Sorry for a late update. I did NOT get the epidural Monday. Maybe it was the prayers?? I don't know. My doc said they (injections) were mainly to relieve the pain/numbness in my left leg. That isn't the part that I am really even concerned with. It is annoying, but the back pain is my main priority. Anyway. I have to call back in 2 weeks and if no relief then I have to see a surgeon. I was prescribed an anti-inflammatory called Voltaren which caused me to have some really bad side effects. Tightness in my chest, bad headaches, light sensitivity, flu symptoms...so I stopped taking that today. I thought I was pregnant for a minute with the symptoms- eek ;)

Today Bill and I are heading to Charleston for the wedding of Sara and Mark. Staying the weekend there. I can't wait. We get to go the Summerville campus of Seacoast- our old church...and we might even "go out" Saturday night. What is going out? ha!! We haven't done that in so long...it seems like a lifetime ago.

So pray for our country and our economy. I don't/won't get political but the debates the other night...ugh. Where's Ross Perot when you need him;) -jk that was for my dad:)

I am about to post a wedding of some dear friends of mine.

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Tomorrow is round two.
Epidural injection #2.
I should be "getting some sleep" but I am just too jittery about it.
I didn't get the valium. Not because I decided not too, but because I FORGOT!!
I know, can you believe it. I totally lost track of the week and then it was Saturday... office closed. So I am just going in there and doing it.
I just keep telling myself it is only going to be 5 minutes long...
What does Justin T. say...4 min to save the world!!
Ha! That one is for my beautiful and hilarious bridal party from yesterday.
You guys made my day. I hope I finished the formals in 7 min or less like you asked me too. Demetra and John...have fun in Jamaica you lucky, sexy newlyweds you!!!

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I was flattered and shocked and excited when Mary Dolan contacted me about featuring me in Iris, a local magazine for women. At first I was thinking "me...why"???
She and Chris Moore spend a morning with me talking love and passion and photo and how this crazy chaotic life of mine has brought me to where I am now.
Thank you Mary for being such a wildly talented and passionate writer. And thank you Chris for not making me look like a schmuck ;)
Here is the pdf (kinda big, but worth it) if you haven't seen the paper copy.

the link:
Iris

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"How's your back?"- on everyone's mind...

last week I had my first "treatment"...hmmm.
It felt like a movie/ or daydream. Something I couldn't really grasp at the time.

First my friend Stacy has had steroid epidurals in her neck for spinal cord injuries she got while in Iraq...so she is my go to girl for all things scary and needly. ;)
She insisted that I get sedated (take a prescribed Valium an hour before) and that would make the whole thing much better/easier.
So... I went in for my first visit....what I thought was a consultation.
So he says "wanna get a treatment today??". I was like wow...this is totally different than how Stacy described it. No valium needed...yippee right!!

Anywho, went from a quiet little exam room with a great view to what was like an operating room with a bunch of medical professionals (ie- I have no idea who everyone was).
They had me lay down on a table (with my flats still on mind you)...and 5 min later it was done.
It wasn't THAT bad, but it wasn't good either.
They have scope guided needles so they can see exactly where the bad disc is to hit with the steroid epidural.
The worst part was when told I was done, I got up and my whole upper body tingled. Not in a good way. Like from the tip of my nose to my finger tips. My pulse dropped from 100 to 50...Who knows why..but I felt like a real weenie at the time.
Would I do it again...no.
Ha!! Have another appointment in a week and 1/2.
Am I getting the valium?? I don't know yet.
What would YOU do??
My appointment is early, so i would be druggy most of the day..and i have 2 toddlers that would run circles around me.

Valium or not?? Comments please!! Would love to hear anyones opinions...stories if you have had this treatment done...Did it work??

OH and tonight...PROJECT RUNWAY! I love Kenley, Korto, and Jerell!!
And mostly, I love you Tim Gunn, you make my Wednesdays marvelous!!

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So my dad seems to be totally recovered from his eye injury.
He still cannot read, but he is back to 20/80 and that is nothing short of a MIRACLE.
Maybe he will see it as a miracle...I don't. I just wanted to say thank you for your prayers...he appreciates them, as do I!!

My mom..
so yesterday was 14 years since her mastectomy.
Wow does time fly. I remember getting the call...remember the heartache.
My heart goes out to Juliet, a dear friend of mine whose Mom is dealing with a horrible
bout with cancer right now. It has spread through her body and has attacked her brain.
Please pray for her, her mom and her dad. I will lift them up constantly.
Love you Juliet!!

Love you Mom- your MY survivor- my inspiration!!
Love you Dad- I pray for you, you silly, wonderful, stubborn man, you!!!

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Some news...first the bad.

