Sam was honored to befriend and photograph a family going through an unbelievable tragedy. Fortunately they have always had a strong faith and that faith is allowing them to continue on. Please read Sam's post and the family's blog. I am amazed at their strength. I do not know them, but I pray for them... perhaps you can too.
This is Baby Zoe and her amazing family.. I was given the honor of being able to walk into the front door of the Batiansila household.. and experiencing something wonderful... so very hard to explain.. but amazing at that. Zoe has trisomy18.. her story can be followed on her family blog http://batiansila.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
The SLEEPOVER
So, I must have taken some obnoxious drug to have agreed to the night we had last night. Jake has been asking for a sleepover since summer. He wanted these same boys since summer. So we agreed for is birthday, he could have 5 boys over. 3 of them we knew to be sweet and nice. 2 of them are like Jake...wacky and wild. Then this week, the group of them did a side deal and invited another boy whom I knew nothing about. UGH. I felt bad when the mom called, so i let him come over. I had concerns, but "God grant me the serentity" right? So Sky pie went off to Sisi's house and we stayed and waited...
The eve of darkness began at 4pm, after a 1pm baseball game that 1/2 of them played in. They went home, showered and came over pumped up because they kicked booty. The yelling and running began. My threats began. OK...pizza hurry. So we ate and went off to see a movie, NIMS ISLAND. I must admit they were great there. I had to seperate Jake and one boy in the car because they just seemed to bring out the insanity in each other. Bri took the more "spirited" group in the van and I took Jake and 2 others. Upon return cupcakes and presents and fights over who will get to be which star wars guy and in which way??? UGH
9;30 Star Wars movie on...all sit and watch til 10:00 when 2 leave because they couldn't stay over and then 4 go off to play. 1 quiet guy sits with Bri and watches the movie. 10:45...time to chill guys. Go lay down. They chant "movie" in the room in which they were sleeping. I think a lot of these kids have tvs in there room. That is not something we encourage at all, but we agreed to 30 min of scooby doo. 2 of the 5 pass out. OH WAIT, did I mention one boy was allergic to the dogs and I had to contact his parents twice. UGH. well, he was one of the 2 that passed out after 11. Jake and the other 2 of the wacky boys stayed up teasing and wrestling to the point they were getting too rough. Bri had to lay in the room to calm them down. Jake was so overtired, he was crying. By the time all was said and done it was about 12:05. Well, Bri got up to let the dogs out at 6 and to go potty himself...MY BOY, the earliest bird ever was up at 6:15 and woke up everyone! So here I am trying to shush them a bit longer so I can fully wake. I gave bri til now to sleep and 1 boy seems to be able to sleep through an atomic bomb because he is still passed out.
I am going to have my coffe and make a massive stack of pancakes. It was painful and interesting. I didn't scream too much because I told myself...as much as I can't believe we agreed to this, WE DID AGREE TO THIS...I must keep my cool and learn from my "mistakes".
AHHHHHHHHHHH.....
We will have about 3 hours of silence then the family comes over for his bday dinner.
MY BOY IS 8 on Wednesday....
The eve of darkness began at 4pm, after a 1pm baseball game that 1/2 of them played in. They went home, showered and came over pumped up because they kicked booty. The yelling and running began. My threats began. OK...pizza hurry. So we ate and went off to see a movie, NIMS ISLAND. I must admit they were great there. I had to seperate Jake and one boy in the car because they just seemed to bring out the insanity in each other. Bri took the more "spirited" group in the van and I took Jake and 2 others. Upon return cupcakes and presents and fights over who will get to be which star wars guy and in which way??? UGH
9;30 Star Wars movie on...all sit and watch til 10:00 when 2 leave because they couldn't stay over and then 4 go off to play. 1 quiet guy sits with Bri and watches the movie. 10:45...time to chill guys. Go lay down. They chant "movie" in the room in which they were sleeping. I think a lot of these kids have tvs in there room. That is not something we encourage at all, but we agreed to 30 min of scooby doo. 2 of the 5 pass out. OH WAIT, did I mention one boy was allergic to the dogs and I had to contact his parents twice. UGH. well, he was one of the 2 that passed out after 11. Jake and the other 2 of the wacky boys stayed up teasing and wrestling to the point they were getting too rough. Bri had to lay in the room to calm them down. Jake was so overtired, he was crying. By the time all was said and done it was about 12:05. Well, Bri got up to let the dogs out at 6 and to go potty himself...MY BOY, the earliest bird ever was up at 6:15 and woke up everyone! So here I am trying to shush them a bit longer so I can fully wake. I gave bri til now to sleep and 1 boy seems to be able to sleep through an atomic bomb because he is still passed out.
