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I just can't think of a good title for this post so I guess it will remain unnamed for tonight!!  That is the downside of blogging at 1am, nothing witty comes quickly!!  On the upside though, the house is quiet so I'll take it when I can get it!

WOW, what an incredible 6 weeks it has been.  I once heard that nobody cares or wants to here about how tired, busy and stressed you are (b/c they probably are too!!) but thankfully, my blog can't talk back!  THINGS HAVE BEEN CRAZY BUSY!!  I must first say, I am grateful for it... the work part.  It is so nice to be booked solid.  Whether I am managing it well, is still up for question!  I think the hardest part of the past few weeks (actually the past 7 months) has been juggling Blake's car issues.  Since the accident in March we have been up and down getting a new car for him.  Anyway, over the past 6 weeks while his car was getting a new engine put it in, we had to juggle one car, only to find out THE VERY DAY we got his back, that my thermostat was shot?!  It was tough getting up, getting the kids in the car every morning, taking him to the train station or all the way uptown and then juggling how to work out my photo sessions and the kids each evening, but at least I could always count on MY CAR!!  When it rains, it pours right!!  Thankfully, I think we are getting past our car problems... never take 2 cars for granted again!!

This past week was also a rough week for my little guy Braden.  We are still dealing w/ the repercussions of the accident monthly!  This month, he was referred to an ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) practice to see what we can do about his nasal passage that was fractured and is full of scar tissue and obstructions.  It is something you would never notice by simply looking at him, but it makes it hard for him to breathe at night, causes snoring and basic obstructed airways... NOT FUN!  We had his initial appt.  Then a CT scan..... SO TRAUMATIC (though after much screaming and crying he decided it was cool, b/c he felt like an Avatar... leave it to Braden and his imagination!!)  Then we were referred to an ENT Plastic Surgeon specialist that will have to perform yet another surgery to repair/scrape out scar tissue from the nostril.  I feel so bad for Bray.  He hates Doctors (even though they are truly great doctors and it will help him in the long run) and it feels never ending.

In the midst of all this, I was ON CALL this week to photograph ANOTHER live birth!!  Yes, things were hopin' here at the Hart House.  I had 10 photo sessions in 13 days and a pending birth that made me jump every time the phone rang!!  Here's how it all went down yesterday:

Wed. my "birth client" texted me to let me know her water had broken!!  This meant it was close.  I crossed my fingers it wouldn't coincide w/ my photo session and a few other things and we made it through the day and night.  Thurs. the contractions were sporadic... I had a neighbor on call in case it happen... BUT NOTHING!  Later that afternoon I had a 45 minute photo shoot at BCP (minutes away from her house).  Contractions were still sporadic around 4pm when I left for my shoot!  I shot for about 45 minutes and then noticed her text: you should probably come soon... contractions intense!  I raced over right after my shoot around 5:15 and MISSED the birth by 10 minutes!!  DANG... I was so bummed.  It was a home birth, after all, so it would have been amazing.  It still was, however, incredible to be a part of documenting the first few hours of this little babies life.  Definitely a different feel then shooting at the hospital!

I AM BLESSED WITH AMAZING EXPERIENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES.  As I said, despite the STRESS, LACK OF SLEEP, crazy balancing of schedule and priorities, I know I will make it through these last few sessions/days and I am SO GRATEFUL to be able to do what I love.  {click there for H2H session sneak peeks}.  Okay, I really better get some sleep!  2 more sessions tomorrow and then I am taking all the youth from our church to a barn dance at night. GOOD NIGHT!