P-Dub.

I'm not even kidding when I say that I have been walking this Earth for the past 4 days in a Tylenol-induced cloud. I have felt miserable since Friday evening, and even my appointment at the doctor's office left me feeling defeated (something about "we can't prescribe medicine to you because it won't help because you're already on 14 bazillion meds and we will take your $35 co-pay now k thanks"). 

But finally, today...a small glimmer of hope. And light.

And yes, I still feel like shit. It has nothing to do with me feeling better physically.

But emotionally? I'm stoked.

Pioneer Woman - the woman I dream of one day being (minus the farming, and the cooking, and home decorating) - has picked one of my photos for her recent photography assignment, Beauty.

I knew instantly what photo I wanted to submit...there wasn't a doubt in my mind. In fact, I even uploaded it twice so that I could submit it twice. It just means that much to me.

I took this photo of my Aunt Tracey while in California last year during this time. She was in the throws of chemotherapy and, obviously, had lost her hair. I wanted her to feel beautiful, though, and embrace her new look. When I told her I wanted to take her picture, she scoffed. 

Like, "Uh...why?"

But, I convinced her to bare all. Literally.

She has a towel on (that you can't see), but you can barely see the scar of her masectomy under the scarf at the bottom of the photo. She felt ridiculous taking this photo, I am sure of it. And she probably thought I was crazy.

But, I edited it. And I printed it. And I love it.

And I think secretly, she does too.

But being selected for Pioneer Woman doesn't excite me because my work is being recognized, it excites me because now hundreds and thousands of people can see her for how beautiful she is as well.

This photo of her is a statement of courage. And hope - like the word inscribed on her necklace.

I am happy to say that my aunt's hair is now growing back, and she is cancer-free.

Does it get any better than that?

So much to catch up on.

It's only been 4 days since I last updated my blog, but I feel like so much has happened since then.

1. Swim classes are not going well. Thaddeus hates it. On Tuesday, he screamed and cried the entire time, "I WANT MY MOMMY!" and refused to let go of the wall. Lol. It is all stemming from him having fallen into the pool last week, and he can't seem to get over it. Tom and I keep trying to tell him that he's perfectly safe in the pool with Miss Gale, but he's not quite getting it.

2. On Thursday, Thad was all pumped to not cry in the pool. Tom and I had made lavish promises of trips to Target and new cars if he could "be brave." Uh...no such luck. He was great...until he had to actually get in the pool. Then, yes...it was another 35 minutes of screaming and crying. Poor guy!

We are going to stick with it, though. The last thing I want Thad to think is that he can cry to get out of a commitment. We finish what we start around here, and even if I have to watch him scream and cry for the next 7 weeks, then so be it.

(I do still feel hella bad for him, though!)

3. Yesterday started off much like any other. However, by 5pm, it was pretty clear that I was coming down with something. By 6pm, I was asleep, and I was not up again until this morning. Even then, I slept pretty much the entire day, got up to nibble on some rice, and am now headed back to bed. My ears hurt. My throat hurts. I am so, so achy.

If it isn't gone by Monday, I'm headed into the doctor's office.

I absolutely hate being sick.

4. I had to cancel a photo session today because of this cold/flu. FML. I hate canceling shoots!

5. I donated 4 gift certificates worth $200 to some local schools, and the auctions for both are going on tonight. Had I not been sick, I would have been in attendance, maybe bidding on other things! But I am excited to find out who wins my GCs, and when they are going to want to turn in their certificates for a free session. ::squeal::

6. My cousin, Jacob, has been in Japan for awhile now. He is actually supposed to head home soon, but his departure may be delayed because of everything going on there. I am so thankful that he is safe, but could use some prayers for his return back to the United States!

7. Thad loves t-ball.

The kid's got a great arm, and a helluva swing. 

We just need to work on paying attention more. ;)

Marketing

So ask my husband, and he'll tell you that I've been holed up at my computer for about two weeks trying to get all of my marketing tools done for my business. I know that I've mentioned it before, but this was seriously a rigorous task. Lol.

It took a lot of time...a lot of effort...and a lot of money.

So...that being said, I'm broke. Anyone want to schedule a session!? ;)  Kidding.

Anyways, I sent this order off today, but I took some photos first so that I could share some of the stuff that I'm proud of. Since the majority of my clients order a CD of digital files to go with their order, I created a tri-fold CD case (yes, I created it...no help from a single soul on this planet), and sent off for customized CDs as well as customized business cards/wallets for them to hand out to friends and family.

