Aquarium, Swimming, Splash Park, Chipped Teeth, Bowling, Fishing....and on and on and on

Last week started with a trip to Charleston for one of Bradley's doctor appointments. Because it was an afternoon appointment, we planned a mommy/Bradley morning with a trip to the aquarium. Let me tell you, through his eyes it was worth it, but on a personal note, I really would've thought their boasting about improvements was true, should've known better, still same as when it opened except Penguin Planet and Camp something. Now don't let the name fool you, if it was a planet, then Pluto would be massive compared. Penguin Planet area may have been about 2 of my bathrooms and let me tell you my house is 59 years old so that gives you an idea of just how big my bathroom is.

But aside from that as I said it was worth it to be able to see it through the eyes of my 3 year old.

Unfortunately, while we were at the doctor's office, Bradley decided no one was going to come near him to put anything on his back....so, the return visit for Thursday was cancelled and we will return later in July. This cancelled trip also made waves for new opportunities......JENNA JADE!!!

Jenna is Bradley's older cousin (by 10 1/2 months) so needless to say they are as close as cousins can get being 100 or so miles apart and only seeing each other every couple of months or so. And Tori, well, she just looks up to Jenna and as we found out, she tries to do everything Jenna does. So arrangements were made and Wednesday Bradley, Tori, and I took a trip to Greenville to watch Jenna's swim practice and bring her back.

Then on Thursday it was on to the splash park:

And then the fun filled day ended with heart stopping as Tori hurt herself for the 3rd or 4th time. You see, while at the splash park she skinned her knee, during nap she hit her head, and taking a bath she stood up and immediately fell into the side of the tub. Being hardly 2 inches from her it looked like she hit the side with her forhead, but after grabbing her and trying to find the bump, I saw the blood....from her mouth. She slightly cut her lip and chipped 2 teeth. Luckily they are small chips: (top teeth on her right...your left).

But do you think that stopped her.....uh,uh, no way, no how!

So the next day we're off again....BOWLING:

More to come on their adventures as we celebrate July 4th! Of course there are many more pictures you can view at www.dropshots.com/ladypiper and you can click on more on the left under Nana D's Angels or Pilkenton Pearls

$6 (and some change) Later

As I went about day two of cleaning (and I don't just mean the basics, I mean clean walls, floors, etc. in operation work on lowering kittie dander), I did the owe so popular in today's time, let the TV "babysit" Bradley. Tori was napping and I wanted to try to finish the living room and get the hall done. Bradley "helped" yesterday, but today he didn't want to get his booboos wet. So Sesame Street and Word World here we come.

As Bradley settled in and got excited about /o/ O. I went about moving onto the hallway. Now the hall needs some TLC. Not sure what went wrong when we panted it 5 years ago, but all around the top the paint is cracked and flaking. Been that way for 5 years. I decided to scrape what I could down and then I hear. "Mommy, I want McDonalds!"

Would you know it, I applaud Noggin because they don't have commercials to plant ideas into my little ones' heads like PBS does. So every so often I would here the McDonalds request. Then it became, "Mommy, I'm so hungry."

Now being that we've been couped up in the house since Monday, I told Bradley if he could continue to be good, as soon as I finished the hall I would shower and we could go to McDonalds. And for those of you who know me, the only thing half way decent about McD's is their Sweet Tea. So me taking the kids to McDs is rare and a treat.

About 1 1/2 hours later, yeah, I'm teaching Bradley patience, we arrived at McDs. Due to the weather being so hot and my kids can't be in the heat, I opted for the one indoors. Got out meal, spotted a table in the play area, took 3 trips back and forth to put down food, get drinks, put down drinks, drag high chair....you get the picture.

Finally we're all settled and started eating, when the manager comes in with a customer. The customer had found a hole/rip/tear/something in the netting at the top where the kids crawl through. And you guessed it...."Parents, I need everyone to get their kids off the equipment, we have to shut down the playground."

