Hi All, Can we use this discussion to put good or exciting things happening to us. Example, Congratulations to Kathy and Family!!! She just found out they are going to be 1st time grandparents. And yes she is trying to stay on the positive in all. Lets pull together as always and tell some stories or happenings. We need more humor and happy things said in the mist of all we share from this horrible AD. Thanks for sharing, Pat
My one and only Grandchild. Natalie was born on the East coast in Aug. of '05. I live on the west coast. I flew back when she was born, and again for her first birthday. But I haven't been able to really get to know her personality, and hug her and kiss her. Well, last week her Daddy, my eldest son informed me that he is being transferred to a Naval Air Station that is only 3 hours from us. Now I will live within a 3 hour drive of my Granddaughter. I feel so blessed.
Praise the Lord! That is so good. I am so happy for you. You will have alot of kisses and hugs to catch up on and get to know her better. Now I know this is the type of positive thing that will make us feel some comfort in knowing there ae happy parts of our lives left. I am going to bed now after this good bit of news, Thanks for sharing, PAT
I want to share the wonderful birthday party my son surprised me with on my 75th birthday Dec. 13th. He had my closest friends come to what I thought was dessert at his house. I sometimes feel that my children ignore my loneliness and feel unloved and neglected but I am so filled with their evidence of love and concern for me today that I want to let others know that our families can surprise us by their love. I needed the evidence of their love and God so graciously arranged for me to experience a moment of sheer joy, I shall treasure my 75th birthday occasion and when I start to become despondent I shall remember their kindness and concern for me.
My grandchildren were born and raised in France. My daughter married a Frenchman, but my husband and I went to France at least once each year until he could not do it anymore. She also came here w/the 2 boys every summer. So there was a strong relationship. Last month, the oldest boy, now 23, earned a Masters' Degree in Engineering, and he's tri-lingual--French, English & Spanish. Yesterday he arrived here to live in Los Angeles for a few years. I am so pleased he feels at home in both countries. After the holidays he'll look for a job and find a place to live on his own. I could not be more happy and proud. My regret is that his g'father, my Dear Husband, cannot share in such joy--but I'll take whatever I can get.
What a nice gift for you Betty, enjoy the time with your grandson, and be sure to share some great stories of his grandfather with him, AD can steal our loved ones but it cannot and will not ever take our memories. Kathy
I am also pleased to say that the boys, now 23 & 20, got to know their g'father before the AD set in and as it progressed, they were very concerned and understanding, especially the older one at about 12, the younger one at about 10 was a bit more put off, but both came around and participated in my husband's life. We all learned a lot. They were here when he died, maybe 16 & 18, both heartbroken, but they had that childhood w/a g'father who taught them all sorts of things and had plenty of hugs to share.
Thanks to the efforts of my sister, my sister-in-law, and my brother, our parents have agreed to go to an Assisted Living Facility!! Yay! We have been trying for months to talk them into it. They are 80 and 89. (My 89 year-old father didn't want to go, because ............old people live there.) The place they chose is like a hotel - meals; maid service; laundry service; activites galore; medical monitoring; transportation; concierge service. Many of their friends already live there - they will have every amenity they could possibly think of, and we can stop worrying about them being alone, bored, falling, not getting enough to eat, not being able to get out. We are all so excited.
Leighanne, that's not weird! I'm happy for you and your daughter must be so relieved. I'm still waiting to report something exciting or even positive. Hopefully one of these days!
joang, that's one less thing you have to worry about. Congratulations.
I'm still waiting, too, inge..
We are happy for your daughter, Leighanne. But don't tell her you told us or she will be embarrassed. I have a granddaughter that is 8 and still working quiting. She makes a special wish every night she stays here that she won't have an accident. She is almost accident free now and very proud of it.
Christmas is getting closer and I hope everyone is ready.
Tonight, Christmas Eve, I am sitting here alone but not alone and knowing only one great statement that I can make, If it wasn"t for Jesus' birth and death for us and our salvation, I couldn't go on. The WORD says when we are weak HE is strong, HE is our strength. I am so glad because I am so weaken right now. I say to myself nothing is the same anymore but because of my faith , I know HE never will leave us or forsake us, His Love endures forever. Thank you JESUS
My parents were put on the waiting list in February for the Assisted Living Facility, and they just got notified that they are moving in on April 1st!!!!!! My father's 90th birthday is April 1st - what a gift. We've had a trip planned for months to go up there on April 3rd to celebrate his birthday - we are thrilled that they will be in their new digs and taken care of. What a relief!
