tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83890717082934740042024-02-02T16:35:54.902-08:00♥ღ♥ †§onny §ay§ Hello† ♥ღ♥The Creative Life, Photography, Family & more. Live in the moment & Be present ... Always!Cindy - Sonny Says Hellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07083196297268923394noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389071708293474004.post-55414531273762632372012-01-23T02:27:00.000-08:002013-05-04T13:29:45.971-07:00He Was My DadHe came came home from Korea when I was 8 months old to be my Dad.<br />
<br />
When he was in Korea, he was doing night watch at a guard post. It was blown up while right underneath him as he was standing guard, and he survived. He worked in the army kitchen for a bit of time, and went back to his regular posts once he was physically 100%. He often talked about climbing to the top of a sheer sided mountain. It was really hard & he said he had to plan every move and dig his fingers into the mud just to make any headway. He figured that once he got to the top, that it was likely that there was an easy slope on the other side to climb down. When he got to the top, there was no easy way down. It was sheer sided on every side. Before he set about figuring a way down, he stopped to take in the view.<br />
<br />
He brought back photos, pictures and slides when he came home, and he would set up the projector on family evenings, showing us his adventures. He would show us the cities and towns in Korea, how they lived and how the beauty of the the country was breathtaking. He showed us what true poverty looked like. We looked forward to these photo nights. It was part of who he was and it became part of who we were because he was our father. He was protective, but He wanted us to know, he shared himself and his adventures with us both good, bad and tragic.<br />
<br />
He came home from Korea with hemorrhagic fever. There was no cure for it, I don't know if there's any cure for it even today. He got a job at the gas company in Chicago to support us and he worked the graveyard shift in the dead of night during the winter reading meters, conducting emergency repairs, and fixing one crisis after another as they cropped up. He came home in the morning to get some rest, and he would get up and go back to work, because most of the time, he was also on call.<br />
<br />
He survived a roll over car accident in 1972. By that time, there were four of us kids ... all daughters. He went out at about midnight because we were out of milk. Some teenagers ran a red light and plowed into his VW bus. It rolled over four times, and the last thing he remembered was being ejected out of the driver side door, and feeling like his head landed on a pillow. The doctors were amazed that he survived.<br />
<br />
He sang 2nd Tenor in the Lyric Opera House in Chicago ... while he continued to work at the gas company. I remember going on a school field trip to the Lyric knowing he was singing in The Flying Dutchman. I could hear his voice over and above all the chorus, I could close my eyes & know it was him. He would fill our home with his voice. I grew up hearing La Traviata. He would to hang out with some of the world's operatic greats. He sang all his life even up to the week before he died.<br />
<br />
He was a Priest and built a church for a congregation who had only a run down little white building to worship in. The new church still stands today. It is beautiful. I can see his work in every door he stained, the tile he laid and the art work he & my mother put into around the windows. When he spoke, You would hear poetry, the language of the heart.<br />
<br />
When I went into adolescence, he would track me down for fear I was in danger. If he couldn't find me, (I had lots of friends) ... He would wait up alone for me in the dark all night, I would sneak in through a window, he would check my bed hoping I would be in it ... and eventually hoped I would realize that I was being an idiot girl to the family who loved me.<br />
<br />
He began his own HVAC business after we moved to the southwest. He ran that business successfully for almost 40 years. My mother died 2002, and still he continued to work his business. He was hauling furnaces by sheer strength alone onto rooftops and completing commercial installs with no assistance from a team.<br />
<br />
He survived a second auto accident where he was T-Boned by an SUV in 2006. He was making a left hand turn on a suburban street when an SUV plowed into his driver side at 60 MPH. He survived that and he attributed it to being in a Lincoln. In 2008 he had acute appendicitis, and because it was the weekend, he refused to go to the hospital until. I sat with him all Saturday night knowing he was in a health crisis. Suddenly at 2am he got up and said, "okay, let's go" ... When we got to ER, after all the tests, found his appendix had ruptured and he needed emergency surgery. He survived that too.<br />