Thank God we were still able to sit at our table. So I endured oh so delicious McD's food (dripping with sarcasm here) to simply look at the indoor playground. So six dollars and some change later, we're all home and the kiddos are napping.

My next idea.....we need a public indoor playground like at McDonalds. Yes, we have things like Leapin' Lizards, Monkey Business, and Monkey Joes, but not a playground. Of course if I had the money we'd buy a place with a lot of land, build an indoor playground and have a blast. And for those wondering how my 3 year old Bradley took it.....AMAZINGLY. Not one tear, no whining, nothing, he simply listened to why we couldn't play, ate almost all his food (another amazing thing), and left wanting only to hold my hand and carry my drink with the other. I am Blessed.

Family updates

Many ask or email so here's an update for all who read this: (For some this may be familiar as I am being lazy and copying an email I recently sent)

For those who read on facebook....I am feeling better and I DO NOT WANT STREP THROAT AGAIN! EVER!!!!

Now for the update since our MUSC trip on June 8:

Charleston went well.

Tori: Tori doesn't have to return to the allergist for 3 months. She's also now on 2 allergy meds instead of one, but the second is just as needed. (***Note new info below about her current diagnosis as of 6-17).

Bradley: Bradley on the other hand is on another regimen, with some topical meds we've used in the past that seemed to start working, but then the dermatologist disagree with the allergist prescribing it so no refills were allowed (that's when we were dealing with Dr. Perrick (allergist here) and Dr. Grice).

We have to do a bleach bath once a week to keep the bacteria on the skin under control. Basically we all have bacteria on our skin and we all have the staph bacteria it just doesn't usually lead to problems like what Bradley has. With eczema patients they're more prone to staph infections. So since he has another infection that means we are once again on an antibiotic. We go back June 29 and July 2 for Bradley. The 29th they will place a tape like substance on his back for a skin patch test to see if his skin itself has an allergic type reaction to certain things that could be ingredients in the topical meds and lotions. The 2nd is to read the test. Between the 29 and 2....no swimming, baths, showers....just a sponge bath as necessary.

He's now only on Benadryl for allergies so we'll see how that works.

Since the only doctor I was able to find that had the narrowband UVB equipment refuses to treat a 3 year old, we are now looking at possibly an oral medication: Methotrexate. This was the route I wanted to avoid because as with all meds there are risk factors and the risks and benefits have to be carefully weighed. With light therapy there was only the possibility of skin cancer later in life. With Methotrexate there are many more known side effects....liver or kidney failure, bone marrow problems, to name a few. Dr. Ward who we first saw at MUSC didn't want to go this route because of side effects and felt light therapy would be much better. Dr. Kearse who we saw this week and who is specialized in pediatric dermatology brought up light therapy but once I explained the situation he brought up the probable need for methotrexate. He makes the risks sound very minimal. I don't know. All I know to do is pray on it. I've read research reports to the good as well as the bad about this particular treatment plan.

Mark:

Mark's doing well since surgery. He's been back at work for a few weeks now and is scheduled to have a colonoscopy later this summer. Also having a difficult time because Meadow is at her new temporary home until she is adopted. (And Bradley asks about Meadow daily....he told Mark he was going to be a dog and cat doctor when he grows up and go get Meadow back because he loves Meadow.)

Newest about Tori (June 17):

The early comment was on how well Tori is doing and for the most part that has been true. The past few days her feet have been breaking out and yesterday while I could hardly move I could hear how miserable she sounded during the day. Today my mother in law called me in to see Tori's feet after Tori's nap...now mind you I knew they were breaking out based on last night and this morning. After nap they were BAD. Oozing blisters, etc. I knew she had an infection and there was no way I would make her wait until Monday when she sees the dermatologist. And thank God we didn't. Tori's diagnosis is eczema herpeticum. Rare for her age so Dr. Thomas went to double check to make sure because she's only seen it in older patients. With treatment things should work out fine, but if it had been left to chance things could've turned bad. I'm posting pics below so if you are sensitive to sights STOP now. Close the window. DO NOT scroll down. I post pics because I have family in various places who want to be part of Bradley and Tori's lives....even the hard to see parts. And also to let those in our lifes know/see how serious things are when I say either child has an infection. So for now Bradley's on antibiotics for staph (skin), Tori on antiviral for eczema herpeticum, and antibiotics for me for strep. So...anyone want to visit anytime soon? LOL! Hey, gotta find humor otherwise I may go crazy.

