Archive for March, 2010

I arrived after dinner to see him sitting in the common living room, staring off into space – his own little world. It always kills me to see this – anyway, as usual, he jumped up ran to me – big hugs.

After our little outing to the stores and a coffee, we returned to rest in an easy chair. I suggested perhaps he’d prefer to go to his room.

He very politely said that he really should go see his room, “I may need it someday.”

Thank God I have cried so many tears there aren’t many left at moments like this.

When Wayne was still home, I used to tell him that people judged my care on how well he was taken care of – usually this was to motivate him to agree to jump in the tub!

All winter, I had him in new black or navy fleece pants with a nice hem. From a distance, they just looked like regular slacks.Spring is here and I thought I should buy cotton slacks ( both rugby with a fly and belt tabs or regular Dockers cotton). He looked so spiffy and handsome.

At the end of our visit yesterday, he said he needed the bathroom – moments later, I heard, “I need help.”

Belts and zippers no longer work.

I guess I’ll keep the pants for special visits and I’ll do the belt/zipper for him. My sister always said the staff appreciates the easiest clothing possible for AD patients – an “I told you so” situation.

Got our seatbelts fastened, pulled out onto the road.

“Are we married?”

I pulled the car over and said , “Yes, what made you ask? We’ve been married over 44 years, in fact in August it will be 45 years.”

He digested this and pronounced that was really something as not many people are married that long!

Thought it was a good time to mention my name – - – “Not sure if you remember but I’m your wife and my name is ???? – - – -”

I prompted him, “Wayne and – - -”

He happily blurted out “Jean”.

Caught his eye as I entered the common area – he actually ran toward me tripping over a chair (empty:).

Lately, for some reason, he doesn’t seem to remember he has a room at the care home. I take him out to shop/walk/eat if it’s daytime and we tour the facility if it’s dark. At one point I suggested we go back to his room. He readily agreed and said he’d like to see it, has never been in it before. This puzzles me.

I stayed til later in the evening so I could wash/brush/change him into his jammies. When the nurse brought his meds, she asked if he’d like water or juice with them, “I guess you’re out of wine, eh?” How he still comes up with humor is really something and I love him for it.

So, yesterday was a winner. We had sunshine, new summer slacks and DQ!

I arrived at his room to find him on the bed, eyes staring at the ceiling. If he were at home, I’d have a bag of tricks to make his day sunny – like offering pizza!

I think there is an AD angel, well, I know there is! I thought of DQ.
“How about a soft ice cream cone at DQ?” His eyes lit up and he jumped off the bed. It was so funny as I wasn’t sure there was a DQ in the little city where he lives. After two querries, we roared up to DQ, ordered and enjoyed.

It’s interesting, we used to go to DQ for supper about once a month after our long work day. I was thinking last night about how lucky it was that we did, as this seemed to twig a good memory.

Wayne had a bit of trouble removing the paper from the cone, I helped and was amused to see he ate the cone til it was about a half inch high.

“Aren’t you going to eat the rest?”

He eyed it and very firmly said no. I wondered about his reasoning.

Bought him new soft cotton cargo pants for summer. They have elasticized waist but tailored with a fly and belt hoops. He looked very spiffy!:)