Needless to say I was thrilled to be able to capture this sweet babe as an infant.

What a beautiful family!

.love.

Beautiful, dainty, perfectly made and precious.

This baby girl was SO adorable and did a wonderful job of posing, smiling, and being squishy and adorable.

What a beautiful spring mini session we had.

Thank you Leslie – for allowing me to photograph your lovely family!

.love.

For those of you following, involved and interested… I thank you for your encouragement, support, love, and prayers.

One day, my blog will be back to “normal” again with more photography driven posts, but it may be a while.

My Dear Lake,

The week we found all of the “news” about you, we still had not decided on a middle name.

One of my wonderful “APP” FB fans (thank you Tania Melick) had shared a website of Female “WARRIOR” names, since I had nicknamed you my “Warrior Princess.”

There it was… a name your Daddy and I had on our list.

It is a family name, on both of our mothers’ sides… it means “FAME OF WAR,” it fits with my desire to add “Lou” or “Lou Lou” as a nickname AND it fits with Daddy’s home state (LOUIS-IANA).

So HELLO,

Miss LAKE LOUISE…

Shall we call you LouLou, Lakey Lou, Lake Lou Lou, or something else?

As time passes, I guess we’ll see.

It was a week ago that Daddy and I showed up to the hospital knowing that within a couple of hours we would finally meet you and fall in {more} love with you.

This birth wasn’t the birth I had hoped for or planned. In fact it was quite opposite from the home birth from womb to water to arms, I had been prepping for.

Instead I was poked and prepped for a surgery… where they would cut my belly to bring you into this world.

I was at peace with this necessity, as it brought YOU into the world, in the safest way possible.

They wheeled me into the operating room, luckily I wasn’t quite alone.

One of my dearest friends, Maury, is a L&D nurse and was able to be with me through the entire process… and even took photos for us!

I started to get nervous. I had a cesarean with your brother, nearly a decade ago, but was unconscious and didn’t know what it was like.

It was an operating room, full of tile and lights… tools, instruments, rags, chatter and a team of people.

A team who were all there to protect you, my love.

My doc was there, who I really love – she’s cool and chill… and never made me feel anxious.

The nurse anesthetist was wonderful, explaining everything and was with me every step of the way.

She administered the spinal and I slowly began to numb from my tummy to my toes.

It was strange and I had to keep relaxed and breathe well, so I wouldn’t start to flip out.

Daddy came in and I remember getting emotional. It was surreal and emotional.

The nerves, the surgery, the unknown of how you would be… the fears, the hopes, the reality that it was finally time to live through it.

Ya know, the cesarean was not something I expected, but to top it all off – we had NO IDEA what to expect with your arrival.

One of the Cook Children’s doctors came over to me and explained how they would address your arrival… and that I would get a quick glimpse of you, before you were wheeled over to their hospital.

Beeba (your grandma) also came in with Daddy, so that when he went with you over to Cooks, she could stay with me as they finished the cesarean.

The cesarean was odd… as I felt movement and the wiggling of my entire body as they did what they needed to do, to get to you.

I remember when they delivered the uterus… and then momentarily they delivered YOU.

10:33 am, delivery!

6lbs 1oz. and 19.5″ long

You were PERFECT… and not teeny tiny or small , even being 2.5 weeks early.

A good size, for a little Warrior Princess.

Tears came to my eyes as I heard you cry briefly.

I knew you could CRY… but Daddy and I didn’t know much else.

He was able to see you and went over to check on you.

Your lungs worked… praise God!

You see, we were told that your lung development was unknown.

Your heart was so massive, that they were unsure if your lungs would be adequate enough to support your body… strong enough, big enough.

That was the biggest worry for us. If your lungs were not developed properly, heart surgery would NOT be possible.

They worked on you a bit, added a breathing tube to assist you, and then they wheeled you by me.

I saw you, as best I could and was thrilled to see you well.

Daddy went with you and my mom took over, holding my hand as they “put me back together” – a human Humpty Dumpty, I was.

My spirit was hopeful for you. I just kept praying… I didn’t want to talk, I just wanted to “be.”

Several hours later, my AWESOME nurses wheeled me to see you in your NICU pod.

That was the best experience ever. I had heard, from the Cooks team, that you were doing well!

Your heart was stable, your lungs needed some assistance, but less than expected.

You looked GREAT.

The annoying part about all of this – is my stupid recovery.

I wish I could just get up and run to you any moment I desire.

I know I cannot and I know I need to rest, but it’s difficult.

I am not one to sit in bed and relax, I never have been.

Narcissistic mama huh? No baby girl, I just want to be able to be with you… but you have the best TEAM by your side 24/7.

(Special thanks to my dear friend MAURY for these wonderful and priceless photos… perhaps you should quit L&D nursing and become a birth photographer. )

Thursday was the day for surgery.

We were able to go spend some time with you that morning and they let me hold you on a pillow.

I cried and worried, but knew it was time for your broken heart to be mended.

I had that fear – that they wanted me to hold you “before surgery” just in case that would be my only opportunity.

Of course with every surgery there are risks, but I gave that all to the Lord and adored my moments with you on my lap.

The team arrived to prep you and we followed you in the hallway.

That was difficult. I cried and breathed and cried and breathed and kept my chin up as I saw these soldiers of life – surrounding you, filling your lungs with air, watching you, and escorting you – like a “real” Warrior Princess.

Then it was time to part ways and they told us to give you a kiss… goodbye, as you headed to the operating room.

One of the toughest moments of my life.

(FYI Dr. Tam performed the Starnes procedure. He added a shunt, reduced your heart size, and patched your right ventricle.)

Daddy wheeled me back to our hospital room, just a short wheel chair ride away from the Children’s hospital.

I am so glad we didn’t have to just sit in the waiting room!

We were in our room waiting and blessed by visits from Paul’s buddies and his boss and a surprise visit from my sister!

It was so wonderful, to have people help us pass the time with joy rather than worry.

The nurse checked in with us every hour… and every call was positive. Swhoo.
We went down to see you after surgery and your little chest was still open, but covered with a somewhat clear bandage.

You looked well, but swelling had started and your little bod looked so pathetic.

We loved on you over the next couple of days while you recovered from surgery.

Saturday came around and Dr. Tam decided to close up your chest, as you had responded very well.

You have just impressed us since your birth – through the surgery – after the closing of your chest – and the removal of your respirator.

I am the proudest Mommy in the world.

I pray that God continues to heal you… through the seconds, the minutes and hours, the days, the weeks, the months and years.

You have a long road ahead as do we.

Will I be a nervous wreck, once you finally come home? Probably… but I will be holding you oh so tightly and may never let you go!

We have songs for each of our kiddos… so one day in the PICU I started singing, “This Little Light of Mine” Arden style:

This little LAKE of mine
I’m going to let HER shine
Oh, this little LAKE of mine
I’m going to let her shine
Hallelujah
This little LAKE of mine
I’m going to let her shine
Let her shine, let her shine, let her shine

One of these days, I’ll be able to hold you… and then nurse you!

So get ready little lady, because you may get sick of me soon enough.

I have plenty of squishy snuggles and smooches to smother you with!

For now, I want you to rest, as your breathing last night was more difficult for you.

Just slow down and heal. Let your body relax and breathe well, when you are good and ready.

I’ll be here waiting… anxsiously, but patiently.

I love you more than you will ever know.

You, my dear, are my true fighter, my dainty, but tough little lady… and I am so proud to call you MINE!

My proudest love, Mommy

(Now, just know one day when I tell you, “YOU HAVE THE BIGGEST HEART, my precious Lake.”  you will know, I am speaking the truth. This x-ray shows your heart before surgery and after.)

I was thrilled to photograph Tara and Bart, on their beautiful wedding day.

An intimate celebration filled with gorgeous details, love and traditions that were important to them.

They were relaxed, calm and beautiful… and were married in a precious chapel!

Everyone was so friendly, easy and laid back… my favorite type of people.

After their beautiful nuptials their celebratory reception took place at a local country club filled with timeless white floral pieces and delicious food!

It was a lovely and GORGEOUS day, perfect to marry the one you love… the one you have known for decades!

T+B,

Congrats to you two!

May the Lord bless your new journey with fun, compassion and full hearts.

Thank you so much for choosing me to capture your day!

.love.

Well, it’s actually here.

Tomorrow, I get to meet your precious little face TOMORROW!

