Category Archives: Photography

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Breakfast with Lilly

March 25, 2009 – 6:22 pm

 

Since her diagnosis, Lilly has been fully aware of what is going on and involved in her care. Just days after we got home from the hospital she was wanting to test herself (she does it all herself now), and has asked about giving her own shots. She had done it a few times, but holding the syringe and injecting it without wiggling around was hard for her to do, so up until a few weeks ago we did most of them for her.

When we met with Lilly’s endocrinologist at the beginning of the month we got an Inject-Ease, which makes it MUCH easier for her to do her own shots, so now she does them entirely on her own.

Keep in mind she is only 5 years old (6 in May). I sometimes forget that it’s not normal for a 5 year old to be so in control and on top of things, and I really take for granted that we don’t have to struggle with her (at least now) to do any of the things required of her with her diabetes. She wants to be involved, making decisions, helping out, and learning.

She has asked about drawing up her own insulin but I told her that I didn’t think she could do it, since it requires a bit of dexterity on pulling the syringe to the small amounts she takes (usually 1/2 to 4 units or so). She kept asking, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to let her try. Low and behold, after a few bent syringes and a bit of help, she is now successfully drawing up her own insulin! We of course have to supervise and check the dose, but she does an amazing job, even holding the insulin bottle still so that the needle doesn’t bend.

I’ve given her the job of doing her Lantus shot (morning and evening, long acting insulin), and we do the Novalog (short acting, taken after eating), but we’ll see how long that lasts, as she asks at every shot to draw up the insulin.

For breakfast on Tuesday she was proud of herself, and I wanted to snap some shots to show how amazing she is.

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Inserting the syringe…

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Checking the dose and looking for air bubbles…

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(see the Inject Ease).. Pinch and press the button…

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Inject…

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And Eat! Cinnamon Toast Crunch.. Yum :)

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Proud Girl.. Love the morning hair :)

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After talking to her endocrinologist and discussing the options we have decided to get Lilly on the pump in a few months. She’s excited, her only requirement is that it is Pink!

By Kylie | Also posted in Lilly, diabetes | Comments (15)

Renewal

February 24, 2009 – 1:07 pm

 

We’re smack in the middle of another phaunt U and I’m having a great time with the students. The bad thing about being so busy is that I don’t get to get out and shoot a lot. Lilly and Kate and I went to the park and Lilly was showing me how she could run with her eyes closed. Then Kate had to get in on the action as well.

This to me is my life right now.. they summed up their personalities and the joy of life with my girls perfectly, and I didn’t even have to ask them to pose for me.

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I am on a black and white kick again, I’m frantically searching for some books to hone my b/w technique, especially ones that will talk about dodging/burning and the theory of black and white photography. Any suggestions?

By Kylie | Also posted in phaunt life | Comments (1)

My Mom rocks!

February 18, 2009 – 2:19 pm

 

I have to take a second today and brag about how cool my mom is. She’s a knitting/crocheting master and makes all sorts of cool stuff for the family. Like..

Just grabbing a few pics out of my web folder of things that she’s made.. like this dress for Lilly:

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And this coat (Kate has one that is just like it)

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And for Lilly for Christmas she made all these little animals that go into a pouch thing with thier pictures on them:

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Course the elephant is my favorite :)

 

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Lilly likes this guy.. the Ninja Chicken:

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And for Valentines Day we had a Sock Monkey theme. I got an awesome Ipod cover:

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And the girls both got their own V-Day Sock Monkeys!

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She makes all sorts of awesome animals and things for the girls. I’m glad because I’m so far from being able to do anything like that, at least someone in the family can do it for them!

Love ya Momma!

By Kylie | Also posted in phaunt life | Comments (5)

Phaunt U Alumni Interview- Jennifer Hawes

February 13, 2009 – 9:41 am

 

Jennifer took the course the first time thru as well and I have kept my eye on her since. Her photography and post processing has progressed so rapidly in the last year that I can’t wait to see what she does in the next few years. I have a soft spot for her B/W photos, a girl after my own heart :) Her photography is amazing, as well as her kind spirit.

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Name: Jennifer Hawes

Location: Kaslo, BC, Canada

Links to blog/website/etc: http://www.jhawesphotography.ca/

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How did you get interested in photography? I started out as another MWAC wanting to document every precious moment of my child’s life.  When I was expecting my son my husband gave me my first 35mm SLR.  I loved that camera and took thousands of photos - the whole time thinking I was awesome - but never taking it off Auto Mode!  It was after my daughter was born that I began to realize that I wasn’t getting the images that I wanted and I knew I had a lot to learn.  I saved up and bought my first DSLR and dedicated myself to learning and improving my skills.  

Primary focus (children, weddings, etc):   Children, Families, and Weddings

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Describe your style in 3 words:   expressive, relaxed, genuine

What is your dream for your business?  My hope is that my business will remain a labor of love and never become "work".  Photography is my passion, and I don’t want my business to ruin that for me.  I want my business to prosper, while remaining fun for me.  Now that I finally have a job that I love to do, I want to keep it that way!

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What’s in your camera bag?   Nikon stuff.  D300, D200, 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.8, 17-55mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8, a couple of SB-800s, Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, Sigma 10-20mm, and the usual odds and ends.

If you could only use ONE Lens for the next year what would it be?   My 70-200mm f/2.8, I think.  (I’ve changed this answer 3 times!)

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Goal in photography for 2009?   To keep learning and to keep challenging myself.  Oh, and to be more decisive when proofing!

Favorite Photoshop Tip? Customize your keyboard short-cuts to ones you’ll actually use and remember.

