An intermission from PR

[natatbeach]

Hey all...just wanted to give a quick heads up to ya'll...I will probabaly be floating along here checking stuff out but will probabaly only focus on answering emails...I am way beyond overwhelmed(happy though).

This year will yield a lot of changes and adjustments...
my hubby and I started of in April with Weight Watchers and he's lost about 12 lbs I've lost 20...no worries at the 50 lb mark I will post a glorious new self portrait and then another at my final weight loss with pics of course.

....the most recent "adventure" and scare was having to admit our littlest one Anastasia to the hospital. She woke up around 10 pm on a Sunday and was having a seizure(which we presumed was sleep walking)...we called 911 after 10 minutes when she lost all function and was totally unresponsive. it worsened to multiple episodes occuring back to back over 3.5hours till she was taken to Children's Hospital in Boston from the local hospital.Four days later we came home(missing 4 out of the only 7 days I had to train before the other manager left) but by God's grace alone...our princess is well and takes meds twice a day...what caused it all?....no answers (MRI, EEG, Catscan, blood work, sinal tap,etc --- ALL normal---go figure). I presume life has episodes where you just need to re-evaluate priorities and parenting to truly consider what's important.

For all you parents out there...when your kids have got you to that point where----you know what point I'm talking aboutwhere you literally want to give them away to the next band of gypsies that comes by...the yelling and fussing and whining is far better than seeing your child's entire essence gone and seeing a shell of a body left behind...not knowing whether you'd ever see that light in their eyes again. It was by far the most disarming and frightening moment of life to date....

Life now consists of parenting from 5:45 am till 2pm(nap time) and work
from 3-10pm... for me and work for my hubby from 7am till 4pm...he comes homes feeds and bathes the kids and puts 'em to bed and starts his schoolwork(only 10 more months left)which leaves about an hour for hubby/I when I get home and an hour for residual wedding stuff.
I am very happy at my new job---I feel like I am an actual asset and not just another warm body and learning oodles about the business side of running a photo studio/customers. The store I work at is one of the midaverage stores and brings in over 220K a year, so it's been a real eye opener for me. Hope some day to host a PR reunion and have my own store... As for now...duty calls with motherhood and with training and just life in general.

I'll try to respond to emails quickly but it may be up to a week before I have enough energy... I'll be around and see you guys sooner than later...but never goodbye.

Here's a picture taken of the kids two days after our daughter got back from the hospital---a collage for grandma and aunt for flying out on a moment's notice (8hr lapse between my call and her arrival) She's happy healthy and still a ham...

I can be reached at natalie.holl@gmail.com

Thanks everyone and see you soon.
Much love and hugs to all---
Nat

[opus]

Congrats on the weight loss, Nat! Maybe I'll see you over on the WW boards. :-)

I know we'll see you occasionally, and I'm glad you're taking time for what's most important in your life. Come back refreshed, and definitely grace us with your success portraits! It's not the final product that we care about, it's the success of your own personal journey.

Take care,
~kelly

(ps. You doing Flex or Core?)

[jar_e]

Natalie,

Tough news. Dealign with such pain is always tough, and I'm sure it worsens if it's your own child. My prayers go out to your family in such an unpredictable time!

Jared

[Lara]

Nat, hang in there. You are such an inspiration to all of us!

Congrats on starting weight watchers, and the weight you have lost already.

[natatbeach]

(ps. You doing Flex or Core?)

thanks Kelly...flex...I didn't get this girlish figure by having self control LOL
Core leaves too much room for overindulging...email me sometime...I'll share some of my goofy methods for dealing with the emotional eating... ;)

[natatbeach]

Natalie,

Tough news. Dealign with such pain is always tough, and I'm sure it worsens if it's your own child. My prayers go out to your family in such an unpredictable time!

Jared

Thanks Jared-- email me let me know how what happens with your senior trip, graduation, and school in the fall...I'm grateful that she faired well...she's a little sleepier than uual but she's pretty much the same I'm grateful... ;)

[natatbeach]

today is your fourth installment on the baby frontier
thanks for your support Lara...keep in touch...we're so close in mileage yet so far away...I'll meet you yet ;)

[Liz]

Natalie,
I'm sorry to hear about Anastasia, but very happy that she is home and doing well. You've certainly had it rough lately. I did wonder why you hadn't been around as much, but just figured you were busy. The pictures are very nice, except someone is missing.

It sounds like your life is good. You've come through a crisis, and had the courage to grow through it all. AND in the process you've actually gone through the grueling process of WW. Wow! some victories here girl! Congratulations.

Although it's tough, Nat, you're a great example of how to overcome incredible obstacles. Just reading your post, I can feel your peace.......and I'm happy for you. It sounds like your job is a great learning experience in photography - good for you!

Keep us updated. I miss you when you're not around.

Liz

Hey all...just wanted to give a quick heads up to ya'll...I will probabaly be floating along here checking stuff out but will probabaly only focus on answering emails...I am way beyond overwhelmed(happy though).

