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.
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