MEMORIAL DAY SMILES!

Our thanks and a salute to the men and women who have served, and are serving now to keep us safe!!!!!

A DOCTOR's APPOINTMENT

Last week was David's 6 month appointment with his neurologist. I'm so happy we have a doctor who is a good listener, easy to talk to, and very compassionate.
However, I always dread the appointments!!!!! I usually feel like David is doing so well, until we go to the doctor, and then I feel so shocked and disappointed, when the doctor ask him questions that he can't answer.

The doctor ask if we've noticed any changes...... we said no.......thank God!. On a day to day situation, I feel he's doing good, but when the doctor ask him, " what day of the week is it?", and David can't answer, then he ask, "what year is it?", and he can't answer....... Oh my, how I wanted to help him answer the questions!

The next question,..... "David I know you're a CPA, what was yesterday (tax day)?"_.... David couldn't answer that either.

When David was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, the neurologist (the first doctor), prescribed a vitamin called Cerefolin. The doctor said it really hasn't been proven to help anyone with Alzheimer's, and suggested he stop taking it. He renewed his Namenda and Aricept (each twice a day). The doctor suggested that we cut back to one Aricept a day, but I'd called Baylor College of Medicine in Houston (they're the ones who prescribed it twice a day), and they said if he was still doing pretty good, to continue with two a day, and that's what we're going to do.

The doctor ask if I carry a recent photo of David in my purse (I didn't, but I do now). He suggested that I carry one, just in case we go somewhere and we should be separated or David should get lost. I have photos of the grandchildren and our dog, but none of David. This was a good suggestion! When we returned home, I found two recent pictures of him, one full length, and a close up of his face. I laminated the photos, and put them in my purse.

David walks several times a day, and the doctor said the exercise was really good for him ..... and to keep it up, but he urged us to make sure to carry identification with him at all times. David is still doing so well, that I've been negligent about making sure he has identification in his pocket. I've also been negligent about using the GPS. . The doctor urged me to use it each time he goes walking. When we came home, I charged the battery, and from now on when he's walking he'll have his identification card and the GPS in a fanny pack. Now he's good to 'go'......

I searched the internet last year and found a wonderful GPS 'device' made by globaltrackinggroup.com. for $389.95. We pay $17.99 for the tracking fee each month, and when he's walking, I log onto the Global Tracking web site on my computer, and I can track his location in the neighborhood.

And I say, "thank you God for good doctors, medications, tracking devices ....and good days."

TAKING CARE of the CARE TAKER

I've been blessed to have my sister in law as a part of my life for over 40 years. We've laughed and cried together, but more than anything, we've always been there for each other ........... through thick and thin...... and always will be.

Nancy..... is a Clinical Social Worker, and has her practice out of her home in Magnolia, Arkansas. I know her clients love and respect her integrity, honesty, and her loving and caring spirit for each of them.Nancy suggested that maybe I should do a post on 'taking care of the care taker.' I know that Nancy loves David, but she's also concerned about me, and for that I say, "thank you for your love and concern, it means a lot to me!"

I don't really feel we're at a stage 'yet' where I'm effected/affected in a big way. I know as time goes on, and David declines, there will be a lot of life changes, but for now, I'm doing well..and I'm so thankful that David's progression is slow.

If I wanted to, ......I could think about the things we can't do anymore, and I'd be sad and depressed, but what good would that do for David or me......,so, I don't think about the have nots.. That's one way I take care of me...

Another way I take care of me, is to try and enjoy ever day with David, to laugh at the silly things....... like today when he put his coat on upside down......we laughed and laughed. Sometimes you want to cry, but if you start laughing, the laughter takes hold and you end up having fun.

I'm not involved in volunteer work, like I was in the past, and I don't go shopping with friends for hours at a time, but I always stop and remember that David's life has changed so much more than mine. It breaks my heart that he had to give up so much, and he's NEVER complained. He can't drive, he can't write, he can't help with changing light bulbs, climbing ladders, digging holes in the yard, such simple things that we took for granted in the past. .... I take care of me, by remembering to be thankful that I can take care of him.

I miss David driving the car! I've always loved to read in the car, and I'd leave the driving to him, but I'm thankful that we have a car and I can drive. If he were to die of cancer, heart disease...or whatever.....he wouldn't be here at all, and I'd be driving all by myself.....so....I'm thankful he's here with me.

I absolutely love flowers, bushes, trees and spring time! Taking care of me, is to dig in the dirt and plant flowers!
I also love decorating! I don't care if anyone else likes my style, but it gives me a thrill to move things around and make things look good to my eyes. The above photo shows a new picture and lamp over the mantle....which I love. Taking care of me is to decorate.....

This precious little King Charles Cavalier, named Casey....... has brought us more joy than I could ever express in words. She has certainly helped to 'take care of me and David.'

As I've said in previous post, I started this blog to give some positive thoughts to anyone with a new diagnosis of Alzheimer's..... that life can still be good for who knows how long....., but I must say that working on this blog and writing .....remembering memories......looking through photos.....thinking about the people in our lives who mean so much to us........... the process has benefited me more than I'm sure anyone who might read this little blog. Taking care of the care taker is working on this blog right now...

And I say, "thank you God for another day."