Emma and I had a good day. She is battling loose stools though she is active and appears to be as alert as ever. I talked to the vet yesterday and foster mom Judy gave ideas too. (We liked talking to Judy about the puppies too). The vet tech called today and was glad she was better. They said just small amounts of the rice with boiled hamburger. Emma seems hungry. When i take her outside she is as active as ever.

Tomorrow we are suppose to go to Bemji for a college graduation just for the day. On Sat have a wedding to go to here in town. I hope Emma feels up to going. My concern is how often she needs to go to the bathroom though yeah the frequency today was much less than yesterday. If she is not up to going we will instead go to the vet and stay home. the ride is about 4 hours in the car each way. My husband will drive. My girls are going with as it is a friend of their's. One of those special friends who seems like part of the family. Way to go Katie - we want to be there on your special day.

I am like a nervous young mother with Emma. I want her to be healthy always and live a long life. We think what started this is that due to human error she got into a bag of dogfood and consumed too much. She immediately threw it up but now her system is goofed up. We found her quickly but she eats fast. When the dogfood bag was properly emptied into the container with a cover, behind a closed door - it did not appear much was missing. I won't make that mistake again. I needed the dog food to feed her and it was in our entry way. I couldn't carry it downstairs alone. I thought I closed it tightly enough but smart Emma found herself thinking it might be nice to have more than her premeasured amount for breakfast. Like I said, I won't make this mistake again.

The vet assured me I am doing all the right things. when I have questions I always remind them she is my "service dog". I guess so they know how much she means to me. i was thinking that is silly of me. Pet dogs are treasured by owners also. Like I said we think it is improving. She is alert, active, able to eat the rice diet etc.

She has gotten extra hugs from me through all this. I keep a watchful eye on her, and her on me always but I think extra TLC is appropriate. So we are off to bed. The car is leaving at 6:30 am. We hope Emma and I will both be on board and feeling good.

I don't have a cute story for today. Emma is being her adorable self though. Yesterday we were alone all day. Today we watched Rosa for about three hours. We were able to give her a bath. I thought that was fun. I love how babies smell after the bath. Rosa is such fun. She is six months old now. I did make sure I had time to relax and rest today with a busy weekend coming up....

Hope all is well with you. I feel so fortunate to have Emma. She is a wonderful dog.

Mary

MS camp has fun evening programs. Sunday night it opens with a friendship fire. It is a time to join with old and new friends around a campfire. We're talking about 80 people including volunteers. It is still light out but as the sun is starting to set. Part of the Tradition is each camper takes a coal from the past year's camp and tosses it in the fire. Okay imagine that all these wheelchairs, scooters and people trying to do it orderly without anyone getting into the big fire. Emma I am proud to say behaved beautifully in staying close to me as we did this. She was the easy part, manuevering my scooter was not so easy. To manage the distances and my stiffness I used a scooter most all the time in camp when outside the cabin. In the cabin I used my cane. This year I did not have to bring my walker yeah. When it was over we had social time and meeting in our cabin.

It is kind of emotional as the campfire reminds me and I would guess others what we have in common. Friendships yes, but also the disease. The first night is always impactful for me and especially individuals who come for the first time. Many many of the participants (about 40) are more impaired than I am with needing help with physical care, loss of independence. It is a gathering of support for all. Even among those who are more independent many, like me, must rely on scooters for movement at camp. It is a powerful reminder of the courage it takes I think to face this disease. I always try to be supportive to the new people in my cabin (I am in a cabin with people who can do self care) as it might be the first time they have physically seen a big gathering of people with MS. That first night the wheelchairs, the scooters, the people using walkers, canes, are the majority and it can be overwhelming when you are dealing with such an unpredictable disease.

I don't mean that to be depressing. It is a fact. I am thankful I am doing as well as I am. I found in myself that the event also is inspiring. As the hours turn into days and you get through the week - the individuals even with the most severe problems become just friends. You look beyond the wheel chairs, the leg braces, and see among all those (even those with little limb ability at all) treasured individuals... You get to know them and you see how well they still handle and treasure their lives. I come away thinking I can handle whatever this disease throws at me - if they can do it so can I.

The volunteers are imperative to make camp happen plus MS society staff who attend. They are so gentle, so kind, and work hard to make camp very fun and very special. All of us seem to need their help from time to time. Maybe it is to help you clear your table at mealtime, to tend to nursing needs in the cabin, to help you with a craft or activity...but they also work hard to make it just plain fun and silly at times. They are awesome.

