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The holidays are over and what a wild time I had with family, friends, and the wolf pack! I got lots of hugs and played musical beds at night. It is so much fun to snuggle with my Stevie and Neala, and then Justis, Kathy and Wally. I love to burrow under the covers – so warm. Feels good!

We are still recovering but it was worth the extra push having fun and now that everyone is gone, we are relaxing. Mom says the house will get put right eventually but that is low priority for now. She talks about priorities all the time and what is “essential” and what is “nice to have.” Now it is all about us taking care of each other and growing stronger. We eat right and exercise – LOL. Well, we talk about it!

Shortly after Christmas, I started a Facebook page to share my experiences with chronic disease pain. Pain can flare unexpectedly and try to knock you down. But I know some tricks to help! Sometimes you do have to give in but you never have to give up! Not when you have a good support system in place and you know you belong. I would love to be your support friend, if you have room in your life.

Life is all about choices. Mom says we can sit and feel sorry for ourselves or we can change what we are doing and start feeling better emotionally. Pain will always be a part of our lives and the intensity will come and go. We have to look at what we are doing and what we have control over. Sometimes, we just act silly and pretend life is different. We watch comedies (no sad movies), we e-mail friends, we bake a cake (or buy one), we plan a trip, we look for goofy jokes to tell, and the list goes on.
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Yes, we cry and are sad at times because grief is a necessary part of acceptance but we limit the time spent in this way. Tears can be healing, it is a way to let go but it is important to move on and actively seek joy. It is there, just hard to find sometimes. We can look together.

Hi, it’s me Frankie. I was sad this morning so I slipped out of the house to see if I could find my good friends Pepper and Jingles.
There wasn’t a lot of joy at home this morning -- my dad who has Lou Gehrig's disease got choked on pancakes and my mom who has RA, that's rheumatoid arthritis, jumped up to help dad when her knee collapsed and she screamed. It was a scary time and I didn't know what to do.
Once it was quiet again and after giving mom and dad lots of kisses, I went outside to relax and try to calm down. That's when I decided to go see my good friends. Seeing them up ahead, I noticed they were just sitting on the rocks, kind of staring off into space, like they were waiting on something. So, I just sat down, too. Finally Pepper said “I'm sad this morning ‘cause my mom has Parkinson's Disease as you know and she couldn't get my breakfast because it was too hard to open the can.” Jingles said “I'm sad too ‘cause my mom said she was extra tired today and she just couldn't get out of bed.”
Looking up I told my dear friends, “Okay we got to think of something to do! Not only do we need to cheer up but we need to think about how we can help our loved ones feel better today.”  Jingles said, “You know what my mom always says -- water helps her feel better.” I thought that was a great idea! Pepper perked up and said, “What can we do?”
I knew just what to do and told Pepper to go get a bucket of water: cause I seemed to remember mom saying that she loved the ocean waves best of all. So, I sent Jingles after a fan. When Pepper came around the corner carrying his bucket of water, Jingles came out of the house on the other side with her fan and -- bam -- they collided! At last laughter filled the air.
I put the fan on a rock over the bucket of water and turned it on! All of a sudden, the water started moving, rippling back and forth. Jingles giggled and said, “You know it kind of looks like the ocean with the waves splashing about.”
Friends are wonderful! Feeling 100% better, I whispered, “Thank you my dear friends, this is just what we needed. Let's get back home and check on our people.”  Mom says someday we're going to live by the ocean. I can’t wait! Relax and give each day a chance. Hug your people today!!

The gate was wide open so I took off on an adventure yesterday. In hindsight, I should have told Mom and Dad but I saw a butterfly (it was yellow and blue) and decided to follow it. It was a beautiful day and I could smell barbeque in the air. I know I wasn’t gone too long but I happened to hear Dad calling and he sounded scared. When I turned the corner there he was shoeless, shirtless, and somewhat frantic!
We went home and Mom hugged me hard and told me not to ever run away again! It is so awesome to be needed and loved. Mom says, “Frankie is the joy of our lives. Craig & I would be lost without him.” Studies have shown that there are positive psychological and physical effects from loving pets. In fact, the National Institute of Health recently created a federal research program to study the animal-human interaction.
Click here to read about the program.
If you ask me, I think you should go get a little buddy for yourself. They won’t be as awesome as I am tho! See me and my Dad below making up!

