while there are so many with a loss of family and friends, we are especially grateful to have joans website for comfort support and companionship. our journeys are significant, ever changing, and depletes our hearts and souls many times over and over-- but with our friends here who understand our loss and stresses of everyday life, now and after, we get thru the most difficult times. a warm hug to everyone here. we are family and kindred ties to so many. while holidays dont always mean happy times, its a day to reflect on whats meaningful and our happier memories. divvi
I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving too. I'm grateful for this just as Divvi expressed. I remember when I was hanging by a thread and when Dianne was finally asleep coming here and having people reach out to me when I so desperately needed it.
I'm also thankful that when I watch politics and the sorry state of so many countries and what people do to each other - I will never forget what else people are.
A pleasant surprise: Since Dh and I are alone, I had made reservations for thanksgiving at a nice restaurant here for a late lunch (can't do dinners anymore). Was with a small group of 'friends' Sun. morning for breakfast and asked two of the ladies what they were doing - answer was - nothing since it's only the two of us. They asked me and I told them. One asked if it would be ok if they joined us. I said that would be fine. A little later the lady asked if they could also join us. So, looks like it will be 6 for lunch. Going to bake something and have them come back here for dessert. There are other lonely people with no family out there - even if there is no ALZ in their home. I'm glad this happened. And, I'm thankful they would want to be with us.
Yes, Happy Thanksgiving to all. We will have the immediate family here. Eldest daughter lives with us but works at Walmart so will be going to work at 5pm for an all night shift. Our Downs Syndrome and profoundly deaf son is visiting from his residential school. Second daughter and 2 grandchildren will just come for dinner. So I do all the work. Last night I started feeling sorry for myself but today realize I am very lucky to have them all.
Happy Thanksgiving to all. I am blessed to have this website with so many caring and compassionate people on board the board! I am sorry that we have to be here becaue of this terrible disease, but this helps with the isolation knowing that there are many of us going though this terrible journey! I am new to the site, but I have received many warm responses with some very helpful advice. Love to you all!
I'll add my wish for a nice and easy Thanksgiving for everyone. I too am grateful for this site and for all Joan and everyone has done to keep this lifeline alive. My dear son and his girlfriend are joining us for dinner. After a lifetime of being the only one making Thanksgiving, it is sure nice to have another woman in the kitchen! Jim is worried/excited and for weeks has been asking why aren't the Christmas lights up in the neighborhood yet? So I put the tree up last week and he seems quite happy to have an extended holiday season this year.
I'd like to add my wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I would not be able to handle this without you. My sister is staying a few days with my DH and me and we will be spending the day at my brothers. My DH is going into stage 6, so I'm not sure what the day will bring, but I'm glad that I have the support of my family and, of course, all of you!
I hope everyone has a stress free Thanksgiving. I am most thankful for my youngest daughter who gave up her home to come and be with me and enable me to be with Lloyd 24/7. And I am thankful for all of you here and at azspouse. I actually feel like I still have a life communicating with all of you!
Happy Thanksgiving to all! I am driving my dh over the hill to my sister and her husband's ... a couple years ago I told them I could no longer host, we used to trade holidays. I said maybe we could just do Thanksg or X-mas but they so graciously said NO they will host both and gladly. I take side dishes...It was just too hard to have to get up and do all dh's laundry, mop all his messes up and keep up with cooking a huge meal etc. Only one son and girlfriend, and one nephew and girlfriend will be there. dh asks me every day...is Thanksgiving this week or next week, is today Tuesday or Wednesday. I am thankful for family and for all of you who listen when I cry, laugh or just vent!
Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends here. Youngest daughter and grandchildren will be here later today. We are not cooking but are going to the Flora-Bama ( a lounge & Oyster Bar) for a potluck dinner. Son in law is the sound man there and also plays in a little band. I am not sure how the ole lady will fit in but it will be a new experience. Bring on the food and loud music.