Monday was AMERICAN IDOL NIGHT. I don't watch the show but three volunteers did an awesome job of imitating the judges on tv. though I think they were gentle and more comical as they judged each act. Well it was like koroki (I can't spell that word) and you chose music ahead of time.

Highlights included the nurses all dressed up and singing In the Jungle...and not knowing the words. There enthusiasm really got the ball rolling. Remember these are registered nurses who take a full week of vacation to do nursing at camp.

Well their were group acts and individual acts. Some were outstanding, others were more silly. Emma was the star of our quartet. Sorry I don't have a picture. We went for the silly approach and sang the Green Acres theme song. The audience just roared. I am sure my singing was not the greatest as the music seemed to go faster than I could say the words. We gave it enthusiasm, gestures but guess who added charm to the act. YES EMMA. I was so busy following the monitor but they said she sat there at attention and did such an awesome job. Of course she is so cute she could enhance every or any act.

We got into the spirit of the night. My kids wouldn't believe how silly I can be with the group. We cheered, we sang along to acts, we moved are arms like we were dancing and so on. Emma was dutifully on her blanket but not sleeping. She kept looking at me like my gosh Mary are you nuts or what?? It was great great fun.

Also in the camp daily newsletter that was sent out by email - they did an article about Emma and I. I forwarded it to many. If I missed you and you want to see loveable Emma and also see a beautiful picture of camp just email me and I will forward it to you.

Emma was a wonderful presence at camp. There were a few people with so little ability left due to MS. They were so thrilled to see Emma. One individual in particular liked to pet Emma. He has limited use of his hands. You can bet at free times I would let he and others pet Emma. Sometimes the volunteers would literally have to take their hand and move it for them to help them feel Emma. I cry thinking of it. How much they loved petting a dog again and oh how they love telling me stories of dogs they had in their days.

Emma was like a therapy dog in some way in her presence at camp. She was the only service dog this time. She was our cabin mascot. She was just great. At camp all eyes are on her so I feel like she is on display almost all the time. I did have some free time when I would let her off leash in the cabin and let her roam. She would always be watchful of me but liking going from person to person checking on things. One time when I fed her she took her dish when done and then went around to others with it in her mouth. Did she really think they would feed her? NO I absolutely stuck to dog food and me alone feeding her.

With a few people that especially something I had to be stern on. Many couldn't believe that I really wouldn't let her have scraps from the table. Two from my caibn wanted to save an extra pork chop for her. No I stick to dog food. Especially at camp - I want a healthy dog for many many years.

Wow this one got long. Some of the other evening activities were a costume dance, and
a casino night. Maybe I will share a bit about those and other things if you are not tired of hearing about camp.

Please tonight in your thoughts or prayers remember the many people who deal with Multiple Sclerosis. It changes life for individuals in their families in so many ways.
I have yet to meet even one person with it who is having a pity party. I have met brave people who handle the changes as best they can.

So many I met wished they had a dog like Emma. I feel very blessed to have her at my side as I face this disease and its uncertainties.

I am off to let my dog out and then get to bed.

Mary and Emma wish you a wonderful day.

Ny email is maw40@comcast.net if you want me to forward to you the article and picture in the MS camp newsletter.

I want to think about camp again - when troubles were far away. I want to share with you how enjoyable Emma was to be with.

I think at camp I just soak up Emma's companionship. We are far away from chores (at least mine she still worked) and enjoying nature. One activity was croquet. I thought she would want to fetch the balls. Well I think it was Monday afternoon - it was a bit overcast and you knew some rain would fall. You could smell the rain as Grandma use to say. There was a nice breeze. The course was in a clearing surrounded by trees including the pine where I parked my scooter. I had Emma drop and stay by the scooter. They had chairs so I could do the course and sit to rest.

Emma sniffed and sniffed the air. It made me stop and think and appreciate the fresh smell. There had been fresh mown grass not far away, the pine trees, and so on. Her ears were perked as I watched her I remembered to listen to all the birds. No doubt there conversations were about the impending rain. Emma kept her eyes on me but seemed content. One of the participants ended up sitting by her with her wheelchair because even the arm movement from the chair got to be too much for her (the course is set up for wheelchairs or walking). She said sitting by Emma calmed her. I knew the feeling.

