{Studio Update}

Wow...it's been way too long since I've been able to post anything here, and I cannot wait to be back into full swing - I'm itchy to be back behind the lens and creating again....

Without getting too personal, I wanted to make sure it's clear that me not booking sessions and working on designs is only TEMPORARY. This is my life's passion, and I am in no way "abandoning ship" because of my recent {annoying} medical blahs. I will be back in action as ASAP, so please stay tuned to my website/facebook/blog for dates on when I'll start booking again. I cannot wait to be back to "me" and finally have a chance to get all my new 2010 goodies out there for you to enjoy...I know despite this rough start, 2010 is going to be an amazing year for many reasons!!

I've gotten a lot of e-mails and calls wondering what's up, if I'm OK, and if I need anything. I really appreciate all the concern and support, and just want to give a quick explaination of what's happened. It's been a long, strange trip to say the least...I've been diagnosed with a rare disease called Wegener's Granulomatosis. {you know you're a "medical marvel" when there's an episode of "House" that has your disease! hehehe} Only 3-5 out of every million people will have this, and there's only 14 doctor's in the entire country that specialize in it's treatment. In the late 50s, it was a 100% fatal diagnosis...thank goodness for being born in the 70s!!

Basically it's a vascular disease that attacks your lungs, kidneys, and liver...I'm extremely lucky and was diagnosed before it got beyond my lungs. It's something I'll have to live with and be vigilant about staying on top of the rest of my life, but it is something that I will go into remission with - and hopefully stay in. There's a lot about the disease that's still unknown, and there's no cure yet...and it's just a really weird disease. I've lost some of my hearing, will eventually need to have a nose job because of cartilage damage, {well...maybe I'll book a weekend in Beverly Hills when I get that done. I'll blend right in there! hehehe}, and cannot believe how much work I have to do to rebuild my lung capacity. But, I have a huge pile of pills that are starting to work their magic...this week I've actually been able to take full, deep breaths!!! yippeee!!!

This week has been a huge step for me so far - for the first time in 8 or so weeks, I drove myself somewhere, was able to go food shopping, and even take my dog for a walk...crazy to think that at 30 these would be huge deals, but they are- and it felt so good!! I'm hopeful that all the craziness that has been my life is finally coming to an end, and that soon I will learn that I'm in remission...then I can work on getting my lung capacity back up, and finally get back to my energetic self. {and back to the gym!!!} 'Till then, I'm continuing to be a "good little patient" and focusing on getting myself healthy again...

If everything goes my way, I'll be back at my computer late next week to finish up editing past sessions & events and getting caught up on custom book designs & orders. I cannot thank everyone enough for the patience and understanding in the delays. I'm starting to feel more and more like "me" everyday...and it feels so good!

See you all soon!!

A {very mojave} Family Portrait

Ahhhh....Christmas in the Mojave! What's an East Coast family to do??!!!

{can someone tell us where you plug in the lights out here?}

A little Christmas cheer at this fun session last night!!

This is my amazing friend, Sandy, and her family...this gal {and my other friend, Liz...we're a trio of trouble when we get the chance to hang out for sure} has been by my side throughout this insane year, and I'd be so lost without her! So it was awesome to be able to do some family portraits for them last night...and I just have to take this chance to publicly thank her and Liz for all they've done for Mike & I this past year. {neither of them have ever "fessed up" but we know it was them who fully stocked our fridge one day....we came home from a week of chemo treatments exhausted to find their handywork....}

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Being away from lifelong friends and family is tough anytime...but throw in cancer {and oh yeah, that shattered ankle!} and it just really hits ya hard. Having friends - make that family - like Liz and Sandy is just priceless in so many ways! Mike and I will never get to fully show our gratitude for all the love and support...

THANK YOU!!!

{love ya!}

Tee Time {Ft Irwin}

Saturday afternoon I met up with this fun family {and their cute dog!} for a mixed outdoor and studio session. We "played around" on the golf course for a bit, then went inside and got some great individual shots of the gals, and some cute shots of Mom & Dad, too! {love the laugh in this one below!!}

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Workin' in reverse-order here....their gallery is already up!

Thanks for a fun afternoon!!