Well, here I am again, explaining my absence (though I’m sure you didn’t notice). :) Something came up last month which really set our world off kilter. We found out we’re having a baby, actually two babies, and right after we got the good news I saw the first signs of an impending bout of Hyperemesis, an illness which makes morning sickness look like a hiccup. If you Google the term you’ll see a little of what the last 6 weeks has been like for me.
The bottom line here, this pregnancy is much harder on me than I had imagined, and in fact we were totally unprepared, having tried for the last 5 years with no results. I’m not able to work anymore, which includes everything design, blogging, etc. I’m not sure when things will get better, at least not until these kiddos come out sometime in November. In the meantime I’ve set up a simple blogger blog here: josttwins.blogspot.com where I’ll post photos, audio messages and occasional notes as I feel up to typing. For now, that’s the only place you’re likely to find me online.
If you’re a client or prospective client, or colleague who was hoping to work with me, it may be next year before I’ll be able to get back to work. If I’m in the middle of a project of yours (only a couple I know of), please be patient with me. I’ll still finish the work as quickly as I’m able and I won’t ask for a dime until the work is complete. Get in touch with me if you’re unsure about anything.
Thank you to all of you who’ve remained faithful and interested in what I’ve had to say the last few years. If you’re one who prays, please pray for our family as my missing income is really putting us out in more ways that I thought possible. The medical bills are already piling up in the tens of thousands of dollars and as you all know, freelance doesn’t come with health insurance.
God bless and goodbye, for now…
 San Luis Obispo Web Design, Arroyo Grand Web Design, Pismo Beach Web Design_1211207299270.png)
Matthew Oliphant left a comment on May 17, 2007 at 8:34 pm | #
Good luck with everything. Let me know at all if I can help. :)
matthew Smith left a comment on May 17, 2007 at 8:44 pm | #
Natalie, We are totally with you. As two tired parents who love their boys and need Jesus, you’re in good company.
Blessings.
Matthew
Josh Byers left a comment on May 17, 2007 at 11:24 pm | #
Hey Natalie, I’ll be praying for you. My wife went through the same thing with our daughter so I (somewhat) understand how rotten this is. It will end.
Aaron left a comment on May 18, 2007 at 12:01 am | #
All the best, Nat. I’ll be praying for you.
Phil Bowell left a comment on May 18, 2007 at 5:24 am | #
I will be praying! May God be with you all.
'Mas left a comment on May 18, 2007 at 9:51 am | #
Y’all are on my list. We’ll see ya when yer ready. :)
Christy left a comment on May 18, 2007 at 9:54 am | #
Congrats on the babies. Very sorry to hear that your going to have a rough pregnancy. Prayers will go out daily for you and your family. God Bless!
Yannick left a comment on May 19, 2007 at 2:04 am | #
Congrats on the babies Natalie. I pray that all will go well and that the Lord will bless your whole family.
dorko left a comment on May 19, 2007 at 2:44 am | #
Congratulations for the baby :) I’ll be praying that everything goes well for you
Reese left a comment on May 20, 2007 at 3:26 pm | #
Hey Natalie, Your insights on your blog will be missed by many. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers, particularly for your health and financial situation.
Jason Beaird left a comment on May 21, 2007 at 11:45 am | #
Congrats on the twins and sorry to hear about the complications. My mother in law has been saying for some time now that my wife and I will have red headed twins when we decide to have kids. I’m not sure where that idea came from, but it’d be kinda wild if that happened as twins don’t run in either of our families and niether does red hair. :) You’ll be in our prayers for an eas-ier pregnancy and healthy babies! …and of course, we’ll miss you online!
Mark J. Epstein left a comment on May 27, 2007 at 8:38 am | #
Natalie,
Woooooaa. Twins!? Jen always wanted twins, but they don’t run in either family. Despite your very real and dangerous condition, congratulations on your pregnancy. I guess that trip to San Diego made you a “fertile Myrtle.” :-)
Please let me know if there is anything we can do besides pray.
All our love,
Mark, Jen, and cherubs
Mark J. Epstein left a comment on May 27, 2007 at 8:40 am | #
Yuck! I’ve got to get a new picture into the database. Although taken in 2002, I’ve added many gray hairs since this picture was taken. ;~{
Kristi left a comment on May 30, 2007 at 12:10 pm | #
Hey Natalie! I had emailed you a few times a while back and appreciated some of your advice on freelancing over @ Godbit, and I just dropped by here to see what you were up to – now I know! :)
Praise God for these babies, and for what he is doing in your family.
Listen, I have been there. Not with twins, but anyway, I have been there. I’ll be available if you ever need to chat / email / and I am praying for you. Currently I have 3 ages 3, 2, and 8 months, and I am cramming css, javascript, xhtml books at night when they are asleep. We have a very tight budget, and sometimes I cry wondering how God will “pull us out” of a circumstance. HE ALWAYS DOES; he is so faithful. I pray that he will show you that in the coming months. Remember if/when you feel tempted to think the world “outside” is going as normal and you are just “drowning” at home w/ pregnancy and baby stuff, this is where God wants you to be, and it is just as important!
God bless-
Adam Messinger left a comment on May 30, 2007 at 12:37 pm | #
Wow, talk about your mixed blessings.
You’re in my thoughts and prayers, Natalie. I hope you get to feeling better soon.
Michael Montgomery left a comment on May 31, 2007 at 4:47 pm | #
Congratulations, and blessings to you and your family!
Praying for all of you, and for your health.
Mary Yerkes left a comment on June 1, 2007 at 5:31 pm | #
Natalie,
Congratulations. Know that I’m praying for you all.
Love, Mary
sprittibee left a comment on June 2, 2007 at 5:25 pm | #
Praying for your two little “gifts” ;) and for your sanity and health. May the Lord provide your every need.
God bless, Natalie. Don’t feel guilty for taking time off. You deserve it. The net will be here when you get back.
Natalie left a comment on June 5, 2007 at 11:44 am | #
Thanks everyone for your thoughtful comments!
UPDATE: I was hospitalized once more a week after this post but have not been sick since. Oh, I still get queasy, but so far this nighttime IV/meds regimen is working beautifully.
I’ve been spending a little more time on the computer, trying to get on at least a couple of times a day to keep updated on things going on around the design community. Yes, that means I may be reading your blog again! :) It’s still tough focusing for long and I get headaches, but I’m making progress and hopefully will be able to get some work done before these babies really turn my life upside down.
You may also notice a new look again. It’s not new actually; it’s a template I made for Wordpress (not a public template) and adapted yesterday for this blog. I realized the old layout had too make usability flaws and having no idea when I’d be able to tweak that design, I put up this one which is very basic but clean an easy to get around (hopefully). And oh yeah, the butterflies are back! I think it’s been more than a year since I had the butterflies on my site.
One last thing, my daughter (AJ) wants to type some letters, so here’s a note from her: NZCCSGDDJFgjhnbbvx zgfhdj nbcgfyujmmnbvf ftryuu iyhfygyrtttj fhguyuyi tituy uuuhyuutugfy gfjj jtyg5yuu tughyjhh hyuyiyiti7 i iiiii iijjjxxxggg gggg mqwr4 ysyyyyy yudeyyy ydhuhitlkhk 8609578 222846477894735