My "bump" in the road...

I have not been very open about this part of my life in the past;

things have changed, times have changed, I have changed.

As many of you know, and to some it may be quite a surprise, I have Cystic Fibrosis.

Searching the Internet will lead you to read many, many scary and horrific descriptions of this awful disease. I live with it on a daily basis, and have my whole life. Text-book definitions are simply a generic version of what typically happens. First hand I can tell you that I have amazingly great days, and quite a few not so good days thrown into the mix.

Cystic Fibrosis, or "CF" to us who use the term on a more regular basis, affects my whole body (but more often my respiratory and digestive systems). Most simply put, my body makes too much mucus and it gets in the way of my organs functioning properly. I get a lot of serious lung infections (cough, cough, cough) and struggle gaining and maintaining a healthy body weight. I spend a nice amount of time every day popping pills and doing treatments to keep myself healthy and pain and infection free.

(about 3 hours to be exact!)

As many of you also may have noticed, I have had a very hard winter health wise. This past fall I had a med-port surgically inserted in my chest so that I can receive IV antibiotics as often as I need them, and lately it has been more often than not. I was hospitalized this past Monday for a chest infection (don't worry, I am not contagious!) and am now home pumping myself full of antibiotics to once again get rid of these bugs that won't leave me alone.

There is no cure right now, but the CF foundation is closer than ever. I know that this has been said before, but seriously, they are pretty darn close. There are a few very VERY promising drugs that are on the brink of changing the quality of my life, and the lives of everyone who lives with this crappy disease.

I am not telling you this so that you will feel sorry for me, but to make you aware of this disease and how real it is. Many, many others live their lives with CF and it has even claimed a few of my close friends this past year. I am very blessed. I live a fairly normal life. I have two beautiful children, an amazing husband, and am considered "healthy" in terms of this disease. I have a wonderful support system, a family who will do absolutely anything for me; they are the best a girl could ask for!

Cf does not define me, Christina. It never has and it never will. It is just my "bump" in the road that I am hoping to someday get rid of!

Thank you for your continued prayers.

My family and I are walking again this year to raise money to help find a cure

(...or fund the one in the making!)

If you are interested in making a donation, please click the Great Strides link below.

Another giveaway

Another great giveaway!

For all of you photographers reading my blog...here is another very generous give away from Sassy Designs!

Show me your smile...

This week has been a rough one for me. I promise to update with more photos a little later!

Happy Birthday Sara!

Cousins Adalyn and Alina in their matching outfits.

My sick baby did not want to smile for anything!

Alina did though, and I got some beautiful pictures of her!

My husband Ross and Nannie.

Isn't she a beautiful woman?!

My kids love birthdays!

Sara blowing out her candles with a little help!

Happy Birthday Sara!

Yesterday we spent the day celebrating my husband's, Aunt Sara's birthday. It was a wonderful day of laughing, playing, and spending time with family. Although I spent most of the day sick, that still did not keep me from taking a few pictures!

My little musician...

My little man is obsessed with instruments.

Any instrument. Anything that makes music.

Leave some love!

I would love to hear from those of you reading my page. Comments honestly make my day!

Let me know what you think, all feedback is appreciated!

You can also find me...

Keeping up with Stella

Ohio Fashionista Blog

My photography, showcasing a few of my friend Kristy's NoodleNoggins hats, has been published on a few blogs recently! Check them out!

Meet Zoey

Meet Zoey, our family dog.

Besides the fact that Zoey had me running all over the neighborhood today trying to catch her, in 4 feet of snow, I sure do love her!

Zoey is really a great dog. A great dog with an unknown past!

Just a year ago, Zoey was found in a friend's garage- obviously abandoned- shivering cold in the February blizzard of 2009. Hesitantly, Ross and I decided to open our hearts and allow her into our home as the family pet. She came house trained and ready to love (and be loved)! This turned out to be a wonderful decision.

We honestly could not ask for a better dog. Zoey is great with the kids; when I say great, I mean she goes above and beyond her call of duty. If you know my children, you know that they really REALLY enjoy playing with her. With them being toddlers, this sometimes means to the point of what most dogs would consider as torturous! Not Zoey. She loves every second of it.

