Come on Over!

Check out my new blog!

News

I made an appointment to see the doctor because it was time for my yearly physical and because I am so unbelievably tired I just knew I had mono.  Yuck.  I felt like I could sleep for a year, and I still do.

After two hours, I find out that no, I do not have mono.  Instead I have a fetus.  A six week old fetus.  I just had a baby four months ago!

I am too shocked to be upset, or cry.  Instead all I can do is laugh, shake my head and wonder when the aliens are going to beam me up, because I am obviously living in the Twilight Zone.

To dream.

I am planning on going back to school for what seems like the tenth time now.  For awhile I have been completely uncertain as to what motivates me...what gets me excited.  I think I have finally figured it out.  I am going to get into web design with an emphasis on photography.  Lord knows, looking at my blog page, that I don't seem to have a knack for anything in design but I really do.  I just have lacked the adequate time since chasing after two kids under two.  When I blogged at livejournal, I did my own designs, and although they weren't the most professional looking things, I was fairly pleased with what I accomplished from having known nothing.

I am excited to try this, and I am even more excited to work toward getting my dream camera, as I would really like to have my own small photography business.  I don't know why it took me so long to figure this out!

Taking a cat nap...

Literally.

Is it flu season already?

At Delaney's four-month well-baby checkup, it was recommended that my family get the flu shot, as Delaney is yet too young to receive one.  Now, when it comes to standard vaccines, I am all for it.  I do not believe they cause Autism, and they serve a wonderful purpose of protecting us from serious and deadly diseases.  I find it hard to tolerate those who do not vaccinate their children, as their presence invites weakness and instability to a working system.

I do, however, find exceptions to the standard regime as it has grown from my childhood.  I will not vaccinate my children against chickenpox.  I have had the pox twice, and shingles twice as well (including on my wedding day).  To me, there is no guarantee with chickenpox, and I think children should come across it naturally.  I sure did.  Not remembering that I had it as a baby, when my brother contracted it I wanted it soooooo bad because I didn't want to go to school.  My mom continuously banished me to the outdoors, but I won (though now I don't really feel like I won anything at all!), because in the end I got the chickenpox so bad I had a 105 degree fever and pox covering my entire body, including inside my nose, ears and butt.  I have some pretty scars to remind me of the experience.  I didn't die, or come close to dying.  I don't know anyone who has, either, though I am sure there are occurrences.  I think it is something children should experience to strengthen their immune systems naturally.

I honestly believe the same thing for the flu, even though the flu almost killed me as a baby.  It is just something we all need to experience.  In fact, I rarely get the normal kind of sick, the flu sick.  I just don't.  I don't get strep throat, or ear infections and I very very rarely get bronchitis (though one of the three times I had it I developed pneumonia without realizing, three days before traveling overseas).  I get allergy colds, and that is pretty much all.  So do I really feel like I need to get a flu shot for my entire family?  I'm not sure.  We all got the flu shot and the H1N1 shot last year as I was pregnant with Delaney and H1N1 was supposedly more dangerous.  Now that H1N1 isn't much of a threat, do I make the decision to get the flu shot?

What do you all think of the flu shot?  Do you get it or not, and why have you made that decision?  I really want to see all sides of the coin on this.

Back in Arizona.

 Photos from the trip to Minnesota for Grandma's funeral.  This park is completely underwater now, less than four days later.  Apparently we left just in time.  The event was even in the national news because the flooding was so sudden and bad that it has reached 100-year historic levels.  Pretty crazy.  We are all extremely tired, but I wanted to share some of my choice photos from the trip.  From the bad and the sad comes the good and the fun.

This is one of my favorites.  Mom and Afton at the top of the slide.

Love that little tongue.

Dad and Afton occupying the handicapped swing.

Delaney is wanting to know why I insist on blinding her with sunlight.

If Mom was standing at this slide right now, she would be completely underwater.

This is my favorite; I am quite proud of my camera and editing ability on this one.

Grandparents and Grandbabies.

After the funeral, at Mom's.

Cousin Caitlin loving on the babies.

Cousin Erica taking a peak at Grandma's youth.

I am large and in charge at the park.

y girl.

Mom and Afton at the bridge in the park.  This bridge is underwater now.

Pretty waterfall.

Now that I am back in Phoenix, I am again missing the cooler weather.  I want some snow.

Photoshop Lane

I thought I would attempt some fun photoshop editing on a photo of Delaney I took earlier in the week.  Here are the before and afters:

 

I am not certain I am happy with the results, but I am using a new version of photoshop and playing with features I had never touched before.  I suppose all things take practice, though, so I will chronicle my progress.  

Just for my own pleasure though, I do have to say that Delaney needs no touching up to be super adorable, she's perfect!