New stage.

Sweetie and my youngest.

On our way back home, youngest asked us to stop by and get some "Poppa hugs". Who am I to refuse such a request. This daughter is the most mixer of emotions with me. There are times when I get so upset with her, I want to disown her and then there are times when I can't wait to see her either. Such is a father's love. 

Sweetie is defiantly moving to a new stage of her Dementia. She isn't as manic as before, so calm is she that I haven't had to give her any CBD in the past couple of days. It is nice not to have to fight Mr. Sundowners either. Don't think I don't have some conflict with her, especially when it comes to checking her pullups, I do. Using the calm and quiet voice, and being persistent, we get the job done. 

I haven't talked about this in awhile, so here goes. I've given up trying to get her to use the toilet. I check her about every two to three hours to see how she is doing. Using liners with her pullups, I'm able to replace the soiled liner, and usually get a full day out of her pullups. Also, she seems to have a running bowel movement. That is what I look for more than anything when I check her. The biggest challenge is just keeping her clean. 

When I'm cleaning her, I have to continually remind her that its OK for me to touch her "there". She may not understand the reasoning for me and what I'm doing to be in that area of her body, so she lets me know she doesn't like me to touch her down there.  When I forget to tell her, she fights me and cries how it hurts. Been telling her that I'm her caregiver and that is one of my jobs as her caregiver. I tried telling her that I am her husband, but that just goes over her head and doesn't help. Caregiver works well.  

I'm going to attempt something new, an evening shower, just to wash her private area. That way, I'll know she won't wake up being red and sore, which makes for a long day. 

I used to wonder where these ideas come from, and at the same time, I know. I spend so much time on the Road to Dementia Town with Driver, that I don't remember that it is His ideas, not mine, as we move from stage to stage with Sweetie. Woke up to thunderstorms this morning, and just wondering how shiny the car will be. How silly of me, there it is, looks like it just came out of the dealer's showroom. Diver is motioning me in, and away we go. Just the two of us, down the highway we go. Traveling the Road to Dementia Town, Him talking, me listening, and as always, Keeping our Shiny Side Up. If you can, don't drive solo, its better with two, easier to Keep Your Shiny Side Up, as you travel your Road to Dementia Town. Drive Safe, Love Ya, and God Bless.