Life is good, but ..... by golly, sometimes I want to turn back the clock, and I want to remember what our life was like before the monster invaded David's brain and entered my heart. It's more and more difficult to remember David before Alzheimer's. I'm not complaining, because everyone has a bag of 'stuff' in their life, ...Alzheimer's just happens to be ours.
I'm so very thankful for pictures of good times and wonderful memories!
This picture was taken .... probably 16 years ago....Our first 3 grandchildren covering me with sand...
Last evening we were in the pool, and I ask David if he still prays, because I wanted him to pray for someone in particular. He said he didn't, because he couldn't remember how to pray..........and then he said, "Sweetie, you just don't get it. ..... everything is gone out of this head." I proceeded to ask him to say my name, which he did. I ask him the name of our children, which he did. I ask him about his special niece and best friends, and he remembered. I'm very thankful for anything he remembers!
I love this picture of David at Port Aransas with our first 2 grandchildren....
Today was my 2nd time to have someone come and stay with David; I was gone for 3 1/2 hours. I went shopping, tried on clothes, and I ran errands without looking at my watch. I can't express how exhilarating it was to do this, and not worry or hurry. I think I'll be doing this once a week for several hours.
16 years ago........I love this picture of our son, his wife and their son ... who is the curly headed boy in the prom picture ... on a previous post.
And here I am with our son on his first beach trip...1965
19 comments:
You now hold the memories to pass down to your family, and you do it well and with so much love.Pictures often make me cry because of special times with loved ones no longer here gone by so quickly and moments of my childrens' and my own childhood only remembered by me because i have photos.Time goes by so quickly and then we all pass on into eternity, but I am sad your David cannot share with you these precious memories, and I am sad for him .
Reading your blog brings back so many feelings and remembrances of my mother's journey with this disease, and I can't help feeling sad all over again.
I am glad David still knows you and your family as well as your names. The first time my mom forgot who I was rather embarrassed her and kind of shocked me although it was to be expected.
I wish I could hug you during each stage you go through but know that my prayers are with you. Praying is the only way I'm getting through.
My Dad has always enjoyed looking at old pictures in photo albums. I think it's because he remembers way back better than anything recent.
Good for you! You got a little break and some time for yourself.
Wonderful pictures Dolores! I understand the melancholy. I am so happy for you getting out and being able to relax a bit. You need that. Wishing you and David a good day!
Good morning Dolores...
These are such great family pictures and I'm so glad you have them to remember David in the past. He STILL remembers the most important people in his life, tho, and that's a blessing. I'm glad you're feeding him what he likes, too. My MIL's favorite thing is malted milk balls (always has been) so we get her some from time to time (but we don't let her eat them alone). We let her eat what she wants - she's not diabetic, and at this point we just want her to be happy. She still gets such pleasure from eating fried catfish & going to Luby's and ordering several different things AND dessert. We just smile and let her enjoy...
Dear Dolores,
I felt a lump in my throat when I read about David's response to your question about praying. I feel for him and I feel for you.
I'm glad to hear that you were able to get out again. I think that is so important to you as a caregiver and I hope you are able to do it on a regular basis.
I enjoyed seeing your family photos. I especially love the last one. So sweet.
Hugs to you and David too,
Kim
Delores, this is lovely. I know how much you enjoyed the photos in my recent post, and I enjoyed yours just as much. They're wonderful!
I'm so glad you were able to go shopping on your own. You should definitely do that more often - you need to take care of yourself in order to be able to take care of David.
Love
Gilda
Hi Sweet Delores! Love the photos (they remind me of a post I'm going to do on How to get your photos Large and Clear on you post...simple trick)... and am so happy you got out for a bit...that always seems to help.
Hope you both have a peaceful and restful night!!
hughugs
Lovely memories - - -
You have such a treasure trove of wonderful photos. I've been very sad these last few days thinking of my grandmother. Seems the time has come to move her to a nursing facility. I can't stop looking at some of the old photos of her, especially when she was my age. Guessing what she may have been thinking or things that were going on in her world at that point. And now I look at her and see this person whose soul seems to be gone. It is so heartbreaking. Well, I didn't intend to be a downer when I started this comment!
Wonderful that you have been able to get out some - you definitely should do it every week - you need some you time to recharge, relax, and just be - well - you!
I also wanted to tell you about a book I recently found called Learning to Speak Alzheimer's. Not sure if you have read or heard about it but it is very interesting.
Hugs,
Karla
I can see why you might feel a bit melancholy looking over your wonderful lifetime of memories. I love your photos from today---all beach-y and summery. Precious times.
I love the last photo of you and your baby. You look so chic. Not sure I have ever looked chic at the beach.
Prayers for comfort; at the point(s) you need it most...God is near.
Just saying "hello". I stop by your blog from time to time. I found it through Karen's some time ago.
It always blesses me when I read it.
Prayers from here in MN. God bless you.
Aren't photographs great, Dolores? Everytime my granddaughter visits from FL (and she is here right now), she pulls out the scrapbook of her baby pictures that I created. Does David like looking at pictures? My mom forgets things that have occurred recently but remembers the old past so I like to surround her in her bedroom with pictures. I just get sad when she asks about her brothers and sisters, if they are still alive, cause she is the only one left and she is 92 years old now. I am picking her up from Illinois in Aug. We 5 brothers and sisters in 4 states, take turns in taking care of her. I love looking at your old pictures....Christine
Delores thanks for the hug I sure need it, thinks are getting hairy here , so much stress wow.....
Thinking of placing her and its not easy at all, her family is coming we will all decide together.She has not one idea what's coming........so sad.I will maybe email you when its all said and done, thank you for the support.
Diane
I sure would like to send you a hug with this post...I am so glad you got some time 'out'. It sure replenishes. Love the photos and it is so nice to see all the fun times you spent at the beach with all the young ones. A bathing beauty....that last one....You!
I came across a poem and added it to a scrapbook I made to record an event with my daughter and grandaughter:
"When time who steals our years away,
Shall steal our pleasures too,
The memory of the past will stay
And half our joys renew.
Thomas Moore 1779-1852
Dolores my dear friend, I am thinking of you today and send hugs your way.
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