What a difference a day makes...... actually ...... what a difference an hour can make.
This is the look I think of as the Alzheimer's look.
When I see David
looking like this.... I so badly want to 'fix him'...... sure wish I could!~
He looks so sad, but he says he's not sad, and for that I am grateful.
Six years ago, at the beginning of this disease, we were convinced that something was wrong with David's eyes. He would and still sees things so differently. What a disappointment it was to find out his eyes weren't the problem.
David 'hand feeds' Casey each morning.....this week I walked in the room and he was talking to the stuffed animal that looks like Casey. He thought the little stuffed animal was Casey, and he was trying to feed it.
I'm so thankful David still has a good sense of humor, and we could laugh together when I told him he was trying to feed Casey's toy.
This is the happy face that gives me so much joy when he's smiling. Thank God for a new day.
and one more
Another happy face
Thank you my friends for your continued prayers and sweet comments.
29 comments:
Oh David...what I love about David is his love for animals...real or not!
I can see what you mean about "the sad face" - I remember that face on my dad. For me, it wasn't so much a sad face as a "confused" face. It was like I could tell he wasn't understanding what was going on around him. Fortunately, I haven't seen that face on my brother yet.
I continue to send you good thoughts and prayer and marvel at the love and support you give David on an hourly basis. The frustration that we feel about this disease can so often transfer to the "patient", and you are such a good example of patience, love and tenderness.
I only hope that I can be that to my brother as time goes on. One thing I am NOT known for is my patience level...
Much love and many hugs,
xxx
barbara
I am so sad to see that very sad look on David's face. Indeed his eyes are so sad but I am happy to hear that he was not sad. I saw that look on my Dad's face so many times and it is a heartbreaker!
Oh, but those smiles....just fabulous! He sure does it well!! Ha! I can't get over how much the stuffed animal looks like Casey! So cute and no wonder he got confused.
How wonderful his smile!
Hi Delores... just checkin' in with you and David! I am thankful for David's and your's better days. Looks nice outside there--no snow!
I'm SO glad that even in saddness there's a happy light on things for you both! Your David is a very handsome man no Matter his look...I'm just concerned about Casey's look...Hahaaa...not so forgiving, that!!
(((((HUG)))))
Much prayer going up for you from my heart. I only know what we went through in our family and how it can effect us. We so hate to see the ones we love fade away. Keep looking to the lord throughout the day for his strength and I will continue to pray that as well.
Quite a handsome man you have there.
Keep looking upward.
:) right there with you. Love the slip-on shoes. I know the "look". Hard not to try to fix it.
hugs and prayers for you both, funny how Casey seems to have the same look, ;o)
Wishing you good days..if not good days, good hours...if not good hours, good moments. And so it is.
Aren't pets precious. My Beau is always the same; happy to see me. He is consistent and that is so important when I'm having a difficult day. I think Casey's consistency and faithfulness pull David back sometimes to where he needs to be. My mom had no anchors, and she was just 'out there'.SOOOO glad David has his pets that he enjoys and a wife who is ever faithful and loving.
Nice to see him sitting with the dog and cat and looking so happy.
Oh this is ringing a bell for me...the lost look or the confused look. I'm glad that you have asked David about it and that he says he's not sad. I am going to remember this. It is always good to come here and have you be as positive as can be. Some of that must be because of your beloved David, but most of it is because this is how you choose to live. It's so very good.
Second what Vee said. I know that look, too, Dolores. But on the other hand, not ever having met David, I will say that David has very full and expressive eyebrows. I would say it's in the eyebrows. AND, (giggles) as we age, the corners of our mouths don't turn up as much as we'd like for them to when we smile. In fact, they start heading south as well as our crow's feet!!! haha! I'm looking sadder and sadder by the day it seems, and I'm usually happy!
David is a handsome man, and I'm glad he's doing better and can still laugh at things. We all like to see him smile, too, Dolores!
I'm glad that he has YOU, his lifelong partner to ease him through this journey. And your pets, too! Pets can do so much that we can't!!!