Daddy and I have done a good job at avoiding fear, worry, and a could-be reality.

We have been prepping for this day for the past few…

Tying up loose ends, placing orders, finishing projects, grocery shopping, cleaning the car, enjoying the {crazy} family and making room for your car-seat.

I am anxious and wonder how tonight’s sleep will be?

I have so much on my mind, but all prefaced with HOPE and GOD’S GLORY.

I haven’t broken down, I haven’t cried in a couple of weeks, I haven’t thought about bad things…

I just see YOU.

You – in my arms, lying on my chest, holding my finger, and bundled up next to me.

I’m often wondering if I should envision a brunette (yeah right) or blondie babe.

I always wanted you to take after Daddy, but I see you as a bright and spunky little toe-head.

Parx told me tonight that she cannot wait to give you a HUG!

Pierson has his BIG “STARR” test tomorrow, of course… and the following day as well. 

They will be away from the hospital as we endure everything.

Trying to keep their minds off of surgery, NICU, the what if scenarios…

We have had an army of people praying for YOU, thinking of YOU and taking care of YOU.

One of Pierson’s precious classmates brought him a gift bag with check mix snack packs in it and said, “This is for your Mom.”

This little duder, decided that all on his own… to love on Pierson’s mommy.

We have had friends pop over and drop off little gifts of love and Pierson’s class provide us with so many things for our family today.

I really cannot say how heartwarming it is to be blanketed in love, support and Prayers.

That is when the tears start to come… from everyone’s devotion to YOU and our family.

I send a HUGE thank you to everyone, THEY have been MY ROCK!

What else can I say, right now?

I can tell you this…

Tomorrow is a magnificent day.

It’s a day the LORD made.

It’s your BIRTHDAY.

It’s the day that I get to finally meet you.

The day I get to see your warrior spirit in person.

I’ll get to hear you cry and watch you use your lungs to breathe.

I get to see your tiny fingers and toes.

See you move your legs and arms that have been poking me the past few months.

I get to pray over you, my new, stunning and tiny daughter.

Tomorrow we will start to get answers. 

We will start to see God prepare his masterpiece… of your life and journey here with us.

We will see Him work through you, through your doctors, through us, through everyone thinking about you – my Baby Lake.

Tomorrow is a day that YOU will show me who is in charge… you my little warrior princess.

You are adored, loved, cherished and perfect.

I look forward to being your mommy, your one and only… MOMMY.

You hang in there and hey, I’ll be seeing you… tomorrow.

.love.

*We will cherish privacy of her birth and share details as we are emotionally ready.

Thank you for understanding and thank you all for the prayers.

All photos courtesy of SHAREEN FRATER PHOTOGRAPHY

(thanks my sweet boo!)

Then I was fortunate enough to get a job at their school and Megan and I became “teammates!”

She is a doll and has a BIG heart for Christ and children.

She became a foster mama as a young woman and wound up adopting her precious son, about six years ago!

Megan moved away, but we’ve kept in touch through social media. Good ole’ Facebook!

My sister and I were thrilled when we heard the news of her proposal!

Logan is perfect for her and they were set up through mutual friends and live hundreds of miles apart!

It was love at first sight…

I really enjoyed this session, it was gorgeous out and we stayed in nature the entire time.

A mix of whimsical gardens and wispy fields… doesn’t get much better than this.

I am eager and hopeful to capture their wedding in July, at his Louisiana ranch!

M+L+C,

Thank you thank you for allowing me to capture you guys.

Y’all are fun, beautiful, and easy… 

I hope you adore these photos, capturing a very fun time in your lives.

May God prepare you all to be a wonderful family unit and have a fantastic wedding day!

.love.

I read through the questions and just picked some that seemed easy to answer today!

 Since I need photos in each post I am sharing one of Edie baby loving on her baby doll.

Q: More of a photog business question… What do you use your assistant for and what parts of your business are solely in your control?

I have two assistants and they share some responsibilities, while also focusing on their own. One of the hardest AND smartest things I did was let go of control over a lot of this stuff.  Natalie is more of a scheduled weekly asst. 3 days a week, 3 hours a day. She focuses on culling, LR editing, exporting with droplets, retouching in PS, helping with client emails and contracts. Shareen will come the other two days a week when I am busy and assist on some shoots. She mainly focuses on the culling/LR/PS work, but will also help me on session and I will NOT do a newborn session with out my Shareen, period.  She is more hands on with my shoots and protects me from falling off my ladder or will help with kiddos and reflector.

