Sweet Caroline

No one has asked me this question, however I feel I should give an explanation to
why I photograph Caroline so often.
My older three are well past the "hey, you want to dress up & let momma take some pictures"age.
I think after years & years of taking over 1000 pics at the beach I've burned them out!
Caroline is still quite the trooper though.
I really didn't get "into" photography until 4 years ago when we purchased my Canon rebel slr. (& now I have my digital canon xt & love it).
thank ya'll for all the super sweet compliments on the girls. That always does a mother's heart good...
let me tell you why its even more special as far as Caroline.

Caroline has a genetic condition called ectodermal dysplasia. We put a couple of thoughts together & presented our concern to our pediatrician. We were sent to a dermatologist who immediately felt this was what she had. Then onto the genetics for counseling.
The disorder affects some or all parts of the ectoderm--skin, hair, nails & teeth and can be mild to be quite severe.
The most concerning presentation is sweat glands that do not function. These children can actually die due to their inability to thermal regulate. Caroline does have sweat glands which was obviously the doctors main concern.
"Have you ever seen her perspire?"
As we thought about this we talked about how when Caroline was little she would run very high temperatures
often as high as 105.6. It takes her much longer than the average person but she does cool her self down, we just have to watch her carefully.
These children can have no hair at all or it can be very very dry & brittle and fall out easily. Caroline's hair is very very soft , its just very slow growing.
She has never had a hair cut, only a few trims of her "curlies" in the back.
These children can be born with no teeth at all , and no nails.
Caroline has stunted growth of both of these. She will have her baby teeth for some time.

I know there are many worse case scenarios . I am very very thankful she does not have it any more severe than she does. She will need further genetic counseling to determine whether she carries the dominant or recessive gene and how that will affect her future.
That & the fact that she will require extensive multidisciplinary intervention regarding her dental needs, that's "all" we have to worry about.

But lets face it, children can be mean.
She came home the other day very sad because a couple of the children picked on her because she hadn't lost her baby teeth yet.
grrr...
She often times asks "when will my hair be long like my sisters?".
I told her God created her very special & made her absolutely beautiful with curly blond hair & beautiful blue eyes.
She is very smart & has such a fun outgoing personality.
She is talented in gymnastics.
I know these qualities are gifts & will be assets to her as she grows up.

Anyway, I say all that because I pray that through the many many photos I have taken of her that I will help boost her self confidence for those days when someone says something unkind.
I pray that she knows she is beautiful indeed.
I love all my girls equally just photograph Caroline a little bit more!

Sweet Caroline~~