Jeanatte - I had to laugh. At first I thought you were serious someone had offended you then 'got it'. I play the medium - have never had much luck with all four suits. I got started on it and Free Cell when I worked for a guy who used it to de-stress. He usually played Free Cell, which I like but spider is less stressful. Like you and Nora, I will go to it quickly before going to bed and sit until I win. I was sad when I bought a new computer and my high score now is not my high on the old one!!!
Don't go to pogo.com as there are many games there that will be addictive. My latest was Mahjong Safari. The highest rank is 50 and once I hit 40 I obsessed to get to 50. I spent many a late night working to get there. Made it, now I am working on getting top rank in Jungle Gin!!
If you want addictive, try the Mahjong temple 2 thru facebook.....it is worse than peanuts! THEN, they let you know just how many times you have played so you realize what time you have wasted doing it! BUT..I'm still there playing away.
As for us - tomorrow we take the MH in to get the rest of the work done so we can use the dash A/C. We have a reservation for 2 weeks starting Tuesday at one of parks and in the next couple days call to make reservations at a couple of the others to take us thru the summer. I am still struggling whether to go to my 40th class reunion. I have not made any of the others but I was planning to go until I see myself in the mirror. The 50 pounds I have put on since diagnoses just made the extra weight I had before look worse.
To add to the problem, my niece is trying to talk my brother into going to CA to run a business she is buying. He doesn't want to go but finds it hard to say no. If he goes, then I will worry about our sister being here alone. I don't feel she should be left alone since her short term memory is bad and doubt it will change. This niece is her daughter so I emailed her with my concerns.
My daughter in TN is in crisis - again. She picks guys to shack up with that refuse to do what it takes to support the people he commits to. The current guy is not working and they have been living off her child support and food stamps. Well, the child's father isn't working so there is no child support this month and for some reason her food stamps didn't come thru. Plus, cause of no money the electricity was turned off (which happens often and the water too). He begged his mom and she paid the electric. I sent $50 for food which should get them through the weekend. I emailed her yesterday telling her time is running out for our help - we are taking off on Tuesday for the rest of the summer. I asked her if she was finally ready to leave this guy, come back here and get back into the programs she was in 3 years ago. Programs for getting her GED, job training, parenting skills, etc - program that had her on the way to independence but she got scared and took off. She can't sleep in the MH, but it is summer so she can sleep in a tent. Now I wait to hear.
My husbands surgery did not go as planned.Was supposed to be 2 to 21/2 hrs. but lasted 7 hours. His back needed a lot more work than expected. Being under for so long really affected him and he is really out of it.Thank goodness the hospital put a one on one order for him and a CNA has been with him 24 hrs. a day.In 2 days he will go tp the hospitals rehab center for a week to 10 days. So far he hasn't asked when he's coming home.I don't think he knows what is going on. He does keep asking how the dog is.Ar least he remembers her. OH,I have to play spider solitaire until I win,no matter how long it takes. I have only a 11% winning rate.
Jeannette, you had me going too. I was holding my breath while reading the beginning of your post. Couldn't believe ANYONE could have anything against OUR Jeanette. Sheezzz........I've been warned. I'm not even going to find out what spider solitaire is.
After two evenings of Opera last week last night we went to a little cafe/club down the street and heard some wonderful bluegrass. DH is in heaven when there's live music. Appreciating this little Victorian resort town despite the heat!
Jeanette, I'm with you and others. I love playing Spider Solitaire. It certainly is very addictive - amazing how much time goes by when playing it. Good thing it is not on my computer at work and I rarely am on the home one where it is.
We are inching back to Hazy, Hot and Humid. It is not fun but it is summer. My A/C bill will probably be very high for this month but I would much rather be comfortable and able to sleep than be hot - I'll figure it out.
My Black-eyed Susans are now blooming. I have a very deep red-orange day lily blooming right next to them. It is a very pretty color combination.
I did a "do nothing" day again yesterday. It was fun to watch the dogs guard the house. I couldn't always see what they were when they went into "watch" mode but they were very serious about doing their "duty".
We had one extra, extra loud crack of thunder last night that put not only the dogs on "watch" but the cats too. It startled all of us. Didn't really get any more and didn't get any rain either for the rest of the night.
