Spilling the beans

October was the busiest/craziest/most painful month I can remember.
Here's what I'm saying:
Since the "cat's out of the bag" I might as well "spill the beans" and let everyone know that we have a "bun in the oven". Come June we'll be a family of 5.

I'm a couple months along but through the course of the last couple weeks of being in and out of the hospital and needed the support of others, the news has trickled out. I might as well share what we're going through. The "in a nutshell" version: Had my gallbladder removed - baby is doing fine.

The longer version:
October - I had tons of photo sessions booked and was doing 2-4 or even 5 sessions a week. Way too much. Then I started getting horrible pains off and on for 3 weeks. In the middle of all of this, we traveled to OKC to visit my Grandma and go to a U2 concert - more "attacks" along the way. We couldn't quite figure out what was going on. Got home, made an appointment with the docter (again). Found out I was pregnany. Had our annual Bunko party the day after that, then lots more stuff to keep us busy that weekend. Two days later, even more horrible pain - went to ER. The admitted me but then the surgeon said he'd rather not operate until further along in pregnancy or even all the way through. He was hoping we could control it. Two days later - the most horrible pain in my entire life - worse than labor, worse than anything I could imagine.
Chris had just left for work. I called him before he even got out of our neighborhood and told him he better come back. Called my sister in law, Gaia, over and we rushed to the hospital but didn't make it. We got a few miles and I couldn't breathe, was in worse pain, vomitting uncontrollably. I called 9-1-1 to ask what they thought we should do and they wanted us to pull over. We stopped at a fire station that happened to be nearby and they had been listening to the radio and were already on their way out. Waited what seemed like forever for the ambulance to get there. Chris said I sounded like a drug addict because I kept begging them to give me something for the pain. I knew which drug I could have during pregnancy and kept asking for that. I even told the paramedics to stop talking to me - they kept asking me questions and stuff and I couldn't take it. What an ordeal! We made it to the hospital, got the pain relieved, consulted with the surgeon and OB and I was admitted and scheduled for surgery the next day. They took extra precautions for me since I was early in my pregnancy. I'm actually very thankful I have the OB I have and also thankful for my great surgeon. He even got teary eyed talking about how he wanted to make sure everything went well in my pregnancy. We really had no other choice but to operate. I couldn't go my whole pregnancy with this pain - and it would actually but my pregnancy and my health at a higher risk of infection, becoming septic, etc. if they didn't do the surgery.
It was horrible being in the hospital but I knew I didn't have to worry about my kids - they were in the good hands of my family. I'm so grateful for that. I had to cancel three photo sessions and felt bad about that - but soon realized it wasn't that important and everything would have to be okay.
Life is starting to get back to a new normal but I have to take things slow for obvious reasons.
I'm so thankful to be blessed with this pregnancy. I know some people wait until much later in pregnancy to let the world know but considering the circumstances I feel I might as well share what we're going through. If something were to happen, why not have support to get through it, right?
Anyway, that is the story for now.

Fall Photography

It's been a few months now since I officially "launched" LGP, aka Lori George Photography. Above is what the front of my business card looks like - printed on a cool pearl paper.

I'm offering a Fall Booking Sale since fall is such a perfect time to take pictures. I've been learning quite and bit and realize that it definitely takes a lot of work - but the payoff in terms of working with great people and families and seeing how happy they are to see their photographs is all worth it!

How am I doing so far? Check out my site if you haven't been there in a while - become a fan if you'd like and I think it will keep you posted on updates.

Labor Day & Butterflies

We spent our Labor Day relaxing (well, actually I think we cleaned the house in the morning - but whatever) and went to a local farm to check out their Butterfly Bio-Villa.
Here's a slideshow -click to make bigger.

Finished Projects & Inspiration

I've finished a few projects in the last few months that I thought I would document. Here's a shirt I made for Ava - it's been sitting almost done for a while now - finally got it completed. Here's the pattern I used: B4176 from Butterick.

