Happy Halloween!

This pretty much sums up the past 2 weeks for me:

(somewhere my assistant Suzanne is nodding her head fervently in agreement)

You should have seen this unfold in person. I made the two big kids sit and hold their smiles. Maddy wanted me to hold her, but we take this picture every Halloween in front of the house before we trick or treat, it's a tradition. So I plopped her down, kids frozen next to her, me screaming "GET CLOSER!! HURRY!!!!!!!" *snap*

Let's see, the past two weeks.... Everyone in the house caught the awful stomach bug that is going around, each of us had it for 2 days, and none of us had it on the same day. I was the last to catch it of course. Then half of us caught another respiratory thing with fever, then Monday I finally took Maddy to the doc where she was diagnosed with severe bronchitis and put on daily breathing treatments, oral steroids, and antibiotics. Have your kids ever been on steroids??? (Suzanne, again, is nodding in agreement) Take one ohhhhh let's just say rambunctious toddler and put her on steroids and you have the equivalent of Richard Simmons on crack. I HATE YOU! I LOVE YOU! PUT ME DOWN! NOW PICK ME UP! BUT WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T WORK OR EVER EVEN THINK OF LOOKING AWAY FROM ME!!!!!

Thus the desperate plea for a Mother's Helper last week (still haven't found anyone...keep the word out!)

Phew! That was exhausting to relive.

So here's the scoop on my behind-ed-ness (I just made up that word)

I sent out my first mini-session gallery today and will continue cranking those out over the weekend and into Monday, so if you are wondering where the heck yours is, it's on the way I promise.

Mini-Sessions were 3 weeks ago so if you've had a shoot in the past 3 weeks then that gives you an idea of where I'm at.

I will be caught up on editing and sneak peeks by the end of this week. So help me GOD.

Suzanne has all other office work caught up, so orders that have been placed and deliveries/pick ups are running on time, no delay.

Hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween tonight. Send me pictures of your kids in their costumes!!!

Deanna

Help Wanted ASAP

Last week's round of illness has me behind in a BIG way... so I am looking for a MOTHER'S HELPER who can work part-time starting ASAP.

Mother's Helper
Duties: help with 2 year old, light housekeeping and laundry, errands
Part-time hours M-F now through December only
Am willing to pay hourly or barter for pictures

Please if you know of anyone or are interested, call 972-596-5500 or email deanna@devine-memories.com

Possibly, the first true fall session

We had some pretty colors last week for this family session with my dear clients, thought I'd come up for air from all the illness around here and share (READ: I was having panic attacks in bed about how far behind I'm getting by being sick)

Sloooooow

Well, the sick bugs...every......single.......one of them.....have hit my house.

It couldn't have happened at a better time **dripping with sarcasm** as the craziest holiday season yet is in full swing.

Sneak peeks, online galleries, emails, phone calls, etc. etc. etc. will be very slow while I semi-shut down and get my kids better. 2 of 3 of them have fever and are vomiting, and I'm sure the third isn't far behind.

In the meantime, head on over to my buddy Jen's adoption blog and see a few of the images I took of her family officially bringing home their new baby girl.

Thanks, as always, for your understanding and patience as I try to get through each moment.

Deanna

Get ready for some serious sneak peek-age

Finally (it has been a LONG WEEK)... the mini sneak peeks!!

These were SO MUCH fun!!! I am chin-high in editing but had to share my faves!!

(these three cuties below belong to Suzanne, one of my assistants!)

Ohhhh, how I LOOOOVE my new lens

(more mini sneak peeks to come soon!)

Funeral Services for Christopher Seibert
Friday 10:30 am
St. Francis of Assisi
8000 El Dorado Pkwy
Frisco, TX

Burial following funeral servies at cemetary behind church
Reception at church following funeral and burial

Denise has requested that in lieu of flowers, she would prefer if everyone would either donate to the American Cancer Society on behalf of Christopher, or donate to the Seibert Family Fund to help Ethan for his future.

Christopher Seibert

I am so crushed and saddened to let all of you know that Christopher Seibert passed away early this morning.

