20101218

{Hello & Happy Holidays}

I think I better start here with....
this has been one heck of a year.  
We have lost a number of people we loved to death.
My family and I have gone thru quite a bit the last 4 and a half months...

My dad suffered from not one but two major heart attacks this past year.
4 and a half months ago, I was out and about when I got the call to head to the 
hospital.  My father had driven himself from southern Indiana to Valparaiso
DURING a major heart attack!
By the way, he got in major trouble for that!
When my girls and I met up with him at the hospital, we had no clue what was about to happen.
We knew that he was having a heart attack.
I use to be a cardiac tech, so there was not denying what was really going on here.
They rushed him down that long hallway speeding along with us running behind.
It felt like we were in a movie, in slow motion...and not a good movie.
Next, after what seemed like eternity....we were told
We have put in some stints...come back and see your father.
I thought, well that was easy enough.  Just stints.
Nope not the case.
We got back there in that cold waiting room and found no dad.
Nurses running around, even nurses we had met on our journey down that long hallway.
Yet no one would make eye contact.  Not one person.
As I sat there with my grandma, I got this pit in my stomach that said something else is going on here
and no one is letting us in on this.
We continued to sit for about 15 minutes later when finally the Dr. appeared.
I will never forget the words that came out of his mouth...
like never :(
"Your father has suffered a major heart attack.  His entire heart is damaged.  He desperately needed open heart surgery.  We have a pump that is pumping his heart for him right now. "
Followed by, he heart is too weak to make it thru the surgery.  He needs to go home with you and mend for 6 to 8 weeks.  If the heart surgery doesn't work...he will need a heart transplant.
WHAT?  You have got to be kidding me!
My dad who came to see us the day before all of this happenend.
The guy who works on his feet every day and is physically fit.
The one who has NEVER been sick or hospitalized..
is now very ill....

The words cut me like a knife.  I could hardly breathe.  We had lost so many people over the year.  My kids had lost not one but both of their grandparents on their fathers side.
THIS COULD NOT BE HAPPENING.
I prayed for what seemed like eternity.
I knew that this was all in God's hands, and his alone.
It was the very worst area to have blockage.
There was no out.
It would be what it was meant to be.....

Today, I am thankful that my father has just graduated from rehab.
He has a second chance at life.
So do we.

It was the hardest thing for me to do to take 3 and a half months off work to take care of my dad.

I had to cancel so many appointments, and everyone of you were so supportive.
I can't thank you enough!
I felt terrible. I felt like a weak person to not be able to do it all.
But I just couldn't. 
He had to have round the clock care.
It was a very emotional, depressing time for him and us.

I want to say thank you for standing by my side.
Thanks for being supportive and for all the wonderful emails I did get..
they definately helped me thru a very hard time.

I was luck enough to continue to meet with brides and grooms and to 
book weddings during the evening hours when my oldest daughter took 
care of her papa.
I was even luckier to be able to fit some sessions in for the Holidays once dad 
was in rehab and doing alot better!

2011 is going to be wonderful!
We have a few new products that we will be offering at a very great price!
Our Holiday is complete this year as we get to celebrate with all of you and my father...
a new journey on life!

As January nears...we will be taking sessions once again.
We will be having specials as well, to celebrate LIFE.

Stay tuned, we will be posting some new products up here that we are in LOVE with!
Pretty sure you will be in love with them too :)
Happy Holidays
Sincerely, Karma and the crew