The wood block projects below are ones I made recently to take to a Super Saturday or Craft Day planning meeting for church. The date of Super Saturday is going to be later than I thought (mid-Nov) so the "spooky" and "harvest" ones won't really work but the "joy" should be okay. Click on the words to see where I stole my ideas from (thanks to Kathleen for making me aware of them).

Here's a little something I made a few months ago that has already been getting some use. It's a crayon roll. I used this tutorial and made them for our preschool graduating class.

Here's a quilt I made for myself after wanting one for a long time. The backstory: My grandmother in Oklahoma has a super-soft flannel quilt at her home. On one of our trips I discovered it and used it to sleep with. I fell in love with it - so soft and comfortable. I swore I slept better just by having that quilt. I put the idea in the back of my mind to make one. The inspiration: (Ava's all snuggly and cozy after a nice bath).

A couple years later, I finally did it. I've been enjoying it for several months now and it's ALL mine. The kids want it, the dogs want it and even my husband has tried to steal it a few times. Sure, I'll share it sometimes, but really - IT'S MINE!!! ;o)

And if you read my poorly updated blog - you've seen these. Ribbon rings for my girls.
I made these - very cheap, very easy.

Here's the inspiration: rings at the Children's Museum in Denver (although I'm sure others have seen others). My girls loved playing and dancing with them so I snapped a picture and thought, "I could make that"...and I actually followed through (a year+later).

I like working on projects, sure...but I like completing them better. Sometime people like the process...I tend to enjoy the product more. (well, usually) ;)

Photography

I've finally updated my photography blog with pictures from my last few sessions - be sure to check them out and let me know what you think. Like what you see? Become a FAN by clicking on the FAN link on Lori George Photography.
Later...more of my own family updates to come.
http://lorigeorgephotography.blogspot.com/

Cute or What?

Something New

Don't you hate it when people NEVER seem to update their blog?? Here's a pic from this week - I made the girls ribbon rings - may they dance like princesses and ballerinas.

Also, my youngest brother, Eric leaves next week to go on a 2-year mission for our church. Before he leaves, we wanted to get a family photo. It'll be interesting to see how this photo will compare to the next one in two years.

10th Anniversary Getaway

Ava's 4th

For Ava's 4th Birthday we practically had a birthday BONANZA! For breakfast, we all went to the "Donut Store" for a birthday donut. Then, we said goodbye to Daddy as he headed off to work. We swung over to Grandma's house, picked her up and went to toy store downtown. Ava got to pick out a couple of things. After the toy store, we went to Ava's favorite bakery for some "chip bread". We had lunch and watched a movie at Grandma's.

Mommy's back was hurting so we had some rest time and then headed back home. Mommy got a few things done and then we met some family and Daddy at the movie theater to see "Up!". This was Ava (and Elise's) first ever movie! Ava was so, so, so excited. The girls did great in the movie. Elise was wiggly and Ava scared at times but it was a great experience overall.

After the movie, we went to the "pie restaurant" for dinner and some pie. We invited Grandma and Grandpa to meet us there. I then won Ava a teddy bear, first try, out of the mechanical arm toy. If you hear about this last year, you'll know that now Ava will likely expect a toy every time.

Talk about over-indulgence! Oh well -what else are birthdays for?

10 YEARS!

Happy 10 Year Anniversary, CHRIS!

BLOG-A-THON

9 NEW POSTS! (10 if you count this one).
A lot more than photography has been happening around here so I thought I'd try to do some major catching -up...at least for me if for no one else. :) I think I'm caught up for the most part - YAY!

Our Backyard River

MAY 15th, 2009 - this is what our backyard looked like today during a major downpour. It actually got worse than this for a little while.

I know there's a name for it but I can't think of it - but it's when a channel is cut by the water to create a new path. That's what happened in this picture. The water was flooding in through from our neighbors yard through our strawberry patch - the channel actually doubled in size a few minutes after I took this picture.

