Feature Friday.................

I LOVE WOMEN IN BUSINESS!!!! LOVE the idea! Love the fact that women do so much for our community, in fact most business owners in our community are women! So each week I will feature another women in Business! This is a great way for you to meet some new creative., wonderful ladies to help support. I will add her beautiful photos once my lap top gets back up and running!  


I did a interview with the next lady I am doing the feature with almost two years ago and we couldn't get over the change. Look back on some of my older posts and you should be able to check and see the difference in her answers then and now. Elaine is a person that is full of love and life! She grew up in Bremerton and stayed true to her roots in this area by starting her own photography business and is raising her two beautiful children here as well. I am blessed to call her a friend here is her new out look on her business. I can not wait to see where she is in another two years! 

1. How long have you lived in the area?
I have lived in Bremerton my entire life... so about 33 years.


2. How much family history do you have in the area? 
My parents are the only ones left in the area. Both of my brothers have moved away and started families, but I have no plans of ever leaving!


3.What is your favorite thing about the area?

I love that you can get in the car and drive 1-2 hours in any direction and be somewhere totally cool. I love the trees, the water, the mountain views, its beautiful and makes great portrait scenery.

4. What would you change if you could about the area?

 I wish there werent so many 'banks' on every corner. And not a real big fan of the nudie coffee stands. (maybe i'm just jealous, lol)

5. What made you start your own business? 

I started a business in 2001 making scrapbooks for others (Scrappin It For You). I have always loved photography, and my husband was really the one who encouraged me to pursue photography.

6. Where would you like to see your business be in 5 years?

In 5 years I would like to be able to support my family as a photographer. To be able to wake up everyday and make a choice to do what I love and support my family would be my dream. While i'm in dream land, I also want to open up my own shop, that is a photographers paradise. There are no camera stores left anymore and I want to change that.

7. What is the hardest part of having your own business?

The hardest part about owning my own business is deciding on pricing. I want to be 

affordable and yet at the same time be compensated for my time and costs. Its a hard compromise. And I struggle with it everytime I look at my price sheet.

8. Where would you like our town to be in over the next five years?

I would like our town to be more supportive of small businesses opening in the area. I think it would be nice for the cities to give tax breaks to small businesses opening up so they can have a chance to survive before taking a piece of their pie.

9. What is your favorite thing to do in our town? 

 Every year without fail, we go to the Kitsap County Fair.

10. What is your favorite Store in town?

My favorite store is Romy's, and Ish.

11. Do you give to any local charities you work with?

I support alot of military. I am a member of Operation Love Reunited and offer to do homecomings, and other portrait sessions with military. I also do alot of fundraisers for different organizations trying to raise money.

12.What is your business motto? 

My business motto is "I'm not your average photographer". And really, I'm not. I do so much MORE than just photographer. I am creative. I love to design. I love to create. I cant help myself. A majority of my business has been word of mouth. I like it that way. It makes me feel like I am doing a good job.

13.tell me anything you would love to share about your business. 

I have yet to find a type of photography that I dont enjoy! I look forward to working with all kinds of people on all different kinds of projects!

The small look at living at the NICU.

A popular question, with which I still have a hard time dealing with, was, “how are you doing?” I don’t think I’ve ever honestly answered that question to any one other than "Hubs" 

When we got the call that Chrystal was in labor it was all in slow motion. When I saw my two beautiful babies at their start of their 28th week, alive and at the moment I thought that my dreams had all become true. Little did I know that this would be the first few minutes of a nightmare I wouldn't be able to be awaken from for a very long time. What I saw at that time were my two beautiful baby boys! What we were looking at was translucent skin, tubes and wires all over their tiny bodies, seeing them so small not even able to let out a cry. At the time of one of my son's delivery he wasn't breathing and this lasted for minutes. I texted pictures of the babies to my best friends, and close family. With big smiles! I didn't realize how bad this was. I look at the pic's now and truly see I was in Shock and wearing rose colored glasses. 

Taking off those glasses for the first time, realizing that there is no way to describe what it feels like to have an early baby. No new mommy to be or woman ever contemplates the “what if” of preterm labor and birth, or complications. No one tells you of the details of what it would really be like to be in this situation. 

There is a time that you end up with this feeling of fear. Fearful that they won’t be okay…or that something is wrong with one of them, or God forbid something was wrong with Chrystal. Fearful that even a c-section birth would be too stressful on either boy.  Fearful that though the neonatologist said that babies born at that gestational age, that they had a 90 percent survival rate…that maybe one or both wouldn’t survive. They were worried about them because they were both so very small…would they be too small to survive? Would they be underdeveloped? Fearful that Chrystal would think she did something wrong to make this happen. Fearful that she thinks it’s her fault. Fearful she’d think I (we) hated her. Not that we loved her at that moment more then anything ( well besides those two beautiful babies that she just brought into this world.) 