<br />
With a dad that is that strong, tenacious and focused, you would think he would live to be at least 100 years old. His mother did. She was just as strong. He came down with pneumonia and he stayed his course for a week before he finally went in on a Tuesday for an office visit with his primary care doctor. The diagnosis came as Pneumonia ... it was bad and he needed hospitalization. At the hospital, more news ... acute renal failure. He minimized it ... for he was incredibly stoic. "It's only a little bit of renal failure going on. I'll be fine,"<br />
<br />
Surgery was needed to drain fluid from his lungs, they needed to keep drainage tubes in his longs to keep the fluid from building up. They got his kidneys back and so, you see ... He BEAT pneumonia and acute renal failure. Then he caught the superbug, C-Diffile & he beat that too ... the first time.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cdifficile.org/category/c-difficile-outbreaks/">C-difficile </a> is a It is an intestinal infection, a type of superbug; It is the MRSA of intestinal bugs. You know ... he had lost at least 30 lbs by that time and had no appetite ... but he still beat the C-Diff. But he couldn't beat it when it came back. He had a relapse of C-Diff and he just didn't have the resources to fight it the second time around. When he went back to the hospital from the nursing facility, the admitting doctor went over the records from the beginning. He said, "Your dad got C-Diff from the hospital" .... and then there were phrases like "relapse", "Prognosis not good", ... But for me, they didn't know my dad; My Dad could survive anything; But he couldn't survive it this time.<br />
<br />
The bad news is that C-Diff is on the rise. If you need hospitalization for anything, the longer your stay in the hospital, the larger your chances of catching a hospital related superbug. When dad got C-diff, we did the research. C-diff cannot be killed with any alcohol based sanitizer. Hand sanitizer, wipes ... they won't kill it. C-diff is a spore that enables the hard outside shell to survive almost any adverse conditions for weeks on end until it finds it's way into a moist enabling environment.<br />
<br />
What kills C-Diff? Bleach, soap and hot water ... and friction, scrubbing to break down the outer spore.<br />
<br />
If you land in a hospital and they are not cleaning everyday with bleach, soap, water and scrubbing, you need to get to a cleaner hospital. Half of Critical Care where dad was at was in quarantine from superbugs. Yet day after day, even though the staff would "clean", they were not cleaning thoroughly or not at all. The dirt in the corners were there day after day. We thought we could get clorox wipes and wipe everything down. The bad news is ... Clorox wipes have NO bleach in them. You virtually need to make your own bleach wipes if the hospital staff is not doing their job. You can advocate for your loved one as much as you can; Research the best & cleanest hospitals in your city in advance just so you know where you want to go if you ever get ill, or if your loved ones might get sick.<br />
<br />
I would hate to see anyone else go through the loss like our family has.
.
<br/><br/><br/>
<a href="http://www.v2cigs.com/7432-23-1-557.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://money.v2cigs.com/banners/728x90_V2-Cigs-electronic-cigarettes-Break-Free-01.jpg" width="728" height="90" alt="V2 Cigs electronic cigarettes - Break Free From The Pack!"></a>Cindy - Sonny Says Hellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07083196297268923394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389071708293474004.post-59263708527370436432012-01-22T16:01:00.000-08:002012-01-22T16:01:57.902-08:00Bellwood<div class="asset-meta"> <br />
</div><div class="user-icon"><br />
</div>There is a little township outside of Chicago called Bellwood. It seems small enough; But it was my whole world when I was little. We lived in a beautiful bungalow built by my great grandfather and my great uncles. They were new to America, coming in on a steamship from Germany. They passed through Ellis Island and boarded a train to Chicago. They were relatively wealthy when they arrived, and bought land when they got off the train. They named their township Bellwood.<br />
<br />