Make a joyful noise!  I have been worried a lot this past winter. Mom and Dad have had a rough time but Mom says we have to keep smiling. We play ball, color, chew sticks, run, and make lots of noise. We don’t sit in the dark. Mom says we have to let the light in and get the music going or sing.

My Dad fell at Disney World a few weeks ago, he has Lou’s Disease (ALS) you know and he can’t walk or talk or hold me real good. But me and Mom don’t mind ‘cause we have fun; laughing and playing most of the time.  Dad said he cried a little when he fell ‘cause I wasn’t there to lick his face.

Then Mom fell on the driveway (she has longtime RA) and called 911 ‘cause she couldn’t get up and I wasn’t outside to help her.  The firemen were extra kind and helped my Mom up. I love firemen they help you no matter what, they won’t leave you, and they love water like I do.
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Today is beautiful, the sun is out and Mom says we may make mud pies! Get outside and be happy. Play with the butterflies!!

Yesterday my cousin Ashley asked me to be her model for her new photography adventure called RUFF! Pet Photography. I was so happy!! She said I was Mom and Dad’s champion of joy and I thank that is cool. The Photo shoot was so much fun, Ashley loves to play and she rolled in the yard with me and climbed on rocks and jumped up and down.  We had a terrific great time. I love her and she loves me.
She gave me one picture to show everyone and it is an action shot of me guarding the back perimeter. My other Dad is a soldier and he taught me how to take care of Mom and Dad cause they are both weak and need me. Every day, I walk the perimeter many times and bark if I see something suspicious.
Why don’t you call Ashley to set up a fun photo shoot before the holidays!! Mom says she is going to make special announcements with my pic for Facebook and the Web for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas!!
Ashley says I am a star! “Like” her page on Facebook called Ruff Pet Photography.

Today Mom and Dad has anniversary for 21 years they tell me today. That is a long time. We were happy but Me and Mom are worried about Dad. He says he is blue and doesn’t have passion in life anymore. The ALS took his hands and he can’t draw anymore.
Yesterday we got a book that was printed by Marvel called Avengers do something—and my Dad drew some of the character pages and his name is right there in the book! He was excited and I think I saw some passion but then he couldn’t get the packaging off and was trying to cut it off and me and Mom got scared he would cut his fingers.
Finally he opened it and we all looked and I jumped and licked his face. He said this is too bittersweet and closed it. I don’t know what to do—my friends, Jingles and Pepper think we should have a party for a book signing?? You gots any ideas?? Help me please.

The last few days have been rough. Mom’s hip flared and we had to stay at home several days to rest it and heal.  Mom says today we are all better and r going on a great adventure. She said we will need food and water! You see, we saw a chipmunk out the window this morning. Mom says it was Alvin and he looked scared!!  I saw him first and I’m not so sure if it was Alvin but he was limping! So today we leave the house to search and rescue. Mom says that’s what we do, help others in pain and/or lost. We r first rate survivors and know lots of stuff to help people feel better.
We r taking a cold pad (u smash it with your foot to make go cold), Ace bandage, OTC meds, and a blanket just in case.  Always be prepared that’s what I say. When I go to visit my friend Pepper at Aunt WaWa’s house, Mom takes my blanket and treats. Mom said today we r also taking some music and a pillow! Mom is weird that way, we keep a bag in the car at all times with a soft blanket, water, first aid kit, flare, and granola bars. This is her 3rd bag ‘cause when we see someone hurt or in trouble, we give them our bag with a smile! Mom said the smile is real important! We all love a cheerful giver and that we all hurt and are survivors in spirit.
Next time you get a recycle bag, put a few things in it and throw it in the truck ‘cause people need you. This ‘ole broken world has lots of people hurting, needing a kind word, and a smile. Show you care, go on a search and rescue adventure and see what you find.

