New Bingo Buddies!

Aunt Lou played Bingo at her new place and won $10! She said it costs a quarter a card and if you have four (?) cards, you can win the jackpot! She loves her bingo and enjoyed meeting some new friends. It's good to hear that she's getting out and trying new things!

She's Free!!

So my little baby bird has flown the coop! Aunt Lou moved into her new apartment this past Thursday. Jimmy and Maria have worked themselves to death to make her apartment all ready before she moved in. Aunt Lou and I agree it was just like waking up on Christmas morning. She's over the moon!
Cindy, Nita, Melinda, Hilly, Wendy & the boys, Blaine and I have been by to visit. She's so excited and I think it's done us all a world of good to see her back to "normal". I can say out loud, now that it's over, that I didn't think Aunt Lou would ever make it out of the big house when she arrived here. I told her that the other day and she agreed that she didn't really think she'd ever make it out either.

Just in case the girls at the big house are still reading, we can't thank you enough for all that you have done. The girls at Harbor Lakes (the "big house") did so much for rehab, nursing care, wound vacs, moral support, and a million things I couldn't even begin to count here. Having grown up in the nursing home biz, I can say that this one was a great one. Aunt Lou would have never made it without ALL of you.

Aunt Lou and I talked about how if she dropped dead the very first night in her new apartment, that would be just fine because she didn't have to be sick anymore. She and I were still a little concerned about how she was going to figure out how to do everything for herself all at once but she just took off like a shot! She got up the first morning alone and she made herself a big breakfast, got dressed and made her bed before Jimmy even came over to check on her! It's so wonderful to see her in her own environment, acting just like nothing ever happened. She's such a success story!

Our mission is accomplished! Here are a few pics from her new digs for you all to see. Thanks again to everyone for everything. And while I have you here, her printer is working so don't forget to send her emails. She loves getting the emails every day!

Master bedroom.

One of the other bedrooms...still a little unpacking to do!

Living room.

Had to bring some entertainment for the kiddos.

Her view from her living room window.

The game room is right outside of her apartment.

Caleb checked the mail.

This is in the entryway of the apartment complex...very homey.

New Digs

I've heard all this info through different people and I'm putting it all together in this post so hopefully it's all right. Aunt Lou will move into her apartment next week (or maybe the next). She will be on the second floor right by the elevator. The beauty shop is also on the second floor. She will be able to have her dog now but she won't right at first so she can get used to her new place and get used to taking care of herself. Jimmy sent these pictures of the apartment. Here is the link for anyone who didn't get it: http://www.evergreenhb.com/

The kitchen.

Looking out from the kitchen.

I'm guessing this is the dining/living area.

Guest bathroom.

Aunt Lou's bathroom.

It's a Good Day

I had a lengthy visit with Aunt Lou today. I needed to get her all settled before my trip and I also needed her to help me shell two boxes of black eyed peas I got from a farmer here in town.

I hope this allays everyone's fears and concerns while I'm out of pocket. She has seven new Danielle Steele books to read along with one about the Kennedy assassination I brought her from home. She has four new kinds of cookies. Three boxes of sugar free and one regular. They are star shaped cookies with red, white and blue icing and sprinkles. You just have to go with it and be festive sometimes, you know?

I've turned and re-pinned her current baby blanket and everything else I could think to do before I leave. She's set.

Having that said, I know that she has been down or upset or even just plain selfish on the phone recently. She's really apprehensive about the move, she's lonely, bored, and feels trapped and abandoned. If any of those emotions pertains to you, fix it. Mostly though, these seem to be pretty normal emotions coming from anyone in her situation.

She can be really excited and happy as well as apprehensive about the move. Can you imagine moving AGAIN at the age of 86, you didn't choose where you are now, you didn't choose where you're going, you didn't pack your own stuff or know what's going to show up there of your stuff when you get there.

She's been through SOOOOO MUCH this past year especially. She knows that she's in the home stretch to this long ordeal but sometimes those last few steps are the hardest to push through and make happen. It has seemed like this ordeal would never end so let's not trip on the finish line, people. Some have even wondered if Aunt Lou is "slipping" or going crazy. Other than the regular going crazy from being incarcerated, she's FINE! Quit all the worrying and bitching and BE SUPPORTIVE!!! It wouldn't hurt for some of you to be cheerleaders once in a while, you know.

PS, Aunt Lou and I say "hey" and "feel better soon, honey" to Sonja with her nasty Shingles. To the rest of you, unless you have big nasty blisters running down your side, get cracking!

Love,
Ann-Marie

My Baby's Leaving the Nest

Aunt Lou has improved by leaps and bounds lately and now she's leaving our little nest we've made for her. She walks everywhere now without a wheelchair or assistance. In fact, I told her she should have had that toe chopped off a long time ago because she walks much better without it.

In Physical & Occupational therapy, she's working on getting ready to leave by doing things such as folding clothes, putting things up on shelves, and all that other good stuff you forget that you have to do when you take care of yourself every day.

Her eating habits are amazing with her new medication. She eats constantly. She cleans her plate and then looks around for other food. She and Caleb could have a contest to see how much they could eat. Her face is filling out and looking much more like her old self so we're really proud of that.

