Re-Surge! And the Week Ending 11/30/2014

Earlier this week, the Ladies came to visit with Mom.  They had a most wonderful time.  Then, Friday, my brother popped by to visit with her.  

Even if she didn't recall these visits, they do mean a great deal to her.  Even if she did miss Thanksgiving - by the next day she wouldn't have recalled, which is sad.  

Why did she miss Turkey Day?  Well, I decided to head out of town to have dinner with my brother in Port Orchard.  Now, this presents a bit of quandary, as when Mom goes out with my brother who lives here, she becomes quite anxious until I arrive (Sunday dinners).  In fact, Mom begins talking about going back home rather than sitting back and enjoying herself.   So, with me out of the picture for a day, Mom had a quiet time at St. A's.  To be honest, it worked out well for all.  And, to be honest, she hadn't a clue, even though it was brought up.  Unfortunate as it is, this is where she is at this time..

This morning found Mother finished with breakfast and ready to get going to Mass.  She was reading her, "The Plantagenets" book, which I found wonderful - it has been such a long time since I've seen her read, other than glance through magazines and the paper (she does the crosswords fairly well).  

She was in a very congenial mood.  We were able to leave in a reasonable amount of time. 

ON the way there, we found ourselves laughing at silly things, and this let me believe she was doing quite well.  We arrived at the church, only 30 minutes late, and needed to walk nearly 3 blocks, but she did well, shuffling but moving more rapidly than I'd seen in a while, as well.

During Mass she seemed to follow much better and there weren't any 'sleeping' episodes, either.

The only real catch was her demanding to have her furniture moved to the house on 19th Street, where she grew up.  I had to explain the new owners would probably make an objection.  She laughed.

Something must be working!
After, I took her back to St. A's and she readied herself for lunch.

My brother came and fetched her for dinner around 3-330.

When I arrived at his house they were enjoying a nice glass of wine and being wonderfully convivial.  She was engaged, despite those notions she has that certain friends have died (they haven't) and other people are very much alive.

We watched the football games and she commented as she watched - and she really did watch; yet, what transpired in her mind was probably very different than from the rest of us.

We had a wonderful meal and she was able to follow that with a big bowl of chocolate ice cream.  She was now in heaven!

We chatted as I drove her home about this and that.  When we did arrive she stated that she was quite tired and ready for bed.

So, after giving her her medications, and attempting to put drops in her eyes (she's not a good patient in this respect), I put away the oranges I'd bought her and the case of Pepsi.

She dressed for bed as she tossed the throw pillows off the bed with a sense of glee.

I kissed her goodnight, and she asked if I'd like to spend the night.  I had to tell her no.  She then asked if she'd see me in the morning.  I told her I would see her soon.  She smiled and said, "Goodnight."

Looking back on the day, it was pretty good.  She had no recollection of our going to church, nor that she and I had spent time in the morning.  But her demeanor and affect were very healthy.

Sometimes you just gotta take what you can get and even that can feel magical.

How To Deal With Faulty Thinking and Dementia

How often have we sat with someone who states clearly and matter-of-factly that something exists, but we know it doesn't.  How about that someone is still living, but they died many years previously.  And then, there's that nasty episode when they tell you there's something present over there, they point it out, but you see nothing.  What's your reaction?  Does it differ from those with dementia to those who don't?



The first school of thought is that, especially with those who suffer from a malady such as dementia, you can argue your way to snap them back to reality.

Really?

Remember, Dementia is a progressive brain degeneration that can't be "snapped" into remission.  One might believe that this method is quite helpful, because they, themselves, need to see the world in black-and-white; This-is-this and that-is-that.   However, once you've stated what you know is true, you may have chosen a battle that needn't have arisen.

I recall, many years ago, believing that it was helpful to keep reminding my grandmother of who was who, and what was what.  However, this activity kept repeating itself and I found myself growing quite frustrated.  It wasn't until years later that I realized there really is not battle to be fought, and the frustration only caused friction.