My aunt Sherry had a terrible accident on Saturday and was thrown off a horse while riding on a mini-vacation in Kentucky. She and my uncle Dan were trying to get away from it all and were spending the day horse back riding. She was thrown from her horse and broke 5 ribs, one punctured her lung, a broken clavicle and broken shoulder blade. I think that is it...could it be much worse? She is a teacher and starts school very soon and is in intensive care in Kentucky. My mom drove to see her today. Please send her your thought and prayers for a speedy recovery. She is in a lot of pain. My family and I really, really appreciate it!!

My dad...he is doing so much better!!! He saw the retina specialist and his retina is NOT TORN OR DETACHED!! No more surgery as of right now. His vision is at 20/50. He said it is really fuzzy, but fuzzy is something right!!!
I told him people were praying for him. He said, oh really like who. I said you wouldn't believe all the people that had emailed and stopped me different places. He was astonished. I told him that people really do care and church is different these days. He seemed more open to it...unusually open to what i was saying... thank you so much! I am so grateful/thankful to know so many caring/giving generous people!!

My computer is still on vacation down in Charleston. So I guess the video card was bad and is being swapped out..whenever that arrives. fingers crossed.

Betsy was stung by a wasp on her head today...my poor baby.
So we had a swim party to get her mind off of it!!
...and yes in the Brokop house clothing is optional for swimming..if you are 3 and under that is ;)

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Here is an update in what's going on in my crazy life.

1. Computer is down...down figuratively and down literally in Charleston.
I don't know what is wrong now...graphics card is bad- that was my mini- prognosis from my "genius" Joe last night. I have purchased an apple...lemon really.
My harddrive and power supply were bad and had to be replaced in May...bought it in Jan.
Who needs lower gas prices Columbia!!!! We need an APPLE STORE!
I had driven TWICE to Charlotte to pick it up...now to Charleston to have it serviced. Thank heavens for the new King Street store!!

2. Dad is doing better. He sees a retina specialist on Friday. What he can see through his "bad" eye he can see a string or something and they (docs) told him that is either a tear in his retina or his retina is detached. So if so... more eye surgery.
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. I can't express how much I appreciate it. Not to get on a soapbox..but my dad isn't saved...and I was hoping this experience would help him "see" if you know what I mean. Okay...keep praying for that!

3. Wesley- 3year old is completely potty trained. Last night on the way to Charleston he started yelling that he had to "go" so I did what any mom would do...let him go in the shoulder on 26;) An SCDOT guy pulled up and thought we had a flat...that was semi-embarrassing!!

4. Only one bag of trash today. Still recycling our butts off.

5. quick question..would love some opinions ;)
should we retire in Columbia or Charleston. I would love to hear where and why.

Posts with pics coming soon!!

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So here is the story...
Last week my dad was helping my grandpa put siding on his house. They live in Missouri. My dad said he was nailing on the siding and suddenly a nail somehow bounced off the siding and ended up in his eye. I won't go into details because anything eye related..if you are like me...makes my hands numb just thinking about it.
It ended up right next to where the color of your iris begins.
So in an attempt for my grandpa not to see it...my dad quickly removed the nail.
To make a long story short- he ended up in a really great eye hospital in Columbia and had surgery that night. His eye was taken out- if you can believe that...and was stitched back up and put back in.
Now all we can do is wait. If it heals with no infection he can keep his eye.

Please say a prayer for him...He cannot see at this point. He said yesterday that everything is super cloudy/fuzzy. To lose sight after seeing all your life...that is just terrible. The fact that he still will have one eye is the positive side. I believe his good eye is strained from overworking the last few days. My dad is suuuuper bullheaded and I know trying to watch television or read the paper...
pray that he heals!! I want him to see 20/20 again, in BOTH eyes!!!
Thank you, this means everything to me!!

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my little pirate!
the making of a birthday cake.


This is my handsome and hilarious brother Tyler, and my sassy little sister, Emily.
Here is Betsy...she could care less about Wes' presents...

My beautiful little birthday boy and my handsome one and only, Billy!!
That is a "go Diego go" cake. Requested about 2 zillion times by Wes.
(l to r) Sister Emily, us, Mom and Dad, (mom holding Betsy..yes she is blinking;) then my brother Tyler and his beautiful wife, Jenna.

So, I hear that some of my blog readers really do enjoy reading about my life and seeing pics of my babies...so here you go...Hopefully this will help you guys get to know me better, if you're sure you really want to;) We have a crazy, cooky life...sometimes we have no pants on, sometimes we have bed heads...sometimes we lick the beaters...we dress like pirates and fall and bump our noses (betsy :). This is a look at our vacation...mostly inside stuff. Wesley turned 3 this trip...I think he enjoyed his birthday. We brought a pinata and I think he would sleep with it, if I would let him...he LOOOVES it!

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