entry 59

I bought this puzzle of "nemo" at the $$$ store for the gkids but

 I decided to have mom try it for some brain exercising.

 She worked on it for about 30 minutes and got it done. 

 Yeah, mom.

Good job!

entry 58

cont...

Yesterday went better than I had expected!  Yeah!

Mom did well with the therapist and actually had a good time at the Alzheimer's association.

One smart associate paired mom up with another lady and they had a great time together!

The medication seems to be helping mom's anxiety and fear levels.

Mom still changed clothes 4 or 5 times that evening but oh well...

keeps her busy.

 {mom, jer, cadee and bear}

entry 57

Well here goes another "wonderful wednesday".  

First, mom and I go to see the therapist then the Alzheimer's assoc. for a little R&R-LOL.  

Mom hates going to both places.  

Yesterday I tried to get her to do a word search puzzle. 

 She refused! 

 I told her she only needed to exercise the brain she wanted to keep!

Not funny! 

 Mom was also mad at me because

 I typed up a list for her (as she asked me to do) of her scheduled activities.  

"This is insulting", she said.

More later....

entry 56

Mom asked me this morning what "program" she was in.

I tried to  explained to her that she wasn't in a "program" 

I said... this is your life!

For some reason she is under the impression 

that  this "program" she's in has restrictions.

I honestly think this stems from my leaving her home last night with John.

I saw her watching out the window as I drove away.

John said she didn't come out at all while I was gone.

I went with Katie to play bunko for the first time.

I had a migraine and tried to get out of going since (i felt nauseas) 

but Katie was adamant about me going!

It was so much fun and I had a great time migraine and all!

Mom is afraid when I leave. 

 (which rarely ever happens)

Anyway, back to the "program"

Mom was weepy so I tried to lighten the mood.

I jokingly said...

 Mom, you are in the "pre death program".

Finally she laughed.

She is confused about coming and going in the "program"

"What can I do and not do in this "program"?

Even though I explain to her  over and over,

 her ability to reason has faded to point that she can't grasp the thought.

(and for a fleeting moment she does...It leaves her memory in seconds)

At this point in time I have to verify (with someone) if what she's attempting to say is accurate.

She used to be able to "pull off normal"  around people and doctors.
 (or "trick" the interrogators as she puts it)

No longer can she fool the professionals.  

Mom's ability to verbalize (or lack of)  is the most

  significant change in her during the last six months.

entry 55 {treasure the time}...

entry 54

helping Babs button her coat

all the buttons

and the zipper

so endearing

entry 53

Today is better than yesterday with one exception...

Mom and I were driving back from an appointment.

I stopped at Wendy's and got mom's fav treat

a root bear float!

We were simply driving along.

No radio

No talking-none

only eating ice cream.

Out of no where mom asked me...

Are you talking to me or talking to yourself?

What, I asked?

Just now, it was so cute. You were talking to yourself.

Oh really, what did I say to myself?

Well, I can't remember but it was really funny.

*Hmmm, that's a new one for the blogbucket*

{I asked her if she'd been taking those Alice in wonderland drugs}

We laughed!

entry 52

This morning Natalie came over with Jason.

We sat around talking for a few hours

Mom included.

rewind...At first light

mom put on her suit as

she has done now for several weeks

{Mom waits for Jackie to pick her up and take her home}

But...she changed into her pants,

beige coat, gloves and scarf.

{not unusual to wear around the house}

Out of the blue...she said...

"If I go home now, will I be able to get into my house?"

What did you ask?

"I live 2 doors down, will I be able to get into my house, it's usually locked!"

"Mom, you live here. You are standing in your room."

Sigh..."Why do you have to make things so difficult for me?"

"I have things to do at home!!!"

I said...

" OK. Go home."

She seemed relieved.

I followed her with my camera.

She went around the house, not stopping at the kennel to see Bear.

Up the back steps she climbed

and tried to open the sliding glass door.

When she found it locked

she walked back down the stairs

and continued around the house-full circle.

Now back in my house,

"Did you get in?"

"No, the door was locked!"

WOW. I wonder if she will start wondering?

I thought she was doing a bit better!

By the way I just checked in on mom.

She has 2 sweaters on under her suit jacket

2 pair of pantyhose

3 knee highs

1 ped on her foot

her skirt on backwards

her undergarments on backwards-some missing

She refuses to believe that she's doing this!

entry 51

The brain

Vascular

Healthy

Plaques and Tangles

Degrading brain

entry 50

This is what I woke up to this morning.

Calm, peaceful, I'm happy to be home.

I don't have anywhere to go,

watch any kids.

So far, mom has stayed in her room.

No dogs whinning.

No phone ringing.

I' m sitting in the living room watching

the snow fall gently to the ground.

Beautiful!

Kitty just jumped up on me and settled on my arm.

An hour goes by.

Mom finally emerges from her room.

This is what she's has been doing..

Oh well, she'll be busy putting it all back!

entry 49

So mom and I are driving down the road, beautiful day and she asks...

"what in the world is that thing falling from the sky"???

"are you talking about the airplane"?

"where's an airplane"?

"right there, that thing in the sky"!

"Airplane? Ok, if you say so".

entry 48

Spring has already brought a new set of problems (or old problems revisited) .

I'm talking about the poop report!

I don't know why this bugs me SO much but it does.

I'm glad that mom wants to take Bear out for a walk but for the rest of the day I hear about how:

he "wet" on every tree

he really needed to cleanse his body

he really had a lot of "poo-poo" in him

he "went" big time

boy, I bet he feels so much better to get all that out of his body

Oh, did I tell you ...

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Then there's the issue of mom bringing the poop into the house,

in a paper towel to show it to me.

Already this morning I want to SCREAM.

Between the Poop report and those damn pantyhose

I feel so much tension and anxiety I want to scream and cry.

It's a good thing that she take the initiative to do something and

I don't want to discourage that but, today it is my trial to deal with.

Sigh...many more spring days to come!

entry 47

Well, I just made my mom really mad! She had on 3 pairs of pantyhose and the top pair had a run. I made her take them off, showing her that she had 2 more pairs on underneath.

I don't know what it is with her and pantyhose!!!

Mom thinks she needs a pair of pantyhose for each leg!

She thinks my brother "turned her on to pantyhose" and that she never wore them before October of this past year when he bought her a pair.

Quinn buys me all these pantyhose!

It isn't worth trying to explain, because she can't understand.

Now she's crying over the pantyhose (with the run) I threw away.

"I need those for church tomorrow!"

OMH, I hope that I survive this!