Edisto: Fingernail, Fever, and Jellyfish Freakout

For the past 3 years we've gone to Edisto with the Alexander family. We were excited about our time with them to hang out at the beach and relax! Our friend Shelly and her kids were there part of the weekend as well and were on the beach with us. By days end, Lindsey was wiped out and Madison was letting her sit on her lap in one of the beach chairs. I had just turned to Shelly and told her there was no place Lindsey would probably rather be than sitting on Madison's lap, kicked back, and getting taken care of. Not a minute later, Lindsey let out a horrific scream and held up her bloody finger. When Madison reclined the chair, Lindsey's finger had been there and her nail got ripped off. Blood was everywhere, Lindsey was hysterical, and I was panicked. Thankfully David is good in those situations as was everyone else around us that helped out. We got her back to the house, loaded her up on Tylenol, and let her sit on David's lap and watch any cartoon she wanted to for as long as she wanted to. After a couple of hours, David bandaged her up, and she was ready to go. Poor thing is 4 and has lost nails on both of her ring "thingers." Luckily for us, she's a trooper and didn't let a bloody and nailess finger stop her from enjoying the rest of vacation.

After a few days at the beach we decided to go to "Crab Island," which all the kids nicknamed the sound, because of all of the little crabs running around. We like to go there because the water is calm and the kids can play without us being in with them. We went so the 4 of us adults could have a relaxing day.

We loaded up our van and the Alexander's car with coolers of drinks and food, every sand toy ever made, a shade tent, and chairs for everyone. We wanted to make sure we remembered everything since "Crab Island" is a drive to the house vs. a walk.

We got there and David started setting up the shade tent and had to go back for the "shade" part that had been forgotten. He showed up 15 minutes later and finished getting the tent set up for the day. Lindsey came up from the water and announced she had to go "poo poo." David was horrified that I suggested we dig a hole and she go in that. He reminded me she was our daughter, not our dog. So, nice man that he is, he loaded up Lindsey and Case and headed back to the house. They returned in about 15 minutes and it looked like our plan for a relaxing day could finally begin.

Heather and I moved our chairs into the water, pulled out our books, and started to read. Case came up to Heather about a second later and said he needed to go back to the house because he needed to go "poo poo." Her head spun around about 3 times, she asked him WHY had he not gone when he was at the house with Lindsey, told him she was going to dig him a hole to go in, he cried, she caved, and off they went to the house for the 3rd time in a 45 minute period.

When they got back, it seemed like our day or relaxation was going to really happen. Beers were opened for the boys and Heather and I kicked back in the beach chairs to read again.

Ryan and David were enjoying the shade tent with William who was a little out of sorts. He's usually such a happy baby so Heather thought he must not be feeling good and his head felt very warm. She decided her relaxing day wasn't meant to be so Ryan drove Heather and William back to the house. We offered to keep their other two kids and have some fun in the water.

I took Ann Ryan and Molly and David took Case and Lindsey and we tried to go as far out in the water as we could go without me or David being over our heads. I was out far enough that the water was at my neck when Molly screamed so crazily and so loud that I thought Jaws himself had eaten most of her lower body. Then I felt a sting and let out a gasp. JELLY FISH! Molly is flailing, screaming bloody murder, and making it almost impossible to get to shore holding her and Ann Ryan. I'm getting frustrated and start screaming at her to stop screaming. When we finally get to shore I throw her...I mean gently place her in the chair, and go to get our vinegar/water solution that is suppose to help with stings. Molly's was still freaking out, I was ready to choke her, David was ready to choke me, and the other kids were all hovered around making me even more frantic and irritated. Ryan arrived a few minutes later, Molly had calmed down, and I started packing up bags. I was done! I packed up the kids, some of the 500 pounds of crap we brought, and took the kids to get popsicles and then let them watch movies the rest of the afternoon. Ryan and David offered to stay and empty out the coolers and come back to the house later...much later. And after 2 poopers, a shade tent debacle, a fever boy, and a freak out girl that was fine by me. Those two deserved every beer they drank and every minute of kid free time they got!

Molly's Jellyfish sting.

Lindsey proudly showing us her "thinger" with no nail.

The night before we left, we went to the beach to get some pics of the kids. Here's what I got...