Q:  I have a Canon SLR type camera. It has a 50X zoom on it. Why when I zoom in the photos always are blurry? In poor lighting especially, but even if I want to get a boat out on the ocean.

So when you zoom in, it’s quite tight? When I use my 70-200mm ZOOM lens I will notice the tiniest movement from me will make a drastic movement through the camera, because you have magnified things so far away.  Just think of binoculars - the slight swivel of your head will make whatever you are looking at drastically disappear and it’s difficult to find again. This is why I purchase zoom lenes with IS or IMAGE STABILIZATION. This allows the lens to be more accurate/stabilized if there is slight movement. If you are on a moving object while photographing something, especially in zoom, things may appear blurry. Think of when you shoot a photo from a car window, everything is moving. Another reason things may be blurred could be your shutter speed. If it is not fast enough, you will get movement because the shutter is too slow to capture a super still image, from a moving object or shaky hands.  Hope this makes sense?

Q: I am trying to switch over to prime lenses but not sure which lens to start with first and why. I keep hearing mixed opinons between the canon 85 1.2 and 50 1.2. Do you have any thoughts? I shoot portraits and weddings 

I have realized this is something that you have to find out about your work and your style. I could tell you exactly what to buy, but you may not be happy with it! I love the 50mm 1.2 AND the 85mm 1.2 for different reasons.  The 50mm is a great focal length because it is not too wide or too zoomed in. The 35mm can be a tad wide for some people, while others think the 85mm is too close. You definitely have to stand back further for the 85mm, but the bokeh is deeeelish! I hear the 135mm 2.0 is amazing, but I have yet to try it… again you would have to be even FURTHER back to catch some decent portraits where it’s not just a face. You may see if there is a shop or friends who will lend you theirs so you can try before you buy!

Q: Another family photo question. What is your favorite lens for 3 or more people in a shot? I have a canon 7d, love my 50L lens, but havent found a lens I like for group shots.

A super safe lens for group shots is the 24-70mm 2.8 lens. This is a fantastic all around lens where you can get super wide along with pretty tight! This is great if you want to knock formals out fast, because you never have to swap lenses AND most of the time in photos like this you will not want the aperture to be too wide, so that everyone can be in focus.  Some people LOVE the 24-70mm, while others do not. It’s up to you. It’s also a tack sharp lens. 

Q: How did you muster the courage to quit your teaching job so that you could pursue photography?

Well, I wouldn’t say it was courage… I just knew. I was newly married and pregnant. I was not happy at my teaching job and wanted to be able to be at home with my daughter and take my son to school; he was entering kindergarten that fall. My husband and I decided this together and I was doing well with my business. I have been very fortunate to always have pretty full books! In fact, this winter was my first TRUE lull in my entire photographer-life. Even as my prices grew, I still gained more clients. It’s been a huge blessing. I will have another lull since all of this news about baby, which makes me sad and worried, but my devotion belongs to her. We will have to make some sacrifices, for sure. Which we had not had to do yet. 

Q:  How long did it take you to get comfortable posing people? What were some of the tricks you learned along the way?

I think once I felt comfortable my camera settings (years ago), is when I was able to mentally move onto posing. I am sure watching my mentor work prepped me, but I also love women’s bodies and connections. I was a dancer for most of my adolescent life, so I have a foundation of graceful hands, feet, fingers, body and limb placement. I will often times use those expressions with my girls, “When you use your hands think of a ballerina.” etc. I think allowing my clients to connect will ALWAYS make a photo better. I stress that in the beginning, “ALWAYS make a connection with her/him.” Otherwise it looks too formal and posed. I want my clients to look natural, in love and FUN! Flip through magazines or if you see an image that you love, focus on what about it makes your happy. LIttle things like bends in the arm or thumbs in can really make an image look more comfortable.

Q: Do you use a grey/white card for custom white balance at each session? Do you have a light meter?

