We continue on the path

DH was asking me a question and I asked if he remembered asking me the same question and what the answer was. He had no idea so I repeated my answer. It was like a light bulb. He remembered as soon as he heard the answer. Go figure. LOL

DH has been working on the vegetable garden this week. He has 1/2 of it tilled up. That may be the only part planted this month. We have rainy days scheduled for the next three and then (of course) the weekdays next week will be sunny and fine. I cannot take a day off work to plant tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers. It will have to be on the weekend or after a long day at work.

Over all DH is doing well. He is pretty even with few angry moments. He is sleeping semi-well. He should be using his CPAP, but the straps give him a horrible headache. He has tried a new "mask" with a bite-plain, but it doesn't seem to be doing the trick on the sleep apnea.

Please continue to pray for all dementia patients, their extended families and caregivers as they need all the prayers we can get.

Short Term Memory

DH had another short term memory lapse last night. One per day is not at all bad, but it was a question he had asked and I had already answered.

One day at a time. I am going to start to use this blog as a journal to keep track of DH health. This way I have a permanent record.

Please continue to pray for all dementia patients and their extended families and caregivers. Prayers do make a difference!

Another Step

Today I was talking to my DH Worker's Comp lawyer. When I relayed the information to DH I had to take it to the simplest terms so that he would understand. He still cannot distinguish between BWC and SSD. So I call them Ohio money and Federal money. That he understands.

Looks like another surgery is going to be approved by BWC. DH will have a reverse shoulder replacement. It's like any joint replacement but this time the ball will not be at the end of the arm, but at the end of the shoulder. It will replace the rotator cuff that has deteriorated with arthritis. Fun time! We never know how DH will respond to surgery, but it has to be done.

I am trying to get my act back together. So many things to do and so little time. I almost wish it was the reverse, except I get bored so easily. LOL

Thank you for all your prayers and please keep all dementia patients on your prayer list.

May 7, 2009. Addition to above. When I got home from work he asked again about the difference between SSD and BWC. For some reason he is unable to distinguish between the two.

Short Term Memory

DH is starting to have more frequent short term memory problems. Yesterday was our Grandson's First Communion. While GS was opening presents, DH asked if we had gotten a card. We had stopped just for a card on the way to the church and he had signed it.

Much as I hate to admit it I think the journal is going to have to come out again. This is a bittersweet walk and it is full of wonder and fear.

God bless you and please keep praying.

A very successful trip

We had a great time in Orlando.

GS had his first Magic Kingdom experience, Epcot experience, Discovery Cove with dolphin encounter experience, Disney Hollywood experience, Sea World experience and Blizzard Beach experience. I need to get my photos into my blogs so that I can share them...but you should have seen the smile on this little boy when that dolphin took off swimming with the two of them!

DH rented a scooter to get around Walt Disney World and walked with his brace at Gatorland. He rented a Harley Davidson MC and had a blast. I didn't have the time to ride with him, but that's another story.

I spent so many hours snorkeling at Discovery Cover that I ended up twisting my neck and the next day had to deal with some vertigo. It's all gone now. The memories of snorkeling with the fish and manta rays (barbs removed) will always be with me.

DH is having more short term memory lapses. I will have to start up a diary so that I can keep track of them. They are minor and do not scare me, but they are increasing. It is to be expected and I am not having the difficulties that I had with it the first time through. This is much more gradual.

Please keep praying for all dementia patients and their extended family and friends as they deal with the issues of this disease.

24 hours and we leave for Orlando

Our big vacation starts Thursday when we leave for Orlando, FL for a full family vacation. DH, our daughter, our son-in-law and grandson (O and me too) are going to earn our Mickey Mouse ears. I haven't had a set since the original Mickey Mouse Club was on TV in the 1950's. Oh, dear, did I give my generational age away?

DH is still having a great deal of clarity. It's like 2008 never happened. Well almost. There are still a few occasions of short term memory lapse, but some of them are literally just a oops I forget that and not a I don't remember that at all.

He still believes that he is not a dementia patient, but will not stop taking the Namenda to test his belief. Thank God for that!

Cannot wait to get where it is warm. It snowed here yesterday! The ground was warm enough that it melted, but still snow in April.

Please keep praying for all dementia patients and thank you for your prayers.

Continuing education

Tonight is DH second class for conceal to carry permit. I know that this is doing good for him. Not in the sense that it is curring his dementia. I know that dementia is a progressive disease and it will not reverse. However, he has had a migraine for almost six weeks. The migraine is going away. Whether it is because the doctor's have found a medicine that works or that he is doing something that makes him happy, the migraine is being concurred.

This is a man who has no hobbies. He collects guns. He loves scuba diving (too expensive). He loves motorcycles (again too expensive when he constantly wants to upgrade). At home and in the evening he has nothing to do. I read, quilt, use my computer for quilt design and yes I even play solitaire on the computer. I do not like sitting still and doing nothing. In many ways he is the same, but he never picked up something that can be done in the quiet of his own home.

I saw the testimony of Sargent Shriver's daughter Maria Shriver Swartzenegger about Alzheimer's disease and it really hit home. Here is a man that was a major player in the Kennedy years, a vice presidental candidate and now he can remember to go to mass and say his rosary, but he does not recognize his daughter. All dementia patients slowly go backwards in their lives. They loose the short term memories and then the mid-term memories, but continue to remember the childhood things. What a loss we all share.

Please keep praying. It helps us all.