I've had the flu twice in my life. Once was the last two weeks of my mission and it stretched into the first week I was home.  That was a lengthy sickness, but I've never felt like this before.  No, I swear, it's the truth.  And I'm holding----wait, sorry, Dirty Dancing moment.

It was a few days to remember, that's for sure.  I'm unsure of what either of us had/have/going to have/what we have left.  The sad part is Brandie said I'm one flu away from my perfect dress size.  HA.  That did not happen for either of us.  We are both still recovering. 

Luckily, Ginny is still going strong.  She has about 3 weeks left.  Her turkey timer has popped out and I'm about ready to shine a flashlight down there and say, "Go toward the light, Carolann." Hopefully, it doesn't come to that.  Also, we think Kaylor had a touch of the stomach ickies before all of us.  She's better as well.  I have pictures of but I'm too lazy to get my phone, email myself the photos, and post them on here.  Maybe next time.

So, Rainbows.  Yes, they get me through hard times.  I only thought of this because it's raining outside.  As our family nestles into bed, we are safe.  We are healthy-ish (B is still exhibiting some residuals, and my tummy is still not 100%), but we are better.  And that is our rainbow.   

Photeaus and Smiles

Hey friends,

I've decided to throw my hat into the photography ring.  I've always love capturing memories and I'm looking to start a small on-the-side business.  Here's a link to my Facebook page is you all can like it.  Also, spread out the word.  Obviously, I live in California. I'm willing to travel anywhere with in the 210, 15, 10, and 57 freeways.  I'm charing $20 for a 30 minute session with 6 or fewer people.  This includes a CD with all shots and 15 edited 4x6 prints or a mixture of larger prints.  Please feel free to give my phone number or the link to the Facebook page to anyone around here.  I feel like it's a pretty good deal but it's a great way to start off the new year and gives me some great experience.  I'm willing to do family, engagement, maternity, and senior portraits. I can also do head shots and modeling sets.  

I'm so excited for it!  My Facebook page houses a portfolio of some of my work.  Check it out! 

Family Pictures

We went to the local Claremont Colleges today to snap some new shots before the baby comes.  We have church at 1230 now so we were trying to figure out something to do in the morning too and killed two birds with one stone.  Here are some of our favorite shots. I edited some using Picasa.  Wouldn't mind some feedback :-) 

Our Metrolink trip to LA

Ginny woke up in the morning and had a touch of the cabin fever so we tried to figure out something to do outside of the house. We took a trip to LA this Saturday on a "choo-choo".  It was about an hour there and Kaylor did a great job.  We went to the historic Olivera street and had lunch. In the past few weeks, things have flown by. Kaylor turned two and we had a great Christmas.  Here are some pictures of our little one and our trip to LA.

Our little sass hanging out.

These next few are a testing my camera skills.

I got her to stand still for a minute.

"I run dadda."

"Dadda, look at this."

Our trip to LA.

Mommy and K's new Nikes.  We are a Nike family, I suppose.

Kaylor and Aunt Bea on the train.  We've discovered she rarely looks at the camera and smile...Kaylor, that is. 

Artsy? 

She's very fond of "wah-wah", her frog blanket.  It normally stays at home but we brought it for the train ride back.  I accidentally let showed it to her. 

I'm not sure what she's saying here, but I would lay bet it is something like, "Where's Wah-wah?"

Kaylor chooses her own path.

Apparently, I can't look at the camera and smile as well. 

The American Chinese museum close to Olivera street.

It's happening again.

I've been meaning to tell y'all, Ginny is pregnant again.  She's about 21 weeks and we are both way excited.  Another girl is on the way.  Ginny and I both think she is a farther along than we originally were told. We still need to have another ultrasound to measure the little fetus, but she'll come when she wants to. We are hoping to find another physician, or even a midwife this time.  We have an OB right now but aren't super impressed so we are shopping around.  

In other news, we are also moving.  Our lease is up this month and with Aunt Bea moving in with us, we needed another bed room.  G followed the spirit and found another place to live.  There is an older couple we met who is going on a mission for a year.  They are leaving the 15th and we need to be out of our apartment by the 17th...how perfect.

I really had all intentions of posting the sonogram photos but I have already packed our printer/scanner so it's not happening...sorry!  The second kid always gets the shaft, believe me, I know!  

Trading Spaces and New Faces

Aunt Bea has finally made it.  She's been here for about two weeks and and she's loving every moment of Kaylor time.  She currently looking for a job and we will be moving into a bigger place mid-October.