Arrangements are being made and I will keep everyone updated. Please pray for Denise and Ethan. Even though Christopher was very sick, this is still so shocking and sudden in the grand scheme of things. He was so young and so full of life and fight.

Donations can still be made for Denise and Ethan at http://www.ourseibertfamily.com/

Caroline and Matthew

(in case you are wondering why I'm posting so many sneak peeks, I have mini sessions tomorrow and trying to get caught up)

This was such a fun session with these two cutie pies who totally knew how to WORK. IT.

(Can you believe the hair on this lil' doll? Color me jealous!)

The coolness factor was HIGH

Sophia in the Garden

5 year old girlie girl + Arboretum + mom's brilliant choice of clothing = Homerun for photographer!!!

Adoption Session-A Family United

I do realize that I am skipping a couple of sneak peeks for my very patient clients (sorry guys!) so don't get mad at me, but I just got home from this amazing event and just cannot help myself.

Aaron and Kara are old clients of mine, and when they called and asked if I could be there to photograph the LONG, LONG awaited arrival of their adopted baby Sophia at the airport, I have never been more honored. Or excited!!!

Kara has been overseas since mid-August, going through the very long process of paperwork to bring their baby girl home. Finally, today was the day, and after an incredibly long trip, they arrived this evening to greet a huge crowd of loved ones, waiting to meet the newest member of their family.

This was also big brother's first time to meet his new baby sister! But the instant they met, you could already feel the connection. When they put Sophia down, she crawled STRAIGHT to Brother. *tears*

I couldn't help but look thru them tonight and thought I would share them with you guys. After 2 long years of waiting for their daughter, I didn't want this family to have anymore waiting!!! :)

The arrival...

Getting to see Daddy!!!
Meeting her cousins..

Crawling to brother

(ps--I was lucky enough to have the one and only Jen of Sugar Photography accompany me on this shoot, and even luckier that she offered to take some additional shots! The last two are hers)

Mini Session Opening

I have a last minute opening for the mini sessions on Saturday that I have not been able to fill via the waiting list...it is for 11am. Please call or email ASAP if you are interested!! ****EDITED TO ADD--SPOT HAS BEEN FILLED. THANK YOU!!

972-596-5500
deanna@devine-memories.com

Back to the Sneaks

It's Maddy's b-day today and I'm swamped for time, but I wanted to quickly get a sneak peek up for some of my "regulars"(you may recognize these twins as babies on my website)

I have to say, I think I may have rocked this session...but you be the judge!!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear everyone...

If you are waiting to hear from me, aside from the obscenely busy holiday rush that I'm already weathering, October is THE CRAZIEST month for me personally.

But I did want to stop and wish my precious son Michael a HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY today!!!!!! It still pains me to say that he is TEN, double digits...but I am so very proud of my boy and hope today was his best so far. Here's a picture of him from his birthday party this weekend...

(the cake is a 3D guitar...email me if you want the cake maker's #...she's amazing!)

And tomorrow is Maddy's SECOND birthday...I know I don't even have to say how fast time has flown by. And while Maddy's short little life has definetly been the WILDEST ride I've ever been on, I'm loving every minute of it and laughing the whole way.

(The following picture is what I'm dealing with most of the time these days)

D

I'm here

Lots going on, and in the throes of the holiday rush... here is a very overdue sneak peek. (sorry Jen!!)

Recognize these kiddos?? Check the top of my blog....

All shot at the Dallas Arboretum. More sneaks to come!

Update.

Amber, Denise's best friend who has flown in from Alaska to be with the family, will be updating the Seibert's blog with the latest... Living Strong

Christopher is on oxygen today and it looks like hospice HAS been worked out, THANK GOD.

Total donations so far have totaled around $2700!! This is just about $1000 more since the last time I had checked!! This is FABULOUS!! But they still need more---one bill alone is over $3K. Please continue to ask friends and family to donate, at www.ourseibertfamily.com

Please continue to pray for Christopher, Denise, and Ethan.

Another request for Seiberts

If anyone has any connections with HOSPICE---Denise and Christopher's insurance is NOT COVERING in-home Hospice care. Devastating. Please get in touch with us if you have any connections in this industry!!!