A friend of mine asked me the other day why I would lie to my mother and not tell her the simple truth about people being dead, and that she would be in memory care for the rest of her days.  She believed that lying was a terrible crime against my mother.  But is it?

A year ago, Mom asked me where my father was living.  She then asked if they were divorced, as she couldn't recall.  I told her that they were not divorced, but he was living in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.  She then asked when he had died.  She was upset, not because he was dead, but that no one had told her.

As time progressed, it was apparent that she would become resentful and angry with anyone who told her people were dead.  It has become easier to simply state that my grandmother is now out of town (pick a state) visiting old friends and relatives, and that Dad is somewhere running errands.  Even if there's a question or comment about these statements, then it goes away benignly.  In her reality, they do still live.

So, the lesson here is that it is better for the patient and the escort or caregiver to play along with this game.  It's not a battle unless you choose it, and winning is short-lived and hollow.

Spend your time on positive interactions rather than plodding on with their illness;  it will be a reward to you both.



The first school of thought is that, especially with those who suffer from a malady such as dementia, you can argue your way to snap them back to reality.

Really?

Remember, Dementia is a progressive brain degeneration that can't be "snapped" into remission.  One might believe that this method is quite helpful, because they, themselves, need to see the world in black-and-white; This-is-this and that-is-that.   However, once you've stated what you know is true, you may have chosen a battle that needn't have arisen.

I recall, many years ago, believing that it was helpful to keep reminding my grandmother of who was who, and what was what.  However, this activity kept repeating itself and I found myself growing quite frustrated.  It wasn't until years later that I realized there really is not battle to be fought, and the frustration only caused friction.

A friend of mine asked me the other day why I would lie to my mother and not tell her the simple truth about people being dead, and that she would be in memory care for the rest of her days.  She believed that lying was a terrible crime against my mother.  But is it?

A year ago, Mom asked me where my father was living.  She then asked if they were divorced, as she couldn't recall.  I told her that they were not divorced, but he was living in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.  She then asked when he had died.  She was upset, not because he was dead, but that no one had told her.

As time progressed, it was apparent that she would become resentful and angry with anyone who told her people were dead.  It has become easier to simply state that my grandmother is now out of town (pick a state) visiting old friends and relatives, and that Dad is somewhere running errands.  Even if there's a question or comment about these statements, then it goes away benignly.  In her reality, they do still live.

So, the lesson here is that it is better for the patient and the escort or caregiver to play along with this game.  It's not a battle unless you choose it, and winning is short-lived and hollow.

Spend your time on positive interactions rather than plodding on with their illness;  it will be a reward to you both.  

MIxed Messages and The Week Ending 11/23/2014

It was a lovely week.

Mom was visited on Wednesday by the RLC who came to visit and play Scrabble with her.  They were joined by another resident, Barbara, who seemed to want to play, but told them she was too stupid to do so.  They assured her she wasn't, but that didn't convince her.  So, off she toddled elsewhere.

The ladies played for some time, and Mom kept adding tiles to the words.  Finally, Jean saw her chance as Mom's attention was drawn thither, and she sneakily removed them.  Mom didn't even notice.  I'm not all that surprised, though.

This morning, Mom arose rather late - just before 10 am, and had her breakfast.  Due to her request 2 weeks prior, I didn't fetch her for church.  She demanded we go, though, but it was too late.

So, we went into her room and she had me pull out a bag of trousers (women's) from the bathroom, where she was keeping them safe.  I pulled out each pair, and we thought them over.  She was going to take them all to Jean's house for Jean and Connie, but I convinced her to keep 2 pairs, which still fit.  She wore one of them - the summer whites - to Jean's for lunch.

Mom is actually wearing a different coat on her own volition!

Before we left, she kept asking if we could drive to see Tom & Peg.  I reminded her it was a 3 hour trip, give or take, and she pooh-poohed me.  "They don't live that far.  And, besides, what else do you need to do?  You don't really need to go to work tomorrow."  My. My. My...

