Oh so very thankful…

December 22nd, 2012

Well, surprisingly enough – here’s my post I started the day after Thanksgiving.  Time just goes too fast.  Here’s our most recent list of things we are thankful for:

1. The chance to meet another little Couch (coming June 2013 and to answer a popular question – the shoes are grey, don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl yet.)

2.  The amazing, kind, and caring people in the medical profession that take care of our Maura.  She trusts them all so much and you can tell how much they all love and care for her.  All of them are in the right profession and making a huge difference for everyone, not just us.

3.  Maura getting to meet the most amazing Santa through the Make-A-Wish Foundation and St. Vincent’s Hospital Child Life Department.

4. My parents.  They are just amazing.  This fall they have given many days to spend time with Maura and to take her to appointments that can only happen during the work day, making it possible for both Wes and I to work.  (and they also clean while doing all of this!)

5.  Maura slowly coming off the medicine successfully (so far – long way to go still, but have to celebrate every success! Here’s to a minimum of 2 more years of this.  In the JDM world, if we are successful, three years to no medicine is really a great accomplishment that any would be happy to have.)  Most importantly each day we see more and more of our girl coming back.

6. Thankful that Maura is healthy enough to tromp out into the woods and pick out our Christmas tree in the usual fashion when she could hardly walk in February and March. 

7.  And just simply Thankful for today.  Time is a precious commodity and I know all of us were reminded of that this past week in the worst way.  Our hearts ache for those affected by tragic events and illness.  They are unfair, unexplainable, and senseless. Prayers for healing for all those affected.

 

Mr. & Mrs. Koi – Part II

December 16th, 2012

As promised, more of this lovely and memorable afternoon in September 🙂

I went with the stunning photos in this one (hence the first one below – seriously, Emma, you are gorgeous).  Stay tuned for Part III – that’s where the fun continues…

Mr. & Mrs Koi – Part 1

December 9th, 2012

I cannot believe it’s taken me this long to share my fall weddings, but here goes.

This wedding was amazing.  Almost every design detail was created by the bride and groom, from the table numbers to the custom stamped napkins, to  the amazing invitations.  Just incredible, I’ll let the images do the talking.

October Happenings

November 18th, 2012

Sometimes I wonder what this day/time/moment would look like if Maura’s immune system didn’t turn on her last February.  Then I get really upset with the powers that be and challenge all those that say things happen for a reason to look my four year-old in the eyes and tell her there is a really good reason for her to go through all of this.

We found out this month that she now has cataracts, a side effect from the prednisone, that, unlike the weight gain, will not go away when the medicine does.  That was definitely a moment that made me question the purpose of all of this.  I already knew she was smart and resilient.  I already knew she had a heart of gold.  I didn’t need to see her go through this to know that and she didn’t need to go through this to have those things.  I know many people may still try to convince me that there is a purpose and there is a reason, but until they’ve looked this into the face of their child, I’m probably not going to listen.   It doesn’t mean I’ve lost faith, entirely the opposite.  Just a different perspective.  And I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.  We have to get up everyday and still raise a child who chooses to be kind, and to try her best, even though she’s been dealt a truly unfair hand at quite an early age.  That’s currently our daily purpose, so not that different than before, just possibly a much harder task considering everything.

And as she clings to us I have to be grateful too, at how well she has responded to the medicine, how amazing her specialist, pediatrician, therapist, and child life specialists are, how the valet workers at the hospital have taken the time to learn her name and treat her special and make those weekly visits just a bit easier.  I know we are not the only family facing challenges and my heart aches for the other families, especially those with uncertain futures, so we try our best to enjoy what we have and have as “normal” a life as possible. And when the rain comes, we’ll just get out our umbrellas and dance in the rain (even if we’re in our pajamas…)

We had a fun visit to the pumpkin farm – including pumpkin bowling, a corn box, and a 1200 pound pumpkin.

This one makes my heart melt.

And it wouldn’t be October happenings if there weren’t a few Halloween photos.  Of course I didn’t get any good ones of the costume complete with wig and bow and arrow, but these are surly her, no doubt about that.

Adorable Evan

October 28th, 2012

This has to be the happiest 10 month-old that I have ever photographed 🙂

Sneak Peek | Green Bay Area Family Photographer

October 28th, 2012

This little guy had such stunning eyes and man was he on the move!

For the love of pumpkins!

October 28th, 2012

This little lady not only loved these pumpkins, but pretty much everything in her path – such joy – she stole my ❤ !

Henry is 1! Sheboygan Area Photographer

October 14th, 2012

I’ve been lucky enough to take photos of this little guys since day 1.  I met his mom in my teacher certification program at Cardinal Stritch and just ❤ this family to pieces.  We met at Book Worm Gardens in Sheboygan and it was a beautiful afternoon, the kind you wish could last forever.  And seriously at this place, even the bathroom is cute!

Good People

October 13th, 2012

“Mommy, I don’t want to have this disease.”

“I know honey, I don’t want you to either.  If I could have it for you, I would.”

“Mommy, if I didn’t have this disease then I’d be able to go outside and play.”

Breaks my heart.  No four-year-old should be mature enough to know that some kids can’t play outside.  Or understand that they are just a little bit different than most of their friends at school.  And no parent should have to make sure their child understands that having a disease is not the child’s fault, or the parent’s fault, or anyone’s fault for that matter; that sometimes bad things happen to good people, good children too.  I cannot even imagine what goes on in her head and all we can do is hope that she will emerge from this without any remorse and/or guilt and can move on.

She’s been having a really hard time behaving lately.  Not sure what everyone understands about prednisone, but in adults it can cause severe depression.  You can imagine that a four-year-old doesn’t have the emotional maturity to deal with all the feelings she must be having.  Instead it comes out as rage.  And it breaks my heart that my little girl has this for childhood and there is nothing I can do to change that.  The amazing care-givers at St. Vincent Childlife department help her so much, I only wish I could pay them to work with her daily.

We are humbled by all the amazing donations people have made to CureJM in the last few weeks.  Cannot thank everyone enough for all their love and support.

 

Anyway, enough depressing-ness, all in all, we are still on a good track for her health wise.  She is running, jumping, almost reciprocating stairs, and so many other things she could not do earlier this year.  There is much to be thankful and grateful for and we celebrate her victories as much as possible.

In August, she got to go The Color Run in Milwaukee and although it was the most disorganized race of all time (seriously), Maura had a blast – everyone came and ran for her and let her sign their shirts – she felt all the love around her and it was really amazing.

Old friends | Green Bay Area Photographer

October 13th, 2012

Life has been a little crazy, just a little (read – the busiest I’ve ever been.ever.)  But trying to catch up on some of the amazing families/friends/clients on the blog.

 

This is a good friend of mine from college and her adorable family.  It’s amazing what you can accomplish in a half and hour with such a happy bunch 🙂

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Photography © 2012 Amanda Couch