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 11-19, 2012: Gratitude in the midst of confusion


August 11, 2012
Have to share a nighttime ritual with my mom.... Every night, we hug goodnight and she says, "Thank you for all you HAVE DONE for me. I love you so much." Even in the midst of dementia, she STILL is acutely aware that she just might not be here in the morning and she wants to be sure to express her love and appreciation. PLEASE REMEMBER... Your loved one with dementia IS "in there" even when they lose the ability to communicate. NEVER STOP visiting them or hugging them or talking to them. Just b/c they don't respond DOESN'T mean they feel nothing. Blessings!

August 14, 2012
lol.... Little Mama got tired at 7:40 and went to her room to rest. At 8:09, she comes back into the great room and asks, "Is it okay if I stay here tonight?" I, of course, told her yes...and that she lives here...and that I wouldn't let her go anywhere else, unless she wanted to spend the night with a relative. She said, "GOOD! And I love ya!" With that, she headed back to her room. I have a feeling I'm not gonna get a lot of sleep tonight.

August 19, 2012
Little Mama is settling in after having spent one night away from home. She continues to remark about what an awful hostess she is. She hasn't prepared anything for us to eat... She was always trying to feed somebody! :)
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