She also ran down a list of things she wanted to do.  She kept looking at different cars asking about them and their prices.  I had a fairly good idea and this seemed to quench her thirst - she wasn't sure they should really be that expensive.  She was hoping to find a good one for under ten thousand, but only Tom could find it for her.

Jean and Terry say, "Hey!"\

We arrived at Jean's house and her son, Terry, was also there.  A wonderful lunch.  We had steak burritos which Mom thanked Terry for - they were delicious, but I made them.  And then, we also had an apple pie a la mode.   Mom was complaining that she wasn't very hungry (Jean made the same complaint), but ate every drop (as did Jean!).

The banter was quite wonderful;  full of laughter and brightness.  Mom spoke of her parents and other ancestors - many of whom seemed to be still among us, somewhere.  It was good to hear her laugh and be convivial.  A truly marvelous afternoon.

When we left it was quite wet and rainy.  We arrived at her abode but she was on alert - her lights were on in her room, and the closet door was open.  Uh oh!  This meant someone had been in there.  Indeed they had.  They had gone through her things to wash them, and they were drying as we arrived.  Hopefully they found her socks she had been wearing earlier and put back in the drawer ("Why should they be washed?  I'm the only one who wore them.  I'm not a dirty person.").

It's good to know they're watching out for her, even if it's against her wishes....  

How to Potentially Lower Your Risk of Dementia (if at all possible)....

 So, in my last post I told you some of the danger zones or conditions that may exist leading to dementia.  This doesn't mean you're done for - but it would be better to begin watching out for ways to help slow the effects and, possibly, keep yourself safe from dementia.

Interestingly enough, what they've discovered, according to the MOOC at University of Tasmania, is that there is evidence to suggest that a good, solid education before age 12 actually helps buffer the condition.  Interesting, isn't it?!

Think of it this way - as your brain begins to develop, and you're beginning to learn new and wonderful, complex tasks and information, your brain is firing off every neuron and working.  This is conditioning it to become stronger.  Now, should you begin to decrease your educational undertakings, then this may begin to put you at risk, but not nearly at the same rate as those for whom education is a woeful task that they put off and fail to pursue.

This is brain health.  With this, too, comes the idea that as we age we need to continue to engage in complex tasks that are relatively new for us. This could be taking a class for a language, or learning about something that encourages our brains to work.  There are other activities, such as singing, bridge playing (or other group game activities), going to seminars, but just learning or performing more complex tasks that are new to us.  This helps the brain continue on a course that maintains its elasticity and function.

So, with that being said, here are some other ideas that you may ponder in your quest to stave off the dreaded 'D':

Engage in Classes/Seminars.

    Just as stated above.

Engage in Cardio/Vascular Activities.

   Remember, good, oxygenated blood-flow feeds the brain and keeps it fit and healthy.  Even a good game of golf would benefit with the walking (sorry, those of you who prefer carts).

 Get outdoors and begin to enjoy the environs!  Also, a good swim, hike, going dancing, or any vigorous activity on a regular basis helps. And, this also releases endorphins and helps you feel much better, as well.

Get Involved Socially.

   The more activities you do with others and less time you spend alone can help make a huge difference.  Join a club, group, begin to volunteer, or just find some way to be around more people on  a daily and regular basis.  If you're taking a seminar or class, find ways to connect and go out to debrief about the materials and meet some new people.  Being alone too much isn't good, but a reasonable dose of it, and social activity, are a great combination.

Eat Healthy!

   The more fruits and vegetables, good meats, dairy and other assorted foods, along with a solid exercise regimen not only helps feed the body,

but it also continues to feed the brain, keeping it ready and willing to work well for you.

Moderation!  Moderation!  Moderation!

A drink here and again is not a terrible habit - but only if it's not too much every day.  And be careful of what you drink - not everything alcoholic is bad, but not all is good - just keep it to a minimum.

