Family Pictures on the Beach!

Check out this link to view our family pics from Florida. It takes 18 minutes unless you: 1) click on the squares on the lower right corner, 2) click on the 1st photo to make it larger, 3) then click the arrow to go through them. Enjoy!

http://www.photobiz.com/slideshowbiz/slideshow.cfm?slideshowID=66458&photographerID=3204

FLORIDA FUN

WHAT A WEEK!!! I just has the BEST vacation of my life. Mom and Dad took us all to Florida for the week and we had the most fun. We went to Discovery Cove where we swam with dolphins, stingrays, and snorkeled. We hit the beaches, which were so beautiful. We swam in our own private pool. We shopped till we dropped. And of course we ate till we popped. We had so much fun and I am already planning the next trip. Mom says it will have to be in 2 years so she can have plenty of time to save. Thanks Mom and Dad for the memories and the best vacation ever!!

Me and Mom at Discovery Cove in the lazy river. It was a tropical paradise!!

Jarrod and I in the lazy river again.

This is Thelma. She took us all for a ride on her back.

Bradyn had a blast at the beach!

The pool was fun too.

Me, Kurt, JJ, Gracen, Mom, and Dad all went parasailing. It was so fun. Even Mom thought it was fun!

Gettin ready to go up to 1200 feet!!

Dr. Update

On Friday, May 29th, Bradyn had 2 Dr. appointments. The first one was with the surgeon to check his little boy parts. THANK GOD!!! OUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED!!! He will not need surgery to fix his parts (at least for now). We will watch through the years as this can still be a problem later, but for now we are good.
His 2nd appointment was with his pediatrician. We got lab results from some allergy testing. Bradyn is "highly" allergic to wheat and "moderately" allergic to eggs, peanuts, and soy. I was completely shocked hearing this news since Bradyn eats bread and eggs everyday and he was on soy formula for over 2 years. So I am researching foods that he can eat, which I am finding to be almost nothing. He is a very picky eater anyway and the things he likes he now cannot have. So I will be searching for things for him to eat and if anyone has any experience with this please leave me some advice. Thanks

Gettin Ready to GO

Only three more days until we go to Florida!!! My parents are taking us to St. Pete's Beach. It is on the gulf side about 25 miles from Tampa. It has been so long since we have been on a big family vacation. We have some really fun stuff planned and I will try to post some pics sometime next week.


In the meantime we have a pretty busy week scheduled. Tomorrow I have a meeting with Bradyn's teachers from his school. He will be going when he turns 3 and they have to do some meeting at least 4 months prior to that. On Thursday, Bradyn has occupational therapy and speech therapy in the morning. I am going to lunch with my BFF Niki and then we are going to get pedicures!! Mom took off the afternoon to finish getting ready to go so she is going to keep Bradyn while my feet get prepped for the beach! On Friday Bradyn has 2 Dr appointments. The first one is with the surgeon to make sure his boy parts are where they are supposed to be. I am happy to report that all of our "part dropping" prayers have been answered. I am almost 100% positive that they are now fine and no surgery will be needed. Of course we have to get the ok from the DR. Then he sees his pediatrician for a check up. I am interested to see what they say about his mono. His lymph nodes are still really large. Then on Saturday morning we are off to Florida for a week!!




I have not taken ANY pictures of Bradyn since my last post. Isn't that horrible! I have taken some pics of our friends, the Silvey's, children so I will share them.

Caleb, a recent kindergarten grad!

