Monday was absolutely crazy. Marsha came from 10 to noon but Gena also came but she was late. It was 12:30PM. In the meantime the cleaning people showed up at noon to do the floors and then about 1 the nurse supervisor came. My efforts to coordinate all of it didn't work out to well. But, Cowboy is clean, the house is clean and I was able to straighten out the overlap between Gena and Marsha. The supervisor will come on the 5th and sign us out. The good news is then we have just Marsha and she is a great help and I know exactly when she will be here.
On Tuesday a couple of my bandmates were here at 9AM for a short practice and then we went to an Alheimers hospital to play. I took Cowboy with us. He sat in the back and did fine. I told the manager of the facility why he was there and she said she could tell the minute he walked in. Interesting. A lot of people tell me they can't really tell he has dementia.
Last night I put Cowboy's pills on the dining table by his supper. When I looked I found him trying to balance the pills on his fork. The dog was standing right next to him. I had visions of his dropping the pills on the floor and the dog lapping them up. I told him not to do that but to take them in his hand and he did. a potential serious problem averted.
Today Marsha was back. I took the dog to the groomer, went to Walmart and bought some goodies for the great grandchildren that are coming on Friday, took the dog home and then wentand got gas and went to the grocery store.
Marsha said that after she bathed him, before she could turn around, he was shaking powder all over himself and all over his clothes. He keeps a tin of powder for his feet when it is warm and they sweat. Right now we are concentrating on getting the ointment on him and the powder interfered with that. I told Marsha not to worry, I would wipe off the powder and apply the ointment tonight. She is very meticulous and concientious which I like but she worries about things.
My grandson and his family will be here Friday for a day or two. I bought them some things to play with and some candy and food to prepare. I suspect my grandson, who is 28, and just bought a house may want some of the things in that pile in the garage.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sunday, June 26
Seemed like there was a lot to do yesterday. Got all the laundry done and the ironing and cleaned up the washer and dryer.
In the afternoon I was going over some correspondence and Cowboy kept walking into the study and looking over my shoulder. A little later I was working on some photo files and he did the same thing. I asked him if he was "restless". He said he was so we took a ride. We got an ice cream cone and just did the Sunday drive bit (albeit on Saturday!). He seemed to really enjoy himself. Stayed out about 2 hours.
This morning after breakfast I was standing in front of him and he picked something off of my blouse. I think it was some food of some kind. He fed it to the dog. I asked him what it was and he kind of grinned and it was a "worm" and then he laughed. I haven't seen that much sense of humor in a long time.
As I have said before I love Sundays. Spent a lot of time with the paper and then this afternoon a book.
Cowboy is really eating well. I made him a sugar free banana pudding tonight and he really relished it.
In the afternoon I was going over some correspondence and Cowboy kept walking into the study and looking over my shoulder. A little later I was working on some photo files and he did the same thing. I asked him if he was "restless". He said he was so we took a ride. We got an ice cream cone and just did the Sunday drive bit (albeit on Saturday!). He seemed to really enjoy himself. Stayed out about 2 hours.
This morning after breakfast I was standing in front of him and he picked something off of my blouse. I think it was some food of some kind. He fed it to the dog. I asked him what it was and he kind of grinned and it was a "worm" and then he laughed. I haven't seen that much sense of humor in a long time.
As I have said before I love Sundays. Spent a lot of time with the paper and then this afternoon a book.
Cowboy is really eating well. I made him a sugar free banana pudding tonight and he really relished it.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Friday, June 24
At the suggestion of the occupational therapist I bought a dry erase board and put down the season, date, our address and telephone number. We have had it for a couple of weeks. Now I have to remember to update it every day. I have only forgotten once. Can't tell if he pays much attention. I always tell him every morning what day it is and what will be going on that day.
We went to the Dr. yesterday afternoon. It is our internist/primary care Dr.s opinion that Cowboy has stabilized and that the Aricept is doing its job. He said he could stay in this stable state for a very long time. I asked how long and he said "months, years". I have to say that things are quite manageable at present and certainly welcome him being stable and in a good humor. There is a down side. Years of limitations on me. Maybe I will finally get to some of those projects I have put off for months/years.