And smoking?  It's really not good for the brain cells.  So, if you're in the habit, it might be time to kick.

Drugs -

Don't do them.  Especially if they affect cognitive function.  Check with your doctor and pharmacist, but use only when needed, and prescribed.  And if you do them recreationally, well - - - - - I'll let you figure that one out on your own.

That's about it, for now.

Remember, you take your car in for servicing, so you really should be paying attention to yourself.

What are Risk Factors for Dementia? uh oh...

Taking the MOOC, Understanding Dementia, from the University of Tasmania and the Wikking Centre, has really taught me a great deal.   

This unit, currently, is about the Risks of Dementia, and later I'll bring up ideas for possibly Combating Dementia (but that will be in another post coming up).  

So, the risks.  What are they?

Aging.

With Aging (which is seen as a negative but usually non-reversible) it seems that about 5% of the population begins to exhibit forms of dementia between their 60's and 70's.  By the 80's, this rises to 25%, and the other 75% of the population begins to demonstrate brain changes that shift with the aging process.   So, we have a lot to look forward to, don't we!  

Vascular Health.  

    Since the blood feeds the brain, keeping that flow going on a regular and healthy basis is key.  This could be a good and vigorous walk, aerobic activity, or anything that helps the heart pump more oxygen to the brain.  Those who do not participate on a regular basis tend to have more blood pressure issues, and this actually leads to more problems including a greater risk for dementia.  Having any constricted or lack of a good blood flow can help the brain deteriorate at a much more rapid rate.

Obesity.

    Well, obviously not doing the hearty workouts, and eating poorly.  Now, if you're moderately overweight and still active, then the worry wouldn't be as great, but it's still not taking you out of the running.  Obese people tend to have more kidney and vascular problems than the rest, and this can result in poor brain health, leaving it susceptible to dementia, as well as leading to other damage in other bodily regions.

Family History.

   If I took notes correctly, then 90% of the population has the genetic probability of holding a gene that could lead to dementia.  Look through your family history - if it has occurred, then there is a chance - but there are also mutations that present themselves.  The other 10% of the population do have mutations that may help prevent the presence of dementia.  This still doesn't prevent their brains from going through the change as they age, though.

Head Injury.

   If you've had a severe head injury, or some repeated "bangings about" on your noggin, then you could have some brain damage that could cause you to be more prone to  having dementia, as the brain has some weakness in it now.  This doesn't guarantee you'll be afflicted, but it could lead to even early onset dementia.

Depression.

   There seems to be a correlation between having depression and dementia.  Of course, most patients tend to experience the hallmarks of depression at some point, but for those who tend to experience depression throughout their lifetimes, the risk is increased, due to the chemical imbalances.

Neurological Disease.

  Physical disorders that are caused by neurological impacts, such as ALS, and Parkinson's, are already demonstrating disorders in the brain.  As they progress, and the damage increases in the brain cells, there can be the greater possibility of developing dementia symptoms.

I'm sure you found this quite heart warming.  But in the next blogpost, you'll discover there are steps you can take which will decrease your chances of developing dementia.  

I look forward to presenting that to you.

Oh ....Sigh....The Week Ending 11/16/2014

This week was a bit of a mixed bag.

But then, Mom and her cognition are pretty mixed.

A relatively quiet week, despite the storms, windy and icy.

Nothing much to report before Wednesday.

Wednesday, the RLC came to visit.  Mom instructed them to a concert in the main building where Ron Ruiz sang and played guitar.  Jean was "itching to play Scrabble" and so it happened once the concert was over.

There were hopes that Mom was participating in more than what was provided only in her cottage.  This was good news!

The ladies played their games, and Mom did pretty well with her words - but scoring seemed to escape her.  Odd.  I've noticed, too, that her math skills have been a little shakier than normal.

The ladies left a bit after 4 pm, which means they had a very good, enjoyable, afternoon.

