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Just took a cheap, mini-working vacation: I presented a documentary I made about an artist, sold some dvds, got paid for the presentation and took off visiting four different friends in 4 days. They fed me, I took food from home, and the last one packed my food case with turkey soup that I made for us and gave me other things.
It was a mini Christmas. It even included going to a meditation group. I was going to try a walk on the beach but Maine is still too cold. What a good idea though: line up several friends and let someone be hostess to you. How's that sound?
Before I left I made sure my mom had plenty of company and told a few relatives to call her.
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Book...i was thinking the same thing about my sister. She doesn't live with her at his point but they live on the same property just a different house. The father in law already had a stroke a couple years ago and she has already complained about the extra work. My sister doesn't work except for 2 months at the grain elevator. Her husband is farmer, contractor so once in a while she will have to do farm work. My sister is lazy and just doesn't care for her family like she should. She tells me that she prays for mom and I nightly which is good that she prays for her family but only time she visits is for a birthday or holiday and needs to take some extra steps but she is busy busy. At least with me working fulltime now it gives my brother an excuse i tell him more errands to do for mom, or picking her up or paying for some of her supplies instead of me all the time. Ok i'm done ranting for now. Hope all had a good weekend, its storming here for the next couple days.

Hugs to all!!!
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Ladee M. Did some more reading and there are several B/P meds to choose from and most are cheap. Then there are the anti seizure meds also cheap and finally the anti anxiety. Using wrist weights may help steady your hands for the sculpting. I expect the Dr will want to do blood tests but these will be for associated conditions like thyroid so it's up to you if you want to spend the money. Drugs should be less than $20 from Walmart or Target which ever chain you can get to.
Do you think you could qualify for Medicaid or whatever has replaced it.
We know you are going to be alright but we worry and pray just the same. Love you, tough old broard or not.
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Hope all is going well with all of you. I've been SUPER busy lately trying to build my business. Since I don't already have enough to do... I applied for a job as a caregiver. lol... Yeah... I know... I wasn't going to do that... but evidently I've taken a blow to the head recently!

The one year anniversary of mom's death is only 2 1/2 weeks away. Please keep us in your thoughts. It will be difficult. On top of that, the day after the anniversary... the body donor program is having a memorial service for all of their donors. We should get mother's cremains approximately a month later.

Today is my hubby's birthday, and he decided he wanted to go play pool... so... I find myself with a little time on my hands... I think I'll go play with my quilting machine. :)

Have a GREAT evening!
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Oh... also... I just completed my training to volunteer with Hospice. I have requested the patients who are home-bound, rather than in nursing homes. I want to be able to help families get some time off since I know the price I paid for taking care of mom full time.
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Notes From An Adult Child

Last time I drove to Connecticut from Maine
I visited my mother in Bloomfield,
then my father in Vernon.

In my mother’s eyes I saw a phoenix rising;
soaring with freedom,
dancing, gardening, loving her many friends.
I savored her stories
as she recounted each blessing.
I held her in my arms
noting that now,
I was the bigger one.
But her former modelesque figure
had transformed into a petite form
graced with overflowing joy.

But my father’s form
was compact
as a snowball.
His pale skin was thin
and though his face was familiar
there was a weariness in his startling blue-gray eyes
and a hoarseness in his voice.
He coughed before he spoke
and thrust his head forward
forcing his words out.
Beyond his jokes, and wry comments,
there loomed gloomy thoughts of defeat.
When I left him
I mourned silently for his saddened soul.
Later that night,
I dreamt that I held him
like the Madonna cradling her dying Christ,
and though he was in my arms
I could not touch him.
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Well, after only 5 hours sleep will give ya'll the verdict.... possible TIA at some point recently.... exhaustion (duh!) and undealt with grief..... will do blood tests in the morning, and then go from there....of course the possible TIA is a major warning.... alrighty then, God, you have my attention now..

Nothing going on that can't be resolved.... so, she also explained that exhaustion and not having time to grieve will make the symptoms of ET even worse... and that part.... whew, was relieved to hear that !!! That is something I can do something about...
Told the daughter last night I want to go to four nights.... what can she do... of course she agreed.... and then, out of nowhere she says I got a dollar an hour raise.....
While that is a good thing, and me cutting back my hours, it will work out about even.... but it had to come to something like this for that raise???? See why I am getting to where I hate my job.... not the people I care for..... the damned politics of my job...

thank each of you for your support and prayers... I know that I don't realize how much I am cared about..... just never enters my mind....just blunder thru life and do what pops up in front of my face....so your love and prayers is acknowledged and appreciated......

Veronica... thank you for keeping me grounded with good information....it did help me to get focused on lesser of many evils in our caregiving lives...

