I had lots of fun with Emma today. Oh the joy of a ball. We found a nice new one we hadn't used. I don't know that it mattered to her but I liked the new one. She was thrilled to play fetch.

It makes me ponder how little things can make your day. I was thinking a simple ball delights her. A rubber duckie is wonderful in Rosa's eyes. Sophia likes a notepad and something to draw or write with.

Tonight I am going to give thanks for the little things.
May you find the "ball" in your life that delights you.

Mary and Emma

I am writing early because my daughter Anna is here to visit and spend the night. She brought her very shy cat Molly. Emma is being very good to leave the cat alone. The cat likes to hide and is so quiet that Anna has spent some time looking for her. It is the first time the cat has been at our house.

We have enjoyed the outdoors (Emma and I). It is another sunny day where I can open the windows and do not need the air conditioning. We have not had many days like that I am afraid. We are enjoying it.

Emma and I have been home all day. I did some cleaning. No I have not found the Twins Tickets for tomorrow. I have found some other misplaced items though. Our house is always a bit messy so you never know what you might find when you clean and sort things.

I guess Anna can't find the cat, so I am off to look for her and make sure all is well. We forgot to close the basement door so I will lookin our walk out basement. There are lots of rooms and beds, couches and things to hide under. Anna is so worried but I think her kitty MOLLY is just exploring. Time to go help search for her baby.

Hope you enjoy your day. Saturday is predicted to be very rainy here. It might dampen party plans but we sure need the rain badly. Very badly in my yard.

Maybe Emma can help sniff out the cat.

Mary

Emma enjoyed her indoor toys today. I rotate what we use and so they all seemed like new to her. She had such fun playing with them. Outdoors we found a toy we haven't used for awhile also. Indoors it was a plushed stuffed bone. Outside it was a bright orange toy you toss for them to fetch. Both really helped her day be even more fun.

Speaking of toys, I am concerned about the toy recalls taking place due to lead paint being used in toys made in China for Fisher Price and Matell. i look at the toys here we have for Rosa. I don't have any mentioned on the recall (you can find them online at Matell) but it makes me wonder about the other toys we have purchased. Everything goes into her mouth so how devastating it would be if any had lead paint. Ugh. It makes a Grandma worry. Old or new toys it makes you wonder how safe they are???

Emma was so thristy after water exercise. Normally i have a water dish with me. Not today. I should put one in their right now while I am thinking of it. The small Italian place we go Thursdays for lunch will happily serve her water. She drank such a big dish full. I felt bad she waited for water. I suppose looking at the pool makes her thirsty??

It was great weather again today. I sat outside with Emma while I did some reading, and caught up on some phone calls. Emma of course loved being outdoors...though you can be sure she let me know when she wanted to go in and have her supper. She normally eats around 5p.m.

She is eager to play so I better go. Greg and I are going to go out and do some errands tonight. I rarely go out after supper time so that is a big deal for me. it will be good but tiring so I will head right to bed when i get back. That is why I am writing now.

We have been in a drought and they are predicting lots of rain for Saturday. We sure need it. Though it might dampen some plans.

I hope that you are doing okay. May you take time to play and relax.
Emma and Mary

Today Emma and I had a busy day. I had a medical appointment, then we went to lunch with my duaghter Anna and Greg, and then we heard Dr. Johnathan Calkwood talk on Pain and MS. His presentation was very interesting as he acknowledged many people with MS suffer from various types of pain. He explained the various types, medications that might help, sources of the pain, and that strechng helps in some cases.

Tiia and Rosa picked us up which was very nice. They came in for a bit so i was so happy to show Rosa off to some of the friends at the Wed session. Tia is such a good Mom and a lovely daughter-in-law. I don't often get to be with Tia except with a group so it was fun to talk with her. I have the best daughter-in-law ever.

We came home and of course napped. Gosh I wish I didn't need them so bad but I do. i think a combination of MS fatigue and the side effect of some of the drugs I need to take for MS Spasms, and pain. Yes pain does bother me with MS. Medications help that deal with spasms, meditation helps, water exercise helps, streching helps but it is still there.
I guess I am use to it in my life.