Thursday, Alli, Mom's massage therapist came on the off-chance that Mom had changed her mind about massage.  She hadn't.  She told Alli she wouldn't be requiring her services any longer.  Alli said Mom was polite in firing her, and she'd love to work with her again, if the occasion arose.  I did tell her that Mom was showing more signs of skin sensitivity, which seemed to go along with the disease, and this might be one reason.

Later, Mom would tell me that she saw no need for a massage.  "It's just pointless," she stated flatly.

Sunday, Mom was chauffeured by my brother, Lawrence, to his abode, and they had a cheery conversation.  Later, Mom was reminiscing about her grandparents, which was interesting, but quite confusing as we were never sure which relative we were referring in the midst of it all.

There was a cute moment where we were speaking of a celebrity and her plastic surgery.  Mom thought it was awful and gossipy.  She became a little indignant, even though she'd made a few comments which I thought were very off - "Well, you would think there wouldn't be any wrinkles with the fat."  This was about a celeb that is practically a stick - not much fat.  Well, Mom was under the impression we were speaking of someone else, and it wasn't until later when she blurted out the name.  We laughed a bit, but had to explain the differences in the names (Mom still didn't quite get it).

She recited her poetry (the same one as usual), and did keep asking questions repeatedly, but mostly there was a change in delivery.

On the way home she kept telling me how exhausted she was and how good it would be to get home (St. A's) and get into bed - but a nice cup of coffee would be very nice, first.

I delivered her all happy and hale, and also brought her a 12-pack of Diet Pepsi.  She was very happy.  I left via the Med-Aid, and let her know that Mom hadn't had her dinner medications, as they weren't given my brother when he picked her up - ooops!  communication break down.  I suppose I should have called earlier Friday.  But, no harm.  Mom would be given her pills at 8, and all would be well.

As I hope it is with all of you.

Thank you for reading. 

Robin William's Autopsy Brings LBD to Light

The autopsy of Robin Williams found that he was not suffering from onset Parkinson's, but Diffuse Lewy Body Dementia.

Below are some of the reports that help highlight the disease:

The Today Show

ABC News

Fox News

USA Today

CBS News

NewsWise/LBDA.org


When you read or watch any of these (forgive the commercials), listen and you will see how little people actually know about LBD.  I'm sure you'll learn a few more things, as did I!

Many thanks to the Lewy Body Dementia Page on Facebook.com.

Lewy Body Dementia and Others Make for Good Reading!

Well, I know I've been remiss about posting mid-week for the past 2 weeks.  Sometimes it's difficult to just find the down time to gather information and process it.

I was able to begin re-connecting with the blog list I have been following (approximately 64 of them, believe it or not), and realized how much information there really is from people who are not all that different from myself.

So, I've decided to share some of their information with you, as well as their sites, in case you care to further your own exploration.  I've also posted all these on the Google+ site, Lewy Body Support/Blog.

The first of all these, that I'd really like to share is this one from Lewy Body Journey.  The author is a wife, mother, grandmother, who is caring for her afflicted husband.  In her latest post, Mr. Lewy Visits like a Whirlwind, she recounts the adventures of the past few days.

What she describes is a further progression than my mother, but something we could anticipate within the next months, as Mom's "journey" seems to be plowing forward.  But as the disease is peculiar, it's difficult to know if she'll actually experience syncopy; she does need some help balancing in small ways, but to think she'll also face-plant.....

I believe if you read this, it will give you a better idea of the disease in reality.

________________________

The next source is Dementia Journeys.   This was inspired by the affliction of a grandmother.  There are so many resources here, and the blogposts are very good.   Of course it's out of Queensland, Austrailia.

One blogpost has the upcoming event on November 20 - 22 at 8pm, GMT, which makes it 12 noon here on the West Coast of the US.  It will stream live online.   In order to receive information about the stream and to participate, you'll need to subscribe to the mailing list.

