Sweet October with cool temps, colorful leaves. "Come little leaves said the wind one day, come over the hills with me to play...." Granddaughter coming this aft to sit w/hb for a couple hours while I go out. It will be a good day; I insist.
My mantra of the day 'rain, rain go away - I want to go out and play''. We may have needed rain here in the northeast but the dogs don't want to go out and I won't let the cats out and me, I get to come into work with wet feet. Never mind the power outages. It has been sort of gloomy the last couple of days and I am defnitely being affected by it. The good news is that the weekend should be pretty good before more rain next week.
IT'S RAINING IT'S POURING...WELL IT IS JUST A BIT OF DRIZZLE but it is the first series of drips for our rainy season....and I have to take the cat to the vet and we know how cats feel about water, unless it is in the drinking fountain for cats...
We need rain. I can't even remember the last time we got any. The leaves here are turning brown and falling off the trees. We have lost so many trees this summer. The ground is starting to crack it is so bad:( We are in Western KY. So if any of you have any extra rain, we could use it. On the plus side I don't need to mow! Went shopping this am and DH went along, first time in months. It was nice to have him with me. This weekend I am taking the DD out jeans shopping.....deep breath, I can do it:)
Rainy day here in Maine also, predicting a perfect fall weekend, so I can't complain. We have good friends coming up overnight tomorrow. Looking forward to that. We are going to take a picnic to the McLaughlin Gardens, in So. Paris. My Mom has her 2nd hip replacement on Monday.
The weather in North Texas has been great, I look forward to getting somethings done outside before winter comes. I am now able to start my home based business and looking forward to hopefully some income, which has only been out flow for 3 yrs.
Lovely fall day here in northern Illinois. DH and I took the opportunity to go for a long drive in the country, went to an apple orchard and, of course, got lots of apples and things made out of apples: apple cider doughnuts, apple pie, apple turnovers, apple butter, apple cider, and of course we couldn't forget the taffy apples! We're going to be "appled" out. Not really. We love apples and my neighbors and family will be glad I bought so much. It was a very nice day. We even went out to dinner and as soon as my food "goes down" I will have a piece of that apple pie.
Bev, what apple orchard do you go to? We usually go to County Line Orchard in Hobart, IN. Haven't gone yet this year. I love their pumpkin donuts :) I usually make apple slices for my dad after we pick apples.
Here's some information in an email from the OT at the Care facility that others might find helpful for the care and prevention of pressure sores: "His sore appears to be located on his left ischial tuberosity which is his sit bone. This being said, E. stated that he feels it mostly on the arm chair. I provided him with a Synergy Structure II cushion which assists with pressure management and comfort. I have put it on his arm chair it is a bit short on depth so placement is important to ensure that he is sitting on the gel pack area. I would recommend that we consider an insert for his arm chair for future use and to avoid further sores. We can discuss this further the next time you are in or reply back and let me know when we can meet."
Beautiful day in Ohio (on the WV boarder Parkersburg). My DH & I are here taking care of 2 grandsons while our son & daughter in law go out of town for their anniversary. So far not bad. He did wake up during the night & want to get up & take a shower. I told him that it was too early & that no one else was up. Thank goodness he came back to bed. Busy day tomorrow. Both grandsons have 2 soccer games so we will be busy.
Beautiful day in Lake Charles, Louisiana also. Nature is beautiful and much needed. We could use some of the rain the North East is getting but we will wait our turn. DH is slowly "loosing it" as he says. Poor thing tries so hard to get the simplest words out. It is getting harder and harder day by day. If I could have one wish for this month it would be that he would not recognize any of his inabilities, it is too hard on him. On the bright side, he is handsome, laughs alot, and loves to hold hands. He is still mobile however slower than normal, but he still enjoys getting out. We go driving every day, no matter how simple the trip is he is happy because he is out. We will make it as we all do, but not without the cyber family on this site, so my second wish for the month is that all of you have a great, blessed, month....Love in Christ from Southwest Louisiana.....