So the moving: Jimmy and Maria have been working like crazy to find the right place to move Aunt Lou and they've found one. It's barely south of I-20, sort of around the Hulen Mall Area. It's a retirement community where she will have her own apartment. And yes, she'll have her dog. It's upstairs and yes, there's an elevator and her apartment is right by the elevator. This place is a really neat place with great people that are super happy living there. Jimmy and Maria are excited and relieved that they've found a place. Many of us know how all-consuming and frustrating that can be so a huge GOLD STAR for them for keeping the faith and not giving up.

Jimmy took Aunt Lou to lunch yesterday, told her about the place and showed her pictures of it before they committed to the apartment. They've committed to it now and the target time to move her is late July, first of August. As of Thursday night, Aunt Lou did NOT know when she's moving so when you call to quiz her, she probably doesn't know about that part yet.

Jimmy said it's 2 or 3 bedroom (I don't recall which of the floor plans they wound up leasing but I want to say it's the biggest floor plan). It has a washer/dryer connection so she could bring hers and Jimmy said that she should be able to move most or all of her furniture from her house into there. There's a meal made 4 days a week that she can get if she wants it and Meals on Wheels is going to come there to the retirement center for her. It's amazing what a good social worker can help you work out!

In case you don't know, Jimmy and Maria have also been working endlessly on packing up her current house to move and get the house ready to sell. I offered to "help" Jimmy yesterday, even though he's pretty much finished now, saying that I wanted some of Aunt Lou's tacky stuff. He laughed and asked me if I wanted some of her more than 500 (yes, five HUNDRED) little angels he packed away. I respectfully declined.

If you don't know or can't imagine it, Jimmy and Maria have been working themselves to death. There's always a new person to meet who wants 50 pages of paperwork filled out, there's always a doctor visit or shoe maker appointment or something going on all the time. Then there's Aunt Lou and her endless requests. It's so difficult for Aunt Lou to have to ask someone for anything she needs instead of just getting it for herself. AND it's so difficult for Jimmy and Maria to go through all of this with very little thanks and try to do silly, trivial things like work and take care of their own lives at the same time. I know many of you have walked in their shoes and it's an unpleasant place to be most of the time, isn't it?

So pray A LOT of prayers that everything goes well. I have to say that the first time I saw Aunt Lou's foot laid open back in December, Aunt Lou and I both thought this day would never come. Really. There are a few new residents at the Big House. We've watched them come in with PIC lines, wound vacs, and other stuff that Aunt Lou started with. It's absolutely amazing to me that Aunt Lou has such a will to live and be in the bosom of her loving family :), that she has overcome ALL the odds and has recovered completely.

One more thing. When she moves, she will NOT be far from any of you. You can just shoot down I-20 and you're there. No more mileage than it would take to get from the Parks Mall to Mom and Dad's house. You had ALL better get your butts in gear and SEE HER. She'll be isolated there like she was in her house and she needs to get out, see the world, and see each of you. She didn't work herself senseless, especially when she didn't feel like it, to just sit in the corner and stare at the wall. She got better for all of us so that we wouldn't be orphans. Don't forget how each and every one of you are that important to her.

That's it for now. Sorry I haven't been sending pics of all her progress; I'm having trouble getting my pics to the computer at the moment. This is super-huge and exciting hews for all of us. I still can't get over the fact that she really is better now. She has come SOOOOO far! So Woo-Hoo, Aunt Lou! We all love you!

Finger Lickin' Good!

Is anyone else jealous of this picture or is it just me?! Thanks to Blake for whipping up some yummy BBQ ribs on Sunday for Aunt Lou and Blaine to chow down on. I wonder who finished first? My bet is on Aunt Lou!

A Visit From the Crazy Boys

I went with Mom and Aunt Nita to see Aunt Lou last week. We brought Sonic for lunch and the kids provided entertainment. It was good to see her eating so well. She hardly spoke for 30 minutes because she was too busy eating! She seemed a little tired to me but I guess they are working her hard to get her out of there soon. She's doing well and even showed off her battle wound. Beware for those with weak stomachs!

There she is just chowing away at that burger...and Caleb is chowing on the tater tots!

We got to sit in private dining room. It was nice and quiet and it allowed the kids to run wild which was much needed after an hour long car ride!

How many pictures do we have of this?? Actually, this wasn't a malt, it was a Coke.

Caleb was loving the Coke too! Look how serious he was.

I had to make her stop eating for a photo op.

More Coke for Caleb.

Ethan was teaching her how to play "guys". She looks a little confused.

The kids provided entertainment. Ethan was dancing....

....Caleb was the DJ.

Yep, there it is...or should I say there it isn't. I think it looks pretty good. Almost closed up.


Ethan was quite interested. The next day he told me, "Did you know someone tooked off Aunt Lou's toe?!"

Of course Blah was there too. Caleb loves that thing.

Ethan had to scope out all the stuff in Aunt Lou's room.

I hung up some cards while Caleb fixed the TV.

Poor thing tried the whole time we were there to get the TV working without any luck (it needed a cable.)

And we had to play with the famous pig bunny. Aunt Lou wanted to show the boys the Valentine dog that flaps his ears but he was out of batteries.

Ethan probably wore her out asking so many questions about all the stuff on her walls.

Goodbye hugs.

One last sip for the road. :-)