Friday, August 29, 2014

Giving directions

At some point in your life you have already had to and will have to give directions to someone who is not familiar AT ALL with where you need to go.

I taught our kids how to drive. When they were practicing I would tell them to turn right or left and sometimes, when they were learning, they would turn the wrong way. It didn't matter as we were in the pasture.

Now I'm giving directions to Jerry. And it's like deja vu. We were in Lawton today to go to Sam's. Had a good time there and got some awesome meat products. I had to make a pit stop before we left and Jerry said he would just wait for me. But as we left the building he made the comment that he didn't know where the car was.

You wanta know something?? That's SAD!!

I decided not to think on the negative side and just go with it.

I knew where the car was and so there was no problem.

It just came to me that this attitude is good and bad. Good because I don't harp on his forgetfulness. Nor do I make him feel stupid.

The flip side is if I am not careful I will let those things go too long and let him drive thinking he will know how to get somewhere or even to get back home.

What to do?

I think I will have to just start thinking more about his abilities and if they are safe for him.

More later, Linda

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Today has been something ELSE

I didn't get up until 7.30. I didn't have breakfast. We went to town to get some cola for Jerry and spent way too much on things.

We did get one of those ionizers that take the dirt out of the air.

He has been coughing so much lately and I think its the carpet.

I tell you no lie----we put that carpet down in 1979.

I want hardwood so we can keep it clean and free from dust. Of course it may be almost impossible in Oklahoma to keep the floors clean, but when I run the wet mop over the floors they will be clean to the baseboards.

As for the other things that have gone. We finally had lunch. Then we had our tea at 4. I like having tea because it means Jerry is eating a little more each day and his clothes will finally fit him again.

We've had some big laughs today and not any sad times, that means, to me, that it's been a GOOD day.

More later, Linda















Wednesday, August 27, 2014

I think I was a little sneaky today

We had papers to take to the new doctor's office. Our doctor is moving from Duncan. I really liked him and how he worked with Jerry and me. But he moved and we had to find another doctor.

Lynn went by the doctor's office and got us paperwork to fill out to make us patients of Dr. Cox.

Jerry drove.

It's very frustrating to me when I have to keep telling him where to turn and which way and which lane to get into.

So, I decided to tell him where we were going and let him get us there.

That didn't work. At one point, as we were leaving the bank parking lot, I told him to turn right and then go through the light.  He was going to go from the south side of the road to the mall on the north side of the road--which is not to the right. it was straight ahead of us.

We then got straightened out and were on our way. I said we are going to use the road we take to go to the church. 

He was confused there, probably because we didn't go to the church we went to the nail lady whose shop is three street down from the church. Church is on second street--then first-- then A. We wanted to turn right on A and that's what we did.

He didn't even remember the shop until we had been there for about two minutes.

It's sad-----but it is what it is.

And we will make the most of it.

More later, Linda

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Today I choose to not be sad

Jerry is mowing grass. I don't know why hes mowing grass. He is. 

It's not yet 100 so I'm not too worried about it. And he did have some bacon and cola drink. He has not had his pills yet but I have gotten used to giving him his pills with his lunch. It helps.  The Aricept upsets his digestive tract BIG time and I don't like to clean that up. 

This is not what could make me sad.

THIS is what could make me sad.  He was trying to tell me about THIS GUY. He lives over there and he----  That's as far as he got.  Bless him he didn't give up and so I started naming men we both know.

Does he go to church with us?  I don't remember seeing him there.

Is it Billy Morgan? NO!

Tell me how you know him. Well, he takes me out of town with him sometimes

Keith -- our Lynn's husband. And yes he doesn't see him at church because Keith is always in the balcony with the sound system. And yes, Keith comes and takes him out of town when he has something to deliver and because he knows it makes Jerry happy. Bless him in a mighty way.

I would be sad, but Jerry didn't get sad. He didn't get mad. He didn't even raise his voice. He just went on to tell me about the little yard Keith has to mow. And he, himself, mows for hours just to get the front yard mowed.

He is happy and so my choice is to be happy too.

More later, Linda

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Sarah says--daddy doesn't feel good

Today we had a guy coming to fix the barb wire fence where one fence attaches to another. But ours was saggy. Of course there's a lot of saggy things around our house these days. After all the house was built in 1955.





So anyway, Jerry thought he would be here about 6.30. We got up at 5 AM. Yeah that's what I thought too. After all it is August so he'd be here early. Right?  Not!!

He got here at 9am. Got through by 10.30. Went home. 

Jerry came in and napped til 12.30, and again after lunch and is ready for bed now. 

He's trying so hard to stay up. It's almost like its a sin to get enough sleep.

And Sarah can feel he's not up to his usual speed. It worries her and she has to get as close to him as possible. So she lays her head on his feet. It does calm him. And I know she is trying to let him know he's gonna be ok. 

More later,Linda



Sunday, August 17, 2014

Popcorn Time

It seemed like the thing to do. Pop some corn. Jerry needs the carbs, sarah and I don't. But, Sarah got her part and then

Wanted more so where did she go??  

Daddy, that's where. 

He was kinda slow getting her some corn. But finally came through. 

So, Jerry's picking his teeth and Sarah??

She's taking a nap. 

Sarah loves her daddy. 

More later, Linda

Jerry

I know this is difficult for the kids. They don't want to even THINK that their dad is not well. I don't like it either. 

Last night he told me he had to buy me a car. 

We have a car. And a pickup. 

I told him, we have a car and we can share. He looked puzzled. And came back with, well I need to make sure you have those things for the pickup. He meant the keys. 

He was content. 

I was happy. 

More later, Linda

Thursday, August 14, 2014

A subject I have been trying to ignore

My wonderful husband has dementia. He tries so hard to be like he was. He agonizes about what's happening to him. And he has worked himself down to 151 pounds.. You know it's hard enough to watch him deteriorate right before my eyes, but to see him so skinny frightens me.

I just thank God that He has Jerry in His hands because if he didn't Jerry would have gone on a long time ago.

I think you can see that I am still not able to even type the words that are really in my heart. It's not something that I want for anyone I know, this dementia. It takes away the person that you have known for so long and in that place is a person who can't speak, remember, or who can't do for themselves.

Sometimes I shed a few tears, like right now as I type this up. But most of the time the clown in me comes out and we find ourselves laughing at the tiniest things.

Sarah is a big help because she has so many parts to her. That's why I post so much about her.

I also post about her when my heart is aching.

More later, Linda

Sunday, August 10, 2014

This is my day





Today it's HOT!!

Jerry is sleeping. Well he was!! He woke up. Has on his t shirt. So no pic. 


Sarah is sleeping. It's 76 in the house. Or Jerry is too cold. So I keep it 76 or 77. 


And Bella is hiding under my leg. 
Now Jerry is sleeping. He probably didn't sleep much last night either. 

More later, Linda 

What's wrong with this picture??


Sarah went and hid. We've had company since Thursday. Lynn and Keith went to Sturgis and to see the sights. 

For all you who don't know Sturgis is in South Dakota. Close to Deadwood, Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore.  And the big Cycle Rally.
And as you can see it's well attended

So, we are babysitting. 

That's why Sarah went into hiding. 

Because we are taking care of ---

Bella. She is too cute and a bundle of energy--really!!

Sarah on the other hand is not. 

She's exhausted. And is taking it easy today. They are not rowdy today. Just kinda laid back and keeping out of each other's way. 

Yesterday when I put breakfast out Sarah didn't want hers right then. So I took Bella's bowl into the kitchen to clean it. 

When I got back into the living room, Sarah's bowl was empty. 

Bella had seconds yesterday. Sarah didn't have breakfast. 

Today I watched. No seconds for either one. 

More later, Linda 

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

The new batch are even prettier

Not one but TWO groups of naked ladies!!

Batch one. Pretty!  

Prettier!!

I'm just wondering what that means with the weather this winter. 

This year in Oklahoma the weather has been really cool for the most part. 


This time last year the morning temp was closer to 90. 

In 2012 we had 90 days of 120 degrees in a row. 

AWFUL!!

Glad we had a movie channel on cable. 

We had snow that winter and we had more snow last winter. 

The naked ladies came up last August around the 15th. 

This year the naked ladies came up the middle of July. 

And now a second batch, even prettier, have made an appearance. 

Interesting. 

More later, Linda