Good morning everyone. (Being 6 hours ahead of EST I've got the draw on most of you!)
I feel so much better today. I had been feeling guilty about sending my dh to day care for a fourth day every week, because he seemed unhappy to go. But yesterday I had his favorite aide there on the phone and she was lyrical about how well he was doing. He had helped her clean up after the noon meal (now why won't he do that at home?) and they had taken a walk around the facility. He had been very talkative (talkative???). Anyway, I feel better and can enjoy my Thursdays.
Today is Saturday and he can sleep in. Almost 10 am and not a peep out of him.
Oops, it's the 2nd. Well, regardless...off we go. Helping daughter #1 (a teacher in D.C.) move from one house to another this morning. Luckily, the messiest of the rains are over for now, and if we're clever we'll find something suitable for Jeff to carry so that he'll be helping. Something not awkward, unbreakable, and preferably that he doesn't have to hold in front of him so that he can't see.
Checking in before my busy day begins. DH's son/DIL arriving the 14th. Start my cooking today: chili to freeze; Brandy tart and sauce to freeze; KY derby pie to freeze; sweet potato rum casserole to freeze; chicken in puff pastry to freeze; well, you get the drift: freeze, freeze, freeze. DH will help with the chopping so will keep him busy all morning. Football at noon (KY vs. MS), so that will keep him entertained all afternoon. I love days like this - I think.
Weather here is gorgeous again! Nice cool fall weather.
Oh Vickie, That all sounds so good. And all the apples that Bev has makes my mouth water. The weather here is so cool. To bad about our lack of rain. I don't think the fall leaves will look as nice this year. Out shopping today with the family and looking forward to it. Other than the jeans for the DD :) (She always says the stores have nothing she likes). May color my hair this morning, to much gray showing:(
A beautiful day here in Maine. This noon DW and I sat on our porch eating crab rolls and enjoying the view of the mountains of Acadia National Park across the bay. After lunch I decided a drive to Acadia was in order. She seemed to enjoy looking at the trees beginning to change. We drove up to the top of Mt. Cadillac. From there we could look back to our house. She did not want to get out and walk, partly due to the strong wind. The drive home took us past the Jordan Pond House, where I wanted to stop for tea and popovers, but could not remember if they have a handicapped bathroom, so continued on home. A good day, but frustrating in seeing things we would have done in the past - take a fall-foliage flight in a glider, walk around the top of Cadillac, have tea and popovers at Jordan Pond house - but can't do now. One major frustration was not getting her to look at the water pouring off the mountain from yesterday's rain. I pointed it out, slowed down and almost stopped next to it, but she just looked the other way.
Wow! it is October all ready, I didn't think I would make it but I did. I finally got medical insurance for myself and am seeing my doctor for the first time on the 18th. I have been without blood pressure medication for about 2 months and I know that is bad but I am going to fix it soon. My DH is starting to have trouble sleeping so I guess I will have to deal with that now. Time goes on no matter what we do or don't do. It is still really hot here but hopefully that will change soon. We are still here and doing our best and I am glad that this support group is still here too.
A lovely if cool fall day in southwestern PA. Spent the morning at "family breakfast". We have been doing this once a month since my mother dies 10 years ago and then spent some much needed time cleaning and doing laundry (can't figure out how one person can make so many dirty clothes and dirt). Fed Charlie his dinner. He said "yeah". First time he has uttered a sound in months. lmohr, at least you realized Elaine was "visiting" your area. When I read her post my first thought was that I didn't think she lived in that area (you are the one closest to me). After I re-read the post I realized I hadn't read it close enough. How do you like the area Elaine? My step-son lives down that way and I think it is beautiful county.
Flooding problems here in Vermont, but if the temperature drops any lower, it will be SNOW! The leaves are turning and should peak within the next few days. Hopefully we will have some sun to enjoy the beauty!
Our son has taken his father to a Gordon Lightfoot concert tonight. I was supposed to go too, but have been having some stomach problems (peptic ulcer). I sure hope this works out for them.......AND everyone else at the concert. Sure hope I made the right decision letting them go without me. I'm not used to this and think it is the first time I have been home alone in years!
