This blog was formerly dedicated in 2009 to my Dad who died of Alzheimer's in 2013. It's been three years now...and I find myself missing blogging...so I am re-inventing my blog... because, after all, life is about moving through, and going forward...

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

The Wisdom in Windows...

Mom, Jerry and I went to visit Dad yesterday before we left California to return to Nevada.  We had one and a half days to do our laundry and repack for our trip to Missouri to visit friends.

When we arrived at the nursing home we were happy to see the re-landscaping and new front patio were finally finished.  Everything looked so nice....here are a couple pictures of the front...

 Front entrance and front patio

Front right front patio and part of parking lot


We found Dad playing Bingo in the dining room, waiting for lunch.  He had his glasses on and a handsome cap.  We wheeled him outside to the back patio and settled in around a table in the shade...

 Dad and Mom

Dad

 Dad and me

Dad was in rare form...he had ask Mom to bring money the last time she visited him...he asked again, right away.  Mom acted dumb and told him it was K______'s or E_____'s job.  

Dad said, "No, I asked YOU to bring me money the last time you were here, don't you remember?"  

Mom asked what he needed the money for....

"I need money when I go out on a date..."  We all began laughing....so he laughed too.... I suggested he put it on his tab, and that seemed to please him...so we changed the subject...

Mom asked how old he was...."Oh, I'd say I am about 52"..... 

So I asked, "How old do you think I am Dad?"  "Oh....you are about 89".... We all burst into whoops of laughter... I asked how I could be 89 if he was my Dad and was 52?  He looked a bit perplexed, but laughed with us....Mom reminded him he would be 92 in November.

Age is just a number I said, it is all in how you feel....

I asked how he felt and he told us he felt good and happy.  The word of the day was "windows"...almost every topic of conversation had the word windows in it... He told us he was in charge of inspecting all the windows after all of them were installed.

The eyes are the window to the soul....so the windows must represent the goodness inside... Yes! Dad agreed... "And it keeps us insulated."  

Looking at me Dad said, "You are sure well insulated."  Oh man, we all about fell out of our chairs laughing at that one!  Course Dad laughed his "shadow laugh" along with us...which made us laugh even harder!'

I did my best to show Dad pictures of my little grand son Jacob's 2nd birthday party on my camera, but he was having difficulty seeing it....even holding it about an inch from his eye....He was able to see pictures on my droid smart phone easier because I could enlarge them for him to see.  He loved seeing the grand kids and my daughters....telling me he sure wished he could see them....

We talked about how fast everyone is growing and getting older....and Dad assured us good windows make all the difference....

Dad held up his crooked fingers and showed us how he tries to straighten his fingers...I stopped him from pulling on his fingers and showed him my crooked finger, telling him it ran in the family.  We had my husband hold up his hands and my Dad always marvels at Jerry's hands, telling him how wonderful and strong they were...

One of the girls came out carrying Dad's lunch tray which smelled so delicious...we all had not eaten breakfast and were STARVING for lunch.... Dad had a boneless pork chop, fresh zucchini mixed with corn, rice, shredded carrots with mandarine oranges, bread and butter, coffee, milk, chocolate brownie and vanilla ice cream.  Our mouths were watering...

I fed Dad and he ate every bite except he did not like the carrots and oranges...took two bites of it and told me he didn't like it.

We could tell Dad was getting tired...so we wheeled him back to his room.  Jerry was walking ahead of us to open the door back into the nursing home and Dad remarked how "perfect his legs were".  When we got to Dad's room, "Blondie" said she would tuck him in.  We all said good bye and I told him I would see him soon.  Dad shook Jerry's hand and told him how glad he was to see him.

It was a great visit and we all loved seeing Dad so happy...


Friday, September 21, 2012

Two Years Old.....

We called our little grand son Jacob yesterday to wish him happy birthday.  He turned two.  He was with his Mom and Dad at Chucky Cheese celebrating... We are headed to California for his party this Sunday and will return on Monday...


2 years old September 20, 1912

Look at that sweet face and those stylin' clothes!


His Dad put this caption on this picture...

"Dada?  Is it still behind me?"


We have had a ton of company and finishing more home projects... In October will be more company every week....and the end of the month I go to California for the 7 year old's 8th birthday and to celebrate my Dad's 92nd birthday...

Hugs to you all....

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Happy and Frisky....

Mom visited Dad yesterday.  She waited until the church service was over before going in to see him.  Dad so enjoys the services and music.  Mom spoke to one of Dad's male nurses while she waited.  He told Mom the Psychiatrist had been there to visit Dad and all was fine....(which hopefully means there are no problems with Dad's happy pills....)

"Pickles" was Dad's caregiver yesterday, so she told Mom how much Dad had enjoyed his shower and shave that morning.  Dad was always meticulous in his daily hygiene, always clean shaven and smelling wonderfully fresh.  Dad had told "Pickles" afterward, "Thank you, I feel WONDERFUL!"

When Mom greeted Dad she could tell by his expression he was not sure who she was.... She took him outside to wait in the fresh air until his lunch was ready.  She filled Dad in on the latest family news....my nephew's work accident mangling his dominant right fingers and having to be taken to USC medical center to have his fractured finger's tendon re-connected.  Luckily, he will not need further surgery and should recover mobility in three months.   She told Dad about my niece's new job and Mom's plans to come visit us for 4.5 days in October.  Dad smiled and seemed happy.... Mom  said Dad did not seem to register his relation to anyone she was discussing...

Dad September 8, 2012

She called me so I could talk with Dad.  He sounded very happy but slow and confused.  We all make every effort to make sure, no matter how confused or disjointed his conversations are, we smile, nod and do not let on he is not making sense.  Mom has learned in her support group how upsetting it is for Dad or anyone with Alzheimer's/dementia, when they do not feel they are being understood....

I think Dad knew who I was.....but when I greeted him with my cheerful, "Hi Papa-doots" , my pet name for him, he laughed and told me, "I like that..." (like it was the first time he ever heard it) and kept chuckling...

He cooed and spoke in loving tones telling me how much he missed me... I told him the sound of his voice and his laughter made my day....which made him laugh again....

I told him I would come to see him in a couple of weeks and he told me "good"....  Usually when I tell Dad I will see him, he hears I am coming, but does not hear-- how long, so he wants to hang up....as if I am coming right over....

I could hear Mom telling him his lunch was ready and she did not want his food to get cold.  I told him I loved him, Blessed him, wished him a happy, tasty lunch and to enjoy his visit with his "Lynnie" (his nickname for Mom...)

Mom took a picture of Dad while they were outside, but she will need my sister Holly's assistance in getting it from her phone to the computer....so when she emails it to us,  I will post it...***** Mom just emailed me the picture she took on 9-8-12 today (9-16-12) so I have updated the post with his photo****

Mom wheeled Dad back inside and got him settled at a table.  He was served meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, cubed beets, custard pudding, ice cream, milk, coffee, juice, whole wheat bread and butter.  Dad ate everything except a few bites of meat loaf.

Mom asked if Dad would rather go back outside or to his room to take a nap.  Without hesitation, Dad chose a nap.  As Mom was wheeling Dad back to his room, they met Pickles in the hallway.  She asked Dad if she could help him into bed, and Dad replied loudly, "YES! I'LL  HAVE YOU!!  Mom and Pickles both burst into laughter....Dad laughed too....Pickles apologized, explaining "her English was not too good..."  Dad just smiled, he didn't seem to mind at all....