A Little Update

Dec 24, 2019

Photo by Shayne Culp editing by Me

Gosh, I haven’t written anything about my life or my kids here in ages. I’m sorry! Although I’m not sure just how interesting we are, but here it goes…

2019 has been a crazy year full of ups and downs, like I am sure it is for everyone. On a personal note I’ve had a lot of self doubt this year, while business (thanks to you all) has been good I still wonder if I am good enough? Its been a big struggle this year and lots of second guessing myself, which is never good. When I sit back and look at the work I produce for you all I know that I’ve given 110% every time, but sometimes I wish I could have given even more. Being a artist is hard, we constantly pick ourselves apart which is just ridiculous!

I love what I do so much, as I’ve said countless times before this was my dream since I was a kid and I want all of my clients to be exceptionally happy with their photos and to see their emotions, love and beauty reflected back in the images I capture. So sometimes I stress. My hope for 2020 is that I don’t stress as much and have less anxiety, but I know that is probably not going to happen. As long as I’m entrusted with documenting all of your memories I am always going to worry I just need to use that in a more positive way than I did in 2019. So on to a new decade and positive thoughts!

My kids have been doing well, it was a pretty good year for all of them. Cecilia moved back to Florida to do her thing, she’s almost 21 now which is kind of crazy to think. I may not have had her since she was a baby but I still fee like yesterday she was in 8th grade. When they say time flies, its true.

Francisco is also growing up super fast. He is a freshman this year, in the robotics club and hoping to join the golf team in the spring. He went on a “date” already and enjoyed his first high school football game and the homecoming dance. He’s thriving and doing so well. He’s shaping up to be a fine young man, not a boy and it makes me proud to be his mother.

Nicholas is in 7th grade this year. He graduated like Francisco from his ABA program in July (for those who don’t know ABA is applied behavioral analysis its a form of therapy for those with autism) and returned to school full time. I was so nervous for full time school, its been awhile since he has done that and struggled so much before. Thanks to an amazing life skills teacher Nick wants to go to school now, something that has never happened before. Nick is also part of the Childrens Dispensary Program where he gets to do community activities with other special needs kids and adults twice a week, so he is making friends! Things are just generally pretty good for him right now.

Olivia has had the biggest changes and some struggles this year. Last year when we moved into the new house we noticed a change for her in her behavior, attitude and her ability to function in social settings. We thought it was the move, then it was thought to be anxiety but after lots of Dr visits and some testing Olivia has been diagnosed as high functioning autistic.

It doesn’t really come as a shock to myself, I saw so many things I also saw in my other kids. I just had hoped it was something else, but it isn’t and so we handle it. After some adjustments she’s doing much better now and able to not be so anxious when we are around people. She started pre school which I think will also help and got tp ride the school bus for the first time recently. She still loves her horses and its also been a good therapy for her to ride at reins of life, it helps her calm down so much.

And finally Nola…. my sweet baby girl. She’s two now, how crazy? Again time flies. She loves her baby dolls, snuggles in bed and is learning words even if its slow. She loves to pet the dog and watch the bunny too. She does have speech therapy to help her speak more, because technically she is a bit delayed there. I think its just easier not to talk when you have a big sister who talks for you, but she will get there. She see’s her PT once a month now just to monitor her legs and feet, but they have vastly improved!

As a family we enjoyed a trip to KY and TN this summer. We went to CKC in KY for a long weekend and then spent the day in Nashville, where sadly it was ungodly hot but we powered through. Patrick and I enjoyed our 4th wedding anniversary at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and I was totally that nerd. We just went for a weekend, but literally the best time ever. I don’t care that I am 35, I will always love Harry Potter! We finished the year with a weekend trip with the kids to Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells as part of the kids Christmas presents. We are working hard at trying to give them experiences as best we can because they just forget about the toys in a week, but going places as a family is a memory they will have forever.

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