Welcome!

This is a journal of our lives with my mom, affectionately known as Little Mama. In her 90's, she is a sweet, spunky, spirited, sometimes exasperating, tiny little lady that now lives with moderate dementia and macular degeneration. These journal entries show the good times and the not-so-good times.

Little Mama's type of dementia is age-related and is not hereditary. Sometimes, she appears to be perfectly normal. Other times, it is obvious that something is amiss. It is her desire to remain in our home rather than live out her days in an assisted living facility. It is my prayer that we will be able to honor her in this way. We feel blessed...and challenged...that she lives in our home. This is not easy, and important things rarely are easy. It takes an emotional and physical toll on the caregivers. I've been through the 7 stages of grief at least once if not more! If you are in a similar situation, you understand what I mean! Fortunately, our family helps a lot both physically and emotionally. It takes a team.

The fourth commandment tells us to honor our parents. That is done in many different ways. If you are struggling with a decision, please pray and ask for guidance and wisdom. Our Lord will let you know how He wants you to honor them. Regardless of the way you honor your loved ones, you will need support. So build your team, whether it is from members of your family or a support group.

I am finally learning that: I can't fix it. I can't change it. All I can do is accept it, trust God, and roll with it. (My condensed version of the Serenity Prayer.) We are learning to relax, laugh, and savor every moment we have with my mom on this side of Heaven.

So, scroll down.... read the entries...laugh and cry with us.

Blessings!
Lisa

















Saturday, April 20, 2013

August 10, 2012: WHERE ARE MY FEET?


August 10, 2012:
Dementia.... it's like waking up in a new world... every 2 minutes or so. Can be a good thing to live in the present. I think I'll start keeping a journal to write down the funny stuff. In a span of 1.5 minutes, my mom said "Good morning" to my hubby 4 times...before AND after he took her a cup of coffee! She is loving the coffee right now. She has said MULTIPLE times how good the coffee is. The lesson for today? LIVE IN THE PRESENT WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE AND A SONG IN YOUR HEART.

Okay....so I have a funny to tell!

 Little Mama: I don't know where my feet are!

 Me: They are attached to your legs...

 Little Mama: Giggling as she raises her legs and looks at her feet. Then, she says "I don't know where they are supposed to be."

 Me: They are where they are supposed to be... attached to your legs and flat on the floor!

 Little Mama: More giggling...

She is not used to be being barefoot... I can keep her in one place for a while if she is barefoot! :)  She actually had her words mixed up… She meant SHOES rather than feet.

My opinion:  I think that more families will find themselves in our shoes with the changes in our health care system and our economy. And that truly can be a good thing. It teaches children compassion, respect for the elderly, commitment and dedication, sacrifice... and it teaches that love is an action not necessarily a feeling. Our society has been so focused on promotion of self rather than helping others. In giving to others, we receive so much.

Bedtime: 
LM:  Thank you so much for all you have done for me.  I love you soooo much.

Even in the midst of her dementia, she is still acutely aware that she might not wake up in the morning and that we have helped her.  She wants to be sure to express her appreciation and love for us.  Our loved one with dementia IS "in there" even when they lose the ability to communicate. I implore family members and friends to NEVER STOP visiting them or hugging them or talking to them. Just b/c they don't respond DOESN'T mean they feel nothing.
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