Archive for August, 2009

Feel so sorry for him – he has frustration trying to remember what he wanted – don’t we all? I can only imagine how frustrating it must be for this to happen all day.

Tonight, he got up from his chair, looked around and was searching for “something”.

Turns out it was his favorite sweater that he wanted. He rolled and folded it til it resembled a large loaf of bread and put it on the back of the love seat. “There. Now I’ll know where it is.”

Update: Later in the evening, he stood holding his sweater, “I wonder where I can put this so no one steals it?”
We found a “satisfactory” place. This sweater is so important to him as I bought it for a trip to Nova Scotia. I think, besides liking the sweater, it holds memories – whether he realizes this or not.

So we were having a great evening, visiting and enjoying. I was going to cut up a pair of his thread bare jeans for patches. Tossed them on the floor for Buddy to smell and check out. I said to Wayne that Buddy is smelling your jeans.

He misunderstood and thought I said “smelling Jean”.

“He couldn’t be smelling Jean. She went away, ran away seems to me. It was dark one night and she ran into a field and I never saw her again.”

I was stunned but asked if he remembers Jean. “Yes, she ran away. Something in my brain tells me she ran away.”

So I asked, “Who is looking after you?” He looked at me, “I don’t know. Should I know?”

Gently, I told him that I am Jean.

“Are you? Man it’s hard when your brain gets screwed up. So is it Alzheimer’s I have? Is that what is causing this?”

We talked for a long while, the conversation going no where.

It’s been coming but very difficult to hear him verbalize that he really doesn’t know me. The fog lifted for a bit when he asked about AD.

I asked Wayne if he’d like to comb Buddy tonight. “Does he like it?”

“Sure, he loves it.”

Poor Buddy, everything Dad does seems to be wired backwards including combing Buddy. After a few minutes of having his mane brushed “upwards” I suggested we go have a snack – Bud better thank me for rescuing him!

He has been in bed over 19 hours now – I go in to get him up – he very politely asks if he can sleep “just a bit more”.

This also means he has not eaten since 7pm. I got up in the night and was successful getting him to drink about 4 ounces of water.

We see the specialist before Thanksgiving – I’m hoping he can shed some light on the situation.

Seems he is slipping away from me and maybe life in general. I’m sure it’s easier to sleep than function.
Lately, he will get up rather confused and tell me he has had weird dreams. Then he adds, “At least I think they were dreams.”

So family is coming for Thanksgiving – I am so grateful.

We have always said, “the more the merrier” so bring them on! This year, especially, we will be grateful to have journeyed thru 9 or more long years. It’s incredibly wonderful he is still home.

Out comes the “planning book” – have to get my meals organized, lists made and house sparkled.

Seems a long way ahead but September is just around the corner – can you believe it? We used to journey to Nova Scotia the first 2 weeks of September – wonderful memories.