Well, we have moved into our new home and are slowly getting things in place. It has been good for Aunt Earline to be in a routine. She seems to be less disoriented. We have certainly had our moments in this new place.
We decided that my mother and Aunt Earline would share a room in case she wanders in the night or might need something. Now, that is what my mom told me, but secretly I think neither one wants to climb the stairs daily to get to the bedrooms! Who can blame them? Sometimes the stairs get to me.
It is probably a good thing the arrangement is such because we have had two teeny, tiny mishaps...the first night my mother awoke (about 3:00 am) to Aunt Earline's screams. Yes, guys, I do mean screams. My mother told her that everything was okay, she was just having a nightmare. Aunt Earline then yelled out "No I'm not! There is something ALIVE in my sheets! My mom soothed her and calmed her down and investigated. Sure enough there was something alive in her sheets. Sebastian, our cuddly kitten, was looking for a little TLC. He has since decided to seek comfort elsewhere.
Two days later I am enjoying a nice warm shower when I hear my mother frantically panting. She has just run up a flight of stairs to my bathroom. The conversation goes:
Mother: Marnita, the alarm is going off downstairs!
Me: Okay, do you know which alarm?
Mother: No. Do you think someone is trying to break into the house?
Me: (I am thinking.....How would I know if someone is breaking into the house? I am..was..enjoying my nice warm shower.) I don't know Mom. I really doubt it since none of us armed it this morning.
Mother: What if the house is on fire? I don't know how to turn the alarm off!
Me: (Never a dull moment in this place!) Okay, Mom, I am getting out of the shower. I really don't know if it is a fire. I don't see or smell any smoke in the shower. Did you see or smell smoke before you came up?
I get out of the shower and do some investigating...Aunt Earline had hit the alarm button instead of the light switch. The alarm went off because the cable installers left the attic door open in the garage.
All in all the move has been pretty smooth. We have plenty of room in the house to wander and we have a beautiful patio that we could enjoy if my wonderful brother in law will ever bring over the glider (hint, hint).
Today we had one episode of frustration that we really haven't seen before. Aunt Earline got upset because she hasn't heard from Carol. She was worried about where all her things were. We told her that we had her clothes here with us. She then wanted to know about her pictures and we told her they were with Evelyn. She seemed to calm down some. We took her into the den and redirected the conversation and she was fine.
I need to talk to the Alzheimer's Association to see how we should proceed with her. I really hate telling her that Carol has passed away because she has to hear the news so many times in one day, but at the same time I don't want her to become so anxious about her situation. Maybe they will have some good advice for us.
My heart was tickled Saturday night when I was helping her with her shower. She said she had never had anyone help her with her shower before and she really appreciated it. She told me that she had dressed and bathed me plenty of times when I was younger and now we get to reverse roles.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
A Better Day
My dear Auntie had a much better day today. She woke up and completely forgot about Carol's death. She was pretty happy all day. I have to give a hand to Sarah R. for giving me some tips on keeping her focused during the day.
Lynne brought her to me around 11:00 am this morning. I was fixing lunch and she kept asking me if she could help with anything. I gave her a skein of yarn and had her roll it into a ball. This kept her focused for some time. She ate a very good lunch and then sat down and looked at the newspaper. She would read a few articles and then fold it all back up so neatly. She did this for most of the afternoon.
We also went to look around our new house today. She loved it. Although she thinks she will just be spending a few nights with me until Bob and Carol are back from their vacation. I am so excited to get us all moved in. There is a beautiful covered patio that I think she is really going to enjoy. I took pictures of the new house but my camera is on its last leg....everything turned out so blurry. I will borrow Lynne's camera and post pictures of the property. We are going to enjoy every bit of those 6 acres. Caleb already had quite the time trying to hit every inch of the property.
Speaking of Caleb.....he has been such a joy to Aunt Earline. He just treats her like another cousin. She spent a couple of hours watching him play his Nintendo DS and having the cutest conversations. She kept telling me how cute he was and how SMART he was. He was even giving her lessons on Nintendo lingo .....you know....stylus (he gave her a phonetics lesson on this word because she referred to it as a wand (gasp). She now knows how to say stylus and what one is. He also discussed profiles with her but I am not sure she caught on to that one.
