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Mimi-- This time of year, it could've been incredibly traumatic, but my "big sisters" have been helping me out so much... and there really aren't words to describe my gratitude. It's still sorta rough here and there, but nothing like it 'could' be.

Why am I up? It's 6:49. My alarm goes off at 6:40 but it has been turned off... yet here I am, up and posting. geez. I think my ohio trip just 'set' me in the EST timezone! I who used to be nocturnal!


Going shopping today for household necessities, going to the bank, escaping to the local wifi coffee shop, and doing my best to stay on the right track. yay, yay.

Chica- I think today it's your turn to watch me...

Mimi,
My heart goes out to your family AND to your MIL, dealing with the heartbreak of Alzheimer's. It's such a backwards awful thing one one's mind goes before one's body, and one is still fully mobile. I can't imagine how awful it would be to be in a constant state of confusion and feeling like a burden to everyone. I guess it's a blessing that they continue to forget about the confusions of the hours before. Sounds like you did your very best to make her stay as comfortable and non-traumatic for her as possible. It's hard to dig deep to find the endless patience needed for this. At least she is not living with you- that would be so incredibly difficult- a fulltime caretaker job.
This was my first Xmas without my mother, and much as I miss her terribly, it was comforting that it was a "good" departure and I was able to make it peaceful and loving for her all through the end.

You can relax again soon when MIL goes home, knowing that you did a GREAT job giving her as nice a Xmas as was possible. Happy that you have a loving and appreciative partner too. One of the special things about the holiday is the good feeling of going the extra mile for each other and others in your life. :o

The lights in my livingroom and diningroom are burned out. Gotta go get some CF bulbs tonight after work. They really do seem to last forever, and they don't heat up the flush-to-the-ceiling light fixtures my apartment is stuck with.

Ug. Back to work...

Mama Knot packed me a container of leftover pork loin, potatoes, and squash. Breakfast of Champions!

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Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.

Mimi,
My heart goes out to your family AND to your MIL, dealing with the heartbreak of Alzheimer's. It's such a backwards awful thing one one's mind goes before one's body, and one is still fully mobile. I can't imagine how awful it would be to be in a constant state of confusion and feeling like a burden to everyone. I guess it's a blessing that they continue to forget about the confusions of the hours before. Sounds like you did your very best to make her stay as comfortable and non-traumatic for her as possible. It's hard to dig deep to find the endless patience needed for this. At least she is not living with you- that would be so incredibly difficult- a fulltime caretaker job.
This was my first Xmas without my mother, and much as I miss her terribly, it was comforting that it was a "good" departure and I was able to make it peaceful and loving for her all through the end.

You can relax again soon when MIL goes home, knowing that you did a GREAT job giving her as nice a Xmas as was possible. Happy that you have a loving and appreciative partner too. One of the special things about the holiday is the good feeling of going the extra mile for each other and others in your life. :o

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Not to dwell on misery, but my father had it too, and he had it for almost 20 years...

MIL lives with DH's brother. the strangest thing. He was always a totally selfish AH. Now he is taking care of his mother and cooking all meals for his aunt and uncle (uncle is dying) every day. Although his kids have disowned him, he's turned over a new leaf. It's the strangest thing.

Oh kit, join the rest of us early birds.. :) I am glad that your TE TD sisters are helping you out. That's pretty cool.

Mimi - my grandmother was the same way. When she'd visit, she would pack to go home just about every day. We would hide her suitcase, so she'd pack her purse. She never quite remembered where she lived - sometimes she was going home to Van Nuys, other times Leisure World. I don't think she ever announce she was going home to Moscow, Idaho - where my dad grew up. ;) It's sad, but you gotta smile or you'll be overwhelmed.

My aunt is in the early stages of Alzheimer's now, but seems to be doing well. She lives in an assisted living place, and is on some meds that seem to help. She's even got a boyfriend!:D She and mom talk on the phone once a week (Aunt Dorothy live in Richland Washington).

CWR - belated welcome home!

Kit - I'm proud of your strength; and glad to know you've got your TE sisters to watch out for you. You should think about coming down for Cinderella.

Trek and Knot - wondered when you two would "come out" publicly!:D

I'm convinced men have a stubborn gene. Dad is still fussing with the sink - I'm about to call Rescue Rooter. Don't like washing dishes in the laundry tub!!

Snap, there is plenty of funny stuff with people that have alzheimers.
At dinner, one of my mother's guests (who doesn't know my MIL) asked her
how old she was. MIL said she was in her 60's. the guest, knowing my DH was 56 more or less said B U L L S H I T. we all cracked up, what else can you do?
but then MIL fortunately remembered her birth year, and said "Well, i was born in 1926, you figure it out" and so everyone applauded her for being 80 "a toast, a toast to being 80"
Or when she said to me, " did this used to be grandpa B's house ?" (someone who died in 1950)
My response; "but didn't he live in Oregon? " "oh yes" was her response. She doesn't know what state we're in but makes for conversation.

Hi crew, I've been quietly watching this thread for a while, but as I don't know any of you I haven't felt a need to contribute. But Ihave to say, I've laughed pretty loud, to the point where my DH comes to see what's so funny.

Anyway, this is a topic that I can comment on. Unfortunately, I have had the luck to deal with many people in my work and my family with various forms of dementia, Alz included. And I have a lot of really funny stories. Because you have to have a lot of really funny stories. There is nothing worse than looking at someone you knew well and loved, seeing the same face, talking to them and expected them to answer and then realizing when they respond that the person they were is long gone. My heart goes out to all of you dealing with this type of disease.

