Slow and steady.

In Texas with dear friends.

Sometimes, as I look for pictures of Sweetie and the activities we lived with and through, I come across pictures like this one. This lady and Sweetie were the best of friends. We would go over to their house for an evening, Gary and I would talk about the events of the day, sports, what the latest with the church, and Sweetie and Jackie would sit in the living room and read. Not to each other, not the same book, or discuss the books, they would just sit and read. At the end of the evening, they would thank each other on what a great time they had reading. These ladies were sisters from a different mother. 

Sweetie was a great reader. She would devour 2/3 books to my one. I wasn't a reader when we got married, she made me one. If there was one thing that lasted over the years was our reading at night. We would go to bed, make love, and read. Go to bed after a fight, and read, or just go to bed to read. That is something I'll be forever grateful for, her teaching me to read as a relaxation. 

I still read in bed, but not like I used to. She wants to turn off the light and go to sleep, so I read for a few minutes, and turn off the light and head to sleep.

Had a OK round of golf yesterday. It was nice to just be alone. Teamed up with a couple of nice guys, and finished the round. 

When I got home, Sweetie was in bed, and that was fine. The report from my lady was good, she did get her in the bathroom and washed her. While she was sitting on the pot, she had a bowel movement. Large and hard was the report, so I now have to start working on anti-constipation. Because we eat the same food, I should remember if I get constipated, she will too. 

One of the things I can do, is add some food that will increase her regularity. We were eating fresh squash and that helped, so next shopping trip, squash is going to be on the list. Also, my lady suggested Milk of Magnesium. Give it to her once or twice a week. Not only will it help her movements, but will lift her personality, That is one of the things I notice about her as we walked the mall after I got home. 

I was able to do some physical therapy on her shoulder. She allowed me to put some heat on her and then rub it in with the vibrator. Once in the morning, and then last night before bed. 

If she allows me to do this, I'm hoping she will feel some improvement soon. As it is, she is eating with her left hand, because she cannot raise her right up to the plate, let alone to her mouth. Slow and steady is the order of the day. 

Driver and I both know that pain, even when you don't think about it, affects you. I believe He is intervening here with Sweetie's co-operation. I know from personal experience, that the first day or two, what relief there is, is very minor, it will take about a week to see results. Driver knows that the R&R on her takes time. That is what we have as we travel down the Road to Dementia Town, Keeping our Shiny Side Up. C'ya, Luv ya, and God Bless. 

Task

Talking with Driver.

First things first. Thank you to all my readers that have so graciously offered suggestions on what to try on Sweetie's shoulders. I will try them, and they will be noted on the blog. 

I don't know how many times I've noticed that Dementia doesn't like change. That was so obvious yesterday. New Year's Eve. We had gone to bed, like we normally do, and at midnight, the celebration began. It seems that we have a neighbor that has a rifle, a loud rifle, and began to fire it off. Which was joined by a choir of others doing the same thing. For the next 10 minutes, it was the invasion at Normandy. 

Scared the hell out of Sweetie, she sat straight up, and I wasn't much help either. I couldn't say anything that would make the noise stop. As the popping of the 9 millimeter's died off, we were able to get back to sleep. 

Dementia is as much an emotional disease as it is with memory. She may not be able to tell me, but she can react. It was bad, she wouldn't get up, and when she did, she was lost, struggling to find her way. She came down stairs, and went to the back bedroom to lay down again. 

No matter what we did, she fought me all day long, and as it is the pattern, that I can see better in the morning when I'm thinking of what to tell you about our day. I'm hoping that the emotional trauma of the gun fire will be over, this morning will tell the tell. If she gets a good night sleep, it should be a good day today. 

My helper is coming over this afternoon, and I'll get some "me" time. She has offered, and I'm accepting, to bath Sweetie. I'm going to let her and together we can set out clean everything. If she is successful, that is one less task for me to do. 

Task, that isn't a word of pleasure, yet with my Driver, I can find joy in everyday task. I know that as long as I treat Sweetie as normal as possible, not over stepping my eagerness to help, she will do just fine. Driver knows me, and how He has to pull the reigns back on my eagerness. He knows the Road to Dementia Town is a long one. We will get there at the right time, because I'm letting Him do the driving, and I'm riding, with our Shiny Side Up. C'ya, Luv ya, and God Bless. 

Happy New Year.

Sweetie, 1/1/'20

Happy New Year! That was the greeting yesterday as we did our mall walk. I'd smile and return the greeting, for me it isn't. For I face another difficult year caring for Sweetie. Last year we started out with her in daycare, giving me three days a week alone time. Then the pandemic, Coronavirus, lock down, stay at home, and just what do you do with a lock down? I'd been happy to sit and watch TV, work in the yards, take day trips, but those simple pleasures were gone, for I am Sweetie's caregiver. So, instead of doing some bitch, moan and complaining (BMC), I got busy. What can we do? We can walk the neighborhood, we can take day trips, and wait for things to improve. And they did. What was open, and how can we use that to our advantage? Soon, the golf courses opened, and we had something to do. Life seemed to be heading up.  

Now I look back that what Sweetie was like, just one year ago. How far Dementia has taken her. One year ago, we still could have some conversation. She was able to understand simple things. We still do the simple things, yet they are different. Some of the more simple things, eating, getting into the car, getting dressed, brushing her teeth, stuff that I take for granted are now a struggle for her. 

I can see Dementia growing on her like weeds in the yard. It doesn't care how much I care for her, they just keep growing. 

When I went up to get her yesterday morning, she wasn't ready to get up. I gave her a dose of Happy Medicine, and let her go back to sleep. An hour later, I got her up and changed. Her left shoulder is really giving her trouble. No matter what I do, it doesn't seem to help. It is the side she sleeps on, and that is the culprit. I'm experimenting with Stress Relief and Ben Gay. Putting both on to see if she can relax while the Ben Gay is working. Worth a try. 

Driver knows we are heading into hard times this year. He wants me to know, that no matter what happens, we will get to the end of each day, safely. There are Easter Eggs to be found, and tears to be shed. So is life. That is how it is as we travel down the Road to Dementia Town. Keeping our Shiny Side Up. C'ya, Luv ya, and God Bless.