PTSD??

It’s been a less-than-exciting 2-3 weeks. Every day is a brand new experience. As I've mentioned, one can have no expectations.

Almost 3 weeks ago now I put Richard in adult day care for his own safety. He’s had a heat stroke two years in a row and I’m just not in the mood to go through that again. I told him this was his job and he sort of accepted that. The first evening he told me he didn’t want to go back and I told him we’d talk about it and he went out the back door for a “walk” When he wasn’t home by 9:30 and it was also dark-thirty I got anxious and called 911 and 4 police cars, the police helicopter, some friends, and our daughters were all driving around looking for him. Finally at 10:34 he walked around the corner and strolled on home wondering what all the fuss was about. Of course he couldn’t tell us where he’d been and no one could believe that he hadn’t been spotted by somebody! The police ask me if I was going to make him go back to the center and I said you betcha I am. I felt like I had no choice. Course I did but the choice was leaving him home alone no fluids, not eating and getting sick and I couldn’t do that.

As you can imagine, the rest of that week and the next were pretty terrible but at least he didn’t walk off again. He’s now beginning to enjoy it just a little bit and it’s doing some good for him. He’s communicating better and talking a little bit better and he seems to be calming down some. He gets very agitated—part of the disease. He told me there were 3 women that wanted him.
My blood pressure has gone down since I’m not worried about him all day. His blood pressure is perfect but he has no stress.

That evening I was very stressed and Kacie said call your mother so I did and of course the minute she said hello I burst into tears. Partly from worry and partly from sheer frustration, I felt like I’d been trampled by a herd of buffalo. Anyhow, Carter, my 28 month grandson, heard me crying and was alarmed. He brought me a ball of yarn and said “ball” when he gave it to me, went over and scooped up my current project (which he’d pulled the needles out of earlier) and brought it over and carefully set it in my lap, then went back and brought my pattern to me. Oh and I got a hug and kiss too. I thought that was pretty perceptive for a 2-year-old to recognize that my knitting makes me feel good.

So it’s been a difficult 2-3 weeks but he’s doing much better and seems rather resigned. He really needs to be a bit worse to be content, as it is he kind of knows he really doesn’t belong there but…..there is no alternative.

OTN: Stranded socks, Advent Calendar Scarf

Tick-tock, tick-tock

Isn't it amazing how fast time flies? Even if you're not having fun?? You break your leg; you spend a month in a cast, a month in a boot (that is ugly and cost $458 I might add. I don't spend that kind of money on pretty shoes and I get two of them--that match!) And two months in an air splint and suddenly it's June! What happened to February, March April and May? And then you find out you have to have cataract surgery. For heavens sake, this getting old business is for the birds! I never signed up for this--I don't want to pay dues to join this club!! It's in the Rules--no dues to join the getting older club. and I think I've had enough character-building experiences in my life to last me over the next few years!! Ah well... it seems life is what happenes when you've made other plans--I don't remember who said that, besides me, but I'm sure someone did.

Today I started Richard in Adult Day Care. He just came in and told me he didn't want to do this anymore. I told him it was a job. When I picked him up he looked like a storm cloud--let me re phrase that-- a tornadic storm cloud. He told me they worked him to death! but he was laughing and seemed cheerful. I told him I was so proud of him, getting a job and all. (lies to people with dementia don't count as lies, it's in the Rules) So we will see how tomorrow goes. I told him he had to go for a couple of days and try it out. Cross your fingers for me. He just isn't safe on his own anymore, doesn't eat, drink water, wear a hat, he wanders long distances, and he leaves the house wide open. He's had a heat stroke the previous 2 years and I'm just not in the mood to have one this year. Oops...I'm beginning to feel a bit grumpy!

OTN is the Advent Scarf-I'm on Day 8-- and a Crusoe sock, just one so far. I really want to learn to do two socks at once on two needles or two on one needle-magic loop style. I just can't seem to learn anything new at the moment. Overload I guess. Sock Summit looked really interesting but I seem to have missed all the drama and I guess without any classes there's not much point in going. One of these days I hope.

We are taking a tour in July. Going to Colorado Springs and see all the sights. Should be fun. I really enjoy the tours although we're usually in the youngest 4-6 of the group. It's really the only way we can travel at the moment. I can't do all the planning, driving and care-giving for Rich and take a trip unless I want to die. stress-related you know. At least driving in front of the train only crosses my mind about once a week now.

I'm doing a pretty fun thing this week. I'm teaching music teachers who are working on their Master's degrees how to play autoharp, spoons, limberjack, juice harp, and yodel. I do this for OU about every three years but I did it last year and now again this year. It is so much fun, but I'll tell you a secret--music teachers are a pretty rowdy group. I guess because they have to be really creative and creativity needs to express itself. (sounds good anyhow)

Kacie and Carter moved out. mostly. As soon as they're all gone--furniture etc. I'm going to do some re-arranging. I'm really anxious to get my yarn room back. And a guest room. I do miss them--that baby is a hoot and so cute--but let's face it--he's two years old and we all know what two-year-olds are like! I've already done that three times I think it's his mom's turn to have that pleasure. aaahhh the pitter patter of little feet! toodles....Anita