Still trying to figure out what to do this winter if we can't find placement for my husband. This is the longest our son has been home since he entered college. However, he needs to move onto a job. But, I'll take the help while I can!
My husband's neurologist is giving a lecture on Alzheimer's Disease on Monday night. This is the first time anyone has held a forum about AD. I hope to go, but how do I convince others they should attend as well?
ehamilton, if you get down this way visiting your step-son, send me a e-mail and I would love to meet you someplace. Elaine and I were unable to get together this trip but hopefully we can later. I visited Mary (red) last week for a few days.
Hello everyone....Have had some very difficult months with my DO, behavior wise. I have finally seen some progress with his medication management. Still acting out, but not as often. Hope to begin participating again. I remember Bluedaze saying, at one point, without meds for the rages you can be driven crazy. I think I came very close....jean
Deb112958, we go to Jonamac Orchard in Malta, Illinois. It's just a short way past DeKalb. We took the grandkids there for 4 or 5 years, when they were smaller, and just thought we would take the drive out because it was such a beautiful day and it was a way for us to remember something we loved doing together.
Good Sunday morning to all. good to see some of the past posters again. our weather here in Tx has cooled down and into the low 80's and upper 50's in the morning.glorious sunny weather and just perfect fall weather. its been a long last couple of weeks here. DH had yet another UTI and was on antibitiocs again but seems to be making a rebound. I lost my loving little faithful companion 13yr old chihuhua last week and its been a very difficult time to come to terms that anything else around us should be taken from us while we are under such duress with AD. it makes us so susceptible to any loss or death of anything near us. she was my caregiver and helped me make it this far for sure.
i am still feeding the squirrels but see them off/on as i think they have moved on to preparing for winter and their new season that will surely bring more family:) scooby i havent seen in a while so i hope hes carved out a nitch of territory for his own. squirrley still shows sporactically for a handout.. family is coming for a short visit today so time to get moving - divvi
Divvi, I am sorry to hear about your little dog....I had to put down my last cat about two weeks ago. Not easy, but I was determined to not watch another person/animal languish while waiting for death to arrive. I spent too many years watching my husband die....so I felt comforted by the fact that we are more humane to animals.
Are you going to get another furry friend? I decided that when this last kitty friend was gone I was through......I love animals but am looking forward to a cat hair free house when the carpets are replaced......making my life as easy as possible I guess.
divvi, so very sorry to hear of the loss of your precious companion. That is so very hard. We've lost two and there's a big hole where they were. Hugs to you.
ehamilton, yes this area is lovely. We come here a few times a year so I am very comfortable driving around here. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day & warmer that I thought it was going to be. Beautiful weateher to watch grandsons play soccer! I would have loved to meet imohr, but there just wasn't enough time. Maybe next time. We were supposed to go to church this morning, but DH woke up angry & confused & I didn't want to take the chance that he would have a mini meltdown at a church we only go to a few times a year. I thought that he forgot about church, but no. I told him that we woke up too late to go. He was not happy about that. Sometimes I feel bad about having to make decisions like that, but I feel I'm saving us possible tense situations. Am I wrong?
Hello everyone, so sad to hear of the loss of the faithful companions. We lost our beautiful Holly and both our beloved cats last spring/summer, it was so painful.. Arms all around.
Marsh, I'll bet Acadia is gorgeous right now. Wish I could drive up and have tea and popovers with you. I'd be tempted if my Mom wasn't going in for her 2nd hip replacement tomorrow. Now she will have a matched set :0)
Had my closest friends up overnight, I really enjoyed it, but it left me exhausted. My back is really becoming a problem. I see an orthopaedic guy who specializes in Pain Mgmt on the 23rd. Also need to have a sleep study. Boy am I feeling old, lol.
Gorgeous fall weather, finally took time to go to the McLaughlin Gardens in Paris, ME it was so nice.