So glad to hear that, Joan. I know you this is such good news for you. Sometimes we feel like, Okay we can use some good news now. I know you were needing to hear that. Thank God. Thanks for sharing, PAT
I am finally going to get a hold of my beloved's latest MRI results, using a little subterfuge. I told him that I needed the results in order for the insurance company to pay for it, so he had to sign an authorization for me to pick them up, and he did. I am picking them up later today, and will bring them to our family physician ASAP.
I must add to the good news. Tuesday night my wife was inducted as a member of Rotary. She has been going to the meetings with me, since I can't leave her alone. The others in the club decided that if she was going to be at the meetings, she should be there as a member, not a guest. They all know of her AD. This joining is particularly pleasing to her and to me since, as a young girl she got very upset that her father could be in Rotary, but her mother could not (this was before Rotary took women).
I have more good news from today. I had a surprise delivery today. Sid's cousin up in Massachusetts owns a TV/electronics store, and sent me a GPS system for the car! I was so excited - you all know about my non-existent sense of direction.
I am so happy for you, Joan. We now have GPS systems in both cars and it makes a world of difference, since I am "directionally impaired" and used to depend on hubby dear.
We can all use a chuckle now and then, so go to the "previous blog" section on the left side of the website, and scroll down to Blog #8- Changing Places With My Alzheimer Spouse - It will give you a really good idea of how bad I am with directions. My sister is just as bad as I am - it runs in the family.
I can get lost going from the bedroom to the kitchen--it's astonishing how off I can be and I was born & raised in Los Angeles and basically always know where I am--it's just that I am not always where I want to be!
Son/g'son/etc got me a Tom Tom GPS, I love it, but really cannot use it easily. For now it is in g'son car and has been to Vegas, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, San Fran, Yosemilte, Sequoia, etc., got them home safely. I do love having it, it's so cute, but I can get lost a lot easier than it can set me straight.
A nice surprise today. As background info, my husband and I had to give up ballroom dancing because it was just getting too frustrating for both of us. He was adamant he was never going there again. Well, today the instructor called and asked if we would like to come to the potluck dance party, the conclusion of the current session. I asked O if he would like to go and to my great surprise he said yes! We have not danced since we gave it up but we will try our best and it will be nice to see the wonderful people we met there over the years. I will let you know how it turns out- hopefully better than our last evening in class.
Inge, I hope you both can go enjoy the dance party and have an awesome time and dance the night away. You deserve a good night out. Thanks for sharing, PAT
It was a lovely evening and we actually danced a few dances. It was great not to have the pressure of having to do certain steps and in sequence which we had been finding so frustrating. O was very tired this morning and hasn't mentioned last evening but I'm sure it was good for him to see how the people in the group care about us. This morning I felt a little sad knowing what could have been but there is no use dwelling on that- it's not as though we were headed for competition!
Last night, we used the gift certificate that my son and daughter-in-law had given us to a Japanese Steak House. You know, the kind of place where everyone sits around a grill and the cook puts on a show juggling the knives, setting fire to the oil, etc. Mary just loved it! She was smiles from ear to ear! We had a really good time for a couple of hours.
Just thought it was good news and wanted to tell someone.
What a relief. We got our durable powers of attorney, and our Medical powers of attorney/Advanced directives done today. It feels so good to know that I have that DPOA. That was so, so important to me. Bonus: While we were sitting there with our atty his staff buzzed the intercom (normally not done during a client meeting). He picked up and was told he just had a grandson born at the hospital up the street. This was a "surprise me with the gender" baby. He said his son was hoping for a boy, and our atty was so excited for him. He could barely get us finished up so he could jump in his car to go see the baby. It made me smile.
Baltabob; it must have been so wonderful for you seeing your Mary smiling and enjoying her night out. Having that time together and being able to share it is good news and you can add it to your memories of shared delights.
