First thing in the morning...

My surgery is scheduled for 7:30 in the morning. I have to be at MD Anderson at 5:30. YAWN.
We'll try to keep everyone posted. I may not be online for a few days, but most of you know how to reach us!

Become an M&M

Stumbled across this website (I know - I should have been cleaning my kitchen). Anyway, it's fun. You can create your own M&M. I was impressed they had a camera as one of the accessories... Here is ME as an M&M:

Become your own M&M...

http://www.becomeanmm.com/

Health Update

Well, I suppose most of you who might read this know by now that I'm having my kidney and gall bladder removed next week. Tomorrow morning I go in for another CT scan to check my lungs, etc. and make sure everything is a-ok for surgery. We meet with the surgeon on Friday. He's one of the top in his field, and we feel very blessed that we were able to get in to MD Anderson so quickly. (You can read about him here). He has gone above and beyond, and we just feel like that is God's hand at work. The actual surgery will be scheduled for next Thursday, the 25th. Most likely bright and early. The procedure is actually quite amazing. It's called "hand-assisted laproscopy." You can read about it here - although it's an old article, but you get the idea. The tumor is a 5-cm mass in the center of my right kidney, so the entire kidney has to be removed. I should be in the hospital 3-4 days and then in recovery at home for about a month. More interesting reading on kidney cancer here. I really am very blessed. The "accidental" finding, the fact that it has not spread, that I have not yet had any ill-effects or symptoms, and the fact that I should not have to do radiation or chemo or any of that -- all these things I feel are God's doing. We are so blessed.

Sleepy Girl

Lila - all turckered out and asleep on the couch.

Just another Saturday...

Mommy's Little Helper... this child LOVES to sweep!

Playtime with Daddy!

A to Z

A- Available or not? Depends on what for. =)
B- Best Friend? Amanda
C- Cake or Pie? Pie
D- Drink of Choice? Diet Dr. Pepper (duh!)
E- Essential Item? my camera
F- Favorite Color? green
G- Gummi Bears or Worms? Worms. But I'm not a big gummy fan.
H- Hometown? Angleton, TX
I- Indulgence? Girl Scout Cookies
J- January or February? January - I love fresh starts.
K- Kids and names? Mallory Anne, Lila Eve, Clara Mae
L- Life is incomplete without? my husband & children
M- Marriage Date? June 7, 1997
N- Number of Siblings? 1 brother, Travis
O- Oranges or apples? Apples
P- Phobias/Fears? Something happening to my children; Roaches. YUK
Q- Favorite Quote? The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. - Edmund Burke-
R- Reason to Smile? My children
S- Season? Fall
T- Team Sport? Football
U- Unknown Fact About Me? - ?? My life is an open book
V- Vegetable you hate? sweet potatoes
W- Worst habit? staying up too late
X- X-Rays you've had? teeth, foot/ankle, back
Y- Your favorite food? LOTS - love Mexican or Italian
Z- Zodiac? Leo

50 Things About Me

1. I have horrible vision & cannot even see my bedside clock at night without my glasses.

2. My favorite Starbucks drink is a Caramel Macchiato.

3. I love to take pictures (duh!)

4. My favorite color is green.

5. I have never needed braces.

6. I am a year behind in my albums.

7. I love the little conversation heart candies available around Valentine's Day.

8. I am super-excited about my new track system for my muslins that will be in my studio.

9. I ordered my canvas prints for my studio walls today.

10. I used Classic Pooh decor for the nursery with each of my girls.

11. I love having three girls.

12. I was thrilled when I found out my third child was another girl.

13. I would be lost without my appointment book.

14. I will be having surgery soon.

15. I am a planner.

16. My room as a child was decorated with Strawberry Shortcake.

17. In 1st grade, my peers called me "Little Orphan Annie" because I had curly red hair.

18. The curls were from a perm.

19. Now when I "fix" my hair, I use a straight iron.

20. I teach two year olds in Sunday school.

21. I'm much better with older children.

22. Before I was a mom, I taught high school.

23. I love the acadamia process.

24. I would take a literature class just for fun.

25. I sleep snuggled to a body pillow.

26. I like having two pillows under my head at night.

27. Diet Dr. Pepper is my beverage of choice.

28. I don't drink enough water.

29. My Christmas decorations are still up.

30. I have NEVER had my Christmas decorations up this long.

31. I use Dove soap.

32. My toothpaste is cinnamon flavored.

33. I am obsessed with photographing children's EYES.

34. I took a really goofy self portrait the other day as a diversion to real life (below).

35. I love eating my Mother-in-Law's cornbread.

36. I have meals in freezer bags in the freezer.

37. I prefer caramel over chocolate.

38. I am cold-natured.

39. I have a wonderful relationship with my mother.

40. I enjoy listening to a capella music.

41. I don't like having the television on unless I'm watching a program.

42. I could live without television, but would have a hard time giving up my internet access!

43. The blogger I took this idea from had 100 things written about her, but I am having trouble coming up with even 50.

44. I stalk other people's photography websites.

45. I have online friends I chat with almost daily.

46. I am largely self-taught.

47. I've had no major sugeries to date.

48. I've ridden in an ambulance twice in my life.

49. I've watched my family slideshow at least 5 times since I posted it last night.

50. I'm going to bed now.

Family Slideshow

I have some unanswered health concerns. It's been a rough week. One of the first things I wanted to do after I came home from the hospital was to take individual pictures with each of my girls. I have lots of pictures of my girls, of course, but not many with me in them. I set up my lights and my camera on the tripod, and my mom came over and graciously took the pictures. I'm really pleased with them. Here's the slideshow: http://lauraodom.photosite.com/Family/ Be sure to click on "View Full Screen" to see the big versions of the pictures!

My girls

Mallory and Lila helped me try out my new backdrop tonight while taking turns taking pictures with the self-timer. Clara was already asleep.

There's a lot more I'd like to post right now, but I just don't have the energy tonight.

Hug your babies.

Sick Baby

I just hate it when my babies are sick.

Poor Mallory has had a rough time of it today. When she finally conked out, she looked so peaceful, I just had to take this picture. Poor piggy had to take a bath today in the washer/dryer due to a touch of vomit earlier... She was so happy to have him back!