I am not sure what to do and I’m a little scared but my other dad Justis is due in today. Also, I know that I can call the Little General or Pudgy, our friend in Merryland.  Mom came home from her visit with the Pickle family (that’s Pudgy and IceMacSea and my 2 cousins) in a wheelchair!  She said not to worry that she had fun and just overdid too much but she is still in bed.  Her hip hurts Bad. And Dad almost choked last night on his loaded baked potato! He also said not to worry but I am worried.  I stand ready to jump on his chest if he can’t get his breath.

Mom promises to call her rheumatologist if her hip isn’t much better on Monday. I wish she would call today but she just smiles and says it will be fine. I try to pretend all is okay and get my ball so they can play with me! The Little General came over to our house yesterday with supplies so Mom could stay home and rest. She bought me lots of baloney, I love her. She said I was her favorite little boy.
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I don’t understand rheumatoided arthritis and ALS (some guy named Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Mom says it’s not important to understand it that we just need to trust and obey the Holy Spirit (and go to doc regularly).  Also, she says -- It Is Important to find joy in everyday and to share our hope and sunshine with others. So today when my other dad gets here, I plan to share my joy big time! I love to make him laugh and hug me. We have fun fun fun.  Goin’ to make a joyful noise for sure today. Mom and Dad will laugh and smile with us, ain’t nothing better for sure, for sure.

We had a big day yesterday celebrating Dad’s birthday.  Nobody got a nap, our relatives from the farm came in with peanut butter cake! My Granny Bee, Aunt PolyEthelene, Uncle Wade, Cuz Phyllis all came in and Aunt Cat met us at a Garden for pasta! Mom said they wouldn’t let me in so I had to stay home. Made me kind of sad that I’m not a real little boy but Mom said I would always be hers!

Last nite my Cuz Alexa and Uncle Gregg came over to take Dad to the comic book store.  They brought me back 2 stuffed animals to play with-this is my favorite thing to do ‘cause I am strong and powerful so I rip them up. Mom says I can ‘cause I can’t do anything about her rheumatoid arthritis or Dad’s ALS so I grab them and rip off their heads first and then pull ‘em apart. It is so much fun. Mom and Dad laugh and laugh. I like to make them happy.

Mom wouldn’t go to swim class this morning and went back to bed. She said yesterday made her real tired. She told me not to worry that she would be fine but I can’t sleep now so writing my friends this letter. Not sure what to do.  If she doesn’t bounce back soon, I plan to call my Aunt Donna. Mom calls her the Little General ‘cause she knows when to take charge.
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That peanut butter cake smells so good. Wish I could get to it better Mom wakes up! Mom gave me 2 chewies this morning with breakfast, so yummy. Think I’ll go rest with Mom. She says she loves cuddle time, even when I lick her face. Her face is salty so I love it and her. Dad’s face is stinky or at least that’s what I tell him
If Mom isn’t up soon, I gonna SOS the Little General. I never worry with her around. Later gators. Kissy Kissy, Frankie

Good morning. Me and Mom got up early this morning ‘cause her knees were hurtin. It makes me sad when this happens so I lick her face and cuddle with her. Mom took her meds with food and we cuddled and Mom sang me a song. She says music is good for the soul and I like it!
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Later she put ice on her knees for a few minutes and read. She calls this our quiet time ‘cause it is just me and my Mom. Mom used to have quiet time in the mornings with her Mom after the family went to school and work. Mom has had rheumatoid arthritis since she was little like me. She knows lots of things to do when that arthritis hurts her.
Dad had a hard day yesterday so we didn’t get to feed the squirrels. But that’s ok my cuz Stevie came over, she is my girlfriend Jingles’ Mom. She bought us dinner and we talked and laughed and played last night. Mom and Dad said it is always like sunshine enters the room when my Stevie comes over.
I can’t wait for Dad to wake up ‘cause he said today we were going to play ball. Mom worries about us knocking things over but Dad and me laugh and say we are more important than things! Gots to go for now. Remember it is up to you to be happy or sad, that’s what my Mom says so choose to be happy – it’s a new day!