I typically use auto WB, unless I am in certain lighting scenarios. Sometimes the flash WB is necessary when using flash or if I am in a tungsten light setting I will often times change it to the tungsten setting. I have also used Kelvin, but am not good at adjusting it throughout the session, so I stick to auto. If I need to correct it in LR, I can easily do that!

Q:  Many times you can’t control the time of day of a shoot and the sun is blaring. How do you avoid harsh shadows on the faces of your clients assuming shade is not an option?

I schedule my clients at VERY specific times. 1.5 hour before sunset  (0r at sunrise) and if it’s overcast that afternoon we’ll meet a little earlier. I keep in good communication with them, so that we can meet earlier if need be and they are not unaware of this. If I am shooting at a place without open shade, I will turn their back to the sun the majority of the session. I also keep that in mind when I am planning for a shoot. If the beauty of the location is in the opposite location, I may ask for a morning shoot… where it will be prettier, because the backlighting would allow for that pretty landscape. It’s very important to know where your light will be and how it will effect your shooting and your clients!

If you guys have any questions about MY GEAR or MY PROGRAMS/VENDORS click on those links to help you.

Last Tuesday I was admitted to the local hospital so they could keep an eye on your heart.

After posting my blog and sharing it with my whole Facebook family and friends, I was in utter amazement.

The fact that we had a massive response from people who sent some of the most wisest words, heartfelt prayers, gifts, acts of service, uplifting stories and compassionate messages touched my heart.

I was in tears often while reading through HUNDREDS of notes from our old and new friends!

So many people have been praying for YOU precious baby girl.

Two nights ago I was having my 7th night in the hospital… and was in the shower.

You see I had established somewhat of a routine so that boredom wouldn’t arise too often… thanks to everyone I had a lot of reading and writing to do.

As I was in the shower I just began praying. I think I had avoided that actual “real talk” with God.

The one, where you begin to beg… over and over… and ask for His grace, protection, mercy and favor.

I begged Him to, “Please oh please Lord, Please protect our baby. Please help YOU survive. Please allow your heart to heal and to overcome whatever obstacle appears.”

It went on for a few minutes and I felt relieved as I crawled into bed.

You see My Miss Lake, you had a great heart rhythm all that day and a bit the day before.

Your SVT (tachycardia) was minimal - and often times non existent.

I knew that there were SO many people praying for you.

Literally – hundreds if not thousands of people were praying for my tiny little baby.

I cannot even wrap my mind around it!

The next morning we had a wonderful monitoring session.

You did not have ONE irregular heart rhythm, not ONE.

About 20m later one of the perinatologist visited and said things were looking GREAT and that WE COULD GO HOME!!!!

There was no reason to have a 24 hour hospital stay.

I can come in every day to have a sono and monitor session… since we live so close to the hospital.

I was in shock and so excited!

I could go home and hang with your siblings, live somewhat normally (sans coffee, but hey I kicked that habit while in the hospital) and enjoy our home, grocery shopping, and being a mommy and wife… for just a little bit longer, before you are welcomed into this world.

I fully believe that the power of prayer from EVERY SINGLE PERSON who has included us in their intimate conversations with God, covered YOU in His favor.

The nurse that morning had been my nurse the day before as well – both on great days!

She came in and said she had reviewed your previos sessions and said, 

“She looks like a completely different baby.” 

This really solidified it for me. You were a different baby.

You’re fighting already, people (and of course God) are lifting you up, and I believe you will be well, my sweetheart.

I leave in an hour to have our first visit to see how you are doing.

My sleep last night was a little rough, just out of concern… but every single moment I woke up you gave me a little reassuring kick.

Whether it was 12am, 3am, 5am or 8am… you said, “Hey Mommy, I am okay!”

Thank you for that, because that is something else that isn’t “typical.”

Most of all I am thankful for all of our wonderful family, friends, and “strangers” – who are now attached to us forever.

I cannot say enough to show how grateful we are. Paul and I will one day pay this forward, you all have taught us so much.

Just in one little week we experienced friends picking up family from the airport, dropping off parking passes, bringing food and hanging out with us, the gifts, the flowers, taking care of the breast pump rental, picking up our girls and taking them to the toy store, wanting to start a fundraiser, the baskets of goodies, setting up appointments for us and buds hanging out with Paul – for brotherly love time.

We are humbled and blessed, beyond measure.

