Purple Day

Silly in purple for a great cause

March 26th was Purple Day which is dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy.

DID YOU KNOW?
1 in every 100 people has epilepsy?
The cause of 50% of epilepsy cases is unknown?

What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a condition of the brain that is characterized by recurrent seizures. Approximately one in ten people will experience at least one seizure during a lifetime. A single seizure, however, is not epilepsy. Epilepsy is a condition that is defined by multiple seizures.

What is a seizure?
A seizure is a brief, abnormal, excessive surge of electrical activity in the brain that produces a sometimes noticeable change in behavior. There are many different types of seizures, which may reflect the area from which the seizure begins (seizure focus) and the pattern in which the abnormal electrical discharge spreads through the brain.

How can I help if I see someone have a seizure?

This was my first time participating in "Purple Day".  Over the last year epilepsy has become a common term and topic in our family.  It started last school year when Anthony's teacher taught the students about it and even had them enter a poster contest.  I think she has done that yearly.  Mrs. Kelly's daughter has epilepsy.  Last year it had become some-what uncontrollable where as previously it was pretty controlled by medication.  So S was in our daily prayers as was the whole Kelly family as they rode the new path of how to treat S since her medications weren't effective.  For them they used a new very restrictive diet.  Now a year later, still on that diet S is successfully attending a wonderful college away from home and the seizures appear under control and S is in control of her life not epilepsy!  God works, God moves, God helps!
Our knowledge of seizures and epilepsy increased this summer when my (foster) sister B started having seizures.  Her mom also has them.  B's life turned a bit sideways as the seizures happened even to the point she couldn't continue working.  Jayna witnessed this first hand as she adores spending time at Aunt B's house.
This year Jayna has Mrs. Kelly so she is also learning about epilepsy at school.  Aunt B has been on Jayna's prayer request list both at school and at Adventure club, where Mrs. Melanie had the kids write down prayer requests and follow the progress of answered prayers!  I think Aunt B is not on about day 95 seizure free which is BY FAR her longest stent since they began in June.  More answered prayers!

We know others with epilepsy too, but these two are the two who impacted my kids personally the most.  Please don't be offended if your name isn't in this blog and you are an epilepsy warrior.

For purple day of course we wore purple in support of our loved ones and to raise awareness.

It got even better at the kids school, Desmond T. Doss Christian Academy.... and I'm rather positive it caught Mrs. Kelly off guard and a very welcome surprise to see so many of her fellow teachers and students wear purple too!

It got even more amazing at our small private school.  I am not certain on the headcount of students but I think it's near 80.  Mrs. Kelly, Miss Denise and my mom baked purple iced cupcakes along with some specialty cupcakes made by a friend of Mrs. Kelly.  As a fundraiser, we sold the purple cupcakes for $1 each and the specialty ones for $2 each.  I was able to join in on the purple day excitement helping Mrs. Kelly sell the cupcakes.  I was quite happy it was my day off, no better way to spend it than volunteering at my kids school and getting to help support an amazing teacher, for this cause.  We raised $110 through cupcake sales.  this money will be donated to the Anita Kaufmann Foundation to help those living with epilepsy.

Happy Birthday!

On Monday 3/ 16 we celebrated our friend's 7th birthday!  We met up at Sweet Frog.  All the kids got to make their own small ice cream.  Usually I limit my two since the price is based on weight, but they had a $4 fill your cup deal so they were extra spoiled and allowed whatever they wanted.

 Happy 7th Birthday Alayna!!!

Marko also celebrated his final birthday of his 20s!  On March 24th we celebrated his birthday extra simply with dinner at LaCaretta.  He got a REALLY expensive gift--- aka his favorite magazine costing us a whopping $7!  Friday I brought him home his belated birthday cake from work: a slice of strawberry cheesecake and a slice of coconut cake.  We are happily simple people :-)

Chuck E Cheese 2015

"Mom, this place used to be so much bigger" (Jayna)
"No love, YOU have gotten so much bigger"

I think the last time we went to Chuck E. Cheese was May 2010 for my nieces' birthdays, but photos are from March 2010 when we celebrated Anthony's 6th birthday.

back when you were scared of that rat and even with Poppy guarding you, you look like you'd rather be anywhere else

back when you both had toothless smiles and baby faces, when anyone could pick you up and carry you around and when you weren't taller than any adults and when Uncle Mark was practically a baby himself ;-)

The kids had no school on the 19th for Parent Teacher conferences, mom had a Roanoke Dr Appointment and I had my first day off both jobs in over 3 weeks.  It was a perfect blend for a fun day together.  We went to the conference with Mr. Billy before heading to Roanoke for Grandma's 10am appointment.  We got there about 9:40am.  We thought CEC opened at 10 like the website said, but it was 11.  So we killed time at Walmart buying soccer equipment and Anthony a pair of swimtrunks in a bigger size that Walmart didn't have here in Lynchburg.  Then we headed back to CEC for their 11am opening.
I required the kidlets to do the sketch photo booth with me before letting them loose to enjoy their tokens.

Jayna played most the games and such, but her obvious favorite was anything that printed out a picture either on what she called "credit cards" or paper.
Anthony preferred the sports ones, but also enjoyed the shooting ones and pinball.

We stayed until about 12:30.  Then went to pick up Grandma.  Everyone was hungry so we went to a pizza and sub shop nearby.

The kids and I got pizza while mom got a sub.  Then we headed home!  After dropping mom off, we went to the local soccer store to buy the rest of Anthony's soccer gear.

At 6pm it was time for Adventure Club at the kids school.  It was just a small group this time, but they had so much fun!  The weekly topic was Healthy Hygiene.

