Happy Thanksgiving!

I have SO many things to be thankful for, I had a hard time summing it up. But, here it is:

I am most thankful for my son, Kael, who entertains me daily; My husband, Terry, who provides for us and is a wonderful guy; Being a stay-at-home mom and the opportunity to be able to do this; My health that has remained in remission though having Multiple Sclerosis; My dog, Buckets, who still loves to lay and cuddle; my awesome friends; my family; my grandparents still with us; my cokes and coffee; living in ND; a kitchen (didn't have that last year); getting to take naps; and most importantly...I am thankful that God has provided ALL this for me!

American Pie

Again...late post! But, here are apples off our NEVER ending apple tree in the back yard. I really despise those trees. What a mess they make. But, if I have them cut down, we will have NO shade and NO apple pie filling for years to come....hee hee!I actually found that I enjoy canning. I know you can just buy a can of apple pie filling in the store, but heck, it was a pretty good time. The smell was wonderful and the bonding time with my kitchen was fantastic!


Downfall...ignoring my child while I did something with the apples. Here he is caught in the act of eating Pringles as I peeled and peeled away. That boy sure does love his chips.

Happy Halloween...a little late!

So, I have been HORRIBLE about keeping this updated. To be honest, I was so excited after my last post, I just don't feel anything can compare to that. So, I haven't posted. But, here it is....a belated Halloween! Kael was a monkey and we took him around the neighborhood....he LOVED it!

MRI, neurologist, and a great day!

This is an update on my MS. I know a lot of you read my blog and want to know, so here it goes!!!

Last Wednesday Terry and I went to Bismarck for my MRI and then meeting with my new neurologist, Dr. Dunnigan. I was super nervous that morning, but kept occupied by buying a new backdoor from Menards right before our appointment (totally not relevant, but filling you in on all the details)! Let me just say that I haven't had an MRI in 5 years. With MS, that isn't good. As an MS patient you should have an MRI every year to 2 years to check the status of the lesions on your brain and how they have progressed or gotten worse or have accumulated. But, since I was pregnant and then miscarried, pregnant and had Isabella (stillborn), and then pregnant with Kael and then breastfeeding, MRI's weren't a possibility. So, finally after 5 years, I scheduled my MRI and dreaded it.

The MRI went pretty smoothly itself. The fire alarm went off when I put on my robe in my own dressing room. Wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, so I opened the door and saw no one. Great...just my luck. But, a tech came to my door a few seconds later and said that I don't have to do the "drill". Off to the machine I went. Strapped in, head secure, and 45 minutes of MRI"ing" I was in for. After the first set of "pictures", the tech pulled me out and inserted the contrast dye, known as Gadolinium. I usually get super sick when this is injected and throw up for the majority of the day. It is a sick joke, really. But that day...nothing. I did not throw up at all! So, back into the machine I went for the 2nd round of "pictures".

Terry and I had a quick bite to eat and then headed over to Dr. Dunnigan's office for the results. Waiting in the waiting room, and then waiting in the dr.'s office for him to come in, was excruciating. Man, they say time flies when you are having fun, but we were NOT having fun waiting. He finally came in (which wasn't even that long) and started reviewing the MRI that I had just had taken over at St. Alexius. Terry and I pulled our chairs up closely and were looking intently at the computer monitors as he scrolled through 100's or even 1000's of scans.

After quite a few minutes of silence, Dr. Dunnigan confirmed what I was thinking...the scans were WONDERFUL!!!! ONLY 1 NEW LESION IN 5 YEARS....INCREDIBLE!!!! It was a silent attack since I didn't have any outward symptoms of this lesion and it looked to be older. He was impressed and thought it was amazing that I would only have 1 lesion in 5 years. God is awesome! All the prayers that have been lifted up have been answered (answered in the way we were asking, that is)!!! It is pretty unheard of for a Multiple Sclerosis patient to go 5 years with only 1 lesion!

With that said, we don't see him again for another year for another check up (unless something major happens) and another possible MRI. We did not have to decide on what interferon injections to start me on, we didn't have to figure out how we were possibly going to pay for them ($1000-$1800/week), and we don't have to worry that my MS is progressing fast. God is great!

***I wanted to put a disclaimer at the bottom of this post. First, MS is a highly unpredictable disease. The results I got today and how the last 5 years have went doesn't mean that tomorrow I couldn't have a huge attack or in another year when I have my MRI I don't have 100's of lesions. I pray that I will continue to maintain my physical activity, mental stability, and the progression of MS in me remains minimal to none. But, wanted all to be aware of the devastating effects MS can have. Also, MS is different in EVERY patient and EVERY person. So, please do not email me and tell me about this person with MS or that person with MS and how they do it, because EVERY patient is different and the plan of action with their MS is different as well. (unless of course you would like me to add their names to my prayer list!)****

Go Twins!

Terry, Kael and I had the opportunity to take in a Twins game in the cities. Thanks to our friend Jess, we got great seats and had a wonderful time. Kael was totally soaking it all in.

Here's daddy and Kael from the parking garage looking at the Metrodome:

The cutest new Twins player, Kael!

Watching the game so intently.

Our family before the game started. Players on the field warming up.

Leaving the game....tired and done, so need a ride from Daddy.

