MOM - SEPTEMBER 2020

Mom was in rare form today. While I was working in the garage today, hoping she would be patient enough for me to get some work done, she decided to go for a walk.... alone!

I didn't see her leave, but knew she was gone for a few minutes. I ended up seeing her all the way at the end of the block. Oh brother...

Instead of just dragging her back, I wanted to see where in the world she was headed. So I followed close behind. Of course, she wasn't going to look behind her... or around her.... or anywhere but the next step in front of her. 

As expected, she didn't go anywhere in particular. None of the walking routes we've used in the past. She just kind of meandered around, until she started walking in the middle of the street and I had to guide her to a sidewalk. We were in a neighborhood that had no traffic, so it was safe, but still, it showed she doesn't have any common sense left. No surprises there. 

When we got back to the garage though, we still had some work to do. I didn't want her wandering off, so I secured her to the chair. She didn't fight it or make a fuss. She just sat there quietly. NICE! 

The weekend wasn't always so easy to deal with. 

Mom had a couple of episodes that surprised. Her occasional Grand Mal seizures seem to be happening more often. When they first started happening, I thought she was dying. Luckily, time has taught me much about her journey and what she goes through. These episodes used to only occur when she was stressed, but the latest one happened in the truck driving on a beautiful day. Strange, but it fits the profile of dementia patients. Strange is the norm. 

Despite the challenges, and despite her being more belligerent than ever, she still finds some joy in every day. I make it a point to get her laughing, even if I have to act stupid to do it. Not stretch here! 

She sometimes gets upset at bathing. 

She sometimes gets upset at going to the bathroom. 

She sometimes gets upset when she doesn't get her own way. 

She sometimes sleeps until noon. What a GREAT issue to deal with! I have some time to actually spend without worrying about her. a true gift...

She can't form any recognizable sentences anymore, and thankfully, the people we run in to seem to understand immediately and look past it. 

She can't feed herself without playing with the food. I just took over the task in the past few months and her eating has gotten better. 

She can't control her bathroom habits anymore, so she finally graduated to pullups. I love the affect it has on the laundry! No more dirty underwear...

I thought I had a helper that could give me a break from the routine, but it didn't work out. It would have been expensive, but the sanity it would bring seemed worth it. Oh well.... Sanity is overrated anyway.

Four years and counting. I can't imagine where this journey will lead us next, and honestly, I don't want to guess. There are some caretakers that go through hell and I'm hoping Mom's path leads us far away from there!! 

Wish us luck.