Reynauds Syndrome

With Kenna being blond and fair, she naturally has sensitive skin. Sometimes when we would take her outside she would get these weird hives that we really couldn't attribute to anything. We had mentioned it to the Dr a few times, but he wasn't too concerned about it. 

After awhile we started noticing that she would get fussy if she was outside when the air was chilly. She would be okay for about 20 min, and then she would start asking to go into the house. When we would take her in, she would fuss and cry for about 30 min and then be fine. 

A couple of weeks ago I walked the kids to school. It was a chilly morning...but not too cold. About halfway home she started to tell me that her hands were hurt. I checked them and didn't notice anything. 

A couple of min later she started really crying and saying her feet hurt. I looked at them and almost passed out. They were completely swollen. So bad that they were coming out of her shoes! (Think pregnant, swollen ankles being stuffed in shoes two sizes to small).

Then I checked her hands again, which by this time were completely swollen. 

By the time we got home she was hysterical and couldn't use her hands or walk for almost an hour.  We took her to the Dr where he discovered she has Reynauds Syndrome. What it is basically an extreme allergy to being cold. In Kenna's case, it seems to be getting worse each time she is exposed to extreme cold. It started with a mild rash, and then hives, and now her hands, feet, and face swell if she is exposed to too much cold. So sad. AND so frustrating. She can't swim in cold water, which is such a bummer for summer (even water that comes out the hose is to cold for her skin). Poor girl even gets a rash and a swollen face if the milk from her cereal gets on her face. 

This picture is so sweet. We had cleaned out the van that morning, and her and Luke were playing while I vacuumed it out. I didn't notice she had taken her warm boots off, so her feet swelled up terribly. All morning she had trouble walking and was fussy. During nap time I put a movie on for her and Luke....he was being so sweet and comforting her, making sure she stayed warm. I walked out of the room and when I came back he said "I put Kenna to sleep for you"

This is how she looks most of the time we are outdoors...Bundled up!