Dementia, CBD and yard work.

Christmas at the beach.

Today, I'm going to do some yard work, the lawn needs to be mowed and trim the edges. I'll get it done with Sweetie's help. It is the front yard that I worry about. While we are in the back, I know where she is and can keep an eye on her. I'm always afraid that she will start wandering and then I have to stop everything to get her. 

I got a text from daycare, and as feared, the two weeks at a time program has started. Restart for daycare has been pushed out to May 15th. My guess is that daycare will not start back up until mid June. So, we are just going to have to make the best of it. 

I loaded a distance app on my phone yesterday and tracked our last walk. We walk 2 miles on the biggest portion of one of our walks. I'll keep tracking because there are many connecting blocks that we walk, and it is just going to be fun knowing what we do. It will also be a way to track how Sweetie is doing on our walks. 

Got rid of her shoes that were hurting her feet, and found out why she isn't wearing the good shoes, one is hurting her heal. Not sure why, I think the old shoe put a may have rubbed her raw and it doesn't line up well with the good shoes. I'll give her feet some time to heal before trying them again. 

Sweetie seems to responding to the regulation of her CBD. While keeping it at every 2.5-3 hours works well. Am so happy, because I don't think I'm ready to deal with these long sundowners sessions. We have one month down with longer evenings, and two more to go. 

There is a knock on the door, and I know that is my Driver, being polite, letting me know it is time to go. I'm ready. It will be nice to just sit and watch the day go by has we drive down the Road to Dementia Town. Napping as we go, safe and secure with my Driver behind the wheel. I know we will be safe, as we drive, Keeping our Shiny Side Up. You too, there you are, driving along, Keeping your Shiny Side Up. Till next time, TTFN. Love Ya and God Bless. 

Puzzle, Pizza, and Easter Eggs.

Most of the Clan.

Today is a day that I look forward to. Its Pizza Day at the son's home. It is the only day that we get to see our grandsons on a regular bases. I've come to look to enjoy this excursion of the simple reason, I can relax for an hour or so. For whatever reason, Sweetie is on her best behavior while we are there, and I get an hour of adult conversation. 

Daughter-in-law and I have grown close over the years, more so since Sweetie started her journey and it is good for us. When you throw the grandsons into the mix, it makes for a rousing and fun time. The different personalities, each buying for attention, wanting to show, tell, or just become the center of attention is just as enjoyable for Sweetie as it is for me. 

Yesterday was a good day. I let her sleep in and while she was sleeping, I worked on our jigsaw puzzle. I felt it was good to relieve myself of the cares of being a caregiver, to have a distraction of what was to come later in the day. 

Now, when I hear Sweetie getting up, I head upstairs to greet her and, if I can, to sit on the potty, change her panties and use a wet wipe to clean her bottom. This is becoming a good thing, a clean bottom, makes for a happy morning. Who'd know? I also can give her, her anti meds. 

Spent the day doing yard work, setting up the humming bird feeders, putting sugar on the shopping list, and now we are waiting for the winged creatures to show up. New Mexico is on the migration path of many different birds, so I'm hoping that with the feeders out early this year, we will see some of the others as they migrate pass us on their way to where they will spend the summer. Many Easter Eggs yesterday. 

Spent some time sitting in the back yard, watching and listening to the birds. Sparrows, Doves, and others. Saw a hawk flying about 2 feet off the ground while we were walking the neighborhood. Sweetie gets so excited when she sees nature in action. 

What, is it that time again? Yep, Driver snuck in and tapped me on the shoulder. I jumped a mile when He did that. So, onward we go, heading out the door, grabbing my cool sunglasses along the way. I'll need them today, the report is clear skies and plenty of sunshine bouncing off the hood, or bonnet for my friends across the pond say, as we motor down the Road to Dementia Town, keeping our Shiny Side Up. Here's to you, and your drive today, Keeping your Shiny Side Up. See you tomorrow, Love Ya, God Bless.      

Irises, yardwork, failing. Life goes on.

Sweetie and the Rainbow.

How's it going? Getting more yard work done this past couple of days. Amazing how much gets done when your normal activities are shut down. 

We have filled our trash containers and pick up isn't until Friday, so I have a couple of smaller containers that I can use as we pick, prune, pull, and trim the flower gardens in preparation for spring. 

Sweetie was never one for pruning the flower, the roses, and other plants we have and because of that, we sometimes didn't have a good crop of flowers. Last year, our irises didn't bloom at all. Now it could be that they are not getting enough sunshine, hopefully we will get some this year. If not, it is transplanting time. I love irises they are so easy to take care of and so beautiful when they bloom. It would be nice if they would bloom all summer long and we'd have flowers in the house all year long. 

Sweetie did really well yesterday. We tried a walk, but she got cold right off and so we had a quick walk. Met a neighbor working out in his garage. Sweetie just had to say something to him. He came out and she just rambled, and I told him about her dementia. He told me his grandma had it too, and he understood. Amazing how many people this damn disease touches. 

I've tried to make a list of what room to clean and when to clean it. I saw a mime the other day on Facebook and it went something like this: "I always wanted the time to clean my house. Now that I have the time, I realize that time wasn't my excuse." I have to say, I'm the same way. I just has a lazy butt. Right now, it is getting easier to get motivated and get things done. 

One of the things I've noticed about Sweetie's failing is this. When we do the dishes, she needs more and more guidance in putting the silverware and dishes away. Or now, she doesn't know what milk is, or where it is in the refrigerator. She is also having a difficulty from time to time swallowing and of course her balance worries me. 

So far, she still recognizes me as someone special in her life. Just who I am, I'm not sure. I know she depends on me and she will tell me she loves me all the time. I'll take that anytime. I miss my Sweetie. Knowing where we are now, I wished I'd treated her better when we were younger. As it is now, I'm making a living amends to her and she doesn't even know it. All she knows is there is someone that is with her all the time and she feels safe. 

Its that time, Drive just walked in and is ready to go. What do you, He brought my sunglasses in so I won't have the excuse to waste time looking for them. These are precious times that I get to spend with you, my friends. Thank you for letting me bend your ear. Now where is my hat? Of course, I left it in the car. Off again, with my Driver setting the course and speed as we head down the Road to Dementia Town. Doing the speed limit, avoiding the bumps and cracks in the road. Driving with our Shiny Side Up. You too, have a day full of Easter Eggs as you motor down the Road. Love Ya, Till Tomorrow, Shiny Side Up. God Bless.