Pixel Perfect Before & After

It’s Pixel Perfect time again.  It’s been a long time since I participated!  This is an older picture of the girls, but I really liked it!

SOOC  Before

After  edited with Picnik.com, cropped and lightened exposure, ended with Cross Process

Wordless Wednesday

Weeds VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Click to enlarge the pics.

Working on focus on these pictures.  Having a hard time.  What setting are you using to focus?

Also having fun with texture and playing with color.

2 Weeks

It’s official.  It has been two weeks since the husband has been out to sea.  What a transition for me and the kids!  Actually, they are doing much better now.  In fact, they are handling my ever so mean hearted witch like mood swings I've had since the arrival of my monthly visit from Mother Nature has taken place!  

Normally, daddy is around to protect our children from being persecuted for leaving crumbs on the floor, but he's not here right now.  And I've been trying really really hard to make a conscious effort to divert the inner witch, but my son has unleashed her lashings more than once (only because he finds it humorous until he's been punished) until my inner self was able to put her away.

I wish I could share stories of how hard and depressing it is without him...and I just need someone to be here to help...or the this is when I need my family the most type stories.  But I don't have any right now..  I do have some very close friends of the family who have lend their support, but for the most part, we're doing pretty good! Don't take me wrong...I do miss him a lot.  And the kids really miss him too.  I just think we know how to keep ourselves occupied so we don't think about his absence everyday.

I say this now, this is only a one month sea trial.  So, I might be singing a different tune when he's gone for four!  We shall see!

For now, I thought I would share some cool pics for you all.  They are not high quality, but still cool!  They are pictures of the day the boat pulled out.  The kids and I never saw this before (shame on me) so I found it pretty exciting!  It kinda made me proud that my husband was working that boat!

1-1-11

What did you all do for the very first day of the new year?

We did nothing...well, almost nothing.  It was nice to wake up late and just hang out with out any plans.  My dad and I did most of the food prep last night, so we weren't in a rush to get to cooking, but tonights dinner was so so delicious!  I'm not sure what traditions you all follow, but one of ours (probably every southern family) is to have black eyed peas and something green...like cabbage or collard greens!  Our green of choice was collard greens, cooked with smoked pork bones.  We started them in 2010 and they finished up in 2011.  Although, not a traditional Korean New Year food, I made oxtail soup for my dad.  OH, it was so good!  And our meat of choice was slow cooked baby back ribs on the grill.  Charlie was in charge of the chocolate cake and Katie in charge of the red velvet, dessert was yummy!

So, to begin the new year, I wanted to share some pics of the day.  Nothing fancy or special, but just nice.  The weather was perfect, no rain and no wind! 



Acting so sweet and innocent!



Can you guess why these clothes are drying on the chair???

  

After the incident!

Charlie being cheesy...I can't get a nice pic of him anymore!

Oh, how she loves her Grandpa!

Lillian and Granpa

Enjoying the nice day

Pixel Perfect: Photo Contest

I decided to go ahead and enter into the Pixel Perfect Photo Contest.  This will be my first photo entry for a contest of any kind, but I really really really wanted to share this picture.  The theme for the contest is “the innocence of a child”

In this picture, there are three little kids.  Lillian is in the middle and two little boys are on either side of her.  The innocence of this picture reminds me that young children will never see her and see Down syndrome…they only see and know Lillian.  How innocent is that?  Sweet, isn’t it?

I don’t plan on winning, but I just wanted to get it out there.  Children are only innocent until they are taught otherwise. 

31 for 21:16

Tomorrow is our Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk in Sacramento!  I want to take this time to THANK everyone who is walking on Lillian’s Team and for those who have donated (there is still time to make a small donation!)  I am so happy to share that I have reached and surpassed my goal!  My friends and family members are true heroes to me and I’m so glad they are willing to stand up and give back to a life that is so very precious to me!

I am so happy to have such great friends and family supporting Down syndrome Awareness … and supporting Lillian. 

All over the United States and the all over the world, people are walking to spread the news about Down Syndrome.  They are sharing their life stories and building a strong network of supporters, people who will offer friendship, guidance and care. 

I can’t thank you all enough!

Sincerely…with tons of LOVE!

Sonia

Pixel Perfect blog hop

I haven’t done a blog hop in a very long time!  But I did enjoy this one, the Pixel Perfect blog hop!

SOOC

Sony Alpha 330, stock lens

 

Edited

I edited using Picnik

I saturated the colors, boost the exposure and then used the cross process edit

31 for 21:13

 What are they looking at? 

