Friday

We tired Emma out today. We had a counseling appointment (she just rested there) and then went to my friend's. Greg was off to work. Jan and I went out to lunch, shopping at Barnes and Noble, Half=Priced Book Store. and a Quilt Store. When we returned to Jan's house Emma was happy to rest. Jan and I started working on a quilt and then watched a video.
Emma snoozed away.

The bookstores were very busy. Emma handled it well. The aisles are tight at the Half Priced Book Store and we almost got pushed over a few times by pushy shoppers. Wouldn't you think seeing a woman with a cane and a service dog would mean you would not push them to get ahead of them? Apparently not. We met some rude people today. Of course most people are patient and kind.

It will be a quiet night. My husband got us a video to watch.

Today the weather hit 30 degrees. This seemed so warm to us. Readers from other parts of the countries might laugh - but to us the weather seemed like a breath of spring. Emma doesn't mind the temperature it seems. Unless it is really hot.

Friends are so important in my life. I appreciate my husband and what we have shared in almost 30 years of marriage. Our life has not been dull. We have gotten through both difficult times and easier times. He is a good man.

Jan is a great girl friend. We sure had fun today. I was able to see several of her completed quilts. I appreciate the effort it takes to make them. She is so good at selecting the color and fabrics. A talented lady.

Hope your spouse, your friends, and family are there to support you both in good times and during challenges.

Love to you from Emma and Mary

I think we will be home all day Sat and most of Sunday. Warm temps expected (like today) so we will get outside to enjoy it with Emma.

Emma is so playful tonight. We have played outside and in the house. She wants attention and is also eager to "work" which is play for her. We have retrieved several things. We took a late nap as we babysat Rosa for a few hours.. Rosa and Sophia were home which was double the fun.

I am so behind on my bookclub book The Posionwood Bible. I just can't seem to find enough time to read a bunch at a time. I am not even half done yet and it is a big book. I will try to finish it on time. Book club is the fourth Monday of the month. Time just seems to be flying by lately.

We are making cookies for our car mechanics. We have come to know them and did not get some to them before the holidays. Mmm they smell good but I am trying not to eat them. We had too many holiday treats the past few weeks. Greg is helping with the baking. Yeah.

Emma likes to run so fast in the snow. It is so cute as she sends the snow flying as she runs. She really is enjoying the fenced yard. Warmer temps are expected through the weekend and maybe rain. My concern is if the snow gets more icy it is tough on Emma's paws and for her to walk. Much of the backyard is pretty shaded so maybe it won't be too bad?

Emma needs her nails clipped again. Otherwise her health is great. I had her "shake" with me and wow with the holidays I guess I didn't realize we missed getting her nails clipped. We will do that tomorrow or Saturday I hope.

I am headed to bed to read. Will I fall asleep well maybe. I am pretty tired despite the nap. These cold nights it makes me want to curl up in my bed. I did exercise a bit today so that was good. I had some items on my "to do" list for today but they will wait. My health is the priority.

My goal was to be more creative in my blogging topics this year. Can you believe it is 2008. Maybe tomorrow I will have more creativity in my finger tips ha ha. Hope you are doing well. Emma had a good day.

Mary and Emma

Hi folks,
We were away from home most the day. My dear friend Jan, gave us a ride to my counseling appointment. I had some time to visit after the appointment with another friend with MS her name is Stacie. She works at a vet office so i like asking her questions about Emma. She checked Emma's ears for me. Yeah they were fine like I thought. Two years ago she got such a bad ear infections from getting them wet all the time in the snow. It is so nice to have Stacie questions if I have them. That's her job to answer client questions and I get it all free. She went to the Huega program in August like we did. Emma is very comfortable with her.

Greg picked us up and we stopped for a salad for lunch. Then we went to his work. I read while he worked the rest of his day. he was able to leave a bit earlier than normal. I brought a blanket for Emma and she was just wonderful of course. She camped out next to me and didn't make even a peep of noise.

Now we are home. She was outside with us and liked that. It is dark of course now. Supper is cooking and she is hanging out.