OK - funny story. I used to get phone calls, (pre-caller ID), we'd answer and no one there but you could always hear a radio or TV in the background and whoever it was wouldn't hang up. Finally one night I got the idea that maybe my grandma had fallen and that she was trying to call me for help, maybe only able to reach the quick dial and lying helplessly on her floor. So I hung up and Called Grandma back, busy. Called again, busy... So over to grandma's I went. She was fine, watching the hockey game but her phone was off the hook and she had no idea why. So I hit redial and sure enough it was my house. She denied calling me and said I was crazy. So when I got home, I called Dad. He laughed uproarously. Apparently my quick dial number on her phone was the same as the channel number for the local hockey coverage on TV and she was getting her cordless phone confused with the remote control!!

My advice, laugh as often as you can at these things, even if others think you're insensitive, it's the only way to keep your spirits up.

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Originally Posted by snapdragen

Trek and Knot - wondered when you two would "come out" publicly!:D

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That was Trek's idea. Ain't she sweet? I figured most people who had any interest had already figured it out anyway.

I was at my Mom's for the weekend, so didn't see her post until I got back last night. (or I would've responded sooner):D

Snap - oh yeah, Kit is coming down for the Cinderella. I've given her no choice, no excuses. :p So, now all we need to do is have a contest to see what she is going to be wearing... How's about butch-mountain-girl-biker-chick? :rolleyes: :D And yes, Kit, you do have to wear the tiara! (Jen says so.)

Knot - I repeat my earlier sentiments. Aren't you two just the cutest! :cool:

CWR - Hey woman! Welcome back to the land of TD. I missed you. How's about we chat tonight if you have time? I need to talk to you about something. :)

BMo3 - Hope you get to feeling better today. You're in my thoughts, hon. (((Jen)))

Arrgh! The day after the holiday sucks! Everyone moaning that they have to work. Cry babies. I'm always just glad that it's not me lying on the litter getting xrayed. Some people's kids.... :rolleyes:

well kit that was an interesting night of watching you. you sleep funny, you know that?

mimi feet are ok. i have decided to do surgery one foot at a time and my first surgery is on the 5th of january. though i twisted my ankle while on vacation and its really sore still. i'm accident prone!

uh oh.... does that mean i'm in trouble again x? i swear i watched her all night!

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Originally Posted by chickwhorips

well kit that was an interesting night of watching you. you sleep funny, you know that?

uh oh.... does that mean i'm in trouble again x? i swear i watched her all night!

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Ya know, I shared a hotel room with her 2 weeks ago... I can vouch for that. :eek: :rolleyes:

Yes, I do believe you when you say you watched her all night but somehow she still managed to shake you by stuffing pillows under the blanket and sneaking out. Now she's on the loose somewhere (God knows where) and the public isn't quite safe. I bet she's wearing cammo just to make it harder to spot her too. :D (Salsa... ya may want to give a call to your contractor and warn him. :o)

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

Hope you like salmon, Trek, cuz I guarantee you there will be salmon when we go to my mom's...)

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... in a way she's never had it before?
Trek, do you still have that video?

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Originally Posted by Wahine

OK - funny story. I used to get phone calls, (pre-caller ID), we'd answer and no one there but you could always hear a radio or TV in the background and whoever it was wouldn't hang up. Finally one night I got the idea that maybe my grandma had fallen and that she was trying to call me for help, maybe only able to reach the quick dial and lying helplessly on her floor. So I hung up and Called Grandma back, busy. Called again, busy... So over to grandma's I went. She was fine, watching the hockey game but her phone was off the hook and she had no idea why. So I hit redial and sure enough it was my house. She denied calling me and said I was crazy. So when I got home, I called Dad. He laughed uproarously. Apparently my quick dial number on her phone was the same as the channel number for the local hockey coverage on TV and she was getting her cordless phone confused with the remote control!!

My advice, laugh as often as you can at these things, even if others think you're insensitive, it's the only way to keep your spirits up.

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Great story, Wahine! Your story is a perfect illustration of dementia. The fact of the matter is, even if she had tried to call you, she might not have remembered two minutes later.

CWR, glad you are having 1 foot done at a time. It would be awful if you needed to get somewhere and could only drag yourself along by your arms!

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Originally Posted by Xrayted

I bet she's wearing cammo just to make it harder to spot her too. :D (Salsa... ya may want to give a call to your contractor and warn him. :o)

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Uh...no. I think such a surprise would be a nice treat for him.

So yesterday....hahahahaha. I--not much of a crier--managed to cry in two different airports yesterday. Didn't sleep the night before, had to get up at 3:30 am anyway to make 6 am flight out of Albany. Northwest Airlines was having a sickout on Christmas Day. I made it from Albany to Detroit. All Detroit-Seattle flights were canceled. They rebooked me through San Francisco. The San Francisco-Seattle flight was cancelled. The next one did go. I got home at 8:20 pm (instead of 11:30 am). We waited till 10 pm for my bag. Not yet found. Hohoho! We're going out to find breakfast now. Hahahahaha, hohoho!

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Originally Posted by salsabike

Uh...no. I think such a surprise would be a nice treat for him.

So yesterday....hahahahaha. I--not much of a crier--managed to cry in two different airports yesterday. Didn't sleep the night before, had to get up at 3:30 am anyway to make 6 am flight out of Albany. Northwest Airlines was having a sickout on Christmas Day. I made it from Albany to Detroit. All Detroit-Seattle flights were canceled. They rebooked me through San Francisco. The San Francisco-Seattle flight was cancelled. The next one did go. I got home at 8:20 pm (instead of 11:30 am). We waited till 10 pm for my bag. Not yet found. Hohoho! We're going out to find breakfast now. Hahahahaha, hohoho!

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oh, geez, Salsa, it never ends!!!
note to self: DO NOT TRAVEL DURING THE HOLIDAYS EVER!