....This dicussion reminds me of the way we used to do it in the good old days. As we sat around the family dinner table, each of us would take our turn, telling what we were most thankfull for. ....So now It's my turn........Of course I am thankfull for this site and all the loving friends here, but I am mostly thankfull that my caregiving days are finally over. My Dear Helen is in a better place and so am I. ....I am also thankfull for my friends and just ordainary people. It seems like everyone wants to take care of me. People in general are so kind, caring and thoughtful. And I believe that throughout the world, we are all the same. ....I also am thankfull for the internet. I believe that it will eventually bring us all together and that war will be a thing of the past. ....Wolf, Iagree with you..............GeorgieBoy
Georgest....what an inspiration to hear your blessings. You blessed me as I was reading your post. May you continue blessing others! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Happy Thanksgiving to all! I hope it is a day where we can all count our blessings inspite of the illness we are all dealing with. I am thankful to all who post on this site, particularly the ones who have lost their spouse but still continue to offer support and advice to those of us still on the journey and of course Joan for having given us a place to get the support and advice so many of us desperately need. Personally I am thankful for my wonderful sister and her emotional and physical support and that my husband is still home with me.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! This a new one for me. This is the first Thanksgiving I am actually celebrating alone. Before this there were the family Thanksgivings growing up in a big family. Then the family Thanksgivings shared while I was otherwise on my own. After that were all the Thanksgivings DH and I shared and celebrated as a family with our Daughter. She now celebrates with her husband in CA. This first Thanksgiving alone, I am thankful for several important things. First I am thankful that DH had an easy passing and is now in the best place he could be. I am thankful for the strengths of character Caregiving has given me. I finally learned that getting help, asking for help, and accepting help are all okay, in fact, necessary---and especially that that applies for me too. Acting on that knowledge is still a work in progress. I am thankful for the Thanksgiving dinner a church just brought me to enjoy. But, most of all, I am thankful for the family and friends who have been and are with me. As much as it felt as if I was in it alone, and often it was all up to me to get us through, they were there. I could call. I could e-mail. If/when I didn’t, that was my failing. So, to my family, to my friends, and to all of you here, thank you.
It's always good to read your postings, Carosi 2*, and you give me lots to think about. I liked your remark about the strengthening of character that Caregiving has given us. That's true. I may not have liked it at the time, but it was necessary. Life is easier and clearer for me having come though that - a burning off the dross to get to the gold.
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all had a nice day whether alone or with family and friends. I am grateful for finding this site and for being a part of this FAMILY.
Mom & dad came to the house for a turkey roll at 3PM so it could be eaten before the sundowning started at 4:30 - 5:00. (we made it) Then she passed out in bed because it was dark and I got to talk to my parents coherently for a few hours in complete sentences that was not accompanied by crying (hooray!)
I am thankful for; Having a handicapped designed house that makes care so much easier Darkness that cures the sundowning But most important I am thankful for all that I have learned from this site such that now I 'get it' and know how to deal with it when it happens.
It is incalculable how valuable all the shared stories and advice are to people who come here to learn. Especially to the lurkers and people who never post. Thank You to to everybody for sharing!! Jim
Had a good Thanksgiving with all my children, wives and children. I am mentally getting into winter mode I guess. Thinking seriously of making an appointment after the holidays with my financial advisor to proceed with the Medicaid paperwork. He is not ready for nursing home but is ready for assisted living. I have looked at one assisted living that accepts Medicaid and I have to be approved before I can get on the wait list, and I have no idea how long it will be until there is a bed. I am wondering if there is anyone else out there that has experience with Medicaid and assisted living rather than nursing home.
I get so frustrated because he loses things it seems all day long. We tried daycare and he hated it telling me he did not want to be with "those people." He continues to be able to manage at the local senior center but once that is done, I have nothing else as far as resources to use. I have a caregiver who comes when I need some time and have left him in respite over the weekend. My children are local but all work and have young children. Ultimately the responsibility is mine. I am grateful tho for a special person who has come into my life. He is there for me and I am grateful.