Stewing over her "madness".

 

  My Friend and me.

Change, oh how I hate change, and at the same time, if it wasn't for change, life would be so boring. You may not notice it, on this blog, but I have. Small things, like this format. Before, I could put the caption right under the picture, now there is a space, and I don't like it. And then again, there isn't anything I can do about it either. 

In one of my morning prayers is the line, "accept the things I cannot change..." It is when I think that I'm in control, that I have the last say, that is when I'm in trouble. Sweetie is a continual reminder of that line. With her, there isn't any controlling her, just adjusting to keeping her well and safe as we travel together this adventure we are on. Of the things that I know with Sweetie, that for every action there is an unequal reaction. She has lost all ability to moderate her emotions to any stimulus. 

On the loving side, she is just fine, it is when she is being her Demented self that is the problem. You've heard the expression "trying to nail jello on the wall"? That about sums her up when Dementia takes over. Those are the trying times, the trouble times, and I dread them, mainly because, they are avoidable if I keep her on her Happy Medicine. 

 Tuesday

Taking the bottle of her Happy Medicine in hand, I go into the bedroom to wake her up. She seems asleep, and as I approach the bed, she opens her eyes more. Yep, she was just laying there waiting for me. 

Leaving her to wake up some more, I mess around in the house. Feed the parakeet, turn on TV, so it will be on when she sits and eats her breakfast, pour her her cup of coffee, so it will be cool for her. Then back to get her up.

She isn't willing to get up, so I have to talk her into getting out of bed. It looks like she slept on her top sheet, so I won't have to wash everything this morning. Just change the one sheet, and make the bed. For me, that is a good thing.

With Sweetie on the potty, now is the time to get her ready, and today, it is bottom washing morning. Even with all the struggling I go through, it is best for her. I know how itchy the butt can be if not clean, and so, to make my day better, I put up with her complaining and rinse, soap and wash her bottom. She may not thank me for that service, but her personality is so much the better when the job is done. 

Today, after breakfast, I try to get her ready to come with me. She isn't in the mood to move. Been here before, and when she is like this, it is better for all, that I leave her home. Besides, there is a breeze, and she would be cold as soon as we were on the course.

Come to the understanding that no matter how much I bundle her up, she will be cold. So, for that reason alone, it is best for her to stay home. 

When I return, she is where I left her, watching TV. She seems happy to see me, and when I try to get her to come with me to do some grocery shopping, she won't budge. As a matter of fact, she heads for her nest. Which means she is mad at me again.

Pre-dementia, we could work out what upset her. Now, I just have to wait for her to reset herself. Most of the time, if I can get her out of the house, and doing something else, that helps. She isn't sitting in the house and stewing over her "madness". Today, she doesn't want to leave the house, and that leaves me waiting.

For the rest of the evening, she has her moments of handholding, smiling, and kisses. Then it is bed time, and it starts all over again. In bed, she is moving around, rubbing up against me, and in general, agitated. Somewhere in the night, sleep comes and we rest.

It wasn't the smoothest day on the Road to Dementia Town this day. There were plenty of rough pavement we travel over. Nothing too serious, just continual rough and noisy road. Yet, through it all, we were still able to Keep Our Shiny Side Up. C'ya, Luv Ya, and God Bless.  Arthur.