We traded places with her after a week and visited Louisiana.   I wish I would have taken more pictures to show y'all but we had a lot of great time and visits.

We had a bbq with family and friends and it was quite fun.  We also visited with our Hammond peeps.  Of course, Noni and Papaw (my parents) were equally excited to spend time with our great K.  Kaylor took a few minutes to warm up to them but they are all best friends now.

She couldn't get enough of PaPaw's phone.  And he was fool enough to give it to her.

Also, while we were in Louisiana, we decided to head to a sonogram office so my parents could witness their second granddaughter first hand.  We all found out in the same moment.  We knew we were pregnant but wanted to discover the sex with my parents.  I haven't scanned the ultrasound pics yet but will hopefully post them later.

I was trying to hold out but Ginny suggested Canes on our last day in LA.  #sauced

 Our return trip home yielded this.  A tender moment since she never falls asleep in our arms. She was very tired because her crazy parents woke her up at 4 am to get on a plane.

Triumph

While growing up, my mom worked for American Airlines.  My whole family was able to fly anywhere we wanted to for a very low rate.  We were given carte blanche to fly almost any time we wanted.  I became very accustomed to flying and it was almost a way of living for me.  I would fly by myself, even at a young age, and would know all the ins and outs of flying. It was so enjoyable.

After I met my wife, we made several trips to her home in California to visit family by plane. Each trip became more and more stressful for me.  One trip to visit family in Michigan was going to be my last airplane ride ever.  The minute the plane's wheels touched down, I leaned over to her and with tears in my eyes, said I would never fly again.  Somehow, I had developed a fear of flying and this trip was the last straw.  This posed a problem since we were several hundred of miles from home and needed to get back to Louisiana.  Out of severe pride and fear, we bought train tickets home.  After that LONG but fun trip home, I realized I needed to do something about this anxiety laden within me. I knew something had to change.  Later, I went through some counseling for an anxiety disorder and was counseled to meet with a hypnotherapist to help with my phobia of airplane travel.  I met with a hypnotherapist as a last resort.  She helped me to understand a lot about myself and I knew I could overcome this anxiety issue.  A few weeks later, with moderate anxiety, I boarded an airplane and had a lot of self-talk and positive encouragement from my loving wife.  It was still very hard for me but I pushed through, hoping all the while I would never have to do it again.  This hope would not be fulfilled.  After relocating to California, we would need to return to Louisiana to visit my parents.  A few months ago, we were given this opportunity.  The moment we booked the tickets was the start of a very long two months.  Everyday I would go to bed with racing thoughts of taking off in an airplane.  Some thoughts would entail my daughter cringing in fear with the unknown of what was going on around her.  Day after day, I had to give myself pep talks.  I reassured and reassured myself of the confidence I had in the pilots, the understanding I had of planes and how they work, the previous flights I had been on and the safety I had been afforded.  One day, I was given a brief moment of relief, a tender mercy that gave me peace.  I knew I would would be safe and, even more important, I would be able to do it with little anxiety.  

The day of the trip, I was surrounded with the most anxiety I had experienced in over a year.   My worst fear was about to come true.  I would either stay home and allow my wife and daughter to leave while I allowed this demon to take over my life or I would board the plane and be so fearful I would be incapacitated.  I would be unable to exist in a sense of awareness.  I would be unable to console my daughter when she was afraid.  Throughout all of my anxiety, I have always prayed.  I constantly pray as I go through these thoughts in my head.  I even received a blessing the night before we flew.  As we boarded, I thought of that blessing and the power of the priesthood and how much my Father in Heaven loves me.  I also thought of how far I've come.  I knew I would have some issues on the plane and was prepared for the worst.  I sat down in my seat and prayed one last prayer.  The next thing I knew, Ginny and I were helping our daughter read a book and we were taking off in an airplane and I was not only coherent but present. I almost felt euphoric.  I cried but mostly out of frustration from past experiences and the time I had wasted in anxiety.  My crux was normally during take off so to have this situation be successful and less stressful was definitely a triumph.  We had a layover and the next trip was the same.  The return trip home was also a triumph.

I only say all of this to give a sense of what I've gone through and to let others know anything is possible. Some things we cannot control but I know I can control my own feelings.  I am in charge of my own thoughts and this experience was for my own betterment.  I feel almost empowered and definitely blessed to have gone through this.  I have become closer to my Father in Heaven and grateful for his help and guidance.