I know the road is still long and winding and things may come up that we are not prepared for, but just this past week has been a testament to everyone lifting us up in prayer and positivity.

My heart, my gratitude, my love goes out to each and every one of YOU.

A friend recommended I visualize you… so I have been visualizing us – snuggling up, you laying on my chest or next to me curled up in the bed.

I do see you.

Lake, hang in there and I will be seeing you!

.love.

Mommy

I wanted to share a visual of her heart rhythms last week, the “upper blue lines” are her SVT rhythms:

These are from the past couple of days, notice the consistent blue line with minimal jumping.

Well, this is a bit of a different post.

You see we scheduled a late sono to check everything.

Make sure the placenta placement was good for the home-birth, since you are a 3VBAC and I have an anterior placenta.

Once we got to the sono place we were eager to double check your sex… and sure enough you are still a girl!

What we didn’t know is that our sonographer was a little concerned back in December about your heart.

Somehow we never knew about this and luckily everything has worked out.

We are SO grateful for God opening this door for us… as we never expected anything to come up “wrong” with you…

Going to the late sonogram confirmed her concerns.

Your heart appeared to be quite large and taking up a lot of space in your chest cavity.

They also could not distinguish four separate chambers.

We walked out of the office confused, shocked and scared.

I began crying, not knowing what to expect.

I was scared for us, so worried for you and just in shock that you – my precious baby has something wrong with one of the MOST important organs in your body.

What does any of this mean?

We were fortunate enough to get into a perinatologist a couple of hours later at Harris, just minutes away from our home.

She was able to perform a sonogram and really check out baby’s heart.

She confirmed the enlargement and chamber issues.

Because of the enlargement, things came up such as down syndrome and mental disability, but Dr. was unsure of the cause or diagnosis.

Your bones were measuring “normal” which seemed that you may be without any other issues, besides your heart.

We were sent over to Cook Children’s for an in depth and more accurate echo-sono of your heart with the pediatric cardiologist.

We were in there for about 45 minutes or so, while they gathered photos, videos, and blood flow information of your heart.

The cardiologist was in a different room gathering all of the information and diagnosing it all.

She came in and explained the situation.

You have a heart condition called, “Ebstein’s Anomaly.”

The text book definition is: 
“Your tricuspid valve — the valve between the chambers on the right side of your heart — doesn’t work properly. Blood leaks back through the valve, making your heart work less efficiently. Ebstein’s anomaly may also lead to enlargement of the heart or heart failure.”

This is a good site with info.

Since your valve isn’t working, the blood flow is getting backed up in the right side of your heart allowing the right atrium to dilate a lot!

Your heart takes up 50%+ of your chest cavity right now.

Also your leaflet valves between the right atrium and right ventricle are abnormally placed and blood is just going back and forth between the two chambers.

Your lungs are quite squished and we are unsure if they have grown to an adequate size.

We are hoping and praying that FIRST your lungs are strong and awesome, so that you can undergo some surgeries for your heart.

Breathe Lake, I want you to use those precious lungs and allow them to do their job and just breathe – well, breathe strong, breathe like a healthy baby!

We are so fortunate to have one of THE BEST children’s hospitals and one of the BEST cardiological teams in the WORLD.

I think many friends, peers, and patients would agree.

The perinatologist has decided it would be best to have a cesarean in about two weeks.

This timing is going to allow your lungs to mature as much as possible.

Yesterday your heart was also tachycardic, meaning it was at SUPER HIGH heart rates for brief periods of time.

A normal baby heart rate usually is between 120-160bpm or so, while yours was reaching nearly 300bpm at times.

They decided that the best thing to do for you – was to admit me in the hospital, so they can monitor your heart rate.

This is another reason they do not want you to be in the womb for the full 40 weeks, to protect your heart from stress.

We were admitted on Tuesday night.

Last night we met with your cadiothoracic surgeon.

He has worked on a case very similar to yours and the little boy is THREE!

Here is YOUR PLAN:

If everything stays the same, we will have a cesarean in about two weeks.

I will get to see you briefly and they will see how your breathing is.

I may get to even hold you for a moment.

You will look normal on the outside, but the insides are where the problems lie.

They will have a ventilator and team in the room with us waiting to see what you need.

They will take you over the bridge to the Children’s hospital NICU.

