It has been a busy spring for us. Jenny is doing well. She has not regained any movement, but her attitude is good, and we continue to do all that we can. Our family has changed slightly. Kobi (our border collie / lab) had to be put to sleep in March. Jenny and I had gotten Kobi as a puppy a few weeks after we got married. It was an emotional time, but he had a great life and provided us with a lot of excitment, unconditional love, and joy. He was almost 15 years old. A few weeks ago we brought a new puppy home. His name is Pepper. He is a brindle colored boxer mix. We are not sure how big he is going to be, but he is already the size of Jack. We have sent his DNA out to find out what he is "mixed" with, so we have a better idea. He is a very active puppy, but he has no fear or hesitation in interacting with Jenny. He has ridden around on her lap in her wheelchair, and has gone to sleep in her lap / arms several times. I know that Jenny loves the interaction, and my only concern is what we will do when he is 60 lbs! I have told jenny we may need to settle for Pepper's body on the couch and only his head in her lap! I am not sure that we need the extra responsiblity of a puppy, but he is now a part of the family! I have added a few pictures of him to the site.
Medically Jenny has been very stable. Her spasms continue to increase in intensity. The spasms are strong enough to slide her hips out of the wheel chair. The triggers for the spasms have changed as well, slowly the trigger areas have moved upwards so that some touches on Jennys trunk and arms will cause a spasm response. Some of them are still intense enough to interrupt her ventilator. She has been pacing on the diaphragmatic pacemaker, and the volume of air that her diaphragm is able to draw has doubled. It continues to improve, just at a slow pace. Jenny has a pneumonia that we are fighting right now. Her doctors are keeping a close eye on it.
It has been so long since my last update, I am not sure what to include in this one :).
We have a new nanny / caretaker that has been helping us out tremendously. Kristin comes to our house at 6:30 every weekday morning to get the kids up and to get them to school, then helps me get Jenny into her wheelchair. She stays with Jenny during the day while I go to work. Jenny goes with her to run errands, shop at sam's club, grocery shopping, etc. Typically the girls will come home from school with a neighbor, and then Jenny, Kristin and the girls will goto the YMCA for swim team practice, or hang out at the house working on homework.
Jenny has been doing some updates on facebook, and we have been busy trying to nail down the girls plans for the summer. It looks like Alli and Jordan will be going to Wisconsin for a bit, including a Nike Swim Camp at UW Oshkosh. Sami will be doing some day camps here, we are looking at ones at the zoo, church, and gymnastic camp. It will be a busy summer for all of us.
Samantha has decided to come down and read everything I type outloud, so it is time for me to make breakfast. I will try update this journal again soon. Please continue to send your warm wishes, thoughts, prayers and love to Jenny. Thank you.
-scott