This year will yield a lot of changes and adjustments...
my hubby and I started of in April with Weight Watchers and he's lost about 12 lbs I've lost 20...no worries at the 50 lb mark I will post a glorious new self portrait and then another at my final weight loss with pics of course.

....the most recent "adventure" and scare was having to admit our littlest one Anastasia to the hospital. She woke up around 10 pm on a Sunday and was having a seizure(which we presumed was sleep walking)...we called 911 after 10 minutes when she lost all function and was totally unresponsive. it worsened to multiple episodes occuring back to back over 3.5hours till she was taken to Children's Hospital in Boston from the local hospital.Four days later we came home(missing 4 out of the only 7 days I had to train before the other manager left) but by God's grace alone...our princess is well and takes meds twice a day...what caused it all?....no answers (MRI, EEG, Catscan, blood work, sinal tap,etc --- ALL normal---go figure). I presume life has episodes where you just need to re-evaluate priorities and parenting to truly consider what's important.

For all you parents out there...when your kids have got you to that point where----you know what point I'm talking aboutwhere you literally want to give them away to the next band of gypsies that comes by...the yelling and fussing and whining is far better than seeing your child's entire essence gone and seeing a shell of a body left behind...not knowing whether you'd ever see that light in their eyes again. It was by far the most disarming and frightening moment of life to date....

Life now consists of parenting from 5:45 am till 2pm(nap time) and work
from 3-10pm... for me and work for my hubby from 7am till 4pm...he comes homes feeds and bathes the kids and puts 'em to bed and starts his schoolwork(only 10 more months left)which leaves about an hour for hubby/I when I get home and an hour for residual wedding stuff.
I am very happy at my new job---I feel like I am an actual asset and not just another warm body and learning oodles about the business side of running a photo studio/customers. The store I work at is one of the midaverage stores and brings in over 220K a year, so it's been a real eye opener for me. Hope some day to host a PR reunion and have my own store... As for now...duty calls with motherhood and with training and just life in general.

I'll try to respond to emails quickly but it may be up to a week before I have enough energy... I'll be around and see you guys sooner than later...but never goodbye.

Here's a picture taken of the kids two days after our daughter got back from the hospital---a collage for grandma and aunt for flying out on a moment's notice (8hr lapse between my call and her arrival) She's happy healthy and still a ham...

I can be reached at natalie.holl@gmail.com

Thanks everyone and see you soon.
Much love and hugs to all---
Nat

[another view]

It's not me, is it? You're not mad that I passed your number of posts or anything I hope... ;)

Natalie, take the time to do what you need to do - you do have a lot going on!! We'll be here for you, and do stop by once in awhile, even just to say "hi".

[paulnj]

NAT honey!!!!

I truely hope ALL goes well with YOUR WHOLE FAMILY from this day forth!!

As for WW..... Michelle has been doing it for over a month I think WE are at 14 or so and counting!

DRINK PLENTY OF WATER and watch those points girl ;)

[mtbbrian]

We still be here when you get back into things!
Hang In There!
Brian

[paulnj]

Penny...... I would gladly take EVERYONE's extra bagage if I could!

I don't want to rub it in but I CAN'T gain weight even though I truely eat for 3.

I truely understand the battle with weight having watched Michelle try nearly every diet only to gain it back in a blink. WW seems to be a great system. It is not truely a diet IMHO, but a LIFESTYLE by which one manages their weight .

EVERY WEDNESDAY I wait up to get the news after her meeting. I am truely happy and PROUD of her whether she gains .2 pound(when her little friend visits.. wink wink) or loses 5!!!

[Chunk]

It's good to see their smiling faces, Nat.
Your work sounds exciting, but don't overextend.

[Asylum Steve]

... I WOULD NOT miss an episode! ;)

I can't even begin to imagine what you went through with your little girl. I was a wreck when my cat got sick... Thank God she's better...

I'm glad the "balance" has shifted a bit back into your favor.

Keep the faith...

[walterick]

Nat that's the worst thing I have heard in a long time. Thank god she's alright! It takes a spiritual "freight train" to set us back on the right path sometimes huh? Thank god she's still with us, and congratulations on your weight loss! Penny, Kelly and Nata send it my way I'll send you all the tax deductions you need and burn it all off remodeling my girlfriend's home in Phoenix ;)

Take care Nat and we'll see you when we see you. Kids first
Rick

[megan]

That SAME THING happened to my former supervisor's daughter, aged 3 or 4.
They went crazy, went through so much, because the doctors just wouldn't couldn't try to figure out what it was - they just threw general prescriptions at them to control the seizures. Hopefully, you won't go through that - I hope it's as simple as a food allergy. It turns out she has this rare neurological disorder, Dosse's syndrome (or something like that - it's REALLY rare.)

Anyway - my thoughts are with you.

Megan