 

31 for 21:12

First, I would like to Thank Ms. Sally from Swiss Family Carter for her sweet comment of my Lillian and for asking me some questions!  But, she is also another mother in this fantastic club that I belong to AND she happens to live in Switzerland!
She asked some very good questions:

• What sort of therapies do you receive for Lillian right now?  Right now, Lillian is receiving Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Developmental Therapy and Speech Therapy (however we are taking a hiatus on Speech). All within the week for an hour each.  I believe, this is pretty typical throughout the United States.  Every state and county here will offer something or will try to find you the resources for your child.  Now, I could be wrong, but we received very good services when we lived in Washington and now here in Northern California.
• Are you happy with what you get?  I am happy.  She has a great group of people working with her and caring for her.  They are patient and stern when needed (she’s becoming very cheeky).  They also provide me with a lot of support and information.  Not only do they help Lillian, they are very good at listening to my concerns.
• Have you ever been to Europe?  YES YES YES!!! I am a certified genuine 100% Air Force Brat!  My father served in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years and 22 of them were served overseas.  I lived in Spain, England, Japan and Korea.  I’ve traveled to Germany, Scotland, Wales, Holland, Italy and did a drive by through Luxemburg.  Now that I’m a Navy Wife, I spent a short amount of time in Italy when my husband was stationed there for a year.
• Ever likely to visit?  I think I answered that question above.  However, I know I’m going to go back one day…because I love Europe!  However, when I do go back, you will most likely be in Australia by then…so maybe we’ll have to take a vacation down under???

So, Ms. Sally, How about you answer these same questions???  I would love to know more about the services you Ms. J is receiving and I want to know if you have been to the U.S.  And will you make a visit any time soon???  In fact, if you are from another state or another country, please answer these questions!  I would love to know more and see how much different or same our services are.
And for the rest of you…I’m still open for some questions.  Email me if you like or just post a comment here!  Don’t be shy…

There’s no better cure for sadness than laughter…so Lillian says Laugh Laugh and Laugh.

At least once everyday!

 

31 for 21:10

So, tonight is another picture night.  I’m in the mood for pictures.  But I have to explain that I’m not the studio loving type.  I like realistic, up close and in your face, having fun with color type of pictures. I’m not a photographer, but I wish I was.  But I’ll share some of my favorites.

AND…to make this post a real 31 for 21 post I’m gonna throw in some Down syndrome Facts.

Down syndrome shows no favoritism.  Whether you are a blue collar or white collar family. Black family. Asian family. White family.  Latino family.  Middle Eastern family…the list goes on.  Down syndrome can present itself to every type of family out there.  Even the mixed up families, like ours.

So, here’s to my own personal lovelies.

us

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BUT, if you really want to see some fantastic photos, go visit Erin’s photo blog.  AMAZING. 

Family Picture Time

At last!  We finally did our family pictures!!!  Well, sort of...

We had our pictures taken with the fabulous Michelle from MRS Photography.  She captured some fantastic pictures for us, but Miss Lillian was not being cooperative. She wanted to run the field and do her own thing!  However, because Michelle is wonderful at what she does, she was still able to get some fantastic shots of the fam.  We are having another session with her, earlier in the day this time!

So, please head over to her blog and let me know how they look.  AND for those of you who want to see more can go to her gallery.  They are password  protected, but I think you can figure it out!

Did I mention how awesome she is????

(p.s. more will come later as she is our photographer for the Littlest Hero Project)

Wordless Wednesday...pretty new shoes

We have been looking for a pair of shoes to fit Lillian's feet with her new orthotics...I think we found them!

Before/After Blog Hop

I'm getting this in late, but wanted to get in regardless.  I'm always open to CC....a newbie needs to learn!

SOOC

After:  Flikr Editing - Cropped and Cross Process

Taken on a Sony a330, stock lens.  Cropped and edited with Flikr editing program.

Nasolacrimal duct probing part 2 (picture heavy!)

Lillian's surgery went off without a hitch!  Thank you everyone for thinking and praying for us that day!  It may have been a minor surgery, but it still had me shaking in my shoes.  It's never fun to have to see your kid wake up from anesthesia and they are scared.  That was the hardest part of the entire 10 minute procedure!

Her post op appointment went well.  The doc was really pleased with her eyes.  In fact, one of her therapist today noticed a change already.  We are all kinda shocked that her eyes are doing so well in a short amount of time!

(Sorry, the image quality on these are poor.  They were taken on cell phone)

I did want to say that the nurses and staff at the hospital were TERRIFIC!  They treated Lillian like a superstar that morning.  When we arrived and they wanted me to put her gown on her, there was the sweetest little teddy bear on her bed, just waiting.  It was a very nice gift from the hospital. One of the nurses even brought a wagon and gave her a ride down the hall!

And another great surprise!  Today in the mail, Lillian got a card from the nurses and doctors who worked with her.  I'm not sure if all hospitals do that, but it was really nice of them to do so.  They all signed it too!

Hey....if you get a chance, over to the right is a picture link to a military spouses/girlfriend competition.  I could really use some more votes...Please!

Photography Fun

What do you think?

I'm trying to get an upper hand on this camera of mine.  And what I'm learning is manual is the way to go!  ALSO, editing is just as important.  However, you still need the eye to find the right shot.  And I've been busy taking pictures, with very few right shots!

But,  I wanted to share some self pics I've been working in Photobucket.  They have some pretty neat tools.  I'm using Photobucket because I don't have a true editing program, but hope to one day soon.

So, here they are...a few self portraits of myself.  Please feel free to critique them...just remember to be nice!  I am a beginner at this!

My lovelies

When the weather outside is warm...

The kids will swim up a storm!