I so rarely post anything about my health... but very grateful I did...wake up call , this was.... so headed toward the future.... love and appreciate you all, just can not imagine doing this journey without my AC family and friends.....
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LadeeM, that is good news, as is the raise, and going to four nights a week! Take care of you!
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LadeeM please take of you..Thanks for keeping us informed.. I wish I could give you a real big actual hug!! Xo
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I just watched a wonderful you tube video Titled:Touching video of man with Alzheimer's the power of speech except when is dog is around...
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Awww thanks Assa..... I know, we do cyber hugs so much, a real hug would feel awful nice about now.... so thanks..... and I saw the same video , isn't it amazing...... but I hate this disease with a passion.... that never changes..... love and hugs..
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Nothing I can say but Luv ya.
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LadeeM, I'm so glad that it's not as bad as we all thought. The lesser of many evils. When you first guessed Parkinson, I was already brainstorming on where you can turn to for help. I'm so relieved for you. {{HUGS}}
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Miserable today. Muggy day, no wind. My sinus/allergy flaired badly. Around 3pm, I walked out of our office, in the hallway, I smelled freshly mown grass (allergic to it) and heavy cigarette smoke. My face swiftly clogged up (stuffed) and major headache flared. After that, the rest of the day my face was stuffed and major headache. Sneezing a lot. Came home, miserable. Ate a full dinner and then the sinus pressure pill. Darn pill upsets my stomach - even with food inside. I'm desperate because I'm miserable. Hate this muggy weather. The smokers on the 1st and 2nd floor at the office goes up and stays in the hallways. No wind to blow it away. Unfortunate the law about smoking near exits don't apply to private/commercial buildings. If it did, all these smokers wouldn't be smoking at the spiral stairs going up to the 3rd floor. Several people would be smoking while walking on the stairs! If I go to the other exit, smokers on the hallways there, too. It's terrible when your like the only person in the whole darn building who doesn't smoke and is very sensitive to smoke. I'm venting because I'm miserable. Hmmm. maybe I will Salonpas on the back of my painful neck. Hopefully that would be one pain down and 2 more to go.
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FYI, I just discovered a correlation between drinking my mix of apple cider vinegar (1/8 cup), honey (1TBS) and 16oz water for sinus ... and .. my torso over-heating. Every time I sipped the water, my body started heating up. I thought it was menopause. I did a quick google - ACV does increase the body temperature.
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Ladee there is an Association of or for essential tremors that was helpful to me when my husband had that problem.
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Ladee you have to take care of you-you hear me-I am glad you cut down your hours and got a raise but why did she have to get scared that you might leave to give you that raise-it pisses me off to no end-scare her some more. Seriously do what you need to do to get yourself well-we all love you and are concerned about you-I hoe they can get to the bottom and get plan in place so you can enjoy your scalping again-you need to get away from your everyday life and relax.
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I know Austin... I am grateful for the raise, but like you, my first thought was, WHY NOW??? I catch her in little lies all the time....so she probably did NOT talk to her dad before I asked for a shorter schedule.... but we'll see, come pay day..... She tends to be a martyr and it only makes me tired....she made it a point to say she would 'do anything' to keep me... ya right !!!! My six month plan is still in place.... of course I have not said anything to her.... don't want the drama... and don't worry, the possible TIA got my attention..... so, onward with my plans.... had my blood work done today.... so will know more in a week. and then I can add to my plans.. and yes Mama Austin... I hear you !!!!! LOL... love and hugs long time friend....
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Ladee M found the perfect job for you and no you won't need to learn to curtsy for this one. it is making dentures !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I saw it on TV the other night and they were training female inmates in a prison how to do this and I immediately thought of you. You would use your scultpting skills and be associated with healthcare. Just a thought but have no idea where you could train. Of course it might be deadly boring but not too hard on the body.
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Well I signed my Mom up for Adult Daycare.. She's not going to be happy!
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Veronica, does that mean I get to go to prison???? LOL...I will ask about this when I go to WorkForce for info on any training jobs.... sounds boring, but bet the pay is descent..... I feel like I am in prison now.... like most caregivers... and we all wonder what we did wrong to get this punishment... and the really sad part.... I volunteer for this... I think that makes it twice as crazymaking... lots of hugs and chocolate

