Tweetie, The Sisters, and home.

Sweetie on the Carousel at Knott's Berry Farm.  

 Wow, I'm late this morning. Don't ask why, it is just that I've been sitting here thinking of yesterday, what happened and how to express and edit it into todays talk. I know that this is a story, a daily story with all the twist and turns that come with living with a Loved One with Dementia. A normal day, just what does that look like? Sometimes its a day like a model train that goes around a oval track, never going anywhere and always arriving at the same place it started from. The only thing that changes is the speed of the engine. We're either going a safe speed, a slower speed, or the dangerous speed that flips the train off the tracks. Or, its like playing with a Jack in the Box. This one is different from knowing when the clown jumps out of the box to you never know when the door springs open and out it comes. Pop, and surprise, here we are, instead of Jack, its sundowners.

The day had a good start to it. Got Sweetie up and got her on the potty and she peed, Yea!! Did our normal stuff and headed to Daycare. I don't like telling her where we are going because of the stress of fighting her on the way over. It was different yesterday. She did put up some resistance and the same time more willing to go in. Once she is in, she quickly sends me away, the hope the sooner I leave, the sooner I come get her. 

Had a lesson planed for yesterday morning, trying to get some of the ruff spots off my swing. Worked well, have some things to work on. 

When I got Sweetie, she wasn't as weepy as she has been in the past. Got our lunch at McDonald's, and headed home. We tried a mall walk, and that didn't go well, only one time around. Sweetie was very uncomfortable and just couldn't figure it out. While we were watching TV, she started in on the wanting to go home routine. 

On the Dementia site on Facebook, there is that question popping up. What do you do when your Love One wants to go home? For me it is a shot of CBD, and into the car, take a spin until she calms down, and we talk about the ride. I know the Hemp Oil is working and she is ready to head home. This time, we took Tweetie

My Tweetie.

out for a spin. It was behind "The Sisters". The extinct volcanoes on the westside of Albuquerque. It's a nice ride and there are cattle, wild flowers and little traffic. When I can get Sweetie talking about the scenery, I know we are in the safe zone again and it is time to go home. 

I'm putting a touch of Stress Relief Lotion on the back of Sweetie's neck when we go to bed. I though, what the heck, it just might help her relax and pee before bed and she can get a good nights sleep. That is where I found what has been making her uncomfortable all evening. It is common for her to complain that it hurts when I wipe her, last night was more then normal. So, when I did a visual inspection, her poor butt was bright red. Like a dipper rash, and that is just what I thought when I saw it. Did you know prep H is a great soother of the bottom? And when that is all you have, that is what you use. She was almost in tears when I applied it to her bottom, and soon the prep H did its thing, all is well as we went to bed. 

Life with Sweetie is like having to figure out a secrete code of body langue everyday. I love it when I find the key and can unlock the code to a better life for her. 

Last night, a big Easter Egg, she joined in with me as we said our night prayers. I couldn't make out what she was praying about, that's not my job. I know my Driver knows exactly what she was saying. 

Speaking of my Driver, He's been quietly sitting at the table, enjoying a cup of coffee. He knows I have things to say and is waiting patiently for me to finish. So, I'm done, and have to put my shoes on, and head for the door. What a gentleman Driver is, he has my door open, handing me my cool sunglasses as I get in, and off we go. Driving down the Road to Dementia Town, and as always, we have our Shinny Side Up. I see you, driving down the road, hey not so fast. Slow down and let others see that you too are driving with your Shinny Side Up. God Bless.