What is going to be streamed?  The show, "Memoria".  This will be a presentation from Cardiff, Wales, with persons having a dementia diagnosis, caregivers, and professionals in the field.  From what I gather, this should be quite an interesting and informative experience.  It will also be intriguing as I've been reading comments in the MOOC from those in the UK, as well as other regions of the world.

Check it out.

________________________

For Reading, there is a new book out, which is also listed on Dementia Journeys.  The title is, "We Are Not Ourselves" by Matthew Thomas.

This is a book about a woman with early-onset dementia diagnosis.  The reviews have been favorable, and although it tackles a tough subject it is quite readable.   It was written due to such an experience, and is well-researched.  I look forward to giving it a read.

I've already downloaded it on Amazon (it's easier to read an e-book at 618 pages...).  I'm sure there are also those of you out there who would appreciate the book, as well.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Next, there is the Lewy Body Dementia:  Ten Plus Years of Care, Commentary and Cleaning Up, blog.

Yes, the title may sound a little bitter, but it's not, and it is a very good source of information.

The latest entry has books and reads.   You might just want to give it a quick read.  The second book on the list is one I recommended several months ago on various types of dementia.  It's still a good read.  You may be able to find them at your public library, or if you've a Kindle, through the Kindle Reading Library.  
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Well, for now, this is it for this mid-week post.  If you've any other suggestions, or would like to know more (for instance, what other blogs I'm following on Feedly) the please let me know!

Until Sunday, Have a wonderful week, and keep looking for the beauty in every atom that crosses your path.

The Week Ending 11/9/2014

A very odd day.

Perhaps it was the full moon this week, which is currently waning; or perhaps it's our good friend, Lewy.  You pick.

This week went by uneventfully.

Mom stated she had no Bingo, she had no physical therapy, and she really needed to go over to Betty L's house for a book group.

Now, Betty lives in the Port Angeles area, but Mom says, "No, she moved to Portland a long time ago.  She hasn't lived in Port Angeles for quite some time now."

Nevertheless, we didn't attempt the drive to locate it.  I suppose Mom could have navigated, and if there was more time it might be quite the adventure; but there wasn't enough time, and Mom was in a vacillating mood.

So, upon arriving at St A's this morning, Mom was dressed and her purse by her side ready to go to Mass.  Yes.  This was a first.  She had arisen (on her own, mind you) at 7:30 am, and began her day.

She pulled out a pair of pants and told me they were mine.  Of course they were!  I love elastic waisted pants.  I stated they were women's pants but she'd have none of that - "No.  This is the style, now.  You know that.  Try them on."  After a bit, she gave up trying.  So, we put them to the side.

"You didn't bring me oranges.  I needed oranges."  Yes.  This had slipped my mind.  But, we would have time later to fetch some at the store.  "People are always coming in and eating my oranges and drinking my sodas and eating all my other food.  I can't trust anyone around this place.  And the women here are just nuts!  I believe I'm the only sane one around here!"   'Nuff said.

Her stockings hadn't been put on and there was a pair on her dresser, ready to use.  She told me they needed washing.  I finally convinced her they were the ones to be worn.  I offered, but she reminded me that it was the job of the nice young lady.  We found the med-aid and asked her to put them on.
She did.

As we were about to leave, she asked if her Nana was coming with us.  I told her, "No, she's not around right now."

"What about Mother?"
"She's not around, either."
"Well, where is she?"
"I'm not sure.  She's visiting relatives somewhere - I can't recall exactly where, though."
She harumphed at me and gave me a glare that meant she didn't believe me.

We then left before 10!  We had 10 minutes to make it to Mass!  A rarity!

As we drove, she said she wanted her hair done soon.  She was told an appointment would be made.  She remarked that her father was really good about making them for her, as was Dad.  She then offered my brother, Chris, as another candidate to make the appointment.  I mentioned it would be easier for me to take on the task, as the others were probably quite busy and would, most likely, be unable.  She harumphed.