When the time came later that night that we were told that we could now finally go see them. This feeling of being over the moon that you can FINALLY see your tiny babies. On the other side a little like you don’t want to see them because it’s going to be so scary to see them so helpless, There is nothing anyone can say to you when you have to look through the plexi-glass of an incubator to see your baby, or ask permission of a NURSE to touch YOUR baby…or the feeling when you first hold them…the feeling of relief that their okay and they have made it this far, but the feeling that it’s your fault. The only thing I was able to mutter out of my mouth was, “Hi, baby boy, I’m your mommy…I’m so so sorry.” All I could say for a few weeks in the NICU were I am so sorry.....sorry your here and not home, that you don't get to be in the same bed as your twin. it meant not holding them. Holding them would have stimulated them, It made it so they would both burn precious calories that they so needed to have to grow…to regulate their own temperature, to make blood, fat and everything else that they needed. It meant out of all the minutes in a day…at the beginning we held each of them 20.  Each of our babies learned to love us by us doing care…taking temperatures, changing diapers,.taking care of their umbilical cord's. That I can hold each of them by hand hugging them, the only way to touch them is to put your hand on the soles of their feet, and to cup their head. Stroking a preemie like you would a  term baby baby is too much stimulation, and isn’t ok for them, Nurse Amiee told me that this would be what we feel like with a big fever and someone touching us.

The only thing we could do was to pull up a chair and sit. Sit there and stare at them. Being there for us to feel better, all the while thinking that us being there made them feel better. To talk to each other, talk to the amazing  nurses…talk to them through their incubator/ isolette. so that they learned who we were from or voices. This was especially important to "Hub's" and I because they didn't grown in my tummy. So they didn't know our voices as much as they did their Auntie & Uncle and their two cousins. My thought through the first few weeks is that they didn't know who this stranger was talking to them, maybe they wanted or needed their oven's voice to comfort them and not mine. F & B learned affection, love, and security through these things I know that now, and it makes me realize that it was enough to help them strive. 

The sleepless nights thinking of how they were doing…the eagerness to be next to them even though we couldn’t hold them much, truly there are no words for it. We turned our world upside down and moved down to this amazing place that is called the Tree house where you can live until your babies are sent home. We stayed here for almost 65 nights, it wasn't home but it was better then driving the almost two hour drive one way to go home. 

The first time you see your baby turn blue because they are so small and early that they haven’t learned to self regulate is the worst heart wrenching feeling. The good news is,  that the bigger they get, the less often it tends to happen, and the more used to them you become. It gets to the point that spells don’t phase you, and how to stimulate them to breathe again is second nature. The beeps and alarms of the NICU become normal, and you can tell what each one means by it differing tone. The higher pitched and faster it is, the worse the reason. Being in the NICU was the worlds largest rollercoaster ride I have ever been on in my life, in trapping my family and close friends on this ride with us, times when things go great and then it starts to go backwards before you know it your four steps back. They would go off the Cpap then back on, transfusions, PICC lines out and back in, feeding tubes out and back in, Oxygen on and back off, with one baby when he came home he came on that and a monitor for his heart after a while it went off for now. 

I sat one morning looking in at one of my babies while the other one was in the room next to us and the only thing I could do was break down and cry.... The nurses held me as I cried these nurse's & the girls at the front desk became my best friends and family, my rocks. I would have never made it though all of this without them. 

So many times during the stretch of being in the NICU was spent crying, it was the only thing to do. Curl up and cry. I spent a great amount of time alone, Hubs had to work and I didn't feel like being social at the Treehouse, sometimes all I could do was to Just cry. Just let it all out. I had to stay calm to try to keep the people around me protected, not wanting to let anyone else carry this feeling. There were many,  many tears built up. They still a few months later come though from time to time. 

On their one month birthday they were doing well enough to be taken upstairs to the ICN, the next step to going home.... I was pushing it because in my mind going upstairs we can go HOME! Well then I realized the most of my nurse friends would no longer be with me by my side. 

Check back next week for the rest of the story.

Wordless Wednesday......

This was found on pinetrest!!! Love this picture and will need to find time to take a picture like this of the four of us. 

Tempt my Tummy tuesday

Well Tuesday is fun because Monday nights I make the meal I plan to share with you all. My memory card was deleted and I am told not to use it for a while so your going to get pictures that I get from photobucket or google search for a little while. The card is full of the babies pictures. I can only hope that they can be recovered like many people have told me. It truly has made me feel so sick to know I deleted their pictures of their first four months. 


