Moms don’t miss out on being IN your portraits with your kids. Because let me tell you, after Nickie saw these, she LOVED them.

We did last year’s photos of the boys in Antioch Park and decided to keep up the tradition. There was one image of Corbin from last year that I wanted to recreate this year to document the change. He’s getting closer to breaking hearts ladies, watch out!

Cooper can be a bit shy around people he doesn’t know very well, like me, since I don’t see him often. I hear he can be kinda crazy though when you do know him and I so wish I could capture that spunk! One day, Cooper, one day.

The light, oh the light. It just was perfect. Total textbook definition GOLDEN HOUR LIGHT. Swoon. Love.

Until this Fall, because Nickie, you know it’s going to happen again! Can’t wait!

Here’s some favorites of mine from the images and a little video of the whole shebang! Enjoy! ***Please keep in mind that my website has compressed the video so it doesn’t look it’s best. If you’d like to see it in a different window, you can view it directly at https://vimeo.com/61925502” THANKS! ***

In general, photographing down in the West Bottoms wasn’t so bad. I’d do it again for sure, there are a lot of fantastic backdrops down there though I did see a lot of evidence of others vandalizing property for the sake of cute pictures. If you go down there with any photographer please know a few things:

1) NO TRAIN TRACKS! They are live and it’st not only unsafe but illegal. VERY illegal! Get arrested illegal peeps!

2) Much of the area is private property. Do not chalk or paint anything on any surface anywhere. Ever. Need I mention no trespassing on said private property?

3). Use common sense, if it doesn’t look or feel safe, it isn’t.

I could have really spent some time down there, but hey, when you’re 2 & 4, life moves pretty fast. =0) Please excuse any compression of images on the site, you should see these in full resolution! Loved this session!! I’ve already got some ideas cooking for this year’s session! =0)

The individual portraits are always fun to compare to years previous to see how the kids have grown. Paul and Mary are the oldest two and they are little parents to the little girls, it’s so sweet. Sara is most definitely the middle child and this kid cracks me up. Ally & Anna were only 6 months with barely any hair when I first met them and they are just too cute for words. What I love so much about these kiddos is that even though I only see them once a year, they are so excited to see us every year and they sure love to give hugs. I can’t get enough of their hugs. =0)

Thank you Nate & Sandy for returning again this year, Daniel & I had a blast! Now that the little girls are getting a bit bigger, I’ve got some fun fantastic ideas to try out for next year!

2012 FALL MINI-SESSIONS

Saturday November 3rd 2012
20 minute sessions (good for those hard to convince hubbys!)
On location in Antioch Park in Shawnee, KS
10 retouched digital images printable up to 5″x7″
1 digital Christmas Card design (from a choice of 4 designs)
$100 + 8.65% sales tax

Limited spots available!
Can be a family session, kids only, couples only, maternity, etc. I can’t guarentee outside colors but I can guarentee quick, easy, and FUN! Perfect for families on the go! Back up bad weather date is November 10th or 11th as needed.

Email me ASAP at jessicastromphotography@yahoo.com to sign up and I will email you an invoice. Payment can be mailed in via check.
Bookings are not guarenteed until payment is made in full.
Digital images will be ready for you by November 18th at the latest, perfect for Christmas turnaround.
Delivery of digital images is via password protected download only.
Additional products or higher resolution images may be purchased seperately at regular studio prices.
Session is non-refundable and non-transferable to another date.
Any other questions, just email me!

Hope to see you there!!

“Once we started fertility treatments I got pregnant on our 2nd round of IUI. To say that we were ecstatic and over the moon is an understatement. Our dreams of starting a family were coming true. 7 1/2 weeks into the pregnancy I started spotting and miscarried at 9 1/2 weeks. We were devastated but hopeful. Many many failed pregnancy tests later I reached my limit and couldn’t emotionally handle another failed IUI/negative pregnancy test. We had also done many blood tests as well as an exploratory hysteroscopy and laparoscopic procedure during this time. I was given no reason that I was unable to conceive again. It was so frustrating not to have answers.  Our original due date was right around the corner and I felt like my hope was almost gone not to mention the financial debt that was quickly racking up. We decided to see a reproductive endocrinologist (RE) to see what he thought the next step should be. We met with the RE on the due date of the baby I had miscarried. Let’s just say that my emotions were at an all time high. We left the dr with a prescription for birth control, not at all what I had expected, and the information for IVF. We talked things over and decided that I had one more shot and IVF was it. I felt like I was putting all my eggs in one basket and was afraid to feel too hopeful even seeing the amazing statistics especially for someone without underlying issues that could be identified. We decided to hold off through thanksgiving and Christmas to take a break from life revolving around which cycle day we were on. Best decision ever! January 19th I got back my blood tests results that I was PREGNANT! I was excited and anxious and afraid to get too excited about it. I was sick immediately which I hadn’t been, which was a great sign of a healthier pregnancy, but I was still scared. We hid the pregnancy from everyone this time.