My mom used to have a little pomeranian that she would take up to the nursing home to visit my grandmother (who had Alzheimer's). My nanny as well as the other patients, well most of them, would just come to life when they would see her sweet little dog. Nibbles would wiggle and wag and lick them and give them sugar, and the residents would just light up and come out of their daze. It's good that you have your little furbabies!
More "happies" than "sads"!!!!
It's hard to be happy all the time...so take time for yourself!!! You deserve it so much...
Hugs from TN
it's nice you have the smiling days to enjoy...it makes the sad days not at bad I'm sure..
I ditto what Vee says!!! I couldn't have said it better!! So glad y'all can laugh together. And also so glad his smiles offer hope and respite from this disease.
Love you!! L~
With my Dad I always thought he was off in another world...maybe day dreaming. I've always day dreamned a lot and it makes me wonder if I'm more likely to get Alzheimer's. I guess it's bound to happen with my mother, father, and grandmother all victims. In fact, years ago when I was working on genealogy I came across my great, great, great grandfather's death information from a Lutheran Church in Germany. He lived to be 84 and died because he was wandering along the railroad tracks and was hit by a train. To live to be 84 back then is like living to 110 today. I can't help but wonder if he had Alzheimer's.
He does look happy and you know that's all that matters !!
I am doing ok, its a hard road by myself,I see couples and I am filled with jealousy.... I wish we could have grown old together,maybe on the other side we will.
Take care I think of you often.
Diane
It's hard, but always think of the funny side of things :) Thanks for 'dropping by' too ;) Best wishes, Jenny
Dolores,
Yes, finding simple things to laugh about is so precious--even feeding a stuffed animal! Glad that David and you could laugh at this.
The ALZ mind needs us wife caregivers to make sense of the world for our husbands. This unique opportunity to live "in sickness and in health, for better and for worse" is watched by so many people. Your love and faithfulness to David shines through here and is so inspirational.
Hugs,
Carol
Hi Dolores. So glad to see today's post. My goodness, what a difference between the two days in David's photos! I'm hoping you still have many more of the happy photos.
I echo what others have said, I am glad you asked David if he was sad, and that he is not. I found myself smiling when I saw his happy face.
The animals do make a good difference for you both, don't they? I think David must have been happy feeding the toy too !
A sense of humor is a wonderful thing to possess especially when faced with this disease. I think it is so sweet that Casey is always right by David's side. The unconditional love that we get from our pets is a blessing.
It's so nice to see that David has been having happy days and you are both still able to laugh. I wish you many more Happy Days.
Hi Dolores....May God bless you and David. The pictures are wonderful.
It makes me so sad seeing David's sad face too, Dolores. I can only imagine how you feel but I hope he has more happy faces than sad ones....Christine
I just arrived here and could not stop reading. My father suffered from Alzheimer and I can understand what you are talking about!
I would humbly suggest (if you allow me) that you find some kind of help. You NEED to get out a little and have some time for yourself.
I know that it is tremendously difficult to go out and relax for a while, when your mind is constantly connected to what is happening at home - how is he doing, and so forth.
But you need to do this, Dolores! You need to "recharge your batteries" from time to time, so you don't get sick yourself. There is only so much a heart and mind can take.
I read in one of the posts, that there are friends of yours trying to get you out of the house. Please, do what they are asking you to do.
We don't know each other and I beg you not to be mad at me. I only KNOW what this disease is and how it almost killed my mother and I, years ago.
You are a beautiful person and your love is just what real love is!
I will keep you in my prayers!
I know the look so well Dolores... it's been there all of this past week, looks as though this week is starting off about the same if not worse. You put a smile on my face when he was feeding the toy... they do the funniest things at times... hugs ~lynne~
Davids smile is BEAUTIFUL. I hope you see more of it. XOXO, Pinky
Oh Yes the happy face is wonderful. The sad face just looks like he is thinking deeply. I bet about how much he loves you. The toy doggy is so cute and glad you guys had a laugh. I pray for many more happy faces.
i just wished i could hug both of you every day. ((((((hugs)))))))
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