Apparently, my body looked at everything on my calendar and decided what I really needed was another five-day hospital stay. I would have preferred a nap. Or a vacation. Really, almost anything with fewer IVs.
I got very sick again with some sort of viral infection that led to dehydration, and I ended up back in the hospital. I’ve been home for a week now, and I’m finally feeling mostly back to normal. Mostly is doing a little work in that sentence, but after being that sick, I’ll take it.
There is a strange adjustment that comes with coming home and trying to return to your life while your body catches up. The ideas, responsibilities, and things you were looking forward to are all still there. Your energy does not necessarily get the memo. I’m glad to be feeling more like myself again, even with plenty still weighing on my mind.
Being sick again is frustrating in a way that goes beyond the five days themselves. It interrupts the plans you were making and the momentum you were finally getting back. As a mom and a small business owner, I have plenty I want to be present for. Having to step away from it all is hard, even when stepping away is exactly what needs to happen. I’m grateful to be home, and I’m trying to give myself a little room to recover without turning recovery into another deadline.
And there has been a lot happening. Some of it wonderful. Some of it terrifying. Some of it involving Halloween, which at least feels appropriate for the general level of chaos.
On October 20, I finally had my first featured episode of One More Clue on MeetMe—and nearly 600 viewers showed up!
NEARLY. SIX. HUNDRED.
After having to postpone while I was in the hospital, getting to do that first featured show felt especially good. And it went great! There is so much thought and work behind a show like this, from writing clues to making sure everything comes together when it’s time to go live. Getting to see that work turn into a successful night, with that many people watching, was a huge moment for me.
One More Clue has become something I really care about building. I love the challenge of finding that balance where a mystery makes you think without making you want to throw your phone. Watching the show reach more people makes me excited about what comes next. There will be more clues, more chances to second-guess yourself, and probably more moments where the answer feels obvious only after you hear it. That is part of the fun.
Thank you to everyone who came through, played along, and helped make the night what it was. Whether you’ve been around for a while or found me for the first time, I’m so glad you were there. I needed that kind of happy this week.
We also have a big family win: Enzo was accepted to Youth Senate! I am so proud of him. With so much of our attention lately going toward medical appointments and uncertainty, it feels wonderful to have something exciting to celebrate. He deserves his moment, and yes, I am absolutely taking mine as a proud mom, too.
I’m excited to see what Enzo takes from this opportunity and where it leads him. Sometimes, as a parent, you look at your child and realize they’re stepping into a whole new experience of their own. This is one of those moments. I want to make room to enjoy it with him, even while other things are uncertain. Good news deserves attention, too.
With Lorelai, we’re still in the difficult process of trying to get answers. Her lumbar puncture is tomorrow, October 22. We did learn that it will be done under sedation, which is a relief. It doesn’t take away everything we’re worried about, but it gives us one less part of the experience to dread quite so much.
The scary part is what might come next. If the lumbar puncture doesn’t help them figure out what the lesions are, they want to do a biopsy. Even typing that is hard. I want answers. I want them to know what we’re dealing with. I also desperately wish getting those answers didn’t involve conversations that are this frightening.
The hardest part is knowing I can be beside her, but I can’t do this for her. I can listen, ask questions, and show up. I can love her through every bit of it. But I can’t trade places with her, and that is a helpless feeling. Learning about the sedation gave me something concrete to feel relieved about. Right now, I’m holding onto that while we wait for the bigger answers.
She meets with the neuroimmunologist on October 30, and we expect they’ll likely go over the lumbar puncture results then. For now, we’re taking this one appointment at a time, because trying to mentally live through every possible next step is exhausting. There is only so much a mom can do with uncertainty before her brain starts running laps.
In the middle of all of that, we also have something creative to look forward to together. This Saturday, October 24, is ’Til Death Do Us Part at LaBelle Bridal Cottage! I’ll be one of the photographers, and Lorelai will be one of the models and characters: Penelope, the bride’s cousin.
A gothic murder mystery wedding is exactly the kind of dramatic, creative concept I love bringing to life. I’m looking forward to photographing the characters, the details, and all that atmosphere. It’s also nice to have something on the calendar with Lorelai that involves a character and a costume instead of another medical conversation.
That is one of my favorite parts of a themed shoot: seeing how each person interprets their role. A look, a pose, or a small interaction can suggest an entire story. With this concept, there is room for beautiful portraits and a little suspicion in every glance. I’m looking forward to seeing Penelope come to life through Lorelai, and to capturing everyone’s contribution to this wonderfully dramatic wedding.
Saturday will be a full day, because I also have a Halloween auction on MeetMe that evening, October 24, at 6:35 p.m. Pacific / 9:35 p.m. Eastern. Then I have another Halloween auction on Friday, October 30, at 6 p.m. Pacific / 9 p.m. Eastern. Come find me as Kafera Davida and join in! Seeing familiar names pop up is always a welcome part of being live, especially during weeks like these.
On the making side of things, I’m thinking about signing up for November’s Enchanted Maker’s Market—assuming I can manage to stay out of the hospital for that long. Insert the largest possible eye roll here.
Nothing is confirmed yet. I want to do it, and I’m hoping my health cooperates so I can make those plans. I’ll share an update if I sign up. For now, I’m trying to balance being excited about getting back to things with remembering that feeling better does not mean I need to do absolutely everything immediately. An annoying concept, but apparently a useful one.
And a quick reminder: The Alchemy of Her 2027 calendars are still available! With everything else happening, I don’t want this project to get lost in the shuffle. If you haven’t picked yours up yet, there’s still time. Grab one for yourself or as a gift, and enjoy a year of photography celebrating the women who helped bring this project to life. Every calendar sold supports my photography and means a lot to me.
Looking a little further ahead, there are still model, photographer, and videographer spots available for House of Indulgence on February 20, 2027, at LaBelle Bridal Cottage. This is our chance to bring indulgences to life through luxurious styling, character, and photography, and I’m excited to keep building it with the people involved. If you’ve been curious about participating, reach out for details and available spots!
For House of Indulgence, I’m especially excited about the storytelling possibilities. The styling is part of it, of course, but so is the attitude each person brings to their character. If you’re a model who enjoys stepping into a concept, or a photographer or videographer who wants to help shape how that concept looks, I’d love to hear from you. February gives us something creative to look forward to beyond this very crowded October.
That’s where life is right now: recovering, celebrating, worrying, creating, and trying to keep enough energy for all of it. I’m thrilled about the show. I’m proud of Enzo. I’m scared for Lorelai. All of those things are happening at once, and I’m not going to pretend one cancels out the others.
Thank you for checking in, showing up, supporting my work, and being patient when replies take a little longer. Come join a stream, say hello, or reach out about a shoot. Those connections mean a lot, especially when life feels this full.
Here’s hoping the rest of October brings some answers, more good moments, and absolutely no additional hospital bracelets. I have enough accessories.
