Behold the Temple of Heaven/may we all congregate one day

Well we finally found a safe and nice place for annie :( it is a relief but it also a sign that she is so far gone only professionals can take care of Annie.  After asking other family members to help financially I got unexpected results:  Grandma(yes Annie's mom is still alive) said she would contribute, while her other daughter (Melissa) decided she would have to ask husband Dave Bowman if it would be okay.  As she asked him while i was on the phone we heard screaming and nastiness that would not be polite in front of any small children or people who are not dead.  So several weeks later I received a letter from Melissa and she stated they could indeed provide 300.00 and i was so relieved. Then i read on, it would be an "exchange" she wanted Annie's hutch, hummels, coffee table/trunks and half of her crockery pieces.  Now most of this stuff is ancient/I mean antiques, which i could easily sell in total for 3000.00 and at this point i realized exactly what Melissa wanted: STUFF.  She does not care about her mum just her mum's valuables it was at this point that i decided (yes at times even i can be nasty) that i will sell whatever i can to continue to care for Annie(and if that means my sister gets a little pain, BONUS).  Peace Out, because at this point that is all i can offer the world.

Stjepan Hauser and Luka Sulic - Smooth Criminal

What the f*#@?

Usually I don't moan and groan about the mounting debt we face with the medical necessities for Annie.  Even though we no longer have a savings I still wouldn't do it any other way.  However, Annie's parents are still alive (yes i know old as dinos, Annie 67 and Babs 86) but my g'ma is alert and kicking.  She calls Annie about once every week to week and a half.  She moans about how awful the situation is but has not once suggested any top of compensation.  Now I know what many of you are thinking,,,"WHY YOU PICKING ON A HELPLESS OLD LADY?" But the O.G. has some bank.  Back in the day, she went down to a car dealership wrote a check for 17,000 for a new car all because someone called her cheap.  That was a double up humpf.  Now,i am rarely intimidated by others but g'ma is definitely on the list.  think about a combination of archie bunker, meet arrested developments' gangy, with just a little bit of Old Dirty Bastard mixed in.  a lovely picture for anyone except for a g'ma. 

And that is how Old Babs rolls. . . .

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Happy? oh i forgot

Annie is always a delight to have around.  I make light of her situation, because almost daily we see a decline and are powerless to stop/reverse it.  So while i find humor in her behavior i weep for her daily.  But enough of the sadness, let's get back to the topic at hand, New Year's Day.  Jo and Annie got to our house about 2 on the 1st of january we were all set to eat too much and play some games.  Well Annie likes to sit by us when we play games, even though she has no comprehension of what is happening.  Jo brought a game called rummikub to play, basically you use plastic tiles instead of cards.  Well Annie had eaten quite a bit but obviously not done, she snatched up one of the playing pieces dipped it into dip and was about to go for it but was stopped.  Oh the wrath that followed was not pretty, we heard a high pitched yawp and then a spring for the door.  We eventually calmed her down with magical brownies,  all brownies are magical to Annie.  And so another amusing day in the life of Annie the eater

And in this corner. . . . .

The fierce and fabulous, fighting Annie "the Windmill" Wimmer.  Yes Annie still has some fight in her when she does not get her way.  Yesterday she ate her two pieces of pizza, bowl of chips and three hersey's kisses and was ready to go.  She sauntered into the kitchen, leaving a trail of candy wrappers, and pocketed an apple.  She did not know where she was going but she knew she had to get there.  She had tried to get out of the front door at least five times, but she was not going to give up the fight.  She took one last try and was successful at unlocking the door and getting out on the porch until she was blindsided by Marvin, who stopped her from going down the steps.  She turned into the windmill with arms flailing everywhere and let out a barbaric yawp.  However despite her best punches she would not win this round, but I am sure she will return to fight another day.

Lil' Obstinate Annie

Although Annie has a hard time talking she does not have a hard time making a point or getting her way.  She is very "persistent" when she wants something done her way.
                               Things that bring forth the obstinate in Annie

• Paper.  If a piece of paper with writing on it is around, Annie finds it, points to it and then tries to put it away.  She does not like notes left lying about.
• Phone calls.  Annie does not like other people talking on the phone.  In fact if you are on the phone she insists on talking to you at the same time.  If the phone rings she automatically assumes it is for her and gets irritated that you won't give up the phone.
• Computers, the enemy.  Annie never used a computer when she was well and now she does not like other people using them in her presence.  The computer is her competitor for attention.
• Dishes.  Annie does not like dishes in the sink.  If a dish is on the counter or in the sink it will be washed, and not necessarily with soap.  Her preferred method is wiping with a paper towel and then showing it to you.
• Fine Dining.  Once Annie is done with dinner she believes everyone else should be done as well.  She begins clearing the table as soon as she is done and if you are not careful she will swipe your unfinished plate as well. 
• Crumbs.  Annie has never lost a battle with a crumb on a counter.  She hunts them down, deals a death blow with her finger and then showcases her kill to anyone who is around.
• Toilet paper.  Annie never met a roll of toilet paper she didn't like, ALOT.  Regardless of how many times you explain how she does not need to use so much, she continues.  A roll a day is Annie's way.
• Hide and go Seek.  Annie loves to hide things in her purse, drawers and closet.  She is so good at it we still haven't found where she hid her partial mouth piece.  Suffice it to say Annie is missing some of her back teeth.
• Thievery.  Not only does Annie hide her things, she also hides other people's belongings.  I have found cloth napkins, forks, lotion, shampoo, toothbrushes, candles, and other items--not belonging to her--stashed in her purse.  She would make an excellent pickpocket.
• Show Annie the money.  One of the few words she still gets out, MONEY.  She doesn't have enough, can't find it, or can't go out without it.  (And no we do not let her handle money anymore)
• And finally the dreaded MOTHER.  When we do something Annie does not like she says MOTHER and shakes her head.  It is quite obvious her Mother would not approve and we better watch it or we will indeed be in trouble.  Her mother, Babs, is still alive and kicking and if she was in town I would fear the wrath as  well.

And these are just some of the quircks of Lil' Obstinate Annie.

Annie get your grub.

Three months ago, getting Annie to eat was difficult. 
The only thing she would eat (if allowed) was sugar based foods.  Now she is a non stop crumb cruncher.  Wakes up in the morning has two bowls of cherrios, a banana and toast.  She will then try to sneak back into the kitchen and forage for food.
She devours several apples, bananas and pieces of raisan bread in the day.  She follows up with soup, sandwiches and whatever else we put in front of her.  On Christmas day she had her usual breakfast, followed by four sweet rolls, and later rolled into the kitchen to snag several sugar cookies; all before noon.  This all is being consumed by a woman who is a whoping 110 pounds and had an eating disorder for most of her adult life. 

Oh how the mind changes with dementia.  The food "fight" has become quite amusing.  She will eat almost anything put in front of her with any utensil.  A spoon for steak? no problem.  A butter knife for peas?  why not?  She still hesitates with vegetables but after a "stern talking-to" will eat them.  When she doesn't like something she will spit it out in her hand (gross) and began exclaiming in dementia-eze why she shouldn't have to eat it. (of course no one else speaks dementia).  She will finish her plate at record speed and begin clearing the table automatically and if you are not careful your plate will be removed regardless if you are finished or not.
  The grande finale however was indeed Christmas Eve, we had a pie and after she finished her piece and we were still all around the table talking she snatched up the pie server scooped up a slab of pie and downed it in one mouthful.  Jo was having none of that and the pie was removed much to Annie's dismay. :)