I missed my post over the weekend because I was gone. Mom missed out on her shower because I wasn't home. Sometimes it's amazing how ....Duh....I can be. I really didn't think. Anyway I have decided that I need to think ahead and make sure she gets her shower before I go away.
So Angie and I went tonight to shower her so she is clean again.... Thank God!......She was in a really fun mood after she had her shower. I was brushing her hair and had her hairclips in her lap. She picks them up and throws them on the floor. Angie picked them up and brought them back to her, she grabs Angie by the skirt and pulls then she twisted her skirt. We were laughing at her and she got this big sneaky grin on her face. My Dad made her stop and rescued Angie, but then she threw Klenexes and anything she could get her hands on.
For those of you who check back often for updates, I will try to post on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If anything unusual happens in between I will most likely post then.
Mom did have a really weird thing happen last Thursday. She had a really slow pulse and seemed pretty lethargic. She usually grips my hand really hard but she was just limp in her grip. I went to check on her in the evening and she seemed much better and has been fine since.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Mama
It's amazing how Mothers work. They still love you even when their mind don't work quite right. I have a very sweet mom.
Angie made a very nice lunch for the folks today. Mom has been losing weight, which is ok to some extent but Angie was concerned that they aren't eating right, so she made them some good stuff and Mom said it was very good. In her own way.
This picture was taken on Saturday when Mom was so sad.
Pop called tonight and asked for two of my boys to come over because Mom had fallen and needed help to get back up. So I hopped in and went with them. Pop used his classic "Mom lifter" a leaf out of the dining room table. He gets it under her and then gets the boys to lift. It works great, lifts her right up and sets her on her feet. Easy as 1.2.3.
Angie made a very nice lunch for the folks today. Mom has been losing weight, which is ok to some extent but Angie was concerned that they aren't eating right, so she made them some good stuff and Mom said it was very good. In her own way.
Pop called tonight and asked for two of my boys to come over because Mom had fallen and needed help to get back up. So I hopped in and went with them. Pop used his classic "Mom lifter" a leaf out of the dining room table. He gets it under her and then gets the boys to lift. It works great, lifts her right up and sets her on her feet. Easy as 1.2.3.
Monday, June 8, 2015
Just Imagine If you couldn't talk
Sometimes it really bothers me. what if Mom knows more than I think? What if she understands more then we know? Can you imagine what it would be like if you know you have to go to the bathroom but couldn't say so. I know at home it is not an issue because she can get up on her own and go and she pretty much only goes on her own at night which I can't explain. But if you are away from home and you can't say, "I gotta go." Well then what? I guess we might cry out of frustration.
On Saturday, Angie had Mom in the morning, then I stopped to pick them up to take Mom home for her shower. Angie came out of the house when I got there and said, "She won't go anywhere." So I went in and asked her if she wanted to go away with me. She smiled and eagerly got up. So out we went. On the way over she took a disposable coffee cup out of my trashcan in the van and fired it at Angie in the backseat.
She kept looking out the window and getting agitated, the closer we got to home she started crying. It is so impossible to know why. I took her to the bathroom when we got there, then she went to her bed and laid there and sobbed. I gave her hugs and tried to comfort her. After awhile she sat up and was ready for her chair, but even out there she still cried. I gave her a magazine to look at and she threw it behind Pop's chair. It must have made her feel a little better because she went and picked up every little piece of mail and tablet off the stand beside her and gave it a fling.
It was almost time for Pop to get home from his recycling job, so I thought she might like to sit out on the porch. We weren't out there long until he was back. She got up to meet him and gave him a looooong hug. Like she wasn't gonna let go. He took her back to the glider and sat down with her. She clung to his hand. I thought he was very wise. He reassured Angie that it was nothing she did that upset Mom. He said she just gets this way because she happens to think about something that upsets her and she can't communicate. He said she gets that way with him too. So I asked Mom if she gets upset and throws things because she can't talk and she nodded her head "Yes."
We decided to wait for her shower until evening and she was in a much better frame of mind then. Angie and I have started singing to Mom when we shower her. It just happened spontaneously not intentionally to please Mom, but she seems to love it. I told Angie we are the "Bathroom duet" instead of the "Barbershop Quartet".
Somehow we have to figure out how to think like Mom. If we only knew what her needs are it would be easier.