They built the homes and they built our family. I could walk next door and visit my Aunt Annie. My cousins lived right down the street. My cousin, Lloyd lived a block away. He died in a car accident when he was a teenager. Aunt Lettie lived a few more blocks down. She had a son who had trouble with depression. Aunt Lettie was very emotional and would walk everywhere ... but her home was right on the corner of North Avenue and 26th, so she was close to everything anyway. Mrs. Owl lived a couple doors down. She collected candy in closed glass jars. My grandmother and I went to visit her once. One of the jars fell when she offered me some candy beads. The little beads tumbled all across the floor. They sparkled as they bounced and rolled over the wood and carpet.<br />
<br />
There was a little boy, Danny who lived next door. He was always causing trouble and eventually, I wasn't to play with him anymore. I could walk down the street and turn the corner and not feel lost. I was only four years old. I remember doing just that one late afternoon. I turned the corner and saw my dad in the butcher shop buying dinner. I wasn't supposed to be out of the back yard and knew I had better get back home before he rounded the corner or I was really in for it. Ultimately, my conscience got the best of me and I confessed to my unsuspecting parents during dinner. Only after I became a mother myself could I appreciate the full impact of that moment ... of retroactive panic.<br />
<br />
Yet at the time, I was secretly proud that I raced home and actually beat my dad to the front door. I could have gotten away with it ... but I had a conscience. Damn. Stupid.<br />
<br />
Damn stupid. (interjected retroactive humor)<br />
<br />
There was a beautiful porch in the front, one of those swinging benches off on the side. A gigantic old elm tree stood in the front yard. The wind would whisper through it's branches and make music to my ears. One evening, a really bad storm eventually brought the old veteran down - with a bold of lighting, it lit ablaze. It was a huge event in my little four year old perspective. A sight I'll never forget.<br />
<br />
The dining room had a huge bay window I could sit in the sun and take in the world. Grandma had a flower garden under the window full of the most beautiful flowers with the most amazing intense colors. The rest of the yard was deep green grass. Dad used to get the lawn mower out and cut it every weekend. There was an old spinning wheel in the basement my great grandma Sophia brought from the old country. It sat down there, collecting dust, sad and lonely for more productive days gone by.<br />
<br />
I began kindergarten while we lived there. I remember getting up early mornings and bundling up in layers to walk down the street with my older cousins to get to school. I remember snack time and donuts and milk.<br />
<br />
In the evening, you could hear the sound of the train as it passed through, and gave that high melancholic goodbye.<br />
<br />
I miss Bellwood, Illinois a lot. I miss it because it was home. I can never go home againCindy - Sonny Says Hellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07083196297268923394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389071708293474004.post-7711967331733135952012-01-12T01:37:00.000-08:002012-01-17T23:35:36.652-08:00The Last Goodbye | Photography Monthly Gallery<a href="http://www.photographymonthly.com/gallery/large-version?galleryimageid=96637" target="_blank">The Last Goodbye </a>Cindy - Sonny Says Hellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07083196297268923394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389071708293474004.post-17977340935326320552012-01-11T12:01:00.000-08:002013-05-05T21:02:59.136-07:002012 ,,, A New Year BeginsIn a rush, the New Year has begun. My Father died on October 26th, 2011 after a battle that at the time, seemed as though he would win. We buried him on November 2nd on a picturesque late afternoon with a soft breeze sifting through the air.. The services were beautiful, recognizing and honoring his life, his Priesthood, his service to his congregations, his love and devotion to his family, his amazing journey through life as an opera singer in Chicago, his belief in living a life with integrity and commitment. He was given full Military Honors for his service in Korea; Taps played in the background and the sun setting softly on the horizon. I try to tell myself that he would have loved it. In truth, he would have smiled that all if us four daughters were by his side, all received flags in his honor, he had the casket he requested and everyone had more than enough time to come out to pay their respect.<br />
<br />
We shared stories, funny Dad-sayings and moments in our childhood that made us smile. <br />
He was an amazing Father, It's unfortunate that we do not understand the full value of our parents until they have passed away. There's is a priceless lesson hidden in that heartache.<br />
<br />
Now is time to pick up the pieces. He left behind a business to run; He had a household he maintained. He had family, friends, neighbors ,,, He had a life and now he has an estate to settle.<br />