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Favorite thing about phaunt U?   I love how personal Phaunt U is.  The class is small enough that everyone gets to know everyone and you not only learn about Photoshop, but you create valuable friendships as well.

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Your signature dish/meal?   You’re asking the wrong girl!  I’m not much of a cook, but my family does request my meatloaf from time to time.  But I love to bake, so if that counts, I make the best chocolate chip cookies!

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Last song played on your Ipod? Hard Sun by Eddie Vedder

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Thanks Jen!!

By Kylie | Also posted in interviews, phaunt U | Comments (12)

Scenes from the homefront- Teeth and Diabetes

February 10, 2009 – 11:44 am

 

The girls love to take videos on Sam’s camera phone and watch themselves. Yesterday Lilly wanted to do one and talk about her diabetes. She listens to me record my videos sometimes and says she wants to do her OWN videos. She goes back and forth between saying that she wants to be like me and teach people and that she wants to be like iCarly and have her own "wepshow"

The video/audio quality of it is horrible, so excuse that, but she wanted me to be sure to put it on my "wepsite".. so here you go.. all you ever needed to know about diabetes!

Also Lilly lost her first tooth last week! I totally forgot about taking a picture of it (how bad of a mom am I?!) until we got an email from her cousin (who is 6 months older than her) with a picture of him and how he had lost HIS first tooth. Lilly was upset that I hadn’t taken a picture of her and emailed it to him, so we had to take this one to send to him to PROVE that she had lost hers first:

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And a quick shot of the 3 girls last nite.. (Kaylee is my brother’s 9 month old)

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Tomorrow I’ll be posting another interview with a former U student, so be sure to check back!  :)

By Kylie | Also posted in Lilly, diabetes, phaunt life | Comments (6)

Heads up.. Color Inc!

February 6, 2009 – 2:26 pm

 

Just got some news from my favorite lab, Color Inc

Very cool!

AND if you haven’t ordered from them before you can use the code: pa08 and get 50% off your first order!

By Kylie | Also posted in links | Comments (0)

Snow!!!

January 5, 2009 – 11:22 pm

 

We’re back home (obviously) and I’m starting to go thru the backlog of emails/etc. I’ll do a "real" post soon but wanted to post a pic of the girls today enjoying all the snow we got this morning. I made the storyboard using the Heart is Found Storyboard maker.. my favorite tool for collages/storyboards.

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Now I’d like the snow to go away please… That’s about all I want to deal with, thank you very much.

Oh yeah, Happy 2009 everyone… wahootie! :D

By Kylie | Also posted in Lilly, links, phaunt life | Comments (2)

Merry Christmas!

December 16, 2008 – 11:12 am

 

We are packing up the house and getting ready to head off to Colorado to visit family for Christmas.  With all the stress and changes of the last few months I’m really looking forward to the break to hang out with family and recharge/refocus for the new year.

I did want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to all my blog readers and forum members and anyone else who has supported me in so many ways this last year. This year has been amazing and I wouldn’t have been doing any of this without the support and encouragement of my family and all of the amazing photographers who frequent the blog/forum/etc.

I’ve got great things in store for next year in the phaunt world, I can’t wait to reveal it all to you guys and get going on the new year (after my break of course).

With all the things going on this year we didn’t have time to do a Christmas card, but My good friend Bonnie of Once Remembered Photography was kind enough to do a family session for us a few weeks ago so that we could have some family prints made. So, I guess this is our virtual Christmas card (hey, we can pretend I’m "Going Green" right?)

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MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Have a wonderful holiday!

By Kylie | Also posted in phaunt life | Comments (7)

Help find a Cure- And get some Great Art in the Process!

December 4, 2008 – 11:49 pm

 

I found this website last week and thought the concept was really cool. I contacted them about the process of being featured on their site and they got back to me right away and said they’d love to feature my work!

http://wallblank.com/

I’m featured today, No Profit Friday, all the proceeds from the sale (minus their printing costs) will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. I’m so happy to give something back to the place that will some day help find a cure for my sweet Lilly! This is the photo they are featuring, it’s one of my personal favorites of Lilly from about a year ago.

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More info in their No Profit Fridays: HERE. I do not get any of the proceeds from the sale, all of the proceeds to directly to JDRF! I do get 5 prints of my own though, so I can’t wait to see them! :)

If you order a print it will be there in time for Christmas, AND you’ll get a signed edition.. think of it as your own "phaunt art" :)

Also, anyone who orders, I’ll give you a $35 gift certificate towards the phaunt store OR 1/2 off a VIPhaunt membership (so you’d just pay $40 instead of $79). If you order just email me at info@phaunt.com with the info on your order and I’ll send you the coupon code or details on how to do the VIP with the discount.

Thanks for looking and supporting me, I’m so happy to do my part to help find a cure for Lilly. :)

By Kylie | Also posted in Forum, contest, links, news | Comments (1)

Andrew- Ontario Senior

December 2, 2008 – 12:17 am

A quick sneak peek for Andrew and his parents. Andrew’s step mom, Yolanda is my personal trainer, who has been whipping me into shape the last few months. If you’re local and in need of a good workout give her a call! Tell her Kylie sent you, maybe she’ll go easy on me for awhile ;)

We met up at Payette park for the first half of the shoot…

Then headed off just a few blocks away to some old scrap metal stuff and the downtown area.

Thanks for a fun shoot Andrew! :)

**For those of you waiting for an announcement on the winner of the VIP membership, just hold on till tomorrow, I’ll be posting a new tutorial as well as that info**

By Kylie | Comments (0)
AJAXed with AWP