With that being said here is what I tried to make yesterday. You all know how much I loved quick crock pot recipes and now with the babies and all the time I don't have I find the time to do one big meal plan on Sundays to set us up for the week with my lovely crock pot!  I hope you enjoy this recipe.

Beef Bourguignon

• ½ cup flour
• 1 pinch kosher salt
• 1 pinch pepper
• 5 pounds beef chuck, cubed up 
• EVOO. 
• 2 onions, sliced
• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced ( I used cream of mushrooms and that seemed to work great! 
• 1 cup fresh parsley, minced ( I have mine frozen so just pop it out of the ice tray! )
• 6 teaspoon minced garlic ( Again done in ice tray in freezer) 
• 4 bay leaves
• 2 cups white wine ( 3 buck chuck from Trader joes works great) 
• 1 1/2 cup beef broth ( I use trader joes) 

Directions

1. Mix the flour, salt, and pepper. Dredge beef in flour.
2. In a skillet placed on stovetop set to medium-high heat, heat oil and sear beef on all sides.
3. Add meat and remaining ingredients to Crock-Pot® slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 4-6 hours 

Serves: 6-8 Size: 6-7 quarts 

Meet me Monday...

1. What do you do when you are really upset to calm yourself down?

I start to cry.  Although I have to say and admit that I'm not really sure that it calms me down. I also get mad and real bitch at times. My husband is amazing and I do not know what makes him put up with me and love me the way he does. 

2. Did you go all out for V-day or is it just another day?

Typically, it's just another day. This year, we did what most new parents do, made dinner and tried to talk in between diapers and warming up milk. It was extra special today because we had two amazing little babies to hold and love. I do look forward to next year when we can start many new traditions.... I do see alot of fun things in our little family.

3. Are you more or less productive when Hubs is away?

Oh so much more, I turn and burn when the babies nap, I have a clear list of when to do what for my chores around the house, I try to keep my house up to the way it needs to be in order of what I expect from me. It's funny I have a few best friends and one that isn't a part of my family tree, she came over the other day and said she was so happy to see my house look like that of one that belongs to a mommy! So now when he is away at work I try really hard to keep it up but now I don't keep it as clean as I use to because I would rather play with my babies or catch up on a few emails or take a nap with them. I never thought that quote of "cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow." now I truly do. 

4. What is your favorite time of day and why?

Gosh...that's a hard one. 

But, I suppose, my favorite time of day is 3:00 when my husband comes home from work and I go back to sleep for a nap, sometimes I sleep till 4 sometimes till 7. It is kind of like working a graveyard when I let the hubs sleep and take the night shifts when he is working. I also love when all three of them are in bed and I can watch my shows, catch up on my blog and drink a nice cold diet coke. :) 

5. What is your go to karaoke song?

Ha! 

Soooooooo, my go to karaoke song is usually like a virgin, or pour some sugar on me! I also love anything by good old Niel D....

If I've had Pineapple juice and coconut rum,  I can sometimes convince myself that I sound good enough to belt out any handful of country artists or 90's top 100...but that requires a blood alcohol level that leaves me unable to drive a car or operate heavy machinery and I wind up with a queasy tummy and a pounding headache in the morning along with a ton of bruise's I discover in the shower the next day. Thank God I don't drink but once a year or two. 

Meet me Monday!!!!!

Welcome to Meet me Monday :)  On Wednesday night. :)



1. Would you rather be on ABC's Extreme Home MakeOver or TLC's What not to Wear?
Well, when Extreme Home Makeover first came on the TV, they came to our little town, it was a huge thing in our town, locals and people that just lived around the area were here to lend a helping hand. A time where a close knit community became even closer. I felt bad for the family that was part of it because I think even now years later people drive up the road they live on and down the dirt driveway just to look at the house. When they were in town for the first year or so after the show was on air, people would stare and point and whisper at them, so to be honest I have to say that I loved that show but now I think I need new things to wear and look my best so i would say What not to wear!


2. Do you have any tattoos?
Yes I do, I have my first one in the one place every girl my age..... in the good old US of A and another one is on my wrist its a awareness ribbon, but I want to have a few more, in the next year I want to get one that celebrates the birth of my boys and want to celebrate my 10th anniversary with my husband. 


3. Do you tell your kids about things you did growing up?
Yes, my parents were very truthful with me so I will do the same thing with my boys. I feel like I was a good kid that didn't get in too much trouble and when I did I came home and told my Mom. I can only hope that my boys love me as I love my parents. 


4. If the traffic signal turns yellow, do you stop or speed up?
Speed up baby! Better watch out I will hit you! :) I don't second guess myself if I am going for it I will just keep going. 


