One Sunday night at the Presby

beautiful church
beautiful building

our sunday nights are spent with some wonderful people here in clay center. most sunday nights its youth group and crafting and food and music. but once a month they have a service called 24 feet. tonight was that night. i had a good time photographing  the people and the place.

important people and stuff about those important people

Yesterday .... Wednesday.....January 27, 2010.... long day....GOOD DAY.
It was all about this girl. That sweet little face over there belongs to my youngest baby. She was injured during her delivery. It was a brachial plexus inury (BPI for short). Her particual bpi is called ERB's Palsey. Here is a link for more info on BPI's and how they effect children and families all over.... www.ubpn.org/

We have the blessing of having a really wonderful group of people that run a clinic out of Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. A few times a month they focus on seeing patients with BPI's. We live 3 hours away and it is worth every second of the drive. Dr. Rinaldi , Vicki and every one else at this hosptial that we have come in contact with have been wonderful. The hopital itself is so cute and well done. Such a perfect atmosphere has been cultivated there for kids to be taken care of.

My girl has done so well with this injury over the years. She had surgery in TX when she was a year old and we took her to physical and occupational therapy 2 times week until she was 4 years old. When she started school her specialist at the time Dr. Shenaq, God rest his soul, released here from formal therapy and told us to "let her play". SO, that is what we did. She learned to do the monkey bars and backbends over the years. She swims and dances and runs track. All in all she has done well. About 6 months ago she was regularly complaining of pain. This is a nerve injury. I made the phone call and we got an appt. That was is Oct. Wonderful experience. She was given some specific stretches to do in order to loosen the muscles around a particularly tight area of her arm that the doc seemed to think was pinching some nerves. The appt yesterday was to check on her progress, pain levels and make a decision about some more invasive help if needed.
SHE IS DOING GREAT. We saw some improvement and the doc wants her to keep working ont he stretching. We go back in one year, unless, the pain levels go up again or we see a change that concerns us.

If you have made it this far....if anyone is even reading this at all, here are some pics of the hospital and a view of down town KC. We had a fun day after the doc/hospital visit. Nana came with us and we went to a couple of big ol' thrift stores and had a great lunch. LOVELY DAY.



That is my beautiful amazing mom. Affectionately known the world over, by kids and grown ups alike, as "NANA". I love her with every bit of my self. She has been on this journey with Nessa from the very beginning just as much as her dad and sister and I. THANK YOU is not even close to what I want to say her but, I will say it anyway........THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

PHEWWWW....this was a long one. Felt good to get it all out. This subject is important to me an deserved more that a quick blurb and one photo. . Don't forget to scroll back up and go the link i gave you for more info on BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURIES.

taxidermy moose head

that is my new favorite nickname that my niece has given me. I called my sister today and litttle missy answered the phone. i told her i was going to use a picture of her i had taken to put on display. she promptly called me "chicken nugget eyes" to which i responded "giraffe face". a few more names were called back and forth then, the Pièce de résistanc was spoken. "TAXIDERMY MOOSE HEAD!" LOL!! I was soon snorting and tearing with laughter. i look forward to our phone calls and name calling banter. she is full of spunk and sweetness and never ceases to surprise me and make me laugh. did i mention she is jaw dropping beautiful as well. i took these pics a few months back on a trip to Kansas City. I think they describe her well.

LOL...taxidermy moose head!!!!

my monday

For the past 2 1/2 years i have been volunteering locally at a place called Common Ground. I work a program called "The Getaway". It is an after school program for 4th and 5th graders on Monday and Thursday. It has been a real joy to spend time with these kids. they make me smile.

the beauty of a quiet morning

I am going to try to post at least one new photo a day. Most likely it will be more than one photo but you know what I mean. :) Knowing me, this will be a challenge. not because i dont want to but because i tend to get irritated by "have to" and rebel. I dont want this to be a have to so it will be an exercise in self discipline in 2 ways. 1. doing it everyday 2. controlling the urge to make it a have to and losing the joy.
so.......here it goes.

These were taken one quiet morning at Nana's house. She was just waking up and knew I was there but neither one of us said a word. It was a lovely way to start the day. I chose these pictures to share because it was her birthday yesterday. She is my first born and I LOVE HER.

hoo hoo

had a wonderful time the other night. we saw owl city at the beaumont club in kansas city. me and my 2 girls...my sis and her daughter (little man came along too)...and our good friend christy b.
so my sister is amazing and is "passionate" about crocheting. she made the cutest hats ever for us to wear at the show. check these birds out. Lu huv them!

I had an hour to myself the other day! I spent it doing something I love....taking pictures. I saw this red building in town. I have seen it a hundred times before. Somehow, today, it caught my photographic eye. It was so beautiful and worn standing surrounded by the snow. I couldn't resist the colored barrels either. Colored metal barrels are on my list of favorite things you know. While there, I found some lovely surprises hanging out nearby. It was a GOOD hour.

Thanksgiving!!! So much to be Thankful for

The girls wanted to have a photo shoot on Thanksgiving. I willingly agreed. They are incredibly beautiful subjects and what better way to celebrate the day but by taking pictures of those I am most thankful for. We even got the "man child" in a few photos. Ya..I know its January and I am just now getting pics up from Nov but I will get caught up soon. I am inspired to be creative!