“Around 5 1/2 weeks I started bleeding and was terrified. I was told it was normal but it hadn’t been “normal” the last time and I was terrified of losing this pregnancy as well. I asked the dr to give me another blood test to check my levels and he said while we wouldn’t see much he would do an ultrasound to see if he could figure out if there was a reason for the bleeding. The ultrasound was nerve wracking instead of exciting. The dr looked around and couldn’t find a cause and said things looked good and there was only one sac but then got very quiet. We were scared as he stopped talking or paying attention to us. He pointed at something and asked if we saw it. We had no idea what he was pointing at but he told us that he couldn’t confirm anything but he thought we might be having identical twins. We were thrilled and nervous at the same time. We went back a week later and there were two definite babies and two heartbeats. The rest of my pregnancy went fairly easy despite being incredibly sick which let me know they were still doing good! I was watched very closely especially since they were identical. At 23 weeks 5 days  I went to see a perinatologist, high risk dr, for an appt. it was the first appt I had ever gone to alone but things had been pretty good since the beginning. During the ultrasound they noticed that baby A was very restricted in how much placenta she had gotten and would develop inter uterine growth restriction at some point. They also had developed twin to twin transfusion with baby A being the donor twin. They had always measured right on track but baby A was now measuring two days small and baby B was measuring two weeks ahead. The real issue, and the issue that landed me a new home for the duration of my pregnancy, was that baby A was having cord flow problems and at the time she was checked her flow was absent. I was terrified, alone-my partner was in Iowa at a family reunion, and had no idea what was going on. They immediately told me that someone was already on their way down from the antepartum unit to admit me upstairs. Once upstairs things were explained a little more but reality sank in. One of my babies was in grave danger. We didn’t know if I would make it through the next 24 hours to receive both of my steroid shots or not. I had just seen my babies on the ultrasound and heard their estimated weights and couldn’t even begin to imagine delivering that early or if both would even survive. They were on the brink of viability.

“I’ve never been one to ask for help but I asked anyone and everyone to pray for my little ladies. Many many prayers were sent up in their behalf and many were answered. Baby A’s Doppler flow was checked daily and we had decided to deliver as soon as Baby A’s flow went reverse to give both babies a chance at survival. We were given many options, ones that no parent should have to make much less someone who has struggled to get and stay pregnant, but none were even considered except delivering both. We had named both babies and knew where each one was positioned and who was kicking. These were our hopes and dreams about to come true!