So Emma watched us play. It began to lightly mist as we proceeded in the game by the time we ended the mist had turned to drops. It was ready to rev up the scooters, power wheel chairs, and get the volunteers moving the manual wheelchair so we didn't get soaked. Emma looked at me like "why the rush?" She didn't mind the moisture.

Yes we got to the cabin without being soaked. The down pour did not last long. We werer able to take a short break and then go to the dinning hall.

Throughout the week we had times to enjoy nature. Maybe I said this before. There were times we moved with the cue to heal or side and walk in step with me. There were times we went with a loose leash and I would go slowly or even stop so Emma and I could literally "stop and smell the wildflowers". I felt it important we have that time leisurely walks and oh how it made both of us aware of little critters, the variety of wild flowers and so on...

I was thinking it is a good lesson even for while at home in the yard, on walks with her, or even indoors...be sure to take time to enjoy the little things.

So today I am wishing you time to enjoy the little things.
Tomorrow you can see if my memory is okay, I want to tell you about Emma's and my experience at the American Idol Contest at Camp.

Wishing you a good day. Mary and Emma

Today Emma slept a lot due to the heat. We were at my son's for a few hours. Then his car broke down and I had to go pick Mike and his wife up. No problem. i had a carseat for baby, put Sophia in the car too but I could not take Emma. Boy was she perplexed when i had her stay at my son's house for awhile without me. Their dog was in the kennel. i have no idea if Emma just slept like I would imagine or not. She sure was glad to see me when I got back.

When it got warm today we had a seista (spelling?) the baby slept,, and both dogs were asleep. Sophia was home and she and I rested on the couches.

Tomorrow we plan to be home all day. We turned on our airconditioner to see how it is working and to cool off the house tonight. We have a southern exposure and this sure could be a solar house - even with the blinds down it can get warm. I am not sure what the temp was today. yesterday it was 90 I think.

We had dinner with the kids and got home later. I am ready for bed. We did get outside today and Emma loved that. The day flew by. Rosa loves Emma's kisses. It was an extra bonus to have time with Sophia. Emma watched us play dolls. I watch her closely but she doesn't try to put things in her mouth. Rosa is learning to enjoy being on her tummy and if there is a dog to watch (her own or Emma) all the better. I bet she will be crawling in no time at all.

Hope you have a good week.
Mary and Emma

A special Happy Mother's Day to Tiga who is doing an awesome job with her puppies. A big kiss and hug to Judy for taking care of Tiga and the puppies this year, last year, and raising Tori, Tiga, Charlie and last but not least Emma.

All our children and the grandchildren came for brunch today. Greg cooked it all. It was fun. He grilled ribs, we had salads, and so on. It was so yummy. Best of all we got to see all the kids. It was Rosa's first Mother's Day and she was dressed in a pretty dress. Sophia was delightful and also had on a pretty dress. We had new coloring type items, a purse for her to store things in, and a good old notebook and pen to amuse her. Rosa amused us with her ability to be on her stomach and be happy about that. That is new. They headed out for their other Grandmas' house but it was great they took time to be with us a few hours.

My children (who do not all live together) are all at different stages of dealing with a cold virus. It meant a lot that they all came over. Michael had to work but the rest of them looked like maybe they needed a nap? We had beautiful weather and a nice day.

Emma and I took a long nap later in the day. I don't know if I am just tired from camp or what? Since we gathered together early in the day - I could nap and not ruin anyone's plans. We are home tonight and hoping to do a load of laundry. We are going to bed early.

CAMP - My backyard, with the trees blowing in a light breeze, remind me of the beauty of camp. The sunsets were awesome. One of our activities was making a butterfly house. Now I never knew anything about them. We received the parts and then pounded away to put them all together. You should have seen dear Emma laying under the table as more than a dozen people pounded away with their hammers to put it together. The peices were precut and painted. We assembled and decorated them.

We received some information on butterfly gardens. We have a spot for the house (it goes on a stake in your garden) and room to plant flowers that we hope will attract butterflies.
Since my husband is the woodworker, it was fun to show off the project to my kids and explain I nailed it together even with the weakness in my arms. I would hammer, rest my rm awhile and hammer again. The roof was tough to hold and pound so I got some help there,

Well if the fatigue is from camp we should be back on track in the days to come.

Hope you are enjoying nice spring weather. Happy Mother's Day to all.

Mary and Emma