HI! It's been a little bit rainy here in Newport News, visiting mom and dad. I'm having the best time in a long time! VERY happy, Yesterday, I got an opportunity to meet beachgirl at a local Paneros. My hometown has changed so much since I used to kick around here. Vinyl city and huge corporate and commercial centers where my dad and I used to go squirrel and rabbit hunting or where we'd go fox-hunting. Anyway, beachgirl and I literally spent HOURS sitting, eating and TALKING.....met at 12:30 and left about FIVE! It was so great to meet someone from the boards in person.....and we had so much in common (and neither one of us is a wallflower!) LUV YA, BEACHGIRL, and have a great day. I go back home tomorrow. *sigh*
Jen, So glad you are having a good break..Hang on to as much of it as you can when you get back to the routine.. Today Hubby is having that 12 phase computer test which takes about 90 minutes. It will be interesting to learn the results in Sept. There was nothing urgent about it, just to give the neuro a better pulse on where he is with this disease and what functions are most affected.
Games: The spider I play, that comes with Windows, allows you to back up and redo, or to replay from the beginning until you win. With those abilities, I can play all four suites. But I know the one on Facebook doesn't allow you to back up, or to restart the same game. I couldn't live with that!! Meanwhile, I play Scrabulous with people on Facebook and Words with Friends with others - both of these on my iTouch. Very addictive.
BUT..just remember, according to those in the know, we'll all have less of a chance of getting any form of dementia since we are exercising our brains....hmmmmmm..think we've proved that wrong! :(
**siiiiiigh** Another snafoo in my "life with John and Alzheimer's". Went to the Memorial Park where we have (supposedly have) two burial plots. Nope. Found out he defaulted on payment on them in 2004. Paid for most of it, but the uncollected amount ( which was small ) was never paid. As a matter of fact, checks were bouncing all over there. Park gave up trying to collect.....titled (sent title) for one plot (nope, I never saw that..don't have it here).....interest, finance charges ate up what he had paid for the other. Anyway, long story short, I have only ONE plot in my family's area. The other was paid and deeded to someone else. Criminey.
The good news is that I got home safely this afternoon. My neighbor had dug thistle from a fenceline (MINE) all day today. I get to go to my 'shrink' tomorrow.....and I actually still feel happy, even though I'm back on "home turf" and looking (once again) at all this work to be done on the property. (yes, arrived home in dayight). Jen
ALSO......may I vent.....Found a message from the nursing home. John is declining, was in trouble ..... ON MONDAY (this is WEDNESDAY). Just a message on my hard line.....and my voice greeting TELLS A PERSON MY CELL PHONE NUMBER TO CALL WHEN I DON'T PICK UP!! They called the daughters. Can you imagine??? I don't understand the stupidity of some people. Lots to say to the nursing home tomorrow.
Went to my caregivers luncheon today. Someone from our State ALZ Assoc. was the speaker. Well, I'm sorry, but I was so disappointed. So idealistic, trying to give "hope" for a cure, or what to do to prevent it. Anyone from this site could have given a more realistic and informative presentation. Guess I'm spoiled. I learn so very much here and don't know what I'd do without it. Thank you all.
DH has been in a good mood today, as hot as it's been. At least this summer he hasn't been cold and I can use the a/c and overhead fans. Last summer I was miserable as he was always cold, wore sweaters or jackets all summer and couldn't stand the a/c or fans. Yes, things do change, thank God.
Sudden revelation this morning.....growing older is NOT for SISSIES!! That's all the wisdom I have to offer as yet, today. Maybe more later. Will see how the day goes.
Good news/Bad news: The Good News is that my wife was re-certified for Hospice care, thus continuing to give me more help. The Bad News is that my wife was re-certified for Hospice care, thus indicating that she is continuing to deteriorate.
marsh may I copy you---sort of? Goodnews--DH ws not recertified by Hospice effective 7/17/10--he doesn't fit the Medicare guidelines for Hospice care enough. Bad News--he wasn't recertified--I won't have the 24/7 back up to call if things go South. Sort of good news--because this is a "paperwork" disenrollment they'll be keeping in touch. Both his CNA and our Nurse/Case Manager have been observing his decline right along. Ours is a case where what's getting worse isn't in the declines Medicare uses to determine Hospice care.
Took DH on Wednesday for his neuro appointment. Apparently he is still in the mid stages. I told the neuro about DH falling twice, of course DH made an excuse for the second fall, the ground was slick. It wasn't it was absolutely dry, other times he says it was small rocks that made him fall! The neuro said if he falls again to let him know and he would arrange physical therapy for balance. I guess he is progressing slowly, is that good or bad? Still trying to sort things out for us moving. I wonder if I will make it.lol.
We have gone thru the PT for falling phase...helped not at all! I'm sure it depends on WHY the falls occur, but in G's case, they don't know why....so we're still playing Timber!
Marsh, I love your good news, bad news! And Carosi's too! Divvi, I am glad you were able to pass on the crown, and also glad that I am NOT the one who had to take it! <grin>
Jen, I'm sorry for your loss. May you find peace.
Charlotte, that is what grandparents are for! Stir them up, and spoil them and give them back! <grin>
My grandson has now left for college, and my daughter is visiting me for the summer and is being my daytime caregiver while I am at work. We are busy going through Diane's storage unit that I couldn't face a year ago, and my sons and daughter helped sort through it the end of June, and now I am having to go through some of the individual boxes (25 labeled "kitchen") - tackling a few each evening. I don't get to visit here as often as I used to due to not enough time in the day any more!
I made a place for the hospital bed by the den for my husband because it is difficult for him to walk (shuffle) even with my help, and sometimes it takes a while for the muscles to cooperate for him to even stand up. The time is almost here that I won't be able to get him from the bed to the den, so I put the hospital bed in the dining room (after giving my son my dining room furniture) beside the den with a double-door wide opening to the den, so he can see me and the TV from the bed. (I thought I was brilliant for figuring that out!) BUT, I am having difficulty actually putting him in that hospital bed at night! So far, I can't do it!! He wants to be WITH me (that is my excuse and I'm sticking to it) and I don't know how he will feel left alone at night. Hopefully, I can be strong tonight.
Beginning in August, I'll have in home health care for my husband while I am at work. It will be a new experience for us both!
Mary-how far from your husband will you be when you decide to put him in his hospital bed? Will you still be able to see each other? I am sorry for yet another decline. I know how difficult this is for you. You have been such an excellant caregiver. I don't think I've ever heard a complaint from you about life's injustices.
Feel better this morning. I finally got real sleep last night. Some closure on John's passing, real forgiveness settling into my mind for past wrongs. Acceptance for things as they are. Wierd feeling. But, weight lifted it seems. Have a nice Sunday...without incident. You all rest, too. Love, Jen
Bluedaze, the bedroom is at the other end of the house down the hallway. I won't be able to see him or hear him without a baby tv monitor. I think I'll sleep in my recliner a few feet from his bed for a few nights to see how he does. My recliner makes a comfortable bed... Thank you for the compliment!
Hot in NW IN just like much of the rest of the nation. Yesterday hb, married granddaughter and our 10-month old g-grandson went to local farmer's mkt. I tho't hb was following me as velcro man does, but I turned and noticed he was following granddaughter. Oh, well, she can handle it. Later she told me he took a dog biscuit from one of the vendors and ate it. She offered to pay, but vendor waved her off. I have a recipe for dog treats; so I'll make some for him to snack on at home. Even have a dog bone cutter:) Mowing, weeding, picking blackberries needs to be done, but will have to wait--well, maybe the blackberry picking tomorrow.
Zibby, I'm amazed you have blackberries already, mine won't be ready for weeks. We are picking sour cherries (and making crumble for all visitors). Anything to keep them coming (I mean the visitors) LOL. Actually DH and I love it too and since it's sugar-free I let him have it every day.
I had an interesting experience on Saturday. I happened to be at the facility when the aid took my husband in for a shower. It was a real eye-opener. It took her over 30 minutes just to get it all done from lifting him to the shower chair, undressing him, showering him and getting him dressed again. The expression "stiff as a board" took on new meaning. His whole body is so stiff that it takes two aids to lift him up enough to get him on the apparatus to put him on the shower chair. Watching how difficult it was, made me appreciate what they go through to just get him up and into the chair every day and maintain his appearance.
I got to spend part of yesterday in the garden - it was hot but I did manage to fill a barrel with the weeds I pulled and what I had to cut back.
My oldest dog (5 1/2) has arthritis and is limping. I feel so bad for her but she is doing very well going around on three legs. It is amazing how fast she can move across the yard if there is another dog walking by.
Careful, spider solitaire is addicting as several of us have found out the the detriment of house cleaning, laundry doing, cooking, and lots of other things that we "should" be doing.