I feel that is going pretty well. He is mobile and able to feed himself and toilet himself and is reasonably alert a good deal of the time. He seems content.
I talked to the VA this morning and when the Home Health service stops on the 12th of July they will add another day for 2 hours. That will give me 2 hours on Monday, 5 on Wednesday and 2 on Friday. That is not always going to match up with things I might want to do but is a good bit of time to take care of errands, shopping and some social time. I am hoping to get in some exercise as well.
We went to the Dr. yesterday afternoon. It is our internist/primary care Dr.s opinion that Cowboy has stabilized and that the Aricept is doing its job. He said he could stay in this stable state for a very long time. I asked how long and he said "months, years". I have to say that things are quite manageable at present and certainly welcome him being stable and in a good humor. There is a down side. Years of limitations on me. Maybe I will finally get to some of those projects I have put off for months/years.
I feel that is going pretty well. He is mobile and able to feed himself and toilet himself and is reasonably alert a good deal of the time. He seems content.
I talked to the VA this morning and when the Home Health service stops on the 12th of July they will add another day for 2 hours. That will give me 2 hours on Monday, 5 on Wednesday and 2 on Friday. That is not always going to match up with things I might want to do but is a good bit of time to take care of errands, shopping and some social time. I am hoping to get in some exercise as well.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Thursday, June 22
Got my teeth cleaned Wed morning. Took Cowboy with me. He did OK. Marsha came at 10 and I did a couple of quick errands and then came back and joined some friends for lunch and some messing around. Had a nice lunch with about 15 ladies from our neighborhood and then 4 of us went a checked out a couple of cool stores downtown.
Last night we watched the Presidents speech. Cowboy is interested in the war as a former soldier. About 45 minutes after that we were watching a talent show and he asked me when the President was going to speak. He had forgotten that he had watched it just a bit earlier.
Gena is here bathing him right now. This afternoon we go see our primary care Dr.
I found out our city has a program called "Take Me Home". It is a database of persons who may get lost with contact information, etc. I am filling out the paperwork and taking his picture today so he will be in their database.
Last night we watched the Presidents speech. Cowboy is interested in the war as a former soldier. About 45 minutes after that we were watching a talent show and he asked me when the President was going to speak. He had forgotten that he had watched it just a bit earlier.
Gena is here bathing him right now. This afternoon we go see our primary care Dr.
I found out our city has a program called "Take Me Home". It is a database of persons who may get lost with contact information, etc. I am filling out the paperwork and taking his picture today so he will be in their database.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Tuesday, June 21
Cowboy and I went to the western store yesterday. It is in the city and takes about 50 minutes or so to get there. I told Cowboy to go on to the jean department and I would be there as soon as I went to the bathroom. Came out of the bathroom and couldn't find him. He was picking out a bolo tie in a different area of the store. He has about 25 of them and rarely wears them anymore. What to do?
We got the jeans picked out and tried on. It is a bit of work for him because he has to take off his boots but he did OK. Once that was done he decided to get a white shirt. We found a rack that had some nice ones and he proceeds to take off his shirt to try it on. I suggested we take it to the dressing room. He just kept taking it off and tried the other one on. It fit fine and it was time to go. I turn around and he is taking his pants down in the aisle so he can tuck his shirt back in. Too late. It was done. Sometimes I don't think things out to their conclusion, obviously.
We stopped for some coffee and a snack and then headed back home in the afternoon rush hour traffic. I long for the days when I had more control of my time. Have always found it best to do errands and such early in the day. That often can't be arranged these days.
We got the jeans picked out and tried on. It is a bit of work for him because he has to take off his boots but he did OK. Once that was done he decided to get a white shirt. We found a rack that had some nice ones and he proceeds to take off his shirt to try it on. I suggested we take it to the dressing room. He just kept taking it off and tried the other one on. It fit fine and it was time to go. I turn around and he is taking his pants down in the aisle so he can tuck his shirt back in. Too late. It was done. Sometimes I don't think things out to their conclusion, obviously.