Looks worse in person, but these are the clearest pics I could get with a wiggly 13 month old....imagine trying to walk with these blisters covering both your feet. Blisters are between toes, backs of legs, inside of knees, many have burst open so you don't see the raised blisters they were. Also, eczema herpeticum can mimic impetigo (which Tori had about 6 weeks ago) so always get blisters in clusters checked out.

From ELI to IF

As I was leaving the restroom, I ran into a proposal. Okay....I really ran into my previous principal who asked me to hang on a moment.

After checking under stalls, the conversation began. A conversation that was life changing. And no matter how torn I was about the prospect that I may not be at the school I've called home for 6 years, God seemed to calmly whisper in my ear: All things are called according to my purpose. Brandi, this is the path I have chosen for you. You have freewill and it is up to you, but here is the path.

As I left the conversation, I knew that the proposed job was between me and another person. By the time the workshop ended, I was asked if I would be available to talk the next day. I answered honestly that it was not planned for me to be there the next day, in fact I wasn't even supposed to be there that day, it was literally a last minute invite. I was assured that I would be there the next day that it would be worked out.

Little did I know the next day when I walked into the meeting after the workshop that I wasn't being interviewed. I was being given the job description, thoughts and ideas for the next year, and basically having the ball in my court to accept the position or not.

I must say if I even had a shadow of doubt in my mind before walking into the room for our meeting, it was wiped away the second the assistant principal opened his mouth. It was as if he had opened up my mind, read my deepest desires and dreams for where I wanted to see literacy in the future at my current school, and read those desires out loud for all to hear.

Am I really ready for this? Who knows. I sure seem to have a lot of people excited and supportive of this move. Does that add pressure? You bet. But I think that's how I work best...under the pressure of high expectations. Do I ever get tire of it? Yes, but it's so instilled in me that I don't know any other way to be except to rise to the expectations set before me.

This past year I had gone from teaching 3rd grade for five years to being an ELI (early literacy interventionist). Again a job proposed by the same lady who proposed my new job to me. A job I didn't even try for, wasn't even looking for. It was a great experience. Eye opening for sure. And the entire year, I was quietly figuring things out, planning for how things were going to be so much better next year. Then two weeks before school let out this year, I suddenly went from ELI to IF (instructional facilitator).

My summer suddenly went from wide open, working on my doctoral classes and starting my disseration to adding in some extra workdays, meetings, and workshops. There are many times I wonder, "What have I gotten myself into?" I've not been trained as a coach. I feel as if I barely knew what I was doing in my previous position.

I feel confident in my decision, but there is still that emotional roller coaster. I'll miss my first school family and drama club (My partner teacher from 3rd grade and I got this started 3 years ago), but I know they will still be there and a new family awaits me. And in that new family may be my next Douglas.

I recall vividly being so frustrated after college and my sudden move to Columbia. I couldn't find a job so I long term subbed at various schools. Then a call came from the district I now work for. It was human resources needing to interview me because a principal wanted to interview me, but needed the district approval first. After going through the process for what seemed like the hundredth time, I was in utter shock and disbelief when I had messages with the job offer before I even got home from the interview. That first year teaching, I knew why God put me through long term subbing the year before. First, an experience that most teachers never get before entering the profession and second, but even more importantly: Douglas.

He's another story, but know that I've been searching for my next Douglas. I think I may have found one this past year as I worked as an ELI. But I know that God is sending me down this next path because there are more Douglas's out there and I must go where He sends me to reach them.

So it is with excitement and fear that I once again dive into the unknown depths and crashing waves as I work to stay afloat. As I already said, I really don't know what I am doing (once again), but I know that with God and the amazing support system I have as well as the amazing people I will get to work with, as will work out.

