Kenzie is quite the poser for pictures now days! Check out her grin! Love this girl.

 

Last week we had the opportunity to go to the Omaha Zoo. Kenzie loved it! We have gone each year with her, but this year she really took it in. The weather was great too and there weren't a lot of people. It was a great family outing!

a quick note

Kenzie: I love to be outside, but the weather hasn't allowed that recently. I have become quite the little girl. I have started playing more on my own. Most of the time you will find me with my babies. I love changing their diapers, feeding them and rocking them. Potty training is becoming more popular too. I am not wearing diapers anymore, just pull-ups. Mommy wants me to be trained by the summer. Yesterday, mommy and daddy told me we were going to the zoo soon. I can't wait to see the animals!

Jennifer: I had a good report at my neurologist appointment last week. My lesions had not grown and there were no new lesions. I will continue on my medication. I have gotten away from exercising as much as I was so it's time to start that back up too. I will be doing a 5K at the end of the month and one the first week of June. My goal is to jog most of it. Now that the MS Walk is past, things should start to slow down.

Heath: I still have a few small projects I am working on, but I am wrapping most of them up to spend more time with Kenzie and Jennifer. My Sunday league softball starts up next week so this will take up part of my day.

*quick Kenzie update*

Kenzie has been paci-free for almost 4 whole days! Friday, I offered Kenzie a piece of gum if she gave up her paci. She quickly agreed. She was only using the paci at our house when she was sleeping, but now we are paci-free. I am very excited to have accomplished this much with her. She may not sleep through the night, but at least we don't have that thing in our mouth anymore! YEAH

She has been enjoying the outdoors. She loves to jump on the trampoline, play in the garden and sandbox. This weekend we did some landscaping and she helped us pick up rocks. She just loves the outdoors.

Thank you to everyone that 'checked out' the MS Awareness Week facts. Just because Awareness week is over, doesn't mean I will stop learning about MS and you shouldn't either! The MS Walks are beginning in areas across the US. You should check out a walk near you. This year is the first time we have a Walk MS event close by. I am actually helping plan the event and I would love to have you walk with us that day!

Kenzie had her surgery and seems to be doing fine. It hasn't helped her sleeping yet, but she has been fighting a cough since the surgery. Hopefully she can kick that soon. Yesterday, her trampoline was assembled and she got to jump. She has been waiting for this since Christmas! Thank you to two very special 'uncles' and her daddy for getting it up during nap time.

Kenzie has also enjoyed the warmer weather the last few days and got to play in her sandbox, have a BBQ with friends, swing and play with sidewalk chalk.

Mommy and Daddy have kept busy too. Mommy has been really busy at work as they are going electronic today! Eeek! Hopefully after this week, she won't be gone so much.

Take Care!

MS Awareness Week

The National MS Society has a variety of resources for patients, their families and caregivers. Since being diagnosed, I have spent a lot of time on their website and requested several publications. One day when I was on the site, I saw a link to their connection groups. This sparked my interest, however, I noticed the only local group was held during the day in a neighboring town.
After some discussion with the Mid America Chapter of the MS Society, I decided to become a connection group leader! My first group was last night!
I am so glad that I have found another way I can reach out to those with MS and their families!

MS Awareness Week

There are several types of MS. Below is the type I have and the most common type.

Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS) — the most common disease course — is characterized by clearly defined attacks of worsening neurologic function. These attacks — which are called relapses, flare-ups, or exacerbations — are followed by partial or complete recovery periods (remissions), during which symptoms improve and there is no apparent worsening or progression of disease. Approximately 85% of people with MS are initially diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS.