Sweet Scout,

My dearest Scarlet Quinn, The “Girlfriend”, Scouty-pants, my baby, the youngest, my girl. You are everything I dreamed a daughter would be and so much more than I could have hoped for. At 18 months your identity is just shaping and your personality is emerging. You are testing limits, but always stay close to mama. You have two older brothers and the bond you are forming with them is fascinating to watch. You are alike, yet, in your femininity, separate. You are rough and you are tumble, but softer. Feistier, but gentle. Your heart is tender. And, you love differently. There is a complexity to your spirit and emotion that is different from your siblings.

In a few months, a new baby will arrive. I must confess, I had dreamed of a sister for you–a relationship, from my mother’s perspective, that is vital to a little girl as she grows. While we are so joyful in welcoming your new brother, part of me has mourned for you this month. A sweet girl among boys. One of four. Where will you fit in? Will I be enough? Will you be able to embrace your identity in the chaos these wonderful boys create?

The answer is of course, yes. Our family will shape your character and your heart. You will be strong and independent. You will be confident and courageous. You will be protected and surrounded by love. You will always be special. God unfailingly has a better plan than I do, my dearest. It is perfect and complete. He has considered and crafted every moment of your amazing life. This much is true. You are exactly who He designed you to be, and right where He wants you. Sandwiched in this messy, mostly boyish family of ours.

In you, my sweet baby, I will always have an ally. A friend. A soul connection. A bond that is unexplainable and unbreakable. I love you unconditionally and will walk beside you, until the end of my days. I promise you this. You have completed me as a mother, simply by being who you are. You have fulfilled a longing I did not know existed. I love you my darling little girl, and every day, I am grateful for you. Loving you now and in these months ahead.

With all my heart,
Mama

Maybe you’ve noticed it’s been a bit quiet around here. December was a tumultuous month for my family. A few things happened: 1. My husband had an unexpected spinal surgery, 2. We found out we were expecting (a surprise) baby #4 and 3. Our military orders changed for the third time (and still aren’t finalized yet). A whirlwind? Yep.

Fortunately we have an incredible community of support here. And, my mom and in-laws both traveled here for over a week to help our family while Mike was recovering. We still have a long way to go to get back to the status quo, but this was the first week of a “new normal” for us. Homeschool. Morning sickness. A husband who is at 40% for a bit. Still, I’ll take it. It is MUCH better than the roller-coaster that was December.

What does all of this mean for Lifeography?

I had planned on shooting Spring/Early Summer sessions in Virginia Beach no matter when our move happened. At this point, we’ll be learning more specifics regarding our move dates soon. I will most likely be shooting in late April/Early May. If we have moved already, I will be flying back for a week of sessions. Until then, I am taking leave and am not scheduling any bookings. If you think you would like to schedule a session during this time frame get on my interest list ASAP by submitting the contact form at the top of the blog. Those families will get priority scheduling since slots will be limited.

Fabulous “Four” is due in mid-August, so once my Spring sessions are complete, I won’t be shooting portrait clients for quite some time, nor restarting my portrait business in our new location until after he/she arrives.

In the interim, I’ll be sharing more projects from the end of the year I missed out on blogging and will continue to write a bit. If you’re interested, you can also check out my new family blog No Place Like Roam where I’ll be focusing more on the little people who got me started in the first place and sharing some of our day-to-day bits, especially homeschooling.

Thank you to all of the magnificent clients and friends who have cheered me on this past year. Your support is the backbone of my portrait business and I am so grateful for each of you.

xoxoxox
Stephanie

Our wrinkles, markings and scars define us. They tell of our history. Our stories. Whether sources of pride or memory, they are visible reminders of our past and our personal journeys.

Mackenzie is four years old. She has traveled farther than most of us will in a lifetime. She is a picture of adversity, beauty and hope. She is radiant. I hope she always sees herself as people who love her do–a miracle. Beautiful through and through.

She underwent an emergency liver transplant at 14 months old. This month, she will celebrate three years post-transplant. I had the honor of photographing her family in the fall as part of my commitment to the Give Ten Project — of capturing the unique bond her family shares. Her mother, my lovely friend Sarah, shares their story below:

What is significant about this month?
Mackenzie will be celebrating her three-year-transplantiversary on January 21st. It means so many things to us. Every time we get to celebrate it means we have had another year of life. The farther away from transplant means her chances for survival increase. Statistics usually go at 1 year, 3 year, 5 year and 10 year intervals. This is a big year because we will have made it one full year, for the first time since transplant, without Mackenzie rejecting her new liver. The more rejection episodes a transplant recipient has increases the likelihood of future rejection episodes. Her transplantiversary also gives us a chance to celebrate how normal our lives really are day to day. The Lord has really provided for us through out and the impact Mackenzie’s transplant has had on our every day life is minimal. And while we spend this day celebrating Mackenzie’s life we also remember that another family is mourning the death her their child.

