Just Rambling.........and picture memories....

Memory lane 1963

From my first suspicion that something was wrong with David,  we thought the problem was his eyes.  The things he sees and doesn't see have been more the mystery to me, than anything else.     When I hand him something, he will reach for it away from my hand etc etc, and sometimes it's almost like he's blind.    In the beginning,  I  thought the problem was his eyes, we just needed to get them fixed.....Well, pooh that wasn't the problem!

 I  read about people with the disease repeating or asking the same thing over and over, and yet.... David doesn't do this, and never has.....I suppose this will start at some point, but so far so good.

These pictures were taken in 2003, the year David retired, and 2 years before the Alzheimer's diagnosis.

I hear people say to let the person try to do things by themselves, well....for us, this is a very thin line.   I want him to try and do things by himself, but.......if he struggles trying to get his pants, shirt or shoes on, he gets frustrated, upset and feels like a failure.   I've learned to listen for drawers opening in the bedroom in the morning, and I walk in and see if he needs help.  He's always so appreciative and tells me how fast I am at everything.  And we're usually off to a good day.   Let him struggle, and he feels defeated.  There are other times, when he manages to get his shirt or pants on by himself, they might be wrong side out or backwards, but if there isn't a struggle, he's good to go.

Good memories

He can't squeeze the toothpaste tube anymore, and has trouble getting the toothpaste on the toothbrush.   I looked at him one morning, and he was trying to shake the toothpaste on the toothbrush.    Thankfully, he doesn't mind my helping him.

This picture was taken of me on a see-saw in Switzerland...... this is what I feel like most of the time, like I'm on a see saw.

Life is good, but goodness.... it can be like a see saw at times.   Like today, he reminded me that I'd forgotten to give him his lunch pills (which I had).  Thirty minutes later he's extremely concerned about our  2 ceiling fans on the patio ceiling.   He thought they were people ...... I calmed him down.......and it goes on and on, but thankfully there are many good times.

And I say, "thank you God for the rain we're having right now.... we need it."