<br />
I miss my Father intensely. He was so supportive of everything I loved to do. He valued creativity, inventiveness, resilience and individuality. He found great pride in each and every one of his children, his grandchildren and his great grandchildren. Some of his favorite times were during family gatherings and dinners at his home, We would often have dinner on the huge patio, always echoing the unique 'Donald' distinctive laugh.<br />
<br />
It seemed I had just recover from Mom's passing... then Dad died so soon after. I became so emotionally invested in making sure he would live as long as his mom did. Just a little more time is what we all wanted. But there is never enough time ... never. <br />
<br />
I cannot believe they would have left without the full confidence of knowing their children were capable of moving forward and that we would be Okay. <br />
<br />
I have more to say, but later would be better to write it.<br />
<br />
Thank You everyone for your condolences received! Each & everyone is taken to heart & means so much!<br />
<br />
Brightest Blessings in the New Year of 2012<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="//www.etsy.com/shop/SonnySaysHello?ref=offsite_badges&utm_source=sellers&utm_medium=badges&utm_campaign=en_isell_1"><img width="200" height="200" src="//img0.etsystatic.com/site-assets/badges/en/en_isell_1.png"></a>
<br />
<br />Cindy - Sonny Says Hellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07083196297268923394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389071708293474004.post-663152924557164722011-10-19T03:04:00.001-07:002011-10-19T03:07:36.324-07:00September Blur ...October ...On Tuesday, September 13, 2011, my father was admitted into the
hospital for acute renal failure. He had been ill since September 8th,
but declined to get medical attention for several reasons; But I believe
the number one reason was that he believed he was stronger & that
he could beat it. .<br />
<br />
We know that he felt well on
September 7th and was sick with what he thought was a flu or food
poisoning at about 1:30pm on September 8th. September 8th was my sister
Celest's birthday. September 7th was my birthday. He emailed two
birthday cards out one a minute before midnight, the other a minute past
midnight. To this, we thought Dad was sharp as a tac; It was a false
sense of security. <br />
<br />
On Thursday, he texted our Priest
that he was unfortunately going to miss Wednesday services as he was
still feeling ill. He mistakenly also sent the text to his daughters.
That was the beginning of all worlds colliding. I called dad to ask him
how was he doing. He, being the strong guy, said he was quite all
right & he would be just fine. On Friday, I called him & he
said the same thing ... "I'm fine. Don't worry. I'll tough it out."
On Saturday, I called him pushing for medical attention. Then I
began texting him. I reminded him that 4 days was too long to wait
even for someone my age. One text he sent ... "It's the weekend and ll
there is 911...or the emergency room. I want to see my own doctor on
Monday" ... I brought him chicken noodle soup and checked his vitals.
They were perplexing. His throat was terribly sore. He was trying to
push fluids, but was having trouble. He still declined medical. I
became frustrated. He walked me out to my car. His eyes looked
wrong. They looked glassy and he seemed disconnected. I couldn't stand
it ... he wanted me to go home. I called and called ... He would not
see the doctor until Monday. He had so many things to take care of. On
Monday he said he had forgotten the time and before he knew it, it was
too late. All that night I called him. He was getting angry. I was
ready to call the paramedics. <br />
<br />
Those who know my
father, know that he is unerringly stubborn to the nth degree. He will
do things his way or not at all. PERIOD. He is the Dad, and he will
always be the DAD. When we were children, we were to respect him,
because he knew best ... because, well ... because he was DAD.<br />
<br />
So
when it was time to call it, I hesitated out of respect & love. I
paced the floors trying to figure out a way to resolve it without having
to drag him out and him be pissed off at me for eternity. I decided
to call the paramedics with no sirens and meet them outside his home. I
would call him to abide by respect to tell him I was coming over, so he
would not be caught indiscreet. A mistake .... on my part I should
have just done it and tossed care out the window. He was upset.<br />
<br />
<br />
He was awake all that night, he said he was arguing on the
phone. We argued in the morning. He wanted me to call my aunt. I told
him I would if he went to the ER or the doctor. We argued some more.