On Saturday, Angie had Mom in the morning, then I stopped to pick them up to take Mom home for her shower. Angie came out of the house when I got there and said, "She won't go anywhere." So I went in and asked her if she wanted to go away with me. She smiled and eagerly got up. So out we went. On the way over she took a disposable coffee cup out of my trashcan in the van and fired it at Angie in the backseat.
She kept looking out the window and getting agitated, the closer we got to home she started crying. It is so impossible to know why. I took her to the bathroom when we got there, then she went to her bed and laid there and sobbed. I gave her hugs and tried to comfort her. After awhile she sat up and was ready for her chair, but even out there she still cried. I gave her a magazine to look at and she threw it behind Pop's chair. It must have made her feel a little better because she went and picked up every little piece of mail and tablet off the stand beside her and gave it a fling.
It was almost time for Pop to get home from his recycling job, so I thought she might like to sit out on the porch. We weren't out there long until he was back. She got up to meet him and gave him a looooong hug. Like she wasn't gonna let go. He took her back to the glider and sat down with her. She clung to his hand. I thought he was very wise. He reassured Angie that it was nothing she did that upset Mom. He said she just gets this way because she happens to think about something that upsets her and she can't communicate. He said she gets that way with him too. So I asked Mom if she gets upset and throws things because she can't talk and she nodded her head "Yes."
We decided to wait for her shower until evening and she was in a much better frame of mind then. Angie and I have started singing to Mom when we shower her. It just happened spontaneously not intentionally to please Mom, but she seems to love it. I told Angie we are the "Bathroom duet" instead of the "Barbershop Quartet".
Somehow we have to figure out how to think like Mom. If we only knew what her needs are it would be easier.
Friday, June 5, 2015
Beatitudes For Aging
Blessed are they who understand
My faltering steps and palsied hand.
Blessed are they who know my ears today
must strain to catch the words they say.
Blessed are they who see that my eyes
are dim and my wits are slow.
Blessed are they who looked away
when I spilt my cup of tea today.
Blessed are they with a cheery smile
who stop to chat for a while.
Blessed are they who never say,
"You've told that story twice today.
Blessed are they who know the ways
to bring back memories of yesterdays.
Blessed are they who make it known
that I am loved, respected and not alone.
Blessed are they who know I'm at loss
to find the strength to carry my cross.
Blessed are they who ease the days
on my journey Home in loving ways.
~ Author unknown
I found this poem when I was going through things at my Mom's house one day.
My faltering steps and palsied hand.
Blessed are they who know my ears today
must strain to catch the words they say.
Blessed are they who see that my eyes
are dim and my wits are slow.
Blessed are they who looked away
when I spilt my cup of tea today.
Blessed are they with a cheery smile
who stop to chat for a while.
Blessed are they who never say,
"You've told that story twice today.
Blessed are they who know the ways
to bring back memories of yesterdays.
Blessed are they who make it known
that I am loved, respected and not alone.
Blessed are they who know I'm at loss
to find the strength to carry my cross.
Blessed are they who ease the days
on my journey Home in loving ways.
~ Author unknown
I found this poem when I was going through things at my Mom's house one day.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Happy Days are Here Again
I have been to Mom's house several times the last few days. The last three years I have had a small garden plot there, and it was time to plant.
I am happy to report that for now things have settled down and Mom is happy again. She greeted me with her normal, happy smile. It is so good to see again.
A couple days ago she managed to get the front door open. It had been secured with a childproof knob and shipping tape. She peeled it all off and opened it up and out she went, barefoot. Dad followed her out and she went to the van, which is her way of saying, "I want to go somewhere." So he took her to town.....barefoot.
Another time this week they were up at Darwins and Pop asked her what she wants to do and she took a pen and paper and distinctly wrote "McDonalds" Those are some great moments of clarity.
I am happy to report that for now things have settled down and Mom is happy again. She greeted me with her normal, happy smile. It is so good to see again.
A couple days ago she managed to get the front door open. It had been secured with a childproof knob and shipping tape. She peeled it all off and opened it up and out she went, barefoot. Dad followed her out and she went to the van, which is her way of saying, "I want to go somewhere." So he took her to town.....barefoot.
Another time this week they were up at Darwins and Pop asked her what she wants to do and she took a pen and paper and distinctly wrote "McDonalds" Those are some great moments of clarity.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Forgive ?
How much does Mom really understand? She seems to recognize people but we still wonder how deep it really goes.
