Is it ketchup or catsup?

(this blog has nothing to do with condiments)

So...you'd think by the silence on this here blog that I've been sitting around doing nothing.  Here's a quick catch up (there's the ketchup/catsup reference, in case someone didn't get it). 

In April, I finally got in to see my GI doctor (catch up here).  He did an upper endoscope and confirmed that I had the H.pylori bacteria (and NO signs of ulcers or cancer) so I was prescribed Prevpac:  2 antibiotics and Prevacid.  3 days before I started the Prevpac, I started taking probiotics twice a day to avoid any side effects of the antibiotics (ladies...you know what I'm talking about).  I continued the probiotics 2 days after finishing the antibiotics.  It worked!  I had no side effects.  All that was fine and well, but my GI doctor wanted me to have an ultrasound of my gall bladder, liver, pancreas, aorta and kidneys.  He was more concerned about my gall bladder than anything he saw on the endoscope.  The ultrasound confirmed gall stones and it also picked up something on my liver.  nice.  The doctors were pretty sure it was a hemangioma (you can read about it here if you want) which is harmless.  I went for an MRI that confirmed the suspicion.  So relieved.  But now I have to have gall bladder removed, which I understand is no big deal.  It's done almost drive-thru.   That's scheduled for the end of this month.  Thankfully I've had NO pain episodes caused by my gall bladder since complaining to my doctor back in December.

Since the official start of my photography business (which you can check out here), I have been busy!  I've taken some senior photos, photos of some super fun young ladies, 'before' photos of a home renovation project and I have two scheduled weddings-one at the end of this month and one in October.  I also have a family photo shoot this month AND I get to travel to Canada to photograph the authors of a book, Radical Love.  (Here's a super fun story:  My best friend from junior high co-authored this book.)

My daughter graduated high school last Sunday.  The two weeks prior to that were busy planning a graduation party and preparing for her to graduate (preparing ME for her to graduate).  While working to put together a slide show for the party, I cried.  A lot.  Through photographs and memories, I relived her entire life.  It was wonderful (to see her grow up).  It was sad (people we've lost who didn't get to see her graduate).  And it was rewarding.  I am so thankful that God chose me to be her mom.  The party was great!  So many people that love Stephanie came to celebrate.  Her 84 year old great-grandpa prayed a blessing over her ~ it was the most touching part of the party.

(Great-Grandpa praying a blessing over Stephanie)

On May 17th our family was thrust into a crisis over which we had no control.  I was in panic mode for 3 days.  At that point, my mind and body could take no more so I surrendered the situation to God.  Yes, I know, I should have done that right away but my humanness takes charge sometimes.  Lessons we learn, right?  The situation has not yet resolved itself, but I no longer allow it to control me.   (Truth be told - I have moments of weakness.  Those are the times I call on my husband and friends to help rein me back in.  Prayer is an AWESOME thing!)  There's been anger and hurt.  Those things can wear a person out!

One of our bathrooms has been under construction/being remodeled for way too long.  But did you read all that stuff going on?  Seriously.  Whose idea was that?  (That's a running joke at my house:  I have LOTS of GREAT ideas that end up being LOTS of WORK at inopportune times.  But hey...I'll get them done eventually.)

* Speaking of in-over-my-head projects...Since having to scan 90% of the pictures (she was born before the digital camera age) for my daughter's slide show,  I have decided I need to/want to/should start scanning all of my old photos...by my birthday in August.  Good golly!   Whose idea was that? *

Now that school is out, I shall take up my 'Summer' schedule ~ staying up late and sleeping in.  It's highly likely you'll see much more of me.  Lucky you.  *wink*

*Did I say 'quick catch up'?  Hmmm...can't believe everything you read, huh?

Stephanie's Senior Pictures

This evening, Steph and I went to the Ft. Worth Stockyards to shoot some senior pictures. Check them out here.

Amy Hobbs Photography

Well, I've done it. Officially started my own photography business. You can see my latest projects, Prom and Texas Wildflowers, here.

Time Keeps on Slipping...

So last night before I went to bed, I changed all the clocks in the house (coffee pot, microwave, cell phone, iPod, etc., etc., etc.) ('spring forward'). You know...to be ahead of the game. And, it's really too hard to do the thinking that's required to figure out the 'new' time when the 'old' time still shows on the clocks after the stupid time changes. "What time is it? Is that old time or new time?"

I changed the time on my iPod and intentionally un-checked the 'automatic time update' box. I set the alarm on my iPod for Church O'Clock. (Can you already see where this is going?)

This morning, the sun was shining so nicely when my alarm went off. Ahhh...I felt pretty rested but decided to lay there for 5 minutes until my back-up alarm goes off on my cell phone (OCD). Nothing. I sneak a peak at my cell phone thinking my OCD had failed me. But it reads a different time than my iPod. "What the heck? What time is it? Is that the old time or the new time?"

Apparently, whether you want it to or not, the iPod will 'spring forward' all by itself...Even though I had already sprung it. Sooo...I actually lost two hours of sleep last night. Nice.

AND...the iPod didn't bother to coordinate with the automatic coffee pot in it's scheme to screw me out of an EXTRA hour of sleep, so I had no coffee ready this morning.

I couldn't help but laugh.

So now I'm sitting here, sipping my second cup of coffee (which will decide to land hard in my bladder right in the middle of Pastor Pete's sermon) with some extra time to enjoy the beautiful sunshine this morning.

Oh...and there's ONE guarantee having EXTRA time in the morning will mean. I'll be late leaving for church. How does that happen?

Stirred, Not Shaken

There's something brewing inside. Waves of emotions looking for shore. Considering penning my thoughts to release them. Finally.

Sweet release. (Because quite frankly, this baggage is gettin' heavy!)

Random Things I Am Thankful For

On early mornings, my husband gets up before I do. When it's time for me to get up, he wakes me gently. I don't have to be jarred from sleep by an alarm. Then he has coffee and my cold water waiting for me.

Thank you, dear.

Busy, busy, busy

Here are a few things I'm currently doing:

Couch to 5K running program. Seriously. I am.

Reading the Bible with the help of the book, The Bible in 90 Days
(reading the Bible is #8 on my 40 by 40 list)

And I have recommitted to Project 365. When my laptop crashed, some of my photos got disorganized and my perfectionist procrastinator brain (pp brain, I call it) took over. Got too far behind to catch up so I just quit. Starting over.


What are you busy doing?