Assa, better for her not to be happy as opposed to you having to keep doing this until we both end up in the hospital..... she'll get used to it.... she may even enjoy it after awhile... but do it even if she doesn't.... you HAVE GOT to get a break..... sending you hugs and chocolate...
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Your luck you would get stuck care-giving the other inmates! Sculpt what you see beauty in, and keep your nose clean! There is no internet in prison. We would miss you.
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I took a day off today and just slept. But i need a whole week to do nothing. Pami
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A&A-
Great on the day care! I don't know what I would do without it. But, keep I mind those therapeutic white lies to get her out of the house! I have to use them every day. But when I pick mom up, normally she has had a wonderful time and glad that there is this resource.
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No Ladee as long as you haven't been doing something we don't know about, you don't have to go to prison.
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Assandache... SO glad you were able to do this! Mom was in daycare for quite awhile... it was a blessing AND a curse. :) The bus could only take her one direction... so I had to rush around to get her and the grandkids picked up around the same time each day. She enjoyed it for a few years... when she only went part time... when it got bumped up to full time, it was just too much strain for her. We ended up bringing her home, and keeping her with us.

LadeeM... so glad it is turning out to NOT be Parkinson's! Take care of yourself... and enjoy that raise! You deserve it!

I still haven't heard back from the caregiving agency. I'm not sure if the "confirmed" report I have on file will keep me from getting the job or not. If it does... I might just have to go hunt down that hospice nurse who reported that I slugged my mother when all I did was smack her hand for punching me in the face!

Oh well... if its meant to be, it will happen. In the meantime, I plan on applying for a few more jobs. As much as I would love to just sell Tupperware and work on building my quilting business... I need money now! Hubby's SS just isn't cutting it for paying the bills. I might have to put his butt out on a corner somewhere... lol... maybe someone would pay me to take him OFF of the corner... rofl... :P

Have a GREAT evening!
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exhausted.

wound up touring an Alzheimer's unit at the nursing home we selected...and realized my mother is no where near that stage yet. So we are going to try to keep her home. If no other reason than we need to spend down her savings account. We will use that money to hire a sitter..IF I can find one.

In the meantime, I am revolving around three relatives, an aunt, my sister and my niece. My sister is kicking about coming to sit one day a week and I am not getting more than that. She also wants us to try leaving mother alone at least one day a week.

she says "Just because I 'can't' come more often (and gripes about the one day) that doesn't mean I don't WANT to come more!" I am not sure what other spin I could possibly put on it. She doesn't work, she didn't have a problem being out of the house when she was working and had three kids...now that she has only one child at home and no job, suddenly her housework takes days and days...

anyway...SHE doesn't want mother to be in a nursing home (except when I ask her to stay...THEN she's all "are we gonna put her in")..

ugh..

have another niece that will help once school is over...gonna drive up from Houston to stay some. Still looking for a sitter though
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on the plus side, the Aricept and Namenda is doing wonders for her...she has regained her hunger and is 'present' with me. Saturday, we were out of the house for several hours and on the way back she said "there's a Denny's lets stop and get something to eat"...I nearly had a wreck...she has not wanted to eat out in over four years. She cleaned her plate and seemed very happy. She's been in a great mood and hungry.
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Assandy, I laughed at your announcement with enrolling your mom in Adult Daycare. Maybe name it another name like Adult Classes. I have read how one poster’s mother would fight her every time before going to daycare. When she picks her up she either had a great time or not. When poster asked daycare, she was told that her mom had a fun time. So, even if your mom tells you one thing, best to get a 2 nd opinion (so your conscience doesn’t bother you for nothing.)

Wanting, don’t know what to say. Assisted living? If not, can you find someone to come to the home and give you respite maybe twice a week? If impossible, how about once a week? Make it a midweek – when businesses have normal working hours – and you can do whatever you want on that 1 day off from caregiving. Too bad family is not as supportive as we all would like.
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Bonni, LOL, ya that would be my luck wouldn't it.... taking care of PRISONERS.... and no Veronica, haven't had time to get in any trouble.... but maybe now that I am only working four night... hmmmm, who knows..!!!
I asked the daughter last night if she had found anyone yet... a lot of mumble, double talk and avoidance, then I said, well, I won't be here Thrus night, so hope you find someone... she called back about an hour later and has someone!!!!! Isn't it amazing when you just have to get stupid and rude to get someone off their a**.... and she hired the caregiver that I love the most !!! We have worked together before... she is excellent and will be an asset to that family.... so progress in health and work.....

wanting, happy to hear the meds are making a difference....it's good to hear that you will be getting some mental rest for a change...

Laura, maybe it won't take long to get some money put back so you can do what you enjoy doing..... that is the sick part of having to work... we get stuck doing things we don't want to do.... so prayers you get what you are looking for...

So, work tonight and then off for three glorious days.... not going to know how to act... and this weekend is supposed to be nice.... I am actually going to get to go rock hunting..... because I will be rested up some....

so hope you all find one thing to be grateful for today..... thank you all for the awesome support... hugs, love, angels and CHOCOLATE !!!!!
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