At 25 weeks 0 days Baby A’s flow went reverse and it was delivery day. We had hoped and prayed that we would last many many weeks but that wasn’t in the plans and although I was the most scared I’d ever been I felt peace. The delivery wasn’t quite as happy and joyful as we had anticipated it to be. We were scared, anxious, overwhelmed, excited and everything in between. I was also sad that the pregnancy I had longed for and loved was coming to a quick end. Both girls were delivered at 9:28 AM on 6-15-11. Baby A- Mileigh Jean weighed 1 lb 7oz and was 12 3/4 in long. Baby B-Makenna Janee weighed 1lb 14oz and was 12 1/2 in long. I could not believe how little they were but as beautiful as I had dreamed they would be. Being born that early we settled ourselves quickly into the roller coaster ride of the NICU. Baby A’s problems in utero quickly manifested themselves after birth. Not only did we have tiny babies one was vey sick. Michelle and I practically lived at the NICU and did as much as we could for the girls which wasn’t much more than taking their temperature every 3 hours, changing their diaper and holding their hands as much as they would tolerate. The hardest part was not being able to hold them which is something you dream and long for from conception. I had dreamt of the moment I would have my babies placed in my arms. With Makenna I had to wait 10 long days to hold her and with Mileigh they bent the rules a little bit and let me hold her at 14 days. She was still on the ventilator and had an umbilical line placed and hadn’t been doing well. I came back from my 2 week check up expecting to hold her and saw her about to be transitioned to a high frequency ventilator that prohibited us from doing any cares for her. My heart broke and the tears immediately started flowing. The nurse practitioner talked to me about it and stated that her oxygen levels hadn’t been good that morning and her vent settings were maxed out. They had to switch vents but if her nurse was comfortable letting me hold her for a minute or two even with her lines still in that she would allow me to hold her very quickly. I told her I didn’t care how long I just needed to hold my baby. As soon as mileigh was placed on my chest she snuggled in and almost immediately her oxygen levels were better than they had been in days! She needed her mommy as much as I needed her. Because she was doing so well I held her for an hour before I sadly told them I’d let them have her back. I didn’t want to let her go especially not knowing when I’d get to hold her again but they were waiting on me to get her vent switched and see how she was doing.

“Over the course of their NICU stay the roller coaster ride was nonstop! We dealt with countless blood and plasma transfusions, too many iv’s to count, immature eyes, ventilators, CPap, BiPap, nasal cannulas, staph infection, X-rays, blood gasses, heel sticks, blood tests, bowel problems, learning to suck, swallow and breath all while drinking a bottle and so much more! Our biggest hurdle was Mileigh dealing with complications from her cord flow. At about 3 weeks of age mileigh still had never had a bowel movement and was getting more and more sick. At one point I asked the Dr if she was dying, which is the most horrible thing to have to ask and at another point we were called and told she was very critical and we needed to get there ASAP. Many X-rays and tests were done but nothing was conclusive. At 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon we were told our precious 1lb 15oz baby was being taken downstairs for an exploratory surgery. We were terrified but hopeful to get answers as to why she was so sick. Everything they suspected she may have, she ended up having all of them. She had a horrible disease called necrotizing entercolitis, your bowels are dying and it can be fatal, a meconium illius, a bowel perforation which was being blocked-Thank God- from her being severely impacted with poop. She came through surgery with a colostomy bag which we were told would come down when she was much bigger and healthier. Her reconnection surgery was a month before she was released to come home and she now has a scar across her belly from side to side.V

“Through it all we were blessed beyond measure! We had amazing Drs., nurses, practitioners, respiratory therapists and techs that truly cared for our little girls. We also met many amazing families that understood exactly what we were going through and celebrated each milestone-big it small! We had good days, bad days and many days in between but one thing I learned very early on was that there was always a baby that was doing much better than yours and a baby struggling more than yours which helped keep things on perspective and made you count your blessings even more. Through it all we have received so many prayers on our behalf and countless acts of kindness for which we are extremely grateful. For those going through fertility issues or NICU stays/I’ll babies- don’t give up hope. There is a silver lining and your day will come! These little girls have captured my heart in more ways than I ever thought possible. Today they’re healthy, happy thriving little girls who ate closing the gap on their developmental delays daily. They never cease to amaze me and I am truly one blessed mommy!”

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND YOUR JOURNEY!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MILEIGH AND MAKENNA!!

And just a few more lovelies, including some fun outtakes…

Thank you for choosing me to capture this precious time in your lives. You have a most beautiful family!

 Jessica Strom Photography

jessicastromphotography@yahoo.com

Follow me on Facebook too! www.facebook.com/jessicastromphotography

I’ve been wanting to a Friday series for some time and decided that with all the sessions I don’t have on this blog (between changing blogs/websites, hard drive crashes, TIME, etc) that I would christen Fridays as “Flash Back Friday”, a time where I can share older work of mine that deserves a second look from the archives. I’ve been offering photography professionally since 2008 and by looking at where I’ve been and where I am, it helps determine which way I want to go and I feel like I am finally coming into my own. So the first of my Flash Back Fridays is inspired by this insane heat wave we are having here in Kansas City and fresh from the archives, is a little sampling from a session I did in 2010 with and some images that make you want to sing SWEET SUMMA TIME! I absolutely love these images and hope you do too!