Remember playing pretend as a child? I do.  I don't remember having tea parties, or playing the bride. I do remember pretending to be an animal, a superhero, and a wizard. I had an imagination back then and photography has forced me to reach back in time and retrieve it.

I get to encourage play with children. Today's world has our children growing up so fast. You've seen the references of how back in our day we were happy to have those special scented markers, while today's children are using smart phones and tablets. Playing more with video games and watching videos instead of creating a story and telling it through play.

I want to encourage play and capture it. I want to use my own imagination and create.  You've seen the photos of my dog. He's kind of like Barbie. He can have any career or adventure I choose. He may not know it. He's just along for the ride...and the treats. All the treats.

Just because you're a grown up...does not mean your imagination needs to stop.  Mine did. When my kids were young I didn't know how to have imaginative play with them. I fumbled around with the Barbie dolls and the Legos. I missed out on that part in their development.   We had fun, don't get me wrong, and I'm not a bad mother. However, if you are at that stage in your life where your kids are trying to use their imagination in play...join in. Fumble around, feel a little awkward, just don't miss out.  That is a regret I have has a parent. I steered my children towards structured play because I knew the rules. Be silly, be creative. Your kids won't judge you, they will relish the attention they are getting, and you won't miss out on getting to know your child a little better.

Loki's biopsy is back. The abnormal cells seen under the microscope were caused by an abscess that resulted from a foreign object that burrowed under his skin. This could have been a bee stinger, or small piece of glass, wood, or metal.  Whatever it was it had to small, because he never had a bleeding injury in that area. When I first saw the lump I thought maybe a wasp got him. He is still at the vet getting care. He is on stronger antibiotics to treat the infection and tranquilizer to keep him still during this part of his recovery.

Loki had a tumor on his leg that was removed last week. He is seven months old and already has a tumor. He has sutures and staples, and is not healing well at all.

This puppy is on four different medications twice a day. Two of which have sedative effects. However, the sedatives are not making him sleep through the healing process. They are slowing him down, but he is just loopy and confused when he's medicated. His wound is still bleeding and we are about to make our second vet trip this week; our fourth in two weeks.

I'm at my wits end. Training has come almost to a complete halt, he cries often because he doesn't know why he has to stay in his crate only to be let out to drink or to go outside. The good thing is, well maybe it's a bad thing and the cause of the slow healing, the wound doesn't bother him. He's more concerned about the cone and being locked up to keep him as still as possible.

We are struggling. No socializing, no exercise, no play. No long training sessions, and no time with his brother Thor or the other dogs in the house. Please send good thoughts and prayers his way so we can move on and continue our adventure together.