Wow it has been hot again in Minneasota.  We are using more fans along with air conditioning to keep cool.  I thought you would get a kick out of seeing this one of Emma.  She loves having a fan to help her cool also.  Another hot day.  98 yesterday and even with air-conditioning my house is not as cool as I would like it to be.  We keep windows covered when the sun is hitting them.  Makes me feel shut in though.   Emma is impressing home health care workers with her retrieval and other skills.  She deserves this rest as it was a busy day here.  I treasure her so much.  Hope you are staying cool if in MN or a hot area.  Yes I know other areas of the country are cooler in summer and nicer in winter but i am not moving.  My roots are here,  my grandchildren are here,  and my medical team and family of course.  We are hanging in there.   Emma you are the best.   Mary

Hi in the wee morning hours,

Dear Emma,

I love this picture of you with one of my granddaughters Rosa.  She loves you but I think at the moment this taken you were also a bit jealous of her.  That happens when she first arrives.  Then it all works out plus you are a bit jealous when she sleeps with us in my bed.  Or out bed. Even with Greg in other room Rosa likes to sleep so close to me and you seem to want to be closer than normal also.
Yet it works out.  She likes to help me take you out,  to pet you.  To toss you a toy and since she has her own dog too is very good with them.   When she left after an overnight on Friday she said "Emma take care of Grandma now while I am gone".  she and all the family know how important you are to me.

The home health care know you too.  Since there are stairs they call me when they arrive and then walk in.  You don't bark or anything when I say it is okay.   You are so cute showing off.  You always quick retrieve something to show off your skill.  Today you got a wash cloth and parading around for them to see .  Then you bring it to me and obediently go lay down in your bed in view of what is going on for sure.  They are impressed when they see you retrieve or something for me while they are here. So fun to show you off.
Today you handled the oxygen person who refills tank,  a nurse visit,  and a team of occupational therapists who came.  Thanks so much for that Emma.

The only thing you did today remarkable other than above was throw up.  No photo there ha ha.  Please stay well Emma ,  I worry as you age.  You rarely ever throw up for me and so i worry but you seem fine.  No idea why or anything.  Thanks Emma for being the greatest dog ever.  Our doggie friend Molly may come for a visit tomorrow and that would be nice.  Depends on how the day goes for my friend LuAnn.  Would be fun for both of us to have early evening visitor if that works for her.

Love you so much  Emma,

A nebulizer treatment and we are back to bed.      Mary

Dear Emma,

It has been so quiet around here due to my cold virus or whatever this is.
Ha ha I barely have any voice but you know what I need ha ha.
Tried to load a picture not sure why it wouldn't work.
Very warm here so Greg is taking you out for only short periods in the day.
You don't seem to mind our naps and great air conditioning in our home.

Our home seems more homey when Greg is here all day with us!  i think you would agree.
He even bought you your favorite treats but photo wouldn't work.
We are listening to an Audiobooks and so funny how nice that is when I rest
but also that you seem to be alert to the voices before you dose off next to me too.

Happy 4th of July Week to All...

Trying to do photos almost every day...will add later

Dear Emma,
Gosh is it hot!  Even you did not end up outside long with me.  We both came in panting like we had exercised.  Oh my goodness.  I think hot tomorrow also.
Thank you for how well you are handling the visitors that come in for home healthcare.  Funny in just a few visits you seem to remember the people who enter.  Will be a few more weeks I think.
One issue is to see if you can help me a bit more with dressing.
Helping Paws will get a call to remind me how to do this on my bad days.  Still when I can will have Greg help too.

You are fun Emma.
I found some toys we haven't used for awhile and that was fun for both of us.
Throwing a toy for you to fetch, petting you,  is again a form of therapy for my arm use.  They are weaker again.
What a great way to exercise my arms and it is fun for both of us.  what a jewel you are.

My niece Joni lost her dog Annie who was only age 7 and looks almost identical to you.
I cried for her when she told me via the internet about how hard that was for her family.
She reminded me to give you extra TLC and of course I did.
How fragile life can be I am learning again this year for people and for pets dog.
Of course you are more than a pet - you are truly a beloved friends,  partner,  who loves me unconditionally.
Thanks for how you enrich my life.

Tomorrow we head out to a Dr appt that has to be out of house though it will be hot.
Metromobility will take us.  So we will get out of the house though boy it will be hot again.

YOu have never been much to want to use a pool I have for you.
Sometime soon a friend of mine and her dog Molly will come over.
Molly is a Golden and loves the pool.   We are wondering if with her example you will like it or not?
You do like lakes but I don't get there often and not this summer at all I think.

Thankyou Emma for all you do for me.
I bet you can help more with dressing but I never needed it.
We will see though often Greg can help me...still fun to see things you show me you can do.
Even now you amaze me as you are doing things you knew and yet I didn't need.
I think saying you can't teach an old dog new tricks is incorrect.

You never forgot all you knew.  Just I have ha ha.
Cognitive therapy helping me also.
Love you Emma.   Mary

Sunday,

Dear Emma,
Isn't it fun to have Rosa over Emma.  It was fun to sleep with her and you overnight.  I am glad Greg was here though.  We just went outside.  You keep moving so we don't have a great picture of the two of you.   I will be down for nap by noon.  Grandpa will play with Rosa.  Emma will you need a nap with me?  Or time with them?  Or a bit of both.  Hope this video works and I save it.  We all love Rosa so much.  She made this all by herself at age 5 with my iPhone!  Amazing.  She said to save it for when I am not feeling good and miss her.  Emma it was so cute how you cuddled up with her and with me too.

It is warm out and Emma you didn't want to be outside long in the fenced yard.  I think too sunny.  Thanks for helping me pick up a few things.  Mostly you can relax a bit with Rosa here to help also and Greg.  A big nap for me (us?) this afternoon.

See if this works.