MOPS Ice Cream Social

We have been working our little tails off getting ready for the MOPS ice cream social. This year I am Co-Chair of MOPS and Co-Chair of MOPPETS. It is a big responsibility and more work than I ever thought it would be. So, when last night was a HUGE success and more and more moms and dads and kids kept coming through the door, it was INCREDIBLE!!! Here's a few pictures of the evening!

Now I just can't wait for MOPS to start. Next Thursday can't come soon enough!!

Randomness!

Here are some pictures of such random things that I haven't even posted for a while. Seems like we are crazy busy, with nothing in particular happening! Couldn't resist this one....Kael in his Elmo undies helping with the dishes!

We moved the piano I had growing up from my parents' house in Bismarck to our house in Hazen. Mom has been wanting it out for about a year, and we finally made it happen. Here is Kael helping Daddy get it loaded and tied down.
At home and Kael climbed in the piano bench with his hammer to "fix it". I actually got my camera out in time to catch this one!

Piano with all my willow tree angels on it. I LOVE it!

Kael eating a "pickle on a stick" during Crazy Days in Hazen. I told you these were random!

Locks of Love

Yesterday I had 12 inches of hair cut off to donate to "Locks of Love". I thought I would be more sad then I actually was...it was a great experience and I have a cute new hairstyle. A picture is worth 1,000 words:

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!!! Thanks Amber...you did a fabulous job and you are great!

Spillway Pond

A group of friends took our kids to Spillway pond last week when it was SUPER hot. We had a wonderful time catching up and the kids had a BLAST! Even though I put sunscreen on 3 times, I still burnt the crap out of my back. My MS stayed under control as I spent most of the time in the water staying cool. If I would just have been out in the heat, I would have never made it.

Here are pictures of Kael (red life jacket/red trunks) and his friends!

Splish Splash

We had a lot of "water" going on this weekend, so thought I would title this post "splish splash". Friday night we had Terry's old boss' retirement party at Hazen Bay and got to go watch the shop guys tube. Kael got to go on his very first boat ride. It was a blast!

Today we had my family out for a birthday get-together for myself. Kael, Mara, Aubrey, and Evan had a great time on the slip n' slide (or slippery slide as Evan calls it). We also had a water balloon relay and fight and running through the sprinklers. The adults enjoyed playing some games and hanging out in the shade. It was HOT! My friend Kimberly stopped by with her boys and Kael and Cayden played on the slip n' slide for even longer, but I didn't get any pictures of that. Dang it!

So, since it was entirely too hot for me to be out in the heat all day, my leg is killing me. My left arm is ok right now, but my face is tingly and numb. Off to watch some t.v. with the hubby!

Wonderful Weekend

Lynelle and LeAnn brought the girls over on Friday to have a "spa day" at my house. This was a total impromptu appointment at "Spa Aunt Risa's", but the girls had fun! Here is Aunt Nell working on Mara's nails for her mani.

LeAnn was working on Aubrey's pedi while I was making slushy drinks for the girls.

Evan got to enjoy a cherry slush to keep him occupied during all this girly time. Kael missed the whole thing as it was during his nap.

Lynelle gave LeAnn a pedi and I made them frappuccinos. LeAnn then gave me a pedi...I think she would be the only person I trusted to my MS left leg...she was very, very gentle and it still hurt!

Saturday we went to Minot, played at the park, did some shopping, and then went to my cousin's wedding reception and dance. Here are the girls doing the limbo. It was hilarious. Aubrey really got the hang of it though.

Mara was just about to give it a try when I snapped the camera...but you can see on her face she is having fun. Little Evan is holding the bar a smidgen higher for his sister.

Then Kael wanted to get on the action, but didn't understand the concept...oh well, he made it under the limbo bar!

We got home early on Sunday morning, went to church, took a nap, and then went out to the lake where Lisa (my sister), Al, and McKenzie were camping. McKenzie was trying to teach Kael how to use the slip n' slide.

Kael didn't really like the water splashing on him, but loved to bend over and try to drink it. I finally pushed him on his butt and that was so fun for him. Oh the little things in life that can make a 2 year old happy...like slip n' slides.

McKenzie and Kael got in the inner tube to dry off and bounce...fun!

It was a great weekend and we had a great time. And, I used a TON of coupons at Target which always gives me a "coupon high" for the Targetaholic. It was great! Off to bed now to try to catch up on some sleep....after I unpack a couple bags from the weekend!

Summer Fun!

We set up the Elmo sprinkler for Kael to run through since it was so hot. He thought he should just drink it until I demonstrated how to run through it....thank goodness no one got a picture of that. It actually felt really good because it was so humid outside and with my MS, I just can't take the heat....more like, I just can't process the heat. My body doesn't know what to do when I get hot, so I just shut down. I guess more water and pool time is in store for Kael this summer!

Grandpa and Grandma Newman were in ND (from Kansas) because Terry's grandmother passed away. So, here I caught a picture of Grandpa helping Kael with a bubble machine they got him for his birthday. Took him a minute to get the hang of blowing, but he finally got it! And yes, he is just in undies and not shorts, because we are working on potty training!

Ladies Men

Here is Kael with his buddy Cayden, sporting their "Ladies Man" t-shirts. Aren't they adorable? Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog...

Oh, I love me a good coffee date and play date for the kids....the little boys aren't going to like us mom's some day for this!