Tired today. 12-yr old grandson came to mow yard. Did okay, but not so good as his older sister who had a dental appointment and couldn't come today. Then I was to do trimming. Couldn't get walk-behind mower started or weed whacker going. (Seems like I don't have enough strength in my arms.) Earlier had picked blackberries at farm down the road from us. Hb wanted to go tho' I tried to talk him out of it as I knew he wouldn't like it (grandson was going to stay with him). He did just walk off down the lane w/o telling me, but I caught up with him walking home a bit later. Have 2 new toilet seats to put on. One I haven't started on; screws on other have a "flangey" thing sticking out to make screwing it on easier, I suppose, but it hits part of toilet and won't turn enough. Guess I'll have to take it off and file or cut it down some way. I had a melt down. I called and left msg w/grandson-in-law to see if he could get my mower started. No answer on his cell. Last time I left msg needing help, he came 2 days later and I'd already fixed whatever it was. He was embarrassed and apologetic. He doesn't check his phone often. HA I DON'T LIKE having to do every little thing. I need an "Andrew." I know, most of us are paddling the same boat; so forgive my whining.
therjja - I too know what the saying "stiff as a board" means. My husband is the same way. The facility he is in just started using the lift since 2 aides can no longer manage to do what needs done without it. Our little country fair starts tomorrow with a parade through town and lots of friends, family and grandchildren filling up my front porch. It will be bittersweet as Charlie was on the fair board of directors for many years and it was one of the things that he loved best.
Zibby, if the lawn mower and weed whacker are pull starters, they really are built for men that are a lot taller than most women and stronger in that they can get the necessary snap in. I always feel like I just can't get high enough and fast enough to start that type of mower. Fortunately, there is something called electric start on many things today and that I can do. Once the motor is going, I am very capable of doing the job whether it is mowing the lawn or snow blowing.
Thank you, therrja. When I go to town today, I'll look for "electric start" on a weed whacker first. I, too, can do the job once the equipment is going. Yesterday I learned I'm a weakling in many ways. :) Yesterday was the first time I haven't been able to start the mower. Maybe I'll take it to town for a tune-up--but not today.
Don't sell yourself short - women are a lot stronger than we think we are. Think about cleaning and moving furniture, going up and downstairs lots of times a day putting things away and getting them, add to that childbirth and it shows we really aren't weak. What we really are is smart and we figure out how to get the most out of the skills and strength we have available to us.
A nice, cool, rainy morning here today. We need the rain - flowers and lawn are happy!
Had to take DH to dentist Monday - cracked his partial. Have to get a new one, so now trying to think of stuff he can eat - he hasn't lost his appetite!
therrja, you are so right about women being stronger than we think sometimes and we are smart too, otherwise, we couldn't/wouldn't be doing all the things we have to do to take care of our LO's.
We are getting ready to leave - again. This time no coming back until next Thursday for my class reunion. Then possibly take off in August. My brother came running out a little while ago - our sister was taking a shower and he heard a thud -was terrified something had happened to her. He called but she didn't answer him. I went in and scared her - turned out she had dropped the bottle and brush. He was so scared - I think that what scares him the most is finding her down again. I think it causes flashbacks to when he came home from work and found his partner on the floor dead.
Anyway, plan to have a good time. I will have to use my old computer for internet unless their wi-fi works. My cell phone will not work with Windows 7.
DH decided on his own that he wanted to go to daycare. We went to visit one day, and he heard that they went fishing occasionally. He wanted to go, not to fish, but to be outside near a lake and take pictures. So we got him all signed up and he went quite willingly for the first time today. He is fairly early in the disease, and that may be the best time to start. He isn't saying much now that he's home. It was okay and he says he will go again some time - that's all he's said. But I had a nice quiet restful day. I went to the dentist and out to lunch. Then I came home and caught up on email and some phone calls. He was gone from 8:45 to 2:15. I hope he goes again soon, but at this stage I don't want to push too hard.
It's hot and humid here in Northern Illinois. My husband went to day care today and I went and had lunch with my parents. When I got home after picking up my husband from day care, I found that my son had trimmed the bushes, mowed the lawn and cleaned out our gutters. What a wonderful surprise that was!!! :D
Deb - that was such a nice gift from you son especially in the hot and humid weather.
Janet - depending how the disease goes for a person, developing habits early may help them last longer later. At this point, having him go one day a week and being used to the place will give you a bit of respite and him another place that he is familiar with. Those are 2 big pluses for later in the disease.
