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 4-7, 2012: NEW PUPPY


August 4, 2012:
I need to install a door between the hallway and the great room. We need some sleep!!! Little Mama is quite strong and agile now... double-edged sword!! :)  She now weighs 104 lbs.  She has gained 18 lbs since January 9, 2012!


August 5, 2012:
What is wrong with these folks that I live with??? My mom has been awake since 2 a.m. My husband is awake at 4. Sheesh! I'm gonna have to go away for a weekend alone to get some sleep!

Little Mama was up from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m..... now she thinks she is going to sleep. NOT!!! I am about to wake her tiny self up!!
AND SHE IS UP! I have coffee waiting on her. Perhaps with getting up early...and (hopefully) I can keep her active all day, she will sleep tonight.

And we got a new puppy!!!

So we ate dinner and Kim held the puppy for a while... then he asked my mom if she wanted to hold the puppy. She replied, "Puppy? Do you have a puppy? Yes!" My mom is in heaven while holding her... just forgets about it quickly. The perfect example of how important it is to live in the moment.


August 6, 2012:
Sundowners was especially bad today. Someone gave me some good advice and it works.... Pretend to ignore her "meltdowns". The bad time doesn't last as long that way. Thankfully, we are on the upswing now. Whew!

August 7, 2012:
So we took my mom out to eat today. We are not going to take her out of her environment very often. She has been soooooo confused all afternoon and evening.



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