Upon arriving outside the doors of the church, Mom remarked that the stockings had slipped down.  I thought, perhaps, it would be easier for her to pull them up while we were seated in the pew.  She thought it offensive to do such an activity in public.  So, right there, in front of the church, in broad daylight, she bent over and lifted the pant leg of each leg and pulled up her stockings.  "There.  See?  I didn't need to do this in public!"  Oh, Lewy...

She fell asleep a few times during Mass, and after communion she attempted to tell me I was going to the wrong pew - but the other people sitting there told her she was mistaken - this, she found unsettling, but then I helped her find our spot.

On the way back to the car she stated her toes were bothering her, but she didn't want a pedicure.  That, she said, only made the nails stronger.

We arrived at Jean's house for lunch.  They chatted about classmates and their days of old over a lunch of b-b-q chicken and rice.  Mom, I noted, no longer had a flat affect today.  She was somewhat animated.  It was good to see.

She was moved to recline at Jean's, first thing, as she was having some back pain and needed to rest.  Jean is always accomodating, and they had a very nice chat about this and that while out of the room.

We also spoke of friends who had passed, but Mother was a little indignant that no one had mentioned anything to her about their dying.  "Why didn't anyone tell me?  When did all this happen?"
We explained she had been to some of the funerals, and others were just too taxing for her to make the drive at the time;  she wouldn't believe it.   But, the subject was changed rather quickly and off on another tangent we went.

Of course, Mother loved her marionberry pie and ice cream.

After we left Jean's (upon the arrival of her daughter, Jenny, and son-in-law, Aldo, Mom decided we needed to make a quick get-away.  No rhyme or reason.  She just thought it time) we went to the store for oranges.  We bought two bags, some yogurt covered pretzels she wanted, and then went sock hunting.

Now, I'm not one to understand how stores lay out their departments, but putting bras and panties and socks together in the women's section is simply annoying and uncomfortable.  Mom languished in the Men's section where it was all clearly laid out.  Finally she was convinced to move to the Women's section.  We found some socks - she preferred the diabetic socks as they appeared more "meshy" than any of the others.  Done!

Yet, as we traipsed through the store she asked me where I'd like to eat lunch.  I reminded her we'd just eaten, but she laughed and told me I was losing my mind.  "Just when do you think we ate?  And what did we eat, pray tell?" (yes, she says that)

I told her what we'd eaten and where, and she remembered.  "Then, I guess, we don't need to worry about it, do we!" she concluded.

I took her back home, unloaded her grocery and footsie treasures, and we parted ways.

She had a good day.

Of  course, I didn't mention her speaking of her relatives in the present multiple times during the day, but then this would have been much longer...You get the idea, though.  

9 oz, Unbury the Baby!, and The Week Ending 11/2/2014

Not exactly a fun-packed week for Mum, but it was somewhat fulfilling....

 Mom is tired already, and it's not even lunch time! 

Aside from the typical week at St. Anthony's, Mom has found a new nemesis - the new resident!  According to Mom (and some staff), this lady has quite a salty mouth on her!  Yes!  As I entered this morning, Mom was telling her, "You need your mouth washed out with soap!"  Later she told me some of the things the newbie said, which I won't repeat.  You can ask Mom, yourself!

So, the RLC wasn't able to make it this week, due to scheduling and family difficulties (<sigh>)...

However, my brother and his wife, freshly invigorated from some jaunty travels, hied themselves down from Seattle way for a visit.

They took Mumsy to the Broadway Cafe near Lloyd Center, which they enjoy - but the music this time, was different, and it made the environment a little too much for Mom...but she was able to settle in.

At lunch, she ordered wine - the 9 oz size.  Apparently, even at St. Anthony's, this has been the call - 9 oz of wine, and she will eyeball the glass to ensure she gets it.  Somehow, though,  she demanded this at lunch which confused the waiter.  My brother tried to explain it to Mom, and somehow the problem was resolved...but at St. Anthony's she demands a large glass (one that will hold 9 oz) and will refuse anything smaller.  Where she installed this idea is beyond me!