Whoever abandoned this adorably loving dog was crazy.

All she has ever asked of us was to be loved, and she sure is!

It is such a joy to watch my two babies interact.

They love each other so much. Caleb calls Addy his "best friend", and Addy follows Caleb around the house with such admiration.

I found them "cuddling" on the couch together today (watching Little Bear) and Caleb could not keep his hands off of her head.

Watching them giggle, tease and sometimes antagonize each other reminds me of how too quickly they are growing up.

They both will forever be my babies, but I just want to hold onto these moments forever.

For now I will live for the minute and enjoy every second...

every laugh,

every tear,

every cherry Popsicle covered kiss.

I am so blessed!

Check it out...

Visit The Savvy Photographer Site!

Sweet Baby Paisley

I had a wonderful newborn session today with little Paisley.

She is such a sweetheart!

A glimpse into the world of a four-year-old...

My sweet little boy.

Caleb is an extremely detail oriented child. Everything must line up perfectly, in his little 4-year-old mind, for him to remain happy. He clutches onto the small things in life with every ounce of innocence he has.

Lately he has had an obsession with panda bears. This morning I found him "teaching" his bears how to read. They were playing school. This is what I found; everything lined up so perfectly... Notice his large stuffed panda in front of the larger panda in the book, and the smaller one is in front of the smaller one. He found the book about panda's himself, to be honest, I did not even know we owned that book. Caleb has four stuffed panda bears, but only two are in "class" since there are only two in the photo.

Oh how I would love to hang onto moments like these forever...just freeze time right where it is.

I sure love my little boy, he is my world!

Calling all newborns!

I am still have 2 more spots to fill for Newborn model sessions! I prefer 2-10 days old, and can be boy or girl. Twins would be awesome! My models will receive a free session (a $75 value) and an 8x10 of their choice! All photos from the session will still be placed on my online gallery and may be purchased as well. This is a great opportunity to get some photos of your newborn for a great deal!

Please pass this on to anyone who may be interested!

Adalyn

Sweet. Beautiful. Happy.

This girl stole my heart away 20 months ago.

She is Mommy's little princess!

On a side note, my health has taken a turn for the better! Thank you to everyone who has placed me on a prayer chain and has prayed for me over these past few, very rough months. I am now on a medication that is making me feel a ton better. So thank you! God is good!

Caleb loves his Uncle Matt!

I guess my recents posts are starting to develop a theme; family. I love my family more than anything! They really are the greatest! My brother braved the blizzard yesterday and came over to spend time with me and the kids (we really were going stir-crazy). My precious son Caleb sure does adore his Uncle Matt, and them interacting gave me a chance to play around with my new lens!

P.S. Leave me some comments! They really do make my day and I love to here from everyone stopping by.

Love day is coming...

Adalyn my sweet girl!

I am going to start this out with a few new pictures of my daughter, Adalyn, that I took over the weekend! She is seriously the most precious, dainty, sweetest little girl ever. I am so blessed that I am her mommy! She makes my heart smile!

So there I go again skipping days, haha, i told you that this was a challenge for me!!

I am very excited about my newest toys arriving in the mail today. I purchased an 85mm 1.8 lens and an sb-900 flash! These will be fun to play with at my upcoming newborn sessions.

I hope those friends of mine that live in Ohio are staying warm today! This is the perfect snow to build an igloo with!

365 Project and Christina Sommers Photography

I am obviously not that big into blogs. Don't get me wrong, I sure enjoy stalking other photographers through their blog, but I somehow lack the discipline to blog daily myself. Well things officially are going to change now. I am starting this once again for a project called 365. I will take a photo every single day and at the end will have a year of my life documented, through pictures! This will challenge my creativity, and force me to see life "outside of the box".


I will also throw in some awesome photo session sneak peeks and personal tidbits from my oh-so-crazy everyday life!





As for today, I am well-rested and ready to go. I was quite sick at the beginning of the week, so it feels good to almost be back on my feet. I ordered a few new backdrops yesterday and I can't wait to use them! Hopefully they are here by the beginning of next week!

I obviously did not take the picture I am posting today. It is one of my brother and me at his Millitary Ball last weekend. I am so blessed to have such an awesome family!