He even entertained her with a rendition of 3 Blind Mice. She loved it. He did tell her that he was the only one who could sing it, though.
After yesterday and her grief, I was glad to see her so happy. Don't worry, everyone. We are going to be all right.
Lynne brought her to me around 11:00 am this morning. I was fixing lunch and she kept asking me if she could help with anything. I gave her a skein of yarn and had her roll it into a ball. This kept her focused for some time. She ate a very good lunch and then sat down and looked at the newspaper. She would read a few articles and then fold it all back up so neatly. She did this for most of the afternoon.
We also went to look around our new house today. She loved it. Although she thinks she will just be spending a few nights with me until Bob and Carol are back from their vacation. I am so excited to get us all moved in. There is a beautiful covered patio that I think she is really going to enjoy. I took pictures of the new house but my camera is on its last leg....everything turned out so blurry. I will borrow Lynne's camera and post pictures of the property. We are going to enjoy every bit of those 6 acres. Caleb already had quite the time trying to hit every inch of the property.
Speaking of Caleb.....he has been such a joy to Aunt Earline. He just treats her like another cousin. She spent a couple of hours watching him play his Nintendo DS and having the cutest conversations. She kept telling me how cute he was and how SMART he was. He was even giving her lessons on Nintendo lingo .....you know....stylus (he gave her a phonetics lesson on this word because she referred to it as a wand (gasp). She now knows how to say stylus and what one is. He also discussed profiles with her but I am not sure she caught on to that one.
He even entertained her with a rendition of 3 Blind Mice. She loved it. He did tell her that he was the only one who could sing it, though.
After yesterday and her grief, I was glad to see her so happy. Don't worry, everyone. We are going to be all right.
Monday, April 6, 2009
The New Journey
We are entering our second full day with Aunt Earline and doing good. I am trying to find a new, larger home for all of us to move into. My children are so eager to be helping with their aunt.
Today she has had a little harder time. For the most part, she has not been able to remember that Carol passed away. She has thought, and we have reinforced, that Carol and Bob have been on a well deserved vacation. That has worked well for us all since last Wednesday. Today she woke up and was a little more disoriented than usual. She kept asking my sister, Lynne, and me if her kids were okay. She was worried about her brother -in- law, Harvey; she thought he had gone into the hospital. We kept assuring her that he was okay. Finally, at about 2pm she looked up at Lynne and me and said "What happened? I know something is wrong with one of my kids. Who is it? Is it Carol? Was she in a wreck?"
Lynne and I felt we should go ahead and explain what happened to Carol to help ease her anxiety. So, sadly, she is aware that she has lost her baby girl. She is going through quite a bit of grief over the loss. I hope that when she wakes tomorrow she will not be able to remember this day, as happened the day after Carol's death.
She has been asking about all of her other children; wanting to be assured that they are okay. I am able to turn the conversation to other happy events, letting her know that she has two grandchildren expecting children. She is fascinated that Robert's kids are grown....she said she didn't realize he had grown up.
Caleb just got home and gave her a good hug to help her not be so sad. She gets a kick out of all the stories that he tells her.
Until tomorrow.....
Today she has had a little harder time. For the most part, she has not been able to remember that Carol passed away. She has thought, and we have reinforced, that Carol and Bob have been on a well deserved vacation. That has worked well for us all since last Wednesday. Today she woke up and was a little more disoriented than usual. She kept asking my sister, Lynne, and me if her kids were okay. She was worried about her brother -in- law, Harvey; she thought he had gone into the hospital. We kept assuring her that he was okay. Finally, at about 2pm she looked up at Lynne and me and said "What happened? I know something is wrong with one of my kids. Who is it? Is it Carol? Was she in a wreck?"
Lynne and I felt we should go ahead and explain what happened to Carol to help ease her anxiety. So, sadly, she is aware that she has lost her baby girl. She is going through quite a bit of grief over the loss. I hope that when she wakes tomorrow she will not be able to remember this day, as happened the day after Carol's death.
She has been asking about all of her other children; wanting to be assured that they are okay. I am able to turn the conversation to other happy events, letting her know that she has two grandchildren expecting children. She is fascinated that Robert's kids are grown....she said she didn't realize he had grown up.
Caleb just got home and gave her a good hug to help her not be so sad. She gets a kick out of all the stories that he tells her.
Until tomorrow.....
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