PLEASE PRAY

************************************************************************************
*Updated information*
I just wanted to add an update without losing this post.

Although I'm waiting to hear back about the donation amount, I'm sure that there just can't be enough. Between the medical bills, Denise's loss of Christopher's income and possible loss of their home, continued medical bills for their son Ethan (who will now have an 80% chance of having the same type of cancer and must be screened starting around age 10) , there just can't be enough donations. (again the website is www.ourseibertfamily.com) This blog has hundreds of readers per day, if each of you could just give $10, it would make SUCH a huge difference!!!!!

Thanks to the kindness and generosity of our blog readers, friends, and Denise's AMAZING neighbors and church, many of their needs have been met!!! A lawyer provided their service, a mother's helper has been found, many have offered housecleaning services, and several offers for grocery and food have been provided. I am so moved by this, I have been in tears the last two days. I can't express to you how much this helps. Denise and Christopher, because of your generosity, will be able to ease their minds of everyday life and concentrate on each other in these final days. THANK YOU.

Please keep sending in your offers for help. If you are able to provide a meal, please email Mitzi at jeffandmitzi@hotmail.com .

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!

************************************************************************************

I just got back from my cousin's wedding in E. Tx, but have had a rather upsetting couple of days. Denise Seibert, whom I recently asked prayers for her family, stopped by my house yesterday (Friday) evening to drop off my son's party invitations that she had designed. When I asked how things were going, she couldn't hold back the tears. Doctors on Wednesday had told Christopher and Denise that there was no point in continuing chemo.

I was absolutely shocked. I had no idea.

Evidently this is a fast turn of events. Denise was obviously falling apart, as she was on her way to pick up Christopher from work (can you believe he has never stopped working through all of this?) because he was mumbling and having trouble functioning. She was terrified. She has never allowed the scenario of losing Christopher to enter her head. It was all about fighting off the cancer and they were going to win. He is 32 years old, their son is TWO. THIS IS SO UNFAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!

A neighbor of Denise's, who is also my client, called me today to let me know that things were not good. Christopher is in liver failure. This is likely the end. Days, maybe weeks. Hospice has been called.

PLEASE, PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS FAMILY. PLEASE PRAY FOR PEACE FOR CHRISTOPHER, DENISE, AND ETHAN. PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS YOUNG MOTHER, HER YOUNG CHILD. PRAY FOR CHRISTOPHER TO HAVE NO PAIN OR SUFFERING.

If anyone is in the Frisco area and would like to pitch in, this family is in dire need of support. They need the following:

a housekeeper or someone to clean up the house

help with babysitting or a mother's helper

a lawyer--immediately

they need dinners/food/grocery

The family is in great need of financial assistance as well. Insurance is run out. Denise is facing the loss of her husband, and creditors are calling her at all hours badgering her for medical bills. THIS IS NOT FAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here again is the website created by their friends, with a place to donate: http://www.ourseibertfamily.com/

When Denise and her own family was in need, she never let on, and instead gave to those who needed it. She reached out to the Freeman family financially and emotionally (more client/friends who lost Dad this year) and to countless others. I want to show her that there is still good in the world in this time of blackness.

If nothing else please, please pray/send good thoughts.

Deanna

The Maternity Session that would not be

So today I was supposed to be shooting a maternity session for this beautiful couple, they were due in October. But Monday I got an email from Mom *from her hospital bed* saying she was in labor and it looked like the maternity session was a no-go. I held today for her... just in case!! And sure enough, they came home just in time. These guys were amazing and such troopers to have a home invasion just days after leaving the hospital. Born Monday, photographed Friday...now that is fresh.

Poor Mom...

...I promised her a same day sneak peek with the *footnote of "unless Maddy keeps me from it". Well, if you've seen my undereye circles this week and my drained expression, you know that Maddy did indeed keep me from it. My first non-same day sneak peek, my streak is over. Bummer!

This family is special as they are old friends, they were even the first session I did 2 years ago after returning from maternity leave, and then came back a few months later for baby girl's arrival. Couldn't believe how much the girls have grown, and my goodness are they stunning!!! See for yourself...

(Maybe I should start a collection of the peek a boo pictures)