I leave you with this:
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

As you go through life, you will be faced with obstacles, defeats, falls, and choices (some easy, some hard). Know that God has a plan for you, a purpose. If you listen closely, you will hear Him. It will then be up to you to be an obidient child of God and listen and follow, or not.

Music to my Ears or Defiant Child....You choose

As we embarked on our nightly ritual (and I might add that it was about an hour later than usual since I had class), Bradley insisted that it wasn't bath time. He wanted to write.

He had found a purple marker and a piece of paper (actually, it was directions on how to sew a tablecloth). He wrote something and said, "This says: 'No more baths' mommy."
(The purple writing below Round Table...).

He then turned and walked into his room.

So of course the mommy/teacher side of me is thrilled because even though he has written stuff in the past, he has never really put it together with print conveys a message. Yes, he writes names and such, but not usually a message. And to add to that, we weren't even working on writing or anything. He just got it in himself to make him self heard through print.

Then of course there is the mommy/mommy side of me....you know, the "Don't talk back. Do what I tell you."

And for those wondering, yes, he still had to take a bath although to get him to the tub he was kicking and screaming and me with no voice so I couldn't really do much other than a loud whisper.

Heaven

"Here's your own little piece of heaven," is what the note read. Tears came to my eyes instantly. It was a graduation gift for my college graduation.

(**intro from writing journal on 8-30-04....story never finished)

The gift was a replica of Sullivan's Island lighthouse. Words cannot begin to express the feelings I have for Sullivan's. For me that is the beach. Sure I can go to other beaches and have a good time and even feel the overwhelming peace that the ocean brings, but there's something special about Sullivan's Island. So special in fact that Mark and I got married there almost 5 years ago.

With such a special place and an ingrained passion and need for the beach it only makes sense that our children's first beach trips are to Sullivan's.

Bradley was lucky enough to have his first trip when he was only 2 months old:

And again at 1 1/2 years old. He's now 3 and we finally made it back a few weeks ago, but no camera so no pics.



Tori's first trip just happend a few days after her first birthday (and I think she loves it...no crying from her):

Now to get the whole family down for a family pic would be nice.

Lord, you know my burdens and my heart right now. I trust in you that you will provide, you will lift us up, and you will be here no matter what. I want to thank you for making me get back to the beach this year. It has eased so much stress. As you know, even though I feel you constantly, there is something about the beach that makes your presence more known, more powerful, more intense. Thank you for creating this piece of heaven on earth. In your name I pray, Amen.

My Baby's 1!

Well we've certainly had an eventful week plus since Mark was hospitalized back on May 1 and just came home yesterday, May 9. That being said, we kinda missed the originally planned at the minute birthday celebration we were supposed to have had on May 3, then of course only got a few precious moments with Tori Brooke on her actual birthdate, May 5. After getting home from the hospital yesterday Mark and I decided to just go ahead and get the birthday celebration set for today.

Now please go easy on the cakes....first attempts at real decorating and nothing was working as planned and I had a different icing that what I had practiced with before. But all in all I think things turned out okay. I told Mark he should pay for me to learn how to decorate cakes, then I could go into cake business for all those out there with allergies to milk, egg, etc. (And for those of you who do suffer, several Duncan Hines mixes are okay. You can bake in one of 2 ways....substitute eggs with individual container of applesauce OR just use mix and a 12 oz. soda (2 ingredients that's all!) I recommend the soda mix especially if you need a cake that needs to take the form of a cake pan such as the 3D bear (yes, it's supposed to be a bear you can check out www.wilton.com if you don't believe me).

Anyways...enjoy the pics below. For more you can visit www.dropshots.com/ladypiper

Here come the presents: books, dolls, cards, money, tea set, Precious Moments....

Here comes the cake. Make a wish!

Oh boy! Wow! I can't believe you're letting me eat like this!

This was great! Can we do it again?

....and one more gift...a new outdoor playhouse. Is this mine? Really, really mine?

Tea anyone?