to blog or not to blog...

appreciate the moment...

In a very scary turn of events this weekend a dear friend of mine ended up in the ICU.  We have had a long couple of days but things are really looking up as of this afternoon.  I'm sharing this with all of you not so you can shake your heads and wonder what else could possibly happen around here to slow up production (I AM working on getting this taken care of), but as a reminder.  If there is something to be learned by the events of the last few days it's that we need to appreciate those around us.  I have a huge and amazing group of friends, we can be overbearing and a pain sometimes but when it matters, really matters we are there to take care of one another.  I know that in the event something should happen to me my friends would be there to help in any way they can.  I'm very fortunate to have a very large family that I know would be there taking charge, but you can bet my friends would be right in the thick of things making sure all loose ends were being dealt with.   Please, I ask you to take a look around you, know who those people are that would come to your rescue in the event of an emergency and tell them how grateful you are to have them in your life.  I know this week has just reaffirmed what I already knew about my friends and was a very eye opening reminder that I don't tell them often enough how grateful I am to have them in my life.  So to all of my friends(I think there are only a few of them that actually pay attention to my ramblings...), truly words can not express how much I appreciate each and every one of you.  You each bring something special and unique into my life and I am forever thankful you have found your way into my life. 

A quick note to my clients... I really can not begin to tell you thanks for all you have put up with the last several weeks.  I had such high hopes of beginning the year off on the right foot and shortening production times, and here it is the end of February and they have been longer than ever.  I am working very hard right now to get the things that need to be caught up taken care of and the proofs that need to be delivered finished.  I am forever grateful for your never ending patience.

Stacy

to do something good...

Honestly I know I've said this before but it really has been a rough couple of weeks here.  Today is the first day in 2 weeks where all 4 of us have felt semi-normal, one small step, I'll take it.  While feeling miserable the last few weeks or while tending to a sick child or husband I have spent plenty of time snuggling and just waiting for the call of "mom" which has left me plenty of time to cruise the internet on my iPhone (why I didn't use the laptop is beyond me!).  I have a favorite photography related board I visit frequently (most likely more than I should some weeks!).  While digging through some recent posts I came across a post about a boy named Hunter. Hunter is a 5 year old little boy fighting the battle of his life right now he was diagnosed with a rare form of non hotchkins lymphoma called Burkitts cancer. It only affects about 300 children a year.  Five...  really made me sit back and realize that while we were all sick and cranky, I still had a lot to be thankful for.  Hunter is on a mission, all he wants is to break the world record for receiving the most paper airplanes.  Below is Hunter's story and how you can help.  I hope you will take a few minutes to fold a paper airplane and send it on to Hunter.  I know my family and I will be working on a box of airplanes this weekend. 

Hunter's Story:

"My son Hunter has been diagnosed with a rare form of non hotchkins lymphoma called Burkitts cancer. It only affects about 300 children a year. Usually between the ages of 2 and 11 and its usually boys but can effect girls also. Burkitts is one of the fastest growing tumors that we know of. He went into the hospital on a Friday and the tumor was about the size of a tennis ball. By Monday it was a little bigger than a cantaloupe. He was started on cemo and it shut down his kidneys and then his liver started failing. On Wednesday, He told me that he could not see very good and then he quit breathing. He had tubes placed down his throat, nose, arms, and toes. He has swelling of the brain due to high blood pressure. Hunter went into the hospital weighing 40 pounds and now weighs about 70 because of fluid build up. He is now stable and is in the intensive care unit at Buffalo Children's Hospital in Buffalo, NY. Hunter is only five years old. I would just like everyone to know, that Hunter has been set up with the Guinness book of world records to try to receive the most paper airplanes. Please forward this on to everyone that you know. All you have to do is make a paper airplane and write the state or the country you are from on the wing of your plane and send it to..

Hunter Winship (The Airplane Cancer Goal)
11227 North Hill Road
Freedom, NY 14065
United States of America"

Happy Valentine's Day! Share the LOVE...

It has been a really rough 2 weeks in this house, between Eli having the flu for 4 days and then promptly catching a nasty cold which he so kindly shared with the rest of us, it's been a long 2 weeks.  I'm hoping today will be the hump that we slowly climb over because I'm not sure how many more days I can handle of snot stained shirts, misc. kleenex and endless snoring.  Enough complaints from me though, I know I'm not the only one going through this.  I have been trying to get newborn portraits done for a great client but her little 2 week old caught her big sisters cold, I'm certain that has to be worse than what we're dealing with.  Here's to hoping we're both feeling better tomorrow.

In an effort to feel positive this Valentine's Day I've decided to run my "Share the Love" promotion again this year.  It was such a HUGE hit last year so I thought I would again Share the Love with my clients and in turn let them Share the Love with their friends and family.  Please be sure to read the promotion carefully, it is for 2 sessions, one for you and one to give away to a friend or family member (or just split the cost).  I know you're wondering what the *catch* is, and with all good promotions there is one, tiny, little catch, the person you gift or split the promotion with HAS to be a new client to Artistic Impressions.  That's it, doesn't sound so bad does it...  Imagine a FULL portrait session for only $50!  This is the only time of year I run a promotion this GREAT...

flu season...

So I opened my big mouth a week or so ago to a girlfriend that was telling me her stories of strep-throat being passed from child to child to parent in her house, without thought my mouth opened and out came "we have been so healthy this year, beyond a few silly colds and a 10 day cough we've been really healthy".  It was like the kiss of death, my little guy started throwing up on Sunday and as of 4:00 this morning was continuing with the trend.  Now as of this afternoon I'm fairly certain he is on the mend, because his "I love you mommy" has turned into "you're so mean" when I refused to feed him a ham and onion sandwich for lunch (another clue he's getting better, the first time in days he's asked for real food). 

To those of you waiting on orders chances are good they're here and I just haven't had the chance to open the boxes or they will be here in the next day or two.  Due to the storms some boxes have been at a stand still or rerouted.  I apologize if I haven't returned a call or email to you this week, this is the first time since Saturday that I've even stepped in the office.  I promise to get caught up through the weekend with all emails and calls.  If you have an emergency please put that in the subject line of your emails or let me know it's important in any messages left and I will make it priority to get back to you.  I appreciate everyone's patience.  Now let's just hope E is the only one to come down with this (probably another kiss of death...)