I've been doing the customized business cards since day 1, but everything else is new.

I feel like my business is all grown up and stuff. ::sniff::

This is the inside of the tri-fold, obviously. To the left is the limited copyright release, to the right are the print permissions, and the inside flap is a thank-you letter.

Aaaand this is what it looks like when it's all closed up and ready to ship...

 The next task on my list?

Learn how to tie a prettier bow.

Mini Sessions

In case you don't follow my Facebook or business pages, I thought I'd post this here. Let me know if you're interested!

Getting excited.

I'm reaching that point of the term where I am ready for exams to be over so that I can (1) be done with exams, and (2) travel to all the various places I am set to travel to once exams are finally over.

I think the plan, as of now, is to head to Denver once my exams are over. I will spend a week there with Thad, then fly back to Grand Rapids in time to drive to Norfolk with Tom and Thad to visit Nana. From Norfolk, I will fly out to Dallas for boudoir (OMG, so excited!!), and then after Dallas, of course, school starts right back up again.

I mapped out the classes I am going to have to take this next quarter in order to graduate by December. Holy shiz, the line-up is looking rough. Estate planning? Securities Regulations? Taxation for Business Entities?

Bueller?

I can guarantee much more bitching to come on this blahg about those classes. And, I'm pretty sure I can kiss my summer goodbye. Lol.

Oh well, though. It will alllllllll be worth it when I am finally done with my last final exam. I haven't quite decided what celebratory activities I am going to engage in when that day finally comes, but I can only imagine that it will involve a lot - and I do mean a lot - of alcoholic beverages, good friends, and maybe even a foreign country. Or Alaska.

Or Hawaii.

Oh, the possibilities are endless.

Also, for those who haven't heard - I saw my doctor in Cleveland on Wednesday, and we have officially begun the process of tapering me off of my chemo meds. SUCH a relief!! I will be done with these God-forsaken pills by the end of this year, if all goes well.

Oh! And I almost forgot!

Isn't my kid cute? Hehe.

This was taken shortly before a run to Target where he proceeded to con me into buying him a toy car, and then flipped his shit when I wouldn't let him have it before we paid for it. 

Yep. We were those parents with the screaming, flailing kid in Target. The ones I once scoffed at oh-so-long-ago.

He's lucky he's cute and so easy to forgive. ;)

Like a fish.

So Thad had his first swim lesson the other day. He was so, so excited. 

When the lesson first began, there were four kids. The other three were like crazy monster children. They didn't listen. They didn't behave. I was so amazed at how well Thaddeus was doing. He was basically an angel.

About 10 minutes into the lesson, the other kids were trying to clamor out of the pool. When they succeeded (despite the instructor yelling at them to get back in, lol), Thad thought he'd do the same. 

So he got out.

But then he fell in.

Ever watched your child fall into a swimming pool? I am pretty sure my heart felt the temperature of the water as it jumped out of my chest, and went from the bleachers to the pool.

Thankfully, of course, the instructor was right there and she pulled him right up. He was out almost as fast as he was in. But it still scared the shit out of me him.

He cried for awhile. He wanted mommy. 

He couldn't find the courage to put himself all the way back into the water because he was so frightened. I felt so bad for him. All I wanted to do was scoop him up and take him home.

But of course, that wouldn't have been the right thing to do.

So, I let him work it out for himself.

And, after the instructor took him around to float through the pool...

...he warmed up again and was able to get back into it.

He kicked.

And blew bubbles.

And "scooped ice cream" with his arms.

Apparently today, he even asked Tom if he could go back.

I'm so relieved. I was terrified that this little mishap was going to ruin him of the pool forever.

Thank God he's like his dad - a total fish.

Three-and-a-half.

We are at the halfway point before the Monkey turns four years old.

::cry::

I don't know if I'm crying because it means that the terrible twos and threes are potentially over, or I am crying because he's growing up so fast.

Either way, I'm crying.

But, ahem, look at how HANDSOME he is.

Seriously. 

Your eyeballs hurt. Admit it.

Today we ran around town, completing at least 452 bazillion errands. As a thank you for being so incredibly well-behaved, and a way to reward him for eating everything on his plate at lunch (we were at a new place, and he had never tried any of the food before...trust me, I had quite the task on my hands), I let him pick something out at Target.

He never fails to amaze me. Just when I thought he was going to go straight for the monster truck, complete with mud on the tires, he chose this:

My dad, ever the Transformer junkie, would be proud.

P.S. - Get excited. Thad starts T-Ball AND swimming lessons this week. Lots and lots of pictures to come!