I am going to have my coffe and make a massive stack of pancakes. It was painful and interesting. I didn't scream too much because I told myself...as much as I can't believe we agreed to this, WE DID AGREE TO THIS...I must keep my cool and learn from my "mistakes".
AHHHHHHHHHHH.....
We will have about 3 hours of silence then the family comes over for his bday dinner.
MY BOY IS 8 on Wednesday....
It was a success!
THE SHOW"
We had positive reviews from faculty on Thursday. Friday, J got strep throat with a high fever and he was out. At 10 am got a text from my stage manager saying one of the Alices was home puking. UGH. I run to school to find some info out and as I was in the building, in comes Alice 1. It was 11ish and she said she knew she could do it, don't worry. About 3:30pm, I find out the school has not gathered money for my cash boxes, so now I have to go begging at the bank for $200 worth of singles,5's and quarters. That proved more difficult than I thought. Simultaneously ALICE 2 starts puking. I got that call while trying to figure out the cash. I get the money, get to the stage about 5 pm for the 7pm show. ALICE 2 is passed out on the grass. Some wanted to cancel the show, ALICE 1 started trying to memorize ALICE 2's part and ALICE 2 just wanted to do the show. 2 seniors took ALICE 2 to the car with the air on and some cold rags and nursed her back. At 6:15, I held a mini meeting saying THE SHOW WILL GO ON...and it did. No one was any wiser to our conflict. It was a great show.
Sat. Jake was rested enough that he came back. He was adorable and excited. It was near PERFECT. I taped it and also gave the seniors a going away thanks. Sunday was an obnoxious crowd and we had a small snafu, I called it a teaching moment, but all was great. We had a wrap pizza and karaoke party, which was fun too. Bri is always so helpful with this stuff. I was very happy with the outcome of this mega difficult show! I will post pics soon.
We had positive reviews from faculty on Thursday. Friday, J got strep throat with a high fever and he was out. At 10 am got a text from my stage manager saying one of the Alices was home puking. UGH. I run to school to find some info out and as I was in the building, in comes Alice 1. It was 11ish and she said she knew she could do it, don't worry. About 3:30pm, I find out the school has not gathered money for my cash boxes, so now I have to go begging at the bank for $200 worth of singles,5's and quarters. That proved more difficult than I thought. Simultaneously ALICE 2 starts puking. I got that call while trying to figure out the cash. I get the money, get to the stage about 5 pm for the 7pm show. ALICE 2 is passed out on the grass. Some wanted to cancel the show, ALICE 1 started trying to memorize ALICE 2's part and ALICE 2 just wanted to do the show. 2 seniors took ALICE 2 to the car with the air on and some cold rags and nursed her back. At 6:15, I held a mini meeting saying THE SHOW WILL GO ON...and it did. No one was any wiser to our conflict. It was a great show.
Sat. Jake was rested enough that he came back. He was adorable and excited. It was near PERFECT. I taped it and also gave the seniors a going away thanks. Sunday was an obnoxious crowd and we had a small snafu, I called it a teaching moment, but all was great. We had a wrap pizza and karaoke party, which was fun too. Bri is always so helpful with this stuff. I was very happy with the outcome of this mega difficult show! I will post pics soon.
Monday, April 7, 2008
AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
ugh. i love the drama kids, but this show is a killer. i just want next week to come. next week, please hurry up and come!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
birthday and anniversary and showtime oh my!
So here we are April 2, 2008! Wow, sorry for the delay.
Life is rolling along quick magnificantly. I turned another year older...34. ugh. I don't really ever remember saying that was old, but now I think I am starting to rethink that. I started noticing aches and pains in odd places when I hit about 30. Since then I am surprised by some odd new medical something or other each year. I developed allergies and had wicked sinus surgeries for my 30th and 31st years. I got my first cavity at 33! What will 34 bring me? Ugh, let us hope it brings me smaller clothing sizes. I started working out again. Honestly I do feel better when I push it. I hate it, but I do it for me and for my kids.
Bri and I hit the 10 year wedding anniversary on 3/28.. Can't picture life without him. We did the Vegas Elvis Wedding Renewal on 3/2. It was great. We were able to celebrate with our friends Steve and Sherri, they stood up in the original wedding. I can't believe somedays that Brian and I have been together for 13 years. I feel like we have grown and yet stayed the same. Does that make sense? Like we are floating joyfully in a bowl of jello except the flavor is always changing. ok, that is the most bizarre thing I could think of at nearly 11pm. Sorry.
