over the years, she filled herself with the best the world could offer,
but she still kept a little place open for frozen peas.
- storypeople
over the past few days, we've been putting our frozen peas to good use.
steve's surgery was yesterday, scheduled for 8:45 AM. max's birthday party was yesterday, 10 AM - 1 PM. i had told max's parents that i wasn't going to be able to shoot max's party, due to steve having surgery on the same day. then i read that max wasn't doing well; his neuroblastoma blood indicators continue to go up and they are losing their battle again neuroblastoma. hearing max's parents say this ripped at my heart. they are always so positive and hopeful and while they continue to hold on to hope, reality is also sitting at their table. so i talked to steve about everything and asked him how he felt about me leaving the hospital once he was in surgery and returning when he was in recovery. he said it was okay. even though he said it was okay, i felt bad (i didn't want him to think i didn't care about him) and told him that i would ask a friend if she could shoot max's party. steve said, no...for me to do it b/c what was i going to do but sit there, while he was in surgery.
so, we arrived at the hospital yesterday at 7:30 for the scheduled 8:45 AM surgery. got bummed an hour for a surgery that came through the ER. then got bumped again. i ended up leaving at 11 AM, before steve actually went into surgery. he ended up not getting taken back to the OR until 12:45.
timing actually worked out for the best and i was able to photograph max's main birthday events and get back to steve before he came out of surgery.
everything went well with steve's surgery. they went through his mouth and placed an L-shaped plate and four screws on his zygomatic arch bone (the one that you feel below your eye). all the other fractured bones were not displaced and will heal on their own. steve is currently in a lot of pain (although the pain meds are working pretty well) and very, very swollen. he can't open his mouth very wide and he can only eat really soft foods (lots of jamba juice). he's also using frozen vegetables on his face (an improvised soft ice pack), to help with the swelling. one time he grabbed frozen onions and i told him he can't use onions b/c when they start to thaw, he's going to smell like a big onion head. she's now sticking with frozen peas and corn :-)
so while things are beginning to normalize, i'm now playing catch up with things (voice mails, emails, editing...life).
and very thankful everything worked out...
my mom is doing well, with no residual effects from the stroke.
steve's surgery went well and hopefully after a week of recovery, he will be back to himself. (yes, if all heals like it should, he's going to iraq in 2 weeks.)
i was able to capture max's 7th birthday party after all. happy birthday buddy!
but she still kept a little place open for frozen peas.
- storypeople
over the past few days, we've been putting our frozen peas to good use.
steve's surgery was yesterday, scheduled for 8:45 AM. max's birthday party was yesterday, 10 AM - 1 PM. i had told max's parents that i wasn't going to be able to shoot max's party, due to steve having surgery on the same day. then i read that max wasn't doing well; his neuroblastoma blood indicators continue to go up and they are losing their battle again neuroblastoma. hearing max's parents say this ripped at my heart. they are always so positive and hopeful and while they continue to hold on to hope, reality is also sitting at their table. so i talked to steve about everything and asked him how he felt about me leaving the hospital once he was in surgery and returning when he was in recovery. he said it was okay. even though he said it was okay, i felt bad (i didn't want him to think i didn't care about him) and told him that i would ask a friend if she could shoot max's party. steve said, no...for me to do it b/c what was i going to do but sit there, while he was in surgery.
so, we arrived at the hospital yesterday at 7:30 for the scheduled 8:45 AM surgery. got bummed an hour for a surgery that came through the ER. then got bumped again. i ended up leaving at 11 AM, before steve actually went into surgery. he ended up not getting taken back to the OR until 12:45.
timing actually worked out for the best and i was able to photograph max's main birthday events and get back to steve before he came out of surgery.
everything went well with steve's surgery. they went through his mouth and placed an L-shaped plate and four screws on his zygomatic arch bone (the one that you feel below your eye). all the other fractured bones were not displaced and will heal on their own. steve is currently in a lot of pain (although the pain meds are working pretty well) and very, very swollen. he can't open his mouth very wide and he can only eat really soft foods (lots of jamba juice). he's also using frozen vegetables on his face (an improvised soft ice pack), to help with the swelling. one time he grabbed frozen onions and i told him he can't use onions b/c when they start to thaw, he's going to smell like a big onion head. she's now sticking with frozen peas and corn :-)
so while things are beginning to normalize, i'm now playing catch up with things (voice mails, emails, editing...life).
and very thankful everything worked out...
my mom is doing well, with no residual effects from the stroke.
steve's surgery went well and hopefully after a week of recovery, he will be back to himself. (yes, if all heals like it should, he's going to iraq in 2 weeks.)
i was able to capture max's 7th birthday party after all. happy birthday buddy!
{{ hugs}}
You are a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, and friend to Max as well
What a week...not sure how you've juggled all those hats you're wearing but you're a strong girl and if anyone could do it it's you. I'm so glad to hear that your mom is doing well. And Steve, well it looks bad, I'm sure it feels worse, but it can only get better from here. He's a great husband Deb to encourage you to go to Max, a decision I don't think you'll regret. I am praying God gives Max and his family a miracle...
Holy Cow Deb! You are amazing! Like the above comment, you are an incredible mother, wife, daughter and friend! You give so much of yourself. You are a rare breed!
As sad as it is that Steve is in so much pain, I absolutely LOVE that picture of him on the couch with the bag of peas! Just captures the story! The lighting and conversion is beautiful!!! See how you are Deb, you take a situation that isn't so pleasant, and you turn it into a work of art.
Speaking of a situation that isn't so pleasant, I will pray for Max and his family tonight. He's such a brave little boy. A true inspiration to us all.
All my best to you and your family.
J