Snow and what it did.

My Sweetie Pie.

Yesterday morning, woke to snow. It snowed most of the day, which by itself should have been fun to watch. Snow in April isn't unheard of, it is just not normal. For me it meant a challenge to keep Sweetie busy. 

She was good most of the day, and I made sure that she did her CBD and I even added the stress relief lotion. From now until June 21st will be difficult time. With the long evenings, sundowners will be at its strongest. 

Because the window I have, I get a good view of the season, the position of the sun when it comes over the Sandia's. Right now, it is like a laser beam, up over the ridge, into my room and lighting up the day. Each day, it comes up a little bit more north than the last sunrise. After June 21st, it will start it descend back south, and with it shorter days. The days may not seem shorter, they are, a few minutes less each day and by August, those minutes will add enough to shorten the evenings, that will lesson the grip of sundowners on Sweetie and me. I am looking forward to those shorter evenings this year, this winter, for I've learned and have more tools to help us through the rages of sundowners. With each passing day I keep trying new tools to help us get through this day and only this day. For I have to take each day as a special and unique day. 

Received a message from daycare, they are making plans to reopen on Monday, May 4th. Man am I looking towards that day. I don't know if the golf course will be open, if not, just being home alone for some quiet time will be welcomed. 

He's here, so early, and to tell the truth, welcomed. "Morning Driver." I know that whatever happens on our drives, I'll get something good out of it. Off we get, grabbing a jacket as I go, it is cold outside this morning. He reminded me of the Easter Eggs that were found yesterday, and, of course, he is right, there were many. Down the Road to Dementia Town we head, avoiding the pot holes as my Driver and me travel Keeping our Shiny Side Up. Not much traffic today, so we should be able to spot you as you too, drive the Road to Dementia Town, Keeping your Shiny Side Up. Love Ya, God Bless. 

Who's to mow? That is the question.

Look out Sweetie, someone has his eye on you.

Let me tell you about the big Easter Egg that was found yesterday. We had a wonderful day. 

I was done with my morning solo time and I heard noise from upstairs. Knowing it was Sweetie, she was up and I went up to greet her. She was her normal disorientated self. I think she operates on habit, not thinking of where she is, she just is. As long as I am open and loving towards her, she feels safe and secure. 

The lawn is gowning and needed to be mowed. I've been thinking of how to get this chore done. Knowing that in the mornings, Sweetie is at her best, I decided to get it done early in the day. After breakfast I got the mower out, sharpened the blade, and got started. 

When the idea hit me, why not let Sweetie try it? She is always eager to help, so why not let her. With a little hesitant she gave it a try. With the minimal encouragement, she took the mower and off she went. Asking the direction of the cut, then down the lawn she pushed the mower. I was so elated that she wanted to do it and then she did. 

Sweetie has a prescription of aggression/anxiety and I was giving it to her when she was going to daycare to help her emotions while I was gone. I thought why not try it today. I gave her one in the morning, and then one around three in the afternoon. We had the best evening in a long time. She did get into a little sundowners and to short circuit it, I put Stress Relief lotion on her neck. Worked wonders. Even put some on before bed. She went to sleep quickly. 

Yesterday we received some new sweat pants I had ordered for her. Tried to get her to try them on, too snug for her, the next size up is too big, I'll try again this morning, she is more willing to try new stuff then. All her pants are falling off of her and I have to do something. This is just another step down the road of learning about how to accomplish that which has to be done with a Dementia person. A little trial and error, adjust and try again. Doesn't pay to get upset, so I just keep trying. 

Trying, that is what my Driver keeps telling me, Keep trying, its when you stop trying, that is when anger, disappointment, and fear take over. He tells me that I need to stay in the now, plan for the future, don't project it. I get a lot of advice when we are driving down the Road to Dementia Town. Enjoy the moments, adjust during the rough spots, keeping your eyes open to smoother ways of doing things. Trust your Driver to make it through the now, let later wait till later arrives. It will with its own set of joys and challenges. In the mean while, I'll just sit in the passenger's seat, wearing my cool sunglasses as Driver motors down the Road to Dementia Town, Keeping our Shiny Side Up. That goes for you too, remember later will soon become now. So enjoy now till later gets here. Keep your Shiny Side Up as you go down your Road to Dementia Town. Till tomorrow, Love Ya and God Bless. 

Sundowners and Recovery.

Sweetie at Carlsbad Caverns.

I find it strange that what the keys, or impetus that will start a sundowner's event. 

We had been having a good day. From breakfast to the afternoon. We didn't get out to the yards for the wind was blowing. I've learned that Sweetie doesn't like the wind, even a soft breeze will sometimes chill her. So, why push the chances of setting her off. We spent most of the day in the house. 

I had ordered her some sweats from Amazon and the pants were too big. So, I planned on us going to the UPS store and returning them. We made it there, practicing social distancing, only to find that my email app wasn't working. So, we left and took the long way home. At home, I was able to download a new email app and headed out again. Got to the store, pulled up the email, scanned the code, and we're good. Then another long ride home. Anything to kill the hours in the day. 

Sweetie had been good with little troubles. It was around 3 when I received a call from daycare. They have to make phone checkups daily on us. Busy work for them, to prove they are doing something to earn their paycheck. Anyway, I digress, after the call, Sweetie was worried that I was going some where and it bothered her. She went quickly into full sundowners mode. I quickly gave her some CBD, and held on. When she wasn't responding, I put on some Stress Relief lotion on the back of her neck and within 20 to 30 minutes, the slow trip back started. There we sat, on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, her head on my shoulder, holding on to me for dear life, she bottomed and came back. 

As she came out of the darkness of sundowners, I could encourage her, tell her I loved her, and she would respond in kinds. 

When she was right with her world, I could say, there she is, and she would smile and look at me with lonely, loving eyes, as if she knew what I was talking about. We made it through the rest of the evening without another trip down sundowners road. 

I am so grateful for the discovery of CBD and Stress Relief lotion. I remember the hours of confusion, yelling, and trying to get out of the house, and the heart ache it caused. At least I now have some tools that help both of us to counter act sundowners when it strikes. 

Again, its that time. Driver's here and He's ready to roll. So, my friends, I will be off, down the Road to Dementia Town. Today, I know I'll just sit quietly enjoying the scenery as it goes by. Need the rest to recover from yesterday. Driver knows what I need without me even saying a thing. He know what will restore me for another day, a day full of Easter Eggs and adventure as we drive down the Road to Dementia Town, and as always, keeping our Shiny Side Up. That goes for you too. No matter what, there are Easter Eggs to be found on your journey as you Keep Your Shiny Side Up. Love Ya and God Bless.