At St. A's, they told me she demanded the 9 oz glass, as well, and if they tried to substitute a smaller glass she would pelt them with verbage they would rather not hear; so, they give her the large glass to ensure she has her 9 oz.

At dinner, which was really a great time out for me, Tom & Peg told me her demeanor was blank (tick off the box for the symptoms), and that she just sat in her room gazing out the window with all the lights off.  Mom does enjoy talking about books and going about reading them, but when the book is in her hands it closes (if it even opens) and is shifted to her dresser or a countertop pile, where it remains until a weekly archeologist brings it out.  <sigh>

They did report she was sparky and rather lucid-seeming, though.  She had energy!  This was good news.

Friday she had her massage, perhaps her last, in the afternoon.

Today, I went to pick her up for Mass.  I was a bit early, wondering if she'd even be up.  With the time change, though, she was up and had already eaten when I arrived.  We determined we were going to Mass, and then she went in her room to talk, first.

She explained she wanted to move back to her house in Portland where her family was, and that I was the only one who could make that happen.  I stated we were already in Portland, but she nixed that by telling me we were in something that was Portland-y, but it wasn't really Portland.  Okay.

She wanted to be near family and to take care of her mother.  Then she demanded to know where her mother was; knowing that the truth was simple, but not the right venue, I told her she was galavanting around the country visiting people and relatives.  She thought this rather odd, and that she couldn't be visiting my Aunt Keiko in Boulder as Mom believed she had moved to Hokkaido, Japan, after my uncle's death.  <sigh>

Well, finally we saw the clock, and it was not in our favor.  So, she shoo'ed me out so she could put on some different clothes.

At long last, she allowed me back in the room and she had on her Mexican dress top and white pants.  We needed, still, to put on her stockings, which we did.  However, as I was finishing one of the stockings, she called out, "Unbury the Baby!  Unbury the Baby!"  I looked up in bewilderment.  She said it again, "Unbury the Baby!  Unbury the Baby!"
      "What on God's Green Earth are you talking about?"  thinking she'd gone off her rocker in a split second and there may be no returning to any normalcy.
      "You have my baby toe covered by the sock! (they're open toed) Uncover it!  It needs to breathe!"
      "Whew!  You had me there for a second, Woman!"
So, I pulled the stocking back a little and uncovered the little toe.
   I thought about keeping her other little toe covered as I put on the other sock, but realized it wouldn't be as much fun.
    Mom really hates having her feet tickled.....but she squirms really well.
We went to Mass and afterward she was relieved to go home, as she wasn't feeling too well.
This was good, because she was going to have dinner with the other brother this evening, and this gave her time to eat lunch and take a nap (even though she dozed quite a bit at Mass!).

Well, she was still a bit tired at dinner.  She allowed wine in regular wine glasses and there was no sniping about stinginess of the pour.

She went from topic to topic, sometimes we were the fill to continue the discussion and other times - well, she does have continuity and reality issues to put it mildly.

It was a wonderful evening and aside from her telling both my brother, Larry, and myself, that we were ABC's (Arguments for Birth Control), it was quite peaceful and genteel.  Wonderful food, which she relished, as did I.  She remarked, as we were driving back to St. A's, that they were such a good match, and Kathleen was really a marvel (this is quite the turnaround from just two years ago!).  She was quite content, but very tired.

 We left shortly after the meal, as she was quite weary after having such a good day.  I'm also sure she's not sleeping that well at night, as the disease causes RBD (REM Sleep Behavior Disorder) which causes her to waken frequently at night, although she's completely unaware.

I bid her a goodly night and she to me and then I left.  But, before doing so, she requested I open the windows to her room as she felt the room to be too stuffy.  After I did, I turned to leave and she walked to the windows and said, "Who opened the windows?  Someone's been in here!"

I reminded her of her request not 3 minutes prior.  She denied the event.  I took a good healthy breath, told her I loved her, and left.  A very good day.