Well hi how are you? I know it's beena long time since I posted. I probably don't have any readers left. Suffice to say that a LOT of things have been going on and I'm still trying to catch my breath and figure out where I am.
I am trying to get used to living alone now that Rich is in the Memory Care facility where he is about as happy as it's possible for him to be (not very) but he's adjusting and so am I. It's hard. I'm still knitting and trying to get used to cooking for one. I bought several goofy things like a bread machine that makes a 3/4 lb loaf and a 7-inch electric skillet (which is only good for eggs I think-too small for anything else!) but they seemed a good idea at the time!
I'm starting to play a little music now and then too. I've got the teaching gig at OU coming up later this month so I need to work on that. Bella, the cat and I are trying to get used to each other. She's really Richard's cat and isn't too happy living with just me but she'll get used to it. I've always been the one who feeds her anyway--go figure, you'd think she'd like me best!!
I hope to get some pictures posted soon-like today or tomorrow.
Okay, this is a beginning. I'll try to post a little more often now. If you read me, leave a comment and say hi. toodles.......
Showing posts with label Alzheimer's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alzheimer's. Show all posts
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Friday, June 26, 2009
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
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
Monday, June 9, 2008
Respite Care
Oh. My. Gosh. My son and his wife volunteered to keep Richard last weekend. Rich really wanted to see Bryan--he rode his bike about 10 miles in the heat last week to visit his workplace. We're not sure but think he may have ridden on I-35, His work is just off the interstate. Rich was so excited he ask me everyday when he was going.
Bry picked his dad up after work on Friday. I had planned to go see the "Sex in the City" movie and get a bite to eat. Instead I finally rummaged in the refrigerator and ate some leftovers and knitted and read all evening.
Saturday, I slept late--no one standing beside the bed at 7:04am saying, "it's daylight". Then I got ready and wound my way to Gourmet Yarn and stayed there until about 3:30, knitting, visiting, relaxing. Did some shopping, picked up Swadley's Q for supper and headed home for another very pleasant and quiet evening. Sunday, again I slept in, then drank my coffee and read my paper in bed! woo-hoo! I was very naughty and skipped church, but I figured God would understand. Bryan took Rich fishing early Sunday morning and brought Rich home about 2:00. We all had a wonderful weekend!!
This is the first time in ayear that I've had a break from Alzheimer's and I was way past due. Bryan said they decided to take Rich about every 6 weeks and give me and him a break. I told him that was the best gift they could ever give me.
Bry picked his dad up after work on Friday. I had planned to go see the "Sex in the City" movie and get a bite to eat. Instead I finally rummaged in the refrigerator and ate some leftovers and knitted and read all evening.
Saturday, I slept late--no one standing beside the bed at 7:04am saying, "it's daylight". Then I got ready and wound my way to Gourmet Yarn and stayed there until about 3:30, knitting, visiting, relaxing. Did some shopping, picked up Swadley's Q for supper and headed home for another very pleasant and quiet evening. Sunday, again I slept in, then drank my coffee and read my paper in bed! woo-hoo! I was very naughty and skipped church, but I figured God would understand. Bryan took Rich fishing early Sunday morning and brought Rich home about 2:00. We all had a wonderful weekend!!
This is the first time in ayear that I've had a break from Alzheimer's and I was way past due. Bryan said they decided to take Rich about every 6 weeks and give me and him a break. I told him that was the best gift they could ever give me.
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