Passion Project

Even though most of you know via facebook all about Olivia's recent photo session, I wanted to document on here as well. 

Andrew's sister nominated Olivia for The Passion Project  shortly before her surgery. It didn't take long at all before I got an email from the photographer, Kylee, saying she would love to help us document Olivia's journey. We discussed having her take photos of the day of surgery (family time before, handing her over to the surgeons, the phone call updates etc) but that would have been too big of a project for any one photographer. We then discussed having the session after surgery while Olivia was still in the hospital but a few days after the surgery I decided no. Olivia needed to recover in peace, but also Olivia was not Olivia when we were there. For those of you who know Olivia personally, you know how energetic, spunky, fun, sassy, feisty, and silly she can be. At the hospital, that was all gone. Not just because of the pain of surgery, but I think there was a lot of emotional stuff going on for her (there's a good chance therapy is in this girl's future.) 

Ultimately, we decided we'd do a session in Kylee's studio, surrounded by the things that kept Olivia going during her three weeks of hospitalizations. 

So, for my readers, since Kylee won't be posting Livie's session until next thursday, here is your sneak peak. I'm posting my favorites except one. That one is reserved for something special.

We weren't planning on taking photos in a Rapunzel costume, but the girl insisted.

The amount of love in this picture...That white and purple bunny on the left was a handmade gift from Ella and Livie's babysitter. She made one for Ella too. The beige bear next to the bunny was a gift from one of my cousin's coworkers. Some came from aunts and uncles, some came from friends. And this is only a small portion of the gifts Olivia got. I couldn't fit everything.

You can't tell here, but that's a heart with an O in it.

All the meds Livie has had to take since surgery. It's hard to imagine that just today we are down to just that green bottle. And of course, the tube next to the green bottle is the piece they put inside her for the fontan. And next to the sheet of pills is her pacemake (btw, if you're curious, a pacemaker costs about $12,000. Thank heavens for insurance!) The pulse ox is the green thing up from. 

Winnie the Pooh got Livie through a lot.

He even is wearing the name tag I wore in the waiting room.

I love this photo so so much.

This one too.

And both of these.