Speeding up

  Feel like we are speeding up Each day is marked by another loss – yesterday I couldn’t get him to lie backwards in the bath to rinse his hair- he just couldn’t understand what I wanted Today he’s wearing two pairs of undies, one pair of jeans with two belts Two tees one inside …

5 year anniversary celebration — Happy Valentine’s Day

 

We have made it 5 years in our dance with the devil that is Alzheimers. Five years since our lives were torn apart and everything we knew collapsed. There are so many shadow gifts, the most precious of all being time. We have had time to adjust, to learn and to grow. My sister in law once said that she would only rest when she knew that if something happened to her, that her daughter would be OK. I don’t believe we would have reached that point without this diagnosis. Ben, Jake and I will all be OK without the rock that was Rob. We will walk him home with dignity and grace and then we will be OK. Devastated, sad, gutted, distraught, but OK. In honor of our journey and perhaps as a roadmap for others passing this way, I have created this blog. Today the Alzheimer’s association, who has supported us tremendously, has released a Valentine story on our journey on their blog, so call this a blog within a blog!  here

 

 

 

BFF #friendsforever

When your BFF is your voice of reason and takes you to the beach to walk it off! Deb has a special place in her heart for Rob. She has always seen through his BS and into the softness inside. They even share a birthday and every year R exclaims “What?? It’s your bday too?”

Choose Happy

Choose happy! Today I got signed up to be an “in home support services” caregiver. A social worker will come out and evaluate how many hours are spent caregiving so I can get some help from the state. This will ease the financial burden for sure which is a huge part of this Alzheimer’s conundrum. …

Subliminal Messages

Subliminal Messages Subliminal messages are words or images presented below our conscious awareness. When sending such a message to your wife returning from yoga, she might think that you were off to work. (The pad folio cunningly tucked under the arm) Of course, you would not go to work in sneakers so her next thought …

Nighttime Rituals

Nighttime Rituals Night time rituals — When planning ones sleepy time it is crucial to plan for all and any eventualities. Will one need to hike perhaps? Shoe choice is critical. Will one need a little cash? Wallets one, two or three offer many options and finally one must have a phone in hand in …

Ghost

He’s like a ghost. A shimmery, see through version of the vibrant, aliveness that he once was. He watches and looks from the outside, silent and yearning, desperately wanting to be included but unable to cross the Alzheimer’s abyss between then and now. #alzheimerssucks #illbethebridge #earlyonsetalzheimers

We’re famous

Well he is anyway; I’ll just ride his coattails. We got the official diagnosis Feb 14, 2017 and are coming up to our 5th anniversary of dancing with this devil. The Alzheimer’s association has been such a great source of support and education for us. It is an honor to feature on their New Year …

Making Hay while the sun shines

I have decided that if I am to be shadowed constantly, that I should be able to benefit from this behavior. I was in need of a porter/bodyguard/photographer when I attended trade shows and I think the other attendees were a little jealous honestly #earlyonsetalzheimers #alzheimerbenefits #shadowhay

Hidden maladies

Hidden maladies Last night was tough; R leapt out of bed every half hour or so wandered around and then leapt back in. I do not use the word leapt lightly. Fortunately for him I had spent a solid 3 mins googling akathisia and so was somewhat sympathetic. 5.30am came around all too quickly and …