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."