We had hail also but the water is what mesmerized us. The river in our yard is actually a good thing because it keeps the water flowing right out of yard (and into our neighbors, right? - but then to the street and drains). We'd just never seen it quite like this.

Deanna Rose Farmstead

(MAY 2009)
This past week for playgroup we went to Deanna Rose Farmstead for a fun day with kid activities and farm animals to see. It was PACKED. I've never seen so many preschoolers and kindergarteners in life! I got panicked a few times when I couldn't see one or both of my children. I about lost my mind (which I know isn't that hard for people who know me to imagine.)
Overall we had a fun time with friends. The ultimate best thing we did was feed the little baby goats bottles of goat's milk formula. It was so fun watching the girls figure out how to feed these goats while managing the other goats moving in on the one getting fed, etc. Check out the slideshow for more. Click on it to enlarge.

Elise on Wheels

Even though we've told 'em a hundred times that the stroller is for baby doll's - they still can't seem to resist going for rides. This was too funny not to take a picture of. When I first saw Elise, it looked like she was in a little wheel-chair.

:o(

Preschool "Tea" Party

For the past two years, we have been participating in a Mommy's Preschool where each of us three moms takes turn teaching preschool once a week at one of our homes. This day was a special day. We decided to have a tea party where the girls could all dress up and have "fancy" foods. Siblings and mommies were also invited.
First, Amanda taught the girls some table manners.

Then, they got to have some finger foods: little cut-out sandwiches, fruit on toothpicks, pickles, olives, deviled eggs and cookies for dessert.

They didn't care so much about the food - but LOVED the "tea" - which for our purposes was lemonade. They got to pour their own from mini-teapot and then drink up. Elise looks so grown up in this picture.

Elise was particularly excited about the lemonade and drinking from such a big cup. It took her a while to figure out which side of the cup to drink from - hence the "bib" and completely soaked dress underneath. ;) Oh what fun though! We went through lots of "tea".

Ava had a fun time too and enjoyed wearing her pretty dress.

I think the tea party was a success - look at all of those pretty girls (and one handsome boy).

Easter 2009

April 2009

With Easter approaching, the kids participated in a few egg hunts - the first being a Mom's Club one that my neighbor friend invited us to.

Aunt Gina came down one day and we colored lots of eggs.

Elise was pretty amazed. She did a great job of making a mess - a trademark of hers.

This became known as the "monster hand". It stayed fairly green for a couple of days. We'd ask her to show us her monster hand and she knew just what we were talking about and often included some "scary" sound effects.

Ava was a little more into the process this year so we got some stickers and other things out to personalize our eggs.

Gina hid some eggs out in our front yard for the girls to find.

Elise is particularly attached to Aunt Gina and was very sad when she left. She kept coming up to me and saying, "Gina gone!" and was sad.



EASTER MORNING
Easter morning was nice - the girls woke up and saw that the Easter Bunny had indeed rememebered to hop by.

The Easter Bunny knows how to keep it real and not go overboard at our house...although the girls got some fun things including a movie, books, ONE thing of candy each, and a few little toys.

DRESSES

I don't care what anyone says - I like to dress my little girls in matching outfits. :) I made these dresses for them as part of a sewing class by my friend Kathleen and finished them in time for them to be the girls' Easter dresses.
Easter Sunday we went to church in the morning, came home for some rest time and then celebrated with extended family in the late afternoon/evening.

We were able to snap a few pictures of ALL EIGHT of my parents' grandchildren. Can you tell which ones are from the same family? Four sets of parents: one with three, two with two and one with one.

The Binkie Fairy

The binkie fairy paid a visit to our home this spring. It was long overdue...a very sad occasion and some mourning - but then a happy little girl who knew she was being brave. The binkie fairy brought a special gift and glittery card for our big girl.