Well, we need to be up at 4am, to get Mom to the hospital on time. Arms around, Susan*
I have always hated October. Seems almost everything bad has happened in October.
We are now back at my sister's. We weren't back for an hour when my sister blew it. Hb had gone in to say 'hi' and she started in about things being moved in the shop. (she had told him he could do what he wanted down there over 2 years ago). Her first mistake - saying anything at all. Hb came out ready to take off again. 2nd mistake: wording it wrong and referring to too many things at a time. The way she worded it she was blaming him for her not being able to find things claiming they were not in the cabinet she put them in. I told her he is not the same person that he was just a year ago. You have to be careful how you say things because his reason button is broken and he can't comprehend all you say, etc. As I told my brother before we left the last time - come tell me, not him. By the way - I went down and found what she was looking for in the cupboards, just not the one she said they were in. Then I got into it with her about her china. Hb moved it all into the cupboards where they are safer vs being on an open shelf. She claims she did not know but I told her she did because last year when she was looking for certain china to take to her daughter, the 3 of us were right there pulling them down out of the cupboard looking for it. She totally denies it. She has no memory of the last 3+ years which is the last year of her hb's life and the 2+ since he died.
Reason for coming back: my son walked out on his family and moved to Colorado. Just like my daughter walked away from her 2 kids, he now has followed her path. He did it while his 2 year old son was in children's hospital where they were trying to find out the reason for the bleeding (turned out to be a polyp). Then he got 'hoof and mouth' but just the mouth part from somewhere in the hospital. He has ulcers in the back of his throat so he couldn't swallow - poor little guy. Until we got back granddaughter stayed with her parents who have refused to have anything to do with the kids due to not liking my son. We came back because of the little ones - my son left in such a hurry and leaving her with no preparation. He even took their only vehicle. He did stop by the hospital and say good bye to his son but his daughter only got a phone call. Since he did not tell her he would be back, she says 'daddy is not coming back'. I have been running since we got back Thursday. Today we were at BK when he called to talk with the kids. DIL took the phone to his son and said 'daddy wants to talk with you'. Little son yelled 'NO' and took off - just what my son deserves. He has wanted to go 'wook' with Papa everyday, doesn't say he wants to see daddy. Daughter just said hi and I love you then wanted to go back playing. He claims he left because the mess in the house, after 4 years, was too stressful for him. She is a horrible housekeeper and even I could not live in the chaos. But that is no excuse to abandon your children. We figure a month or less for her to get organized. She is waiting for the state to do a background check on her for a job- as usual the state is taking its time. My son is upset because he can't get all the money he wants and her & kids live off the rest. It has always been 'him' first and his family leftovers. It was originally he just needed time to de-stress but when she would not budge on giving him $20 a week for food & gas, he said he wanted a divorce. It was after that he told her it was due to her lack of housekeeping. But he could do it but that would mean giving up time on his online games (x-box).
Just like daughter, son planned to take off without telling us and was really upset when he learned DIL told us what he was planning to do. He is so out of character - after his first marriage failure he said he never would divorce or leave his kids. I think the mental issues, PTSD, painful childhood and maybe his dad's AD are weighing heavily on him. His way to cope is to run. Poor choice.
Today get email from daughter in TN that her boyfriend lost his job =again - blaming it on backstabbing women. He has lost every job due to 'women' - he does nothing wrong. This is a control freak and he is bi-polar, so figuring out the problem is easy. Anyway she said she knows he can't come with her if she moves back to WA, so she is deciding what she wants to do. She is assuming we are still willing to help her.
We so enjoyed the last place, friends yard we were parked at. By the 2nd week hb was finally relaxed, de-stressed. That is why I told him a month at most. I know how stressful here at my sister's can be.