Today I am thinking of the little things in life that I should appreciate or recognize. Gifts like a loving family, good friends, and a warm house. Now those are big things. Emma of course is a true gift too. Every day she makes the day brighter - I treasure company and her help. She has the most loving eyes and gentle expressions. She is so awesome.

Okay those are big things. Not little things. How about we add to them. I have MS but I am able to live independently in my own home. Emma helps with that. My husband also helps by his role as a care giver. My kids are supportive and helpful in that regard also.

Then there is the fact, that despite this weird disease - I still walk. I am not in a wheel chair full time like some of my friends. I use an electric scooter in stores, out doors in the summer, I use a walker when needed, I use a cane - -but all these give me the chance to be independent. To enjoy life and my own goals.

How can I complain? I am not financially as well off as I would like to be but I am rich in blessings. Though MS has made me a bit forgetful and it can be tough to multi task or learn new skills - - I still can write and read and handle the cognitive aspect of life. Some people with MS run into major cognition problems. I am grateful for my abilities.

MS has changed some of my hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Yet many people face life and have to adjust their goals because of challenges. The most important things in my life my family, friends, Emma - they are there. I am a grateful person tonight.

I need to hold these thoughts. Like most people, at times I get so darn frustrated. Like when we had Rosa, I wish I had the energy to take her to the zoo. Or when Sophia was here I thought how fun it would be to take her snow tubing. Well there may or may not be a time when I can do those things. The zoo probably in the summer when bringing my scooter is easier would work. When she gets older she can sit on my lap on the scooter like Sophia use to do....my point is that I have to be patient and accepting of the things I can do and also the limitations...that's the way life can be these days.

As a treat I purchased music from itunes today. They are John Denver songs that I can play on the computer of my ipod. I had some happy times during my high school and college years and was a big fan of his. Music brings back memories of happy times. I am learning that happiness just doesn't happen. You have to think of your blessings to find it. Music also helps me find it. Investing my limited energy on friends, family and Emma also helpf me find joy.

Speaking of joy Emma just came in with her dish. She has been bringing it to me - then Greg - then me for about an hour. She wants to eat. Now it is time to eat and I will feed my puppy.

Wishing you happiness

Mary and Emma

I started my New Year off with exercise. Emma and I went to the YMCA with three people from our class and did out water exercise routine. It felt good to be in the water and to strech and use my muscles. We came home to nap and had a quiet day. We were going to maybe go to a movie (with my husband) but opted to stay home and warm. It was about 5 degrees today as a high and windy. That is not bad as MN winters go but it felt cold to me.

At the Y I walked Emma outside. She found an awesome snowpile just the right size to dive in and roll around. It had not been walked in so was nice and soft and fluffy. Boy does she love snow. She really does enjoy every second she can play in it. She never seems to get cold so far. When we are outside she will come in with me when I say it is time to go indoors -but gosh you can tell it normally is NOT her idea. She could always stay out longer. She is so darling.

We still have our Christmas tree up. We celebrate till Epiphany (the 6th) so I keep my tree up until then. Since it is artificial that is no problem. I like how the lights on the tree seem to add a warm glow to the living room in the cold evenings. It seems cozy.

Emma likes to cuddle up with me. Now she seems so happy when I sit on the love seat rather than the sofa. She can squeeze in and cuddle up so close. I sure value her companionship. She is my sweetie.

I am wondering if you have interesting traditions for the opening or closing of the year. One person wrote and told me she goes to the Ocean to see the first sunrise of the year. She picks a stone and labels it for the New Year. The stone becomes her worry stone. She casts into the ocean the stone from the previous year. I think I explained that correctly. I thought it was a great tradition.

I do like to think about goals for the New Year. I don't necessarily write them down though. My goal is to work on living a healthier life style. Push myself to exercise more and to eat healthy foods...a pretty common resolution I think.

The YMCA was busy with people starting out the New Year with exercise. It was fun at the end of our class to see some children in the pool with their father. I am guessing ages 8-12. Caused me to miss when my own children were that age and we would go swimming. When it is snowy and cold outside it is energizing to be inside swimming. Though we did like taking the kids to go sledding. Gosh those years went by so quickly.