Inge: God bless your dance instructor for his sensitive and understanding person!! He and your dancing group sound like good friends....I can share in your bittersweet emotions as you danced but your husband was able and loved you much to attempt to do something he knew would be difficult. that connection is so much more powerful than the disease. God bless you both...
Bettyhere: you have a loving, kind support group in your son and grandson...how like men to give you something to help you practically. the GPS is ideal to provide you with a mental challenge, it will be good for you and help you feel good in accomplishment of something new.
New Realm: I know how relieved you are to have such an important task completed. It will be used more often I suspect than you realize. I find that I had to make several copies of our DPOA so I am can be prepared to provide my legal right to be a advocate for my husband . I admire you for your tenacity and perseverance in your responsibility of handling the daily affairs .
I have a GPS system that was part of a package that wasin my new car. I am still trying to figure out how to utilize its many functions. I love the one that answers the question "Where Am I ?" It tells me the street and adjoining streets which keeps me amused and amazed by the technology of it all. I am struck by the fact that all of you were given your systems by men, God bless their logical and problem solving minds.
For years there have been jokes about men giving women vacuum cleaners for Valentine's Day. But I agree with everyone on the GPS - Thank you, cousin David! It was the BEST gift! (Except for the 30 page instruction manual.)
I got my youngest daughter, one of my grand kids and my son-in-law comming to visit for a week. They will arive tomorrow morning. I haven't seen them for over a year. They are comming from Texas. I am sooo exited. I just hope that DH is not getting too exited with three more people in the house. He is used to the quiet. Normally it is just him and me and the cat.
Carma, I hope you can all enjoy your children's visit. Everyone will understand, Papa is sick and needs a break. Let your DH take his breaks away from everyone as needed. If you see him get restless, suggest a nap from the noise or you all go to another part of the house or a little ride somewhere while he rests. I know its hard especially since he will be trying to function as okay which puts a big strain on him plus the added noise. I know it will be a happy time for you and will pray for it to go extremely well for you and family.
Three or four weeks ago I posted a message to the effect that my wife and I no longer travelled, particularly since I "lost" her when she took the wrong turn coming out of the ladies room in the Philadelphia airport. I can't find that posting, or the suggestion one of you made that we consider taking a bus trip with another couple so the wife could go to the ladies room with her. Anyway, I could not think of another couple to join us on such a trip, and did not know of any such trips in our area. Then last week a couple we had just met at our retirement home asked us to join them on a bus trip to Quebec. They know of my wife's AD and offered to help keep an eye on her. We have signed up, and hope that my wife's AD will not progress to the point that she can't go - next September.
Was this a coincidence or ???? The Lord works in mysterious ways.
I agree with Kathy, wonderful news. A bus trip sounds ideal and Quebec will be in its glory in the fall. Airports are scary places at the best of times. I'm always nervous when O has to go to the men's and I don't dare move from outside the entrance as he seems to have lost his sense of direction.
THREE CHEERS FOR THE GPS! I went to a conference today all by myself. The GPS did not have the street in its system, so I used Mapquest to get there. Somehow, I managed to lose Mapquest's "reverse route" directions, so when it was time to go home, I pulled out of the parking lot, and into a strip mall on a main street. I turned on the GPS, and the satellite FOUND ME. I pressed "home", and it directed me home!!!! I couldn't believe it - I was so excited. There is a place in Heaven for whoever invented this thing.
GPS - I love "our lady in the sky"! She helps me get everywhere and it gives me time to enjoy my route without having to worry. I was never the navigator and still have no idea if we are going north or south. I love that I can go several places and then just press 'home' and get back where I started. I don't know what happened to her where we are, since getting on the main road she starts out by telling me to turn right when she means left or vice versa. So, nothing's perfect, but I am so thankful for this piece of equipment.
How about a revival of this " good things happening in my life" thread instead of all gloom and doom. Our son is coming this weekend for his weekly visit. We are taking everybody out to lunch as it will be celebrating 3 birthdays in 10 days.
Happy birthday to all 3! My good thing is my 45 yr. old son (adopted), severe type I diabetic, has just completed testing for pancreas and kidney transplants! Got his acceptance letter, pending colonoscopy next week. If that goes well, then he goes on the national transplant list! This has been a long time coming and, hopefully, it will happen before he has to go on dialysis.