Photographing my kids on Halloween is one of the things I really look forward to. I typically expend a ridiculous amount of time and energy creating their costumes. Then we usually get totally dressed including hair and makeup the weekend before Halloween and we have our photo shoot. Well this year was different. Very Different. As many of you may already know, I have "Adrenal Fatigue", which is pretty common yet massively underdiagnosed these days. Basically my adrenal glands are shot because I have spent way too many years being in a constant state of flght or flight. STRESS if you will. My life is pretty awesome but somehow I got into a place of fear and never got out. I literally can stress over anything. Anyhoo, I am finally in a place of understanding what I need to do to get well. YES I am taking some supplements and hormones to get my biochemistry in order. YES I am on a hypoglycemic diet to further support my endocrine system, I am even eating meat after being a vegetarian for 20 years! Also absolutely imperative is that I REST REST REST, because only at rest is when the Adrenals can regenerate. But even more important than that, I need to completely shift the way I live my life and the way I see things. I need to take things off my plate. Go to bed early. Take naps. Let go. Release. Give up perfection. Not stress over stuff!!! So this year, as Halloween approached, it was my biggest practice. How to let go of control and have Dale go to the mall and buy "cat ears" instead of making them from scratch? It wasn't easy I tell you. Especially when he came home with pink sequin ones with a big old plastic crown attached to it. BREATHE, Cari Ellen, JUST BREATHE, it will all be OK. And you know what? It was! I almost can't believe it. Halloween did not fall apart, it really was just fine! I want to say a huge thank you to my Momma, who went out and found Shayla's jacket and Jadyn's furry vest at the last minute, literally the day before Halloween. Can you say Life Saver! (My Mom is being so supportive, she will do anything to relieve me of any stress.) I did so well letting go that I even got over the fact that we wouldn't have photos. I kept saying "Oh well, I'll just always remember that year as the year I had Adrenal Fatigue and didn't have the energy to make costumes or do a photo shoot." Well guess what? We ended up being ready 15 minutes early before going out trick or treating so I grabbed my camera and the girls and we went out front and had a very quick no frills photo shoot. We did it!!!!! Thank you Universe! By the way, Shayla is "Cece" from the Disney sitcom "Shake It Up". There was a Halloween episode and Cece was a witch, I have to say Shayla nailed the costume right down to the teeny witch hat and lip necklace. She did her OWN makeup. Jaydn is her "Princess Fashiony Cat". And although I am seriosuly anti-chemical, I did agree to put toxic pink spray in their hair. Hey, Halloween comes only once a year right? I am really getting into this "letting go" thing. It is so much easier. :)
2 Comments
Nov 6, 2013, 6:23:57 AM
casey - super gorgeous! so happy for all three of you :-) love, casey
Nov 5, 2013, 12:26:18 PM
Aunt Mindy - Great shots... Love you.... all of you....