Well, the dog survived getting x-rays yesterday. She does not have any arthritis in her legs or hips but does have some in her spine. The doctor is leaning toward her limping problem being neurological. So, what do you do for bad backs and pinched nerves - rest. She is on quiet time for the next week to give her body time to heal. Last night was easy - she was still quiet from the sedation. She is in all day and typically sleeps most of the day so that is not so bad. However, as she starts to feel better, the trick will be to not let her sister embroil her in running and play fighting like they always do. Part of the "prescription" is to ensure that her sister gets enough exercise and play so as not to pester her.......... I will be home over the next three days so should be able to enusre she gets lots of quiet time and rest.
therrja - consider acupuncture and chiropractic for you baby. We used that on our dog when she started have the typical small dog back problems. It worked wonders for about 5 years. I think the only reason her back got so bad is that we were on the road working and she did not get her treatments. Once treated, she went on maintenance of once every 3 months but often was longer. It was a lot cheaper than surgery.
We made it to the RV park with no problems except our cat got out. I had her once and was shutting her in the bedroom but she is fast. I yelled for hb to shut the outside door where he was suppose to be, but he left it open and went around the MH. So, she got left behind. My brother is feeding her. Maybe after a week of living full-time outdoors, she won't play her games (cat and mouse) next time. I doubt it though as she got left behind before, but our son was there and let her into their place. Last night we kept missing her, when I was going to bed my routine is to make sure she is in and food is filled but there was no cat. HB missed her coming in and playing with his CPAP mask this morning (she likes to claw where the air comes out in front).
He was tired last night and had problems with legs cramping - was still going on this morning. He thinks it is due to all the sweating he did before we left and setting up and not drinking enough water. So today we are just lounging - may walk around the campground later.
therrja...right on about the suggestion for accupuncture and I would add massage therapy. When I was showing my horses, they had treatments regularly .... it really improved their performance and forstalled any injections or surgery for hocks and spine.
Charlotte...about the cramping, from my experience, I know that a lack of potassium in the body can cause that. Maybe from sweating, dehydration?? I don't know. I have no medical background...just married to a doc. The remedy? BANANAS, or fruit juices. Try some of the sport drinks like Gatoraid (my hubby said he helped develop it (he was doc for Univ. of FL) or even Pedialite in flavors.
As for me, I delivered ashes to daughter yesterday, had a good time with her, out to lunch and all that. We went to an outlet and purchased small marble and metal urns for ashes for each of the kids....$4 to $10 each if you can believe it! Looked as refined and classy as the ones the funeral home sells for big bucks. She bagged the urns up in beautiful silver paper bags after wrapping them in pretty tissue....the bags had black gross-grain ribbon on them. Very nice presentation, I thought. Wish I could be invited to John's memorial service. THAT'S not happening. Oh, well. Like someone else here has told me, I did the best I could and it is enough.
Got a lot done today, too, for once. Lowes, for pretty flowers to replace the ones my poor sick me let DIE. Killed wasp nests on back deck, made my rheumatologist's appointment ( I have an odd kind of RH), got more x-rays ( I think I must glow in the dark by now), changed thermostat in truck and flushed cooling system. Entertained my neighbor who helped me. Picked up Rx's. Thats all, but it was a lot for me, who wants to sleep all the time.
Busy gal, Jen. The distribution of ashes sounds lovely. You changed truck thermo w/a bad arm, and I can't even pull the cord on weed whacker or lawn mower. :(
During hb's ups and downs during the night last night he opened a can of sauce for sandwiches. I heard him messing about in the kitchen; so asked what he was doing explaining what the stuff was for and that it needed meat to be tasty. He grumbled, I went back to bed, and he did, too, a bit later. Next time he's up I'm wide awake, of course. He has a pot of tomato soup on the stove, but stove is not on. I walk to the stove to check. He's angry. I go back to bed, wide awake. Guess I dozed, next thing that wakes me is smell of burning food. I go to kitchen. Hb is asleep in chair (den and kitchen are open together). One burner is on under a pan that has nothing in it--may have had water. Other one has carbonized soup (I assume it was soup). Tried to clean it without success. Will try again shortly, but am not hopeful. This is the 2nd pan he's ruined. So, tonight, I turn the propane off under the stove. Hope he doesn't remember where that is. I've tried taking knobs off, but they're on VERY TIGHT, and I don't want to break them. Tried to lock pantry door, but door doesn't fit jam properly. Will have to see what I can do to adjust that. He hardly spent time in bed last night, up and down, dozing in chair. back and forth. Need I mention I'm tired? He won't apologize for ruining pans, but I don't expect it since he's never apologized for anything to anyone in our lifetime together.
Heat advisory here today; glad our burning house isn't a contributor:)