And now may the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.

And may God grant unto you His peace-in your going out and in your coming in,

In your lying down and in your rising up,

In your labor and in your leisure,

In your laughter and in your tears,

Until you come to stand before Jesus

In that day in which there is no sunset and no dawning.

Amen

Monday, October 6, 2008

Latest changes

DH is becoming paranoid. He thinks that the doctor and I are out to get him. He has found another gun in the house that I did not know about. He has given his word that he will not drive, but I am not sure how much longer he can be trusted to keep his word. He is more unsteady on his feet.
Please pray for all care-givers and victims of dementia.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Brief Update

I have just learned something new about Dementia. It is non linear. There are peak and valleys. We have just struggled out of a very deep valley and are working our way back to what must be called normalcy.

DH was severely depressed for four weeks. Saturday he suddenly broke through and was eating, talking and walking with no assistance. He is back to what was normal prior to Labor Day. It has been a valley of death in many ways. I thought I was going to loose him.

Now it is back to one day at a time. Sometimes it is only one minute at a time. We struggle with the daily issues and try to show each other our love.

Bless you and keep you.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Dear Husband

I will not be blogging for a while. My husband has gotten much worse and I will be trying to get him into the hospital today.

Please pray for us, Karen

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Downturn

DH is starting to hallucinate. Last evening he asked me where the people were. When I asked what people he was unable to answer. I told him the only person that I was aware of visiting yesterday was his nurse. He gave me a blank stare and drifted off to sleep again. During supper last evening DH almost fell asleep while eating. This is not a good sign.

We go from day to day not knowing what the next day will bring. I had hoped to get a respite the first weekend in October. Now I have to find someone to stop by the house several times during each day to check up on James or I cannot go. We were scheduled to vacation in Pigeon Forge in November. I have a wheel chair and if the weather is good we can still get around. It all depends on how DH is doing.

Right now I feel that we are on a very slippery slope with no plateaus ahead.

Again I ask for prayers for all dementia and Alzheimer's patients, their extended families and caregivers.

Have a blessed day.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Difficult Weekend

This weekend was the most difficult so far. DH was stumbling, unable to remember things and it was difficult to understand what he was saying.

He spent most of the weekend sleeping. We went to visit his mother and she was in shock. She even said she didn't realize how ill DH was. She is dealing with her own heartache. Her only son.

Yesterday was Alzheimer's remembrance day. Please pray for all dementia and Alzheimer patients, their extended families and caregivers.

I am watching my husband die an inch at a time.

Friday, September 19, 2008

HAPPY DANCE

The power is back on in our neighborhood. It took an ambulance ride for a child down the street (dehydration) to get Duke to work but within 8 hours after the event we had power. A local policeman was going house to house yesterday checking on everyone without power. I am sure the interview with DH and my neighbor who has known me for 29 years and knows all about DH helped push Duke to get into our area.

THANK YOU to all DUKE energy staff and personnel. THANK YOU to the FAIRFIELD Police Department. You made my life much easier!

DH is on oxygen 24/7. He hates it!

DH cannot find his car keys. I may have to go home this afternoon (taking 1/2 day of vacation) to help him look for the keys.

Bless all of you who are praying for us and all Alzheimer and dementia patients and caregivers.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Things are slipping

Yesterday's visit by the home nursing staff has brought about many changes. DH will have to go on oxygen 24/7. He is going to fight that.

Pray for all who have Alzheimer's and other dementias and the caregivers of those who are ill with this disease.