Tell us about her teddy bear.
Her “Liver Bear” was a gift post-transplant from my sister in law’s mother. Her mother had the bear made at Build-a-bear, but didn’t close the back of the bear. When he arrived he came with a new pink liver that Mackenzie and I “transplanted” together, so Mackenzie would have a bear with a new liver, just like her.

Why did you want to capture images of Mackenzie’s scar?
I wanted images of Mackenzie’s scar because, for us, it means her life, literally. The older Mackenzie gets the more I worry about how it will affect her self-esteem. She received a full liver from a three year old and because she was just 14 months at the time they had to put in a piece of mesh fascia to close her abdominal wall (like for a hernia surgery) and that is why her belly protrudes around her scar. After we were released from the hospital her incision came apart at the center, which is why she’s has the triangle of scar tissue. When it separated there was nothing her surgeons could do, so we just had to keep it covered until it healed. She’s so young to have such a dramatic scar. And while it seems normal to us, it shocks strangers. Her friends and adults are curious and Mackenzie gladly talks about it. I want her to know the significance her scar holds and how beautiful it truly is.

How has her experience changed your family?
It changed everything. Mackenzie went from healthy to transplanted in 10 days. We’ve been through more than most families at this point. Mat and I had only been married less than three years when we were confronted with our first child’s mortality while I was 8.5 months pregnant with Kennedy. We quickly learned how to handle a crisis together we never thought imaginable. For our marriage it brought Mat and I closer to each other and in our relationship with Christ. I watched Mat put his own life at risk as he began to undergo a battery of tests in order to donate a portion of his liver. Mat stopped working so he could stay at home and care for Mackenzie and Kennedy. We worry about things a little differently. Mackenzie will forever have rely on a medicine to keep her alive, have a compromised immune system, a team of doctors in her life, and regular trips to the lab for blood tests. It’s also given us a new found appreciation for the normal day to day that we get to experience.

Mackenzie and Kennedy truly have an unspoken bond. Kennedy was born just four days after Georgetown gave us the go ahead to return to Hampton Roads. She was thrown into the chaos. Both girls have essentially grown up going to doctor’s appointments and to the lab for blood draws. They can sit and play “doctor” for HOURS. To them that is normal pretend play. I cried when I first saw the images because you captured their love for each other so well. They way they embrace each other and laugh together. Sometimes, its hard to know who’s the older sister as they are both so fiercely protective. When Mackenzie first rejected her new liver, around her one year anniversary, we ended up in the hospital for almost a week. Neither of them knew what to do without the other. When they were finally reunited the sat on the floor across from the other just staring and laughing. The joy they have with the other is overwhelming. It is my prayer that they always have this as they grow up.

How can we become organ donors or contribute to the cause?
Readers can learn more about Organ Donation and/or register to become an Organ Donor by visiting Donate Life America www.donatelife.net or the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) at http://www.unos.org/. They can also register to become an organ donor on their drivers license. Readers can make a donation to Donate Life America at http://donatelife.net/give-to-dla/ or if they are moved, they can join us in making donations to Georgetown at http://www.georgetownuniversityhospital.org/body.cfm?id=1324 and CHKD at https://www.chkd.org/Giving/Donate/

Organ Donation Statistics
112,657 Patients Waiting*
62,648 Multicultural Patients*
1,800 Pediatric Patients*
21,354 Organ Transplants Performed in 2011
10,558 Organ Donors in 2011
*as of January 2012

To read more about Mackenzie’s story, visit her personal blog at http://mackenzielemn.blogspot.com

The sweet pressure of their tiny body on your belly. The sighs and gurgles. The stillness and magic of the moment. Any mother knows this feeling. It’s not long before they are too big to hold this way…or too squirmy. But in the early days, well, I know I could lay this way for hours just soaking in every inch of their newness. Feeling utterly complete. Overwhelmed with gratitude and in awe of the miracle of life. Anyone who has held a baby softly cradled to their chest knows this too.

Welcome Maggie. My last newborn of 2011. You are a blessing, a miracle from head to toe.