Mrs. Melanie did the bible lesson

the hands on part of the bible story is a bowl of water, cup of pepper and cup of soap.

the pepper represented sin in our life while the soap represented Jesus and how he separates the sin (we added a little too much pepper, but you can see how the pepper goes to the side and the middle clears)

hand washing skills were tested with this lotion, then the kids were told to wash hands

when they came back we inspected their washing skills with the blue light!

After our lesson we had a snack and then learned a new and fun game called trees!

A Jungle of Talent

Saturday evening at 6:25pm I walked into a magical whimsical atmosphere, one in which I didn't get pictures of as I was helping set up punch and desserts, but when I say it was over the top--- imagine walking into a room fully decorated for a child's jungle party or better yet an extremely decorated Vacation Bible School auditorium.  It was amazing.  

The talent show at public school was a ton of work (as I had to have kids audition and then tell them yes or no if they were talented enough.... I wasn't good at saying no, so the year I was the solo one running auditions anyone who had their props, knew their song I let in.... and was told that was too many.... oh well!)  We would do it in the school gym.  Charge $3 admission per person.  No decorations, and the last year we had big sound system issues getting kids songs to work. I think the cost covered little trophies and the kids loved it!  I am still glad city schools offered that but the differences show me how amazing this evening was.

2012

2013

I paid $20 for my family ($5 a person or $20 a family).  They started at 7pm.  The older students served everyone Pizza, Salad and Ziti.  LaVillia was so generous to donate the pasta and bread!  I'm not much on pizza, but the pasta was delicious!  Best of all it was meatless, which is rarely true elsewhere!  The last 2 years at city school I was invited to banquets and only got salad  b/c everything is always meaty (barf!).... although the kind gesture of having an appreciation banquet is very nice.  

We were served cake and ice cream for dessert too.  And then about 7:30 the program began.

The best thing about this talent show, was there were no try outs.  Anyone who wanted to participate was allowed!  Exactly how I feel it should be!

We had many great musicians both vocally and on the guitar!

Drama Club's 1st skit was the Invisible Bench

Miss Sage and her Papa did a cute magic show

Part of their act:

Tempi did a Ribbon Dance that was cute!

Jayna did her hula hooping.  The stage was rather narrow so she had to improvise, but did well!

The grand finale was a 2nd skit by the Drama Club called "Teacher's Suprise"--- watch it hahahha

I think these are similar to the Lyriqs as it isn't the best quality sound on this video

When I walk on by, kids be saying like that fools fly

I walk to my beat, classrooms locked better get my keys, yeah

This is how I roll, just trying to get my class now under control

Its Mr. D with a brand new flow, get my beat down here we go!



Ahh, just look at this marking

Ahh, just look at this marking

Ahh, just look at this marking,

I'm stressed out!



When I walk into that classroom this is what I see

Every kid stops and starts staring at me.

I got passion in my class and I aint afraid to show it.

Im a teacher and you know it.



Yo, when I do roll call, kids be saying Im a know it all

And when Im trying a teach, I got my bifocals hanging off my beak. What?

This is how I roll, come on now kids its time to go

Hell i aint nervous, got my red pen blues and i know purpose



Ahh, just look at this marking

Ahh, just look at this marking

Ahh, just look at this marking,

I'm stressed out!



When I walk into that classroom this is what I see

Every kid stops and starts staring at me.

I got passion in my class and I aint afraid to show it.

Im a teacher and you know it.

Mrs. Jeannie--- she may have been having one of "those days" as initially her head was all upside down and bent out of shape, but in true Mrs. Jeannie form she can bounce back from anything!

Ms. Jeannie has her guns up, ready to show them who the boss is ;-)

This was a fabulous talent filled night.  But above and beyond that a night filled with love.  Love of teachers who would put all this work into a special evening for these kids.  Love from volunteers, some not really school related.  Love from parents and friends and family, all supporting these kids and this school.  Love from students who truly love their school, the teachers in it and their classmates.  Countless times students cheered on their classmate as they performed by clapping to the beat, a wave going on, whistles and applause afterwards and hugs as they left the stage.  Those are the things my camera didn't catch but what was filling the air at Desmond T. Doss last night.  Unity of Love of a small private school that is so much more than just a school and just an education!

Gymnastics 2015

Since early January Jayna has been doing gymnastics team every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30-5.... except for the over abundance of snow days!  She really enjoys it.  Mrs. Kelly is an amazing coach, a great encourager and obviously a wonderful teacher.  She taught Jayna to do cartwheels last year, when she was on the K-2nd grade team.

2014 Practice

2014 Practice

Since last year she has come quite far!!  Nearly everyday she is practicing "Frog Stances" and head stands.

babysitting at a friend's house one evening in February

Early on skills:

flips

cartwheels

improving the back bend and learning to turn it into a flip

At gymnastics practice I caught many shots of Jayna's improving skills.

Mrs. Kelly spotting her handstand

a group of frog standers

Victoria spotting Jayna's handstand off of Mrs. Kelly

Jayna and Natalie

Alexw/ Victoria on her shoulders (7th graders) and Jayna w/ Natalie (3rd and 4th)

Jayna climbed Mrs. Kelly for this stunt, so cool!

Jayna flipping over a classmate

again

a round off or something similarly named

into a hand stand

into a bridge thing

And after only 12 practices, they managed to put together a show.  I assume Jayna was one of the ones chickening out for whatever reason since I have photos of her doing some of the things she didn't do in the show.  Just one of a million reasons I love their school: the little things like sports and performances that aren't all academics based!  YES the grades are important but when that isn't your child's best skill I'm thrilled they have programs like this to boost her confidence, skills and esteem!  Enjoy the show and my apologies in advance for a shaky video.