Lovable Leila

I have just returned from an overnight visit in Colfax and while doing laundry and petting the large heads of these 2 crazy dogs, I have decided to use the rest of this evening to do a quick update.

Much to our disappointment, but keeping to our history of poor luck, Mark and I had to cancel our vacation plans with some very good and extremely understanding friends (we had been planning on going to Hayward with them and relaxing) a dangerous form of canine influenza struck part of our doggie "network," sickening and killing Louis, Van and Judy's neighbor dog, and striking Mingo and Lily's best friend, Lizzy. Lizzy was horribly ill, but she received some excellent care from a vet whose office was located somewhere outside the Twin Cities (poor Van and Judy were out of town with her that weekend, trying to visit with relatives, but spending a great deal of time worrying about and tending to their dog). Lizzy has now fully recovered from the ordeal.

Lily began showing a sign of the illness, coughing, almost 2 weeks ago. Mark immediately took her and Mingo into our emergency vet (the night I was at the Brewer game in Milwaukee), and they gave them both antibiotics, even though Mingo wasn't coughing. They told Mark that if Lily was sick, it would only be a matter of time before Mingo became sick since they sleep, eat, play, and drink together--there's no avoiding a double illness. The vet was also very concerned about what had happened to Louis and Lizzy, and advised us not to have our dogs interact with ANY other dog for 7-9 days AFTER the cough stopped!

Michael smiles for the cameraProud Lisa

Quarantine for dogs+sizable emergency vet visit bill= no vacation in Hayward.

I did want to "run up" and visit my sister and her kids for a night--we had been planning on swinging by their place as we drove back south from Hayward. I really wanted to give Leila her baby quilt that I finally finished and I had some fun little gifts for Mikey and Emma too.

I'm so glad I went up. Lisa had a yummy lunch of tuna pasta salad (eat your peas Emma!) ready when I arrived and the kids welcomed me with smiles and hugs. We went for a nice walk around the trails in their woods and later in the evening we went for a longer walk down their picturesque road. Lisa also prepared a wonderful spaghetti dinner, complete with homemade garlic bread and wild berry cheesecake!

And there was talking! Lots of discussions about all sorts of things, from table manners to geography to school to...all sorts of stuff!

Leila is such a doll! She was soooo smily and happy. And, like Stephen with Kenny and Beth, she is VERY interested in what Michael and Emma are doing. She was constantly looking at them, smiling, observing, and "taking it all in".

Before I left this morning, Lisa and I talked more over a few cups of coffee. Emma was ready and willing to start playing a game of Charades as soon as we got up in the morning, but I had to explain to her that I really needed some time to drink coffee and wake up first. She understood and waited very patiently.

I'm doing charades here...

Michael mercilessly killed me in a game of Chess (he took my little castles and horsies!). I tried to do some super special secret moves on him, but he called me out on them. He knows the rules!

Michael relishes in victory

Leila continued to smile.

Emma did a wonderful job sitting for me while I tested out my flash and macro lens. What a model!

Although it was a brief visit, it sure was worth it to see everyone!