Fall Harvest Orchard 2011

The K-B's love our annual trip to Fall Harvest Orchard!!! They have so much more than apples.

  

1st day of school pictures

I know I'm super late again but I always like posting their first day of school pictures.

I guess I didn't take one of James or Jonah this year.  Oh well, there's always next year right?!! 
Click here to see last years pictures.

Tyler's 13th Birthday

Wow, It's hard to believe that Tyler is a teenager already.  Where did the time go?

                                       Happy 13th Birthday Tyler!

Shane's 10th birthday

Happy 10th birthday Shane! Love you!

Every summer I have posted a different insect I have thought to be very interesting.  This year I have chosen a Monarch butterfly that is just about to come out of it's chrysalis.  Isn't it amazing that this little insect that started as a caterpillar is now a butterfly that will migrate over 2,000 miles.

Vanessa's salad

My Vanessa loves making salads.  This is one that she wanted me to take a picture of.  I think this one is a peach, apple, watermelon, lettuce salad.

My dad recently planted 5 pine trees.  One for each grandchild. It will be fun to watch the trees grow over the years.

Tyler

 

Shane

Vanessa

James

Jonah

                                     

Happy Birthday Jonah

I can't believe that Jonah is one today.  Bam, just like that a year has gone by.  It is so crazy how fast time goes  by. I am so so so thankful for Jonah everyday.  You bring me joy every day.  Your little voice saying "ball" or your little legs climbing on everything you can find or your huge smile when you see your mama or your high 5's.  I love you little guy!!

Vanessa's 6th birthday

 I can't believe my only little girl is 6 years old already.  I love you Vanessa!

 I know I haven't updated lately.  I thought I would at least  some pictures of the kids.

 

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

So here it goes...

Met with a NMO Specialist and he has reservations about if I have NMO or not.  He took more blood to test to get an updated analysis on it specifically for NMO.

Getting this guys thoughts about my condition was interesting due to the recent visit with a MS Specialist at the Clinic of Neurology in Golden Valley.  That gentleman made it seem like he was leaning toward MS although he did note that it seemed like it was in the very, very, very early stages of it which means I may not have another "flare-up" for 10-15-20 years.  I liked to hear that, even more I liked when he said if I was his daughter that he wouldn't move forward with a treatment at this time but would like to continue to monitor closely with new MRI's in a 6 month interval.

So in short I'm waiting again.

You're prayers are very welcomed and appreciated.

Other thoughts:

It's funny that now the initial storm has passed it's almost like life is back to normal with the exclusion of my thoughts.  Before I thought about other things, now all I can think about is if I feel tingling in my legs or if I move my eyes just right I could maybe feel some soreness?  I am not sure, I think my mind is playing tricks on me.  Please pray for peace for me.

All in all I would say that this whole thing has brought a new perspective to my life and to my families lives as we don't take anything for granted anymore.

Update on Kristi

Sorry I haven't posted for awhile.  It seems as though I don't have enough time in my day to do everything.

 As far as my eyesight I would say it is about 99% better! I had a second opinion last Friday.  No new tests were done or anything.  It was basically just going over my case with a ms specialist.  He is not sure if I have ms. I guess to get a definitive diagnosis there needs to be two episodes at two different times.  So again back to the waiting table.

My appointment at the Mayo is scheduled on March 14th.  I'm a little nervous about even going.  I'm not sure what kind of tests they are going to want to do.  I've heard that they like to do do a lot of their own testing.  Being it's been a couple months now since I've had some tests done that they might want to repeat them anyway. Part of me wants to wait until I have another episode if I even ever do to go. 

Kristi

 

Yesterday was my first day completely off Prendizone. It makes me kind of nervous because I keep wondering if the symptoms will come back. I have a couple appointments scheduled with experts in the field of ms type diseases in the next month.  One here in the twin cities and the other down at the Mayo Clinic.  So, we'll see what happens there. 

Results Are In....

Yesterday, my spinal tap NMO test that I had been waiting a month for came back.  Of course my Dr. was still out of the country.  Her RN looked over the results and told us that the results looked good to her meaning the test was negative but of course she's not the Dr. so blah blah blah........

Today, my nurse called me again to tell me that my Dr. is back in the country and has had a chance to go over the results herself.  She also said that the results of the spinal test are negative.  Which is great right?  Well,  yes but in the same breath she told me that she thinks I have ms again.  I just don't get it.  They just got done telling me that ms was completely ruled OUT. I guess with more research on her part that ms can show itself in different ways.  So she still wants me to get a second opinion and still go down to the Mayo.  I don't think they know what the heck is going on.  I am just really frustrated.  I went from having a good day to a bad day.

I met this lady from my church that who is a naturalist or whatever you call it.  She has recommended having a complete food allergy test done to see if maybe it could be a food allergy.  So, that's what I am trying to get ordered now.    

That's all for now.  I'll continue to post as I find things out.

Kristi

update

Still no news on spinal tap results.  As for Jonah, he is gaining, gaining, gaining.  Part of that though is that he wakes up every 2 hours it seems at night to eat.  He still has no self soothing skills being he refuses to suck his thumb anymore which I think is really too bad but what do ya do? 

Winter

I used to hate winter. 

Everything about it.  

The snow. 

The temperature. 

The cloudy days.

The short days. 

The long nights.

The coats, mittens, hats, scarves, snow pants and boots.

Now...I like winter.

I look at winter as a time for rest.

I think one reason that God gave us winter was to rest.

Just like all of the animals that hibernate or all of the trees that rest in the winter.

  The days are short and cold and the nights come all to quick.  We have had a lot of "resting" or down time lately that I have been enjoying.  Time to just hang out together, go to bed early, wake up late, or not worry about how much we can fit into the day.  When I think ahead to spring and summer I get stressed out because they are so short here in Minnesota that I try to pack so much into each day.  Waking up early, getting the kids outside, taking them on a walk to the park, making sure the dog gets walked,  going to the beach, then a game of kickball, then off to baseball, next a bike ride around the neighborhood, a bonfire, night games, finally baths and a late bedtime of course not at least until it gets dark which is around 10pm.

Don't get me wrong I do love summer and I love all of those fun summer things it's just that now I am starting to also enjoy winter.  Yes, the snow and everything but especially the time that I get to hang out and "rest" with my family, not always on the go, go , go like in the summer months. 

Check out some of our winter pictures:

Jonah had his weight check appointment today.  He is 14lbs. 8oz. which means he has gained over a pound in three weeks.  Jonah's Dr. still would like to see him gain more, but I think she's happy that he's back on the charts. 

A quick note about me.....
I heard from my nurse today that the test results that I'm waiting on are suppose to be back Thursday or Friday.  I'll post when I find out.

Kristi

James Arthur Kittelson-Burke is 3 years old today!

Happy birthday James!
We love you so much! 
We are so blessed that God gave us you!