I feel like I blinked and my four children grew up. I did treasure the moments and events though. My own mother had warned me that time passes quickly.

My goal for Emma is to get her out walking a bit more. I think she needs that. I will play with her more too so she runs in the yard. Some how she has her favorite fetch toys out in the snow somewhere. They predict 40's and rain this weekend so maybe they will be discovered.

Greg offered to help get her out for walks. Now that I don't drive we don't get to the grocery store or places I would take her and then also walk her extra besides doing my errand.

I wish you the Happiest of New Years. Take good care of yourself,

Mary and Emma

I noticed that now my blog has been read over 18,000 times. Thanks to you who still read my scribbles and are interested in Emma...also how I cope with Multiple Sclerosis. I enjoy writing. It has been very interesting to meet people through the blog. I hope in 2008 I can perhaps manage more photos of Emma to include - and come up with things that keep you reading.

Emma received lots of extra tlc from me tonight. Okay I have something to admit. When our kids were growing up we always chose to be home with them rather than out on the roads on New Years Eve. We always made it fun for the family. For some reason today I had a pity party. Yes I hate pity parties but I fell into a slump. My children all had plans (which is good for them), everyone I talked to seem to have something to do tonight.

Some had just quiet plans with another family or couple. Others more ambitious plans. Many have traditions that they have had over the years. My traditions were with my kids - so Greg and I were alone. I would guess we were alone last year too. I don't know why but I felt rather sorry for myself that we were home with no one to celebrate the holidays with...don't ask me why I felt that way.

The last straw was I heard from old college friends. They were calling with news of the death of a parent of someone we knew over the years. But they also were going to a small party with people we knew from college. The guys also went to school together in high school and college - all from Kansas. Well even though most of them I rarely see now it sounded like such fun.

Greg was wonderful when he found me in tears. He offered to go to a movie, or something even though we agreed to stay home tonight. Like always. To tell you the truth I am not sure where I would have gone if I could. I blubbered even if I had someone to say no to. But no one asked us anywhere. We have been trying to reach a couple we know and they had not returned our call......well you get the picture. I was sad.

How silly of me. Here I am on a cold winter night snuggled up with my dog, and my wonderful husband. Turns out we had a good evening. I called a few people that I knew would be alone tonight and might also be lonely. Those calls were appreciated. Greg made a wonderful steak dinner for us (healthier eating starts again tomorrow). We had a Monk DVD our children gave us for Christmas. We had each other. We had a nice evening... I just have to remember all my blessings.

==During the day we watched Rosa. She was delightful. She was so hugsy. She took a short morning nap, and napped again in the afternoon. We took her out with us to a late lunch and she was so cute. Then we stopped at the nursing home to see my friend Jeanne. Jeanne was thrilled to see little Rosa. Greg was wonderful to walk her around so we could visit. Turns out he knew the priest who was there and they had a nice chat. We also ran into a good friend of my mom's. Rosa even gave her a big hug.

Jeanne was also thrilled I brought Emma. I goofed though. She wanted Emma to be up closer to her (she was in bed when we came). I told Emma jump up!! Oops. There wasn't room for that. She tried to get up and then I realized this wasn't going to work. Yes Greg realized what I needed to say was rise. That worked just fine. Jeanne could reach to pet dear Emma. The nurses put Jeanne in a wheel chair (she can't stand on her own or transfer) and she wanted Emma really close to her. She knows Emma from swimming though in that situation she did not pet her. I think Emma was a comfort to her today.

We had a nice visit. i appreciated Rosa and Greg's patience. Rosa is pretty active. She walks and runs so wanted to explore. She brought smiles to the faces of many. She was such a good girl. She liked walking the long halls. She is so cute at just 14 months old.

See what a good day I had?!! How silly of me to worry about the evening. The day went well. The quiet evening worked out fine. Emma is always a bit jealous of Rosa so glad to have me all to herself in the evening. She is very good with Rosa though. Rosa had lots of hugs for Emma.

So that is how I ended 2007. Starting 2008 snuggled up with my wonderful Emma and loving husband. What was I worried about?