A tool for Sundowners.

Sweetie at the VA.

I hope you all had a good Easter. Ours was uneventful, which was and is a good thing. After posting and doing my morning prayer and meditation time. I surrender to the fact that the weather meant a day inside. Which meant I'd have to find something that kept Sweetie's mind busy. 

I'm trying to help by making things simpler for her. I emptied out the silverware drawer and have only spoons and forks in the drawer. and only 4 of each. That way she isn't confused by looking at a empty drawer when putting them away. I'm slowly removing excess cooking utensils, soon pots and pans that are not used will be stored out of the way, again, to make it simple for her to help me do the dishes. Simple is good. I know she won't be able to help at all, when the time comes. I just want her to feel important, to herself, if nothing else. 

I've found that encouraging her when she gets something right is important to her. You should see her face when she does it right and I tell her what a good job she's done. I know it is the same with a toddler, and that is just about where she is. 

I've been thinking that it is about time for me to start putting her in nighttime diaper's. Or try to wake her up and take her potty. Even with the pads, she'll move off them and get the bed wet. I put one under the sheet and one on top so that if she moves off the top one, there is a layer of protection that might save the mattress. Then again, like all plans there seems to be the human factor. 

If I don't give her liquid, she gets dehydrated, and if I do, she doesn't make it to the potty most of the time. I used to get frustrated at this but by now, it is just a factor of her disease that I have to live with.    
We turned on Micky's Clubhouse yesterday at the time she has the most problems with her sundowners. It is like the magical bullet. It just allows her to focus and get involved. I'll be there with her, and as the show goes on, she smiles, and even tries to say the things that Mickey tell her to say. I love it. I don't know how long the stay will be at this point of her journey, I just know, it sure is nice to have a tool that will help her stay calm during those terrible sundowner times. Simple is good. I might even try Sesame Street. 

That just about does it for today. It is time for my Driver to arrive and I have to get going, still in my jammies. I know the drive will be good for me today. He's going to take a more exciting road today. I love rollercoasters and He knows it. I'm looking forward to it. Me and my Driver, wearing cool sunglasses, going around curves, up and down hilly roads, and as always, Keeping our Shiny Side Up. May you have a good drive today, as you motor down the road, Keeping Your Shiny Side Up. Love Ya, God Bless. 

Gloomy evenings, long sundowners.

2012, Tucson, Navy Squadron Reunion.

 

I know I've said this before, so I'll say it again. Going through old picture albums and finding these pictures of Sweetie bring back so many memories. To see her strong, mentally alert, and alive and whole. You know, I really didn't know how much I love her until these days of her depending on me. In the darkness of Dementia, the one bright candle is my love for her. Even now, she can stop me and that love for her will grab me and I'm hers. 

Yesterday started shaky, I had planned for showers for us, Sweetie did pretty good. Got her hair washed, that is the biggest goal to get done, and washer her lower regions is even bigger goal. She has been getting red and tender on her bottom and I just don't know how to protect her. I've been thinking about a diaper rash cream. Prep H is good, helps a lot, not really made for what she is going through. 

We did some yard work and pulled weeds. Sweetie would help, then get anxious, sit down, then come back to help some more. I talked about this yesterday, her need to help over whelms her and it is in her nature to be helpful. Years ago, I used to get upset when she was helping me because I felt she was just getting in the way, now I cherish it. 

Two things about yesterday. The weather, it was blowing and raining so we couldn't go walking, and the long gloomy evening. Because we couldn't walk, we went on a car ride, just to get out of the house. Drove around for about an hour. Then the evening. It seemed to drag on forever. I was giving her some CBD oil about every 2 hours. She struggled mightily with her sundowners. To calm herself, she cuddled up to me, head on my shoulder, whimpering
about how dumb she is and how she isn't worth anything.   Oh how I hate those nights. Knowing that it is going to get worse as time goes on. 

If I know Dementia's patterns, I believe that Sweetie is about to move to a new place in her travels to Dementia Town. She's showing some attitudes that would make you think she is getting better, that sliding scale of degrees of Dementia. When I recognize it, it means she is getting ready for a move. Where she will land is yet unknown, I just have to be ready to adjust to her new normal. 

Golly, I've been rattling on and on and it is time to wrap it up. My Driver is in the kitchen getting a cup of coffee and is ready when I am. Of course that means, get your butt in the car and lets get this show on the road. I've learned to follow His suggestions, things always turn out better when I do. So, off again, down that Road to Dementia Town. Oh, yea, I did find some Easter Eggs yesterday. They came early in the day, yard work, if you can imagine. Tank is full and my Driver is eager to get going. Wonders to behold are waiting as we go, Keeping our Shiny Side Up. We always have room for one or two more if you care to join us. Just wave and we'll stop by. If not, make sure you keep an eye out for your Easter Eggs as you go, driving down the road Keeping your Shiny Side Up. Till tomorrow, Love Ya, God Bless.  

Screening, helping out.

My Sweetie. 

There are days and there are days to remember. Yesterday was one of those remembrance days. From the time Sweetie got up, until we went to sleep last night. It was also the day of timed amount of CBD, not systems, that seemed to make the difference. 

The day was a day of nothing special, who can plan special events in a self quarantine. I just knew we had to do something. I had a project to get done, and for a change, it was completed. I was able to get Sweetie involved as much as she can be. 

One of the things that has helped me with this, is this. She needs to find worth in doing. So, if she reaches out in her attempt to hold, open, lift, you get the idea, I don't brush her off, I allow her to do what she needs to do. Even if I could do it for myself or that what she is doing is a little bit inconvenient at the time, I let her do her effort in helping. Dumb stuff, like locking and unlocking doors, dividing up stuff to take out to the trash, what ever the chore, she has to help and when I realized this and let her help it makes our days better. 

We went to the screening for the Virus, and found that because we did not have any symptoms, we were good and didn't have the nose swabs done. We are now at the head of the line, if we show signs of illness. 

It was a nice day, so we took Tweetie out for that little spin. When we were going through the screening, people tell us how much they like Tweetie, and asked about her. When I got her, I did expect some fawning over her, but not this much. Tweetie is 15 years old now, and she gets a lot of attention. I would be lieing to you if I told you I didn't like it. I waited 50 years to get a corvette, and loving every minute of it. 

We watched "Jungle Book" and "Jungle Book 2" yesterday. I watched Sweetie smile and laugh as the movies played. After the movies, we took a long walk around the outside of our neighborhood. It was good for her, because she was getting bored just sitting there. You know that Dementia cannot sit still for 6 hours, it needs some physical activity. Walks are good, she gets to look at the clouds, and contrails. Then she tells me her story about them. All is good. 

Talk about all is good. Its time for me to get ready. I know my Driver will be here any second, if He isn't here already and I just don't know it. I'm sure it was His navigating our drive yesterday that made the difference in my appreciating everything that happened. He seemed to know just where and when to find Easter Eggs as we drove through the day. I'm ready for a copy of yesterday, as me and Driver drive down the Road to Dementia Town, keeping our Shiny Side Up. Need a lift, just give us a wave and we'll stop by. If not, remember as you drive yourself this fine day, Keep in your lane, and Keep the Shiny Side Up, that way you won't go wrong. Till tomorrow, Love Ya and God Bless.