He texted me .... "I'm at the doctors NOW"... It was 11:00 AM Tuesday,
October 13th, 2011. Shortly thereafter, he was in the ER and diagnosed
with acute renal failure. <br />
<br />
<br />
When all this began, my little Sister Susan was in Montana
on vacation visiting my sister littlest sister, Celest at the time. I
can't even remember when she returned. But she was there, in the ER
and we have been there by his side since.<br />
<br />
Today is Wednesday, October 19, 2011. My Dad is still fighting for his life.Cindy - Sonny Says Hellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07083196297268923394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389071708293474004.post-71311297364700378212011-09-01T16:01:00.000-07:002013-05-13T20:11:58.660-07:00September Summer's Last Day ... Indian Summer is on it's way!I've been pretty busy lately!<br />
Here's the quick version & Thanks for catching up with me ;) <br />
<br />
School has finally begun, both children are shopped for, supplied and in for the second week. Our fourth grader is loving her new teacher & had a great start! The little one is in Montessori & I would say this: Had I known how AMAZING this teaching method was, all my kids would have been schooled this way. The insight is fascinating, but the way it effects children is truly a miraculous journey to watch! This is Allison's second year in Montessori. All I can say is ... WOW!<br />
<br />
This week we had a great start ... but I've heard flu season is beginning early this year. It seems like I had just heard someone say that at Target when I received a phone call telling me to come get Allie ... she had a fever. After a day was spent at the doctors, we arrived home with prescriptions and care directions.<br />
<br />
The following day, Open House for our oldest was on the schedule. It lasted into the evening & it was so crowded, it felt a bit like being in a sardine can! But it was fun, hectic, loud and informative. <br />
<br />
There's so much going on and the holidays are upcoming too. I shoot Winterhaven every year. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. I'm hoping to volunteer photographing on school field trips at the Pumpkin Patch & Apple Annie's Orchard. If your school would like a volunteer photographer for a school field trip, just give me a shout out! Anyone who would be planning a family outing at either place & would like some photo's complimentary, just email me an inquiry and we can work out times & dates.<br />
<br />
Last week I photographed for Jill William's Author's book signing at the Public Library (A big glass room with flourescent light & lots of reflective bounce back!) .... I'll also be following at Antigone's Books for Their Authors series. I'll post more events as they come up.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.zenfolio.com/SonnySaysHello" target="_blank">Sonny Says Hello</a><br />
<br />
Don't forget I can be reached at:<br />
<br />
<a href="mailto:CindyLukacs@gmail.com">Cindy Lukacs @gmail.com</a><br />
<a href="mailto:SonnySaysHello@gmail.com">Sonny Says Hello @gmail.com</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.v2cigs.com/7432-22-1-511.html" target="_blank"><img alt="V2 Cigs electronic cigarettes - Don't Quit, Switch - See why millions have switched to V2!" border="0" height="600" src="http://money.v2cigs.com/banners/120x600_V2-Cigs-electronic-cigarettes-Dont-Quit-Switch-01.jpg" width="120" /></a>Cindy - Sonny Says Hellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07083196297268923394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389071708293474004.post-10410780381508218472011-06-19T18:27:00.001-07:002013-05-04T13:13:20.639-07:00Welcome To Sonny Says Hello<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Hello & Welcome! <br />
<br />
I've been pretty busy lately, so here's the quick version on catching up with me ;) <br />
<br />
My photography site is at <a href="http://sonnysayshello.smugmug.com/">Sonny Says Hello - Photography By Cindy Lukacs</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I have an Etsy site for my craftsy side ... <a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/SonnySaysHello?ref=si_pr">Sonny Says Hello on Etsy </a> features unique handmade & vintage clothing, hair, home accessories & baby items. When I'm not out with my camera, I spend more time in my design room. I enjoy making one of a kind & individual items. If you're looking for a specific color I don't have listed, please do not hesitate - send me a request! <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="mailto:CindyLukacs@gmail.com">My Email is: CindyLukacs@gmail.com</a><br />
