I've been gone a week and it will take me a full day to catch up on the discussions! WOW!

Welcome to those who have joined us in the last week!

A report on our trip to Houston - by air going and riding back with our daughters (8 hours by car):

I had called a cab to take us to the airport the night before with a reservation for 7 a.m. and had our bags packed. The next morning we got up and he followed the routine we had long ago established for travel and I didn't have to tell him to do anything! The taxi arrived on time and got us to the airport easily. My DH followed along behind me to the ticket counter where I asked for a wheelchair, and they brought one right away. The security line was thankfully short and I showed them the letter we had the doctor prepare concerning his aphysia with AD, and they were so nice and helpful. Once we got on the plane, he just looked around and was fine. He slept once we were airborne, and woke up before landing. Our daughters met us, and he acted PERFECTLY NORMAL for them and our son and his wife, with whom we were staying. The great grandkids would ask him questions, and of course he couldn't answer (except for questions that allow him to use "no," "yes," "okay," "very good," etc.) so I would answer them and say Granddaddy doesn't talk much and they accepted it! They still asked though! :)

When he would wander outside, one of our children would go to him and redirect him back into the house; at the mall, we played "find DH" a few times when he would slip away if we stood still too long, but he never got more than a few feet except once when we had the family portrait taken (while we were choosing the shots - one of him and me that the kids wanted had to be re-shot because he had the blank look in his eyes and was expressionless, but they retook it until they got one with a smile) but the kids found him right away. There were 11 out of 17 of our family that made it to Houston for the reunion, but we believe that it was the last opportunity for a family portrait with DH in it.

At night, he slept very little, so I was up and down changing the DVDs so that the movies would occupy him and he would stay in bed so that I could have two hour naps. A week of two hour naps at night is not a good thing, but it was what I got. He had three accidents, all in the bathroom, so no one knew but him and me. These were his first.

The ride home included several stops to walk around and stretch our legs, along with snacks to eat, and he had our DVD player, so he watched movies all the way home. He really did well!

So, overall, I have to admit that the trip was very good, and that thanks to those of you who offered the travel advice! This makes me feel better about the caregiver cruise in February as well. He traveled well, and I might invest in a 5 DVD changer for that trip! :)

We're back home and hopefully he'll settle back into his routine (in OLD pants!) of pulling weeds when he gets restless!

Oh, by the way, Sandy, our blond lab, is doing very well living with my grandson and his family! His three kids (6,3 and 2) love Sandy and his wife says he follows her around and she loves him and they are so grateful to have him. I'm so glad that he has a happy new home, but I sure do miss him! I know I did the right thing.

I decided to write here in a new discussion instead of trying to write a sentence or two in ten different discussions that some might not read.

Joan, I'm sorry that you had such difficulties last week, and I hope that next week will be much better for you! Thank you for all you do for us, and Happy First Anniversary of the website!