Today Pop stopped in on the way to town, Mom was restless and loves going on drives to town so he was taking her and was wanting to let us know where they were going, He related how that Mom was in a "touch me not" mode yesterday and kept her distance from him most of the day but evening came and she was very restless and wouldn't lay down to go to sleep and kept trying to say something, Mom just kept trying and trying with no success, finally a clear "Forgive" came out. Pop reached out and held her hand and assured her that yes he gladly forgives her, her countenance cleared and she smiled and settled down and fell asleep almost right away.
It was a blessing for Pop to see that even tho Dementia is taking it's toll, somewhere in there we still get a Glimpse of Mom on occasion...those are special moments..Thank you Lord!
One thought that is often in my mind after watching these things unfold...If you have a loved one that can talk...and share his or her feelings...don't neglect to take advantage of that..go ahead and communicate with them while you still have opportunity...and savor the moment.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
It Takes a Puppy
Mom has really been having a rough time of it since the weekend. So many faces that mean so much to her. She cannot communicate, can't say" thank you for coming, I'm so glad to see you." I don't remember seeing her laugh once the entire weekend. She always did love to laugh. She loved the good ole family time.
Had she been herself she would have made a huge bowl of her wonderful Potato Salad. We would have had Ice cream and Cake and we would have heard her laughing at all the humor that always flies around when Galen, Roger, Darwin and Earl get together.
But all she did really was cry. We are learning to take goodbyes a little easier with her. She does much better with a casual wave from 10 feet away and a "goodbye Mom see you later." When she gets a hold of your hand the tears begin to flow and you'll be lucky to get away. She hangs on for all she's worth. It breaks our heart to see her like this and then we all fight tears too.
Today when Angie and I went over to give her shower, they weren't home. But while we were still there they came back. She came into the house crying. Apparently Pop took her to town because she was crying and he thought it would help to get away. She did well in town, but then as soon as she saw they were turning onto their road she started crying again.
She settled down when we talked to her and did fine for her shower, but as soon as she was back in her chair she was back to crying again. So we talked to her there and tried to get her thinking positively. About that time Darius (Darwin's boy) walked in and Pop says, "Darwin's gave Darius a little Jack Russel Puppy yesterday, she loves that thing."
So I said, " Darius, run and get your puppy, Grandma needs to cheer up."
He ran home and had that sweet little bundle of puppy love down there before you could blink an eye, and you should have seen her.......perfect peace! She gets that little puppy snuggled up in her lap and she is HAPPY!, and perfectly content.
When I said goodbye to her, she was beautiful. Her hair was combed, she had a look of joy on her face and she didn't care that I was leaving. I wonder how he ever got that puppy out of her lap. I'm sorry I didn't get a picture. I may have to trade my dumb phone in for a smart phone just so I always have a camera with me.
Had she been herself she would have made a huge bowl of her wonderful Potato Salad. We would have had Ice cream and Cake and we would have heard her laughing at all the humor that always flies around when Galen, Roger, Darwin and Earl get together.
But all she did really was cry. We are learning to take goodbyes a little easier with her. She does much better with a casual wave from 10 feet away and a "goodbye Mom see you later." When she gets a hold of your hand the tears begin to flow and you'll be lucky to get away. She hangs on for all she's worth. It breaks our heart to see her like this and then we all fight tears too.
Today when Angie and I went over to give her shower, they weren't home. But while we were still there they came back. She came into the house crying. Apparently Pop took her to town because she was crying and he thought it would help to get away. She did well in town, but then as soon as she saw they were turning onto their road she started crying again.
She settled down when we talked to her and did fine for her shower, but as soon as she was back in her chair she was back to crying again. So we talked to her there and tried to get her thinking positively. About that time Darius (Darwin's boy) walked in and Pop says, "Darwin's gave Darius a little Jack Russel Puppy yesterday, she loves that thing."
So I said, " Darius, run and get your puppy, Grandma needs to cheer up."
He ran home and had that sweet little bundle of puppy love down there before you could blink an eye, and you should have seen her.......perfect peace! She gets that little puppy snuggled up in her lap and she is HAPPY!, and perfectly content.
When I said goodbye to her, she was beautiful. Her hair was combed, she had a look of joy on her face and she didn't care that I was leaving. I wonder how he ever got that puppy out of her lap. I'm sorry I didn't get a picture. I may have to trade my dumb phone in for a smart phone just so I always have a camera with me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)