Just got "good news, bad news" from Hospice. The good news is that my wife has not shown any signs of deterioration. The bad news is that this means she will be discharged from Hospice as of next Monday. Fortunately, I will still get the 5 days respite for my trip to Washington, DC, leaving tomorrow and returning on Monday, but will not get any more until she has another episode of deterioration. The only hope I have now is that they have not gotten the report from her doctor yet, and I was assured she would meet the criteria for staying on. I think the problem is that the changes are subtile and thus the nurse who comes every week doesn't see them. Also, the nurse she has now just started and has only seen her twice. Both the hospice chaplain and one of the volunteers said they saw definite changes over longer periods of time.
marsh--sorry about the "lack of change" for Hospice. Happened to us in July. Explanation was a tightening of Medicare guidelines. Nuse and CNA bot saw his ongoing delines, but basically it was a case of not being declines of a physical nature. Weight loss, falls, more loss in areas of ADLs. As soon as we see them again he'll be reenrolled., In some areas Hpspices are setting up Palliative Care Programs--kind of like a Hospice Jr. Not as extensive as full Hospice, but more support than anything now available. Example--maybe Nurse check monthly and available for calls, assistance with meds as needed.
So sorry Divi and Redbud. Mika, one of my little Bichons, is in surgery today for luxated patella. She should be fine. We almost lost her in January though and I was an emotional wreck. These two little white fluffs are such an important part of our lives and DH is madly in love with both of them. I love listening to him talk with them. It's kinda like they understand his world and language better than us mere humans.
Dear Divvi, so sorry to hear of the loss of your chihuhu, I know how much you loved her. It's double the whammy when you're already grieving about the losses your husband has had over the past several months. I read your posting when I was away for a few days, but the e-mail and computer system I was trying to work with did not cooperate when I tried to get in touch. Picked some apples and lavender and feel much better for having been away.
for some reason my hb can remember my birthday. For the last 39 years he could never remember it without prompting. On the first I mentioned it was the first and he answered 'yes, only 17 days until your birthday'. Today, for the third time he has mentioned it. So weird!!
Hb has spent the last two day repairing the toy box for the grandkids. We will take it over later so he can get his 'papa' fix from grandson. Everytime we visit he reminds me of the day we first met his dad. He was 2, his sister 1. I walked up to the door and CJ ran past me to hb yelling daddy, daddy. GS does that -= runs by me yelling papa,papa! I can't win!!!!!
its been a lovely central tx day here again. the weather is about as good as it can get lately. DH has rebounded mostly from the UTI for now so that worry is finally behind me. thank you all so very very much for the kind posts about losing our pets. its bad enough like you say losing parts of our spouses on a daily basis for years on end, then the loss of a beloved faithful furry friend just brings it all home so much harder. we count on them to help us thru the good and bad. its been a hard week but like everything else we must survive and move forward. thanks again friends. divvi
Another beautiful day in Indiana....still no rain. Tonight is the first Support Group Meeting I am facilitating, I hope we have a good turn out, however, does make me kind of nervous...I am not really good at public speaking, however, I will be myself...that's kind of scary. Wish me luck!!!!
Prayers and good wishes for a positive experience to night. I've been talking about needing a support group closer to home to staff at senior center and the nursing home here, but I don't know anyone else who has dementia?? Must surely be hiding in the woodwork. I must look at my map and see how close I am to you; not too far, I think.
Marsh, did the doctor call Hospice for you to keep her on the program? A nurse who has only seen her for two weeks shouldn't be making that evaluation. Please let us know what the doctor says.
Enjoy your respite!
************************ We are having 40 plus nights and 80s during the day, and beautiful clear skies!! Too bad I'm stuck in an office and unable to enjoy it! <grin>
I am trying to be upbeat, and enjoy what I have, knowing it is getting worse all the time....but sometimes it is SO HARD....and keeping on keeping on....and thank goodness for Joan's place!!
Beautiful day today - cool but sunny. Enjoying the cooler nights and warm days now. Took DH to grocery store this a.m. - his favorite place to go. Then the "service air bags" light came on in the car. Went to dealership - have appointment Friday morning. They said it was probably just a glitch in the computer. Also have a glitch in my desktop - my computer geek is coming over soon too.
Mary, I am also trying to be upbeat and enjoy what I have now. I know it will get worse. Yes, don't know what I'd do without Joan's place!