Tonight we watched the movie "Miss Potter" based on Beatrice Potter. It was very good. It was cozy to have Emma at my feet and relax. I had chores to do but this was time well spent. It was so nice to see a movie with no swearing, nothing offensive at all. I had read a book about her life years ago so this topic interested me.'

Emma and I also had fun outside. The weather was so nice especially in the early evening. Now that I am not so dizzy, I need to get my scooter back to my house so I can take Emma for walks. She enjoys it when my husband walks her but would get out more often if I had my scooter here again. I just need time for my son and husband to get it. Takes two to put in the van. Our next step is to get a lift installed so my husband can do it alone.

The people at the Wed Afternoon Session with Dr. Johnathan Calkwood all really like Emma. They hadn't seen her for awhile since I don't drive now. We hope to go next week. The topic is vertigo (I was mistaken thinking that was the topic this week)

We hope you have a nice day. Emma is doing well and had a good day. When we loaded into Tia's car Rosa seemed pretty happy to see Emma in the seat beside her. She was the entertainment for the ride home.

Take care and have a good day.
Mary and Emma

Tuesday

Water exercise really tired me out today. I am not sure why I felt more tired after than normal. Exercising in the water is fun and I enjoy the class. Much easier than other forms of exercise for me. We had a quick lunch after swimming with the ladies - a sandwich place and that was a treat. I enjoy our conversation.

Then we were home to be outside and then catch a nap. The weather was cooler and we all liked that. Rosa came over tonight as both Mommy and Daddy had things to do. Greg and I had so much fun with her. For the first time while eating some cheerios with her dinner - she started to drop them to feed the dog. I guess she does that at home but it was the first time here. Emma was delighted.

Rosa also really petted Emma tonight. She was by her and just started patting her so gently it was darn cure. Greg amd I both played with Rosa. The one without Rosa would pet Emma - yes she gets a bit jealous if she doesn't get enough attention from me.

I was honored with a call from the MS Society today. i am going to speak at a luncheon for them is Sept. It is with a company that donates money to their programs. There will be about 12 people. I am going to share my story about how MS impacts me and how I benefit from the Chores Services Program. Emma of course will go with and be part of my story.

The chore services progrm is a program in MN where you get a set amount of dollars to help with the cost of lawn care, snow removal, or house cleaning - things like that. It has to be preapproved and last year they paid $750 towards house cleaning. They pay the provider directly. Every year they have more people than funds. The first year I was not accepted. I don't know about the upcoming year.

Having someone come in to do vacuuming, scrubbing of floors, cleaning the bathroom, kitchen, vacuuming the steps, cleaning my bedroom etc is just so helpful. Last time they even took time to wash the walls in the bathroom so that it is now ready to paint. I need to talk a full 10 min on all this It is Sept 11th. Sept 8th is when I talk at the Helping Paws Tail Waggin Dinner but that talk will be about 5 min or less.

Well a former teacher, I like to talk. They thanked and thanked me from the MS office. I am just so happy to help in some way. I have been so fortunate to partake in so many MS programs. It is a pleasure to help out in this way. I am going to have Emma groomed again for the dinner the 8th so she will look nice and pretty too.

We are off to bed. Emma will want to cuddle next to me I think. She likes that. I sure am glad she is so good with children.

Yes I still am having some issues with dizziness and vertigo. My MS specialists are speaking tomorrow afternoon on that topic and I plan to be there. I dont' think there is much more we can do for it but wait and see if it goes away. I am glad it is not as severe as before at least. I still though would not drive. Not with the vertigo that can come on so suddenly. Still struggling with my diabetes though.

My three older brothers probably would tease me if they knew that others seek me out to talk at events. They thought I was so talkative as I went into adulthood. They were right. Sometimes that helps others. Though I must say they were surprised and pleased when I gave the eulogy at my mom's funeral. I don't think they had ever heard me talk to a group like that.

Well I will go to bed. have a good day. Mary and Emma