5. What's your preference: chocolate or chips?
How about Chocolate chips! I would say Chips I love milk Chocolate but I have to say that my salt licks of chips especially at my favorite place to eat Masa :) 

Feature Friday..... My good friend..... from Mac Kids..

I love this girl so much.!!! She is amazing and as a fellow blogger I have to say that she is great at what she does for out community. Diane is the kind of person that you instantly feel close with, I know that this is a friendship that I knew at our first time meeting we were going to be close friends for the rest of our lives. This lady is just wonderful and what she does in our community and the connection she has made in our community and encourages other to make within our community is just a little glimpse on how special she is and her love for our little piece of the world is just why I love her and I know after learning a bit more you will too! 

Macaroni Kid answers the age old question, “Mom, what are we going to do today?” 

We've become the go-to source for everything Kid and Family in Kitsap County. Parents from Bainbridge to Belfair, Port Orchard to Port Gamble are thanking us. Macaroni Kid is their new secret weapon for streamlining their hectic lives. We help them find out about the coolest events happening in the area for their kids. We scour the internet, the cities, social media, and newspapers, getting up early to bring parents, grandparents, teachers and others the most current and comprehensive event listings. We're helping them save time and money. But most importantly we're helping them to have fun with their family and friends. 

What was there before Macaroni Kid? Well, I can speak from experience. Since my youngest macaroni kid was a baby, I've been trying to find fun (and yes, mostly frugal) activities that were largely local (and only occasionally in Tacoma or Seattle). Back then, I was looking for baby signing classes for her and mommy groups for me. Over time it evolved into more activities with more frequency as I found location after location that had something cool and exciting that would be something great for a child to experience.

So, I found myself searching countless different websites, reading newspaper calendar sections,  grabbing directories at the doctor's office, reading every flyer on every bulletin board I passed, and talking to friends about places they went and fun ideas to do at home. 

Around this time last year, I saw Macaroni Kid national in a publication (it's been featured in “O Magazine,” “Redbook”, and “Scholastic Parent & Child”) and pulled up the website. From the national page, you can choose a state from a pulldown menu and see if there is a newsletter edition for your area. The closest one to Kitsap at that time was South Sound, so I signed up! I also saw the 'Become a Publisher Mom' button and clicked on it. The rest is history.

After several emails (because I had so many questions) to national headquarters and LOTS of thought, I knew deep down that being a MacKid Kitsap Editor & Publisher was an ideal fit. Heck, I was already doing all the work for my own family, so why not share it with others!? Plus, it would put my journalism degree to good use.
I've turned my passion for research and writing into a business. While I still maintain my 'day job' as a non-profit grant writer and (print) newsletter editor and designer, perhaps one day MacKid will be my only commitment beyond home and family. For now, I balance it all because I believe so fully in the vision set forth by the MacKid founders. 

Since the introduction of Macaroni Kid in the Hamptons in 2008, MacKid has branched into hundreds of other communities across the nation. Other mom (and a few dad!) editors and publishers have found the value and extraordinary power of Macaroni Kid.
MacKid remedies a problem. It saves parents time. It's the perfect avenue for organizations seeking to get the word out about their events and programs, and for businesses to make their products or services known to the parenting population in Kitsap County.
Remembering how important MacKid is to so many thousands of Kitsap residents keeps me motivated. I appreciate the feedback I've gotten online and at events from parents, grandparents, and teachers such as: 


"I love macaronikid because I have three young and busy boys and it's awesome to have a place to find activities inside out of the rain!"
-Hannah H., mom of 3 boys


"My favorite thing of Macaroni Kids is that I am a Grandparent and it gives me the opportunity to see what activities are happening best way from me to keep up to speed."
-Gloria C.

Military families, too! Macaroni Kid is the ideal resource for families that are transplanted somewhere new.


"Macaroni Kid has been such a gift to my family! We moved here just 4 months ago. When we get to a new area, we love to explore and see all the sights, but getting here (our first duty station on the West Coast) it was a little overwhelming findings things to do. A friend suggested Macaroni Kid, and now when I see the email, I get excited and begin planning our next outings!"
-Jodi U.

What was the world like before Macaroni Kid? It's like explaining to your kids the difference between a cassette tape and iPod. Either way, you get your music. One is just way more convenient, accessible, user-friendly, and holds more variety.
With one click of a mouse you can answer that dreaded age-old question – What ARE we going to do today?
Macaroni Kid is FREE and you get just 1 weekly email on Friday letting subscribers know the skinny on what's going on in Kitsap. Sign up for Macaroni Kid Kitsap now! 
(when you do tell them Kingstongirl sent you!)
www.kitsap.macaronikid.com