<br />
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" width="468" height="60">
<param name="movie" target="_blank" Cindy - Sonny Says Hellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07083196297268923394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389071708293474004.post-52198735992666279252011-06-19T18:15:00.000-07:002011-07-21T01:20:32.528-07:00Who is Sonny Says Hello?<div class="post-header"><div class="post-header-line-1"><span class="post-labels"> </span> </div></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I'm known as Cindy to friends & family & the owner of the multi-faceted creative project which I've named "Sonny Says Hello". </span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Originally from Chicago, Illinois & spent much of my time there being creative & rebellious. In 1972, my family packed up the little red VW bus for a road trip that cut through expansive landscapes & breathtaking sunsets. We arrived in Arizona at the beginning of an amazing & thunderous monsoon season. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I had never been on a road trip that I could then remember; Yet there I was with my 3 little sisters. We were miserably hot that summer, but that didn't stop us from giving each other more misery. That's when my then nickname, 'Sonny' arrived in my little teenage head. I liked it. My sisters laughed. "Who would Sonny be then?" they asked? I replied, "Sonny is vibrant, happy and the sun always shines on her. She is joyful, creative and always growing." "Growing into what?" they retorted as they elbowed each other. At the time, it was all I had. I'm a shiksa. What do you want? There's a photograph we took at one of our tour de-restaurant ala sight seeing moments. I'm wearing a funny pair of white shorts (I hated shorts at the time but it was ungodly hot) ... and I'm smiling ... in the sun. Yeah, I need to find that photo. I hated it then. I love it now.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I hail from a well creative family. My Mother was an artist; </span><span style="font-size: small;">She worked during the day at the newspaper. She sketched, painted & created every other spare moment of her days. </span><span style="font-size: small;">My father was the photographer; He was also the second tenor in the Chicago Lyric Opera!. Dad worked at the utility company during the day & often pulled 24 hours shifts in the dead of night & in the frost of winter. During his spare hours and weekends, he sang. He immersed himself in photography. The darkroom was the most mysterious place in the house ... I loved it there & so the seed took root. One day I hope to shoot with my father's most favored cameras from ages past. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many, many things have occurred between then and now, as does in most everyone's life. But the truth is, Sonny was born in the 1970's and almost forgotten until a creative resurgence flooded my life & propelled this idea forward. Within this time I've married, had children, divorced, remarried a wonderful man; And my children have graced me with 9 amazing grandchildren.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes. Life happened. But the creative life, always present, had never really been built upon. It needed a foundation. That foundation came slowly by learning who I was. My life defined me. Now I define my life. I'm joyous & creative. The sun always shines on me. I'm in the moment. I love to be vibrant, creative, brilliant, funny ... Sonny has become 'Sonny Says Hello' -- 40 years later.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today I mostly shoot with Canon. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I began Sonny Says Hello Photography in 2009.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks for visiting me here!</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can also visit me at SmugMug and on Etsy!