TV Shot Craps, Sues Bored

At about 6:15 PM our TV shot craps. Sue called her Mother right after it happened. When she hung up she said her Mother is about as bored as she is. She didn't want to get on the computer. She doesn't want to go watch the old TV in the basement. "There's just nothing much to do". She laid down at 6:40. I hope shes able to go back to sleep after I get her up to take her medicine at 10:PM.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic.

Letter To The Editor

Also posted at A Republic, if you can keep it.

I wonder if the title my local paper gave my letter to the editor means someone on the editorial staff sees the importance of passing both S. 1942 and H.R. 3286 the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act of 2009. If that is the case I'd count writing that letter as a battle won. The problem is one battle doesn't decide the outcome of any war. More letters to our elected officials urging them to support the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act of 2009 are needed. If you haven't contacted your United States Senators and Representatives about this matter would you please do so now? If you have contacted your elected officials take the next step. A letter to the editor of your local paper will let the folks in your area know where you and your elected officials stand on this important issue. If someone develops Alzheimer's every seventy seconds I'm thinking just about all of us have been touched by this devastating disease. So getting public support for this legislation should be fairly easy.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic.

Thanks go to:
The Saint Joseph News-Press

Labor Day, 2009

Sue did have her just before bed coffee, and she woke up without a headache, or problems with her Crohn's. Of course she was awake longer than on most nights. Might have been the coffee or a real good night for SyFy and Fashion Design TV. She got up this morning and took her medicine as usual. When she made her morning call (Part of the daily routine) to her Mother (A widow with Alzheimer's) she found out Mom's house is going on the market tomorrow. She is moving in with her Son Mark until spring then she is going into a care facility where she will have her own little apartment. Being the owner of a pickup and a moving dolly I fail to see any logic in moving twice in a short time period but that is between Mom and Mark.

Sues Mother moving causes me to think of something I don't care to think about. We have talked about it. What happens if/when the day comes that I can no longer take care of Sue at home? Do I continue to live in our house or throw my hands in the air and walk away? Sue is concerned because I did that once before. Years ago I was to marry a lady that developed Lou Gehrig's Disease. After she passed away I found there were to many memories in the house, I didn't want to be there. I gave most of our possessions to her family and signed the house over to her parents to use as a rental to recover some of their losses from helping get her to out of town doctors. I've promised Sue I would not do that again. Life without her around would be strange/lonely, but I intend to keep that promise.

I hope your having a great Labor Day. Ours is to be a quiet one at home. I'm thinking this would be a good day to grill some Bratwurst but I could say that on most any day.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic.

Headaches

We postponed having friends over Saturday because Sue was fighting a headache for a good deal of the day. She woke up with one again this morning. Several years ago she had to see the doctor about what he said was cluster headaches. He had her on Valium for a while. I don't know if she could take that now because of other medications she takes for Alzheimer's, nerves/depression, blood pressure and high cholesterol. She says she doesn't want to see the doctor about the headaches. We'll leave it up to her for now. She has an appointment later this month. She just came in to tell me that if she has a cup of coffee just before bed she won't wake up with a headache. She may have forgotten that she cut back on her coffee because it was causing problems due to her having Crohn's disease.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic.

Reminisce Magazine

A post at the Dementia Caregiver's Toolbox reminded me of an annual Christmas gift we get from my Brother-In-Law. A paid subscription to Reminisce Magazine. A magazine about the good old days packed full of interesting articles about and photos of life in the 20's 30's, 40's and 50's. Sue seems to spend more time reading and looking at it now that she has been diagnosed with early-on-set. It does stimulate the memory. One of my favorite parts of each issue is "Name That Car". You see a photo of a car and get some info on it. You are ask to name the make and model of the car. The answer is found on another page. I feel some of you might find a subscription to Reminisce Magazine to be a helpful tool as you care for your loved one.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic.

Friends?

One of Sues old friends did stop in for a short while this evening. Right after she got here she told Sue she couldn't stay long because she would miss the baseball game on TV. Sue offered to tune it in here. The old friend told her no she was going to go watch it with a friend from work. Maybe she figures Sue will forget she said that. I won't. To me that's like she told Sue their friendship meant less to her than a televised baseball game. To be honest I'd just as soon Sue would forget that part of their visit, I'm sure it hurt her feelings.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic.

Visitors

In the past couple of days we have had visitors four times. By visitors I mean people that just stop by to say hi I wanted to make sure you guys are OK. Or call on a cell phone and tell you their in the neighborhood and want to know if your home and up to company. Their actions tell you they really care. We're hoping to see them and some other old friends Saturday.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic.