Mom's new Digs

Afternoon juice

the common area for this unit

Mom's semi-private room

Mom was moved from the "care center" in Loveland to a Fort Collins facility just before Thanksgiving. This care center has an Alzheimers/Dementia unit and it has been a very good move for her. At the Loveland center she roamed all over the building (4 wings) in her wheelchair and she was so confused as to where her room was and why she was there; she had to wear an ankle bracelet that set off an alarm when she tried to get out the doors; she went to different areas of the building for activities and meals. Too much over stimulation.

In this secure unit the doors are locked so the residents can't get out (no ankle bracelets and no alarms going off); the staff is specially trained for dementia patients; all her meals and activities take place in the common area; there are only about a dozen patients on this wing so she gets more attention; she has a nice window in her room and the common area has a large window and a glass door out to the secure patio area.

When I went to see her today she immediately recognized me and said, "Where have you been ... out shopping?" (I wonder why she would think THAT?) I took her down to the activity room where they have a computer and spent awhile showing her all the twins pictures on both Heather's and my blogs. She thoroughly enjoyed that, even though she didn't remember who the babies were from time to time, nor that they were twins, and she kept commenting that "they sure do look alike."

I commented it was nice that she had per pictures on the wall. She said, "Yes, I think Denise put those up there." I told her that was probably right (except I knew Denise would NEVER hang them up that high - ha!) I left her with a new 6-month photo of the twins.

When I left, she called out to me, "Pam ... you be careful now." Her memory is definitely failing but there are some things she just does not forget! Mom is doing pretty well for being 98+ years old.

Jury Duty

We have lived in Larimer County for 35 years (at the same address!) and Chuck has been called numerous times for jury duty. I received a summons to serve back in the 70s but I was going to be in Iowa so I was excused. I always wanted to serve ... it was something I had never done and I wanted to learn more about it.

While we were in WA I received the summons to appear on January 26. I was still recovering from the nasty flu, but I felt pretty good so I went. I was assigned to Group 3. Group 1 jurors had to fill out a 2-page questionnaire. We later found out those people might be chosen for a 2-week trial. Never heard anything about Group 2. Groups 4 and 5 went to a courtroom and don't know what happened to them. Our group of about 25 people went to a small courtroom and watched a video about jury duty.

The judge came in and the clerk called 12 people to go up and sit in the jurors box, to be questioned by the judge and the attorneys. The attorneys each had 15 minutes to quiz us and then they choose 6 persons as jurors for the trial.

It was a criminal trial of a woman charged with shoving a girl in downtown Fort Collins last June, around midnight. Apparently when the policeman showed up, all the young people scattered and the victim ran away also. She was never found and didn't file a complaint.

I was juror #2 and I was chosen to serve with 5 other jurors -- 1 women, 4 men. We were ushered back and forth between the jury deliberation room and the courtroom whenever the judge wanted to talk with the attorneys. We could take notes and we had the opportunity to ask questions of a witness -- we wrote out our question and then the judge decided whether or not he would ask the question.

There were only two witnesses called -- one by the prosecution ( the police officer) and one by the defense (the then-boyfriend, now-husband) of the defendant. So it was a short trial, and before lunch all the testimony was finished. We went to lunch and when we returned we heard the closing arguments and we went to the jury room and talked about an hour or so and found the defendant not guilty on both charges. I signed the paperwork, we went back in, the judge read the verdict (lots of cheering from the defendant and her family) and it was over.

The judge came to the jury room and talked to us and we got to ask him questions. It was a VERY interesting experience and I am so glad I was chosen to be on the jury. Luckily it wasn't a two-week trial -- my memory isn't that good!

More December Pics

we love all Maggie's cute little sweaters

What's that funny-looking thing you are holding, Grandma?

Em and I wore matching colors today

Maggie having fun with her Dad

Emmett and Poppy both have chubby hands

Emmett giving this rattle a workout

We haven't even been home two weeks and it seems like FOREVER since we have seen our little GRANDS! So we depend on pictures to remind us of how precious they are. We sure appreciate how Heather finds the time to keep us updated via her blog. These pics were taken at 5 months old.

Baby TV

Bet you have been waiting for another video ...... rrrrIIIIIgghhhtttt?????? Well hopefully before MnEM go to school, I will have figured out how to take some GOOD videos.... but here goes a few practice shots. These were taken during Christmas vacation. I'll just give you little snippets once in awhile.

Deal or No Deal?

Poppy reads a book to Maggie

Emmett loves his new "saucer" toys

I tired to talk G&H into letting Emmett and Maggie come back to Colorado with us, but they said "no deal." So here we are at home, with no chance of cuddling with our two little ones for awhile. Here are a couple of pics I took the day before we left Seattle. They are growing like weeds and they are offering all kinds of new tricks on a daily basis. All of them bring at least a smile to our faces, if not a lot of loud laughter.

It's good to be home and enjoy the SUNSHINE and WARM weather here -- we are to be 20 degrees warmer than Seattle for the next few days. WOO HOO!

Chuck is on his way to the airport with Gary so he can pick up his truck and head for Grand Lake. I am sitting here surrounded by lots of STUFF that Chuck unloaded from the truck before he left for Denver. Yes, it's a BIG mess, but I'll get it all put away, just not saying WHEN I'll do that. R&R today and enjoy being out of the back seat of the pickup.

Best Friends

holding hands

sharing our toys

It is so much fun to see the twins with each other. Think how nice it would be to wake up from a nap and see a smiling face telling you to "wake up and play with me." We love to sneak into the bedroom when they are waking up (and stay just out of their sight) to listen to them talking to each other and exchanging those sweet little smiles. Today we found them holding hands; how sweet is that!

Later they were playing on the floor, both of them turning over and over and over as they played with their toys. Did I mention that they hardly ever cry? Very contented happy babies.

Babies at Play

Emmett finds some handy toys

Maggie pulling the worm out of the apple

We had a chance to get a couple of pics of the Grands today while Heather was out running some errands. These little people are just SO agreeable. Eat when hungry; sleep when tired; play when awake. Can't ask for more than that. And did I forget to mention that they happily smile when requested? (Sometimes even without a request) They are just the sweetest grandbabies we have ever had! We love spending time with them and we are getting in lots of "baby time" before we have to head back to Colorado next Wednesday.

Video of Maggie and Emmett

I recorded this little movie on the December 21. The babies were visiting us in Wallingford. After bottles, they were both tired, but before they took a nap I talked a bit to Maggie. Then I stuck my camcorder through the bedroom doorway as they were waking from their nap. It's not very good video but it gave me insight into how they wake up and talk to each other. So cute. Maggie wakes up first and tries to wake up Emmett.