They will closely observe you and do anything they need to do, to keep you breathing and well.

They plan on having your open heart surgery a couple of days or so after birth.

This surgery will allow them to patch your two chambers, attempt to open your valve, reduce your heart size, and adding a shunt.

All of this will temporarily allow your heart to function more normally.

After a few months, you will need a new replacement shunt – perhaps using one of your arteries.

We will cross that bridge, when it comes.

Whew, that is a lot of words to type and you cannot read yet.

Now, your surgery is a more rare open heart surgery, that was associated with higher risks a decade ago.

Our doctor believes you will be in better odds because of the wonderful medical advancements in 2013 and knowledge.

This condition is not common, so it’s only about 1 in 10k births.

This means that hospitals who “specailize” in this condition may only have TWENTY patients, rather than hundreds or more.

So there isn’t a ton of info to compare cases or see full results.

Now, I know – deep down – withe every bit of my soul that you are a fighter.

That God has a plan for you.

That this will create you to be the most amazing woman.

Your team of doctors want you to be able to play in PE and one day carry your own children.

They want you to be as close to normal as possible… and you can be sweet girl.

I am so ready to see my warrior baby fight with your precious spirit and being.

I believe in you. I know God can do amazing things. I want you to survive, conquer and thrive.

You have SO many people praying for you – you have people that I have never met… will never meet… who know your name, your story.

I am in awe of our supporters – they are lifting you up sweet girl and I want you to let it fill up your spirit.

I sit here in the hospital believing and knowing that you will be well. That God will prevail and that you will know him, trust him love him. That your mommy and daddy will be your first true love – that you light up when we are loving on you. That your purpose is to fit right in to our sacred little crew. So you can run around in diapers and argue with your sisters about who is going to wear which tutu. That Pierson will be able to snuggle up with you and pull you around in the wagon. That Daddy will be able to flip you around and read you books in his silly voice. That I will scoop you up and comfort you when you are upset, hurt, or sleepy. That we will all sit around the table together… and watch you dump food on the floor and make humongous messes… and laugh, because you are with us. That you are part of this family and fearfully and wonderfully made.

I know you can do this. My precious baby.

You are absolutely beautiful and perfect… and in our Lord’s hands.

Use Him as your guide and please – oh -please… show us your purpose, my sweet girl.

I just want to hold you, but realize it may be a long time until I can really do so.

Be strong. Be courageous. and Know you are loved and prayed for by many many many people.

I love you. So much. My little Warrior Princess!

Sometimes I want your middle name to be LouLou, because I think it sounds so cute and fun… maybe I’ll just nick name you “Lou Lou!”

Tomorrow we have a sonogram to check on the placenta placement and your heart, just to make sure everything developed nicely.

I am so excited to see your little profile, kicks, and double check that you are indeed a chick-a-dee!

I shot my last wedding this Saturday, but have a ton of portrait sessions ahead.

You’ve been pretty good to me, thank you doll face!

Often times I wonder if Edie knows that Mommy’s belly is not “supposed” to look like this.

If she truly understands that you are cooped up in there, awaiting the BIG moment of entering my arms.

She LOVES my belly so much…. so she MUST be a Lake Lover once you arrive.

Parx is really excited, she keeps saying, “BABY LAKE IS COMING!”

She has watched so many birthing videos because she is so fascinated in how baby’s arrive into the world.

I have a feeling she’ll fall head over heels for you, actually she already has!

Pierson is probably ready for you and he is probably ready for me to not be pregnant.

I know he’ll want to hold you often!

Daddy is definitely ready to have his wife back. You know I have been pregnant for about HALF of our 4 years of marriage.

He has been a trooper!

Some friends gifted us their box seats to Disney on Ice yesterday.

We took your aunt, uncle, cousins, sibling and our friends!

It was a blast!

I have to say, I was getting used to Edie being able to be less “baby” with things, but I get to start all over again.

I know I will cherish it – as you are the caboose in this Jenkins’ Train – woo woooooo!

Looking forward to zooming through this week and next and the next and then relaxing to await my precious baby.

Mommy adores you and your soccer legs!

.love.

(thanks to Paul and my sister for these photos… and my BIL for the PHOTOBOMB… and my nephew for lovin’ my bump)