</span></div>Cindy - Sonny Says Hellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07083196297268923394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389071708293474004.post-40416775066695434762011-05-04T13:04:00.000-07:002011-06-19T18:11:27.673-07:00A Tiny Life ... A Journey Begins.It's a blessed journey for our Granddaughter, Claire. She was born premature on April 15th at 12:04 in the afternoon, only 25 weeks old. She weighed 1 pound 7 ounces. She arrived via Cesarean section; A rude awakening to the new world awaited her. During the weeks that have followed, Claire has been on a ventilator, fed intravenously. In order to provide the best medical care possible, she has required blood transfusions. Holding her or touching her would present too much of a risk. Her mommy & daddy could only talk to her in an effort to comfort during this fragile time. During the first week of her life in the NICU, they found a 1.7mm hole in her heart. Her lungs were filling with blood and she would tire easily. She was 'riding' the ventilator as she was too tired to breath on her own. After administering medication to speed her heart to heal. She miraculously recuperated & the hole healed to .7mm. Unfortunately, this was not good enough. She began riding the ventilators a day later and her lungs were filling again. She was taken to surgery where they performed heart surgery on little Claire, grateful for every prayer, healing thought & powerful gesture!! We waited. <br />
<br />
Claire came out of surgery still fighting. The doctors listed her critical & we waited. One week later, Claire has been taken off the ventilators, and is looking forward to her first feeding. Today, her mommy gets to hold her. Thankfully, Claire is thriving! Her heart is healing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VKw4an7qhUHD86ds334MMDhTDroMxXwoFYs47uPZ9-JZ2cEmFabxz1rygGx0wAYvkLTDZew1TlMuVP3yhdi7SV_YK-lEB590zJr3OLlJGyMZ6sCd7kp0qJcCXfYCk6oRpbYhPGVNqMXL/s1600/201503_1767071180690_1356500874_31712832_2101722_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VKw4an7qhUHD86ds334MMDhTDroMxXwoFYs47uPZ9-JZ2cEmFabxz1rygGx0wAYvkLTDZew1TlMuVP3yhdi7SV_YK-lEB590zJr3OLlJGyMZ6sCd7kp0qJcCXfYCk6oRpbYhPGVNqMXL/s320/201503_1767071180690_1356500874_31712832_2101722_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
THANK YOU!!! Thank You To every single person who kept Claire in their thoughts, prayers, daily blessings & healing circles. The action of prayer & healing is a powerful thing! Never under estimate it's presence in your life! If we only knew it's breadth we could move mountains!<br />
<br />
<br />
Now we look forward to Claire moving forward in her life, moving home to be with her family! She has a big Sister, Big Brother, her Mommy & Daddy and an loving beautiful world full of Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Uncles, Aunts, Cousins and a circle of friends who look forward to greeting her home!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hurry little angel! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Get well and speed home to all that wait for you with open arms!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLp7Pm_bAj5qm4IUzgENqVBFYvEMTGbHs9FoRi7XcC9B-RszNP55k7KF_EBGv6J_WdXAk0NBEAfk_pb_2hfeaID4ptu6kb_H5eFfuMaanvwHdJ9k7lwUaNvOy6Pyne-qmxHqrGLu2Vg0l/s1600/204674_1767071780705_1356500874_31712838_5766338_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLp7Pm_bAj5qm4IUzgENqVBFYvEMTGbHs9FoRi7XcC9B-RszNP55k7KF_EBGv6J_WdXAk0NBEAfk_pb_2hfeaID4ptu6kb_H5eFfuMaanvwHdJ9k7lwUaNvOy6Pyne-qmxHqrGLu2Vg0l/s320/204674_1767071780705_1356500874_31712838_5766338_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Angels are often silent, </div><div style="text-align: center;">But they are listening to every thought that stirs our soul."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Cindy - Sonny Says Hellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07083196297268923394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389071708293474004.post-53249511750581091012011-03-29T14:26:00.000-07:002013-05-04T13:14:13.538-07:00Welcome To Sonny Says HelloHello & Welcome to my newest adventure: My Blogger.<br />
<br />
Sonny Says Hello Photography can be found on SmugMug.com and also DeviantArt.com.<br />
<br />
On Etsy, Sonny Says Hello features unique handmade & vintage, clothing, hair & houme accessories & baby items. The boundaries are limitless! I'm a custom-creative! I love making one of a kind & individual items! If you're looking for a specific color I do not have listed, please do not hesitate -- send me a request! <br />
<br />
<a href="mailto:CindyLukacs@gmail.com">My Email is: CindyLukacs@gmail.com</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://sonnysayshello.smugmug.com/">http://sonnysayshello.smugmug.com/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/sonnysayshello">http://www.etsy.com/shop/sonnysayshello</a>
Cindy - Sonny Says Hellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07083196297268923394noreply@blogger.com0