Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happy Halloween!

We went Trick-or-Treating at the Rolf and Shelley's tonight and had a great time, as usual! We had dinner, the kids played, got a load of candy and passed out candy.
And now Batgirl and Jake the Neverland Pirate are in bed. :)








Batgirl enjoyed passing out the candy

Grandpa, Grandma and the kiddos. B-man was not fond of Grandpa's hat and crazy teeth. :)

Our self-portrait

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Papa Tom


Ava loves her Papa.

Like I said yesterday, we visited with Tom last night. I am so glad we went. It was very nice! I got in some hugs and so did Miss Ava! As you all know, Tom has Lewy Body Dementia and is only 62 years old. My mom sees him every day (for the most part) and some days are good, some days not so good, some days are bad. For both of them. Tom has been losing weight pretty consistently lately and we don't know what will happen next or when. My mom has been in contact with Hospice and Good Shepherd so that we are prepared.

I would like to share some posts my mom has written on Facebook about LBD and/or Tom.
I wish she would put the funny things on FB but I think she feels bad that it would seem like she was "making fun". But, really, some days you just have to laugh or you'll cry. :) Love my mom and Tom so much!
 
Aug. 15: Early yesterday evening I got a call from the Manor. Evidently Tom was having quite a time and the nurse asked if I could come help calm him down. He was quite angry, wouldn't take his "vitamin" to calm down and they needed my help. Well, I immediately said that I would be there in 3 minutes....forgetting for the moment that I had granddaughter Ava spending the night. I wasn't frantic as I have gone thru this before, but told Ava that she needed to come with me and she didn't have time for shoes and socks. Like a trooper she jumped into the car (normally walk but didn't want to waste time) and we drove our 2 blocks. I explained that Papa was very confused and angry and that he needed us. She marched in, looked at Tom as he was basically being restrained by 2 nurses, took his hand and said "Papa, lets go for a walk." No fear...no tears...no reservations. He looked at her, took her hand (and mine) and we walked. Shortly after that he took his "vitamin". We walked and walked (as this time Ava played on the swings in the courtyard). Finally went back inside, got his pj's on and Ava planted herself on his lap. Ava and I spent almost an hour with Papa. He calmed down and saw a little reality. I tell you what....the unconditional love of a child is a blessing....no matter where you are, what is wrong with you or what you might be experiencing. She worked miracles. I am a VERY proud 'Nanny'. After we left she just said she was happy that Papa was feeling better. Ava is only 5 years old but she showed the maturity way above some adults I know. Like I said...what a blessing she is to us all.
 
Aug. 20:
Visits are very important to those with Dementia. They may not remember your name or even how they know you, but it DOES make them feel better. A hug, handshake, a few minutes of chatting may seem like a small thing to the visitor, but BELIEVE me.....it is a huge thing for the person with dementia. Please don't be afraid to see your loved one "like that".....most of the time they don't realize they have a disease. Remember....they are still 'there' in their minds.
 
Aug. 24: This article makes me weepy. We NEED more dementia awareness in the US as well. Most people think that Alzheimer's is the only dementia. Not true. There are many types under the umbrella called dementia. Each one robs the individual (and their families) of the life they once lived, memories they once had and mostly no hope for the future. There is NO CURE.
OstrichCare

Oct. 1:
30 years ago today I married the best friend I've ever had. He married into a family of 3 children and loved them as if they were his own. Never wavering in his commitment to family, love for us all and being the best husband one could ever want. I am still married to my best friend, although he is different now. Lewy Body dementia and Parkinson's have robbed him of the life he knew.....and the REST of his life. We had big plans for our retirement. Those plans have changed. His retirement is being spent in a nursing home, wondering why he is there. Mine is spent faking happiness when I am around him. It is heartbreaking.

I watched Good Morning America this morning.....everyone was "going pink" for breast cancer awareness. I applaud everything that has been done for awareness, mammo's for those who can't afford them and the research that has been done to eradicate this disease. Millions and millions of $$$$$$$$'s have been donated for research which has helped millions of women kick this cancer. My Mother, Grandmother and Great Aunt died of breast cancer and I have loved ones and many friends who are fighting it.

After spewing all this "bunk" as some might call it I am wondering why Dementia isn't "celebrated" or talked about as much as breast cancer. October is national Lewy Body Dementia Awareness month and September was National Alzheimer's awareness month. Did anyone else know that? Purple is the color for Alzheimer's and other dementia's. Did you know that? Dementia is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. Who knew? How many famous people besides Ronald Reagan and Glen Campbell have or died from dementia?

If a celebrity doesn't have it you don't hear about it. Do you have a friend or loved one who suffers from the most dreaded nasty disease I could ever imagine? SPEAK UP!

Thanks for 'listening' to me rant. Somehow it helps.
 
Awesome!  Whoopi Knows LBD!

RANDOM Part Two

Ava's birthday morning gifts

Her room was decorated with balloons and streamers


Birthday cupcakes that Mommy made and Ava took to Kindergarten

Cooking like Daddy


Lost a tooth!


Pumpkin Patch field trip with preschool


Walking from preschool to Ava's school to pick her up.

First basketball practice

Funny girl at Target

Ava and Scruffy, her class pet

Hangin' at Freddy's

Brecken drew a "fuzzy bear"

I got the girl to wear boots! Not tennis shoes! I seriously about passed out!

Ava and one of the pets in my classroom, Lucky


Trick or Treat in Newton

Another pet from my classroom, Ralphie


Ava drew this at the beginning of the school year. Love!


Happy Birthday at school! Mrs. Allender sent this pic to me. I love that she does this so I don't feel like I am missing so much!

RANDOM Part One

I finally downloaded some pics from my phone that I have been meaning to put on here to share! Yay me! Here ya go!

Listening to a story at Curriculum Night at Hyde.


Estimation!
Birthday Girl! The big SIX!


Birthday ice cream in KC with Nana and Papa.

 
Papa, Nana and Ava
 
Great Wolf Lodge hotel room!

GWL


Having some sugar after a big day at the waterpark

Little B got sick at GWL and passed out.


Storytime



Saturday, October 26, 2013

Trick-or-Treat with Nanny

We went to Nanny's this evening and the kids went trick-or-treating on Main Street, strutting their stuff as Batgirl and Jake the Neverland Pirate. We also went out for some pizza, had a great visit with Papa and played for a bit at Nanny's house. Lots of fun and laughter this evening!





My beautiful Batgirl!

B actually stopped trick-or-treating so he could eat his candy. People would try to give him more and he told them no!