Austin's Pet Session

Meet Madison Elaine--Maddie for short and her pup Gracie!  They took their sweet ol' time getting to their portrait session with Austin.  Austin loves his dogs as you will be able to tell in his favorites below.  The last image is of Austin with their three steers who weren't very interested in getting their portraits taken.  Enjoy!

Austin's Studio Session

Austin brought his bass guitar to his studio session so we posed him with his guitar dressed in his suit and casual attire.  I so enjoyed his portrait sessions as Austin is so easy-going!  It's amazing how much Austin has grown since his last session in July of last year.  We have included his favorites from this session and also his graduation invitation we designed from a favorite from his last two sessions.  Enjoy!

Andrea & Fabian after their wedding...

We did the group shots and several of the bride and groom just outside the courthouse.  Then the couple came out to our home/studio to do some portraits and to cut the Mexican wedding cake that Andrea's mom made. I've included their favorites for you to enjoy!  To view the wedding slideshow, click here. 

Andrea & Fabian's Beautiful Courthouse Wedding

I had never been to a courthouse wedding and wasn't expecting much. Only 10 of us could be in the courtroom including the judge.  Though it was quick ceremony it was the most emotional one that I've ever photographed.  I think some of that has to do with being related to the groom.😆  My grandson Fabian and his beautiful bride Andrea were so happy they both wept with joy during the ceremony that even the judge seemed to enjoy herself!  I've included some of their favorites from their wedding on Monday, June 1, 2020, and a few before and after the wedding.  We will share more from after the wedding in a separate post.  To view the wedding slideshow, click here.  Enjoy!

Feliz Naughty Dogs and my Accident Story

     Greetings everyone!  This session with my beloved dogs was the first one since my accident.  With the help of my hubby, we were able to get a few images of Charlie and Maryland for our Christmas cards this year. For those that don't know, I shattered my left leg shin bone in nine pieces on September 17.  Here's the story:
     I took advantage of an unusually warm September day by doing physical therapy for a pinched nerve in our above-ground pool.  When I finished with the therapy, I wanted to enjoy the pool for a bit so I put the inner tube that I was using behind the pool ladder so it wouldn't blow away because of the wind.  When I was getting out of the pool and on top of the pool ladder, the inner tube caused the ladder to push off the pavement and the ladder started to fall.  I decided to jump from the ladder instead of falling with it.  I was 5 feet off the ground and knew when I jumped, it wasn't going to be pretty!  When I hit the ground, the pain was awful in my hips, but I soon realized I dislocated my left knee.  I was lying on the ground, calling for my husband (Thank God he was home!)  My husband thought he heard some black birds singing when I was calling his name!  He saw me outside on the grass and can you believe he thought I was sunning in the grass?!?  He said Charlie, our dog, was going berserk running around the house. Charlie knew I was in distress!  My husband looked out again and then realized I was calling him and needed help!
     He called 911, they gave me some fentanyl for the pain, then splinted my leg before loading me into the ambulance.  Fortunately when the splint aired up it popped my knee back into place on the way to the hospital.  Since there wasn't a local orthopedic surgeon that did the type of surgery I needed, the next evening I was sent my ambulance to the Wichita hospital where they did surgery to install an external fixator.  A week later, they did surgery to fix my leg by removing the fixator and putting in pins in my knee/leg.  I was at St Francis Trauma Center for about two weeks, then transferred to Meadowlark in Manhattan, Kansas, for rehab.  I stayed at Meadowlark Rehab about five short days then was able to go home once my hubby fixed a ramp so I could get into the house using a wheelchair since I couldn't use any stairs.
    I have been non-weight bearing on my leg for almost three months as the doctor said the bone that they fixed was too soft and needed time to heal before putting any weight on my leg.  Can you believe the hardest part of the recovery process has not been the injured leg, but the pain in my other body parts from sitting so much! I have been going to physical therapy twice a week getting myself ready to be able to walk again.  Lord willing, at my doctor's appointment on December 17th, they will tell me I can start putting some weight on my leg.  Not sure if I will transition to a walker or crutches.  I so appreciate my husband for doing all of the cooking, laundry, "some" cleaning and for responding to my endless calls for do this/do that!  I thank God for my beautiful church family for the meals, prayers, and words of kindness during this trying time!  May God bless all of you and may you have a Felix Naughty Dogs and Happy New Year!

Madelyne's Newborn Portrait Session

When Madelyne, was around 3-weeks old, she brought her parents with her for her newborn portrait session 😊.  She wore an adorable dress adorned with the cutest hair wrap!  I enjoy seeing the expressions of love on Madelyne's parents as they hold their bundle of joy!  What a beautiful family!!!  Below are their favorites from the portrait session for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!