Isaac

Benjamin

And Willow

Dr. Update

Another trip to Dallas is behind us. We had a bit of a wild trip this time. On Sunday our flight was delayed an hour. We found out it was delayed ten minutes after we had gone through security. It kept getting pushed back. It was lunch time for Bradyn and in Amarillo's airport there is not anything past security except for vending. I had some rice krispies packed so he snacked a little on those. It was 3:oo by the time he got to eat. Poor guy was starving so we stopped at the first place we saw. He was very patient with us, thankfully. We got to the room and he was SO happy to get to stretch out on the bed and play. We were too starving so I went to the Blue Goose to get our food. Bradyn ate again with Grandpa and I. He loved the rice and beans and had a little fajita as well. After supper Grandpa volunteered to play with Bradyn so I could hit some nearby stores. Of course I did not pass up the chance to shop. I brought Ben & Jerry's back to the room. Bradyn ate all of my brownie from my sundae. I think he would have eaten anything I gave him.

His appointment was first thing Monday morning. It went pretty good. The Dr. changed up Bradyn's melatonin (sleeping medicine which does not work). He said to try giving a little less because sometimes higher doses make people dream a lot and that can wake them more. I am willing to try anything at this point. Bradyn had lost a little weight ): I can't figure out why he is not gaining. I am sure the pediatrician will have some input on that. (We go on the 29th) We got finished at the Dr and had time to go back to the room and rest. Grandpa again said he would play if I wanted to shop. So I managed to find a few more stores!

We got to the airport at 1:15 and decided to go ahead through security and find somewhere to sit. Once again our flight was delayed an hour (to start with). It was 4:00 before we boarded. The crew needed to do some "cleaning up of a little mess" from the last flight before we could take off. So we sat for another 45 minutes. Little Bradyn was almost at the end of his rope. About half way through the flight he started screaming hysterically. He screamed the rest of the way, all the way through the airport, and all the way to White Deer. I don't know why, but once he starts, he just can't calm down. We were very tired and glad to get home. I am a little nervous about our upcoming flight to Florida. I thought he would do fine, but after this trip I am not so sure. Three hours is a LONG time to have a screaming kid on a plane.

Weekend Getaway(s)

What a beautiful week! We have enjoyed the weather to its fullest this week, playing outside every chance we can.
Last weekend Jarrod and I got to go to Amarillo for the weekend to celebrate our 8th anniversary. We ate until we were miserable on several occasions. I especially enjoyed the food since I have been dieting since the first of the year. I am proud to say that I have lost 31 pounds! I really needed some new clothes since I have nothing that fits. It is much more fun to shop for smaller sizes instead of having to buy larger. Bradyn spent the weekend at home with Grammy and Grandpa. He had lots of fun and enjoyed the spoiling.
This Sunday Bradyn, Grandpa, and I are heading back to Dallas for an appointment with the neurologist. We will again be flying since Bradyn does well on the plane. We will be home Monday evening.

Uncle Kurt came by last weekend while we were gone. Looks like Bradyn was happy to see him.

One evening last week we went to the lake to play and cook out. Our friends John and Niki and Nolan and Salem Silvey, along with their 4 kids, came too. It was so pretty and the kids had a blast.

Bradyn spends a lot of time in his swing. He got a horrible heat rash last week so I have had to limit his swing time a little.

Bradyn has recently outgrown his dairy allergy!!!! I am SO glad he can have dairy now. I am trying something new everyday with him. As you can see he loved the chocolate ice cream.

He was trying so hard to get to his train. He is a strong willed little boy!

F.R.O.G.

Forever Rely On God!



Today was the most amazing church service! Pastor Mike said a special prayer for Bradyn and for us. We went to the front of the curch and the congregation gathered around us. It was AMAZING! Some of the ladies in the church make quilts for people in need of prayer. They put them at the front of the church and during prayer time people go up and tie a knot in the quilt and pray for the person. Today Bradyn got a quilt that has frogs all over it. This is perfect for Bradyn since his absolute favorite toys are his Leap Frogs. He got his first Leap when he was four months old and since then no toy we buy measures up. We have since bought several replacements for the original Leap and we keep a few back ups in the closet so we can pull out a new one in the event of a worn out Leap. I was so excited when I saw the frogs on his quilt!



Thanks Mamaw, Grammy, Grandpa, and Papaw for being with us in church today. We are so glad you all could share this special day with us.