The trip was great except...1. it was my first time away from the youngins and 2. the return flight lost our luggage. LOST, not delayed and delivered...LOST IT! They have until June 8th to find it or pay us out. Nice....
Love being home. I am really busy. I love being on my own schedule, helping at school, running errands whatever. It really works for this family. I do still love to work with my drama kids. Alice is going better. Up until today I was getting worried. We open in 2 weeks and that will just be enough time to tie it up. I had to slam down on them hard because they were slacking. They seemed to take the advice and prove something today, so YEAH for YELLING!
Toby, the pup is adorable and doing very well. Maybe 1 accident a day. Not bad. He loves Ivy and the kids. We are all gelled up now. I am so happy I found the muchkin.
Some friends are having babies. UGH. good for them. NOT ME! all done. I am beyond thrilled that my kids can buckle up, dress, feed and eat on their own, have friends over in the basement or outside, read to me, do work, help with chores, tell us stories, invent, tell us what's wrong, understand reason and logic (sometimes) and KNOW what we mean when we tell them something, anything. It is wonderful. They are wonderful. Gifts man. Everyday I thank God for my gifts. They make me who I am. I strive to be a person they will be happy to grow up to be like. They don't get to be tv addicts or video game junkies and they don't seem to mind. They appreciate their toys and the use of their minds. Jake loves to invent with different media. Skylar to write and illustrate stories. I will hold on to this for as long as possible. I cherish this time. I know it will change, I only hope they don't let the others in the world change them too much. I hope they influence others...I hope they lead.
Wow, that's off in another direction. Ok, enough.
Promise to write soon.
Life is rolling along quick magnificantly. I turned another year older...34. ugh. I don't really ever remember saying that was old, but now I think I am starting to rethink that. I started noticing aches and pains in odd places when I hit about 30. Since then I am surprised by some odd new medical something or other each year. I developed allergies and had wicked sinus surgeries for my 30th and 31st years. I got my first cavity at 33! What will 34 bring me? Ugh, let us hope it brings me smaller clothing sizes. I started working out again. Honestly I do feel better when I push it. I hate it, but I do it for me and for my kids.
Bri and I hit the 10 year wedding anniversary on 3/28.. Can't picture life without him. We did the Vegas Elvis Wedding Renewal on 3/2. It was great. We were able to celebrate with our friends Steve and Sherri, they stood up in the original wedding. I can't believe somedays that Brian and I have been together for 13 years. I feel like we have grown and yet stayed the same. Does that make sense? Like we are floating joyfully in a bowl of jello except the flavor is always changing. ok, that is the most bizarre thing I could think of at nearly 11pm. Sorry.
The trip was great except...1. it was my first time away from the youngins and 2. the return flight lost our luggage. LOST, not delayed and delivered...LOST IT! They have until June 8th to find it or pay us out. Nice....
Love being home. I am really busy. I love being on my own schedule, helping at school, running errands whatever. It really works for this family. I do still love to work with my drama kids. Alice is going better. Up until today I was getting worried. We open in 2 weeks and that will just be enough time to tie it up. I had to slam down on them hard because they were slacking. They seemed to take the advice and prove something today, so YEAH for YELLING!
Toby, the pup is adorable and doing very well. Maybe 1 accident a day. Not bad. He loves Ivy and the kids. We are all gelled up now. I am so happy I found the muchkin.
Some friends are having babies. UGH. good for them. NOT ME! all done. I am beyond thrilled that my kids can buckle up, dress, feed and eat on their own, have friends over in the basement or outside, read to me, do work, help with chores, tell us stories, invent, tell us what's wrong, understand reason and logic (sometimes) and KNOW what we mean when we tell them something, anything. It is wonderful. They are wonderful. Gifts man. Everyday I thank God for my gifts. They make me who I am. I strive to be a person they will be happy to grow up to be like. They don't get to be tv addicts or video game junkies and they don't seem to mind. They appreciate their toys and the use of their minds. Jake loves to invent with different media. Skylar to write and illustrate stories. I will hold on to this for as long as possible. I cherish this time. I know it will change, I only hope they don't let the others in the world change them too much. I hope they influence others...I hope they lead.
Wow, that's off in another direction. Ok, enough.
Promise to write soon.
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