Do you get upset when your LO uses rolls and rolls of toilet paper? Don't worry -- the day will come when he won't use any, ever again.
Does it bother you when he/she talks a blue streak and keeps asking the same question? Don't worry -- one day he/she will hardly say a word all day.
Are you frustrated because he' s eating everything in sight and outgrowing his clothes? Never mind -- The day will come when he won't eat a thing without your help and you'll be able to control his intake perfectly.
Does he drive you crazy following you around all day like a shadow? Don't worry -- eventually he will hardly move from his chair.
I hate reading what you are posting here, but I SO appreciate it. It reminds me to TRY to appreciate the things my DH can do instead of what he can’t. And to remember that sooner than I want he won’t even be able to do what he’s capable of doing now.
Jeanette, this is a great thread and I am glad you started it. It drives home what I have been saying for years, what we have today is the best it is ever going to be. It is hard while you are living in the hell to fully appreciate all ones spouse CAN still do... but harder still in late stage when we are wishing for those then difficult times back....
Are you exhausted after going on another bike ride within an hour of coming home from the first one? Don't worry: sooner than you think he won't even be able to get on the bike.
Does it irritate you when he sits for hours in the bathtub and won't come out? Never mind: the day will come when he can no longer climb in or (especially) out of it.
Jeanette--great thread. Your point is well taken, I wish the newbies (including myself, when I was one) could have this outlook.
Right now my hb is at the stage where he is constantly pacing and stops do to a little "redecorating". Moving the living and dining room furniture around, the toss pillows, making fingerprints on glass dining table and mirrored coffee table, windows, rolling up rugs, hiding things, etc. I have already put away most breakables and covered mirrors, taken down artwork. Does all this upset me--no. I realize now it's just a stage and in the future, I'll actually miss it when he no longer has the ability to do those things.
are you constantly worried over how long this journey will last for you and your spouse?
dont worry, when they are in final stages you will be hoping/praying for just a few more days/weeks together and unable to accept the end is a reality.
I can ask that same question about the toilet paper. I don't understand it either. The other thing is napkins. I must go through 2 large packages of them a week, several hundred in a pack! He blows his nose in them even though there are plenty of tissues around.
So, Jeannette, I guess I can say:
Do you get angry when he uses up all the toilet paper and napkins? Don't worry. You'll have lots of paper products around the house when he's gone, but he'll be gone.....
I tell myself these things all the time when I start to find myself irritated at some of his antics...too true one day they won't do those things and one day, if we out live them they won't be here at home and then won't be here anymore....
How about the day when our plumber doesn't have me on his speed dial...that was quite the surprise for me..but he said he knew if I called it needed to be answered quickly. :-)
What is it about the toilet paper???????? We go thru rolls and rolls and he still doesn't get himself clean! moorsb, we have a septic system too and I am worried that I will have the cost of digging a new one in addition to all the costs we have associated with this terrible disease.
Moorsb and LFL, re septic systems. Ours is a concrete tank with drain lines out to a drainfield. We had no problems by having the tank pumped regularly. Please look into this. If you are NOT pumping out the tank you could be in for problems. Sometimes people buy a property on a septic system and are not given any advice on the maintenance. I hope this is not the case where you are.
Agreed Weejun. We used to also have septic system and had to have it pumped occasionally. There are Firms who do this exclusively. A couple in our area. A problem most people have is - their tank is not "marked" and usually some digging in necessary to find it. Once you locate it - mark it for the next time. People around here use Rid-x or yeast in their toilets occasionally. I still have a septic - unused on another property and it has "caved in". There is a 3' deep "sink-hole" to be filled with dirt.
Bev, we have the napkin problem too, except I didn’t really notice it until I was emptying out the pockets of his jeans when he was taking his shower & found both front pockets filled with folded up napkins. So now I do 2 things: I buy the cheapest napkins I can find ($1.00 at the Dollar Tree store) & I only put them out at meal time, whereas I used to fill up the napkin holder. We also go through more toilet paper!
Elaine, I find the napkins in his pockets also! Some of them have ended up in the washer and what a mess that is! Putting out the napkins only for meals is a good idea, but my hubby is the one who fills the napkin holders and if they aren't full, he puts more in. He gets upset when we have just a little left and asks when I'm going to get more. I told him I'll go out just once during the week. If we don't have any napkins, use the paper towels. But, that's even more expensive. I can't believe how much we spend every month on all these paper products, not to mention the Lysol Wipes and Lysol cleaners. There was a day when he could have cared less if there were napkins in the house.
The napkins and paper towels and t paper are behind lock & key in our house for the same reasons mentioned here. Pockets full of clean, neatly folded paper. Also moves stuff around; so have packed most of small stuff. Dr. said I could double the temazepam he takes at night (and that's a low dosage) and see if that keeps him in bed longer. He roams all day and most of night; you'd think he'd be exhausted.