Archive for July, 2008

Well, yesterday was one of most difficult to date – nothing big just many small, hazy developments.

Persevered and in the late afternoon, he offered to help me with the beans. He filled some freezer bags for me. For some reason he thought he had better move quickly and with each additional bag, he tried to work faster. It became rather time to stop – told him several times to just fill them , no rush.

Bedtime came and he went to give the Refrigerator, aka Buddy, his bedtime snack. He seemed so normal, so much like before – jumped out of his chair, decided on the snack and did it. Then it was kind of sweet, he said that while he was there, may as well go to the bathroom before bed. We were in the laundry room – pop goes the balloon of normal.

But today is another day and it’s home care. Have to get him up and ready for his care aide. Those ladies are great with him and he walks, they “read” the paper together and have coffee and cookies together- they chart it as “prepared fluids and light snack” – not adding Dad’* cookies and coffee. Kind of cute. Anyway, each of them to date has been wonderful.

Please, please wear your PFD. Yesterday we (the city) lost a young father, poor swimmer, no PFD, fell over board – you can guess the rest of the story.

His wife tried to save him as their 2 children, ages 1 and 4, watched in horror.

Please wear your PFD!!! this summer.

Hugged my sister-in-law and Wayne’s brother goodbye. He told me they are at peace to leave, knowing Wayne is in good hands and cared for so well. Aw, thanks! They are great supporters. Sadly, they live 11 or 12 hours away by car.

The good news is, BIL is returning for a week in the fall to spend time again.

That’s very good – with Alzheimer’s one doesn’t know what a month or week or the next day may bring. It delivered a couple surprises during this visit.

(I’m sure I’ve said it before, but I hate you Alzheimer’s, and some day you will fall.)

Oh, my brother phoned me with name of a new drug used after Aricept so I faxed our lovely and caring specialist. Should get a call this week to see where we are in our journey and if this drug may be one to go to.

Other than that, life is good.

I can always tell when he’s confused or thinking about something. I look over at him and say, “What, Hon?”

He pointed to the hall, “I guess I could use the bathroom in the basement, that one ?”

Told him use the basement, one in the hall or in our bedroom. He said,”Oh, I thought that one was for company.”

Not so far off, as J&G had just washed up for bed in there. Probably he will be confused for several days about bathrooms.

Again, this noon, Wayne welcomed his brother having forgot he was here. As you folks mentioned, it validates our process – although these folks have never doubted.

I keep magazines on the coffee table from NS so people can have a subject of interest for conversation. This morn, his brother was thumbing thru one and saw a write up from their home
town. We took many pictures there in 09/04 and he was proud of how the town had maintained it.

Today, no memory of it. We have many pictures of both him and I there. Kind of difficult to watch. One doesn’t write an exam every 6 months to see what has been retained or lost. I was very surprised myself.