We stopped for some coffee and a snack and then headed back home in the afternoon rush hour traffic. I long for the days when I had more control of my time. Have always found it best to do errands and such early in the day. That often can't be arranged these days.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Monday, June 20
Have a couple of music gigs coming up so am working on that a bit. The plan is to take Cowboy with me. I have done that twice and it worked out OK.
Sunday was quiet and nice. Cowboy watched history shows all day. I tried to get him to exercise but he just said he would and then didn't.
Gena was pretty late today. It is 1PM and she is just now here. Not a big deal except I planned on our going shopping for some jeans and shirts today and it is supposed to get up to 103 so would have preferred that it not be so late. We are going anyway in a few minutes.
Got some more work done on projects this morning. The storage room is going to be very well organized, at least to start.
People ask me all the time how Cowboy is doing. I can't get into his head but he appears to be in a good humor and is stable as far as his behavior goes. He is eating better and mostly sleeping better although some nights I could not say that. I would say we are doing well at this point.
Sunday was quiet and nice. Cowboy watched history shows all day. I tried to get him to exercise but he just said he would and then didn't.
Gena was pretty late today. It is 1PM and she is just now here. Not a big deal except I planned on our going shopping for some jeans and shirts today and it is supposed to get up to 103 so would have preferred that it not be so late. We are going anyway in a few minutes.
Got some more work done on projects this morning. The storage room is going to be very well organized, at least to start.
People ask me all the time how Cowboy is doing. I can't get into his head but he appears to be in a good humor and is stable as far as his behavior goes. He is eating better and mostly sleeping better although some nights I could not say that. I would say we are doing well at this point.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Saturday, June 18
Had fun last night. There were four of us. We talked about just about everything and enjoyed a really good Italian meal. I am so fortunate to have such lovely friends. It is really good for me to have a social life.
I worked on my project today. I ran across Cowboy's chaps from his motorcyle years (1986 to 2007). I was going through his closet and removing his jeans that now swallow him so could figure out what he needs and they were hanging in the back of the closet. I folded them and was carrying to the pile of stuff for the kids to go through and he asked where I was going with his chaps. I told him that his daughter and her husband had gotten a motorcycle and they could probably use them. "You are never going to wear them again. Why not let her have them?" Well, he shook his head no in a very deliberate manner so I said "I will put them back in your closet." A bit later he went in there to check to make sure they were there. His motorcycling and those years are very important to him and full of memories. It makes sense that he needs a connection to that.
I did figure out that he is a bit short on pants because he lost 2 inches in his waist. (and I think about 5 in his butt !) Cowboy won't wear anything but western cut clothes so we will need to make a run to a western store soon. Even his shirts kind of hang on him but I am really hoping to put a bit of weight back on him so don't think I will spring for too many smaller shirts just yet. He is up 3 pounds.
When his youngest daugher was here last week she took a few things home and I expect each of the kids will want to do that. Had to mail some decorator items to my daughter in upstate New York. Got that off yesterday. I really believe I will feel "lighter" when I get done with all of this mess.
I worked on my project today. I ran across Cowboy's chaps from his motorcyle years (1986 to 2007). I was going through his closet and removing his jeans that now swallow him so could figure out what he needs and they were hanging in the back of the closet. I folded them and was carrying to the pile of stuff for the kids to go through and he asked where I was going with his chaps. I told him that his daughter and her husband had gotten a motorcycle and they could probably use them. "You are never going to wear them again. Why not let her have them?" Well, he shook his head no in a very deliberate manner so I said "I will put them back in your closet." A bit later he went in there to check to make sure they were there. His motorcycling and those years are very important to him and full of memories. It makes sense that he needs a connection to that.
I did figure out that he is a bit short on pants because he lost 2 inches in his waist. (and I think about 5 in his butt !) Cowboy won't wear anything but western cut clothes so we will need to make a run to a western store soon. Even his shirts kind of hang on him but I am really hoping to put a bit of weight back on him so don't think I will spring for too many smaller shirts just yet. He is up 3 pounds.
When his youngest daugher was here last week she took a few things home and I expect each of the kids will want to do that. Had to mail some decorator items to my daughter in upstate New York. Got that off yesterday. I really believe I will feel "lighter" when I get done with all of this mess.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)